Chapter 397 Prologue
"We pay our respects to the enlightened ruler!"
Lin Changning and Li Mingxiu stood on either side of the King of Chu, while the Xie family members below, led by the Xie family elders, were bowing to the King of Chu.
Lin Changning clicked his tongue a few times in his mind. No wonder they are a century-old family; they really know how to talk.
They're still here, calling him "Your Highness," but people are already calling him "the enlightened ruler."
With a smile on his face, the King of Chu hurriedly reached out to help the two Xie family elders who were leading the group to their feet.
"You're too kind, young master! Please rise, please rise!"
After speaking, he led the two clan elders to the seat. The third clan elder who had spoken with Lin Changning and the others earlier bowed and looked at the King of Chu with tears of gratitude in his eyes.
"Our Xie family has always been loyal to the court, but we were framed by treacherous officials at the emperor's side. The court was furious and sent troops to pursue and suppress us, which caused the Xie family to suffer this injustice."
Fortunately, the prince sent troops to rescue them, thus saving them from dire straits.
The current emperor cannot distinguish between loyalty and treachery, and is misled by wicked people, thus causing the people to suffer and war to break out.
"Our Xie family is willing to serve as the vanguard of the King of Chu, offering our utmost loyalty, serving Your Majesty as a wise ruler, and vowing to restore order to the world."
As he spoke, he led all the members of the Xie family to kneel down again, shouting, "We are willing to serve Your Highness like dogs and horses."
The King of Chu sighed, his gaze fixed on the kneeling crowd, and said in a deep voice, “Lord Xie, you are too kind! I have long heard that the Xie family is loyal yet slandered. This is not the fault of the Xie family, but rather the calamity of an unjust court and the rise of treacherous officials. Now that Lord Xie has not abandoned us and is willing to entrust his entire clan to us, how could I dare to refuse?”
His voice suddenly became firm and powerful: "A harsh government is more ferocious than a tiger. The current emperor is muddle-headed, and the people are suffering terribly. This is truly a critical moment of survival. I, the king, vow to sweep away the wicked, restore order, restore justice to the loyal and virtuous, and save the people from misery. Lord Xie and the loyal and righteous men of the Xie family are all pillars of the state. From now on, they should work together with me to support the nation. When the evil influence is swept away and the world is at peace, I, the king, will repay your trust today with the respect due to a national hero!"
The Xie family elder bowed deeply, then raised his head again, his voice as firm as metal and stone: "The entire Xie family is willing to lay down our lives and follow our wise ruler. We will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire; we will devote ourselves to the cause until our dying breath. We only hope to soon eliminate the treacherous officials, restore order to our court, and bring peace to the people. At that time, even if we are shattered to pieces, we will gladly accept it!"
Even if I am shattered to pieces, I would gladly accept it!
Even if I am shattered to pieces, I would gladly accept it!
Even if I am shattered to pieces, I would gladly accept it!
Hearing the shouts of the Xie family members in the hall, Lin Changning felt a surge of patriotic fervor.
The King of Chu looked down at the Xie family members and suddenly burst into laughter: "Xiu'er, quickly help the Xie family members up."
Li Mingxiu nodded in agreement and, together with the Prince of Chu, helped the elders of the Xie family to their feet.
The King of Chu, looking at his son, suddenly changed the subject and said to the elder of the Xie family, "I have long admired the Xie family's great Confucian scholar, whose literary talent is outstanding and whose name is known throughout the land. I have a son, Mingxiu, who, though unruly and unproductive, does possess some talent. I wish to have him become a disciple of this great Confucian scholar and receive his instruction. I wonder if the Xie family would agree?"
The three elders of the Xie family stood up and bowed to each other. They turned to look at their cousin, who was a great Confucian scholar. The two looked at each other and saw a hint of excitement in each other's eyes.
