Chapter 26: Resonance Beyond Melody, Fragrance Beyond Scent

"Level, straight, even, dense, sharp, force, light, decisive, supplement, loss, skill, and proportion—these are the twelve essences!" Yuan Jie pondered deeply; his expertise in calligraphy was considerable, yet he could not immediately grasp their meaning. However, the Yuan family valued scholarship through Confucian learning and regarded anyone with true knowledge as a worthy teacher, so he humbled himself and asked, "Could you explain them in detail?"

By now, he no longer dared to regard Xu You as a crude and ignorant warrior. On the contrary, though a trace of doubt lingered in his heart, he now treated him as a calligraphy master with whom he could discourse as an equal. Xu You, intent on impressing him, decided to play his hand boldly and smiled, "Words alone are superficial. Does your household possess an authentic work of Grand Tutor Zhong?"

"Well..." Yuan Jie smiled bitterly. "Most of Zhong Yao's authentic works were destroyed during the turmoil of the Five Barbarians. Only 'The Petition for Ji Zhizhi' and 'The Report of Victory' survive, both in the collection of Yang Tong, Prefect of Xin'an, who rarely shows them."

Yang Tong? Xu You wondered who this person was, to possess the only two genuine works of Zhong Yao. Fearing that too many questions might betray him, he refrained from inquiring further, but quietly committed the name to memory for later investigation.

"No authentic works? That's not an issue; a copy will suffice."

"That can be easily arranged. We have copies of 'The Proclamation,' 'The Petition for Ji Zhizhi,' 'The Report of Victory,' 'The Adjustment of Yuan,' 'The Mandate of Force,' 'The Tomb of Bing Tai,' 'The Recent Letter,' 'The White Rider Letter,' 'The Constant Troubles Letter,' 'The Cold Snow Letter,' and more—all available in the household."

Zhong Yao's "Five Petitions and Six Letters" were the most widely circulated; Xu You had only studied 'The Report of Victory.' He said, "Let us fetch 'The Report of Victory.'"

Yuan Jie turned immediately and ordered, "Go to the study and instruct Qi Mo to bring 'The Report of Victory!'"

Feng Tong obeyed, and after a quarter of an hour returned, accompanied by a delicate, refined youth, about fifteen or sixteen, whose face was pristine as jade, lips as red as vermilion—most likely the book boy named Qi Mo. He wore a robe above and skirted trousers below, with a small cap on his head, all in white. Though made of ordinary cloth, the snowy white attire accentuated his beautiful features, leaving a memorable impression.

He walked over, head bowed, cradling a scroll. His cautious demeanor made clear the value Yuan Jie placed on this copy. During that quarter hour, Yuan Jie had said nothing, but sat hunched over, examining Xu You's letter of divorce word by word, as if savoring the masterpiece of some great artist.

"Master, 'The Report of Victory' is here," Qi Mo spoke in a soft, low voice, melodious and pleasant.

"Open it!"

Yuan Jie kept his gaze fixed on the divorce letter, not even glancing at 'The Report of Victory,' which he usually cherished. If Zhong Yao could see this from the grave, he might lament, "Only the new are seen smiling, the old are not heard crying." Feng Tong swiftly arranged the desk, Qi Mo slowly unrolled the scroll, placed a bronze reclining ox paperweight on the corner, then stepped aside.

Throughout, his gaze remained angled thirty degrees toward the ground, never once lifting it to meet anyone.

"On campaign and road, braving dangers and cold. I, unworthy, could not accompany; longing and suspended feelings, without peace or rest..." Xu You stepped forward, softly reciting the text of 'The Report of Victory,' his eyes filled with admiration.

As Zhong Yao's original works were lost, the surviving copies were made by later generations, each layer infused with the artistry of its creator, diverging ever further from the original. Yet this copy was different—it appeared to have been traced directly from Yang Tong's authentic collection, the so-called "true second generation," showing the original intent and stroke of 'The Report of Victory' in full.

