In the capital, while Su Leng'e, Shi Tai and others were busy preparing for Amesh's audience, Ruan Yuan also gave a rare day off to all the staff in Fuyuan and invited everyone to attend the meeting in the afternoon.

He spent time discussing poetry in the side hall. Thinking that although Ruan An's poems could not be engraved at the moment, he had already collected dozens of poems about plum blossoms, Ruan Yuan also brought copies of Ruan An's poems to the staff and talked with them.

Everyone appreciates and appreciates it together.

"Teacher, the students have heard that Kong Jing is in her prime this year, but they don't think that she already has so many poems about plum blossoms. Think about it this way, if Kong Jing is able to enjoy her old age and write poems non-stop,

Among the ladies of the country, the most eminent in poetry and prose is none other than Kong Jing." Chen Shouqi looked at Ruan An's poetry and prose during the banquet and was not impressed for a moment. He called Ruan An "Kong Jing" because Ruan Yuan once won

There was an ancient mirror with the Chinese character "Kong Jing" on it. Ruan Yuan loved this mirror very much, so he named it Kong Jing as Ruan An's Chinese character.

"Gongfu, I didn't expect that after all these years, how could you learn such flattering words? Although Kong Jing has these poems, she is only fifteen years old. How can she deserve such praise from you?" Ruan Yuan

Even though he said these words, he felt proud in his heart.

"Teacher, to be honest, when I was fifteen years old, my student, I would never have been able to write a poem like this. Look at this poem, the moon shines on the ice and is pure, and the wind blows back and the snow is fragrant. The slanting branches are bright and clean, and the fine stamens are messy and colorful.

.The shadow entered the silver pond, and the cold current froze the place. Although...the last sentence is a bit more straightforward, but the two couplets in the middle are pure and noble, which is immediately apparent. The female historian is a woman after all, and she does not need to take the imperial examination. This

As for the language, it can have such charm, I think it is already first-rate among the ladies of the country. If we can find another teacher who is good at poetry and give guidance on women's history for three more years, then the female epics in the future... It is unimaginable, unimaginable

Ah." Chen Shouqi looked at Ruan An's poems and couldn't help but sigh, it is indeed a sign of cherishing talent.

"Brother Gongfu, according to your opinion, I, the teacher of Kong Jing, am not talented enough and Brother Gongfu is not interested in me. In this case, I would like to ask Brother Gongfu to give me some pointers. This poem

What are the shortcomings of this article?" At this time, another person from Ruan Yuan's staff responded to Chen Shouqi. It turned out that this person's name was Yan Jie, and he had entered Ruan Yuan's office when he was in Hangzhou, and he collated it with Li Rui and others.

"Comments on the Thirteen Classics", this time Ruan Yuan was engraving plates in Nanchang. He wanted to see the rare books, so he came to Nanchang to join Ruan Yuan. It happened that Ruan An was also studying poetry, so Ruan Yuan also invited Yan Jie to his home.

Provided poetry guidance to several children.

"Haha, I wonder who taught the poems to Kong Jing's daughter, it turned out to be Houmin?" Yan Jie's courtesy name was Houmin, so Chen Shouqi called him by that name and said: "It seems that Houmin, your method of composing poems is still a bit sketchy.

I owe you something. Your strength lies in scholarship. When you write poetry, there are always some imperfections. If Kong Jing’s female history still wants to go further, I think it is better to find someone who is good at poetry.

"

"Gongfu, why are you still so ugly when you talk?" Yan Jie was not to be outdone and said, "I just heard you praise Kong Jing, and I thought you had changed your gender. I didn't expect you to still be the same as before. You

If you think you are better at poetry than me, then why don't you teach Kong Jing?"

"Okay, okay, you don't have to argue anymore. Let's look at this one again. I think An'er's composition is equally good." Ruan Yuan smiled and waved his hand, indicating that the two of them should stop bickering.

