Too hasty might show disrespect to the old emperor, so a longer preparation time satisfies the old emperor and avoids any impression of Xu Qing's negligence.
Having completed the necessary preliminaries, Xu Qing began to write a green poem on ivy paper.
Paper, ink, brush, and the writing desk were already provided by the palace maids and eunuchs.
Xu Qing didn't flaunt his calligraphy skills, maintaining strictly the formal, bureaucratic style.
More pleasing to the eye than the type used in printing blocks.
When the old emperor received the green poem and saw the lines "Removed from the Nine Heavens to fulfill the heavenly mandate, how can one's feelings endure; Ruling the four seas and lamenting the commoners, my heart aches," he was unusually moved.
These words struck him to his core.
He softly recited them, savouring the resonance.
