In a moment of impulse, I forcibly kissed my brother's best friend.

"We passed the imperial examination in the same year, so we were born in the same year." Cui Yutang looked at him, his tone calm but sincere. "From now on, you can just call me by my name."

Then he looked at the others and introduced them, "Brother Zhang Shen is also from our Donglin City."

Zhou Xuan'an and Zhang Zhiyi's eyes lit up immediately. Fellow townsmen meeting again! Their Donglin City had truly had incredible luck this year—one ranked ninth, the other twenty-first, and even the last place winner was from Donglin. Who would believe it?

"Brother Zhang Shen, you've been hiding your talent! It turns out we're from the same hometown!" Zhang Zhiyi patted Zhang Shen's shoulder warmly.

Zhang Shen was a little flustered, but he was also infected by this enthusiasm and showed a shy smile.

Only Xie Wanzhou seemed slightly puzzled: "Brother Cui, aren't you from Qinghe? Why did you use 'our Donglin City'?"

Cui Yutang calmly replied, "I consider myself half a Donglin native."

"Brother Cui, from now on you are my own brother!" Zhang Zhiyi's eyes filled with tears. He never expected that he would have such deep feelings for Donglin after only two years of schooling.

Zhou Xuan'an was also deeply moved. As expected of his roommate and good friend, he put his arm around Cui Yutang's shoulder as they walked.

Cui Yutang smiled faintly, offering no further explanation, keeping his achievements and fame hidden.

The "Floating Wine Cups on a Winding Stream" banquet is a drinking and poetry-composing activity that is preserved for every newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination).

Although they couldn't produce a masterpiece like the one from the ninth year of the Yonghe era of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, everyone hoped to have a famous work that would be passed down through generations, or even to become famous overnight, so that the higher-ups would see it and pave the way for their future selection as officials.

Therefore, everyone made thorough preparations, with some even preparing their poems months in advance, just waiting for this day to make a name for themselves.

The banquet was set up in a pavilion on the banks of the Qujiang River, with a winding stream flowing by. Wine cups were placed on the water and floated downstream; whoever's cup stopped in front of them would drink and compose a poem. This should have been a harmonious and elegant affair, but today the atmosphere was somewhat subtle.

As everyone toasted and drank, some people couldn't contain themselves any longer.

The speaker was Zhao Chongyi, who ranked fifth and belonged to a branch of the Zhao family of Taiyuan.

This man was somewhat famous for his poetry in the capital. He had hoped to win first place today with a poem about peonies, but unexpectedly, Cui Yutang and Xie Wanzhou did not play by the rules and did not pick peonies and peonies as they had in previous years, leaving his prepared poem with nowhere to be displayed.

"Brother Cui, you seem to have a particular fondness for pear blossoms today; you must have a special appreciation for them." He stood up, holding his wine glass, smiling broadly, but his words carried a hidden barb. "Why don't you compose an impromptu poem on the theme of pear blossoms, and broaden our horizons?"

There was a moment of silence at the table.

This person disregarded the rules of the winding stream party and clearly had ill intentions. Everyone looked at Cui Yutang, while Zhou Xuan'an and the others glared angrily at Zhao Chongyi.

Zhang Zhiyi was about to retort when Cui Yutang raised his hand to stop him.

He put down his wine glass without refusing.

"In that case, I, Cui, will respectfully comply."

He glanced at the pear blossom in the vase, its petals as white as snow, quiet and solitary. He remembered her smiling as she leaned against the wall with the flower in her hand, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Then he spoke:

"The pure white blossom does not vie for the beauty of peaches and plums."

A delicate fragrance subtly permeates the walls of countless homes.

I wish to transform this body into spring snow.

They scattered into the fields to protect the wheat seedlings.

As soon as the first two lines were uttered, everyone nodded slightly—the intention of praising the pear blossom's lack of contention and its serene beauty was already quite remarkable.

