northernbook Chapter 454 Inkstone Baby
Chapter 454 Inkstone Baby
Chapter 454 Inkstone Baby
When Ye Ru arrived at the back garden, it was already packed with people. A quick glance revealed that there were more than twenty tables, and the people present were all scholars.
The head of the Qian family sat in the center, with Qian Wensong and others to his left. When they saw Ye Ru arrive, they quickly stood up, bowed to Ye Ru, and said:
"Brother Ye, please take a seat. This place has been prepared for you. Today, you are the star!"
"Sorry to keep everyone waiting."
Ye Ru smiled and, without any stage fright, sat down next to Qian Wensong. As Ye Ru took his seat, Zhang Dong and the others also arrived leisurely and found a place to sit down.
"Mr. Ye, you're leaving tomorrow? Why not stay a few more days? Have we failed to provide adequate hospitality? If so, please tell me, and I will punish you severely."
The head of the Qian family walked over, raised a glass of wine to Ye Ru, and said with a smile.
“Master Qian, you are too kind. It is not that your hospitality is inadequate, but I have important matters to attend to and it is inconvenient for me to disturb you here.”
Upon hearing this, Ye Ru immediately stood up, lightly clinked his wine glasses together, and drank it all in one gulp.
"Consider this wine my apology to Patriarch Qian."
"No need for formalities. Our Qian family is different from other aristocratic families and wealthy clans. They emphasize clear distinctions from other countries, but we only talk about good and evil, right and wrong. Whoever does right, we will side with them; whoever does wrong, we will criticize them. Otherwise, wouldn't all the books we've read be wasted?"
The head of the Qian family smiled slightly and said with a smile.
"I admire the Qian family head for his profound understanding of righteousness."
Ye Ru nodded, his opinion of the Qian family rising slightly, before picking up a cup of wine and drinking it down in one gulp.
"Please take your seats first. You are the star of the show today. If I do this, it would be a bit like me overshadowing you."
The head of the Qian family smiled awkwardly at the gazes of those around him, and then sat down.
"Brother Ye, thank you very much for getting the document and inkstone for us. If this document and inkstone had been put into the Sima family, I don't know how severely our Qian family would have been suppressed."
Qian Wensong cleared his throat and said to Ye Ru with a solemn expression.
Without Ye Ru, even if the Qian family had developed, they probably wouldn't have reached the level of the Sima family, who possessed the Wenshu Moquan (a type of ancient Chinese writing vessel). After all, this Wenshu Moquan could produce countless brilliant and outstanding scholars.
In the Confucian and Taoist continent, scholars are the most precious.
"There's no need for thanks between us. I've also benefited from this book and inkstone, so in comparison, I should thank you."
Ye Ru smiled and said.
"Okay, look at the gift I prepared for you."
Qian Wensong stood up, clapped his hands, and a servant came over carrying a plate made of peach wood, which was wrapped in a red cloth.
"what is this?"
Looking at this mysterious scene, Ye Ru asked in bewilderment.
"You'll find out soon enough, I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
Qian Wensong raised his chin, and the servant opened the package, revealing a dark blue inkstone.
As soon as the inkstone appeared, everyone around stared wide-eyed at it, their faces burning with excitement.
"Is this a deep-sea fish inkstone?"
Looking at the blue inkstone, Ye Ru paused, then asked in a questioning voice.
“Indeed, there are countless literary treasures in the Confucian and Taoist Continent, but only these Four Treasures of the Study can be called top-grade literary treasures. This Deep Sea Fish Inkstone was something I bought at the Dragon Scripture Auction. It’s just a pity that the inkstone has a spirit and cannot be subdued. If Brother Ye has the ability, you can subdue it. As long as you can make it recognize you, then this inkstone will be yours. How about it?”
Qian Wensong said.
"Yes, Brother Ye, why don't you show us your skills and broaden our horizons?"
"Brother Ye, compose a poem and let us see how strong the poets of the Yanhuang Kingdom are."
After Qian Wensong finished speaking, a chorus of encouragement rose from below.
Seeing this, Ye Ru pondered for a moment and immediately understood Qian Wensong's intention.
It seems that Qian Wensong wants to use this Wenbao to obtain a piece of his own calligraphy.
"In that case, I'll make a fool of myself, but you must take what Brother Qian says seriously."
A moment later, Ye Ru turned to Qian Wensong, a smile playing on his lips, and said.
"Don't worry, everyone here can testify. As long as you can write a poem, this inkstone is yours, but the poem itself must belong to me."
Qian Wensong revealed a cunning smile and said.
Before Ye Ru arrived, he had already inquired about Ye Ru's background. Ye Ru's "On Teachers" had caused a sensation in Qingyun County, with paper becoming scarce. Such literary talent was not something everyone possessed.
Besides, since the inkstone is just sitting there anyway, I might as well do Ye Ru a favor and give it to him directly.
"In that case, I'll take this inkstone."
Ye Ru took out paper and pen and immediately began to write on the table:
"The tree by the Qian family's inkstone-washing pond."
"Each flower blooms with faint ink traces."
"Don't ask people to praise the color."
"Only pure air remains to fill the universe."
In just a few minutes, Ye Ru slowly stopped writing. His writing speed shocked everyone present.
"The tree beside my inkstone-washing pond..."
Qian Wensong silently recited it in his mind, then his eyes lit up, and he said to Ye Ru:
“What a fine poem! As expected of Brother Ye, you are renowned for your talent. If I’m not mistaken, the ‘inkstone washing pool’ in the first two lines is an allusion to the story of Wang Xizhi practicing calligraphy by the pool until the water turned black.”
"The third and fourth lines describe the noble character of the ink plum blossom. These two lines are a perfect portrayal of Brother Ye. He does not bow down for five pecks of rice and despises vulgarity. What a fine poem, what a fine poem. However, I do not know whether this poem will resonate with Fang Yantai."
Qian Wensong was determined to get his hands on this piece of calligraphy.
"The poem is beautiful, but this inkstone is also quite temperamental. I wonder if this poem can match the inkstone's character."
The people around them laughed and said that Zhang Dong and the others also became interested. They looked at the poem and then at the inkstone.
But to everyone's surprise, the inkstone trembled twice and flew off the plate, finally landing under the poem. At the same time, the ink in the inkstone began to automatically fill up, almost overflowing.
call out!
A flash of black light appeared, and then a small figure emerged from the inkstone. This little figure jumped on the rice paper, baring its teeth and brandishing its claws, creating quite a lively scene.
"What is this?"
Looking at the tiny figure, most of the people present exchanged bewildered glances, a surge of curiosity rising within them.
"Could it be Yan Baobao?"
Zhang Dong was also surprised by the little black figure that appeared on the inkstone, and then frowned and guessed.
"Inkstone Baby? What is an inkstone baby?"
A person next to Zhang Dong asked.
“All writing implements possess a spirit. The higher the grade, the stronger the spiritual energy. In particular, the Four Treasures of the Study are very sensitive to poetry. Only when it acknowledges the writer's talent can the inkstone emerge. Otherwise, just like before, no one can conquer it.”
"Now, even if Ye Ru doesn't want this inkstone, the latter will probably follow him."
Zhang Dong explained patiently.