The First Prince of the Ming Dynasty

By feigning madness, Tang Yin had long since disregarded his pride, and the person facing him became increasingly aggressive, showing a tendency to become more determined with each setback.

Do you think you can make me break down and admit defeat?

What could be more unbearable than drowning yourself in Nanhu Lake in the dead of winter?

Seeing that Tang Yin remained unmoved, Gongsun Jin, seemingly eager to gain favor with Prince Ning, said, "Young Master Zhu, you said that Tang Yin died in poverty in the second year of the Jiajing reign... Would things have been better if he had joined Prince Ning in his rebellion?"

Zhu Yi couldn't understand why these people were always targeting Tang Yin. He shook his head: "If he had joined Prince Ning in the rebellion, his situation wouldn't have been any better than Li Shishi's. And Li Shishi was beaten to death by Wu Wending after Prince Ning's rebellion failed. His leaving Prince Ning was a matter of self-preservation."

Tang Yin had already assumed that Zhu Yi was in cahoots with Prince Ning, but upon hearing this, he was somewhat puzzled.

Why is this kid speaking up for me?

He says my later years will be miserable? From what he's saying, it seems the Prince of Ning's rebellion failed before I died!

How dare you people laugh at me?

Liu Yangzheng said, "If the poems and lyrics written by such a person can be considered masterpieces, then it seems that the Ming Dynasty has suffered a severe shortage of talent in poetry and lyrics, unable to even compose a decent poem!"

This sounds like a satire of Tang Yin, and of later literati.

But anyone with eyes could see that he was questioning Zhu Yi's identity as "coming from five hundred years in the future".

Gongsun Jin also asked, "Young Master Zhu, will you become a renowned poet or writer in the future?"

"Of course there are," Zhu Yi said. "I know you have concerns about my identity and think that everything I'm saying is just empty talk. But as far as poetry goes, after Tang Yin, there have been many masterpieces that have been published, enough to be passed down through the ages and become enlightenment works for children's elementary education."

Liu Yangzheng didn't understand Zhu Yi's approach for a moment. He looked at Zhu Chenhao, seemingly afraid of shattering the Prince of Ning's expectations, but he still couldn't suppress his anger: "Although we can only write a few pretentious poems, we do have a renowned connoisseur of poetry like Mr. Song here. Don't make any absolute statements."

Zhu Chenhao asked with some doubt, "From what you said earlier, one can see that Tang Yin's poetic talent was remarkable. Is there anyone who can surpass him?"

Zhu Yi nodded and said, "Although the number of famous poems and lyrics from the Ming Dynasty onwards was far less than before, some were still quite remarkable. For example, Yang Shen, the son of Yang Tinghe, the chief minister during the Zhengde and Jiajing reigns, whom I mentioned earlier, was the top scholar in the imperial examination in the sixth year of Zhengde's reign. Due to the Great Rites Controversy, he was involved in the kneeling remonstrance incident at Zuoshun Gate in the third year of Jiajing's reign. He was first flogged in court and then exiled to Yunnan. For the next thirty years, he had no opportunity to use his talents. When he returned to his hometown to visit his family in his later years, he wrote a poem called 'Linjiang Xian,' which can be called the best 'Linjiang Xian' of all time. It is also the best lyric of the Ming Dynasty."

Liu Yangzheng said with a hint of disdain, "The undisputed best 'Linjiangxian' is Su Shi's 'Drinking at Dongpo at Night, Awakening and Getting Drunk Again.' Can this kid's poetic talent be compared to Su Shi's?"

Zhu Yidao said: "Although Su Shi's 'Linjiang Xian' is good, it is still far less widely recited than his 'Shuidiao Getou' and 'Jiangchengzi'."

Gongsun Jin was stunned, and even Tang Yin, who was standing next to him, glanced over.

Their eyes revealed an almost bizarre astonishment...

Do you really need to elevate Yang Shen here? To be honest, this person... isn't some historical figure, nor is he a figure from the future. After all... Yang Yongxiu is still alive and well.

