A traitor

Received the relief of Lord Shangshu, Cai Jun's body recovered rapidly, and he was transferred to work in the Ministry of Punishment alive and kicking the next day.

This made Su Qinglang very depressed. He originally thought that Cai Jun fell ill, so he could take advantage of the loophole and suggest to the emperor that he should be the presiding judge.

Looking at Cai Jun's upright and full of vigor, Su Qinglang couldn't help but wonder if he should go to the emperor and sue him, making him so sick that he couldn't get out of bed again.

But thinking of his own situation, Cai Jun might be sued for copying his property and his head. After thinking about it, he had no choice but to give up.

In Shangshu's mansion, Su Qinglang was sitting in the pavilion feeding the fish, but saw the butler bring a bag of things over, saying that it was brought by the nephew of Lord Zuo Prime Minister Pei Yan, leaving him to drink tea for clearing away heat and detoxification.

Su Qinglang looked at the bright, freshly picked yellow flowers in the bundle, and was so angry that he wanted someone to catch Lu Xun and beat him into a chrysanthemum.

Both things were not going well, Su Qinglang felt that he might have bad luck today and it was not suitable to go out, so he continued to sit in the pavilion and feed the fish.

At noon, I heard the butler say that there was a Master Mei outside the door asking to see him, thinking that there was no one with the surname Mei except for that Mei Liusheng in the Manchu Dynasty, so Su Qinglang let him go.

Mei Liusheng returned from the Ministry of Punishment, changed his clothes when he got home, and came here. Since he was busy with Du Qingyun's case and read a lot of files, he looked a little tired.

He walked into the pavilion and saluted Su Qinglang: "Brother Su..."

Su Qinglang leaned on the railing, sprinkled fish food with one hand, and said, "Master Mei went to the Ministry of Criminal Justice today, how is the case going?"

Mei Liusheng smiled, and replied: "It's just the beginning, I've read a few files, but I haven't found out why."

After a pause, he said again: "I came here today because I need Brother Su's help with something."

Su Qinglang looked at him when he heard the words, and thought it was Du Qingyun's business, but unexpectedly, he heard Mei Liusheng say: "My inkstone is broken, I want to ask Brother Su to look at it and buy another one."

Su Qinglang let out a huff, very surprised, and then said: "There are some good inkstones in my house, if Brother Mei doesn't mind, I'll ask the housekeeper to bring them."

Hearing this, Mei Liusheng lowered his head slightly, and said helplessly after a while: "I said I was buying an inkstone, but I actually wanted to go out with you for a walk. If Brother Su has something to do, let's wait until next time."

Speaking of this, it's okay not to go, Su Qinglang can only let him wait, go back to the inner courtyard by himself, change into light clothes, and then go out with him.

The two walked side by side on the long street, and the April spring breeze was blowing, and the smoked willow sprouted new buds. From a distance, it looked like a dense cloud of light green.

On both sides of the street, there are hawkers reselling cultural relics, flowers, birds, insects, fish, pens, inks, papers and inkstones, picture scrolls and antiques.

Su Qinglang didn't speak all the way, Mei Liusheng looked at his face, feeling uneasy, so he didn't say anything, the two remained silent, and the atmosphere was a little stiff for a while.

Ever since the two had a conversation at the gate of the Ministry of Rites last time, Su Qinglang's attitude towards him was like a stove on a glacier, neither hot nor cold.

When Mei Liusheng returned home, he thought for a long time, only to realize that he had offended Su Qinglang by saying something wrong. Su Qinglang was deliberately alienating him and testing his attitude.

Although Master Mei is not very good at coaxing people, he also knows that if this continues, Su Qinglang may become a stranger to him, so he only found his house today.

Using the pretext of choosing the inkstone, he invited Su Qinglang to meet him and talk about what happened that day.

After a long time, he lowered his head, summoned up his courage, and said, "Brother Su..."

Mei Liusheng stopped in his footsteps, and after a moment of silence, he said again: "Liusheng's abrupt remarks that day did not mean to embarrass Brother Su, please forgive me."

Su Qinglang looked at him and said, "Brother Mei and I have talked a lot, but I don't know which one?"

Mei Liusheng was at a loss for words for a while, originally he wanted to apologize, but now he choked on him, but he couldn't say anything.

He also heard Su Qinglang say: "Brother Mei himself can't remember what he said, and Qinglang is even more confused. If he has forgotten it, let's pretend it didn't happen, how about it?"

Mei Liusheng looked at him, speechless for a while, not knowing what Su Qinglang meant when he said this.

Seeing that Su Qinglang turned around again, he continued: "Brother Mei has not been in the officialdom for long, but he should also know the relationship between me and the Prime Minister. You don't want to do things for the Prime Minister, and I won't force it. Scruples, but after thinking about it, it really shouldn't be."

He said it calmly and freely, as if he never took the background of the two of them to heart: "Although you and I have different positions, we can still be friends in the future. The friendship between gentlemen is like water, so there is nothing to avoid.

If there is any need, as long as it doesn't endanger Xiangye, Qinglang will help him with all his might, as for other things... Please forgive Qinglang for not agreeing. "

Mei Liusheng stood in the street, listened to his words, was silent for a moment, and finally nodded: "Okay..."

The words have been spoken, but there is no embarrassment, Su Qinglang looked back at him, raised his eyebrows slightly, and smiled coquettishly.

He said to him: "Since that's the case, please ask Brother Mei to show a smiling face. I've had a bitter face since just now. I don't know, but I think I owe you a lot of money."

Mei Liusheng really smiled, and saw Su Qinglang with her hands behind her back, walking towards a shop selling jade wares like a young lady.

On the small stalls, there are various kinds of jade wares, big and small, about dozens of them, and the fineness is also good and bad.

