Have I... accidentally walked into some Shura field?
The wind in the courtyard carries plum blossoms, and the whole garden is filled with fragrance.
Cats and dogs playfully crawl through the fence, and fat roosters cluck.
Elegance and vulgarity coexist. Sometimes chickens raised by Qin Zheng would fly into Ji Sui's plum garden. When he played the piano, the chickens would cluck, and soon a hired maid would come in with a panicked look and take the chickens away. Qin Zheng didn't want to get along with him.
All this was far away in Luzhou.
- He was the prefect of Luzhou.
Now, Ji Sui was just lying in the old house in the capital, wrapped in a thick quilt, staring at the curtains in a trance.
Just now, Qin Zheng came to find him, with brisk footsteps he had never heard before. Then he told her - or rather, it seemed more like a declaration to him at the time.
His granddaughter told him that she had found her own way. She was going to take care of the prince's health and create a free future for herself.
Ji Sui... was very silent.
He suddenly realized that Qin Zheng... might not need him to consider every aspect for her. -
She could live well on her own. Ji Sui stayed silent in the house for three days, ignoring external affairs. Until the fourth day, Quan Yingzhang came to visit. The 88-year-old old man was leaning on a cane, but he was in good health. He walked with high spirits and a light step. After entering the room, he cast his eyes on Ji Sui. Seeing that he looked silent, he raised his eyebrows and sneered suddenly: "I think you already know that Mao Shi is a fake?" The Book of Songs is now divided into four versions. The ancient text of the Book of Songs is written in ancient characters, and they are called Qi Shi, Lu Shi, and Han Shi. The modern text of the Book of Songs is written in modern characters, and the popular version is Mao Shi. The leader of the ancient literature school called Mao Shi a fake, which is clearly digging up the roots of the modern literature school. Ji Sui, who was originally dying, suddenly raised his head and looked at Quan Yingzhang. The sharpness of his eyes was like a lightning that cut a line in the sky. He brushed his sleeves, stood up, and spoke word by word: "Oh? I'd like to hear the details." The atmosphere immediately became tense. Behind Quan Yingzhang were many people from the Ancient Literature School. Their eyes were fixed on Ji Sui. They were jealous and relaxed at the same time. - Ji Sui was now devastated by the matter of his granddaughter and being sent to serve as an official. Even if he tried to cheer up, what would it be of any use? At this moment, a voice came from the door again: "Mr. Ji!!!" Ji Sui looked over and saw that the officials from the Modern Literature School were looking at him fiercely. It was obvious that they were badly bullied. Ji Sui's eyes narrowed slightly: "Tell me, what's going on?" Then an official from the New Text School stepped forward and quickly organized his words: "Ji Gong, in the sentence 'Yi Wo Lai Mou', is the word 'lai' used incorrectly? The New Text believes that 'lai' is the same as 'xiaomai', but not long ago, the Ancient Text School proposed that the word 'mai (麥)' is followed by the word '夂', and 夂 means toes pointing downwards, so how can wheat have legs? Therefore, in ancient times, the word 'mai' should represent 'walking'. 'lai' cannot be the same as 'mai'." This proves that the New Text School's annotations on the Book of Songs are wrong! Ji Sui frowned unconsciously. From the official's words, it can be seen that the idea that "lai" cannot be used to mean "mai" has been recognized by many people from the New Text School. This is... not good. The interpretation of chapters and sentences is the cornerstone of Modern Literature. If there is no way to refute it, I am afraid that many students of the Modern Literature School will either lose their faith in Taoism or turn to studying Classical Literature. But how can he refute it? Quan Yingzhang stood by with his crutches and waited patiently, but in fact, he didn't think Ji Sui could figure it out - or at least not in a short time. Ji Sui didn't rush to speak, but his brows were wrinkled more and more, and the grooves between his eyebrows were deep. The official of the Modern Literature School stared at Ji Sui with light in his eyes. A moment. Ji Sui exclaimed, "Huh!" and ordered: "Bring paper and pen." "Yes!!!" The official of the Modern Literature School suppressed his excitement and rushed to get paper and pen. This time it was Quan Yingzhang's turn to frown. The