I also looked at Ruan An's poems and read: "The early plum blossoms are blooming in the winter, and the cold makes you more energetic. The moon is far away, but I am still happy with the sunset. There is a cold rhyme in front of the eaves, and the thin branches outside the pavilion are new. It is difficult for friends to follow the customs, and the flowers

How about blooming without waiting for spring? Isn’t this one more charming than the one just now?”

"What?" Ruan Yuan did not expect that just after he finished reading the poem, a person in the back row of the staff was surprised, and then there was a "pop" sound, and the copy of Ruan An's poems held in that person's hand

When it fell to the ground, other curtain members were also surprised when they heard it.

"Zhang Shushu, what's wrong with you?" At this time, Yan Jie reacted faster and took the initiative to look behind him. Ruan Yuanxun looked over and saw that the person was his secret friend in charge of the book, named

Zhang Jun. Zhang Jun has been working in his own camp since he was the governor of Huai'an. He has always been diligent and cautious. But on this day, for some unknown reason, he lost his voice after listening to Ruan An's poem.

"Master Gongbao, this... this poem about plum blossoms is... written by a child?" Zhang Jun looked at Ruan Yuan's confused look and knew that he couldn't hide anything, so he said so. But he could say this.

, the person who was really surprised was Ruan Yuan.

"Zhang Book Shu, you said this poem was written by your son, this... I know An'er very well, and I have never had any contact with my maternal family. If this poem is indeed written by my son, then this poem is...

But why did An'er know about it?" Ruan Yuan stepped forward and asked.

"Master Gong Bao, this... to be honest, Kong Jing, the female historian, must have known about Xiao'er's poem... when she was in Huai'an, right? In those few years, our mother was seriously ill and needed money urgently, and the money in the curtain was somewhat insufficient.

, so..." It seemed that Zhang Jun had already guessed what happened, but he was honest and continued: "So my son and I took some old calligraphy and paintings from home and went to the Huai'an market.

I went to the market to sell some paintings. My son had learned some painting skills, so he helped me paint a few paintings. One day in the market, I met Mrs. Kong..."

"It turns out that this is what happened to An'er's painting back then..." Ruan Yuan listened to Zhang Junzhi and suddenly realized why Ruan An had no special interest in plum blossoms before, but bought an ink painting in Huai'an that day.

However, I couldn’t put it down for plum blossoms. Over the past few years, I have created many works praising plum blossoms...

However, after knowing the whole story, Ruan Yuan had another worry in his heart.

"An'er's lifelong event may be... but it's really..."

At this time, Amesh and his party in the capital were unexpectedly at a loss. It turned out that since Su Leng'e and He Shitai left that day, they had not come back to discuss the etiquette of the interview with the envoy for several days.

It was just that Hiroyuki Nagasashi Shiomasa who came with him had a banquet with several principal and deputy envoys. Amesh and Xiaosi Dangdong asked about etiquette, and Hirohui was noncommittal. Several officials from the Qing Dynasty were so disrespectful.

The attitude of being cold or not, but completely unsure of the etiquette, made Amesh and others restless for several days. It was not until the day of the formal meeting that Su Leng'e and He Shitai appeared again and met with Amesh and others.

, after only paying the courtesy of meeting him, he took the British envoy and his entourage and set off towards the Old Summer Palace.

After the group entered the palace gate, they were directed to the right by the palace eunuch. It seems that the place where Jiaqing met the British envoys that day was still the Fengsan Selfless Hall of Qingyan in Kyushu. It was just that they had never entered the palace before.

From then on, Su Leng'e and He Shitai walked extremely slowly. The group only walked for half an hour, and they were still some distance away from Qingyan in Kyushu. Amesh and others thought they were going to see the emperor at first, so they should have slowed down.

, but didn't take it seriously. But as they were walking, everyone suddenly felt the rush of footsteps behind them. Two Landingzi officials rushed over from behind the British envoy and his party. Su Leng'e and Shitai also stopped immediately and talked with them.

