NOVPUBThe young king had searched for a long time before finding that the epic keeper of the Palace of Wind had survived the war and was hiding in a civilian community, being well taken care of by the residents of the Capital City. He then sent a large group of trusted Samurai to formally invite the other party to come and explain the epic of the Prepetcha people.
Many thoughts flashed through Xiulote’s mind, quickly sinking into the depths of his heart. He wore a gentle smile, personally supporting Jatili’s left arm with his right, guiding the old man toward the center of the grand hall. Jatili tried to pull away his arm but could not break free from the young king’s strong embrace. The old man had no choice but to smile helplessly and let himself be assisted with sprightly steps.
"Guard, bring two cups of fresh hot cocoa! Add honey and herbs, just as I usually like it."
The two reached a wooden table in the hall. Xiulote helped the old man sit down on the floor before releasing his arm and sitting cross-legged opposite him. Then, he commanded the guard loudly. The guard brought the hot drinks that had already been prepared. The young king grasped the clay cups with both hands and passed one to Jatili with affection and certainty.
"Respected sage teacher, please try this cup of hot cocoa! It refreshes the mind and revitalizes the spirit, a sacred beverage of the Mexica Alliance!"
Jatili took the hot cocoa, gently sipped it, and savored the flavor, praising it.
"Excellent! Unlike the cold cocoa of the Mexica Alliance, this must be your majesty’s innovation... Fermented fine cocoa beans, finely ground to separate into a light brown cocoa liquor. Wild honey from the southern Rainforest, originating from the vibrant flowers of spring, still carrying a delicate floral fragrance. The vanilla from Texcoco Lake Region’s Chinampa, harvested from the lake in the late autumn. From the blooming of flowers in spring, pollinated by skilled old farmers, taking eight months to yield mature vanilla pods, only the Mexica Alliance can produce them in large quantities... Once these fine ingredients are mixed and boiled with the slightly sweet well water of the Royal Palace, it results in this wonderfully aromatic taste!"
At this, Jatili paused, then again observed every nuance of Xiulote’s expression with penetrating eyes.
"Your Highness, the effort required for these two cups of hot cocoa needs a strong young farmer to labor in the fields for an entire year!"
Listening to the sage’s praise, Xiulote’s face began to show a self-satisfied smile.
In this era, there weren’t many beverages that could please him. Yet the honey-herb hot cocoa was the perfect drink he had concocted based on memories from a past life, connecting him to bygone recollections. These all-natural, top-quality ingredients blended together offered a taste far superior to the cheap products of the industrial age.
However, with Jatili’s emphatic final statement, the young king’s smile instantly froze on his face. He forced a smile, a hint of shame flashing across his face.
"Respected learned elder, I do not favor luxury, but merely prefer fine foods... The people’s strength is precious and should not be wasted; the citizens are like water, they carry the vessel but also capsize it. A monarch must always remember... Hmm, Sage Jatili, when you were at the door just now, you were looking at the new mural in the hallway, do you have any insights?"
"The citizens are like water, they carry the vessel but also capsize it..."
Jatili chewed on these words, a mysterious gleam flashing in his eyes. He gave Xiulote a profound look, then spoke with a smile.
"Rumors say that Your Highness is blessed with divine wisdom, is adept at embracing advice, generously kind and merciful, valiant in battle, a natural-born king... Seeing you today, I now understand that the wind and light entering the tent are due to the holes at the top! As for the views on the murals..."
Jatili turned his head and looked at the murals in the great hall. The Divine Eagle and Hummingbird had vanished. Under the majestic light of the Chief Divine, Lake Patzcuaro shimmered with waves. To the west, the people of Prepetcha and, from the East, the Mexica were together building the magnificent and beautiful Qinchongcan City, stacking high pyramids that seemed to connect the Divine Kingdom with the human world. Beside the bustling city, flowers encircled, butterflies danced among the flora, and laborers transported exquisite objects of gold, silver, and copper, a sight of wealth and beauty everywhere.
Seeing this, Jatili once again revealed a faint smile. He first praised,
"Your Highness took over the Palace of Wind just a few months ago, not only fully engaged in spring farming, organizing the people directly, removing obstructive nobility, but also renovated the murals, spreading the faith of the Chief Divine, making poetry sung across the fields... It is evident that Your Highness’s sight is indeed as far-reaching as the Divine Eagle, looking over the world and into the future!"
Listening to the elder’s praise, Xiulote’s pupils slightly constricted. He pondered for a moment, then took out a wooden spoon and stirred it in a clay cup filled with cocoa. Then, he handed the same wooden spoon to Jatili. The other took the spoon, stirred the layered cocoa, gazed at the mixed cocoa for a while, then took a light sip.
Jatili, with a profound look in his eyes, continued to speak to the young monarch.
"Your Highness, I know not much, nor do I intend to comment on your new policies in front of others... Just from this mural alone, Lake Patzcuaro and the people of Prepetcha are blended together, the strokes ancient and antiquated, the environment harmonious and natural, also containing the vitality of when the Kingdom was initially flourishing, certainly the Royal Palace’s old paintings.
The Mexica’s image is simple and robust, with a square and archaic face shape, movements simple yet vivid. This method of painting is equally ancient, filled with simplicity and boldness from ancient times. The painter must have come from the Holy City of Teotihuacan, imitating the mural art of the Teotihuacan civilization.
The Mexica Chief Divine Huitzilopochtli’s image is vague yet grand, descending upon the pyramid, radiating a brilliant aura. Feathers behind the Chief Divine are lively and flowing, the pyramid under the feet of the Chief Divine robust and massive, this strong contrast in techniques originates from the craftsman spirit of the Toltec civilization, also embodying the Tepanec people’s ambition and inclusiveness. The legacy of the Toltec civilization was carried on by the Tepanec and then fell into the hands of the Alliance. The painter must have come from Askapozhaleike on the western shore of the Texcoco Lake.
As for the city’s surrounding flowers and butterflies, laborers carrying gold, silver, and copper objects, the brushwork is intricate and splendid, maximizing details and colors. This opulent style, appearing entwined and dizzyingly captivating, is characteristic of southern City-States. The painter might come from Mistec, or perhaps even further south from the Zapotecs..."
Jatili, smiling, commented one by one, and then summarized with another smile.
&"In my view, the three styles each have their features and strengths. However, the essence of painting demands unity. Compared to the original murals, the ancient technique of Teotihuacan is the most natural and closest. The two origins merge seamlessly, like ink blending into water, without any gap. Toltec Chief Divine’s style is the most inclusive and broad, blessing the world, with all people prostrating, like a queen bee commanding the swarm, ordinary bees although distinctive, still toil and follow. Whereas the southern City-States’ style, though seemingly opulent and prosperous, clearly demarcates layers from the original, distinct in high and low. While aesthetic for a time, viewed long enough might start feeling unbalanced, likely not enduring."
Having said this, Jatili looked at the young monarch with a meaningful inquiry.
"Your Highness, I was invited by your Samurai, merely wishing to be a turtle closing its eyes. Yet, seeing Your Highness, I suddenly became confused, opened my blind eyes, and spoke all this nonsense. I wonder if Your Highness is satisfied with my commentary? And also, in the governance of your Fief, which style of painting do you prefer?"
