Among the streets in the inner city of Luoyang, in Huanggong's wine shop, Xiahou Xuanzheng, the minister of Sanqi, was chatting and drinking happily with his friends Xun Can, Fu Gu, Wei Lie and other friends.
"Since Emperor Wen reopened the Imperial Academy, the number of students in Luoyang who recite "Poems" and "Books" has gradually increased. I think in a few years, our great Wei will surpass that of the Imperial Academy of Han Dynasty. It’s a grand occasion to have three thousand students, hahaha…”
Shangshu Lang Weilie looked at the scholars talking about literature and theory on the street of Jiulong after school. He was in a good mood and drank the wine in one gulp.
"Brother Wei, that's wrong." Xun Can raised the wine cup, drank it all, and then laughed and said:
"What Zigong calls the preaching of saints is human nature and the way of heaven. However, human nature and the way of heaven are things that cannot be transmitted by ear. Therefore, the great way is the unique experience and realm of the saint, and cannot be conveyed by common things. Therefore, No matter how much later generations cherish bamboo slips and wooden slips such as the "Poetry", "Book", "Li", and "Yi", it will be difficult to find out the truth. Although the six books exist, they can only consolidate the chaff of the saint!"
Xun Can believed that classic books were just rubbish thrown away by saints in order to achieve the Great Way. They were not the Great Way itself and were not worthy of praise. When Wei Lie heard this, he naturally found it difficult to believe such mysterious and mysterious remarks. He smiled and retorted:
"But the "Yi Zhuan" also says that the images are set up to convey the meaning, and the words are used to express the words. In other words, the sages set up the hexagrams and images to exhaust the profound meaning of the Yi. Even the sages themselves used secular words to convey the meaning. How can Feng Qian [Xun Can Biaozi] say that the Great Dao cannot be heard or seen based on the principles of Yi?"
After Xuncan drank another big drink, he smiled with red cheeks:
"Brother Wei, subtle principles can only be understood by the will of God, and are difficult to convey in common words. Now Brother Wei uses common words to explain things easily, and he cannot explain the subtle meaning beyond words. Even if brother's words can convey the simple meaning , but the subtle divine meaning is ultimately elusive!”
Xun Can just raised his wine and sipped slowly, and talked about the truth in his heart. Many students heard the debate of several people, and gathered around. They listened attentively, and some even hurriedly took notes with the small pens they carried. What.
What everyone doesn't know is that this statement is the "saying that words do not fully convey meaning" that have been discussed endlessly by later generations of talkers.
After hearing Xun Can's argument, Wei Lie felt the clouds and mountains were shrouded in mist and was speechless for a moment. He could only smile and continue drinking.
After leaving the wine shop, a few people took advantage of their drunkenness and walked along the bluestone official road chatting and strolling.
"Marquis Changling, please stay..."
In the distance, I saw a waiter in regular clothes running all the way over, holding a food box in his hand:
"Marquis Changling, this is a cake specially prepared for you by Princess Dongxiang."
When everyone heard this, they were not surprised. Xia Houxuan recognized this person at a glance as the serving chief beside Princess Dongxiang. He smiled and said:
"No need, how dare I bother Princess Dongxiang to worry about me. My dear, please come back."
Xia Houxuan understood what Cao Ling's cousin was thinking. However, he has always been arrogant and unwilling to follow the dragon and the phoenix, and he is not interested in the identity of the princess' husband.
After all, his father took his mother's Cao family name because he could not resist the pressure from the clan. This led to the tragedy that happened to him, Aunt Han, and his mother.
In addition, his good friend Gao Xun and Gao Ziyu, nephew of Tingwei Gaorou, have been deeply in love with Princess Dongxiang since he was a boy. Not only that, Xia Houxuan now has someone he loves, so it is even more impossible for him to fall in love with her. The princess had something wrong in her mind.
At this moment, the waiter looked embarrassed and helpless:
"But... since the villain is here, it's better to take the things back. In that case, the princess will lose her face..."
"It just so happens that the brothers around me are probably hungry too. Come on, let's share this cake."
Xia Houxuan said, and handed the food box to Xun Can. The pastries in the inner court were naturally delicious. After a while, the three of them were so busy that not even the dregs of the food were left.
"My dear fellow, please come back."
Xia Houxuan's tone still didn't have too much warmth:
"I also ask my father-in-law to remember in the future that middle-ranking officials cannot make friends with foreign ministers without authorization. Otherwise, if your Majesty gets to know more about it, I will not be able to bear it."
"Yes...yes...you must remember this, little one."
"My dearest man, go slowly and don't see me off."
Xun Can smiled and returned the empty food box to the chamberlain, who walked towards the palace gate in despair.
As Gao Xun's childhood playmate and best friend, Wei Lie didn't know what he was feeling. At this moment, he was drunk, looked up to the sky and sighed:
"I don't know if King Xiang is intentional and the goddess is not; or if the goddess is intentional and King Xiang is not!"
―――
Inside Chonghua Hall. Cao Rui looked at his two cousins with a mysterious smile on his face.
"Your Majesty summoned the two ministers here, but what's the important matter?" Xia Houxuan and Cao Xi knelt on the ground, surprised and confused at the same time.
"Of course I have something important to discuss with the two from Inner Mongolia." Cao Rui smiled and said, "I called you two here today because I want to discuss with you the life-long events of the two of you."
After hearing the emperor's words, Cao Xi and Xia Houxuan were shocked. When did your majesty become concerned about the marriage of his ministers?
