Chapter 38 – Imperial Grace and Honor

Days passed in a flurry of activity, and before they knew it, the palace examination arrived. Xu Gu spent an entire day in the exam hall, and when he returned home that evening, his face betrayed signs of disappointment. It was only after some inquiries that they learned he had ranked forty-third in the Second Class, narrowly avoiding falling into the Third Class.

Both Grand Madam and Lady Bai were puzzled. “Was the palace examination question too obscure? What was the question?”

Xu Gu shook his head, looking perplexed. “The classics question was ‘The Master said: Wealth and rank are what all people desire.'”

Lady Bai was surprised. “That’s not difficult at all! One should seek wealth and rank through proper means; a gentleman seeks the way, not food.”

Xu Gu explained, “Yes, I discussed how ‘wealth and rank obtained unjustly are to me as fleeting clouds.’ I compared my answer with the examiner afterward, but I heard that the top three candidates argued that ‘a nation’s wealth leads to the people’s honor,’ ‘wealth is not about material wealth, and honor is not about treasures,’ and ‘the monarch’s wealth lies in the people.'”

Grand Madam hurriedly asked, “Who were the top three candidates?”

Xu Gu replied, “The top candidate, He Zhiqiu, is from the capital city and came from humble beginnings; the second place, Jiangnan scholar Zhang Wenzheng; and third place, Fan Mukun.”

When Grand Madam heard Fan Mukun’s name, she exclaimed, “Fan Family can still rise again?”

Lady Bai commented, “Although everyone knows that the Fan Family has fallen out of favor with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager has retired to the imperial temple for seclusion, their relationship hasn’t completely deteriorated. Fan Mukun is very young but has a great reputation. After the Regent’s death, he went traveling to study, rumored to have been avoiding trouble. Later, Uncle Fan also died, and he returned home to mourn, and has stayed secluded ever since. Placing third is almost an insult to him.”

Grand Madam sighed. “It’s already wonderful to have one. Brother Gu, you shouldn’t be discouraged; ranking has improved significantly.

But Lady Bai asked, “What about the poetry and policy essay?”

Xu Gu answered, “The poetry and prose were based on the idea of ‘The Son of Heaven resides in the center, overlooking the four seas’; the historical commentary was about Zhang Qian’s mission to the Western Regions; and the policy essay was ‘From the Han and Tang dynasties to the present taxation system, as evidenced by today’s situation.'”

Lady Bai and Grand Madam exchanged glances. Grand Madam murmured, “This seems to suggest opening up maritime routes, trading with the barbarians, and reforming the tax system?”

Lady Bai said, “His Majesty is determined to govern effectively and ambitiously. His vision likely extends beyond the country.”

Grand Madam worriedly said, “A sage does not need to speak for the people to be close and all nations to be at peace. It would be best to rule with a light touch.”

Lady Bai quickly changed the subject. “Regardless, it’s good that he passed. Now we should start arranging the Qionglin Banquet. However, since he didn’t make the First Class, we must work early to secure a position in the Hanlin Academy. If not the Hanlin Academy, we should aim for a government post in the capital.”

Grand Madam was reminded that it was time to utilize the Bai family’s connections. She said, “That’s true. The Qionglin Banquet is a significant event. Second Daughter-in-law, arrange it well. Additionally, we should proceed with the adoption. Tomorrow, I’ll invite the clan leader over to take charge and settle this matter as soon as possible. This way, when Brother Gu enters the officialdom, it will look better.”

Unexpectedly, Xu Gu suddenly knelt down. “Reporting to Grandmother, I’ve thought about it. Since my ranking isn’t good, I should leave the capital and serve as a real official elsewhere. I should take on a few terms in a local government to better understand the hardships of the common people.”

Grand Madam rebuked him. “What do you know? Only those who pass the imperial examination enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those from the Hanlin Academy join the inner cabinet! Scholars of the Shujishi are potential prime ministers. If you don’t serve by the emperor’s side, who will recognize your talent?”

