Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty Episode 9

Arriving in NanZhou

Lu and Su have joined the mayor for dinner and get reacquainted with chicken Fei. 😂 XiJun and guard were not there but fed in their quarters. This was actually at XiJun’s request. She wanted to complete a painting of the two overlooking the mountains. XiJun presents gifts for them. Lu is given a sword. He at first rejects it but is talked into accepting it as he no longer has his. I think XiJun’s child guard has Lu pegged right. He is a true master of his craft but he is an arrogant snob. He flatly tells this to Lu.😂 I admire his audacity. I want you to teach me martial arts, but I’m more capable than you in social graces. During the meal Su brings up an old friend he wants to renew ties with. The sad irony is that the funeral procession coming down the road is for his friend. He was part of the four scholars of NanZhou so his companions were part of the procession. A young man stops it to request discipleship from the musician scholar. He would not stop asking so the scholar gave him a curt unfiltered reason. He completely lacked the talent. It was done in a way that embarrassed the young man so he is now plotting revenge. Another man who is a good artist painted a picture of them called the bridge. He had hoped to join them as a fifth scholar but his friend died before he could ask. His painting is sought after by royals but he is reusing its sale. XiJun wants to stay but Lu keeps urging Su to send her home. Now that Lu has been given a temporary ministry job at court he sees it as inappropriate. He likes her, but is ashamed that their initial meeting was him deceiving her by taking another’s place. He is such a rule stickler that he doesn’t allow himself to enjoy life. He goes from rule to rule keeping things orderly. This gets him into trouble because it exacerbates his arrogance. He mentally assigns people to castes in his mind and keeps them boxed there. He socially treats these boxes with whatever respect they are do in his mind and he never tries to go beyond to make friends or value networking. He even does this with himself not letting himself be seen out of the lowered box status he has been reduced to. This is why he could not easily wrap his brain about a child understanding human behavior by reading. He did not give XiJun’s guard credit for intelligence and growth of capabilities beyond a certain level. The child is already wiser. He refuses to let any class box him in and stifle his potential. Maybe he can teach Lu a few things.😝

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