The famous Northern Song Dynasty lyricist Yan Shu was especially good at Xiao Ling. (Zi Tong Shu, Yi Yuanxian, Jingde Jinshi, Qing Li Ren Ji Xian Dian Scholar, Tong Ping Zhangshi and Privy Counsellor)
When Yan Shu was a boy, Zhang Wenjie recommended him to the imperial court and summoned him to the capital. Just as the temple was trying to enter the army, the emperor ordered Yan Gong to try. As soon as Yan Gong saw the test question, he said, "The minister has already made this assignment ten days ago, and the draft of the endowment is still there, please make another proposition." "The Emperor liked his honesty very much and did not hide it.
Yan Shu also observed the sophistication of people's feelings, and waited until he was in charge of the museum, when the world was at peace, and the imperial court allowed the ministers and colleagues of various departments to freely choose the resort to gather and drink. At that time, the attendants and doctors of the Bunkan Hall gathered for feasts one after another, and even the street market hall liquor stores often set up tents to become a place of recreation and rest. Yan Shu was extremely poor, had no money to travel, and was alone at home to lecture and read with his brothers. One day, the imperial court elected the official of the Eastern Palace, and suddenly the emperor's instructions came out of the palace, and Yan Shu was selected as an official. The ruling minister did not understand the reason, and the next day he met with the emperor to verify, and the emperor explained: "Recently, I heard that the cabinet ministers were all playing and enjoying the scenery, wandering day and night, only Yan Shu Dumen did not come out to study with his brothers. Such a prudent person can be an official of the Eastern Palace. Since Yan Shu had been appointed to this position, he was able to enter the emperor, and the emperor explained to him in person the intention of granting him the title of official of the Eastern Palace. Yan Shu spoke in a simple language and said: "It is not that the minister does not like to feast and play, but simply because of poverty, there are no conditions for amusement." If the minister has money, he will also participate, but he cannot go out without money. When the emperor heard the words, he appreciated his honesty even more, and understood the general body of the king, and did not comment on his colleagues behind his back and reflected his own words, and his care for him became deeper and deeper. By the time of Emperor Renzong, he was finally able to reuse it.
![Yan Shu's poem, deep and gentle, written with lovesickness, is deeply liked by Wang Guowei and has been passed down through the ages[fig]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAP///wAAACwAAAAAAQABAAACAkQBADs=)