My Wife Is A Sword Immortal
Chapter 229 - 188 Keeping a Low Profile

Chapter 229: Chapter 188 Keeping a Low Profile

"So, Rong’er, you got into Linlu Academy because of that letter, and that letter of recommendation might have been obtained by Teacher Fang from the State Preceptor?"

Lingfei sorted through what Zhao Rong had just told her in her mind and spoke softly.

Zhao Rong glanced at her expression and nodded, "If it weren’t for the help of the old grandmother at home, that would be it."

Lingfei thought for a moment and said, "It must have been Teacher Fang’s doing."

Just now, Zhao Rong had talked to her about the things that had happened on the road over the past six months.

Lingfei listened with utmost seriousness, pondering every detail.

Seeing that his wife was very interested in his experiences, Zhao Rong suddenly panicked. At present, some people and matters obviously couldn’t be fully disclosed, he could only briefly mention them in passing. But it couldn’t always be like this, especially since Qing Jun was so intelligent.

No, he would have to find an opportunity to explain everything to her... and there was also the matter with little Xiao Xiao...

As Zhao Rong weighed his thoughts, he suddenly felt a headache coming on.

He glanced at Lingfei; she was looking down in thought, holding one of his hands with both of hers, gently caressing Zhao Rong’s palm with her soft fingertips.

Zhao Rong cleared his throat quietly, thinking of Lin Wenruo, and was about to share with Lingfei the affairs of Zhongnan Country when Green Pearl arrived at their table, excited, passing over a slip of paper that carried a floral fragrance.

It turned out to be a collection of poems composed during the literary gathering. The Falling Flower Grade poems had been transcribed by the young maidens and were being distributed for the enjoyment of the guests, who could also take them home as a memento for having witnessed the birth of these recognized poems.

Zhao Rong raised an eyebrow as he took the paper and, along with Lingfei, looked down at it.

They found there were a couplet of poetry and a lyric poem.

Green Pearl said with a smile:

"This poem has reached the Falling Flower Grade. Although it’s not as rare as the State of No Self, attaining the State of With Self is already quite remarkable. Recently, I haven’t heard of any new Falling Flower Grade poems at the poetry meetings. It’s fortunate to encounter one today. It was written by that Master Du, truly impressive."

Zhao Rong quickly read it over in silence, finding it indeed not bad.

Green Pearl then tilted her head, saying with vivacious charm: "This lyric poem was composed by Fairy Liu; it reached the Ascending Grade. Fairy Liu isn’t a Confucian Scholar, yet she can compose recognized poetry. She’s truly talented. It’s a pity that she has not studied Confucianism..."

Zhao Rong nodded slightly and handed the paper to his wife; then he looked up towards the front.

The table where Du Yifu and Liu Kongyi were sitting had become the center of the literary gathering.

Many people stood nearby, nodding as they observed the two poems on the table, both of which exhibited signs of uniqueness.

Du Yifu, in the face of others’ praises, remained composed, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, modestly saying, "It’s merely a fluke."

Liu Kongyi, with an appropriate smile, responded to the adulation from the other ladies. Her gaze swept over the hall and noticed that nearly all the attention was on her, which pleased her immensely.

For a moment, as if recalling something, she glanced surreptitiously at Lingfei’s position. Seeing Lingfei with Zhao Rong, both peering down at her poem, Liu Kongyi’s mouth curved in satisfaction. Then she shifted her gaze away without lingering any longer.

At Zhao Rong and his wife’s table:

Green Pearl silently recited a few lines of the poetry and found the rhythm had a pleasing sound, easy on the tongue. She laughed and said, "How false... Mister Zhao, Fairy Zhao, what do you think of these two poems? Mmm, they do sound delightful when read out loud."

Having said that, she recited a few more lines,

Zhao Rong chuckled and made a few comments about the prosody, to which Green Pearl scratched her head but still bobbed her head like a pecking chick, blinking and saying, "Indeed, indeed."

Zhao Rong watched the inexperienced maid pretending to understand and could not help but be amused.

