My Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden

……

The hall was deathly silent. Song Yuntao wasn't a particularly literary person, but he could still understand the meaning behind the poem.

"Let's go. If you're coming to drink with me in the future, you're welcome anytime. But if you're coming to ask me for poems to amuse yourself, then don't come back," Qi Yu said.

Song Yuntao frowned, remained silent, and after a long while, got up and left the courtyard.

Qi Yu sighed as he watched Song Yuntao's retreating figure.

In the government office, Song Yuntao and Wang Defa were the two he got along with best, and Qi Yu also regarded them as friends.

That's why he wanted to help Song Yuntao.

If he comes to his senses, that would be best. If he remains stubborn, then for the sake of our friendship, let's help take care of his mother.

Qi Yu admired and respected the old lady from the bottom of her heart for her tireless efforts in threading the needle and sewing clothes for Song Yuntao, even though her eyesight was failing and she could no longer see the eye of the needle.

However, Song Yuntao was a playboy who spent his days indulging in pleasure and never paid attention to his elderly mother at home.

Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry. Only after losing their children do they realize how foolish and ignorant they were to think they had plenty of time.

Qi Yu admitted that he missed his mother, even though it wasn't his choice, but his irresponsible father also frequently appeared in his mind.

Qi Yu had never met the parents of this world; they had died before he arrived.

His older brother, who was taken away by the inspector two years ago, has been missing ever since. He's probably dead, and his sister-in-law has remarried, taking her nephew with her.

Qi Yu had no impression of these people, only vague faces that appeared and disappeared.

Qi Yu's thoughts were in turmoil, and his eyes, staring blankly at the doorway, seemed unfocused.

It wasn't until a pair of delicate hands slipped under his armpits and embraced his chest that Qi Yu belatedly realized what was happening.

A familiar fragrance wafted over, and the soft touch on his back made Qi Yu feel a little better.

Since I'm already here, I might as well make the best of it. All I have now is Su Yue!

"Husband, are you missing your parents?" Su Yue's gentle voice rang out.

She heard the poem Qi Yu recited just now from the inner room.

Qi Yu smiled, turned around, and hugged Su Yue.

“A bit. Your mother-in-law’s cooking is the best. I learned it from her,” Qi Yu said with a smile.

Su Yue also hugged Qi Yu's waist and nestled in his arms.

“Then teach me, and I’ll cook for you, my husband, from now on!” Su Yue said.

Qi Yu smiled and stroked Su Yue's long hair.

Family is always the most important thing.

"My wife, what would you like to eat? I'll go cook!"

Su Yue looked up and smiled, "Anything is fine!"

She has accepted the fact that Qi Yu cooks, because it is indeed Qi Yu's hobby.

I will support whatever Qi Yu wants to do, no matter how unconventional it may seem to others.

------------

Chapter Fifty-Eight Chang Lian

Today, a poem is circulating among literary circles.

It was a yamen runner who read it aloud in front of all the students.

This yamen runner composed two poems.

The preceding poem is a reminder of the current time and the purpose of their studies.

Unable to sleep, I was startled to realize that autumn had arrived; rootless leaves fell like a torrent.

With pen and paper, I will display my grand ambitions; I will strive to leave my name on the list of successful candidates.

They study for the sake of passing the imperial examinations, don't they?

Many students only realized belatedly that it was autumn, and the autumn examinations were just around the corner; they should seize the time to study hard.

It's truly shameful that they need a lowly clerk with no official rank to remind them of something like this.

Some students immediately got up and left to go home and study.

But their departure was the real loss, because this yamen runner wrote a poem for Meixiang, the top courtesan of Zuiqingfang.

Plum blossoms and snow vie for spring's favor, neither willing to yield; poets lay down their pens, struggling to find words to describe them.

Plum blossoms may be three parts less white than snow, but snow lacks the fragrance of plum blossoms.

Such elegant verses came from the mouth of a mere clerk, which made the group of students feel even more ashamed.

Despite his diligent studies, his literary talent was still inferior to that of a mere yamen runner.

The poetry gathering ended as soon as this poem was published, because no one could surpass it.

Their affected and sentimental poems seem far too bland in comparison.

……

So early this morning, some students came to the government office, wanting to see this clerk who was so talented in literature.

Then they discovered that many students had come, and they were all acquaintances.

"Brother Ning, you've come too?"

Ning Xuan turned around and looked at the person who spoke; it was Lu Ming.

Ning Xuan bowed and said with a smile, "Brother Lu, you've come too!"

