Daming: At the start of the showdown, Lao Zhu was stunned

Chapter 997: Calculating the Envoy
The weather is fresh on March 3rd, and there are many beauties by the Qinhuai River.

March 3 is the Shangsi Festival, which is the day for worshipping the water god in traditional Chinese culture. Therefore, Yingtianfu is particularly lively on this night. On the Qinhuai River, women gather together to release river lanterns, while men sit in restaurants and drink until dawn, or linger on pleasure boats, reciting poems and composing couplets. The whole Yingtianfu is filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

On such a joyous occasion, the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple naturally could not neglect the many envoys who came to pay tribute to the Ming Dynasty. The Minister of Rites Ren Ang personally came forward to invite the envoys from various countries to a banquet at Fuleyuan.

The dazzling array of delicacies and the dimly lit night view of the imperial capital outside the window made the foreign envoys who were reluctant to leave eat so much that their mouths were crooked and their eyes were dazzled. Many of the envoys were so fascinated by the delicious food, beautiful scenery and wine that they forgot everything else. Minister Ren did not take it as an offense, but just smiled and twirled his beard, and the banquet was harmonious.

Unlike the other envoys who were enjoying themselves, Li Jibai, the envoy of Annan, had a worried look on his face. When the envoys took turns to toast Minister Ren, he also picked up a glass of wine, moved closer to Ren Ang, and found an opportunity to say, "Minister Ren."

"I wonder if the matter I asked you to introduce me to has come to fruition? Then, Mr. Song, would you be willing to meet me?"

"Oh, Envoy Li." Ren Ang looked up and seemed to have just spotted him. He said apologetically, "It is really difficult to do what you requested."

"Mr. Song has been in seclusion for many years. Although he is still in the Imperial College, he lives in seclusion in the city. It is rare for an ordinary person like me to see him."

"Don't say that the envoy wants to see him. Even we would like to have a chance to sit down and discuss with Mr. Song."

"It's really... difficult, difficult, difficult to meet with such a hermit like the old man!" Ren Ang said, shaking his head.

"Sir, you are a second-rank minister, but you can't even meet him?" Li Jibai said anxiously. "I have admired Mr. Song for a long time in Annan. If I don't meet him, won't I regret it for the rest of my life?"

"Please, sir, please try to tell my husband about Annan's desire to study. You must, must..." Li Jibai put the wine cup aside and bowed to the ground.

"Oh, this, this, this, your courtesy is too great! How can I do this!" Ren Ang quickly moved aside, got up from his seat, and helped Li Jibai up. "Your country admires the king's rule. If you can help, it is our duty as a Confucian student to help."

"It's just..." He acted as if he was extremely embarrassed.

"... Well, I'll tell you the truth!" Ren Ang said. "Even if you meet Master Song, he will definitely not go to your Annan to give lectures."

"Why is that?" Li Jibai asked.

"Do you know how old the old man is now?"

Without waiting for Li Jibai to answer, Ren Ang continued, "You were a famous scholar at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, and now it's already the Spring and Autumn Period. Your Annan lives in the remote and smoky southwest. How can you get there?"

"And... since the beginning of spring, the old man has been in poor health. His Majesty is concerned about the old man and has issued an order for him to rest and not allow anyone to disturb him."

"Even if the old man wanted to, with His Majesty above putting pressure on him, how could we allow him to work hard and take the risk of leaving the capital?"

"You mean, I, Annan, can't invite the old man?"

"You must be invited." Ren Ang patted Li Jibai's shoulder. "I am also moved by your desire to learn in Annan."

"If it were someone else, let alone me, even His Majesty, he might also be moved by your desire to be king, and issue an order to help. But Master Song..."

"..." Li Jibai looked disappointed and finally speechless. Having said that, could he ignore Old Master Song's health and forcibly carry him away from here in the Ming Dynasty?
He could only thank Ren Ang, and then returned to his seat with the wine cup in his hand. Ren Ang smiled and said it was okay, and then turned to receive another envoy, as if Annan's invitation to Song Lian was just a very simple private matter.

However, when he glanced at the back of the Annan envoy, a hint of cunning flashed in the eyes of the Minister of Rites.

……

After the banquet, Ren Ang said goodbye to the envoys and left. There was no curfew in the city tonight, and most of the envoys were planning to find a Qinhuai pleasure boat to have fun all night long. Li Jibai, however, was a little worried and just wanted to go back to the small courtyard of the Honglu Temple to rest. He declined the invitations of several envoys from small countries and looked quite frustrated.

