When at court, Confucius spoke with lower-ranking officials in a relaxed, forthright, and affable manner; with higher-ranking officials, he was respectful, upright, and measured in speech; and when the ruler was present, he appeared both reverently cautious and gracefully composed.
The verse — “With flowers and wine, spring ever stays; Without lamp or candle, night self-illumines” — originates from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio: The Examination for the Post of City God (Kao Cheng Huang or Candidate for the City God).