In the early morning, the sun rises.
The Song residence is located in the east of the capital city.
The servants got up early and started their busy day.
On this day, Song Gongwen happened to be on leave, so he did not go to the Dali Temple to report.
"Madam, where is Hongzhi?" Song Gongwen, who had just finished his meal, asked his wife Song Wangshi because he did not see his son.
"I haven't seen him since early this morning." Madam Song sighed and said, "Ever since he came back from the palace to see his sister, I don't know why Hongzhi has been nagging about studying martial arts and joining the army. Now I don't know what he wants to do."
"This useless guy doesn't study hard and only wants to cause trouble outside. I'll break his legs when I get back!"
When Song Gongwen heard this, his eyes widened and he became furious, his face full of anger.
But soon, the anger dissipated and turned into a sigh.
Although it was common for scholars to practice martial arts in the Wei Dynasty.
But his Song family is a scholarly family, and their main focus should be on studying and taking imperial examinations.
Just like myself, when I was young, I was very talented in literature and was a top three Jinshi.
But this son did not inherit the Song family's genes at all. Not only was his academic performance in the academy terrible, he also liked to hang out outside. He even drove away more than a dozen teachers who were invited back to his home.
He also often complained about his lack of talent for studying, saying that he should join the army, command thousands of troops on the battlefield, and make contributions to the country.
In contrast, my own daughter has been extremely intelligent, gentle, respectful, well-educated and well-mannered since childhood. She has been familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics since she was a child.
So sometimes Song Gongwen couldn't help but doubt whether this son was his biological son.
Now he just hopes that the other party won't cause any serious trouble.
After all, my daughter is already the queen of the dynasty and the mother of the country.
How much more can you ask for?
As for his son's learning martial arts and joining the army, he didn't care at all.
What kind of achievements can a young man who comes from a scholarly family and has no military training achieve?
"By the way, Master, when Hongzhi went to the palace last time, he told his daughter that you wanted to resign. But do you want to reconsider this matter?" At this time, Mrs. Song seemed to remember something and asked.
"Don't think about it. I'm really not good at solving cases. I've been doing this job as the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple for more than ten years, and the criticism I've received has only increased."
"And my superiors don't seem to be willing to transfer me, so I might as well quit and live a peaceful life at home."
Song Gongwen shook his head. He had made up his mind and no longer wanted to do this.
"Okay." Mrs. Song nodded and did not continue to persuade.
There is no way, although the Shaoqing of Dali Temple is a powerful official position.
But in the capital.
There are a lot of people like this who can be beaten to death with just one brick.
What's more, my master is really incompetent. He has been working for so many years without any improvement.
Because he often made mistakes in solving cases, the servants of the entire Song family would be gossiped about whenever they went out to buy vegetables.
Mrs. Song also felt that it was not a bad idea to resign from her official position. At least she had her daughter to help her in the palace, and her future life would probably not be bad.
"Okay, Madam, go ahead and do your work. I'm going back to my study to practice calligraphy. Call me at lunchtime."
After saying this, Song Gongwen put his hands behind his back and walked straight towards the study.
Mrs. Song was not surprised by this.
My husband was like this when he was young, he liked to practice calligraphy in the study.
Especially in recent years, after failing in officialdom, he has been spending almost every day in it.
Although he seemed to have no future, Mrs. Song was still very satisfied with him. He was not like other officials who would go out to seek pleasure from prostitutes or listen to music in brothels after work.
After Song Gongwen came to the study, he practiced calligraphy for a while, but he always felt that his mind could not calm down.
He immediately crumpled the rice paper into a ball, threw it on the ground, and slumped down in the chair.
He knew, if nothing unexpected happened.
My daughter will ask to see His Majesty in the next two days to discuss her resignation, and His Majesty will surely agree.
After all, he had served as the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple for many years, but he had no outstanding political achievements.
In addition to the criticism from colleagues and the sporadic curses from the people.
It is perfectly normal for Your Majesty to approve the resignation.
But.
Song Gongwen was not happy.
Because he didn't really want to resign.
But after so many years, I have become disillusioned with my career in politics.
Thinking of this, Song Gongwen couldn't help but turn his head and look at the motto he wrote when he was young and frivolous.
The calligraphy was written in a free and unrestrained manner, with great charm. There were eight words on it: "Devote all my energy to the cause, and never stop until my death!"
That year, he had just passed the imperial examination and had his name on the list of successful candidates, and he felt like he had the world in his hands.
That year, he was full of ambition and wanted to devote himself to the country and bring benefits to millions of people.
That year, he entered the Hanlin Academy and wrote excellent articles, which attracted praise from countless upright officials and had a bright future.
Even at that time, Song Gongwen had already determined to write the best memorial in the world that could support the Wei Dynasty and change the lives of the people.
But it was also in that year that he secretly offended many people because of his youthful arrogance and began to be suppressed.
It was also in that year that he was transferred from the Hanlin Academy by the previous emperor, and he had been staying in the Dali Temple for decades since then.
It was also that year that he was criticized by his colleagues for his poor ability to judge cases, and the criticism he received gradually grew.
Even those who once admired him began to deliberately exclude him.
At first, Song Gongwen was not discouraged.
I feel that being the Shaoqing of the Dali Temple can at least allow me to speak up for the people.
But the facts proved that he really had no talent in this area. No matter how hard he tried, the final result was the same. Later, the people in the capital began to have opinions about him.
Over time, Song Gongwen began to become numb, his former passion began to cool, and he forgot his former ambitions.
Then I started learning how not to offend others, how to be tactful, and how to curry favor with the powerful.
However, due to his nature, he was not very good at this aspect.
No matter what your colleagues think behind your back, you will still think the same way.
The people can curse however they want.
So, Song Gongwen gave up completely.
I feel like this is how my life will be, no more struggling.
Even when his daughter was later favored by the late emperor and was designated as the Crown Princess, he didn't think it was a big deal. He just thought that having the identity of the emperor's father-in-law would make his life easier in the future.
In fact, just as he expected, when the current Majesty ascended the throne and his daughter was canonized as the Empress of the Central Palace, His Majesty did not seem to value him at all, and did not even mention him.
Without expectations, there will naturally be no disappointment. Song Gongwen accepted this calmly.
Fortunately, after becoming the father-in-law of the emperor, he faced much less suppression and exclusion.
It's one of the few good things.
But what can we do about it?
Don’t you have to stay in the Dali Temple forever?
Now his only wish is to spend his old age in peace, practicing calligraphy and writing articles at home.
As for other things, Song Gongwen did not ask for them, nor was he willing to think about them.
Because his heart has grown cold.
Song Gongwen couldn't help but smile bitterly, stood up, walked to the calligraphy, took it down and rolled it up, thought for a while, and put it together with a dusty book.
This place was once his dream, his ambition, and his lost youth.
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