Luo Binwang sat across from Wu Mei, Di Renjie, and the others.
Luo Binwang was fourteen or fifteen years old, about the same age as Li Yuanying, but his face looked much more mature. His brows and eyes held a hint of aloofness. He had caught the attention of Wu Mei and the others not because he boasted of his literary talent, claiming he could write poetry at the age of seven, but because someone who knew him had been relentlessly teasing him, reciting his “Goose, Goose, Goose,” and mocking him, “Don’t you claim to be able to write poetry at the age of seven? How come you’re so down on your luck?”
Luo Binwang’s father had once served as a minor official in Qingzhou. He had followed his father to his post, but later his father died while in office, leaving him with no family and forcing him to wander around Yanzhou, living a very meager existence. As a child, he was the quintessential “other people’s child,” and he didn’t know how to keep a low profile. There were many who disliked him.
Just as he reached the entrance of the academy, before he could even enter, a group of people surrounded him and ridiculed him. While their intention was to embarrass him, they unwittingly did him a great favor by drawing the attention of Wu Mei and her group.
Luo Binwang had inquired about Li Yuanying’s activities since his arrival in Tengzhou. Although Li Yuanying seemed to enjoy luxury and loved to make a big show of things, he had never engaged in heavy taxes or extortion. On the contrary, the lives of many residents in Tengzhou had gradually improved. Some even took the initiative to bring their relatives from neighboring prefectures to work, with reportedly high wages!
Luo Binwang had come here to try his luck. It was said that people like him, who were of a similar age and could read and write, could find a position within the academy. If he could impress the scholars, he might be able to study with the scholars of the Hongwen Pavilion, a privilege many yearned for!
Sitting before Wu Mei and the others, Luo Binwang felt a little uneasy.
Wu Mei noticed his nervousness. She and Di Renjie took turns asking him a few questions, finding him quite impressive. They didn’t make things difficult for him, but simply asked him to write an essay on the academy’s development, emphasizing content over literary flair.
After the “interview,” Wu Mei and the others left Luo Binwang alone in the quiet room to write. Outside, Di Renjie expressed his opinion first, “I think this Luo Binwang is quite good.”
Lu Zhaolin said, “The ‘Ode to the Goose’ is catchy and easy to recite. I think it can be included in the poetry curriculum.”
Li Yuanying, who always liked to come up with ideas but never bothered with implementation, had recently given them a task: to choose some simple and easy-to-read poems for children to learn as part of their basic education.
He specifically emphasized that the poems should be simple and easy to understand, not too obscure, not simply pursuing ornate language, but should be fluent and evoke imagery. For example, he quoted lines from the “Nineteen Ancient Poems”: “The distant Cowherd star, the bright River Girl,” and “Life spans not a hundred years, yet a thousand anxieties I bear,” expressing his agreement with the aesthetic appreciation of Xiao Tong, the Prince of Zhao Ming of the Southern Dynasties, who had compiled the Anthology of Literature. He believed that poetry materials could be selected from Xiao Tong’s anthology.
As he was surrounded by trusted friends, he even dared to give a counterexample, saying that Emperor Li’s poetry should definitely not be chosen. His poems were truly not very good – Li Yuanying couldn’t understand them, and he didn’t want to mislead the future pillars of the Tang Dynasty!
The thought of the academy possibly holding daily poetry sessions where everyone recited those kind of poems solely for the sake of literary flair made Li Yuanying uncomfortable. He directly set down the basic guidelines for them!
Just as they were discussing where Luo Binwang could be placed, Li Yuanying arrived with Gaoyang.
Ever since he arrived in his fiefdom, Li Yuanying had exuded a joyful energy. He was constantly busy but didn’t feel tired, always looking bright and cheerful.
Gaoyang was the same. Lu Zhaolin secretly glanced at Gaoyang and saw a happy smile on her face, his own mood brightening in turn.
While others didn’t notice Lu Zhaolin’s gaze at Gaoyang, Di Renjie did. With so many people present, Di Renjie didn’t say anything at the moment but simply asked Li Yuanying why he had come.
Li Yuanying said enthusiastically, “‘Goose, Goose, Goose,’ where is he?”
Wu Mei said, “We’ve decided to keep him. He’s inside writing an essay. I want to see if he has any good ideas.” Luo Binwang had been personally invited by Wu Mei, who had effectively rescued him from the situation and given him enough face.
Hearing this, Li Yuanying was even more curious about Luo Binwang. After all, it wasn’t often that someone received the unanimous approval of Wu Mei and the others. He strolled to the quiet room and peeked inside. He saw a young man with a handsome face sitting there, writing intently. His pen moved without hesitation, clearly confident in his ideas.
Even without seeing the essay, Li Yuanying was already satisfied. He had no qualms about disturbing someone while they were writing. He pushed open the door and walked in, sitting opposite Luo Binwang and watching him write.
