Master Kong Zhongni

Chapter 218 Zai Zi Meets Duke Ling of Wei
Zaiyu entered Weiguo Palace under the leadership of his attendants.

After a short walk, I came to the front of the East Sleeping Hall.

The attendant reported from the outside: "My lord, I just brought it back through the gentleman in front of the palace gate."

"Oh?" Marquis Wei said in surprise, "The one who just passed by the gate of the palace just now, isn't it really Master Yun?"

The attendant replied: "Master Qu was there just now, but the gentleman brought by the minister was to accompany Master Qu in the car, presumably he is his friend."

"Master Qu's friend?"

Marquis Wei became even more curious when he heard this: "Quickly ask that gentleman to come in."

Hearing this, the servant immediately led Zaiyu into the east bedroom.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the door, Zaiyu saw two people sitting opposite him through the dim candlelight.

The person sitting in the front seat must be Wei Hou himself. As for the one next to him, he looks thin and thin, maybe Wei Hou's concubine?
After thinking about it, Zaiyu felt that Weihou's personality was indeed different.

Ordinary kings receive scholars who are meeting for the first time, even if they feel uncomfortable, they have to pretend to sit upright and treat each other with courtesy.

It was good to be here with Marquis Wei, because Zaiyu didn't know him well, so Marquis Wei not only sat and behaved disrespectfully, but also met Zaiyu while having fun.

If Zaiyu hadn't known Weihou's character in advance, if someone else came over, he would definitely think that Weihou was humiliating others.

However, although Zaiyu wanted to ask Weihou, he didn't intend to get used to his stinky problems.

Everyone is human, if you treat me with courtesy, then I will naturally treat you with courtesy.

If your attitude is disrespectful, then I don't need to be fussy with you.

It was already early winter and late autumn, and Zaiyu had deliberately worn a bearskin hat and an otter scarf when he went out.

But this outfit was too rough, so when he met Yun Boyu before, in order to prevent the other party from misunderstood that he was disrespectful, he put these things into his big sleeves for safekeeping.

But now that Zaiyu saw that Weihou had such an attitude, he simply took out his hat and scarf from his sleeves and put it on again, and then came to pay his respects in front of Weihou.

No way, it's really cold in winter.Not being particular is just right for Jae Yu.

But when Wei Hou saw Jae Yu's outfit, his expression changed three times, he asked.

"This... Are you a gentleman's costume, or a villain's costume?"

As soon as Zaiyu heard this, his mood, which was not bad just now, immediately changed.

What do you mean?
You don't treat each other with courtesy, and you still expect me to talk about etiquette with you?

However, he didn't get angry directly, but straightened his face calmly, and asked back immediately.

"May I ask you, what is the difference between a gentleman and a villain?"

When Marquis Wei heard this, he replied directly: "A gentleman has virtue, but a villain has no virtue."

Zai Yu nodded slightly, and smiled softly: "In this case, how can you judge a person's virtue just by looking at his clothes?

According to the customs of Chu, people living there must wear long swords and tall hats when traveling, which does not meet your requirements for gentleman's clothing.

But among the people of Chu there were such talents as Sun Shuao, Xishu, Wu Zixu, Shen Baoxu, and Zixi.

According to the customs of Qidi, Qi people like to wear short clothes, and casually wear brightly colored crown hats that suit their wishes, which also does not meet your requirements for gentleman's clothing.

But among the people of Qi, there are good officials and generals like Guan Zhong, Xi Peng, Bao Shuya, Ning Qi, and Yan Ying.

People in the Wuyue region like to have their hair cut off with tattoos, but they also have such a well-known gentleman as Yanling Jizi, who sits on a brave warrior like Zhuanzhu who is not afraid of death.

And the Xirong people, with their skirts open to the left, and their hair knotted like an awl, also showed the good looks of Yu Yu who helped Duke Mu of Qin to dominate.

As you said, those who wear dog fur should bark like dogs, and those who wear sheepskin caps should bark like sheep.

Then, the Monarch, you wear fox fur to court, open your skirt, and hold a cup of wine to meet scholars in the side hall, according to this statement, shouldn’t your behavior also change?”

When Nanzi heard Jaeyu's words, he couldn't help raising his sleeves to hide his smile.

Weihou was embarrassed when he heard the words, but after all, he still couldn't save face, so he just replied to Zaiyu.

"Oh! You are probably the bravest person I have ever seen to speak to others so frankly!"

Seeing this, Zaiyu also knew that he was concerned about saving face, so he didn't refute him directly, but used ironic tricks to blame him.

