The fragrance of ink wafted from the Xu residence, spreading across a ten-mile radius around the Xu and Qin noble estates. Everyone in the vicinity caught a whiff of the rich scent of ink. Wei Xun glanced toward the study.
He didn't know what kind of memorial Xu Ming had written, but he was acutely aware that a remarkable piece of literature had been born.
Inside the study, Xu Ming laid down his brush. The memorial was completely filled, every inch covered with characters.
Xu Shuiya and the other two companions stared at the dense, flowing script on the memorial, utterly stunned.
---
"Minister Ming speaks humbly," began the document. "In obedience to the imperial edict, I am honored to be granted the opportunity to marry Princess Zhaowen. Such an honor surpasses my station and is a grace unparalleled in the realm, bestowed by His Majesty's benevolence. It bathes me in imperial favor and cleanses me with the light of divine virtue.
The Grand Chancellor, Lord Xiao, once invited me to a banquet, where I composed a humble verse that, by chance, reached His Majesty's ears. Since then, I have risen from obscurity to serve His Majesty closely, a blessing beyond what I could ever repay, even with the sacrifice of my life. The princess's beauty is renowned across the land, her wisdom and virtue second only to the Empress herself."
This lengthy preamble served to recount Xu Ming's past experiences, express his gratitude for His Majesty's favor, and extol the princess's beauty and grace. He aimed to make it clear that he held no disdain for Princess Zhaowen; rather, she was truly extraordinary. His refusal was purely due to personal reasons.
Then, Xu Ming began to explain his rationale:
"Yet, beyond the borders of the Wu Kingdom, the Northern Desert remains restless, and the snowy peaks to the north are shadowed by ominous threats. A myriad of demon nations covet the lands to our north. Among humanity's literati, many aspire to lead, but the Wu Kingdom views the Northern Wilderness as barbaric and alien. How does the Kingdom of Qi perceive us?
I, though untalented, have been fortunate to serve His Majesty and wish to dedicate myself to the state, repaying the kindness of His Majesty's recognition.
From a young age, though weak in body, I harbored no self-pity. Instead, I aspired to guard the borders for my country. In the dead of night, as I listened to the wind and rain, I often dreamed of the clanging of iron horses and the icy rivers of battle.
I understand deeply that love between men and women is a natural sentiment, but how could I, in a time of national peril, prioritize personal emotions over concerns for the country?"
Here, Xu Ming justified his refusal to marry the princess. It wasn't because he didn't wish to, but because he had grander aspirations and goals. Until those were achieved, he had no mind for marriage.
"At the age of six, I entered the path of learning; by eight, I knew of the plight of the borderlands. I admired the legacy of our forebears and have longed day and night to emulate their valor. Drunkenly inspecting swords, listening to the bugles in the cold wind, dreaming of the eight hundred leagues of banners raised for battle, the songs of fifty strings playing beyond the frontiers, and the autumn muster of troops on the sands. I yearned for the speed of galloping horses and the thunderous twang of bowstrings.
I trust in His Majesty's wisdom to understand my sincerity. I am willing to dedicate my life to the kingdom, setting aside personal feelings. Thus, I implore His Majesty to rescind this decree.
Although I lack extraordinary talents, I wish to fulfill my aspirations: to feast upon the flesh of barbarian foes, to quench my thirst with the blood of demons, to expand our territories, and to elevate the Wu Kingdom to the pinnacle of the world.
On the battlefield, where life and death are uncertain, how could I selfishly marry the princess, only to leave her a widow?
I beg Your Majesty to sympathize with my earnest plea and allow me to pursue my humble ambition. Whether alive, I will serve the kingdom; or dead, I shall repay my loyalty. Thus, I present this memorial, trembling with fear and gratitude."
---
In the final section of the memorial, Xu Ming elaborated further on his reasoning. He claimed that his refusal was also for the princess's sake. Life on the battlefield was unpredictable—death could come at any moment. If he were to marry the princess, he would inevitably have to leave her as he marched off to war. Should he perish, the princess would be left alone, a fate he couldn't bear to impose on her.
