Chapter 8: Pointed Daggers Drawn

  Poetry, Li Qing naturally couldn't produce one, but copying a poem would be simple. The key is that Li Qing's handwriting is extremely good, standard Yan-style script, strong and powerful, thick and majestic, with an air of grandeur that sets it apart from the elegant penmanship popular in this era. It suits his military identity quite well. With a flourish of his brush, he finishes writing, looks at the ink-stained paper, and smiles in satisfaction. It seems some skills haven't disappeared after all. He tosses the brush aside, hands the paper to Qing'er, who still has a blank expression, and says: "Please trouble Miss Qing'er to deliver this to Miss Jingyan, and see if she's satisfied?"

  Qing'er, although a maid, had been influenced by Gou Yan's teachings for a long time, so her vision was naturally not bad. She couldn't tell whether the poem was good or bad, but just this one smile character, without years of hard work, couldn't be written out. I thought it would be easy to get rid of these few soldiers, but didn't expect this result. With a strange expression, she glanced at Li Qing, took the paper in a wooden manner, and turned her body stiffly, walking step by step towards the inner room, completely losing her previous light footsteps.

  Feng Guo was also incredulous, jumping up and down on one foot, letting out a loud "ha" with each jump. After four or five "has", Li Qing finally couldn't take it anymore and scolded: "What's with all the 'has'? Be quiet!"

  Feng Guo finally came to: "Sir, you can read and write? Can even write poetry?" It's worth noting that in these years, the military men of Da Chu have improved their status a lot, and there may be many generals who can recognize characters and read military books, but if they say they can compose poetry, it's likely that there really aren't any.

  Li Qing was both annoyed and amused: "A load of nonsense."

  Feng Guo's eyes were full of stars, and several bodyguards also had a face of worship. In Great Chu, people who could read and had culture were indeed respected by others.

  Inside the house, Qingyan was tuning the zither strings, Huan Xi was sipping fine wine, and the two were chatting idly. Seeing Qing'er enter with a strange expression, Qingyan asked: "Have those military officers left?"

  Qing'er shook his head and handed over the paper in his hand: "Miss, that general really made a poem!"

  "Oh?" Meng Yan's good-looking eyes widened suddenly, and Huan Xi on the side also straightened his body. "Really made it? Won't be a poem that looks like a dog from afar and still looks like a dog up close?"

  He smiled and took the paper, saying: "Master Huan is too stingy. A military officer who can recognize characters is already very rare! Ah!" Suddenly, he let out a surprised sigh, his eyes having seen Li Qing's unique Yan-style script.

  "What's wrong with you, Meng Yan? Did that Hou Ba really write a poem that doesn't make any sense?" Huan Xi asked with a smile.

  Mingyan's expression changed, and he shook his head: "No, no, Duke Huan, this military officer is indeed different from the others. This stroke of calligraphy is extremely unusual, yet it gives people a feeling of simplicity, grandeur, and majesty, truly one-of-a-kind!"

  Huan Xi was greatly surprised, he knew that Mingyan had fallen into the world of dust, but his talent was above others, and his vision was extremely high, rarely easily giving in to people. Seeing the other's condensed fragrance gaze, he exclaimed: "Could it be that this rustic fellow is really a talented scholar? That would be truly strange, truly strange. If he has talent, why did he become a soldier?"

  At this time, Meng Yan was no longer listening to Huan Xi's words, her eyes were as if in a trance, staring only at the poem written by Li Qing, "Bu Suan Zi", not loving the worldly dust, but being misled by past karma... She wrote it out word by word, muttering to herself, while in her mind, scenes of her bitter life over the past twenty years flashed by like lightning and thunder. In an instant, the deep-seated sorrow hidden in her heart was stirred up by this poem, and for a moment, she was on the verge of tears, with pearls of tears welling up in her eyes, and a hundred emotions swirling in her chest. If I could have flowers blooming all over my head, don't ask where I'm going back to. Would I really still have such a day?

  "Miss, what's wrong?" Seeing Meng Yan's abnormality, Qing Er was extremely frightened and asked repeatedly. Huan Xi on the side thought that the school lieutenant had written a poem to insult Meng Yan, causing her to lose her composure, so she angrily said: "A rude and impudent man, I'll go teach him a lesson." She pushed the case and stood up, ready to go out.

  Mingyan was startled and suddenly woke up from her reverie, softly dissuading him: "Huan Gong, wait a moment, it's not that this school lieutenant is being rude, but rather this poem is written extremely well, to the point where it has exhausted my life, making Mingyan feel somewhat melancholic. Huan Gong, I'm truly sorry, originally wanted to help you decline the invitation, now however, cannot avoid meeting."

  Huan Xi was surprised by the other's words and burst out laughing: "No harm, I do have some expectations for this soldier. Someone who can move a young lady with just one poem is someone I've never heard of before, let me take a look."

