The topic of the debate was set by Grand Secretary Zeng Jing. As soon as the debate began, Xie Chengyun, who was invincible in the Academy in debating, knew that he had encountered an unshakable mountain.
Prince Long Qing tidied up his appearance and began to debate with a dignified expression. It was not because he was afraid of his opponent, but because he respected the wisdom that debate itself represented. At the same time, he also expressed a certain degree of appreciation for Xie Chengyun's courage. When the debate began, he showed no mercy and began to show his true level that was superior to his peers.
Countless words flowed out of Prince Long Qing's lips like beautiful lotus flowers around the topic of the debate. Countless classics of the predecessors were cleverly selected and organized by him, turning into a complicated and clear net. It often took the listener a long time to understand the true meaning. What shocked and speechless all the students present was that in this debate, Prince Long Qing did not use the Divine Canon of Haotian Taoism in West-Hill at all, but used the views of the Academy's classics!
Just as Ning Que predicted, before Prince Long Qing's expressionless narration, Xie Chengyun only made a slight counterattack, and then he was caught in the sea of lotus flowers. He could not see any mistakes, nor could he find the slightest gap to fight back. He could only watch the other side weave the Taoist language net more and more tightly, and he had no power to fight back.
Ning Que was neither good at nor fond of such means of seeking truth from ancient books and metaphysics. When he was four years old, he found that the exercises he solved in the Mathematical Olympiad class were of no help to his begging life. Since then, he had firmly established a life principle: no matter how wonderful and profound it was, if it could not be used in front of a knife or on the table, then it would be meaningless to his life, and there was no need to continue to study it.
Well … calligraphy was an exception, because he loved it.
In short, he did not like debating, and it was impossible for him to have a good impression of Xie Chengyun. It was difficult for a marginalized person who had been forgotten by the Academy for half a year to have any sense of collective honor. But he did not want to see the handsome and hateful prince with facial paralysis continue to be arrogant. So he ignored what was happening over there and took Sangsang, who also did not understand, to hide in a dark corner, drinking wine and eating fruits and vegetables, waiting for the moment to end.
"The Headmaster of the Academy once said, 'If you don't change your ways for three years, that is the way.'"
Prince Long Qing ended his speech with the conclusion of the Headmaster of the Academy thirty years ago, which also ended the completely one-sided debate.
It was dead silent in the courtyard. All the students of the Academy silently looked at the indifferent prince sitting in the middle of the table and did not know what to say. The girls, including Situ Yilan and Jin Wucai, all felt a little wet on their backs. Such a meticulous but sharp person was really terrible. What's more, he used all the Academy's Classics and finally used the Headmaster's Scripture as the anchor. How could they still have the face to pester him?
At this moment, the crowd finally understood why Prince Long Qing, who was handsome and quiet and spoke little and gently, gave people an inexplicable sense of pride and indifference. This couldn't be entirely blamed on him for being arrogant. It was just that the people around him subconsciously felt that they were inferior in front of his great power. Over time, this talented prince got used to this way of getting along with others. Thus, he became the silent but proud person he was today.
…
…
"Before you complain that others always like to ride on your back, you should first consider whether you have taken the initiative to squat down." Ning Que looked at his classmates in front of him, who were like frozen quails. He shook his head and said, "You are always so proud and unyielding in front of me, but today you are like a chicken after hitting an iron plate. How shameful."
Sangsang took the wine that he quietly handed to her and took a sip. She looked at the front and said, "It seems that Prince Long Qing is very powerful."
As if to answer the little handmaiden's doubts, Priest Moli, the Deputy Head of the Revelation Institute, looked at the students of the Academy and added with great satisfaction, "Prince Long Qing's way of debating is something that even the elders of the Lanke Temple admire."
The atmosphere was inevitably a little awkward. The middle-aged general from the Gushan Commandery who was sitting on the lower left side of Li Yu suddenly laughed and said, "I, Zhang Jianxin, am a boorish man. I really don't understand what the prince and the childe are talking about. But I know that any banquet must have wine to liven things up. Today, everyone is here to send off Crown Prince Chongming. I don't have anything good in the Gushan Commandery, so I only brought dozens of bottles of Nine-river Double-distilled wine. I asked the captains to bring them to the backyard.
