Chapter 116 Outing (Continued)

"This is just writing, but the great scholar Su Shi is more than just writing." The emperor seemed to be completely overwhelmed by Mr. Xu, and he really just sat there and talked about literature and romance, which was a good sign. "It is said that Tang poetry and Song lyrics, Li Bai of Tang poetry and Su Shi of Song lyrics are all like gods; even if it is just poetry, the great scholar Su Shi is also the best in this dynasty; in addition, there are paintings and calligraphy. Among Su, Huang, Mi, and Cai, I learned from Su and Huang... Throughout the ages, there have been many saints and famous ministers, but only a few have made great achievements. However, it does not prevent the great scholar Su from making words. Su Shi has only been gone for a few years? But the three words "Su Dongpo" are probably enough to be immortal, right?"

Everyone naturally sighed.

"Bring it here." Zhao Jiu sighed for a while, and seeing that the atmosphere was good, he waved his hand again.

As everyone was astonished, Feng Yi respectfully held something over. It was a scroll of calligraphy. As Feng Yi and Yang Yizhong carefully opened the scroll, everyone was even more excited as Emperor Zhao said, "Come and see, gentlemen. This is the authentic work of Master Dongpo, 'Preface to the Red Cliff'..."

Everyone could no longer restrain themselves, even Xu Jingheng could no longer stand still, and hurried forward to take a look, all of them were just amazed. The four gentlemen only watched for a moment, and several scholars and ministers became impatient, wishing they could immediately drive the four people away and take a look themselves.

However, Zhao Jiu didn't seem to notice these people's attitude at all. Instead, he suddenly asked a strange question: "Is Ma Xingzu okay?"

Everyone was puzzled, but then they saw the escort Feng Yi shouting to a eunuch beside him to carefully take the original copy of "Preface to the Red Cliff", and then he ran away himself. A moment later, he came over from the hill in the distance with several people. The leader was none other than the famous court painter who had recently arrived in Nanyang, Ma Xingzu, the so-called youngest of the big ponies. Everyone was shocked.

"How is the painting?" Zhao Jiu asked with a smile from afar.

"Your Majesty, I have done my job well." Ma Xingzu came up to him, bowed his head, and spoke with a slightly excited tone. "It has been roughly completed, and we just need to mount it."

As they were talking, several more eunuchs came over carefully carrying a long table. On top of it was a long scroll with ink that had not yet completely dried up… The ministers on the riverbank could not help but stamp their feet. How could they not know that the ugly way they ate the fish just now was a trick by the emperor, and Ma Xingzu had it painted into the scroll!

In fact, this was because they did not understand the good intentions of Emperor Zhao. At this time, the sun was setting, and the light was coming from the west, illuminating the river bank cleanly and neatly. As the saying goes, with good lighting, everything looks good. Ma Xingzu was sitting west facing east at this time, and it was the perfect time for him to paint this picture.

Of course, Emperor Zhao wouldn't care if someone was painted ugly... He hurried to look at the painting, and saw that his posture was quite neat and prominent, so he put his mind at ease and appreciated it carefully... However, Zhao Jiu looked at it for a long time and couldn't tell whether it was good or bad. He just thought it was quite interesting, especially the misty Baihe River and the lot of white space in the distance, which contrasted with the tiny figures with different postures on the river bank.

While the others were feeling uneasy, Emperor Zhao looked at it for who knows how long, and suddenly he picked up a pen on the table, and then directly wrote a paragraph in the blank space at the corner of the scroll using the Su-style calligraphy that his body was accustomed to.

It is just like this: the river flows with a sound, the cliffs are thousands of feet high; the mountain is high and the moon is small, the water is clear and the truth is revealed. How many days and months have passed, and the mountains and rivers are no longer recognizable.

The four gentlemen around watched quietly and remained silent.

After the official finished writing, he called another person over: "Is it Su Tan?"

"Your humble servant greets the emperor!" Su Shi's eldest grandson hurried forward and knelt on the ground.

"Get up, you are the guest of honor today." Zhao Jiu chuckled and sighed, then pointed to the table. "You gave me the "First Red Cliff Fu", I am very grateful, but I have no way to repay you, so I can only give you this "Baihe Country Tour Picture" and write "Second Red Cliff Fu" as a return gift."

Su Dan was very nervous and seemed to have no idea what the emperor meant.

However, Lu Haowen could not bear to watch it any longer, so he quickly reminded him: "Thank you quickly. With this painting and this calligraphy, and the discussion of the Eight Great Masters by the government today, are you still afraid that the great scholar Su cannot be vindicated?"

Su Dan suddenly understood, and bowed again, tears streaming down his face.

Zhao Jiu sighed upon seeing this, and turned his head to force a smile, saying, "Mr. Lu, I will not pass you a note today. I will issue an edict to abolish the ban on the Yuanyou Party!"

"I thank the emperor for his great grace." Upon hearing this, Lu Haowen actually knelt down to express his gratitude, and no one around him expressed any objection. On the contrary, Ye Mengde and others also followed suit and paid their respects with great ceremony.

Zhao Jiu did not panic, but easily helped Lu Haowen up... He knew that Lu Xianggong's ancestors were also on the Yuanyou Party Monument.

However, after helping his own prime minister to stand up and carrying the painting to the Su brothers, Emperor Zhao shook his head and laughed: "I still don't understand. My prime ministers are all Yuanyou party members, and the Yuanyou party ban is only in name only. Why are you still pressing us so hard?"

"Your Majesty!" Seeing that Lu Haowen was satisfied and still unwilling to say more, Xu Jingheng hesitated again and again, and finally bowed solemnly again. "In the court, the words right and wrong are of great importance. As the saying goes, if the name is not right, the words will not flow..."

Zhao Jiu forced another smile: "This is what I'm afraid of... Lord Xu, do we have to distinguish right from wrong? If according to your opinion, the ban on Yuanyou Party members is lifted, does that mean the Yuanfeng Party members should be banned again? If so, Lord Li Gang's biological father and Lord Zong Zezong were both promoted by Lu Huiqing, should they be expelled together?"

Xu Jingheng looked embarrassed and could only bow his head and say: "I have absolutely no such intention. As long as the government can posthumously confer titles on the Yuanyou Party and clarify the right and wrong, the Yuanfeng Party will be forgiven for what happened."

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It’s even more exciting later!