I am the villain in the book

Song Zhengming coughed up blood in anger, but he wasn't about to die just yet. He just widened his eyes and slumped back into his chair once more.

But no matter what happened to him in the future, the label of "contempt for the ruler" that Wei Changtian had pinned on him was impossible to remove.

No one had expected things to develop in this way. They all stared blankly until Liang Zhen's loud laughter rang out from nearby.

“Hahaha! Good!”

Liang Zhen stood up from his seat and walked over, clearly very happy.

He even felt that Wei Changtian's actions were far more satisfying than simply cutting Song Zhengming down with a knife.

“Changtian, let’s go!”

Now that the matter was settled, Liang Zhen happily prepared to leave.

But Wei Changtian didn't budge. “Uncle Liang, there’s still one thing to take care of.”

Liang Zhen was stunned. “What is it?”

“Of course, it’s Miss Su Yu.”

“This...”

Liang Zhen never expected that even at this point, Wei Changtian would still be thinking about him sleeping with a woman.

Although Su Yu would definitely choose him now, it felt a bit like bullying with power…

“Changtian, this matter…”

Liang Zhen hesitated, but Wei Changtian interrupted with a smile, “Uncle Liang, these are two separate things.”

“……”

Liang Zhen glanced at Su Yu, who was still standing dumbfounded on the stage, unsure of what to think. He shook his head and said, “Let’s just forget about it.”

“Why forget about it?”

Wei Changtian said sternly, “Just because of that lousy poem?”

“Uncle Liang, you’ve been in the military for decades, fighting countless demons and enemies for the peace of the world. How can such heroic achievements be overshadowed by a vulgar poem about a woman?!”

“I won’t allow it!”

“……”

No, what was all this about?

Liang Zhen was speechless for a moment, but at the same time, he was also a little inexplicably moved.

Indeed, he had joined the army at the age of sixteen and risked his life for Da Ning for so many years. Now, he couldn't even sleep with a woman?

Sleep! He had to sleep with her!

He immediately stopped refusing, and Wei Changtian continued, “Besides, it’s just a poem. I have one too!”

“Since Layman Song thinks his poem is worth a thousand gold, then I will give Uncle Liang a poem as well, so that Layman Song can judge how much it’s worth!”

“Paper! Brush!”

With a wave of his hand, Liang Zhen's personal guard immediately moved the entire table with writing utensils over from the side.

“Swish! Swish, swish, swish!”

Without hesitation, Wei Changtian picked up the brush and quickly wrote four short lines of poetry, then handed the paper to Liang Zhen.

“Hahahaha! Good poem! This is a good poem!”

His hearty laughter was even louder than before, and his joyful expression didn't seem fake at all.

Everyone was puzzled. Even Song Zhengming, with bloodstains still on his lips, stared intently at the thin rice paper, wondering what kind of poem Wei Changtian had written.

Although everyone was extremely curious, no one dared to urge Liang Zhen. They all just looked at each other and waited silently.

It wasn't until the laughter gradually subsided and the deep voice slowly recited the entire poem that everyone's expressions began to change dramatically.

Some were so excited that they couldn't add anything. Some opened their mouths in surprise, and some showed a look of enthusiasm…

“Why doesn't a man carry Wu hooks?”

“Brandishing swords, he can stand astride twelve states.”

“Please, sir, ascend Lingyan Pavilion for a while.”

“How can a scholar be a marquis of ten thousand households!”

“……”

Without a doubt, this poem, filled with contempt for scholars and literati, was not written for Su Yu, but for Song Zhengming.

However, Wei Changtian changed one of the lines.

The original second line of the poem was “Recapture the fifty states of Guanshan,” which has now been changed to “Brandishing swords, he can stand astride twelve states.”

This "twelve states" refers to the twelve prefectures located on the border of Da Ning and does not affect the overall artistic conception of the poem.

“Layman Song, do you understand this poem?”

After Liang Zhen finished reciting the poem, Wei Changtian smiled and looked down at Song Zhengming. “Do you want me to explain it to you?”

“You…”

Song Zhengming widened his eyes, his body trembling.

“It seems you don’t understand.”

Wei Changtian shook his head in feigned surprise and explained to himself, “This poem says that a real man should do more to slay demons and kill enemies, instead of just showing off his writing skills in this place of smoke and willows.”

“If you don’t believe me, you can go to Lingyan Pavilion, where meritorious officials are commended by the imperial court, and count how many scholars and literati are enshrined there?”

“Well, that’s generally it. Do you understand now?”

“Huh? Layman Song was quite eloquent just now, why are you not speaking now?”

“Or should I explain it more directly?”

Wei Changtian leaned close to Song Zhengming's ear, who was about to faint from anger, and whispered, “What I mean is, a hypocrite like you…”

“Is not a man.”

“……”

“Pfft!”

A column of blood shot into the air.

After spitting out this mouthful of blood, Song Zhengming actually rolled his eyes and fainted.

“Uncle Liang.”

Wei Changtian smacked his lips and stood up, saying to Liang Zhen, who was still immersed in the unrestrained poetic mood, “We can go now.”

“Good!”

Liang Zhen came back to his senses and turned to look at Su Yu on the stage.

The latter was already so frightened that she couldn't speak. Fortunately, the fat county magistrate reacted quickly and hurriedly urged, “Miss Su Yu, what are you still standing there for?! Hurry up and go with Lord Liang!”

“Yes, yes…”

Su Yu replied quickly, but her feet felt as if they were filled with lead, making it difficult to move.

She looked around for help, but the maids and madam had already hidden away, leaving her all alone.

Fortunately, a veiled woman came up from the stage and gently pulled her.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Yang Liushi supported Su Yu and smiled softly, “They won’t eat you.”

“……”

Although Su Yu knew that the woman in front of her had come with Wei Changtian, she did feel a lot more relaxed after hearing these words. At least she was finally able to take a step forward.

She thanked her softly as she walked with Yang Liushi.

“Su Yu thanks… Madam.”

“Hehe, what madam am I?”

Yang Liushi smiled happily and said softly, “I used to be a courtesan just like you.”

“It’s just that I was tricked away by Young Master Wei with a poem.”

“Ah?”

Su Yu was stunned and subconsciously asked, “May I ask, sister, which poem was it?”

“It’s the one you envy so much…”

Ignoring Su Yu's incredibly surprised gaze, Yang Liushi silently raised her eyes to look at Wei Changtian not far away.

“Clouds resemble her clothes, flowers her face…”

“Brandishing swords, he can stand astride twelve states…”

“Young Master, one day I will understand you…”

“……”

An incense stick later.

Wei Changtian and the others took the carriage and went back to the inn with Su Yu.

However, just as the carriage had traveled some distance, Wei Changtian seemed to suddenly remember something and shouted, “Oh no! I forgot something!”

“What’s wrong, Young Master?”

Yang Liushi, who had been looking at him thoughtfully, was also startled. “What did you forget?”

“Miss Yu Meng!”

Wei Changtian's expression was extremely annoyed. “I forgot to bring her back too! I wasted a hundred taels of silver for nothing!”

Yang Liushi: “……”

Young Master is really hard to understand.