Although Xun Kuang was over fifty years old, he was in very good spirits and health, and was practicing sword dancing in the courtyard early in the morning.
Even though the weather is warmer now than in later times, people should still put on outer robes in mid-autumn. However, Xun Kuang, with his upper body exposed, danced with a heavy iron sword with great vigor, causing gusts of wind.
Zhu Xiang, who was yawning as he passed by the vestibule, saw Mr. Xun's muscular body and was almost choked by the cold air.
The old man slept little, so Lin Xiangru came out of the bedroom a little later than Xun Kuang, came to the courtyard with a book in his hand, and read aloud.
Mr. Xun danced with the sword more vigorously, and a layer of crystal sweat beads appeared on his body; Lin Xiangru held the book in one hand, put the other hand behind his back, and shook his head and recited the poems in rhythm, which just matched the whistling sound of Xun Kuang's sword dance.
Zhu Xiang felt as if he was watching a dance drama.
He thought about it, took out an erhu from the house, and started playing it.
Young people of his generation were always forced by their parents to learn a talent, and Zhu Xiang learned the erhu.
Later, when working in the fields, many old farmers were good at playing the erhu. During the slack season, they would prepare for community operas, and Zhu Xiang would go on stage to help with the music. Not only did he have superb erhu skills, he also learned from the old farmers how to make his own erhu.
Although there are no steel wires now, the same strings can be used for the erhu as for the guqin. Zhu Xiang made an erhu for himself to cultivate his sentiments.
So, when Xunzi and Lin Xiangru were doing morning exercises and reading, Zhu Xiang sat on the ground, shaking his head and singing a passage from "Erquan Yingyue".
The tone of Lin Xiangru's reciting changed, and Xun Kuang's sword almost hit his instep.
They stopped their morning exercises and reading, turned around and looked at Zhu Xiang who was still playing "Erquan Yingyue" on the erhu with great concentration.
Last night, Ying Xiaozheng slept with his uncle and aunt, and he did not wet the bed.
But as soon as Zhu Xiang got up, Ying Xiaozheng woke up immediately and could not fall asleep again.
Xue sighed, and carried Ying Xiaozheng, who had put on his clothes, to look for Zhu Xiang, and saw the two old men with their fists clenched.
Ying Xiaozheng was clenching his fists and yawning and rubbing his eyes. Seeing this, Ying Xiaozheng asked in confusion, "What is uncle doing?"
Xue said: "Your uncle is deliberately doing bad things. Zheng'er, don't learn from your uncle."
Ying Xiaozheng was even more confused: "Ah? What's wrong?"
Xue did not answer. Two old men, one holding a big sword and the other holding a scroll, rushed towards Zhu Xiang.
Zhu Xiang rolled over and crawled away.
"Mr. Lin, Mr. Xun, why are you so angry? If you have something to say, please talk it over nicely, don't use force!"
"Humph, Yuan Ran was sitting there rudely, so our master hit him on the shin with his staff! Today I will follow our master's example!"
"Zhu Xiang, stop and die!"
Zhu Xiang and the two old gentlemen who were chasing him were circling in the front hall: "I'm wearing shorts, so sitting cross-legged is not rude. Besides, this instrument is played while sitting down..."
Zhu Xiang was extremely upset. Although he did intend to play a prank, he never expected that the two old men would have such bad tempers.
Especially Xunzi! If that big iron block in your hand falls down, it will kill someone, right? !
Is that so!!!
Xue covered the eyes of Ying Xiaozheng who was curious and looked out, and went into the kitchen to find food for Ying Xiaozheng.
Zheng'er has seen his lover now, and after filling his stomach, he should be able to sleep a little longer. Children need to eat more and sleep more in order to grow up.
Ying Xiaozheng twisted his body, trying to break free from his aunt, but he didn't dare to: "Is uncle okay?"
Xue said, "He deserves to be in trouble for not respecting his elders."
The corners of Ying Xiaozheng's mouth curved up and down, and it was unclear whether he disagreed with his aunt's words or couldn't help laughing at his uncle.
After Xue carried Ying Xiaozheng away, Zhu Xiang, no longer burdened with shame, squatted down with his erhu held high: "Don't chase me, I admit my mistake and accept the punishment! Beat me gently!"
Lin Xiangru smashed the scroll in his hand hard on Zhu Xiang's back, almost knocking Zhu Xiang to the ground.
