Chapter Eleven: Du He's Calligraphy

  Back at the Cai Guo Gong Fu, Du Ruhui unexpectedly returned home early and was chatting with Zhang Shi in the main hall.

  "Father! Mother!" Du He shouted.

  Du Ruhui nodded.

  Zhang's family warmly called out: "He'er is back? Come, sit next to your mother!" After Du He sat down, he asked again: "Are you used to studying at school?"

  "It's okay, I can understand what the teacher is saying. But it's not as good as my mother's teaching, she explains things more vividly." Du He gave a timely flattery, and soon had Zhang Shi smiling so widely that her mouth couldn't close.

  "It was that old fellow Kong Yingda who taught you, wasn't it?" Du Ruhui suddenly asked from the side.

  Old fellow?

  "It's Old... " Du He thought of following up with "old guy", but seeing Du Ru Hui's eyebrows raised, he quickly changed his words: "It's Mr. Kong."

  Zhang's eyes lit up and he smiled: "Mr. Kong is a renowned scholar, He'er should learn from him properly, she will definitely have a bright future."

  "Women's views!" Du Ruhui disregarded Zhang's words and opposed Du He, saying: "Second brother, that old man has some learning, but if he talks about Confucian classics, even his father can't compare. However, he is too rigid and inflexible, unaware of the need to adapt, and regards the words of the sage as absolute truth. Second brother can learn from his cultural knowledge, but must not learn from his behavior and handling of affairs, which will bring no benefit to the country and harm to oneself."

  Du Ruhui's words have hit Du He's weak spot.

  This afternoon, Kong Yingda taught them the way of a gentleman's conduct, saying "A gentleman persuades with righteousness, a petty person persuades with benefit." A gentleman should prioritize righteousness, only petty people always emphasize benefits. He talked about many allusions, and Du He's ears were numb from listening.

  If Li Shimin used Kong Yingda's reasoning to govern the country, everyone would become a gentleman, not fighting back when beaten and not retorting when scolded. It can be imagined that the Tang Dynasty will decline within ten years.

  "Father, you're right. I think Confucianism isn't bad, but nothing should be blindly followed. Once something is done blindly, it will backfire. Take the Qin dynasty for example. Qin Shi Huang was a great leader who unified China, but he relied too heavily on law and his laws were overly harsh, causing people to suffer. As a result, the dynasty collapsed after just two generations. Another example is the Wei and Jin dynasties. During that time, literature and art flourished, but scholars became hermits, neglecting their duties to the country. They even went so far as to not bathe for months, allowing lice to infest their bodies. And yet, they would gather together, drink, and chat, making a fashion out of picking lice from each other's hair. As a result, during the Wei and Jin dynasties, national power declined, and foreign tribes invaded our land, frequently establishing their own states, causing China to be divided into four or five parts. Of course, I'm not denying the culture that flourished during the Southern and Northern Dynasties was indeed brilliant. But from the Wei to the Sui dynasty, over 360 years, more than 30 large and small dynasties rose and fell, and foreign invasions brought disaster to China, which is undeniable."

  "Could Erlang really have such insight?" Du Ruhui was so excited that even his whiskers were trembling.

  Du He's words were spoken in such a way that even Du Ruhui, this great Tang dynasty statesman, nodded his head in approval.

  After chatting with his parents for a while, Du He remembered that he still had to serve his punishment and excused himself to return to the Western Courtyard where he lived, citing schoolwork.

  The little loli Ling brought tea and skillfully ground ink for him on the side.

  "Girl, is there something I wrote before here?"

  The little loli thought for a moment, nodded, took out a "Analects of Confucius" from the bookshelf beside her, opened the first page, and saw two big characters written in a flying dragon and phoenix style.

  Du He carefully examined it for a long time and couldn't even tell what character was written.

  "What is this written about?"

  The little loli was somewhat hesitant to speak out, under Du He's gaze, she said softly: "It's Young Master's name!"

