Chapter 101: A Perfect Match—Visiting Zhang Xu Together

Page (1/3)

Although he had firmly resolved to keep his distance from Cui Jiuniang, the difficult little witch, and that it would be best not to stay at the Cui household when he went to Chang’an—to avoid owing too much and being unable to refuse any marriage proposals afterward—Du Shiyi showed no sign of this on his face. After repeatedly reminding Du Shisanniang, he busied himself with preparations for departure. Yet, one day, the person he had long awaited finally arrived in Luoyang from Mount Song. The weary ink artisan Zhang Du, who had followed the Cui family retinue, stepped briskly into Du Shiyi’s courtyard, unable to contain his excitement.

“Master Du, it’s done—really done! I thought for sure we wouldn’t be able to make the ink mold, but in the end, it succeeded. Please, take a look, sir...” Zhang Du barely paused to catch his breath before untying a heavy bundle from his body. Du Shiyi smiled and waved off the Cui retainer who had led Zhang in. He then instructed Tian Mo to summon Yang Zongwan and Wu Jiu, and without further ado, he snatched the weighty package from Zhang Du.

“You’ve worked hard to have this ready before the third month. Enough talking outside—come inside first.”

Once inside, Du Shiyi motioned for Zhang Du to sit as he took the main seat, laying the bundle before him. He carefully opened it and lifted out a blackwood box. At that moment, a soft knock came from outside. Without looking up, he called for the visitor to enter, then opened the box. Inside lay five neatly arranged ink blocks. The delicate, fragrant patterns on them were all too familiar to him. He glanced at Zhang Du.

“There are five blocks on top and five beneath, ten ink blocks in total—these are the Ten Aspirations Ink of the Caotang Studio. This is the finest set; the rest cannot compare,” Zhang Du explained, inhaling deeply before continuing with bright eyes, “Thanks to Master Lu’s willingness to create molds from the Caotang Ten Aspirations paintings and personally carving them, we managed to make these ink blocks. Lu said that entrusting this to ordinary workshops would risk losing the transcendent aura, and if copied, it would be a shame. We made two sets of twenty blocks; the other set was sent to Master Lu before I came, per your instructions. The pine trees of Mount Wangwu surpass those of Mount Song by far—this batch of ink is even better!”

Seeing Yang Zongwan and Wu Jiu, who had only caught half the explanation and looked puzzled, Du Shiyi turned the box to show them the contents more clearly. Wu Jiu did not react much, but Yang Zongwan, a stonemason by trade who understood quarrying and carving well, though not especially versed in ink, had seen some fine things from his former employers. Now, staring at the carefully crafted ink blocks etched with landscape scenes, his eyes shone. He turned to Du Shiyi and asked, “Master Du once said that good ink is needed for fine inkstones. Could this be...?”

“You’re right. This is the good ink I mentioned!” Du Shiyi said, picking up one block and rotating it slowly to examine every detail. Then he instructed Yang Zongwan to fetch a Duan inkstone and some water. When the tools arrived, Du Shiyi rolled up his sleeves and ground the ink on the inkstone. Taking paper and brush, he casually wrote a couple of lines of poetry. The ink’s sheen was like lacquer, a deep blue-black that dried almost instantly, with subtle, exquisite shading. After wiping the area where he ground the inkblock, he lightly scraped the paper at that spot; to everyone’s surprise, the paper split silently into two.

Yang Zongwan was amazed and delighted, exclaiming, “Master Du, now that this ink is ready, what comes next...?”

“Treasures and fine instruments require connoisseurs,” Du Shiyi said just as there was another loud knocking. Then Tian Mo’s voice rang out loudly, “Master, Wang Shisanlang has arrived!”

“I was just thinking of looking for him, and here he is knocking at the door!”

Page (2/3)

Du Shiyi smiled and told Yang Zongwan and Zhang Du to put the Duan inkstone and the used ink block back into the box and hand them to Tian Mo. Then he casually walked outside. At the octagonal pavilion ahead, he bumped straight into Wang Wei, who had been led there. Seeing Du Shiyi followed by a Kunlun servant, clearly about to leave, Wang Wei asked curiously, “Du Shiulang, are you just heading out?”

“Not just heading out—I heard you were here, so I want to ask you to accompany me.”

“Huh?” Wang Wei was momentarily confused, then remembered his purpose. “But I came today to get the score for that Chu-Han piece from a few days ago...”