Xun Kuang raised his iron sword high and dropped it heavily in front of Zhu Xiang, raising a cloud of dust that splashed all over Zhu Xiang's face.
Zhu Xiang coughed a few times and whispered, "I just played the huqin, is that a big deal?"
Lin Xiangru raised the letter again, and Zhu Xiang quickly apologized again.
Xun Kuang laughed and said, "Okay, stop pretending to be wronged. Your zither is very interesting. You said it was a huqin. Could it be a musical instrument played by the Hu people?"
Zhu Xiang said: "I don't know, it was an instrument my father taught me, he said it was a huqin."
Xun Kuang pointed at the erhu in Zhu Xiang's arms and said, "Why not call it Zhao Qin?"
Lin Xiangru frowned: "This sound is unlucky."
Zhu Xiang said embarrassedly: "I deliberately played an unlucky song, but in fact, its sound can be very auspicious."
Xun Kuang put on his coat without caring about the sweat all over his body. He was dressed properly and asked curiously, "Oh? Have you never heard of Lin Shangqing?"
Zhu Xiang said embarrassedly: "No chance."
Lin Xiangru's hands were itching again.
Zhu Xiang quickly presented a poem "Horse Racing" and a poem "Birdsong in the Empty Mountain".
After Lin Xiangru and Xun Kuang listened to the two pieces of music quietly, their expressions eased a little.
Xun Kuang said: "It has a folk and wild flavor, and the tone is also very strange. It seems that this zither really came from the Hu people. But Zhu Xiang, you still need to learn some correct music. These are just minor rules and cannot regulate your behavior."
This is the connection between "ritual and music", and "music" is a kind of "ritual". Although Xunzi did not discriminate against the melodies of other musical instruments, he still reminded Zhu Xiang to learn the correct melodies.
Zhu Xiang quickly said, "Yes, I'm already learning the piano."
Lin Xiangru said disdainfully: "He is not learning the zither, he is ruining it."
Zhu Xiang: “…” He just played a song called “Two Tigers” on the guqin.
After Lin Xiangru finished complaining about Zhu Xiang, he said, "Hurry up and tidy up your appearance. The first thing you should do when you wake up is to dress properly, instead of walking around with your clothes disheveled. Don't learn from someone else."
Someone glanced at Lin Xiangru out of the corner of his eye.
Before the war broke out, Zhu Xiang quickly left under the pretext of tidying up his appearance.
He really didn't know why Mr. Lin and Mr. Xun were so angry when they woke up in the morning. Was it because they were in a bad mood after waking up
After Zhu Xiang had tidied up his appearance, he went into the kitchen to urge for dinner. He happened to see Ying Xiaozheng standing next to Xue, holding Ying Xiaozheng and eating secretly from a small bowl.
Zhu Xiang said jokingly, "Hey, look what I caught? A little Zheng'er who was stealing food in the kitchen?"
Ying Xiaozheng almost dropped the bowl.
Xue glared at Zhu Xiang and said, "Don't scare Zheng'er, be careful he might choke. Are you done being scolded?"
Zhu Xiang sighed: "I was just joking with them, who knew they would be so angry."
Xue frowned: "How can a junior joke with an elder? Fortunately, Lin Shangqing and Mr. Xun are very generous and don't bother with you. But my dear, you should change this bad habit, right?"
Zhu Xiang said: "I am familiar with books on etiquette, and I know that such a small joke does not violate etiquette and taboos, so I did it... Ah, okay, Xue, don't do it, Zheng'er is still here, don't I want to save face? I will change, I will change!"
Xue put down her hand that was about to twist Zhu Xiang's arm.
"I hope you can keep it up for a few more months this time." After Xue scolded Zhu Xiang, she lowered her head and said to Ying Xiaozheng, who had egg drop soup on his mouth, "If you know you are wrong, you should correct it. Don't learn from your uncle."
Ying Xiaozheng raised his little painted face in confusion.
Even if you say so, aunt, I still don't understand. What happened to my uncle
Zhu Xiang smiled and helped Ying Xiaozheng wipe his face clean: "Hurry up and finish eating, then we'll go have breakfast. Can you still eat?"
Ying Xiaozheng touched his belly and nodded. Zheng'er can eat! He can eat a lot!
Since coming to his uncle's house, Ying Xiaozheng has been very happy as he can eat well every day.
Zhu Xiang said: "It's good as long as you can eat. Only by eating more can you grow taller."
