Volume 1, Chapter 5: A Nation Has Its National Dignity

As Fang Yang finished his poem, Cui Hao stood frozen. He had hoped to find an opportunity to showcase his talent and humiliate this fellow, yet he never expected the man to produce another verse destined to be passed down for generations. Cui Hao felt a stifling sense of frustration, as if he possessed immense strength but had no target upon which to unleash it.

The several elderly scholars present had eyes shining with excitement. One after another, they sighed in admiration: "What a marvelous line—'It must be the celestial maiden, drunken and careless, crushing the white clouds to pieces.' Truly a magnificent poem!" They had never imagined they would hear two such timeless masterpieces in a single day. How fortunate they were!

The other students at the academy were completely stunned by Fang Yang. Cui Hao, meanwhile, wore a dark and unsettled expression, though his status held him back from speaking. Song Yiran’s red lips parted slightly as she looked at Fang Yang with utter disbelief. As for the first poem, they might have consoled themselves by claiming he had cheated, but this second one, another work destined for immortality, dealt them a heavy blow. In their hearts, they all wondered: "Since when did this wastrel acquire such talent?" Song Yiran’s gaze toward him was filled with resentment.

The elderly scholars began to engage Fang Yang in conversation. Upon learning that he was the son of the Duke of Cheng, they promised to send their subordinates to his manor for a more detailed discussion after the event. Fang Yang smiled and accepted each offer. It was clear that they were all interested in the "Celestial Drunkenness" (Tianxian Zui) he had brought today. These elders were highly respected figures in the world of Confucian studies. With their endorsement, it was only a matter of time before the name of "Celestial Drunkenness" ascended to the highest ranks of society.

With the matter of the liquor resolved, Fang Yang lost his motivation to remain at the poetry gathering and prepared to leave.

Seeing this, two figures in the corner took action. Crown Prince Chu Neng whispered, "Sister, wait here for me. This fellow’s actions are all connected; he might just be able to help you resolve that matter."

"Really?" Princess Changle’s eyes brightened.

Chu Neng nodded, then stepped out quickly and shouted to the crowd, "You are all the finest talents of our generation. To spend such a gathering only discussing poetry seems a bit dull. I have a matter here that I believe everyone might like to share their thoughts on."

The crowd turned to look at him with curiosity. Seeing that Fang Yang showed no sign of stopping, Chu Neng added, "Brother Fang, who has just written two poems destined to be remembered for eternity, will you not stay and listen?"

Fang Yang smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and replied, "No, thank you. I have other matters to attend to."

"Even if you are busy, a little time spent here won't hurt. Why not stay and listen, Young Master?" The elderly scholars also chimed in, urging him to stay. After all, they were eager to see if he had more masterpieces to offer. Fang Yang nodded in agreement. After all, if he wanted his "Celestial Drunkenness" to penetrate the upper echelons of society, he still needed these three old men. "Very well, I shall listen."

Having achieved his goal, Prince Chu Neng smiled. He bowed and said, "I am Chu Yue. I have heard that the Northern Barbarian envoys have entered the capital, demanding that a princess of Great Chu be wed to their leader and that we pay annual tributes. What does everyone think should be done?"

Most of those present were in their late teens, an age of hot-blooded idealism. Upon hearing the news, they were filled with righteous indignation, unleashing a torrent of criticism against the Northern Barbarians. The atmosphere grew heated, with everyone in agreement: the Barbarians were being insufferably arrogant, and they must go to war!

Prince Chu Neng merely smiled at these remarks. He understood that everyone had a different perspective based on their station. Moreover, mere bluster would convince no one and only lead to petty squabbling. With the imperial court currently locked in an irreconcilable debate over war or peace, these inexperienced students could hardly be expected to offer a solution.

After a moment, Chu Neng turned his gaze toward Cui Hao. Cui Hao bowed slightly, swept a glance at Fang Yang, and said with composure, "Peace is hard-won and should be defended. I believe we should prioritize negotiations. Tribute might be considered, but the marriage of a princess is absolutely out of the question. Though the Northern Barbarians have established a kingdom, they remain barbarians. To marry a princess to them would be no different than exile; it must not be allowed!"

