The marriage decree was sent to the Sun family.
From Sun Zhuangyuan on down, everyone knelt down to receive the imperial edict.
The person who announced the decree was Lin Shuping, the most useful person around Emperor Liu Zhao.
Sun Jia Qi Niang is gentle and virtuous, with outstanding talent, character and appearance. She is betrothed to the eldest prince Liu Yu.
The decree was issued, and the two young people officially became an engaged couple.
Sun Zhuangyuan accepted the imperial edict on behalf of his granddaughter.
Lin Shuping personally helped him up and said, "His Majesty is very concerned about your health and asked me to convey his regards."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness! I am well and can still serve the court and Your Majesty."
Lin Shuping smiled and said, "Mr. Sun is still strong and healthy, Your Majesty is relieved. Are there any difficulties in planning and building the academy? Feel free to raise them, and Your Majesty will help you solve them."
"I don't need to worry about the construction of the academy. The only thing I need to worry about is where to recruit teachers. I know there are many talented people in the Hanlin Academy, but asking them to give up their official positions to teach in the academy is absolutely impossible."
Sun Zhuangyuan asked Emperor Liu Zhao in a roundabout way for policies and support.
Can the newly established academy follow the example of the Imperial College and also give some official position?
Lin Shuping played dumb, "Sir, you really know how to joke. When it comes to talent and learning, who can compare to the Sun family? As for teachers, you can choose a few from among your sons and nephews. Appreciating the virtuous does not mean avoiding relatives. Your Majesty will absolutely support you."
Master Sun Zhuangyuan shuddered, "In that case, I will think of a solution myself."
Lin Shuping smiled, "I knew that setting up an academy would be no problem for you, sir. Think about Cui Qi from the Zhenguo Marquisate, who went south to Jiangling Prefecture and worked hard to set up an academy. Mr. Sun is a top scholar, so he definitely has more advantages than Cui Qi in setting up an academy. I await your good news, sir, and will definitely come to support you when the academy opens."
"Sure, sure!"
"I have to return to the palace to report. Goodbye!"
"Minrong, escort Eunuch Lin out of the mansion."
The eldest son Sun Minrong personally escorted Lin Shuping out of the house.
When he reached the gate, Lin Shuping stopped and looked back at the plaque on the door frame.
He said meaningfully, "A new home, a new atmosphere. Congratulations to you, the third branch! His Majesty was very concerned and pleased to learn about the division of the clan. You must work hard and write more books for the scholars of the world."
"Don't worry, Eunuch Lin. We in the Xinmin Sun family will not slack off for a single day."
"That's great!"
See off Lin Shuping and his group.
Sun Minrong turned around and went back home to tell his father Lin Shuping's last words.
Sun Zhuangyuan stroked his beard and said, "He's trying to warn me not to forget the promise I made."
"The promise of writing a book?"
"How can it be that simple! When I write books, I can't just repeat the same old ideas. I have to propose new academic ideas, preferably criticizing the legitimate branch of the first house, or even forming a competition. So don't think that just because my father and I can build an academy, everything will be fine. If we don't handle academic matters well and anger the palace, we will be in big trouble."
Sun Minrong frowned, "Why does my son feel that the palace has deep malice towards the legitimate branch of the first wife?"
Sun Zhuangyuan smiled knowingly, "It's because the Sun family's academic thought has dominated the literary world. Yet, in order to maintain this glory, the Sun family's doctrines have become increasingly conservative over the years. This runs counter to the ideas of the palace."
"Father meant that the palace needs a more open and inclusive mindset. He hopes that through us, father and son, we can influence as many scholars as possible."
"Exactly!"
This is just one of the purposes.
Sun Zhuangyuan has seen through the Queen's sinister intentions.
She wanted to start an academic struggle in the literary world.
To put it more nicely, she wants to see the literary world flourish and various thoughts and academic ideas collide.
Why choose him?
Because his surname is Sun and he is the top scholar.
Under the name of the Sun family, it has enough influence to shake up the conservative literary world.
Sanyuan Gong Yang Yuanqing was able to create new theories, but he could not pry open the stubborn faction that had developed for hundreds of years.
Only Sun Zhuangyuan can do this.
Only when he took action and challenged the eldest branch of the Sun family would cracks appear within the diehard faction. Only then would those students who had held on to everything begin to waver in their hearts.
However, he will inevitably be labeled as a traitor, a shameless villain, etc.