Luo Binwang had been deeply absorbed in his writing. When he heard the noise, he looked up and saw a young man, about his own age, curiously observing his unfinished essay. The boy had rosy lips and white teeth, with bright, sparkling eyes that were impossible to dislike.
Luo Binwang was stunned and stopped writing.
Li Yuanying didn’t think he was interfering with Luo Binwang’s writing, and he naturally urged him, “Why did you stop writing? Keep going. It’s good. I want to read more.”
Luo Binwang finally noticed Li Yuanying’s attire.
Although there were many princes in the Tang Dynasty, only the Prince of Tang could dress like Li Yuanying within Tengzhou’s territory.
Luo Binwang hurriedly stood up to pay his respects, but Li Yuanying stopped him. “There’s no need for formalities in Tengzhou. It’s not Chang’an.” He enthusiastically encouraged Luo Binwang to continue writing, “Your idea is good. Keep writing. If it turns out well, we can discuss whether it’s feasible.”
Luo Binwang still held his pen, but he didn’t know how to continue. He wasn’t someone who liked to show off. If Wu Mei had asked him to write an article boasting about himself and recommending himself, he wouldn’t have been able to write a single word. But Wu Mei had asked him to write about his ideas for the academy, and he could indeed offer some insights.
Now, with Li Yuanying right there watching him, how could he possibly write?
Seeing Luo Binwang hesitate, Li Yuanying even started to lecture him, “This won’t do. You can’t write when someone’s watching. That’s unacceptable! If someone gave you a ‘seven-step poem’ challenge, and you couldn’t write it, they would chop off your head. Wouldn’t you be in danger? And let me tell you, during the imperial examinations, the examiners will also walk around. If you can’t stay focused and undisturbed, and your performance suffers during the exam, wouldn’t it be a waste of all those years of hard work?”
This was the first time Luo Binwang had encountered someone as familiar as Li Yuanying.
Li Yuanying was clearly born into nobility, luckier than most. His elder brother was the emperor, his nephew the crown prince, and he had always seen the most prestigious officials in the court. Yet he had none of the arrogance and sharpness you would expect. As he rambled on, Luo Binwang unconsciously felt a sense of intimacy.
Luo Binwang said, “Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.” He actually no longer felt affected by Li Yuanying and continued writing his ideas.
Seeing Luo Binwang cooperating so readily, Li Yuanying was very pleased. He really did stand next to him and watch him write.
When Luo Binwang finished writing, Li Yuanying immediately took the paper and read it in one go. He thought Luo Binwang was a thoughtful person with good literary talent. He praised him, “You wrote very well.”
At this point, the others also came in. At Li Yuanying’s invitation, they sat down on either side and took turns reading Luo Binwang’s essay. Normally, they only needed one person to handle talent selection and didn’t need to hold joint interviews, but today, Luo Binwang’s teasing had led to this impromptu test.
Luo Binwang’s essay was indeed impressive.
Since Li Yuanying had come in person, everyone tacitly waited for his decision.
Li Yuanying said, “I have many important things to do from now on, and I need someone to help me write. You write well. Why don’t you take on this responsibility?”
Although Luo Binwang was young, Li Yuanying himself wasn’t much older. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with entrusting this task to Luo Binwang. If it were some old-fashioned pedant, they would certainly write something that didn’t meet his requirements!
Li Yuanying was always considerate of those around him. He added, “If you don’t have anything urgent to do, you can learn other things from Scholar Wang and the others.”
Luo Binwang naturally accepted happily.
He had originally thought he could only get a casual job. He hadn’t expected Li Yuanying to give him such an important position! What could be more joyful than years of hardship suddenly leading to success?
Since his father’s death, his life had been getting worse and worse, to the point that even some of his former classmates would mock him openly. During his poorest times, he had even mingled with gamblers in the marketplace. He didn’t gamble himself, but he would offer advice and get some benefits to support himself. Thinking about it, even he felt ashamed!
Li Yuanying didn’t find it shameful. He was enthusiastically curious about Luo Binwang’s past. When he heard that Luo Binwang was a bit lucky in gambling, he was immediately interested and wanted Luo Binwang to play some games of chance. He wanted to compare their luck and see who was better.
Li Yuanying couldn’t be bothered by his own desire to gamble. He also wanted to involve Wu Mei and the others. The gambling equipment hadn’t arrived yet, but the once serene and elegant quiet room had become lively, full of discussions about different ways to play games of chance.
Wang Yifang heard that Li Yuanying had gone to the academy, but he didn’t take it too seriously. Although he was the chief administrator, he didn’t need to follow Li Yuanying every step of the way. After all, compared to Li Yuanying’s previous reputation as a troublemaker, his behavior since arriving in Tengzhou had been excellent. Apart from wanting to stir up some excitement every day, he had no other vices.
But Li Yuanying didn’t come back, and someone came to report that he had asked people to collect gambling equipment from the marketplace!
