434: Chapter 434 Burn it for them

In the Northern Border, Princess Ningxiang's fame was truly quite significant.

Her later experience of marrying into the Zhenbei Princes Mansion after many twists and turns was even more of a favorite tale for the common people to discuss over tea.

So, when the news that Xie Juner intended to "Stop the flow" reached the Qushui Banquet, the atmosphere suddenly became intense once again.

"Princess Ningxiang? Why is she here?"

"The Tianxiang Restaurant across the way is a property of the Linyuan Marquis Mansion!"

"Speaking of which, isn't this Princess also a side consort of the Prince of Zhenbei?"

Master Li Jingyi and the others looked at Su Wansha in confusion.

With an innocent expression, Su Wansha smiled and said, "Master Li, the Princess is hosting some young ladies across the way today; it has nothing to do with me."

"Oh? No wonder. Then it must be a coincidence."

Master Li Jingyi breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought the Prince of Zhenbei was dissatisfied with his Qushui Banquet and had deliberately sent women to mess with him.

"Hehe, I've heard that Princess Ningxiang is also a famous talented woman in the Northern Border. This old man is quite looking forward to it," Master Xu Huaian said with a smile.

After waiting for a while, bursts of exclamations came from outside, as if it were a festival.

The people in the banquet hall knew that Xie Juner must have finished writing the poem to "Stop the flow."

"Why is there such a big commotion?"

"What on earth did the Princess write?"

Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, a book boy almost sprinted in, carrying a copy of the rice paper, and handed it to Master Li Jingyi.

Master Li Jingyi took just one look, and his expression instantly froze, leaving him in a daze!

Beside him, Zhu Ming and Master Xu Huaian hurriedly leaned over to look. As a result, all three great scholars fell silent...

Su Wansha sensed something and poked her head over to look. She subconsciously covered her mouth, struggling to suppress a smile.

This Juner is really going to ruin this session of the Qushui Banquet!

"Master Li, can I have a look?"

Lv Sheng couldn't wait any longer. What kind of poem could make three great scholars of the literary world, who had seen it all, lose their composure like this!?

Master Li Jingyi reluctantly handed the poem over.

"Have a look..."

After Lv Sheng took it, many people immediately gathered around. There was no helping it; they were just too curious!

"Thinking of Brother Zhao on a Moonlit Night..."

"The garrison drums have cut off travel; a lone wild goose cries in the autumn of the border."

"Dew turns white starting tonight; the moon is brightest over one's hometown."

"Brothers are all scattered; with no home, who can I ask about life and death?"

"Letters sent often never arrive, let alone when the war has not yet ceased."

After Lv Sheng finished reading, the whole place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop!

"Dew turns white starting tonight... The moon is brightest... over one's hometown..."

Lv Sheng looked up and sighed deeply, "If I could write such verses, I would die with no regrets..."

The literary men present all had complex expressions. It was hard to imagine that these verses came from the hand of a woman.

Simultaneously, everyone looked at Su Wansha.

Su Wansha knew she couldn't hide it, so she had to say, "That's right, this poem was also composed by the Prince."

"The 'Brother Zhao' in the title is the Border Army commander, General Zhao Kuan. He is also the Prince's sworn brother and was the first to show the Prince kindness by promoting him."

"Because of the campaigns in the east and west, the Prince and General Zhao are thousands of miles apart. This poem was born from his longing for his brother."

Lin Xiao had made up this backstory on the spot back then just to show off in front of the women, but they had all taken it to heart.

"People say the Prince of Zhenbei is the God of Slaughter of the Northern Border. I didn't expect him to be such a man of deep feeling and righteousness."

"Indeed, the sentiment of longing for a brother in this poem is truly moving!"

"This is the true battlefield—emotions forged between life and death are not something ordinary people can understand."

The guests' perceptions of Lin Xiao became much richer, and their respect deepened even further.

If the original Prince of Zhenbei was a god-of-war-like existence, high and mighty...

Then the current Prince of Zhenbei was a person of flesh and blood, with joys, sorrows, and anger.

