My husband, please respect yourself. The princess is here to grab the bride.

As everyone waited, Bai Shaoqiu raised his arms and said loudly:

“Diligence is the path to success; hard work is the boat to sail across the boundless ocean of learning.”

As everyone watched in shock, Bai Shaoqiu walked forward slowly with his head held high and his chest puffed out, and then he spoke loudly:

"I'm not some god of literature... I just work harder than you all!"

"Everything you have seen of me is an illusion!"

"You can't even imagine the hardships I've endured for my studies!"

After a pause, he added earnestly:

"Go study!"

He walked slowly forward again, and in full view of the crowd, he suddenly recited a poem as he walked:

"The lights are on at three o'clock in the morning,

It is the time for boys to study.

Black-haired people don’t know how to study hard and learn early.

I regret not studying until I’m old...! "

“Flowers may bloom again, but people never remain young.”

"Don't let down your youth, don't be sad about your white hair..."

He said this as he walked to the end of the crowd. He seemed to remember something and suddenly turned around, smiling at the students again:

"Yes, there are many truths in The Story of the Stone."

"You guys...can buy it and take a closer look."

"The Story of the Stone" is worth having!

"Goodbye, everyone!"

Under everyone's shocked gaze, Bai Shaoqiu walked away leisurely.

Under the guidance of Zhuo and his group, he, Dongfang Meng and He Xiaofeng left the square and turned into a tree-lined path.

The distance was already quite far when suddenly a thunderous cheer erupted in the square!

"Oh my god, Mr. Bai is so talented!"

"Isn't it? This couplet is my motto. I want to study and become a person like Mr. Bai!"

"The lights are on at midnight and the roosters crow at dawn, which is the time for men to study... We are not even worthy of carrying Mr. Bai's shoes!"

"Yes, everyone thinks Mr. Bai is an uneducated and unlearned playboy. They laugh at him, slander him, belittle him, and despise him, but they don't know that they are the real clowns!"

"Flowers may bloom again, but people never remain young... Mr. Bai's casual words surprisingly contain profound truths!"

"Don't let down your glory, don't be sad about your white hair... Mr. Bai must be the reincarnation of Wenquxing!"

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm saying, those of you who haven't bought The Story of the Stone yet, hurry up and buy it! I heard the second volume will be on sale soon, and by then the first volume will be discontinued!"

"Still like this... Let's go buy 'The Story of the Stone'. Just for Mr. Bai's thought-provoking words, I have to buy 'The Story of the Stone'!"

"It's a pity that this "The Story of the Stone" was not written by Mr. Bai..."

"So what? Monk Meng Ruan is obviously a man of high moral character!"

"..."

Zhuo Yixing turned to look at Bai Shaoqiu, the admiration in his eyes becoming more and more intense.

Look at Mr. Bai, his "Lanting Preface" is about to be included in the national studies for all scholars in Xingguo to learn... What a great honor is this?

The emperor even copied the article, framed it, and hung it in the imperial study... How much must he like it?

But Bai Shaoqiu still looked calm and composed, without any pride at all, and even said that he was not the reincarnation of Wenquxing!

This is what it means to be humble!

The couplet and the poem encouraging learning that he blurted out will surely spread among all the students and become another inspirational words to encourage them to study diligently!

That couplet and that poem are the true meaning of reading!

Even Zhuo Yixing benefited a lot from reading it carefully.

"I had a small gathering with Brother Qi and Brother Qiu a few days ago, and we talked about you again during the meal."

Bai Shaoqiu smiled slightly: "What did you say about me?"

"Brother Qi said that the young master's talent lies not only in poetry and prose, but also in his business acumen!"

"Brother Qiu said it was a pity."

"...What's the pity?"

Zhuo Yihang pondered for three breaths, "It's a pity that you are the son-in-law of the royal family. If you didn't have this status, with your talent... you would have been able to be made a marquis and become a prime minister!"

Bai Shaoqiu laughed heartily, "Who knew that besides generals, ministers, and princes, there are other people who enjoy leisure and happiness."

"Being a marquis or a prime minister... is not what I, Bai Shaoqiu, seek!"

There is a lotus pond ahead.

There is an old man fishing beside the lotus pond.

The old man was Qin Jingtai!

Qin Jingtai had heard Bai Shaoqiu's voice and raised his head at this moment.

He was all smiles.

Then he saw Bai Shaoqiu pointing at him, and heard Bai Shaoqiu laughing again:

"What is Xiaoyao?"

"Brother, this is what freedom is all about!"

“One person, one fishing rod, one world; one mountain, one water, one sky.”

"It's up to the fish to come or not, it's up to the lotus to bloom or not, the fishing rod is in hand, and I am at the edge of the pond."

Qin Jingtai had already put down his fishing rod and stood up, also laughing and saying:

"My brother is almost ashamed of what you said... Don't learn from him!"

"You are like the rising sun, shining with infinite brilliance. As for me, my old man... my days are numbered and I have to muddle through each day!"

Bai Shaoqiu and his group walked over.

Next to the lotus pond there is a thatched cottage that looks extremely simple.

A long and thin plaque was hung on the lintel of the thatched cottage.

On the plaque were three large characters, already very faded but still legible:

Qiuyulu!

This is where Master Qin Jingtai has lived for many years.

There isn't even a yard...or rather, the entire area from the thatched cottage to the lotus pond is a yard.

Qin Jingtai was still standing by the lotus pond. Beside him was an old small table with all kinds of tea sets on it.

The tea stove was not lit.

There is also a stool next to the small table.

Obviously he was waiting for Bai Shaoqiu's arrival.

"Brother, sit down!"

Bai Shaoqiu sat down.

Qin Jingtai then blew the tinder to light the small tea stove. He placed the teapot on the stove, which was already filled with water. He then looked up at Zhuo Yihang:

"Master has something to say to Shaoqiu."

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Yixing bowed and said, "Then I will take my leave!"

"Ah."

Zhuo and his group turned and left.

Qin Jingtai looked at Bai Shaoqiu, but did not speak.

Bai Shaoqiu pondered for three breaths, then waved at He Xiaofeng and Dongfang Meng, "You two should also go to the lotus pond and wait for me."

Dongfang Meng refused to do it.

His voice, like spring thunder, exploded before the Qiuyu Hut:

"no!"

"Dad told me not to leave you even for a moment!"

Bai Shaoqiu glared at Dongfang Meng and asked, "Do you want me to take you to a brothel?"

"……think!"

"If you want, just listen to your brother-in-law!"

"……Oh!"

Dongfang took a step forward and looked back three times.

The two went to the opposite side of the lotus pond. Qin Jingtai looked at the two people in the distance, and the expression on his face gradually became solemn.

"Brother, your reputation in Kyoto is even greater than I could imagine!"

"This is both a good thing and a bad thing!"

"Shi Wen received a letter yesterday by carrier pigeon, saying... the Emperor wishes to summon you to the palace. The imperial decree has already been issued, meaning you won't have to wait until the Xiangshan Literary Festival next autumn to see the Emperor."

"If it is the Emperor who has ordered an audience with you, this is a good thing."

"The Emperor is impressed by your talent. If he wishes to employ you, he will revoke the imperial decree and grant you freedom without you even having to plead."

Bai Shaoqiu pondered for three breaths: "Then why do you say it's a bad thing?"

"Shi Wen said that the person who asked the Emperor to summon you to the palace was Ye Qionglou!"

Bai Shaoqiu was shocked. Ye Qionglou suggested to the emperor that he should be summoned to the palace...

This is obviously a weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken, with no good intentions!

"Does Prime Minister Qin know what Ye Qionglou's intentions are?"