old man held the dove on the end of the staff tightly with his hands, tensing like a cat about to explode. Ji Sui wrote the word "lai" on the paper and said, "lai has the shape of wheat. The two characters "ren" on the left and right are the shape of wheat ears drooping down." Quan Yingzhang sneered, "Doesn't this further prove that the word "lai" symbolized wheat in the old days? It still cannot prove that "maize" also symbolized wheat in the old days - Ji boy, are you going to abandon darkness and join the light and come to my ancient literature school?" Ji Sui, however, seemed to be unaware of the sarcasm and said nothing, but calmly wrote the word "maize" next to it. Then he said slowly: "The Book of Songs, Da Ya, says that good seeds are born. This sentence clearly states that good seeds are given by the care of heaven. They are given by heaven, and the character 'wheat' is 'up and down', with wheat on the top and toes pointing down on the bottom. Doesn't it just correspond to the saying that 'wheat comes from heaven'? Therefore, 'wheat' also means wheat, not walking." The faces of the officials of the ancient literature school changed. They didn't expect that Ji Sui actually found a way to refute. Ji Sui began to fight back. "Mr. Quan hasn't even finished reading the Book of Poetry..." He smiled playfully and arrogantly: "Instead of pondering the interpretation, it's better to go home and study the different ways to write the word '回'." The people of the Modern Literature School looked at each other and could see the surprise on each other's faces. One by one, they looked at Ji Sui with burning eyes, and there was undisguised longing in their eyes. Mr. Ji!!! The moon surrounded by mountains!!! The people of the Ancient Literature School uncontrollably slid their eyes to their moon. Quan Yingzhang's brain was surprisingly calm. One sentence after another of the interpretation quickly passed through his mind, and four or five characters flashed at the same time in a breath. The solution to the problem is... here! "Heaven is heaven?" Quan Yingzhang pounded his cane on the ground and looked at Ji Sui calmly: "Ridiculous."
"Mao Shi talks about "Si Wen" in Zhou Song, saying that it is a song about 'Hou Ji's match with Heaven'. In it, the line 'Si Wen Hou Ji, Ke Pei Bi Tian', have you fools forgotten it? Heaven is the emperor. The 'come' in Mai from Heaven should not be the 'come' of 'come to', but the 'reward' of 'give to' or 'award'. Mai from Heaven's 'reward' means Mai from Hou Ji's 'reward'."
Now it was Ji Sui's turn to tighten his facial muscles.
...
In Ji Sui's house, only some officials of the Ancient Literature School and some officials of the Modern Literature School knew about it, and the leaders of the two schools of Ancient and Modern Literature began a fierce verbal battle.
Ji Sui forgot about the worries of the past few days, and also forgot about his "worry" about his granddaughter. He argued with the people of the ancient literature school about the classics almost word by word. The previous sentence was still "The Book of Songs", and the next sentence was "The Book of Zhou Rites". He talked about the subtle meaning of "Spring and Autumn Annals" and the way of heaven and human affairs, and talked about the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and the fact that the ancient classics did not pay attention to current affairs, which was unworthy of benevolence and righteousness.
Quan Yingzhang was not to be outdone. He criticized the modern literature school for using classics as a means of governance, losing the spirit of Confucius and Mencius, and actually putting their thoughts in a dead end.
One debate after another was fierce, and either the west wind overwhelmed the east wind, or the east wind overwhelmed the west wind.
When the moon rose above the branches and the debate had to end, Ji Sui's home was no longer a pleasant place to look at, with traces of pushing tables and smashing bowls everywhere.
Ji Sui picked up a bowl of hot tea from the table with new sword marks on it and drank it slowly: "No need to see you off."
Quan Yingzhang led the people of the Ancient Literature School to kick away the fruit plate on the ground, stepped over the broken papers, and helped the already cracked pen to expand the crack with a "snap"...
When he was about to step out the door, Quan Yingzhang turned his back to Ji Sui and said in a calm voice with an old man: "Ji Sui, you are the most talented person I have ever met."
- You shouldn't let yourself be silent like this.
Ji Sui: "..."
