strokinit Chapter 95 Ancient Famous Chapter
Chapter 95 Ancient Famous Chapter
As for Ye Qingmei, she traveled south with Wu Zhu, first arriving at Dongyi City. There, she encountered a boy who spent his days squatting under a large tree watching ants, considered a "fool" by the city's inhabitants. Ye Qingmei, however, felt that this boy was pure of heart and possessed a clear understanding of swordsmanship, so she casually pointed out a few words to him and gave him some of her improved swordsmanship methods. This seemingly foolish boy was none other than Si Gu Jian, one of the four grandmasters who would later become famous throughout the world, establishing the city with his sword and protecting Dongyi for decades.
However, the small city of Dongyi could not contain Ye Qingmei's ambitious desire to "make the world more interesting." She left behind the seeds of various whimsical ideas about modern civilization, and then, with Wuzhu, continued south, eventually setting foot on the land of Qing Kingdom.
This led to her passionate, yet ultimately tragic, love-hate relationship with Emperor Qing.
And the birth of Ye Tian and Fan Xian, these two "bastard sons".
Ku He snapped out of her reverie, a glint of shrewdness flashing in her eyes.
"Ye Qingmei, oh Ye Qingmei, the seeds you sowed back then have finally borne fruit powerful enough to overturn this world."
At this moment, she couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Her son, a fourteen-year-old Grandmaster, truly, he evokes both anticipation and fear."
He now desperately wanted to know about the boy who had inherited Ye Qingmei's bloodline.
What kind of changes will this bring to the world?
And Sean, the only one who witnessed the temple threshold with him...
Perhaps we can learn from him...
Then I recalled some forgotten details about the temple and Ye Qingmei.
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Northern Qi Dynasty, the Imperial Preceptor's Residence.
Ku He sat quietly in the room for a long time before the turmoil in his heart gradually subsided. He summoned his confidants and instructed them to meticulously convey the message of sending an envoy to the capital of Qing Kingdom and to find a way to retrieve Xiao En's decree.
Zhuang Mohan, the Grand Preceptor of the Northern Qi Dynasty, received a secret order from Ku He. Although he was filled with wariness and curiosity towards Ye Tian, the fourteen-year-old Prince Qin of Qing who had stirred up the world, the Grand Preceptor's order and the hidden mission of "exchanging Xiao En" made him dare not be negligent in the slightest. He immediately began to select members of the delegation, prepare letters of state and gifts, and within a few days, a delegation representing the highest level of Northern Qi set off in a grand procession toward the capital of Qing.
.
Kyoto, the capital of the Qing Kingdom, the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
When the news reached Emperor Qing that the Northern Qi delegation was about to arrive in the capital and proposed to exchange Yan Bingyun for Xiao En, his eyes, which had been somewhat gloomy due to Ye Tian's suppression over the past few days, suddenly lit up, flashing a hint of barely perceptible joy and calculation.
"The Northern Qi delegation? Zhuang Mohan is leading them personally? And they want to exchange Xiao En for him?" Emperor Qing put down the memorial in his hand, a meaningful sneer curling at the corner of his lips. "Interesting, very interesting. That old monk Ku He has certainly played his cards right."
He certainly knew how important Xiao En was to Northern Qi, and he also knew that Xiao En possessed some secrets about the temple. But he knew even more clearly that this "gift" could become another powerful weapon for him to use against Ye Tian.
"That brat Ye Tian runs rampant with his martial prowess, and everyone in the court and the country trembles in fear of his ferocity. If I were to confront him head-on, even if I won, it would be a pyrrhic victory, a net loss, and it would also jeopardize my 'great cause'," Emperor Qing thought to himself. "But his reputation is currently at its zenith. He's not only a martial arts legend but also shows signs of being equally skilled in both martial and literary arts. If I can give him a sound thrashing in the 'literary' aspect, it would be enough to ruin his reputation and show the world that he is not invincible!"
A wicked scheme quickly took shape in Emperor Qing's mind.
He immediately issued a secret edict to Zhuang Mohan, the chief envoy of the Northern Qi delegation who was about to arrive in the capital, to meet him in a secret hall in the palace.
Zhuang Mohan, over seventy years old, with white hair and beard, dressed in a scholar's robe, exuded an imposing presence without anger. He was a renowned scholar in Northern Qi and even throughout the world. When he met Emperor Qing, although he was wary, he maintained impeccable manners.
"I am delighted that Your Excellency has come from afar." Emperor Qing wore a warm smile, as if the previous friction and hostility between the two countries had never existed. "Your country has proposed to exchange Yan Bingyun for Xiao En, and I have no objection in principle. However, Xiao En is quite old and has been imprisoned in my Qing Kingdom's prison for many years. As for his health, well, I'm afraid it's not very optimistic."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Mohan's heart sank, knowing that Emperor Qing was trying to manipulate the conditions. He calmly said, "Your Majesty is overthinking it. General Xiao En is a man of unwavering integrity. He should be able to hold out until the day he returns to his homeland. Our Emperor and Grand Preceptor Ku He are very concerned about General Xiao En."
