The Great Song Dynasty's Soul-Forging in Progress

Wang Zhonghua smiled slightly, a playful smile reminiscent of Louis Koo's on his handsome face: "The value of poetry lies in genuine emotion, not in quantity. Since you all wish to hear a new piece..." He paused briefly, gazing at the lake and mountains outside the window, and then recited aloud:

"The lake ripples beautifully in the sunshine, and the snow-covered landscape is equally enchanting."

If Longhu were compared to the fairyland of Gusha, it would always be beautiful in its simple attire.

Xian Ge Lake, also known as Long Lake, is the subject of this poem. The first line describes a sunny scene, the second a snowy one, the third uses a metaphor, and the fourth offers a general praise. The allusions are apt, and the metaphors are exquisite, praising both the beauty of the lake and the purity of winter, capturing both its spirit and charm. The entire poem contains not a single word of "cold," yet the essence of winter is palpable.

The moment this poem was recited, everyone present was astonished.

Someone murmured, "This...this metaphor is exquisite, its meaning transcendent..."

Zhao Zongyuan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. He clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent poem! Excellent poem! However..." He changed the subject, "Since the theme is a lake, it's rather ordinary. How about we each write a poem about plum blossoms?"

As soon as he finished speaking, several scholars behind him were eager to try.

Wang Zhonghua nodded with a smile and extended his hand, saying, "Please go first, Your Highness."

Zhao Zongyuan waved his hand, and the scholars immediately gathered together, whispering and exchanging ideas for a while before Liu Sanbian recited the following:

"The magnolia blossoms open before the year's end, and I stand alone facing the cold river, reflecting my image."

Its pure fragrance settles on the clear water; there's no need for bees and butterflies to suspect it.

The poem not only describes the plum blossom's fragrance and purity, but also subtly satirizes Wang Zhonghua's "mad bees and butterflies"—it's a dig at the two women around him.

After Liu Sanbian finished reciting, the scholars cheered loudly!

"Wonderful! 'No need for bees and butterflies to suspect each other'—this sentiment, this integrity, is truly a stroke of genius!"

"Mr. Liu truly deserves to be called a renowned scholar of our time!"

Zhao Zongyuan looked at Wang Zhonghua smugly: "Young Master Wang, it's your turn."

Wang Zhonghua smiled slightly.

He naturally understood the sarcasm in the poem—the line "No need for bees and butterflies to guess in vain" meant that the two women accompanying him were "mad bees and butterflies," overestimating their own abilities.

He glanced at Liu Xinyi and Qin Tiehua standing in the corner, then at the smug Zhao Zongyuan, and chuckled to himself: As an amateur writer, he could occasionally write a few lines of modern poetry, at least better than the "toilet humor" of some first-prize winners in major competitions, but compared to these "ancient people" who do nothing all day but recite poems, his skills were absolutely insignificant. It seems he still has to borrow the poems of the "ancient people".

He picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and slowly recited:

"All the flowers have faded, yet she alone remains radiant, captivating the small garden with her charm."

Sparse shadows slant across the clear, shallow water; a subtle fragrance drifts in the twilight.

The poem's lofty elegance, tranquility, and transcendent atmosphere instantly made the previous poem, "The Qionghua Has Not Yet Bloomed," seem utterly vulgar.

The room was completely silent.

Some people's wine glasses froze in mid-air, while others stared wide-eyed, forgetting to close their mouths.

Even the few scholars who had been praising it just moments before were now looking at each other, speechless.

"Sparse shadows slant across the clear, shallow water; a faint fragrance drifts in the twilight..." someone murmured, repeating the lines with a voice filled with awe. "This...this is a line a human could write?"

Zhao Zongyuan's face turned ashen; he was extremely embarrassed.

He looked at Liu Sanbian, only to find that this "renowned scholar of the time" was staring blankly at Wang Zhonghua, a complex and indescribable look flashing in his eyes—a shock as if he had been struck in a vital spot.

Liu Sanbian stood there, the line "Sparse shadows slant across the clear, shallow water" still echoing in his ears.

He had written countless poems about plum blossoms, some graceful, some elegant, some tender, but he had never written such a sentence before—these simple fourteen characters that captured the very soul of the plum blossom.

He suddenly remembered the lyrics he had written in his youth, the lines that were sung by courtesans in brothels and alleys, and the works that were known as "wherever there is well water, there are songs of Liu Yong."

Compared to the person in front of me...

He was somewhat dazed.

Seeing Liu Sanbian's stunned expression, Zhao Zongyuan grew even more furious. He abruptly stood up and said coldly, "Young Master Wang is indeed quite talented! However..." He changed the subject, "Poetry is a minor art, merely a game for scholars. I've heard that Miss Liu is highly skilled in medicine; why not have her demonstrate her abilities as well?"

