Chapter 360: Your Majesty, the winner of the Plum Garden meeting is Zhao Duan
Not far from the Plum Garden, a three-story restaurant is packed with people today.
Unlike ordinary people who can only be trapped outside the garden.
The dignitaries in the capital were concerned about today's academic debates, but it was inconvenient for them to go there, so they booked nearby buildings several days in advance so that they could learn about the debate trends as quickly as possible.
"Well, is it over so quickly?"
On the third floor of the restaurant, Yuan Li, the "Qingliu Party Leader," sat by the window, looking out in surprise at the distance as Zhengyang and his group walked out of the main gate of the Plum Garden.
An undisguised expression of surprise appeared on his handsome face.
Sitting opposite Yuan Qingyi was the prime minister Li Yanfu.
Today, the two political enemies in the government sat together for a rare occasion, watching this significant academic debate from afar.
"kindness?"
Li Yanfu, who was not wearing an official robe but a loose red coat, a white jade belt, hedgehog-like hair, and eyes like deep pools, also raised his eyebrows.
Not long ago, the two witnessed Mr. Zhengyang leading his disciples into the courtyard.
According to their estimation, this debate would take at least one or two hours to end, and it would not be surprising if it took even longer.
This is also the reason why big shots have booked the entire restaurant. They are ready to fight a protracted battle and eat in the restaurant.
At the same time, although it was not convenient for the top officials to show up in person, the powerful people in the building also sent their subordinates to the Plum Garden to report the development of the debate every once in a while.
But how long had it been? Only two cups of tea, how could he have come out?
"Something's wrong."
Yuan Li frowned and said, "Given Dong Xuan and Zheng Yang's knowledge, they've only been able to start a discussion and debate for a few rounds at most in such a short period of time. Does the Prime Minister know the reason?"
Li Yanfu said unhappily:
"How did I know the truth? Even your spies, Yuan Li, don't know, and yet you ask me? But it seems that something unexpected has happened, and the discussion has not been able to proceed."
This is the only possibility, but what will happen to force the academic discussion to be interrupted?
With their power and influence, they both knew nothing about it?
Not only them, but all the dignitaries in the entire restaurant who were waiting for news stood up and talked about it in surprise.
Some people couldn't wait and went out to ask.
“Knock, knock, knock…”
Not long after, more than a dozen figures came running out from the crowd in the distance. They were all servants from various families.
The two servants from Yuan Mansion and Xiangguo Mansion almost rushed up to the third floor at the same time and reported back with a bow:
"Sir, the results are out."
Li Yanfu narrowed his eyes and made a gesture of "you ask first".
Yuan Li was not polite and asked immediately:
"What happened inside? Was there an accident? What was the outcome? Did Grand Tutor Dong win? Or Zhengyang?"
The servant of the Yuan Mansion had a strange look on his face and said, "There was no debate at all. After Zhengyang came on stage, he immediately admitted defeat."
Is this really happening?!
Yuan Li was extremely surprised. The shrewd Li Yanfu was also stunned for a moment and said:
"It turns out to be like this... So, Dong Xuan still wins."
What he cares about is the result, and only then the process. No matter why Zhengyang admits defeat, the most important thing is victory itself.
The guard at the Xiangguo Mansion also had a strange look on his face and shook his head.
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, it was not Grand Tutor Dong who won this battle. The one… the one Zhengyang admitted defeat to was… Zhao Duan."
quiet.
The two party leaders at the table had blank expressions on their faces. They were caught off guard by this extremely sudden news and were stunned for a long time.
Zhengyang admitted defeat, but the winner was Zhao Duan?
Is this reasonable?
After listening to the entire report from the two servants, Yuan Li and Li Yanfu fell into a long silence again.
The two old rivals looked at each other and saw a hint of absurdity in each other's eyes.
"Zhao Duan..."
"It's him again?!"
…
…
Jizhao'an, inside the Zen room.
The Prince of Heng, who was in his thirties but had rosy lips and white teeth, smiled and talked with Princess Yunyang.
Today, his nephew came to visit his aunt again.
Xu Zudi has come to Jizhao Temple several times during his stay in the capital.
He chatted with the eldest princess Yunyang, who was confined to this nunnery to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures, to relieve her boredom.
"...Unfortunately, my nephew went to His Majesty to plead for my aunt's departure, but was ruthlessly rejected."
