ten years later
The spring breeze is blowing, and the flowers of Sophora japonica are fragrant for ten miles, and Li Bai and peach are all over the city. It is the most beautiful May season of the year in the capital.
Today, the wind is warm and the sun is warm, the sky is light and the sky is high, and the officials of the Manchu Dynasty are full of joy, but it is not only because of the pleasant weather, but because the emperor of the dynasty finally agreed to reopen the sutra feast under the persuasion of many officials.
Jingyan is a special lecture seat specially set up by the emperor for lectures on scriptures and history. It began in the Han and Tang Dynasties and has continued to this day. If it is the master of diligence, the sutra feast will be opened every day, and the knowledge will not stop every day.
However, today's sages often refuse to hold sutra banquets on the grounds that the sages are slightly ill and the heat is hot and cold. Sometimes it is rare to hold three or four times a year. The courtiers were very dissatisfied, and repeatedly wrote letters to remonstrate, reprimanding Emperor Zhaowu for being lazy and tired of learning, which violated the emperor's way. The emperor may have been annoyed, and finally agreed to reopen the feast, but he didn't know how long it would last this time.
After the early dynasty, the officials moved to the Wenhua Hall. To re-open the sutra banquet, a ceremony is bound to be held. Honglu Temple has already prepared everything. Above the main hall, the documents are complete and the scene is solemn.
Hundreds of officials stood under His Highness, discussing in low voices.
"Who is the lecturer today? Have you ever heard of it?"
"It is said that there are two small Hanlin scholars, both of whom were Jinshi just passed the exam last year, and Mr. Yan Ge personally selected them."
"The Holy Majesty re-opened the sutra feast after a year, which is of great significance. Why did you choose two small Hanlins?"
"You don't know something, the emperor said..." Liu An, the official minister, leaned over, sighed, and said in a low voice, "Say...'Don't look at those old faces again'."
The officials could only smile wryly.
"Quiet—" the former imperial eunuch cleared his throat, "Welcome to the Imperial Palace."
All the officials knelt down and bowed together: "Welcome to the Holy Majesty."
Surrounded by his attendants, Emperor Zhaowu Chen Yan (read Zhao) stepped into the Wenhua Hall, and sat on the throne meanderingly: "Let's be flat."
As soon as the officials got up, they saw Emperor Zhaowu yawn with his sleeves half covering his face.
Yan Zilian, the chief assistant of the cabinet, took a step forward, cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty's return to the Sutra Banquet is really an act of virtue and righteousness, and he has the attitude of setting an example to the world. We are very pleased."
Emperor Zhaowu chuckled twice, but his face was obviously unhappy: "Now can Aiqing let me go?"
Yan Zilian said respectfully: "The emperor's festival should not be preceded by lectures, and lectures should not be preceded by a feast of scriptures. If the feast of scriptures is not abandoned for a day, the sages and saints will advance in a day, and if they are not abandoned in a month, then..."
"Okay, okay." Emperor Zhaowu waved his hand impatiently, "Let's start now."
Yu Ji, the former imperial eunuch, said in a high voice: "I invite you to speak about officials today, and the Imperial Academy will compile Shen Hexuan."
I saw a thin man, wearing a red lecture uniform, holding a wat (reading household) in both hands, walking in solemnly. He is young, handsome and elegant, with a sense of righteousness flowing between his brows, at a glance, he seems to be a man with an open mind.
This person was the champion of the new department last year, and he was not an ordinary champion. He was the second peerless talent in Dasheng's nearly 300-year history. Imperial examinations have been promoted in successive dynasties. For thousands of years, only a dozen or so people have been able to win the three yuan.
As a small compilation, apart from the palace examination and the champion ceremony, there should be no chance to see the emperor again, but Shen Hexuan's face was extremely calm, neither flattered by being able to give lectures to the emperor, nor terrified by seeing Longyan , just knelt down to salute without being humble or overbearing.
Emperor Zhaowu was interested, so he leaned forward and lifted the jade door (reading flow) in front of him, wanting to take a closer look at Shen Hexuan: "Isn't Aiqing the rare talent who has won three yuan in a row?"
