Chapter 286: Luck
Prince Rui’s Mansion had no scholars. Princess Consort Wei knew that this literary gathering, initiated by her son and pitting him against the woman his heart desired, was something her second daughter had rushed to inform her about.
As soon as Second Great Aunt Gu finished speaking about this important matter, Eldest Great Aunt Gu arrived.
Before Eldest Great Aunt Gu could even settle down, Second Great Aunt’s question came: “Are you here for the literary gathering too? I just told Mother, and she doesn’t know yet!”
Seeing her mother’s displeased expression, Eldest Great Aunt Gu stood up and sat beside her, “Shall we send someone to call my brother back to ask him?”
“Ask him what?” Princess Consort Wei replied irritably.
“Ask him what he intends to do,” Second Great Aunt chimed in.
The three daughters and one son of the Gu family were not afraid of Prince Rui, and not very afraid of Princess Consort Wei.
“Even if he refuses to tell the truth, we can at least see what excuses he gives,” Eldest Great Aunt Gu agreed.
Princess Consort Wei’s face darkened, and after a moment, she let out a hum.
Even though she knew she wouldn’t get any answers, the frustration was still stuck in her chest.
Eldest Great Aunt raised her voice and ordered someone to fetch the Young Lord, stating it was urgent.
The old woman returned quickly, followed by Shi Gun, who was attending to her with great care.
“Princess Consort, Eldest Great Aunt, Second Great Aunt,” Shi Gun meticulously paid his respects to each of them. “The Young Lord is currently busy with some extremely important accounts that the Palace is waiting for. The Young Lord has asked me to report to the Princess Consort: the Young Lord said that it is merely a discussion of scholarship, and the Crown Prince is aware of it.”
“How will they discuss scholarship? Who will be speaking?” Eldest Great Aunt Gu asked.
“The Young Lord didn’t say, but from what I overheard, it seems Mr. Dongxi and Miss Li will both be speaking,” Shi Gun replied obsequiously.
“Does that Miss Li truly possess such profound knowledge?” Second Great Aunt Gu asked, extremely curious.
“I don’t know about other knowledge, but she is exceptionally skilled in the Investigation of Things, even the Crown Prince has praised her highly,” Shi Gun replied with reverence.
“How is she so skilled?” Second Great Aunt Gu asked, frowning.
“I don’t know. When I heard Miss Li and the Young Lord discussing the Investigation of Things, it was like listening to heavenly scriptures,” Shi Gun replied with a smile.
“You may go,” Princess Consort Wei instructed Shi Gun.
Shi Gun agreed and withdrew, his hands clasped at his sides.
“Shall I go take a look?” Second Great Aunt asked, looking from her mother to her sister, clearly excited.
“What good would it do for you to go look?” Eldest Great Aunt glared at her sister.
“It might be good for you to go take a look,” Princess Consort Wei interjected.
“Eldest Sister, don’t worry, I’ll watch discreetly and make sure no one recognizes me,” Second Great Aunt Gu said, pursing her lips and putting on a serious expression.
……………………
Shi Gun made trip after trip, delivering to Li Xiaonan all the articles, experiences, family background, parents, siblings, wives, children, friends, rumors from various sources, and evaluations from others that Gu Yan could find about Mr. Dongxi.
Li Xiaonan read through them all carefully, but she didn’t believe any of this would help her win the debate. She didn’t think she could win against Mr. Dongxi at all.
After all, in this time and space, Dongxi was the host and she was the guest. All the logic and viewpoints here were Dongxi’s as the host. If it were in her own time and space, she might have had some confidence.
Li Xiaonan didn’t intend to win against Dongxi; her bottom line was not to be persuaded by Dongxi, and she was quite confident about that.
Li Xiaonan was very calm, while Wan Jing was busy rushing around.
Her young lady was about to attend a grand event, and her clothes were very important. They couldn’t be too extravagant, but too plain wouldn’t command respect. Just being elegant wasn’t enough; they had to be unique. They couldn’t be too plain, nor too flashy.
Yu Ting followed behind Wan Jing, offering suggestions. This time, A Wu didn’t scorn the matter of clothes as a woman’s concern; instead, he seriously stated, “A person is judged by their clothes, and a horse by its saddle. This matter is very important!”
Li Wenliang and Master Hong certainly knew that this matter was extremely significant and crucial, but they knew very little about it, let alone being able to help. Fortunately, they were so busy with their own affairs that they couldn’t cope, and with the Young Lord around, they didn’t need to worry.
