Chapter 60 - 59: I Just Fear the Noble Lady May Have Difficulty Bearing Offspring in the Future
Lu Jiazhe spoke nervously, "Imperial Grandmother, is it because Sister Shen’s calligraphy isn’t good? Sister Shen is grieving deeply, so it’s understandable if her writing is subpar at the moment—"
"No." Empress Dowager Li interrupted him. "Her writing is exceptional."
Hearing this, Lu Jiazhe instinctively leaned closer to take a look, only to find himself stunned.
On the paper, Buddhist scriptures written in golden ink displayed strokes of iron-bound silver hooks, each line etched as if into the wood. Every stroke carried compassion yet was laced with brutality, a style that was half-Buddha, half-demon. Such a technique had never been seen before in the world. It exuded a sense of perplexity yet seemed to have unraveled all mysteries; it embodied decisive killing intent while also reflecting deep compassion. The shifting, intricate brushwork appeared to hold boundless marvels!
It didn’t seem like something a young woman like Shen Yinning could create!
For the first time, Empress Dowager Li regarded Shen Yinning seriously. "This exquisite calligraphy of yours—what is its origin?"
Shen Yinning spoke eloquently, "’Flowers bloom with dual faces; life dwells between Buddha and demon.’ Over the past few years, I have experienced immense highs and lows in life. During the three years of exile in Gan State, I not only reflected on my own faults but also recited scriptures and worshipped Buddha in my spare time, hoping to atone for the crimes my father and brothers committed. ’The Dharma does not arise in isolation; it depends on context to exist. The Dao does not act in vain; it responds when conditions align.’ I believe that living is a form of cultivation, and so is death; splendor is cultivation, and so is desolation. Through this cultivation, I naturally found enlightenment, which manifested in this style of calligraphy."
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful!" Empress Dowager Li repeated the word "wonderful" thrice. Her well-preserved face radiated compassion and benevolence. "To have such profound insights shows that your heart was tempered during those three years of exile; perhaps it was a blessing in disguise. I adore this calligraphy of yours. Have this volume of scriptures displayed in the hall, and copy a few more volumes for me. I want to gift them to my closest friends in the Capital."
Shen Yinning immediately prostrated herself. "Thank you, Empress Dowager, for your favor!"
She was well aware of what it meant when Empress Dowager Li distributed her handwritten scriptures to others.
It signified that Empress Dowager Li admired her, intended to elevate her status, and sought to introduce her to the social circles of the Capital, signaling that her identity was no longer just that of a criminal’s daughter or a minor official’s wife—she had now been personally acknowledged as a master calligrapher by the Empress Dowager.