This is a shift in the focus of criticism towards Liu Xinyi.

Wang Zhonghua frowned slightly, about to speak, when he heard Liu Xinyi say calmly, "Your Highness flatters me. I am merely smattering on medical skills; how could I dare to show off in front of you all?"

"Hey—" Zhao Zongyuan waved his hand, "Miss Liu, why be so modest? Your understanding of gossip through medicine has left a deep impression on me."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Liu Sanbian suddenly stepped forward.

He looked at Liu Xinyi, his gaze earnest: "Miss, I also have some knowledge of medicine. May I ask you a few questions?"

Liu Xinyi was slightly taken aback.

She looked at Liu Sanbian, but found that there was no frivolity or provocation in his eyes like Zhao Zongyuan's; instead, there was a hint of...seriousness?

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Please speak."

Liu Sanbian thought for a moment and said, "I once read an article that said, 'Parents who raise their children but do not teach them do not love their children. Even if they teach, if they are not strict, they still do not love their children. Parents who teach but whose children do not learn do not love their children. Even if their children learn but are not diligent, they still do not love their children.' May I ask, young lady, is there any connection between this principle and medical principles?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhonghua was shocked.

He certainly knew the source of this passage—it was Liu Yong's "Exhortation to Learning," written when he later served as the magistrate of Yuhang County. But at this time, Liu Sanbian had not yet passed the imperial examination and had not yet become an official, so how could he have written such a passage?

Unless... he's been keeping this article to himself all along, and just hasn't shown it to anyone yet?

Liu Xinyi was also stunned.

She looked at Liu Sanbian, a hint of surprise in her eyes: "This...this was made by you, sir?"

Liu Sanbian nodded slightly, but there was a hint of unease in his expression: "It was just... something that came to mind when I had nothing to do."

Liu Xinyi was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Medical principles and human ethics are inherently interconnected. Parents educating their children is like a doctor treating patients; both require dedication. Without dedication, children will not thrive, and illnesses will not be cured. For you to write such words, you must be... a person with a heart."

Her tone was calm, without any sarcasm, but rather with a hint of genuine approval.

Liu Sanbian was stunned.

He had expected this woman to be as cold and sarcastic as she had been at the Taihao Mausoleum that day, trying to embarrass him. But she wasn't.

She actually called him a "thoughtful person".

He suddenly remembered the poem "Crane Soaring to the Sky" that he had written when he was young: "I would rather exchange fleeting fame for leisurely drinking and singing." Over the years, he had been numbing himself with "leisurely drinking and singing," telling himself that being a "minister in plain clothes" was also good, and that he didn't need to care about those fleeting fame.

But does he really not care?

If he truly didn't care, why would he participate in the imperial examinations time and time again? If he truly didn't care, why would he sigh under the lonely lamp in the dead of night?

Seeing Liu Sanbian and Liu Xinyi chatting, Zhao Zongyuan's expression grew even more unpleasant. He sneered, "Mr. Liu, are you trying to discuss philosophy with her?"

Liu Sanbian snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please forgive me, I was just..."

"Enough!" Zhao Zongyuan waved his hand, then looked at Wang Zhonghua. "Young Master Wang, we've discussed poetry and medicine, so let's get down to business. I've heard that your Xiange Tower is known as the 'Number One Tower in Chenzhou.' Would you dare to make a bet with me?"

Wang Zhonghua remained calm: "What does the young master want to bet on?"

Zhao Zongyuan smiled slightly, took out a gold ingot from his pocket, and slammed it on the table: "Let's bet on your 'Drunken Eight Immortals' recipe. If I lose, this gold ingot is yours; if you lose, from this day forward, the secret recipe for your 'Drunken Eight Immortals' must be handed over to me!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

This isn't a bet, it's clearly someone trying to sabotage the event!

Wang Zhonghua looked at the gold ingot, then at Zhao Zongyuan's smug face, and suddenly laughed.

"Your Highness, this bet is probably unfair."

"Oh?" Zhao Zongyuan raised an eyebrow. "How is it unfair?"

Wang Zhonghua said slowly, "If the young master loses, he only loses a tael of gold; but if I lose, I have to hand over the secret recipe. This wager is far too light."

Zhao Zongyuan's expression changed slightly: "Then what do you want?"

Wang Zhonghua thought for a moment and said, "How about this—if the young master loses, in addition to this ingot of gold, he must also grant this humble subject one condition."

"What are the conditions?"

"Well..." Wang Zhonghua looked at Liu Sanbian, "This humble subject hasn't decided yet. But Your Highness, rest assured, I will certainly not make things difficult for you."

Zhao Zongyuan frowned deeply.

He had intended to take the opportunity to suppress Wang Zhonghua, but unexpectedly he was outmaneuvered instead.

But if he backs down in front of everyone, how can he save face?