Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 541 Heavenly Law
"Give it to me...or to Fang Jidao?" Pei Ye thought for a moment that she had said the wrong thing and followed her in.

As the residence of a former prime minister, it is indeed too inconspicuous. Although the shape is not reduced, the texture and materials are almost the same as those of ordinary people. Going around the screen wall, the flowers and plants planted in the yard are also ordinary - but it is not messy, and it seems that someone is taking care of it.

"Here you go." Xu Chuo said, "Fang Jidao is one of the only two people in the Imperial College who is proficient in all five classics this year. He was directly recommended by the Confucian School and took the entrance examination specially set up for him. What kind of recommendation book does he want?"

"..."

Pei Ye glanced at her.

"Remember what I said? Before you came, I had always lacked a sword that was sharp enough." The courtyard was not like the small garden outside which was withered all winter. Holly plants were planted here in a unique way, making it green all year round. Xu Chuo tightened his warm cloak and slowed down his pace.

Pei Ye naturally remembered it, but later he thought that it was a romantic phrase said between a subject and a ruler when they met, just like when Liu Bei said something like "lovely love" when he held Kong Ming's hand for the first time.

Because later he heard about the noodle-eating man outside the Xingbu Street, and also met Yan Feiqing, the top fighter in the Sword Training Institute... To put it bluntly, from the Pulse Realm to the higher levels and even higher, he, Young Master Pei, might not be the most useful one.

"The things that require you to accomplish are never to crush the Taiping Cao Gang or pierce through the Huanlou." Xu Chuo seemed to always be able to see what he was thinking and smiled softly.

Pei Ye looked at her in surprise.

"If you hadn't come - or if you weren't as suitable as you said, I would have used Jiang Yin'er to take your place." Xu Chuo said slowly, and suddenly glanced at him, "I heard that you met yesterday. How was that girl? What did you talk about?"

"Yin'er, she's pretty good, sincere... She's really good at using the sword." Pei Ye didn't react to the change of topic for a moment. "We didn't talk about anything, just chatted... I asked her some questions about Grandpa Yue."

Pei Ye thought of the peaceful chat on the rooftop last night and couldn't help but smile.

"What could she possibly know about Yue Muzhou?" Xu Chuo said in surprise, "You might as well ask me instead of asking her."

“……” Pei Ye was stunned.

Xu Chuo looked at him.

"……right."

He immediately tilted his head: "Then can you tell me?"

Xu Chuo couldn't help but smile: "I still have his letters in my hand, I'll show them to you when I have time. Um... but some of them are our private letters, so they can't be given to you."

"...Do you have any private letters?" Pei Ye was puzzled. "I am the closest person to Grandpa Yue. Why can't I read it?"

"You are not my closest person." Xu Chuo was also puzzled.

Pei Ye pursed her lips.

Xu Chuo turned back, and the two of them walked on the stone path of the winter garden: "That day was also the first time I met Jiang Yin'er, and she didn't give me the same confidence as you did."

The woman changed the subject: "Although you had not recovered your true energy that day, were weak and seriously injured, and had no sword, I believe that the person in front of you is indeed the young Jing Ke. If I fight you with the sword, you will definitely be able to enter the pond and slay the dragon and come back."

"But even so... what I want you to do is still a wall of heaven." Xu Chuo said softly, "I don't know how sharp a sword has to be to be considered sharp, because you are facing an enemy that no one has ever challenged."

Pei Ye looked at her seriously.

Xu Chuo took out the key. There was a two-story wooden building at the end of the path. It still didn't seem to have any carvings or paintings. Xu Chuo unlocked the door, and Pei Ye followed her in. There was a rich scent of books.

"Pei Ye, there are few lower-class scholars selected in the imperial examination, and those who come in are all dependent on aristocratic families, and the aristocratic families are an iron wall... Then do you know why we have the strength to fight today?" Xu Chuo turned around and looked at him.

Pei Ye was slightly stunned. Yes, there shouldn’t have been any loophole left... How did Lord Yuan come to power?

"Yuan Zhao was not originally in the Ministry of Revenue. He actually started in the Ministry of Rites. However, his appearance, behavior, knowledge, literary talent, reputation and prestige were not outstanding, and it was even difficult for him to be promoted to a minister, so he transferred to the Ministry of Revenue." The space in the building was more cramped than expected, and the walls were crowded with books. Xu Chuo was not in a hurry to find something, but pulled out a chair and sat down. "As for why he was able to become a doctor in the Ministry of Rites, it was because at that time, Li Mingqiu was still the Minister of Rites."

Xu Chuo leaned on the backrest and looked at the wall of books, motioning him to light the small stove.

Pei Ye remembered that the old gentleman who always had a clear and upright face in the classroom was indeed a leader in literature. He remembered his resume - he was a doctor of the Imperial College when he was young, and he worked his way up to become the Minister of Rites before retiring, which meant that he had devoted his life to etiquette and education.

He taught the same course as Xu Chuo and published articles in national newspapers, and he did have a close relationship with women.

