Chapter 685
Using Flowers to Offer to Buddha
Chapter 685 Using Flowers to Offer to Buddha
"A death contract?"
Gu Baozhu was somewhat bewildered, her brows furrowing as she asked, "What kind of life-or-death agreement?"
"You've already forgotten?" The Ninth Princess didn't believe her. "Didn't you sign a life-or-death polo contract with the Yelü people a few days ago? I've seen everything, but I've never seen that thing before. If you want me to put in a good word for you, just offer that up."
The Ninth Princess raised her chin, glanced sideways, and spoke in a nonchalant tone, as if it were just a casual remark.
Gu Baozhu suddenly realized, touched her chin and laughed loudly: "I thought it was something, but didn't I tell my third brother to keep it? Later, when Yelü the hostage came to ask my third brother for it, he must have left."
I can't very well ask him for it again, can I? What face would our Dingbei Marquis's Mansion have left then?
Let's find another princess. I'll accept anything I can provide.
“I’m not leaving,” the Ninth Princess blurted out.
Meeting Gu Baozhu's questioning gaze, she quickly softened her tone: "I heard that the hostage Yelü failed to be obtained and is still with your third brother."
She paused, then added, "When You Da learned that this princess wanted to see it, he asked Young Master You to inquire with Yelü the hostage."
Gu Baozhu tilted her head, her eyes darting around until the Ninth Princess felt a little uncomfortable. Then she said, "I'll have to go back and ask. If I had known the Princess wanted that thing, I would have asked my Third Brother for it."
Neither of them really believed what he said.
But they both pretended to believe it.
The Ninth Princess extended her right hand and said solemnly, "Gu Qi has always been a man of his word. I await your good news."
Gu Baozhu also extended her right hand to strike back: "Definitely, definitely, the kind that many horses couldn't catch up with."
The Ninth Princess then gave her face and tucked the sachet into her sleeve.
On the other side, Qin Heng also took the opportunity to pull Brother Ximen aside and whispered something to him.
When the Ninth Princess returned, she saw that Mr. Songshan had already begun to explain his strategies. The scholars who had been chosen could not hide their smiles and whispered among themselves, mostly saying that Mr. Songshan's knowledge was indeed profound.
The Ninth Princess sneered coldly from her nose, extremely disdainful: "What a bunch of ignorant bookworms. I wonder if they'll ever pass the imperial examination and become even a minor official."
Brother Ximen had already returned to her side, smiling and flattering her: "Princess, your insight is indeed extraordinary. As the saying goes, a hero's origins are not important; this hero certainly didn't become one through studying."
My sworn brother is a truly remarkable hero, brimming with talent, knowledgeable, and possessing an extraordinary memory—even Jiang Ziya might be ashamed of his own abilities. Yet, he repeatedly fails the imperial examinations.
"Is that so?" The Ninth Princess turned her face, her eyes sparkling, and said softly, "I don't know if your elder brother is a hero, but in my eyes, you, Young Master Ximen, are a hero who gallops across the field, and no one can compare to you."
"Really?" Brother Ximen tried his best to keep a straight face, but he still couldn't suppress the upturn of his lips.
This made the Ninth Princess even more tempted.
She has never had anyone like that in her life before.
This man, though merely a businessman who had come to the capital to see the lantern festival, was handsome and charming. Not only could his every smile and gesture captivate her attention, but his embroidered robes were also unparalleled in the entire capital.
No one among the sons of noble families can compare to him.
Even the men of the royal family have never seen anyone like this.
The Ninth Princess smiled and said, "Of course it's true. I am of noble birth and have everything I want. Why would I need to flatter you?" Brother Ximen laughed and said, "Your words are as good as gold and as weighty as gold. When I return to my hometown, I will definitely let my relatives and friends know that Your Highness has once praised me. I want them to be happy with me too."
The Ninth Princess retorted, "Didn't Young Master Ximen promise to visit me? Now you're bringing up going back to your hometown, such a spoilsport! Does Young Master Ximen not wish to stay a little longer?"
"No, no, I'd love to," Brother Ximen hurriedly waved his hand.
King Qi, standing on the outside, suddenly let out a few cold laughs.
Princess Fuyun asked in confusion, "But is there something wrong or inaccurate in what Mr. Songshan said? Why is my brother laughing?"
King Qi said softly, "It has nothing to do with Mr. Songshan. It's just some vulgar talk from frivolous people. Why bother getting your ears dirty? Even if you wanted to hear it, I wouldn't want to say it and dirty my mouth."
Princess Fuyun was speechless.
Up in the attic, Mr. Songshan leaned against the railing, discussing the differences in writing styles between Wu and Chu: "Having traveled extensively for many years, I have come to deeply appreciate the truth of the saying that 'one region's water and soil nurtures its people.' Even poetry and prose can serve as a testament to these differences. For instance, when people from Jiangxi write poetry, people from Wu find it too refined and meticulous. Conversely, when people from the Three Wu regions write poetry, people from Jiangxi find it overly romantic and unrestrained."
A chorus of approval erupted from below.
“That’s interesting,” Wang Zichuan said to the person next to him. “This Mr. Songshan is said to be a great Confucian scholar from Wu and Chu regions. How come I’ve never heard of him before?”
The man beside him laughed and said, "Brother, where did you hear that? How many scholars are there in our village? Anyone who knows a few words is considered a talent, and the lowly soldiers don't care about such things at all."
Wang Zichuan sighed with regret.
"If only I had invited him to stay in the village for a few days, wouldn't it have been wonderful to have such a pleasant chat?"
The person beside him said, "If you're willing, brother, we can invite some talented scholars to stay at our house after we get back, so they can keep you company and help you pass the time."
Wang Zichuan shook his head: "The ancients said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. His words were meaningful, far superior to those of other scholars and officials. Those people are like carts behind closed doors, not even as good as me. Talking to them is as dull as chewing wax. It's better to invite a troupe of actors to join in the fun."
“Yes, yes, yes,” the person next to him said, “Brother is right. Those scholars always use classical Chinese phrases when they open their mouths. Who has the patience to listen to them?”
At this point, someone asked, "I've heard that you've lived in Wu and Chu for a long time. How would you evaluate the literary styles of those two places?"
The crowd exclaimed, "That's a good question, sir! We'd love to hear what you have to say!"
Mr. Songshan straightened his clothes and waited until the surroundings quieted down before stretching his neck and slowly saying, "The style of the Chu people has backbone, but if it is lost, it becomes vulgar; the style of the Wu people has elegance, but if it is lost, it becomes frivolous."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Take the ministers in the court as an example. The writing style of the people from the Hunan and Hubei regions and the Jianghuai region emphasizes integrity and has a strong presence. However, if the integrity is overdone, it will feel vulgar and crude.
The Jiangnan region, particularly Jiangsu and Zhejiang, emphasizes elegance and refined, lively writing, but it can also easily give people a sense of frivolousness and lack of grace.
Mr. Songshan smiled and said, "This is not what I said, but what my good friend surnamed Yuan said. I think it is very apt, so I am passing it on here."
The scholars were filled with admiration and discussed it.
"It seems that this Mr. Yuan is also a great Confucian scholar."
"That's right. Just from these few sentences, you can tell that the appreciation is exceptionally accurate. Even if we understand it in our hearts, we can't say it."
"Great scholars travel and enjoy themselves with other great scholars, chatting and laughing. I really envy them. When will I be able to have such good friends?"