163 The Freshest Thing Is only A Bowl of Chicken Soup (2/2)
The steward dared not offend a Divine Talisman Master, but that did not mean that he dare not ofend the people in Chang'an city. Upon hearing this piece of advice, which in fact was directly tauting him, his temper rose as he stomped out of the alley. Staring at the old man with a head of grey hair standing by the green bamboo carriage, he gestured his hand and cursed, ”What is my status...”
Suddenly, his body froze and his voice trembled. He hurriedly kneeled on one knee and with a bow, he said, ”How would I dare to trouble the Grand Secretary? How careless of me! I will pass on your message to our Hou Master.”
The old man with a head of grey hair looked plainly at the steward, who was still kneeling down on the floor. He gestured his hand for him to rise and added, ”Never thought that your reaction is pretty fast. I would say that you must be a responsible and trustworthy steward.”
The old man was Wang Shichen, the Grand Secretary of Tang Imperial Library, who had been in the position for the past three dynasties and was in favor of the Emperor. Even the Prince Lee Peiyan would need to bow and show respect to him upon seeing him, so it was needless to say for Anle Duke.
Though the steward from Hou Residence was not sure why Grand Secretary Wang would appear at the alley of the Northern Gate, but how would he dare to question? He bowed to the two old man and quickly escaped on his own horse carriage.
Master Yan Se frowned as he stared at Grand Secretary Wang, followed by a bow with his hands placed infront and asked, ”Old scholar, today is a rest day and there's no need to hold court, why are you here? Coming out for a stroll is definitely not an acceptance reason.”
”I had an argument with the Old Chancellor a few days ago, is this reason acceptance then?” Grand Secretary Wang coughed twice before answering.
After some thoughts, Yan Se pulled up his sleeve and retorted, ”Didn't both of you argued last year winter? That's not a few days ago.”
”Whatever it is, that 'The Flower Blooms on the Shore Astride' double-hook facsimile is currently in that old fellow's residence. Not only does he forbid me to see, he often use it to piss me off,” Grand Secretary Wang could not hide his frustration as he stroke his beard and added, ”That double-hook facsimile is focusing too much on the strokes. Though it does have the look, but it doesn't project the same feeling of the original. How can it be better than the facsimile his Majesty has given me?”
”Your saying does not make any sense,” Yan Se was clear of this incident, so he shook his head and explained, ”As everyone knows, if you want to copy the original piece, using double-hook method is the best way to go.”
Yan Se was the only official Divine Talisman Master in the Northern Gate of Haotian, whereas Wang Shichen was a respectable man who had gone through three dynasties. Both of them knew each other for a long time and both shared a common identity, which is the world's calligraphy master. Speaking of the best method to create facsimile, both of them would never admit defeat.
”Even if the double-hook method is the best,” Wang Shichen smiled gentle and added arrogantly, ”So what? Wait till I've obtained the Chicken Soup Calligraphy, I will not hang in my study room but in the main hall. Just to piss that old fellow off.”
”Hold on,” Yan Se asked surprisingly, ”What's that Chicken Soup Calligraphy?”
”That piece of account book you've took from the House of Red Sleeves.”
Grand Secretary Wang stared into his eyes and said solemnly, ”Now that the news is spreaded, those calligraphies that were sold at Old Brush Pen Shop in the Eastern City were confiscated. I felt that there's nothing special about those calligraphies, but this Chicken Soup Calligraphy is different. You managed to see the potential of Divine Talisman Master in Ning Que from this Chicken Soup Calligraphy, and this makes it meaningful. If you could let me have the honor to hang that calligraphy at my residence, isn't that even better?”
Yan Se sighed with emotions and said, ”Indeed, this rumor spreaded quicker than a book.”
The Grand Secretary Wang gazed at him and said, ”Enough chatting. Anle Duke was a fool to send a steward over to ask it from you. But my case is different. I am the Grand Secretary of three dynasties, and what I wanted is your student's writing. I am already giving you face so you better not shame me, or things will be rotten between us.”
