Legacy of the old dynasty

Chapter 23

This is the first time Wu Xie met the Grand Scholar Wang Xijue.At this time, the prince is in the age of knowing his destiny. Although he is thin, he is full of energy and has a beautiful beard.As early as the fifth year of Wanli, Wang Xijue, who was still Zhan Shi of the Hanlin Academy, wrote a letter to impeach Zhang Juzheng for seizing love, and became famous all over the world.I am a master of both poetry and calligraphy, and there are countless ancient books, calligraphy and paintings in my home.In the living room hangs a nave, which was written by the prince himself. It is actually a copy of Chu Suiliang's "Yique Buddhist Shrine Stele", which shows the character of the prince.When Wu Xie saw her today, she was already deeply impressed.

Xie Yuchen had been waiting in the room, and after about a stick of incense, Wu Xie opened the door and came in with a smile on his face.Sitting down, he didn't wait for Xie Yuchen to ask, and said on his own: "The prince is really humble, not as I thought."

Xie Yuchen poured him a cup of tea and asked casually, "What are you thinking?"

But Wu Xie didn't answer again, just said: "I asked my age, did I take part in the imperial examination, and the high hall at home is still safe, it seems to be commonplace."

Xie Yuchen's heart skipped a beat.

The two chatted a few more words, Wu Xie said: "You didn't finish talking just now, now it's all right, you and I can talk for a while."

Xie Yuchen lowered his head and took a sip of tea before saying, "It's getting late, why don't you go back home? Could it be that you are still waiting for someone to pick you up..." Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Wu Xie with a smile "You don't want to drive me away now. The prince also said just now that you are like a half-master in this mansion, and I want you to treat me well. It's been a while, so it's better to go back after eating supper. "

Xie Yuchen couldn't help but smile when he heard his humorous words, and after thinking for a while, he said: "Then let me tell you something first.

"In the tenth year of Wanli, I was ordered to enter the palace to perform "The Story of Giving the Ring" by Tongling Sheqiao. It was about Song Ningzong. It is really puzzling that I ordered this play. However, the sacred order is hard to violate, and I knew it was inappropriate, so I had to act. I was the one who played Ning Zong in the play that day."

Wu Xie frowned, staring at Xie Yuchen closely.

"In that play, Ningzong had a libretto, which came from "Zuo Zhuan", 'Government by the Ning family, sacrifices to the widows'. As soon as this sentence came out, the face of the Holy One changed drastically, and he almost jumped up. There were also Concubine Zheng and the eunuchs in the palace, who knelt down on the ground together, and my eyes were dark at that time, and I only thought that I would lose my head today."

"and then?"

Xie Yuchen laughed lightly: "When you see me sitting here, you know it's all right. Although the emperor is angry, it is against the morality to vent his anger on people like us. In the end, the emperor walked away with a flick of his sleeve, and we were also trembling. It’s just that this drama can’t be played again from now on.”

Wu Xie sighed, and said, "The emperor has come so far with Zhang Jiangling."

Xie Yuchen went on to say: "Tai Shigong said a long time ago, 'The prosperity of the world is for profit. The chaos of the world is for profit.' In this officialdom, it is nothing but self-interest. Those who are really clean can How many people are there?"

Wu Xie said: "It's a bit biased when you say that, and it's not always like this."

Xie Yuchen looked at him, but said nothing.

Wu Xie was silent for a while, before saying: "In the early years, I was admitted as a scholar, and I won the Juren examination. My neighbors came to congratulate me, which made me very happy, and I was determined to go to Beijing to fight for fame. I was still there at that time, and I was not allowed to go. I found out later that my father, my second uncle, and even my younger brother were all unwilling to let me go.

"I didn't know why at the time, my little brother came to persuade me. In fact, I understood what he said, and I knew that he was doing it for my own good, but I was still unwilling in my heart. Now, I really understand."

"Now that you understand," Xie Yuchen said, "don't let me down."

Wu Xie nodded.After a while, he said: "However, there are still upright people in the court, just like princes."

Xie Yuchen sneered, and said, "It's all right to bet." After thinking for a while, he said, "Then I'll ask you again, do you know that 'drinking, sex, wealth and energy'?"

Wu Xie was taken aback, then nodded immediately: "No one knows the world's strange books."

"The Holy Majesty favors the Zheng family, and the empress has never had anything to do. Luo Yuren wrote a strange article, which caused a shocking storm. The emperor was scolded by him for nothing, and then what? This man was not beaten, and he did not lose his head. Leave a name. Do you know why?"

Wu Xie frowned, staring at the cup in his hand in a daze.It took a long time to sigh.

"I understand."

"You should have understood," Xie Yuchen snapped, and continued, "Sit down for a while, and I'll tell the kitchen to get you something to eat."

Wu Xie nodded.

Yes, he should have understood earlier, but the integrity and kindness in his bones all along made him turn a blind eye to it.In fact, it is nothing more than self-deception.He wondered if he had been too naive.I read the Four Books and Five Classics since I was a child, Zhu Zi's family precepts.Governance is based on the benevolence of the people and love for things; the imperial examination is not for making a fortune, but only for serving the country with what you have learned; as an official, you must not violate the way of sages and sages.Today, however, he brutally saw his own ridiculousness.It turns out that there is still a huge gap between ideal and reality.

On the other hand, in today's officialdom, it has become a custom for the king to sell straight.Civil servants have found shortcuts to leave their names in history.How many people have spoken out and admonished them, and they don't want the Jinshi body they have acquired for decades, and they have no fear of even giving their flesh and blood.If you are disrespectful to the imperial court today, you will gain the reputation of a loyal minister and a martyr in the future.What's more, they fabricate crimes and frame colleagues, only to increase officials and ranks for themselves.And the instigator of all this is nothing more than the one sitting on the Golden Luan Hall.

What the emperor has done in the past few years has finally raised the tiger one day.Even a seventh-rank official now has the moral authority to dare to directly criticize the Holy Majesty.and cannot be disposed of arbitrarily.Otherwise, there will be more officials, one after another, risking their lives to admonish.In the end, the emperor confirmed the faint king, and all those who wrote the letter became loyal ministers.It's ridiculous.

Wu Xie sat in the room for half an hour, and Xie Yuchen finally came back, but he didn't have a food box in his hand.

Seeing this, Wu Xie got up and dusted off his robe. "Why is there no food? In this case, I will go back. It is so difficult to ask you to eat." He said with a smile, and waved his hands to say goodbye.

Xie Yuchen looked serious, as if he had something on his mind.Wu Xie had already reached the door, but he didn't make a sound.

When the two left the gate of the mansion, the bearers almost fell asleep waiting.Wu Xie said goodbye, and just as the car curtain fell, Xie Yuchen called him from outside.

"Wu Xie."

Wu Xie felt strange, not knowing what was going on with him, so he opened the curtain to look at him.Xie Yuchen stood under the vermilion lacquered gate, and the lantern illuminated the small area where he stood.The wind blew the corner of his robe, and his eyes were clearly full of worry, as if he had something to say, he had to say it.