Taolin Xiaozhu sits in the north and faces south. The sunlight at the right time shines slantingly from behind the Zhu brothers, making the light and shadow of their handsome faces unclear.
Xi Chao picked up the loquat fruit in his hand and looked sideways in front of the door. He saw two tall, slim and elegant people. They were taking off their wooden clogs and preparing to step onto the reed mat. He didn't see their faces clearly. At first glance, they looked powdered and white.
Two faces.
Chen Caozhi leaned forward and said: "Xi Canjun, these two are my friends——"
When Zhu Yingting heard the words "Xi joins the army", as soon as his left foot stepped on the reed mat, his body froze. He looked intently and saw that the man with the beautiful beard sitting opposite Chen Caozhi was Xi Chao Xi's guest!
Zhu Yingtai immediately noticed that his younger brother Yingting's demeanor was different, and his thoughts changed, so he bowed his head and said: "Go to Yu, Zhu Yingtai, Zhu Yingting pays homage to Xi Canjun."
Zhu Yingting also said quickly: "Yes, I will pay my respects to Xi Canjun."
Chen Caozhi and Liu Shangzhi were a little surprised. The Zhu brothers have always been arrogant, so why are they so humble today? But they were relieved immediately. This is the distinguished Xi guest.
Only then did Xi Chao see the faces of the Zhu brothers clearly, and he couldn't help but look surprised. He recognized the man who called himself Zhu Yingting, but Zhu Yingtai had never seen him before. However, the two men had similar looks, so they should be brothers.
He cupped his hands and said, "Xian Kunzhong's surname is Zhu?"
Zhu Yingting smiled happily and said: "Yes, I am Zhu Yingting. This is my brother Zhu Yingtai. Xi Canjun must not call me by the wrong name."
Xi Chaofeng narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled thoughtfully: "Master Zhu of Shangyu, well, how could I call him by the wrong name?"
Chen Caozhi invited Zhu Yingtai, and Zhu Yingting ate loquat fruits. The two brothers ate a few and left. Liu Shangzhi couldn't help but secretly laugh in his heart. He had never seen the Zhu brothers so reserved before, and thought to himself: "It's no wonder that I
When I first met Xi Chaochang just now, I was a little at a loss. Xi Jinping is not only a famous person, but also a high-ranking official, so he is invisibly oppressing others."
Xi Chao smiled as he watched the Zhu brothers disappear outside the door and said, "Fuck it, I guess that Zhu Yingting will definitely leave and come back again——"
Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yingting came back, saluted Xi Chao outside the eaves and said: "Xi joins the army, please lend me a moment to speak."
Xi Chao nodded to Chen Cao and said, "I'll wait a minute." He stood up and walked out of the thatched cottage. He whispered a few words to Zhu Yingting under the peach tree in front of the hall and said goodbye.
Xi Chao returned to the thatched cottage and sat down. He didn't mention the Zhu brothers at all, and Chen Caozhi naturally didn't ask. The two of them didn't talk about their plans to join the gentry or Huan Wen's army. They only talked about Huang Lao and Buddha.
Chen Caozhi was very interested in the theory of "True Such" held by Chen Caozhi. When he asked questions carefully, Chen Caozhi told Hui Neng's Tan Sutra's explanation of "True Such" one by one. "Prajna" is wisdom, while "True" is Mahayana.
The so-called eternal and supreme truth of Buddhism and the essence of all things is similar to the "nature" of Taoism. It is much more profound than the "emptiness of prajna" in Eastern Jin Dynasty Buddhism, and it is easier to integrate with metaphysics.
Xi Chao said happily: "The famous monk Zhi Mindu is a friend of mine for many years, and he is now in charge of Qiguang Temple in Kuaiji. This time I went to invite Xie Anshi to come out of the mountain, and stopped by Qiguang Temple to argue with the old monk Zhi Mindu.
, the old monk would be stunned and admired as soon as 'Zhen Ru' came out." He then asked: "Cao Zhi, where did you learn these things? It's incredible."
Chen Cao said: "Mr. Ge Zhichuan's Taoist academy has a large collection of books, including some Buddhist scriptures. I have read them all, studied hard and meditated, and occasionally came up with the theory of 'True Suchness', which can be mutually confirmed with Confucianism and Xuanxuan."
