The empress is wild and cool, and I'll help her secure her throne

There is a quiet mountain village called Kuaiji in the eastern suburbs of the capital.

This place is not far from Anlu Academy. Children are laughing and old women are washing clothes. What a quiet and peaceful scene!

Ye Qianxuan and Kong Zhongzhi sat opposite each other, drinking the white wine brewed by the farmer and eating the yellow chicken that the boy had just cooked. They couldn't help but sigh in their hearts -

It turns out that only officials can deal with officials!

The fairness and justice of the law only applies to small people!

Ye Qianxuan bathed in the late autumn sunshine and felt like he was reborn!

Ye Qianxuan drank the white wine in the cup, then bowed to Kong Zhongzhi and said, "Thank you, Dean, for saving my life!"

Kong Zhongzhi lamented, "How could such a talented poet be reduced to a lowly position, becoming a corpse tailor?"

"Qian Xuan, what do you think of this place?"

"I have been living in seclusion here for several years. Are you interested in joining me here to practice the secluded Confucianism?"

Ye Qianxuan: “???”

I'm just about to gain power, and you want to persuade me to live in seclusion?!

"I am truly honored by your kindness, senior! But I have been sewing corpses for a long time. Although I studied when I was young, I have neglected my studies now." Ye Qianxuan politely declined.

"It doesn't matter. Studying and doing research is a lifelong endeavor. It's never too late." Kong Zhongzhi said with a smile.

You love me so much...

Ye Qianxuan was shocked.

It seems that my poem "Honglu Temple Fu Qian Zhong" has a really strong impact!

At this moment, Chu Yao was also sent here by a student from Anlu Academy.

As soon as Chu Yao saw Ye Qianxuan sitting here safe and sound, she knelt down in front of him and cried, "Master! You're okay, it's so great!"

Now Chu Yao has received treatment at Anlu Academy and is able to walk, but there are still countless bruises on her fair arms!

The red and swollen slap marks on her beautiful face, the bloodstains on her fragile body that had not yet faded, and the flipped nails on her ten tender fingers were all proof of the injustices she had suffered!

"Was he beaten by the Right Vice Minister of Rites?" Ye Qianxuan asked in a deep voice.

Chu Yao didn't dare to answer, but just lowered her head as a sign of agreement.

"Fuck it! I'm going to go settle the score with him right now!"

Just forget it if you don’t save me!

And he beat my maid like this!

Are you still human?

When the old women who were washing clothes heard this, they couldn't help but sneer and say:

"Come on! He's the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites! Forget about hitting your maid! Even if he hits you, it's only natural!"

"That's right! Who do you think you are? You're just a lowly corpse seamstress! And you even want to support your maidservant in the presence of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites? This is ridiculous!"

"Just stay still! Stop causing trouble for Dean Kong!"

Chu Yao knelt on the ground, tightly grasping Ye Qianxuan's hand, and said timidly: "Master, Chu Yao is not in pain... I'm glad you're okay. Don't provoke those big shots for Chu Yao again..."

Kong Zhongzhi also replied with a smile: "Yes, Qianxuan! Why don't you put aside those struggles and live in seclusion in the mountains with me, indulging in the beauty of the mountains and rivers, isn't it good!"

Ye Qianxuan turned around and looked at Kong Zhongzhi.

He understood Kong Zhongzhi's thoughts.

When he named the poem "When my flower blooms, all other flowers die" as "A Gift from the Honglu Temple to Qian Zhong", he wanted to praise Anlu Academy.

This poem will surely be remembered forever!

Qian Zhong's name and his background in Anlu Academy will also accompany this poem and be recorded in history!

Kong Zhongzhi saved me and wanted to invite me to live in seclusion. This is all he asked for!

Since ancient times, poetry has been a shortcut invented by literati who could not become high-ranking officials in order to get themselves written into history books!

Since you want it, I'll give it to you!

According to the laws of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, I am a lowly person. Apart from passing the imperial examinations, there is no other way for me to become an official and gain power!

But if you can gain some insights and serve as an official in the court, you might be a good supporter for me!

Ye Qianxuan pondered for a moment and said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir! But I can't let go of these struggles! I just got a sudden inspiration and brewed a good poem, which I will give to Dean Kong!"

"Really? Recite it quickly!" The joy on Kong Zhongzhi's face could no longer be suppressed!

