He grew up under the best emperor of that dynasty, served under a well-meaning but overambitious one, and fell into disgrace when an eighteen-year-old idiot ascended the Dragon Throne.

他是在北宋最好的皇帝（仁宗）当政年间长大，在一个心地善良但野心勃勃的皇帝（神宗）在位期间做官，在一个十八岁的呆子（哲宗）荣登王位之时遭受贬谪。