A thousand-year-old family begins with one fighting against ten thousand.

"In the eyes of the emperor, there are only two kinds of people: those who can be used and those who cannot be used."

"Instead of the virtuous ministers and treacherous officials you might imagine."

"As long as you can complete His Majesty's mission, you are a useful person, and vice versa."

"His Majesty will not care whether you are virtuous, honest, or speak out for the people."

"We don't care if you are corrupt, dishonest, disregard human life, or prey on the people."

"His Majesty only cares whether you can carry out his orders, nothing more."

"You must remember, emperors are impartial."

"His sincerity towards you today, his bestowal of gold and silver, and his promise of important responsibilities are not due to favoritism towards your character, but because the current situation necessitates you."

"If in the future your power becomes too great, your prestige surpasses that of the emperor, or your political views clash with the emperor's personal desires, the favor of the past can turn into suspicion in an instant."

"If your treacherous enemies in the court frame you, you still have a chance to defend yourself; but if the emperor harbors suspicion, he needs no evidence, only a hint of fear, and you will be doomed!"

"Even disputes among colleagues can be governed by unspoken rules of the court; but when the emperor's heart is swayed, there is no reason to reason with him."

"The emperor's power is unpredictable; his actions, whether thunder or rain, are entirely determined by the emperor's will."

"This is the imperial court."

"In the past, you had no interest in court affairs, and I never taught you these things."

"Since you've asked, I'll teach you what the imperial court is."

Wei Wen peeled back the layers of the truth about the court and told it to Li Bai.

Li Bai felt that his worldview had been greatly shaken; he had never imagined that the imperial court was like this.

It was not that the court officials were loyal to the country and wholeheartedly spoke out for the people.

So this is what the imperial court is like!

Wei Wen looked at Li Bai with some worry, concerned that his young disciple might not be able to accept it.

"Master, your disciple wishes to enter the imperial court."

After a long silence, Li Bai spoke in a hoarse voice.

Wei Wen sighed. "Have you thought this through?"

"No need to answer me so quickly, go back and think about it carefully."

"Once you enter the imperial court, it's like entering a deep sea; from then on, you're just a stranger in the martial world."

"Once you enter the court, you must abide by its rules. Even I cannot easily break them."

"If you make one wrong move, I might not be able to save you."

"Taibai, you are naturally unrestrained and free-spirited, like a poet immortal fallen to earth. You have the world and the mountains and rivers in your heart, but no heart for the court."

"Too shallow-minded, lacking in cunning, and with an unrestrained personality, he is really not suitable for the imperial court."

"Think about it carefully, and tell me in a few days."

Li Bai nodded silently, bowed to Wei Wen, greeted Wei Mai, and then turned to leave.

Back in his room, Li Bai sat at the table and fell into deep thought.

A moment later, he tore open the two pieces of paper.

"Master Meng, seeing this letter is like seeing you in person."

"Long have I been away from the river tower, separated by clouds and mountains, the long wind carries my thoughts, which have never ceased."

"Bai Bansheng traveled far and wide with his sword, finding solace in nature. He thought that the mountains and rivers were enough for him to live out his days, and that poetry and wine would be enough for him to grow old. He witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties over a thousand years, and was detached from worldly affairs, having no interest in the court."

"However, living near Luoyang, I witnessed the corrupt ministers abusing their power, the crown prince dying unjustly, and the hidden wounds growing beneath the veneer of a prosperous era."

"The emperor was extravagant, the harem was rife with infighting, honest advice was hard to get through, villains held sway, they stood in opposition, and all officials were silenced."

"Looking at this scene, it's hard to feel at ease."

"I was originally a scholar from Gezhou, and I also had a heart to save the world. In the past, I was confident in my talent and laughed at fame and fortune as shackles, and I disdained to bow and scrape before the powerful and wealthy."

"However, seeing the court in decline and the people suffering, I could not bear it."

"If one can use one's talents and learning to serve in the court, advocate for the people, and bring benefit and joy to the world."

