Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

Defang brought Baili to the main hall. Concubine Di was holding her 2-year-old grandson Xinkang, and an official was sitting next to him. As soon as Defang entered the main hall, Xinkang stretched out his hand, "Grandpa, grandpa."

"My lord is back."

"Yes, ma'am." Defang walked over and picked up Xinkang, "Little Xinkang, good boy, miss grandpa."

The official was overwhelmed and hurriedly knelt down, "I'm sorry, Du Wenkai, the magistrate of the Laizhou government office, kowtowed to the Eight Worthy Kings, a thousand years ago!"

"So you are Du Wenkai, um, get up." Defang sat on the chair with Xinkang in his arms

"Thank you, my lord." Du Wenkai got up, and picked up the tray from the table, "I'm a lowly official, please don't dislike me, my lord."

"Oh? What is Mrs. Du's small gift?" Defang also wanted to know what this little official brought. Du Wenkai picked up a stack of thick paper and slowly opened it. It was a very well-stitched rubbing. Defang Looked at "Master Du, what is this?"

"Return to the lord, this is the rubbing of the "Monument of Zheng Wengong in Xingyang"."

"Oh?" Defang got up and walked closer to look at the spliced ​​paper, which is nearly ten feet long and wide. Master Du, what is the purpose of you sending this rubbing?"

"Back to the lord, this is the famous relic of the official in Laizhou. Before entering Beijing, the official went up the mountain to dig it. I heard that the calligraphy of the lord is outstanding. I especially like the calligraphy of famous masters in the past dynasties. But the official's house has no collection, so I can only borrow the pen of the ancients. As a gift."

"Lord Du, this "Monument of Zheng Wengong of Xingyang" is engraved on the steep cliff in the mountain, and it is wide and tall. It must be very difficult for you to rub it yourself. Although it is only a rubbing, the ceremony is much more important than others. .”

"Your official is ashamed."

"Oh, this gift is good, the lonely king likes it, hehehe" Defang looked at another item on the tray, "What is that?"

Du Wenkai picked up the object and said, "My lord, these are a pair of paperweights, which were carved by the lower official from Laizhou specialty stone."

Defang took a closer look, "Is this a sheep and a horse?"

"Yes, my lord, the sheep and horses were carved by the officials themselves."

"Oh?" Defang looked at Du Wenkai in surprise, "Master Du can also carve?"

"Learned some when I was young."

"Have you learned it when you were young?" Defang looked at the paperweight, "The engraving is very good, why did you learn this?"

Concubine Di said after hearing this, "My lord, you are a scholar, it is not necessary to write calligraphy and paint landscapes in your free time, and carve a famous seal by yourself."

"That's what Ma'am said." Defang nodded, "But Master Du's carving is not ordinary. Hehehe, Master Du, others are giving bronze and jade paperweights of tigers, leopards, and unicorns. You are giving this unmatched stone sheep and horse paperweight." Is there any implication?"

"Returning to the prince, this sheep and horse paperweight is very suitable, and the officials think that it is a perfect gift for the prince."

"Oh? What do you mean by that?"

"Returning to the lord, because the zodiac signs of the lord and the empress are sheep and horses, and the sheep and horses have the meaning of loyalty, filial piety, so the lower official carved this pair of sheep and horses as paperweights."

Hearing this, Defang smiled, "Ma'am, I still remember that nine years ago, Mr. Zhang Jizhang also ordered someone to make a special nanmu dragon tortoise pillow. It seems that people who come to the palace to give gifts now have to spend a lot of thought, ha ha ha, but The lonely king saw that the horse was obviously better carved than the sheep."

Hearing this, Du Wenkai bowed and cupped his hands and said, "This official is not good at carving, please forgive me, my lord."

Concubine Di also hugged Xinkang quickly and said, "The prince must say that because his concubine is a horse."