”I could almost feel that gangster vibe from your words, and I don't feel that you are saving face at all,” Yan Se went mad and continued, ”Both of us know each other for more than ten years. I never would have thought that a Grand Secretary of three dynasties would lose his cool over such a trival matter!”
Grand Secretary Wang snarled, ”If it's other matter, I won't care. However, this Flower calligraphy is getting too famous in Chang'an and that old fellow had been pressurizing me. If I don't do something to win back my face, how am I, a Grand Secretary of three dynasties, going to keep my foothold?”
Yan Se looked at him. He opened his mouth abruptly and said, ”10 thousand.”
Grand Secretary Wang's angry face suddenly softened as he chuckled and bargained, ”Four thousand.”
Yan Se drew out the thin piece of account book paper from his sleeve and handed over as he said, ”Deal.”
Grand Secretary Wang took over the thin piece of paper without looking as he turned around and returned to his green bamboo carriage. He then shouted at his subordinates, ”What are you waiting for? Hurry back to the residence. Also, get me the best Chef Xing from Rong Bao Zhai Restaurant. Let San prepare for a house party tomorrow to celebrate my birthday and invite guests to admire this Chicken Soup Calligraphy!”
The green bamboo carriage hurriedly departed as it brushed against the direction of the wind. A conversation between the Grand Secretary and his chamberlain could be heard faintly.
”Master, your 80th birthday was last month.”
”Dumbass! Elder brother's servant is having birthday this month!”
”Invite that girl, Jin Wucai, as well. Most most most importantly, don't forget her miserable old grandpa!”
”If he refuses to come, I will personally invite him over!”
...
...
At this moment, Ning Que was nervously facing the Emperor and searching for the right opportunity to flatter him. Never did he know that the memo he scribbed when he was drunk last year was already sold for two thousand taels of silver, and not to mention, that's a discounted price due to friendship.
As for the receipent of the memo who had never seen it before, it was Sangsang. At this moment, she was speechless and panicking at the Old Brush Pen Shop along Lin 47th Street.
Listening to the continuous knocking of the door, peering at those anxious-looking stewards who were waving those cash notes in their hands from the crack between the door and its frame, and looking at the people who were excitingly discussing about them across the street, the little handmaiden had no idea how she should handle such messy situation.
She then recalled what her young master reminded her before he left. She tidied and packed all the writings she had collected before she revealed the bed frame and took out the box in it, where she placed all the writings together with the precious cash notes. She then grabbed two thick metal chains to lock all windows and doors.
After she was done with all these, she returned to the front of the shop and secured the wooden board that was used to loosely prevent the door from opening with large metal nails. This made her felt better. She couldn't be bothered with the waves of uproar outside as she swept away the perspiration on her forehead, carried the big black umbrella on her back and took the important items which Ning Que had told her. She then quietly slipped her way out through the small door in the backyard.
At this time, the day was still early and it was the time for lunch. As Sangsang strolled her way into the House of Red Sleeves, there were no noisy scenes nor loud giggling from the ladies. All she could smell was the endless fragrance from food and wine. Since she haven't eaten for one whole day, she could not help but swallowed her saliva.
Mistress Jian's maidservant, Xiaocao, was at the top floor looking down and stoning at the railing when she suddenly saw Sangsang walking into the building. She instantly felt ecstatic as she rushed her way down and grabbed Sangsang's hands with both her hands. After a while, she started grumbling,
”Why didn't you come and visit us these days? Or did your young master stop you from going out? Mistress Jian told Ning Que not to come over to such area with an intention of letting him focus on his studies, yet he make use of you to show his displeasure! Also, I've heard that you've been invited to the princess' residence as a guest. Is it now that you know these nobles, you've decided to forgo poor friends like us?”
Sangsang could not be bothered by her grumbles and instead, she was more focused on being faster than the rest of the people in Chang'an city. She asked directly, ”My young master had written a piece of memo here when he was drunk last year, where was it?”
Xiaocao was taken aback by this abrupt question, and she replied, ”I'll help you ask around.”
A few minutes later, Xiaocao came running back and said, ”I've asked. Seems like Dewdrop Sister had took it away that time. Why are you looking for it? It had been a long time, so probably it was already thrown away somewhere.”
...
...
