The Luo family has some respect in the capital, and with Princess Sheng as matchmaker, the marriage is naturally appropriate. Madam Liu asked the matchmaker to read their zodiac signs. As long as everyone gets along, the marriage will be decided.
Although the Liu family does not have a high family background, it has good family tradition.
Liu Zhizhou has two sons and one daughter. The eldest son Liu Luo is working in the local government. The second son Liu Yi is only thirteen or fourteen years old this year and is still studying in a private school. The only daughter Liu Ruyu is also famous for her elegance and intelligence.
Now that Miss Liu is getting married, the one she is most reluctant to part with is her younger brother, the second son of the Liu family.
Confucian writing studio.
Several young men were looking through the classics, and one of them said: "Brother Liu, I heard that your older sister is going to marry into the Shangshu Mansion?"
Liu Yi said: "So what?"
"Haven't you ever heard of the second son of the Luo family? He doesn't have a good reputation."
Liu Yi put down the book in his hand, frowned and asked: "Why is it so bad?"
Someone whispered: "I heard that he often loiters around the flower houses, and he is very dissolute. Moreover, my Mother also said that he was once given to Princess Ancheng as her husband. Later, Princess Ancheng escaped from the marriage. He was laughed at for a long time, so although he has a good family background, he has not married yet."
Liu Yi clenched his fists, a little annoyed.
He said: "Don't talk nonsense. If this is true, how could my parents agree to this marriage? The rumours must be wrong."
"If only one or two people say this, it may be wrong, but everyone says it. Nine times out of ten, it's true."
Liu Yi picked up his book bag, turned around and walked out, saying, "I want to tell my parents, they must have been deceived."
"Heh..."
A chuckle came from the side. Several people looked over, and it turned out that sitting in the corner of the study, there was a young man in white. He was wearing light brocade clothes, with delicate and picturesque eyebrows, and a very touching smile.
Liu Yi blushed and asked, "Brother, why were you laughing just now?"
The young man in white tilted his head and looked at him. He said, "I'm laughing because you are so stupid."
"Me, why am I stupid?"
"Of course your parents have their own difficulties. How can any parent not love their daughter? But there are many difficulties in life, and who can always have everything they want? They are already unhappy about agreeing to this marriage. If you continue to question them, wouldn't it be like stabbing them in the heart again?"
"Also, although most of the rumours about the Luo family's Young Master are true, he has a good character and is open-minded. He will definitely treat your older sister kindly, so there is no need to worry about it too much."
After saying this, he straightened his sleeves and walked out of the study. A luxurious carriage came out of the alley and picked him up.
Liu Yi was still stunned, but he heard someone say in surprise: "That's the Ye family's carriage."
"It really is the Ye family!"
"Could it be the second son of the Ye family? Why is it different from the rumours..."
"It's just an illusion. Otherwise, we can say that he is a beautiful baggage. Even though he is wrapped in gold and jade on the outside, he is a piece of trash on the inside. If he is asked to pick up a pen, he will be exposed."
Liu Yi asked: "Why do you call him a beautiful baggage?"
The man said: "Brother Liu, you have been in the capital for more than half a year, how come you don't even know these things? The famous Ye family is full of talents, but the second son is dull. He only knows how to have fun all day long. He also raises a big tiger in the yard. A few years ago, the tiger ran out of the yard and frightened a few people."
Liu Yi frowned, recalling what the man said just now, but felt that the rumours might not be true.
======
Ye Chongjin lay in the carriage and coughed twice. Xia He hurriedly took out a bottle of jade pills, took out one and handed it to his lips.
He opened his mouth and swallowed it, and then ordered: "Don't tell my parents and Brother."
Xia He said: "Master, is it really so hot? Even though you know you are not in good health, you still want to go to the study to make use of the ice basin for a while. In the past few years while His Majesty has been away, it has been hard for you to be more obedient."
Ye Chongjin smiled and said: "Anyway, King Yama would not dare to accept me as long as he is here."
Xia He really couldn't do anything to him, so she poured a cup of warm medicinal tea and put it in his hand.
Ye Chongjin thought it was too hot, so he frowned and said, "Take it further away."
"If the Young Master doesn't drink, this slave will complain to the Madam."
"..."
Ye Chongjin reached out to hold it, and took a sip. He murmured: "Your wings are hardened, you dare to threaten your Master. I will find an ugly man to marry you someday."
Xia He knew he was joking, so she just laughed twice and didn't care.
