The Twin Jades' Verses: Who Would Dazzle?

As soon as the thought surfaced in Qin Yan's mind, he quickly suppressed it.

Meanwhile, three rounds of wine had passed at the Apprenticeship Banquet, and the festivities were in full swing.

Candles blazed in the Central Hall, illuminating the wine-flushed faces of the guests.

Cups and tally sticks crisscrossed amid waves of laughter and conversation-a lively scene indeed.

After meeting Qin Yan, Wei Nisheng had been seated at the end of the table, where he quietly drank tea, neither servile nor arrogant.

Wei Shouzheng sat just below Qin Yan, smiling outwardly but seething inside.

Ever since Wei Nisheng's arrival, the conversation at his own Apprenticeship Banquet had unwittingly drifted away from him.

"That second son of the Wei Family truly proves that appearances can deceive.

When I heard about yesterday's events, I thought they were merely rumors. Only after seeing his bearing today did I realize they were true."

"To draw a sword and slay a servant at ten years old, protecting his good name, upholding his family's honor, and enforcing its rules. And even His Majesty mentioned him. My, my..."

A Renowned Upright Scholar beside him nodded as well. "The Wei Family's Second Son has such a fiery spirit. Truly worthy of being Duke Wenduan's descendant."

Every single word found its way into Wei Shouzheng's ears.

His smile grew increasingly stiff.

Damn it, today was supposed to be the day I became Qin Gong's disciple!

Why was everyone revolving around Wei Nisheng?!

I, Wei Shouzheng, was supposed to be the center of attention today!!

With that thought, Wei Shouzheng lifted his teacup, drained it, and stood.

"Honored elders, esteemed guests, this student has something to say, though I do not know whether it would be appropriate."

At his words, every gaze turned toward Wei Shouzheng.

Smiling, Wei Shouzheng turned to Wei Nisheng and spoke warmly.

"Second Brother, your reputation as the 'Fiery Child' has spread throughout the Capital these past few days, bringing glory to our Wei Family! As your elder brother, I am delighted."

What was this fellow up to now? Wei Nisheng looked up at him without speaking.

Meanwhile, Wei Shouzheng had already turned back to Qin Yan and the assembled guests.

"Today is this student's Apprenticeship Banquet, and those present are all great scholars of Neo-Confucianism and Renowned Upright Scholars.

How could such a splendid gathering go without poetry to enliven it?"

He paused, then smiled. "Though this student has little talent, I would like to compose a lyric together with my second brother to entertain everyone at today's banquet.

It would also let our elders see that the sons of the Wei Family possess not only fiery spirits, but literary learning as well."

Shouzheng could not keep his composure. Seeing through his eldest son's intentions, Wei Mingde froze briefly, then his expression shifted.

Of course he knew that wretched son Wei Nisheng's background. He had merely received his first lessons alongside Shouzheng.

He did not even have a proper teacher. How could he possibly compose a lyric?

But then Wei Mingde recalled the recent upheavals and was just about to smooth things over...

Unexpectedly, Wei Shouzheng gave his father no chance to speak. He had already turned to Qin Yan and bowed.

"Teacher, what do you think?"

Qin Yan had already drunk several cups of wine. His face was slightly flushed, and his spirits were high. Hearing this, he clapped his hands and laughed.

"Good! Good! An excellent suggestion, Shouzheng!"

Then he looked toward Wei Nisheng, his eyes full of anticipation.

"The Wei Family possesses Pure Nobility: its eldest son is devoted to learning, and its second son has a fiery spirit.

If we gain fine verses today as well, the twin jades will truly shine together! That would call for a great cup of wine!"

With things having reached this point, Wei Mingde could no longer intervene. He could only smile helplessly along with everyone else.

Meanwhile, Qin Yan had set down his wine cup. Stroking his beard, he considered for a moment before speaking.

"Since this is to enliven the Apprenticeship Banquet, and we have the Wei Family's two outstanding sons here, let each compose a lyric on the theme 'Twin Jades of the Wei House.' What do you say?"

(Using "Twin Jades of the Wei House" as the theme meant writing about themselves.)

Everyone voiced their approval.

Qin Yan looked at Wei Shouzheng. "Shouzheng, you are the elder brother. You go first."

Confident of success, Wei Shouzheng rose and bowed. "This student obeys."

"Good! Someone bring brush and ink!"

Servants soon set out paper and brushes in the banquet hall and began grinding ink. Everyone held their breath as they waited.