Lady Bai added, “Brother Gu, you’re young and don’t know the reality. Many officials sent out never return. Being a county magistrate or deputy magistrate is not easy! You think you’re a parent-official, but in reality, you’re just a minor official, handling everything…”

Xu Chun listened to their discussion, finding it tedious and stifling a yawn. At this moment, seeing Xu Gu’s sudden change of heart, he widened his eyes, curiously watching Xu Gu, who remained silent.

Meanwhile, Prince Jing was already yawning, having spent the day overseeing the construction of the northern imperial palace, which had been a grueling task. Today, he had specifically returned for the palace examination, but he had never endured such hardship since his birth, and he was already nodding off.

Lady Sheng appeared indifferent, occasionally glancing at Xu Chun. Seeing his rosy complexion and lack of despondency, she felt reassured and did not care about Xu Gu’s situation. In her mind, this illegitimate son was dispensable, and she had merely fulfilled her duty as the main wife. Now, she could go anywhere.

In the end, after half a day of persuasion from Grand Madam and Lady Bai, Xu Gu finally bowed his head. “Before the palace examination, when I visited my mentor with my peers, I told Grand Scholar Zhang Rugui that I wanted to serve outside the capital. My mentor agreed and praised me for my pragmatic approach.”

Grand Madam and Lady Bai were left speechless. Finally, Lady Sheng intervened. “Brother Gu must be extremely exhausted after spending the whole day at the palace examination today. He should go back and rest. We can deliberate further on future plans later.” With that, they dispersed on less than amicable terms.

However, Xu Chun was rather pleased with the misfortune. Upon returning, he wrote to Ninth Brother about the incident:

“Normally, I thought he was just a bookworm, full of self-righteousness. But I never expected that after returning from the imperial examination, he would have a change of heart and a burst of conscience, wanting to serve as a local official and understand the hardships of governing the state. It goes to show that ‘teaching a person won’t work, but learning from experience leads to understanding in one try.’ Furthermore, there’s my father. A single assignment from the court has him under strict control. As the saying goes, a person with conscience doesn’t eat shit. It appears that the fame and fortune of the court are what truly awaken one’s conscience!”

Xie Yi couldn’t help laughing when he received the letter and read Xu Chun’s blunt words. Putting the letter aside, he picked up his brush to review the memorials. But when he saw the term “hardship of the state,” his thoughts immediately linked back to Xu Chun’s phrase “a person with conscience doesn’t eat shit,” causing him to laugh so hard that his hand trembled. He put down his brush, turned around with a smile, and asked Su Huaibei, “When is the Qionglin Banquet scheduled?”

Su Huaibei checked and said, “It’s tomorrow, a perfect day.” He was secretly delighted. It seemed that the letter from Little Lord always managed to please the Emperor.

Xie Yi laughed. “I want to see the talents of the Prince Jing’s residence. Pass the order; have Xie Fei accompany me to the banquet tomorrow.”

Su Huaibei promptly acknowledged the command.

The next morning, the spring breeze brought warmth, and the imperial garden was filled with peach blossoms and apricot flowers in full bloom, their tender white and vivid red colors blending together like clouds. The garden was adorned with fresh flowers and lush grass, butterflies dancing and orioles singing, making the spring scenery delightful. The court musicians played elegant music, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

At the banquet, the attendees wore splendid hats and sashes, shining like golden stars. They were all high-ranking officials and talented scholars of the Hanlin Academy, their purple and crimson robes shimmering like clouds and mist. Apart from the newly promoted scholars of the current year, all civil officials above the third rank, scholars from various departments of the Hanlin Academy, lecturers, and imperial censors responsible for supervising the examination attended the feast.

When Xie Yi arrived at the imperial garden, Xie Fei accompanied him step by step. Xie Yi spoke softly to him, and on this day, Xie Fei wore a bright red robe with a narrow collar and sleeves, adorned with gold embroidery of dragons, giving him an ethereal appearance and a radiant demeanor. Xie Fei dared not meet his gaze.

The top three candidates led the group of new scholars to pay their respects to the Emperor. Xie Yi smiled warmly, placing golden flowers on the top three candidates’ hairpins as encouragement, then ordered all the scholars to compose poems. This was a customary practice. All the scholars were naturally endowed with talent, and they quickly finished their works, presenting them for the Emperor’s perusal.

