In mid-May, Uehara Junpei finally left Shanghai. His work was demanding, and he could not stay in the rear for long. Ning Zhiheng and high-ranking officials from all walks of life in Shanghai held a grand farewell ceremony for Lieutenant General Uehara Junpei and sent him off on the train to Nanjing.
Uehara Junpei repeatedly instructed Ning Zhiheng to pay attention to his own safety and to print the manuscript as soon as possible and send it to the front-line command in Wuhan.
Ning Zhiheng agreed to all of them, then waved goodbye and watched the train disappear into the distance.
With this, Ning Zhiheng's two major backers in the Japanese high-level leadership have both left Shanghai. After more than two months of contact, Ning Zhiheng's status is no longer what it used to be.
Previously, he was merely a collateral descendant of the Fujiwara family and a close friend of General Uehara Junpei, despite their age difference.
His status has now undergone a tremendous change. He is now a direct descendant of the Fujiwara family who is highly valued, and the nephew of Lieutenant General Uehara. It can be said that among the Japanese high-ranking officials in Shanghai, no one can be higher than him in terms of social class.
Since Uehara Junpei left, Ning Zhiheng has resumed his old lifestyle. The next day, he came to the Mulan Academy. In the past few days, the calligrapher and painter Ito Hiroki has completed a painting and invited his friends from the academy to come and appreciate it. This is a good practice in the academy.
Whoever completes a satisfactory work should invite everyone to appreciate it, considering it a refined matter, and at the same time, it can enhance their reputation in the circle, which is a good thing for these artists.
Ning Zhiheng once exchanged one of his calligraphy works for a seal by sculptor Takano Takayuki, which also expressed his appreciation for Takano's work and aimed to strengthen their relationship.
But when he entered the calligraphy and painting hall today, he was somewhat surprised to find that everyone was sitting around a woman in white, watching.
Ning Zhiheng stepped forward slowly and took a closer look. He was taken aback. The Japanese woman, dressed in a pure white kimono, was facing away from him, concentrating on creating a flower arrangement and demonstrating the art of Japanese flower arranging.
Inside a narrow-mouthed, tall, blue glass vase, nine green grass branches were arranged at the top, middle, and bottom, creating a unique style. Three brightly blooming bellflowers were inserted in a specific order and position.
Overall, it is vertical and slightly cylindrical, with beautiful lines in its floral arrangement structure. Upon closer inspection, it exudes an extraordinary, solemn, and noble temperament, and is extremely rhythmic.
Ning Zhiheng nodded to himself. This woman's flower arrangement skills were quite remarkable. She had arranged many opposing yet complementary materials in a vase, creating a beautiful natural scene.
A moment later, the woman finished her work, turned around, and respectfully bowed to the people around her.
Ning Zhiheng was immediately taken aback. This young woman was actually Kitaoka Ryoko. She was wearing a pure white kimono, and her ink-black hair was tied back, making her extremely beautiful and charming.
Applause erupted, and Hiroki Ito clapped his hands and said, "Miss Ryoko's Tachibana no Michi is truly magnificent, combining harmony and elegance, perfectly expressing the way of nature. I haven't seen such a wonderful work in a long time!"
The others also praised it. Ning Zhiheng clapped along with everyone, but he was surprised. Why would Kitaoka Ryoko come to Mulan Academy to perform her flower arrangement skills?
Kitaoka Ryoko is no ordinary woman; she is a formal military officer with a military rank. Yet she is dressed like this. Ning Zhiheng would never believe that she has no ulterior motive. However, he is not in a hurry and will just quietly watch her performance.
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