On the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, the ninth year of the Xuanli calendar, at the beginning of the Shen hour.

Although the sun is not very warm, it is still bright.

The Cining Palace was decorated with lights and was bustling with activity.

The inner palace was inhabited by concubines headed by Concubine Shang, royal children, and ladies of honor; the outer court was inhabited by ministers of the court and prestigious literati from the capital.

At this moment, Fu Xiaoguan was huddled in front of a table in the corner of the outer courtyard, sitting with Qin Bingzhong, Shangguan Wenxiu and others.

As for the birthday gift for the Empress Dowager, he had already given it to Yu Wenjun. I think Yu Wenjun had also given it to the Empress Dowager, but I don't know whether the Empress Dowager will be happy with the gift.

Dong Shulan also went to the inner palace with her mother Dong Yuanshi. It would probably be a rare occasion for them to see each other today.

Qin Bingzhong looked at Fu Xiaoguan and asked, "After the Lantern Festival Poetry Festival tomorrow, you'll have to start selecting people to go to the Wuchao Literary Festival. Have you visited the Jixia Academy yet?"

Fu Xiaoguan hadn't even thought about this trivial matter. He had been writing "The Wealth of Nations" these days. Even if he wanted to select students, he had to wait until the "Wealth of Nations" was finished and handed over to Yan Beixi.

"I really can't be in two places at once..." He looked at Shangguan Wenxiu and said with a smile, "When it comes to knowing the talented people in Shangjing better than you, Lord Shangguan, I don't think anyone can compare to you. How about... Lord Shangguan, do me a favor and help me with the selection of students?"

Shangguan Wenxiu laughed heartily, stroking his long beard. "You kid, you're trying to be lazy. Let me tell you, don't underestimate the scholars of the Wu Dynasty. It's been over forty years since Wen Xingzhou took charge of the Wu Dynasty's literary scene. During these forty-plus years, the Wu Dynasty's literary scene has flourished, and it's a far cry from what it once was. Although the Wu Dynasty still values ​​martial virtue, several young figures in its literary world have already shown their brilliance. Led by Zhuo Donglai of the Lishan Academy in Lanxi County, they are known as the Seven Sons of Lanxi. At the end of last year, at the Qingzhu Forum held in Guanyun City, the Wu Dynasty's capital, these seven poets and essays swept the Wu Dynasty with unprecedented momentum, earning Wen Xingzhou's praise. Zhuo Donglai even won first place with his poem 'Nian Nu Jiao, Autumn Moon'."

"That poem... is truly majestic and powerful, possessing both the tenderness of literature and the might of martial arts."

At this point Shangguan Wenxiu clapped his hands and chanted:

"The setting sun goes west, the sandbank becomes cold, and the green bamboo valley fades.

The dark jade rises in the east, and a few stars flicker in the light clouds.

The moonlight is like frost, the long sword dances, and the snow is broken into pieces.

Let’s sing a long song and ask the heroes of the world!

Looking back at the time in Lanxi, the flowers on Mount Li were in full bloom, brilliant as blood.

While drinking and reading the questionnaire, I saw the majestic and powerful spirit!

Sailing in the sea of ​​books, don't laugh at my persistence, I have both literary and military skills.

A lonely figure on the cold river, an old friend under the autumn moon."

Shangguan Wenxiu finished reciting, shaking his head. "Look, a lone figure on the cold river, an old friend under the autumn moon... How vivid and three-dimensional this is! Combined with the previous line, 'Sailing on a sea of ​​books, don't laugh at my persistence,' 'my literary and military skills,' this final line is both the young Zhuo Donglai describing his lonely shadow as he perseveres through the sea of ​​books, and carries the loneliness of a martial arts master. The attainments of this poem are truly exceptional."

However, Fu Xiaoguan was so shocked by the words "a lone figure in the cold river, an old friend from the martial arts world" that he couldn't savor it for a long time.

What the hell is this lonely figure on the cold river, old friends under the autumn moon... But it sounds really good when this guy writes it like this. Although he can't tell whether this poem is good or not, at least it was written by someone else, compared to copying it himself... How can a scholar's work be considered as copying?

I am just a carrier of cultures between the two worlds. I am honored!

Shangguan Wenxiu widened his eyes and thought, could it be that even the great talent of my Yu Dynasty was stunned by this poem?

"Little official..."

"ah……!"

"I don't think that poem is beautiful. It's too artificial and has too many traces of carving. It's far from being comparable to your "Shui Tiao Ge Tou"."

Fu Xiaoguan felt a little ashamed and his face actually turned red. Fortunately, the setting sun shone on his face, so Shangguan Wenxiu, Qin Bingzhong and others did not notice it.

"Since ancient times, there has been no one who is the best in literature. I know that there are always stronger people among the strong. If I go to the Wu Dynasty, I will certainly fight like a lion or an elephant against a rabbit. I will use all my strength."

Shangguan Wenxiu was suddenly filled with joy. Such a talented and humble young man, just based on his broad mind, was incomparable to Zhuo Donglai.

"When talking about young scholars in the Wu Dynasty, one woman is indispensable. She is the daughter of Emperor Wen of the Wu Dynasty, the only princess of the Wu Dynasty, Wu Zhao!"

Fu Xiaoguan was shocked again. Wu Zhao?

Wu Zetian?!

"Wait, wait, wait, Lord Shangguan, which Zhao is this in Wu Zhao?"

"The one that shines."

"Oh... go on!"

Fu Xiaoguan felt relieved, as he was really worried that the time and space might be confused.