He was silent for two or three breaths, and it was unknown whether it was true or false: "I was just sorting out the things to do next at home."
Quan Yingzhang was also silent.
Soon, he stopped quibbling and cursed directly: "You are a dog and a rat, I am ashamed to work with you!"
[Wow! Mr. Quan must be angry because he is embarrassed! What a proud old man!
Quan Yingzhang turned his head suddenly and saw a familiar head popping up on the wall of Ji Sui. I don’t know how long I have been watching there.
Thinking back, it seems that there were indeed some strange noises during the debate just now. But the debate between the two sides was too intense and no one paid attention to it.
"You little bastard! Why are you everywhere!"
And proud - although he didn't know what proud meant, just by hearing the word "proud", he knew that the little brat was definitely bullying him in his heart.
It's over, I was found out.
If I had known that I would run away when I found out that the debate was over. Xu Yanmiao quickly climbed down the wall, walked around the gate and came in: "
Mr. Quan, I heard the debate of ancient and modern texts when I was passing by, and I was so excited that I couldn't help but get closer to this literary feast."
Quan Yingzhang glanced at him.
He didn't expose him - what kind of literary feast does a kid who can't even remember the Analects want to enjoy. It's true that he came to see the excitement!
But thinking of that "arrogant" still made him hold his breath in his heart, and he didn't like this kid in any way.
He immediately said with ridicule: "You are so busy that you have thought of the questions for the examination? Will it be the Spring and Autumn Annals or the Mencius? But no matter what you use, you must not forget that the content here is not to be memorized by rote or just read the surface. You must understand the names of people, read the names of places, remember the allusions, and do not swallow the meanings of words without thinking. Don't make a joke when you see "Yang Huo" and mistake it for "Yang Feng."
Yang Huo is a person's name.
Yang Feng... um... it's the "Shi" in "Shi" (meaning "de-shi").
But this ridicule and sarcasm, when heard by the college student, was exchanged for a particularly sincere sentence: "Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Quan! I will definitely read the classics and explain their meanings!"
Quan Yingzhang choked.
Long ago, when Xu Yanmiao came to encourage him to come out of retirement, the memory of him saying "Mr. Quan is right" and "Mr. Quan is a great talent" came back to him.
He was so choked at that time that his heart ached, but the other party was very sincere.
[Mr. Quan is such a good man! ]
Xu Lang not only said it, but also sighed in his heart.
Quan Yingzhang: "..."
He heard the suppressed laughter of those unfilial disciples.
A bunch of little bastards!
Seeing that Xu Yanmiao was still waiting for him to speak, and looked like he trusted him and asked for advice, Quan Yingzhang said dryly: "No need to thank me, and also, the interpretation of chapters and sentences..."
Wait, the interpretation of chapters and sentences? !
*
Xu Yanmiao had never seen Quan Yingzhang's eyes so enthusiastic.
After a moment of confusion: "Quan... Lord Quan?"
Quan Yingzhang was like the most patient hunter at this moment, stepping carefully in the forest, trying to avoid branches as much as possible to avoid scaring away the rabbits: "Little rabbit... Ahem, Xu boy, do you still have a vague understanding of the ancient literature school's interpretation of the classics? Those allusions and chapters and sentences are difficult to understand without someone teaching you. How about I explain them to you during this time?"
[Ah? ]
The faces of the officials of the modern literature school changed in unison.
The spirits of the officials of the ancient literature school suddenly lifted, and their expressions of joy were particularly conspicuous.
Lord Quan is very scheming!!!
In this way, Xu Yanmo can be inclined to write a policy essay of the ancient literature school in the imperial examination, and the ancient literature school can be supplemented with good seedlings!
Xu Yanmiao blinked and was about to speak.
Suddenly, there was a door knock. Turning around, he saw Ji Gong rushing out, forgetting to put down the teacup.
"Xu Yanmiao!" He called out, but before he could say anything, Quan Yingzhang swung his cane in front of Xu Yanmiao, completely covering him.
Under the moonlight, the courtyard seemed unusually empty. When Ji Sui and Quan Yingzhang looked at each other, a strange sense of oppression arose.
[What happened?]
[Did I... accidentally enter some Shura field?]