As soon as breakfast was over, Zhang Ju arrived at the palace.
"What can a gentleman find out in court? The old lady has been very sad these days. There was a thief in the house yesterday, and she was even more worried..." On the way, Chen He asked tentatively.
"I was about to tell my aunt," Zhang Ju raised his eyebrows slightly, "You said that the palace was robbed? Can you elaborate on it?"
Chen He's expression remained unchanged, and he only said: "You have to ask in person, it's really hard for me to say much."
Zhang Ju immediately gave up the idea of asking, and instead asked his aunt what other worries she had recently.
Only then did Chen He talk about the article.
Zhang Ju said: "I have a good friend who likes this article very much. He discussed and commented on it at my home a few days ago."
"That's good. The gentleman will talk to the old lady later."
"Thank you Brother Chen for your advice. I got some good tea leaves. I will send them to you in a few days. Please leave a review."
"Easy to say, easy to say."
While they were talking, the two of them came to the hall of the back house. Zhang Ju straightened his clothes and went in to see the ceremony.
"My family is always so polite," Mother Chen pointed to the side and asked Zhang Ju to take a seat.
After Zhang held the ceremony, he knelt down and talked a few words with Chen's mother before finally being asked about business matters.
"Did my nephew find out the exact information about Da Lang?"
"Going back to my aunt, I got some news," Zhang Ju responded quickly. He was in a daze that day and couldn't get any information from his three friends. He naturally made up for it afterwards and did get some results. Even if Chen's mother didn't call him, he would be there in two days.
He was about to come for a visit. "There were indeed some people in the imperial court who spread rumors and slander, and even made excuses and said some unpleasant things."
Chen's mother became nervous: "Is there a problem? This is difficult to handle. If it really doesn't work, we can only show off our old face, use favors, and ask someone to smooth things over."
"The key to this matter is actually still today." Zhang Ju cupped his hands toward the west, "I still trust the king today. No matter how big the difficulty is, it is only temporary."
Mother Chen took advantage of the situation and asked, "Do you know what the saint said?"
"There is no reply today." Zhang Ju told what he had found out.
Mother Chen breathed a sigh of relief and asked other questions. Zhang Ju had limited knowledge and could not answer.
"Now that I have my nephew, I can only rely on you at this time. Unlike Erlang, who is happy and carefree all day long and knows no pain." Mother Chen did not ask further questions.
Zhang Ju remembered Chen He's suggestion and said: "The princes are not idle either. With a piece of "Painted Skin", they have become famous in Jiankang City."
"I was about to ask you," Mother Chen asked, "What's going on with Erlang's article?"
Zhang Ju praised: "The writing of "Painted Skin" is smooth, the words are exquisite, and the story is profound. My friends and I both speak highly of it. Now it has been cited by many people and compared with Lu You's "Qingzhai"
, I would say that this article is second to none among the many supernatural beings."
Mother Chen was surprised. She really didn't expect Zhang Ju to give such a high evaluation.
"Someone actually compares Erlang's article with Lu You's?"
Chen's mother prided herself on her dignity, but she knew Lu You's reputation well. She knew that this man looked aloof, but in fact he had great appeal in Jiankang City, including a few handkerchiefs and many noble ladies.
, and often talk about her, with admiration and praise inside and outside her words.
Every time at this time, Mother Chen would chime in with a few words. She also heard that the Lu family was on the verge of a comeback due to Lu You, Lu Qiong and others.
As a result, the second son whom I despised was actually taken out and compared with such a person!
"Not only that, since yesterday, seven out of ten teahouses in the city have been singing "Painted Skin". There are no less than nine kinds of tunes. The listeners never tire of listening to it. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is famous in the streets! It has been praised by people.
The level of popularity may be even higher than that of several articles in "Qingzhai"." Zhang Ju has obviously understood it in the past two days, "This is just the beginning, and as time goes by, the impact will be even greater!"
Mother Chen was silent for a long time, and finally she said: "Erlang still has such ability." There was surprise and relief in her words, and then she thanked Zhang Ju and said that he had praised Erlang unreasonably.
