The Yan Mansion is one of the best private residences in the capital. Wandering around there, you can feel the luxury with every step you take, and it is the kind of luxury that comes without fear.
Because when Yan Song took over as the Prime Minister ten years ago, Emperor Jiajing granted him special permission to build a mansion out of consideration for his advanced age. Therefore, the Yan Mansion could enjoy luxury without having to hide from the eyes of outsiders.
Zhu Ping'an walked with Yan Shifan for about ten minutes, passing through a garden, around a lotus pond, through a bamboo forest, and along a secluded path, before arriving at the gathering place - Jishi Garden.
At the entrance of Jishi Garden, there is a white jade screen wall with an article titled "Jishi Garden Notes" engraved on it.
When Yan Shifan saw that Zhu Ping'an had noticed the article, he deliberately slowed down his pace to let Zhu Ping'an read it.
When Zhu Ping'an saw this, he understood something in his mind. He guessed that this article was the work of a famous writer, or perhaps the masterpiece of Yan Shifan or Yan Song.
So Zhu Pingan stopped and admired it:
Jishi Garden
I made a garden out of the land, and built a pavilion in the middle for resting. I planted a few bamboos and mixed some flowers for fun. I named it “Ji Shi”. Planting trees to keep the peace and quiet, and to avoid the hustle and bustle, is what I always want. However, I have been entrusted to the royal family, working day and night for the public, worrying about all kinds of affairs, and shouldering all kinds of responsibilities. When I hear the king’s order, I go without waiting for the king’s carriage, and when I write down the memorial, I write without stopping. Although I want to express my feelings and live in peace and tranquility, how can I do so? The garden is named Ji Shi, but I have never been able to enjoy a day of peace. I just wrote this to relieve my sarcasm.
—A record of midsummer in the Yisi year of the Jiajing reign.
The entire "Ji Shi Garden Notes" was less than 200 words, and Zhu Pingan finished reading it very quickly. Although the author of this garden note was not signed, after reading it, Zhu Pingan basically knew who the author of this article was.
Yan Song!!!
I was entrusted to the royal family, and I worked day and night for the emperor. When I heard the emperor's order, I went without waiting for the emperor's arrival. When I wrote a memorial, I wrote without stopping.
The article was signed in the midsummer of the Yisi year of the Jiajing reign. At that time, the only person who had the qualifications to express such emotion and have it engraved on the screen wall of Jishi Garden was Yan Song.
This explains why Yan Shifan deliberately slowed down his pace to give himself enough time to appreciate "Ji Shiyuan Ji".
However, it was a little too ridiculous for the treacherous minister Yan Song to express his concern for the country and the people and his desire to retire.
Moreover, since Yan Song took office, he had been concentrating on pleasing Emperor Jiajing. He did not have many political achievements, but he did write a lot of Qingci. The sayings "working day and night for the public, worrying about all kinds of affairs", "burdening himself with hundreds of responsibilities", "acting without waiting for the emperor's order", and "writing without stopping" may be true, but "responsibilities" and "duties" both refer to Qingci.
"Zihou, what do you think of this article?"
When Yan Shifan saw that Zhu Ping'an had finished reading, he narrowed his one eye slightly, looked at Zhu Ping'an with a smile, and asked with interest.
how
The author of this article is your father Yan Song. You asked me about it. In front of you, of course, the only thing I can do is praise you.
After hearing Yan Shifan's question, Zhu Ping'an was secretly complaining in his heart, but his face showed an expression of great appreciation: "This garden record is concise, but the artistic conception is extremely profound. After reading this garden record, I seem to see an elder who is in the palace, diligent in official duties, worried about the country and the people, but yearns for poetry and distant places. It seems that I see him wandering among the lush bamboo forests and the green and red flowers, and hear his sighs of wanting to retire but not being able to."
"Poetry and distant places, haha, wonderful, wonderful. If the old man heard Zihou's comments, he would definitely make an exception and drink a few more glasses..."
Yan Shifan was extremely satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's comments. He couldn't help but pat his belly and laughed.
"Ah? Could it be that this masterpiece was written by Lord Yan?" Zhu Ping'an pretended to be enlightened and said with regret, "If I had known, I would not have dared to comment on Lord Yan's masterpiece. A sparrow commenting on an eagle is only a laughing stock."