Throughout this "Memorial of Rejection," Xu Ming adapted elements of Li Mi's Memorial to Emperor Wen of Jin and Jiang Zeng's Memorial of Rejection. He interspersed poetic verses, creating a heartfelt, well-reasoned, and eloquent argument. The entire memorial filled a lengthy scroll, with text so densely written that it covered nearly four thousand characters.
In his former life on Blue Star, Xu Ming would never have been capable of writing such a masterpiece. However, over the years, the "talent" attributes he had gained allowed him to compose this work effortlessly. The memorial was imbued with genuine emotion, logical structure, and sincere persuasion—a true masterpiece to advise his sovereign.
With the reward Xu Ming received for topping the imperial examinations—Synergistic Cooperation—his ability to persuade leaders had increased by 30%.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Ming felt that this "Memorial of Rejection" should have given the royal family sufficient face and a graceful way out. The matter of declining the marriage proposal ought not to pose much difficulty now.
A gust of wind, stirred by the flipping of books, blew through the window, swirling around the words of the memorial.
Zhao Wenshan and Xu Pangda were deeply moved. The verse from the memorial, "As a child, though frail and weak, I did not despair. I still aspired to defend the borders of my country. In the dead of night, I heard the wind and rain, dreaming of iron horses and frozen rivers in battle," seemed destined to be enshrined in the annals of poetry.
Meanwhile, "With fierce ambition, I'll feast on barbarian flesh; in jest, I'll quench my thirst with the blood of demons" stirred Zhao Wenshan's heart with passion.
The lines, "Drunkenly inspecting swords, hearing bugles in the cold wind. Banners of eight hundred leagues raised high, fifty strings echoing beyond the frontier, autumn muster on the battlefield. Horses gallop like bolts of lightning, bows twang like crackling thunder," felt like part of an unfinished poem, leaving Zhao Wenshan itching to read the rest.
Once the ink on the memorial had dried, Xu Ming carefully rolled it up and stepped out of the study.
---
"Thank you for waiting," Xu Ming said as he walked into the courtyard and handed the memorial, now encased in an aura of literary brilliance, to Wei Xun.
Glancing at the scroll, Wei Xun respectfully accepted it with both hands. "I shall return to report, then."
"Many thanks, Eunuch Wei," Xu Ming replied with a smile.
Wei Xun gave Xu Ming a complex look before leading the palace attendants out of the Xu residence. Xu Shuiya, realizing the gravity of the moment, hurried forward to personally escort the group out.
---
"Your Majesty," Wei Xun bowed deeply in the Imperial Study.
"What's the matter? Did that rascal Xu Ming burst with joy upon learning he was granted a marriage?" Emperor Wu asked with a chuckle, his eyes still fixed on the memorials he was reviewing at his desk.
"Your Majesty… the top scholar… declined the marriage," Wei Xun said softly.
"What?" The emperor's head shot up, his brush jerking in surprise and splattering ink across the memorial in front of him.
Sure enough, in Wei Xun's hands was a document—a formal memorial.
The emperor's brows furrowed. "What reason did that rascal give?"
"Your Majesty, here is the memorial written by the top scholar," Wei Xun said as he stepped forward to present it.
"Bring it here." The emperor nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Wei Xun approached and handed over the scroll.
Unrolling the document, Emperor Wu began reading to see what exactly Xu Ming had to say.
Standing nervously to the side, Wei Xun braced himself for the emperor's anger. But to his surprise, the emperor's lips curled into a faint smile as he read.
"What is going on?" Wei Xun thought to himself, curious about what was written in the memorial.
"Wei Xun," Emperor Wu said as he placed the memorial down and looked up.
"Your servant is here," Wei Xun quickly bowed his head.
"During tomorrow's morning court, present this memorial for all the officials to read," the emperor said with a smile. "This rascal… truly leaves one at a loss for words."