Ah, yes—'The Report of Victory' was written by Zhong Yao at the age of sixty-eight, upon hearing that Guan Yu had been defeated at Maicheng and beheaded by Sun Quan, a moment that filled him with joy and prompted him to pen this congratulatory memorial!

"How is it?" Yuan Jie finally tore himself from the divorce letter, standing beside Xu You and asking.

Xu You sighed, "May I ask whose hand produced this copy? At first glance, a dense, profound, ancient elegance rises to meet the eye; it truly embodies the essence of Zhong Yao's twelve meanings!"

Yuan Jie immediately recognized that Xu You spoke as an expert, and his lingering doubts vanished. After all, he had witnessed Xu You's own handwriting, which could not be faked. He replied, "You have a keen eye. This is the 'Half-Fish Edition,' copied by Lu Lingzi, the Imperial Archivist."

Qi Mo, who had stood motionless, suddenly tensed, clenched his hands, and then relaxed them in a flash, as if afraid his reaction might be noticed, bowing his head even lower. Yet he worried too much; of the four in the room, Yuan Jie was absorbed in calligraphy, Xu You was considering how to confound Yuan Jie utterly, and Feng Tong's gaze never left Yuan Jie, always seeking to infer his intentions and win his favor.

Such is the sadness of life: what you deem important may leave not a speck of dust in others' eyes.

Chen Lingzi sounded like a woman's name, but Xu You was not surprised. The 'Imperial Household' referred to the palace; since the Han, female officials had been established, nothing unusual. Still, unfamiliar with the state of Chu, he inquired further and learned that after An Shiyu became emperor, the palace, needing renewal, followed Han and Wei precedent, adapting the central bureaucracy and establishing a system of female officials.

The highest rank was the Purple Pole Household Chief, overseeing the inner palace; second was the Purple Pole Deputy, an assistant; third were the Six Offices—Rites, Administration, Attire, Meals, Sleep, and Works—each with eight archivists of fourth rank, responsible for various duties: ceremony, palace affairs, inspection, food, clothing, music, literature, divination, education, weaving, embroidery, prisons, cleaning, night watch, defense, kitchens, storage, and more. Beneath the fourth-rank archivists were fifth-rank managers, sixth-rank consultants, seventh-rank chamber chiefs, eighth-rank hall officers, ninth-rank palace attendants, and other miscellaneous positions.

Lu Lingzi was one of the eight archivists under the Office of Rites, overseeing classification, preservation, copying, and instruction in calligraphy and painting—a respected rank among female officials.

Now Xu You understood why Lu Lingzi could so expertly copy 'The Report of Victory'—she was a professional in the field!

In later times, she would have been a peerless talent in the world of forgery!

"Why is it called the 'Half-Fish Edition'?"

Yuan Jie smiled, pointing to the scroll's heading, "Look here, is there not a small seal with the left half of the characters 'Half-Fish'?"

Xu You bent down, examined it closely, and exclaimed, "Indeed, the characters are gentle and elegant, clear and graceful. Though the style diverges greatly from 'The Report of Victory,' I suspect this too is Archivist Lu's own hand?"

"You have sharp eyes!" Yuan Jie stroked his beard. "Lu Lingzi's courtesy name is Half-Fish; this is her unique seal."

Lu Half-Fish? The name struck Xu You as odd, and he was amused, but kept a composed face and said modestly, "I know nothing of court regulations or personnel. Without your guidance, I would never have known there was such an extraordinary woman in Jinling."

"You are still young, raised in Yixing, and seldom visit Jinling, so it's natural you know little of these things." Yuan Jie was not suspicious; the Shen clan of Yixing was renowned for martial prowess, and that they could produce someone like Xu You, skilled in calligraphy, was already astonishing. If he were so young and yet knowledgeable in all affairs of court, none would believe it.