  Du He's face turned a deep crimson, he was ashamed for another Du He, too fierce, wild grass in one stroke formed, the momentum is connected and round, bold and heroic, while Du He's "wild grass" was written out one stroke at a time.

  That's even more outrageous than a crazy draft.

  "Never mind, I'll just write my own!" Du He had originally planned to imitate the handwriting of the previous Du He by copying it, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble. However, upon seeing that even the gods couldn't imitate Du He's crazy cursive script, he could only give up.

  Du He took a brush from the pen holder on his desk, dipped it in ink, and began to write.

  The little loli turned her head away, disdainfully refusing to look at Du He's originally that immortal also can't imitate the crazy grass, but unintentionally glanced, and couldn't take her eyes off it again.

  Du He's handwritten brush characters are quite beautiful, which is related to his family background. His parents were both university students, and his father loved calligraphy. At home, there was a genuine work of Su Shi's "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" and Yan Zhenqing's "Portrait of Dongfang Shuo". Under the influence of his father, he had been fascinated with calligraphy since childhood and often practiced brush characters in front of "Preface to the Orchid Pavilion" and "Portrait of Dongfang Shuo", mastering the essence of Su and Yan, two great masters. Later, he merged them into one style, creating a unique school.

  "Is this really written by Second Master?" Little Loli exclaimed.

  "How is it?" Du He smiled complacently, still very confident in his own calligraphy.

  The little loli showed a look of admiration, gazing deeply at Du He, thinking to herself: "I didn't expect that Second Young Master's fall not only got rid of his temper but also made him look handsome!"

  That gaze made Du He feel fluttered, and his small vanity was greatly satisfied.

  Seeing Xiao Loli's adorable appearance, Du He couldn't help but pinch her face and laugh: "What are you looking at? Aren't you afraid I'll eat you up?"

  The little loli let out a cry, her small face flushing red like a water peach, and paired with her sparkling face, it made people want to take a bite.

  "In the study, Master...Master...don't do that!" Little Loli muttered to herself, her voice as weak as a mosquito's hum, and if Du He hadn't had sharp ears and eyes, he wouldn't have been able to hear it.

  "Can't it be a study? Why does it have to be a room?" Du He thought, his mind racing with all sorts of thoughts, and he felt somewhat uneasy.

  The next day in class, Old Man Kong took roll and checked Li Xueyan and Du He's punishment of copying.

  Li Xueyan looked at Du He with a worried expression and handed over a thick stack of papers first.

  Du He followed up afterwards.

  As she walked back to her seat, Du He met Zhang Sun Chong's gaze.

  Those eyes were filled with venomous hatred, and Du Hehui couldn't help but smile. Today, Changsun Wu rushed to greet Princess Changle as enthusiastically as ever. In the past, Princess Changle would always respond with a smile, but today she replied coldly, her attitude completely different from before.

  But in those eyes, Du He found a hint of schadenfreude and couldn't help but feel vigilant.

  Back to his seat, Old Kong had just finished checking the school rules that Li Xueyan was forced to copy, picked up Du He's and took a closer look, let out a surprised voice, and praised: "What beautiful handwriting..."

  Kong Lao Toudi had some insight and carefully examined it in every way, then took out a paper to compare with Du He's, and asked doubtfully: "Du He, is this written by you personally?"

  "It was I who wrote it myself, sir!" replied Du He.

  As soon as Du He finished speaking, someone immediately shouted: "He's lying! Mr. Du said yesterday that he would ask someone to write on his behalf. How could Du He's words be so beautiful!"

  Du He's eyes narrowed, "The informant" was Xiao He, and it goes without saying that he was instructed by Changsun Chong.

  "Sir, this is indeed my handwriting!" Du He defended himself.

  Xiao He snorted and said: "If you can write such good characters, I'll eat this book."

  Du He couldn't help but laugh with joy.