Chapter 152: The Grand Princess Will Like This Poem!

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In the courtyard, snowflakes danced.

A tall girl in a light purple dress was holding a whip and standing in the courtyard with a smug expression. There was a broken tree branch on the floor.

Song Ruyue and her daughter, who was dressed in the snow-white fox fur coat, stood under the eaves and watched while surrounded by their maidservants and grannies.

Song Ruyue smiled and said, “You’re really amazing, Meijiao. You’re not inferior to any man at all!”

The other maidservants also echoed and praised her.

However, when Luo Qingzhou stepped into the courtyard, these voices suddenly stopped.

When Nangong Meijiao saw him, the smugness on her face instantly turned into cold arrogance. She put away the whip and got back under the eaves.

The smile on Song Ruyue’s face turned cold.

Only the weak girl supported by Qiu’er under the roof was still smiling, and she was staring at him with a gentle gaze.

Song Ruyue led Nangong Meijiao and the group of maidservants into the house and sat down in the living room.

Luo Qingzhou stopped in the courtyard, not knowing if he should go in.

Qin Weimo said softly under the roof, “Brother-in-law, come in…”

When Luo Qingzhou walked closer, the weak girl looked at him gently and giggled softly. “Don’t be afraid. I will protect you.”

Luo Qingzhou stared at her in silence.

The girl covered her mouth and chuckled. She looked at him with a meaningful gaze, gesturing for him to enter the house.

Luo Qingzhou had no choice but to suppress his uneasiness. He braced himself and walked in. He walked to the young beautiful woman sitting at the main seat in the living room and lowered his head. He cupped his hands and said, “Mother-in-law, what can I do for you?”

Song Ruyue held her teacup and lowered her head to slowly take a sip. Then, she looked up at him and said, “Do you know how to compose a few heroic poems? It’s best if you compose poems relating to great ambitions, contributions, or about national affairs.”

Luo Qingzhou said, “No, I don’t know how to do that.”

Song Ruyue paused for a moment before she slowly placed the teacup on the coffee table beside her. She looked at him coldly and said, “You don’t know how to do that?”

Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and said, “I am stupid. I don’t know how to do it.”

He had just thought about it carefully. He should not do such strenuous and unrewarding tasks.

These poems were for the Grand Princess.

Poetry about national affairs and war was unlike those romantic poems. If the poem was not well-written or the meaning was wrong, their enemies would have something to use against them. Wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?

Anyway, he was just a son-in-law. He was not qualified to see the Grand Princess, nor was he qualified to flatter her. What was the point?

Song Ruyue’s face darkened, and she looked at him with an unfriendly gaze.

Qin Weimo said gently, “Mother, everyone has different literary styles. It is understandable that Brother-in-law is not good at making such poems. Didn’t Sister Meijiao say just now that the Grand Princess likes to draw too? I can draw something and then think of a poem to write beside it. Although it might not be presentable, it is still a token of appreciation. The Grand Princess should not blame us. When the time comes, Mother, you can give her some other gifts as the icing on the cake.”

“Hmph!”

Song Ruyue snorted and rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what’s the use of raising some people. At critical moments, they can’t even compare to a weak woman.”

Nangong Meijiao sat at the side and drank tea. Her face was cold and arrogant, and she did not say a word.

Luo Qingzhou cupped his hands and lowered his head without saying anything.

Seeing that he did not say anything, Song Ruyue was furious. Just as she was about to slam the table and flare up, Qin Weimo hurriedly said, “Mother, how about this? After I draw a painting, I will ask Brother-in-law to write a short story or come up with a poem that praises people. That should be fine too.” Song Ruyue sneered. “Does he know how to do that?”

Qin Weimo glanced at the young man standing respectfully with his head lowered and answered for him, “Yes. He knows how to do it.’

Song Ruyue raised her eyebrows and narrowed her eyes at her daughter.

Nangong Meijiao, who was sitting beside Song Ruyue, finally spoke. “Weimo, are you very close to your brother-in-law? You even know this about him?”

Qin Weimo said gently, “I am not the only one who knows that Brother-in-law is very talented. Mother knows about it too. Everyone in the Qin residence knows about it.”

“Pfft, don’t include me. I don’t know about it!”

Song Ruyue sneered and turned her face away.

Nangong Meijiao smiled faintly. “He’s very talented? If that’s so, then he can’t just stick to one literary style. Even if he doesn’t do well in other styles, he can still come up with those poems. Weimo, don’t be deceived by him.”

Qin Weimo smiled gently. “Sister Meijiao, I know what I’m doing.”

Nangong Meijiao frowned and looked at the young man standing in the hall again.

He looked handsome, but unfortunately, he also looked weak. He did not look any different from the other scholars.

She could not understand why Qin Jianjia would marry such a person.

What she did not understand the most was that even her weak cousin seemed to be mesmerized by this guy.

Every time she came here to talk to her, she would hear her talking about her brother-in-law. And every time she mentioned him, her eyes would sparkle.

It was as if she had nothing else to talk about other than this guy.

Was this guy really that charming?

Why couldn’t she tell?

“Luo Qingzhou!”

Song Ruyue suddenly said sternly, “Can you do what Weimo just said?”

