My family has been wielding knives for generations, but now it's my turn to wield a pen!

At the entrance of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

As the carriage slowly came to a stop, Jiang Xiaobai stood up and looked at Helian Zhaoyue, saying, "Let's meet at Yipinlou first thing tomorrow morning!"

"Can!"

Helian Zhaoyue nodded indifferently.

Jiang Xiaobai responded and pulled Li Zhiwei down from the carriage.

After seeing this, Zhang Xinnian, Tang Ningshuang, and the Princess naturally followed suit and came down as well.

The carriage set off again, heading directly towards the palace.

"Haha, that was awesome, so awesome!"

At this moment, Jiang Jingcheng also got off the carriage behind.

"Great job, that's excellent!"

As Jiang Jingcheng spoke, he stepped forward and patted Jiang Xiaobai on the shoulder twice.

Even now, Jiang Jingcheng still vividly remembers the image of eighteen cannons firing simultaneously.

The earth-shattering explosion, the stone slab shattered in an instant.

Looking back now, he still feels a surge of excitement.

If this thing were actually brought to the Northern Territory, it would be an immense weapon of mass destruction!

What super-powerful crossbows and siege weapons are nothing compared to cannons; they're just child's play.

Moreover, after today's round of deterrence, the diplomatic missions of both countries are probably truly terrified.

Once they return, they will likely behave like lambs, and will definitely not dare to provoke Dahua again for a while.

In addition, the two delegations were also forced to pay respects at the Martyrs' Shrine.

This was the first time that both the Northern Yu and the Qi Kingdom had truly bowed their heads before the Jiang family.

The person who accomplished all of this was none other than Jiang Jingcheng's son!

No matter where this matter spreads in the future, it will only enhance the reputation of the Jiang family.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jingcheng couldn't help but laugh out loud a few times. No matter how he looked at Jiang Xiaobai, he found him pleasing to the eye.

"Father, you flatter me!"

Jiang Xiaobai responded with a smile, but didn't seem too smug.

"Hmm, that cannon is really good!"

Jiang Jingcheng patted Jiang Xiaobai on the shoulder again and said earnestly, "Make more later, the more the better!"

After saying that, Jiang Jingcheng put his hands behind his back and entered the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion with a satisfied expression.

Jiang Xiaobai smiled as he watched Jiang Jingcheng's retreating figure, then turned to Zhang Xinnian and said, "Xinnian, go and arrange for the craftsmen!"

"yes!"

Zhang Xinnian nodded respectfully, knowing that Jiang Xiaobai was referring to the matter of erecting a monument at the Martyrs' Shrine, and immediately turned and left.

After Zhang Xinnian left, Jiang Xiaobai led Li Zhiwei and the other two back to the Duke's mansion.

……

Upon entering the residence, Jiang Xiaobai looked at Tang Ningshuang and said, "You and the Princess can stay outside for a while!"

"I have important matters to discuss with Miss Li!"

"oh!"

Tang Ningshuang didn't think much of it and nodded in agreement.

As Jiang Xiaobai nodded, he also gestured to the Princess before leading Li Zhiwei inside.

"What were those two talking about?"

The eldest princess asked curiously.

"have no idea!"

Tang Ningshuang shook her head.

The eldest princess, her face full of curiosity, leaned closer to the door and listened intently.

Tang Ningshuang was embarrassed when she saw this.

Princess, you are the eldest princess!

Is it appropriate to eavesdrop in front of her?

Did she see it, or did she not see it?

……

"Wei'er, this was a gift from Boss Ning!"

At that moment, in his room, Jiang Xiaobai took out the calligraphy and paintings he had previously collected and handed them to Li Zhiwei, saying, "I don't know much about calligraphy and paintings, so it would be a waste for me to keep them. I'm giving them to you!"

"Give it to me?"

Li Zhiwei looked puzzled, but still reached out and took it.

Upon arriving at the desk, Li Zhiwei carefully placed the calligraphy and painting down before slowly opening it.

