Aoyama

Chapter 339: Half-understanding

In front of Qi Mansion.

A pair of seven-foot-two-inch bluestone lions stood at the foot of the stone steps, holding hollow hydrangeas in their claws.

According to the Ning Dynasty regulations, a six-foot blue stone lion could be placed in front of the door of a first-rank official. However, the stone lions in the Qi Palace were one foot and two inches taller than the regulations, and stood shoulder to shoulder with the prince.

In the night, Qi Chenzhuo stood beside the stone lion and looked around. The servant beside him urged, "Second Master, you'd better go in quickly. The literary gathering has already begun."

Qi Chenzhuo said impatiently, "I have to wait for someone, understand? It shows my importance to greet them in person at the door. If I wasn't afraid of being too deliberate, I would go wait inside the house. When the person arrives, you can call out, and then I will come out barefoot to greet them."

The servant secretly curled his lips.

Qi Chenzhuo glanced at him and said, "Look at you, you have no manners at all!"

The servant hurriedly said, "No, no, it's just that the eldest master has sent people to urge him several times."

Qi Zhuozhuo leaned against the stone lion without caring: "It's okay, it's just a small matter, big brother won't blame me."

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Chen Ji, dressed in a black stand-up collar and a large placket, walking from the south side of Fuyou Street. Behind him was Xiaoman, who was dressed in a green skirt and holding a small black cat in her arms.

Qi Zhuozhuo hurried over to greet him: "Master, where have you been? Why are you here an hour late?"

Chen Ji smiled and explained, "This literary gathering was personally invited by Lord Qi, so it must be more grand. We were training all day and our hair was unkempt, so I simply went back to take a cold shower and changed into clean clothes."

Qi Chenzhuo sighed, "Master, when you come to the Qi Mansion, it's like going home. You don't have to be so particular about these things. But Master, this suit of yours is more suitable than the silver armor of the Yulin Army. My brother-in-law is right. You have to wear black to be suitable. The bright silver armor of the Yulin Army doesn't suit you."

At this moment, he turned his gaze to the little black cat that Xiaoman was holding, and muttered, "So it really isn't yours."

Chen Ji said calmly: "What?"

Qi Chenzhuo explained, "I saw a little black cat in the queen's arms earlier, and I thought it was the one you had in Guyuan."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Didn't I explain it to you?"

"I misunderstood," Qi Chenzhuo hurriedly pulled Chen Ji inside and said, "Let's go in quickly, the literary gathering has already begun."

Chen Ji followed him through the knee-high threshold of Qi's house and asked nonchalantly, "Who's coming today?"

Qi Chenzhuo responded, "The Buddhist disciple Wuzhai from Yuanjue Temple is coming, but a novice monk came to tell him that an important person is going to Yuanjue Temple today, so he has to come later. My family also sent an invitation to Master Zhang Zhuo, but Master Zhang just sent someone to say that there was a commotion in Mixiang, Dongjiang, and the officials and ministers were summoned to the palace to discuss the matter of the Goryeo envoy. It is said that Master Wang Daosheng had just arrived in Beijing today, and was summoned away by the inner court before he even arrived at his residence."

Chen Ji said nonchalantly, "Mr. Wang has come to Beijing? What's going on in Dongjiang Mixiang?"

Qi Chenzhuo scratched his head and said, "I don't know either. I heard that some lawless lunatics set fire in the street. The Secret Service has blocked off that area and stopped many officials from searching for the murderer, but they found nothing. The Five Cities Military Department has locked all the inner and outer city gates, and no one is allowed to enter or leave. Maybe the Secret Service will turn the capital upside down again."

Chen Ji pretended to be surprised: "It's so serious, should our Yulin Army go back to the Governor's Office and wait for orders?"

Qi Chenzhuo sighed and said, "Generally, we don't call our Yulin Army for such important matters. Any matter that calls our Yulin Army is not very important."

Chen Ji: "..."

Qi Chenzhuo sighed: "I don't know where this lawless lunatic came from. He actually dared to set fire to the inner city. Do he think his life is too long?"

Chen Ji glanced at Qi Chenzhuo.

Qi Chenzhuo added, "By the way, I don't know whether the imperial court will send reinforcements to Goryeo. My brother-in-law has been thinking about this matter and wants to take our Right Guards to volunteer for this trip to make achievements. My brother-in-law said that each border town has its own border army, and the main battlefield of Chongli Pass has three imperial camps. If we want to make achievements, we can only look for this kind of opportunity."

Chen Ji thought: "The court will send reinforcements."

"Hmm?" Qi Chenzhuo was stunned: "Master is so sure?"

Chen Ji hummed: "Otherwise, the elders would not allow Mr. Wang to enter the capital. I think they have already decided on the candidate to lead the troops... Let's not talk about this for now, let's go in."

"Okay," Qi Chenzhuo turned around and glanced behind Chen Ji: "It's a pity that Miss Zhang Er and Zhang Zheng didn't come, otherwise it would be more lively."

Xiaoman followed behind them and explained, "Second sister said that it would be better not to come to this kind of literary meeting, as it would lower one's status."

