There was one question plaguing the emperor's mind: was loyalty more valuable than talent? He pondered this deeply, often losing sleep over the matter.
"Your Majesty," a courtier said one day, "why not test both virtues with a simple riddle?"
Intrigued, the emperor agreed.
"Imagine," the courtier continued, "there are two men—one incredibly loyal, the other incredibly talented. Which one would you prefer to have as your advisor?"
The emperor thought for a moment. "The incredibly loyal one, of course," he replied. "He would always put my empire's needs before his own. Loyalty!"
"And what if that loyal advisor were to make unsound decisions?" the courtier asked.
The emperor hesitated. "A talented advisor would guide my empire to prosperity. Talent!"
The courtier smiled. "But what if that talented advisor were to betray Your Majesty for personal gain?"
The emperor's brow furrowed. "Loyalty!" he said firmly.
"And what if that loyal advisor were to make a mistake that led to, God forbid, the empire's downfall?" the courtier pressed.
The emperor groaned. "Talent!" he replied.
"And what if that talented advisor were to become arrogant and believe he was above Your Majesty's law?"
The emperor sighed. "Loyalty," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
In the end, the word "LOYALTY" echoed like thunder across the empire.
平水韵七律（微韵）
踏过朱袍仰笑归，
布衣暮采首阳薇。
崖前双瀑甘齐堕，
岭上孤虹敢一飞。
枕月白头千古梦，
卧云清影九霄辉。
长安不见何须见？
胸有棋兵夺帝畿。＊
＊杜甫《秋兴八首》：
“闻道长安似弈棋”
Loyalty versus Talent
There was one question plaguing the emperor's mind: was loyalty more valuable than talent? He pondered this deeply, often losing sleep over the matter.
"Your Majesty," a courtier said one day, "why not test both virtues with a simple riddle?"
Intrigued, the emperor agreed.
"Imagine," the courtier continued, "there are two men—one incredibly loyal, the other incredibly talented. Which one would you prefer to have as your advisor?"
The emperor thought for a moment. "The incredibly loyal one, of course," he replied. "He would always put my empire's needs before his own. Loyalty!"
"And what if that loyal advisor were to make unsound decisions?" the courtier asked.
The emperor hesitated. "A talented advisor would guide my empire to prosperity. Talent!"
The courtier smiled. "But what if that talented advisor were to betray Your Majesty for personal gain?"
The emperor's brow furrowed. "Loyalty!" he said firmly.
"And what if that loyal advisor were to make a mistake that led to, God forbid, the empire's downfall?" the courtier pressed.
The emperor groaned. "Talent!" he replied.
"And what if that talented advisor were to become arrogant and believe he was above Your Majesty's law?"
The emperor sighed. "Loyalty," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
In the end, the word "LOYALTY" echoed like thunder across the empire.
图／文：纫秋兰
来日再见。
Summer's over—catch you later!
岂不更妙？