Sumr at Tu Mountain, a verdant landscape.
In a serene valley, a small lake sparkles like a bright pearl, set within.
By the lakeside, Liu Qingquan is playing mischievously with a group of young fox spirits, while so n and won from the Snow Forest Nine-tailed Tribe assist with the barbecue.
On the lake, several boats drift, with Lu Zheng reclining in one, while Shen Ying occasionally feeds him a large cherry.
"Why do I feel like I’m in the Dragon Palace, just at a different location to babysit?" Lu Zheng chews thoughtfully and then softly spits, sending the pit flying into the air, tracing an arc before landing in the lake.
Shen Ying takes a snow fruit, bites it gently, and says, "Consider yourself lucky; you’re not being asked to make a movie."
Lu Zheng shakes his head and notices a small boat approaching, with Tu Yuchen being served drinks by a lady in a yellow dress. Seeing Lu Zheng looking bored, he laughs, "Brother Lu, if you’re feeling bored, why don’t we play a round of Star Pointing Order?"
Star Pointing Order is essentially this world’s Flying Flower Order, where you can compose your own verses or recite famous poetry, with the loser drinking.
Lu Zheng shakes his head, lacking the desire to show off by quoting Blue Star’s verses, nor does he wish to expend energy writing poems himself, "I just wonder when the Old Madam will let Qingyan out."
Just days ago, upon returning to Tushan, the Old Madam again took Liu Qingyan away.
Tu Yuchen couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing this, "It’s only been five days, and you’re already anxious. We haven’t even admired Miss Liu yet, and you’re unhappy?"
On another side, a man in a blue robe gets up from his boat, helping the woman in green beside him to adjust her hair and fix her hairpin. "Brother Yuchen is right, I think Brother Lu is showing off. This cannot be tolerated, let’s have a round of Star Pointing Order to curb Brother Lu’s enthusiasm."
"Curb my enthusiasm?" Lu Zheng glanced at the man in the blue robe, "Want to play chess?"
"Ahem, it’s sumr now, since we’re boating on the water, why not take water as the the?" The blue-robed man coughed twice and continued.
"Very well! Very well!"
Two voices chid in agreent, as two more small boats slowly sailed over, each boat carrying a scholarly youth paired with a stunning woman.
The scholar’s eyes like stars, the beauty’s eyes like rippling waves.
No idea why, but within the Tushan Celestial Fox Lineage, many males and females love literature, speaking eloquently, frequently comnting on world affairs, with an infinite landscape within their chests, causing Lu Zheng great pressure.
"I’ll go first, I’ll go first." The last arriving man in green, Tu Yuxing said, "I’m the least learned, I’ll start as the opening act.
Sumr’s clear sky reflects on the jade lake, clouds at water level mirror the empty void."
"Good!"
"Very well, my turn!" Tu Yuchong beside him shook a folded fan, fanning it thrice.
"The falling snow disappears without trace, lting into three thousand miles of erald water."
"Magnificent!"
The man who was just teasing Lu Zheng, Tu Yuxin, tapped the rail of the boat, then kissed his female companion on the face.
"Spring flowers fall, resting on the beauty’s lap, drunk with fragrance, water flows horizontally."
"Hahaha!"
"You flirt, how did Qing Ying fall for you?"
The woman in green beside Tu Yuxin reciprocated with a kiss, laughingly saying, "Because Yu Xin is genuine!"
"Woo—"
Everyone laughed upon hearing, and Tu Yuchen drank the wine in his hand in one gulp.
"Wine enters the throat hard to reach the heart, transforming into a stream of yearning water."
Tu Yuxin slapped the table with laughter, "You copied !"
Tu Yuchen raised an eyebrow, "You’re no match for !"
"Literary thief! Literary thief indeed! Next ti, you must go first in Star Pointing Order!"
Then, the eyes of the eight fox spirits, four n and four won, turned to Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng trembled uncontrollably.
Goodness gracious, each one of you is a fox spirit, aren’t you? It’s not like you need to go to the Great Jing to take the imperial exam for top scholar, why write such excellent verses? Why not focus on your cultivation?
Lu Zheng couldn’t help but sigh; it’s not that he couldn’t compose water-thed poetry, it’s just not easy to write sothing more stunning than these four in a short ti.
And clearly, Lu Zheng could see through the little thoughts of these four foxes, slightly envying Liu Qingyan, but of course, not competing with the ladies, aiming instead to surpass him.
Given this...
Lu Zheng winked at Shen Ying, who couldn’t help but stifle a laugh.
Thus, Lu Zheng raised his glass, offering a distant toast in the direction of Tu Mountain.
"Draw the sword to cut water, yet it flows, raise the cup to dispel sorrow, yet it deepens!"
Tu Yuchen froze, then couldn’t help but burst out laughing, "Brother Lu, you’ve taken it too far!"
"You’ve only been apart from Miss Liu for a few days, yet you’re this sorrowful?"
"I still feel he’s provoking us?"
"Don’t just feel it, he is provoking us!"
"Hahaha!"
"Nonetheless... what a great verse!"
"Indeed, draw the sword to cut water, yet it flows, raise the cup to dispel sorrow, yet it deepens. Great verse! Profound ntal realm!"
"What’s happening, can’t win at chess, not even at poetry?"
"Drink, drink!"
Several Tushan Celestial Foxes shook their heads helplessly, raising their glasses together.
In a corner they couldn’t see, Shen Ying’s delicate hands teased Lu Zheng’s leg, playfully sending a private ssage, "Lu Lang using ancient poetry as a challenge, the hush fee for this won’t co cheap~"
Lu Zheng raised an eyebrow, leaned into Shen Ying’s ear, lightly blew, sending her temples’ hair fluttering, "Would a few billions suffice?"
Shen Ying gently bit her lip, her eyes alluring like autumn water, "I want tens of billions, in installnts, settling daily."
"Just don’t cry!" Lu Zheng felt his waist weaken, then imdiately widened his eyes, "viciously" saying.
Shen Ying smiled brightly, leaned close to Lu Zheng’s ear, and whispered softly, "I’m so scared~"
...
On the third day, Liu Qingyan finally returned.
Though Shen Ying kept to her agreent, not ntioning the previous day’s events, she could not stop several Tu Family scholars from spreading praise, thus that famous Blue Star verse still reached Liu Qingyan’s ears.
Facing Liu Qingyan’s jade-like face brimming with restrained laughter, Lu Zheng couldn’t help but sigh, "I wasn’t cautious enough!"
How did I end up agreeing to Shen Ying’s conditions in a daze; was it because I was hungry, confused by white peach buns?
"Lu Lang did splendidly!" Liu Qingyan flung herself into Lu Zheng’s arms, giggling.
Eh? Liu Qingyan learned to misbehave too?
"The Old Madam was very pleased with Lu Lang for putting them in their place, always saying they were complacent and arrogant, needing a wake-up call." Liu Qingyan laughed, "The Old Madam said let Lu Lang continue."
"The Old Madam is worldly wise; those Celestial Foxes are indeed sowhat proud." Lu Zheng nodded, "Then I’ll continue tomorrow, writing ’The Difficulty of the Shu Road’ and ’Invitation to Wine’, definitely making them question their existence!"
Poetry and song compositions aren’t necessarily better with age; Li Bai, the Poetry Immortal’s writings, even in this world, are among the best of the best, unmatched in excellency.
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