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墨書 Inktalez
He cared for me, merely a man caring for a woman. Yet he was not an ordinary man. He was the Emperor, a sovereign burdened with too much responsibility. His face was meant to shine like the sun and moon, his fingers to point the way for the nation, and his gaze to overlook the world... Everything about him was devoted to this country. The first thing on his mind was always this nation. I could never be his first; I should never be. It was the world that mattered.
—Excerpt from An Jin's journal.
It turned out she had always kept two journals; the one he saw was merely Xie Weiying's story. In the hidden compartment of her writing desk in her palace, there lay another exquisite and beautiful book. That was the story of An Jin.
The world. As soon as she picked up her pen, she wrote of the world. Her heart was vast, rare to find in this realm. Her brilliance was unmatched by anyone else. Even men could not match her carefree spirit.
But he never knew.
By the time he found out, they were already worlds apart, separated by life and death.
He was a woman; she was indeed a woman!!
He had thought about it a thousand times in Dream, longing day and night for such a reality, even wishing that if she were a man, he would marry her as his only wife. But now—he was left alone. In this hazy world, she had abandoned him to live on her own.
Moreover, she had allowed him to live well, keeping his heart tied to the world.
He understood the meaning behind those few words she left behind. They were things they had once discussed together when they were still together.
They drank heartily, then like The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, laughed at the world, mocking those lost souls wandering through this mundane existence.
Thus, after her death, he followed through on what they had jokingly agreed upon long ago.
If she died before him, there would be no need for a burial; just place her on a bamboo raft and let her drift away from this world.
She wanted not only freedom in life but also freedom in death for her soul.
He did everything she asked of him. Every day, he prayed to the heavens that when her soul passed through this place, he could catch a glimpse of her, even if just for a moment. That alone would be enough to satisfy him.
"Your Majesty, it's late. You should rest." Four years had passed, four years of the same routine. Each night, the Emperor held those two precious books, and after each reading, the deep melancholy in his eyes only grew stronger. He became increasingly silent.
"Understood. Xiao Quanzi, help me undress." Yes, the eunuch who accompanied the Emperor was Xiao Quanzi. After his master, Lotus Consort, passed away, he stayed behind to serve the Emperor in her stead. The closest maidservant to Lotus Consort had followed her into death.
Later, one night, as the most loyal servant of the Xie Family, after Xie Yushi was imprisoned and Lotus Consort died, he furiously attempted to assassinate the Emperor. However, due to the Emperor's martial skills and the hidden guards protecting him in the dark, he was thwarted before he could succeed. The head eunuch, Gao Lu, was killed on the spot by Chen Wen's sword.
The concubines in the harem said that his deep love for Lotus Consort led him to extend his affection to Xiao Quanzi, who had remained obscure and unrecognized until then, promoting him to Chief Eunuch. He now oversaw all the palace maids and eunuchs, wielding significant power.
Yet Xiao Quanzi felt neither joy nor sorrow; he devoted himself daily to serving the Emperor.
Watching the Emperor reminisce about his master every day made Xiao Quanzi feel a pang of emotion and a sense of compassion.
People often realize what they cherish only after losing it.
The greatest distance in the world is when your most beloved person stands before you, yet you cannot recognize her. The farthest distance is when you discover your love for her, but fate has decreed that you can never meet across lifetimes.
Some say that Jiangnan is beautiful, with Suzhou and Hangzhou's charm, the sorrow of Qinhuai River, and the splendor of Yangzhou in March.
In Yangzhou during March's festivities, there is a bright moon, misty rain from Yimeng Mountain, shadowy boats gliding through hazy waters, midnight bells from high temples, and lush green grass heralding early spring.
Jiangnan also holds enchanting beauties that seem to emerge slowly from the depths of night. They come from small bridges and warm homes enveloped in twilight's embrace.
"Brother Gu, have you painted Fifth Painting?" A woman dressed in white appeared like a wisp of light dust; her translucent skin resembled glass, and her ink-like eyes held a gentle smile that blossomed slowly.
The elegant man nodded softly, his eyes reflecting warmth: "Yes."
"What kind of flower is that? Everyone is guessing it belongs to that beauty."
The man pondered for a moment before finally saying, "Dew Flower. It's the kind of flower you mentioned during our conversation."
Dew Flower, isn't that the same as the Red Spider Lily or the Mandrake?
The woman's long, thick eyelashes fluttered down, as if blossoms were blooming.
"Brother Gu, who does that represent?"
"A person who should not exist. You will understand in the future."
The woman hesitated slightly but still spoke up cautiously, "Brother Gu, the painting—"
The man quickly interrupted, "That painting is mine; I won't give it to you."
"I'm not asking you for the painting; I just—"
He sighed lightly, "You don't need to say anything more; I understand. I actually have no expectations; you don't need to feel burdened."
I looked at this man who should have flourished in his prime, a genius in everyone's eyes, a legendary painter.
Known as "the unparalleled talent, unmatched artist, and infatuated genius," Gu Kaizhi.
