The videos I watched became popular in ancient times

Ten frosty shadows are turning around the courtyard tree, and this evening the dew lover is alone in the corner.

It may not be that Su'e has no regrets, but Yuchan is cold and sweet-scented osmanthus solitary.

"Mid-Autumn Moon" uses the poetic style of Li Shangyin, but it is natural and seamless. This seven-character quatrain gives people a glimpse of the literary talent of Yan Shu.

Moreover, throughout history, there are not many ministers who are talented, capable, and able to have a good end, and Yan Shu is one of the best.

"There was such a prime minister in the Northern Song Dynasty who was called a child prodigy at the age of 5."

"At the age of 14, he was able to take the palace examination as an exception and was highly regarded by the emperor."

"In the officialdom, he is a veteran of two dynasties."

"In the literary world, he is a figure at the level of the founder of the Northern Song Dynasty."

"Famous writers such as Ouyang Xiu, Fan Zhongyan, Wang Anshi, and Han Qi were all his students."

"This person is Yan Shu, who is known as the richest and most idle person in the Northern Song Dynasty."

"Unlike his colleagues who had a bumpy career, Yan Shu had a very smooth life. He was praised as the prime minister of the prosperous times among poets and the literary master among prime ministers."

"Some people say that a person's destiny lies in his actions."

"Yan Shu was able to thrive in the treacherous Northern Song Dynasty, largely because he knew how to behave in society."

"At the age of 14, Yan Shu was recommended to the central government as a child prodigy by local officials and participated in the palace examination along with thousands of candidates from across the country."

"Although he is young, Yan Shu is not afraid at all."

"He was calm and composed in the examination room, and finished the test paper very quickly, which impressed Emperor Zhenzong of Song."

"A few days later, when the retest day came, Yan Shu got the questions and found that he had encountered them before."

"Perhaps most people would feel lucky if they were faced with this situation and just go with the flow and complete the exam."

"But Yan Shu did not do that. He stood up and walked to Emperor Zhenzong of Song, sincerely told him that he had done this question before, and asked him to change the question."

"When Emperor Zhenzong of Song heard this, he was very pleased and felt that Yan Shu was not only talented, but also had a first-class character."

"So he was given the title of Secretary of the Ministry of Secrets and allowed to study in the Secret Cabinet."

"From then on, Yan Shu officially entered the officialdom and began his lifelong journey of ups and downs."

"And it was his integrity that gave him a lot of help in his official career."

"At that time, the Northern Song Dynasty was a time of peace and prosperity, and most officials lived a life of luxury and extravagance. Most restaurants in the market had large curtains to facilitate the officials and nobles to drink and enjoy music."

"Yan Shu couldn't go because of his limited financial resources, so he simply called a few friends to teach poetry and books and stayed indoors."

"When the emperor learned about this, he felt that he was a very different person, with upright character and not indulging in sensual pleasures."

"At that time, the emperor was selecting a lecturer for the crown prince, so he rejected all objections and insisted on appointing Yan Shu as the crown prince's lecturer."

"After learning the truth, Yan Shu reported it to the emperor, saying that he did not go because he had no money."

"If he had money, he would eat, drink and have fun like other officials."

Ouyang Xiu: The flowers fall helplessly, and Yan Shu, the one who appreciates them when they bloom, will always be missed.

Yan Shu was born in Linchuan, Jiangxi Province. His father, Yan Gu, was a Fuzhou handicraft officer, and according to his position, he was just a government official.

For a poet known for his elegance and nobility, his family background was not prominent.

Although he came from a humble background, Yan Shu was very strong. Not only was he gifted, but he also studied very hard.

He was already famous at the age of five, his poems at the age of seven were well-known, and by the age of thirteen he was even more talented.

Afterwards, Yan Shu was recommended by Zhang Zhibai to enter the court as a child prodigy, and after he finished writing the palace examination essay.

The then emperor Song Zhenzong was very happy. He appointed Yan Shu as a Jinshi and instructed the great scholar Chen Pengnian to train Yan Shu into a talent.

With the training and cultivation of the emperor and great scholars, Yan Shu was promoted to the position of Secretary of the Secretariat at the age of 14.

Yan Shu was knowledgeable and capable. Whenever Emperor Zhenzong of Song encountered a difficult problem, he would often write on a small piece of paper to seek Yan Shu's opinion.

Yan Shu's suggestions were adopted by Emperor Zhenzong of Song Dynasty many times, and he became his right-hand man.

However, while he made some progress in officialdom, he lost a loved one in his family.

As a poet known for his smooth official career, family changes would have been reflected in his poems, but he never did.