Sun Zhuangyuan sighed, "My lifelong reputation is about to be ruined in an instant."
Are you unwilling?
Of course I'm not willing to accept that.
But he had already boarded the pirate ship and could not get off.
Sun Minrong bared his teeth, feeling very cold in his heart.
"The palace wants to exploit us father and son, eat our flesh and blood, and squeeze us to death!"
Sun Zhuangyuan raised his eyelids and said, "Otherwise, why would the Empress allow father and son to build the academy? Such a good thing, everyone with a little bit of fame in the capital would be jealous to death."
It was hard work to set up the academy, but compared to the honor and status gained, that little bit of hard work was nothing.
The first president of a newly established academy will surely go down in history and occupy a place in history books.
"Once the academy is built, the academies in the capital will no longer be a battle between two kings, but a three-way competition. Therefore, the teachers in the academy must have real talent and knowledge. We can't let Shanhe Academy and the Imperial College suppress us."
"Son, I understand! I've been contacting my old friends and classmates these days, and I'm sure there will be a reply soon."
"That's not enough! Let's learn about Shanhe Academy. How did I get tricked into joining Shanhe Academy? Why did Sanyuan Gong agree to teach there? And Zhou Shi'an... We're not bound by rules. We invite anyone with talent, even if they have a grudge against us."
Sun Zhuangyuan was full of ambition. He wanted to make the academy the best academy in the capital and overshadow the Shanhe Academy.
…
Mr. Sanyuan sent an invitation to invite Mr. Sun Zhuangyuan to drink.
Sun Zhuangyuan gladly accepted the invitation.
"Brother Sun is so dishonest!"
"Drink a penalty!"
"Brother Sun, you're really busy, branching out from the clan and planning to build a school. The newspapers have been full of reports about you and your family lately. It's been very lively."
"Brother Sun, why didn't you ask us to help you build the academy? Are you afraid that we will steal your limelight?"
"This is absolutely unfair to me. I have always wanted to invite you to be the teacher of the new academy, but I was afraid that you would not agree." Sun Zhuangyuan excused himself.
Sanyuan Gong laughed heartily. "I've gotten so used to Shanhe Academy that I really don't want to move. But if Brother Sun sincerely invites you, Brother Zhou and I will reluctantly support you by setting aside three days a month to teach at the newly built academy. How do you think?"
"Excellent!" Sun Zhuangyuan was overjoyed. "We've settled this matter. A gentleman's word is as good as gold. Don't go back on your word at the last minute."
"No regrets, no regrets. Unless Brother Sun thinks the two of us aren't impressive enough to support your show."
"That's nonsense! With your current status in the literary world, no matter how many academies invite you, you won't be able to come. Anyone who says that's not enough is a fool."
"Haha...Brother Sun, you don't have to flatter us."
"Brother Yang, have you noticed that since Brother Sun started planning to build the academy, his speech has become more and more vulgar and materialistic, just like those vendors down the mountain, not sincere."
Sanyuan Gong Yang Yuanqing nodded repeatedly, "Brother Sun is becoming more and more insincere."
Sun Zhuangyuan cried out in injustice, "I have offered my wholehearted sincerity, yet you despise me for not being sincere enough. You two have very high expectations."
"Brother Sun got such a great benefit, which makes me and others so envious." Zhou Shi'an did not hide his feelings at all.
What a great honor it is to plan and build a college!
Sun Zhuangyuan sighed repeatedly, "You only see my glory, but you don't know how restless I have been these past few days, trembling with fear every day."
"Brother Sun, are you worried about not being able to run the academy well?" Sanyuan Gong asked with concern.
Sun Zhuangyuan shook his head and said, "No! I am confident that I can successfully organize the academy. You know, in order to obtain this honor, I have not only paid the price of branching out from the sect, but will also have to go head-to-head with our sect in academic competition. This is a task assigned by the palace."
"Brother Sun, are you saying that the palace intends to attack the Sun family's academic thought?"
"Exactly!"
"The palace actually came up with a plan to pit Sun family members against each other. How insidious!"
Sun Zhuangyuan laughed bitterly, "It's not just insidious, it's like they're roasting our entire family on the fire. I'm miserable beyond words!"
"Your Sun family occupies an absolute dominant position in the literary world and is supported by scholars all over the world. Fortresses are always breached from within. The palace wants to make a move on your Sun family. Let your family members fight. This is the best method at the moment and will produce the fastest results."