Xu Zudi sighed, a look of shame on his face, "As a mere prince, my words carry little weight."
Princess Yunyang sat with her knees bent in the meditation room. In order to meet her relatives, she had dressed up and put on a nun's robe. She looked like an elder, and sneered majestically:
"Xu Zhenguan won't let me go so easily. Your sister is really cruel. She's so happy keeping her lover, how could she care about me, her aunt? And your cousin? I'm afraid if your father comes, she will detain him."
Xu Zudi sighed, "Aunt has suffered."
Yunyang suddenly smiled, seeming to be very happy:
"But according to what you said, Zhengyang has a good chance of winning the debate with Dong Xuan today. After today, Xu Zhenguan will have a headache. Didn't you arrange for someone to report? When will they come?"
The eyes of this neurotic and wanton princess were full of anticipation.
Xu Zudi smiled and said:
"I'm afraid the debate isn't even halfway through yet, but the Imperial Court will undoubtedly lose this time. It's just a matter of whether it's a small or a big loss."
There are no outsiders here, so the aunt and niece don't have to worry too much when talking.
He was happy to see Xu Zhenguan's misfortune.
At this time, there was a commotion outside the Zen room. The old man with arms over his knees who was guarding the door opened the door and said:
"Your Highnesses, Monk Bianji was passing by outside and was stopped by a nun in the nunnery. He was invited in and seemed to be asking about the results of the Plum Garden Discussion."
"Is it over so soon?"
Xu Zudi was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said:
"It seems Mr. Zhengyang won more easily than I expected."
He knew that Monk Bian Ji had also gone to the Plum Garden.
"Take me to see it!"
Princess Yunyang said happily, and the three of them left the meditation room and followed the sound to the front yard of the nunnery.
Then I saw Monk Bian Ji, dressed in white, surrounded by a group of nuns, asking about the situation.
Princess Yunyang's eyes fell on the handsome face of Bian Ji. Her eyes lit up and her steps and waist became more graceful as she walked.
"Master, haha, I've heard a lot about you."
Xu Zudi came forward with a big laugh, and Bian Ji, who had adjusted his mentality, greeted him gently.
He smiled again, nodded towards Princess Yunyang, and clasped his hands together:
"This poor monk greets Her Royal Highness the Grand Princess."
Yunyang smiled brightly and said:
"Master, there's no need to be so polite. I heard you've returned from the Plum Garden, so I came to see you. But is it over there?"
Monk Bianji nodded, and said calmly:
"Something unexpected happened at the Plum Garden meeting."
Then, he described the whole process in detail. In order to avoid being questioned, he spoke in great detail and even mentioned the part about psychology.
The nuns were fine, they were just surprised.
The smile on Xu Zudi's face froze, and there was confusion in his eyes.
"Zhao Duan... Xinxue? He defeated Zhengyang early? He even made Mr. Zhengyang call him 'Master'?"
Prince Heng's worldview was completely overturned, and he was completely stunned.
Princess Yunyang, who was staring at Bian Ji with a shrunken look in her eyes, was also confused. Her cheerful face suddenly turned gloomy.
His ten fingers were clenched tightly, making a crackling sound.
One side of his cheek felt inexplicably hot, and he recalled the fear of being threatened and slapped in the face by Zhao Duan in the room.
"It's him again...it's him again..."
Yunyang's eyes turned red and he looked towards the palace with jealousy.
Why was Xu Zhenguan so lucky, since he hated his niece?
He only found a lover, who was not only extremely handsome, but also often protected him from disasters, making him unmatched.
And this aunt of mine had found so many lovers, but they were all trash...
Why...at this moment, she exploded with jealousy.
"The Bodhisattva has come..."
Suddenly, the nuns around shouted.
I saw Prajna Bodhisattva with skin as white as snow, a plump figure, and holding a jade bottle. He appeared at some point.
This great monk, who was under the profound seal of the Great Yu Buddhist sect and was as famous as Nagarjuna Bodhisattva and the Great Jing Master, was full of energy. His eyes, which were almost transparent and colorless like glass, stared at Bian Ji:
"Could you please elaborate on the philosophy of mind that Zhao Duan described?"
Bian Ji was stunned for a moment, with a complicated expression, and bowed slightly:
"yes."