Speaking of marriage, Ye Chongjin thought of the marriage between the Luo family and the Liu family. Liu Zhizhou was not a person who liked power. He always regarded doing practical things as the basis, so Ye Chongjin was a little surprised that he would agree to this marriage.
When he arrived at Jinguang Temple, Ye Chongjin got off the carriage and said to Xia He, "I'll go find Master. You can stroll around the temple. If you're really bored, go draw lots and ask about your marriage. Jinguang Temple's divination is very accurate.
Xia He blushed deeply and watched him leave.
After entering the Zen room in the backyard, a young novice monk nodded slightly to Ye Chongjin and said, "Junior Brother Changsheng, you are here to find the Master."
"Senior Brother Wangyou," Ye Chongjin bowed back and said, "I borrowed an ancient book from Master earlier, and this trip is just to return it."
Wangyou said: "Master already travelled around yesterday. Before he left, he asked this poor monk to tell you something."
Ye Chongjin said: "Senior Brother, please tell me."
Wangyou said: "Master said that what you are confused about is because it has not happened yet and there are variables, so it is impossible to predict. Sticking to the right path is the solution."
After saying that, he clasped his hands together, nodded slightly, and walked away.
Ye Chongjin smiled softly and sighed helplessly: "Stick to the right path, but... what is the right path?"
In his previous life, he served the country and the people below, with a clear conscience. Could it be that he was on an evil path? In this life, he lives alone and keeps away from the imperial court. Is this the right path?
======
In early July, the Prime Minister's Office set up a lecture hall in the banquet hall. Old Master Ye began a ten-day lecture. Almost all the famous officials in Daegu gathered in the capital, which was an unprecedented event.
It was elegantly called the "Ten Day School" by literati and was recorded in history.
Although the old Master had not taught for a long time, his knowledge was extraordinary. He quoted scriptures and every word is thought-provoking. However, because there are only more than a hundred seats, many scribes without invitation letters even slept on the ground in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion, just hoping to grab a chance to listen.
Many of the court officials even excused themselves from going to court because of illness, just to listen to the teachings in the Prime Minister's Mansion.
For the Ye family, "teaching and imparting knowledge" seems to have become an instinct in the blood. The old Master retired for so many years, and once again sat at his teacher's table, talking about poetry and articles with his students. His increasingly declining body was gradually rejuvenated.
Ye Yanbai stood behind the screen, looking at his old father's energetic appearance, feeling very emotional in his heart.
Ye Chongjin whispered: "Grandpa wants to go back to Jinzhou."
Ye Yanbai sighed softly, caressed his son's head and said, "It's almost time."
He had made an agreement with the late Emperor to assist the new Emperor in stabilizing the country. He can decide whether to stay or go on his own. Now that Emperor Huan Yuan has the talent to manage the country, and there are many talented people in the court, with a little help, he can leave the capital with peace of mind in at most two or three years.
He just hopes that his father will wait for him for another two or three years.
After the "Ten Days School" ended, the capital once again returned to calm. But it was only on the surface, as great changes had taken place within.
First, the old Master advocated leaving more copies of ancient books and texts that were about to become extinct for future generations to read. Therefore, many ancient books that were originally unknown to people were able to see the light of day again. Some ancient texts and foreign texts were gradually taught in schools.
Secondly, the old Master advocated the cultivation of both civil and martial arts. He believed that martial arts was not crude, but could strengthen the body. Literary men and martial men should not be enemies, but should learn from each other and complement each other. There were many disciples of the Ye family in the middle court, and they regarded Master Hongwen's words as the words of a sage. The custom of emphasizing literature over martial arts was greatly improved.
Third, Emperor Huan Yuan, who had been on the throne for only three months, had gone from being the King of Hell that everyone feared to becoming a monarch respected by all people.
The old Master did not deliberately praise the court. He said that although the new Emperor was young, there were some things that made him, a man of his age, ashamed.
He only mentioned a few things briefly, and there was no need for him to say the rest, as others would naturally say it for him.
His Majesty was brave and resourceful when he was in the northern part of the country, and made outstanding achievements many times. When he was framed by others in the court, he repaid evil with kindness. When he was the Crown Prince, he went to the northern part of the country at the age of twelve, where he killed the Northern Tatars with his own hands. Even General Meng praised him for following the footsteps of his ancestors... His achievements are comparable to those of his ancestor, Emperor Taejong of Daegu.
In this way, it would be much easier for the court to implement some new political laws.
However, there is still no clue as to the source of the rumours.
=======
After many days, Ye Chongjin met Lu Ziyan again.
He carried baggage along and stayed in Ye Chongjin's house, saying pitifully: "I ran away from home, A-Jin, please take me in."