Chu Neng nodded slightly. Cui Hao’s words were conventional, reflecting the most common sentiment within the court. It was clear that this top scholar of Great Chu was indeed capable. Finally, Chu Neng looked at Fang Yang and asked, "Does the Young Master have any profound insights?"

Fang Yang waved a hand. "Profound insights, I cannot claim. I have but a few humble thoughts."

Song Yiran wanted to mock him, but a single look from Cui Hao made her fall silent. Cui Hao knew that only the high officials of the court were privy to the details of the Barbarian situation, and he only knew a little from overhearing the ministers while on duty at the Hanlin Academy. He realized this "playboy" was not as simple as he appeared.

Watching Song Yiran fall silent under Cui Hao’s gaze, Fang Yang felt a strange sense of irony. He silently consoled his predecessor’s spirit: *Poor boy, don’t take it to heart. After all, behind every goddess, there is a man who is tired of dealing with her...*

Chu Neng’s eyes lit up. "I would love to hear them."

"It is simple. A nation, like a person, needs backbone above all else. If the backbone is broken, the person collapses; the same applies to a nation and its people."

"Great Chu has endured until now; when have we ever relied on the marriage of a princess to buy peace? As the saying goes, a person has their integrity, and a country has its national character! A nation must stand by the principle: 'The Son of Heaven guards the gates; the monarch dies for the state. No marriage alliances, no paying tribute, no ceding territory, and no submitting to vassalage!'"

*Boom!*

Chu Neng felt as if something had exploded in his mind; his blood surged with adrenaline. He had never expected that a mere poetry gathering would produce such deafening, soul-stirring words. The elderly scholars also had a sharp glint in their eyes. With these words as inspiration, their own creative works were sure to reach a new level!

Princess Changle looked at Fang Yang with a gaze that held a different light. After a long silence, the crowd finally came to their senses and began giving Fang Yang a thumbs-up. Cui Hao’s body trembled, his inner state a complex mix of emotions. *This wastrel... he is quite different from before!*

Chu Neng took a deep breath, steadied himself, and bowed to Fang Yang. "Your words have benefited me greatly, Young Master!"

Fang Yang waved it off as if it were nothing. Chu Neng regained his composure and continued, "While these words are stirring, putting them into practice is incredibly difficult. Even now, there are officials at court advising the Emperor to agree to the marriage, to trade a single princess for peace across the world."

"Heh." Fang Yang let out a cold laugh.

Chu Neng asked, "Why do you laugh, Young Master?"

"I laugh at the ignorance and baseness of those who agree to such a marriage," Fang Yang replied calmly.

Chu Neng listened attentively.

Fang Yang continued, "Relying on women to buy peace is nothing but a fantasy. If they believe it can bring peace, then let them grant their own wives and daughters the title of princess and send them to be married off instead."

The crowd was in an uproar. They had not expected Fang Yang to say such a thing. Chu Neng was stunned, not knowing how to respond. Fang Yang cupped his hands to the assembly and turned to leave. Princess Changle watched him depart, unable to shake the feeling that this man was entirely different from the wastrel described in the rumors of the capital.

Upon leaving the Hundred Flowers Garden, a servant stepped forward to report. Before attending the gathering, Fang Yang had ordered someone to purchase a storefront to begin selling "Celestial Drunkenness." The servant had come to lead him to the location.

Half an hour later, at the easternmost edge of the Eastern Market, in a shop on the street intersecting with Chang Le Fang, a property agent was introducing the location and the environment to Fang Yang. Fang Yang nodded frequently, but the price was steep—three thousand five hundred taels of silver to purchase it outright. Helpless, Fang Yang decided to rent it for a period first, waiting for his capital to circulate before considering the purchase.

The price was settled, and just as he signed the contract, a discordant voice rang out from the side:

"Oh, if it isn't our capital’s most famous wastrel, Young Master Fang Yang? Why are you here instead of hovering around Miss Song today?"