Fox Antithetical Rhymes

Fang Yun woke naturally after sleeping for only two hours. Not only did he feel no fatigue, he was instead full of energy.

"Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng truly is marvelous. I'll have to thank the Empress Dowager when I get the chance. Her giving me Dragon Palace Blood Ginseng now is far more important than granting me a title of nobility. If I study twenty hours a day, I refuse to believe I can't become an Academy Student this year!"

After washing up and quickly eating, Fang Yun began his morning reading. Just as yesterday, he read various books on Classic Interpretation guidance, deciding to thoroughly master every examination technique before writing Classic Interpretations.

Before long, someone knocked on the door, and Yang Yuhuan went to answer it. Fang Yun recognized the voice as He Yutang, who had attended yesterday's poetry gathering with him, so he set down his book and went to welcome him.

He Yutang wore a beaming smile as he handed several paper bags and a brick of tea to Yang Yuhuan.

"Brother He," Fang Yun said.

He Yutang blushed and said, "I didn't have class this morning, and I happened to be passing by on business, so I bought some food along the way to come see you."

"Please, come inside." Fang Yun vaguely guessed He Yutang's purpose. He invited him in and deliberately sent everyone else away.

In the quiet side room, the two scholars in blue robes conversed softly.

They first chatted about some matters concerning teaching. Seeing that He Yutang truly could not bring himself to speak, Fang Yun smiled. "Brother He, you came today for another matter, didn't you? Why not say it directly?"

He Yutang gave an embarrassed smile. "You know that I passed the Academy Student examination ten years ago, yet I still haven't become a Provincial Graduate. The courage in my heart has gradually been worn away by time. Yesterday, after seeing you write the Inscription of the Humble Abode, I could not sleep for a long while, because that piece awakened my courage. Don't worry, I am not asking for the original manuscript of the Inscription of the Humble Abode. I only hope you can casually write me a copy as a gift, so I can grasp its essence and strive to pass the Provincial Examination in one go, striking with the first drumbeat."

Fang Yun immediately rose and walked toward the desk, saying as he went, "Brother He, you are treating me like a stranger. It is only a few words."

As he spoke, Fang Yun picked up the Demon-Slaying Brush, gathered his thoughts for a moment, and carefully wrote out the Inscription of the Humble Abode once more.

Since it was not the first original draft, this piece showed no unusual phenomenon.

"Let it air for a while. We'll talk after the ink dries."

"Very well."

Before long, once the ink had dried, He Yutang stepped forward to take the sheet of paper and could not help smiling.

He Yutang praised, "Your handwriting has truly grown better and better. I almost want to take you as my teacher and learn calligraphy and poetry from you. From now on, I'll hang this piece in my study and ponder it every day. My residence is a humble abode, and my Literary Palace is also a humble abode. With this text, my Literary Palace will surely be reinforced and able to bear more Literary Qi. When I take the Provincial Examination again, my chances of becoming a Provincial Graduate will be much greater."

Only then did Fang Yun come to a sudden realization. No one had mentioned it yesterday, and he had not noticed. He had merely thought that the Inscription of the Humble Abode itself had stirred the primordial energy of Heaven and Earth, but He Yutang's words made him understand. The reason this Inscription of the Humble Abode was so sought after was chiefly because humble abodes and Literary Palaces could blend perfectly together.

The Inscription of the Humble Abode was also an inscription for the Literary Palace. That was why it could form Instant Literary Guts, and why Grand Academician Li Wenying had been moved enough to come personally without hesitation.

He Yutang regarded Fang Yun's handwritten Inscription of the Humble Abode as a treasure. He carefully rolled it up and carefully tucked it into his robes.

After doing all this, He Yutang said, "Fang Yun, your Inscription of the Humble Abode is no ordinary work. For such great kindness, if I have the opportunity, I will surely repay it."

"It is only a sheet of paper. Brother He, do not take it to heart. I was just about to head to the clan school. Shall we go together?"

"Good."

As Fang Yun stepped out of the courtyard, Nunu suddenly darted out and stood on the top of his shoe. She rose upright, wrapped both paws around his leg, and looked up at him with a pitiful, pleading expression.

"What is it?" Fang Yun asked.

