"It's a pity that there are only five words. It's not satisfying enough." The Emperor held his wife's hand and sighed with emotion. His face was full of regret. "Furthermore, other people don't dare to say it to my face. Don't you know that if we are talking about the level of appreciation and analysis … I still have it. But if we are talking about the skill of drawing and copying, it is a bit annoying."
"I tried using the double-hook method last night and found that I couldn't copy the charm of those five words." The Empress smiled and suggested, "If Your Majesty really likes it, why not let the ministers in the court who are good at calligraphy try?"
The Emperor patted the back of her hand and laughed heartily. Shaking his head, he said, "It looks like you still understand my intentions. After the court meeting ended, I forced those old fellows to stay. At this moment, they are locked up in the royal study copying. I told them that regardless of whether their granddaughter is one year old or married, if they can't copy out the first five words, I will not let them go."
For the sake of the five characters, "Flowers Bloom on the Shore of Heaven", the Tang Imperial Palace added a lot of fun. However, no matter how much the Emperor loved this book, it was just for leisure. In order to avoid being nagged by the censors, the Emperor did not use the official agencies in the imperial court. He only sent people from the palace to look for it in the city of Chang 'an. He also told some of the officials who were close to him and asked them to help him inquire among the people.
Several months had passed. The most famous calligraphy shops in Chang 'an had been searched, and the most famous calligraphers of the Tang Empire had been called to the palace to ask. But they still couldn't find the mysterious calligrapher. Even those famous calligraphers who had many students could not understand the style of the five words.
The main reason for the current situation was still people's fixed thinking.
From the Emperor of Tang to the old officials who were tricked into the Imperial Study to the great calligraphers among the common people, they were all amazed by the skillful use of the brush, the straight and broad structure, the enchanting and proud ink momentum, and the agile and elegant charm of the scroll. In their opinion, this mysterious calligrapher must be a reclusive master who had immersed himself in the art of calligraphy for decades. Even if a person with such a marvelous ability was hidden among the common people, he must be quietly cultivating in the bookstores of aristocratic families that had been passed down for hundreds of years. It was impossible for him to set up a stall on the street to sell calligraphy.
It was precisely because of this preconceived idea that no one thought of going to the Fragrance Workshop to ask those poor scholars who sold their calligraphy, and no one thought of inquiring about whether there were any newly opened calligraphy shops in the slums. Naturally, no one could connect the piece of calligraphy that caused a disturbance in the Imperial Study with the unknown Old Brush Pen Shop on Lin 47th Street.
One day, several tourists from the Great River Kingdom came to Lin 47th Street after visiting the Chang 'an Imperial Palace from afar. They casually strolled into the ordinary-looking calligraphy shop at the entrance of the street.
They looked at the ordinary scrolls hanging on the wall with their hands behind their back. They could not help but frown and shake their heads. When they saw a painting, their eyes suddenly lit up and they exclaimed, "Chang 'an of the Tang Empire is really full of hidden talents. A random bookstore on the street can actually hide a very good ink scroll … Little girl, is your boss here?"
Sangsang was eating a bowl of chicken noodles. When she heard someone calling her, she raised her dark little face and answered with a smile, "Boss is not here. If you want to ask about the price, this painting is priced at three thousand gold ingots, non-negotiable."
An ordinary painting was priced at three thousand gold ingots, and it was specifically stated that it was non-negotiable. What kind of style was this? This must be the style of the Great River Kingdom's Sage of Calligraphy, Mr. Wang, in his heyday! The tourists from the Great River Kingdom were startled when they heard this. They were so angry that they laughed. They did not bother to say anything else and left with a flick of their sleeves.
"It is said that the people of Chang 'an are generous and hospitable … I think the people of Chang' an are so poor that they are crazy!"
As a certain person and a certain handmaiden had more and more silver notes on their waists, a certain person's ink scroll was getting more and more expensive, until it was unreasonably expensive. These days, the Old Brush Pen Shop could often see the shocked and speechless expressions of the customers, and could often hear the angry words of the customers before they left.
Sangsang was already familiar with this scene and even a little numb. She lowered her head and continued to eat chicken noodles. Now she finally understood that although a bowl of chicken noodles could buy six bowls of hot and sour noodle slice soup, the chicken soup with drops of oil was really fragrant.