Lu Ming smiled and said, "Since someone can compose such elegant poems, it's only natural that I want to get to know them."

Last night, the two of them were also at Zuiqingfang, and they were the last ones there, hoping to curry favor with the young master of the Chang family.

However, things didn't go as planned; Song Yuntao's two poems stole all the limelight.

This completely relegated them to the background!

"Do you know who this yamen runner is?" Ning Xuan asked.

Lu Ming shook his head and said, "I don't know!"

A group of scholars blocked the entrance to the yamen, and many people gathered to watch the spectacle, thinking that there was some great injustice involved.

Soon the entrance to the government office was packed with people. Wang Defa, who was on his way to work, was stunned and thought he had come to the wrong place.

But the two stone lions at the entrance clearly told him that this was the government office.

"Why are you all gathering and making a fuss at the yamen gate? If you have a grievance, beat the drum to appeal, and the magistrate will handle it impartially in court. If you have nothing to say, then disperse. If you gather and make a fuss again, you will all be arrested and flogged!" Chief Constable Du Feng frowned and scolded.

Many onlookers dispersed.

These days, you can't afford to offend any official, not even the lowest-ranking yamen runner.

The common people dispersed, but Lu Ming, Ning Xuan, and a dozen other scholars with official titles were not swayed by this.

Scholars who passed the imperial examinations had certain privileges, such as not having to kneel when meeting officials, not being tortured during interrogations, and not having to perform forced labor.

Du Feng did not dare to treat these scholars the same way he treated ordinary people.

"Is there anything else?" Du Feng asked, his tone much calmer.

Lu Ming stepped forward, bowed to Du Feng, and said, "Officer Du, there is a yamen runner in the government office who is very talented in poetry. We have come to pay him a visit today."

Du Feng was taken aback. Was his poetic talent remarkable?

How many of the yamen runners were literate?

Previously, the most learned were the registrar and Qi Yu.

After Qi Yu resigned, only the registrar had some writing materials.

Poetic talent? Who is that?

"What's his name?" Du Feng asked.

Lu Ming shook his head with a wry smile and said, "We met at the Drunken Green Pavilion poetry gathering, but we didn't have time to ask their names."

Upon hearing about the poetry gathering, Wang Defa, who had walked behind Du Feng, changed his expression. Could they be looking for Old Song?

Of all the officials in the government office, only Old Song went to Zuiqingfang yesterday, and he even got two poems from Qi Yu.

Wang Defa did not tell the crowd that the person might be Song Yuntao, but instead walked directly into the gate of the government office.

He originally planned to wait for Song Yuntao to arrive before asking him.

But by noon, Song Yuntao still hadn't arrived. He hadn't come to the government office to report for duty today, nor had he asked the registrar for leave.

Then, while he was out handling a case in the afternoon, Wang Defa went to Song Yuntao's house.

Only his elderly mother was at home; Song Yuntao was not there. Upon inquiry, he learned that Song Yuntao had not returned home the previous night.

Wang Defa frowned. If he wasn't home and hadn't returned all night, where could he be?

Could it be... Zuiqingfang?

Wang Defa frowned. Even if he had really become Meixiang's lover, he should have come out by now!

……

"What a wonderful poem! 'A loving mother sews the thread in her hand, and makes clothes for her traveling son. Before his departure, she sews them carefully, fearing his long absence. Who can say that the heart of a small grass can repay the warmth of spring?' This poem perfectly expresses a mother's reluctance to part with her child and her longing for him as he travels far away. It is truly a masterpiece!"

In the Drunken Green Pavilion, a richly dressed young man looked at the handwritten poems, agreeing with them while eating grapes handed to him by a beautiful woman next to him, his face full of admiration.

"I'm glad you like it, Young Master Chang!" Song Yuntao said, looking extremely apprehensive.

Chang Lian glanced at Song Yuntao, then asked, "Did you write this poem?"

Song Yuntao really wanted to say that it was Qi Yu who made it, but after hesitating for a long time, Song Yuntao gritted his teeth and nodded.

If he could gain Chang Lian's favor, he wouldn't have to work as a yamen runner anymore.

He didn't want to be content with the status quo. He wanted to marry Meixiang and redeem her from her servitude. The yamen runners only received seven taels of silver a month, which wouldn't be enough even in the long run.

"It was I who did it!"

Chang Lian's slender eyes casually swept over Song Yuntao, and he said casually, "Really? What a talented poet! It's a pity that someone with your talent is just a yamen runner. You're a ninth-rank martial artist, right? You can be my bodyguard from now on!"