Chapter Fourteen: Gone!
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The moment Jiang Han stepped into the room, he saw three people.
One was Zhongli You, the Grand Scholar, dressed in a scholar’s robe and looking every inch the schoolmaster. Another was the young nobleman he had seen at Cuiyun Garden. The third was a middle-aged man in a blue robe.
The middle-aged man possessed a vigorous air, a sharp gaze, and a distinctive bearing.
He studied Jiang Han. This was not the first time he had seen him; at Cuiyun Garden, he had watched him from afar for a moment.
Under that piercing gaze, Jiang Han felt as though a sword were pointed at him, and his heart gave a slight jolt.
What a sharp look!
Could he be some kind of martial-arts expert?
Still, Jiang Han did not lose his composure. With a smiling face, he clasped his hands and bowed to Zhongli You.
“Jiang Han pays his respects to Grand Scholar Zhongli.
“When I happened upon you that day, I was utterly captivated by your bearing. You truly are a towering authority in the literary world. Whenever I think of you, I cannot help but feel the deepest admiration. I have come today for two reasons: first, to pay my respects and behold the grace of a great scholar; and second, because I have composed several poems recently and would be so bold as to ask you to correct them.”
At these words, Zhongli You’s face immediately lit up with delight. He was very pleased. This young man was not only talented—he also knew how to speak.
The last time, Jiang Zhensheng had brought poems for his correction as well. Yet Zhongli You was even happier to see Jiang Han than he had been to see Jiang Zhensheng.
The poems of father and son were simply worlds apart!
Hearing Jiang Han’s words, the man in blue frowned slightly. The “towering authority in the literary world,” the “deep admiration whenever he thought of him”—the flattery was so excessive that it was nauseating.
He had originally considered taking Jiang Han as a disciple, but after hearing him speak today, he immediately lost all favorable feelings toward him.
There was nothing he hated more than obsequious flatterers.
“I had intended to visit your home within the next few days,” Zhongli You said with a smile, pointing to a chair. “Sit.”
Then he instructed a servant, “Bring out the finest tea.”
Jiang Han sat down and looked toward the middle-aged man.
“May I ask who this senior is?”
Zhongli You introduced him. “This is Gu Qingqiu. He was once one of the chief editors of the Great Yu Literary Collection, though he has since retired.”
Gu Qingqiu? Was he not one of the Seven Great Literary Masters of Great Yu as well?
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Jiang Han hurriedly rose and bowed.
“This junior pays his respects to Grand Scholar Gu.”
Gu Qingqiu gave a slight nod in acknowledgment.
Jiang Han continued, “Ever since I first began my studies, I have heard my father speak of you, Grand Scholar Gu. He said that you were a paragon of integrity in the literary world and one of its foremost pillars. You are upright and incorruptible, unafraid of power. When you served as an official, a certain prince once shielded one of his servants after the man committed murder. You rebuked that prince in open court and later resigned your office on the spot. This junior has admired you from the bottom of his heart and longed to behold your bearing. I never imagined that I would truly have the fortune to meet you in this life. I am deeply honored!”
The incident Jiang Han mentioned had indeed taken place. At the time, Gu Qingqiu had been a Hanlin Academician. When a prince’s servant committed murder and fled, the prince had deliberately tried to protect him. Gu Qingqiu had denounced the prince in open court before resigning his position and walking away.
Although the incident had cost him his office, it remained one of the things Gu Qingqiu was most proud of.
Now that Jiang Han had brought it up, Gu Qingqiu could not help smiling.
A pillar of the literary world? Upright and incorruptible? This boy...
Why was he blurting out such painfully honest truths?
Gu Qingqiu detested sycophants, but Jiang Han had spoken only the truth. It could not be counted as flattery.
Thus, Gu Qingqiu’s impression of him improved at once.
Not bad. The boy was sincere.
Yuan Bin, sitting nearby, was dumbfounded. He knew his teacher’s temperament better than anyone. He had assumed that Jiang Han’s flattery would surely anger him, yet Gu Qingqiu was not angry in the least. On the contrary, he seemed quite pleased.