Yan Shu was an important writer of the graceful style of poetry in the Northern Song Dynasty. His poetry absorbed the essence of the Huajian School of the Southern Tang Dynasty.

Yan Shu wrote many poems in his life, but none of them was written to commemorate the deceased.

Yan Shu himself did not seem to be a very calm person. He had a strong and straightforward character and lived a frugal life.

He served as a state official many times, and officials and people were afraid of his impatient character.

He was also good at understanding others, and Fu Bi and Yang Cha both became his sons-in-law.

Yan Shu recommended many talents to the Song Dynasty, but he did not use his power to get an official position for his son Yan Jidao in the court.

When he was prime minister and privy councilor, the emperor promoted his son-in-law Fu Bi to deputy privy councilor.

In order to avoid suspicion, Yan Shu requested to resign from his part-time job, but the emperor thought it was unnecessary because he trusted Yan Shu.

The fact that he was trusted and favored by the emperor to such an extent shows how good Yan Shu's reputation was at that time.

Although Yan Shu's career as an official cannot be said to be inactive, his focus was certainly not on advancement and innovation.

There is an extremely precious quality in Yan Shu's nature that many officials do not possess, that is, he is extremely loyal and honest.

As a child prodigy and young Jinshi, Yan Shu was extremely talented and often had his own unique insights into state affairs.

However, he never tried to seek attention in anything he did. Instead, he was low-key and down-to-earth, always putting the court first.

Throughout his life, he would never flatter or opportunize, nor would he deceive the emperor or take credit for himself.

It can be said that Yan Shu used all his energy to maintain the balance, so he did not like any external force to break this hard-earned balance.

Pessimistic people often find it difficult to give up their attachment to what is in front of them, and this is true for both things and words.

Therefore, although Yan Shu's poems are natural and simple, they are not exaggerated.

"I didn't expect that the emperor would think that he was a very honest and serious person, and he respected him even more."

"Being upright is not about being cunning, but about being open and aboveboard, being rigorous and conscientious, and having a noble character."

“Integrity is not only an ability, but also an attitude.”

"An upright person who keeps his word and dares to take responsibility for his actions often makes people feel at ease and believe that he is worthy of their deep friendship."

“If you want to do something, be a person of integrity and thrive in a complex world.”

"In the first year of Qianxing, Emperor Zhenzong of Song died, and Emperor Renzong of Song, Zhao Zhen, ascended the throne."

"The prime minister at the time took advantage of the fact that Renzong was young and had no power to support him, and he came up with the idea of ​​holding the emperor hostage to allow the princes to monopolize power."

"The ministers in the court discussed this matter, but no one dared to come out and stop it."

"Only Yan Shu stood up and proposed ruling from behind the curtain."

"Yan Shu suggested that Empress Dowager Liu, Renzong's mother, could rule the country from behind the curtain to better assist the young emperor."

"The ministers all agreed. Ding Wei and Cao Liyong knew that if they went against the grain at this time, it would be really unjustifiable, so they had to give up."

"Yan Shu's action helped the young emperor and Empress Dowager Liu overcome difficulties, and won the favor of the emperor and the empress dowager."

"Yan Shu has a clear mind. He is not only brave but also strategic. He knows how to distinguish right from wrong and understand the situation."

"Later, Yan Shu was impeached for some reason and banished from the capital."

"He then began to build large-scale projects in the local area, constructing schools and cultivating talents."

"The Yingtian Academy he founded quickly became one of the four great academies in the early Song Dynasty, along with Yuelu Academy, Shigu Academy, and Bailudong Academy."

"Fan Zhongyan, Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi and others were all his students. Under his training and guidance, they entered officialdom and served the country. Later, they gave great help to Yan Shu."

"He was cautious, meticulous, peaceful and low-key, and his political experience throughout his life was indeed free of major ups and downs."

"But even such a peaceful and low-key person was brave and resourceful in the face of threats, dared to draw the sword, defended the imperial power, and protected the safety of the country."

"Be persistent in the face of adversity, firmly do what you believe is right, and cultivate talents to prosper the country."

“When dealing with people and doing things, we must first grasp the overall trend and proceed in an orderly manner. Only in this way can we go steadily and go far.”

"According to records, Yan Shu was once mistakenly summoned into the Forbidden Palace by a eunuch."

Fan Zhongyan: The fate of a person is hidden in his actions.

Yan Shu was considered a lucky man in the eyes of the world, with a smooth and uneventful life.

He holds a high position, has many friends, and lives a life that many people dream of.

Yan Shu was smart and studious since childhood. He could compose poems at the age of five, and the locals called him a child prodigy.

A few years later, he was recommended by Zhang Zhibai, then governor of Jiangnan, as a child prodigy to go to Beijing to take the exam.