You're praising him so highly, saying his poems are the best in the Ming Dynasty? Do you think Yang Yongxiu himself would dare to claim that?

"Then it's time to appreciate it properly." Zhu Chenhao was full of anticipation for this.

Gongsun Jin immediately understood the implication in Prince Ning's words and smiled, "Young Master Zhu, then please..."

Zhu Yi didn't delay any longer. Now it was time to prove his identity and his worth as a transmigrator. He casually recited: "The mighty Yangtze flows eastward, its waves washing away heroes. Right and wrong, success and failure, all turn to nothing. The green mountains remain, witnessing countless sunsets. White-haired fishermen and woodcutters on the riverbank are accustomed to seeing the autumn moon and spring breeze. A pot of turbid wine brings joy to our meeting. How many things, past and present, are all consigned to laughter and conversation."

He spoke very quickly without pausing, after all, this poem was very familiar to people of his time.

Even the kind where "the words are not as good as the singing."

Although the people present could not see the poem in person and appreciate its lingering charm, the desolate and simple historical flavor that swirled in their minds made them feel the power of "the best of Linjiangxian" and "the best of Ming Dynasty poetry".

Gongsun Jin was taken aback for a moment, and before anyone else could react, he asked Prince Ning, "Should we request the Four Treasures of the Study?"

"Hmm." Zhu Chenhao's eyes brightened slightly as he nodded.

Gongsun Jin immediately arranged for someone to bring pen, ink, paper and inkstone. Then, without anyone else's consent, he personally picked up the pen, seemingly wanting to be the first person in the world to write down this poem in his own hand.

It's as if he wrote it first, so the poem can be credited to him.

After he finished writing, he blew the ink dry and presented it to Zhu Chenhao.

Zhu Chenhao was so engrossed in the book that he couldn't put it down.

Gongsun Jin glanced at Liu Yangzheng and found that Liu Yangzheng had turned his head to the other side as if he were deaf and dumb, and no longer wanted to argue with Zhu Yi, the young prince of the Ning Prince's Mansion.

Those who know the current affairs are handsome.

Did I question him? I simply guided him to prove himself using my own methods!

Looking at Tang Yin again, one could see that his expression had completely lost its previous composure, and his face was even beginning to turn red due to fear and other factors.

But even at this point, Tang Yin was still able to suppress the turmoil in his heart and try his best to maintain his previous state.

"Master, congratulations on acquiring such a talented young master as Zhu Gongzi, who can write such excellent poems and lyrics. It is only a matter of time before he is remembered in history!" Gongsun Jin said to Prince Ning with a flattering expression.

A work by Yang Yongxiu in his later years?

Anything that comes from this young master's mouth is his work!

You, Tang Yin, must suspect that we are all making things up about you, right? Don't you also think that this poem was actually commissioned by Prince Ning and deliberately written in front of you as if it were written by someone from the future, just to provoke you?

You don't need to say it; I'll voice your doubts for you!

That's right, it was written by my young master.

"Good, very good." Zhu Chenhao's evaluation was simple and direct.

Zhu Yi said, "As I said, this is a masterpiece by Yang Shen, the son of the future Grand Secretary, and I cannot steal his name."

Gongsun Jin asked with a smile, "Anything else? Like... something that can be popular for a time, or even..."

He was even embarrassed to say whether there was any poem that could rival this one.

"Yes. There is a poem, and also a seven-character quatrain. In my opinion, the one that can be passed down through the ages is Zheng Banqiao's 'Bamboo and Rock' from the later dynasty."

Without waiting for any response from the others, Zhu Yi read the poem aloud. In his view, copying poems was the least labor-intensive task, requiring no thought whatsoever, unlike reciting history. The poem read: "Clinging firmly to the green hills, its roots firmly planted in the broken rocks. A thousand blows and ten thousand strikes cannot break its strength; it stands firm against the winds from all directions."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Jin reacted quickly and immediately grabbed the pen.

They didn't give Liu Yangzheng, who had just made a move, a single chance.