Ye Chongjin glanced at him and murmured: "What's the benefit of taking you in?"
Lu Ziyan hugged his waist, and lifted Ye Chongjin's chin frivolously. He said, "There are so many benefits. I can make you happy, serve you, and warm your bed."
"..."
If they were seen by Lu Lin like this, he would definitely be hated by that person.
Ye Chongjin pushed hard, but Lu Ziyan was as sticky as a candy cake and couldn't be torn off. He asked guiltily: "Are you still blaming me for lying to you last time, so you came here to trick me?"
Lu Ziyan was stunned, and said, "I would have forgotten if you didn't tell me. You and Lu Lin teamed up to deceive me and make me sad. I really misjudged you!"
Ye Chongjin's mouth twitched. It was over.
Lu Ziyan got angry, and pointed at his forehead. He scolded: "I usually treat you well, I think of you first when good things happen. When I encounter trouble, you are the first person I think of to help me. Such loyalty, Brother, where are you going to find it? It's dangerous to stay in the capital, so I only told you! You! You!"
Ye Chongjin lowered his head, and he obediently waited for him to finish venting before asking: "Why is it dangerous to stay in the capital?"
Lu Ziyan pursed his lips. Seeing that there was no one else in the room, he leaned into Ye Chongjin's ear, and whispered: "Because the Emperor will be deceived by traitors."
"Treacherous traitors? How do you know?"
Lu Ziyan said: "I told you, a wandering Taoist told me. He said that the traitor is a eunuch. The Emperor will neglect and abuse the law and discipline of the imperial court because of his favour and trust, and later... he would also destroy the country."
The blood drained from Ye Chongjin's face. He straightened his expression before asking hoarsely: "Can a single eunuch destroy the country?"
Lu Ziyan did not learn history well, not to mention that there are always omissions and errors in things recorded in history books. He tried hard to recall the remaining memories and said: "Of course a eunuch can't, but after his death, the Emperor went crazy and killed countless people. The man also held a ceremony to sacrifice to heaven, and all the righteous people in the dynasty were killed in order to bury them with him."
Ye Chongjin felt dizzy. This was a lie, because Gu Chen promised him that he would be a good Emperor. That man had promised him.
However, he actually believed that the disaster Lu Ziyan mentioned happened in his previous life after his death.
He heard himself asking: "Then what?"
Lu Ziyan said: "After that... the Emperor died, and the dynasty changed."
"How did the Emperor die?"
Lu Ziyan saw that his expression was wrong and asked: "A-Jin, what's wrong with you?"
Ye Chongjin held his shoulders and said almost as if begging, "Ziyan, how could the Emperor die? Who can kill him?"
Lu Ziyan then remembered that A-Jin had a very good relationship with the Crown Prince when he was young. He scratched his head and said, "I don't know about this either."
History books only record that Emperor Huan Yuan caused the two major tragedies of "Righteous Disaster" and "Red Alley". Because so many people were involved, the bricks and tiles in the entire capital were dyed blood red. The blood of civil servants formed a shallow stream on the street, so it was called Red Alley. Emperor Huan Yuan's wisdom and martial prowess in the early period was extremely inconsistent with his cruelty and tyranny in the later period, which has been controversial for later generations.
Lu Ziyan felt scared all over when he thought of that tragic situation. He said: "A-Jin, before you worry about the Emperor, you should worry about yourself first. When it comes to righteousness, the first one to bear the brunt is your Ye family."
Ye Chongjin asked: "That wandering Taoist, do you remember what he looks like, and what are his characteristics?"
Lu Ziyan was a little distressed, because there was no such thing as a wandering Taoist. He was just making it up.
"He looks like an ordinary beggar. He's dirty and dressed in rags. If you want to find him, you probably won't be able to find him." He gently stroked his friend's back and comforted him: "Don't be afraid, A-Jin. Come with me, let's leave the capital and wander around the world together."
"He's not going anywhere."
Lu Ziyan was stunned. A black shadow passed by him. His body was suspended in the air, and he was thrown out by a powerful force. A guard in black stretched out his hand to catch him.
Lord Lu's treasure was almost broken, the guard leader thought with lingering fear.
Lu Ziyan said: "Who is so arrogant..."
His words stopped abruptly, because the serious-looking elder brother in front of him took out a black dragon token with three words engraved on it - Jinwu Guard.
"The people there..."
"His Majesty."
Lu Ziyan seemed to have been enlightened by someone for a moment, and he understood everything. Then he panicked and suddenly overturned.