Chapter 181 (1/2)
Ning Que certainly felt very excited after successfully completing the first Fu in his life, but soon he became calm and then a little emotional. This time, his happiness was not as strong as the ecstasy when he entered the cultivation road last year. He had been thinking of cultivation for more than ten years, and he suddenly succeeded almost as he was to give it up. In comparison, the success of Talisman Taoism was reasonable and predictable, because he knew he had the ability to comprehend it and the only problem was time.
He felt excited but peaceful, so it was impossible for him to inform everyone by beating drums and gongs in streets and alleys. He just told those people close to him, but then he found in surprise that these guys' reactions were much stronger than his, which made him doubt who on earth wrote that water Fu on the white paper on his desk.
In order to celebrate it, Sangsang unexpectedly employed the cook of Victory House to make noodles. The Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters in the Second Floor of the Academy all shared the news with each other. They thought that their Younger Brother would be absorbed in Talisman Taoism from now on and would give up practising his terrible flying sword. They happily jumped, danced, sang and played the flute because their heads and the a.s.s of the big white goose would be much safer. When Master Yan Se heard of it, he was shocked and silently sat for a while in the South Gate Office at first, and then went to the House of Red Sleeves for an indulgent drinking. As he was highly drunk, two lines of old tears somehow flowed down along his old face.
The third day after that summer rain, the old and n.o.ble Chancellor of Tang organized a grand banquet in his mansion for a random reason. More than ten government officials were invited and they all drank for entertainment in the rain-proof corridor of the courtyard. Actually, they all felt confused but didn't dare to ask the host.
Those bigwigs of imperial court naturally wouldn't sit with those middle-level officials at the same courtyard. Instead, they were chatting with the Old Chancellor in the main room. Upon listening to the cheerful laughter of the Old Chancellor, they felt much more confused than those officials outside the room. They were guessing what kind of joyous thing could make the Old Chancellor so happy, who led the literary field with his well-known academic articles and seldom laughed. Was it because the border army succeeded in fighting a big area of land for Tang, or because his granddaughter was to get married?
In such occasion, the atmosphere should be very joyful and hilarious, no matter what was the reason. However, when they saw another old white-hair lord sitting by the left side of the Old Chancellor, they felt strange and embarra.s.sed, even the Minister of the Ministry of Rites kept silent as much as he could.
That lord was w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chen, the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library. In the whole court, few people dare to embarra.s.s the Old Chancellor except several persons like the prime minister. Also, the Grand Secretary was one of them. In addition, all people knew that the two old lords were at odds all the time.
The two lords had been a inharmonious relations.h.i.+p for a long time, but it had nothing to do political and party compet.i.tion. Tang put its law first, requiring every government departments to conduct their work according to the law. Even for n.o.bles or royal members, they didn't dare to break the law. Though there wasn't cruel punishment, it was very difficult to illegally circ.u.mvent the law or do some tricks. In such case, few officials dared to secretly form cliques for private benefits.
Several ministers and high officials in the main room knew clearly that the resentment between the Old Chancellor and the Grand Secretary was due to a thing on competing for a female's love at their young ages. At that time, both of them were students of the Academy, and they were close friends in the same cla.s.s. Unfortunately, they both fell in love to a beautiful and well-disposed female in their cla.s.s, who was the daughter of the prime minister back then. Most pitifully, the prime minister only had one daughter, so...
Having a sneer and gently stroking his white beard, the Grand Secretary w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chen looked at the Old Chancellor beside him and then said, ”I heard you often sent your steward to Lin 47th Street recently, and subpurchased several pieces of handwriting works from other people?”
”Right. Are you jealous?” The Old Chancellor grinned and said to w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chen, ”You don't have to say something about the face of imperial court. After all, Ning Que is a student of the Academy, so he is our alumnus. What's more, he has already entered the Second floor. Though I am much older than him, is there any problem for me to show my respect to him? Besides, I heard that these days you also frequently sent your stewards to the Old Brush Pen Shop, so don't criticize me.”