"Li Mingqiu's family background is not one of the five surnames, but it is also respectable. His selection for the Ministry of Rites was recommended by Minister Xu." As the fire started, Xu Chuo stretched his hands out of his cloak to roast them. "At that time, Yuanzhao was quite talented and sharp, so Minister Xu asked Li Mingqiu to help him climb the ladder."

"..."

"Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Revenue. In fact, it was Li Mingqiu who withdrew from the Ministry of Rites and made several attempts to get this more powerful position." Xu Chuo said softly, "But later, he was able to gain a firm foothold in this position and gradually become a leader. Now he can point the finger at Li Du. This is more of his own ability. I just cooperated."

"...Hmm." Pei Ye seemed to understand, "I thought Mr. Li had really reached the age."

Xu Chuo smiled, lowered his head and used a pole to stir the fire: "After people are over fifty, they can choose to retire due to illness every day. This is just a good excuse."

"So," Pei Ye probably understood, "everything... started from Xu Xiang's time."

"The New Imperial Examination Law was compiled by him personally," the woman whispered, "In order to implement this law, he struggled hard for more than ten years."

"…Failed?"

"Not only did I fail, I even lost my life." Xu Chuo chuckled.

"Although we are facing obstacles everywhere now, we still have a peak to rely on when facing the wall of heaven. At that time, Prime Minister Xu... was facing truly hopeless difficulties. He was alone and surrounded, and it was no more than that." She whispered.

Pei Ye looked at her. There was no expression of pain on the woman's face. Her elegant and quiet face shone in front of the fire.

"He opened up such a path, so that the poor scholars could have a place to struggle. Now that Yuanzhao is standing here, the scholars can gather around him." Xu Chuo said, "What we are doing now is just to carry on his legacy."

"..." Pei Ye was quiet.

"Let me ask you something." Xu Chuo suddenly raised his head. "You have been in the capital for a month. You have met all kinds of people, gangs, poets, scholars, high-ranking officials, and dignitaries. Tell me, how can we implement the new law?"

Pei Ye was slightly stunned. He had indeed seen them all before.

To open up the path to officialdom, the only way is to reform the imperial examination system, so that the path to advancement is smooth and society is not distorted. However, even if official positions can be increased or decreased, power is constant. If there are more people from poor families, there will be fewer nobles. There is no way to soften the contradiction. The essence of this matter is to bite off the flesh of the aristocratic families.

Of course, irreconcilable conflicts can only end in a winner, which often leads to fierce, brutal and violent fighting, but then you will find that... you are facing an unstoppable enemy.

The aristocratic families, or the entire group built around the aristocratic families, will block it. To put it in a more shocking way... that is the entire Tang Dynasty.

You cannot issue an order to reduce the power of the feudal lords and expect the emperor to stand with you; you cannot negotiate or bargain with them because you do not have any cards that can shake them; as for a coup, don't joke, this is not a matter of not being able to afford food or survive... and a hundred thousand scholars and their families combined cannot defeat any single family.

Pei Ye paused in his thoughts. In front of the small fire, Xu Chuo looked at him with her quiet and deep eyes. Unlike the stories in the novels, the "aristocratic families" were not some kind of corrupt and powerful disease, nor were they abscesses that blocked the progress of the Tang Dynasty. They were connected to the lifeblood of the entire Tang Dynasty and carried the destiny granted by the Qilin. They were arms, legs, and even heads and hearts. They were the Tang Dynasty itself.

...As the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty, all your power and authority come from this identity. How are you going to implement what you want?
Pei Ye stared at the fire in the furnace.

unless……

"Unless the 'Mandate of Heaven' respected by the Tang Dynasty is wrong." Xu Chuo said softly.

The building was silent for a moment, with only the crackling sound of burning wood.

Salaries are drawn from the bottom of the pot.

"Confucianism has external learning, which is the Four Books and Five Classics, benevolence and forgiveness, and the way to govern the world; Confucianism also has internal learning, which is the principles of the world, the fate of the soul, and the way of heaven and man." Xu Chuo said, "Didn't you always not understand what Tianliyuan does? In fact, it is just as its name suggests - it studies the principles of heaven."

...Yes, to establish the most powerful dynasty in such a world, with the immortal monarchs looking down and immortal power scattered, how could the Tang Dynasty not pay attention to the sky above its head?
What exactly will influence our destiny?

Therefore, Fang Jidao must want to "seek the only truth in the world" so he wanted to enter the Tianliyuan.

"You should have attended a few classes taught by Li Mingqiu in the Imperial College, and your eldest grandson should have taught you a little bit, so you should have a general understanding of the natural law that the Tang Dynasty respects now." Xu Chuo said slowly, "The noble families are in a high position because they have the blood of the Qilin. The Qilin is irresistible because it holds the power of destiny. And destiny is the concrete manifestation of the will of heaven."

"If you want to move the family, you must first move 'God's will'."

Xu Chuo also raised his feet and stretched them towards the stove. He was silent for a while, then tilted his head and said, "Let me test you. What is the logic behind this 'God's will'?"

Pei Ye was stunned for a moment, then slowly said: "...Heaven created all things."