Once everything was ready, Wei Shouzheng walked to the center of the hall.

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking as though he already had the finished bamboo painted in his heart, then picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing.

He had prepared this lyric for the Apprenticeship Banquet long ago, so he wrote quickly.

"Sands of Huanxi · Composed at the Banquet"

[A splendid feast unfolds within this hall today; honored guests crowd through the doors with glad wishes to convey. Brothers, kind and dutiful, share a terrace of jade.

Honoring the teacher's Way, I receive his guidance true; rich brocade of prose shall bloom through the care he bestows anew. From this day, step by step, I climb the stairs into the blue.]

After reciting it, he bowed slightly and looked at the guests.

The guests applauded politely, and someone nodded in approval. "Proper and conventional, in keeping with etiquette."

Zhou Yan, an assistant director in the Ministry of Works, smiled. "Shouzheng's lyric uses elegant language and conveys its meaning clearly. His handwriting is orderly too. He has the bearing of a scholar."

But anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the lyric was merely a heap of stock phrases, with neither originality nor genuine feeling.

Qin Yan also nodded slightly, showing little reaction.

After all, this was only a ten-year-old child, so he offered a word of praise.

"Mm, Shouzheng has a passable foundation. But... it still needs some seasoning."

Hearing that assessment, Wei Shouzheng's smile stiffened for an instant before recovering, and he replied humbly.

"Your instruction is correct, Teacher. This student must work harder."

Then he returned to his seat and cast his gaze toward Wei Nisheng, a trace of smugness flashing in his eyes.

My lyric might be unremarkable, but what could a useless fool like you, with only a few days of elementary lessons, possibly compose?

Once Wei Shouzheng had finished, every gaze fell upon Wei Nisheng.

Wei Mingde clenched his fists, his heart bobbing up and down with unease.

He feared Wei Nisheng would make a fool of himself in public and disgrace the Wei Family.

Yet he also feared Wei Nisheng had something up his sleeve that would humiliate his eldest son.

Wei Nisheng, meanwhile, rose without hurry and walked to the center of the Central Hall.

While Wei An ground the ink, he lowered his eyes in thought.

There was no helping it. His mind did indeed hold plenty of lyrics, and any one of them could dazzle the entire gathering.

But none of them could be written now.

Many had been composed by poets from his previous life after years of experience and the rise and fall of their fortunes.

He was only ten this year. If he produced verses like those, which of the great scholars of Neo-Confucianism or Renowned Upright Scholars present would believe him?

People in ancient times were no fools either.

They would spot something wrong at a glance.

He had none of the three-Heaven's timing, Earth's advantage, or harmony among people. He could not play the literary plagiarist!

So he could not use a single one of those famous works.

Looks like I would have to brew something up myself. After all, it was not as though I had never written poetry or lyrics before...

At that thought, Wei Nisheng suddenly raised his head, his gaze turning resolute.

His brush moved as though divinely guided, and he recited as he wrote, naming the tune and title "Partridge Sky · Composed at the Banquet."

[Ten years in seclusion, behind a door I closed; one day I drew my sword, and my house's might arose.

The hall of guests all marvels at the sight; who says a humble house holds no jade's light?

My forebear's lessons I uphold, the rules of purity I keep; toward the sun my crimson heart takes flight.

Today, let us drain the wine our cups contain; call me extraordinary when I scale the clouds another day.]

When this "Partridge Sky" ended, quite a few people recalled the earlier poem, "The Younger Brother Drank Leftover Broth and Slept upon an Icy Bed."

Together with Wei Nisheng's deed of drawing his sword to slay a wicked servant, it led many to believe-

This child had not been violent without cause. He had endured in silence for ten years before erupting in a single day.

The second line, in particular, made Zhou Yan, the assistant director in the Ministry of Works, murmur in admiration.

"What a line: 'Who says a humble house holds no jade's light!'"

And the lyric's second stanza read: "My forebear's lessons I uphold, the rules of purity I keep; toward the sun my crimson heart takes flight."

This meant he had not forgotten his grandfather's teachings, and his heart turned toward the light.

As for "Today, let us drain the wine our cups contain; call me extraordinary when I scale the clouds another day"-

It told the guests drinking at today's banquet to wait and see his cloud-soaring ambitions in the days to come.

When the lyric ended, the entire hall fell silent. There was no artifice in its verses-only the heart of a Fiery Child!