Wei Nisheng knew perfectly well that his "Partridge Sky: Written in the Western Capital"
was a celebrated lyric by Zhu Dunru of the Song dynasty, its wild, unfettered spirit unmatched.
As for the "Partridge Sky" he had composed at Wei Shouzheng's banquet back then,
though it could be called well crafted, it was ultimately no more than a young man's practice piece.
Every turn of phrase bore traces of its construction. In the end, it had been "made."
But the lyric on the screen today poured out everything in his heart.
From beginning to end, the two lyrics were simply on different planes.
His own lyric had been a youth straining to proclaim his ambitions, while every word and line of Zhu Dunru's was steeped in a wild freedom that ran bone-deep.
Better still, this lyric seemed made by heaven itself for this very time and place.
Shen Duan had just swept out in a huff, and now "When have I ever spared lords and princes a glance?" stood written on the screen.
Qin Yan had rolled up his sleeves and cursed, and now "Let me tuck plum blossoms in my hair and drink Luoyang drunk" stood in the hall.
Lyric and man, man and deed, deed and scene, scene and sentiment-all blended into one seamless whole, perfectly pitched.
And so, after reading it again, Qin Yan could not help glancing at Wei Nisheng once more.
Feng Yan also stepped forward, standing before the screen with his hands behind his back. His gaze settled on the lyric, and for a moment he, too, was utterly absorbed.
"That line, 'I am the Clear Capital's keeper of hills and streams; heaven charged me to be wild and free.'
Only that line from 'After Passing the Examination,' written by Meng Jiao, Meng Dongye,