HCB Chapter 1482 True Intention
Chapter 1482 True Intention
"Has the emperor summoned me?" Mr. Song was worried that his son would cause trouble during his first visit to the emperor, so he wanted to go with him. He was an old minister, and even if the emperor made trouble like Song Tingzhi, he would still give him some face for the sake of his old minister.
"No, we are only summoning Shanglinling. The order is urgent. Sir Song, please don't delay any longer. Let Shanglinling come with us immediately. The Emperor will punish you if you wait too long."
"Okay, okay." Lord Song gave Song Tingzhi a few instructions, and then he followed the officer away.
It was his first time meeting the emperor, and Song Tingzhi was a little nervous, wondering if his resignation memorial had angered the emperor.
"Your Majesty, I, Song Tingzhi, pay my respects to you. Long live the Emperor."
"Stand up, no need to be polite."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
In the hall, there was no one else except the high and mighty Wan Lianxing and a few servants serving him.
Song Tingzhi stood up, still with his head bowed respectfully, as if waiting for Wan Lianxing's decision. This was his first time to meet the emperor. In the past, he would have been excited and ecstatic, but now, his heart was pounding, as if he was about to be tortured.
Just as Song Tingzhi was still sorting out his thoughts, he heard the high-ranking Wan Lianxing speak slowly, "I heard from your father that you are the only son of the Song family."
Upon hearing this, Song Tingzhi's body trembled slightly. He didn't expect that the emperor would ask this.
"Your Majesty, I am indeed the only eldest son of the Song family, and I am also a concubine's son."
He is an only son, so who cares whether he is born of a legitimate wife or a concubine? Lord Song, who is nearly fifty years old, is also an honest and upright old minister. He took a radical approach for his lame son and tried to win over the prince in order to find a job for Song Tingzhi that is neither big nor small.
In fact, there is no need to go around in such a big circle. As long as Lord Song asks Wan Lianxing, Wan Lianxing will give him this face. It's just that there is no precedent for a cripple to serve as an official in the court. But Wan Lianxing likes to break the old system and implement new laws. As long as this person has real talent and knowledge, Wan Lianxing doesn't care whether he has a physical illness. He is willing to give such people a chance to enter the officialdom.
"I just read your memorial. The handwriting is excellent. You must have put a lot of effort into it. Even within the Hanlin Academy, there aren't five people who can surpass you."
"Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I have been learning calligraphy from my father since I was young, copying calligraphy and inscriptions on stone tablets. My talent is average, but I am just a little more diligent than others."
This person's words and deeds were appropriate, neither humble nor arrogant. He was not overjoyed by Wan Lianxing's praise. Instead, Wan Lianxing admired his calm character. He could see the shadow of his father Song Ruhong in him, who was deep, steady, thorough and cautious.
"Song Tingzhi, can you help me see how much worse this calligraphy is compared to yours?"
At this time, a servant beside Wan Lianxing brought the calligraphy in Wan Lianxing's hand to Song Tingzhi. After Song Tingzhi carefully unfolded it, there were only two words on it: "People's Livelihood"!
Song Tingzhi shuddered, "This?"
Is this to let him read the words?
"Tell me how this calligraphy is written."
Song Tingzhi didn't dare to think too much and could only comment on the words. "Your Majesty, these two characters are so powerful that they can be seen through the paper. They are vigorous and powerful. They are rare and good characters."
"How does it compare to your handwriting?"
Song Tingzhi hesitated a little. The calligraphy was indeed good, but compared with his own calligraphy, it still lacked some meaning.
"Your Majesty, each has its own merits."
This is equivalent to not answering Wan Lianxing's words.
"I've heard a lot about you. I've heard that you're someone who dares to speak your mind. Why can't you be so frank and honest with me? I can see the problem with the calligraphy. How can you, a master of fine brushwork, not see it? Are the rumors false, or do you just not want to speak frankly with me?"
"I dare not. These two characters are wild and unrestrained, while my characters are thin, vigorous and upright. I think these two types of calligraphy cannot be compared."
Wan Lianxing nodded slightly, then asked Song Tingzhi, "Do you think your handwriting is better, or do you think these two characters are better?"
"Your Majesty...Your Majesty prefers thin, strong, and upright handwriting."
"How dare you say that the emperor's calligraphy is not as good as yours." The person who spoke was Suiying. When he roared, the whole hall was filled with Suiying's powerful voice.
Wan Lianxing turned his head and rolled his eyes at Suiying, saying, "What are you shouting about? Are you trying to scare me to death?"
"This person is blind and questions your handwriting."
"It's better to question my handwriting than to question me as a person. Why are you butting in? If you dare to raise your voice again, you will leave."
At this time, Song Tingzhi was already horrified when he heard this. He suddenly looked up at Wan Lianxing, only to see a side profile. Although it was just a glance, and it was a side profile, it was enough to reveal his extraordinary character.
It was a flawless profile, like a finely crafted jade, pure and noble, as smooth as jade. It was also like a plum blossom blooming in the snow in the cold winter, pure and clean, blooming alone in the cold, with a proud character and independent from the world.
Women exclaimed when they saw him, and men were stunned when they saw him. What a handsome man!
Just as Wan Lianxing withdrew his gaze from Suiying's figure, Song Tingzhi quickly lowered his head and knelt on the ground: "I am guilty. I didn't recognize Mount Tai. I didn't know it was the emperor's imperial calligraphy. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Song Tingzhi had just guessed that the two words "Minsheng" might be the imperial calligraphy of Wan Lianxing, but at that time he was always thinking about the profound meaning of these two words that Wan Lianxing showed him. He didn't believe that Wan Lianxing would summon an unknown person like him to discuss calligraphy when he was in his twilight years.
He had heard that Wan Lianxing valued talent, but he would not look up to him just because he wrote beautiful Slender Gold calligraphy. He had heard that everyone in the Hanlin Academy was extremely talented and well-educated, and everyone had beautiful handwriting and could copy famous calligraphy works. He was not a rare talent in front of those Hanlin scholars.
Wan Lianxing's voice was gentle, no longer as stern as when he spoke to Cheng Youning half an hour ago. "What crime have you committed? Stand up. I am the one who does not tell the truth in front of me."
Song Tingzhi was somewhat confused about the real purpose of Wan Lianxing summoning him. Before he came, he guessed that his resignation had angered Wan Lianxing, and Wan Lianxing wanted to punish him. However, Wan Lianxing did not mention his resignation at all, and talked about calligraphy when they met.
For a moment, he had no idea of Wan Lianxing's true intentions.
But according to his father, Wan Lianxing did not have the leisure to recite poems, write couplets, carve inscriptions on cliffs, appreciate flowers and paint. He was diligent in his work and loved his people, and his heart was always on the frontier. Recently, he was busy abolishing bad policies and implementing new laws. Every day, ministers who came to see him lined up outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, and he rarely had time to spare. How could such a person have time to see an unknown official like him?