Xie Yi first took the poem by the top candidate, He Zhiqiu, and upon reading the handwriting again, he chuckled, asking He Zhiqiu, “‘My body wishes to be depicted in the picture of rice and millet, cultivating a peach blossom source for half a lifetime.'” Although Scholar He’s poem is written in simple terms, it reveals a lofty ambition. I remember your policy essay was excellent, with sharp and resolute language.”

Receiving such praise, He Zhiqiu remained calm and composed, bowing deeply and saying, “Though I am of ordinary talent, I am willing to devote my utmost sincerity to the country and the people, without regret even if I die nine times.”

Xie Yi smiled, thinking that He Zhiqiu was indeed adaptable. When writing his erotic novels, his prose was brilliant, clearly indicating that he had put effort into poetry and prose. Yet, he deliberately hid his abilities during the Qionglin Banquet, using simple vernacular to express his aspirations. It seemed he had realized that the Emperor did not favor overly ornate poetry and valued practicality. Without a doubt, he was a smart individual who would thrive in the court and could be a capable administrator if utilized properly.

He placed the poem back and flipped through the stack, coming across the poem by the second-place candidate, Zhang Wenzheng. Surprisingly, Zhang Wenzheng had written a hundred-character verse in a short amount of time, using parallel couplets, displaying remarkable elegance. Xie Yi couldn’t help but praise, “Indeed a fine piece of writing, and the handwriting is exceptional, worthy of passing down to posterity.” He handed it to Xie Fei beside him, who genuinely admired it, reading it repeatedly and passing it around for others at the banquet to admire.

Zhang Wenzheng, hailing from a prestigious family in Jiangnan, was fond of ancient traditions and was arrogant due to his talent. He had been unhappy about not obtaining the top position, but now he couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

The Emperor had criticized the top candidate’s poem as ordinary while lavishing praise on his own verse. Indeed, the Emperor’s insight was extraordinary! He hastily prostrated himself on the ground, thanking the Emperor for his grace, and delivered a speech expressing loyalty and willingness to die for the Emperor.

Xie Yi couldn’t help but offer kind words of encouragement. Then, he picked up the poem by the third-place candidate, Fan Mukun, slowly reciting, “Dust and purple thoroughfares swept by the east wind, a thousand peach trees greet Liu Lang.”

He glanced at Fan Mukun standing below and joked, “Is Dongye going to be Liu Lang?” He addressed Fan Mukun by his courtesy name, as Fan Mukun was the Empress Dowager’s nephew and had frequently entered the palace since childhood. He had known Fan Mukun since they were young, but now they stood worlds apart, one as the sovereign and the other as a subject.

Fan Mukun stepped forward, his eyes as clear and bright as snow under the moonlight. He responded loudly, “Asking if the thousand flowers of Xuan Du Temple still exist, when Liu Lang returns. Your Majesty diligently governs night and day, striving for improvement. How dare I not carefully assist in affairs to alleviate Your Majesty’s worries, ready to be driven by Your Majesty, willing to sacrifice my life.”

Xie Yi smiled faintly. “The Fan Family’s prestige and glory overshadow the court, with a lineage of talents and a reputation for family affairs. Now that they have a successor, it is indeed a cause for celebration.”

Fan Mukun’s expression subtly changed, but he still bowed his head and thanked the Emperor for his grace. As the third-place candidate, he wore a deep blue robe with wide sleeves, typical attire for a scholar. He wore a gauze hat adorned with a golden flower, his features elegant and exceedingly handsome. When he bowed, he resembled a jade tree swaying in the wind, his appearance bright and captivating, drawing the attention of everyone present.

Xie Yi casually placed the poem aside and slowly flipped through the collection. There were poems about spring, hymns to the emperor, and verses about ambitions. Occasionally, he would comment, sometimes simply handing them to Xie Fei, who would read and critique them with a smile.

Soon, Xie Yi came across Xu Gu’s poem. Picking it up and reading it, he frowned slightly, thinking to himself that Xu Chun had said his poetry carried an air of senility. I assumed it was bias, but now it seems that barely making it into the Third Class was truly reflective of his actual ability. There’s no need for me to intervene.