Xu Chuo clapped his hands and looked at the fire: "Yes, everything is born from heaven, and 'heaven' is the beginning and end of everything, so everything is of course determined by heaven. The fortune of the Tang Dynasty is naturally destined by heaven, and now that the fortune of the Tang Dynasty is high, it naturally means that the destiny has not changed and cannot be violated... Let me ask you again, what is the real key here?"

Pei Ye now understood: "Human nature is also innate."

The words he heard on the first day he entered the Imperial College only echoed here now - "The Master's words about human nature and the Way of Heaven cannot be heard."

"The Way of Heaven" refers to the operating order and internal laws of "Heaven". It does not exist only in the dark and invisible place of heaven, but exists in the existence and growth and decline of all things themselves, because all things in the world are born from "Heaven".

People, of course.

How do flesh and blood have spirit, and why am I who I am? The essence of human beings after being stripped of flesh and bones is called "nature".

What is "nature" and where do "I" come from? These are questions that everyone has asked since ancient times; "nature" is innate, and this has been the unchanging answer since ancient times.

Since it is given by Heaven, we should follow the laws of nature.

This is not an indoctrination, it is a statement of fact that you are born into this framework and cannot go against it, just as an arm cannot lift its own body.

Xu Chuo poked the fire and crossed her legs, looking at him with some satisfaction: "Yes, so the end point of this logic is - people naturally cannot change fate."

Yes.

Who dares to say that the Tang Dynasty was not prosperous at this time?
Since the dynasty's fortunes are as solid as a rock and the mandate of heaven is still with us, why should I pay attention to the cries of the scholars below?

Many people know that the current state of the Tang Dynasty is unhealthy, but so what?

If destiny is really about to change, Qilin will issue an edict based on the changes in fortune, and changes will then be made accordingly. This has been the way the Tang Dynasty has survived for hundreds of years.

Pei Ye stared at the fire in a daze, and for a moment he could not find any loophole - they would not really let the people live a life worse than death and rise up in rebellion. "Fortune" is like a water level gauge. Before reaching the warning line, they can sit on people's heads and squander and enjoy themselves unscrupulously, and no one has any reason to stop them.

That is why things like what happened in Liguan became so rampant among the aristocratic families.

"...That's why there is such a fierce debate about the relationship between 'heaven' and 'man'." Pei Ye murmured.

It is because the principles of nature guide people’s behavior and also represent the right and wrong of people’s behavior.

"If we want you to come and see, where should we start our argument?" Xu Chuo tilted his head to look at him and guided him, "Remember? The thing you are most familiar with - the 'sword', is a fairy power that belongs only to humans."

Pei Ye was stunned and suddenly realized: "I understand - 'nature' is born by oneself! It has nothing to do with heaven?!"

Xu Chuo chuckled: "You really are the monkey who caused havoc in Heaven."

"..."

"You can make this assumption, but let me ask you, how can a person be 'self-generated'? You were born from your parents' embryos, and your parents were born from their parents... and so on all the way to your ancestors. What in them is your own?"

"..."

"Or do you think that when a person grows to a certain age, sex will naturally emerge from his flesh and blood?" Xu Chuo tilted his head and asked, "Then let me ask you, aren't your flesh and blood, your heart and brain born from heaven and earth?"

"..."

"An argument cannot be made on a whim. It must have a complete logical chain and at least one piece of evidence." Xu Chuo suppressed his smile. "Unless you can prove that 'man' is something that floated from the universe in ancient times and does not exist in the heaven and earth, then no matter what, 'man' cannot exist beyond this world. Since he is born in it, he follows the underlying logic of this world just like flowers, plants, insects and birds."

"Oh." Pei Ye replied in a daze, and suddenly tilted his head, "Then, Prime Minister Xu... have you found a solution?"

Xu Chuo paused while warming himself by the fire and said softly, "He found it."

"..."

"He was originally a disciple of the old priest, a rare talent in Confucianism for decades. He almost exhausted all his energy to promote this matter."

"But back then, he couldn't even save his own life, let alone promote this feat. Now I'm sending you to the Tianli Court because I want you to help accomplish this." In the quiet room, Xu Chuo looked up at him and softly told him the former prime minister's argument.

"Since human nature cannot escape from the way of heaven, how can we not follow the fate of heaven? Because... 'there are two heavens'."

Pei Ye was horrified.

"There is the heaven of nature and the heaven of life, which correspond to the soulless and the soulful respectively. The soulless can give birth to the soulful, and the soulful can transform the soulless. Thus, flesh and blood can give birth to consciousness, and all souls return to dust after death." Xu Chuo said, "'Fortune' is the trend of the natural heaven, while what people correspond to is the heaven of life."

"The changes in the heaven of life and death will change the heaven of nature. Therefore, the governance of the country should be measured by people, not by fortune. If we only consider the fortune of nature and ignore the lives of the people, the Tang Dynasty will fall into danger." Xu Chuo looked at the gradually dimming fire, "In "On the Two Heavens", he wrote it as 'Haotian invades the Tao'."

(End of this chapter)