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墨書 Inktalez
Inside the Prince's Mansion.
A songstress was softly singing "Return to the Past," a piece performed by Empress Zejin before her passing. It was said that when Empress Zejin sang this song in her white robes, the audience was left in shock. The melody was ethereal, something even celestial beings could not replicate, making it truly unparalleled. After her death, the palace musicians recorded the tune from memory and composed it into sheet music, which quickly spread throughout the court and among the people. However, the songstress on stage now wore a melancholic expression, lacking the serene composure of Empress Zejin.
As she finished singing, the attending ministers erupted into applause and laughter.
Today's banquet felt somewhat like a feast at Hongmen.
The Ninth Prince smiled and asked me, disguised as Nalan Liye, "What does Nalan think of this song?"
I lowered my head and replied calmly, "Your Highness exaggerates. Nalan is merely a commoner with shallow knowledge; how could I have any insights?"
"Hmph, is that so?" Suddenly, the Tenth Prince, who had been silent until now, scoffed disdainfully.
He looked at us with contempt and suggested, "I see that the moonlight is beautiful tonight. In such a splendid setting, why not compose some poetry to elevate the mood? Is there anyone among you who can create a poem for us to enjoy?"
"This... this..." The crowd suddenly looked troubled. Who didn't know that merchants were often uneducated and barely recognized a few characters? The Tenth Prince's suggestion was clearly meant to embarrass everyone and humiliate the merchants. His intentions were truly sinister.
I frowned slightly but remained calm as I sipped my drink. A light taste of Blossom Plum Wine lingered on my tongue; for some reason, each sip left me yearning for more.
The merchants present shook their heads in unison, saying, "We regret disappointing Your Highness. Please forgive us; we are not versed in such literary matters."
"Hmph," the Tenth Prince suddenly slammed his hand on the table in anger. "You are disrespecting me! How can you be so ignorant? You bear the responsibility of managing the nation's economy yet cannot even recognize a few words? Are you not inviting ridicule upon yourselves? Guards—" He intended to use this as an excuse to summon the guards waiting outside to arrest people.
They had already set their plan in motion, looking for an excuse to trap us all at once. What a joke! I had anticipated their intentions long before arriving today.
They merely sought to extort wealth from us under the pretense of donating military funds. They aimed to squeeze every last coin from us. It wouldn't be so easy to take money from me, An Jin.
Since establishing this business association, we have represented all merchants' interests in Jin State. Did they think we were so easy to bully? It was truly laughable. Upon entering and seeing the guards lying in wait around the mansion, I knew that leaving would not be as simple as entering.
However, what they should be worried about after a while was why so many of the Hidden guards had suddenly vanished into thin air.
Little Seven, who had been silent behind me, seemed ready to stand up, but I held him back.
"Your Highness—" I suddenly called out loudly, then smiled and stood up gracefully, bowing to them as I said, "Since Your Highness has such refined tastes, Nalan has a fine poem to share. Please forgive me for my humble offering."
With that, I confidently recited:
"When did the moon appear in the clear sky? Today, I pause my cup to ask: People reach for the bright moon but cannot grasp it; yet the moon travels alongside them.
As bright as a flying mirror above the Danque, does the green smoke vanish as the clear light emerges? Only see the night coming from the sea; how could one know the dawn fades among the clouds?
The white rabbit pounds medicine in autumn and spring; who does Chang'e dwell with in solitude? People today do not see the moon of ancient times; this moon once shone upon those of old.
Ancient and modern people flow like water, all gazing at the bright moon together. I only wish that when singing and drinking, the moonlight will always shine in the Golden Goblet."
For a long time, everyone was silent, with only gasps of shock remaining.
Hmph, I thought disdainfully. Isn't it shocking enough to hear a poem from the immortal poet Li Bai?!