Zhang Ju shook his head and said: "Such remarks are just evaluations, not praises. In a few days, I'm afraid there will be more praises. Speaking of which, a few friends and I intend to invite Erlang to attend a literary meeting and criticize with him.
I just don’t know if he will agree.”
"Promise, promise." Mother Chen's eyes lit up, "Would he not agree to such a good thing?" She felt the same as Ming Jing. In such literary gatherings, most of the participants were people with high local standards and prestige.
, many people in power in the court were invited to make judgments and comments. It was indeed an excellent place to raise one's reputation.
Before Lu You lived in seclusion outside the city to raise his family, he participated in several events and became very famous. Several of his tribesmen followed suit and prospered in officialdom.
"Now that Dalang is in a bad situation, we should take this opportunity to ask him to help increase his reputation." Chen's mother was elated. After seeing off Zhang Ju, she immediately summoned Chen He and asked about Chen Cuo's whereabouts.
"They said they were looking for a temple, but they haven't told me which temple it is yet." Chen He responded and asked again, "You want me to go and bring the prince back?"
"No rush, no rush," Mother Chen's brows relaxed, and she showed a sincere smile for the first time in several days, "Let him relax and pray to Buddha. With the protection of gods and Buddhas, things will go smoother."
Chen He nodded to express his understanding.
Chen's mother said with emotion: "I really didn't expect Erlang to have such ability, but it is a good thing. The way of writing and calligraphy is to knock on the door and become a famous scholar. The family is at a critical moment. If he can use his literary talent to
It is my family’s great fortune to make friends with everyone in this name!” After saying this, his face showed relief.
After a while, Chen's mother looked sad again and thought about her eldest son again.
Chen Jiao happened to come over to greet her, noticed that her mother was acting strange, and took the initiative to ask why.
Mother Chen didn't want to talk about these things to her daughter, she just said it was nothing.
Chen Jiao couldn't believe it. She rolled her eyes and said with a smile: "Mother, you don't know. My second brother is famous in Jiankang City, and I have also benefited from it."
"Oh?" When she heard that she was talking about her second son, Mother Chen's worry eased slightly, "But because of that article?"
"Mother also knows?" Chen Jiao was slightly surprised. Seeing that her mother's expression improved, she continued: "Brother's article "Painted Skin" has been read by several of my daughter's close friends. They all liked it and begged her to find her brother.
, saying that they want to ask for a few more copies, and some are fascinated by it, maybe in the near future, someone will come to ask for marriage!"
Mother Chen finally showed a smile, moved her daughter's forehead with her hand, and said, "Don't talk nonsense."
Chen Jiao raised her voice and said, "It's not nonsense. My daughter used to go to gatherings with her best friends and she was just a foil. She asked the two sisters of the Lu family to talk about Lu Caizi's deeds. Yesterday, she turned around. She was surrounded by people asking about her brother.
By the way, they asked me to ask, do you know when the second brother will write a new chapter?"
Mother Chen shook her head with a smile and said, "You have to ask yourself, how can I command you?"
"Then I have to hurry up," Chen Jiao said seriously, "After a while, "Painted Skin" will probably be sought after by more people, and I don't know how many people are going to visit the second brother. It's too late, and I'm afraid everyone outside will
Know it before me."
Her words were somewhat meant to please her mother, but they were also sincere, so she bid farewell to her mother, returned to the backyard, and asked her personal maid to find an opportunity to inquire.
Her maid said: "Don't worry, young lady. I am familiar with Aster in the Lord's Mansion. I will go and find out about it later."
Chen Jiao said happily: "Go quickly! Go quickly!" Then she complained, "Second brother is the same. Last time he came to the house, he didn't come to see me. It's a shame that I helped him."
The maid comforted him for a few words, then found a time to leave the house and walk briskly through the streets.
"This is the house!"
Not long after the maid walked past, a white piglet suddenly appeared in an alley corner. It was no bigger than a basin, and there was a small dark green turtle lying on its back.
It actually spoke human words: "There is the fragrance of incense here, but no one restrains it. It must be worshiped by no one. Let's go and have a feast according to the smell! Hum! Hum!"