I wanted to take it home and stew it, but unfortunately I didn't bring any money.

The room fell silent for a moment, then erupted in laughter. Li Yanran slapped her thigh with laughter, and even the Grand Tutor's wife couldn't help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief. Censor Zhang's face flushed the color of liver, and his beard trembled like dry grass in the autumn wind. "You...you are insulting politeness! This is pure nonsense!"

"I'm just telling the truth," Shen Weiwan shrugged, pointing at the koi innocently, "Could it be that when Censor Zhang saw the plump appearance of this fish, he never thought about whether to braise it or steam it?"

Xiao Yu laughed so hard that he almost crushed the white jade cup in his hand. He walked to Shen Weiwan and whispered while she was not paying attention: "Weiwan, your poems are much more interesting than those statecraft theories in my study, and even more interesting than the mountains and rivers and the country."

Shen Weiwan's heart skipped a beat. She glared at him, but couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth. The sunlight fell into his smiling eyes, and the appreciation and doting in them were so full that they were about to overflow, reminding her of the warm jade peach last night.

After the banquet, Xiao Yu insisted on sending Shen Weiwan back home. In the carriage, he took out a scroll like a magic trick: "This is the new 'manuscript fee' given to you by the king. Keep it."

Shen Weiwan unfolded the scroll and was instantly overcome with laughter and tears. It depicted her, reciting poetry to the members of the Crooked Poetry Society: one hand on her hip, the other waving a folding fan, her brow furrowed, her lips moving rapidly. Beside her, Uncle Wang, carrying a candied haws target, nodded his head in agreement. An old beggar, leaning on a bamboo board, grinned toothlessly. Even the sparrows in the trees perched on the branches, tilting their heads to look down. The most remarkable thing was her expression, so vividly rendered, she looked like a tigress protecting her cubs.

"Your Highness's painting skills..." Shen Weiwan pointed at herself with her hands on her hips in the painting, "You made me look so fierce, are you trying to deduct my royalties?"

"What do you think?" Xiao Yu leaned closer to her, the scent of cedar mixed with the faint fragrance of ink enveloping her. "I painted this myself. It took me three days and three nights."

Chen Weiwan looked at the painting, then at the person before her, suddenly remembering her past life, where she endured humiliation in the general's mansion, was used as a pawn by the Liu family, and ultimately died tragically in the snow. Now, she had a loving old housekeeper, loyal Chuntao, and the Seventh Prince who was willing to paint for her and listen to her poetry. Her nose suddenly felt sore, and she sniffed, smiling, "It's an ugly painting, but... I'll accept the royalties."

Xiao Yu held her hand, his palm warm and strong. "Weiwan," his voice was soft, but filled with undeniable seriousness. "From now on, I will collect your poems. I will protect your smile. I will not let you suffer again as you did in the past."

Shen Weiwan raised her head and met his deep eyes, which were filled with care, promises, and love. She suddenly felt that all the sufferings in her past life were like a nightmare, and now she had woken up and the sun was shining.

The carriage stopped at the gate of the general's mansion. When Shen Weiwan got off, Xiao Yu suddenly called her: "Weiwan."

"Hmm?" She turned her head, and the moonlight shone on the jade peach in her hair, making it sparkle.

Xiao Yu looked at her, helplessly yet lovingly saying, "Next time you write a poem, can you please not always write about 'stir-fried cabbage with meat'? The chefs in the imperial kitchen said they've figured out eighteen different ways to cook cabbage."

Shen Weiwan laughed heartily, her silver bell-like laughter spreading through the night: "That depends on whether His Highness's 'manuscript fee' is generous! If there are jade peaches sent every day, this president will reluctantly write 'Braised Pork Ribs with Radish'!"

Watching her run into the mansion, Xiao Yu shook his head, a gentle smile spreading across his face. He knew that his "poetry landslide" daughter was destined to fill his life with surprises and laughter, never again boring.

In the boudoir of the general's mansion, Shen Weiwan sat in front of the dressing table and picked up the jade peach again. The little monkey smiled naively in the moonlight. She couldn't help but pick up the pen and write on the new manuscript of the poem. The tip of the pen scratched across the rice paper, making a rustling sound:

"The prince gave me a jade peach, and his expression was too subtle.

If you ask me what I feel——

Marrying you will bring you no worries!

After finishing, she looked at the poem and laughed out loud. The moonlight outside the window was just right, shining through the lattice onto her face, illuminating a happy, contented smile. In this life, she had not only avenged her and saved her home, but also found the man who understood her, doted on her, and was willing to value her poetry more than the land.

very nice.

This day was just like the limerick she wrote: wonderful! So cool!