”Look at you, how would you an old man reply so much words to my few questions, if there is nothing shameful in your heart?” Grand Secretary w.a.n.g sneered, ”Ning Que's handwriting is truly excellent. Both his Majesty and I appreciate it. Thus, is there something unsuitable for me to send some stewards to the Old Brush Pen Shop? I don't know whether your hard work gives you some authentic work, but I really feel sorry for you.”
Before the Old Chancellor answered, Grand Secretary w.a.n.g burst into laughter and said to other officials around the table, ”I think everyone knows that Mister Ning's Chicken Soup Calligraphy is in my mansion now. I feel very well when I take a look at it in my spare time.”
Knowing that the word was against him, the Old Chancellor slightly raised his eyebrows.
Grand Secretary w.a.n.g also raised his eyebrows and continued saying, ”Actually, the number of Ning Que's handwriting works outside his shop isn't at a small number. However, I think no other works can be compared with the ”Bloom in the Opposite World”, except my Chicken Soup Calligraphy with implicit sense of Divine Talisman. Indeed, it cost me a lot to get the Chicken Soup Calligraphy. If I am not an old friend of Master Yan Se, how could I get the fantastic works?”
Then he turned to the Old Chancellor and smilingly said, ”Old man, I heard that your steward bought two pieces of rubblings of Yan on the Chicken Soup Calligraphy in the House of Red Sleeves? It is indeed needless. If you really want to view the authentic works of the Chicken Soup Calligraphy, just tell me. You don't have to invite me to this meal and bother other fellows, right?”
The Old Chancellor got a little angry and, with his hands on the table, sneered, ”If I want to have a look, you will bring it here?”
”That's impossible!” Grand Secretary w.a.n.g smilingly said, ”His Majesty knows the Chicken Soup Calligraphy is in my mansion and has already asked it for three times, but I refuse. If the works was sent to the palace, it definitely won't come back. If I send it here, I am certain that you won't give it back to me even if you have to abandon your face, so I won't bite at the bait. This month, his Majesty has already visited my mansion twice, if you really want to appreciate the works, just come to my house.”
”Big Head w.a.n.g! Don't be so arrogant!” The Old Chancellor violently banged the table and angrily rebuked.
Out of anger, the moral and literature master directly called the nickname of w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chen now, which was very unexpected and embarra.s.sing. If it happened in the past, w.a.n.g s.h.i.+chen would definitely humiliate the Old Chancellor as his counterattack. But today, he took advantage of the Chicken Soup Calligraphy and acted like a winner. He unconcernedly shook his head and said in a sympathetic tone, ”Discomposure. You are too discomposed!”
Thinking of the purpose of today's banquet, the Old Chancellor forcibly suppressed his anger. Then he slowly took a seat and sneered, ”Today's banquet is certainly for something important. For inviting you? You think your face is big enough because your head is big?”
Grand Secretary w.a.n.g just smiled and ignored it.
Watching two high officials who had served for three emperors ridiculing to each other, other ministers and officials around the table didn't dare to interrupt. Actually they had been used to this kind of scene. They had no other choices but to keep silent, because they knew it was useless to reconcile the quarrel.
After a while, it seemed that some guests were coming, as some sound appeared in the courtyard.
Grand Secretary w.a.n.g looked out of the door and then slightly frowned.
The Old Chancellor laughed and stroke his long beard with satisfaction, when he looked at the young lad who was entering the courtyard in the middle of other youngsters. Then he squinted at Grand Secretary w.a.n.g and said, ”The authentic works of the Chicken Soup Calligraphy? Let's look at the author of the Chicken Soup Calligraphy first!”
Right now these bigwigs from imperial court had already guessed the ident.i.ty of the young lad. Before then, they knew the young guy more or less, but they still couldn't help sighing with emotion in their hearts, because the young lad was so young.
Grand Secretary w.a.n.g looked very embarra.s.sed.
Back in spring, the whole Chang'an was shocked at the presence of the author of the famous handwriting works ”Bloom in the opposite world”. Many high officials and n.o.ble figures wanted to get close to the author, so as to please his Majesty. Even for Grand Secretary w.a.n.g, apart from managing to get the Chicken Soup Calligraphy from Yan Se, he also sent his steward to invite the author for a banquet. However, to everyone's surprise, the man was deaf to all invitation and continued living steadily and peacefully in an ordinary alley.