Four Friends Critique a Story

Zhang Ju now held the post of court historian, a middling position, but he had a wide circle of friends. Some came from distinguished families, others were adept at navigating society, and all were well informed. The three he had invited were among the best connected.

"Brother Lu, Brother Zhu, Brother Tao. Welcome."

The three guests were Lu Can, a middle-aged man dressed as a scholar; Zhu Li, who wore a tall hat and broad sash; and Tao Jing, whose clothes were unremarkable.

Each came from a notable background.

Lu Can belonged to the Lu Clan of Wu Commandery, while Zhu Li belonged to the Zhu Clan of Wu Commandery. Both were Aristocratic Clans with deep roots, which was part of why they could befriend Zhang Ju as equals.

The Lu, Zhu, Gu, and Zhang families had ranked among Jiangdong's foremost Aristocratic Clans since the days of Eastern Wu. Dynasties had risen and fallen over the centuries, yet the four families remained prominent. Even the Zhang Clan, which showed signs of decline, still wielded considerable influence at court and among the people. The families had intermarried for generations, too. Though they could hardly be called one family, they shared close ties.

Tao Jing was no commoner either. His ancestor was Tao Kan, the Eastern Jin general and Duke of Changsha Commandery. Raised in a family steeped in learning, Tao Jing was now beginning his official career and hoped to draw closer to the other families, so he visited them often.

Zhang Ju wanted to restore his family's fortunes, so it was no surprise that he had befriended the three men.

He had invited them to draw on their connections and knowledge to verify what Chen Cuo's Mother had told him. Unlike Jiang Yi, whom Zhang Ju had courted with a deferential attitude, these three were friends he met as equals, and the atmosphere was easy.

But Southern Dynasty custom made it awkward to get straight to the point. They first had to discuss philosophy or exchange a little elegant small talk. Once the three arrived and tea and fruit had been set out, they began by chatting.

Before long, the talk turned to the legendary tales popular in Jiankang City's teahouses. Zhang Ju offered a few comments, then judged that the time had come. If he let them go on, there was no telling when they would stop, so he prepared to raise the matter he had invited them to discuss.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Li turned to him. "Speaking of the Literary Star's tales, we have to talk about that cousin of yours. I used to say he was dull as could be. I was wrong, and I owe you an apology."

Zhang Ju was startled. "Which cousin do you mean, Brother Zhu?"

Zhu Li laughed and pointed in a direction.

"The Marquis of Linru County?" Zhang Ju asked.

Zhu Li smiled. "That's right. On my way here, I heard his Literary Star tale performed. It left me wanting more, so I got hold of the written version and read it on the road. It was fascinating—a real eye-opener!"

"The written version of the Literary Star tale?" Zhang Ju looked baffled.

"You don't know?" Zhu Li glanced at Zhang Ju, then at the other two. All three looked surprised. "None of you know?"

"No," Zhang Ju said. Something stirred in his mind as he recalled the day he had met Zhou Youzi. "Please explain, Brother Zhu."

"Well!" Zhu Li's grin widened. "If you haven't read it, hurry up and do so. If I'm right, the piece he wrote, 'The Painted Skin,' will sweep through Jiankang before long. If you don't know it, you won't be able to join a casual conversation soon! Read it now, though, and you'll be ahead of everyone else. You can savor it first, then tell others what to look for."

"The Painted Skin?"

Zhang Ju exchanged looks with the other two.

Lu Can spoke bluntly. "You say the Marquis of Linru County wrote it? He has no literary reputation to speak of."

"Did Lu You have one before?" Zhu Li blinked. "I heard that his cultivation required him to build a reputation, so he finally showed his true talent. Three years without a sound, then one cry that astonished everyone. Why couldn't the Marquis of Linru County do the same?"

At that, Tao Jing burst out laughing.

When the others asked why, he said, "Brother Zhu is defending him, Brother Lu doubts him, and Brother Zhang is close to him yet knows nothing about it. Isn't that amusing? Since we're gathered here today, why not bring out the piece so we can enjoy it together, Brother Zhu?"

"Exactly!" Zhu Li beckoned eagerly, and an attendant came in from outside. "Fetch the story from my carriage. I want to share it with my friends. It's in the box I brought. Handle it carefully—don't damage it. I plan to read it again tonight."

"My lord," the servant said, "you've forgotten. You had someone send it home earlier."

Zhu Li slapped his forehead and laughed. "I forgot! I was worried it would get damaged, so I sent it back. No matter. Clearwater Tower isn't far from here. Go get a copy there. It won't take long—hurry back."

