Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

As time passed, the excitement surrounding the competition at Wangyue Tower gradually subsided.

Unable to see the most talented woman in the capital, the number of carriages heading to General Zhenyuan's mansion gradually decreased. Several days later, the bluestone road in front of the Xiao mansion finally returned to its former tranquility.

In the small courtyard south of the city, Qing Shuang stretched out a big yawn.

She stretched her limbs and said to Chen Chang'an, who was practicing martial arts in the courtyard, "I'll go home for a bit later. Remember to save some lunch for me, don't eat it all..."

Chen Chang'an focused on practicing his skills, not turning his head, and waved his hand, saying, "Understood."

Qing Shuang leaped over the courtyard wall and disappeared among the rooftops in a few bounds.

She scaled walls and rooftops all the way back to the Zhenyuan General's Mansion.

However, just as her toes touched the ground, she heard a deep and steady voice behind her.

"stop."

Upon hearing that familiar voice, Qing Shuang froze instantly.

She slowly turned around, and there stood a handsome face under the eaves, arms crossed, staring at her expressionlessly.

The man was in his early forties, tall with broad shoulders, and his eyebrows bore a five or six-point resemblance to Qing Shuang. His expression was dignified without being angry.

It was her father, General Xiao Ting of the Daning Zhenyuan Army.

When Xiao Ting was young, he fought alongside his father, Xiao Zhenyue, on the border. Before he was thirty, he took command of the Zhenyuan Army.

The Yan army attempted to break through the northern border several times, but he repelled them each time. He surpassed his predecessors and, with his military achievements and genuine abilities, secured his position as General Zhenyuan.

He was the pillar of the Zhenyuan General's Mansion, and also the person Qing Shuang feared most.

Her father is usually very strict with her. Now that he knows she has run away from home and hasn't come home for several nights, isn't she doomed?

Qing Shuang's face paled, and she exclaimed in shock, "Father, why are you back?"

Xiao Ting crossed his arms and said calmly, "The Yan Kingdom has kept its promise and handed over Liangzhou. The border is secure, so I returned first. What, are you unhappy to see your father return?"

Qing Shuang immediately put on a smile and said, "No, no, Father's back! I'm so happy!"

She lifted her foot, ready to run, but Xiao Ting was faster than her.

He strode forward, grabbed her by the back of her collar, and lifted her up like a chick.

"You ran away from home and didn't come back for several nights. You've finally come back, where do you think you're going now?"

Qing Shuang kicked her legs in mid-air, struggling, and said, "Father, I'm back now, let me go!"

Xiao Ting snorted coldly, put her down, but still kept one hand on her shoulder, making her unable to move.

He looked his daughter up and down and asked, "Where have you been these past few days?"

Qing Shuang said guiltily, "I...I stayed at a friend's house for a few days."

Unexpectedly, this time Xiao Ting didn't pursue the matter of her running away from home. Instead, he stroked his chin, suddenly threw his head back, and burst into laughter: "Don't laugh at me, drunk and lying on the battlefield; how many have returned from ancient battles... I never imagined that my Xiao family would produce such a talented woman!"

He patted Qing Shuang on the shoulder and said with satisfaction, "As expected of my daughter, Xiao Ting. From now on, who dares to say that the Xiao family only knows how to wield knives and guns? I'll rip their head off and use it as a football!"

Qing Shuang winced as he slapped her, fearing her father would make her write another poem, and quickly said, "Father, I didn't write that poem..."

"Alright, alright."

Xiao Ting waved his hand, not giving her a chance to finish, and said, "Do I not know your personality? Humility is a good thing, but excessive humility is arrogance. My daughter is talented, what is there to be ashamed of?"

Qing Shuang quickly said, "No, Father, it really wasn't me..."

Xiao Ting interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for discussion, and said, "With such talent, you should study even harder and set an example for the rest of the Xiao family. From today onwards, you will study in the study every day, and you are not allowed to step out of the Xiao family without my permission."

After saying that, he waved his hand and said, "Guards, lock the young lady in the study. Do not let her out without my order!"

Two female soldiers rushed over and took Qing Shuang's arms from either side.

Qing Shuang struggled and cried out, "Father, what I said is true! I didn't write the poem! I'm just not cut out for studying..."

Her shouts faded into the distance as the two female generals dragged her into the study.

Xiao Ting stood in the courtyard, looking towards the study, arms crossed, a smile playing on his lips.

General Xiao walked over from the side, glanced at the study, and said, "You know how capable your own daughter is. Even if you let her study all her life, she'd never be able to write a single line of poetry. Why make things difficult for her..."

Xiao Ting helped General Xiao up and said with a smile, "I'm just taking this opportunity to temper her playful nature. A young lady like her, not even married yet, spending so much time alone in a room with a young man, what kind of behavior is that? If others find out, they'll probably laugh at my Xiao family for not having strict family rules..."

General Xiao sighed, "You can decide what to do with your own daughter. However, that boy is indeed a talent. He's a young fellow who has never been on the battlefield, yet he writes poems like a seasoned veteran. I really want to recruit him into my Xiao family army..."

Xiao Ting was somewhat tempted, but then shook his head and said, "Even if we were willing, I'm afraid Minister Chen wouldn't. I just can't understand why he would drive such a promising young man out of the house..."

General Xiao laughed heartily and said, "Shortsighted fool! This boy has a limitless future; he'll regret it later!"

In the study, Qing Shuang leaned over the door and knocked twice, but it was quiet outside and no one answered.

Although she could kick the two doors of the study open with one foot, she still couldn't escape the house.

She sighed, turned around, looked at the walls covered with books and the thick stack of Xuan paper on her desk, and slumped into her chair like a deflated balloon, tears welling up in her eyes as she said, "My sweet and sour pork ribs..."

……

A small courtyard in the south of the city.

Chen Chang'an left Qing Shuang her favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, but she didn't come back until dark.

Chen Chang'an knew that she probably wouldn't be coming back today.

He ate the lunch he had saved for Qing Shuang at noon, and treated it as his dinner.

With Qing Shuang gone, he no longer needed to sleep on the floor at night.

After many days, Chen Chang'an finally slept in a comfortable and soft bed again, but he couldn't fall asleep.

These past few days, he had gotten used to chatting with Qing Shuang before bed, but today he was suddenly alone, and felt inexplicably empty inside...

However, Chen Chang'an's mood soon improved.

After half a month of preparation, tomorrow will be the official opening day of Qing Shuang Fang.

The day when he moves to a large mansion, hires a bunch of maids, and enjoys the extravagant life of the feudal era is not far off...