"Wonderful! Well said! 'Ancient and modern people flow like water, all gazing at the bright moon together!' Truly worthy of being a representative sent by the wealthiest merchant of Jin State. Indeed talented and beautiful, wise beyond measure!" The Ninth Prince praised without reservation.
I slightly bowed my head to the Ninth Prince and respectfully said, "Your Highness, Nalan has embarrassed himself. However," I coldly glanced at him and the Tenth Prince before suddenly smiling oddly and saying, "Your Highness, I have another fine poem. Allow me to write it down first and present it to Tenth Prince for him to read aloud on my behalf. Would that be acceptable?" If they dared to make things difficult for us, then I would use something even a child knows in modern times to prick at your noble pride.
The Ninth Prince looked at me in confusion but finally said in a deep voice, "Alright. Someone bring paper and brush."
I took the paper and brush handed to me and began writing energetically.
In just a few moments, it was completed.
I respectfully handed over the poem written on the snow-white rice paper. The Ninth Prince lightly glanced at it, his eyes shining as he praised, "Good poem. Old Ten, take a look." He then passed it to the bewildered Tenth Prince.
The Tenth Prince took it, puzzled, and then read aloud in his booming voice, "‘Wochun’."
Dark plum blossoms whisper of flowers, lying on branches bearing hidden sorrows. From afar, it seems like water, easily revealing the spring green.
The banks are green, the banks are translucent green, the banks are deep green...”
He had not finished reading when laughter erupted from below.
Even children of the twenty-first century knew that this poem meant: "I am foolish."
I lack culture; my intelligence is low. If you ask who I am, I am a big foolish donkey.
I am a donkey; I am a donkey; I am a silly donkey.
Hmph, I sneered. Someone who is even less than a child dares to threaten me.
I stood up straight and coldly surveyed the officials present, my expression unchanged as I said, "Your Highness, let's speak plainly. Today you invited us from the Business Association to feast; Nalan thanks you for your kindness on behalf of all our colleagues. Since the court has matters to attend to, we will not stand idly by. It is getting late; I must take my leave. Nalan will present five thousand taels of gold to the court on behalf of my master. After returning home, my steward will deliver the silver. Now, please forgive me; Nalan bids farewell."
"Bold!" The Tenth Prince's face turned ashen with humiliation as he shouted, "Do you think you can come and go as you please?! It's not that easy!"
I looked at him proudly and replied coldly, "What do you want then?"
"Someone! Arrest these unruly people and throw them into the dungeon!" the Tenth Prince bellowed.
Just as Song Kong was preparing to draw his sword, suddenly a familiar voice rang out: "Why are there so many people here? Ninth Brother, did you hear that I'm coming and want to disperse? Come now, tell me who made Old Ten so angry." Just as we were about to leave, an unexpected guest arrived.
It was none other than the Emperor in disguise!
I suddenly felt a wave of panic, unsure of what to do.
However, I quickly composed myself and, like everyone else, knelt on the ground, shouting loudly, "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The Ninth Prince stepped forward with a slight smile, saying, "I did not know the Emperor had arrived and failed to come out to greet you. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Sima Rui smiled faintly and waved his hand. "It is I who came uninvited. Everyone, please rise." As Sima Rui looked at the beaming face of the Ninth Prince, his gaze was deep and unfathomable. He had already received news that they had secretly summoned all the merchants from Jin State to the palace today for some grand meeting. The resentment towards Sima Zhao was well-known to all. Who could ignore the fact that their activities had increased day by day in recent years?
He remained composed, but that did not mean he was a fool!
"Now, who can tell me what has happened?" Sima Rui said sternly.
The Tenth Prince hurriedly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, recently the situation at the borders has become tense. We intended to invite the merchants from Jin to contribute to the court, but these unruly people dared to openly defy the court, which led to a dispute. I ask for Your Majesty's wise judgment."
"Who was being disrespectful just now?" Sima Rui asked in a low voice.
The Tenth Prince pointed at me, who was still kneeling on the ground. "Your Majesty, it was him!"
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