"Oh? Is that so?" Emperor Qing's smile remained unchanged, but his tone shifted, carrying an undeniable air of pressure. "I've heard that Northern Qi's national strength has been declining in recent years, and there have been constant clashes with my Great Qing along the border. My Prince Qin, Ye Tian, is now the Grand Marshal of the Armed Forces, commanding a large army and possessing unparalleled bravery. If he were to lose his temper and march north, tsk tsk, Master Zhuang, do you think Northern Qi could bear the consequences?"
Zhuang Mohan's expression instantly turned somewhat ugly. Emperor Qing's blatant threat put him under immense pressure.
Seeing that the time was right, Emperor Qing finally revealed his true intentions: "Of course, I have always cherished peace and am unwilling to easily resort to war. As long as the Zhuang family is willing to do me a small favor, I will not only guarantee Xiao En's safe return to Northern Qi, but I also promise that for three years, the armies of my Great Qing will never point north. What do you say?"
Zhuang Mohan's heart skipped a beat: "Your Majesty, what favor do you require of this old man?"
Emperor Qing leaned closer, lowered his voice, and his eyes flashed with a venomous light: "It's very simple. In a few days, I will host a banquet for your esteemed delegation, and Prince Qin, Ye Tian, will also be in attendance. I've heard that this young man is quite talented in literature, and he may even present a poem in public. At that time, it will be necessary for Master Zhuang to publicly point out that his poem is a plagiarism of a long-lost ancient book. As for that 'unique book,' I will prepare it for Master Zhuang."
"What?!" Upon hearing this, Zhuang Mohan was struck dumb, leaping to his feet, his face filled with shock and rage. "Your Majesty! This is no different from framing someone! I have dedicated my life to scholarship, always upright and honest. How could I possibly commit such a despicable act?! This, this is absolutely unacceptable!"
Although he was a subject of the Northern Qi dynasty, he was also a renowned Confucian scholar who valued his reputation more than his life. To publicly accuse a young man of plagiarism was worse than death for him!
Emperor Qing's smile vanished instantly, replaced by a cold indifference: "Lady Zhuang, am I discussing this with you? You surely know the relative importance of Xiao En's life versus the safety of Northern Qi. If you refuse, well, I can't guarantee that Prince Qin, Ye Tian, won't 'take a trip' to Northern Qi ahead of time because of a 'momentary urge'."
A blatant threat! Undisguised coercion!
Zhuang Mohan trembled with rage. Looking at Emperor Qing's seemingly gentle but actually more vicious than a jackal's face, he was filled with grief, indignation, and helplessness. He knew that if he didn't agree, this madman, Emperor Qing, would definitely do what he said.
Finally, Zhuang Mohan's straight back slowly bent. He closed his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "This old man understands."
For the sake of his country and for Sean, he had no choice but to sacrifice his reputation.
.
A few days later, the imperial palace hosted a grand state banquet to entertain the Northern Qi delegation led by Zhuang Mohan.
At the banquet, officials from the Qing Kingdom, both civil and military, were present, and Prince Ye Tian of Qin, accompanied by his wife Fan Ruoruo, also attended in their finest attire. For a time, the golden hall was filled with the sounds of clinking glasses, singing, and dancing, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Emperor Qing set down his wine cup, looked at Ye Tian with a smile, and said loudly, "I have heard that Prince Qin is not only a peerless martial artist, but also a man of exceptional literary talent, possessing a photographic memory. Today, with the great Confucian scholar Zhuang Dajia of Northern Qi present, why doesn't Prince Qin compose a poem on the spot to enhance the mood of the wine, and allow the envoys of our Great Qing and Northern Qi to appreciate the brilliance of our dynasty's outstanding figures?"
As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes turned to Ye Tian.
Ye Tian remained calm and composed as he rose to his feet. He bowed slightly to Emperor Qing and Zhuang Mohan, and said in a clear voice, "Your Majesty is too kind, and you are all too flattering. I am but a humble subject, lacking in talent and learning, and dare not claim to possess any literary talent. However, since Your Majesty has given the order, and with such a senior as Master Zhuang present, I will make a fool of myself."
He paused for a moment, as if conceiving a plan.
Then, amidst the expectant gazes of the crowd, he stood with his hands behind his back, paced back and forth, and began to slowly chant.
At this moment, he didn't deliberately imitate the ancients' head-shaking and swaying; instead, he used a calm yet slightly melancholic tone to narrate that timeless masterpiece:
"Let us drink and sing, for how short is life?"
For example, the morning dew has a lot of suffering.
Generosity should be regarded as generosity, unforgettable worry.
How to relieve worries?Only Dukang.
Green are your robes, green is my heart.
But for the sake of the king, I have been pondering it so far.
The deer cry out, "Yo-yo!" as they eat the wild apples.
I have guests, playing the zither and blowing the sheng.