Chapter 37: Testing Knowledge
This day, Gong Xu returned home and saw that Consort Song’s complexion was a little off, so he asked, “Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”
Consort Song smiled somewhat forcedly, “It’s nothing, I just feel a bit dizzy and have no strength in my body.”
“Then why don’t you call for a doctor to take a look?” Gong Xu said, “Can illness be delayed?”
“It’s already this late today, we can talk about it tomorrow,” Consort Song said, “I just feel tired and want to sleep.”
“Then you rest,” Gong Xu thought she might be too tired, and perhaps resting would help, “Bao’er should be back soon. I’ll take him for a walk to avoid disturbing you. I’ll be back by dinner time, by then you should have rested.”
Consort Song smiled gently and gratefully at Gong Xu. Gong Xu treated her exceptionally well, always gentle and considerate, never looking down on her.
In fact, Consort Song knew clearly that Gong Xu treated her this way largely because of their two children.
Gong Kang’an ensured that Gong Xu would always feel guilty towards her, while Gong Bao’an was like an invisible, soft ribbon, tightly binding the two together.
Gong Xu loved children dearly; she had known this for a long time.
Hearing footsteps outside, Gong Xu went to meet them.
Indeed, he ran into Gong Bao’an head-on.
“Daddy is back, Bao’an pays his respects to Daddy.” Gong Bao’an was wearing a small robe of dark blue gauze, with a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead.
“You’ve been running around again, haven’t you?” Gong Xu asked, deliberately putting on a stern face.
Gong Bao’an flinched slightly and whispered in defense, “I just ran a few steps inside the second gate.”
“Your mother is tired, let her sleep for a while. I’ll take you for a walk.” Gong Xu dropped his stern expression and smiled at his son, taking his small hand.
Gong Bao’an followed his father out of the courtyard and then urged, “Daddy, let’s go see Fourth Brother! I haven’t seen him for many days.”
Gong Xu looked down and saw his younger son gazing at him with pleading eyes, his pure black pupils as clear as glass, without a trace of impurity.
He couldn’t help but recall his own childhood, when he would chase his elder brother Gong Rang all day, like a little tail that couldn’t be shaken off.
Sibling affection was etched into their bones; to forcibly tear it apart would be too cruel, especially for children.
“It just so happens that Daddy also wants to see how your Fourth Brother’s studies are going. Let’s go now!” Gong Xu found a plausible excuse, dispelling the faint unease in his heart.
There was ample leisure time before dinner, and Gong Changan was playing cuju ball in the courtyard.
He was dressed in short-sleeved attire, wearing a pair of small calfskin boots with rolled-up cuffs, kicking the cuju ball back and forth as if it were stuck to him.
“Fourth Brother is so amazing!” Gong Bao’an shouted and rushed over, “My uncle has this kind of skill too, but he doesn’t show it to me often.”
Gong Changan saw them arrive, gently put down the cuju ball, tidied his clothes slightly, and paid his respects to Gong Xu.
He then turned to Gong Bao’an and said, “You’re back from the academy? Are you tired?”
“It’s just the usual stuff at the academy, nothing much to talk about. We play cuju ball too, but not with Fourth Brother’s skill.” Gong Bao’an was clearly more impressed with his Fourth Brother, “Daddy said he wants to test your knowledge. If it’s good, he’ll let you study at the academy too, so we’ll have company.”
Children don’t keep secrets, and Gong Bao’an immediately blurted it out.
Gong Xu watched Gong Changan calmly, seeing that he was covered in fine sweat. Though small, he was sturdy.
Handsome but not frail, spirited but not wild, like a small pine growing among rocks, tall and resilient, elegant and natural.
Consort Song’s two sons were both rather delicate and fair-skinned, with gentle dispositions.
Gong Changan was clearly different from them.
“Let me ask you, what books have you read in these past few years?” Gong Xu asked, sitting on a chair under the Wenguan tree and clearing his throat.
“Your son has not read many books, and has only learned some superficial principles,” Gong Changan stood respectfully to the side, “It’s just ordinary children’s introductory books.”
“Have you read the Book of Songs?” Gong Xu asked, turning his face slightly.
“I have read some, but I don’t understand them well,” Gong Changan replied.
“Very well, let me ask you, the poem says: ‘In the south is the Jiu Mu tree, entwined by the Ge vine. Oh, happy gentleman, may your blessings be peaceful.’ What is the meaning of this?”
Gong Xu was asking about the “Jiu Mu” chapter from the Zhou Nan section of the Fifteen States in the Book of Songs. It wasn’t one of the famous chapters, but anyone who had read the Mao Commentary should know it.
“There is an old interpretation that this poem satirizes King Ping of Zhou for abandoning his kin. The Preface to the Mao Commentary also states: ‘Ge vine, a satire on King Ping. The Zhou dynasty’s virtue declined, and he abandoned his clan.’
However, in my humble opinion, this interpretation seems rather forced and contrived, so I am unwilling to agree with it.
In my opinion, poetry excels at metaphor and allusion. This poem merely uses the Jiu Mu tree and the Ge vine, which grow and cling to each other, to metaphorically represent joy and blessings. It could be a blessing for a new marriage, a celebration of a birthday, or any other happy occasion. That is all.”
“At your young age, you dare to question the ancients? The Preface to the Mao Commentary has been passed down for thousands of years. How can a mere child like you criticize it?!” Gong Xu’s tone was somewhat cold, and his expression was unreadable.
Gong Bao’an watched from the side, unable to help but worry for his brother. He quickly said, “Perhaps it’s because Fourth Brother hasn’t been to school and doesn’t have a teacher instructing him. Our teacher says that chapters like ‘Shu Li’ and ‘Jiu Mu’ all speak of the decline of royal virtue and the sorrow of losing one’s country or home.”
Gong Changan was not flustered and maintained his view: “Since ancient times, there have been countless interpretations of classics and histories, some agreeing and some differing. This is a matter of ‘benevolent see benevolence, wise see wisdom.’
The Sage said, ‘It is better to have no books than to believe all books.’ I feel that when reading, one must learn to ponder for oneself, rather than blindly following the teachings of predecessors.
Furthermore, Confucius once said: ‘The three hundred poems can be summarized in one word: without deviation.’ I am young and know very little, but I have a pure heart.
When reading this poem, I only felt joy, harmony, and happiness. After reading it repeatedly, I did not perceive any sense of satire.
Therefore, I do not wish to go against my own heart and agree with the words of the ancients.
Or perhaps, as I grow older, I will be able to appreciate other deeper meanings, who knows.”
Gong Xu listened to his explanation and remained silent for a long time.
He had to admit that he agreed with Gong Changan’s understanding. Gong Xu also felt that the Preface to the Mao Commentary often forced ordinary human emotions from daily life into interpretations of praise and criticism, or national affairs.
When he was young, while reading the Book of Songs, there were many chapters where he couldn’t grasp the meaning his teacher spoke of, yet he had to feign agreement.
However, he would not praise Gong Changan for this. Instead, he changed the subject, “Go and get some paper and brush. I want to see how your calligraphy is.”
Gong Changan responded and turned to go inside. At this moment, Wen Mingqian had already sent a maid with tea and dim sum.
Gong Bao’an was hungry. Looking at the exceptionally exquisite dim sum on the plate, he couldn’t help but swallow.
Gong Xu frowned. Seeing the dim sum sent by Wen Mingqian, he was reminded of his eldest son’s death.
“Don’t eat random things,” he warned Gong Bao’an, “If you want to eat something, eat it back in your mother’s courtyard.”
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