Zhou Shian analyzed seriously, without any emotion.
Sun Zhuangyuan became increasingly upset. He pointed at Zhou Shian and said, "Next time, it will be your Zhou family's turn. Believe it or not?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Shi'an burst into laughter. "If the Queen is truly capable of forcing the Chuzhou Zhou family to split up, I will definitely laugh out loud three times."
Sun Zhuangyuan's beard twitched, "Zhou Shi'an, you are the most eccentric person in the world."
Zhou Shian was very proud and laughed heartily, "Thank you very much!"
Sanyuan Gong Yang Yuanqing said with a smile: "Brother Zhou seems to be hoping that the Chuzhou Zhou family can split up."
"Thousands of clansmen, huddled together, have only become a den of filth and corruption. This disgusts me. They use the so-called greater good to control not only other people's property, but also their will. It's best for such a clan to be separated sooner or later."
Zhou Shian is like an old angry young man, and has deep resentment towards his family.
Lord Sanyuan smiled and said, "Brother Zhou and his colleagues in the palace share the same idea. Your Majesty and the Empress, while refraining from action, have chosen to target the Sun family, the world's largest family. I suspect the court will soon enact specific measures to restrict the development of aristocratic clans."
"Restrict clans and families?" Zhou Shi'an was surprised. "How?"
Sanyuan Gong nodded at Sun Zhuangyuan, indicating that Zhou Shi'an should ask Sun Zhuangyuan.
Sun Zhuangyuan gulped down a glass of wine and said, "My heart is still hurting."
"Brother Sun, why are you feeling distressed?" Sanyuan Gong poured wine for him.
"The Empress said that our Sun family is the greatest evil in the world and has set an extremely bad example for the people of the world."
"That's a fresh idea. How do you put it?"
"The Sun family has gained immense benefits by banding together and excluding outsiders, setting a very bad example for the world. As a result, people around the world have followed suit, forming alliances and excluding outsiders, and the rampant power of powerful families in various places has begun with our Sun family."
"This is a serious crime!" Zhou Shi'an pounded the table. "However, I believe the Empress's words are quite reasonable. The evil of the clan lies in its clique-like exclusion and its harm to the local area. For the benefit of one clan, the interests of countless other families are sacrificed. For the benefit of one clan, they frequently provoke local conflicts... I have decided to write a new article and publish it in the newspaper."
"But how can people survive without a clan? Even Brother Zhou received a lot of help from the clan during his studies." Sun Zhuangyuan retorted.
"I'll answer this question," said Yang Yuanqing, the Third Duke, preemptively. "I said the court would restrict clans, but I didn't say they would be eliminated. Clans can't be eliminated, but they can be restricted and their size can be controlled. The Empress didn't force anyone to leave the clan. Even for Brother Sun, the Empress only asked you three branches to split up and establish your own ancestral hall, becoming a new clan that has broken away from the original clan."
Sun Zhuangyuan pointed at Sanyuan Gong and said, "If the imperial court really wants to restrict clans one day, Brother Yang will definitely be the executioner."
San Yuan Gong laughed heartily. "I don't have the talent to be a butcher. The best I can do is to wave the flag and shout in the newspapers and do my bit."
"Brother Yang is a noble man! He should be an official in the court." Sun Zhuangyuan teased.
Zhou Shian laughed heartily, "If a man like Brother Yang were to become an official at the imperial court, he would be devoured alive by the officialdom within a year."
Sanyuan Gong shook his head and smiled bitterly, "This old man is indeed not suitable for being an official."
If he had known how to be an official, he would not have been exiled for decades.
"It turns out that being an official is a science. Brother Zhou, your book 'Officialdom' isn't comprehensive enough. It could be improved. Teach people how to be an official."
Pooh!
Only Sun Zhuangyuan could come up with the idea of teaching people how to be officials.
Sanyuan Gong laughed heartily. "It's like a book teaching people how to be an official. It was written by Brother Sun and signed by our nephew Minrong."
Zhou Shi'an clapped his hands and laughed, "That's a good idea."
Sun Zhuangyuan pondered this question seriously, "I will write a book called 'Official Promotion Records' to teach people how to be an official."
“It’s all just paper.”
"Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've probably seen pigs run. With Brother Sun's family background, I don't think it will be a big problem."
Bang!
Sun Zhuangyuan slapped the table and said, "It's settled."
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