At dusk, Chen Caozhi and Ran Sheng walked to Xie Mansion in Wuyi Lane. When they crossed the Zhuque Bridge, Chen Caozhi stood at the east side of the bridge for a while, looking at the sparkling Qinhuai River and the Shenzhai compound on the other side.
He thought to himself: "Brother Yingtai, it is really difficult to get out of this high-walled courtyard!" Just as he was about to cross the Zhuque Bridge, he suddenly heard someone say: "Zizhong, I am here."
Chen Caozhi raised his head in surprise and saw a person walking out from the shade of locust trees in Hedong. His face was powdered, his shirt was flowing, and his body was slender and made him look weak. Who could it be if it wasn't Xie Daoyun?
Seeing Xie Daoyun standing under the shade of a locust tree before coming over, Chen Caozhi went to greet him, bowed and said: "Brother Yingtai, how are you doing if you don't come?"
Xie Daoyun looked at Chen Caozhi with dazzling eyes, and saw that he was becoming more and more handsome and energetic. He also said politely: "I have been waiting for you for a while. I thought you would come to the banquet. When I saw that you hadn't arrived, I asked the deacon.
I deeply mourn the passing of Mr. Zakikawa."
Chen Caozhi said sadly: "Master Ge benefited all the people, and Master Ge's death is more important than Mount Tai."
Xie Daoyun did not agree. She believed that Chen Caozhi had given too much praise to his teacher. How can a cultivator of immortality benefit all people? Xie Daoyun would never give in to anything she disagreed with.
Chen Caozhi knew her very well, so he told the story of Master Ge's suicide note and the gift of "On Qi Theory", and then asked: "Brother Yingtai, don't you think that the death of our master is more important than Mount Tai?"
Xie Daoyun was well aware of the horror of the plague. Her mother and two younger brothers died of malaria, so she nodded solemnly and said: "I only thought that Mr. Zhikawa was a man who devoted himself to seeking immortality and took care of himself. I never thought that he would have such a mind to help the world.
In the future, I am afraid that few people will remember the Wang family of Langya and the Xie family of Chenjun, but Mr. Zhichuan will be famous forever."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "I don't think so. History books are written for adults."
Xie Daoyun said: "Don't talk about the future, let's get through the current situation first. Please help me."
Chen Cao said: "I'm here right now. I've been ordered by Duke Huan to conscript you into the Western Prefecture."
Xie Daoyun shook his head and asked: "Zizhong, if my third uncle asks you if you know my true identity, how would you answer?"
Chen Caozhi asked: "Brother Yingtai, how do you want me to answer?"
Xie Daoyun curled his lips and said, "If you don't answer well in this test, it will be difficult for me to go to Xifu."
Chen Caozhi pondered for a while and said: "Gong Anshi is a man of great wisdom. I feel that we should not hide it from him, and we cannot hide it from him."
Xie Daoyun stared at Chen Caozhi and asked: "Does Zizhong want to tell the truth? If my third uncle asks you, what is your intention of helping me become an official even though you know I am a woman? How will Zizhong answer?"
Xie Daoyun asked very sharply. She was putting the most difficult situation in front of Chen Caozhi so that Chen Caozhi could prepare early. But after she asked the question, she felt embarrassed again and couldn't help but blush.
Chen Caozhi smiled and said, "Brother Yingtai, don't blame all the problems on me. Haven't you reported it to your uncle in the past few days?"
Xie Daoyun said: "Of course I reported it, but my third uncle only asked me questions, but he cherished his words like gold, leaving me unpredictable."
Chen Caozhi asked: "How is the conversation between Mr. Xi and Uncle Ling? Mr. An Shi can treat you as preciously as gold, but I'm afraid he can't be so reserved with Mr. Xi."
Xie Daoyun smiled and said: "Zizhong can always outline and hit the nail on the head - just now I was listening to the conversation between Xi Shilang and my two uncles in the living room. Xi Jinping and my third uncle are both first-rate smart people, and they exchanged words.
It was very exciting. Guest Xi seemed to want me to become an official. He asked my two uncles if they wanted Duke Huan to come to Jiankang in person to invite him. It is also a good story to say that Duke Huan loved talents and came to the capital to seek talents. My two uncles both
I’m speechless.”