Although he pretended to admire the rule of the Celestial Empire on the surface, Li Jibai knew that his cousin wanted him to invite Song Lian to return home not just because of his so-called admiration for the rule of the Celestial Empire.

"You must do your best to invite Song Lian to my Great Yue. This matter concerns the future plans of my Li family, so you must pay attention to it! Remember!"

The instructions of his cousin Li Jibai were still fresh in his mind, but from what the Ming Shangshu said tonight, it seemed that this matter could not be accomplished. How could Li Jibai not be disappointed?
When he walked out of Fuleyuan, he saw a huge crowd of people at the entrance of the building next door. Many people dressed as scholars were eagerly looking into the building. There were so many people that the entire Qinhuai River was crowded.

There were even some extremely bright-looking women among them, looking towards the building with excitement and hope on their faces.

"This is..." Li Jibai was somewhat stunned by the grand scene before him.

"Oh." The servant who sent him out took a look and said with a smile, "Sir, you don't know, there are people competing in poetry in the building. I think the competition is fierce, so it attracted many scholars, actors and beautiful women."

"I know that your country is a flourishing culture. I have often seen poetry contests," Li Jibai said. "But, it is extremely rare to have so many people... Is this really a poetry contest?"

"Haha, ordinary people's poetry contests naturally won't attract so many people." The servant explained with a smile. "However, the one competing in poetry tonight is the leader of the Ming Dynasty's literary world, His Royal Highness Prince Zhou, who is known as the Ming Dynasty's Poet Saint. His Royal Highness Prince Zhou hasn't written poetry for a long time, and it's a rare opportunity for him to participate in the poetry contest tonight. The literati in the city must be flocking to him, right?"

"His Royal Highness Prince Zhou?" Li Jibai was startled. He knew the Prince Zhou of the Ming Dynasty, but when he came to Yingtian Prefecture, the Prince Zhou of the Ming Dynasty had already lived in seclusion. He only knew about his poems and deeds from rumors in the streets and alleys...

Just as he was thinking about it, he heard a commotion in the crowd ahead, and someone shouted, "It's done! Your Highness has done it!"

"What a good poem! It is really a good poem! Seeing this beautiful poem published tonight is really worth my life!"

Then a group of people in the front row started to recite poems, shaking their heads and reciting them like crazy. People in the back row didn't know what they were reciting yet, and they hurriedly asked questions. Soon, the whole poem was completely spread. Li Jibai heard people reciting:

"Before Li Bai, there was a moon, but only Li Bai's poems could describe it. Li Bai has passed away, how often has the moon been full or not in the sky?
People today still sing Li Bai's poems, and the bright moon is still the same as when Li Bai wrote them. I imitate Li Bai's poems about the bright moon, but how can Bai and the bright moon know?
Li Bai was good at poetry and drinking, I can drink a hundred cups and write a thousand poems. I am ashamed that I don't have the talent of Li Bai, but I think the moon will not think I am ugly.

I will not board the emperor's boat, nor will I sleep in Chang'an. A cup of wine by the Qinhuai River, with peach blossoms and the moon in the sky."

"It's a really good poem." Li Jibai thought to himself.

Then the crowd suddenly became restless and a man came out of the building. The servant said, "Look, sir, that's our Ming Dynasty's Prince Zhou."

The Ming Dynasty's Prince Zhou was handsome and friendly. He walked into the crowd with the escort of several guards and waved his hand. There were several screams of "Ah". Several women fainted in excitement when they saw the prince waving his hand. Li Jibai was surprised and asked, "Your Highness Prince Zhou, is he so popular?"

"What's the big deal?" The servant said as if it was a matter of course. "Your Highness is so talented, just listening to him talk about something will make people feel refreshed... It's normal for him to have such fans."

After hearing what he said, Li Jibai felt that he was ignorant and embarrassed and stopped asking.

But I was thinking in my heart, this is indeed the Celestial Empire!

On the second day, he heard that His Royal Highness the King of Zhou was giving a lecture in the west of the city, and that everyone in the Honglu Temple wanted to join in the fun, so he went along. However, he did not expect to see another huge crowd, so crowded that he could not even see the podium in front.

"King Zhou is only thirty years old, but he can attract so many students when he gives lectures?" Li Jibai said in surprise.

"What are you talking about!" A passing Confucian scholar heard his doubts and said with some dissatisfaction: "Your Highness is the leader of the New School. In terms of academics, Your Highness was the first to advocate and mention the New School. Even Master Song and Master Liu followed your views and knowledge, which is why our New School is so prosperous now."

