"Wanjun, Xiaoxiao, why are you also..." Luo Qingxue said with surprise.
Liang Xiao looked at the two women in white at the door. They had bright eyes and white teeth, and an elegant demeanor. They were far inferior to Luo Qingxue, but far superior to the scholars and ladies present.
The woman on the left smiled and said, "Wanjun and I heard you were back from Yan Prefecture, so we went to the Luo Mansion to look for you. But we heard you were attending a poetry gathering, so we came uninvited."
Luo Qingxue quickly welcomed the two in and said with concern, "It's still raining lightly outside, isn't it? I'm so sorry..."
Ouyang Sheng's heart bloomed with joy, and he said ecstatically, "The famous talented women Mu Wanjun and Gu Xiaoxiao are also attending this event. This event is sure to become a beautiful tale!"
The three great talented women never needed to attend poetry competitions because they had true talent and knowledge. They could organize a poetry gathering themselves just by sending out invitations, but now they had all come!
Mu Wanjun and Gu Xiaoxiao merely responded politely, "You flatter us!"
Liang Xiao watched this unfold, shook his head, and continued to speak softly with Yue Lian.
Mu Wanjun and Gu Xiaoxiao sat next to Luo Qingxue and began to converse, their gazes occasionally falling on Liang Xiao.
"With the arrival of the two talented women, Liang Xiao, won't you introduce yourself? You are now a student of the Imperial Academy, how can you bring shame to our academy!" Ouyang Sheng finally found an opportunity to reprimand him.
Liang Xiao glanced at Ouyang Sheng, disdainful of paying him any mind.
Luo Qingxue already wanted to break off their engagement; why would he bother making friends with her friends?
Furthermore, although Mu Wanjun and Gu Xiaoxiao possessed elegance, they were also unavoidably arrogant and superior, failing to catch his eye.
"No need," Mu Wanjun spoke, but clearly with some displeasure.
A murmur of laughter rippled through the surrounding scholars and ladies.
"Indeed, if Qingxue approved of this fiancé, she would have introduced him to you both long ago," Ouyang Sheng said with a smile.
Gu Xiaoxiao frowned and sighed, "Young Master Ouyang, this is a poetry gathering, why are you saying such disheartening things."
Luo Qingxue said coldly, "If you mention my marriage again, I will leave immediately."
Ouyang Sheng was annoyed in his heart but outwardly agreed with a smile, his gaze towards Liang Xiao filled with more resentment.
He was the nominal initiator of the poetry gathering, but such grand events always valued talent above all else. Whoever possessed superior talent would gain the right to speak.
His talent was far inferior to Luo Qingxue, let alone the presence of the two great talented women, Gu Xiaoxiao and Mu Wanjun.
Ouyang Sheng, with a sudden inspiration, returned to the previous topic: "Qingxue just mentioned General Tian. Shall Qingxue continue to speak?"
The crowd quieted down.
Luo Qingxue's spirits revived as she recounted the defense battle of Yan Prefecture that day.
"It truly was as the saying goes, 'Ten thousand troops flee from white robes'! General Tian led seven thousand White Robe soldiers, slaughtering the one hundred thousand barbarian hordes until they were routed and the land ran red with blood..."
"That day, the heavens and earth truly changed, the scorching sun dispelled the gloom, just as General Tian stepped forward and shattered the barbarians! The Great Gan Dynasty reversed the situation from then on, began to counterattack, and finally drove the barbarians back seven hundred li! But General Tian..."
As Luo Qingxue reached the end, she couldn't help herself and tears streamed down her face.
The scholars and ladies exchanged glances, all appearing unconvinced.
Mu Wanjun sighed, "Qingxue, everyone knows that General Tian's might was peerless. But to say that all of this was General Tian's accomplishment is to beautify it excessively."
Upon hearing this, Liang Xiao glanced at Mu Wanjun.
If he hadn't risked his life and fought like a thousand soldiers, Yan Prefecture would not have even had time to organize a defense!
The scholars and ladies around also chimed in, "Well said!"
Luo Qingxue was stunned, and then suddenly heard a cold snort from the corner.
Liang Xiao!
Originally, Luo Qingxue wanted to blame Mu Wanjun, but upon hearing Liang Xiao's cold snort, an inexplicable anger ignited within her.