Zai Yu replied: "Please forgive me for being stupid. I really can't understand why you say I am brave. In my opinion, there are several types of bravery, and I am obviously not one of them."

Marquis Wei asked, "Isn't someone like you considered brave?"

Seeing that he was in the trap, Zai Yu replied slowly.

"Of course I can't be called brave.

I have heard that it is the courage of the fisherman to move about in the water and not avoid the dragon.

It is the bravery of the hunter who moves on land without hiding from the rhinoceros and tigers.

It is the bravery of a hero who sees death as home without complaint and regret.

It is the courage of a sage to know that poverty is fate, and that success is due to luck, but he can still be unafraid in the face of adversity, regardless of life and death!

Now I stand in the temple, with a straight face, and I speak frankly, and offend your face.

Even if there is a reward of chariots and horses ahead, you can remain unmoved.

Even if there is a threat of beheading and beheading in the future, he is not afraid of it.

But even so, I still can't dissuade you from your behavior, which makes me plan to wave my sleeves to say goodbye to you, never wanting to see you again.

How can a person like me be called brave? "

Seeing this, Nanzi thought that Zaiyu was blaming her, so he stood up and asked Weihou to leave in due course.

"The dialogue between gentlemen is not something that women can participate in. I hope you will allow me to leave."

Upon hearing this, Zai Yu said again, "I'm not blaming you."

Weihou looked at this posture, there were only three people present, Zaiyu didn't blame Nanzi, didn't he blame him?

But on the other hand, he really didn't care about today's matter.

Therefore, Marquis Wei couldn't say anything, he could only stand up and apologize to Zai Yu.

"The widow didn't mean to humiliate you. I just drank a few glasses of wine, so that I forgot the etiquette for gentlemen. Please forgive me."

Zaiyu saw that he still didn't understand why he was angry, and even his attitude was so perfunctory, which made him even more angry.

In fact, he didn't have much resentment towards Marquis Wei's poor etiquette. The reason for his anger was Marquis Wei's double standards.

The masters all said: The king envoys his ministers with courtesy, and the ministers serve the king with loyalty.

You are rude, do you still expect me, a foreign minister, to be respectful to you?

Zaiyu replied: "In the past, Chu Wenzi got a good dog from Ruhuang and a sharp arrow from Wanlu, and used them to hunt in Yunmeng Lake, and did not return for three months.

Later, he got the beauty of Dandi, so he indulged in women's sex, wandered outside, and did not go to court for a whole year.

Baoshen then persuaded him, saying: "In the past, the emperor trusted me and asked me to be an official of the Taibao to teach you."Now you go hunting, and you will not return in March.He was also addicted to female sex, and did not go to court for a year.According to the order of the first king, your crime should be punished with whipping. '

Wenzi said: "I have been among the princes since I left my infancy.Now that I am so old, I am not a child anymore.Master, please change the criminal law and don't punish me with whipping. '

Baoshen said: "I respect the order of my predecessor and dare not abandon it."If you don't accept the caning, it means that I have abolished the order of my predecessor.I would rather offend you than offend the late king. '

Wenzi had no choice but to say, "Obey." '

So Baoshen pulled up the mat and asked Wenzi to lie on it.

Baoshen tied fifty thin wickers together, put them on Wenzi's back while kneeling, and picked them up again.

After doing this twice, he said to Wenzi: "Please get up!" '

Wenzi said, "What difference does it make if you do this?"I also have the reputation of being whipped, so why don't you really beat me up! '

Baoshen said: "I heard that for a gentleman, you should make him feel ashamed."For a villain, let his flesh feel pain.What's the use of making him feel pain if shame doesn't fix it? '

After Baoshen finished speaking, he quickly left the court hall, exiled himself to the edge of the bath, and begged Chu Wenzi to punish him with death.

Wenzi said: "This is my fault. What is Baoshen's crime?" '

So he corrected his mistakes, recalled Baoshen, killed Ruhuang's dog, broke Wanlu's arrow, and sent back to the beauty in Dandi.

Later, Chu State merged 39 countries and became the country with the largest territory in the south. The current prosperity of Chu State is also due to the foundation laid by Wenzi at the beginning.

But is this all due to Baoshen?of course not.

If Baoshen advises Chu Wenzi, but he doesn't listen, what's the use?

If Chu Wenzi expressed his obedience but did not make corrections, what good would it do for Chu? "

　I thought you had read my thoughts, but you pretended not to know.

　　——Excerpt from "zaiyrj"

　　
　
(End of this chapter)