But what truly strikes the heart are the last two lines.

"I wish to transform my body into spring snow, scattering it into the fields to protect the wheat seedlings."

This isn't just about pear blossoms. It's using pear blossoms as a metaphor for oneself—wishing to transform one's talent and achievements into spring snow nourishing the fields, to protect the people who toil in the fields.

The room fell silent for a moment.

A burst of enthusiastic applause erupted, with Zhang Shen clapping the hardest until his palms turned red.

The host was Xu Jingzong, the Minister of Rites. He stroked his beard for a long time and sighed, "What a fine line, 'scattering into the fields to protect the wheat seedlings.' Scholar Cui comes from a prestigious family, yet he cares deeply for the common people. This magnanimity is even more precious than his poetic talent."

Zhao Chongyi's smile froze for a moment, and he slowly joined in the clapping, though the applause sounded somewhat forced.

He had intended to use his poetic talent to outshine Cui Yutang, but instead, he was made to appear narrow-minded. In this round, he lost completely.

In the tower opposite the Qushui Liushang Pavilion, a man and a woman were sitting.

The man was refined and elegant, with skin so fair it was almost translucent, yet his eyes were deep and unfathomable, as if they could see through everything. The woman was graceful and noble, with an imposing presence; her slightly upturned phoenix eyes exuded an air of quiet authority.

Someone simultaneously copied the poem and presented it to the man.

"As expected of the top scholar personally selected by me, this lad is quite interesting." After reading it, he chuckled and handed the paper to the woman beside him, "Your Majesty, please take a look as well."

The woman took the note and examined it carefully. Her phoenix eyes were slightly upturned, and her gaze was full of feminine charm.

"What are Your Majesty's plans for using him?"

The man turned to the woman affectionately: "Qing, do you have any suggestions?"

The woman leaned close to his ear and whispered something in his ear.

"As expected of my Empress, I have enough with you." He gently patted her hand, his eyes full of doting affection.

The two then got up and left hand in hand.

"Just send the copies of the others to my desk," the man said casually before leaving.

"Yes, sir."

As the sun began to set, the poetry gathering, where wine cups floated on a winding stream, gradually came to an end.

The newly appointed scholars solemnly handed their best works to the servants left behind by Xu Jingzong.

They were all still enjoying themselves and left in twos and threes.

Zhang Zhiyi put his arm around Zhou Xuan'an's shoulder and said, "Brother Xuan'an, your food is delicious. Let me come over for a meal today."

Xie Wanzhou, a foodie herself, brightened up upon hearing this: "How exactly does it taste good?"

"They actually poached a chef from Linshui Pavilion, and his cooking skills are absolutely amazing," Zhang Zhiyi said, swallowing hard.

"Brother Zhou, you're truly a hidden talent! You even managed to find a cook from Linshui Pavilion?" Xie Wanzhou became interested. "Count me in?"

"Brother Xie, we are truly kindred spirits!" Zhang Zhiyi was deeply moved, and he immediately abandoned Zhou Xuan'an and put his arm around Xie Wanzhou instead.

"Alright, alright, go ahead." Zhou Xuan'an rolled his eyes at the two of them, speechless, then turned to Cui Yutang, "Brother Yutang, would you like to come along? By the way, you've never been to my residence before."

Strangely enough, according to their relationship, he and Cui Yutang were once roommates and close friends, which no one else could compare to.

He didn't know why, but ever since arriving in the capital, he felt that Cui Yutang was avoiding him. If it were anyone else, he would have overthought things, thinking that Cui Yutang was beneath him because of his status. But he knew Cui Yutang; he was definitely not that kind of person.

Perhaps due to his strict family traditions, he was certainly not as free in the capital as he was in Donglin.

His poor brother.

"Okay, let's go together." Cui Yutang smiled faintly.

So the four of them, along with Zhang Shen, made their way to the Zhou residence in a grand procession.