"Cao Zhi has both the worldly fantasy and the diligence to live in the world. He is truly a genius!" Xi Chao praised him without hesitation.
In the evening, Lu Na sent an official to invite Xi Chao to a dinner, saying that the gentry of Wu County and the government officials wanted to meet the distinguished Xi Chao.
Xi Chao was not willing to go at first, but after thinking about it he went again and took Chen Caozhi's hand to the banquet. The gentry and officials in Wu County had already known Chen Caozhi, and they thought that Chen Caozhi had offended Yu Zhongzheng this time, so it would be considered a final decision.
Success must be held in high esteem. How many people are there who enter the imperial examination early but never get an official position? What's more, Chen Caozhi is still a child from a poor family! Therefore, Chen Caozhi is very famous in Wu County, but no one is optimistic about it.
And this time at the Taishou Mansion dinner, Xi Chao and Chen Caozhi appeared hand in hand. The gentry and officials in Wu County immediately looked at Chen Caozhi with admiration -
Most people in the world are snobbish. Seeing that the famous and powerful Xi Chao respected Chen Caozhi so much. However, their family status and official positions were not as good as Xi Chao's. Naturally, they also showed great respect to Chen Caozhi. Some even secretly speculated about Chen Cao.
Who is he who dares to embarrass Yu Neishi in person? Thinking of the grievances between Yu Xi and Huan Wen, the handsome and elegant young man Chen Caozhi in front of them becomes even more mysterious, making them feel unfathomable.
Measurement.
Chu Jian, the prime minister, also came to the banquet. When he saw Chen Caozhi and Xi Chao sitting at the same table, talking and laughing calmly, he felt mixed emotions in his heart. It was not the first time that he had suppressed the common people from a poor family, so he never thought of dealing with Fu Tang.
It is so difficult for the Chen family that even the prefect Lu is indifferent to him now, fearing that his position as a prime minister will not be guaranteed. Ever since Chu Wenqian wanted to marry Chen Caozhi's sister-in-law Ding Youwei, the Chu family has started a series of nightmares.
Both Wen Qian and Wen Bin have a bad reputation now, and it is not easy for them to become officials.
After the dinner, Xi Chao rested at Lu Na's house, and Chen Caozhi was left to talk for a long night.
Early the next morning, Xi Chao set off for Kuaiji without disturbing other gentry and officials. Only Lu Na and Chen Caozhi saw him off.
Going to Kuaiji requires passing through Qiantang. Xi Chao and his two followers took the same road that Chen Caozhi took back home in the twelfth month of last year. At the post office in the south of the city, Xi Chao said goodbye to Lu Na and said: "Cao Zhi,
Give me another ride."
Xi Chao and six of his entourage carrying swords led the horses, while Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng walked slowly towards the south.
Xi Chao looked around and said: "The mountains and rivers in Wuzhong are picturesque. If the world is peaceful, I will live in Wu County, Kuaiji Bu Di, travel around the mountains and rivers, call friends, and talk about explanations and mysteries. Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing!"
Turn around and ask: "Has Cao Zhi ever met the children of the Xie family in Chen County? Otherwise, why would he know the Xie family in Chen County so well?"
Chen Caozhi was secretly vigilant. Xi Chao was very surprised by yesterday's comment about Xie's "Three Cunning Rabbits". How could Chen Caozhi, a sixteen-year-old boy, know this? It seems that some advanced cognitions are best buried deep inside.
In my heart, it was better to talk less and do more, so he said: "I don't know the Xie family, but I have heard Master Ge talk about the Wang and Xie families. When I arrived in Wu County, I heard more about Xie An's seclusion in Dongshan.
Anecdote."
Xi Chao nodded and said: "Xie An can't do it unless he comes out of the mountain. Xie Wan relies on his talent and is too arrogant to take on important tasks. He has been supervising the military in Huainan recently and is preparing for the Northern Expedition. I'm afraid failure is inevitable - okay, let's not talk about this, just send him here.
Well, you can send your tribe to Jiankang next month to visit Jia Bizhi, and I hope to see you in Gusxi Mansion two years later."
Chen Caozhi felt that Xi Chao still had something to say to him, but when he saw Xi Chao getting on his horse, he only said: "You are a smart man, just take care of yourself."