However, he thought this was quite good. Like the maid, although not versed in the rules of poetry and criticism, the natural appreciation and the repeated savouring of the flavor of poetry was, perhaps, the purest way for an outsider to enjoy the beauty of poetry.

What’s the harm in not understanding? Read it a hundred times, and if it’s enjoyable each time, that is the highest joy one can derive from it.

Zhao Lingfei also smiled and nodded her head.

Lvzhu hopped and skipped away.

After she left, Zhao Lingfei leaned against Zhao Rong and whispered in his ear with her head tilted back slightly, "Brother Rong’er, I can’t understand it, but it looks like it must be good."

Zhao Rong smiled. Well, there goes another little fool, and an even bigger fool at that.

But... that was his wife. It was good to be a bit silly, good indeed, not to worry.

Being too clever and too perfect sometimes made Zhao Rong feel unreal.

Just like the male residence students of Taiching Prefecture, who always regarded Zhao Lingfei as an untouchable Qinglian, a fairy to be admired from afar but not to be disrespected.

But which of them knew that behind her cool and lofty exterior, the celebrated beauty of Taiching Prefecture was actually a clumsy girl who, for her beloved, tried to learn needlework and secretly sew clothes and embroider, yet awkwardly stitched a mandarin duck that ended up looking more like a fat duck?

The cuteness and foolishness were known only to him.

Feigning thoughtfulness for a moment and with a serious expression, Zhao Rong said, "It’s fine, actually those few lines I said were just nonsense. Who knows why she nodded."

Zhao Lingfei stared at him with wide eyes, and the next second, she chuckled, tilting her head and squinting her eyes. Holding Zhao Rong’s arm, she said crisply, "You’re really not honest. Tell me, have you ever bluffed me like this?"

Zhao Rong’s eyelid twitched and he quickly raised his right hand, extending four fingers, swearing to the heavens.

Truth be told, he hadn’t said anything to deceive Qing Jun, except when talking about the journey, he had temporarily hidden the encounter with a little fox demon without going into details... But why was he feeling so nervous?

Zhao Rong held his gaze steady and prepared to speak without looking away.

Zhao Lingfei reached out and grabbed his hand, pushing it down without allowing Zhao Rong to swear an oath.

What she wanted was only Brother Rong’er’s attitude.

Zhao Lingfei nodded in satisfaction and then turned to watch the lively poets and beauties at the literary gathering, exchanging verses and drinking in turn.

"Brother Rong’er, why not join them and write a poem for fun? You don’t have to mind me. Although I don’t understand these things, I can prepare the paper and grind the ink for you."

Zhao Rong looked over and felt it was a bit uninteresting. He already had Qing Jun; she wouldn’t think less of him because of others’ opinions, and Zhao Rong likewise didn’t care for the scrutiny of strangers. Therefore, unless necessary, such as in response to overt provocation or ridicule, there was no need to try to grab the spotlight.

It was better to sit quietly in his place like the other seniors at the scene.

The beauty beside him, wasn’t she fragrant?

Look at the seniors. All were sitting upright like the eldest senior brother, earnestly explaining classic texts to their female companions, soaring together in the ocean of learning. Qing Jun’s senior sisters seemed deeply absorbed, not even bothering to make tea or light the incense burner, just sitting there, listening with expressionless faces...

Zhao Rong withdrew his gaze, shook his head, and looked directly at his wife. "I won’t go. I will only write poems for you now."

Zhao Lingfei pursed her lips, tightening her grip on Zhao Rong’s arm.

She shifted her gaze, dodging Zhao Rong’s straightforward, melting look.

But then Zhao Lingfei’s thoughts drifted to the love letters Zhao Rong had written for her, and she couldn’t help but look at him again, feeling that having him in her life was enough.

Suddenly, the poem "Shang Ye" that Zhao Rong had written for her flashed through Zhao Lingfei’s mind.

He must have thought about this Falling Flower Grade, State of No Self poem for a long time on the road before that "beautiful accident" happened, right?

He had lost so much weight on the journey...

Zhao Lingfei couldn’t bear to think any longer, her heart aching for him.