…
…
In the "Cha Rong Xiao Zhai", Mrs. Xiao, who came here openly to warm herself by the fire and eat something while Xu Zudi was out today, was quietly roasting oranges.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard behind me, and a confidant of the Xiao family came over:
"Master, the results are out from the Plum Garden."
"Oh? Tell me about it." Mrs. Xiao asked curiously.
"yes."
After a moment, the widow who was in charge of the Xiao family in Donghu was stunned and did not speak for a long time.
He didn't care that the oranges on the stove were burnt black.
"Master Zhao..."
…
…
The Imperial Palace, inside the Imperial Garden.
Xu Zhenguan stood alone, quietly in the late autumn garden.
Normally, she should be handling government affairs in the imperial study at this time, but today... she really wasn't in the mood.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance. It was Mo Chou who had hurried back. She walked through the palace maids scattered in the garden.
She ran breathlessly behind the empress, holding up her skirt.
"Your Majesty...it's over at the Plum Garden..."
Xu Zhenguan didn't turn around, still with his back to her, a look of surprise on his face: "So soon?"
Immediately, her fairy-like face that did not belong to this mortal world, her thin eyebrows like distant mountains slowly stretched out:
"Forget it, it's better to hurry up. How about Master Dong?"
She did not rush to ask for the result, but first cared about the Grand Tutor.
This was because the empress had already judged the outcome, and it was also a way to win people's hearts.
Mo Chou had a complicated expression. She bit her lip and said, "Grand Master is fine. Yes, Grand Master is fine."
"That's good," Xu Zhenguan sighed, and with a forced smile, he said:
"I will send the prepared gifts to the Grand Tutor's Mansion later. Grand Tutor Dong is so old, yet he has sacrificed his integrity for me and the Great Yu Dynasty, ruining his eternal reputation. Don't let down this meritorious official."
If there had been no coup, Grand Tutor Dong would have been among the greatest scholars of all time.
But the debate between the old Grand Tutor and Zhengyang today may very likely ruin his reputation.
Mo Chou smiled bitterly and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report this. The Grand Master may not need it anymore."
"Hmm?" Xu Zhenguan finally noticed something was wrong. He turned his head and looked at her strangely, probing with some disbelief: "Could it be that the Grand Tutor didn't lose?"
She considered the possibility of a draw.
Mo Chou shook her head, her face still in a trance, and said:
"No, it's... oh, this is a bit complicated. It's probably... that Zhengyang was secretly defeated by Zhao Duan two days ago using some kind of 'psychology' theory, and he ended up admitting defeat on the spot.
Moreover, he abandoned the orthodox learning as if he had attained enlightenment, and turned to the study of the mind. He even returned to Yunfu to spread this knowledge, calling Zhao Duan his teacher..."
Perhaps this process was really difficult, and Mochou's mind was a little confused, so her narration was halting, but at least she managed to recount the whole thing in full.
Xu Zhenguan started: “…?”
Xu Zhenguan continued: “……!”
Xu Zhenguan finally: "..."
a long time.
"His Majesty?"
Mo Chou looked at the expressionless empress standing quietly in the garden, like a jade statue, and called softly, "Does this servant understand?"
Xu Zhenguan looked at her blankly, and suddenly asked, "Where are the others?"
The empress felt a little empty. If it were in the past, wouldn't that guy have rushed into the palace on his own initiative and rushed to show off his achievements in front of her?
Mo Chou said:
"He left right away, probably going home to avoid the spotlight... Well, when I returned, I saw a crowd of scholars outside the Plum Garden, all shouting Master Zhao's name."
In a sense, the struggle over academic differences is no less intense than the political struggles within the imperial court.
In the past, what Zhao Duan did only offended the local scholars in the capital and caused him to be despised by scholars all over the world.
After today, Zhao Duan, who was accused of challenging Neo-Confucianism, gained another layer of bad reputation in the eyes of most scholars in the world.
Xu Zhenguan took a deep breath and said, "Call him in..."
After a pause, the empress changed her words: "Summon the Grand Tutor and Ma Yan to the palace first. Later, you prepare yourself. I want to see him."
"……yes."
…
…
Zhao family.
After leaving the Plum Garden, Zhao Duan took advantage of the fact that no one else had received the news and slipped back home.
"The young master is back!"
The servant opened the door and called out, and Zhao Pan hurried over from the yard, his eyes wide open: "Brother, you're back!"
(End of this chapter)
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