Chapter 38: The Xia Emperor Astounded—Ye Xun’s Twelve-Character Maxim for Governing the State

Looking at Ye Xun’s resolute face and steady gaze, Ye Lantian felt a jolt of surprise. It was truly the first time he had seen Ye Xun in such a state.

Wei Wuji nodded slightly; it was precisely this determined look that had moved him the night before at the Duke of Zhen’s estate.

Without pause, Ye Lantian furrowed his brows and continued, "Then, if I were to set a topic on the spot, could you compose a poem?"

Ye Xun bowed, his expression calm and unruffled. "Father, please set the topic, and I shall accept."

Observing his composed demeanor, Ye Lantian felt a strange sensation, as if the Ye Xun before him were a completely different person—steady, calm, and brimming with vitality. If he weren't his own biological son, he would have suspected an impostor.

After a brief pause, Ye Lantian stood up, pondered for a moment, and spoke slowly. "Then, let your theme be 'tragedy and grandeur.' I wish to see if you, my wayward son, truly possess any poetic talent."

Hearing this, Wei Wuji’s heart sank. "Tragedy and grandeur" was a concept Ye Xun had never grasped before. To him, this task was exceedingly difficult. It seemed Ye Lantian had no intention of going easy on him in this test.

Ye Xun replied, "As you wish, Father."

At this moment, he felt remarkably calm. Forget composing a single poem; even if all the scholars of the Great Xia were summoned, Ye Xun could take them on one by one and, by his own strength, shake the very foundations of the Great Xia’s literary circles. Behind him stood thousands of years of cultural heritage.

With that, Ye Xun paced slowly through the hall, looked up at the ceiling, and began to recite:

"The wind is sharp, the sky high, the apes cry in sorrow,
The islet is clear, the sand white, the birds fly back.
Boundless fallen leaves rustle down,
The endless Yangtze River rolls on.
A traveler for a thousand miles, grieving the autumn,
A century of illness, I climb the terrace alone.
Hardship and bitterness, I regret the frost on my temples,
Down and out, I have just set aside the cup of murky wine."

As the last words fell, Ye Xun shook his head slightly and sighed, perfectly capturing the mood. This poem, "Climbing High" by the Sage of Poetry, Du Fu, was hailed as the crown of all seven-character regulated verse. Whether in its choice of words or its parallel structure, it reached an unparalleled level of mastery. Ye Xun was confident that this poem would turn the tide and change Ye Lantian’s opinion of him.

Meanwhile, Ye Lantian and Wei Wuji stood with mouths agape, looking at each other. They were dumbfounded, disbelieving, and utterly awestruck. If the six poems Ye Xun had composed previously were considered masterpieces, this piece was one that could shatter the past and light up the present, sending shockwaves through the literary world.

Ye Lantian stood up in astonishment, pointing at Ye Xun, and asked in disbelief, "This... this was truly something you recited just now!?"

Even having seen it with his own eyes and heard it with his own ears, he still could not believe it. How could such a masterpiece be written by someone of Ye Xun’s age and background? He found it difficult to fathom Ye Xun’s transformation.

Wei Wuji exclaimed, "Your Majesty, what a poem! Truly, what a magnificent poem!"

"The sudden rise of the autumn wind, the mournful cry of the wild apes; the circling gulls, finding no place to land. Amidst the desolation and loneliness, seeing the heartless river flowing eastward, one is struck by the vastness of heaven and earth and the sorrow of life’s insignificance. The hardship and poverty, the sorrow for the nation and the family; the grey hair increasing by the day, the wine abandoned due to illness. It began as a spirited climb to look into the distance, yet it ended in gratuitous sorrow and added regret. The beginning is soaring and stirring, while the ending is soft and cold; an infinite sense of desolation spills forth from beyond the words."

Wei Wuji could not help but close his eyes, savoring the poem. Then, opening them slowly, he looked at Ye Xun and asked in wonder, "Your Highness, what is the title of this poem?"

Ye Xun replied indifferently, " 'Climbing High.' "

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Ye Lantian and Wei Wuji were shocked once again. To them, this earth-shattering poem seemed like nothing more than a casual remark to Ye Xun. This was nothing short of dimensional reduction warfare.

Although Ye Lantian was reluctant to praise Ye Xun, he had to acknowledge his poetic genius. Every one of the eight lines was perfectly parallel. At a glance, the head and tail seemed to lack parallelism, and the middle seemed to ignore it, but upon closer inspection, every line followed the strict rules of prosody, and every word was perfectly placed. The genius of "Climbing High" lay not just in the poem itself, but in its meter—unprecedented and unmatched.

*Hoo...* Ye Lantian let out a long breath. Since entering the hall, everything Ye Xun had shown was exactly to his liking. It seemed his decision was correct: stripping Ye Xun of the crown prince title had truly prompted a change in him.

Ye Lantian then looked at Ye Xun and continued, "Then, in your opinion, from which aspects should a ruler govern a nation?"

Ye Xun’s change in personality, his literary talent, and his understanding of commerce were not enough. If he were to be reinstated as the heir, the art of governance was the fundamental issue.

Hearing this, Wei Wuji also looked at Ye Xun with anticipation, waiting for his answer.

Ye Xun did not hesitate. He said slowly, "Appoint the virtuous, purify the bureaucracy, rectify grievances, reduce taxes, establish military colonies, train troops, and secure the borders."

Twelve simple words, spoken without hesitation. Though the words were simple, they were profound and decisive.

Since Ye Xun had decided to take this path, there was no need to hide his cards. Ye Lantian looked at him in disbelief. It was truly a case of "one should look at a scholar with new eyes after three days of separation." The once hopelessly debauched Ye Xun could now summarize issues of military, politics, and the people’s livelihood in a few simple words.

Wei Wuji felt a surge of joy. There was hope—hope for the Wei family, hope for the Guanzhi faction, and hope for the "Mountain-Shaking Plan."

Ye Lantian felt a sense of approval, though he did not show it on his face. Although Ye Xun had performed excellently, he still suspected that there was a hidden master guiding him from the shadows; otherwise, such a drastic change would be impossible. Even if Ye Xun had truly experienced an awakening, Ye Lantian needed time to verify if he truly possessed great talent.

Ye Lantian flicked his sleeves, stood up, and said in a deep voice, "Let us go, Minister. I am tired."

Although he was pleased and hoped Ye Xun’s change was genuine, he resisted the urge to say more to him.

"As you command, Your Majesty," Wei Wuji said, stepping forward to follow behind Ye Lantian. He knew Ye Lantian well and realized that the Emperor had been moved.

As they headed out of the palace, Ye Lantian whispered, "Minister, is there really a master behind the Prince of Qin’s residence?"

Wei Wuji shook his head slightly. "Nothing has been found as of yet."

"Keep searching."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Watching them depart, Ye Xun took a deep breath, calmed his heart, and hurried after them. "I shall see you off, Father."

Now, he could only choose to endure, follow the steps, and proceed steadily. As long as Ye Lantian’s health held up and his own growth was swift enough, he would have a chance to turn the tables.

The Great Xia was not an easy place to survive. The court of the Great Xia was not easy to navigate. The royal family of the Great Xia was even harder to deal with. Given the current situation, if he could not move forward, he would fall into the abyss and be lost forever.

Since he had been pushed into the storm, Ye Xun had no turning back. From now on, he could only be ruthless—to make his enemies fear him, to make them tremble at his name.

He hoped Ye Lantian would live for many more years, to work for him for a while longer.