roccoschili Chapter 84 0082 [Not What They Used to Be]
Chapter 84 0082 [Not What They Used to Be]
Chapter 84 0082 [Not What They Used to Be]
Since Xu Lai had come to Ouyang Xiu's study, he studied with Ouyang Bei, Ouyang Bian, and Xu Anshi.
Ouyang Xiu taught them how to compose poems.
Less than half an hour into the lecture, a servant suddenly came to report: "Sir, the Prince and his family have arrived to visit, and the Lady is already receiving them in the front hall."
"I'll be right there," Ouyang Xiu said.
Upon hearing that a distinguished guest had arrived, Xu Anshi quickly rose to take his leave.
Although Xu Lai did not know who that "prince" was, he still bid farewell along with the chubby boy.
Ouyang Bian was quite reluctant to part with them and personally saw them off.
As they approached the door, a servant led in a donkey, which turned out to be the little fat boy's mount.
Ouyang Bian, who was fifteen years old (by Chinese reckoning), took Xu Lai's hand and said, "Brother, we hit it off immediately, and I really hate to part with you. You can come to my house again next ten days, or we can arrange to meet somewhere else."
"Then I will come to your residence again later this month to bother you." Xu Lai was also shameless.
Ouyang Bian said happily, "That's wonderful, I'll be waiting for you, brother." Then he invited Xu Anshi, "Brother Shao Zhang, come along too."
"Even if you didn't invite me, I would still come," Xu Anshi said with a grin. This chubby guy was even more shameless.
The three parted reluctantly, and Ouyang Bian stood at the door watching them leave even after seeing them off to the gate.
Xu Anshi left without a page or servant, leading his donkey along the alley.
Xu Lai laughed and said, "I thought you usually ride horses."
"Donkeys are easier to ride, I'm afraid I'll fall off a horse," Xu Anshi said.
Xu Lai asked curiously, "Who is that prince?"
Xu Anshi said in a low voice, "Wang Gongchen, Mr. Ouyang's brother-in-law."
Xu Lai certainly knew of Wang Gongchen's name.
During the Qingli era, it was due to Wang Gongchen's impeachment that talented individuals such as Fan Zhongyan and Ouyang Xiu were demoted and exiled from the capital. Teng Zijing was also demoted to the position of prefect of Baling County, which was also due to Wang Gongchen's impeachment.
Wang Gongchen was the number one political enemy of the famous ministers of the Qingli era.
Ouyang Xiu and Wang Gongchen were actually brothers-in-law?
Even if they are brothers-in-law, they should have become mortal enemies long ago. Why are the two families still visiting each other?
In fact, Ouyang Xiu and Wang Gongchen did have a falling out and stopped communicating. But about ten years ago, their hatred gradually faded, and they slowly resumed correspondence.
When Ouyang Xiu first returned to the capital, Wang Gongchen invited him to be his neighbor, saying he would help Ouyang Xiu find a house.
They occasionally exchange small gifts. Their relationship isn't particularly close, but they're no longer so hostile towards each other.
This time, Wang Gongchen was transferred from Dingzhou to Taizhou. On the way, he returned to the capital to pay homage to the emperor and took his wife and children to visit Ouyang Xiu's home.
By the way, Wang Gongchen's granddaughter later married Li Qingzhao's father as his second wife.
Based on Li Qingzhao's birth year, Wang Gongchen's granddaughter is very likely Li Qingzhao's biological mother.
If she was his biological mother, then Li Qingzhao's relationship with Qin Hui would be explained. Wang Gui's descendants enjoyed immense prosperity, while Li Qingzhao alone suffered a miserable fate, purely because the two were not related by blood.
Furthermore, Ouyang Xiu, who had returned to the capital, had changed drastically compared to his youth.
The once passionate young man has become a composed politician. Everything he does is for the sake of stability and unity, and he carefully considers every move. Even when Fu Bi proposed reinstating certain new policies, Ouyang Xiu said it needed to be considered cautiously.
Even in his youth, when he wrote "On Factions," Ouyang Xiu felt that he was too extreme and might cause factional strife to disrupt the world.
