While traveling in Junzi Country these days, Jiang Li's biggest feeling was that of rigidity.
People live according to the established way, words and deeds follow the teachings of Confucian sages, and there is very little room for freedom.
Just like a carriage traveling on the official road, the official road seems wide and extends in all directions, but that's all. The carriage can only travel on the official road, which is far less free than pedestrians.
Pedestrians can play in the jungles, mountain streams, and fields on the roadside, which is much more free than horse-drawn carriages.
Jiang Li didn't know if the Confucian sage's idea of a country of gentlemen was like this, but Jiang Li's idea of a country of gentlemen was definitely not like this.
There are too many rules in a gentleman's country. To buy something, you have to push it around for a long time. People's words and deeds are strictly regulated. If you don't follow these norms, you can't be considered a gentleman.
Jiang Li and the three of them all felt that this was too troublesome.
It's okay to visit for a few days, but it would be too boring to stay there for months or years.
The same as the overall atmosphere of Junzi Kingdom is the upcoming appearance of Dong Zhongren.
Dong Zhongren appeared on the stage, dressed more solemnly and appropriately than before.
He was originally a serious person, well-dressed and old-fashioned. All the ministers of etiquette in all major dynasties combined did not know as much as Dong Zhongren.
Just as the unspoken rule in many countries is that the Minister of Punishment must go to the Imperial Academy of Zhou Dynasty for further study, the Minister of Rites must also study Confucianism for a period of time.
Dong Zhongren carried out the Christmas celebrations in an orderly manner according to the eternal Confucian Christmas rules.
First, I will praise the birth of Confucianism, which is a coincidence of superposition of various accidents between heaven and earth, an inevitable outcome among accidents, and a blessing for all living beings in the world.
Then review the various behaviors of the legendary Confucian sages to let people know the greatness of the Confucian sages.
Of course, Dong Zhongren did not mention the legend that the Confucian sage asked the Taoist ancestor.
Next, we will talk about the relationship between Dong Zhongshu, the founder of the Confucian sect, and the Confucian sage. The two men were several generations apart, and Dong Zhongren tried hard to make Dong Zhongshu's identity closer to that of the Confucian sage.
Jiang Li also admired Dong Zhongren's imagination.
Jiang Li originally thought that Ji Zhi's opening speech before the martial arts tournament was boring enough, but he didn't expect anyone to be more boring than him.
It's normal to think about it. Ji Zhi's opening speech was prepared by the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Rites are all gilded in Confucianism. Given this relationship, it's normal to be bored.
After the long recollection, there is a carefully prepared performance, such as poetry recitation, drama, etc.
Is the performance in the audience good to watch? Good to watch. Does it reflect the cultural heritage of Kyushu? It does.
But I just find it boring.
If Bai Hongtu goes down there to talk about a stand-up comedy...
Jiang Li suddenly realized that something was wrong with his thinking and logic.
Jiang Li glared at Bai Hongtu, his thinking must have been affected by staying with a fool for too long.
Bai Hongtu looked innocent, not knowing what Jiang Li was looking at him with.
"Jingxin, are you here too?" Jiang Li accidentally discovered Saint Jingxin, with a Bai Hongtu between them.
The Saint with a Pure Heart hummed, as softly as a mosquito: "I come here on behalf of the Pure Land of the Red Dust."
Saint Pure Heart mustered up the courage to raise a topic: "Jiang Li, what do you think of the Confucian performance?"
"It's quite boring." Considering that this is the territory of Confucianism, even if the sound is suppressed to the lowest level, all the people in the combined stage can hear it clearly. Jiang Li chose to gather the threads to make a sound, so that only the Holy Lady of Pure Heart can hear it.
"I think so too. Even if we live a mediocre life in the pure land of mortals, having books to accompany us is better than watching performances."
Originally, Saint Pure Heart was a little angry. She was sent here by the master. The master must have known that the Confucian performance was boring, so he sent her here.
But when she saw Jiang Li, she felt that her visit was worth it.
"What books have you been reading recently?" Jiang Li was surprised. He didn't remember that Saint Pure Heart had a fond temperament.
In his impression, the Pure Heart Saint was either playing games or cultivating in the pure land of mortals, or he heard that after he arrived, he stayed in the boudoir for a long time and rarely came out.
Saint Pure Heart hesitated, embarrassed to say that she was reading a novel she wrote: "A book about the Mahayana period."
Jiang Li thought it was something he had written about his cultivation experience, so he joked: "Why don't you just tell me to read books about me?"
After getting Jiang Li's consent, Saint Pure Heart showed a happy smile: "Well, let's read a book about you."
Speaking of the book "The Overbearing Mahayana Falls in Love with Me" written by herself, Saint Pure Heart has an indescribable feeling in her heart.
At first, I was worried that my writing was not good, so I printed it anonymously and sent it to all the disciples in the Pure Land of the Red Dust, so that everyone would have a copy to see the effect.
The effect was very good. After reading the book, everyone fell in love with Jiang Li.
"Why should I add a love rival to myself?" Saint Pure Heart had the urge to find Ji Zhi and send her to a few years ago.
Saint Pure Heart secretly approached Su Wei and asked if she could refine a regret medicine.
Su Wei looked at her with a strange look and said that there is no regret medicine, but there is a pill similar to the regret medicine, which can make people forget the things they regret.
Of course the Pure Heart Saint didn't eat it.
"This one looks a bit unfamiliar." Jiang Li noticed that there was a stranger sitting beside them at the same table with them. He was only at the Nascent Soul stage and looked to be quite young.
The stranger replied respectfully: "I have met the Human Emperor. I am the king of a gentleman's country."
Jiang Li understood that this was a country of gentlemen, and of course the king had to sit on the throne.
Bai Hongtu asked: "Looking at your low level of cultivation, how did you become the king of a gentleman's country?"
"I have met Sect Leader Bai. A gentleman's country does not judge status based on strength, but on character. I think I am still far behind the gentleman required by Confucian sages, but everyone allows me to be the king."
"I have some impression of you. Are you Dong Zhongren's junior brother?" Yu Yin looked at the king of Junzi Kingdom with a familiar look.
"I have met the Queen. Dong Zhongren is my senior brother."
Bai Hongtu was surprised, how could the monarch of the Junzi Kingdom become Dong Zhongren's junior brother with average talent.
As if he saw Bai Hongtu's doubts, the king of Junzi Kingdom said: "Master only looks at the character of mind when recruiting disciples, not talent. I was lucky enough to fall into Master's eyes."
"Given your status in Confucianism, it should be easy for you to get some resources to help you practice." Jiang Li asked.
The king of the Junzi Kingdom said shamefully: "I have only mediocre talents. How dare I waste the talents and treasures that my brothers and sisters have worked so hard to save?"
"You are just causing trouble for yourself and others. You are only in the Nascent Soul stage and your lifespan is only a few hundred years. Will you wait until your lifespan is exhausted and you die, leaving the people of Dongzhong miserable?"
When the great Confucian calligrapher appears, he says what he says and never covers it up.
"You are the most rigid in Confucianism. No one in Dongzhong is as awkward as you."
"I have seen the great Confucian calligrapher senior." The king of the country of gentlemen bowed respectfully.
"Here we go again, you have to go through such troublesome etiquette every time you see me. Is it interesting?"
"That's the etiquette."
"If you don't listen to my advice, do as you like." The great Confucian's copybook has nothing to do with the king of a gentleman's country.