He handed the poem to Xie Fei with a smile, saying, “Take a look, this is the young master of the Prince Jing’s residence that you mentioned the other day, right?”

Xie Fei took the poem and read the hymn to the emperor, “On this day, the emperors Yao and Shun ascend to the throne, daring to repay the emperor’s grace with a drop of water.” It was excessively formal and lacked the vigor and enthusiasm of a young man. Xie Fei slightly furrowed his brow. He had only met Xu Gu a few times and had a better impression of Xu Chun. But being in front of the emperor, he simply smiled and said, “Yes, this is Xu Gu, the eldest son of Prince Jing.”

Xu Gu, who had been sitting quietly at the bottom of the table, hastily got up and performed a grand salute.

Xie Yi asked, “The other day, I heard the Crown Prince of Shun tell me that there are two sons in the Prince Jing’s residence. The elder son passed the metropolitan examination, and the younger son was admitted to the Imperial College. Looking at Scholar Xu now, he is indeed quite young. It seems that the Prince Jing’s residence has promising successors, and Prince Jing has done well in raising his children.”

Xu Gu’s heart pounded wildly, overwhelmed with emotion. He hastily bowed and thanked the emperor, saying, “Our family has been blessed by the emperor’s grace for generations. How dare I not repay it with my life!”

Xie Yi said kindly, “You come from a noble family, yet as the eldest son, you did not rely on the emperor’s favor but instead pursued your career through the imperial examinations. Your ambition is commendable and serves as an exemplary role model for the aristocratic families of the capital.”

Xu Gu hurriedly replied, “I was born of a concubine. My younger brother, Xu Chun, is the legitimate heir and has been favored by the emperor’s grace, entering the Imperial College.”

Xie Yi realized, “So your younger brother is the legitimate heir. Thus, Prince Jing governs his household well, and the Princess Consort is virtuous and wise, treating both legitimate and illegitimate sons equally. This deserves commendation.”

As if recalling something, he turned to ask Ouyang Shen, who was standing nearby, “I seem to remember that Prince Jing, Xu Anlin, was given a certain assignment recently and has been quite diligent.”

Ouyang Shen hurriedly rose to reply, “Yes, Prince Jing was assigned to oversee the renovation of the northern imperial palace. He has been dedicated to his duties and very diligent.”

Xie Yi nodded. “Invite Prince Jing to attend the banquet as well; it will be a beautiful story.”

Su Huaibei behind him promptly sent someone to deliver the imperial decree. Ouyang Shen now understood the reason behind today’s events.

Then, Xie Yi asked Xu Gu a few questions about the classics. Xu Gu, being proficient in this area, answered smoothly.

Xie Yi smiled at Xie Fei and said, “No wonder the other day you told me that the two sons of Prince Jing are both intelligent and capable, young talents indeed. Now, seeing that Xu Gu is well-versed in the classics, it’s evident that he has undergone arduous studies.”

Although Xie Fei had not said such words, he could only vaguely agree with the emperor’s statement. “Boyu is mature beyond his years, gentle and peaceful, with an extremely cautious and dignified personality.”

Xie Yi was taken aback. “Boyu?”

Xie Fei said, “Yes, Xu Gu’s courtesy name is Boyu.” After he finished speaking, he was slightly surprised. According to ‘Li Wei’, “The eldest son among commoners is called Meng,” so why did Xu Gu, who was the eldest son, use ‘Bo’? But in their daily interactions, he had only heard it mentioned casually in passing, and he hadn’t delved into the subtle differences.

Xie Yi’s smile faded a little, and he looked at Xu Gu for a moment before saying, “This courtesy name isn’t good. I’ll grant you a new one; your courtesy name shall be Enli.”

Xu Gu’s face turned pale, as if he could hear the murmurs from the table. He knew that his courtesy name wasn’t quite right when he studied in the past, but since it was bestowed by his teacher and no one criticized him to his face, he felt a burning shame now that the emperor had given him a new name. All he could do was bow and thank him for the favor.

