Chapter 24: Promoting Spring Festival Couplets, Matching Verses in the Palace

Su Liang immediately changed the subject and said, "Have you all eaten breakfast? You rushed over so early in the morning."

"Not yet..."

Li Jing said, looking rather embarrassed.

"It's just that the breakfast here at your place, Su lad, is so delicious, so..."

Su Liang waved his hand hurriedly; clearly, they just missed their daughter and were making excuses. He then said indifferently, "Alright, we'll all eat together in a moment."

Afterwards, the group went to the dining hall to have breakfast.

Lady Hongfu had not yet tasted the breakfast here at Su Liang’s, so she began to eat heartily.

Nowadays, the breakfast at Su Liang’s place was quite rich, featuring not only various side dishes and pastries, but also modern-day specialties like xiaolongbao, pan-fried dumplings, egg-stuffed pancakes, and multi-grain pancakes, along with milk.

These were all things Su Liang had personally figured out during this time based on memories from his past life.

Paired with specialties like braised dried tofu strips, one could open a morning tea house; it was a good way to make full use of the restaurant. Su Liang not only wanted to open a morning tea house but also intended to start a late-night snack business.

It seems I’ll have to get Li Shimin to lift the curfew in Changancheng one of these days, and from then on, usher in the era of Tang Dynasty nightlife...

Su Liang thought to himself.

Li Jing, eating and drinking, said, "Su lad, what about the telescope you promised me? When will it be ready?"

"Go find Wang Xuance later; he has already prepared it for you and is just waiting for you to come and collect it."

"However, the newly made telescopes can only be issued to those at the rank of Colonel or above for the time being."

"Hahaha..." Li Jing burst into loud laughter, "My son-in-law is the best!"

Just at this moment.

As Su Liang was drinking mutton soup, the long-absent voice of the system rang out in his mind.

"Ding: The system detects that the New Year is approaching and is generating the latest task..."

"Ding: The system issues the latest task: Promote Spring Festival couplets."

"Ding: Task completion reward: Power generation technology."

"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap!"

Su Liang was ecstatic; the power generation technology he had been longing for had finally arrived. It was worth all the preparations he had made.

Back when he was choosing the site for Taoyuan County, Su Liang had already considered using hydroelectric power.

For this reason, he had built Taoyuan County surrounding the Chan River.

Su Liang then communicated with the system: "System... System, what counts as completing the task?"

The system said lazily, "The task is only considered complete when at least eighty percent of the households in Taoyuan County have put up Spring Festival couplets."

Su Liang asked, "It's that simple?"

The system replied, "It's that simple!"

"This system is the Heaven's Pride System, yet the host only wants to be a salted fish."

"Otherwise, the host would have had these things long ago."

Su Liang felt incredibly awkward; it wasn't like he didn't want to live, he just didn't want to live too exhaustingly!

After breakfast, Su Liang immediately called everyone to get busy.

Uncle Fu and Erhu were well-versed in this; they were busy and happy, as this was how the Su household used to be every New Year when the Young Master was still there.

Ever since Su Liang left, it had rarely been this lively.

Today, the two of them were enjoying themselves to the fullest, writing couplets one after another...

"Abundant fruits bid farewell to the old year, waves of song celebrate the new."

"Good fortune descends upon the whole family, spring light shines upon a house full of joy."

"Spring arrives on earth, a hundred flowers bloom; the festival reaches the human world, ten thousand things are renewed."

"Harmony brings wealth and lasting prosperity, smoothness and peace bring eternal auspiciousness."

Not only that, there were various horizontal scrolls and inverted "Fu" characters.

Seeing Su Liang hanging the "Fu" character upside down, everyone was puzzled, but the answer Su Liang gave them was refreshing to all.

Seeing such auspicious couplets posted all over the Shanzhuang, everyone was amazed.

Su Liang just chuckled at this.

Couplets originated in the Qin and Han dynasties and rose to prominence in the Wei and Jin. It wasn't until the High Tang that the common people began posting auspicious couplets on both sides of their doors to express their good wishes.

Su Liang was merely advancing this by several decades.

"Su lad, why don't you come up with a couplet so everyone can join in the fun?"

At this moment, Li Jing suddenly suggested to Su Liang.

"Alright."