Chen Caozhi stood by the road, watching Xi Chao ride away, then turned back to the post pavilion. Lu Na had already returned to the city, and only Laide was waiting there in an ox cart.
Chen Caozhi took out the Keting flute from the carriage. Ran Sheng asked, "Do you want to play some music, young man?"
Chen Cao said: "Xi Canjun wants to listen to my recorder music. I have only now got the mood to play it." After that, he took the flute under the willow tree beside the post pavilion and started playing. What he was playing was the Qiantang River.
The song "Remembering Old Friends" that Huan Yi once listened to. If Huan Yi could hear it, he would know that this song is very different from last year. In the melancholy and sentimental thoughts, there is also the cherishment of the future and the expectation of meeting again in the future -
Ran Sheng waited patiently for Chen Caozhi to finish, and then said: "They say the husband of the Gu family is crazy, but I think the younger husband of Cao is even more crazy. Xi Canjun has disappeared, so how can I hear this music!"
But he heard a laugh from someone on the other side of the post pavilion. Zhu Yingtai walked out, with two servants behind him, and said: "Xi Canjun didn't have the chance to hear it, but someone can hear it. It's really a feast for the ears."
Chen Caozhi asked: "Why are brothers Yingtai here? Are you seeing Xi Canjun off?"
Zhu Yingtai said: "I am not sending Xi to join the army, I am sending Yingting back to Shangyu."
Chen Caozhi said in surprise: "Brother Yingting returned to Shangyu, why didn't you tell me?"
Zhu Yingtai said: "How can I tell you that you have been in Lu Mansion all night! Yingting came back in a hurry because of something unexpected."
Although Chen Caozhi felt a little strange, he didn't think much about it and just asked: "Brother Yingtai is going back, why don't you go back together?"
Zhu Yingtai said: "If I also go back, wouldn't I be able to hear the wonderful song just now? After listening to the song just now, I feel that Brother Zizhong's flute playing to see off guests was a bit perfunctory in the past."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "How can I say it's perfunctory? It's just that I'm very emotional today."
Zhu Yingtai said "hmm" and then said: "I only hope that when brother Zizhong and I part ways, brother Zizhong can have such a mood and play such a song for me."
Chen Cao said: "I will be returning to my hometown in ten days. You should be the one to say goodbye to me. Brother Yingting can play the Yu, but can't Brother Yingtai? Play a song for me then."
Zhu Yingtai's face became condensed and he asked: "Brother Zizhong, are you going back before the exemption is granted? I heard that Yu Zhongzheng has sent a secretary to Jiankang Situ Mansion to report on his work on his behalf, and he will return to Wu County by the end of May at the latest."
Chen Cao said: "I have something to do in Qiantang's hometown, and I can't wait any longer. Shang Zhi will stay here and wait, and he will collect the exemption certificate on my behalf."
Zhu Yingtai turned to look at the willow forest beside the road and said, "Okay, I'll give you a ride then."
Chen Caozhi and Zhu Yingtai returned to Taolin Xiaozhu and caught up with Dr. Xu to explain "Jiao's Yi Lin". Since the Qin and Han Dynasties, Yi scholars have appeared in large numbers and written numerous books, but Dr. Xu admired Jiao Yanshou's "Yi Lin" and "Yi Lin" the most.
"Yi Lin Bian Zhan", influenced by Dr. Xu, Chen Caozhi and Zhu Yingtai have also been studying "Jiao Shi Yi Lin" recently, and often argue with each other in their spare time.
Thinking that he will return to Qiantang in ten days, Chen Caozhi is very looking forward to seeing Lu Weirui often in these days. However, since the last time he expressed his heartfelt feelings in Zhenqing Taoist Temple, the two of them have deliberately avoided it and dare not meet too much.
Frequent, innocent Lu Weirui also knows that her love affair with Chen Caozhi is not allowed in the world. Now she must not be noticed by others. She must deal with it carefully. She knows that Chen Langjun is working hard, and Chen Langjun will definitely be able to marry her.
As for her, although she didn't know how to help Chen Langjun, she could persist and would wait until the day when Chen Langjun came to marry her.
On April 18th, Lu Weirui left Wu Jun and went to Lu's villa in Huating to wait for the lotus flowers to bloom in Pinghu. This time Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan did not follow because it would take another half a month for the lotus flowers to bloom. Only a nymphomaniac like Lu Weirui would do it so early.
