Chapter 55: Anti-Poetry?

Ever since that day I drank at the Zhang Jianxiu mansion, the blink of an eye brought us to New Year's Eve.

Early this day, the entire city of Beijing was draped in red and hung with decorations; every household put on new clothes, preparing to welcome the new year.

The Zhang Grand Secretary Mansion, located at Dengshikou, was even more boisterous with gongs, drums, and firecrackers from the morning on; the servants of the household, dressed in red and adorned with finery, shuttled back and forth along the long corridors.

With a red lantern every three steps and a glass lamp every five, once the sky turned dark, the entire Grand Secretary Mansion would take on a different, unique scenery.

Several older brothers also returned with their wives and children.

In a flash, the Grand Secretary Mansion became full of vitality.

Zhang Yunxiu had it miserable; before he had even left his room, he was surrounded by eight or nine children who grabbed his legs, clamoring for New Year's money.

They wouldn't let him off if he gave too little, so Zhang Yunxiu, having no choice, had to take out red envelopes one by one.

Only then did this group of children stop; they bowed to Zhang Yunxiu in unison and shouted, "Thank you, Fifth Uncle!"

Then they scattered in a hubbub, leaving only Zhang Zhongrun standing blankly in place, staring straight at Zhang Yunxiu.

"What, is it not enough for you?"

Zhang Zhongrun shook his head, fumbled at his waist for a moment, and then pulled out a lotus-patterned sachet, handing it to Zhang Yunxiu: "This is what that big sister asked me to give to Fifth Uncle; she said she wants to see you."

That woman certainly has plenty of schemes.

Zhang Yunxiu sighed inwardly, smiled as he took the sachet, squatted down, and instructed Zhang Zhongrun: "From now on, if that big sister asks you to do something again, you are not allowed to help her, understand?"

"Understand." Zhang Zhongrun nodded, seemingly understanding yet not quite.

"Go play." Zhang Yunxiu smiled and pushed Zhang Zhongrun toward the door.

At this moment, Zhang Fu strode in, carrying two gift boxes in his hands.

Zhang Yunxiu took one look and asked with a grin: "What is this, worth you carrying it over yourself?"

"Heh, nothing valuable." Zhang Fu grinned, waving his hand, "It's just some New Year's goods sent by Han San and Wang He; I thought it was a gesture of heart, so I brought it over for you, Young Master."

Hearing the name Han San, Zhang Yunxiu asked again: "The people, he brought them all back, right?"

"Most of them were brought back, a total of over one hundred boatmen."

"Mm." Zhang Yunxiu nodded and added, "Today is the Great New Year, get some good food for those boatmen as well. When spring comes next year, let them work their lives out for us."

"Don't you worry, I've already arranged it all." Zhang Fu replied hurriedly.

"With you handling things, I am at ease."

Zhang Yunxiu gestured for him to put down the gifts and sit, saying with a touch of emotion, "This time last year, we were still in Jiangling; I never expected that this year we would be spending the Great New Year in the capital."

"All of this is thanks to your promotion, Young Master; if not for you, where would I have today's glory?" Zhang Fu chuckled, flattering Zhang Yunxiu.

Being a steward in Jiangling, how could it be as comfortable as being a steward in the capital?

Although there was still You Qi above him, he was also a person of status and face regarding the various shops in the capital.

"Alright, stop the flattery, go help out quickly, lest you delay the proper business tonight." Zhang Yunxiu's eyes curved as he urged with a smile.

"Aye, alright."

Zhang Fu responded, stood up, and nimbly walked out of the room.

A short while later, the sky was pitch black, and the Zhang Grand Secretary Mansion was brilliant with lights, as bright as day. In the massive dining hall, the members of the Zhang Family had already sat down in order.

One could see Zhang Juzheng sitting at the head of the table.

Sitting on his left was Zhang Jingxiu with his wife Gao and his eldest grandson Zhang Zhonghui; sitting on his right was the wife of Zhang Sixiu, Li. Further to the left was Zhang Maoxiu, with his wife He. Zhang Yunxiu sat next to his fourth brother, and as he sized up this third brother, the top scholar, he could only describe him in four words.

"Dissolute and unrestrained."

As a bell chimed, Zhang Jingxiu was the first to stand up, followed by Zhang Yunxiu and the others, who then raised their wine cups in unison to congratulate Zhang Juzheng: "We wish Father health and longevity, and blessings that span the ages."

After speaking, they tilted their heads and drank it in one gulp.

Zhang Juzheng waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit, then stood up and spoke words of encouragement one by one.