Ying Xiaozheng quickly finished the steamed egg with lard in the small bowl, and Zhu Xiang entered the front hall carrying vegetable and millet porridge, a small bowl of steamed egg, and a few side dishes.
Xun Kuang and Lin Xiangru were discussing something, and they were so engrossed in the discussion that their sleeves were rolled up to their shoulders.
When they saw Zhu Xiang coming over with the food, they restrained their ferocious expressions and turned back into kind old men.
"Yesterday's meal was a bit greasy, so let's have a light meal this morning." Zhu Xiang divided the food.
Xun Kuang looked at the steamed eggs with lard and asked curiously, "This dish looks very delicate. What kind of pastry is it?"
Zhu Xiang said: "This is not a cake, it is a steamed egg. Mix the eggs evenly and steam them with lard and salt. Steamed eggs are easier to digest than boiled eggs and are suitable for children and the elderly."
After Xue brought Zheng'er over, Lin Xiangru and Xun Kuang started eating first, followed by Zhu Xiang and Xue.
As for Ying Xiaozheng, he stayed beside Zhu Xiang, waiting obediently for Zhu Xiang to feed him.
Although Ying Xiaozheng is not heavy, Xue is in poor health, and her hands are tired after holding him for so long. So now Zhu Xiang has taken over Xue's job of taking care of the child.
Originally, Ying Xiaozheng could put a few cushions under his butt and kneel on the high cushions to eat.
But Xue insisted that Ying Xiaozheng's eating like this was disrespectful to Mr. Xun who had just come to live in their house, so Zhu Xiang fed him.
Zhu Xiang quickly finished his breakfast and began to feed Ying Xiaozheng.
After seeing Ying Xiaozheng's belly swelling up, he stopped Ying Xiaozheng's request to continue eating, saying: "Too much is as bad as too little, you should know when to stop. If you eat too much, Zheng'er will only be able to take medicine and eat porridge for several days, and won't be able to eat delicious food."
Zhu Xiang immediately ate up all the leftovers in Ying Xiaozheng's bowl in front of him.
Ying Xiaozheng stared at his uncle eating his meal with pitiful eyes.
Lin Xiangru and Xun Kuang were originally smiling at Zhu Xiang's teaching Ying Xiaozheng that "too much is as bad as too little". But when Zhu Xiang ate the leftovers from Ying Xiaozheng's bowl with exaggerated expressions and movements, while glancing at Ying Xiaozheng's sad expression, their faces darkened.
Xun Kuang looked at Lin Xiangru and asked: Is this the result of your years of teaching? !
Lin Xiangru cursed back: He grew crooked by himself, it’s none of my business!
Xun Kuang, who was used to being a teacher and principal, immediately thought about how to assign homework to Zhu Xiang and correct his minor faults that were not serious.
Although it's harmless, Xunzi is a perfectionist.
Zhu Xiang had no idea that he would be trapped in a hell of homework. He was still happily enjoying the little expression of the Emperor's son who dared not get angry or say anything after being bullied by him, but only pouted his face in grievance.
If he didn't bully the First Emperor when he was still his son, he would be presumptuous to be the uncle of the First Emperor's son who traveled through time!
Oh, Zheng'er's expression is so aggrieved and cute, take another look.
I really want to draw it hahahahaha.
Zhu Xiang decided to add this important chapter in "Diary of Raising the First Emperor's Child".
Zhu Xiang: Who among normal people would write a diary
Zhu Xiang: How can I be a normal person after raising the Qin Shi Huang's cub
Happiness was short-lived, and Zhu Xiang quickly ate up all of Ying Xiaozheng's leftovers.
He wiped his mouth and tapped Ying Xiaozheng's bulging belly: "Do you want to go out with your uncle, or stay at home with Mr. Xun?"
Ying Xiaozheng was caught in a dilemma.
Xun Kuang frowned and said, "You are not allowed to go out. Wait until I finish teaching you before you go out!"
"Oh, yes." Although Zhu Xiang didn't know why Xunzi wanted to teach him, he certainly had to listen to Xunzi's lessons.
Anyway, he had to go to Cai Ze to study every day. Now that the eldest brother in the family took the initiative to teach him, he could leave Cai Ze aside.
As soon as he started the class, his former teacher Cai Ze, whom he had cruelly abandoned, came to him with a pile of books and asked for advice.
Teaching one is teaching, teaching two is also teaching, Xunzi never refuses anyone.