“Have you memorized the entire score already?” Du Shiyi asked, marveling at Wang Wei’s prodigious talent and memory as Wang nodded with a smile. Clearing his throat, Du Shiyi said, “Since the score is ready, we can study it more when we return. For now, I want you to lead me to visit the famous Zhang Dian.”

“Ah!” Wang Wei was taken aback, recalling the day they saw Zhang Xu and Wu Daozi at Anguo Temple. Though reluctant to dampen Du Shiyi’s enthusiasm, he warned, “Master Zhang has a strange temperament. Many come seeking books or learning, but he often refuses to see them. Sometimes when drunk, he behaves embarrassingly. We merely met him briefly that day; he might not be friendly.”

“That’s true, but you left early that day. He did say if we had time later, we should visit him at Wenroufang. The piece we played then, though not as good as Master Gongsun’s sword dance, at least made him write a few characters.”

Wang Wei laughed heartily. “Well then, let’s go! I’ve long admired him from afar in Luoyang, but never dared visit. Today you give me courage—we shall experience the wild cursive style firsthand!”

With swift resolve, the two mounted their horses. The emperor had returned to Chang’an, and many officials had left Luoyang, leaving the streets emptier. Seeing Wang Wei’s attendant clutching a rosewood pipa case, Du Shiyi teased, “You really can’t part with your pipa; no wonder you excel in music.”

“Since we’re discussing the score today, naturally I brought it along. Besides, if Master Zhang is drunk and doesn’t recognize us, it might come in handy. Didn’t you say he admired the piece we played before?” Wang Wei said, eyeing the box Tian Mo carried behind Du Shiyi curiously. “Did you bring something special?”

“A fine sword is given to a hero, but actually, it’s not a gift. I want Master Zhang to appraise something he uses the most.”

Page (3/3)

Wang Wei raised an eyebrow thoughtfully at Du Shiyi’s secretive tone but said no more. Zhang Xu was well known throughout Luoyang—not only for his calligraphy but also for his eccentric personality. Since this was Wang Wei’s first visit, upon arriving at Wenroufang, they asked a local martial official for directions. The official scrutinized Wang Wei and Du Shiyi carefully, then warned, “Master Zhang’s residence is on the north side of the crossroads, the second house eastward. Be cautious. If his face is flushed and he’s been drinking, leave quickly. Last time, a young master who came seeking to learn calligraphy got doused with wine and debris and left ashamed nearly in tears.”

Hearing “nearly in tears,” Du Shiyi’s mouth twitched slightly. When they found Zhang Xu’s seemingly ordinary house, Wang Wei glanced sideways at Du Shiyi, gave a resigned look, and promptly urged his horse backward a few steps, leaving Du Shiyi to knock. Contrary to expectation, the door creaked open immediately.

Peering out was not a servant but a disheveled, flushed middle-aged man reeking of alcohol—none other than Zhang Xu. Remembering the warning, Du Shiyi wanted to retreat but before he could react, Zhang Xu grabbed his wrist and pulled him inside. Du Shiyi was caught off guard; behind him, Wang Wei, the attendant, and Tian Mo were all stunned. The doors slammed shut with a bang.

Tian Mo was dumbfounded: “What... what do we do now?”

Without hesitation, Wang Wei dismounted and pounded on the door, but no one answered despite his red hands. Regretful for joking earlier and leaving Du Shiyi alone at the front, he scanned the street for help. Spotting a passerby, he hurriedly stopped them and asked if anyone else was home. The passerby gave a nervous chuckle: “Sir, once Master Zhang drinks, everyone else hides inside, so knocking won’t help...”

Before the man finished, Wang Wei’s face darkened. Tian Mo clenched his teeth, thrust the box into Wang Wei’s hands, kicked off his shoes, and without hesitation began scaling the earthen wall. Surprised by Tian Mo’s agility despite the heavy box, Wang Wei tried to stop him, but seeing him already climbing, he quickly called out, “Don’t rush to find your master—first open the door and let us in!”

Fortunately, Tian Mo landed safely and unlatched the gate. Wang Wei and the attendant hurried inside, only to find Tian Mo standing dazed. Zhang Xu, who had been surprisingly active moments before, was nowhere to be seen, and Du Shiyi had vanished as well. The three wondered if they should search the rooms when Du Shiyi appeared, looking disheveled, clutching a rolled bundle.

Seeing them, Du Shiyi snapped, “Wang, stop just staring at me! Help cover all the walls with silk paper!”