"Your Highness's knowledge is not inferior to that of Master Song and Master Liu. Listening to your Highness's speech is better than studying alone for ten years... As long as there are people who are interested in learning, how can they not flock to you?"

Li Jibai was amazed. He never thought that the prince of the Celestial Empire was so powerful.

On the third day, a friend invited Li Jibai to a banquet in a painting boat, but he heard someone on the other boat saying, "It is said that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles."

"Although I am in Beijing now, I often miss the days when I went to the northern Xinjiang, the northwest, and Samarkand."

"The world is so big, and every place has its own charm. If possible, I hope to visit the southern countries such as Champa and Annan to broaden my horizons..."

"Hey, that voice..." the friend said in surprise. "Could it be His Royal Highness Prince Zhou?"

"Your Highness is incredibly talented and knowledgeable, and he is still trying to broaden his horizons... We really admire and respect you." The friend sighed.

Li Jibai nodded, and the Ming official who was the vice minister of the Ministry of Rites echoed a few words.

His heart suddenly skipped a beat as he thought of his already hopeless mission.

Perhaps, I can find another way?
……

"Your Highness, the Annan envoy has sent a letter to visit."

In Prince Zhou's mansion, Zhu Su and Princess Xu were teasing their fat son Zhu Youdun together. Xiang Deng walked in from the outside and reported to Zhu Su.

"Oh? You're finally here." Zhu Su stood up and handed Zhu Youdun to Princess Xu.

In the past few days, he has resumed his business of copying poems and stirring up crowds through lectures. From his former silence, he has suddenly started to jump up and down, showing off his fame.

The purpose was to attract the attention of the Annan envoy and make him shift his target from Song Lian to himself.

The people of Annan did not want to make a big deal out of this matter, so they always just asked Ren Ang in their personal capacity, hoping that Ren Ang would introduce them to the great Ming Dynasty scholar Song Lian, and then ask Song Lian to go to Annan to give lectures.

Instead of informing the emperor of the matter and seeking grace from him.

Among them, the Annan people were mostly guilty. Since they were guilty, if Zhu Su himself went to recommend himself, it might arouse the vigilance of the Annan people.

Since they could not take the initiative themselves, it would be very safe to subtly convey to Li Jibai the message that "King Zhou is also a good candidate" and make the people of Annan feel that "inviting King Zhou can also achieve the goal."

However, Zhu Su was a noble prince, so he couldn't be too cheap. Besides, he needed time to build up a good persona, so he said to Xiang Deng, "Take him to the front hall and the side room to rest. I will be there in a moment."

Then, Zhu Su began his preparations.

First of all, a formal Confucian robe is a must. Although it is a bit uncomfortable to wear at home, it can give people a feeling of being a "gentleman".

Secondly, the place to meet the other party should also be carefully considered. Zhu Su's study room full of books is very suitable. Although he has not read many of the books in it, the tall bookshelves and the full books will undoubtedly give the other party a sense of oppression that "the other party is very cultured."

Finally, there is the unfathomable conversation style. During the conversation, the elegant and incomprehensible complicated etiquette can also greatly enhance one's status as a master.

Zhu Su was prepared for this. After Li Jibai had waited for more than half an hour, he finally met Zhu Su.

What he saw was a graceful and famous scholar wearing a Confucian robe, sitting in the pavilion, plucking the strings of a zither.

"I, Li Jibai, a humble official from a lower state, am here to greet His Majesty the King of Zhou from the upper state." Li Jibai knelt down and saluted to Zhu Su.

Zhu Su continued to play, and the sound of the zither became more and more urgent. When Li Jibai was puzzled, Zhu Su suddenly pushed the table. With a "bang", the guqin on the table, which was obviously worth a lot of money, broke into two pieces in an instant.

"Why play the piano when your mind is confused?" Zhu Su stood up, flicked his sleeves, and walked away.

Li Jibai was left with a bewildered look on his face. He felt terribly frightened. The old eunuch beside him hurriedly called out to him, "Your Excellency, Your Excellency, why are you still kneeling here? Come in with His Highness!"

"But, but, His Highness did not greet me..." Li Jibai hesitated.

"Your Highness is in a state of 'nothingness' right now, so he can't hear what we are saying." The old eunuch Xiang Deng said. "If the envoy doesn't go in, I'm afraid we'll have to wait until dark."

"There is nothing outside the mind..." Li Jibai's pupils trembled. Thinking of Zhu Su's words and actions just now, he felt greatly shocked.

(End of this chapter)