He also had his low moments, his lonely moments, and his fragile moments.

And precisely because of this, everyone respected the Prince of Zhenbei even more, feeling deeply that his achievements were hard-won and not all smooth sailing.

"The second round... let's call it off."

Master Li Jingyi gave a wry smile and admitted the flow had been stopped.

The big commotion outside naturally made Lin Xiao understand what this "stopping the flow" meant.

"Ning'er, how many times have I told you? Don't spread the poems I write at home to the outside."

"My Prince, didn't you tell me to go Stop the flow?" Xie Juner pouted.

"I didn't say to use my poems..."

Lin Xiao was about to lecture her a bit when he suddenly froze!

[Ding! Comprehension Ability +358]

Eh?

What's going on!?

Although Lin Xiao had been receiving Comprehension Ability points intermittently lately, it was rare to get over a hundred in one go.

To suddenly get over three hundred points was naturally even rarer!

Could it be... the effect of those two poems just now!?

"My Prince, I was wrong. I won't dare to do it again next time," Xie Juner said, seeing Lin Xiao remain silent and thinking he was truly angry.

Lin Xiao, however, showed a doting smile and reached out to stroke the woman's hair.

"Silly Juner, how could I get angry with you over such a small matter?"

Lin Xiao laughed loudly and said, "As long as you explain it clearly to me, it's fine. Your having fun is more important than anything else!"

Hearing this, Xie Juner was overjoyed. Especially being doted on and having her head stroked in front of so many sisters, the other women were simply dying of envy.

"Thank you, my Prince. I am very happy today!"

Xiao Qingxuan said teasingly, "Husband, you weren't willing to leak your verses before. You're truly generous to Juner today."

Speaking of which, she was the first to discover that Lin Xiao's poetic talent was peerless!

"Oh, my lady, if you want to take my poems to go play, how could I stop you? Husband and wife are one; what's mine is yours, right?"

Lin Xiao muttered in his heart: Let's try again and see if these Comprehension Ability points were "scammed" by the poems.

If that's really the case, I should consider publishing a collection of poems.

Although it's a bit unfair to ancestors like Old Li and Old Du, Comprehension Ability points are really important.

One must know that he was only ten thousand Comprehension Ability points away from the "Heavenly Immortal" realm. With a little effort, he could jump up a level!

At worst, once I earn the royalties, I'll burn them all for them!

At this time, on the side of Zuihua Pavilion, a book boy asked loudly, "May I ask Princess Ningxiang, was that poem just now from the hand of the Prince of Zhenbei?"

Xie Juner naturally wouldn't hide it. She walked out and admitted, "That's right, it is indeed the Prince's work. However, the 'stopping the flow' of the Qushui Banquet didn't say one couldn't use someone else's poem, right?"

The book boy hurriedly bowed respectfully, "Of course it's allowed, as long as it's a poem that hasn't been recorded yet."

When the common people heard this, they were once again impressed. In fact, many had already guessed it was likely written by the Prince of Zhenbei, and now it was set in stone.

[Ding! Comprehension Ability +53]

Lin Xiao looked at the points popping up again and was overjoyed.

Good heavens! I was really stupid. I should have realized long ago that while people might worship, admire, or fear a general with great military achievements, they might not truly love them.

Because war is a double-edged sword for civilians.

Many people's relatives died in wars, so they naturally wouldn't have much of a good impression of military commanders.

On the other hand, it's different for men of letters. Cultural works that can touch people's hearts are more likely to resonate with the common people.

One can see this from great scholars like Zhu Ming; they've never been to a battlefield, yet they can win the respect of countless people in the world.

"My lady, when the next round comes out, no matter what the topic or work is, you go Stop the flow!"

Seeing Xiao Qingxuan looking eager to try, Lin Xiao simply went with the flow to make the woman happy.

"Really?" Xiao Qingxuan was first delighted, but soon frowned. "But what if I don't have a suitable poem?"

"Hehe..." Lin Xiao laughed.

Xiao Qingxuan suddenly understood and followed with a knowing smile. That's right, with her husband here, how could there not be one?