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A Story of Kite
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I would like to retell a kite story that happened in Qing Dynasty.
The eighteen princess of Emperor Qianlong made a kite for the emperor who was asked to fly it. You may ask why. At that time floods bursted out making millions of people homeless or displaced, which the government was incapable of dealing with. Then what? Just pray gods for receding the floods. When Emperor Qianlong was flying the kite, the Grand Secretary Ji Xiaolan cut the string, claiming that an emperor should focus on state affairs instead of kite-flying, especially during the national disasters. Qianlong was angry and ordered him to retrieve the kite in three days.
But the kite has gone. How to find it again?
Hearing the kite was lost by Ji who had been reprimanded by the emperor, Heshen, the prime minister of Qing Dynasty, was entirely delighted. As we all know, the both were rivals in the officialdom. Heshen wanted his rival down. It was a great time to add insult to injury. He paid a visit to Ji, expressing his sympathy, and at the same time, offered him an idea on how to retrieve the lost kite, which was to set Ji Xiaolan up. The so-called idea was to make a fake kite to deceive the emperor or muddle through. In fact Heshen had dispatched his subordinates to find the kite and hid it, waiting for Ji to walk into the trap.
However, Ji saw through the trap but didn't unveil. The talented and romantic scholar in Qing Dynasty racked his brains and brainstormed an good idea.
Three days later when Qianlong asked Ji if he got the kite back, Ji Xiaolan showed him a fake one. As soon as the fake kite was displayed, one offical, who was under He's instigation, denounced that Ji deceived the Majesty--a felony deserving the death penalty. Ji retorted immediately asking the evidence being shown. The official took out the original kite in triumph. The emperor questioned Ji asking for an explanation. Ji asked the Majesty to look at the fake kite on which there were some characters saying "Throw away a brick in order to get a germ." The emperor understood throughly.
At last, Ji was praised by the emperor while the official who disclosed Ji was sentenced to getting spanked. As to Heshen, he became the dumb person tasting bitter herbs.
The eighteen princess of Emperor Qianlong made a kite for the emperor who was asked to fly it. You may ask why. At that time floods bursted out making millions of people homeless or displaced, which the government was incapable of dealing with. Then what? Just pray gods for receding the floods. When Emperor Qianlong was flying the kite, the Grand Secretary Ji Xiaolan cut the string, claiming that an emperor should focus on state affairs instead of kite-flying, especially during the national disasters. Qianlong was angry and ordered him to retrieve the kite in three days.
But the kite has gone. How to find it again?
Hearing the kite was lost by Ji who had been reprimanded by the emperor, Heshen, the prime minister of Qing Dynasty, was entirely delighted. As we all know, the both were rivals in the officialdom. Heshen wanted his rival down. It was a great time to add insult to injury. He paid a visit to Ji, expressing his sympathy, and at the same time, offered him an idea on how to retrieve the lost kite, which was to set Ji Xiaolan up. The so-called idea was to make a fake kite to deceive the emperor or muddle through. In fact Heshen had dispatched his subordinates to find the kite and hid it, waiting for Ji to walk into the trap.
However, Ji saw through the trap but didn't unveil. The talented and romantic scholar in Qing Dynasty racked his brains and brainstormed an good idea.
Three days later when Qianlong asked Ji if he got the kite back, Ji Xiaolan showed him a fake one. As soon as the fake kite was displayed, one offical, who was under He's instigation, denounced that Ji deceived the Majesty--a felony deserving the death penalty. Ji retorted immediately asking the evidence being shown. The official took out the original kite in triumph. The emperor questioned Ji asking for an explanation. Ji asked the Majesty to look at the fake kite on which there were some characters saying "Throw away a brick in order to get a germ." The emperor understood throughly.
At last, Ji was praised by the emperor while the official who disclosed Ji was sentenced to getting spanked. As to Heshen, he became the dumb person tasting bitter herbs.
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Post comment Comment (22 replies)
- Reply ly.identity
- Hill people has their own wrinkles～
- Reply limelight
- The anecdote of such ancient celebrities is so attention-gripping. Ji's brilliance deserves huge admirations.
- Reply Samaritan
- limelight: The anecdote of such ancient celebrities is so attention-gripping. Ji's brilliance deserves huge admirations.THis kind of story or anecdote is interesting full of wits and wisdom.
- Reply ly.identity
- Samaritan: What does that mean?Oh, forgive my poor translation.
I mean "山人自有妙计"...
- Reply alice2292
- ly.identity: Oh, forgive my poor translation.haha, you are so funny
I mean "山人自有妙计"...
- Reply alice2292
- s10004: Clever people and interesting story!Is that the origin of "抛砖引玉"？of course not lah
- Reply ly.identity
- alice2292: haha, you are so funny
- Reply Samaritan
- s10004: Clever people and interesting story!Is that the origin of "抛砖引玉"？yes, you 're also clever.
- Reply ly.identity
- Samaritan: Are u serious?any problems if I say "yes"?
- Reply Aaron227
- I knew this story,haha....when Ji met He,brainstorm is showing and Ji always get the better of trick and risk from He.Smart Man....
- Reply Samaritan
- Aaron227: I knew this story,haha....when Ji met He,brainstorm is showing and Ji always get the better of trick and risk from He.Smart Man....