Cao Youning usually spoke with confidence within Chang'an city since his brother-in-law was an assistant minister and when the Minister of works position was left vacant last year, his brother-in-law was appointed as the next Minister of work. Yet no one expected a sudden change at the beginning of this year when a high-ranked officer returned from He Yun Palace and became his brother-in-law's greatest opponent. The Emperor kept silent throughout this whole incident, and none of the prime minister and Grand Secretaries could come out with a better idea to resolve this problem.
During this critical period, the assistant minister became quieter and stayed low. Cao Youning's words had also become weaker in Chang'an city and at this moment, he was not only weak, but became humble when facing Dewdrop in the House of Red Sleeves.
”My good lady, please do me a favor and give me that memo.”
Cao Youning watched the full figure lady who was sitting infront of him. If it wasn't for that matter, he would have pounced onto her without thinking much, yet today, his only focus was totally on the memo and he could not care much about other things.
He sincerely said, ”About the student named Ning Que, he's the author of that Flower calligraphy. Now, the Emperor has already confirmed his identity and is having a chat with him in the imperial study room. If this is a lie, I could have save up some silvers. But you and I are friends, and there's not reason for me to treat you badly. So neither should you ignore my request, Miss Dewdrop!”
Dewdrop, who had already cool herself down from the initial shock, rubbed her forehead and replied helplessly, ”But that piece of account book paper...”
Cao Youning seriously corrected her and said, ”Not the account book paper. The news from the Northern Gate had been spread to the whole of Chang'an city and now, everyone knows about that writing. That writing is called the Chicken Soup Calligraphy.”
Dewdrop unwillingly waved her hand and said, ”Alright, whatever you say. But that...Chicken Soup Calligraphy, is honestly not with me. When I took it that day, someone took it away that night.”
”Who?” Cao Youning asked anxiously, ”My dear lady, you gotta recall it. You must understand that memo is very unique. It is from that memo that the person, whom the Northern Gate worshipped, determined Ning Que has a potential to be a Divine Talisman Master. That memo is going to become famous in the future!”
Dewdrop smirked and said, ”What is there for me to recall about? That Old Taoist was not only dirty-looking and had a weird temper as well, yet he was pretty generous. How can I forget such a person who is our frequent customer?”
Upon listening to her description, Cao Youning was stunned but he suddenly smacked his thigh and exclaimed, ”Gosh, my lady! He's not any dirty old taoist. That Taoist must be the Divine Talisman Master, Master Yan Se!”
Dewdrop was shocked as Dewdrop was shocked as she covered her mouth with her handkerchief and could not utter a word. She thought, what is exactly happening in this world now? It's only been a day yet many changes have happened. Her cute lad has suddenly become a great calligrapher that the Emperor had searched for half a year, and the dirty old taoist that come over every month, except for last month, is actually a Divine Talisman Master!
Suddenly, she remembered another matter as she quickly stood up and instructed her maidservant to carry an old and worn out table from behind.
”Take a look at this table, the scribbings on top is by that dirty old taoist...no, I mean by that Master Yan Se who was only offical Divine Talisman Master who is the senior Brother of the Master of Nation and whom was worshipped by South School of Haotian Taoism. He had used this talent to copy the Chicken Soup Calligraphy on this table!”
She used her hand to sweep away the dust on the table. Starting at those scribblings, she felt that she was indeed someone who was good at seeing people for she had the ability to foresee what was coming. As she started to admire her own talent, she could stop talking and kept going on...
Cao Youning looked closely at the scribbings on the table. Though they were messy, the carvings were deep. His eyes brightened as he said joyfully, ”Say no more, miss Dewdrop. Quote me a price.”
Dewdrop covered her smile with her handkerchief as she stated without feeling any sense of embarrassment, ”Three thousand.”
Cao Youning stood up and said with determination, ”Deal.”
”Not for sale.”
The courtyard door was suddenly pushed opened as Sangsang and Xiaocao marched in quickly.
Cao Youning was confused and asked, ”Why not for sale?”
Sangsang looked carefully at the scribbings on the table as she stared at Dewdrop and said, ”Sell the printed copy only.”