"Ouyang Sheng! What are you saying!" Luo Qingxue said angrily.
"You could win by tying a dog?"
She thought Liang Xiao's disdain for the Heavenly General was already ungrateful enough, but she didn't expect someone even more ungrateful to appear!
Liang Xiao's wild laughter rang out from the Violet Gold Pavilion, startling Ouyang Sheng awake.
"Damn it, I was so focused on provoking Liang Xiao and pleasing Mu Wanjun that I completely forgot that Luo Qingxue, who worships the Heavenly General, was still here!"
But Ouyang Sheng had already gone all out. He sneered, "Besides, Liang Xiao, aren't you running from Yan Prefecture to the Imperial Academy now? What right do you have to mock Wanjun?"
Mu Wanjun echoed, "Although Young Master Ouyang's words are unpleasant, they are reasonable. Everyone should have heard that His Majesty recently obtained a poem: 'The water country's mountains and rivers are drawn into battle maps, how can the common people find joy in firewood and grass? Ask not of achievements in enfeoffment, for one general's success is built on ten thousand bones.' "
Ouyang Sheng nodded, "This poem also points out that war is useless and only wastes people's lives and money!"
"Nonsense!" Liang Xiao said in a deep voice.
"How dare you insult me?" Mu Wanjun exclaimed.
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone around stood up and reprimanded.
"Liang Xiao! This is a poetry gathering, not a place for you to run wild like a rich young master. How can you be so vulgar!"
Liang Xiao's cold gaze swept across the hall, as if looking at a group of idiots. "Monkeys wearing hats, degenerate scholars!"
Luo Qingxue was also somewhat at a loss at this moment.
She never imagined that Liang Xiao would speak up for the Heavenly General and call these scholars inhuman!
Could it be that he said these insincere words out of their past affection?
"Liang Xiao, let me say it," Luo Qingxue sighed.
Liang Xiao did not respond, but sternly rebuked everyone, "I, Liang Xiao, was ordered to come to the Imperial Academy. Moreover, my grandfather was rehired as a Left General, so the Liang family naturally moved to the capital. What qualifications do you pretentious and pedantic scholars have to compare yourselves to me?"
"We are pretentious?" Everyone was furious.
Even Gu Xiaoxiao, who had a gentle temper, was displeased.
Liang Xiao burst into laughter and casually picked up the poems written by Ouyang Sheng, spreading them out one by one. "What kind of rubbish is this? Utterly nonsensical. For the sake of so-called aesthetic beauty, you forcibly pile up words and act affected!"
Ouyang Sheng laughed with rage. "My writing is nonsensical? You, an ignorant rich young master, what right do you have to comment on my poetry? Put them down, don't defile my poems with your dirty hands!"
"Talented Scholar Ouyang is renowned throughout the capital, and his father is even a doctor at the Imperial Academy. You belittled him so much with a few words? Who are you?" Mu Wanjun wiped her tears, looking wronged.
"Yes! Who are you?" Everyone clamored.
Liang Xiao said proudly, "My Liang family is a military household, loyal to the death. My father and uncle died on the battlefield. I, Liang Xiao, am proud of this all my life! Unlike you, who only know how to dabble in literature, form cliques, but in reality, pretend to be cultured to please the opposite sex and elders, seeking false fame!"
Liang Xiao's words caused the expressions of everyone present to change drastically.
Ouyang Sheng's face turned ashen, and he said with a sinister smile, "Are you planning on not mixing in the academic circles of the capital anymore?"
"Mix?" Liang Xiao burst into laughter and shook his head. "With you group of crooked melons and cracked dates, you dare call yourselves an academic circle? If it weren't for my grandfather giving your father face, do you think I would care?"
Everyone was almost suffocated.
"Liang Xiao, that's enough!" Luo Qingxue, realizing the situation was dire, quickly reminded him.
Gu Xiaoxiao sighed, "Everyone, please listen to me. This was originally a poetry gathering, why must we discuss state affairs..."
"Xiaoxiao, he insulted me first!" Mu Wanjun said unhappily.
Gu Xiaoxiao was somewhat at a loss. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her. "Why don't Qingxue and I compose a poem as an apology, and let this matter be put aside?"
Liang Xiao interjected, "No need! It is these arrogant, self-righteous scholars who need to apologize! This poetry gathering is not worth attending. Yue Lian, let's go."
Luo Qingxue saw Liang Xiao and Yue Lian stand up to leave, hesitated for a moment, and then got up to follow.