Qi Chenzhuo was embarrassed for a moment: "Miss Zhang Er does have the confidence to say this. It's better if she doesn't come. Everyone can be more comfortable... By the way, more than ten famous southern literati and scholars have come today. The most famous one is Lin Chaojing, the top scholar in Yuzhou, the younger brother of the eunuch Lin Chaoqing, who is unlucky to mention. Another one is Shen Ye, the top scholar in the Huqiu Poetry Society in the south. He is really outstanding. It is said that he will compete with your brother Chen Wenzong for the top scholar this year. There is also Huang Que, the son of a southern salt merchant who graduated from Jishan Academy. Although Huang Que is talented, it's a pity that he can't take the imperial examination without a good family background. He has failed twice, and this time he finally came to my Qi family..."

Chen Ji interrupted, "Salt merchant?"

Qi Chenzhuo was puzzled: "Master is interested in salt merchants? His family is just a small salt merchant, not as good as the eight major merchants in Lianghuai."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "It's okay. I'll just ask."

Xiao Man rolled her eyes. She had followed Chen Ji for so many days, so she had to think more than Qi Zhuo. Since the young master had specifically asked about it, he must be eyeing the salt-related business.

Anything related to salt is big business.

At this time, Qi Zhuozhuo secretly looked at Chen Ji: "Master, speaking of talent, character and appearance, I have a sister named Qi Zhaoning. She has been proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy and painting since she was a child. She is both talented and beautiful, but she has a bit of a bad temper... But she is not a bad person, and she will definitely be more restrained after getting married."

Chen Ji hummed and said nothing.

Qi Chenzhuo lowered his voice and said, "Master, you are also at the age to get married. Do you have a girl you like?"

Chen Ji paused: "No."

Qi Chenzhuo laughed loudly and happily pulled Chen Ji's arm through the courtyards.

……

……

The Qi family residence also has an elegant name, Koi Garden.

The venue for this literary gathering was in the middle of the Koi Garden. The Qi family had opened up a large pond here, and a multi-story Mingse Building was built on the lake.

The pavilion is like a cabin, shaped like a pleasure boat, and is brightly lit.

Chen Ji was dragged by Qi Zhuozhuo into Mingse Tower, where dozens of people were seen kneeling in the main hall, chatting and laughing. Their laughter was nothing new, just like the laughter of all the officials and nobles.

When the two of them stepped over the threshold, everyone suddenly stopped talking and looked over.

They looked at the clothes first, then the boots.

After looking at the boots, look at the jade pendant on the waist, then the hair crown on the head, and finally the face.

After seeing the appearance, everyone withdrew their gazes again. Only a girl wearing a white jade butterfly hairpin was left kneeling on the table, continuing to look at Chen Ji openly, with curiosity and scrutiny in her eyes.

Even when Chen Ji looked at him, he did not avoid the other person's gaze.

Qi Chenzhuo pulled Chen Ji to kneel at the second and third positions on the left, while Xiaoman knelt upright on the right rear side of Chen Ji holding the little black cat, serving him tea and water like other maids. She was so well-behaved that she didn't seem like Xiaoman.

A red Persian velvet carpet was laid in the middle of the main hall of Mingse Building, and on the red carpet, a young girl with her face covered by a veil was sitting and playing the pipa.

The girl who had seen Chen Ji come in and play the pipa only raised her head slightly, glanced at Chen Ji, and then lowered her head again, so her face could not be seen clearly under the veil.

Chen Ji knelt behind the desk and glanced across the main hall.

However, he saw that the only acquaintance, Lin Chaojing, was sitting opposite him, and he was looking at the silhouette of the girl playing the pipa across the red carpet unscrupulously.

Behind him were two rows of young talents whom Chen Ji did not recognize.

When the music was over, the girl playing the pipa was about to leave, and the girl wearing the white jade butterfly hairpin said, "Zhenzhu, don't leave in a hurry, and play some soft music on the side. I remember that you played the Jade Hairpin very well, let everyone listen to it too."

Qi Zhenzhu, holding the pipa, was slightly startled, and then responded softly.

She moved a round nanmu chair to the door and sat there, playing the pipa by herself.

Xiaoman whispered behind Chen Ji: "Second sister said that the one wearing the white jade butterfly hairpin is Qi Zhaoning. The hairpin was made by a craftsman from the Internal Affairs Bureau and was a gift from the Queen Mother. It is said that the wings of the white jade butterfly seem to flutter in the sun. The girl next to her should be Qi Zhaoyun, her eyes are almost glued to the scholar on your right, and the person sitting at the end of the red carpet should be..."

Xiaoman couldn't remember, so he lowered his head and took out a small piece of paper from his sleeve. There were densely written words on it, which were elegant and exquisite.

She searched the note for a long time before saying, "It should be Qi Chenzhuo's elder brother Qi Chenwu, the fourth-rank assistant censor."

Chen Ji laughed dumbly: "Why is there a cheat sheet?"

Xiaoman said embarrassedly: "Second sister knows that my brain is not as good as hers."