"Tsk, if you can comment on Confucius's articles, why can't you comment on this old man's articles?" Yan Shifan smiled indifferently, then patted Zhu Ping'an on the shoulder, "Zihou, let's go into the garden, don't keep them waiting for too long."
As soon as you enter Jishi Garden, it feels like you have left the human world and entered a fairyland.
Pavilions and towers, green bamboos and fallen flowers on the rocks; ponds and waterside pavilions, fish playing in the green waves and dense flowers; rippling blue waves, the water and sky are one color...
Zhu Ping'an couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth. Just now, on the screen wall at the garden gate, Yan Song said, "We got the land to make a garden, and built a pavilion in the middle for swallows to rest." He said that the garden was hard to come by, and it was particularly small, with only a small pavilion, barely enough for swallows to rest.
Haha, this garden is really small...
It's so small that I can't even see the edge at a glance...
Zhu Ping'an complained in his heart as he followed Yan Shifan to the banquet venue - Zhiyu Pavilion.
Zhiyu Pavilion is located in the center of the rippling lotus pond. It protrudes into the pond and is surrounded by water on the front, left and right sides. It is a loft-style building.
According to Yan Shifan, Zhiyu Pavilion was named by Yan Song himself, which was taken from the debate in "Zhuangzi. Autumn Water": "You are not a fish, how do you know the joy of fish?", "You are not me, how do you know that I don't know the joy of fish?"
As he approached Zhiyu Pavilion, Zhu Ping'an smelled the enchanting aroma of wine and meat, and heard the melodious sound of stringed instruments, the ethereal singing of singing girls and the laughter of guests... It seemed quite lively.
“Haha, here we are.”
Yan Shifan smiled and walked in first. Zhu Ping'an followed closely behind Yan Shifan and walked in slowly.
"Haha, Brother Donglou is finally back."
"Master Yan is back."
"Oh, you brought back a distinguished guest."
As soon as they entered Zhiyu Pavilion, everyone in the pavilion greeted Yan Shifan, and Yan Shifan responded with a smile.
Zhu Ping'an squinted his eyes, on the one hand to adapt to the indoor light, and on the other hand to observe the situation in the pavilion unnoticeably.
The pavilion is spacious and luxuriously decorated. On both sides of the pavilion, there is a row of beautiful women kneeling and playing the piano and the flute. In the middle, there are two rows of dancers with revealing clothes and veils dancing gracefully. They have graceful figures and their dance moves are extremely provocative.
In front of the dancer, in the middle of the pavilion, there was a huge round table, on which was placed a dazzling array of delicacies from land and sea. More than ten officials were sitting around the round table, each holding a delicate white jade wine jug in their hands.
At this moment, seeing Yan Shifan coming in, all the officials sitting around the table stood up and greeted Yan Shifan.
Among the more than ten officials sitting around the table, Zhu Ping'an also found several familiar faces, including Zhao Wenhua, Ouyang Zishi, Luo Wenlong... ... Hey, Zhang Juzheng was there too. When Zhu Ping'an was about to look away, he found Zhang Juzheng in the crowd, and it seemed that Zhang Juzheng was quite familiar with Ouyang Zishi and others.
sharp!
Zhu Pingan gave Zhang Juzheng a thumbs up in his heart. He was indeed Zhang Juzheng! His political talent was at the highest level.
It's really admirable.
Zhang Juzheng was a student of his teacher Xu Jie. He felt at home in Xu's mansion. He was well-connected in the Yan Party and enjoyed himself in Prince Yu's mansion...
Zhang Juzheng has made plans for the current peak of power (Yan Song), the future peak of power (Xu Jie), and the future peak of power (Prince Yu). His political acumen and talent are truly amazing!
By the way, when Zhang Juzheng saw Zhu Ping'an, he was no less shocked than Zhu Ping'an.
In his opinion, Zhu Ping'an was also a student of his teacher Xu Jie. He helped his teacher revise Qingci, sent gifts during festivals (delivered by Li Shu), and visited him quite frequently... ... He gave up his position as a lecturer in the Jingwang Palace, where he had the upper hand in the battle for the throne, and instead became a lecturer in the Yuwang Palace... ... Now he was personally led by Yan Shifan to attend the banquet, and he looked very happy and cheerful... ...
Where I had carefully laid out my plan, Zhu Ping'an also made a mistake...
There was a storm in Zhang Juzheng's heart...