Just as he was feeling frightened and uneasy, thankfully, an eunuch reported that Duke Jingguo Xu Anlin had arrived. Everyone’s attention shifted momentarily, and Xu Anlin was unaware of the situation. Led by the eunuch, he entered and paid his respects. In his heart, he was secretly glad that today, the Imperial Construction Office had said the materials hadn’t arrived, so he didn’t have to go there; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to come so quickly. What a great honor it was that his eldest son passed the imperial examination, and the emperor hosted a banquet in his honor—a glorious occasion for the whole family!

Seeing Xu Anlin, Xie Yi’s expression softened somewhat, and he encouraged him, “I’ve heard that you have three sons. Now both your eldest and second sons are capable, showing that you’ve devoted yourself to running your household well. Recently, the Imperial Construction Office has also been managed very well, which deserves commendation.”

Xu Anlin’s face was radiant with excitement as he knelt down firmly. “Your subject thanks the Emperor for your praise!”

Xie Yi saw that he indeed had a handsome appearance, but the moment he spoke, his stupidity and foolishness became apparent, which was painful to witness. Xie Yi didn’t enjoy socializing with fools even on normal days, so he tried to restrain his impatience and continued to praise him gently.

Then, he slowly asked, “When I was young, I vaguely remember that your brother Xu Anfeng came to the palace to report matters. He was also wise and mature, with exceptional talent. Unfortunately, he died young. Thinking back now, his personality and appearance are somewhat similar to Xu Gu’s. If your brother had a son, he would likely be just like Xu Gu. Unfortunately, I heard at the time that he left no son behind, but he had a younger brother, which is why you inherited the title.”

Xu Anlin hastily squeezed out a few tears. “My elder brother treated me very well. Unfortunately, he left no son to inherit the title. Whenever I think about it, I’m often saddened!”

Xie Yi watched him with some sympathy. “Now that you already have three sons, you must report to the elders of your clan and arrange for your brother’s adoption of a successor. This is how a filial and dutiful family should behave.”

Xu Anlin hurriedly said, “That’s exactly what we intend to do. My mother is handling the arrangements.”

Xie Yi nodded slightly with a smile and glanced at Xu Gu. “I see that Xu Gu is young and talented. How about this? I’ll decide on your behalf and grant my permission for your eldest illegitimate son Xu Gu to be adopted by your late brother as his successor to continue his lineage. What do you think?”

Xu Anlin immediately agreed wholeheartedly. “My entire family thanks the Emperor for your divine grace! My elder brother, wherever he may be, will surely smile in peace!”

Hearing his incoherent reply, which was unbearable to witness, Xie Yi pretended not to notice and asked Xu Gu, “What do you think, Xu Gu?”

Xu Gu quickly bowed. “Your subject thanks the Emperor for your divine grace!”

Xie Yi was now satisfied and encouraged him, “Even though you will be adopted into the senior branch and support your adoptive mother, you must not forget the kindness of your birth parents for raising and educating you, especially the grace of your legitimate mother.”

Sweat poured down Xu Gu’s back as he bowed deeply. “Your subject humbly obeys your command.”

Xie Yi nodded and ordered them to rise. Turning to the Minister of Rites, he said, “The Ministry of Rites should draft a decree praising Duke Jingguo and Lady Jingguo for their excellent management of their household and proper education of their children. They shall be rewarded. Also, grant Xu Gu the privilege to be adopted as Xu Anfeng’s heir, continuing his lineage and supporting his adoptive mother, ensuring that the descendants of our meritorious officials do not become destitute after their passing.”

The Minister of Rites hurriedly stepped forward to receive the decree.

After this display, Xie Yi happily instructed them to return to the banquet and ordered the musicians to perform some dances. Then, he slowly rose to leave under the respectful farewell of everyone present at the Qionglin Banquet.

A few more days passed, and when Xie Yi calculated that it was a day off for the Imperial Academy, he chose a time to visit Zhuzhi Workshop.

Seeing Xie Yi, Xu Chun grinned widely. “Brother Nine, Brother Nine, how have you been these past few days?”

Xie Yi noticed that he was wearing a magnificent red robe adorned with a qilin, and he seemed radiant. Surprised, he asked, “Where have you been, dressed so handsomely?”

