Chapter 402 Sheng Sheng and Brother Pei Ji are good friends!
"I have met Mr. Mo."
Mo Wen smiled kindly and gestured for her to sit down: "If Your Highness doesn't mind, you can call me Grandpa Mo."
Sheng Sheng's heart stirred slightly. Although she knew yesterday that this Mr. Mo was a very kind person, she was still somewhat flattered to be treated so warmly by this literary giant.
She obediently replied, "Then I won't be polite, Grandpa Mo."
Su Wenyuan poured her tea, and after thanking her repeatedly, she took small sips.
In the middle of winter, sitting in such a small courtyard shaded by green trees, with a lake, fish, wind, and tea nearby.
Sheng Sheng watched the two finish a game of chess quietly and also felt quite content.
Mo Wen looked at his last student with satisfaction and said, "Not bad, your chess skills have improved. It seems that your mind has gradually calmed down recently."
Su Wenyuan replied, "Teacher, you flatter me. It is thanks to your guidance last time that I was able to find the path in my heart."
"Hmm." Mo Wen stroked his beard. "You used to be very aggressive in your chess moves, but now you've learned to be observant and aware of everything around you. That's truly remarkable."
Su Wenyuan smiled humbly and raised his glass to Mo Wen.
Sheng Sheng rested her chin on her hand, and said with a hint of realization, "Is this what they mean by judging a person through their chess moves? You can tell a person's character and personality from their chess style. How interesting!"
Mo Wen glanced at her with some surprise, then, thinking of her elder brother behind her, asked, "Was it the Second Prince who taught Her Highness the Princess?"
"No, that's not it." Sheng Sheng shook her head honestly. "It was Brother Pei Ji who taught me."
"Who?" Su Wenyuan asked in surprise.
"Brother Pei Ji."
Upon hearing Pei Ji's name, Su Wenyuan's expression turned strange, a mixture of confusion and surprise.
Mo Wen, on the other hand, remained expressionless, but gently put down the chess piece he had been holding.
Su Wenyuan had a lot to say, but seeing that his teacher hadn't spoken, he didn't dare to speak first.
Could Pei Ji be the Ninth Prince who was sent to the State of Yu as a hostage a few years ago?
Pei is the imperial surname, so he shouldn't be mistaken. Pei Ji is the ninth prince who was abandoned by the Song emperor.
If that's the case, it's not surprising that this princess of Yu Kingdom knows the Ninth Prince.
He had thought that the Ninth Prince, as a hostage from a defeated country, would have a difficult time in the Yu Kingdom, but judging from the princess's reaction, it seemed that was not the case.
Sheng Sheng blinked, and seeing his expression, she quickly realized what he was thinking.
Sheng Sheng didn't intend to hide anything. She had just heard the little fish say while playing by the lake that this Mr. Mo's students were spread throughout various forces in the Song Kingdom, but he himself had never actually gotten involved in any of them.
Sheng Sheng nodded with a smile, confirming his suspicions: "That's right, it's Pei Ji, the one Young Master Su is thinking of. Brother Pei Ji and I have known each other for a long time; we're good friends!"
Su Wenyuan gave her a slight bow, feeling embarrassed: "Your Highness, please forgive me. I didn't mean anything by it. I was just a little surprised to hear the Ninth Prince's name."
"I understand, it's okay."
Su Wenyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
I never expected that this princess would be so good-natured. Although children are always more innocent, this princess's kindness is almost too pure.
A person's eyes don't lie; some people may smile brightly, but their eyes remain indifferent.
But this princess, with her smiling face and eyes that seemed to speak, was both lovely and endearing.
Su Wenyuan smiled slightly, gaining a new understanding of the princess of Yu Kingdom and the Yu royal family.
Mo Wen, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, his hoarse voice carrying a hint of inquiry: "Your Highness just said that it was the principle taught to you by our Ninth Prince?"
Su Wenyuan looked at her again.
"Yes, that's right. What's that poem called again? Hmm... 'Thinking deeply both inside and outside the game, it still reflects the human heart's desire for victory and defeat!'"
“Both inside and outside the game, they ponder, still clinging to the human desire to win.” Su Wenyuan read it aloud. “The meaning of this poem is: it points out that the desire to win is the norm in human life, but a magnanimous spirit that transcends worldly concerns is a higher form of cultivation. Using the game of chess to reflect on the predicament of life, Your Highness, when you read this poem, you are probably also expressing that you are in a predicament yourself.”
"So that's how it is?" Sheng Sheng suddenly realized. "At the time, I only understood the first layer of meaning and didn't think of it at all in relation to Brother Pei Ji. But then again, Brother Pei Ji was having a difficult time in the palace at the time, and he was still clinging to the idea that he had been abandoned by his father, plus he missed his mother very much..."
At this point, Sheng Sheng suddenly remembered the last line of poetry in Pei Ji's letter.
"A withered plum branch lies broken in vain, the water clock drips slowly in idly... Oh dear, it must be Brother Pei Ji missing his mother!" Sheng Sheng quickly asked, "Do Grandpa Mo and Young Master Su know anything about what's happening in the palace while they're in Qingyang City? Is Brother Pei Ji's mother, Consort Bai, still well?"
I'll inquire about Pei Ji's mother here, and then I can tell him about it when I get back, so that he can have peace of mind.
Sheng Sheng believed that Mo Wen's students were spread throughout the court and the country, and even if they were far from the capital, they would still know something about the situation in the palace.
Unexpectedly, Mo Wen shook his head and laughed, "Apart from Wen Yuan, I haven't taken on any students for several years. I no longer have much contact with my former students, so how could I possibly know about things in the palace?"
"Huh?" Sheng Sheng didn't hide her surprise.
"Young Master Su is actually your last student, Grandpa Mo. Why is that?"
Su Wenyuan nodded and explained, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but I haven't taken on any more students for many years. Firstly, because I'm getting old and my health is not what it used to be. Secondly, as you've probably heard, the Song Dynasty is currently in serious turmoil, with various factions constantly fighting each other. Most of my former students have become henchmen of these factions and have lost the original intentions they had when they were studying."
The teacher dedicated his life to translating scriptures and taking on numerous students, all in the hope of preserving and continuing our cultural heritage, and providing a purer education for all scholars. But now, His Majesty is incompetent and indulges in wine and women, causing dissent within the royal family. Influenced by this, many no longer study for the sake of learning, nor do they serve the country and its people in office; instead, they seek to join a promising faction, hoping their chosen side can claim credit for their role in the rise to power!
Su Wenyuan spoke at length, his words earnest and impassioned, until his eyes even reddened at the end.
Mo Wen sipped his tea calmly, seemingly unconcerned about Su Wenyuan's words.
But his left hand, which was under the table, trembled slightly.
The sound was incredibly powerful.
She knew that the internal strife in Song was serious, but she didn't expect that the internal strife would even involve the old man Mo Wen.
Now that I think about it, the strange atmosphere I encountered when I first arrived in Qingyang City makes sense.
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