"When prosperity reigns, the people suffer; when ruin falls, the people suffer..."
Wu Xuanhuang stared at these words, completely stunned, as if struck by lightning.
As the Empress of the Great Xia Kingdom, she worked diligently to improve the lives of the people, but the result was just as Xiao Yu had said: the people suffered when the country prospered, and they suffered when it fell!
During wartime, ordinary people were displaced and often couldn't even get a decent meal.
Even in peacetime, corrupt officials and collusion between government and businessmen persist, and ordinary people continue to live in misery.
These are problems that the Great Xia Kingdom, and even other countries, have been unable to solve over thousands of years. No matter how hard the emperor works, it is impossible to govern the entire country in an orderly manner and make every citizen feel fair and just.
In the end, it's always the ordinary people who suffer!
Wu Xuanhuang muttered to herself, a look of helplessness appearing in her beautiful, star-like eyes.
Beside her, Shangguan Jing'er remained silent, looking at the Empress with heartache.
As the Empress's personal bodyguard, Shangguan Jing'er knew very well what kind of ambition Wu Xuanhuang had; she truly wanted the people to live a better life.
"Xiao Yu, read the poem you just came up with to me."
After a long while, Wu Xuanhuang snapped out of his thoughts and said to Xiao Yu.
"Alright." Xiao Yu nodded, then said, "White bones exposed in the wild, not a rooster crows for a thousand miles."
A line of poetry silenced Wu Xuanhuang once again, and a scene appeared in his mind.
Those were the brutal images of war causing countless deaths, their bones exposed in the wilderness, unburied. A desolate landscape stretched for miles, devoid even of the sound of roosters crowing.
This scene made Wu Xuanhuang's scalp tingle, and even caused goosebumps to rise on his arms.
She deeply felt the cruelty of war!
"White bones are exposed in the wild, and for a thousand miles there is not a rooster crowing."
Shangguan Jing'er softly recited these ten words, feeling the same way as Wu Xuanhuang.
The Great Xia Kingdom had just experienced a major war, and even the aloof Shangguan Jing'er felt that war was cruel.
"Only one in a hundred survives; the thought of it breaks one's heart," Xiao Yu said in a heavy tone.
Wu Xuanhuang and Shangguan Jing'er were not the only ones who felt the same way.
Xiao Yu was a soldier who had witnessed the cruelty of war firsthand... He was especially heartbroken after seeing the eighteen coffins at the Xiao Prince's Mansion.
"Of the people, only one in a hundred survived; the thought of it breaks one's heart."
Looking at Xiao Yu, Wu Xuanhuang felt both grief over the war and deep remorse.
The Xiao family was full of loyal martyrs. Xiao Yu must have written this poem because he saw his father and brother's bodies and felt the grief of seeing his loved ones after they sacrificed their lives on the battlefield!
As the Empress of the Great Xia Kingdom, she failed to protect the only bloodline of the Xiao Royal Family, leading to the ungrateful Chu Tianjiao riding a horse to the door to annul the engagement and publicly humiliate the Xiao Royal Family.
Chu Tianjiao, I will make you regret this and punish you severely!
Wu Xuanhuang had made up his mind that once he returned to the palace, he would issue two imperial edicts: one to reward Xiao Yu and the other to punish Chu Tianjiao.
"Young Master Xiao, you have the country and its people at heart. This poem is excellent, truly excellent!"
Tears welled up in Wu Xuanhuang's eyes as she praised Xiao Yu, "With you, the Xiao Royal Palace has a worthy successor!"
While everyone else was mocking Xiao Yu for being a fool, the Empress of the Great Xia Kingdom gave him the highest praise.
It should be noted that Xiao Yu's father was a highly respected figure, both among the people of Great Xia and in the imperial court.
Even political rivals have to admire this man... He may have done the right thing, but that doesn't diminish their admiration for King Xiao's character!
"……Thanks."
Xiao Yu could sense the other party's goodwill.
Even more so, this stunningly beautiful woman's feelings for me were not just simple goodwill... there was also admiration and guilt?
It was a very complex emotion, and Xiao Yu couldn't fully understand it.
Could it be that she knows me? Or perhaps she has some connection to the Xiao Prince's Mansion?
Xiao Yu could only guess in his heart. He didn't even know the other person's name, let alone whether she had any connection with the Xiao Prince's Mansion.
This Zhen Ruohua... I need to find out her identity, even though it's definitely a fake name!
"This jade pendant is yours."
Wu Xuanhuang placed the jade pendant on the table, then turned to Shangguan Jing'er and said, "Give all the silver you have to Xiao Yu."
"yes."
Because of this poem, Shangguan Jing'er changed her opinion of Xiao Yu. While poems like "Clouds remind me of her clothes, flowers of her face" and "Ten years to hone a sword" were certainly good, they only showed that Xiao Yu was very talented in poetry.
The poem, "Of the people, only one in a hundred survives; the thought of it breaks one's heart," proves that Xiao Yu cared deeply for his country and its people; he truly deserves to be called a fine man of the Xiao Royal Family!
Then, Shangguan Jing'er took out a stack of silver notes and a bag of gold and placed them on the table.
"No need... You should take the money back."
Xiao Yu waved his hand and said, "My chicken essence and MSG will definitely sell like hotcakes. At that time, the Xiao Prince's Mansion will not be short of money, and will even become richer and richer."
"My young lady gave this to you, so just take it."
Shangguan Jing's tone was icy, even a little fierce.
"Well?"
Xiao Yu turned to look at Wu Xuanhuang and saw that she nodded as well.
Seriously, who forces people to take money?
Xiao Yu reluctantly put the silver notes into his pocket. Such a thick stack of silver notes must be worth at least several thousand taels. Hmm, this bag of gold is also heavy... It really is a wealthy family.
After receiving the money, Xiao Yu expressed his gratitude repeatedly.
"Young Master Xiao, does this poem have a title? And the previous poem, I didn't ask for its title either."
“The poem before it was called ‘The Swordsman’,” Xiao Yu replied.
The poem "Clouds yearn for clothes, flowers yearn for beauty" was given to Shen Youyu. Wu Xuanhuang didn't ask her name; she only cared about the poem she had won with a prize.
After chatting for a while, Shangguan Jing'er noticed that it was almost time and quietly reminded her.
“Young Master Xiao, let’s arrange another meeting next time… let’s choose seven days from now,” Wu Xuanhuang said after thinking for a moment.
"Okay." Xiao Yu nodded.
He also needed time to produce and market chicken bouillon and MSG, and the timeframe of seven days later suited him perfectly.
Leave the private room.
After going downstairs, Wu Xuanhuang and Shangguan Jing'er left immediately.
Aside from some men whose eyes lingered on them, most people were interested in Xiao Yu.
They immediately surrounded him, asking curiously, "Young Master Xiao, what poem did you write today? Tell us about it!"
"Yes, yes, we can't wait!"
"Young Master Xiao, today's poem must have been amazing too... Our Great Xia poetry scene is truly fortunate to have Young Master Xiao!"
"Stop arguing, all of you! Let Young Master Xiao speak!"
Everyone asked questions at once, but finally someone loudly silenced them.
"good."
Xiao Yu nodded, quite pleased that a single poem could demonstrate his divine power twice before others. He raised his head and said, "Listen carefully..."
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