Xu Chun was taken aback, and his ears instantly flushed red. “Today, we held the adoption ceremony at the ancestral shrine. I’ve just returned, and the government has already prepared the documents for the adoption.”

Looking at him, Xie Yi asked, “Do you feel wronged?”

Xu Chun shook his head. “Didn’t I write to you? The Emperor decreed that I should be adopted by…now my cousin. Hehehe, His Majesty is truly a great emperor! Originally, when my elder brother was adopted, the senior branch took all the benefits, but they only received the grandmother’s affection. The second branch raised a scholar for twenty years, but before he could repay us, he went to support the senior branch.”

Now, the Emperor’s decree means that the credit goes to Father and Mother. The imperial edict praising Father for his filial piety and fraternal love, and Mother for her virtue and kindness, was placed directly in the ancestral shrine today. With this imperial edict, the Xu family can no longer easily harm Mother. Her position as the Duchess of Jingguo is now secure.”

Xu Chun’s forehead was still damp with sweat, indicating his exhaustion, but he was brimming with excitement. “And there’s Xu Gu. No matter how successful he becomes in his career from now on, the entire court knows that he was raised by Father and Mother. He cannot forget his roots. Although he will support Auntie as his adoptive mother, he cannot forget the kindness of Father and Mother for raising him.”

Xie Yi smiled faintly, and Xu Chun lowered his voice. “Moreover, I heard rumors at the Imperial Academy that when the Emperor heard that my brother’s courtesy name was Boyu, he showed displeasure and immediately granted him a new courtesy name, Enli. This name, filled with both grace and propriety, clearly indicates that he should be grateful and adhere to propriety. Unfortunately, the original Crown Prince probably intended to recommend him, but now he has lost face. These past few days, he has treated Father and Mother with even more respect than before, and he has been very courteous to me. Despite passing the imperial examination and awaiting his appointment, he has remained indoors and rarely goes out.”

Xie Yi said, “How could an illegitimate eldest son use ‘Bo’? You and your father don’t read enough books, and your mother, being born into a merchant family, usually stays within the inner quarters, allowing others to step on you so openly and bully you. Wasn’t it right when I advised you to study?”

Xu Chun blushed. “Brother Nine, I know I was foolish in the past. Looking back, it’s likely that my grandmother planned to adopt me long ago, but seeing that Mother was generous with illegitimate children and Auntie had to consider Big Sister, she delayed the decision. Of course, it’s also possible that she wanted to wait and see. However, Third Brother wasn’t very good at studying from a young age.”

Xie Yi remarked, “Logically, if the senior branch lacks a male heir, the adoption should have been handled by the elders and the wife long ago. As the illegitimate eldest son, he was already in an awkward position in the second branch and should have been adopted out before Mother married in. This would have shown respect to Mother, and the senior branch, having raised him since childhood, would have developed feelings for him. It would have been a win-win situation. Now, when the child has grown up and become accomplished, the adoption is proposed, causing resentment between the two branches.”

Xu Chun explained, “It might have been planned to adopt me originally, deliberately leaving an illegitimate eldest son to suppress Mother. Later, seeing that Father was clueless and Mother was kind and generous, they simply dragged it out. Sigh, my grandmother treated me really well when I was young, but looking back, she was a bit biased towards the senior branch. It’s also due to Father’s incompetence.”

Xie Yi chuckled. “You said it yourself; even an emperor can have a biased mother.”

Xu Chun laughed. Today was sunny and warm, and he hadn’t changed out of his heavy clothes, which made him very hot. He told Xie Yi, “Brother Nine, please sit down for a moment. I’ll change into something more comfortable and come back to accompany you soon.”

Xie Yi nodded. Watching Xu Chun turn around and return to his room to change, he picked up the calligraphy on Xu Chun’s desk to see how well it was written. Flipping through the pages, he suddenly came across a line that read:

“What is love in this world? Master said: It’s useless.”