Lin Xiangru sat at the door and waited for a long time. Finally, when Lin Zhi came to pick him up back to the city, he took a ruler in his left hand and a scroll in his right hand and smashed them at the unfilial son who had overslept.
Zhu Xiang immediately closed the door so as not to watch his brother being "domestically abused".
Anyway, Old Lin favored his youngest son, and seeing how excited he was, it was estimated that Lin Zhi would not receive many punishments.
After seeing off the Lin family, Zhu Xiang brought paper, brush and inkstone, sat down properly and prepared to copy the book.
Xun Kuang looked at the paper in front of Zhu Xiang and asked, "Is this the paper that Lin Shangqing mentioned that can replace bamboo and wooden slips?"
Zhu Xiang nodded: "Yes."
Xun Kuang did not ask how paper was made. He touched the dark yellow paper and said, "Write a few words for me."
Zhu Xiang used his handwriting, which was useless except for its neatness, to show Xunzi the usefulness of paper.
Although Lin Xiangru told Zhu Xiang not to take the paper out, Zhu Xiang could use it at home.
The paper was "obtained" by Lin Xiangru. Even if the King of Zhao did not use it, it would have been normal for Lin Xiangru to use it himself or give it to his followers.
However, the paper Lin Xiangru gave to his guests was of very poor quality. He only said that it was a novelty and could occasionally replace a handkerchief.
The paper Zhu Xiang used had already been improved and was only used by himself.
Zhu Xiang kept it a secret in front of outsiders. But since Lin Xiangru let Xun Kuang live in Zhu Xiang's house, it was tacit consent that Zhu Xiang did not need to hide Xun Kuang.
Bamboo and wooden slips were too expensive and difficult to carry. Books at that time were valuable items. Zhu Xiang was able to record books through his extraordinary memory. If he copied them into bamboo and wooden slips, it would be difficult to carry these precious books with him. Therefore, when Zhu Xiang was studying, he used paper directly and then bound and cut them into books by himself.
For this purpose, Zhu Xiang also learned some simple needlework from Xue.
Xunzi saw the convenience of paper and also understood the meaning behind Zhu Xiang's use of paper to record books.
Zhu Xiang had also discovered that if Lin Xiangru died of old age, he would definitely not be able to gain a foothold in the State of Zhao.
So is Zhu Xiang really going to Qin
It was such a coincidence that the Qin hostage was abandoned at the gate of Zhuxiang.
A discarded son of the Qin royal family who was abandoned in Zhao was able to return to Qin, even though the outside world rumored that it was due to Lu Buwei's credit. But was Prince Zichu really innocent and just a puppet of Lu Buwei
How can it be!
If this was done intentionally by Prince Zichu of Qin, Zhu Xiang should be careful.
When getting along with others, one should remember not to speak too deeply about things to someone they just met. Although Xun Kuang had some thoughts in mind, he did not intend to tell Zhu Xiang about it now.
He also guessed that since Lin Xiangru protected Zhu Xiang so closely, he might have noticed this.
Xun Kuang could not help but sigh in his heart. The man whom the King of Zhao had discarded like a worn-out shoe, the Prince of Qin had begun to plot to win over when his own future was uncertain. The fact that Qin was so powerful was not luck, but fate.
If Qin could have a monarch who did not despise benevolence, it would be great if laws and education could go hand in hand. Xun Kuang looked at Ying Xiaozheng, who was kneeling and kneeling, and then he could not hold his body up and leaned on Zhu Xiang in a daze, and there was some contemplation in his eyes.
"Sure enough, Xia Tong is an extraordinary person." After returning home, Lin Zhi immediately reported to his father.
Zhu Xiang's friendships were very simple, and most of them overlapped with Lin Zhi's. So once he began to suspect that Yi Ren had already contacted Zhu Xiang, he felt relieved to leave the child to Zhu Xiang to raise, and Lin Zhi immediately pulled Yi Ren away from Zhu Xiang.
Lin Zhi gritted his teeth and said, "I heard that his biological mother's surname is Xia, so I can't be wrong!"
Yiren's disguise was so careless, but everyone knew that even if the princes of the vassal states fell into poverty, they would maintain their dignity as princes and nobles. As an abandoned child, Yiren had always been submissive and secluded in Zhao State, and everyone looked down on him as a mediocre person. So even if he pretended to be careless, Lin Zhi and Lin Xiangru never thought that the sickly accountant who ate, drank and read books in Zhu Xiang's house was Yiren, the Qin hostage.
