During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, Ji Xiaolan was unique in the court with his outstanding literary talent and profound knowledge. He has a straightforward personality and sharp words, and often responds to various complex situations with unique insights and wit, and has won wide praise from both the government and the opposition. And He Shen, as a celebrity around Emperor Qianlong, leaned towards the government and the opposition, and his greed and autocracy caused a lot of dissatisfaction in the court, which was in stark contrast to Ji Xiaolan's character.
One day, Heshen's new mansion was completed, and the entire capital was shaken. This mansion is extravagant and magnificent, and every place shows the power and status of Heshen. Colleagues from the DPRK and China came one after another to congratulate and present various precious gifts, and the scene was very lively. Ji Xiaolan, as an important minister of the DPRK, was naturally invited to attend.
He Shen was very happy about Ji Xiaolan's arrival, he knew Ji Xiaolan's talent and learning, and he had always respected him. He personally stepped forward to greet Ji Xiaolan and warmly invited him to visit the mansion. Ji Xiaolan walked around the mansion, admiring all kinds of rare treasures and exquisite decorations, but in her heart she was dissatisfied with He Shen's greed and autocracy. As he walked, he wondered how he could express his dissatisfaction with He Shen in a subtle way.
Suddenly, Ji Xiaolan's gaze fell on a green bamboo forest in the mansion. The bamboo was verdant, tall and upright, as if it had an indomitable spirit. He had an idea and came up with a brilliant idea. He turned to He Shen and said, "Lord He, this mansion is really extraordinary, especially this bamboo forest, which is even more refreshing. I wonder if Lord He would like to use the words 'bamboo buds and pine trees' as the plaque of the mansion? 'Bamboo buds and pine trees' comes from the Book of Songs, implying the prosperity of the family and the prosperity of the descendants. ”
When He Shen heard this, he was overjoyed. He believes that the four characters "bamboo buds and pine trees" are not only in line with the style of his mansion, but also imply auspiciousness and beauty. So, he hurriedly nodded and agreed: "Of course I do, Master Ji is really well-intentioned!" ”
Ji Xiaolan returned to the study, picked up the pen and splashed ink, and wrote the word "bamboo bud". His calligraphy is indeed worthy of its name, and his handwriting is vigorous and powerful, as if it has a unique charm. He Shen looked at these two big characters and was full of praise, thinking that Ji Xiaolan's calligraphy really deserved its reputation. He ordered the two characters to be made into a plaque and hung at the gate of the mansion as a sign of glory.
However, He Shen did not perceive Ji Xiaolan's deep meaning. It turns out that the word "bamboo bud" is the meaning of "straw bales". Ji Xiaolan skillfully used homophony and word splitting to turn these four words into a sentence that ridiculed and said that everyone in the Shen family is a straw bag. This ingenious conception not only expresses his dissatisfaction with He Shen, but also does not directly offend He Shen himself, which can be described as extremely ingenious.
Soon after, Emperor Qianlong went out on patrol and happened to pass by Heshen's mansion. He noticed the word "bamboo bud" hanging at the door, and stopped to take a closer look. Emperor Qianlong was erudite and talented, so he naturally understood the deep meaning of this. He smiled slightly in his heart, as if he appreciated Ji Xiaolan's ingenious idea.
He summoned He Shen and asked what those words meant. He Shen proudly explained: "Your Majesty, this is the plaque inscribed for me by Lord Ji himself, and the word 'bamboo bud' means the prosperity of the family and the prosperity of the descendants. ”
After hearing this, Emperor Qianlong bowed slightly, but did not respond directly. He understood Ji Xiaolan's intentions in his heart, and knew that this was a clever ridicule of He Shen. However, he did not directly break this point, but said lightly to He Shen: "He Aiqing, you have to cherish Lord Ji's heart and manage your family well." ”
After hearing this, He Shen had some doubts in his heart, but he was relieved to see that Emperor Qianlong was not angry. He didn't really understand the deep meaning of Emperor Qianlong, but just took this sentence as an encouragement to himself.
And Ji Xiaolan became famous in the DPRK and China because of this joking act, and became the talk of everyone after dinner. His ingenuity and resourcefulness have won the admiration and appreciation of more people. And the word "bamboo bud" has also become an interesting story between Ji Xiaolan and He Shen, which has been passed down to this day.
Emperor Qianlong, with his wisdom and ingenuity, skillfully resolved this potential conflict and maintained the harmony and stability of the imperial court. He was well aware of the contradictions and injustices in the court, but he was always able to resolve these contradictions in a clever way, so that the court could continue to function. His wisdom and ingenuity have also become a good story for future generations.