Heh, finally someone, like you, doesn't care about General Tian?
Luo Qingxue felt even more despair in her heart and smiled, "Wanjun, isn't that so?"
Gu Xiaoxiao stood up and said, "Qingxue, Wanjun means that there were also soldiers on the front lines."
Luo Qingxue realized and nodded, "That's right..."
Mu Wanjun shook her head, "No, I think Qingxue, in her admiration for General Tian, has exaggerated him. No matter how powerful General Tian is, he is still a human, not an immortal."
Luo Qingxue angrily retorted, "I and the people of Yan Prefecture witnessed that great battle! General Tian is indeed that powerful!"
Liang Xiao quietly observed everyone, his mind becoming clearer.
This Mu Wanjun seemed to be deliberately competing with Luo Qingxue, indicating that there was also rivalry within the circle of talented women.
A talented lady smiled, "Miss Luo, Wanjun means that even without General Tian, our Great Gan Dynasty could have won this battle, it would have just come at a greater cost."
Mu Wanjun nodded, "Exactly!"
Luo Qingxue was furious, "Wanjun! How can you so lightly regard General Tian? Aren't you being ungrateful!"
Mu Wanjun frowned, "General Tian only has a debt of gratitude to the people of Yan Prefecture. What debt does he owe me? Can he make me more inclined to admire the moon and flowers, or to play the zither and sing?"
Gu Xiaoxiao on the side quickly tugged at Mu Wanjun's sleeve, but to no avail.
Luo Qingxue and Mu Wanjun were locked in a verbal confrontation and were about to retort when they heard Liang Xiao's cold snort from the corner again.
"Liang Xiao!" Luo Qingxue glared at Liang Xiao with hatred.
She had tolerated him in front of outsiders due to their engagement and childhood bond, so why was he laughing at her now?
Luo Qingxue was even more disappointed, but then she let it go, realizing that she no longer held any expectations for Liang Xiao.
"Your fiancé seems to have some dissatisfaction with me? But I believe Young Master Dugu would agree with my statement."
Mu Wanjun emphasized the words "fiancé" heavily.
Everyone finally understood: so she was vying with Luo Qingxue because of Dugu Xiao!
Just as Luo Qingxue was about to explode in anger, Liang Xiao sighed softly, "A merchant woman knows not the sorrow of a fallen nation, yet sings of 'Back Courtyard Flowers' across the river! Now I understand that some people only know pleasure and are numb to hardship, capable of belittling the achievements of the frontline soldiers with just a few words."
Luo Qingxue was greatly shocked and turned to look at Liang Xiao, utterly disbelieving that he could say such a thing.
Didn't he dismiss General Tian with disdain and even criticize him?
"'A merchant woman knows not the sorrow of a fallen nation, yet sings of 'Back Courtyard Flowers' across the river'?"
Liang Xiao's words, like a thunderclap from a clear sky, made everyone's minds buzz.
A casually spoken sentence, yet it landed like a heavy blow on everyone's faces.
Even Luo Qingxue's eyes lit up.
"You, what do you mean by that?" Mu Wanjun stared at Liang Xiao with indignation, her delicate body trembling slightly.
This was the first time in her life anyone had dared to mock her like this!
"The literal meaning. Can't the great talented woman understand?" Liang Xiao said dismissively.
"You..." Mu Wanjun's eyes welled up with tears, feeling wronged.
Ouyang Sheng, seeing this, quickly stepped forward and reprimanded, "Liang Xiao! You are spouting utter nonsense! Miss Wanjun is a renowned talented woman of the capital, how can you, a mere dandy, insult her!"
"I am a dandy, yet I can still remember our nation's grudges. You so-called talented scholars and ladies are here pointing fingers like hindsight critics, completely forgetting the hardships and suffering on the front lines. Without the desperate struggle on the front lines, what are you all?"
Ouyang Sheng closed his fan and laughed heartily, "What are we? We are the future pillars of the nation! And the soldiers on the front lines are merely warriors obeying our orders! The Great Gan Dynasty could win against the barbarians because of the Emperor's wisdom, the unity of civil officials, and the nation's strength. Let alone General Tian, even if a dog was tied as the commander at the front lines in the Yan Prefecture battle, it would have been impossible to lose!"