Notes on Longevity

Chapter 64 The night was early morning, the fifth watch of the night; disaster struck after the scholar was drunk.

Upon hearing this, Qing Xuanzi and Qing Shui exchanged a smile, "Your realm is beyond my reach, Senior Brother."

Shimizu clasped his hands in a salute and smiled, saying, "What you say, Senior Brother, is embarrassing for me."

"It's getting late. If you don't mind, senior brother, you can stay here."

"Shimizu is fortunate."

It was early morning, the fifth watch of the night, and birds were singing as they returned home carrying insects.

In the southeast of Dayan lies a place surrounded by mountains, with peaks upon peaks. Every morning before dawn and at the fifth watch, mist rises and swirls, and sometimes a giant creature is seen moving through the fog. Some say: "The wind follows the tiger, the clouds follow the dragon; this fog resembles clouds, but this creature must be a dragon."

The mountains are dotted with streams and rivers. Streams flow down the mountains and meander among the blue stones, which is why they are said to be clear; rivers flow along the land and meander among the mud and marshes, which is why they are said to be muddy.

The stream flows downstream, meets the river, and merges into the Three Lakes. The stream flows north, gathering in a deep pool.

At dawn, the rooster crowed and the mist dissipated. Some people had witnessed a dragon-like creature diving into the deep pool. Therefore, the village was named Dragon Pool.

"Is this the origin of the name Longtan Village?" Qingshui and Qingxuanzi stood in an open space in the bamboo forest, gazing at the village shrouded in mist. He harbored doubts and remained skeptical about the existence of dragons.

"I chose to come to this area because of its name," Qing Xuanzi said, looking at the mist with disbelief. He had been here for three years, and every day at this time, regardless of spring or autumn, winter or summer, he would stand here, gazing at the horizon, waiting for it to appear. But after three years, he had seen nothing but mist and the changing seasons.

"Have you seen it?" Shimizu asked.

Qing Xuanzi replied, "No."

"You said part of the reason is because of the legend of the dragon, but what about the other part?" Shimizu asked.

Qing Xuanzi sighed and slowly said to him, "After I was demoted to Beishan County, I happened to come across a Daoist canon, and there was a sentence written on it that made me think for a long time."

"What do you mean?" Shimizu asked, puzzled.

"The Daoist canon says: 'Is it true that immortals are immortal?'" Qingxuanzi said.

"What do you mean by that?" Qingshui understood the words, but he didn't understand Qingxuanzi's meaning, so he asked, "Besides the original intention, is there any other intention?"

Qing Xuanzi shook his head and said, "I had no other intention."

Shimizu was even more confused: "Is there a difference in this sentence?"

“It is both real and empty,” Qing Xuanzi said. “It is just that this sentence has stirred up my desire to cultivate the Dao.”

"I passed the imperial examination with top honors and became Minister of Rites. However, due to my youth and ignorance, I incurred the dissatisfaction of many ministers and was eventually dismissed from my post and demoted to this place as a county magistrate. But soon after, I devoted myself to cultivating Taoism and stopped caring about worldly affairs. So, not long after, I resigned from my post and came here."

As Qingxuanzi spoke, Qingshui looked at the village shrouded in smoke and suddenly remembered something. He asked, "When I came up the mountain, I heard some villagers talking about your resignation. What was the reason for it?"

Qing Xuanzi glanced at him, his calm, water-like black pupils seeming to churn, the watery image within them gradually blurring, as if he were drunk. "Zhang Jinggong, Scholar Zhang?" With this call, his vision cleared. The first thing he saw was a bright red lantern.

The intense firelight made him close his eyes again, but the voice appeared once more. The voice was soft and drawn-out, making him feel uneasy. But when he heard the last words the voice uttered, he sobered up instantly: "Scholar Zhang, wake up! His Majesty summons you. Don't keep him waiting too long."

Hearing the word "Your Majesty," he suddenly opened his eyes. A man with a slightly old face, white teeth, and dressed like a eunuch was holding a lantern and looking at him with worried eyes.

"Eunuch Li," Zhang Jinggong called out to the eunuch in front of him, but because he had drunk too much, he couldn't muster the strength to stand up.

"You know, the results were just announced today, how did you get so drunk?" Eunuch Li looked anxiously at the young waiter, who was leaning against a corner of the inn with a small, empty wine jar beside him. He asked, "Has the hangover soup arrived?"

"I'll go and urge them again," the waiter said shrewdly, immediately responding after hearing what Eunuch Li had said.

"Honestly, it takes so long to make a soup." Eunuch Li complained as he watched the waiter run off, then turned to Zhang Jinggong and said with a smile, "We're lucky to have met Scholar Zhang in advance. If you become a high-ranking official in the future, don't forget us."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jinggong, emboldened by the alcohol, leaned against the wall and chuckled, "The people love their country, and the subjects are loyal to their ruler; this is propriety. Subjects upholding propriety is fundamental. If Your Excellency wishes to ask me to do something that violates propriety or is disloyal to the monarch, please refrain from further discussion."

Three parts wine reveal one's true nature; five parts temperament distinguish two people. Seven parts wine, who shares my sentiments? Ten parts wine, truth is spoken. Zhang Jinggong was already completely drunk, yet his words still emphasized propriety and loyalty to the emperor; if he were an official, he would be considered a loyal minister. But in the court, how many are truly loyal?
His words turned the smiling eunuch Li's face dark. Although he was a eunuch, he was still human. He had emotions and desires, and he too wanted gold and silver.

But he quickly put on a smile and said, "Of course. My family is most loyal to His Majesty, otherwise we wouldn't have stayed by His Majesty's side for so many years."

"Sir, the soup is here." The waiter brought the hot soup to his side.

Eunuch Li took the not-too-hot soup and slowly fed it to him.
The night was dark. After drinking the hangover soup, Zhang Jinggong stumbled along with Eunuch Li to the side hall where the emperor held court. He stood there alone, quietly waiting for the emperor's summons.

"Summon Zhang Jinggong, the top scholar of the imperial examination, to enter the palace!"

Eunuch Li's voice came from inside the side hall. Zhang Jinggong looked at the thirty-six steps and tried to calm himself, but he couldn't control the excitement and joy in his heart.

He walked towards the palace, following the lamplight. When he saw the emperor seated solemnly on his throne, he couldn't contain his excitement. He knelt down and addressed the emperor, saying, "Scholar Zhang Jinggong greets His Majesty the Emperor of Shangyuan!"

Zhang Jinggong's excited voice echoed throughout the side hall.

"Rise, Minister Zhang." The emperor's deep voice made him even more excited. Born in an unknown place, he had overcome numerous obstacles in the imperial examinations to get to this point; it had truly been a difficult journey. He stood up, trembling, barely able to hide the smile on his face.

"I have read your article." The emperor looked at the young Zhang Jinggong with satisfaction and said with a smile, "Your writing skills are quite remarkable. Your views on things are also unique, and you can resolve issues in just a few words."

“Your Majesty, all major issues in the world are of the same nature. As long as the root cause is cut off, all difficulties can be resolved.” Zhang Jing bowed respectfully, his words sharp.

"I noticed that you have different views on etiquette in your article. It just so happens that the position of Minister of Rites is currently vacant. When you come to court tomorrow, I will have someone take you to take up the post."

"Your Majesty, I thank you for your divine grace!"

(End of this chapter)