I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

It was school day again, under the corridor outside the Imperial Academy's library.

Zhao Mingcheng had just returned a copy of the "Yuanhe County Gazetteer" when he came out of the building and was stopped by Li Jiong, who was waiting there.

"Brother Mingcheng!" Li Jiong emerged from behind the pillar, a smile on his face, though he looked a little embarrassed.

"Brother Li," Zhao Mingcheng nodded, noticing his expression, "Is something the matter?"

"There are some things I'd like to trouble Brother Mingcheng with." Li Jiong rubbed his hands together, looked around, and only spoke in a low voice when he saw that no one was around.

"Well... the other day I heard Dr. Liu mention in private that my elder brother once wrote a policy essay entitled 'On the Importance of Personnel Selection in the New Policies, and the Approach of Balancing Leniency and Severity,' which even Prime Minister Zhang personally read and praised."

Zhao Mingcheng raised an eyebrow slightly; the news did indeed travel fast.

It seems that the news that Ye Zuqia forwarded the article for him and Zhang Dun responded has already spread within the Imperial Academy circle.

"That's true," Zhao Mingcheng said frankly. "It was just some rough ideas I wrote down some time ago. I was fortunate enough to have the Grand Master appreciate them and forward them to Minister Zhang for his corrections. So, Brother Li, are you interested in this article?"

"More than just interested!" Li Jiong's eyes lit up, his tone sincere.

"Brother Mingcheng's last article refuting the 'opening up the borders depletes the country' argument was already a powerful piece of writing with outstanding insight."

"Since your discourse on the balance between leniency and severity has caught the eye of Minister Zhang, it must be a wise and insightful statement that addresses the current problems. I... I am truly eager to borrow it to read and carefully study it. I wonder... I wonder if you, elder brother, could do me the favor?"

Li Jiong spoke sincerely, his eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge and the earnestness of an honest man.

Zhao Mingcheng enjoyed spending time with Li Jiong because the guy never kept anything to himself.

"Brother Li, you're too kind. Articles are meant to be read by others, especially by classmates," Zhao Mingcheng said with a smile.

"I happen to have a copy in my study. Brother Li, please come with me to get it. If you have any insights after reading it, I hope you will not hesitate to give me your guidance."

"No, no, I'm just asking for your guidance, brother!" Li Jiong quickly waved his hand, unable to hide the joy on his face.

The two walked side by side toward the dormitory.

On the way, Li Jiong hesitated several times, but finally couldn't help himself. He cleared his throat and lowered his voice even further.

"Actually... to be honest, Brother Mingcheng, I'm not the only one who wants to read your article."

"Oh? Who else?" Zhao Mingcheng glanced sideways.

"And...and my cousin Qingzhao." Li Jiong was a little embarrassed.

"When I returned home during my vacation this time, I chatted with my younger sister about Brother Mingcheng. We talked about your new policy essay, 'Balancing Lenient and Severe Punishments,' so my sister... then pestered me to read it. I couldn't refuse, so I had no choice but to shamelessly ask Brother Mingcheng for a copy..."

As Li Jiong spoke, he stole a glance at Zhao Mingcheng's expression, afraid that he would think he was being presumptuous or that a young lady from a secluded family was meddling in other people's business.

Zhao Mingcheng did not stop walking, but a genuine look of surprise appeared on his face.

"Your younger sister? Is she Li Qingzhao, the lady who became famous in Bianjing at the age of 15 for writing 'I often remember the pavilion by the stream at dusk, so intoxicated that I forgot the way home'?"

This time it was Li Jiong's turn to be surprised.

"Brother Mingcheng, are you also familiar with my sister's little poem?"

How could anyone not know? This is a poem that is required to be memorized in Chinese language classes in later generations, and it is the early masterpiece of the graceful school of ci poetry.

"I know more than I do," Zhao Mingcheng said with a smile, his tone tinged with admiration.

