Chapter 400 Meeting Mr. Mo
The Mo residence was located in a quiet alley in Qingyang City. The group quickly arrived at the entrance of the Mo residence. Zijuan took the letter given by Xie Yunchuan and spoke with the gatekeeper.
Sheng Sheng was initially worried that something might go wrong, but seeing the doorman respectfully take the letter inside, she breathed a sigh of relief.
However, there was still one thing that Sheng Sheng didn't quite understand.
As a literary giant, Mr. Mo Wen taught countless students.
There might be his students on this street too.
However, Qingyang City has transformed from a city that should have been steeped in a scholarly atmosphere into a gladiatorial arena where various forces compete. Is he really going to just sit idly by and do nothing?
She told Xie Yunyang about her question.
After listening, Xie Yunyang remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Do you think that Mr. Mo Wen is sitting idly by? I'm afraid quite the opposite; he understands the situation here better than anyone else."
"Then why didn't he stop it? With his reputation, if he just stood up and said a word, those forces should have given him some face, right?" Sheng Sheng asked, puzzled.
"Stop? How can you stop him?" Xie Yun chuckled. "Although he has a very high reputation, he ultimately has no real power. He can drive away one or two factions, but can he drive away all of them? If he forcibly intervenes, it will only intensify the conflict. Those struggles in the shadows will turn into open battles. At that time, Qingyang City will be even more chaotic, and those scholars who sincerely seek knowledge will become the biggest victims."
Sheng Sheng nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Sigh, society is so complicated.
She should just stay home and eat.
The group waited at the door for a moment, and then the gatekeeper who had gone in to announce their arrival respectfully came over to invite them in.
Sheng Sheng and Xie Yun-yang alighted from the carriage, and a servant-like man said, "Distinguished guests, my master invites you to come in with me."
"Thank you for your trouble."
The two followed the servant into the Mo residence. Although neither of them spoke, they both had the same question in their hearts.
What exactly was in Xie Yunchuan's letter that made Old Master Mo Wen agree to meet them after just reading it?
The Mo residence is not large, but it is planted with all kinds of flowers, trees and shrubs, most of which are evergreen. Even though it is winter now, the places we saw along the way were still lush and green.
It is full of vitality.
However, Mr. Mo Wen himself was quite different from this vibrant scene.
The servant knocked softly on the study door and whispered, "Sir, our two distinguished guests have arrived."
"Cough cough."
A few deliberately suppressed coughs were heard, and after a few seconds, an old and slow voice rang out: "Come in."
The servant pushed open the door, curtsied, and led them inside.
As soon as I entered, the familiar smell of medicine hit me.
I also heard it in Xie Yunli's tent when we were at Zhennan Pass.
"I am unwell and have failed to greet you properly. I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Second Princess will forgive me."
The two looked over in surprise and saw a kind-looking old man sitting behind a desk, with two stoves burning brightly on either side of him, and a thick blanket covering his legs.
Although his brows were shrouded in a melancholy air, it could not conceal his profound scholarly demeanor.
"I have met Mr. Mo."
The two bowed respectfully, but Mo Wen raised his hand to stop them, saying, "Your Highnesses, there's no need for such formalities, cough cough cough."
Mr. Mo's health did not look very good, and Shen Sheng couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Mo, are you alright?"
Mo Wen smiled indifferently, put the open book back in its place, and said, "It's just that I'm getting old and my time is coming."
Mo Wen is already over eighty years old, which is considered a long life.
But perhaps it was because Mo Wen had dedicated his life to the literary world, or perhaps it was his innate compassion that made him unable to bear seeing such a kind-faced old man in front of him, both of them showed reluctance.
Mo Wen chuckled and waved his hand: "There's no need to feel anything for me. Birth, aging, sickness, and death are all part of life. Besides, I can say that I have no regrets in my life."
In just a few words, Sheng Sheng had already gained a general understanding of Mr. Mo Wen's personality.
As Xie Yunwen previously speculated in his analysis of his works, Mr. Mo Wen did not have the airs of a literary figure. He was carefree and unrestrained in his youth, and remained so in his old age.
Seeing the letter they had just handed over still on Mo Wen's desk, Sheng Sheng relaxed slightly and smiled, "How did you know about my identity and that of my brother, the Crown Prince? Was it mentioned in the letter he gave you?"
“That’s right.” Mo Wen gestured for them to sit down and said, “I won’t hide it from you. When I was young, I traveled all over the world and saw all kinds of different landscapes. When I traveled to the Yu Kingdom, I accidentally offended an official and almost lost my life. I was saved by a man. That man was your great-grandfather, who is also the Second Prince’s great-grandfather.”
"Sheng Sheng's great-grandfather?"
“Sheng Sheng’s great-grandfather, who was also Consort Rong’s grandfather, was the previous head of the Rong family.” Xie Yun nodded knowingly. “So there was such a past. No wonder Mr. Mo was not wary of us.”
"Yes, your great-grandfather once saved my life, and I promised him that if I could help him in any way in the future, I would do my best to repay him. Unfortunately, your great-grandfather has passed away, and this promise has never been fulfilled. Now that the Second Prince has borrowed it here, it can be considered that the promise has been fulfilled."
"Ah, I see." Sheng Sheng nodded. No wonder her brother was so confident all along; there was such a thing behind it all.
Mo Wen asked, "From where do you intend to cross the border to reach the State of Jin?"
Xie Yun told Mo Wen their route, and Mo Wen nodded and took out a jade pendant to give to them.
"This jade pendant was bestowed upon me by the late Emperor of Song. Seeing this pendant is like seeing the late Emperor; it is a symbol of my status." Mo Wen coughed a few times, his voice becoming a little hoarse. "As you two princes have seen, my health is not good, and I am merely a scholar without power or status. My only advantage is my prestige, which can offer you both some assistance. This jade pendant represents me. Within the territory of Song, if I encounter any trouble, showing this pendant will usually earn me some leniency."
"A gift bestowed by the late Emperor?" Xie Yun asked in surprise, then declined, "This is far too precious, Mr. Mo. We have already felt very bad for coming to seek your help in order to minimize trouble, how could we possibly accept it..."
"Ah, as the saying goes, one should not refuse a gift from one's elders, so don't make excuses."
Mo Wen smiled, with a detached and worldly-wise air, "Besides, given my physical condition, how much longer can I live? I have no descendants, so this jade pendant is useless to me. Keeping it in my hands will only mean it will soon be buried with me. The Second Princess's great-grandfather saved my life, so I might as well give it to you two; it might still be of some use."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com