Su Liang looked at Li Jing for a moment and then said, "Lady Hongfu, woman of the red whisk, beauty that topples cities, following day and night."

Upon hearing this, Li Jing's old face turned red; this lad was clearly making fun of him.

Seeing Li Jing like this, Lady Hongfu smiled slightly.

The others also savored the meaning of Su Liang's couplet...

Lady Hongfu was famous for holding a red whisk, "beauty that topples cities" described her appearance, and while "following day and night" literally meant the two traveling together, it alluded to the story of their elopement.

"Wonderful... wonderful... truly wonderful!"

The bearded man, drinking the Drunken Tang wine, shouted aloud.

Everyone was frowning, thinking about how to respond...

Just at this moment.

Empress Zhangsun, in her wheelchair, suddenly spoke: "Exiled immortal, man of the exiled immortals, like poetry and painting, accompanied by wives and concubines."

Hearing this, Su Liang held his mother-in-law in higher regard, though there was inevitably a bit of teasing in it.

Seeing the Empress respond so easily.

Su Liang then said, "Then let me add some difficulty for you all."

"Master of leisure, child of leisure, enjoying mountains and waters, days and months in leisure."

"Taoyuan County, county of Taoyuan, like brocade and embroidery, heaven and earth of Taoyuan."

Changle blurted out.

After a moment of thought, Empress Zhangsun said, "Prosperous Tang, Tang of prosperity, self-strengthening and self-reliant, prosperity of past and present."

Truly worthy of being a virtuous empress through the ages!

Su Liang couldn't help but think to himself.

Afterwards, Su Liang came up with a few more couplets, and the others were barely able to match them.

"Mist locks the mountain top, the mountain locks the mist."

"Heaven connects the water's end, the water connects the heaven."

"Quiet spring on the mountain, the mountain spring is quiet."

"Clear water in the pond, the pond water is clear."

"Wind and green bamboo, wind turns the green bamboo, the bamboo turns with the wind."

"White plum in the snow, snow reflects the white plum, the plum reflects the snow."

Su Liang had to bring out his trump card now, and immediately proposed: "If heaven has feelings, heaven too shall grow old."

For a full hour, everyone was simply unable to respond.

Su Liang felt this was only natural; this was a famous line from the Tang Dynasty poet Li He, which had remained unmatched for over two hundred years.

While Su Liang was busy with the Spring Festival couplets, what happened inside Taoyuan Shanzhuang was exaggerated and spread to the Tianqiao Workshop.

Of course, this was arranged by Su Liang!

The system's reward concerned his grand development plan, so Su Liang naturally took it to heart.

Not only that.

Su Liang also shared various auspicious Spring Festival couplets for the common people to post.

For a time, every household in Taoyuan County followed suit.

Before long, this matter spread to Changancheng, and the same happened there.

At this moment.

Inside the Liangyi Hall of the Taiji Palace.

Upon hearing of this, Li Shimin specially hosted a banquet and invited the civil and military officials to compose couplets there.

"Your Majesty, it is already nearing noon; why not invite the Imperial Son-in-Law to come and compose couplets?"

"So that all the ministers may appreciate the literary talent of the Imperial Son-in-Law."

Li Gang, who held a grudge against Su Liang, looked at Li Shimin and suggested.

In an instant.

Li Shimin frowned and ignored him.

It was clear he was worried that Su Liang would find an excuse not to come, fearing he would lose face.

At this moment, the two had different thoughts.

Li Shimin, helpless against the repeated suggestions of the crowd, bit the bullet and sent Wang De to invite Su Liang over.

Su Liang, who was busy in the manor, understood Wang De's intent immediately; this was clearly something someone had meticulously prepared. Appreciating literary talent was a lie, and wanting to embarrass him was the truth—it was undoubtedly instigated by the aristocratic families.

More than an hour later.

Su Liang had arrived at the Liangyi Hall and sat down after finding the seat prepared for him.

He then glanced at Li Gang and sighed helplessly; how much confidence did they have, that they wanted to rely on couplets to make up for failing to outdo him in poetry?

This Li Gang was being used as a pawn, yet he remained completely unaware.

It is simply laughable!!

He immediately looked at Li Gang and said, "I wonder what advice the venerable Elder Li has for me?"

"All the Dukes and ministers wish to appreciate the Imperial Son-in-Law's literary talent, so they specifically requested that His Majesty invite the Imperial Son-in-Law to come," said Li Gang.