On the day of the literary gathering, Gu Yan did not come. Shi Gun, with about ten guards, escorted Li Xiaonan to a garden behind the Imperial Examination Hall.
Li Xiaonan peered carefully through the gauze window.
The garden was very large, with rows of ancient trees, and the entire garden was almost completely covered in shade.
The garden was already filled with scholars gathered in twos and threes, openly staring at the paulownia wood cart, escorted by brightly dressed guards from the Prince’s Estate.
The cart moved forward, passing by a grand hall with a very high platform, and stopped on the other side of the hall.
Gu Yan descended the high steps with light steps, turned, and walked alongside Li Xiaonan. As they ascended the steps, he quietly asked, “Is everything ready?”
Li Xiaonan glanced at Gu Yan but didn’t answer the question.
“Song Yun has already arrived. When you pay your respects to him later, bow a little deeper; the etiquette must be thorough,” Gu Yan instructed.
“Mm!” Li Xiaonan replied without moving her head.
Quite a few people were standing on the steps, all looking at her and Gu Yan.
As Li Xiaonan finished ascending the steps, a clear announcement came from below: “Prime Minister Wang has arrived.”
“Stay where you are,” Gu Yan reached out to stop Li Xiaonan, then turned and descended the steps himself.
“Young Lord, you are too kind. I don’t deserve such a welcome from the Young Lord,” Prime Minister Wang said with a smile, cupping his hands from below the steps.
“I have listened to Prime Minister Wang lecture while accompanying the Crown Prince. Prime Minister Wang can be considered my teacher. Please, Prime Minister Wang,” Gu Yan said quickly, descending the steps and ushering Prime Minister Wang first.
“Young Lord, you are too polite.” After Prime Minister Wang politely declined once, he no longer stood on ceremony and ascended the steps before Gu Yan.
After this literary gathering, it was highly probable that he would take Miss Li on as a nominal disciple. Being a step ahead of the Young Lord now was a lead he could afford.
“Mr. Dongxi, please,” Gu Yan turned and then invited Dongxi.
“I dare not. Young Lord, please,” Mr. Dongxi did not dare to walk in front of Gu Yan.
Gu Yan was not overly polite and followed Prime Minister Wang, ascending the steps while chatting and laughing.
Li Xiaonan had already found a seat by the side and, adopting the “bowing and lowering the head” posture taught by the attendants Li Wenliang had hired, waited with a respectful demeanor.
“A Nan, this is Prime Minister Wang,” Gu Yan introduced her, then smiled and added, “A Nan admires Prime Minister Wang the most. When I first met her, she heard I was from Jianle City and asked, ‘Do you know Prime Minister Wang?’ I replied, ‘Everyone in the world knows Prime Minister Wang.'”
“Young Lord, you flatter me,” Prime Minister Wang replied with a smile, then turned to Mr. Dongxi and said, “They say the spiritual beauty of Jiangnan is even more pronounced in its women. It is indeed so.”
“What Prime Minister says is absolutely true,” Mr. Dongxi replied with a bow and a smile.
“I originally thought Jiangnan’s literary spirit was only among men, but today I realize that Jiangnan’s daughters are no less than men. Indeed, Jiangnan’s literary spirit surpasses the world.”
Officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Academy standing nearby chimed in with polite remarks.
Li Xiaonan lowered her head slightly, maintained a smile, and quietly, slowly straightened her back a little. Bending over for too long was too tiring.
After a long round of greetings and pleasantries, led by Prime Minister Wang and Gu Yan, a large group of people walked through the main hall and arrived at the other side.
Li Xiaonan sat demurely on her padded seat.
Mr. Dongxi’s seat was conspicuous, clearly visible to the scholars in the garden. Li Xiaonan’s seat was hidden behind a pillar.
After all, there is a distinction between men and women.
After Prime Minister Wang’s opening remarks, Mr. Dongxi began.
“It is a fortune for us Jiangnan scholars to gather here today,” Mr. Dongxi said, his voice modulated, clearly possessing the captivating tone of a lecturer.
“At the beginning of human nature, it is a chaotic mess, neither knowing evil nor good. As one grows, with the upbringing of parents and teachers, learning the ways of heaven and earth, and the principles of the sages, one can then distinguish between good and evil, cultivate one’s temperament, and finally become a person. We scholars, without a teacher, cannot possibly discern good from evil, let alone cultivate our temperament. What do you think, Miss?”
“We scholars believe that the former master said, ‘When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher.’ We scholars believe that as long as one can investigate things and discern them, anyone can be a teacher. Do you agree, sir?” Li Xiaonan emphasized the phrase “we scholars” and spoke each word deliberately.
