In the days that followed, Gu Zhengchen had a lot of leisure time. He was either teaching Mu Ying and Mu Sheng, or going to the sugar store. Zhu Biao would occasionally go to Mu Mansion to take classes when he had nothing to do.
Time flies to the 26th. Before dawn, Wu Rong leads a group of people to sweep the courtyard of Mu Mansion clean.
Gu's mother arranged for people to go to the market to buy fresh green onions, celery, a little cinnabar and other items. Hu Dashan and Gu Qingqing were busy decorating them in the main room. To show their attention, Hu Dashan specially brought out two sets of the four treasures of the study that he had collected.
It's just dawn.
Mu Ying arrived with brisk steps, and when she saw Gu Zhengchen, she laughed and held her hands: "Mr. Gu, where are those two boys? Do you dare to get up late to become a disciple today?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Mu Ying, who was dressed as a Confucian scholar, and pointed to the backyard: "They are practicing martial arts. I said Brother Mu, they are just apprentices. They are not so serious, right?"
Mu Ying glared and said solemnly: "What do you know? Becoming a master is a major event for people. As the saying goes, once you are a teacher, you will always be a father. If I die in battle, these two boys will be your sons. How dare you not take care of me? Well, I won’t spare you even if you become a ghost!”
Gu Zhengchen was depressed: "How could anyone say such nonsense on the day of apprenticeship? Don't worry, you will be the one who will be made a marquis in the future. The enemies on the battlefield will not be able to keep you, but you are so threatening, which makes me want to regret it... "
Mu Ying smiled heartily and said: "The knife is on your neck, there is no room for you to regret it. Let's go, let's wait at the door."
"Who are you waiting for?"
Gu Zhengchen was stunned for a moment.
Mu Ying was a little dissatisfied: "My son is studying under a teacher, so why should some people come to watch the ceremony?"
Gu Zhengchen underestimated the importance that Mu Ying attached to apprenticeship, and also underestimated the importance that ancient people attached to apprenticeship.
As soon as the two people reached the door, three carriages came slowly.
Looking at the brass inlaid on the carriage, you knew it belonged to the royal family in the palace. When the curtain was lifted, Zhu Biao walked out with a smile. Gu Zhengchen and Mu Ying quickly stepped forward to salute.
Zhu Biao didn't say much and led the two of them to the second carriage.
The eunuch put down the stairs, the curtain moved, and Song Lian walked out with a smile on his face.
"Master Song!"
Gu Zhengchen was a little surprised that he was here so early in the winter.
Mu Ying glanced at Zhu Biao with emotion. Needless to say, given her status, she would never invite Song Lian. Zhu Biao must have invited her. It was a rare opportunity for Mu Chun and Mu Sheng that a great Confucian like Song Lian could observe rituals.
"Thank you Master Song!"
Mu Ying bowed deeply.
Song Lian picked up Mu Ying with a smile and nodded slightly: "Mu Chun and Mu Sheng are both smart people. Although Mr. Gu is young, he is also talented, with strange insights and insight into the past and the present. They can worship Mr. Gu as their teacher. It's a good thing. Ten years from now, it may not be a good talk. I came here uninvited today and want to stand aside to watch the ceremony. I also asked Governor Mu to agree."
Muying agreed repeatedly.
The eunuch of the East Palace took out the congratulatory gifts from another carriage, which were nothing more than the Four Treasures of the Study.
Gu Zhengchen was just about to say that the wind was strong and he hoped that the prince and Song Lian would enter the house when he heard the clatter of horse hooves. A thin horse pulled a small cart. An old servant pulled the reins. After the carriage stopped, the old servant supported him. An old man came out.
"Uncle Sincerity?"
Mu Ying exclaimed and looked at Zhu Biao with some confusion.
Zhu Biao shook his head slightly, indicating that this was not his invitation.
Gu Zhengchen was surprised and pushed Mu Ying, and the two of them stepped forward to salute.
