平水韻七律（微韻）
踏過朱袍仰笑歸，
布衣暮采首陽薇。
崖前雙瀑甘齊墮，
嶺上孤虹敢一飛。
枕月白頭千古夢，
臥雲清影九霄輝。
長安不見何須見？
胸有棋兵奪帝畿。＊
＊杜甫《秋興八首》：
“聞道長安似弈棋”
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.
圖／文：紉秋蘭
來日再見。
Summer's over—catch you later!
