Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 545 Books and Etiquette

Pei Ye was really a little annoyed.

He had always been very sensitive to other people's emotions, and at that moment he heard it very clearly. It was definitely not an insult to an old friend, and he did not hear any emotion in it.

In fact, the philosopher in front of him was very serious from beginning to end, or he had no emotions. His eyes were as deep as a pool of water, but there was no sense of movement. Instead, they were like ancient trees. He looked at the young man and said in a serious manner: "Since you are the descendant of Yue Muzhou, then learn more about morality and etiquette."

It was a very subtle feeling - it would even be better if the person in front of him had a grudge against Grandpa Yue - Pei Ye pursed his lips, bowed without any expression, and performed a half-salute.

Zhu Wen meticulously returned his half-bow and stepped forward to help him straighten his clothes.

Then the philosopher led the two into a small quiet room where three tables, one large and two small, had been set up. He asked them to go in and sit down first, and then he turned and left.

The steps gradually became farther away.

Fang Jidao glanced at Pei Ye quietly, tilted his head and whispered: "... Young Master Pei."

"Ok?"

"Mr. Zhu is a decent man, don't be too angry with him."

"Oh, I didn't."

"That's good." Fang Jidao smiled and said, "Later, when Master Zhu comes to teach, we need to stand up and perform the disciple etiquette first, and then Master Zhu will accept the etiquette. This is a common etiquette and must be performed before each teaching in the future."

"Oh."

Only a moment later, Zhu Wen came back. It turned out that he had gone to get some books. He brought back eight or nine books, placed them beside the table, and stood up and straightened his clothes.

Fang Jidao stood up and bowed.

Pei Ye pretended not to know.

Zhu Wen did not look angry, but still had a serious expression on his face, and said, "Pei Ye, you must perform formalities before class."

"Oh."

Pei Ye stood up and bowed like Fang Jidao.

Before Zhu Wenli returned to the case, he took a book and handed it to Fang Jidao, then gave the rest to Pei Ye.

"A teacher is someone who teaches, imparts knowledge, and resolves doubts." Zhu Wen looked at the two of them. "My whole life has been about seeking the principles of Heaven. I established myself in the first half of my life by studying the principles of nature, and I devoted my life to the discussion of the two Heavens in the second half. My nature is mysterious and profound, and I have few people with whom I can discuss it. In fact, only Li Jian and Nan Xiu are two of the few people I can discuss it with. However, Li Taizhu governs the world, while Nan Zhezi respects Heaven. After all, they each have their own way."

"Jidao, I will teach you everything with all my heart. How much you can learn depends on your luck. After you inherit my teachings, you will be alone in the world of learning, with only Dao as your companion. I hope you will keep your mind focused and never give up."

"Master Zhu's teachings are engraved in Jidao's heart."

Zhu Wen turned to Pei Ye and said the same thing: "Pei Ye, I will neither teach you nor impart knowledge to you, but I can help you solve your doubts. I see that you are not familiar with the various rites. I think that although you have entered my school, you have not read any classics. You should first read the 'Three Rituals', and then study the 'Book of History', 'Book of Songs', 'Filial Piety', 'Mencius' and other books. You must study hard these days, and I will also teach you with all my heart. If you can understand the moral teachings of the saints, you will have achieved success."

"Yes, thank you Mr. Zhu."

Pei Ye was waiting for him to say something, but Zhu Wen remained silent. This philosopher sat down at the desk, turned the pages of a book and picked up a pen, without looking up again.

The winter wind was blowing outside the window, and the hall was completely quiet.

Pei Ye still didn't realize that this was the normal state of their study. He subconsciously looked at Fang Jidao. The scholar had carefully opened the book that Zhu Wen handed him. It was full of neat handwriting with dense notes and even drawings. He frowned and looked at it for a while, then opened his book box and took out the book to have a look.

"..."

Pei Ye withdrew his gaze and wondered why the main reason for his visit was not mentioned at all... He frowned and took a book from the pile in front of him.

I looked at the cover and changed it.

He took a look and changed to another one.

He frowned again and raised his hand to flip through the stack of books one by one.

"Um... Mr. Zhu, I don't see the book "Three Rites" here."

Zhu Wen raised his eyes and said, "The Three Rites are Yili, Zhouli and Liji. You can start with Yili. Go back tonight and copy down the writing, dissemination and annotations of the Thirteen Classics. Bring them to me tomorrow morning."

"……Oh."

Pei Ye lowered his head as if nothing had happened and opened the book "Yili".

The sound of wind flows through the gaps between the pines and cypresses outside the window. It seems difficult to feel any changes while reading here throughout the year. These tall trees are green and upright all year round.

Pei Ye read seriously and with difficulty for nearly two hours. The sky seemed to have grown dark, and the only sounds in the entire quiet hall were still those of reading and pens.

He didn't quite understand why he was asked to read this kind of book. He could almost understand a new sword move in two hours. Even if he used it to study some issues of the Way of Heaven, it would probably help his future practice. But this book was really all about etiquette.