"Returning from the mountains with newly brewed white wine, yellow chickens peck at millet, autumn is the height of fatness. Calling the children to cook chicken and pour white wine, children laugh and pull at my clothes."

Kong Zhongzhi nodded and stroked his beard. This poem is just a simple description of the scenery, but the vivid picture comes to life on the paper!

It's just... it seems a little out of rhythm!

"Singing loudly to get drunk and feel happy, dancing at sunset to compete for glory. It's too late to persuade the emperor, so I whip my horse and cross the long road. The foolish woman of Kuaiji bought me lightly, so I left home and went west to Qin."

Unexpectedly, Ye Qianxuan continued to recite, and the poem was not finished yet!

The following six sentences show Ye Qianxuan’s broad mind of “singing loudly to get drunk” and “dancing at sunset”. At the same time, “the foolish woman of Kuaiji bought me lightly” and point out the fact that the old woman who was washing dishes mocked him just now. It is very vivid!

But what does the sentence "I also left home and went west to Qin" mean?

Kong Zhongzhi didn't say anything, because according to his intuition, the poem must not be finished yet!

Suddenly, Ye Qianxuan opened his arms, and his handsome face, illuminated by the warm sunlight, was as sharp and bright as a sword!

He raised his arm, looked directly at Kong Zhongzhi, and uttered the last two sentences in a resounding voice:

"Look up to the sky and laugh loudly, then go out."

"How can we be ordinary people?"

The sound of the wind in the bamboo forest of the mountain village and the sound of the flowing water in the stream seemed to be silent at that moment.

In a moment, everyone present got goosebumps all over their body!

The old women and children in the mountain villages here are influenced by the righteous spirit of Confucius day and night, and they also have some knowledge of poetry!

As the daughter of a wealthy family, Chu Yao’s understanding of music, chess, calligraphy, painting and poetry is naturally beyond doubt!

Kong Zhongzhi changed his usual calm demeanor as a Confucian scholar and looked at Ye Qianxuan who was standing proudly in amazement!

"I look up to the sky and laugh heartily as I go out, for I am not of the humblest generation." After a long pause, Kong Zhongzhi repeated the words, and then clapped his hands excitedly: "Excellent!"

The first part describes the scenery, characters and events of the secluded mountain forest, but the last two sentences take a sudden turn, making people suddenly enlightened and inspiring!

Yes!

Living in seclusion in this mountain forest all day long, even if you have great talent, the records of you in later generations will show you as a weedy person your whole life!

Even later generations may not even have any record of you, a commoner!

Kong Zhongzhi looked at Ye Qianxuan and fell silent.

In this poem, Ye Qianxuan is not only expressing his own aspirations, showing his unwillingness to retire to the mountains, but also alluding to Confucius's aspirations - are you willing to laugh out loud at the sky and go out, or are you willing to be an unknown and despised weed for your whole life!

Kong Zhongzhi quickly calmed down, smiled deeply, and asked softly, "Friend Ye, does this poem have a name?"

"Have!"

Ye Qianxuan said in a deep voice: "'Presented to Dean Kong in Kuaiji Village'."

"Good poem! Good name!"

Kong Zhongzhi laughed out loud!

Now that poetry is declining in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty, if this poem were to spread, it would surely cause a sensation among Confucian scholars and be sung by students all over the world!

Then Dean Kong’s reputation will also rise!

The key point is that Ye Qianxuan's actions also gave Dean Kong a reasonable step to enter the world!

Scholars all like to show off!

Leaving one’s name in history is a dream, but cultivating oneself, governing the country and pacifying the world is also an ideal!

Now that all his dreams and ideals can come true because of this poem, how can Kong Zhongzhi not be happy!

Amidst the discussions of the people in Kuaiji Mountain Village, Blue Bird arrived with her maid and said loudly:

"His Majesty has ordered Kong Zhongzhi and Ye Qianxuan to enter the palace to meet Him!"

The discussion stopped for a moment.

"Look up to the sky and go out laughing. How can we be from Penghao?"

Kong Zhongzhi put his knowledge into practice, and simply turned away his sleeves, laughed loudly, and left the palace!

Ye Qianxuan patted Chu Yao's head and said solemnly:

"Go home first. When I come back, I will remove you from the Jiaofangsi and help you get revenge!"

"Master..." Chu Yao burst into tears, staring blankly at Ye Qianxuan's tall and majestic back as he left. For a long, long time...