Su Liang then looked at Cheng Yaojin and said, "Duke of Lu, is that so?"

"No... no... anyway, I don't want to..."

Cheng Yaojin hurriedly waved his hands.

In an instant, Li Gang's old face turned beet red.

A proper slap in the face!!

After a long while, Li Gang's complexion finally eased a little.

He then slowly said, "How about we discuss some couplets with the Imperial Son-in-Law today?"

"Very well, Elder Li, please present your couplet."

Su Liang agreed immediately.

Li Gang pondered for a moment and presented the first line: "Winds and snows, warmth and cold, everywhere searching and seeking."

"Warblers and swallows, flowers and leaves, affectionately morning and night," Su Liang blurted out.

The crowd exclaimed in admiration, and Li Gang presented another first line: "Great trees are dense, pines, cypresses, parasol trees, willows, and poplars."

"Fine waters are vast, rivers, streams, brooks, lakes, and seas."

Su Liang did not hesitate.

Before long, the two were completely at odds; Li Er watched on happily, understanding the grudge between them—it was because of a single sentence from Su Liang that this teacher of the Crown Prince had lost his position.

"Good, let's have another."

Li Gang was quite embarrassed at this moment; this was a couplet he had thought about for a long time, yet Su Liang could match it so easily.

He then presented another first line: "Lotus flowers, stems, roots, seed pods, petals, and moss."

"Hibiscus, peonies, stamens, and fragrance," Su Liang matched it perfectly and neatly.

Seeing that Li Gang still wanted to speak, Su Liang hurriedly interrupted: "Elder Li, may I take my turn now?"

"Very well, Imperial Son-in-Law, please present your first line," said Li Gang.

Su Liang immediately looked at the crowd in the hall and said, "I wonder if you have heard the saying circulating among the people: 'If Heaven has feelings, Heaven will also grow old'?"

"Elder Li, please match this line first."

Li Gang blurted out: "If fate often harbors resentment, fate can be sorrowful."

Upon hearing this, Su Liang was moved; he was indeed the teacher of three Imperial Princes, he certainly had the scholarship, and he could barely match it—it was clear he had been prepared.

He then teased, "I'll barely count that as a match!"

"Then may I ask, Young Master Su, what is your second line?"

Li Gang immediately expressed his refusal to accept defeat.

"If the moon has no hatred, the moon will always be full!"

Su Liang said immediately.

Hiss...

Everyone gasped in unison.

The second line was not only perfectly matched in structure, but it also continued the artistic conception of the first line; it could be called a perfect match, precise and marvelous!

Looking at the two lines, if Heaven had feelings, it would grow old with the passing of time; if the moon had no love or hatred, it could remain full forever.

Just as everyone was sighing with emotion.

Su Liang saw that Li Gang was still unwilling to give up, so he had no choice but to release an absolute couplet for the ages.

"Green forest mouth, white blacksmith, raw red furnace, burning black charcoal, sitting facing south toward the north hitting east and west."

The couplet not only contained the four colors of green, white, red, and black, but it also contained gold, wood, water, and fire, lacking only earth, and it perfectly corresponded to the four cardinal directions.

Everyone was astonished...

This... how is one supposed to match this...

Li Gang also understood the artistic conception within it, and he immediately turned red in the face, remaining silent for a long time.

After a full quarter of an hour, Li Gang said: "This is an absolute, it is impossible to match."

"This one doesn't count, otherwise, please have the Imperial Son-in-Law provide the second line."

Su Liang was speechless; could someone be this shameless?

But it was indeed the case.

"Fine, I'll give you one that can be matched, listen carefully!"

Su Liang paused and said: "Smoke locks the pond willows."

Damn! Damn! Damn!

This first line not only contained the five elements, but in terms of artistic conception, it depicted a scene of a quiet pond surrounded by green willows, shrouded in layers of mist.

It was truly not easy to produce a line that conformed to the five elements while matching the artistic conception.

Everyone was speechless.

Su Liang was truly leaving Li Gang no way out.

If one didn't care about the order of the five elements, it might be slightly better, but if one did care...

This... this was simply unsolvable!

Su Liang was also staring at Li Gang with a grin, waiting to see what kind of waves this old thing could stir up...