Now, please have a taste. "The Nine-river Double-distilled wine from the Gushan Commandery was not an ordinary wine. It was a high-strength wine brewed by double distillation. This high-strength wine was used by an emperor of the Tang Empire to soften the minds of the grassland barbarians and corrupt the iron blood of the tribes. It had a miraculous effect. Since then, it had become a closely guarded secret craft of the Tang Empire. It was often used to bargain with the grassland tribes in negotiations and was rarely drunk by people.
The reason why the Nine-river Double-distilled wine was rarely drunk by people and even the palace did not choose it as a tribute wine was not only because it was not easy to brew, but also because it was too strong. An ordinary strong man would be drunk after drinking a big bowl of it. Although the strong wine was in line with the fierce and generous temperament of the Tangs, they could only drink it in small mouthfuls when they thought that they were broad-minded. It would be too unsightly if they were drunk even a little bit. Therefore, the Tangs had to bear the pain and give up.
The rare Nine-river Double-distilled wine from the Gushan Commandery was divided into small bottles and sent to each table. Then, more delicate wine utensils were replaced. The previously oppressive and tense atmosphere in the courtyard eased a little. However, no one expected that the general from the Gushan Commandery named Zhang Jianxin would ask the maidservant to remove the small wine cup in front of him and replace it with a big bowl. After filling the bowl with the strong wine, he stared into Prince Long Qing's eyes and asked in a low voice, "I wonder if the West-Hill Divine Palace forbids alcohol?"
Prince Long Qing looked at the small wine cup in front of him and shook his head with a faint smile. This was the first emotion other than gentleness and indifference on his flower-like face since he entered the courtyard. He exuded a charm that made the girls who were secretly against him because of the damage to the Academy's reputation feel dizzy again.
General Zhang looked solemn and raised his left hand to hold the bowl with both hands. He solemnly said, "Back then, I had also fought with the Yan Kingdom's cavalry under Min Mountain. Now, nearly ten years have passed and the two countries are as friendly as before. I would like to toast this bowl to Prince Long Qing. I hope you don't mind. However, the Nine-river Double-distilled wine is extremely strong. There has always been a saying on the grassland that one can't get on a horse after three bowls. I wonder if Prince Long Qing can drink it. Do you … dare not drink it?"
As soon as these words came out, the courtyard became quiet again.
In the corner, Ning Que looked at that place and shook his head. He said, "Is this forcing or making a scene? Vulgar, really vulgar. The old and young men of our Tang military who have withdrawn from the front line are so honest, or should I say stupid. That prince is a big shot at the peak of the Seethrough State. Drinking with him is like playing dice with your young master. It's purely asking for abuse. "
As he spoke, he emptied the bowl that he had used to drink rice wine and poured a small can of Gushan Commandery wine into the bowl. Then, he carefully covered the bowl with his sleeve and handed it to Sangsang behind him. The Nine-river Double-distilled wine was indeed extraordinary. In an instant, the fragrance of the wine filled the air. Sangsang, who was usually calm, could not suppress the joy on her face and her eyes lit up.
In the depths of the courtyard, Grand Secretary Zeng Jing found the scene boring and came to the rescue. He gently patted the folding fan in his hand and looked at General Zhang Jianxin with a solemn face. He said, "Since we have repaired the friendship, why don't we drink together?"
The Grand Secretary's expression turned solemn. Even the Tang Frontier Army General did not dare to act rashly. However, somehow, Zhang Jianxin seemed not to have seen it. He still held the bowl with both hands and looked at Prince Long Qing coldly. He said, "Drink together or drink with each other. I only have one question … Prince, do you drink?"
At this time, Ning Que took a sip of the liquor and frowned because of the spiciness. When he heard these words, why did he feel that he could only drink with one ladle of water?
He frowned and looked in that direction. He thought that General Zhang had previously claimed to be a rough man … but it was probably fake. He deliberately used vulgarity to intimidate others and used his vulgarity to defeat the enemy's elegance and pride. In the current situation where the Empire's face had been repeatedly damaged, it was a strange move. Maybe it was secretly instructed by Li Yu.
However, just like one of the two foundations of Prince Long Qing's pride, what did these things have to do with Ning Que? When he found that Sangsang liked the Nine-river Double-distilled wine very much, he was busy pouring wine from the wine can and secretly handing it to Sangsang behind him. Then, he secretly stole wine from a classmate beside him and secretly fed it to Sangsang. He repeated this tirelessly and carefully, and he was never tired of it.
