Qingci, also known as Green Chapter, is a memorial presented to heaven during Taoist rituals. Because it is written on green vine paper, it is called Qingci.
In fact, people who practice Taoism burn paper to express their blessings to the gods, while ordinary people burn paper for their deceased relatives.
Emperor Jing of Yuan Dynasty practiced Taoism and sought immortality, so naturally he liked Qingci. However, Qingci was more difficult to write than the eight-part essay required for the imperial examination, and few people could write it. Song Shiwen once wrote a famous Qingci, and he was deeply favored by the emperor, which was not unrelated to this.
"Qingci?"
As soon as Song Chi finished speaking, Emperor Yuan Jing was visibly delighted. He knew that Song Chi was a talented man and the Qing Ci he wrote would naturally be excellent.
"Show it up."
The young eunuch beside Emperor Yuan Jing came before Song Chi. This eunuch was the one who had announced the imperial edict at the gate of Taichang Temple after the examination that day. His name was Li Jing. He looked young, probably less than 30 years old, and had a fair and clean body.
He took the Qingci from Song Chi and presented it to Emperor Yuan Jing.
Emperor Yuan Jing couldn't wait to take a closer look, and soon he was delighted. "As expected of you, the number one scholar chosen by me, you can actually write such a beautiful article. This is the best Qingci I have ever seen, even Wen Chang can't compare to it."
In the Song Dynasty, characters were long, which meant to prolong the writing.
“Leaving the heavens to answer the will of heaven, how can I bear it? Rule the four seas and mourn for the people, my heart is broken.”
Emperor Yuan Jing couldn't help but read it out loud, his joy was beyond words.
Li Jing was shocked. He never expected Song Chi to be so good at flattery.
This sentence means that Your Majesty was originally a deity among the immortals, but was sent by heaven to descend to the mortal world to become emperor, giving up being a deity to become a mortal. He gave up enjoying the bliss of heaven and came to the mortal world to serve the people. It is really helpless.
How could he not know the emperor's preferences when he was serving him? This sentence was completely written on His Majesty's heart.
Moreover, the name of this Qingci poem is Jingyun Fu, and Jing is Yuan Jing, right?
He not only wrote a poem but also flattered the emperor.
He originally thought that Song Chi was talented and ambitious, but he didn't expect that he was actually a flatterer.
Fortunately, he is not a eunuch, otherwise he would be my great enemy.
While Li Jing was lost in thought, Emperor Yuan Jing had already finished reading the entire Qingci. He couldn't put it down and read it over and over again. After reading it five times in a row, he stood up and ordered, "Go and copy this Jingyun Fu. Then send it to the Hanlin Academy and have it copied hundreds or thousands of copies. Then publicize it for me..."
"Yes." Li Jing bowed and took it and went to the side hall. He knew that Emperor Yuan Jing also intended to send him away and talk to Song Chi alone.
"Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Emperor Yuan Jing walked out from behind the dragon case and looked at Song Chi with increasing satisfaction. He was young, promising and talented. Most importantly, Song Chi could provide whatever he wanted. He was even more intelligent than Song Shiwen when he was young.
You don't even feel that he is flattering you. He is someone who can completely resonate with you.
Song Chi bowed and said, "I just wrote a Qingci poem, which is nothing. How dare I ask Your Majesty for a reward?"
This was a simple reply, but Emperor Yuan Jing's expression suddenly changed. He returned to the dragon case, looked at Song Chi coldly, and asked in a low voice, "I know your background. You are Song Shiwen's son, right?"
This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, causing the temperature in the hall to drop instantly.
Song Chi's face looked calm and his heart was at peace. He knew that Emperor Yuan Jing was testing him, and he had already prepared an excuse for this.
"The Prime Minister and I are from the same hometown and happen to share the same surname, which has led to a lot of speculation. Some people even say that I am the Prime Minister's illegitimate son. This is completely false. Your Majesty must be aware that the Prime Minister and I have a very bad relationship, almost hostile. How could such a father-son relationship exist in the world?"
Song Chi straightened his back and said, "If Your Majesty doesn't believe it, you can summon the Prime Minister to confront him."
"I just heard some rumors."
Emperor Yuan Jing brushed it off lightly, but then asked coldly, "It may be nonsense to say you're related to Song Shiwen, but you're definitely related to Lu Taiyuan. At such a young age, you're looking for a mentor, a backer, and engaging in factional strife. What are you trying to do?"
This is an interview. If you pass the interview, you will be promoted to a high position. If you fail, you will be banished to the cold palace.
Emperor Yuan Jing was a manipulative and extremely suspicious person.
The serious factional strife in the court was caused by him. Since the Wen Party was powerful, he intended to support the Qingliu Party. But now the serious factional strife has affected the stability of the court, so he wants to support another person from these two parties to achieve the balance he wants.
That's why he made this test. If Song Chi did not rely on these two people and was independent, he would still look up to them. If Song Chi was just a puppet of the two, he would not be worthy of his attention.
The emperor's heart is unfathomable.
His mentor is Feng Yuan, his backer is Prince Qing, and his accomplices are the Qingliu Party.
Everyone in the court said that Song Chi was a disciple of the second assistant and a member of the Qingliu Party.
Song Chi said in a deep voice, "I have no mentor, no backers, and no allies. I came from Ji County, and since I participated in the imperial examination, I have relied on my real talent and knowledge. I have written every stroke and every article."
"If I say someone helps me, the only one who truly helps me is Your Majesty. It was Your Majesty who personally appointed me to become the first place in the Holy Pre-Sage Examination, and then the first place in the Holy Pre-Sage Examination. If I truly have a mentor, then Your Majesty is my mentor. I am the first place in the Holy Pre-Sage Examination, a true disciple of the Son of Heaven. If I say I have a backer, Your Majesty is my backer. If I say I have an accomplice, then Your Majesty is my accomplice."
"Except Your Majesty, no one is worthy of my kindness!"
Emperor Yuan Jing had a dazed look on his face. He had thought about how Song Chi would answer, perhaps an explanation, a sophistry, or something else, but he never expected him to say it like this.
Your Majesty is my mentor.
Your Majesty is my support.
Your Majesty is my comrade.
Only Your Majesty is worthy of my kindness.
Every word struck Emperor Yuan Jing's heart like a heavy hammer.
What a sincere young man, with such a pure heart. This is the first time he has been so moved since he became emperor.
The court officials, the concubines in the harem, and even his sons were not on the same page with him. All they wanted was to fight for power and profit.
Now there is someone who shares his views.
Song Chi sneered in his heart, but deliberately said loudly: "What I said is from the bottom of my heart, and heaven and earth can bear witness to it."
As he said this, he was about to kneel down, which was of course just a pretense. Sure enough, Emperor Yuan Jing got there first and supported him.
"I believe you, I believe you are speaking from the heart!"
Li Jing, who was copying Jingyun Fu in the side hall, turned his head and took a look. He could not hear the sound, but he could see the scene of Emperor Yuan Jing supporting Song Chi through the gauze curtain.
He was so shocked that he couldn't even hold the pen, and he didn't care that the ink was dripping onto the paper.
The emperor is the supreme ruler, and kneeling down to him is common sense.
But His Majesty supported Song Chi and refused to let him kneel. He had served His Majesty for a long time, but this was the first time he had seen such treatment. Even the Prime Minister did not receive such treatment.
What did Song Chi say to His Majesty that could make His Majesty do this?
He was stunned.
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