Shen Hexuan cupped his hands and said solemnly: "Is it disrespectful to be a king?"
Emperor Zhaowu was taken aback, he probably didn't expect a small editor to be so upright, he made fun of himself, put down his jade handle, straightened his sitting posture, and looked impatiently at Shen Hexuan.
The courtiers whispered, some praised Shen Hexuan for his daring to speak out, and did not disgrace the spirit of teaching, while others said that he was rigid and would suffer sooner or later.
Shen Hexuan could hear the rustling voices on both sides, but he didn't blink his eyes. But he waited and waited, but he didn't wait until the emperor told him to be flat, so he frowned, not because he was worried about being punished, but because the current development was not in accordance with the law.
Yu Ji glanced at the emperor quietly, and Emperor Zhaowu reluctantly said: "Get up, let's talk."
Only then did Shen Hexuan get up and walk to the lecture table. If it is a distinguished lecturer, the emperor will give him a seat, and a low-ranking official like him can only stand and speak. Holding the case file in his hand, he spoke today about the way of a gentleman in "The Doctrine of the Mean", "If you travel far, you will be near you; if you climb high, you will feel inferior."
When he talked about learning, he spoke in a cadence, with the sound of jade. What he said not only mastered the ancient ways, but also connected with the current principles, and he did not lack his own unique insights. All officials admired his talents and learning.
But Emperor Zhaowu obviously didn't know this way, he sat on the dragon chair and yawned again and again, no matter how good Shen Hexuan's speech was, it sounded boring to him.
After Shen Hexuan finished speaking, Emperor Zhaowu praised a few words in a very perfunctory manner, with disappointment on his face, he saluted and retreated.
Yu Ji's voice echoed in the main hall: "I invite you to give an official lecture today, Yan Sikong, the editor of the Imperial Academy."
Most of the courtiers hadn't heard much about this one, so they also became suspicious, this person didn't even enter the top three, and he was a new Jinshi, how could he get this honor
You must know that those who give lectures at the Sutra Banquet are either people who are already in important positions and full of knowledge, or they are selected by the cabinet to serve as spare attendants for the emperor or prince. can it
The only explanation is that this person is probably appreciated by Yan Zilian. After all, the emperor did not come in person for the palace examination last year, and Yan Zilian did it for him. Therefore, all Jinshi this year are his disciples.
After a while, I saw a tall and tall man walking in, wearing the same dark red court clothes, holding a wat with both hands, but he walked not as cautiously as Shen Hexuan, but a bit chic.
The hundred officials were curious and turned their heads to look, somewhat surprised.
The man was only in his early twenties, but he was as handsome as a crown jade, and his fair skin seemed to be glowing with the sound of the red dress.
Emperor Zhaowu became curious again, but when he thought of being reprimanded by Shen Hexuan for sitting in public, he just coughed lightly.
Yan Sikong knelt on the ground and bowed three times, and said in a loud voice: "My lord, Yan Sikong, I pay my respects to the Holy Majesty."
This was actually the first time Yan Sikong met Emperor Zhaowu. Yan Zilian presided over the palace examination, and he refused to go to the No. 1 Scholar Ceremony due to his illness.
"Aiqing is flat."
Yan Sikong stood up.
"Aiqing, look up."
Yan Sikong raised his head as he said. He looked at the real dragon emperor sitting on the top of the Jinluan Hall, his cloudy eyes, slender face, and bloated body, even if he was wrapped in a graceful and luxurious yellow robe, he couldn't hide the coming decay. and fatuous.
Yan Sikong secretly tightened his hands holding the bamboo wat, a gloomy look flashed in his eyes.
Emperor Zhaowu didn't realize it, and praised: "Aiqing has the appearance of Pan An."
Yan Sikong said respectfully: "Thank you, Your Majesty, I dare not show myself."
"What rank is your Jinshi?"
"Back to Your Majesty, ninth."
"Aiqing is really talented and beautiful, is there a marriage?"
Yan Zilian cleared his throat vigorously.