Xie Yi couldn’t help laughing again as he picked up the scroll. Recalling the previous phrase, “If someone has a conscience, a dog won’t eat shit,” this young man was indeed quirky and unpredictable. He picked up the scroll but then saw Xu Chun emerge from his room, wearing a green silk robe. Noticing the calligraphy in Xie Yi’s hand, Xu Chun’s face turned red. “Brother Nine, don’t look. I was just testing a new brush and wrote it randomly.”

Xie Yi smiled, noticing how embarrassed Xu Chun looked, with his ears turning crimson and his skin glowing. He didn’t tease him further and slowly asked, “What kind of new brush is it?”

Relieved, Xu Chun dared not snatch the paper from Xie Yi’s hand but instead took a set of brushes to show him. “They’re Lan Tian brushes. If Brother Nine likes them, take a set back and try them out. I find them somewhat stiff, which makes them easy to write with. In the past, I was lazy and didn’t practice calligraphy much. Nowadays, Mr. Shen always complains that my handwriting lacks strength, but this can’t be achieved overnight.”

Xu Chun paused, noticing that Xie Yi nonchalantly tucked the scroll into his sleeve. Then, he took the brush box, opened it, and examined the tip of the brush against the light. Xu Chun’s face grew even hotter, but he didn’t dare ask for it back. Instead, he stammered, “Fortunately, the managers recommended them to me, saying that Lan Tian brushes are good, especially those made from the hair of wild rabbits, which are hard and specifically suitable for writing. Yesterday, they delivered several sets of purple-hair brushes, and I just started using them. Would Brother Nine like to try them?”

Xie Yi nodded and picked up a medium-sized brush. Xu Chun quickly moved the inkstone over. Dipping the brush in ink, Xie Yi casually wrote, “In this world, what is love? It causes life and death to be pledged…”

Watching Xie Yi complete the poem ‘Moyu’er: The Mound of Swallows’ in a flowing manner, with vigorous strokes and graceful and powerful writing, he finished with “I came to visit the Mound of Swallows.” Xu Chun stared at the words “pledged life and death,” his heart pounding like thunder, until Xie Yi turned to look at him. Hastily, he covered his embarrassment and muttered, “Brother Nine, your handwriting is truly marvelous. I’m going to mount it and hang it on the wall.”

Xie Yi smiled faintly. “Since you’re going to hang it, let me stamp a seal on it for you.” He took out a seal from his waist and stamped it onto the paper. Xu Chun noticed that the seal was the same as the one he had previously used for ‘Chufeng Qing Sheng,’ which was inscribed with the seal script ‘Suiyu Tangzhu.’

Xu Chun asked, “Suiyu Tangzhu, is this Brother Nine’s pseudonym?”

Xie Yi replied, “Yes, this brush is quite good, making it convenient to write fine script. Give me a set.” He found it even better to use and handle than the tribute brushes.

Xu Chun hurriedly asked Qiuhu to pack two sets and give them to Xie Yi’s attendants. Meanwhile, he said to Xie Yi, “Brother Nine, as the weather gets warmer, I mentioned before that I have an estate in the outskirts of the capital. Last year, I brewed a lot of cherry wine there, which is now ready to be enjoyed. It’s also a good time for boating and fishing. Why don’t we go there together to relax?”

Xie Yi said, “Sure, I’ll check my schedule and let you know which day I’m available.”

Xu Chun was delighted. “It’s settled, Brother Nine. You must honor me with your presence.”

Author’s Note:

Master said: Wealth and rank are what people desire—The Analects

A gentleman seeks the Way, not food—The Analects,

 

Chapter 15, Duke Ling of Wei

The former Liu Lang returns once more, asking whether the thousands of flowers in Xuandu still exist—Song Dynasty, Xin Qiji, ‘New Song of Happiness: Dark Willow and Clear River Path’

(The Liu Lang here refers to Liu Yuxi, who suffered repeated demotions due to his involvement in the “Yongzheng Reform.”)

Wealth does not consist of riches, nor does nobility consist of treasures—Cao Zhi, ‘Xuan Chang Fu’

In this world, what is love? Master said: It’s useless—Internet meme, unknown source

In this world, what is love? It causes life and death to be pledged—Yuan Hao Wen, ‘Moyu’er: The Mound of Swallows’