His works, "Nymph of the Luo River" and "Admonitions of the Instructress to the Court Ladies," became classics in later generations. However, for some reason, these renowned pieces had yet to be completed. For now, he was gaining fame through works like "Guiyang Wang's Beauty Painting," "Drifting Boat Painting," "Mixed Birds of Tiger and Leopard," "Wild Goose and Waterfowl Painting," and "Lushan Gathering Map."
Gu Kaizhi's paintings emphasized capturing spirit and focused on details. He believed that true likeness resided in the eyes. His brushwork was vigorous and continuous, like a silkworm spinning silk or spring clouds floating in the sky; everything flowed naturally, commonly referred to as the High Ancient Style of Fine Line Painting. His coloring was rich yet subtly adorned, avoiding excessive embellishment. He excelled at using keen insight to examine subjects and character traits, refining them in his art; thus, his paintings possessed a certain depth of thought that invited contemplation.
I have always admired him in modern times, and I was curious about the kind of person who could create those timeless masterpieces.
Two years ago, in order to complete a batch of new products and hoping for a breakthrough, I thought how beautiful it would be if I could replicate his paintings through the art of embroidery on silk fabric. Thus, I thought of him.
At that time, he was living in seclusion deep in the mountains. He never saw anyone; neither officials inviting him with fame and fortune nor merchants tempting him with money could sway him. Such a person reminded me of Kongming from "Romance of the Three Kingdoms." So, I began to adopt Liu Bei's patience and perseverance, along with a touch of audacity, hoping to persuade him to come out of his retreat.
After several visits to his humble abode, he finally could no longer endure my persistence and agreed to come with me.
He followed me to Jiangnan. I bought a villa there for him and found servants for him to choose from. I never interfered with his private life. I only ensured that he wanted for nothing in terms of food and clothing; how he chose to live and what he preferred were entirely his habits and interests, and I never intruded.
I made it a point each year to set aside some time to stay there and discuss painting techniques with him. He truly had a unique perspective and wise appreciation; I learned a great deal from him and benefited immensely. He was also very interested in the things I had learned in modern times. So, every time we met, we would chat for days and nights without feeling tired or bored.
To me, he was both a great teacher and a dear friend.
A year ago, I suddenly began telling him about the famous Four Great Beauties in Chinese history, along with their stories and the hidden sorrows behind them. More than anything, it was about their tumultuous lives and the tragedy of being political sacrifices.
As a result, the images representing the Four Great Beauties became all the rage across the continent. They were hailed as legendary classics.
He knew about Xi Shi, Zhaojun, and Diao Chan; they were all tales from previous dynasties. After I recounted Yang Guifei's story, he became very curious. I feigned mystery and did not reveal her actual dynasty, knowing he might not believe me or might think I was fabricating history. So, I simply told him it was something I had heard back in my hometown. We referred to them as the Four Great Beauties.
Encouraged by my enthusiasm, he created the image of a Lotus representing Xi Shi, a Plum Blossom for Zhaojun, an Orchid for Diao Chan, and a Peony for Yang Guifei. They were so lifelike that butterflies once mistook them for real flowers when placed in the garden. They were vivid and unparalleled. However, I did not expect him to also paint an image titled "Tuhua."
But what did it represent?
I did not wish to think about it, nor did I dare to ponder.
Over these years, I have called him Brother Gu, and he has treated me like a sister with affection. Nothing more would ever come of it.
In recent years, The Other Shore has begun publishing magazines and newspapers, with the newspaper containing the earliest and largest news collected from across the continent, allowing the common people to gain a deeper understanding of their living environment.
The magazine features the latest fashion trends and is closely linked to various new products launched by Jun Jin Villa. It includes not only clothing but also accessories and shoes, showcasing popular colors. Recently introduced cross-stitch items are used for making cushions, screens, ornaments, and paintings.
The covers of the magazine feature four of his paintings. Accompanying these are stories about four stunningly beautiful women, which quickly became popular among both commoners and nobles. Additionally, four limited-edition outfits representing the Four Great Beauties were released, priced exorbitantly. Few could afford them, but the craftsmanship was exquisite, with high-quality materials and decorations that made them absolutely worth it. Moreover, it was implied that those who possessed these four garments would be considered the Four Great Beauties of Jin State, causing quite a stir.
What surprised people even more was the rumor of an unpublished painting—the Tuhua piece. I had always been curious about it. However, since he was unwilling to discuss it, I refrained from asking. Now, renowned figures across the land were eager to collect these five classic works. Yet, four of them had been gifted to me by Jun Jin Collection. I had compensated him fairly for them; we had agreed on this beforehand to avoid any awkwardness or debts between us.
However, the Fifth Painting was what I came for this time—to purchase it from the Collection. But when he firmly stated his refusal, it became clear that he would not part with it.
It wasn't until later, when I saw that painting for the first and last time, that I understood why he cherished it so deeply. It was not just an ordinary painting; it encapsulated the artist's most profound emotions. There was nothing in this world more precious and invaluable than that. It carried too much weight.
Many sought to acquire this painting; twice as many guards had been dispatched to protect his villa. Still, visitors continued to arrive—some secretly plotting to steal or snatch it away. In short, this painting had become a legend in the martial world, despite no one having seen it except for him.
Unexpectedly, among this crowd was someone familiar yet strange to me.
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