"Nunu! Nunu!" Little Fox cried.

"I can't understand you," Fang Yun said helplessly.

Nunu's little eyes spun, and she suddenly jumped onto the carriage and sat in Fang Yun's usual spot. Then she tried to imitate Fang Yun by sitting on the carriage seat, stretching out her legs, and leaning back. But she was too small. Her back failed to reach the backrest, and she toppled backward onto the seat, her eyes full of bewilderment, as though saying, Shouldn't it be like this?

Fang Yun laughed. "You want to come out with me?"

Little Fox immediately sat properly again and nodded at Fang Yun.

"You must behave and not cause trouble, understood?"

Nunu hurriedly nodded hard, then sat obediently on the seat.

He Yutang said, "Your Little Fox is so intelligent. She must be a cross between a member of the Demon Race and an ordinary fox, right?"

Nunu suddenly flew into a rage. Standing on the seat with her front paws on her waist, she glared at He Yutang and shouted, "Yah yah! Yah yah!" Her little face had turned red from anger.

It was Fang Yun's first time hearing Nunu make such a sound. She must have been truly furious, so he climbed into the carriage, held her in his arms, and gently stroked her head.

Nunu gave two soft whimpers and stopped being angry.

He Yutang also climbed into the carriage and sat beside Fang Yun. To his surprise, Nunu jumped between Fang Yun and He Yutang, stretched out her little paws, and shoved He Yutang hard, trying to push him out of the carriage with a furious look.

The two men laughed. He Yutang cupped his hands toward Nunu and said, "Brother Fox, I should not have said that. I apologize to you. You must be far nobler than the Demon Race."

Nunu immediately turned from anger to delight. She stood proudly upright, faced He Yutang, pointed at herself with a little paw, and lifted her chin high.

"What is she trying to say?" He Yutang asked Fang Yun.

Fang Yun smiled. "She wants you to keep calling her Brother Fox."

"Is that so? Please forgive me, Brother Fox," He Yutang said jokingly.

Nunu immediately put on an expression as though she had magnanimously spared him, then smugly jumped onto Fang Yun's lap and lay down.

Fang Yun stroked her head, then moved his hand away. To his surprise, she grabbed his hand firmly and pulled it back onto her head. Then she gave a contented cry and narrowed her eyes for a nap.

Fang Yun slowly moved his hand away again, but Nunu reacted swiftly. She pressed his hand down with a little paw, then wrapped her fluffy tail around his wrist so he could not move.

"Ying ying..." Nunu pleaded softly.

Fang Yun smiled and placed his hand on her head.

Nunu's smile returned. Under Fang Yun's hand, she blissfully closed her eyes to rest.

"A little male fox?" He Yutang asked.

"She should be female," Fang Yun said.

"Then why does she like being called Brother Fox?"

"I call you Brother He, and she likes the sound of it. She does not actually understand anything."

"Ying ying! Ying ying!" Nunu immediately protested, as though saying, Don't speak ill of me!

Fang Yun and He Yutang burst into laughter.

The two rode in the carriage to the clan school.

When they entered the instructors' room, the teachers greeted Fang Yun with smiles, but every one of them seemed somewhat unnatural. They appeared to want to say something yet felt too embarrassed to open their mouths, each hoping someone else would speak first.

He Yutang gave a light cough. "Every character Fang Yun writes is worth at least ten taels of silver now. You had best restrain yourselves."

The licentiate teachers could only return gloomily to their places.

As soon as it was eight fifteen, Fang Yun entered the classroom as usual. Nunu, however, stood shyly at the doorway, peering inside with curiosity.

"A little dog!"

"Isn't that a kitten?"

"It's clearly a fox!"

"Shh, silence during class!"

After looking at Little Fox a few times, the students stopped paying attention to her, because more important matters awaited them.

One child could not help crying out, "Teacher Fang, teach us how to write poetry!"

"Yes, we want to write beautiful parallel prose like the Inscription of the Humble Abode too."

"Mm-hm!" Many children nodded forcefully, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Fang Yun asked in surprise, "Even you all know about it?"

