Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 108 Meeting Wang Wei at Yuzhen Temple

The family banquet ended smoothly without any scandals or disturbances. When Zhang Shuo and his wife got up to return to the back room, the other family members also left one after another. Some of the younger members of the family wanted to stay, so they were allowed to.

Since returning to Luoyang, Zhang Dai had not had a proper rest. Now that things had finally come to an end, coupled with the ups and downs of the day, he was also very tired. He declined his cousins' invitations to stay and went straight back to Jicui Tower to rest.

He had just finished bathing and relaxing with Ah Ying's help, and was lying on the couch in the inner room waiting for his hair to dry when he suddenly heard footsteps from the outer room, followed by a voice: "Is Sixth Master asleep? Master and Madam have come to see you."

Upon hearing this, he had Ah Ying hastily tie up his hair, then walked out of the room. He saw Zhang Jun and Madam Zheng sitting in the outer hall. He chose the first seat and asked, "Father, Madam, is there anything else?"

“I told you that you were tired from the exams and that you could come tomorrow. But my wife is very uneasy and insists on coming tonight to express her regards.”

Zhang Jun maintained his previous attitude, but subtle details revealed a deliberate effort. Ultimately, he realized that Zhang Dai was no longer someone he could easily manipulate simply because of his father's status.

Zheng's change was even more dramatic. When Zhang Dai walked in, she immediately stood up from her seat and waited for him to sit down before sitting back down herself.

However, these outward displays of attitude were all deliberately staged for others to see, and Zhang Dai didn't care about them, since they wouldn't change his opinion of Zheng Shi because of them anyway.

"I apologize for disturbing Liu Lang's rest, but if I don't make some things clear, I'm afraid I won't be able to sleep tonight."

After taking her seat, Madam Zheng made herself appear more amiable and said in a deep voice, "I recently moved to the Huixunfang villa because, firstly, your father and grandfather were arguing, and secondly, I was newly pregnant and felt uneasy at home, so I went there for a short rest. But please rest assured, Sixth Brother, the furnishings and storage in that residence have not been touched."

"Just now, thanks to Liulang's advice, and since your grandmother is willing to entrust the household affairs to me, I can no longer leave home. So I came to tell Liulang that I will move some personal belongings back tomorrow and clean thoroughly. Liulang can move in anytime."

At this point, Madam Zheng couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, thinking that among all the wives of the main wives in the two capitals, none had ever been as accommodating and tolerant as she was towards a concubine's son.

"It's nothing, Madam, you've gone to all this trouble to come and tell me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai casually replied that he did not plan to move back to his villa anytime soon, but considering that some acquaintances from the capital would inevitably come to offer their congratulations and visits in a while, he would indeed need a place to receive them.

He quite liked Huixunfang's villa; its location was excellent and the environment elegant. As for the fact that the couple had occupied it for a period of time, he could settle that later in the overall account.

The two had never gotten along, and if Zhang Jun hadn't dragged her away, Zheng wouldn't have bothered to come and apologize in the middle of the night. But since she was already there, she couldn't keep up the act.

“Ah Ying, this maid, has become increasingly outstanding in recent years. I heard that you served your husband on his westward journey the other day, and now you are accompanying him on his return journey eastward, making a name for yourself. You are truly a rare and loyal woman.”

As she spoke, Madam Zheng gestured for a maidservant to come forward. She placed a silk cloth bundle on the table, took out a beaded shirt from it, and said with a forced smile, "Such a loyal servant deserves a generous reward. This beaded shirt was made by me when I was young and lived at home. It has been kept for many years and no longer fits me. I will give it to you as a token of my appreciation."

"Serving my master is my duty, and I dare not accept such a reward from my mistress!"

Upon hearing this, Ah Ying waved her hands repeatedly and said...

Zhang Junze said from the side, "The lady's household has always been generous and kind. Your maid has served my son so well, she deserves a reward! We are not a stingy or mean family, so please accept it!"

"You are too kind, Madam, please accept this!"

Zhang Dai was speechless for a moment when he saw the couple staying up late to flatter his maid. If they had been less shameless, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths.

As Zheng watched Ah Ying step forward to accept the beaded shirt, she felt a pang of reluctance. But she quickly looked at Zhang Dai and said, "Sixth Brother, your brother has been practicing his art at home for a long time without making any progress. I heard that you want to discipline the children of the clan school, so I want to send him back. I hope you can take it to heart and teach him."

"I am young and impetuous, and when I encounter something that doesn't suit me, I'm afraid I won't speak gently and patiently. You should know this beforehand, Madam."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng frowned again. Before she could speak, Zhang Jun said, "As long as it doesn't damage his appearance, you can discipline him! It's late, you should get some rest."

After saying this, Zhang Jun pulled Zheng Shi up and headed out the door.

"My lord, you really accept this? Such a magnificent robe is not something a servant like me should wear!"

When Zhang Dai returned to his room after seeing the two off, he saw A-Ying holding the beaded shirt with a troubled expression. He asked her about it and said with a smile, "The beads and jade are not polished enough. I'll pick out a more beautiful one for you when I have time. Since it's been sent, you can accept it. If you don't like wearing it, you can sell it for money and keep it for yourself."

"It's not that I don't like it, it's just that I dare not! What personal gain do I have? Everything I own belongs to my lord!"

As Aying spoke, she carefully put the beaded shirt away and placed it in the inner trunk. Before she could turn around, Alang had already pressed himself against her. The girl asked in a trembling voice, "Alang, aren't you tired?" "I've already rested well. Auntie and the others are returning tomorrow morning, so I have time to rest properly."

