94 Who Else has Entered the Emperors Imperial Study Room? (2/2)
Since his temper had somewhat subsided, his views on things were apparently different from before. At this moment, the Emperor started to look at the lines of words seriously. When he first looked at them, he just felt that every stroke of the words was well-written and depicted the calmness in the words. However, when he started to look at them in details, he realized the strokes for the phrase 'Bloom in the Opposite World' were sleek and balanced. From the writings, one could feel the skill and strength hidden within the writer. It was not vivid, yet it brought out the power and gentleness in the words. What a wonderful piece of art!
”This...is awesome! The strokes are well-written. The characters are bold with style. They exhibit both beauty and arrogance, where the words seem to be drifting in a witty and masculine manner...who have written these words? These are way better than mine!”
The Emperor shut his eyes and raised his brows as he placed his slightly shivering fingers floating above the phrase 'Bloom in the Opposite World'. He could not help but felt surprised. He knew his remarks were inadequate to describe how wonderful these words were, for they are so much better than the ones he wrote. These writings were even comparable to the famous calligraphers' writings that were hanged on the wall, or perhaps, the energy it produced had overtaken them.
Though the Emperor's calligraphy skill was not great, his taste was extremely high. Just as how Ning Que was filled with emotions on that day in the imperial study room, as the Emperor looked at the writings, he could somewhat understand the contradicting emotions Ning Que had when he was writing these words. He felt that these words seemed to depict a scene where an obscure and unreachable flower, which was blooming at the opposite shore of the wide blue sea, gently brushed his back from top to bottom, sweeping away all the unpleasant experience he had for the past few days.
”Marvelous! Great calligraphy indeed!”
The Emperor instantly felt a sense of relief and happiness from within as he found his inner peace. He smiled gently while looking at those words on the paper, and was generously giving his most honest remarks about it.
Suddenly, he straightened his face and slammed his hands on the study desk. He then raised his voice and called for his men.
Few moments later, the same three eunuchs kneeled down in the imperial study room again as they looked pitifully at the bodyguard Deputy Commander Xu Chongshan. Xu Chongshan, who was trying to suppress his anxiety, leaned closer to the Emperor and consulted, ”Your Majesty, I am currently arranging bodyguards to investigate on this matter secretly. Just that currently...we have yet to obtain any result.”
As one of the officers who understood the Emperor the most, he knew that the Emperor was not a man who hold grudges. Not to mention a small incident like this, even if an extraordinary ridiculous incident was to happen within the palace, as long as it would not affect the whole empire, the Emperor would soon forget about it. Hence, Xu Chongshan was initially planning to drag this incident on for days and let it be gradually forgotten, but never did he expect the Emperor to act out of normal and was interested in pursuing on this incident.
The Emperor ignored him as he was totally enchanted by the calligraphy on the study desk. He gently stroked his long beard and ordered, ”Help me find out who is the author of this calligraphy, but remember to treat him politely. Hmm, once found, do invite him into the palace. I would like to consult him on some matters.”
”Huh?” Xu Chongshan was taken aback and lifted his head.
A few moments later, the imperial palace bodyguard Deputy Commander, whose uniform was previously soaked in cold sweat, once again appeared under a deserted dark and cold corner of the palace under a shelter. He embarrassingly looked at the young eunuch and helplessly said, ”Yes, this was the situation in the imperial study room. Now, it seems like it's a blessing in disguise for that idiot.”
The young eunuch heaved a sigh of relief as he patted his chest. He then smiled sweetly and said, ”Sir, this is a great opportunity. If our secret guard squad has a great calligrapher who is adored by His Majesty, I believe you will benefit from it as well.”
”No opportunity, no benefits, at least that's the case now.” Xu Chongshan said to his loyal subordinate with a sarcastic smile on his face. He then added, ”Just remember this. That idiot, no, that Ning Que never entered the palace at all.”
The young eunuch was shocked upon hearing the words and stared at him. He questioned, ”Sir, why?”
The smile on Xu Chongshan's face appeared as though he was going to cry, as he explained with his clenching teeth, ”Because...we didn't admit previously, and if we were to admit now, that's...lying to the Emperor.”
All of a sudden, the young eunuch seemed to understand the logic behind. With a half-sobbing and half-laughing face, he clenched his small fist and said helplessly, ”See what have we done? Such a great opportunity yet we've destroyed it.”
What's the point of you crying now, Xu Chongshan silently thought to himself. Afterall, he was the one who had caused this great opportunity of winning the Emperor's heart into an accusation for lying to the Emperor, and for that, he should be the one crying!
With such a thought flashing through his mind, he could not help but regret for his actions. If only he had stood out and accepted the punishment for Ning Que, he would not be stuck in this dilemma right now. It was like he was in a f*cking situation where he knew the location of the treasure yet he dared not dug them out with a shovel!
The young eunuch rolled his eyes as he looked at Xu Chongshan and cautiously brought up an idea, ”Sir, what if you return and explain to his Majesty that you did not recall about Ning Que until you decided to start investigating?”
”D*mbass!”
Xu Chongshan was already in a very bad mood. He painfully scolded, ”How can you forget when the Emperor wants to punish, and remember only when the Emperor decided to appraise? Indeed, the Emperor is very generous and kind to us, but that doesn't mean he's that stupid! Sure, we can hide some unimportant truths from him at times, but if he knows that his men are treating him as a stupid man, you will finally understand that infront of him, we are the real stupid ones!”
He forcefully suppressed the anger within him, as he continued with a deep voice, ”We can never admit that we lied to the Emperor. If we choose not to admit in the first place, then we must not admit it for life.”
The young eunuch raised his head, innocently looked at him and said, ”But if Ning Que is found, we cannot deny.”
Xu Chongshan kept silent for a moment before he replied, ”Time. Only time can help us now. That is also the only logical word said by that idiot. Only time can lighten our offense.”
…
…
The spring breeze blew across the field, through the flowers and trees, and into the alley. Through the windows of the study room and the cracks on the walls, the breeze entered the rooms and gently brushed across the faces of the students. That warm cozy breeze depicted the great season of spring. Other than faces of weariness, the students from Classroom Three appeared puzzled as well, for one of the desks were still empty.
By the time the school bell rang for the third time, the students were already leaving the study room to either return to Chang'an city, or to rush to the canteen for the freshly steamed corn, or to drag their feet on the rocky pathway towards the old library.
Upon reaching the old library, there was still no sight of that fellow. Some had even asked the instructor whether that fellow had secretly gone to the second floor. Everyone was suspicious of his whereabouts. Situ Yilan and Jin Wucai could not bear the suspense and started to discuss about it with other students around them. Zhong Dajun frowned his brows as he stood beside the bookshelves and thought deeply. They were all used to seeing that pale-looking fellow going to the old library building every day, but when they did not see him today, they could not help but felt shocked.
By the window, on the second floor of the old library, a female professor, dressed in a light-colored instructor uniform, gradually placed down her pen on her hand as she raised her head and took a glance at the staircase. She waited for a moment. Realizing that no one was going to climb up to the second floor, she could not help but slightly frowned her brows. Though she had never agreed that he should force himself and risk his life to read the books on the second floor, but after observing him for several days, she had somewhat admired him. Yet when that student failed to come by today, she guessed that he might have given up. Somehow, she felt that it was a pity for him to give up. She was hoping he could persevere on.
…