At this time, Qi Zhenwu, who was sitting in the host's seat, said, "My second brother and his distinguished guests have arrived. Let's get started, shall we? The imperial examination is approaching. You must remember that we are not gathered here just to drink and have fun, but to exchange talents between scholars from the north and the south."

He waved sideways.

A maid brought three ivory dice on a tray.

Qi Zhenwu picked up the dice from the tray and said with a smile: "Today's topic..."

Qi Zhaoning said, "Brother, how about we use the topic of 'The Four Dreams of Bianliang' today? A few days ago, my sister and I went to the Jiaofangsi to listen to the Four Dreams of Bianliang, and we cried bitterly."

Qi Zhenwu shook his head and said, "Many people haven't read the Four Dreams of Bianliang yet. That's not right. Let's use the battles in the border towns as the topic today. With the great victory in Guyuan, I'm sure His Majesty will also ask questions related to the border towns in this year's palace examination. You should think about it early. Next, let's use the dice to determine the rhyme."

Qi Zhenwu threw the first dice and it counted three.

The second dice shows five.

The third dice shows two.

Chen Ji was confused. He turned to look at Xiao Man and whispered, "What does this dice mean?"

Xiaoman lowered her head and looked at the small piece of paper for a long time before explaining, "The first dice determines the upper and lower level tones by odd and even, the second dice determines the rhyme sequence, and the third dice determines whether the adjacent rhyme can be used. If you get six points, you can borrow the adjacent rhyme. So now it is determined that the upper level tone, five micro rhymes, and adjacent rhymes are not allowed."

Chen Ji became even more confused after hearing this.

All I can say is that if he, a time traveler, can only recite a few poems and occasionally write a famous one, it would be okay, but if he were to attend this literary gathering, he would really make a fool of himself.

Literary gatherings and poetry gatherings are far more than just writing poetry.

But Lin Chaojing asked, "Brother Shen, come first?"

A handsome man beside him smiled and did not refuse. He immediately called for writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone, and wrote: "I climbed the beacon tower alone to watch the sun set. When the beacon smoke faded, everything was gone. I haven't read a letter from home for ten years. I'm afraid the sound of my hometown will call me back."

Everyone in the hall clapped and cheered. The poems at a literary gathering did not necessarily have to be very good. The key was to see who could think quickly, write quickly, and follow the rules.

Qi Zhenwu clapped his hands and said with a smile, "Brother Shen Ye is indeed the top writer of the Huqiu Poetry Society. I originally wanted to ask the servants to bring a poetry clock to tell time, but it seems that it is not necessary now. It's a pity that Brother Chen Wenzong declined this literary gathering on the grounds of reviewing his studies, otherwise I could have exchanged ideas with you."

Lin Chaojing said with a smile: "Although Brother Wen is not here, his brother is here, so let him replace Brother Wen. Brother Chen Ji came so late and made everyone wait for half an hour. I think he must have made sufficient preparations."

Everyone's eyes fell on Chen Ji.

Chen Ji knew that Lin Chaojing was making things difficult because he had been waiting for so long, so he stood up and bowed, saying, "I'm sorry, everyone. I was sweating all over during the training at the Governor's Mansion today, so I went home to change my clothes to show my seriousness, so I'm late. However, I'm just a country warrior who can only wield a sword, not recite poetry, so I won't join in."

Lin Chaojing smiled and said, "Brother Chen Ji, you are too modest. The Chen family has been passed down with poetry and literature, so how could you not know poetry? If you really can't write, I will just punish you to recite the Prosody Enlightenment in public."

Chen Ji said firmly: "It certainly won't happen."

Qi Zhenwu lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then said to Chen Ji, "It's normal that you can't compose poetry. In this case, why don't we change our literary gathering to comment on the classics? What kind of subject does Brother Chen Ji study?"

Chen Ji bowed and said, "My Lord Qi, I am not very knowledgeable."

Qi Zhenwu asked tentatively, "The Analects?"

Chen Ji shook his head: "I have read it, but I only have a vague understanding of it."

Qi Zhenwu was stunned, and tried again: "Moderate?"

"I only have a limited understanding of it," Chen Ji said calmly, "Master Qi, I have only been an apprentice at the Luocheng Imperial Medical Clinic for two years, and I have never studied the Classics and Meanings."

"An apprentice in a medical clinic?"

Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment. It was rare to see someone who knew nothing at all.

In the main hall of Mingse Building, even the sound of the pipa stopped without knowing when. The girl covered with a veil looked up at Chen Ji, but saw that he was kneeling behind the table with a calm expression, not embarrassed at all.

In silence, Qi Zhaoning, who was kneeling behind the table, no longer looked at Chen Ji. She looked away and said lightly, "Stop dithering... Why don't you dance with swords? It's just right for Zhenzhu to play a song to break the formation for him."

Qi Zhuozhuo glared angrily: "Qi Zhaoning, what nonsense are you talking about? How can you let the guests dance with swords for you to watch?"

Qi Zhaoning curled his lips: "He said he can wield swords and knives."

(End of this chapter)