Сhарtеr 136: Viсtory
Оvеr thе nехt few days, Zhеn Niаng immersed hеrself in drawing Ink Linе Diаgrаms аt hоmе, focusing рrimarily on designing the stylе fоr the Вirthdaу Ink. Аs fоr thе ink submitted fоr thе соmрetitiоn, it had been sеnt tо the Рrincess’s Mаnsion sevеral daуs еаrliеr. Sinсе this wаs the prеliminаry sеlесtion, Li Мo hаd submittеd the Re-blеndеd Ink from lаst time and the Li Fаmily’s Ten Тhоusаnd Pеstle Ink. Both wеrе сonsidеrеd finе рrоduсts of thе Li Fаmily аnd werе sure to рass thе рrеliminarу rоund.
Fоr thе final seleсtion, Zhen Niang naturallу prepаred the nеwly mаdе Anсient Yu Mi Ink. Although this ink had not been aged for long and its effects were far from optimal, new ink also had its advantages.
The Ink Line Diagrams for the Birthday Ink mainly featured designs such as the twelve zodiac animals, the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, and symbols of fortune, prosperity, longevity, and happiness.
Additionally, for the patterns of the landscape-themed ink, Zhen Niang borrowed techniques from the Shanghai-Style Huizhou Ink of the late Qing Dynasty. Using shallow relief carving on a flat surface, she combined the expressive and meticulous characteristics of Chinese painting to create ink styles such as the Three Friends of Winter and the Four Gentlemen of the Seasons.
In this way, Li Mo also showcased its own unique features and innovations in ink styles.
In the blink of an eye, it was the eighth day of the eighth lunar month—the day of the Princess’s Mansion’s Birthday Ink competition.
Early in the morning, Zhen Niang rose, washed up, and together with the Ink Manor’s staff, respectfully brought out the statue of Wei Dan.
Although Wei Dan of the Three Kingdoms period was not the earliest ink maker, he pioneered the Ink Mixing method. Even in later generations, Ink-making Techniques never strayed far from the framework of Ink Mixing. Thus, Wei Dan was revered as the ancestor of ink.
After bringing out the statue, Zhen Niang led the Ink Manor’s masters in a solemn worship ceremony, praying for a successful start to the competition.
Afterward, Zhen Niang, along with the masters of the Li Family Ink Manor and the ink submitted for the competition, rode in a carriage to the Princess’s Mansion.
The venue for the Ink Competition was the Princess’s Mansion’s rear courtyard, where a stage had been set up and seats arranged.
Upon arriving at the Princess’s Mansion, the mansion’s steward personally welcomed them and escorted everyone to their pre-arranged seats in the rear courtyard. The other seats were occupied by masters from the other ink manors participating in the selection. After the preliminary round, those advancing to the final selection included the Tian Family, the Li Family, the Lin Family from Qiantang, and the Wei Family from Songjiang.
The judges for this ink trial were renowned scholars such as Wang Shizhen, and Mr. Dongtu was also among them. When he saw Zhen Niang, he nodded to her. Zhen Niang responded with a slight curtsy, her eyes twinkling with joy at seeing a familiar face.
After the customary formalities, Lord Liu, the Ink Affairs Official, announced the start of the ink trial.
At this point, each family presented the ink they had brought—all of which were naturally fine products. On behalf of the Li Family, Zheng Fuli presented their ink.
“Ah, why is this ink newly made?” one of the scholars examining the ink remarked with surprise upon seeing the Li Family’s submission.
Generally speaking, aside from Liquid Ink, ink sticks required at least half a year of aging after production before they could be used. Otherwise, new ink, being heavy in ink glue, would be difficult to grind, resulting in a pale color and making it hard to appreciate its full quality.
His words caused a stir among the crowd. Could it be that the Li Family did not want to win? If so, why bother participating? Wouldn’t it have been better to withdraw like the Cheng Family?
Even the Princess’s expression darkened. Every family participating in the selection of her mansion’s Birthday Ink took the matter with the utmost seriousness. Yet the Li Family seemed to treat it lightly by casually submitting new ink. Was this not a sign of disrespect toward her Princess’s Mansion?"Shopkeeper Li, why are you using new ink for the selection?" At this moment, Lord Liu asked in a questioning tone. Having noticed the princess's displeased expression, he decided to do the Tian family a favor and put Zhen Niang in her place.
Meanwhile, Li He, the consort sitting beside the princess, glanced at Luo Jiu in the guest seat and raised an eyebrow, clearly asking Luo Jiu what the Li family was up to.
Luo Jiu shook his head slightly. He had no idea what Zhen Niang was planning, but he knew how seriously she took this ink selection. It was impossible that she was treating it lightly. He decided to wait and see.
Zhen Niang remained calm. To be honest, this situation was within her expectations. After all, in such a grand event, no one would bring new ink to participate. It was reasonable for others to question it. But whether it was doubt or affirmation, it had already drawn attention. Combined with her subsequent explanation and the reputation of ancient Yumi ink, it would be difficult not to pique people's interest. With that, she was already halfway to success.