Liu Ji chuckled and rubbed his cold hands: "I saw Mr. Gu in Jurong Shi was very high-spirited, and he was full of knowledge when talking and laughing. I heard that Mr. Gu was going to accept a disciple two days ago. After thinking about it for a long time last night, I still felt shameless. Do you know that Governor Mu will not be surprised if you come to watch the ceremony?"
"The arrival of Uncle Sincerity is a great event for Pengpi. How can I be surprised?"
Although Mu Ying didn't know why Liu Ji came, she still welcomed him.
Liu Ji took the scroll handed over by the old servant and handed it to Mu Ying: "There is no gift. I wrote four words for the two children."
Mu Ying took it and unfolded it, facing four powerful characters:
The mountains are high and the rivers are long!
Gu Zhengchen stared at it, and he had to say that Liu Ji, one of the "three masters of poetry in the early Ming Dynasty", was very accomplished in calligraphy. These four characters could be regarded as calligraphy treasures.
"Mountains are high and rivers are long" is not a parting word, but a metaphor for a person's style or reputation that will always exist like mountains and flowing water. It also metaphors deep kindness, such as "the wind of a gentleman is as high as mountains and rivers", but it is also appropriate to give it to two children.
After Muying thanked him, she invited Liu Ji into the house.
On the street, a man wearing a coir raincoat came slowly on a donkey. He took a closer look, turned over, led the donkey and saluted: "Your Highness, Uncle Sincerity, Master Song is here, haha."
"Wu Shangshu!"
Song Lian and Liu Ji surrendered.
Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly and looked at Mu Ying.
Mu Ying spread her hands and realized that she and Wu Lin knew each other, but they were far from familiar with each other. He was the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and she was an official of the Metropolitan Governor's Office, so they couldn't get along with each other.
Wu Lin exchanged a few pleasantries and walked towards Gu Zhengchen and Mu Ying. She raised her chin slightly and looked at the door: "Gu Zhixian, these are the two disciples you want to accept."
Gu Zhengchen and Mu Ying turned around and saw that Mu Chun and Mu Sheng were walking out in green robes. Mu Ying quickly took the two children to salute one by one. When they arrived in front of Wu Lin, Wu Lin took out a package from the donkey. , opened two volumes of books - "Great Learning" and "The Analects of Confucius", and then handed them to Gu Zhengchen: "These two volumes of books are from Wenjin College. They were copied and passed to me by my mentor back then. He has been with me for decades. Today I give them to you. , I hope you can teach good disciples, and I hope these two disciples can protect the country."
"Ask about the Academy, such a precious thing..."
Gu Zhengchen was a little shocked and quickly declined.
Mu Sheng asked curiously: "What is Wenjin Academy?"
Mu Ying was a little moved.
Gu Zhengchen was solemn.
Wenjin College is amazing. The word "wenjin" comes from "Confucius passed it and asked Zilu to ask about it."
The academy was founded in the Western Han Dynasty. Du Mu in the Tang Dynasty, Meng Gong and Zhu Xi in the Song Dynasty, Long Renfu and Wu Cheng in the Yuan Dynasty, etc. all gave lectures at the academy. In particular, Zhu Xi stayed at Wenjin Academy in his later years, which made it famous.
Of course, what they didn’t know was that someone would later build Wenjin Academy into a “philosophical” center, and that person was Wang Yangming. Wenjin Academy is a major venue for "Lu Wang Xin Xue".
The things in this academy itself have a strong educational significance.
Wu Lin gave the gift, waved her hand with a smile, got on the donkey, patted the donkey and swayed away regardless of Mu Ying's plea.
Seeing that there were no carriages on the street, Gu Zhengchen entered the mansion with everyone, but before he could say a few words, Gu Cheng hurried in. Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Huan stepped into the room.
Well, the emperor's personal guards are here, needless to say, Lao Zhu is also here.
Everyone salutes.
Zhu Yuanzhang walked in with a loud voice: "Mu Chun and Mu Sheng are my grandchildren. How can I not come to become my disciples today?"
