The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 25: An idea strikes a chord

It is said that the reason why Prince Zhanghuai Li Xian separated from Wu Zetian was related to a rumor in the palace. According to the rumor, he was not born to Wu Zetian, but to a Korean lady, Wu Zetian's sister, and Emperor Gaozong. son.

Honestly, there may be no reason for it. Liuli looked at the woman in front of her who was suddenly full of spring, and when she saw the gorgeous dress that obviously came from the palace, she suddenly remembered this old saying.

Even if she is not the biological mother of Prince Zhanghuai, it seems that she and her emperor brother-in-law are... The Tang Dynasty palace was indeed the most chaotic place in the world!

But what does all this have to do with her? She is not Li Yuan, so she has no time to care about these bad affairs in the palace! All she needed to know was that Mrs. Wu had a fairly good relationship with Wu Zetian in the next ten years or so. It was enough. And this lady now wants to ask herself to draw a screen and give it to her emperor lover as a birthday gift. What reason does she have to refuse? It's a pity that the emperor's favorite thing was calligraphy. She might be able to draw well, but her writing was not good enough. Her pen in small regular script, which was praised by people a thousand years later, has reached the peak period of calligraphy. , not to mention comparing with the famous people, even those women at the Flower Fighting Party, more than half of their words are better than mine!

However, just because she can't write, it doesn't mean that others can't write either...

Liuli thought for a moment, raised her head and said with a smile: "In that case, why not use an ink calligraphy to make a six-part screen, or use an entire ink painting with a large paragraph of poetry to make a single screen? Isn't it better than hunting? The picture is more unique?”

Mrs. Wu thought for a while, nodded and smiled: "Exactly! There are six ink calligraphy screens in his study, which are the ink paintings of Prime Minister Chu. If it is not new to make another six-part screen, we might as well make it It’s an interstitial screen, and according to what you said, it’s a combination of books and paintings, which is even more novel when you think about it.”

Mr. Chu? Is it Chu Suiliang, the most outstanding calligrapher at this time? Liuli pondered for a while, then nodded and smiled: "Madam will tell Liuli the size of the screen when she gets back. If nothing happens, she may be able to get it within half a month."

Madam Wu’s smile suddenly became brighter and brighter, “When I go back and find a suitable screen, I’ll come back to you!”

 For more than ten days after that, Mrs. Wu never showed up. Liuli didn't have much time to worry about this. After she finally finished painting Mrs. Liu's four-season flowers with valerian, she painted two more looks. She spent half a day in the studio every day, and the days were no different from the previous ones. .

After Mrs. Liu's visit, Liuli thought that her uncle would be shocked or angry, but Uncle An just said with disdain: "Does she mean no when she says no? Uncle, there is more than one painter here, so from now on he will Let Shopkeeper Shi choose the guests and negotiate for you. As long as you don't paint in front of the guests, who will know it was you?"

Seeing Liuli's astonished expression, he actually laughed, "We are opening a store in the West Market. We have seen a lot of such high-ranking young ladies and ladies. Naturally, we have to flatter them in person. But if they really obey them, there is no need to open the door in the West Market." "

Liuli originally didn't like negotiating with customers, but with this arrangement, she was naturally satisfied, and even painted the flowers of the four seasons quickly. Uncle An also found a way to buy two carvers, and the dyeing workshop started working day and night, for a month The time was barely enough, so the hunting map's Jia Vale came out faster. In the past two days, Liuli looked at these six valerian screens every day, and she was really looking forward to seeing how they would look like when they were installed on rosewood screens—this was an authentic valerian screen from the Tang Dynasty, and it was only found in Japan a thousand years later. There are a few preserved, just like Chang'an a thousand years ago, only Kyoto still retains some shadow...

In the afternoon of this day, Liuli was practicing hookwork in the studio when she heard shopkeeper Shi's laughter outside the door, "Pei Jun's jiaval got infected a few days ago, and it's very good."

The tip of the glass pen flicked, and a black dot suddenly appeared next to the orchid she had just drawn. She was startled, then casually drew a few thin lines on the black dot, and drew a bee, but the black dot was a bit bigger after all. It looks more like a fly. She couldn't help but smile and shook her head.

Xiaotan had already opened the door curtain, and it was Pei Jiu who had not seen him for many days who walked in behind shopkeeper Shi. Perhaps it was because it was late spring in April, and he was wearing a refreshing moon-white t-shirt. She seemed to be a little brighter, and she saw Liuli looking up, smiling and hugging her hand, her smile as gentle as ever.

Liuli put down the pen and returned the gift with a smile. After clearing away the pen and ink on the table, he walked to the shelf and picked up the six clips that had been prepared, and laid them out on the table one by one.

The valerian dyeing of these paintings is not complicated. It just uses a light cyan as the background. The human and horse prey are all outlined with black lines. The distant mountains are rendered with white. Only the frost leaves and human faces are dyed with some light ocher. With the original simple pattern, it looks very light and elegant.

Pei Jiu stared at these paintings, which were like ink paintings, with no expression on his face. Shopkeeper Shi couldn't help but beat his drum in his heart, and asked with a smile: "What do you think, Mr. Pei?"

Pei Jiu pondered and nodded, "It's very ancient and makes you forget the customs." When he raised his head, his usual smile appeared on his face again, "The remaining money is in the car outside. Could you please ask the shopkeeper to let my servant move it?" Just come down."