He picked up a piece of emerald green jade pendant in the shape of a butterfly, and compared it on his fan.

It's a pity that although the beautiful jade is good, the pendant looks too big under the fan, not to mention the distraction, and it is not easy to use, so he shook his head, put the fan pendant back, and continued to walk to another house.

Mei Liusheng followed behind, because of the previous purpose, he just wanted to ask Su Qinglang out for a stroll, saying that he wanted to change the inkstone, but his heart was not here at all, so he lacked interest.

Mr. Su has been unlucky one after another since early in the morning, so he is in a bad mood, with a gloomy expression, and he doesn't have much energy at this time.

The two of them walked around for half an hour before finding a decent shop that sold inkstones. Su Qinglang walked in first, and was warmly greeted by the shopkeeper.

The store owner was very happy to see that the person was dressed in gorgeous clothes and had a dignified temperament, not like an ordinary scholar. Looking at Su Qinglang's appearance, he seemed to see two gold ingots.

It's a pity that Mr. Shangshu has a high position and authority, he sees many good things, and he has a vicious eye for picking things. Even though the shopkeeper talked wildly and spit, he never raised his eyelids.

In desperation, he had no choice but to switch to others. The shopkeeper held an inkstone and showed it to Mei Liusheng with a smile on his face.

Before I finished the introduction, I heard Su Qinglang say: "It's hard to buy an inkstone. Although the inkstone is a good inkstone, it's a pity that this color is not suitable for Brother Mei..."

Mei Liusheng lowered his eyes to look at it, and saw that the body of the inkstone was fine and clear, with stone patterns on it like silk, layered upon layer, as if clouds and mist rolled in it, but it was a blue-gray color, which he really didn't like.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper quickly picked up the other inkstone, and said with a smile: "Guest officer, this inkstone is the best clear clay inkstone in our shop. We experts all know that this clear clay inkstone is always good at storing water. The benefits of not drying up, and not freezing in the cold, can be used without loss of ink, which is suitable for talented scholars like Ke Guan."

Hearing this, Mei Liusheng took the inkstone in his hand, and saw that the inkstone was black all over, delicate in texture, with a soft luster, rubbing it with his hands, it was like creamy fat, which suited him well.

But Master Mei has been studying for many years, and has never cared about this kind of thing, so he is not an expert, and he is not very good at choosing and looking at inkstones, so he finally turned to Su Qinglang.

Su Qinglang stretched out his hand to touch it a few times, and then said: "The Chengni inkstone is really good for you, but this square inkstone, although it looks good on the surface, is of good quality, but it can only fall into the middle class."

Mei Liusheng was dumbfounded when he heard it, and although he was confused by what he said, he still admired him: "Someone suggested that I consult with you earlier. Unexpectedly, Brother Su is so expert in this matter."

He, Su Qinglang, has friends all over the world, but the ones who can talk to Mei Liusheng are Jia Siqi, son of Jia Dexin's family, Lu Xun, Pei Yan's nephew, and Cai Jun from their Ministry of Rites.

Jia Siqi was at odds with him, and Lu Xun was still an unfamiliar face in front of him. After calculation, the only "someone" who had a long tongue was Cai Jun.

Su Qinglang smiled and said: "I learned from others for a while when I was young, so I can't be regarded as an expert, but I just know the surface."

The shopkeeper was naturally displeased when he saw him babbling, disrupting two of his business orders one after another.

Unconvinced, he said: "Hey, this guest officer, I have worked on Chang'an Avenue for more than ten years, but I have never seen someone as difficult to serve as you. You are so difficult to serve. No, why don't you take a good one out to see?"

He paused, and then said: "If you want to talk about the good inkstones in Chang'an City, they are all made by Mr. Song. I heard that Mr. Song taught in the Imperial College. If he met a student he liked, he would personally make a pair of inkstones. Give it away, especially the piece of "Dripping Guanyin", which is said to be the best among Chengni inkstones. No matter how good your inkstone is, can it be better than it? "

Mr. Song Lao, the former academician Song Hongru, gave lectures in the Imperial College back then, regardless of the famous and poor, he was treated fairly and respected.

The old man himself is extremely talented, well-educated, and the students he teaches are all talented. In a certain year of the imperial examination, there was even a grand scene of three sons being admitted to the imperial examination.

It is said that all the inkstones used by Song Hongru in his life were made by himself. From the selection of materials to the completion of the inkstones, he did it himself, and his skills are the best in the world.

Therefore, literati, officials, squires, and even some arty royal family and nobles are all proud of being able to collect Mr. Song's works.

It's a pity that Song Hongru is indifferent and indifferent, he doesn't care about these false names, even if he does it, he also makes inkstones for his friends and disciples, and those who receive gifts from the old gentleman should cherish this kindness, and refuse easily Take it out and sell it, so there are very few works about the old man on the market, very few.

Su Qinglang heard the words, and said calmly: "Mr. Song's stone inkstone carries his lifelong ideals and ambitions of governing the country. No one, no matter who he is, can compare with it."

The shopkeeper was very proud when he heard him say this, and just about to show off, he saw Su Qinglang turn around and said: "Brother Mei, I can't find any good things here, and I suddenly remembered that there is still an inkstone in the mansion. It’s been a long time since I’ve used it, so it should be suitable for you…”

Walking on the street, Mei Liusheng looked at Su Qinglang's face, seemed a little lost, so he tentatively called out: "Brother Su?"

Su Qinglang suddenly came back to his senses, looked at him with a slight smile, and said, "Not far from here, there is another good place. I want to go and have a look. I wonder if Brother Mei would like to accompany you?"

Mei Liusheng nodded, and replied gently: "Since it's the place Brother Su wants to go, it's the mountains of swords and seas of fire, so I should go and see it."