"Taichu, Uncle Zhao."
Cao Rui got up and went down to the hall, and helped the two of them up with his own hands. Xia Houxuan and Cao Xidun felt flattered. Cao Rui continued:
"Today, we brothers will not talk about political affairs, but only about your respective marriages. You two have already had your wedding ceremony, and it is time for you to get married."
After Cao Rui helped the two of them up, he walked slowly onto the stage, continued to sit on the table, and said with a friendly face:
"Furthermore, you also know that the Queen's grandmother's health is getting worse day by day. She also hopes to see you two get married as soon as possible. In this way, I can be regarded as settling a worry of the Queen's grandmother, and You can also cheer for her, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty." Cao Xi lowered his head. He said solemnly: "My brother, I have not accomplished my achievements yet, and I have never thought about getting married."
"Uncle Zhao is wrong." Cao Rui said with a smile: "You have already served as a deputy general in the 'Wuweiying' when you were still young. This is an important and practical position that those noble men and women dare not even think about. How can you say that your achievements have not yet been achieved?" That’s it? But since you haven’t thought it through clearly, then I, as the elder brother, will make the decision for you together with the general, your eldest brother, and the others. You don’t need to worry about it anymore, just go ahead.”
Cao Xi remained silent and felt uneasy in his heart, so he left the Chonghua Hall.
Cao Rui continued to say to Xiahou Xuan:
"Taichu, you know, Lingmei has been interested in you for a long time..."
"Your Majesty!" Xia Houxuan interrupted the emperor before Cao Rui could finish speaking. Cao Rui was already dissatisfied. Xia Houxuan continued: "Princess Dongxiang has golden branches and jade leaves. I have no merit in my life. I am afraid I am not worthy of the princess. In addition, I have already had my heart set on belonging. Therefore, I do not want to climb up to Princess Dongxiang. Please forgive me!"
"Xia Houxuan, I know that you have always been aloof and have a high opinion of yourself. I don't blame you for this!"
After hearing Xia Houxuan's words, Cao Rui was already angry. He turned his back, trying not to conflict with Xia Houxuan head-on. He frowned slightly and continued to persuade:
"I understand, I can't defeat you, but Lingmei is passionate about you, how can she not be worthy of you Xia Houxuan! You don't take my royal dignity seriously, do you really think that I have no temper? person!"
"Your Majesty." Xia Houxuan remained calm in the face of the emperor's dissatisfaction, with a hint of stubbornness in his tone: "I am not arrogant, but I do have my heart. I don't want to do anything against my will, nor do I want to be wronged. Princess, please forgive me."
"Okay, okay, okay!" Cao Rui pressed his fingers between his eyebrows, trying his best to suppress his anger and keep himself calm: "Okay! Xia Houxuan, just think that my Cao family owes you..."
After a long time, Cao Rui finally shook his head helplessly: "You should also step back..."
"I excuse myself." Xia Houxuan frowned slightly, stood up slowly, and exited the hall.
"Your Majesty." A maid walked into the palace from a side door and said softly: "The Empress Dowager would like to ask Your Majesty to move to Yongshou Palace."
Upon hearing this, Cao Rui worked harder to calm down his anger. He hummed, indicating that he already knew.
————
"Have you heard? It is said that Young Master Cao Xi and Young Master Xiahou, the Marquis of Changling, all rejected His Majesty's offer of marriage..." The maids outside Yongshou Palace heard the news from nowhere and whispered among themselves. With.
"No, and I also heard that Princess Dongxiang sent people to show her kindness to Mr. Xiahou many times, but they were all rejected..."
"You two are so bold. You dare to discuss royal affairs in private here. Your Majesty and the Queen Mother may overhear you and cut your tongues out!" The senior maids of Yongshou Palace heard what those maids were talking about and immediately stopped them.
Li Huigu, who had just finished acupuncture for Queen Mother Bian and left the hall, happened to hear these words inadvertently. For some reason, she felt a little joy in her heart when she heard that Xia Houxuan refused the emperor's marriage offer.
"Your Majesty is here!" In the distance, the emperor's chariot was heading towards Yongshou Palace.
When the maids saw that it was the emperor's dragon driver, they immediately knelt on the ground, prostrated and nodded, not daring to say another word.
Seeing this, Li Huigu also hurriedly followed everyone to salute.
"Royal Grandmother." In the palace, Cao Rui held the old man's withered hands and said with a smile: "Don't worry, I will take care of the marriage of those two boys."
"Rui'er..." The old man said softly with a smile on his face: "The Ai family knows that my body and bones are getting worse day by day. Even a miracle doctor may not be able to save my life..."
"What nonsense is Grandma Huang talking about?" Cao Rui felt sad, but still forced himself to smile and said, "You will definitely get better."
"Rui'er... Although you promised the Ai family not to anger the doctor before, the Ai family knows that your child values friendship and the Ai family is afraid that you... will get hot-headed... Rui'er, remember, The child who treats the Ai family is a good child. The Ai family hopes that she will always be well. If... the Ai family is gone one day, you absolutely, absolutely cannot blame her..."
"Grandma Huang, don't worry." Cao Rui squeezed the old man's hand and nodded heavily. He couldn't help crying and said, "Rui'er already promised you, don't worry."
"Okay...Okay...Grandma, don't worry now. Let's go...child..." The old man touched Cao Rui's hair, his face still full of kindness and kindness.