When it was Zhang Yunxiu's turn, Zhang Juzheng glared, his face stern as he huffed: "Study diligently, do not waste your prime years." "I will respectfully follow Father's command." Zhang Yunxiu replied with a smile.

Although it was a respectful sentence, hearing it from Zhang Yunxiu's mouth, Zhang Juzheng always felt it was a bit awkward.

At this time, Zhang Jingxiu smoothed things over: "Father, hurry and start eating, otherwise the food will get cold."

Zhang Juzheng nodded and waved his hand; only then did everyone dare to pick up their chopsticks.

After three rounds of wine and five courses of food.

Zhang Yunxiu was whispering with Zhang Jianxiu when suddenly Zhang Maoxiu stood up and suggested with a smile: "Today is a rare and good occasion, and heaven has sent down heavy snow; why don't we take advantage of this snow and improvise a poem?"

"Third Brother seems to have been prepared for a long time." Zhang Jingxiu teased with a smile.

Zhang Maoxiu smiled and cast an inquiring look at Zhang Juzheng, who nodded slightly.

"Snow falls silently, the night is not yet late, the cold wind blows, the heart feels desolate.

Dressed in silver, the mountains and rivers are beautiful, I walk alone seeking plum blossoms, treading on snow and frost."

Zhang Maoxiu drafted it in his mind for a moment before reciting it softly.

Everyone pondered for a moment, and Zhang Jingxiu was the first to stand up and say: "The rhyme of the snow is long, entering the heart's door, the cold wind brushes the face, the heart is clear of its own accord. Dressed in silver, the mountains and rivers are elegant, heaven and earth are one color, full of poetic sentiment."

Zhang Sixiu followed: "Snow falls silently, thoughts drift away, the cold wind is biting, the heart is hard to calm. Seeking old affairs in the vast whiteness, looking back at the past, it has already turned to ice."

When it was Zhang Jianxiu's turn, he stammered and squeezed out four lines.

"Snow dances lightly between heaven and earth, silver flowers and flying catkins fall without end. The cold wind blows, the plum blossoms are beautiful, a piece... a piece of ice heart in a jade pot."

"Hahaha."

Zhang Yunxiu couldn't help but laugh out loud.

The others couldn't help but smile as well; Zhang Jianxiu stiffened his neck and replied: "What of it? I'm borrowing a line of his, what's wrong with that?"

As soon as his voice fell, all eyes turned to Zhang Yunxiu.

Zhang Yunxiu stood up, his brows furrowed, and after pondering for a long time, he faced everyone and spoke loudly:

"The scenery of the north, a thousand leagues locked in ice, ten thousand leagues of drifting snow.

Looking inside and outside the Great Wall, there is only vastness; up and down the great river, the surging flow is suddenly lost. Pity the Qin Emperor and Han Wu, lacking a bit in literary talent; Tang Zong and Song Zu, slightly inferior in flair."

The heaven-born pride of a generation, Genghis Khan, knew only how to bend his bow and shoot the great eagles.

All have passed away; to count the truly brilliant figures, one must look to the present day."

Upon hearing this, the few people widened their eyes, stunned like wooden chickens.

Zhang Juzheng turned red with anger, slapped the table, and cursed: "You rebellious son, you have the audacity of heaven, how dare you compose such a seditious poem?!"

A seditious poem?

With this heavy label slapped onto him, Zhang Yunxiu was momentarily stunned.

"Who do you think you are? Daring to critique the emperors of past dynasties, how many heads do you have, eh?!" Zhang Juzheng said, suppressing his rage.

Hiss. Zhang Yunxiu broke out in a cold sweat; fortunately, it was a family banquet today, otherwise, if an Imperial Censor caught hold of this, they could truly make an issue out of it.

He pondered for a moment and explained the meaning: "This poem was not written by your child for himself, but to praise our Wanli Emperor, whose great achievements and merits are comparable to the First Emperor of Qin and the Martial Emperor of Han."

With this explanation, Zhang Juzheng's expression softened slightly.

He pondered the line, "All have passed away; to count the truly brilliant figures, one must look to the present day," and a sense of resonance arose in his heart.

Indeed, Lv Wang, Zhou Gong, and Yi Yin are all but passing clouds; the people of today will surely surpass the ancients.

After a few simple words of admonishment, the matter was dropped.

Following this little interlude, the New Year's Eve banquet gradually drew to a close. Once Zhang Juzheng left his seat, Zhang Yunxiu and the others also hurriedly dispersed.

(End of chapter)