Prologue

  "What a wonderful painting, the smoke and waves are vast, the lonely boat is quiet, the brushwork is extraordinary." I nodded calmly in appreciation, after all, my identity is here, can't be too out of place, if I show excessive excitement for the gift received, then I must do something in return. As someone with my status, some things can be helped with a wave of the hand, but others are better left uninvolved. Although His Majesty is still quite wise now, he's already over 70 years old, and it's said that next year he'll pass on the throne to the Crown Prince. What if he becomes suspicious of me in his old age? I want to start and end well, with a good outcome.

  Liu Zhen, the middle-aged man who sent the gift, saw my expression and flashed a worried look in his eyes, speaking cautiously: "Old Duke, my father is getting old and confused, shouldn't be writing books randomly. Please, sir, considering our shared past as fellow officials and same-year colleagues, please put in a good word for my father, so he can enjoy his late years in peace."

  "Is that so? Did Brother Wenju write a book? Let me take a look, I'm quite fond of his writing style!" I became interested and said, "I came with enthusiasm. In the past, Liu Kui and I were both jinshi together, I was the top scholar, and he was the second place. To be honest, I have always admired his articles, which are rigorous in language and accurate in historical facts. If not for his stubborn personality, refusing to serve two masters, the position of historian would have been his for sure. Recently, I heard that he was writing 'The History of Southern Chu', and I was eagerly waiting for it. However, there has been no news lately." Liu Zhen's face showed an awkward expression, and he took out a package from his sleeve and handed it over to me. I opened it and saw the cover with the title "The History of Southern Chu" in large characters. I excitedly opened it and started reading, completely forgetting that there were outsiders present. After I finished reading, I couldn't help but smile wryly. Brother Wenju really didn't give me any face. Putting down the book lazily, he said in a slow tone, "Young nephew, you can go back first. This matter requires careful consideration from me. You know that I haven't been involved in politics for many years."

  I sent Liu Zhen away and loudly called out: "Xiao Shunzi, Xiao Shunzi." Following my call, a middle-aged man in a green robe walked in from outside the door. He looked to be around 40 years old, with a refined appearance, pale face, and no beard. This person was none other than Li Shun, my trusted follower of over 50 years. He had been an eunuch in the Southern Chu palace, with unparalleled martial arts skills, reportedly at the level of a grandmaster. I say "reportedly" because I don't really understand these things, but looking at him, despite being over 60 years old, he looked like a middle-aged man, so it's probably true.

  In the past, some people didn't believe that such a skilled person as Li Shun would be so loyal to me, a bookworm with no martial arts skills. They had tried to buy him off, but I won't mention how badly they fared, lest you lose your appetite. I asked with a bitter smile: "Liu Kui is a remnant of the Southern Chu dynasty; even if he says some excessive things, it's not a big deal. Why do the officials in the imperial court take him so seriously?" Li Shun smiled and said: "Master, you seem to have forgotten that next year the crown prince will ascend to the throne. The crown princess is your eldest daughter. At this time, who wouldn't want to curry favor with you? Liu Kui is just being stubborn, refusing to put you in a good light unless you're willing to be recorded as a traitorous minister. Even if you don't mind, the crown princess and the crown prince's dignity must still be maintained."

  "Ah!" I suddenly realized, don't look at Liu Kui in "Southern Chu History" saying that I am "yin rou jue jiao, xin ji shen chen", but who knows that I am a person not very sensitive to politics. If it wasn't for Xiao Shunzi's reminder and my own cautiousness, I'm afraid I would have been overthrown long ago. Thinking of this, I said calmly: "You go tell Roulan that Liu Kui is the only remaining Southern Chu minister, why make things difficult for him? Some things are not his to say, but others will say them anyway. The 'Jiang Suiyun Biography' he wrote for me may be a bit sharp-tongued, but it's still based on facts. He wrote it so that others wouldn't write nonsense. Besides, my affairs won't affect the Crown Prince, tell her not to bother." Xiao Shunzi retreated with respect.

  I then opened "Jiang Suiyun's Biography" with great enthusiasm and started reading it again, although I haven't finished writing my own epitaph yet, but it doesn't hurt to take a sneak peek in advance.

  In the 16th year of Xian De, Ding Mao, the national master was slightly ill. By autumn, he had recovered and opened the imperial examination. Scholars from south of the Yangtze River were overjoyed and flocked to take it. On the 15th day of the 8th month, the golden list was announced, and the top scholar was Jiang Zhe from Jiaxing. At that time, Yun's name had not yet become well-known, and people asked each other about him, only then did they learn who he was.

  Jiang Zhe, also known as Suiyun, was born in the fourth year of Tongyuan, Wushen. His father, Jiang Mu, also known as Hanqiu, was a poor but elegant and refined man in his youth. He married into a noble family with their beloved daughter because of his literary talent. However, due to the chaotic times, he refused to take office and instead spent his days teaching his son to read books.

  In the eighth year of Xianping, Jiaxing suffered from a plague epidemic, and Hanqiu's wife fell ill and passed away. Not long after, Hanqiu had a falling out with his wife's family over a trivial matter and took his son on a distant journey, arriving in Jiangxia. When Hanqiu became seriously ill, Suiyun sought medical help for him and met the famous doctor Sang Shenmin.

  Sang Shenmin was impressed by Suiyun's extensive knowledge and strong memory, so he taught him everything he knew. Before long, Hanqiu gradually recovered, but Sang Shenmin had to leave for Jiangbei. Suiyun stayed behind to care for his father, who eventually passed away in the eleventh year of Xianping.

  Suiyun left behind a collection of writings called "Qingyuan Ji" (Clear and Distant Collection) in 12 volumes, which is still admired today for its elegance and freshness.

  Autumn was dying, and Rong Yun was poor and unable to bury him. At that time, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, Lu Shoujiang, was in charge of Jiangxia. He sought a teacher for his son and Rong Yun went to see him. The marquis saw that he was young and therefore looked down on him, ordering him to write an essay. Rong Yun wrote a thousand words with his brush, finishing the "Autumn Water Fu" in an instant. It contained the lines: "The moon rises above the Eastern Mountain, wandering between the Dipper and the Ox. White dew stretches across the river, water light connecting with the sky. Following a single reed, it drifts over the vast expanse of the void. Vast and expansive, like floating on the wind, without knowing where to stop; drifting and fluttering, like leaving the world behind, transforming into a celestial being." The marquis was greatly surprised, stood up and apologized, ordering his son to come out and bow to Rong Yun as his teacher.

  The Book of Southern Chu · Biography of Jiang Suiyun