Song Chuyi also ignored Ji Mian, picked up the teacup and took a sip, glanced at Gongsun Yingji a few times, and said, “Will you go or stay?”
“You have not yet answered my question. Can a talent like you be called a state scholar?” Gongsun Yingji pressed further.
It is easy to judge others, but hard to judge oneself.
Over the past two days, even if everyone had not witnessed Song Chuyi’s performance with their own eyes, they had heard of it. There was no youthful arrogance or sharpness at all. Hearing such a incisive question, they all waited with great interest to see how Song Chuyi would answer.
Truly, none of them minded the excitement being too great. Song Chuyi propped up her head and asked slowly, “A great talent of the state is called a state scholar. May I ask, young master, what is a great talent of the state?”
“One who can make the state prosperous is a great talent of the state. Do you all agree?” Gongsun Yingji asked.
This statement was somewhat one-sided, but it could not be said to be wrong.
Naturally, some among the crowd agreed, and some did not.
“Speaking this way, I considers myself not to be a state scholar, and in the future it will also be impossible for me to become one.” Song Chuyi looked at Gongsun Yingji, saw the expression of “just as expected” appear on his face, and suddenly smiled, saying, “Because I will devote my whole life to the way of destroying states, not understanding the method of prosperity.”
Cough.
Many of those who were drinking could not help but choke, and coughs rose one after another.
Gongsun Yingji stared at her in utter shock, and for a long while could not say a single word.
Nowadays speech was very free. Even insulting the ruler of a state was not considered a crime, so long as one could give a sufficient reason. Moreover, Song Chuyi was only speaking of personal aspirations.
The way of destroying states, to put it more tactfully, meant helping one’s state resist foreign enemies and destroy other states that posed a threat to it. To put it bluntly, it meant helping the state one served destroy other states and unify the world.
Everyone present was also young, and upon suddenly hearing these words, they could not help but feel their blood boil. Ji Mian quietly reminded her, “Destroying other states without cause is neither benevolent nor righteous. Just the condemnations of the Confucians and Mohists alone would be hard for you to withstand. Huajin, be careful with your words.”
The Confucians advocated governing the state with “benevolence,” while the Mohists advocated “universal love” and “non-aggression.” Song Chuyi’s idea ran directly counter to both.
The corners of Song Chuyi’s mouth lifted. She looked around and said softly, “The way of destroying states is the way of emperors and kings. It is what a mighty ruler most desires in his heart. What do you all think?”
In an age of great contention, which ruler among the Seven Heroes did not harbor ambitions of hegemony? Which ruler did not dream of destroying the other states and becoming the sole master of the world? It could not be denied that what Song Chuyi said was the truth.
The crowd did not chime in, but in their hearts they all deeply agreed with what she said.
Song Chuyi said with a smile, “These words are meant to express my gratitude for all of you coming to visit me specially on a snowy day. They are a gift I give especially to you. And just as Wumei said, once these words spread, I will certainly become the target of public criticism, and even worse, may face danger to his life. But since the gift has already been given, whether you keep it at home and savor it carefully, or throw it into the streets for people to trample on, is up to you.”
The crowd was silent for a moment, then all set down their teacups and wine cups and saluted, saying, “Your precious words should naturally be regarded as a peerless treasure.”
Song Chuyi cupped her hands in return. That was what they said, but Song Chuyi could well imagine that these words would not stay contained. At best, she could only slightly control the speed at which they spread.
After several rounds of wine, most people were somewhat tipsy. Ji Mian was the one who had to pay the bill, and with Song Chuyi watching him, he had not gotten drunk.
Coming out of the tavern, Ji Mian and Song Chuyi said farewell to everyone and got into a carriage.
The snow fell thickly, and Ji Mian hummed a little tune, looking very happy.
Seeing that when he had arrived he had looked as if his heart were being carved out and his flesh cut away, yet now he was abnormally excited, Song Chuyi could not help saying, “Ji Wumei, have you gone mad?”
Ji Mian reached out and suddenly punched Song Chuyi in the chest, laughing loudly, “Huajin, I realize I still underestimated you. Not only are your words sharp, your methods are impressive too.”
“Damn you, from now on no touching or grabbing.” Song Chuyi rubbed her chest. The punch had not really hurt, and there was nothing much to hide in her chest anyway… but she was still annoyed.
Ji Mian patted her shoulder, the smile on his face not diminishing in the slightest.
