Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Faced with Princess Zhaoyang's respectful greeting, Jia Lian turned around and said, "Your Highness is too kind. There is only the distinction between Your Highness and your subject as ruler and subject. How can this be considered impolite?"

Princess Zhaoyang paused slightly. Jia Lian's composure in front of her made her feel somewhat at a loss, as this was beyond her comprehension.

As the book says, the more extraordinary a person is, the more they hide themselves in the depths of their being, revealing only their indifference and disregard for worldly affairs.

She had never felt slighted by anyone else before.

Desperate to turn the tide, yet unable to discern Jia Lian's true thoughts, and deeply fond of the poem "Longing for You"...

If you need something from someone, you naturally can't afford to offend them.

So be it, I don't care if I'm seen as an ordinary person.

Princess Zhaoyang, having given up arguing with Jia Lian, picked up the "Longing for You" manuscript that had never left her sight and said to Jia Lian, "What I said to the general before was sincere."

Zhao Yang is willing to offer three thousand taels of silver to the general to bestow this handwritten letter upon her; Zhao Yang would be eternally grateful.

Jia Lian smiled slightly: "It's just a small gift. It's my honor that Your Highness likes it."

"Your Highness, please take it; there's no need to mention money again."

Having a greedy wife and daughter in the family caused Jia Lian to pick up some bad habits as well.

I originally planned to extort more money from the Zhou family, but you, this ignorant princess, ruined everything!

As for the princess's money... Jia Lian wasn't so stubborn as to want all kinds of money.

Associating with princes and grandsons of emperors only leads to losses, not gains. If he can't even understand this, he shouldn't be in the Great Wei Dynasty.

Princess Zhaoyang did not insist on Jia Lian's opinion.

Although she was the most favored princess in the royal family, she didn't have much money of her own because she always lived in the Empress Dowager's palace.

Normally, she doesn't use the money much.

After receiving the manuscript from Jia Lian, he couldn't resist his curiosity and asked:

"Gentleman, given your great talent, why were you previously unknown, even...?"

You know, if these poems of the general had been publicized earlier, his talent and fame would probably have spread throughout the world long ago.

In this way, naturally no one will dare to disrespect the general again!

Princess Zhaoyang's question was also the question of others.

Damn it, they're all now wondering who gave them the impression that Jia Lian was a crude and uncouth brute.

We need to give them a good kick to vent our anger!

Jia Lian cupped his hands and replied, "This humble subject dares not claim the title of great talent. I have merely memorized a few poems and imitated the lines of my predecessors. In my spare time, I casually composed a few for fun."

I come from a family of military heroes, and my ambition since childhood has been to follow in the footsteps of my ancestors, to fight on the battlefield and defend our territory!

As for my studies, I have indeed neglected them considerably…

As Jia Lian finished speaking, the Third Prince and the others' eyes twitched, and they wanted to curse him inwardly.

If someone can write such poems even after neglecting their studies, then shouldn't those of us who study diligently every day just find a block of tofu and smash our heads against it?

Jia Lian didn't care what they were thinking. Seeing that no one interrupted him, he raised an eyebrow and said calmly, "As for spreading these poems, perhaps they can bring fame..."

Your humble servant believes that writing poetry and lyrics are merely ways to cultivate one's character and temperament.

"Today, I couldn't suppress my anger and compete with the Zhou brothers; this has already put me at a disadvantage."

Upon hearing Jia Lian's words, Princess Zhaoyang and the others were instantly stunned.

Poetry is merely a means of self-cultivation; using it to gain fame or to argue with others is a lowly pursuit!

What profound level of understanding must one possess to utter such words?

If Jia Lian hadn't just displayed his extraordinary talent, everyone who heard him say such things would probably have thought he was just putting on airs.

However, it seems that General Jia is not just pretending; he truly does what he says!

Otherwise, if either of those two poems, "Butterfly Loves Flowers" and "Longing for Love," were circulated, the person would have become famous long ago.

Princess Zhaoyang looked intently at Jia Lian. For the first time, she felt and believed that there could be someone whose realm was so much higher than hers...

Ultimately, finding no flaw in Jia Lian, Princess Zhaoyang nodded with a complex expression and respectfully said, "I have learned much from your words, General."

Jia Lian quickly returned the greeting.

Zhao Yang sighed inwardly...

Although Jia Lian treated her with great respect and was impeccable in his manners, she could still sense his distance from her.

Because ordinary men, including her imperial brother, considered it an honor to be close to her and receive her praise.

Only Jia Lian remained unmoved, no matter how she tested him.

Could it be that he and his wife are deeply in love, so he deliberately keeps himself in check?

If that's the case, then he is indeed a respectable person.

So Zhaoyang stopped trying, shook hands with Jia Lian, bowed, and turned to leave.