Ning Que came out of the back house, playing with two smooth silver balls made of silver ingots. He leaned against the door of the shop like a spoiled brat and looked at the back of the customers in the middle of the street. He did not feel that he was degrading the quality of the people of Chang 'an, and said mockingly, "Don't ask about the price if you can't afford it, Sangsang … Close the door, hot pot!"
Spring passed, autumn came, and winter arrived. It was now the deep winter of the 13th year of the Tang Empire's Tianqi era. Ning Que and Sangsang had been in Chang 'an for almost a year.
These days, he studied in the Academy and was deliberately forgotten by his classmates, so he had more time to cultivate and chat with Chen Pipi. Sangsang stayed at Lin 47th Street every day to look after the shop whose business was getting worse. Occasionally, she would accept Li Yu's invitation to visit the princess's mansion, and the two became more and more familiar. Ning Que could not understand the growing friendship between Her Highness and the little handmaiden. In the end, he could only attribute it to fate.
After eating a fragrant hot pot and splurging four plates of fresh-cut mutton, Ning Que warmed his feet and snuggled into bed. Listening to the howling wind through the cracks of the window, he rubbed his slightly cold face and said angrily, "It hasn't snowed for a long time, why is the weather so cold? Chang 'an is suffering in the summer? Who is the irresponsible person who made this conclusion? "
Sangsang smiled, took off her outer coat and snuggled into the other side of the bed. She rubbed her little hands that were cold and red from the washing water and said, "Young master, you should be content. Our life now is much better than when we were in the City of Wei."
This was a very sincere comment. Now that the master and the handmaiden had more than 10,000 taels of silver under their bed, and they also received a large sum of dividends from the gambling house in the Western City every month. In the subtext of their hearts, it was: We are not short of money now, too rich, too damn rich …
Since they had so much money, they should use it to improve their lives. Although the master and the handmaiden still had the habit of being thrifty, it was easy to go from frugality to extravagance. The hot and sour sliced noodles were replaced by shredded chicken noodle soup, and the pickled vegetable porridge was replaced by hot mutton. It was so cold a few days ago that they even built a new kang in the house. Now they were burning silver charcoal, drinking new tea, and the house was as warm as spring. Compared with their previous life of more than 10 years, the current life was simply wonderful.
Ning Que complained about the dry and cold winter in Chang 'an, but he was just saying it.
Now he could finally see the mysterious cultivation world, where he could use his Psyche Power to control the Qi of Heaven and Earth, spin the silver ball in his hand, and lift the pieces of paper on the table at will. Well, because the Psyche Power that he could export out of his body was too weak, and the Qi of Heaven and Earth that he could control was too thin, so the pieces of paper flew more disorderly than feathers, and the silver ball spun more slowly than Chen Pipi, but he really could not find any dissatisfaction.
Outside the window, the north wind gradually tightened, and the night passed without a word. When they woke up the next morning, they saw endless white snow covering the streets, alleys, palaces, and buildings of Chang 'an. Silver trees quietly poked out of the streets and looked at the pedestrians. Ning Que put on a coat and stood side by side with Sangsang at the door of the Old Brush Pen Shop. Looking at the beautiful scenery and thinking about his encounters and life in the past year, he actually saw a new meaning in the snow that he was tired of seeing in the City of Wei.
"These days are really good." He praised contentedly.
Sangsang smiled and nodded beside him.
…
…
They lived a peaceful and happy life in Chang 'an City, without the blood of revenge and the depression of not being able to get what they wanted. They lived back and forth between the Academy and the Old Brush Pen Shop. The master and the servant gradually grew up and were gradually forgotten by the people around them. Just like that, they willingly disappeared in these beautiful days.
She did needlework and washed the dishes, while he wrote a scroll and looked at the books he copied from the old library. In this seemingly monotonous repetition, the hour hand began to turn again. Time slipped away peacefully. The Winter Solstice, the New Year, and the Lantern Festival slipped away in the liveliness, and the mutton hotpot, hot tea, and ink slipped away in the silence. In the blink of an eye, it was another spring in the 14th year of the Tianqi era.
Another spring arrived. The catkins were all over the sky. The plump figures of the Chang 'an girls, who had been bound by cotton-padded jackets and fur coats for an entire winter, finally had a chance to breathe. Looking at those girls who shivered in the chilly early spring breeze but wanted to open their chests to reveal their white and tender skin, Ning Que lifted the curtains and went to the Academy with a heart full of appreciation and gratitude.