The wind swept in with heavy snow, making their broad sleeves and great robes flap loudly. Ji Mian had nowhere to put the joy in his heart, and suddenly spread his arms and sang loudly, “When the water of the Canglang is clear, it can wash my cap tassels; when the water of the Canglang is muddy, it can wash my feet.”
Amid Ji Mian’s loud chanting, Song Chuyi gazed at the vast expanse of white and the snow flying all over the sky, and suddenly also felt an urge to express what was in her heart. She could not help but shout loudly as well, “O snow, in your gleaming whiteness, cover the filth of the world; O wind, in your bitter cold, brush away the dust of the heart.”
After the two finished shouting, they burst out laughing.
“What broad spirit you two gentlemen have.” Suddenly someone came riding through the snow on horseback.
Before Song Chuyi could see the person clearly, he recognized the voice. “Brother Yugui.”
Xing Shou was dressed in a pale blue broad-sleeved wide robe, drifting over on horseback like a cloud. When he came near, one could see his brows like dark rhinoceros horn, his eyes like the clear moon, his handsome face bright and open, and his smiling appearance even more such that people did not dare look him directly in the eye.
“Brother Yugui, what fine bearing.” Song Chuyi praised.
The carriage stopped. Xing Shou slowed his horse and looked Song Chuyi and Ji Mian over. His gaze fell on Song Chuyi, and his smile was dazzlingly bright.
Song Chuyi saw the bundle on his horse and was slightly startled. “Brother Yugui, are you going on a long journey?”
“Exactly. This time I traveled to Wey. Yesterday, after hearing your words, I already felt it was enough. Today I set out to return to my sect, and deliberately passed by the tavern, hoping to see you once more. I did not expect that upon inquiring, I would learn we had just missed each other. I was grieving over it when I heard you singing loudly, and I was overjoyed.” Xing Shou took a small bottle from his sleeve pouch and tossed it to Ji Mian. “This is a secret medicine of my sect. It can cure a hundred illnesses. Let it be my farewell gift to Brother Wumei.”
As he spoke, he took out a brocade pouch from his bosom and handed it to Song Chuyi. “A farewell gift.”
Song Chuyi took the brocade pouch, fumbled around on herself for quite a while, but only found a money pouch. She could not help saying awkwardly, “Parting in such haste, I actually have no proper gift to offer.”
“You need not mind. If fate allows us to meet again another day, I will still ask you to prepare a pot of clear wine to welcome me and wash away the dust of travel.” Xing Shou said with a smile.
“A promise is a promise.” Song Chuyi cupped his hands and said, “Take care, gentleman.”
“Take care.” Ji Mian also cupped his hands in farewell.
“Wait.” Song Chuyi untied her great cloak from her body. “The wind and snow are fierce. I give it to you to keep off the cold.”
Xing Shou smiled slightly, reached out to take the great cloak, and said, “Many thanks.”
With a flourish of the black great cloak, Xing Shou tied the straps, exchanged salutes and farewells with the two, then raised his whip and rode off.
“Coming and going with such elegance, truly a gentleman.” Ji Mian gazed at Xing Shou’s back gradually disappearing into the snow and sighed in admiration.
“Return to the residence.” Song Chuyi withdrew her gaze and said to the driver.
Ji Mian knew that Xing Shou had originally prepared a gift only for Song Chuyi, and that he had unexpectedly received a fine thing for nothing, so he was very happy in his heart.
After returning to the residence, Song Chuyi opened the brocade pouch to look. Inside was a small bottle, and also a letter written on a small piece of parchment.
Song Chuyi unfolded it and saw the handwriting was clear and elegant:
Huajin, seeing this letter is like seeing me. At our first meeting in Puyang, I felt as if we had known each other for a long time, and my heart was greatly delighted. The essence of mountains and seas, the four seasons and five elements, and yin and yang, day and night, may give rise to rare treasures. I have always known that the transformations of all things are endlessly wondrous, yet your wondrousness is truly something rarely seen. When I beheld you, it was as though I suddenly glimpsed a peerless treasure upon a sheer cliff, and I was wild with delight. Yet after several years of change, You will surely reveal a maiden’s bearing. I fear that such great talent will fall into the courtyard and be wasted, and I am deeply worried. Tossing and turning, unable to sleep, I specially gift this secret medicine, which may perhaps conceal it somewhat…