When the master and the servant hid in the dark corner of the courtyard and secretly drank the wine, the situation on the other side changed again. When many people thought that Prince Long Qing would ignore the Tang general's invitation for a drinking competition with his usual indifference and pride, they saw a faint smile suddenly flashed between his picturesque eyebrows. He gently waved his right hand, and the wine can under the table quietly flew to his hand.
Then, Prince Long Qing's right hand turned the wine can upside down. The clear wine poured out with a pungent fragrance and instantly filled the big bowl. Before the wine really overflowed, he raised his left arm and brought the wine bowl to his lips. Like a whale sucking water, he drank the liquor in the bowl in a whirlwind. His movements were very natural and unrestrained.
Zhang Jianxin, the General of Gushan Commandery, was slightly stunned. It seemed that he did not expect that Prince Long Qing, who was known for his pride, indifference and seriousness, would become so casual and natural in the face of his invitation for a drinking competition. After a moment, he woke up and remembered that he was still holding the wine bowl, so he hurriedly brought it to his lips and drank it.
However, when he just held the wine bowl to his lips, he found that Prince Long Qing on the opposite table had already filled the second bowl of wine and drank it in a very natural and unrestrained manner.
The third bowl, the fourth bowl, the fifth bowl … Even on the grassland, there was a legend that one could not get on after three bowls of the Gushan Commandery's Nine-river double-distilled liquor. Zhang Jianxin dared to invite a drinking competition, so he was naturally a master of this. However, facing Prince Long Qing's calm and unwavering drinking, he finally could not resist and fell down with a red face.
Maids and servants carried General Zhang, who reeked of alcohol, away. The Tang people in the courtyard felt very disgraced. It was extremely vulgar to invite a drinking competition, but in the end, it was drunk by this prince who looked like a figure in a painting. This was not only vulgar to the extreme, but also extremely shameful.
Prince Long Qing held the eighth bowl of liquor in his hand and did not put it down because of his opponent's drunkenness. He still drank it slowly and then looked at the people in the courtyard calmly. With a trace of deep exhaustion, he said with a smile,
"In my life, I first worked hard to seek Taoism, then I took charge of judgment, killing the remnants of the Devil's Doctrine, punishing the traitors of Haotian Taoism, and punishing the heresy. I have never been softhearted, and I have strictly adhered to the laws of the Divine Canon. I never allowed myself to make mistakes. Up until now, it can be said that nothing can disturb my mind, except for one thing, and that is good wine."
"Wine can connect the way of heaven and man, and can penetrate the mysteries. It is a gift from Haotian, so I have always thought that if I use my own cultivation to overcome the effects of wine, it would be a reckless waste of God's gift. I have been fond of wine since I was a child, but I did not drink it often. Since I left Capital Cheng when I was young … "
He calmly glanced at his elder brother, the Crown Prince, who seemed to be forgotten by the people in the courtyard, and continued, "… I have only drunk wine four times in these years, one of which was in the palace of Yuelun Kingdom. Because of Chen Jia, I was misunderstood by some people, and they fought with me in rounds of drinking. The wine was not as strong as today, and they did not stop until all the wine jars in the palace were empty. After that, the pillars in the palace still had the smell of wine for three days, but I was not drunk."
"Good wine is the most wonderful thing, and it is also a demonic sound that erodes bones. So I rarely drink, unless there is a situation where I have to drink, such as in Yuelun Kingdom, or today, when the general forced me to drink with the pain of the country." He calmly said, "Or there is wine worth drinking, such as this double-distilled wine from Gushan Commandery, or there is a worthy opponent."
At this point, Prince Long Qing once again filled the bowl in front of him and raised it with one hand. He looked at Xie Chengyun in the courtyard and said, "This bowl is to thank the Third Young Master for your courage."
Xie Chengyun was slightly stunned and sighed in his heart. He changed the big bowl to fill with strong wine and drank with him.
Prince Long Qing poured another bowl of strong wine, looked at Linchuan Wangying beside Xie Chengyun, and calmly said, "Linchuan Wangying, you know etiquette well at the age of twelve. I have read your notes on etiquette the year before last."
Linchuan Wangying was only 15 years old this year, and was still a teenager. He did not know the reason for the open and secret fights in the previous banquet, and did not expect that they would talk about him. Hearing that Prince Long Qing had read his notes on etiquette, he could not help but feel excited and happy, and hurriedly picked up the small wine cup in front of him and drank it.