Just go and wait.
On April 21st, Chen Caozhi went to the prefect's mansion to say goodbye to Lu Na. Although Lu Na had already known that Chen Caozhi would be returning to his hometown at the end of April, he still felt reluctant to say goodbye when he saw Chen Caozhi come to say goodbye today and asked:
"What's the matter with Cao Zhi's house that makes you so anxious to go back?"
Chen Cao said: "I have been away from home for several months. I miss my mother and young nephew and want to go back to visit. I have nothing else to do."
Lu Na said: "Dr. Xu will also return to Jingkou next month because his son Xu Miao will participate in the selection of overseas Chinese from Jingkou and Xuzhou. The school under the Lion Rock will also be closed for half a year and will reopen in the spring of next year. It makes sense.
I won’t come to the county again this year, but that’s fine. I will send an envoy to appoint you as a literary scholar in April next year. Then you will always be in the county. Watching Cao’s hands write and discussing calligraphy with Cao is a great pleasure for me.
"
Chen Cao's way: "I hope you will be kind to me, and I will be grateful to you. I have a request for you, and I hope you will be kind to me."
Lu Na said cheerfully: "You say."
Chen Caozhi said: "My close friend Liu Shangzhi from the same hometown is also a scholar appointed this time. When I returned to my hometown this time, Shangzhi stayed here to collect the exemption certificate on my behalf. He admired the envoy's demeanor and wanted to work in the prefect's office.
I have an errand, and I can listen to the envoy’s teachings in my spare time. I wonder what your envoy wants?”
Lu Na smiled and said: "This is easy - well, Liu Shangzhi, I have some impression of this person. He is a majestic character, but how is his calligraphy?"
Chen Cao said: "Shangzhi will follow me into the city today. He is waiting for me at the gatehouse to go back together. How about you call him and let him write on the spot?"
Lu Na liked to watch other people write, just like watching a dance. Good calligraphy not only has beautiful words, but also a kind of beauty in the gesture of hanging the wrist and waving the brush. He ordered the waiter to tell Liu Shangzhi that he was here.
Liu Shangzhi arrived in a well-dressed manner, looking like a scholar-official. When he saw Lu Na, he bowed deeply and spoke humbly but not cowardly.
Lu Na asked a few questions and then asked Liu Shangzhui to write for him. Liu Shangzhui tried his best to calm down, sharpened his ink, and first wrote a poem by Lu Na's uncle Lu Yun using his famous Han Li "Stele of Ritual Vessels".
"Answer to Brother Pingyuan Poem":
"It's so long and wonderful, don't blame the president. I'm thinking of you and I'm walking forward, and I'm talking about it in Linshang. There's a great river in Nanjin, but there's no river in Beizhu. I'm fascinated by the same feeling of passing away, and I'm sad to join the merchants. The track is like a special trace.
, Morning glory cannot be taken in a box.”
Lu Na looked on with his hands folded, nodding his head in agreement.
Liu Shangzhi changed to another bald pen and wrote a passage from Lu Ji's "Wen Fu" on hemp paper in Lu Ji's cursive style:
"It's a joy to do things, which are admired by sages and sages. I take responsibility for the emptiness of lessons. I knock on the loneliness and ask for the sound. I write on the ruler, and the words are as thick as an inch of my heart. The words are broad and wide, and the thoughts are healed by pressing them.
Deep, the fragrance of fragrant flowers spreads, the green strips of the forest grow, the strong wind flies and soars, and the dark clouds rise over the Imperial Forest."
Liu Shangzhi worked hard on Lu Ji's "Pingfu Tie" in the past two months, copying it thirty times a day, because the "Pingfu Tie" borrowed by Chen Caozhi from the Lu Mansion was a copy of Lu Na's.
In other words, Liu Shangzhui was actually copying Lu Na's Zhangcao calligraphy, and he had copied it to a very charming degree.
Lu Na laughed and said: "Yes, it is a good word for a high-ranking official." He hesitated and said: "Next month, you will come to the office to work as a clerk. In two years, you will be given a job as a ninth-rank official."
Liu Shangzhi was overjoyed and quickly thanked Ambassador Lu.