One child immediately said, "A high-ranking official came to my home as a guest this morning! He said I should find a way to take first place in the next small examination and ask you, Teacher, for a handwritten Inscription of the Humble Abode. Don't worry, Teacher, I would never ask for the Inscription of the Humble Abode. Something so precious cannot be handed out carelessly."

"Right! My father said asking for poetry would be one thing, but asking for your Inscription of the Humble Abode would shorten one's lifespan. A person must know their limits."

The children all voiced their agreement.

"Very good. It seems I did not teach you the Three Character Classic for nothing. Then today, we shall continue with the Three Character Classic," Fang Yun said.

"Ah..." the children sighed in unison.

"Teacher, please teach us poetry."

"Yes, the Three Character Classic can wait one more day."

At the side, Little Fox's eyes turned. Instead of jumping onto Fang Yun, she sat obediently at the doorway and gazed up at him like the other students.

Fang Yun smiled. "Do you truly want to learn poetry from me?"

Before the students could answer, Nunu suddenly raised a front paw and cried in a clear voice, "Ying ying! Ying ying!"

The students burst into laughter.

"Even Little Fox wants to hear you teach poetry. Please agree, Teacher."

"Yes, Teacher."

Fang Yun said to Nunu irritably, "You are not allowed to interrupt during class!"

Little Fox immediately covered her mouth with her paws and blinked hard, making many children secretly laugh.

Fang Yun pondered for a moment. He found that although this era had books on phonetic rules, none were suitable for teaching these children. Then primers such as Enlightenment to Phonetic Rules, Antithetical Couplets for Children's Instruction, and Li Weng's Antithetical Rhymes flashed through his mind. After comparing them, he found that Li Weng's Antithetical Rhymes was simpler and easier to understand, so he made his choice.

Fang Yun said, "To write poetry, couplets, and parallel prose, you must first learn phonetic rules and antithesis. It cannot be achieved in a single leap. How about this? I happen to be compiling Antithetical Rhymes at home. I'll teach you a little first, and if you like it, I'll continue with the rest."

"Thank you, Teacher!" the students thanked him in unison.

Nunu's tail began swaying of its own accord.

Fang Yun said, "Then we shall begin with the East rhyme. Listen carefully: Heaven pairs with earth, rain pairs with wind, the great land pairs with the vast sky. Mountain flowers pair with sea trees, the red sun pairs with the blue vault. Thunder rumbles, mist hangs thick. Beneath the sun pairs with mid-heaven."

After reciting it, Fang Yun asked, "Who has remembered it? Raise your hand."

Five children raised their hands, while the rest looked at them enviously.

Fang Yun said, "Yue Yunpeng, stand and recite it once."

The little fat boy named Yue Yunpeng immediately stood and recited loudly, "Heaven pairs with earth, rain pairs with wind, the great land pairs with the vast sky. Mountain flowers pair with sea trees, the red sun pairs with the blue vault. Thunder rumbles, mist hangs thick. Beneath the sun pairs with mid-heaven."

"Good. Next, I will read one line, and you will repeat one line after me. Heaven pairs with earth."

"Heaven pairs with earth."

"Ying ying ying!" Little Fox's voice mingled among theirs. Not only did it not hinder the children's memorization, it instead created a wondrous rhythm.

Fang Yun smiled at Little Fox and continued, "Rain pairs with wind."

"Rain pairs with wind."

"Ying ying ying!" Encouraged, Nunu grew even happier and continued vocalizing with the children.

"The great land pairs with the vast sky..."

The voices of Fang Yun, Nunu, and the children echoed through the classroom.

All the children were captivated by these catchy Antithetical Rhymes lines, as easy to recite as the Three Character Classic. Dreaming of the day they could compose Nation-Quelling poems, they recited aloud with even greater effort than when studying the Three Character Classic.

Before long, Fang Jingtang, the headmaster of the clan school, and the other teachers were drawn outside by the sound they had never heard before.

Fang Jingtang stroked his beard and sighed softly. "Fang Yun teaches, the fox recites antithetical rhymes—this will surely become a World-Passing tale."

The other teachers nodded along. He Yutang's expression grew solemn as he said in a low voice, "Fang Yun's method of teaching phonetic rules may overturn the entire system of childhood education. In the future, it may allow our Human Race to gain several times more War Poetry."