Making you a son-in-law is not about making you conquer the world.

Liu Yong requests an audience.

The doorman began calling out the names in a loud voice.

Lin Ping was taken aback, thinking that he had mastered a summoning spell, or that Liu Yong had learned Cao Cao's ability to summon at will.

According to the previous agreement, Liu Yong should have requested an audience three days later. Now that only two days have passed, it seems that he has already completed the poem "Butterfly Loves Flowers" that Lin Ping requested.

In fact, Liu Yong had just finished his masterpiece not long after leaving. He was afraid that he would be scolded by Lin Ping if he came too early, so he deliberately delayed for two days. Now he could no longer suppress his longing for Chongniang, so he rushed to see her despite the risk of being scolded.

If it were according to Lin Ping's usual character, he would definitely not have allowed him to enter. The agreed three days should be three days, so as to establish the authority of the teacher. However, today Liu Yong was extremely lucky and happened to appear just when Lin Ping wanted to see him.

"Let him in," Lin Ping said lazily, having already suppressed his inner joy.

He was a spendthrift, how could he be overjoyed at the request of a talented scholar? He had to maintain the spoiled and dissolute nature unique to spendthrifts.

Liu Yong was still wearing a scholar's robe, but he had changed it to a silk one. In addition, he had just trimmed his beard, so he had a bit of the image of a handsome young gentleman.

To be honest, Liu Yong frequented brothels and was naturally a spendthrift. He had already spent most of the thousand taels of silver Lin Ping had given him, and this outfit was the best proof of that.

"So he's come to my city lord's mansion to find a wife..." Lin Ping carefully examined Liu Yong, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Lin Ping didn't think Liu Yong dressed up as a handsome young man for his own benefit; it was like a peacock spreading its tail feathers.

Of course, Lin Ping could also interpret this dialectically, thinking that Liu Yong had already completed the task he had assigned.

"Student Liu Yong greets his esteemed teacher," Liu Yong said with a bow, a bright smile always on his face, the unspoken message being: surely I can finally see Insect Girl today.

Lin Ping disliked seeing others act so confidently in front of him. He nodded with a stiff face and asked disdainfully, "What? Have you finished the 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' poem that I assigned?"

Liu Yong still clasped his hands together, his expression showing not only respect but also pride.

"I am not very talented, but I have actually written one. I would like to ask my esteemed teacher to appreciate it." Liu Yong said with a proud look on his face, his head already held high.

Reciting poetry with an air of arrogance is a sign of respect for the work, but it is not disrespectful to Lin Ping.

"Liu Yong, I suppose your poem 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' expresses your longing for the Insect Maiden. Why don't you let your teacher polish your writing?" Lin Ping said with a sly smile.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yong was somewhat surprised. This poem, "Butterfly Loves Flowers," was entirely an expression of his longing for Chongniang. Of course, it was not surprising that Lin Ping could guess it, since Liu Yong's words and actions revealed this sentiment.

As for the matter of paying for writing, Liu Yong expressed his doubts. He said, "You, Lin Ping, are nothing but a spendthrift who can't even read a few characters. How can you be qualified to pay for writing for others? Do you want to express those profound artistic conceptions with dirty jokes?"

Thinking of this, Liu Yong couldn't help but shake his head, regretting that he hadn't just recited the poems directly.

It was common for a master to tip his disciple for his writing. Once Lin Ping opened his mouth, even if what he said was utter rubbish, Liu Yong would have to correct it without hesitation, otherwise he would be accused of disrespecting his teacher.

"This..." Liu Yong stammered, subtly expressing his refusal.

Clearly, Liu Yong was very satisfied with his poems and did not want Lin Ping to ruin their artistic conception. If Lin Ping wasn't a fool, he should be able to understand what Liu Yong meant.

If Lin Ping were a fool, then there would probably be no smart people in the world. He naturally understood Liu Yong's meaning, and his face darkened slightly. He said coldly, "Do you think that my abilities are limited? Or that I am not qualified to be your mentor? In that case, from this moment on, we will sever our master-disciple relationship, and you can forget about ever stepping into the city lord's mansion again."

Liu Yong turned pale and immediately knelt on the ground, pleading, "This student dares not, please, my esteemed teacher, polish your writing."

Severing the master-disciple relationship is not as simple as it sounds. Liu Yong would be labeled as a traitor to his master and ancestors, and people would gossip about him on the street. Moreover, once this relationship is gone, Liu Yong will never be able to see Chongniang again.

Lin Ping nodded in satisfaction, thinking to himself: Fighting against the heavens is endlessly enjoyable, and fighting against Master Ping is a fight to the death.

Next, it was Lin Ping's turn to speak. The thought of his painstakingly crafted poem being destroyed filled Liu Yong with anguish; he wished he could become deaf so that he wouldn't have to make any changes.

"I stand leaning against the high tower, the wind is gentle. I gaze into the distance, spring sorrow rises darkly on the horizon..." Lin Ping recited loudly, but forgot the last few lines. He then said to Liu Yong seriously, "As the saying goes, the master leads you through the door, but the practice depends on yourself. From now on, you are free to improvise."

Liu Yong's eyes nearly popped out as he stared at Lin Ping in astonishment, not only because the three lines were so profound, but also because they were exactly the same as his own.

This poem, "Butterfly Loves Flowers," is a new work by Liu Yong, which he has never mentioned to outsiders and doesn't even have a manuscript. Even if Lin Ping had extraordinary abilities, he shouldn't know its contents.

"Amidst the fading light of the setting sun, the grass is green and the smoke is dim. Who can understand my silent thoughts as I lean on the railing... My clothes grow looser, yet I have no regrets, for I am wasting away for her." Liu Yong completes the poem by following Lin Ping's three lines.

"That's right, it's this line: 'I grow thinner and thinner, yet I have no regrets. For her sake, I grow haggard and worn.'"

Lin Ping nodded excitedly, as if he had rediscovered memories of his student days.

Lin Ping had memorized many poems during his junior and senior high school years, but unfortunately, he wasted all of them during his four years of university, and only remembered fragments of most of them. This poem, "Butterfly Loves Flowers," is the best example of this.

"Your Excellency is truly a man of great talent, and I admire you greatly." Liu Yong said respectfully, half-prostrate on the ground. This was the first time he had ever sincerely admired Lin Ping, and he even mistakenly thought he had found a great teacher.

Lin Ping immediately adopted a humble demeanor and said seriously, "I dare not claim to be a great talent. At most, I'm just an extra stroke on the top of the character 'great,' barely qualifying as a genius."

The ancient understanding of the word "genius" was somewhat different from that of the modern understanding. The so-called genius was someone whose talent was envied by the heavens, far superior to a great talent.

Liu Yong was filled with remorse. How could he have been so blinded by greed as to praise such a spendthrift? This fellow's ability to seize an opportunity was truly remarkable.

"After my polishing, this poem 'Butterfly Loves Flowers' is not bad." Lin Ping nodded, shamelessly taking credit for himself.

"Little Li, take Liu Yong to Chongniang's room. Make sure to keep a close watch outside the door. If you hear a cat meowing, don't be alarmed." Just as Liu Yong was about to complain, Lin Ping said seriously.

Liu Yong immediately broke into a smile.