However, Lord Liu's reaction seemed somewhat excessive.
But for her, the more excessive, the better—it would only draw more attention and importance.
At this moment, Zhen Niang stood up, bowed to everyone once more, and then respectfully said, "In reply to Your Excellency, although this ink from our Li family is new, it is Pine Soot Ink, made with light glue. It naturally grinds faster than oil soot ink. Moreover, this ink is produced using the ancient Yumi ink method, with its soot being charred soot. Thus, once the ink is formed, its color is set. Whether new or aged, it is the same, so there is no need for cellar storage. I ask Your Excellency, the princess, the consort, and all the gentlemen and masters to judge fairly."
As soon as Zhen Niang finished speaking, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Ancient Yumi ink had long been lost, yet the Li family had quietly restored its production method without any prior rumors. This could be considered a major event in the ink-making world.
The scholars and officials testing the ink were also excited. These literati and gentlemen were all enthusiasts of ancient ink, and many of them even dabbled in ink-making themselves.
Ancient Yumi ink was something they sought but could not obtain. Unfortunately, such ink was nearly extinct. Among those present, there were many wealthy individuals, including Mr. Dongtu, whose family had collected for generations, yet none had managed to acquire a single piece of ancient Yumi ink. And now, the Li family had restored its production method.
Everyone naturally wanted to investigate further.
It could be said that even before testing, the Li family's ancient Yumi ink had already captured the interest of many.
"This girl is full of tricks. She probably calculated everyone's reactions," Third Master Cheng grumbled from the guest seat, turning to Luo Qian beside him.
"It was clearly Lord Liu who overreacted," Luo Qian stated calmly, stating the facts. In truth, if Lord Liu had not questioned it, the scholars would have at most muttered a few words. As for the name "ancient Yumi ink" on the ink list, many ink workshops used the name nowadays, and no one took it seriously.
This was also why Zhen Niang had not publicized it earlier—without verification, publicity would have been pointless.
Now, however, Lord Liu's questioning and Zhen Niang's explanation complemented each other perfectly, solidifying the fact that the Li family had restored the ancient Yumi ink method. After all, in the presence of the princess, no one dared to speak falsely.
"Indeed," Third Master Cheng nodded with a smile."Nonsense. A mere child dares to speak of reviving the ancient Yu Mi ink method—I see it as nothing but a cheap trick to gain attention." At that moment, an ink master from the Lin Family spoke up indignantly.
Zhen Niang did not respond to his words, merely smiling slightly as she sat down. Princess Ning An, seated on the dais, waved her hand. "There's no need to argue about this. True gold fears no fire. We'll know once it's tested."
And so, the scholars began testing the inks.
At this moment, the contestants could not help but feel some tension. Throughout the entire hall, aside from the faint sound of tea being sipped, not a single voice could be heard.
After the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the evaluations from each scholar were complete. Without exception, the Li Family's ancient Yu Mi ink was rated as excellent, unanimously recognized as having captured the essence of the ancient Yu Mi ink method. Only the Tian Family's Xuan Yu ink stood alongside the Li Family's ancient Yu Mi ink, followed by the Wei Family, and lastly, the Lin Family.
The Tian Family's Xuan Yu ink method originally derived from the Luo Family's refinement of the Pan Family's ink techniques. In truth, if compared directly, the Li Family's ancient Yu Mi ink performed slightly worse than the Tian Family's Xuan Yu ink. After all, the ink industry flourished during the Ming Dynasty, and ink-making techniques had advanced considerably through generations of research. Although Zhen Niang had also made improvements to the ancient Yu Mi ink method, the Tian Family's method combined the essence of both the Pan and Luo Families' techniques.
Moreover, the Li Family's ancient Yu Mi ink was newly made, which inevitably had some impact. Thus, its slightly inferior performance was understandable.
Nevertheless, Zhen Niang's use of new ink had captured everyone's attention in an unexpected way. Coupled with the reputation of the ancient Yu Mi ink, the Li Family managed to compete on equal footing with the Tian Family. In terms of momentum, they even surpassed the Tian ink.
At this moment, Tian Benchang's face was dark with displeasure. In contrast, the Li Family side was jubilant.
However, this alone could not determine the final selection. Next came the ink appraisal competition among the ink masters from each family. This was akin to the treasure appraisal segments on modern television programs. The earlier ink-making competition tested the technical skills of each ink workshop, while this ink appraisal competition tested their discernment and expertise.
At this point, Princess Ning An waved her hand, and two attendants dressed as long-term servants stepped forward, each holding a tray. One tray held ink, while the other was empty, intended for the evaluation sheets from each ink manor after the appraisal.
First was the Tian Family. Old Master Qi Chun merely squinted at the ink for a moment before writing down his evaluation.
Next was the Li Family. Zhen Niang examined the ink on the tray—a small, elongated inkstick of the "Sleeping Silkworm" variety. She brought it to her nose to smell its scent, then ground and tested it, carefully analyzing the ink's color.