This elaborate funeral for Emperor Renzong of Song was proposed by Han Qi, but it was opposed by many officials.
In the past, Ouyang Xiu would certainly have opposed the idea. But now, he doesn't publicly express his opinion, only silently supporting Han Qi.
Because the situation in the court is very sensitive at the beginning of a new emperor's reign, the leadership team must be united.
Even though Ouyang Xiu disliked the elaborate funerals for emperors, he still had to grit his teeth and support Han Qi to the end.
Once outside the alley, Xu Lai asked, "Where do you usually live?"
Xu Anshi, leading the donkey, said, "My great-uncle's house is on the right."
Xu Lai said, "It's not far. I live in the left wing. Can I borrow your donkey? I've never ridden one before."
"Then get on. I'll be your servant today and help you with the donkey's stirrups," Xu Anshi said with a smile, stepping aside to make room for him. "Please get on the donkey, sir."
Xu Lai was both amused and exasperated: "Your great-uncle is a top scholar in the imperial examination. If he knew you were pretending to be a servant, he would probably beat you to death with his own hands."
Xu Anshi laughed and said, "He couldn't bear to hit me. When I was a kid, I used to ride on his shoulders and pee."
Xu Lai carefully climbed onto the donkey's back, sat with his head held high and chest puffed out: "If I have the chance in the future, I want to learn to ride a horse and personally lead a large army to conquer the Western Xia!"
"That's ambitious. I'll help you transport supplies when the time comes." Xu Anshi thought he was joking.
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Xu Lai rode the donkey for about ten steps, had his fill of riding, then dismounted and returned it to the chubby boy.
Xu Anshi said, "It's almost noon, let's find a place to eat."
"I'm not familiar with the capital, you choose the place." Xu Lai planned to freeload a meal and have Young Master Xu pay the bill.
Xu Lai had different attitudes toward different people.
This chubby kid is friendly with everyone and can take a joke. Getting a meal from him will only make him happier.
Xu Anshi wasn't actually familiar with restaurants in the capital. He usually ate at his great-uncle's house, so he just randomly picked one without really knowing what it was like.
The two ordered a few side dishes and a pot of wine.
Xu Anshi wasn't a good drinker; after a few drinks, his face turned red, and he spoke without reservation: "Xingzhi might not know, but my family was extremely strict. I used to be almost driven crazy at home. Coming to the capital to study this time has finally freed me from that cage, and I'm living a very carefree life."
"It's good that someone is in charge," Xu Lai said.
Xu Anshi continued, "For the first half month after I arrived in the capital, I played around every day. Later, I realized that this was not right. If I continued to play around like that, I would definitely neglect my studies. So I went to visit famous officials and shamelessly begged them to teach me. Haha, they couldn't stand my pestering and couldn't just kick me out."
Xu Lai immediately thought of Sima Guang.
Having just finished writing a memorial impeaching Cai Xiang, Sima Guang suddenly had to face this chubby boy and patiently teach him his lessons. One wonders what Sima Guang's feelings were at that time.
You really want to beat this guy up, don't you?
Xu Anshi is usually a chatterbox, but now that he's had some drinks, he talks even more, sitting there chatting with Xu Laidong about random things.
Xu Lai could only agree.
After filling his stomach and leaving the restaurant, Xu Anshi insisted on driving under the influence of alcohol.
The guy rode wobbly on the donkey's back, and Xu Lai had no choice but to help pull the rope, seemingly becoming his servant.
When they arrived at his great-uncle's house, Xu Anshi actually fell asleep on the back of the donkey.
After knocking on the door, Xu Lai handed the chubby boy to a servant and then turned to head towards the Yu family's residence.
Yu Zhongxun and his wife are directing their servants to pack their luggage.
"Xingzhi is back. Did you have lunch at Master Ouyang's house?" Yu Zhongxun asked.
Xu Lai replied, "I have eaten. When will you leave the capital to take up your post, brother?"
Yu Zhongxun said: "Tomorrow."
His eldest son and younger brother will continue their studies in Kaifeng. His other sons and daughters will all go with him to become officials.
The house was suddenly mostly empty.
Excess servants would be dismissed, and only one or two trusted confidants would be taken with them, and they would be rehired upon arrival at their post.