Zhang Dai, a young man spearing fish, said with a spirited laugh that his lotus flower was in full bloom. He had been working hard on his studies for days, and his spirit had been stretched thin. He needed to relax from the inside out.

"When Mother returns, she will surely scold me for being wicked... Ah Lang, good Ah Lang, bad, bad Ah Lang!"

The fish's long tails swayed, creating ripples on the lake's surface.

Nothing was said that night, but the next morning, the Zhang family mansion was bustling with activity. Zhang had just declared in front of the imperial city yesterday that he would host a banquet for guests, so preparations naturally began.

Zhang Shuo attached great importance to this banquet, and even specially chose a day a few days later that was not a day of court assembly. Then he drafted the list of invitees and sent his servants to deliver the invitations.

While Zhang Dai's success in passing the imperial examination was insufficient to reverse Zhang Shuo's still somewhat dire situation, simply remaining low-key and patient was not the best way to secure his future. Sometimes, it was necessary to seize an opportunity to communicate with old friends and colleagues, thereby achieving a tacit understanding between the court and the public.

Zhang Dai didn't need to handle these matters. The next day, he got up early and asked his family to prepare a gift. Then he went to Anguo Temple in Zhengpingfang to thank Princess Yuzhen.

The world has many layers, and different people can exert different influences and roles.

Take this examination for example. If Zhang Dai had used Gao Lishi's connections, even if he had passed smoothly, he wouldn't have received much praise or recognition.

Qingliu and eunuchs were naturally at odds. Through his conversation with Gao Lishi, he could sense that Gao Lishi held the officials of the Southern Province in high esteem and did not act arrogantly because of his favor with the emperor.

Princess Yuzhen, though living a life of seclusion, was also passionate about the mortal world. Her otherworldly yet worldly demeanor greatly satisfied the aesthetic tastes and imaginations of the literati. She could be considered the pinnacle of purity and desire. Zhang Dai's success in becoming her disciple was a refined affair among the literati.

When Zhang Dai returned to Anguo Temple, the number of visitors waiting to pay their respects had only increased. As they saw Zhang Dai approaching, they recited the poem he had composed the previous day for the imperial examination: "The music ends, but the person is gone; only the green peaks remain on the river..."

Zhang Dai waved his hand in response to the chanting, and then entered Anguo Temple without any hindrance. This time, he did not need to take out the letter from the Princess of Yunyang County, and was directly led to the Jingsi Hall.

Before even entering the Taoist temple, Zhang Dai heard the sound of a zither being played. Upon entering, he saw a handsome young man nearing thirty sitting in the hall, playing the zither and singing: "The mournful tune is as sharp as metal and stone, the clear sound enters the deep darkness..."

The Tang people revered the prosody of poetry, especially between the two capitals, where any masterpiece would quickly spread. This poem, "Xiangling Playing the Se," composed yesterday, could be heard by Zhang Dai wherever he went today, and was even set to music in a Taoist temple. Its melody was poignant, beautiful, and evocative.

Not wanting to disturb them, Zhang Dai stood in front of the hall and waited for the person inside to finish singing before stepping inside.

Princess Yuzhen, sitting in the hall, was applauding the person playing the zither and singing when she looked up and saw Zhang Dai approaching. She smiled and said, "Zhang Lang's writing is wonderful and moving. His new poem is even better than his previous works. It makes Xiangling's spirit come alive and people's souls are captivated!"

"If it weren't for the fairy's help, I would still be stuck at home, and I would have no time to compose a song for Xiangling. I have come again today to express my gratitude!"

As Zhang Dai walked into the hall, he bowed to Princess Yuzhen while glancing at the person playing the zither. The zither player also stood up from his seat and was looking at Zhang Dai.

"This Wang Shisan is also a talented scholar of the previous generation. He was very pleased to hear of Zhang Lang's new work and invited him to sing it here. Does this melody please Zhang Lang?"

Princess Yuzhen, seeing the two people in the hall sizing each other up, smiled and introduced them.

"Could you be Wang Wei, the scholar Wang?"

A sudden inspiration struck Zhang Dai, and he quickly bowed to the other party and asked.

The young man was none other than Wang Wei. Upon hearing Zhang Dai mention his name, he couldn't help but smile and returned the bow, saying, "The past is unbearable, and I have been away from the capital for many years. I never expected that a new talent would still know my name. Although you are young, Zhang Lang, your talent is already outstanding. Your excellent poem in the examination makes me ashamed of my previous works. Meeting you today, you are truly excellent in both form and spirit, which is a delight to my heart!"

"Scholar, your talent and reputation were established early on; those who come after you are merely following in your footsteps. I am delighted to receive such praise; I am truly fortunate!"

Unlike himself, who was just a nobody, Wang Wei was a real talent. Zhang Dai had been planning when he could meet him, but he didn't expect to meet him at Princess Yuzhen's house today. Moreover, it seemed that Wang Wei had a good impression of him.

This is normal. Qian Qi, the true author of "Xiangling Plays the Zither," was also a semi-official and semi-recluse. When he served as the magistrate of Lantian County, he was Wang Wei's neighbor. They shared similar interests and exchanged poems.

So, in the Tang Dynasty, copying literary works required a lot of nerve. You never knew when you might run into a poet's friend, or even the poet himself! It wasn't easy to do it unless you were someone like Zhang Dai who could put your face in your pocket at any time.

(End of this chapter)