Chapter Eleven: The Young Prince, Please

Fang Xuanling’s lips twitched several times before he said, “Please, Your Highness.”
Li Zhi put on a show of modesty. “I am not skilled at composing poetry; it is only through the guidance of my teacher that I understand a little. Just now, some lines came to mind. May I ask for your advice, teacher?”
“The moon of Qin, the passes of Han, a long march but none return…”
“These lines were inspired after I watched my mother reading the history of the Han dynasty. I am unsure if they count as poetry. If so, may I ask you, teacher, to complete the next two lines?”
Fang Xuanling was not a professional poet—he simply had read much poetry and understood a little. To truly compose lines with profound meaning was beyond his grasp.
The two lines Li Zhi gave came from Wang Changling’s ‘Beyond the Frontier’ of the Tang dynasty, a poem filled with patriotism, lamenting the soldiers who leave for the border never to return, and recalling the great general Wei Qing of the Han.
Though not a perfect quatrain, they were lines beyond the reach of most.
“Teacher? Are you listening?” Li Zhi reminded him.
“Yes, yes, I am listening!” Fang Xuanling was as bewildered as ever; it took him a while to recover.
He looked to Li Shimin behind him, hoping the emperor would rescue him.
“Beloved minister, I trust you can do it!”
“Your Majesty…”
“I am awaiting the next two lines!”
Li Shimin too pondered.
“The moon of Qin, the passes of Han, a long march but none return…” Look at these lines—so lofty, so patriotic.
Li Shimin was moved.
Fang Xuanling could only shake his head helplessly.
“Teacher?”
“Your Highness, can you compose the next two lines yourself?” Fang Xuanling asked.
“Of course!”
“Then please do, and I shall offer my critique,” Fang Xuanling shamelessly said.
After saying this, his old face turned crimson, as red as a monkey’s bottom.
…
Awkward!
Utterly embarrassing!
Li Shimin simply turned away, refusing to look at Fang Xuanling.
“Hehe…” Li Lizhi laughed. “Teacher, are you conceding defeat?”
“Princess, you may not know, but all great poetry should be the work of a single mind. If many try to add to it, the result is often incongruous and the meaning at odds. The two lines the prince just gave are peerless classics; I would not dare spoil them.”

“Pfft!”
Such fine words, but it’s only because you lack confidence—afraid to lose face!
Though young, Li Lizhi was not so easily fooled!
Li Zhi was even more difficult: “Teacher, are you joking? I only uttered a couple of lines, how can they be called peerless classics?”
“If you cannot answer, just say so—no need for excuses…” The words were quiet, almost muttered, but Fang Xuanling heard them, his heart a mixture of many emotions.
“Hahaha…”
Li Shimin laughed thrice. “Beloved minister, you truly are getting old!”
“Yes!”
“Zhi’er, please complete the poem,” Li Shimin said.
Li Zhi pretended to think for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes: “I have it… The moon of Qin, the passes of Han, a long march but none return; if only the flying general guarded Dragon City, never would the barbarian horses cross Yinshan!”
The first two lines need no further explanation.
The latter lines mean that, if the flying general Wei Qing were still there, the barbarians would never cross the frontier.
Fang Xuanling was utterly convinced…
“Sigh!”
“All my life I have studied literature, yet I cannot match the prince’s poetry. I am ashamed…” While admiring Li Zhi, he felt a profound sense of inadequacy.
“Teacher…”
“No!” Fang Xuanling suddenly interrupted Li Zhi, bowing respectfully: “I am unworthy in scholarship, having repeatedly embarrassed myself. What right do I have to call myself your teacher? From now on, you are my teacher!”
“What?” Li Lizhi’s mouth dropped open in surprise.
“Teacher… you call brother Zhi your teacher?” Her mind could not quite grasp it.
“Ding! Congratulations, host, task completed. You have received the martial arts manual—Nine Swords of Dugu!” The system’s voice sounded, sending Li Zhi into ecstasy: “Nine Swords of Dugu?”
“Isn’t this the legendary skill from martial arts novels?”
Li Zhi had always believed such skills were mere fiction, never real. He never expected the system to truly grant it as a reward.
Could it be…
The system can not only grant objects from the future, but also virtual items?
How powerful!
“Hahaha… Beloved minister, you rarely concede defeat, and now you’re bested by a child, forced to call him teacher? What a joke!”
“Your Majesty, the Prince of Jin is no ordinary child—he is intelligent, eager to learn, and supremely gifted, a rare talent in a century. I am but a common man; how can I compare?”
“Hmm!”
That flattery was well done!
Li Shimin was so delighted he could hardly contain himself!
…

Li Zhi had completed the system’s task and did not wish to press further. He rose and said, “Teacher, you are too modest. I happened upon some Han history, and with your guidance, managed to compose a poem by sheer luck. If I were asked again, I might not be able to do so. I am still inexperienced, and need your instruction.”
“Prince of Jin, you are too polite!”
Fang Xuanling, who had intended to resign, recovered his composure somewhat.
Encouraged by Li Shimin, he decided to continue teaching.
It was now noon.
Classes ended and it was time for lunch.
Li Zhi and Li Lizhi returned to Lizheng Hall.
“Hehe… Brother Zhi, are your lessons always like this? It’s so much fun!”
“How do you know so much at such a young age? You make poetry seem effortless, leaving teacher and father amazed. I find it so amusing!”
“Brother Zhi, will you teach me too?”
“I’ve decided… I’ll attend classes with you from now on!”
…
All the way, she chattered nonstop.
Li Zhi did not respond at all.
He was engrossed in studying the martial arts manual he had just received—the Nine Swords of Dugu!
Strictly speaking, it was a sword manual!
It required neither profound internal strength nor special skills. As long as one had a sword, one could practice!
“Sister… do you know where there is a blacksmith’s shop?”
“What do you want with a blacksmith?”
Li Zhi clenched his fist. “I want to practice martial arts!”
“Pff! Hehe… You can barely lift a sword; how do you expect to practice martial arts? Why not teach me how to compose poetry instead? I’m really interested in poetry now!”
“Pfft!”
Li Zhi replied proudly, “Do you think anyone can compose poetry as easily as I can? It requires great talent and profound knowledge. You’re still a child; you don’t even recognize all the characters. Best to study diligently with teacher first.”
“I won’t!”
Li Lizhi clung to Li Zhi’s arm, shaking it. “I want you to teach me! You must have shortcuts!”
“There are no shortcuts in literature, only gradual accumulation…”
“Stop lying to me! Hmph! Don’t think you can fool me. You’re three, I’m five. If it’s about accumulation, I have more than you! You only studied with mother for one night…”
At this point, her eyes lit up. “Yes, you learned from mother!”