Unsurprisingly, a moment later, Xie Chengyun and Linchuan Wangying were drunk because of the strong wine. But the two drinks were peaceful and joyful, and no one in the Academy felt unhappy. Instead, everyone, including Zhong Dajun, filled the wine cups in front of them and waited for Prince Long Qing to order them in order.
Prince Long Qing held the bowl of liquor in his hand and looked at the students in the field. He did not intend to propose another toast. Instead, he brought the liquor to his lips and drank it slowly. Then he put down the bowl and did not look at the audience again. The Academy students could not help but feel a little awkward. Even Ning Que, who followed the crowd in the corner and filled up the wine, felt very uncomfortable in his heart, and the little good impression he had for this guy suddenly disappeared.
Prince Long Qing looked at the empty wine bowl with a faint smile and sighed softly, "The Academy … is really famous. I only hope the real Academy will not let me down."
"You really have a big tone." Lee Yu looked at him with slight mockery and said, "If you don't know what the real Academy is, how can you come thousands of miles to be a hostage? How can the Hierarch Lord and the three Great Divine Priests be willing to let you, a bigwig of the Judicial Department of the Divine Hall, give up your job and come to the Academy to be a student?"
Prince Long Qing was silent for a while, and then he raised his head and replied calmly, "Your Highness is right."
Lee Yu looked at him quietly and suddenly said, "Long Qing, I admit that you are indeed talented and capable, and you have the right to be proud. But since you are in charge of the Judicial Department and know the doctrine of Haotian, you should know that everything is too much to be forced, and that everything does not enter your heart. Why do you have to go against your will and act so arrogantly?"
Hearing this question, Prince Long Qing was silent for a long time, and his handsome face gradually glowed. He slowly and firmly answered, "There is no solution to the poverty of the country, so I can only be more arrogant."
He said this very calmly, directly and frankly, clearly stating that the Yan Kingdom was weak and not the enemy of the Tang Empire. And as a member of the royal family of the Yan Kingdom and a person of the West-Hill, if he were to be a hostage in Chang 'an, then he should be arrogant, so that he would not be weak because of the situation, and always remain strong.
Prince Long Qing continued, "As for not drinking, it has nothing to do with arrogance, but because I can't find anyone who can drink with me."
Situ Yilan could not help but whisper, "A man's ability should be on the battlefield, not on the wine table. What's the use even if you can drink more wine?"
"This lady's words make sense." Prince Long Qing calmly replied, "Only those who are good at fighting can fight, and only those who are good at drinking can drink with each other. Since there is no fighting today, naturally there is no drinking."
Among the young students present, who could fight with Prince Long Qing? Xie Chengyun, who was the most popular in the Academy, had already been defeated, so who could drink with Prince Long Qing? He had already drunk nearly ten bowls of strong wine, and he claimed that he was not drunk in his life.
There was an awkward silence in the courtyard. The people present were shocked by the West-Hill Divine Palace, and no one dared to challenge him. This was really an unbearable shame for the Tang Empire and the Academy. Lee Yu's jade-like hands gently grasped the silk scarf in her sleeves. When she was ready to leave, she suddenly heard a gurgling sound from the corner.
At this time, it was so quiet that even a needle falling on the ground could be heard. So the gurgling sound, which was originally very subtle, was suddenly magnified and attracted the puzzled eyes of all the people present.
The sound was like a clear spring flowing through the waterway opened by Nanzhu and falling into the slightly icy mountain stream. It was also like a long-necked stork waking up from the wetland grass in the morning and proudly combing its neck feathers. It was very beautiful and attractive.
Everyone, including Situ Yilan, opened their eyes wide and stared at Ning Que in the dark corner. They carefully listened to the gurgling sound coming from behind him and were somewhat puzzled.
A moment later, Sangsang, who was thin and dressed in handmaiden clothes, came out from behind Ning Que on her knees with an empty wine bowl in her hands. Then she was shocked to find that she had become the focus of attention. She did not know why everyone present was looking at her as if she was a fairy.
Sangsang found that so many eyes were staring at her, and felt extremely uncomfortable. She raised her right sleeve to wipe her mouth, and carefully put the wine bowl on the table in front of Ning Que, and then quietly returned to behind Ning Que.
Until then, people found that there were four wine cans neatly placed beside the table in the corner.
…
…
(Note: I saw that sentence in Mu Fei's Weibo and quoted from Zhizhi, but I forgot the specific words when I wrote it. So … I strongly call for recommendation votes on Monday. It's not easy for everyone!) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
