Should we review and approve it?

Who are you? Can you help me vet my daughter?

Liu Jingtao glared at Xiao Yu, but out of respect for the late General Xiao, he said nothing!

Soon, a handsome young man appeared in their sight. He was dressed in a white scholar's robe, with a tall and straight posture, three-dimensional features, and bright and piercing eyes.

Sun Cheng bowed to Liu Jingtao and said politely, "Dean."

Dean... So Sun Cheng is also a student at the Martial Arts Academy, but judging from his appearance, he seems more like a scholar!

Xiao Yu guessed in his heart, his gaze sweeping over Sun Cheng, sensing his aura... Hmm, he was indeed a martial artist, his cultivation level was similar to Bai Can's.

"Um."

Liu Jingtao nodded in satisfaction, greatly admiring the young man before him who was both scholarly and martial.

Unlike other students at the martial arts academy, Sun Cheng not only has excellent martial arts talent but also high literary cultivation, making him the third-ranked scholar in this year's imperial examination.

"Senior Sister Aoxue."

Sun Cheng addressed Liu Aoxue politely.

“...Junior Brother Sun”.

After hesitating for half a second, Liu Aoxue still responded politely.

Although he disliked his father's arrangement, he was very polite because the matter had nothing to do with Sun Cheng.

Who is this?

Sun Cheng's gaze fell on Xiao Yu, and he asked curiously.

"I am Xiao Yu, Ao Xue's fiancé with whom she has secretly pledged her life."

Xiao Yu said without changing his expression.

"puff!!"

Liu Jingtao spat out the tea he had just drunk.

This kid really doesn't play by the rules... Looking at Sun Cheng again, his face immediately turned gloomy, and even his eyes were hostile.

"Xiao Yu! Don't talk nonsense!"

Liu Jingtao frowned, and a powerful pressure swept towards Xiao Yu, saying, "From now on, if you say another word, I will throw you out!"

"..."

Xiao Yu quickly shut his mouth.

The number one grandmaster in the capital city truly lives up to his reputation; the sheer power of his aura is indeed terrifying.

"Xiao Yu...you are Xiao Yu!"

Sun Cheng stared at Xiao Yu for a few seconds, then suddenly said, "So it was you. The three poems that everyone's been talking about, you wrote them, right?"

"He can write poetry?"

Liu Jingtao expressed his disbelief and scoffed.

"Young Master Xiao's poetic talent is extraordinary; with just those three poems, he can be remembered for all time."

Sun Cheng nodded and said with a hint of envy, "With Young Master Xiao's poetic talent, I'm sure you will have even better works in the future! All the scholars of Great Xia are waiting for your masterpieces."

Um?

Upon hearing this, Liu Jingtao and Liu Aoxue both turned to look at Xiao Yu.

Both father and daughter were obsessed with martial arts and knew nothing about what was happening in the literary world, including that Xiao Yu could write poetry.

But judging from Sun Cheng's overwhelming admiration for Xiao Yu, it didn't seem like he was faking it...

Just now, when Sun Cheng heard Xiao Yu introduce himself as Liu Aoxue's fiancé, his expression visibly turned ugly.

However, after figuring out that Xiao Yu was the one who wrote the poem, he not only got angry, but also praised Xiao Yu's poetic talent!

Is this the attitude a love rival should have?!

Even Xiao Yu was a little confused. This Sun Cheng seemed to be a bit of his little fanboy... However, Minister Sun and the Liu family were birds of a feather, and Xiao Yu didn't know if this Sun Cheng was a good person or not, so he didn't respond.

"Shiro, what poems have you written?"

Liu Aoxue couldn't help but ask.

Liu Jingtao remained silent, waiting for Xiao Yu to speak.

Since everyone is waiting for me to show off my skills in front of others, then I'll lay my cards on the table... Xiao Yu nodded and said, "Then I'll read it to you."

"good."

Liu Aoxue nodded gently, her pretty face full of anticipation. She didn't like poetry as much as Shen Youyu, but she became interested when she heard that it was written by Xiao Yu.

"The first song is for..."

Xiao Yu blurted out that it was for Shen Youyu, but noticing Liu Jingtao was still there, he quickly said, "The first poem is: 'Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face; the spring breeze caresses the balustrade, the dew is heavy. If not seen on the Jade Mountain, she will be met under the moon on the Jade Terrace.'"

"What a beautiful poem!"

Liu Aoxue's beautiful eyes lit up upon hearing this, and she looked at Xiao Yu with even greater fondness.

Although she had practiced martial arts since childhood, she was also well-educated and could appreciate the quality of this poem.

"Is it good? Hmph, I don't think it's any good!"

Liu Jingtao snorted lightly, unconcerned.

"A rough-and-ready martial artist..." Xiao Yu thought to himself, then continued, "The second poem was inspired by the Youlong Sword, and it is titled 'The Swordsman'."

Upon hearing that the poem was related to the Youlong Sword, both Liu Aoxue and Liu Jingtao became interested.

"Ten years have passed since I honed this sword, its sharp edge yet to be tested. Today I present it to you, who has a grievance to redress?" Xiao Yu recited.

After reading it aloud, Liu Jingtao was stunned.

He quietly savored the last line: "Today I present this to you, who has a grievance to redress?"

He was once a swordsman who roamed the martial world, always ready to help those in need. This phrase reminded him of his youth when he roamed the martial world, upholding justice and chivalry.

The charm of poetry lies in empathy. Because of the connection to his past, Liu Jingtao couldn't help but speak up, saying, "What a beautiful poem."

"I never expected Juro to be so talented."

Liu Aoxue couldn't help but ask, "What's the third song? Shilang, please read it to me quickly!"

"The third song is somewhat cruel..."

Xiao Yu took a deep breath and continued reciting: "White bones are exposed in the wild, and not a rooster crows for a thousand miles. Of the people, only one in a hundred survives; the thought of it breaks one's heart."

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's poem, Liu Jingtao and Liu Aoxue both fell silent.

They couldn't help but think of the Xiao family, a family of loyal martyrs. After a great battle, the people were displaced, the soldiers' blood flowed like rivers, and only the lonely, widowed, and elderly remained...

Without the Xiao family, the Great Xia would never have won this battle.

Liu Aoxue looked at Xiao Yu with a pained expression. She felt that her father shouldn't have stopped her from marrying Xiao Yu.

At the same time, Liu Jingtao remained silent, and his attitude towards Xiao Yu was no longer so cold and disdainful.

Sun Cheng, who was standing to the side, had heard these three poems countless times, but he was still deeply moved when Xiao Yu recited them again.

"Dean, Senior Sister Liu..."

Sun Cheng was a smart man. He understood Liu Jingtao's thoughts and knew that Liu Aoxue only had Xiao Yu in her heart. After bowing politely, he said, "Then this student will take his leave."

After saying that, he lingered on Xiao Yu for two seconds, then turned and walked away with a flourish.

They just left like that?

Xiao Yu found it hard to believe that there was no scene where a love rival challenged him to a duel, and he pretended to be weak while actually being strong, thus slapping the other in the face... This wasn't going according to the script!

At the same time, he was also thinking that perhaps Sun Cheng and his father Sun Xichuan were not the same kind of people.

"father!"

After Sun Cheng left, Liu Aoxue stared at her father and said, "I am not one to break my promises. If you don't let me marry Shilang, I will become a widow for Shilang's brother... The Xiao family is full of loyal and righteous people. Can you bear to let your daughter break off her engagement with the Xiao family?!"