At this point, Xie Daoyun's face became solemn and he said: "Zizhong, it seems too aggressive for Xi Shilang to use Huan Gong's power to suppress my uncle and force me to become an official. I am just a descendant of a second-class gentry with no reputation. Xi
Why is the minister doing this? Is there another secret?"
Chen Caozhi also had such doubts, but now that the matter has come to this point, he can only move forward, and his predictions are not wrong, so he said: "Brother Yingtai's "Three Strategies for Zhongxing" were highly praised by Duke Huan. Guest Xi and I will present your "Three Strategies for Zhongxing"
"Three Strategies" has been expanded into "Seven Cheap Things", which will be reported to the court by Duke Huan and implemented by Yousi. You are the mastermind, how can you stay out of the matter? Duke Huan will naturally recruit you into the government."
Xie Daoyun smiled slightly and said: "Zizhong please go ahead. I will go back through the small gate in the backyard. Whether I can get out of this high wall depends on Zizhong's talk with my uncle tonight."
Chen Caozhi cupped his hands and said, "I am open-minded and have no other motives besides cherishing my talents. Mr. Anshi will surely understand my feelings." After that, he and Ran Sheng crossed the Suzaku Bridge and headed towards Xie Mansion in Wuyi Lane.
.
Because of Chen Caozhi's last words, Xie Daoyun stood alone under the shade of the locust tree by the river for a long time.
…
The manager of the Xie Mansion reported to Xie An and Xie Wan, and Qian Tang and Chen Cao asked for an audience.
Xie An left Xie Wan to accompany Xi Chao, and he went out to greet him personally. Xie An was tall and handsome. He walked slowly under the light of two lanterns, holding a palm fan in his hand, and looked calm when he saw Chen Caozhi.
, said with a smile: "It has been three years since we said goodbye to Dongshan in a hurry. Mr. Chen has outstanding talents and is famous far and wide. I am very happy to hear about him."
Chen Caozhi's nephew and nephew said respectfully, "An Shigong just called me Cao Zhi. This junior and Youdu are close friends."
Xie An immediately greeted the guests and entered, while secretly sizing up Chen Caozhi. Compared with the first time he met in Dongshan three years ago, Chen Caozhi had grown much taller, and his eyes were calmer and deeper.
This person is the number one, and he has both Confucianism and Mysticism, and his music is particularly wonderful. It is reasonable for the proud and arrogant A Yuan to admire him——
When Xi guests saw Chen Caozhi sitting down, they immediately asked about Mr. Zhichuan and learned that he passed away on April 18th. Xie An, Xie Wan, and Xi Chao all sighed. Ge Hong was old, and together with Director Wang, Lu Xi, and Xi Chao
Both his grandfather Xi Jian and Xie An's father Xie Pe had a relationship.
Chen Caozhi told Xi and Xie about the Treatise on Sickness left by Ge Hong before his death. Xie Wandao said: "It is better to spread the prescriptions left by Mr. Zhichuan throughout all the prefectures and counties to show to the people that they are in urgent need."
Xie An said: "I think it is not appropriate to publicize this matter when the epidemic has not yet occurred, lest the people's hearts are already in chaos before the plague arrives. We can first spread the methods to treat the plague to counties and order officials to take precautions early. What does Mr. Xi think?"
Xi Chao nodded and said: "This matter can be combined with the Great Earth Break, and the officials in various states and counties should be ordered to pay attention to the epidemic and prepare more medicines."
Chen Caozhi felt very relieved and ordered Ran Sheng to present to Xie Wan the documents that Duke Huan had summoned Zhu Yingtai to join the Western Palace and the letter that Xie Xuan asked him to bring back to Xie Wan, saying: "This junior is entering the capital, in addition to bringing with him
I have received this document, and Youdu also has a letter for me to give to Wan Shigong."
Xie Wan immediately opened the letter and read it on his seat. After reading it, he handed it to his brother Xie An. Xie An looked at the letter and said: "Ah Ke also arranged for his cousin Zhu Yingtai to become an official, and he handled it very professionally."
