Chapter 7

Eunuch Quan swept his eyes over the court officials and then read out in a sharp, high-pitched voice:

"Under the influence of wine, I light a lamp to examine my sword,

In dreams, I hear the bugles of the encamped army.

Eight hundred miles away, I distribute roasted meat to my troops,

Fifty strings play the sounds of the frontier, and in autumn, the troops are mustered on the battlefield.

My horse runs as swiftly as Dilu,

My bowstring sounds like thunder.

I accomplish the king's great cause,

Winning fame both in life and after death, but alas, my hair has turned white!"

When Eunuch Quan finished reading, the previously quiet court was like a calm pond into which a bomb had been thrown.

All the officials were stunned!

Especially the civil officials, whose faces flushed with excitement.

As literati, who wouldn't want to have a masterpiece that would be passed down for generations?

Although the military officials were not as learned as the civil officials, they could still appreciate the profound meaning in the poem.

They seemed to see a picture in their minds: an old general with white hair, sighing bitterly over his long-sealed sword.

The decline of a general and the aging of a beauty are both regrets in life.

"Your Majesty, may I ask who wrote this poem?"

Li Hanru, the head of the Hanlin Academy, was so excited that his beard trembled.

He had to know who this person was.

He had spent his whole life writing poetry, but compared to this poem, he didn't even deserve to hold a pen.

All the officials looked at Emperor Xuan with hopeful expressions.

Emperor Xuan frowned, "What? Can't this poem be written by Me?"

The officials didn't believe it.

Emperor Xuan was highly educated in literature, but this poem expressed the helplessness of an aging general, which definitely wasn't written by Emperor Xuan.

"Your Majesty, who lives in the palace, cannot write such a poem with such profound meaning."

A straightforward censor spoke out directly.

This made Emperor Xuan very angry, almost unable to resist throwing the incense burner on the dragon desk at him.

These censors were really too annoying!

Chen Laojiang, the old general, was very excited. This poem perfectly described his current feelings, but unfortunately, he was not articulate and lacked education... The person who wrote this poem was like his mouthpiece, a soulmate!

"Your Majesty, this old minister also wants to know who wrote this poem?"

Emperor Xuan said calmly, "This poem was obtained by Me by chance. The author is a young man in his teens, named Lan Xing."

The court officials were stunned again.

The author is a young man in his teens?

How is that possible?

How could a young man write such a profound poem?

But Emperor Xuan had no reason to lie to them.

Lan Xing.

Everyone silently remembered this name.

After the court session, they would definitely send people to find this Lan Xing, even if it meant spending a fortune to ask him to write a poem for them.

With this poem, General Chen would soon be famous throughout the land.

If they could get a poem praising them, they would surely be remembered for generations.

Emperor Xuan slowly said, "When I obtained this poem, it didn't have a title... I have already thought of a title, it will be called 'To General Chen.'"

"Thank Your Majesty!"

General Chen, unable to kneel, bowed deeply in gratitude.

Emperor Xuan glanced at Eunuch Quan.

"Dismissed!"

Eunuch Quan's sharp, high-pitched voice echoed in the hall.

After the court session, the officials walked out in small groups, their steps hurried.

They discussed who this Lan Xing was and thought about sending people to find him and ask for a poem.

Ning Ziming, a famous scholar in the Great Xuan, was also a great lover of poetry, and he had the same idea, so he walked very quickly.

"Ning大人, wait!"

Ning Ziming stopped at the sound of the voice and turned to see Eunuch Quan hurrying towards him with small, quick steps.

"Eunuch Quan!"

Ning Ziming bowed, as Eunuch Quan was a favorite of Emperor Xuan, and even the Left Chancellor would not dare to be disrespectful.

"Ning大人, you walk so fast... The Emperor has summoned you, follow me!"

Ning Ziming was startled and began to reflect on whether he had done anything wrong recently or if his enemies had found a way to impeach him.

After much thought, he realized he hadn't made any major mistakes recently.

But he still felt a bit guilty and quietly took out a silver ingot and handed it over, "Eunuch Quan, may I ask why the Emperor has summoned me?"

Eunuch Quan silently put the silver ingot in his sleeve and said with a smile, "Ning大人, don't make it difficult for me. How can I guess the Emperor's thoughts? You'll know when you go."

Ning Ziming's lips twitched, thinking, "You unrooted thing, taking money but not doing the job."

The two arrived at the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, may the Emperor be in good health."

Ning Ziming knelt and bowed.

Emperor Xuan continued reading his book as if he hadn't heard.

Ning Ziming didn't dare to stand up, his head didn't even dare to lift, his heart pounding with fear and unease.

After a long while, Emperor Xuan finally spoke, "Ning Aizhen, you may rise."

"Thank Your Majesty!"

Ning Ziming stood up trembling, bowing deeply.

"How many sons do you have, Ning Aizhen?"

Ning Ziming was confused. Why did Emperor Xuan suddenly ask this?

He hurriedly bowed, "Your Majesty, I have three... four sons."

He instinctively wanted to say three, subconsciously not considering Ning Chen as his son.

Emperor Xuan put down the book and asked calmly, "Three or four?"

Ning Ziming quickly answered, "I have four sons!"

"Under the rule of benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, I will not comment on your private morals, but after all, they are your flesh and blood. I do not like unfeeling and unrighteous people."

Ning Ziming was puzzled.

"Ning Chen is a good child, treat him well."

Ning Ziming's body trembled slightly, his face turning pale... Had someone reported him, and did Emperor Xuan know about his abandonment of his wife and child?

Emperor Xuan had just said he didn't like unfeeling and unrighteous people... It's over, completely over!

Ning Ziming's head buzzed, his vision going black.

He fell to his knees, kowtowing and begging for mercy, "I know my crime, please have mercy, Your Majesty, please have mercy..."

Ning Ziming was terrified, imagining the scene of the entire Ning family kneeling on the Dragon Platform.

The Dragon Platform, where high-ranking officials were executed.

Emperor Xuan looked at him coldly. Ning Ziming was a capable official, and he wouldn't punish him, but he would certainly warn him.

"Ning Aizhen, I didn't summon you alone to punish you."

Ning Ziming was stunned, thinking he had heard wrong.

Emperor Xuan said calmly, "I have met Ning Chen, and he is very excellent."

"Ning Aizhen, I will give you one more chance, don't disappoint Me... The consequences of disappointing Me are clear to you."

"Also, Ning Chen doesn't know My identity. Remember, I don't want a fourth person to know about our conversation today."

"Go now."

Ning Ziming was dumbfounded.

The Emperor had met Ning Chen? That's impossible. Since Ning Chen came to the Ning family, he almost never left the house, how could he have met the Emperor?

Seeing Ning Ziming still in a daze, Eunuch Quan walked over and said, "Ning大人, please."

Ning Ziming suddenly came to his senses and hurriedly bowed, "I thank Your Majesty, I take my leave!"

Exiting the Imperial Study, Ning Ziming wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his back icy cold, his clothes drenched in sweat.

He looked back at the Imperial Study with lingering fear, his face pale, and hurriedly walked out of the palace.