Just look at its chapters: Gentleman's coming of age ceremony, Gentleman's wedding ceremony, Gentleman's meeting ceremony, Village drinking ceremony, Village archery ceremony, Banquet ceremony, Grand Archery Ceremony, Betrothal gift, Audience ceremony, Mourning clothes...

To be honest, although the language is archaic, what is narrated is not difficult to understand. It's just that this purely intellectual thing made the young man a little drowsy.

When dusk finally fell through the window, Zhu Wen closed his book and put down his pen: "Do you have any questions?"

Fang Jidao stood up and bowed, then walked forward with the book in his hand, knelt beside Zhu Wen's desk, handed the book over, and began to talk about questions like "How do we explain the two natures?"

This question-and-answer session lasted for about half an hour. Pei Ye continued to flip through the book in accordance with the principle of not wasting time until they finally stopped.

Zhu Wen looked at him and said, "Pei Ye, how are you doing in your studies?"

"...It's okay, Mr. Zhu."

"Please bring the book."

Pei Ye took it and handed it to him, then stood in front.

"A student is here to greet the teacher. If there is a desk, please kneel beside the desk." Zhu Wen did not take his book, but gestured for him to hold it himself.

"Oh." Pei Yexue knelt beside Fang Jidao.

Zhu Wen asked him a few questions, indicating that he could answer them by looking up the book. Pei Ye answered them all haltingly. Zhu Wen showed no praise or criticism. After he finished answering, he explained the part he had read to him in detail from beginning to end, and finally asked, "Is there anything else that you don't understand?"

Pei Ye listened patiently, but couldn't help himself: "Mr. Zhu, I wonder what the current situation is with the 'Two Heavens Theory'?"

Zhu Wen looked at him and frowned for the first time: "One should concentrate on studying. What does the 'Er Tian Lun' have to do with the 'Yili'?"

"..."

However, this philosopher did not seem to get angry, and asked seriously: "Is there anything you don't understand about the book of Yili?"

“It’s all clear.”

Zhu Wen nodded, his eyes like dead wood and pond water looking at him: "The difference between humans and animals lies in etiquette. Since you are wearing the Unruly Sword, you should study it seriously and not be perfunctory."

Pei Ye was startled.

"Just review for another three quarters, and today's lesson will be over."

Fang Jidao stood up and saluted, and the two returned to their seats and read quietly for another three quarters of an hour.

Zhu Wen stood up, and the three of them packed up their books and pens, and when they went out, it was already dark.

Zhu Wen took them to have dinner. Fang Jidao was almost hungry after getting the book of nature and reason. He never put it down during the meal and kept asking questions while holding the bowl. Pei Ye just tasted the food and fruits of Tianliyuan and judged them to be bland. After dinner, Fang Jidao said goodbye. He would live in Tianliyuan from today. Zhu Wen took Pei Ye back to the small courtyard.

The moon was shining brightly among the pines, and the leaves cast sparse shadows. There were only two people on the path, and neither of them seemed to want to talk.

Pei Ye rarely felt embarrassed, but he was indeed a little tense in this kind of solitary atmosphere.

Until Zhu Wen suddenly asked, "Do you practice swordplay every day?"

Pei Ye was stunned for a moment: "...almost."

Zhu Wen nodded: "You don't have to be here day and night like Ji Dao, but you must be in the courtyard for four hours every day, morning or afternoon is fine. If you have anything else, you must inform me first."

"Four..."

Zhu Wen did not answer, as if this was an iron rule that could not be amended.

The two men returned to the yard, but they skipped the first entrance. Zhu Wen took him straight to the door of the second entrance.

"Besides studying, you and I are both responsible for the matter of the 'Two Heavens Theory'. You are the one entrusted by Tong Jun. I will tell you in detail and you will report back."

"……it is good."

Zhu Wen pushed open the door and saw a small two-story library in front of the courtyard.

Pei Ye thought they were going to the second floor which looked very old, but Zhu Wen did not go up. Instead, he took the young man through the hall on the first floor and came to the backyard.

Standing under the eaves, you can see at a glance that this is a quiet place that no one has set foot in for a long time. The three ancient walls are covered with dark moss, and the stone paths grow in the soil. There is no grass in winter, but the round pond in the middle with clear water has not frozen.

This is a very ordinary backyard, but it is not deserted. Instead, signs of careful care can be seen everywhere.

"I have completed the theory of the two heavens last month, and I have also written the article and the book. Now I just check every day to see if there are any new questions." Zhu Wen put the book on the table, and took out the pen he had just used and put it in the basin under the eaves to wash the ink. "This is a wonderful move. The theoretical contradictions can be resolved, and it is very consistent with the Taoist view. There is nothing subtle or weird. It is a principle that can be promoted throughout the world."

"But Master Xu said...you still have some unfinished business here."

"Yes, because I haven't confirmed it yet." Zhu asked. His tone was always calm and serious, and he never seemed to be chatting or joking.

"Confirm what?"

