[ps: In these chapters, there might occasionally be some details that conflict, mainly in character settings. The reason is that as I write later parts, I often go back and modify previous drafts. Some places are corrected, while others were overlooked, resulting in some inconsistencies. If you notice them, please remind me, and I will amend them when I see them.
Regarding the poem that you critiqued, I actually considered before writing that it might be criticized, but it really fit the plot, so I used it anyway. Replacing it would create more inconsistencies, so there was no helping it. However, since it was so heavily critiqued, I'll add another chapter today to show my sincerity...
Another point I'd like to mention is that if any readers decide to drop the book because of this plot point, I understand. It's the reader's prerogative. But as the author, there's nothing to regret, because even if I could retain you this time, you might leave for various reasons later on. Those who cannot be retained should be let go...
One more thing, as you all know, I am a writer with very limited writing abilities, so please be more tolerant of this poor writer, and thank you with an extra chapter!
"Interesting, interesting..."
Old Mrs. Song was amused by the convoluted poem and laughed heartily. After her laughter ceased, she gave one of the Longevity Peaches that Song Yu had presented as a gift to Li Nuo.
Song Yu watched, heart bleeding. These were no ordinary peaches; he had purchased them at great expense from a master of the Agricultural School. In terms of value, they surpassed any gift offered that evening. He hadn't even tasted one himself, yet his grandmother had given one away to the person he loathed the most. The discomfort in his heart was indescribable.
At this moment, the gazes of some people in the hall towards Li Nuo had also changed.
If the first poem could have been prepared by Li Xuanjing in advance, then this second one was undoubtedly improvised on the spot.
The Yao Pond Holy Mother Birthday Painting and the Longevity Peach, both gifts from the Song Family's children to the Old Lady tonight, had been used by Li Nuo as material to swiftly create an impromptu poem. Not only had it delighted the Old Lady and extricated him from an awkward situation...
If one were to put oneself in the shoes of the others present, how many could display such quick-wittedness?
If such a man is a fool, then there are very few sane people left in the world.
Having presented two poems, Li Nuo took Song Jiaren to the side and discreetly released her hand, as a sigh of relief escaped his heart.
In fact, he really didn't want to engage in such embarrassment; after all, those clichés had been overplayed by numerous time-travel novels, and even in online fiction, they were subject to endless derision. But he genuinely had been driven to desperate straits.
That damned thief! Of all the valuable things to steal, he had to take their congratulatory gift.
And then there was Song Qian, whose words truly grated. Li Nuo began to suspect whether she held a grudge against his wife...
Thankfully, he had somehow managed to navigate safely through this ordeal.
Next, Song Mu'er and her sister Song Ning'er performed a celebratory dance for the Old Lady, which brought continuous laughter and earned them each a jade bracelet.
With that, the birthday celebration segment concluded.
The birthday feast proceeded to the latter half, where guests sat down and began to partake in the sumptuous dinner.
The birthday banquet for Old Mrs. Song had been a resounding success. The two poems presented by Li Nuo drove the atmosphere of the banquet to a climax, especially the second one; not only did it liven up the mood and please the Old Lady, but the poem itself was also exquisite, prompting enthusiastic applause.
Several Confucian guests who were experts in poetry praised the two poems highly.
The first one was fitting enough to be passed down through generations, while the second impromptu piece was cleverly entertaining. Though a bit peculiar, it was likely to be even more widely circulated than the first.
In the future, when people mention this poem, they will surely recall the scene of Old Mrs. Song's birthday banquet tonight.
Old Mrs. Song had become a legendary figure in another sense.
After all, the two poems were titled "Birthday Wishes for the Old Lady by Jiaren," binding Old Mrs. Song's name to these poems.
What astonished people more was that Li Nuo, whose works were worthy of being handed down to future generations, did not leave his own name on them but instead inscribed his wife's name, a testament to his profound feelings for her.
People had thought that their marriage was like a toad coveting swan meat, but only tonight did they realize it was a true match of a talented man and a beautiful woman.
To say that the Minister of Justice's son was a simpleton...
Clearly, that was just a rumor, utterly unfounded!
Inside the hall, Li Nuo and Song Jiaren sat beside a long, low table, with an array of delectable dishes presented on it. Song Yu, his wife Song Qian, and the sisters Song Mu'er and Song Ning'er shared the same table with them.
The expressions on everyone's faces varied.
Song Yu's face was marked with gloom and helplessness, Song Qian was frowning, clearly in a bad mood, while Song Mu'er and Song Ning'er eyed the Longevity Peach in front of Li Nuo, swallowing saliva from time to time.
Li Nuo himself was also tempted by the fragrance of the peach.
He reached to break the peach in half, struggling for a long time, but found it incredibly hard. No matter how much force he applied, he couldn't split it.