I came here to recruit Zhu Yingtai to join the Western Mansion. My distant cousin Zhu Yingtai is really an indispensable figure——"
Xie An did not mention whether Zhu Yingtai was allowed to serve as an official, but discussed the "Three Strategies for Zhongxing" and the Seven Cheap Things with Xi Chao and Chen Caozhi. From time to time, he asked Chen Caozhi questions, such as taxing rice per farm and taxing rice by ding.
, which one is better or worse based on the oral tax on rice? Chen Caozhi answered attentively, often with original ideas.
Xi Chao thought to himself: "It's weird, why did Xie Anshi get Chen Caozhi to take the exam? Zizhong worked really hard. People wanted to take the exam for him everywhere." After Chen Caozhi answered a question from Xie An, Xi Chao laughed.
Said: "Gong An Shi asked Zi Zhong so much that sweat broke out on his forehead. He was afraid that Zi Zhong would not dare to come to visit him again."
Xie An knew Chen Cao's talents and laughed loudly and said: "Chen Cao is really very talented, and his future generations will be formidable."
Xi Chao said: "You don't have to be too solemn to sit down and chat tonight. Does An Shigong still remember Hao Long and Hao Zuozhi who joined the army in Manfu?"
Xie An smiled and said: "Kang Sheng is quite talented."
Xi Chao said: "Hao Zuozhi suffered a great setback this time. Zizhong first entered Xifu. Hao Zuozhi asked Zizhong three difficult questions at the reception banquet held by Duke Huan for Wang Wendu and Chen Zizhong. Zizhong dealt with it calmly. There was a witty saying in it. Hao Zuozhi often said:
On the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, exposing his belly to the sun was a sign of relaxation. Zi Zhong ridiculed him and said, "Hao Canjun is really pitiable. Not only does he have no clothes to dry himself in, but he also has very few books to read. How many volumes of books can he hold in his belly?"
Xie An and Xie Wan all laughed, and the snickering could be heard in the small room behind the curtain.
Xie An said: "I've heard Cao's wonderful interpretation of music for a long time, and his recorder is wonderful. I dare you to bring your flute and play a piece for me tomorrow evening. I'm really looking forward to it."
Chen Cao said: "The elders have their orders, don't you dare disobey them."
The four of them talked until late at night and dispersed. Chen Caozhi and Xi Chao walked together for a while, chatting all the way. Xi Chao said: "Zizhong, Xie Anshi will definitely have a long talk with you tomorrow. Hey, this Zhu Yingtai is really better than Zhuge Kongming back then."
It’s hard to invite him. Zi Zhong must not betray Duke Huan’s trust.”
In the morning of the next day, Chen Caozhi saw off Taoist Li Shouyi, and then he and Gu Kaizhi went to Waguan Temple to visit the elder Zhu Fatai. Zhu Fatai said: "Since I visited Tanyue, Chen Tanyue painted a portrait of Vimalakirti Bodhisattva for this temple.
After the installation of the Eight Heavenly Dragon Statues, the temple became very popular and its reputation spread far and wide. Every day believers from thousands of miles away came to worship the Buddha and view the murals. Chen Tanyue and Gu Tanyue have immeasurable merits."
After returning from Waguan Temple, Chen Caozhi went to Zhang Mansion to meet Zhang Ping and Zhang Mo brothers. Zhang Ping was also very concerned about the Datu Duan matter. During the court meeting in Taicheng, he discussed it with Lu Na and Gu Minzhi.
Thinking that there is no need to worry, the yellow and white registrations are cancelled. The biggest impact is on the northerners crossing to the south. Even Director Wang at that time did not dare to harm the interests of the southerners. Yuyao ordered Shanya to find out that Yuxi was secretly hiding in a hidden house in Kuaiji.
Qian, according to the law, the market should be abandoned, but the result is that Yu Xi is safe and sound, and Shan Xia is dismissed from office——
It was still dusk, and Chen Caozhi took Ran Sheng and Huang Xiaotong to Wuyi Lane again. When they were crossing the Zhuque Bridge, Chen Caozhi glanced at the shade of the locust trees by the river and saw no one, so he crossed the bridge and headed towards Xie's Mansion, but there was no sign of him.
I know that Xie Daoyun is standing quietly deep in the shade of locust tree.
Xie Daoyun looked at Chen Caozhi's retreating figure and thought to himself: "If I listen to Zi Zhong's recorder music again tonight, I'm afraid I won't be able to hear it like this again."