  Mingyan smiled slightly, "So as to delay Lord Huang." He turned around and said to Qing'er, "Go invite this Colonel to come up."

  Li Qing stepped into the second floor of the small building, and from inside came the sound of a guqin being played, with a clear voice singing his newly written ci poem. His footsteps paused involuntarily as he listened to the atmosphere, and indeed, the song had brought out the full range of emotions hidden within the lyrics - the heartache, the helplessness. He thought to himself, it's true that this person is talented, yet has fallen on hard times, and seems to be a sorrowful soul as well.

  As she entered the room, the music had just ended with its last note. Meiyan stood up, slender and elegant, bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, General, for your poem."

  Li Qing cupped his hands and said: "Miss, you are overpraising me. As a humble officer serving as Eagle Valor Captain, I dare not be called General." He turned around and bowed deeply to Huan Xi: "I have seen Lord Huan!"

  Huan Xi hummed, knowing that this little school lieutenant's target today was himself. Several times he had come to the Huan manor seeking an audience without success, and now he had come as an uninvited guest. It was unexpected that he could still recite poetry and compose verses. He had thought of saying a few unpleasant words to annoy him, but considering Zhenyan's face, he didn't want to use foul language towards him, lest Zhenyan look down on himself.

  Seeing Huan Xi's unpleasant expression, Li Qing didn't think it was unexpected and had anticipated it. "Several times I requested to see Duke Huan but couldn't, yet I never thought that today we would meet here by chance, what a coincidence."

  Huan Xi hummed: "How clever, really clever. Clever to the extreme. You're called Li Qing, aren't you? Your guts aren't small. Do you know that with just one letter, I can make you go back to being a low-ranking soldier?"

  Li Qingdao said: "As for what Duke Huan said, I naturally believe it, but is Duke Huan really that kind of person?"

  Huan Xi angrily said: "Why can't I be such a person? I am indeed such a person."

  Li Qing smiled and said, "Huan Gong's medical skills are unparalleled, and he is a man of high moral character, who is uninterested in fame and wealth. If I didn't know that Huan Gong was such a person, I wouldn't have dared to come here three times without an appointment." He subtly flattered the other party, as the saying goes, "A thousand tricks can be used to deceive people, but flattering them is the most effective way."

  Huan Xi's face slightly cleared, but he was still simmering with anger. "Do you know what kind of people my patients are? Ordinary officials and nobles can't easily invite me to treat them, yet you want me to go and tend to those common soldiers' wounds? Hmph, do you think I'm some sort of itinerant doctor?"

  Li Qing said solemnly, "As a doctor, one must have a heart that sympathizes with heaven and pities the people. When it comes to saving lives and healing wounds, these men may be of humble status, but they are all sacrificing for the country and the people on the battlefield. As a doctor, and as the leader of the great Chu's medical community, how can you bear to watch them die without lifting a hand, letting these soldiers shed blood and tears?"

  Huan Xi was furious, "You say I have no compassion and no medical ethics? How detestable are you soldiers, who on the battlefield do not dare to exert your strength to kill the enemy, being beaten by the barbarians until you lose your helmets and armor, fleeing in disarray, abandoning countless civilians to the brutal barbarian army. Not spitting in your face is already your good fortune, yet you still dare to insult me like this?"

  Meng Yan saw Huan Xi get angry, and advised: "Sir Huan, calm your anger. Li the Colonel is worried about his soldiers under his command, his words were inappropriate, it was not what he really meant."

  Li Qing looked at Meng Yan with gratitude and cupped his hands, saying: "Lord Huan, please calm your anger. I'm not saying you don't have medical ethics, but it's wrong to blame these soldiers for the defeat in battle. These wounded soldiers were injured while fighting against the barbarians. If they weren't brave enough, they would have fled long ago and wouldn't have been injured."

  Huan Xi Leng knew: "So you're saying that the defeat of this war is General Xiao's problem? Or is it the responsibility of those generals?"

  Li Qing immediately shut his mouth and didn't answer. This pit that Huan Xi dug was too big, he wouldn't be stupid enough to jump in. If he had said another sentence, by tomorrow this would have reached the ears of those generals, and he, the Eagle General, would have lost his head. Looking at Huan Xi's smug expression, he couldn't help but glare at him, "The defeat at Cao Ze was a crime of not fighting!" He said with hatred.

  Both of them stared at each other with wide eyes, neither willing to give in. This made the tea smoke on one side somewhat anxious, thinking that Li Qing was really not good at talking, and yet he still spoke so sharply despite having a favor to ask of someone. Wouldn't it be better to say a few soft words? This kind of stubborn personality is not a good thing.

  "Two of you are so tense, yet filling my room with the atmosphere of war. Why don't I play a tune for you both instead - 'Eight Trigrams Ambush' perhaps?" said Meng Yan with a smile.

  Today's first chapter is presented, around 6:30 the second chapter, and the third chapter at 10 o'clock.

  Bowing, asking for votes and collections, exiting the stage.