His honesty and talent were greatly appreciated by Emperor Zhenzong of Song, who granted him the same status as a Jinshi and allowed him to stay in the Secret Pavilion for further study.

When his father died, he returned to his hometown to mourn, but was recalled to his post before the mourning period was over.

Yan Shu's official career can be described as a rise of ten levels at a time. It is no exaggeration to describe it as a meteoric rise.

However, no matter where he was or what position he held, he was always calm and peaceful, but there was always a hint of deep loneliness in this calmness.

Everyone only saw that Yan Shu was in great glory and everything went smoothly in front of others, as if all the good luck in the world had fallen upon him.

But how many people could see that he walked forward step by step, trembling with fear and as if treading on thin ice?

Although Yan Shu held a high position in the court, he did not dare to be careless at all.

Song Zhenzong often asked for his advice, and each time he would write down his questions in tiny characters on a small piece of paper and give it to him.

Every time he wrote down his suggestions, he would put them together with the small piece of paper and present them to Zhenzong, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

As the saying goes, serving a king is like serving a tiger. All honor and disgrace depend on the thoughts of that supreme person.

Yan Shu, who was well versed in the ways of being an official, understood this truth, so he was always vigilant and sober, but also felt inexplicably lonely and isolated at all times.

When you enter the world, you have no choice but to do what you want. There are few people in this world who can show their true heart to others.

What's more, how could Yan Shu, who was able to maintain peace and wealth throughout his life, travel freely in the world as he pleased?

Although he appears calm on the surface, his deep worries make his poems always filled with a vague sadness in their indifference.

Yan Shu's heart is lonely, and Yan Shu's feelings are also lonely.

He had three wives in his life, but none of them lived long. They all died before him due to illness, leaving him alone to grow old.

Although Yan Shu served as a high-ranking official for fifty years and kept singing girls and dancers at home, there was never any rumor about him having any romantic affairs.

But he must also have a confidante whom he loves deep in his heart, otherwise he would not have so much lingering lovesickness.

It is said that when Yan Shu was drinking with Ouyang Xiu, Ouyang Xiu invited a singing girl to entertain them. The singing girl was named Zhang Caiping.

When talking about poetry, Yan Shu unexpectedly discovered that she and he surprisingly agreed on many points of view, which made him feel like he had met a soulmate.

But after all, they were just chance acquaintances, and after a brief encounter they were separated forever.

Yan Shu never saw her again, but his longing for her stayed in his heart.

He could only incorporate this feeling into poetry to commemorate that pure emotion.

Yan Shu lived a stable and smooth life. After his death, Emperor Renzong of Song went to pay his respects in person.

"At that time, Emperor Zhenzong of Song was seriously ill and bedridden. He ordered someone to take out a document and give it to Yan Shu. It contained an imperial edict to dismiss some ministers."

"Yan Shu said that he was an external official and that this matter should be handled by the internal officials, and he did not dare to overstep his authority."

"Zhenzong nodded in agreement and summoned the Imperial Academy scholars."

"The next morning, the imperial edict was sent out of the palace. The content of the imperial edict was very different from what he had seen yesterday. Yan Shu was deeply shocked."

"But because it didn't have a big impact on the overall situation, I didn't tell anyone else and kept it deep in my heart."

"Yan Shu is well aware of the rules of officialdom, so he has been very tactful over the years, neither trying to please nor targeting others. He is a rare peaceful prime minister."

"Yan Shu was not only flexible in dealing with things, but also flexible in dealing with people."

"Yan Shu had a student named Li Jian, and they were from the same hometown."

"One summer, Yan Shu returned to his hometown to visit his relatives. Many officials came to visit him, but Li Jian did not come."

"My nephew was dissatisfied and told Yan Shu that Li Jian was given an important position because of your support."

"Now that you're home, he doesn't even come to visit. That's really too much!"

"After listening to this, Yan Shu smiled and explained that you didn't know Li Jian, and that he didn't come to avoid suspicion."

"If he comes, people will think I am forming cliques and forming a private faction."

"Besides, there is a locust plague now. If he does his job well, isn't that also a credit to me?"

"My nephew was deeply impressed after hearing this and said no more."

"Yan Shu was very clever in dealing with people and things, which allowed the world to see his flexible and adaptable side."

"Yan Shu, who was proficient in the art of compromise, could be said to have never offended anyone, never envied anyone, and never lost trust in anyone. He always forgave others when he could."

“People who achieve great things and have good luck are those who act in a tactful way, neither showing off nor being too smooth.”

“In addition to considering your own interests, you will also consider the gains and losses of others, thus opening the door to interpersonal relationships.”

"A person's destiny is often hidden in his actions."