Shangguan Wenxiu continued, "This Wu Zhao, whose courtesy name is Ling'er, was unknown to anyone except Wen Xingzhou at the Lishan Academy. Everyone called her Wu Ling'er, one of the Seven Scholars of Lanxi. I've heard that she's not only proficient in the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, but also exceptionally skilled in martial arts. She's the apple of Emperor Wen's eye. At the end of last year at the Qingzhu Forum of the Wu Dynasty, she composed a poem, 'Ying Changtian, Xiangsi,' which was highly praised by Wen Xingzhou. I suspect that one of the Seven Scholars of Lanxi will definitely attend this year's Cold Food Festival Literary Gathering. You can't handle so many scholars in the Wu Dynasty alone, so I can help with the selection of students, but the final decision on the selection rests with you."

Fu Xiaoguan nodded. Shangguan Wenxiu's assistance in the primary selection was already a great favor, saving him a lot of trouble. "In that case, I'll trouble you, Lord Shangguan."

"Then... could you give me some of your Xishan Tianchun?"

Qin Bingzhong laughed and pointed at Shangguan Wenxiu, "Your fox tail has finally been exposed."

Fu Xiaoguan also laughed and said, "This is a small matter. It's just that I really don't have it in my house right now. I will personally deliver it to your house in a few days."

As the group of people were chatting and laughing, a palace maid came to Fu Xiaoguan and whispered something in his ear. Fu Xiaoguan stood up, bowed to everyone and said, "I will leave for a while. We will talk later."

He walked out of the Cining Palace and met a young eunuch outside the palace. The young eunuch gave him a small tube with a wax tip and then turned and left.

Fu Xiaoguan opened the small tube and took out a piece of paper.

December report: 1: Preparations for the Lantern Festival are complete.

2: Fei An went to Shuiyue Temple and transported Master Bunian's coffin to Nanling County.

3: Yuhuatai seemed to have disappeared overnight, and even Nan Batian disappeared without a trace.

Fu Xiaoguan frowned and took out a fire starter to burn the note.

He looked up at the sunset, thinking about the coffin of Master Bu Nian... Is there some secret hidden in it?

But not only did he send Xiyu Tower to conduct a detailed inspection of the coffin, he also asked his third senior sister Su Rou to go and see it in person. There was nothing unusual inside, except for the rich smell of sandalwood after the coffin was opened.

Why did Fei An transport the coffin and the body of Master Bunian to Nanling County?

How could he, a great general of the Southern Frontier Army, be related to an unknown old nun from Shuiyue Temple?

And even if there was any connection, there was no need for him to come in person.

As for the disappearance of Yuhuatai, Fu Xiaoguan was of course extremely vigilant, but it was also within his expectations.

In the court, Yan Beixi has already proposed to His Majesty that the Crown Prince Yu Wendao take charge of the eastern border army. Until the Crown Prince's stay or departure is decided, there will certainly be no more movement at Yuhuatai.

Then... wait until tomorrow night.

Tomorrow night, on the Lantern Festival, after those leaflets about the southern border troops killing civilians and claiming military merits have spread all over Jinling City, let's see what Fei An will do next.

Thinking of this, he walked into the Cining Palace and heard a burst of cheers.

The Empress Dowager came out supported by the concubines.

"I... look at you all, and my heart is filled with joy. You are all pillars of the Great Yu Dynasty, and many of you are veterans of three dynasties... Old Master Fei, you are still strong and healthy. Very good. Come closer so I can take a closer look at you."

"That's...Teacher Ning? My eyesight isn't very good. Teacher Ning, please come closer. And Yan Beixi, come on, both of you...come and keep me company."

The three old men walked over tremblingly, their faces very excited, as if recalling the scenes when they were young and pointed out the country's affairs and wrote passionately, or perhaps thinking of discussing national policies with the late emperor and sharing the glorious times.

However, today, although they are still the powerful figures in the Dayu Dynasty, time is passing by, just like the setting sun at this moment.

The Empress Dowager then mentioned the names of several elderly people and said, "The weather is beautiful today. I have invited a troupe to perform a play for everyone... It's "A Dream of the Red Chamber" written by Fu Xiaoguan. I like it very much, and I hope you will like it too."

After she finished speaking, she waved her hand, and the red silk draped on the high platform in the middle of the field was unveiled. The sound of gongs and drums rang out, and a woman appeared on the stage—she turned out to be Liu Yaner from Hongxiu Zhao!

Fu Xiaoguan took his seat and looked towards the high platform. As the sound of the zither and the harp rose again, Liu Yan'er began to dance gracefully, and the song she sang was actually the song "In vain I Gaze at My Eyebrows"!

This might be the beginning.

Then Fu Xiaoguan's gaze left the platform and looked towards the Queen Mother. He saw Yu Wenjun and Dong Shulan sitting obediently in the back, eating the candied fruits on the table and watching carefully.

As if they felt Fu Xiaoguan's gaze, the two girls looked at him and smiled sweetly, and Fu Xiaoguan felt warm immediately.

Liu Yaner's singing was indeed the opening act. As her singing and dancing gradually faded away, someone else came on stage.

Fu Xiaoguan watched for a while. This was the first scene of Jia Yuanchun returning to the Jia Mansion to visit her relatives: a grand banquet.

This was the origin of the Jia family's troubles. In order to welcome the return of the virtuous concubine Jia Yuanchun, the Jia family built a villa with the utmost luxury, which cost the family a lot of money.

This was also the last straw that broke the camel's back for the Jia family. When everyone thought that the Jia family would rise again after Jia Yuanchun was made a concubine, no one expected that the Jia family was now impoverished and even their daily expenses were not enough to cover their expenses.

After the play, the old empress dowager suddenly asked the elders around her, "I often think that if Jia Yuanchun hadn't been made a concubine, the Jia family might have been able to hold on for a while... I also wonder if Dayu would have become even stronger if there were fewer pests. You are all mature and prudent people. What do you think of my words?"