Zhao Wu curled his lips: "Okay, let's talk."
Yan Sikong walked to the lecture case and opened the prepared case file. What he talked about today is also "The Doctrine of the Mean", saying that "the way of a gentleman is not far away from others", and he said "'Fake and Fake, others are not far away', hold on to Fake, look at it, and think it is far away."
Yan Sikong's voice was clear and approached slowly, although not as dignified and dignified as Shen Hexuan's, but he still quoted scriptures from ancient to modern times, and sometimes added some interesting words, and slowly, Emperor Zhaowu actually listened to it.
"The way of a gentleman is pure, and the inside and outside are one. If you look up, you will look at the sky, and if you look down, you will look at the law on the ground. Holding Kovako, you are demanding on others, not as hard on yourself. The way of loyalty and forgiveness is what you don't want. , don’t do it to others.” At this point, he told another funny allusion, which made Emperor Zhaowu burst out laughing, and even gave him a seat.
After Yan Sikong finished speaking, Emperor Zhaowu praised again and again: "Aiqing's words are interesting. Where did you hear all these allusions, but are they true?"
Yan Sikong smiled and said: "I am not talented, I like to read some unofficial historical essays, your Majesty, let's talk about it as a joke, but the meaning of teaching, the way of Confucius and Mencius, I dare not say half a word of nonsense."
"Haha, good, well said." Emperor Zhaowu pointed to Yan Sikong and said to Yan Zilian, "Yan Aiqing, this person is your student."
Yan Zilian bowed and said, "It's my student."
"It's not bad that you chose this person today."
"Thank you, Your Majesty, I am very pleased to make His Majesty feel the joy of giving lectures. I hereby implore Your Majesty to restore the sutra banquet to once every three days."
Emperor Zhaowu didn't buy it: "Let's discuss this matter again."
Yan Zilian was not discouraged, and wanted to say something, but Yu Ji received Emperor Zhaowu's wink and announced loudly: "Today's feast is over, and the luncheon has been set up. Please go to the banquet, my lords."
Yan Sikong silently followed the officials and exited the Wenhua Palace. After walking a few steps, he turned his head quietly and glanced at the emperor who was moving away. He looked like a wolf, his eyes were extremely sharp.
—
Being praised by the emperor at the sutra banquet, Yan Sikong can be regarded as a big hit, the officials who want to make friends can't help but greet him on the way, he smiles, and responds respectfully and cleverly.
The luncheon will be given according to the class. Those who can participate in the sutra feast are at least three or four rank officials, and the lowest rank here are naturally Yan Sikong and Shen Hexuan.
The two sat at a table farthest from the holy seat.
After taking his seat, Yan Sikong cupped his hands and said, "Brother Shen's speech today gave me a new idea, and I really benefited a lot."
Shen Hexuan returned the gift, and said lightly: "Brother, I'm overwhelmed by the award. What you said today is full of interesting quotes from the scriptures, and I am ashamed of myself."
The two of them only said a few words of courtesy when they were seated, and during the lunch, they hardly spoke again.
Yan Sikong was talking and laughing with Yang Yue, the left servant of the Ministry of Rites, while Shen Hexuan ate wine and vegetables alone.
In fact, Yan Sikong knew very well that Shen Hexuan looked down on him. It has nothing to do with the number of Jinshi, what Shen Hexuan doesn't like is his clever words and expressions. He envied Shen Hexuan very much, he was simple and upright, and broke into this muddy officialdom with a righteousness that had not been tarnished, he didn't know whether it was luck or misfortune.
"Hey, did you hear that Prince Jingyuan's son is going back to Beijing?"
Yan Sikong was taken aback, turned his head abruptly, and asked Yang Yue who was chatting with his colleagues: "Master Yang, what did you just say?"
"Oh, Prince Jingyuan's eldest son, I heard that he is going back to Beijing."
"Is that the rumored 'Little Wolf King' Fengye? This kid is incredible..."
Yan Sikong clenched the wine glass tightly, his brain went numb.
Feng Ye...
A name so far away, as far away as the nightmare that haunted him all his life, but also as clear as day.