"Two Heavens Theory." Zhu asked, "I heard about this theory ten years ago, and started to deduce and verify it. Now the system of Two Heavens Theory has been perfected, but even after ten years, the 'verification' has not yet been completed. It will probably take another twenty days or a month."

Pei Ye recalled that Xu Chuo once said that in order to establish an argument, one must first make it coherent and secondly, provide empirical evidence. Now this philosopher seemed to be focusing on the second aspect.

"How did Mr. Zhu confirm it?" he couldn't help but ask.

Zhu Wen looked towards the backyard: "This is the yard. Don't step into it if you have nothing to do."

"...?"

Pei Ye didn't understand for a moment, he looked again - the courtyard was indeed still ordinary, nothing magical like the Fantasy Tower.

"When the weather gets colder and the ice forms, we'll see how the water in the round pond freezes." Zhu Wen lowered his eyes, wiped the pen handle clean, and hung it up. "If it's completely frozen, it will be one day; if it's half frozen, it will be two days."

Pei Ye widened his eyes, thinking for a moment that he was not in the Tianli Temple in Shenjing, but on the streets of Fenghuai, listening to fortune-telling by a charlatan. However, Zhezi's expression in front of him remained normal. He wiped his hands, went under the eaves, took the dustpan and broom, and went down the stairs into the courtyard.

"Why is this?" Pei Ye asked.

Zhu Wen did not answer.

"Then..." Pei Ye was at a loss. He suddenly realized that this was not a 'confirmation', but a judgment without a result. "What if it's all frozen?"

"If it's all frozen, then the 'Two Heavens Theory' is false. I've already said that." Zhu Wen still said calmly.

"..."

"That's it. There's nothing else to do. If you feel cold, make yourself a cup of hot tea and you can leave."

"..."

Pei Ye stared at the philosopher as he walked up the path and swept the field carefully. At the end he took a long rake and picked up a few fallen leaves on the surface of the pond.

The winter chill seemed to have really penetrated his bones. Pei Ye shivered, turned to the table, picked up a few tea leaves and put them in the bowl, then poured water and brewed half a bowl.

After taking a sip, the boy frowned. It was an extremely bitter and astringent tea...but it did warm his body.

……

……

When Pei Ye returned to the former prime minister's old house, the bright moon was truly high in the sky. The streets on winter nights were much less crowded than on summer nights. When he arrived at the door, Pei Ye looked back and found that there was no one in the small garden and the magician was gone.

However, he pushed with his hand but failed to move it, and his face almost hit it.

Pei Ye stared blankly down at the door.

Locked.

He stood there in silence for two breaths, then jumped over the wall.

Pei Ye could remember the way after having been here once, but this time the library was completely dark, and the only place that had candles on was the side yard next to it.

Pei Ye came to the front of the courtyard with some caution and hesitation. The lights were on, which meant he had not rested yet, but it was not necessarily convenient to disturb him - mainly because he still felt a little guilty about breaking his promise for three days. He was thinking about finding a random courtyard to sleep in, and when they met tomorrow, they would just say hello and pretend nothing had happened.

However, there was only silence in the courtyard. He listened carefully but didn't know what the woman was doing. After hesitating for a moment, he used his true energy to pick open the bolt, raised his hand and gently pushed the gate open a crack, then looked inside.

He was greeted by Xu Chuo's quiet gaze.

"..."

"..."

The woman was sitting in the yard wrapped in a cloak, with a stove beside her legs and a book on her knees. She looked up at the half face of the boy trapped in the gap.

"I don't know what Tianliyuan is." She said in a calm voice, "Young Master Pei spent a day there, and he turned into a thief who sneaks into other people's yards in the middle of the night."

"...I was afraid of disturbing the owner." Pei Ye laughed twice, opened the door and walked in, rubbing his hands, "It's really cold, haha, why are you still sitting in the yard in such a cold weather?"

"I told you last time that I like the cool breeze, and Kitty is here." Xu Chuo lowered his eyes, "I sleep late, come here."

Pei Ye walked over and found that there was indeed a small chair for him in the yard. He pulled it to Xu Chuo's desk, on which were placed several books, some new and some old.

"How is Tenriin?"

"It's OK." Pei Ye was actually annoyed by Zhu Wen's attitude when he mentioned Grandpa Yue. His rustic nature also resisted his polite manner. "Anyway, it's just reading some books. I asked him about the 'Er Tian Lun', and he said it would take another 20 days or a month until the pond freezes."

He looked at Xu Chuo curiously.

Xu Chuo showed no surprise and nodded, "Yes, we want the Tianli Academy to propose the Two Heavens Theory. We can't just find a spokesperson to serve as a mouthpiece, but we need them to really agree with it before this flag can be raised. We chose Zhu Zhezi not because he is close to us, but because he is the most suitable one."

Pei Ye didn't quite understand. The woman looked at him and said calmly, "The four philosophers of Tianliyuan follow the same consensus, hold two views, but have four different positions. Do you know what it means?"

(End of this chapter)