Wang Yifang sensed that something was amiss. He went to the academy to inquire and found out that Li Yuanying had gone to the quiet room used for interviews. He went straight there and before he even got close, he could already hear the noise coming from inside, just like a gambling den in the marketplace. He listened closer and could clearly hear Li Yuanying’s boastful voice, “I told you to bet on big! Just follow me and bet on big! Why don’t you believe me? I have better luck than Little Luo!”
Wang Yifang’s anger flared up. He walked closer and saw that the quiet room was no longer its usual tidy self. Gambling equipment was strewn about on the floor and desks, and Li Yuanying was rolling dice with his companions, deeply engrossed in the game.
The academy was a place for study, yet Li Yuanying was gambling there!
Wang Yifang pushed open the door with a look of fury.
The room fell silent.
Li Yuanying saw Wang Yifang’s anger and immediately threw the dice cup in his hand, assuming a very obedient demeanor. He stood up to greet Wang Yifang and asked him to sit down, “Chief Administrator Wang, what brings you here?”
Wang Yifang’s gaze swept over Lu Zhaolin, his eyes betraying his disappointment.
Lu Zhaolin lowered his head in shame.
While there was a certain elegance to games of chance, they were truly inappropriate in a place like the academy. It was like being commoners in the marketplace, shouting and gambling. They had all been swept up by Li Yuanying’s enthusiasm and hadn’t thought to dissuade him.
Wang Yifang patiently explained to Li Yuanying, emphasizing that this kind of gambling equipment was unsuitable for the academy. It was said that superiors influenced inferiors. If even those in charge of the academy were gambling, how could the students learn anything?
Li Yuanying felt that what Wang Yifang said was reasonable, but he didn’t want Wang Yifang to form a bad impression of the newly arrived Luo Binwang, so he started to make up excuses, “They say that indulging in pleasure ruins one’s ambitions and that gambling leads to ruin. So I asked people to gather all the gambling equipment they could find in the marketplace to try them out and see if they really were so addictive. I didn’t expect them to be so captivating when I started playing!” He continued to elaborate, “Some of these games are easy to get addicted to, so they should be banned. But some can also sharpen the mind, and they have their uses. I think they could be promoted among the students so that they can relax in their spare time.”
He even picked up some of the gambling equipment and explained to Wang Yifang that this tested their calculation ability, and playing more of it could improve their arithmetic skills.
Wu Mei and the others felt that Li Yuanying was truly a master of fabrications.
Wang Yifang listened to Li Yuanying’s eloquent justification for the games of chance. His anger had subsided, leaving only a deep sense of helplessness. He said, “Your Highness, you know what you’re doing.”
Li Yuanying nodded eagerly, “I do, I do.” Seeing that Wang Yifang was no longer angry, he introduced Luo Binwang to Wang Yifang and boasted that Luo Binwang could write poetry at the age of seven! Li Yuanying talked to Wang Yifang about Lu Zhaolin’s idea, “The ‘Ode to the Goose’ is simple and easy to remember, and the imagery it depicts is lively and vivid. We all think it’s suitable for children’s early education.”
Wang Yifang also thought the poem was fresh and delightful. If it had really been written at the age of seven, it was truly worthy of being called a masterpiece! He nodded in agreement, “It’s suitable.”
Luo Binwang had already learned that Li Yuanying’s idea of early education targeted all young children in Tengzhou. Hearing that Li Yuanying wanted to include the “Ode to the Goose” in the textbook, he felt both excited and embarrassed. He was excited because his poem was recognized, but he was also embarrassed because years had passed, and the only poem he could still confidently show off was the “Ode to the Goose” he had written at the age of seven!
Luo Binwang clenched his fists.
He would write better poetry and prose to live up to the expectations of his new friends.
While Luo Binwang was successfully joining Li Yuanying’s team of companions, a monk returned to Chang’an from his travels. This monk had traveled through the Western Regions and learned about the customs and cultures of various countries, bringing back a wealth of information about the West. Of course, this was not his primary purpose for traveling. His main objective was to obtain scriptures from the West, translate them into Tang Dynasty script, and strive for a better understanding and promotion of Buddhist teachings!
**Author’s Note:**
Little Prince: You might not believe this, but sometimes even I find myself agreeing with what I’m saying!
Update!
Last night, I spent the whole night making travel plans, and didn’t fall asleep until three or four in the morning. I was too tired the next day, so the update is late. (_(:3∠)_ This is the first time Sweet Spring has gone on a trip by herself, and she’s been gone for half a month. Will she be overdoing it? (x)
Note: Who has come back? You should be able to guess! Historically, he should have come back a few months earlier, but! Sweet Spring forgot to write it! So he’s coming back a few months later! It’s okay! After all, Old Wei has already been resurrected by the little prince’s butterfly wings, so what does it matter if the monk comes back a few months late?
Maybe I’ve been advertising too much. Every time I write “Qingzhou,” I think of Wang Xiaopang next door, and every time I write about the “seven-step poem,” I think of Cao Xiaochong next door. The brainwashing effect is so strong…
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