Suddenly remembering something, she walked over to the Third Prince and whispered a few words in his ear.

The Third Prince's expression changed slightly, then he was delighted. He personally returned to the Chairman's office, took the original manuscript of the poem "Butterfly Loves Flowers," and handed it to Zhao Yang...

After Princess Zhaoyang left, everyone's attention returned to Jia Lian.

Zhang Su, Feng Ziying, and others quietly gave Jia Lian a thumbs up...

Having known each other for so long, they truly hadn't expected that Jia Lian would have such a hidden skill—no, so many skills.

Zhang Su felt somewhat guilty, secretly wondering if he had flaunted his knowledge and literary talent in front of Jia Lian before.

If that were true, it would be utterly shameful.

The Lian brothers acted very unethically in this matter.

Prince Bei Jing suddenly walked up to Jia Lian, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect like Princess Zhao Yang, and said, "From our very first meeting, I could tell that you were no ordinary person, but I was wrong after all. I never expected..."

Well then, the heights you have reached, brother, are beyond my comprehension.

However, Xiao Wang does have a request that I may make.

Prince Bei Jing looked at Jia Lian and, without waiting for Jia Lian to return the greeting, said with a smile, "I really like the poem 'Heavy Snow Presses Down on Green Pines' that you wrote, brother."

Although this poem is simple in its sentences and uses ordinary objects, the perseverance and indomitable spirit it embodies are truly admirable to Xiao Wang.

Reading it has a profound and thought-provoking effect.

Therefore, Xiao Wang is also willing to exchange three thousand taels of silver for this handwritten manuscript from his elder brother.

Upon hearing this, Jia Lian naturally had no intention of refusing, and just as he had done with Princess Zhaoyang, he gave it to her for free.

However, Prince Bei Jing was not like Princess Zhao Yang.

As a century-old royal residence, the Prince of Beijing's mansion has a history that is no less profound than that of the Jia family.

Three thousand taels of silver was really nothing to him.

Moreover, Jia Lian's fame is already a foregone conclusion. Whether considering the relationship between the two families or their personal friendship, he wants to add another layer of glory to Jia Lian.

"Brother, there's no need to refuse any longer. To be honest, with the brilliance of your works, they will surely be admired by the world once they are published."

Therefore, the handwritten manuscripts presented by Brother Shi at today's literary gathering are themselves worth a fortune!

"I've already gotten a great deal by only offering three thousand taels. If you refuse again, it would be as if I dare not accept such a precious gift."

Upon hearing Shui Rong say this, Jia Lian knew that he wanted to "add more weight" to his reputation and solidify his title of "one word worth three thousand gold pieces"!

His words were so sincere that Jia Lian could no longer refuse and could only keep this kindness in his heart.

"Haha, Prince Shui is right, General Jia's masterpieces are indeed worth a fortune!"

"Perfect timing! I also enjoyed that poem 'Bamboo and Rock'. If General Jia would be so kind as to gift it to me, I would gladly offer three thousand taels of silver!"

Seeing that the dust had settled, the crown prince also came up laughing and joining in the fun.

Actually, he didn't really like anything too literary, but as the crown prince, he had to learn it from a young age.

However, he was quite willing to do the same as Prince Bei Jing in helping Jia Lian build momentum and adding to his glory.

First, although the Third Prince is presiding over today's literary gathering, he, the Crown Prince, is still the host.

Jia Lian composed five outstanding poems in a row, which suddenly made this literary gathering shine and will surely be widely circulated in the future.

In this way, he also became a beneficiary.

Secondly, although he didn't hear clearly what Princess Zhaoyang said to the Third Prince, he guessed the gist of it.

Zhao Yang specifically asked for the original manuscript of "Butterfly Loves Flowers," probably to send to the Empress Dowager.

In other words, even the Empress Dowager admired Jia Lian's talent!

Moreover, Jia Lian rescued the Empress Dowager today; considering both factors, Jia Lian must have caught the Empress Dowager's eye...

If he doesn't know how to win over someone like that, isn't he incredibly stupid?!

Third, to deliberately disgust the Third Prince.

Jia Lian only composed five poems. Zhao Yang took the two best ones, and the Prince of Bei Jing took one of them. Jia Lian then took the other one.

In other words, three out of the four judges won prizes.

Only the Third Prince was left...

There's also a poem called "The Dwarf Watches the Play, But He's Never Seen It," but it depends on whether he wants it or not...

In this way, Jia Lian's path to the Third Prince was indirectly cut off.

After all, from an outsider's perspective, Jia Lian gifted Princess Zhaoyang, him, and Prince Bei Jing, but conspicuously omitted the Third Prince...

Is it because of a strained relationship with the Third Prince?

Haha, a mere three thousand taels of silver can make me feel this good, why not?

Chapter 231 The Dwarf Watching the Show: What a Blind Man!