"Yes, my lord!"

Zhang Ju grew anxious. He was curious, certainly, but he did not believe his cousin had real literary talent. More importantly, he had invited these men for a serious purpose and did not want a diversion.

But the other three were enthusiastic, and Zhang Ju could hardly spoil their fun. He held his tongue, hoping to find a chance to end the chatter and turn to the matter at hand.

Before long, the Zhu family servant returned carrying a written piece.

Zhang Ju glanced at it. The ink was still fresh; it must have just been copied. That surprised him.

When a fine piece of writing appeared in Jiankang City, people in the streets and teahouses who knew it would make copies for others. But that treatment was reserved for works in high demand, such as a new piece by the gifted young man of the Lu Household. How had his cousin earned the same treatment? Could it be...

For a moment, Zhang Ju did not know what to think.

When Chen Cuo had spoken that day, Chen Cuo's Mother had dismissed his words, and Zhang Ju himself had not thought Chen Cuo capable of doing it. Yet what lay before him was already beyond anything he had expected.

When "The Painted Skin" was set before them and they began reading together, his surprise only grew.

The four gathered around it, their expressions differing.

"Not bad."

"Fascinating! Fascinating!"

"Brilliant!"

"The Painted Skin" was a short tale with a simple plot. An Evil Ghost disguised herself as a beauty by wearing a painted skin and deceived a scholar, bringing harm upon him. A Daoist saw through her disguise. After several twists, the Evil Ghost revealed her true form and was slain. The scholar died, but with his wife's help, he came back to life.

Despite its many turns, the tale was concise and took little time to read.

Soon, Zhang Ju's three friends let out long breaths and settled back into their seats. Each looked more satisfied than before.

"Well?" Zhu Li asked with a smile, looking from one to the next.

Tao Jing said, "It's captivating, with twists at every turn! The story builds layer by layer, each turn raising fresh suspense. Early on, I thought Wang Sheng would escape disaster with the Daoist's help, but he was still killed. Then came another turn: his wife endured humiliation and brought him back to life. It made me want to slap the table in admiration. Better still, the prose is spare and meaningful. The saying that lust leads to ruin was never truer."

Zhu Li looked at the other two. "What do you think?"

Lu Can said, "Brother Tao called the prose spare, and I quite agree. On a first reading, you hardly notice the writing because the story holds you fast; you're too concerned with what has happened and what will happen next. But once you finish and savor it, you realize how remarkable the phrasing is. A single word or expression can carry deep meaning and linger in your mind. 'Refined' is the word for it."

"Just what I thought!" Zhu Li said, delighted. "Brother Tao praised the story, and you praised the language. Let me add the characters. Look at these lines. See how their words bring them to life, each with a distinct nature, as vivid as real people."

The other two agreed. "Exactly."

Lu Can added, "The language is concise, the characters deftly drawn, and the story engaging. What's rare is that, though it contains no verse, it still has something of poetry's atmosphere."

"You noticed that too!" Zhu Li cut in, plainly eager to praise the piece. "I felt the same. Looking closely, I think it's because the prose is subtle and restrained, suggesting more than it says, much as poetry does."

The other two nodded, then returned to the story with renewed interest.

As they talked, however, they noticed something odd. At last Zhu Li brought it up. "Brother Zhang, you're closest to the Marquis of Linru County. What do you make of it?" He asked because Zhang Ju had not said a word.

"Yes," Lu Can said. "Why not invite him over one day? We could discuss writing and poetry together."

Zhang Ju forced a smile, distinctly uncomfortable. "I didn't know the marquis had this ability until Brother Zhu told me. Having read the piece, I agree with you all. When I next see him, I'll ask when he can join us for a drink."

"Invite him soon!" Zhu Li's eyes lit up. "Ghost stories are just the sort of thing people love to hear in the streets. Give it time, and the whole city will know this one and clamor for more! In the end, he might be as hard to see as that young Lu fellow. He used to be approachable, but now no one can get hold of him. We must be quick this time, before even you can't get a meeting with the Marquis of Linru County."

Zhang Ju nodded distractedly, growing ever more restless.

It felt as though something were lodged in his chest, keeping him from breathing freely.

The others failed to notice anything amiss. They took his silence for absorption in the story and talked with mounting excitement.

As the sun sank, the light in the room slowly dimmed. The men's shadows on the floor began to tremble faintly.

Zhang Ju's shadow, in particular, twisted several times on its own.