Luo Qingzhou was silent for a moment before looking at the weak girl beside him. Just as he was about to speak, Nangong Meijiao suddenly said, “Literary scholars don’t study just so that they can recite some romantic poems. You should all be concerned about the matters of the world and the country. I heard Weimo mention a few of your poems. Your literary talent is indeed passable, but your approach to the poetry is not grand enough. It’s all related to romance. If you can do some ambitious poems that are related to the country, you will be considered a true talent.”

Song Ruyue said coldly, “Meijiao is right. Luo Qingzhou, can you do it?”

Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and said, “I don’t…

“If you don’t know, then go to my backyard to plant flowers now! In the future, you won’t need to study anymore. Be a gardener and let that concubine-maidservant of yours go too. The two of you won’t be allowed to leave the backyard!”

Song Ruyue glared at him and spoke sternly.

Luo Qingzhou looked up at her and suddenly heard the words in her heart. “How dare he behave like this! I won’t take this lying down! Today, I must find a reason to teach this despicable kid a lesson!”

Luo Qingzhou was bewildered.

Qin Weimo said gently, “Mother, even if you want Brother-in-law to do it, you should give him a few days. How can you ask him to do it on the spot? You… This is bullying him.”

Song Ruyue turned to look at Luo Qingzhou and glared at him. “You’re saying that I’m bullying this kid?”

Then, she stood up abruptly and said angrily, “Do you know how your Aunt Zhou’s son-in-law lives every day? He has to get up before dawn every day and wait outside Aunt Zhou’s door. He has to do all kinds of dirty work.”

“Your Aunt Zhou’s daughter despises him. Even those maidservants also dare scold and humiliate him. He doesn’t have enough to eat nor does he have proper clothes to wear. Your Aunt Zhou even asked him to carry her palanquin and drive the carriage. She even used slaps and whips to hit him.”

“Which matrilocal son-in-law doesn’t live like this? All of them are treated even worse than a servant. Anyone can bully and scold him.”

“But look at this kid. What kind of life is he living in our residence? He lives like an immortal! He lives so comfortably! He eats well and dresses well. He doesn’t need to do anything apart from studying. He even has a concubine-maidservant serving him. Not only that, but he also has such a

beautiful wife, sister-in-law, and mother-in… Hmph! Anyway, he should burn incense and pray to Buddha to give thanks!”

Qin Weimo lowered her head and did not dare to say anything else.

Deep down, she knew that her mother was right. All the other matrilocal son-in-laws were not doing well. They were even looked down on by the servants.

But…

In her heart, her brother-in-law was not someone an ordinary son-in-law could compare to.

Her brother-in-law was talented and eloquent. He could recite poems, write lyrics, and write wonderful stories. He was a nice man and had a good personality. On top of that, he could also… protect her and make her happy.

In any case, her brother-in-law was a good guy. She would not allow anyone to bully him.

Not even her mother.

But she knew the reason behind her mother’s anger today.

Luo Qingzhou’s body trembled when he saw his mother-in-law’s face turn pale from anger.

She seemed to feel sorry for her daughter and felt a little regretful. However, she had not vented her anger, so she could only hold it in.

After Second Young Miss Qin spoke up for him, she got chided by her mother. Now, she had lowered her head and was pouting. She seemed to be a little unconvinced and wanted to continue defending him.

Seeing that the equally beautiful mother and daughter were about to quarrel over him, Luo Qingzhou had no choice but to break the tense and oppressive atmosphere. “Mother-in-law, I just thought about it and remembered a poem.

I wonder if it’s appropriate.”

Song Ruyue looked at him angrily but did not say anything.

Nangong Meijiao, who was sitting at the side, said, “Read it.”

Qin Weimo also looked up.

Song Ruyue suddenly said, “Zhu’er, go to the study and grind the ink. Tell Qiu’er to write down the poem. If he dares to trick me, this will be his last poem in the Qin residence!”

Zhu’er agreed and hurriedly entered the study with Qiu’er.

Luo Qingzhou sighed in his heart and gathered his emotions. Then, he opened his mouth and recited resolutely, “Mine is a sword with gold inlaid, with a hilt of white jade. That through the window sheds its light into the night. I idled away my time without any accomplishments. Sword in hand, I stand alone and look around me far ahead. At the capital, I befriended all kinds of extraordinary people, and we pledged to chivalry and swore to live and die together. Deem it a shame to leave no name in the chronicles of history. Single-hearted in loyalty, we are set to serve our Sovereign. We have joined the army, and the South Mountains are filled with snow and jade. Alas! If only three households were all left of the Chu State, still it would be the Chu that would vanquish. After all, our noble Great Yan Empire isn’t left without courageous men!”

The tone of this poem was sonorous and powerful. Luo Qingzhou did not stop at all and recited it in one breath. A heroic ambition involuntarily rose in his chest, and his blood surged!

Although Song Ruyue did not immediately understand what he meant, she was shocked when she heard his commanding tone. Her expression changed.

When Qin Weimo heard this, she could not help but clench her fists tightly. An excited blush suddenly appeared on her face. Her eyes flickered, and her lips moved as if she wanted to say something. However, she only looked at the girl in the purple dress beside her.

Nangong Meijiao pondered for a while as if reminiscing about a few sentences. After a while.

She turned to Song Ruyue and said, “Aunt, we finally have a gift for the Grand Princess. She will definitely like this poem and Weimo’s painting..”