Gu Yan raised his eyebrows. Prime Minister Wang’s eyes widened at Li Xiaonan’s repeated use of “we scholars,” and the officials seated throughout the hall had varied expressions. Mr. Dongxi was also utterly speechless.
Before Mr. Dongxi could reply, Li Xiaonan continued, “I, the young lady, have had no prior dealings with Mr. Dongxi. Among those present are Mr. Dongxi’s direct disciples, his friends, and many who have discussed scholarship and spoken with Mr. Dongxi many times.
“Mr. Dongxi has probably never used the word ‘I’ for himself. When he speaks of himself, he always uses phrases like ‘we scholars,’ ‘we Jiangnan scholars,’ ‘we people of the mountains and wilds.’ When he speaks of scholarship and classics, for example, when the former master said, ‘When three people walk together, there must be one who can be my teacher,’ he would always say: ‘The meaning of this sentence is that what the former master wants to tell us is that his interpretation of classics and scholarship is what the former master wants to tell us, what the sages want to tell us.’ He never says: ‘My understanding is…’ or anything like that, is that correct?”
Gu Yan frowned slightly and began to recall seriously.
Prime Minister Wang narrowed his eyes, then relaxed them after a moment. He was beginning to understand. This Miss Li was taking an unconventional approach, and he wondered how far she would go.
Some of the scholars in the hall and throughout the garden were thinking carefully, while others looked at each other and then at the main hall, their interest piqued.
“I am extremely skilled in the Investigation of Things. Although I know little about scholarship in classics, history, and literary criticism, the Investigation of Things can help me deduce truth from falsehood. For example: Mr. Dongxi just said, ‘Without a teacher, one cannot possibly discern good from evil, let alone cultivate one’s temperament.’ This is Mr. Dongxi’s personal experience in self-cultivation and scholarship, his own understanding. If he had said: ‘I think!'”
Li Xiaonan emphasized the words “I think.”
“You could have refuted him with, ‘Is your thought correct?’ But Mr. Dongxi never says ‘I think.’ He says: ‘We scholars!’ Then you have no way to refute him. If you were to say to him: ‘Are you scholars correct?’ then you would be saying that all scholars in the world are incorrect.
“My expertise in the Investigation of Things allows me to know that this is not scholarship from Mr. Dongxi, but a tactic.
“A tactic like Mr. Dongxi’s, hiding among the crowd, is one of the methods used in the Investigation of Things to manipulate people’s hearts, and it is also one of the tactics of debaters.”
“Miss, you are slandering me! We…” Mr. Dongxi suddenly choked.
Li Xiaonan smiled and continued, “The Investigation of Things is not just about divination, nor just about the sun, moon, stars, astronomy, and geography. The Investigation of Things is also about human nature and hearts. For example: in the military, when fighting a war, first, most units are ten men to a squad, and at least three men fight side-by-side. Second, fierce and bloodthirsty individuals are sent to the front to kill, like wolves leading sheep. Is that correct?”
Li Xiaonan looked at Gu Yan.
Gu Yan nodded.
“Then, are there many battle-hardened soldiers, who have killed countless people, who become timid and cowardly after retiring from the army, afraid to even slaughter pigs or sheep?” Li Xiaonan continued to ask.
“This is indeed true. I have seen many such cases when I was in local office. Is this also the Investigation of Things?” an official in the hall asked with great interest.
“Yes! This is the conformity within human nature. When fighting in the army, being among companions, they forget their own timidity and fear, and also forget their conscience and compassion. If someone takes the lead and massacres a city, they will also slaughter infants and the elderly.
“Like Mr. Dongxi, whenever he uses the word ‘I,’ he always replaces it with collective terms like ‘we scholars,’ ‘scholars,’ ‘all scholars in the world,’ to hide himself among the crowd. This way, he gains courage. He is subtly suggesting his personal desires as the will of the masses.
“These are the most basic principles of the Investigation of Things. I believe everyone should know some of them, to discern human hearts and also to govern and wage war.”
“Miss, your tongue is truly like a knife.” Mr. Dongxi’s face turned green. He never imagined that Miss Li’s words would turn out like this.
“This is not my tongue; this is the Investigation of Things. I plan to write a few books, and I’ll start with this one. My knowledge of the Investigation of Things concerning human hearts and nature is limited, but perhaps writing it will attract more insights,” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
Dongxi’s use of “we” is truly excellent! Today is truly a lucky day, fortunate, so fortunate.