“Being reliable and making more contributions will allow us to gain trust and have true friends.”

“Only if we act strategically can we move forward steadily, have good teachers and helpful friends, and lead a stable life.”

“Being tactful and considerate of others is the only way we can have open-minded friends and lead a happy life.”

"May you also be able to lead a fulfilling and blessed life like Yan Shu."

Su Shi: Yan Shu's love poems are full of affection and express the pain of separation and parting, with just a few words expressing the beautiful artistic conception.

When Yan Shu was fourteen years old, he took part in the palace examination with more than a thousand people. He was praised by Emperor Zhenzong of Song and was granted the same status as a Jinshi.

From then on, he rose to prominence and was promoted several times, eventually becoming Vice Minister of Rites and Vice Minister of Justice.

Everyone thought that Yan Shu was very lucky, as he rose rapidly to become an important official in the court at a young age.

But who knew that in this ever-changing officialdom, Yan Shu was walking on thin ice with every step he took.

Song Zhenzong thought highly of Yan Shu and discussed many things with him.

Every time Zhenzong asked for his opinion, he would write the content in small characters on a small piece of paper.

After Yan Shu wrote down his suggestions, he put them together with the small piece of paper and presented them to Emperor Zhenzong of Song.

However, even such a cautious person could not avoid the storms in the court.

After Emperor Zhenzong of Song died, Crown Prince Zhao Zhen ascended the throne. Because Zhao Zhen was young, Empress Dowager Liu E ruled the country from behind the curtain.

Empress Dowager Liu also highly recognized Yan Shu and promoted him again to become one of the prime ministers of the dynasty.

Yan Shu accompanied Song Renzong on an inspection tour of the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace. He was anxious to set off, but saw his followers slowly coming to deliver a handboard.

Yan Shu could not help but get furious. He took the handboard and swung it, knocking out several of the follower's front teeth on the spot.

This time he was caught with evidence, and impeachment memorials were received one after another, and he was naturally exiled from the capital.

At first, the court appointed him as the governor of Xuanzhou.

Perhaps the emperor and the empress dowager took into consideration their old friendship, so he was transferred to Yingtian Prefecture, which was closer to the capital, before the imperial edict was issued.

Generally, demoted literati would leave behind countless sad and mournful poems to vent their anger.

However, Yan Shu had extraordinary self-control and did not complain or blame others like others.

Instead, I try to adjust myself to the new life.

It was precisely because of Yan Shu's mentality that although he was exiled, he still maintained a positive attitude towards life.

During the short two years he served in Yingtian Prefecture, he devoted himself to promoting education and expanding the scale of Yingtian Prefecture Academy.

In order to promote education, he invited Fan Zhongyan to work in the provincial school and take charge of the teaching chair of Yingtian Academy.

They were of similar mind and got along well with each other. They often enjoyed themselves together, reading poems and drinking wine, and were very happy and carefree.

Two years later, Yan Shu returned to the court and officially became the prime minister. He once again stood on top of the world and lived a stable life for more than ten years.

However, the world did not allow him to have such smooth sailing. An epitaph pushed him to the forefront again.

That year, Concubine Li Chen died and Yan Shu was commissioned to write her epitaph.

This tomb inscription is very tricky because Li Chenfei is the biological mother of Song Renzong.

However, Renzong was raised by Empress Dowager Liu since he was born, and the truth was hidden for so many years.

How could Yan Shu dare to reveal it easily, so he had to write a few sentences cryptically, which laid the hidden danger for his subsequent exile.

After Empress Dowager Liu passed away, Renzong's life experience was revealed. Yan Shu became the best person for him to vent his anger and was once again banished from the capital.

As he reached middle age, he no longer had the fearlessness of his youth, and there was a hint of depression in his poems.

He still tried hard to hide his feelings, but used other people's stories to express his sadness.

For the same reason, ten years later, Yan Shu was demoted again and sent to Yingzhou.

At this time, Yan Shu was over sixty years old. He no longer had the hopes of his youth, nor the resentment of middle age. Instead, he had a more open-minded and desolate feeling.

Perhaps, after decades of ups and downs in officialdom, he has seen through everything.

This exile occupied almost his entire later life, and he did not return to Beijing for treatment until Yan Shu became seriously ill.

Renzong still treated him as a prime minister. Not long after Yan Shu died of illness, Renzong suspended court for two days for him.

Looking back on Yan Shu's life, it seems smooth, but in fact it is full of ups and downs.

His calmness in front of everyone is the result of his perseverance behind the scenes.

Yan Shu persevered throughout his life in exchange for being seen as indifferent by others.

Don't envy how lucky he is, because no one knows the hardships behind him. (End of this chapter)