After nodding to Situ Yilan who was sitting in the front row, he walked to his own table in the back. No other classmates would greet him or even look at him. He had long been accustomed to such indifference and disregard, so he did not care. After sitting down, he took out the lesson plan of etiquette and began to review it.
This morning was the etiquette lesson. The etiquette instructor of Classroom Three of the Academy was the associate professor of etiquette, Cao Zhifeng. He was also the Psyche Master in the Seethrough State of Yan Kingdom who had beaten the grandson of the general, Chu Zhongtian, into a pig's head on the first day of the Academy. No one dared to slight such an experienced and famous teacher who was ruthless and had deep feelings for the Tang children.
The bell rang quietly, and Associate Professor Cao Zhifeng walked in slowly. What made the students of Classroom Three feel a little strange was that the teacher had changed from his usual cold and stern demeanor. There was a hint of unconcealable joy in his old eyes.
What happened next was even more unexpected to the students.
Cao Zhifeng looked at the students below the stage and pondered for a moment. Just when the students thought he would put down the heavy book under his armpit and start his routine criticism, he coughed lightly and stretched out his right hand and flicked it in the air a few times. Then he said seriously, "There is a change in the Qi of Heaven and Earth today, so it is not suitable for class. Dismissed."
After saying this, Cao Zhifeng turned and left the study room without hesitation, leaving behind a room full of shocked and speechless students and a sudden burst of discussion.
"What's going on? What … what's wrong with the professor? "
"Is the instructor sick?"
"If he's sick, he should ask for sick leave from the Academy. Why is he playing this trick? What do you mean by there is a change in the Qi of Heaven and Earth today? The Qi of Heaven and Earth changes all the time. It's not like it just started to change today! "
"Damn, what a cruel trick. Can we use this trick even if we don't want to go to class in the future?"
Chu Youxian lightly bumped Ning Que's shoulder and said incredulously, "What kind of madness has Old Cao suffered from today?"
"How would I know?" Ning Que was also extremely puzzled. But it was better for him not to go to class. He could spend more time in the old library. Looking at the etiquette lesson plan that was just spread out on the table, he thought to himself, if I had known this would happen, why did I spend so much effort to organize it last night? He shook his head and began to organize the books, preparing to leave.
At this moment, someone in front of the study room said, "Didn't you see the joy on Professor Cao's face just now? That's because an important person is coming to Chang 'an City today. The professor is in a hurry to go out of the city to welcome him. That's why he made such a lame excuse. "
"What kind of important person could make Old Cao so excited? I remember on the last Winter Solstice, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites came to give consolation money to the instructors. It was 300 taels of silver! The Minister! Old Cao's face was still as gloomy as if the Emperor of Yan Kingdom was dead. "
"It's inevitable for people whose country has fallen to have some resentment. What you said is too unkind." The student in front said with a smile, "As for who the important person is today and why he could make Professor Cao so excited, it actually has something to do with these things. Although Professor Cao is a senior instructor of the Academy, don't forget that he is first and foremost a Yan."
"What do you mean?"
"The important person who is coming to Chang 'an City today is Prince Long Qing of the Yan Kingdom. How could Professor Cao not be excited?"
"Who would believe that? If he cherishes his country, he would be excited to see the royal family of his country. The Crown Prince of Yan has always been a guest in Chang 'an City. Why didn't I see Old Cao go to the city to pay his respects every day? "
"Ignorant fool."
Chu You listened closely to the argument in front of him and whispered sarcastically to Ning Que, "The Crown Prince of Yan is just a hostage. How could he be compared with Prince Long Qing? You know, for the Yan people, after being suppressed by the Tang Empire for hundreds of years, they have long regarded Prince Long Qing as the last hope of revival. How could Old Cao not be excited when he knew that he was coming?"
"Prince Long Qing?" Ning Que asked curiously, "Is he the brother of the Crown Prince of Yan?"
"Blood brother."
Ning Que frowned and said, "Then why would the Yan people place the hope of revival on this … Prince Long Qing? Even if the Yan Emperor passes away in the future, the Crown Prince of Yan should inherit the throne. "
"This is the problem. As far as I know, most people in the Yan Kingdom do not agree to let the Crown Prince inherit the throne. They think that Prince Long Qing should inherit the throne … Many people think that Prince Long Qing is a rare genius."
