Riverside Tower
Riverside Tower stood three stories tall, and the top floor naturally admitted only high-ranking officials. Its spacious floor was laid with inlaid panels, most of the screens had been removed, and the carved pillars bore insects, fish, flowers, and birds. Candles burned brightly, illuminating rows of banquet tables.
Su Ziji went up, declining to be seated at first, and stood by the balustrade and windows to gaze out. The clear moonlight was like a wash, fishing lamps dotted the river, and turning back, he said, "Since Gu times, gazing afar from Riverside Tower, the surging waters pour endlessly eastward. Recalling Gu and pursuing the past stirs one's thoughts, leaving us with boundless emotion!"
"Only, while we recall Gu today, tomorrow the later generations will likely be recalling us."
"The Master said by the stream: 'What passes is like this, not ceasing day or night!'"
"Truly so!"
Chen Zi'ang of the Tang Dynasty wrote the "Song of Ascending Youzhou Tower", with a poem going:
Before me, no Gu; after me, no coming ones.
Thinking of the universe's vast boundlessness, alone I am desolate and let fall tears!
This was also feeling the present while recalling Gu, but when later generations read this poem, Chen Zi'ang had long since become a Gu person.
Su Ziji felt deep emotion, and with a glance, he saw a eunuch who had come up earlier nodding, knowing the poison test was complete, and he could not help sighing that as Imperial Grandson, he lacked even "dietary freedom."
"Serve the banquet!"
Su Ziji took the head seat, flanked by Prefect Xu and Zhang Dai. A eunuch took a wine pot and poured, and Prefect Xu smiled as he urged the wine, saying, *"Imperial Grandson, feeling emotion over Gu and the present is human nature. Yet