"This woman's talent is unmatched; among all court ladies, none can rival her. The renowned monk Tanqian once praised her with eight characters: 'Charm beyond charm, fragrance beyond fragrance.' Alas, her fate was tragic—forced into palace service, provoking endless sighs!"

Xu You, in his past life, had held high office, accustomed to countless beauties; no matter how exquisite, there always came a day of mutual weariness. Thus, he was not overly passionate about women and could not share Yuan Jie's lament. He smiled, "To attain the rank of fourth-rank archivist is already beyond most women; perhaps you worry too much?"

Yuan Jie shook his head, "What is fourth rank? Merely the master's servant..."

The phrase seemed familiar; Xu You recalled reading the 'Old Book of Tang,' which recounted an episode: Emperor Taizong's brother, Prince Shuwang Li Yuanming's tutor asked him to pay respects to the high-ranking female officials in the palace. Li Yuanming, disdainful, said, 'She is but my second brother's maid; why pay respects?' For this attitude, Taizong praised him, 'Truly my brother.' Thus, female officials are not consorts, not of the imperial family, but senior servants of the palace—servants, nothing more. Whether they might ascend from official to consort depends on the emperor's mood, stamina, and taste.

Seeing Yuan Jie somewhat downcast, Xu You was at last stirred to a faint curiosity about Lu Lingzi. He had never heard of Yuan the Left General indulging in excessive romantic affairs; what caused him to care so much for the Lu family woman?

Thinking thus, Xu You shifted the topic. "Regarding the twelve essences I mentioned, would you care to hear more?"

Yuan Jie snapped back to attention, setting Lu Lingzi aside, fixing his gaze on 'The Report of Victory,' his eyes shining with excitement. "I would be honored to hear!"

"Level means horizontal—look at the character 'yan,' the brush alternates connection and break, the momentum peaks and gathers; straight means vertical—see 'bing,' the strokes descend decisively, thick and thin in harmony; even means spacing—like 'hu,' for example... dense means proximity, sharp means structure... force means form, light means bend... decisive means swift movement, supplement means what is lacking, loss means what is surplus, skill means arrangement, proportion means size..."

Xu You pointed to the characters, explaining fluently, perfectly integrating Zhong Yao's twelve essences into 'The Report of Victory.' Yuan Jie was amazed, as if hearing celestial music, and could only nod in agreement.

"If the brush is tilted, there is no angularity; if held loosely, the writing is weak; if the strokes are short, the style is clumsy; if long, the method is scattered; if lines are crowded, the characters are horizontal; if dispersed, the characters are slow; if restricted, lacks force; if released, lacks control; pure bone is without charm, pure flesh without strength; little ink is rough, much ink is dull. Only by comprehending Zhong Yao's twelve essences can one truly grasp the spirit between the lines!"

Yuan Jie was silent for a moment, then laughed loudly, "The Master said, 'To hear the Way in the morning, one may die in the evening.' Only today do I truly understand the meaning of this sage's words."

Xu You bowed, "You praise me too much, Yuan Gong. The art of calligraphy is vast and profound; I have merely glimpsed its threshold. Moreover, were it not for your character—magnanimous, tolerant, refined—I would not dare to speak so freely, risking mere generalities to sully your ear."

Zhong Yao's twelve essences were the theoretical achievement of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, a giant in calligraphy history. They not only inaugurated the aesthetic of spiritual resonance in calligraphy criticism, but also established his supreme status in the history of the art. Of course, in this historical world, Xiao Yan did not exist, so Xu You appropriated his findings, ensuring the ocean did not lose its pearls.

Yuan Jie was highly satisfied with Xu You's humility, his eyes repeatedly measuring him, then glancing meaningfully and unconsciously at the divorce letter, displaying a peculiar expression.

Xu You's heart skipped a beat. Not good—had he performed too well, stirring this man's desire for talent and making him reconsider the divorce?