Song Jiaren took the peach from his hand, and with a crisp snap, she cleanly divided it into two halves and handed one back to him.
Li Nuo took only one half and said, "You have the other half, wife."
Song Jiaren shook her head and divided the already halved peach into two once more, handing them over to the already salivating sisters, Song Mu'er. Eager to receive their share, the two little girls ended up quarreling about whose piece was slightly larger. They ran to a nearby table to seek judgment from their parents.
Dividing an already split peach was much easier, and Li Nuo easily halved the piece in his hand and passed the other half to Song Jiaren.
After a moment's hesitation, Song Jiaren still reached out to take it.
Li Nuo bit into his peach and instantly relished its crisp and delicious flavor, that stimulated his saliva. Living two lifetimes, he had never tasted such a divine peach. In just a few bites, he polished off a quarter of the peach, oblivious to the pained expression on Song Yu's face across from him.
At this moment, Song Jiaren beside him had just delicately bitten into her first bite.
He wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but after a few bites of the peach, the dull pain in his shoulder wound seemed to fade, and the bump on his head from hitting the column felt numb. He touched his forehead and was stunned.
The bump on his head from the night before had vanished...
He then pulled open his clothes and lifted the bandage to discover that the wound on his shoulder was mostly healed. It seemed that eating the Longevity Peach had generated a warm sensation within his body...
Li Nuo expressed his astonishment, "Could this peach actually heal wounds?"
Song Yu glanced at him and said with irritation, "Of course, it can. This peach was personally cultivated by a great master from the Agricultural School in the Fourth Realm. It's worth a thousand taels apiece and is beyond price. You really got lucky..."
Seeing his nearly healed wound, Li Nuo once again marveled at the magic of this world.
Having eaten only a quarter of it, his wound had almost completely healed. Wouldn't eating a few more bites heal him entirely?
Song Jiaren looked at the wound on Li Nuo's shoulder and after a moment of silence, handed him the peach in her hand, saying, "You eat it..."
This time Li Nuo did not hold back since his wound still hurt. He quickly finished the peach and then intensely watched the wound on his shoulder. Sure enough, after eating the peach, a warm current seemed to flow towards the injury, and in a few breaths, the remaining part of his wound completely healed, leaving only a faint white mark.
This scene was even more shocking than when Housekeeper Wu had restrained him on Li Nuo's behalf.
Song Jiaren had intended for Li Nuo to trim off the part she had bitten, but before she could say anything, he had devoured the entire peach. She moved her lips but ultimately said nothing.
"I'm full!"
Song Qian, having been subjected to their display of affection, felt even more bitterness and, pulling her husband's arm, left in a huff.
"I'm full as well."
Having spent several thousand taels on the Longevity Peach, without even tasting a bite herself, and having to watch the two flaunt their love, Song Yu also lost her appetite and followed them out.
In an instant, only Li Nuo and Song Jiaren were left at the table.
As Li Nuo was still amazed by the Agricultural School's magic, a figure came by. After glancing at Li Nuo, he looked at Song Jiaren and asked, "What happened?"
Song Lian knew that what he and his wife had intended to give the Old Lady was a pair of Jade Ruyis, but they had been swapped last minute for two birthday poems — there had to be a reason for this.
Song Jiaren didn't say anything but just pulled the red silk from the wooden plate beside her, revealing two stones underneath.
Song Lian was taken aback for a moment, then anger appeared on his face as he said in a deep tone, "Who did this!"
Replacing Jiaren's birthday gift with stones would have caused them to lose face in front of all the guests had Li Nuo not spontaneously presented a poem. It would have marred the Old Lady's sixtieth birthday celebration. The perpetrator had sinister intentions.
The servants of the Song Family wouldn't dare do such a thing; his first suspect was his own daughter.
After all, Song Qian had always disliked Jiaren, and she had just intentionally caused trouble during their birthday greeting... Even though he believed his daughter couldn't have done such a thing, she was obviously the primary suspect.
Luckily, Li Nuo was quick-witted and had averted the crisis, ensuring the Old Lady's birthday banquet was a success.
But that meant, wasn't that first poem also his on-the-spot creation?
To think of such a highly praised poem by the Confucian school, and two at that, under such pressure...
Could it be that he really wasn't foolish?
Song Lian felt inward joy for his niece and then spoke, "I will definitely get to the bottom of this."
After giving Li Nuo another look, he turned and left.
When only the two remained, Song Jiaren finally turned to Li Nuo and spoke softly, "Thank you for earlier."
Li Nuo, having feasted alone at the table, waved his hand nonchalantly upon hearing her thanks and said, "Wife, there's no need for thanks among family..."
Had he not stepped forward earlier, they both would have been embarrassed. Besides, she had once saved his life. Not to mention improvising a couple of poems to get them out of a bind, even if it meant offering himself in marriage, he wouldn't have frowned...