"The elegant lines, 'Struggling to cross, struggling to cross, startling a flock of gulls and egrets,' have long been known throughout Bianjing. Those who have heard this poem say that the Li family has a talented daughter who, before reaching marriageable age, possesses a wonderfully lively and exquisite writing style."

He was very familiar with Li Qingzhao's poems from his previous life; that fresh, natural, and unadorned innate talent and spirituality was something that could not be learned at all.

Artistic creation relies on talent. Some people rack their brains to write a poem, but it may not be as good as an impromptu piece by a little girl when she goes out to play.

In terms of poetic talent, Li Qingzhao was undoubtedly top-notch.

Hearing Zhao Mingcheng praise his younger sister, Li Jiong felt honored and straightened his back a bit, then smiled.

"Brother Mingcheng, you flatter me. My younger sister has loved reading since she was a child, and she does have some talent in poetry. She is also quite unconventional, unlike ordinary young ladies. She often has some strange and unusual ideas about classics, history, philosophy, and even court policies, which give my uncle a lot of headaches."

"It's good to have ideas." Zhao Mingcheng pushed open the door of the dormitory and gestured for Li Jiong to come in.

"A poetic talent bestowed by heaven is already rare. If one is also interested in practical studies, then one is even rarer."

But my policy essays are dry and lifeless, full of data, pros and cons, and official performance evaluations; they're probably quite dull, far less interesting than poetry. How could your sister possibly be interested?

As Zhao Mingcheng spoke, he pulled a roll of paper from a celadon painting tube. It was a copy of the essay "The Balance of Lenient and Severe Punishment," which he handed to Li Jiong.

Li Jiong took it with both hands, carefully unfolded it, glanced at it, and then rolled it up again with great care before answering.

"My younger sister often says that poetry reveals temperament and spirit, while policy essays reveal breadth of mind and insight. Since Brother Mingcheng has been summoned to court twice and possesses such insightful views on border administration, the economy, and the advantages and disadvantages of new policies, she naturally wants to see how he analyzes the world and points out gains and losses in his writing. She also said..."

At this point, Li Jiong suddenly paused, his expression somewhat strange, as if he had remembered something both funny and helpless.

"What else did he say?" Zhao Mingcheng poured himself and Li Jiong a glass of cold water and asked casually.

"Um... it's like this..." Li Jiong touched his nose, a little embarrassed.

"The last time I returned home, I chatted with her and mentioned my brother's poem 'On the Spot at Yichun Garden,' which he composed at the Duan Prince's gathering. After listening, she was silent for a moment, and then commented..."

Zhao Mingcheng paused, holding his water glass, and looked up at Li Jiong with a questioning look in his eyes. He also wanted to hear Li Qingzhao's evaluation of his poems.

Zhao Mingcheng knew exactly what level that poem was at.

Neat, prudent, and appropriate for the occasion, but that's about it.

With Li Qingzhao's level of insight and talent, it's perfectly normal that she could see the problem.

"What does your sister think? I'd like to hear it," Zhao Mingcheng asked with a smile.

Li Jiong glanced at his expression and, seeing no displeasure, repeated what his cousin had said in the same tone.

She said, "The poem is extremely well-structured, with exquisite parallelism, perfectly balanced, and flawless."

Zhao Mingcheng nodded, waiting for the "but".

“‘But…’” Li Jiong drawled, trying to capture his cousin’s sharp and incisive insight.

"His neatness is excessive; he doesn't seem like the same person as the Zhao Gongzi you described—a man who plays football with such ease and speaks so sharply."

After he finished speaking, the room fell silent for a moment.

The cicadas outside the window were still chirping noisily.

Zhao Mingcheng was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha... As expected of a talented woman from Bianjing, her insight is exceptional, and her poetic talent is unparalleled!"

There was no anger on his face at being criticized; instead, there was a sense of relief and appreciation, as if to say, "I knew it."

"Brother Mingcheng, do you not mind my sister's opinion?" Li Jiong asked cautiously.

