19: Poetry and Ink Evoke Emotion

"Situ Jun, write another one."

Liu Xuaner suggested this to ease the atmosphere.

"Then please, Madam Su, provide another topic."

Situ Jun was secretly happy; he knew the previous poem had already stirred ripples in Su Yunniang's heart.

But at this moment, he still couldn't see what Su Yunniang was thinking.

He decided to follow Liu Xuaner's suggestion to further test this ripe beauty!

Liu Xuaner looked at Su Yunniang.

Su Yunniang carefully examined the Xuan paper; seeing the ink was dry, she gently rolled it up, tied it, and set it aside.

She smiled slightly and said:

"My sister said you have real talent. I didn't believe it at first, but seeing this, you indeed have some talent. But one poem doesn't prove everything; why not write another? If it's just as stunning, you'll be the steward of my 'Yunxiang Courtyard'!"

She paused and continued:

"From now on, all your Cultivation resources—whatever I have, I will provide for you."

Liu Xuaner was unhappy and said anxiously:

"Sister, he is the steward of our entire West Courtyard."

Su Yunniang was startled and smiled bitterly:

"I didn't consider that. Not being a steward is fine; as long as the poem satisfies me and everyone approves, I can personally teach you Cultivation."

Situ Jun was overjoyed; only a fool would refuse such a good thing!

He lowered his head in thought again, composing lines in his mind.

Suddenly.

His eyes lit up; he thought of Bai Juyi's 'Song of Everlasting Regret.' With a little modification and borrowing, it should be perfect.

He told Chun Hua to grind ink and Cui Zhu to help hold the Xuan paper, then wrote:

——'Song of Everlasting Regret'

Seeing this, Liu Xuaner and Su Yunniang stood up and curiously leaned in to watch.

Thinking to themselves:

Is this a poetic song?

They looked at each other, eyes full of expectation.

Situ Jun continued writing:

A daughter of the Su family just grown, kept in her chamber, unknown to the world.

Natural beauty hard to hide, one day chosen to be at the King's side.

A glance and a smile, a hundred charms born; the six palaces' beauties lose their color.

In the spring chill, granted a bath in the Huaqing Pool; the warm spring water washes her smooth skin.

Cloud-like hair, flower-like face, golden steps swaying; the hibiscus curtain warms the spring night.

The spring night is short, the sun rises high; from then on, the King skips the morning court.

Three thousand beauties in the harem, three thousand favors focused on one person.

Adorned in the golden house for the night's service; drunk like spring after the banquet in the jade tower.

Jade face lonely, tears flowing; a branch of pear blossom in spring with rain.

In the sky, we wish to be lovebirds flying together; on earth, we wish to be intertwined branches.

Heaven and earth may endure, but they will end; this regret lasts forever without end.

After writing, Situ Jun put down the brush and let out a long breath.

He looked up.

The entire pavilion fell into silence.

Liu Xuaner and Su Yunniang leaned in to read carefully, as if under a freezing spell, unable to speak for a long time.

Even Cui Zhu, Chun Hua, and the maid Qiu Lan who followed Su Yunniang stared with wide eyes, shocked at the words on the Xuan paper.

The three of them stared blankly at the text, dumbfounded with shock.

This is definitely a masterpiece for the ages!

This thought flashed through their minds simultaneously.

The beginning of the poem seemed to tell of Su Yunniang's background and beauty.

Then, it used gorgeous language to praise her endlessly;

After that, it seemed to speak of the loneliness and helplessness of Su Yunniang and Liu Xuaner;

Then, the tone shifted, sounding like the love and longing between Dao Companions or spouses.

Finally, the style changed again, sounding like the mutual love and yearning, vows of eternal love, and feelings that last until death between a man and a woman.

It vividly displayed the regret of loving each other but being unable to stay together.

The entire poem was rich in emotion and deep in Concept, leaving a lasting impression.

The stagnant air quietly fermented in the silence.

After a long time.

Liu Xuaner and Su Yunniang simultaneously thought:

"Does this little fellow have romantic feelings for me?"

This thought was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, instantly stirring their hearts; the blush on their cheeks was more vivid than spring begonias.

Looking up, this little fellow was indeed exceptionally handsome and likable to women.

Liu Xuaner lowered her eyes and saw Su Yunniang's watery eyes, feeling a bit jealous.

She bit her lower lip, her fingertips unconsciously stroking the edge of the sandalwood table:

"Sister, look closely, is this poem truly flawless? If there are deficiencies, he must rewrite it."

Her voice rose slightly at the end, carrying a young girl's characteristic coquettishness.

Su Yunniang woke up from her dream, looking at the calligraphy that pierced through the paper, her hand involuntarily clutching her silk handkerchief.

She had seen countless literary works by scholars, but she never expected a humble steward in the manor could write such a lingering and touching masterpiece.

Amidst the scent of ink, she suddenly remembered the young man's focused eyes while writing, and her ears turned even hotter.

"Sister?"

Liu Xuaner shook her lotus-colored sleeve, the gold bells on her wrist jingling.

Su Yunniang hurriedly put down the poem and took a sip of tea; amidst the tea fragrance, she suppressed the ripples in her heart:

"No need to rewrite, this one is very good."

Su Yunniang took a deep breath, returning to her gentle and elegant self.

"Why not..."

Liu Xuaner glared at Situ Jun; why didn't he write such a masterpiece for her?

Resentment grew in her heart.

Situ Jun saw this and thought, oh no!

To please Su Yunniang, he forgot Liu Xuaner was right there.

So he quickly cupped his hands to please her, saying with a face full of smiles:

"The two Madams overpraise me! Without the Fairy-like beauty of you two, even if I used all my talent, I couldn't write half a line. Without either of you, I couldn't have completed this poem!"

Liu Xuaner burst into laughter:

"Slick-tongued, I'll believe you this once."

A smile appeared on Liu Xuaner's exquisite face, with a hint of shyness.

"This Steward Situ certainly knows how to talk."

Su Yunniang sighed inwardly, shook her head with a smile, and continued to admire the poem full of lingering emotions.

Later, both Liu Xuaner and Su Yunniang personally wrote poems for Situ Jun to appraise.

The discussion among them became lively.

It wasn't until the sun went down that Situ Jun bowed and left Liu Xuaner's courtyard.

Watching his departing figure, Su Yunniang stroked the tea cup with her fingertips:

"Sister, Situ Jun has such talent; it's a pity to waste it in the manor. Why not recommend him for an official position in the court?"

Liu Xuaner chuckled and said:

"I've already mentioned that to him, but he's unwilling to become an official. Such a talented and handsome little fellow, I'm also reluctant to let him go. So, I'll nurture him first; it'll be convenient to have him handle things in the future."

Su Yunniang nodded, thinking it was feasible... "Today was a good harvest."

Situ Jun walked back on the bluestone path, smiling proudly, very satisfied.

Before leaving, he used the Eye of Detection on Su Yunniang and found that the beautiful woman looked at him with an inexplicable softness; her favorability had risen from 0 to 30.

"Such a beautiful woman who has been alone in her room for over ten years, perhaps I can take advantage of the situation."

Situ Jun thought as he walked.

He felt that perhaps he didn't need the soul-bewitching pill; he could woo Su Yunniang directly and make her willing to be his woman.

This way, he could quickly reach 100 favorability on the hundred flowers diagram.

At this moment, the faint curves under Su Yunniang's moon-white skirt outlined an enticing shape in his mind.

Full breasts, rounded hips, straight and smooth jade legs... every part made him feel a fire in his heart and a tightness in his throat.

"Such a lonely beautiful woman..."

He licked his dry lips, a determined light flashing in his eyes,