As the scroll unfolds, a landscape painting comes into view.

The mountains rise and fall in a staggered pattern, and the stream meanders through the forest; with just a few simple strokes, the artistic conception is fully brought to life.

"What a beautiful painting!"

Li Zhiwei's eyes lit up immediately, and she lowered her head to observe carefully.

Gradually, when Li Zhiwei saw the seals and signature on the painting, her expression clearly froze for a moment: "This is a painting by the leader of Suzhou?"

"Do you know him?"

Jiang Xiaobai was somewhat surprised after hearing this.

"Yes, I've heard a lot about her!"

Looking at the signature, Li Zhiwei said earnestly, "This person is said to be a disciple of an elder of the Qingshan Society, and has been highly learned since childhood, proficient in all the arts, including music, chess, calligraphy, and painting!"

"It's a pity women couldn't participate in the imperial examinations; otherwise, she would surely have been among the top scholars!"

"Didn't Lin Qinrou still take the exam?"

Jiang Xiaobai shrugged helplessly.

"Qin'er's situation was an accident!"

Li Zhiwei shook her head and explained, "Ever since Qin'er's incident, the imperial examinations have become much stricter, making it very difficult for women to sneak in!"

"Yes, it's stricter!"

Jiang Xiaobai nodded and said, "This year I only bought a top scholar title!"

"..."

Li Zhiwei pursed her red lips, looked up at Jiang Xiaobai, and couldn't say a word for a long time.

This guy, he always brings up the very thing he shouldn't have said!

"Okay, okay, I'm just kidding!"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at Li Zhiwei's expression and couldn't help but chuckle twice: "Do you like this painting?"

"like!"

Li Zhiwei nodded slightly, then hesitated and said, "But I've heard that the calligraphy and paintings of the top scholar in Suzhou are priceless. Are you really going to give them to me?"

"It's just a painting!"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at Li Zhiwei and said, "Besides, the most precious thing I have is still that painting of mandarin ducks!"

As he spoke, Jiang Xiaobai paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "A melody from a kindred spirit before the falling blossoms, a light rain gently swaying the willows beyond the mist, I beckon the spring breeze to cut a piece of silk, and send the letter to you under the bright moon."

The simple poem instantly reminded Li Zhiwei of the hidden characters on the painting of mandarin ducks.

Know, micro, appointment, letter!

A blush immediately appeared on her delicate face, and Li Zhiwei couldn't help but say, "How dare you say that? You were clearly lying to me back then..."

"I'm not lying to you!"

As Jiang Xiaobai spoke, he moved closer to Li Zhiwei, looking into her constantly evasive eyes, and said, "Look, aren't we almost a couple now?"

"That didn't work out either!!"

Li Zhiwei turned her head slightly away, her face growing increasingly red, and she didn't dare to meet Jiang Xiaobai's gaze at all.

"Ha ha!"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at the beautiful woman so close to him, his smile widening. He leaned down and kissed her cheek, saying, "Oh, right, there's another surprise coming!"

what?

Li Zhiwei covered the spot where she had been kissed, her expression slightly dazed.

Jiang Xiaobai had already taken out the perfume he had prepared beforehand and gently waved it in front of Li Zhiwei: "It's for you!"

"What is this?"

Li Zhiwei looked at the exquisite little bottle with obvious curiosity.

"perfume!"

Jiang Xiaobai opened the bottle, took out a little bit, and gently applied it to Li Zhiwei's wrist.

The delicate fragrance quickly spread.

"This smells like roses!"

Jiang Xiaobai looked at Li Zhiwei, whose face was full of surprise, and asked with a smile, "Do you like it?"

"I like it too!"

Li Zhiwei leaned closer to smell it, her eyes crinkled into a smile, and she nodded gently.

"So...do you like me, or do you like it?"

Jiang Xiaobai's smile deepened: "You can only choose one!"

"Then I choose you..."

Li Zhiwei raised her head, her eyes filled with tenderness, and answered very seriously.