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

Shen Kuo's mind went blank at that moment, and he felt a buzzing sound.

"Your Highness... Your Highness, this... I..."

Shen Kuo stammered, unsure how to respond. Although he held Wang Qian in high regard, this sudden, blunt remark threw him into disarray.

Wang Qian initially had some expectations when she saw Shen Kuo's expression. However, seeing that he didn't respond, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

She turned her head slightly and said softly, "If Mr. Shen has no intention of doing this, then please pretend that I never mentioned it and don't let this bother you."

Shen Kuo hurriedly waved his hand and said, "Madam Wang, you misunderstand. My feelings for you are as clear as day. However, this marriage proposal is of great importance, and I am afraid that I will fail to live up to your expectations."

"Besides, if you go back like this, tomorrow is the most festive day of the winter solstice. Brother Han's family is making winter solstice noodles. If you leave, wouldn't you be letting Brother Han down?"

Hearing Shen Kuo's words, Wang Qian breathed a sigh of relief. She turned her head, looked into Shen Kuo's eyes, and said, "Since you have such a wish, that's good. But I wonder if my presumption today has frightened you?"

Shen Kuo said somewhat embarrassedly, "No, no, I was just nervous and didn't react in time."

Wang Qian's cheeks flushed, and she lowered her head slightly, saying softly, "That's good then."

The two fell silent for a moment. Then Shen Kuo heard Wang Qian cough and quickly looked at her. He asked somewhat anxiously, "Madam Wang, are you alright?"

"It's alright... cough cough."

Wang Qian covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said after a moment's pause, "Perhaps the snow scene was too beautiful, and I inhaled some cold air after looking at it for so long."

Shen Kuo looked around; the snow had stopped. A gentle breeze blew by. Snowflakes fell softly from the nearby wintersweet tree.

He said softly, "Madam Wang, if you like the snowy scenery of Liang Garden, shall we take another stroll?"

"Very good."

Wang Qian nodded slightly, and the two walked slowly along the lakeside path. The snow under their feet crunched softly, as if it were the snow humming a winter song.

As you walk, a wide expanse of snow comes into view, with an ancient stone bridge in the middle. The stones of the bridge appear rounded and soft under the snow.

Shen Kuo helped Wang Qian onto the stone bridge. Standing on the bridge, they gazed into the distance, taking in the entire Liang Garden. Shen Kuo sighed, "My knowledge is limited; seeing this scene, I can only say it's beautiful."

Wang Qian chuckled and said, "Why doesn't Master Shen compose a poem?"

"I can't make another one, I can only make a simple one."

"I'm all ears." Wang Qian tilted her head slightly and heard Shen Kuo read aloud:

"Upstairs, the palace is right outside; no immortal dwelling is seen in the mortal world. Light smoke and thin mist rise on Cold Food Festival, and the city is filled with the bright moon and pear blossoms."

After listening, Wang Qian nodded slightly and said, "This poem is not bad. It should compare snow to pear blossoms and depict the snow after the rain in Liang Garden. I just don't know if this poem is based on the Kaiyuan Music tune? Judging from the tone and rhyme, it does have some characteristics of the Kaiyuan Music tune."

“That’s right, it is indeed Kaiyuan Music.” Shen Kuo nodded with a smile.

A thought struck Wang Qian, and she suddenly took a few steps forward, reaching out to catch a snowflake that drifted down from the eaves. The snowflake landed steadily in her palm, melting quickly and turning into a glistening droplet of water.

"Master Shen?" she suddenly called out.

"Madam Wang? What's wrong?"

Wang Qian sat back down and said with a smile, "I have a question for you, Master Shen. You must promise me that you will not lie."

“Yes,” Shen Kuo nodded. “Please feel free to ask, Madam Wang.”

"Sir Shen, you should remember those three poems, 'Qinyuanchun,' 'Niannujiao,' and 'Qingyu'an,' right?" Wang Qian said. "They were the three poems that were used in the competition between the Kaifeng Academy and the Yingtian Academy."

Shen Kuo nodded: "I remember."

Wang Qian then said, "Then please tell me the truth, Mr. Shen, were these three poems written by your own hand?"

"No," Shen Kuo said, blushing slightly and scratching his head.

"Was it written by Master Han?"

Shen Kuo dared not speak further and simply nodded. Wang Qian covered her mouth and laughed, saying, "I knew it."

"How did Lady Wang find out?" Shen Kuo asked.

Wang Qian smiled and said, "I wonder if Master Shen still remembers when we were composing lyrics in Qingfeng Pavilion a couple of days ago?"

Shen Kuo nodded, and then Wang Qian continued, "Back then, Han Guanren wrote a poem called 'Remembering Qin E: Loushan Pass,' which was full of heroic sentiments and was completely unlike ordinary poems and prose."

"But the poem by Master Shen was a bit affected, gentle and soft, unlike the three poems from the poetry gathering. I had some doubts then, and just now Master Shen recited another poem, 'Kaiyuan Yue,' which was even more effeminate."

"Therefore, I dare to say that these three poems were not written by Master Shen."

Upon hearing Wang Qian's words, Shen Kuo's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he said with a wry smile, "Madam Wang is indeed thoughtful and insightful."

"Brother Han was full of lofty sentiments, and those three poems were indeed his masterpieces. At the time, for some unknown reason, they claimed in front of you that I had written them, but unexpectedly, Lady Wang saw through their deception."

Wang Qian gently shook her head and said with a smile, "Sir Shen, there's no need to take it to heart. Sir Han was able to write such fine lyrics, which naturally overflowed with heroic spirit. Sir Shen also has his own talent and demeanor. In this Liang Garden, enjoying the snow scenery with me, composing songs and lyrics, is also a refined affair."

Shen Kuo smiled awkwardly, looked at Wang Qian, and said apologetically, "Madam Wang is so understanding, I'm really sorry."

“It’s alright,” Wang Qian waved her hand slightly, “but please don’t do this again, Mr. Shen.”

"Definitely not," Shen Kuo quickly replied.

“That’s good,” Wang Qian smiled slightly. “But then again, why did Master Han and the others attribute those three poems to Master Shen?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Kuo paused for a moment, then scratched his head—because this answer was truly embarrassing. He had been given this poem in the first place so that he could pursue Wang Qian.

Seeing Shen Kuo's demeanor, Wang Qian found it strange and asked, "Why won't you speak, Master Shen? Is it because of some unspeakable reason?"

Shen Kuo hesitated for a moment, but still told the truth: "Madam Wang, to be honest, my friends saw that I fell in love with you at first sight, but they didn't know how to express it and hesitated to make a move."

"Furthermore, when Lady Wang went to the academy to inquire about us, and since this poem happened to be written by Master Han, they immediately attributed it to me..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Qian gently scolded, "Master Shen, how could you so easily trust your friend? Do you perhaps think that without these three poems, I would no longer like you?"

After he finished speaking, the pavilion suddenly fell silent for a while.