Yiren became friends with Zhu Xiang, so naturally his relationship with Lin Zhi would not be bad either.
Lin Zhi was now filled with anger and guilt for being deceived. He had vowed to protect Zhu Xiang, but he failed to do so and put Zhu Xiang in such a dangerous situation!
Qin was conquering wars everywhere, and when King Zhao ascended the throne, the two countries had a tentative war. After that, Zhao and Qin would definitely go to war again.
As the uncle of a Qin hostage, how could Zhu Xiang not be in danger
"Yi Ren and Zhu Xiang were humble and friendly to each other, and even married each other and entrusted their young son to Zhu Xiang. Zhu Xiang would not necessarily be angry if he knew about Yi Ren's 'plan'. He might even be grateful for Yi Ren's approval." Lin Xiangru was no longer at the age where he would get angry.
He saw more, more things he had foreseen but didn't want to see.
The King of Zhao was incompetent, but he was still young.
Although the King of Qin is old, his successor is also wise.
The Qin State once had several generations of heroic rulers who forged ahead, and the Zhao State also had several generations of heroic rulers.
The previous king of Qin died suddenly, and Qin should have fallen into chaos. The other six states thought that Qin would fall into the desperate situation of "four generations of chaos" again. However, the queen mother, relatives of the emperor, and the young king who was a hostage and had never received any education from the king of Qin were all very capable. Qin became even more powerful.
The previous king of Zhao died normally, and the crown prince of Zhao succeeded to the throne normally. But after the previous crown prince died of plague, the previous king personally trained the current king of Zhao for eleven years, but before his death, he had no choice but to let the successor take charge of the government.
Is it God's will that Qin is favored and not Zhao
Lin Xiangru lamented in his heart.
Seeing his father's sad expression, Lin Zhi did not dare to ask, nor did he want to ask. He lowered his head, and the father and son stood facing each other quietly, without saying a word for a long time.
Xun Kuang was a good principal and a good teacher.
Even though he pointed at Cai Ze's nose and scolded him every day for being "useless in debate, busy with many things but with little achievement, and deceiving the ignorant masses", he did not like Cai Ze, a disciple who could barely be classified as a member of the school of diplomacy, but he could still help Cai Ze solve his doubts while scolding him.
Cai Ze did not hold a grudge against Xun Kuang for scolding him, but was very grateful to him. Different schools of thought, not picking up weapons to fight each other was considered good-tempered. However, Xun Kuang answered his questions after scolding him, and did not despise his ugliness. Cai Ze was of course very grateful to Xun Kuang.
Of course, he would be more grateful if Xunzi didn't say "Learn from Zhu Xiang!" every time he scolded him.
Cai Ze looked at Zhu Xiang with a very resentful look.
He asked Zhu Xiang privately: "Didn't you say that you know nothing except farming? How come you can always say something about Xunzi?"
Zhu Xiang stood with his hands behind his back and said proudly: "I have a photographic memory! I read every day without stopping!"
Cai Ze wanted to beat Zhu Xiang.
Zhu Xiang coughed dryly and said, "No more jokes. I just talked a lot with farmers and knights. The dream of each school of thought is to end the chaotic world and let ordinary people live a life of being well fed and clothed. This is the rule of a sage. I go deep into the people and know the most basic needs of the common people, so I can say a few words about whatever Xunzi talks about. In fact, I am not good at it, and Xunzi is too flattering."
Zhu Xiang is joking now. What he said before about having a photographic memory is true.
Cai Ze looked at Zhu Xiang dimly, not knowing who to believe.
In the end, he waved his sleeves and left, not bothering to believe any of them. Anyway, believing them would not stop Xunzi from saying "learn from Zhu Xiang".
Zhu Xiang laughed.
Ying Xiaozheng, who was holding a cloth tiger, unconsciously pulled the tiger's ears while looking up at his uncle who was laughing.
Although he didn't know what his uncle was laughing at, he saw his uncle laughing and he also smiled happily.
"Zheng'er, let's go out and play!" Zhu Xiang pressed Ying Xiaozheng against his neck, "Uncle has to go to work!"
"Okay." Ying Xiaozheng grabbed the cloth tiger's leg with one hand and held Zhu Xiang's head with the other.
Today is the tenth day that he has been at his uncle's house.
(End of this chapter)