The prince's intention in surrendering to the Xie family was to promise them a bright future. If the prince were to become emperor one day, the current heir would become the crown prince, and the Xie family's great scholar would become his teacher. In the future, the Xie family would at least become the crown prince's tutor or junior tutor. Regardless of the official position, the Xie family could continue to live a worry-free life for at least another hundred years.
The great scholar was thrilled. He stepped forward from the crowd and bowed to the King of Chu: “Your Highness is too kind! Although I have a little reputation, I dare not accept the praise of being ‘famous throughout the world.’ The young master is talented and willing to condescend to study. This is a blessing for the Xie family and for all scholars. With Your Highness’s trust, the Xie family will certainly teach you everything we know, instructing your son in the classics to clarify his ambitions and to cultivate his character through propriety, righteousness, integrity and a sense of shame, so that he may assist Your Highness in securing peace and stability for the country. This would truly be a blessing for the world.”
After speaking, he looked earnestly at the King of Chu.
The King of Chu glanced at Li Mingxiu: "Mingxiu, why don't you come over and pay your respects to your master?"
Li Mingxiu walked up to the great scholar Xie, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with utmost humility, "Mingxiu greets teacher."
The Confucian scholar smiled and helped Li Mingxiu up, saying, "Your Highness is too kind."
As the group was exchanging pleasantries, Qi Rong suddenly strode into the main hall with Lao Qin and Lao Han.
Qin Zhonglong strode into the hall with Lao Han, where they knelt on one knee and bowed to the King of Chu.
"Your Highness! The border is secure. I have returned with my men to report!"
The King of Chu nodded almost imperceptibly to Qin Zhong, then turned to the Xie family members: "This is my subordinate general, Qin Zhong. This is my nephew, Qi Rong, the second son in the family. He recently recaptured four border cities from the Tartars. Rong'er, this is the Xie clan elder, a great Confucian scholar. Come and pay your respects."
The Xie family members bowed to Qin Zhongxian, and upon hearing the King of Chu's words, they all looked at Qi Rong and cupped their hands in greeting: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Qi Rong returned the bow and glanced at Lin Changning, the guard standing beside the King of Chu. The great scholar from the Xie family sized up Qi Rong, and thinking of the King of Chu's introduction just now, he suddenly smiled and said.
"The Prince of Qi is indeed a man of exceptional appearance and talent."
Qi Rong nodded calmly to the Confucian scholar, "Elder, you flatter me."
The King of Chu looked at Qi Rong and suddenly chuckled softly: "Rong'er, your elder brother has just become the disciple of the great scholar Xie, what about you?"
He was only halfway through his sentence when a hurried voice came from outside.
"Your Highness! The head of the Cui family requests an audience!"
The King of Chu frowned and said somewhat anxiously, "Please come in quickly, please come in quickly!"
Why would the Cui family come at this time?
The literary world is divided into two families: the Cui family and the Xie family, each occupying one share.
The Xie family was led by a powerful clan, while the Cui family was led by commoners. Both families competed for talent, and each had a renowned academy.
With the uprising imminent, the King of Chu was momentarily unable to ascertain the true intentions behind the Cui family's arrival.
However, the Cui family held considerable influence among scholars, so they had to be treated with proper respect.
The elders of the Xie family exchanged glances, and couldn't help but wonder. Their two families had been at odds for a long time, and now that the Cui family had come, they must have guessed something, just like them, and that's why they came over like dogs smelling bones.
The leader of the Xie family muttered, "Why are they everywhere!"
The clan elder coughed and glanced at the clansman who had just left: "Be careful what you say."
After speaking, he sat up straight and waited for the people from the Chu Prince's Mansion to bring in the Cui family.
Lin Changning noticed that Qi Rong, who was already seated, was looking at him, and winked at him a few times.
Qi Rong smiled, his eyebrows curving upwards. He shook his head slightly and sighed. Chang Ning was becoming increasingly carefree. After laughing, Qi Rong looked at the old man and the young man at the door with a knowing look.
"Cui Jie and Cui Zheng of the Cui family pay their respects to Your Highness..."
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