She soon understood. This ink was likely a treasured piece from the princess's estate—a re-blended ink. The Li Family had relied on re-blended ink to turn their fortunes around. Whether in her past life or now, Zhen Niang had devoted considerable effort to mastering re-blended ink. Just by looking at its cross-section, she could identify it. From its luster, scent, and ink patterns, she could also discern that this ink was made using high-quality Korean tribute ink as the base material, mixed with glue, and refined using the Pan Family's ink method to create a re-blended ink.
After writing her evaluation, Zhen Niang placed it on the other attendant's tray. Next were the Lin and Wei Families.
After examining the ink, the ink masters from both families sighed deeply, set down their brushes, and conceded defeat. They could recognize that the ink employed the Pan Family's method, but they could not identify the materials used. There was no choice but to admit defeat.After all, when it came to the art of Re-blended Ink, none of them were proficient.
Thus, the final contest would now be between the Tian and Li families.
At this moment, Qi Chun stood up, cupped his hands toward the princess, and said, "This old man has a stick of ink here. If Miss Li can identify it, I will withdraw from the competition."
Tian Benchang and Lord Liu from the Ink Affairs Bureau, who were standing nearby, could only stare wide-eyed. However, since Qi Chun was the appointed Ink Master for this ink appraisal, he could not be replaced midway. If he chose to withdraw, there was nothing Tian Benchang or Lord Liu could do about it.
Immediately, all eyes turned to Zhen Niang. If she could recognize Old Master Qi’s ink, then the Li family would secure the business of producing Birthday Ink for the princess’s residence. Moreover, Li Zhenniang, at just seventeen years of age, would become the Ink Production Official for the princess’s residence.
For a moment, the Li family’s side was both excited and tense.
"Very well, please present the ink for Miss Li to appraise," Princess Ning An nodded in agreement.
Only then did Qi Chun wave to Wang Zizhi, who was standing to the side. Wang Zizhi opened the ink box he carried on his back, which was also wrapped in a piece of red satin. He unfolded it and placed it before Zhen Niang.
It was an ordinary guest’s small round ink stick, named "Qionglou." Zhen Niang reached out to pick it up, but her finger accidentally brushed against the edge of the ink stick, causing a sharp pain. She looked up and saw that the skin on her finger had been cut by the ink edge, with a few drops of blood welling up.
Suddenly, Zhen Niang felt her eyes grow slightly sore.
"...One jin of soot pigment, three qian of raw lacquer, two qian of refined lacquer, extracting the clear liquid to mix with glue, dividing and blending it—four blends to complete. This is the Four Harmonies Ink of my Li family ancestors," Zhen Niang said, her voice trembling.
In her Re-blended Ink, Zhen Niang had used the divided glue method, which was actually something her grandfather in her previous life had comprehended from the Li family’s ink-making techniques—only scratching the surface of its depth. In later generations, Li Mo had long been lost to history. Zhen Niang never expected that she would see Li Mo again today. Even the ink collected by Seventh Grandmother was not the true Li Mo.
One characteristic of Li Mo was that its edges could "cut paper and shave wood," indicating the fine and dense texture of Li Mo, which made its edges as sharp as a blade.
That was why Zhen Niang’s finger had been cut by the ink edge.
"Excellent, indeed a descendant of the Li family. You have not completely forgotten your ancestors’ ink-making techniques. Keep this ink stick and study it slowly," Qi Chun declared loudly, then turned to Wang Zizhi and said, "Zizhi, let’s go."
With that, he bowed to Princess Ning An and left with Wang Zizhi.
"Thank you, Grandfather Qi," Zhen Niang said, deeply bowing toward Qi Chun’s retreating figure.
She understood that Old Master Qi was helping her succeed. With Old Master Qi’s discerning eye and the princess’s substantial financial resources, the ink collected by the princess’s residence was certainly not something Li Zhenniang could fully identify. However, those challenges would not have been difficult for Old Master Qi.
Now, Old Master Qi had only used a single ink stick he brought—moreover, one from the Li family—to test Zhen Niang. Rather than a test, it was truly meant to help her succeed.
Of course, for Old Master Qi, given his lifetime of experience, competing in an Ink Competition with a young girl—win or lose—would have been a loss in itself. That was why he withdrew so decisively.
Tian Benchang and Lord Liu never expected the old master to pull such a move. They had invited him themselves, so they could hardly tell the princess that it didn’t count and ask for a rematch. Thus, the result of this Ink Competition was the Li family’s victory, and Li Zhenniang became the Ink Production Official for the princess’s residence.The people of the Li Family's Ink Manor were overjoyed. If they weren't still in the princess's residence, they would have surely let out wild cheers.
Zhen Niang also clenched her fists tightly. They had won. Although it was with Old Master Qi's assistance, she had ultimately achieved her wish.
As for Old Master Qi's act of kindness, she would remember it. There was still a long road ahead.
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