Shopkeeper Shi immediately breathed a sigh of relief, said a few polite words, then turned around and went out. Liuli then looked at Pei Jiu seriously, raised her hands and forehead, and bowed deeply, "Thank you very much, Mr. Pei, for what happened last time."

Pei Jiu smiled and waved his hand, his tone still light and modest, "Auntie, you're welcome. Pei just made some random guesses and didn't do anything. How dare you say thank you? Auntie can get what she wants, and she can do whatever she wants. It's God's will, but my master will definitely be happy about this. Pei should thank my aunt."

Liuli was slightly startled. She didn't expect that he would avoid the topic so gently. Naturally, she couldn't continue talking. She just smiled slightly, turned to the shelf and took down another stack of clips, which were exactly the same as the six on the case. . Pei Jiu couldn't help but look a little surprised on his face, "Is this?"

Liuli said with a smile: "Of course it was given to Mr. Pei. If there is an emergency when putting it into the screen, it can be replaced. If there is no such accident, Mr. Pei can just dispose of it as he likes." The craftsmanship of the jade is special, and it will last forever after it is dyed. They are two pieces of fabric with the same pattern. Although Pei Jiu only ordered one set, there will naturally be another set.

Pei Jiu shook his head and said, "How can you dare to do this if you don't get any reward for your merits?"

Liuli smiled and said, "I do have something to trouble you about, Mr. Pei. In a few days, I will paint an illustration, but the painting must have an inscription. My writing is really shameful. After thinking about it, I have no choice but to ask Mr. Pei for help." I’m busy now. Although this set of clips is not enough for polishing my writing, it’s just a way of showing my appreciation.”

Pei Jiu seemed a little surprised. He looked at Liuli and said nothing. Liuli quickly added: "This screen is not for sale, but was entrusted by a lady privately."

Pei Jiu was silent for a moment, lowered his eyes and said with a smile, "In that case, don't you dare disobey me."

Liuli breathed a sigh of relief. When Mrs. Wu mentioned calligraphy, she thought of Pei Jiu's exquisite calligraphy. She had been a little worried before. Although this person seemed gentle and polite, he had a way that made people dare not go too far. With a friendly demeanor, as a descendant of the Pei family and an official of the imperial court, how could she, a little Hu female painter, be qualified to ask him to do such a favor? She couldn't directly say that this was a birthday gift to His Majesty! She originally thought about how to persuade him, but she didn't expect him to be so easy to talk to! Liuli hurriedly struck while the iron was hot, "Then I'd like to thank you first, but I have to wait until Jun Pei writes, but I don't know how to tell Jun Pei?"

Pei Jiu said: "This is easy. Then you send someone to find General Su's Mansion in the northeast of Changxingfang. Pei lives in the courtyard next to the east wall of General Su's Mansion. If Pei is not here, just leave a message to the gatekeeper of the courtyard. ”

Liuli's heart moved, and she suddenly remembered the doubt that had been lingering in her mind, and couldn't help but ask: "Can I ask Mr. Pei about his official taboo?"

Pei Jiu smiled faintly and said, "I don't dare to take it seriously. It's just a fool's errand to practice frugality."

His voice was obviously very soft, but in Liuli's ears, it was like a thunderbolt exploding in her ears, and for a moment there was a buzzing in her ears and in her head.

"Pei Xingjian?" She repeated almost mechanically, suddenly feeling that she must be the second best time traveler in the world, she should have thought of it a long time ago! How could a person with such mental magnanimity like Pei Jiu be a nobody? Among the children of the Pei family in this era, who could write such a good calligraphy and know things so well, who else could it be except Pei Xingjian, who was astonishing in both literary skills and martial arts?

Pei Xingjian glanced at her in surprise, and suddenly a hint of ridicule appeared on his face, "Auntie, you have also heard of Pei's name?"

Liuli was startled, and then she came to her senses. She felt that his mockery was very dazzling, and she felt a little confused in her heart. She remembered that Pei Xingjian had a rough life and became famous very late. Looking at his expression, did he still have any bad reputation at this time? Can't you do it outside? Although she was grateful to Pei Jiu, she was still a little suspicious, but the words "Pei Xingjian" had dispelled all her doubts. Her mind turned slightly, then she raised her eyebrows and said with a smile: "No, I just want to remember it better. Otherwise, if Pei Jun is unwilling to write an inscription, how can he come to complain to me?"

Pei Xingjian looked at her silently, and suddenly said seriously: "Don't worry, Madam, Pei will keep your promise."

 So you will keep your promise? Looking at the bright eyes flashing with amusement on his solemn face, Liuli couldn't help laughing.

Even long after Pei Xingjian left, this smile still stayed on Liuli's lips, making her feel inexplicably happy. It was only when shopkeeper Shi came in again that her heart suddenly moved, and she took the opportunity to find an excuse and asked: "Does the shopkeeper know that the name of Pei Jiu who ordered the order is Pei Xingjian? I always feel that this name is familiar, but I don't know where I have heard it. ”

Shopkeeper Shi smiled and said, "It turns out that Auntie has also heard of it. After I collected his documents that day, I felt that the name looked familiar. It took me two days to remember what happened, but I didn't expect that he would be like this. A kind-hearted person."

 (End of this chapter)