"Why would I mind?" Zhao Mingcheng put down his cup, his smile open and honest.

"Your sister is right, I am indeed dull-witted when it comes to poetry."

"At that gathering, there were many nobles present, and Prince Duan was also there. I only wanted to play it safe, so I was inevitably hesitant when I wrote, carefully considering every word for fear of making a mistake. As a result, the poem I wrote was full of artifice and had no inspiration at all. Your sister's comments are already very kind to me."

Zhao Mingcheng's self-analysis was thorough, delivered in a relaxed tone, even with a touch of humor.

Li Jiong was stunned.

He didn't expect Zhao Mingcheng to be so calm. Not only was he not angry, but he also went along with his cousin's words and revealed his shortcomings clearly.

"Brother Mingcheng, you are too modest..." Li Jiong murmured.

"Oh, it's not that I'm being overly modest; it's that I have self-awareness."

Zhao Mingcheng waved his hand and walked to the window.

"My strengths are mostly in practical matters. I can run on the sports field, calculate money, grain and land at my desk, and ponder the leniency and severity of official governance and the advantages and disadvantages of border defense in policy essays. I am quite capable of these practical tasks."

As for romance and poetic verse, those require innate talent and inspiration, a realm only someone like your sister can wield with ease. As for me…”

Zhao Mingcheng gave Li Jiong a helpless look.

"I'm afraid even if I tried to catch up with your sister, I wouldn't be able to catch up to even a fraction of her

That's both a practical and humorous remark.

He readily admitted his shortcomings in literary creation, yet made no secret of his admiration for Li Qingzhao's talent.

Zhao Mingcheng's magnanimity impressed Li Jiong.

Li Jiong breathed a sigh of relief, his opinion of Zhao Mingcheng rose even higher, and he quickly said...

"Brother Mingcheng, please don't say that! There is a sequence to learning, and each has their own expertise. You, brother, are a man of great talent for governing the world and benefiting the people, while my sister possesses only the cleverness and wit of a young girl. They are simply incomparable. Each has their strengths!"

Zhao Mingcheng walked back to the desk and smiled.

"Brother Li, there's no need to comfort me. I know my own limitations very well. I certainly can't write poetry as well as your sister."

However, it's a good thing to receive such a critique from her. At least it lets me know that I need to be more careful when writing poetry in the future, so I don't make a fool of myself again.

Zhao Mingcheng paused, his expression becoming more serious.

"As for that policy essay... if your sister is interested, feel free to take a look. If she has any thoughts after reading it, she can speak freely. I trust her judgment, and if she can offer any corrections, it will be helpful to me."

Having said all that, Li Jiong was moved and nodded repeatedly.

"Of course, of course! If my sister has any thoughts, I will certainly convey them. If she writes any new poems later, I will definitely make a copy and bring it to share with my brother."

"Then I thank you in advance." Zhao Mingcheng cupped his hands and then smiled, "Brother Li, please keep the policy essay for now. If there are any unclear points or areas that need further discussion, then come and discuss them with me."

"No problem!"

Li Jiong carefully put the scroll of policy essays into his pocket, chatted for a few more minutes about the recent lessons at the Imperial Academy, and then took his leave.

After seeing Li Jiong off, Zhao Mingcheng stood alone by the window of Chengxinzhai, the smile on his face gradually fading, turning into a complex sense of emotion.

Li Qingzhao... The refreshing image of her poem "Like a Dream" floated into his mind, and he recalled her accurate evaluation of his own poem written in response to a social occasion.

Poetry creation does indeed require genuine feelings, and even more so, unreserved genius and inspiration.

Although Zhao Mingcheng's temperament and talent were not suited to poetry, it is quite interesting that Li Qingzhao noticed him in this way.

As Zhao Mingcheng pondered these things, he also became somewhat curious about Li Qingzhao.

I wonder what that greatest female scholar in history would think if she saw his policy essay, which was full of calculations, weighing of pros and cons.