"However, my master advised me to think quietly, saying that I am naturally unruly and proud, with a heart as vast as the world, but lacking the cunning of the court; I can embrace the beauty of nature, but cannot conceal even the slightest bit of scheming. Entering the court is like entering a deep sea, and with my unruly nature, I fear I will not be able to save the world, but will instead be trapped by it."

"In his youth, the Master abandoned officialdom and retired to live a simple life amidst pines and clouds in his old age. He saw through the vanity of officialdom and devoted his life to maintaining his integrity in the mountains and forests."

"I am confused about what to do next, so I wrote this letter to ask for your guidance. I hope you will not hesitate to give me your advice."

"The river moon remains the same, and so do old friends; I long for your reply to dispel my confusion."

"Taibai bows deeply."

After sealing the envelope, Li Bai spread out another sheet of paper.

"Brother Dafu, it is as if we are meeting in person upon receiving this letter."

"Since we parted in Jiangling, I have been traveling far and wide for several years and have not seen you. I miss you dearly. I wonder how you are doing, Brother Dafu?"

"Three years from now, I hope you will pass the imperial examination with flying colors, bring glory to our family, and return home in triumph."

"The book that follows is a collection of commentaries on the classics written recently by renowned scholars of the Imperial Academy, which you may use for your reference."

"I remember when I traveled to Jiangnan, drinking and laughing together. You often think of me passing the imperial examinations and entering the court to serve the country."

"Li Bai valued freedom over fame and fortune, and was unwilling to serve as an official, instead finding solace in nature."

"But today I have witnessed firsthand the darkness in the court, with treacherous officials in power and loyal ministers having no way to serve their country."

"Brother, you live in your hometown and are probably unaware of the important events in Luoyang. The treacherous minister and the concubines in the harem are conspiring to murder the crown prince and seize the throne."

"He also exiled officials who dared to speak out, and all officials fell silent. No one in the court dared to offer any loyal advice."

"Court officials who curry favor with treacherous ministers can easily gain promotions and rise through the ranks simply by flattering and scheming."

Those who are unwilling to serve as his protectors are suppressed at every turn, and even if they possess extraordinary abilities, they have no place to use them.

Looking up at the moon, I saw the court in decline, and my desire to save the world was rekindled.

"However, my teacher strongly advised against it, saying that I was too straightforward and too sharp-edged, lacking the tact and wisdom to be patient and maneuver. The court is a deep and treacherous place, and people are cunning. Without pride, one can not stand firm, and without sincerity, one can not accomplish anything. He feared that my passion would be worn down by the officialdom, and that I would not only be powerless to save the world, but would also bring disaster upon myself."

"Brother, you have long observed the current situation and are well-versed in worldly affairs. You have a wealth of knowledge and wisdom. I hope you can dispel the doubts in my heart. Your younger brother, Li Bai, thanks you."

After sending out the two letters and some gifts he had prepared, Li Bai went to the courtyard, looked up at the moon, and found himself lost in thought, unable to fall asleep.

What choice should he make?

detachment from the world or engagement with the world?

Meng Haoran and Gao Shi's replies did not arrive until a month later.

In his letter, Meng Haoran advised him not to set foot in the imperial court, saying that the court was a murky place and he should not waste his precious youth there.

With Li Bai's talent, he should have traveled more to explore the country's beautiful landscapes and leave behind more timeless masterpieces, instead of wasting all his energy on the intrigues and power struggles of the court.

Gao Shi's reply was exactly the opposite. After thanking Li Bai for his book, Gao Shi strongly urged Li Bai to join the imperial court and make a name for himself.

He also made a pact with Li Bai that they would meet in the imperial court one day, support each other, and work together to achieve great things.

Li Bai had hoped to find direction from the advice of his two friends, but unexpectedly, their advice was exactly the opposite.

One person advised him to stay away from the court, while another advised him to enter the court.

This only made Li Bai more confused.