Hearing the words "rare genius", Ning Que's knitted eyebrows relaxed. He tidied up the books and said with a smile, "This is also a genius, that is also a genius. I have been in Chang 'an City for less than a year, but I am really tired of hearing these two words. If geniuses are really rare, there might not be too many of them in the Tianqi era."
"Wow …" Chu You Xian looked at him and said jokingly, "You are usually quiet and calm. I thought you did not care about what happened that day, nor did you care about the attitude of your classmates towards you. I did not expect you to still remember it and despise geniuses like Xie Chengyun. But you have to know that Prince Long Qing is not Xie Chengyun."
Ning Que stopped what he was doing and looked at him, waiting to hear more.
"Prince Long Qing is a real genius." Chu You Xian said seriously.
"You are really talking nonsense." Ning Que said angrily, and then he was slightly stunned by the discussion coming from the front.
The four words "Prince Long Qing" caused many exclamations of shock and admiration in the study room, and then a long discussion. Few people like Ning Que, who had lived in the frontier fortress for a long time, had never heard of this name. However, there were still some people who had the same question as him. What kind of person was Prince Long Qing? How could he make the people of Yan place their hopes of reviving their country on him? How could he make Professor Cao Zhifeng so excited that he lost his composure?
"Although he is a prince of the Yan Kingdom, after his brother was sent to Chang 'an City as a hostage, the royal family of the Yan Kingdom sent him to travel around the world to learn. He stayed in the Yuelun Kingdom, the Great River Kingdom and the South Jin Kingdom for a few months, and then entered the Revelation Institute of Haotian Taoism in the West-Hill Divine Kingdom to study. He became the first in his first year."
There was no doubt that the Academy in the south of Chang 'an was the oldest, most prestigious, and most respected Academy in the world. However, other countries also had their own famous Academies. The Revelation Institute of the West-Hill Divine Kingdom was personally taught by the Divine Hall's Divine Priests and was considered the best. It was naturally extraordinary to be able to stand out in such a place. However, this alone could not explain too much. At least, it could not intimidate the proud students in the Academy.
"In the third year after Prince Long Qing entered the Revelation Institute, he followed his teacher to preach to various places. That autumn, in the Lanke Temple on Wa Mountain, the instructor of the Revelation Institute and the Bhadanta of the Buddhism Sect debated and retreated. Prince Long Qing smiled and stood up, debating with the Seven Disciples of the Buddhism Sect for three days and three nights, winning seven rounds in a row. He even made the eldest disciple of the Lanke Temple vomit blood and fall to the ground. In the end, the Lanke Temple Elder who lived in seclusion rang the bell and spoke. Only then did he smile and shut up, returning to his seat. The Lanke Temple Elder praised him for his profound knowledge and unparalleled debating skills. If he could enter the Buddhism Sect, he would be able to understand the essence of reincarnation in less than ten years and be guided to an unattainable place. "
"How could the West-Hill Divine Palace allow the Buddhism Sect to snatch away their favorite disciple? In the fourth year after Prince Long Qing entered the Revelation Institute, the hierarch of Haotian Taoism accepted him as a core disciple and even allowed him to start learning how to deal with the affairs of the Judicial Department of the Divine Hall … Now I heard that Prince Long Qing is only one step away from entering the Knowing Destiny State and is highly valued by Haotian Taoism. He is already the second most powerful person in the Judicial Department, specializing in guarding against the Heterodox Demons. He has great authority. "
"The second most powerful person in the Judicial Department of the Divine Hall?" A student gasped and said, "Such a bigwig can't do much in the Tang Empire, but if he were in the South Jin Kingdom or the Great River Kingdom, even the emperor would not dare to disobey him. Then why did he come to the Tang Empire, to Chang 'an?"
"Because Prince Long Qing … wants to enter our Academy to study."
"Enter the Academy? Would such a bigwig come to be our classmate? "
"You wish. Such a bigwig has been studying in the Revelation Institute for many years and is now an important figure in the West-Hill Divine Palace. How could he be our classmate? Of course, his purpose of entering the Academy is to enter the Second floor."