Gongsun Jin glared at him, his warning clear: You old codger, you were just questioning the identity of our young master, and now you have the nerve to fight me for "copyright"?

Once the second poem is recorded, it will be presented to Zhu Chenhao.

Zhu Chenhao held one card in each hand, seemingly torn between the two.

"Slightly inferior." Zhu Chenhao gave a subjective evaluation of the second poem, "Bamboo and Rock".

Gongsun Jin laughed and said, "Yes, the first poem about history is even more magnificent and vividly portrays the vicissitudes of life."

"These are all masterpieces, unparalleled in their time," Zhu Chenhao commented, his face beaming with delight, before turning to look at Tang Yin.

Tang Yin remained seated.

At this moment, everyone present could see with their own eyes that Tang Yin's body was trembling slightly.

But he is still suppressing it.

Zhu Chenhao asked, "Mr. Song is quite accomplished in appreciating poetry and lyrics. What are your thoughts on this?"

Tang Yin was still trying to comfort himself.

It's all an illusion!

Prince Ning must have spent a fortune to hire famous poets to compose these two poems, claiming that this kid comes from the future... That's pure... utter nonsense! It was all just a ploy to expose my true colors!

But... why are there two songs?

"It seems Mr. Song is not in good spirits today," Gongsun Jin said with a smile. "Originally, based on what Young Master Zhu said, that Tang Yin's poems were few and far between, we... hehe, thought it was an exaggeration. But after reading these two poems, it seems that a direct comparison is indeed not possible."

Zhu Chenhao raised his hand and said, "They are all excellent."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yin felt utterly ashamed.

Are they all excellent?

Prince Ning is willing to give me face, but I feel unworthy of such face! I still have some dignity to maintain.

You guys even flattered me by calling me a famous expert in poetry appreciation. Do you think I don't even have this much ability to appreciate poetry?

Zhu Chenhao then looked at his son, his face beaming, and asked, "Which one do you like?"

Zhu Yi shook his head and said, "I like timeless poetry, and these two are not my favorites. If we're talking about poetry from the Ming Dynasty onwards, I still prefer Nalan Rongruo's 'Huanxi Sha' from that period."

Gongsun Jin said, "Young Master Zhu, 'Huanxi Sha' is a lyric poem form. During the Tang and Song dynasties, countless literati created many famous works that have been passed down through the ages, especially Yan Shu's 'A New Song with a Cup of Wine,' whose skill is extraordinary. Are there really any later generations who can rival it?"

"Hmm." Zhu Yi nodded in agreement with Gongsun Jin's statement. "The line 'The flowers fall helplessly, the swallows return as if we've met before' is thought-provoking, but it doesn't stop others from creating their own style based on it."

Gongsun Jin didn't even put down his pen this time, and immediately said, "Young Master Zhu, please enlighten me."

Seeing Gongsun Jin's enthusiasm for handwriting, Zhu Chenhao was somewhat displeased and said, "Let him write it himself."

"Ah? Yes, yes..." Gongsun Jin also seemed a little embarrassed.

He then realized that he was just an extra today.

How can the guest overshadow the host?

Zhu Yi picked up the brush and thought to himself, "Luckily, I started learning calligraphy in elementary school. I thought it was useless back then, but I never thought it would come in handy here."

He wouldn't think his calligraphy was better than those of the people in front of him who had dedicated half their lives to calligraphy. If he knew that Tang Yin was sitting right next to him... he would be even less likely to embarrass himself.

At this moment, more to prove his identity as someone from five hundred years in the future, he wrote: "Who feels the chill of the west wind alone, as rustling yellow leaves close the sparse window, I stand in the setting sun, lost in thought of the past. Do not be surprised by my deep sleep after drinking wine, for the fragrance of spilled tea can dispel the drowsiness of betting on books; at the time, I thought it was just an ordinary thing."

"Snapped!"

When he finished writing this poem, before his pen had even touched the ground, Tang Yin, who was still enduring humiliation, accidentally knocked over the inkstone that was placed next to him while his hands and feet were trembling.

In his panic and shock, ink had already splattered half of his body.