The next day.
Xu Lai and Chu Cheng saw Yu Zhongxun and his family off all the way, and only returned to the city after seeing them off on the boat.
Having connections in the imperial court makes it easier to get an official position, and Chu Cheng's assignment was quickly finalized: a county magistrate in a small county in western Sichuan. There were barbarians in the area, so he had to be careful.
After Chu Cheng left, the Yu residence became exceptionally quiet.
Only Xu Lai, Yu Shuying, and Yu Sigong remained, along with a cook and a cleaning lady.
Yu Shuying and Yu Sigong completely let loose, often staying out all night drinking and having fun with friends.
Sometimes, apart from the servants, only Xu Lai remained in the house.
The days passed quickly. During the day, he would attend classes and study at the Imperial Academy, and at night he would stroll back to the Yu residence to sleep. On the ten-day periods, he would go to Ouyang Xiu's house for extra lessons.
More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.
The temperature dropped extremely low, so Xu Lai bought three sets of winter clothes.
It's another ten-day period for rest and recuperation.
Xu Lai walked down the street, shivering from the howling wind, and quickened his pace with his hands tucked into his sleeves.
Upon arriving at Ouyang Xiu's house, the doorman, who had already become familiar with him, immediately instructed a servant to take Xu to the study.
Ouyang Fei, Ouyang Bian, and Xu Anshi are chatting.
Upon seeing him arrive, Xu Anshi said, "Xingzhi, go to the banquet and poetry gathering at noon."
"Aren't you going to listen to Mr. Ouyang's lectures?" Xu Lai asked.
Ouyang Fei said, "My dad is busy today."
Ouyang Bian explained in detail: "The Emperor is angry again, so my father went to the palace to remonstrate with him."
However, Emperor Renzong's body had already been buried, and his memorial tablet needed to be brought back to the Jiying Hall for a memorial service.
The journey from the mausoleum to the capital had already involved five sacrificial rites, all conducted according to the "rites for the journey." It was understandable that the new emperor wouldn't personally preside over them, since the Empress Dowager was there to back him up.
However, the sixth Yu sacrifice was held in the Jiying Hall, and the new emperor Zhao Shu still refused to show up, which directly angered many ministers.
After repeated persuasion from his ministers, Zhao Shu agreed to personally preside over the sacrificial ceremony and even issued an imperial edict.
That very evening, Zhao Shu suddenly fell ill again, saying he couldn't attend the ceremony the next day. He also didn't have the Empress Dowager preside over the ceremony, instead having the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court act in his place.
That's a clear case of going back on one's word!
He showed no respect to the court officials or the Empress Dowager, leaving her in an awkward position.
The Empress Dowager sent a eunuch to deliver a letter to Han Qi, which was full of Zhao Shu's strange behavior in the palace, and even included outrageous lyrics written by Zhao Shu himself.
After reading it, Han Qi burned it on the spot.
The next day, Han Qi went to the palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager wept bitterly, saying that there was no place for her in the palace.
Han Qi could only offer words of comfort, saying that the emperor was ill and it was understandable that he was restless.
Then, Han Qi went to persuade the emperor.
Ouyang Xiu and others also took turns advising the two in the palace to calm down.
Xu Lai was certainly not involved in such important matters of the imperial court.
The only impact on him was that Ouyang Xiu was too busy to give a lecture that day.
"Who started this poetry gathering?" Xu Lai asked.
Ouyang Fei said, "A friend. Today is a farewell party for Huang Tingjian, who is leaving the capital to return to his hometown."
After chatting in the study for a while, the four of them estimated the time and went out.
They hired a donkey cart and quickly squeezed inside to take shelter from the wind; it looked like it was going to snow soon.
Xu Lai laughed and said, "Why aren't you riding a donkey today?"
"Are you trying to freeze me to death? That cold wind is so strong," Xu Anshi said irritably.
The donkey cart moved slowly forward. Xu Lai was slightly expectant, after all, he was going to meet a celebrity. Moreover, a celebrity who was still young, unlike Ouyang Xiu and Yu Jing, who were already old.
Getting old means losing your youthful vigor.