"The Imperial Son-in-Law is bullying people by relying on his literary talent..."

Feng Deyi, the Minister of the Right, stepped forward at this moment.

"Could it be that the Imperial Son-in-Law can provide the second line?"

"Haha... Minister Feng is joking. Since I said earlier that it could be matched, it certainly can!"

"Could it be that I would dare to deceive His Majesty?" Su Liang asked in return.

He then looked at Feng Deyi and said: "Why don't I present a simple couplet for Minister Feng to hear?"

Feng Deyi said: "Very well, Imperial Son-in-Law, please present your first line!"

"Sleazy man, man is sleazy, neither three nor four, horizontally and vertically sleazy."

"Pfft..."

As soon as Su Liang's first line came out, Feng Deyi immediately spat out a mouthful of old blood.

"Imperial Physician, Imperial Physician..." Seeing this, Li Er hurriedly called for the Imperial Physician.

A moment later.

Feng Deyi was carried away by several guards.

Li Gang was completely cowed at this moment and dared not look Su Liang in the eye.

To ease the embarrassment, Li Er looked at Su Liang and said: "Good son-in-law, you should provide the second line instead."

Su Liang followed suit and accepted: "Very well, although it is a bit lacking in artistic conception, it can still be considered quite clever."

"Literature matches the autumn singing in the mountain ravines of pines, martial arts matches the cannons guarding the sea city towers."

Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed.

Marvelous! Marvelous!

One hour later.

Su Liang had already returned to the Taoyuan Shanzhuang.

During the banquet, no one dared to make things difficult for him, and Su Liang only chatted with the ministers he was familiar with.

As for those sycophantic ministers, he did not give them a pleasant look either.

Just as Su Liang stepped into the main hall, Little Sizi threw herself into Su Liang's arms, and Su Liang picked her up. When Little Sizi first arrived, her body was still very weak and her complexion was somewhat pale; for the past few days, Su Liang had been nourishing her with good food and drink, and every morning and evening, she had a cup of milk.

After a few days of recuperation, her complexion had clearly improved.

Seeing this, Empress Zhangsun shook her head slightly; last night, Little Sizi had actually said that when she grew up, she wanted to marry Su Liang. Empress Zhangsun had not yet told Li Er about this, and now she did not know what to do.

Empress Zhangsun looked at Su Liang and said: "I heard that my good son-in-law made Feng Deyi so angry today that he spat blood?"

"I only presented a couplet; I didn't intend to anger him."

Su Liang held Little Sizi and hurriedly denied it.

"Haha... it has already spread to Taoyuan County, and you still deny it," said Empress Zhangsun.

"Ahem..."

Su Liang just gave two dry coughs to ease the awkwardness.

"Very well, I didn't mean to blame you. In two days, the Crown Prince and I will return to the palace, so Little Sizi can stay here with you."

Empress Zhangsun continued.

"Are you not used to living here?" Su Liang asked.

"That's not it; I just can't stop worrying about the affairs in the palace," said Empress Zhangsun.

"In the palace, there are Consort Wei, Consort Yang, Consort Yin, and Consort Zheng to manage things, so Mother Empress can rest assured and stay here," Su Liang hurriedly comforted her.

Su Liang was truly worried about Empress Zhangsun returning before she had fully recovered.

"The Crown Prince can also stay here; it won't be too late to go back after he has recovered."

"By the way, let Qingque come over often another day as well."

"It's good for the two brothers to be together and have things to talk about."

After Su Liang finished speaking, he immediately accompanied Little Sizi to practice calligraphy.

Nowadays, the women in the residence were each busy with their own affairs; Ruyan helped manage the household chores, Zhangsun Yue delighted in the way of the zither, Changle focused on Su Liang’s painting skills, and Xiaoxian devoted herself to sword practice.

Everyone had things they enjoyed, and Su Liang was happy to see it; it was best that there was no fuss.

I do not know how much time had passed...

Empress Zhangsun suddenly spoke: "Su Liang, do you think the two brothers will..."

"They will not!!"

Su Liang, who was currently accompanying Little Sizi in practicing calligraphy, said immediately; Su Liang naturally knew what the Empress meant, as she must have been keeping it in her heart for a long time.

"Why is my virtuous son-in-law so certain?" Empress Zhangsun asked.

"Because I am here!!"

Su Liang said in a firm tone.