Cheng Shaoshang was a little confused and didn't know how to get closer, so he leaned forward and got closer.
Xiao Yuanyi looked sideways and her expression froze.
Emperor Wen laughed:
"Hey, let me sit closer. How can I talk when you are so far away?"
Cheng Shaoshang seemed to understand. He stood up immediately and flexibly lifted the cushion on which he was kneeling.
Suddenly, Xiao Yuanyi was shocked.
Emperor Wen stopped him:
"Don't move."
Cheng Shaoshang froze in place without knowing why. When he saw his father's low voice, he put down the cushion in his hand.
At this time, two palace maids came forward, carrying soft cushions and placing them in the center of the hall.
After Cheng Shaoshang knelt down and sat down, Queen Xuan asked:
"Madam of the Cheng family, what is your maiden name?"
"I" Cheng Shaoshang was stuck as soon as he opened his mouth. After a while, he said:
"My daughter's name is Cheng Shaoshang, after the string of the musical instrument."
Queen Xuan smiled softly and said:
"Shao Shangxian, Shao Shang, that's a good name. How old are your teeth this year?"
Cheng Shaoshang replied:
"It's been a few months since I was born."
Suddenly, Emperor Wen asked:
"Let me ask you, what is your relationship with Ziyan?"
Cheng Shaoshang thought for a while and said:
"I don't know what the relationship is. When we first met, I just thought he was a young man from an aristocratic family who came to the countryside for an outing."
"Also, he is a very picky nobleman. He refuses to compromise when traveling in the countryside. He wants to create all kinds of comfortable and comfortable utensils."
“It wasn’t until I built many sets of tables, chairs and benches for him that I realized what I was doing.”
"It turns out that he had long been aware of my difficult situation and didn't want to embarrass me, so he specifically asked me to build those utensils."
"After that, he took great care of me. Knowing that I was illiterate, he taught me personally. Seeing that I didn't like reading and only liked craftsmanship, he also found "Kao Gong Ji" and later brought me a comprehensive book The strange book "Tiangong Kaiwu"."
"After more than three years of acquaintance, I think the friendship between us must be extraordinary."
Emperor Wen was a little surprised when he heard this:
"'Tiangong Kaiwu'? When did Ziyan give it to you?"
Cheng Shaoshang frowned and said:
"Probably two years ago."
As soon as these words came out, Emperor Wen and Empress Xuan looked at each other, and they couldn't help but understand. Especially Emperor Wen, he said why his fourth son, who was dedicated to martial arts, suddenly gave him this book "Tiangong Kaiwu". It turned out that The real reason is still the wife of the Cheng family.
Emperor Wen only felt angry and helpless, and asked again:
"Most of the little girls from other families like to play music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and a few of them like to practice martial arts. Why do you prefer craftsmanship?"
Cheng Shaoshang corrected him seriously:
"I not only love craftsmen's work. In addition to wanting to know why buildings can be built so high and cars can travel so far, I also want to know why crops can be grown in the ground and how clothes are made."
"I would also like to know if there are high-rise buildings in the world that can be climbed without climbing stairs, and if there are driverless carriages."
"Can one acre of land produce more food, can the production of clothes be easier, and so on."
Emperor Wen asked with great interest:
"Oh, how can a little girl like you want to know this?"
"My little girl read this sentence in a book, the heaven and the earth are unkind and treat all things as stupid dogs. A few months ago, outside Hua County where my uncle took office, I really witnessed the tragic scenes of the people after the village suffered a military disaster."
"So, the little girl thought that it is precisely because the world is ruthless and looks at the world indifferently that we, as human beings, should be benevolent and righteous, helping each other and showing compassion to each other. If we are just for our own pride and ignore the tears of others, then this is This is what animals do.”
She continued a little embarrassedly:
"Therefore, the little girl has some far-fetched thoughts. What if there were no high-rise buildings that could be climbed without climbing stairs, no driverless carriages, no way to make farmland more productive, and no simpler means of making clothes."
"Then can I create these things that don't exist in the world and benefit some people in Dawn?"
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone present except Xiao Yuanyi showed approval.
"Do you know which sage said those words you said?"
When Cheng Shaoshang heard Queen Xuan's question, he couldn't help but glance at his mother-in-law and said:
"Confucius said about becoming benevolent, and Mencius said about taking righteousness. Xunzi believed that human nature is inherently evil, so the saying that heaven and earth are unkind must not be what they said."
"Legalists talk about pros and cons, while Mohists want to care for both sides. The former only care about the benefits coming and going in the world, and don't care whether the world is benevolent or not, while the latter thinks the world is too benevolent and righteous."
"Since it is so benevolent and righteous, people should cherish each other even more, so these words should not be what they said."
"The last one is the Taoist Laozi, so this must be what Laozi said."
Queen Xuan smiled warmly:
"Why not Zhuangzi?"
Cheng Shaoshang instantly became downcast and flattered:
"Because in the past few years, Ziyan has never forced me to read books I don't like, and after my mother came back, she let me read many books by sages, but I have never read this Zhuangzi book, so I don't know what is written in it. "
As soon as the words fell, the two people above laughed out loud.
Queen Xuan even explained to Cheng Shaoshang in a harmonious voice:
"You guessed it right, but the meaning is wrong. Heaven and earth are unkind, treating all things as pigs and dogs. It does not mean treating all things as pigs and dogs. It means indifference and ruthlessness."
"But it means that heaven and earth treat everything the same, and everything goes as it should."
Cheng Shaoshang suddenly realized and said straightforwardly:
"No wonder Ziyan never forced me to read the scrolls of sages. He once told me that the most saddening thing in the world is knowing that there is nothing you can do about it and being content with it as if it were your fate."
The smile on Queen Xuan’s face became even stronger:
"This is in line with Zi Yan's temperament. When he was in Changqiu Palace, he often told me that man can conquer heaven."
"I even said that my destiny is determined by God, and that my elixir can be restored to gold for hundreds of millions of years. I also asked Yu to practice Tai Chi more and strive to become immortal."
At this time, Emperor Wen praised:
"Cheng Aiqing, you are a good teacher. At such a young age, you can worry about the world. It's amazing."
Cheng Shi bowed and said repeatedly:
"Don't dare, don't dare, my wife taught me well."
Xiao Yuanyi straightened up and saluted:
"Your Majesty, because I have been away fighting all year round and have not returned home for more than ten years, I have no idea how to teach my daughter to the general. I hope your Majesty will not laugh at you."
Emperor Wen smiled and waved his hand to show that he didn't mind. Empress Xuan said with a smile:
"Shao Shang, your parents delayed your studies because of state affairs. I see that you are very smart. General Cheng and Mrs. Cheng can teach you well with just a little effort."
Cheng Shaoshang had just heard that his mother-in-law looked down upon him, and he felt depressed. But when he saw the empress praising him so much, his mood suddenly improved, and he bowed:
"Thank you for the compliment, Queen."
Then, she noticed Queen Xuan's figure as if she was in her mid-twenties, and couldn't help but blurt out:
"Queen, you are so beautiful."
Suddenly, Xiao Yuanyi's pupils trembled, and Cheng Shi whispered:
"Niao Niao, don't talk nonsense."
Queen Xuan couldn't help laughing at this.
(End of chapter)
