In the Northern Song Dynasty, he started by marrying the eighth daughter of the Su family.

"you flatter me."

Zhang Huaimin then said, "Comparing these two poems, 'Xizhou Qu' is slightly better than 'Nanfeng Ci.' I wonder if both of these poems were written by Brother Han?"

Han Zhi shook his head, and Su Zhen, having already set out the refreshments, said, "The poem 'Xizhou Qu' was written by you, my lord, but 'Nanfeng Ci' was written by me."

"However, the inscription was written by Ba Niang, and she wanted to imitate a poem, so she was inevitably somewhat limited. Therefore, this poem is also excellent, and there is no distinction between good and bad," Han Zhize said.

"My lord, you flatter me. I'm afraid you wrote this long poem to avenge my resentment when I blocked the door and was forced to write a poem. What you wrote in one night, I spent nearly ten days writing."

Su Zhen complained, "Even now, when I have nothing to do, I revise my own poems, but they are still not as good as yours. Now, it's embarrassing for me in front of others."

These words drew laughter from both Lü Huiqing and Shen Kuo. Han Zhi quickly stepped forward, saying ingratiatingly, "Eighth Sister, what are you saying? How could I possibly do such a thing?"

Zhang Huaimin said, "I just read them. The imagery in these two poems is completely opposite, and the scenes depicted are more profound in Su Niangzi's poems."

Han Zhi also pulled Zhang Huaimin over and made him sit down in a chair, saying, "Brother Huaimin, since you're already here, why not have some snacks first? If you don't want to eat, I have plenty of guest rooms where you can take a nap."

"So that others won't say you're 'still awake' and then wake you up to wander around the yard."

Zhang Huaimin was baffled by these words, but Lü Huiqing laughed and said, "Brother Han told you not to say it. If you say it again, I'm afraid Brother Han won't be able to enter the house tonight."

"Brother Huiqing, stop talking and have some snacks." Han Zhi hurriedly placed two pieces of pastry in his hand.

Shen Kuo smiled and shook his head. Because of the lessons learned from Zhang Huaimin and Zhou Zhidao, he consciously picked up a piece of pastry and put it in his mouth.

"Oh, right," Lü Huiqing suddenly remembered something and asked, "Brother Han, are you free this afternoon?"

“Always.”

At this, Lü Huiqing jumped up, grabbed Han Zhi, and pulled him to a small corner, asking, "Then, Brother Han, are you interested in the three top courtesans of Pingluan Tower?"

Han Zhi paused for a moment, then asked, "Chen Shishi, Zhao Xiangxiang, and Xu Dongdong?"

Lu Huiqing nodded and said with satisfaction, "I really didn't realize that Brother Han was quite familiar with this."

"Not really," Han Zhi asked at this moment, "What does Brother Huiqing want to do with this?"

At this point, Lü Huiqing said, "I heard that a couple of days ago, the three courtesans requested a poem from a talented scholar. So today we've come out for three reasons: first, to get to know Lady Su; second, to get to know her better; and thirdly..."

"We just want to see if the new lyrics have been set to music. Shall the four of us go and take a look?"

Han Zhi shook his head immediately after hearing this, then pushed Lü Huiqing aside and ran back to Su Zhen's side. He grinned foolishly and said:

"If you want this poem, I can write another one for you; you don't need to go to that kind of place."

"Where? What word?" Su Zhen was just packing Han Zhi's book box on the couch and hadn't noticed what was happening there.

"Where can you write this word?" Lü Huiqing didn't understand what it meant.

At this moment, Yueping came in again and said, "My lord, my lady, there are three ladies at the door requesting an audience."

"Three wives?" Han Zhi was taken aback, and subconsciously said to Su Zhen, "I swear to God, Eighth Sister, believe me, I don't know any other wives!"

Su Zhen gently tapped him and asked Yueping, "Did those three ladies say their names and identities?"

"They said they were the ladies of Pingluan Tower. The leader was surnamed Chen, and the others were surnamed Zhao and Xu," Yueping said.

Lü Huiqing was stunned, while Shen Kuo and Zhang Huaimin looked at Han Zhi with meaningful glances. However, Han Zhi was not flustered at all; instead, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Their gazes then shifted to Su Zhen, but Su Zhen's reaction surprised them even more:

"Hurry and welcome them in."

Why doesn't she seem angry? Isn't this something that should make people angry?

A moment later, the three courtesans from Pingluan Pavilion entered. All three bowed to Han Zhi and Su Zhen.

"May Mr. Han and Mrs. Su enjoy happiness and prosperity."

"Ladies," Han Zhi returned the greeting and asked, "Is Pingluan Tower free today? You actually had time to come."

But Han Zhi suddenly realized another blind spot and asked, "Wait a minute! How do the three ladies know where my home is?"

Chen Shishi replied, "The three of us are all top courtesans, and we have quite a few connections. We can find out with a little inquiry."

Zhao Xiangxiang said, "Let's not talk too much. We're here today so that Han Langjun can see the musical score."

Lü Huiqing was also puzzled: "What sheet music?"

“My husband was invited to write a long poem for the three ladies,” Su Zhen explained.

Shen Kuo and Zhang Huaimin were also unsettled, and Zhou Zhidao seemed to have realized something, looking somewhat incredulous:

"Wait……"

"Does Madam Su mean that the line 'Knowing my myriad worries, yet not knowing what I seek,' was written by Brother Han?"

Apart from the three students from the Imperial Academy, the rest nodded. Shen Kuo also said:

"Such tragic words are not something someone with a happy family like Brother Han could write."

Su Zhen then said, "My husband once had a dream, and after waking up, he composed this poem."

Xu Dongdong also took out a rather thick note from her pocket and said:

"Young Master Han, this is the musical score that the three of us have been writing for several days. I'm afraid it doesn't quite capture the essence of the lyrics."

Han Zhi took the sheet music, but closed it as soon as he opened it—he couldn't understand it, he really couldn't understand it.

The musical score was so standard that he couldn't understand it at all. However, seeing Han Zhi's somewhat strange expression, the three courtesans were very worried, fearing that he thought the piece was bad.

Xu Dongdong also asked, "What's wrong, Han Langjun? Is the music not good enough?"

"No, it's because I can't read the sheet music..." Han Zhi gave an awkward laugh.

Only then did the three courtesans realize what was happening, and they gave each other an awkward but polite smile.

"It was my oversight," Chen Shishi apologized first. "I left in a hurry today and didn't bring my musical instruments. If I go back to get them, there won't be enough time."

"Why don't you come to Pingluan Tower, Mr. Han? As is our custom, the three of us sisters will be hosting a dinner. We'll let you see if the tune is correct."