"He came to Chang 'an this time not only to enter the Second floor to continue his study, but also to replace his brother, the Crown Prince of Yan, as a hostage. The Emperor of Yan is getting older and weaker, and no one knows when he will pass away. His Majesty values filial piety and agreed to let the Crown Prince of Yan return to Chang' an to take care of his parents, but asked the Yan Kingdom to replace him with an important member of the royal family. After thinking about it, who else is qualified except for Prince Long Qing?"
"The West-Hill Divine Palace has cultivated Prince Long Qing for many years, and it has proven that he is indeed very talented. The Yan Kingdom values his talent and his close relationship with the West-Hill Divine Palace. They see him as the hope of the Yan Kingdom's revival. In their eyes, this prince is much more important than the Crown Prince who has been a hostage in Chang 'an for many years. So what I don't understand is why the Yan Kingdom actually agreed to the Tang Empire's request this time. "
Through the introductions and complements of the dozen or so students from prestigious families, a clear picture gradually formed in the minds of the Academy students: a young member of the royal family, a young cultivator who was about to enter the Knowing Destiny State, carrying the hope of the Yan Kingdom's revival, and an important person to be cultivated by the West-Hill Divine Palace. Who else could such a person be but a talent of the Mandate of Heaven?
Thinking of Prince Long Qing's elegance, the young and proud students in the study room could not help but have extremely complicated feelings. Some were envious, some admired, and some were indistinct. But this indistinctness had no power in front of the other party's dazzling history and reputation.
For a moment, the study room became strangely quiet. Chu Youxian looked at his classmates and added with a smile, "You have forgotten the most famous thing about Prince Long Qing … You should know that this prince is extremely handsome, and some even describe him as beautiful. In addition, he is well-educated and has a magnificent temperament. When he first entered the Yuelun Kingdom in his youth, he attracted the attention of countless young girls in the Yuelun Kingdom. It is said that on that day, many pairs of embroidered shoes were trampled, and many girls' voices were broken by his cries, and many pairs of eyes were red from crying."
This was a very famous anecdote. Of course, the students in the study room knew about it. But most of the young men who spoke with confidence and composure were willing to mention this part. Now that Chu Youxian said this, the young girls sitting in the front row of the study room suddenly thought of this rumor. Their youthful faces suddenly lit up. Even Miss Gao, who had been a little depressed recently, opened her eyes wide and unconsciously raised the corner of her mouth slightly.
"I say, sisters, it is too late for you to be infatuated now."
Chu Youxian was best at stabbing once and then stabbing again. He looked at the girls with a sneaky smile and said, "Prince Long Qing has long been engaged to Princess Lu Chenjia of the Yuelun Kingdom. She is also the most famous infatuated girl in the world. Back when Prince Long Qing was studying Buddhism in the Yuelun Kingdom, he fell in love with Princess Lu Chenjia at first sight. Later on, this princess traveled thousands of miles to the Revelation Institute to study, just to spend time with Prince Long Qing. How would you have the chance? Everyone knows that Lu Chenjia is infatuated with flowers. You are no match for her at all. "
When the girls in the study room heard this, their expressions became somewhat awkward. But could they still argue with Chu Youxian's words? They could only purse their lips and lower their heads in grievance. When Situ Yilan saw the expressions of her female companions, she could not help but frown and talk about other topics, diluting the lovesickness in the study room.
Lu Chenjia, the Flower Addict of the Yuelun Kingdom, was a famous beauty in the world. Other than that, there were two other girls in the world who were compared to her. One of them was the last female disciple of the Great Calligrapher of the Great River Kingdom. It was said that she was extremely gentle and virtuous. She loved calligraphy, so she was called the Calligraphy Addict. The other was a mysterious female disciple of the Revelation Institute of West-Hill. It was said that she was extremely gentle and beautiful, but her heart was focused on Taoism. Other than cultivation, she had no other thoughts. She was called the Tao Addict.
"Speaking of which, both the Flower Addict and the Calligraphy Addict know her name. It is just that the Tao Addict has always been extremely mysterious. The world only knows that there is such a beauty in the West-Hill Divine Kingdom, but they do not know her name or where she is now."
Situ Yilan listened to the curious discussion of her classmates. After a moment of hesitation, she said, "Indeed, not many people know the name of the Tao Addict. But I heard that she is now … the number one figure in the Judicial Department of the Divine Hall."
…
…
(I'm alive again. It turns out that adjusting for jet lag is also very painful. Getting up at six o 'clock is not something a human should do …) If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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