Gu Qingqiu nodded with a smile.
“I hear you are engaged in trade?”
“That is correct.”
At last, Jiang Han thought, they had reached the real subject. He immediately smiled.
“I thought to myself, how can a man live without some capital to rely upon? After much consideration, I opened a little perfume shop and intend to sell scented essences. Scholars and refined gentlemen ought to let their minds wander through ten thousand peaks amid a haze of fragrance—perhaps savoring the secluded perfume of chrysanthemums blooming in late autumn, perhaps the elegant purity of plum blossoms on a snowy winter night, or perhaps the lingering charm of red lotuses in the height of summer. These perfumes are made for scholars and refined ladies.”
Gu Qingqiu was even more impressed after hearing this. The prejudice in his heart vanished at once. This young man spoke with such refinement; no wonder he was capable of composing those poems.
Zhongli You laughed. “You rascal. You speak so elegantly just to sell your perfumes. Even I am beginning to feel tempted.”
Jiang Han immediately straightened and drew several glass bottles from inside his robe, presenting them with both hands.
“These are perfumes I made recently. I humbly ask the Grand Scholar to sample them.”
Since they were gifts for a Grand Scholar, Jiang Han had brought only plum-blossom perfume. He had heard that Zhongli You’s favorite flower was the plum blossom as well.
Curious, Zhongli You pulled out the wooden stopper and took a gentle sniff. An astonished expression instantly appeared on his face.
Gu Qingqiu glanced at him and was somewhat surprised himself. Though he had not leaned over to smell it, he too had caught the cool fragrance of plum blossoms when the stopper was removed.
Zhongli You’s eyes brightened.
“This perfume truly is excellent! Had I not already passed the age of youthful elegance, I would sprinkle some upon myself as well. Who would have thought that you could make such a fine perfume?”
He looked at Jiang Han with considerable surprise.
“Did you not say that you had composed some poems as well? Bring them out at once.”
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“Yes. I wrote these poems recently for the perfumes. I ask both Grand Scholars to offer their corrections.”
Jiang Han took a sheet of paper from inside his robe and presented it.
Zhongli You accepted it and read slowly downward. His expression changed little by little, and his eyes gradually brightened.
“Excellent poems. Excellent poems! These three are truly wonderful!”
Gu Qingqiu grew curious. After Zhongli You finished reading, he took the paper and examined it with great seriousness.
Written upon it were three poems about flowers.
They were not as outstanding as “The Swordsman,” nor did they inspire the same awe as “Everlasting Longing,” yet all three poems were enough to make the reader’s eyes light up.
They were works of exceptional quality.
“Poems about flowers are countless, but these three are a delightful surprise. Read closely, and they reveal a charm all their own. This poem about plum blossoms is especially remarkable—the final two lines are astonishingly beautiful.” Gu Qingqiu praised them. “All three poems are works of the highest caliber.”
Yuan Bin was stunned when he heard this.
Could this boy truly be so gifted?
After they had spent some time drinking tea, Jiang Han finally revealed the true purpose of his visit.
“To speak frankly, Grand Scholar, I have come today to ask a favor as well.”
“Say what you wish,” Zhongli You replied.
“I have great confidence in these perfumes. I believe they will surely be loved by scholars, refined gentlemen, and young ladies of good families. However, my reputation is not particularly good. Once the perfume shop opens, I fear business may suffer...”
Jiang Han continued, “Therefore, I venture to ask whether you would be willing to honor me with a piece of calligraphy—perhaps two lines for a matching couplet?”
Zhongli You laughed.
“For the sake of the perfume you have given me, I must write you a couplet. Someone, bring me brush and ink!”
Just then, the gatekeeper of Wangchao Retreat came outside and announced, “My lord, someone is requesting an audience.”
“Who?”
“The young master of the Yin family, Yin Rong, accompanied by two young ladies. One is Gu Xirou, and the other is Wang Siyi. They are all talented young men and women from Yunyang County, and they have brought poems and literary compositions to pay a visit.”
Zhongli You frowned slightly and said coolly, “I will not receive them.”
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