The two officials visited each other.

"My lords, may I ask... How should we salute the Emperor when we go to Hajj today? Your lords did not give me a clear answer on this matter before, and now they have led us here in a hurry. I am waiting for this...

…It’s a bit strange, isn’t it?” Several British envoys saw that the situation in front of them seemed to be wrong, and they quickly discussed it. At this time, the person who asked the question was the second deputy envoy of the British mission, Ellis.

After Xiaosi Dangdong translated, several ministers of the Qing Dynasty also heard it.

"Unfamiliar? Haha, this kind of thing doesn't matter." Su Leng'e listened to Ellis' question and smiled at several British envoys: "Actually, I have been working in Beijing for more than 20 years, and you don't know how to salute like this.

I have also seen people who are unfamiliar with this kind of thing. Our great emperor is merciful and will never mind. In order to make it easier for you to salute, no, we have also invited two adults who are the most proficient in etiquette today.

?I am the most proficient in etiquette at Taichang Temple. Today I have invited the two ministers of Taichang Temple. Don’t worry. When the time comes, you will stand behind these two adults.

How do the adults salute? You can do the same when you wait. Learn the movements of the two adults, and today's meeting will be completed. You see, this is very simple, right?" In the Qing Dynasty, there were two Taichang Temples, Manchu and Han.

Sir, so there are two officials who came to lead the introduction today.

"No, what we are asking is, what kind of ceremony do we want to perform? If...if it is still the ceremony of three kneels and nine kowtows, then...then we will never accept it!" It seems that Ellis has changed from Su Leng's forehead.

There was something wrong in his words.

"Oh, what's so difficult about this three-kneeling-nine-kowling ceremony? I know that the reason why you are trying to push it off is simply because you don't know how to do it? Then I, the people from Taichang Temple, have brought me here, and you can learn from it.

Learn it once... and you will master this." Su Leng'e said still indifferently. After hearing this, several British envoys already knew that Su Leng'e had not come up with any countermeasures for himself at all. His thoughts were just

He just kept perfunctory until the last moment.

"Master Su, let me ask you for the last time. When we meet the emperor today, do I need to perform the three kneels and nine kowtows ceremony?" Amesh could no longer hold back and took the initiative to question Su Leng'e.

.

"Isn't this just a salute? Why do you think you are..." Su Leng'e still wanted to argue.

"In this case, let's end today's meeting here." Amesh looked at Su Leng's expression and finally understood that the dispute over etiquette was no longer able to be resolved at this time. If this is the case, then in the end it will be

The only result was to break one's face. He then said to Su Leng'e: "We are envoys of the United Kingdom. You insist on asking us to perform such an unworthy kowtow ceremony for the emperor today. You allow us to return to the country in the future.

Why should I see His Majesty the King again? We have never encountered a country as unreasonable as yours when we are on missions abroad, nor have we ever seen diplomats as perfunctory and dim as yours. This time, you are determined to refuse to give in. We have...

We have fulfilled our duties! Since the Great Emperor refuses to give in, then we...we will return home now!"

Having said that, Amherst immediately turned back and headed back towards the road leading to the Old Summer Palace. Seeing this scene, Little Staunton and Ellis naturally understood that this mission was going to be over again from this moment on.

There was no possibility of success. The two of them also gave a hasty salute to Su Leng'e, He Shitai and others, and then turned back. After a while, the British envoy and his entourage had left completely, and only Su Leng was left in the Old Summer Palace.

Well, I and Shitai and other officials, big and small, looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

"You... why are you so stubborn?" Su Leng'e helplessly looked at the direction in which the British delegation was leaving. Although he said he was unwilling to forgive, his heart was already in chaos. Then he turned to Kyushu.

In the direction of the palace wall, Qingyan let out a long sigh and was unable to move.
Chapter completed!