"Wait, wait a moment..." Ouyang Sheng could no longer hold back and roared, "Who the hell are you! At least we can compose poems!"
"Compose poems? Heh heh, today I, Liang Xiao, will slap you all hard for the soldiers on the front lines and all those loyal to the country!"
Liang Xiao turned his back and his impassioned words echoed throughout the hall—
"My hair bristles with rage, I lean against the balustrade, the wind and rain cease. I look up at the sky and let out a long roar, my heart filled with passion. Thirty years of fame and achievement are like dust and soil, eight thousand li of road under the moon. Do not wait in vain, let your youth turn white, and regret in vain.
The shame of Yan Prefecture is not yet wiped out. When will the hatred of subjects be extinguished? Harness the chariots and trample through Helan Mountain pass! With lofty ambitions, we will feast on the flesh of barbarians, and laugh and drink the blood of the Xiongnu. When I start anew, I will rearrange the old mountains and rivers, and pay homage to the Emperor."
Inside the Violet Gold Pavilion, everyone listened to Liang Xiao's words as if struck by lightning!
Gu Xiaoxiao stared blankly at Liang Xiao, her heart surging.
Mu Wanjun was at a loss, her face turning pale and then red.
The other talented scholars and beauties were slow to recover.
Luo Qingxue even shed tears on the spot, exclaiming, "Heavenly General!"
But soon, Luo Qingxue came back to her senses, tears streaming down her face.
Alas, he was not the Heavenly General. How wonderful it would be if the Heavenly General recited it…
But this poem, was it not the most true portrayal of the Heavenly General and the soldiers on the front lines!
Luo Qingxue truly wanted to cry.
"Young Master's talent is not comparable to these pretentious pseudo-scholars and beauties!" Yue Lian's eyes flickered, and she almost wanted to rush forward and hug Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said softly, "Let's go back. I, Liang Xiao, will never associate with degenerate scholars in this life!"
The two left as if no one else was there.
Luo Qingxue was immensely moved and followed them.
"Wait, wait..." Gu Xiaoxiao came back to her senses and was about to chase after them, but suddenly felt ashamed and disheartened.
A genius who could compose such poetry, only Qingxue would be worthy of him, right?
Mu Wanjun covered her face and wept, "What did I do wrong to be so humiliated by him?"
Gu Xiaoxiao was startled, looked at Mu Wanjun, sighed for a long time, unable to hide her disappointment, and turned to leave. "If Liang Xiao and Qingxue are not here in the future, this poetry gathering is not worth attending."
"I, I should go home and reflect..." Mu Wanjun choked back sobs and left sadly.
Everyone felt as if they had a lump in their throats, their faces burning.
That poem was impassioned, unprecedentedly heroic and tragic!
In comparison, the poems they composed were simply unbearable to look at…
The talented scholars and beauties who had recovered their senses, their faces full of shame, tore up their poems one after another. The poetry gathering ended unhappily, leaving only Ouyang Sheng and a few Imperial Academy students looking at each other in dismay.
They were still in shock from the poem, unable to recover.
"That poem, did you write it for the Heavenly General?" On the road, Luo Qingxue couldn't help but ask Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao said in a deep voice, "It was written by someone loyal to the country."
Now, Liang Xiao was also filled with indignation and helplessness.
The soldiers fought bravely and bled on the battlefield, while the rear was rotten!
Luo Qingxue was already sobbing uncontrollably, her heart filled with unprecedented complexity.
Why did it have to be Liang Xiao…
Could it be that he wrote that poem too?
Luo Qingxue muttered to herself, "I can't believe you would…"
Liang Xiao's silence was the only response to Luo Qingxue.
Luo Qingxue got no satisfaction and sighed faintly, returning to her carriage.
The Liang family's carriage escorted Luo Qingxue back to the Luo Residence.
Before entering the gate, Luo Qingxue couldn't help but look back, feeling an inexplicable sense of loss.
Liang Xiao's carriage had already left.
How will I face him in the future? What kind of person is he?
The person who made her despair the most had defended the Heavenly General she most respected!
Yue Lian's face was flushed, and she was so excited that she spoke incoherently the entire time, constantly praising Liang Xiao.
As soon as Liang Xiao returned to the main courtyard, Xiao Qing, who had been waiting, suddenly stood up and snorted, "Having a romantic time with your fiancée, enjoying yourself to the fullest, and you finally know how to come home?"