Great Zhou Empire: Kill Zhao Kuangyin at the beginning

Chapter 436 What's in your heart is what matters to the world (Special thanks to book friend xzws for two monthly tickets!)
Chai Zongxun nodded and said:

"Yuer knows her mother's hardships and respects her, that's great!

The emperor has given you a large mansion in Bian Jing. You can bring your mother to live with you so that she can spend her old age in peace.

Yu'er's descendants, your father has allowed you to be named according to the royal generation."

Han Jiyu was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude profusely.

After the two chatted for a while, Chai Zongxun thought about the hardships of military life and the need for a strong physique, so he immediately taught Ji Yu the immortal health-preserving exercises that Chen Tuan had taught him in the past.

Ji Yu had been practicing martial arts with his adoptive father Han Hui since he was young, and was quite knowledgeable about internal skills. Now that his father had carefully taught him, he had learned the essence of it in less than a quarter of an hour.

Chai Zongxun was very pleased. After praising Ji Yu a few words, the two said goodbye.

Chai Zongxun stood up and walked towards the Jixian Hall where the "Qionglin Banquet" was held.

Chai Zongxun thought:
“It is true that ‘one is born in adversity, and dies in comfort’.

The environment in which Yu'er lived and grew up was much more mentally difficult than those of other princes such as Zhou'er and Yu'er, and he even had to endure a lot of criticism and contempt from the world.

However, Yuer's thinking and way of dealing with people are obviously more mature and well-rounded, and she can often put herself in other people's shoes and understand their hardships.

He also knows how to be grateful to his parents. He is truly my good son."

When they were halfway there, Tang Qi, who was accompanying him, reported to Chai Zongxun the information he had just received from the Wude Division regarding Kou Zhun's dialogue and his interaction with Ding Wei at the "Qionglin Banquet".

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"This Kou Zhun! He is too arrogant and self-righteous, and doesn't care about other people's dignity.

Ding Wei had good intentions and deliberately tried to please Kou Zhun in public in the hall.

Even if Kou Zhun couldn't stand Ding Wei's "flattering" behavior, he couldn't insult him in front of him like this! Wouldn't Ding Wei hate him to death? "

Tang Qidao:
“Your Majesty is wise.

Kou Zhun was born into a prominent family, so it was inevitable that he was too rigid and not flexible enough. "

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Chai Zongxun arrived at Wenhua Hall.

Upon hearing that the emperor was coming in person, thousands of scholars in the civil and commercial fields and all the officials in the palace hurriedly left their seats and paid their respects to welcome him.

After the greetings, Chai Zongxun sat down on the throne and motioned everyone in the hall to take their seats.

After inviting everyone to drink a few cups and saying some encouraging and spurring words, Chai Zongxun said with a smile:

"I heard that just now during the banquet, Lord Kou was moved by the scene and came up with a couplet. Is this true?"

Kou Zhun said quickly:
"Your Majesty, I was just having a good time with the new scholars and I made up a couplet to joke with you. Your Majesty, please forgive me for making you laugh."

Chai Zongxun said:

"I heard that only Yang Yi matched the couplets proposed by Lord Kou. What were they?
Tell me about it."

Kou Zhun and Yang Yi immediately left the table and recited the first and second couplets they had come up with.

Only at this moment did Kou Zhun remember that Ding Wei was the top scholar personally selected by the Emperor Chai Zongxun. He wondered if he had been a little too harsh in treating Ding Wei just now.

When Yang Yi took the palace examination that day, he had already recognized that the emperor was the person he met while admiring the lanterns on the Lantern Festival. He was grateful that the emperor Chai Zongxun personally selected him as the fourth in the imperial examination and did not remove his name from the imperial list.

After hearing this, Chai Zongxun pondered for a moment and said:

"The pairing of Lord Kou and Lord Yang can be called perfect.

I will also come up with a couplet."

Kou Zhun was shocked. If Chai Zongxun's answer was appropriate, it would be fine. But if it was not, then wouldn't it be disrespectful for him to come up with this couplet and embarrass the emperor in front of the new scholars?
Kou Zhun hurriedly said:

"Your Majesty, what we just did was just a tacky act of pretending to be cultured. Your Majesty is a man of strategy and management, and this is the real knowledge. How dare we bother Your Majesty with this trivial couplet?"

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"My dear Kou, you know that couplets are just a trivial art to show off your elegance, so why do you look down on others for this?
You must know that "disaster comes from the mouth", a kind word can warm you through the winter, but a bad word can chill you through the summer. My dear Lord Kou is my newly appointed cabinet minister, so you should be fair in dealing with things. "

Kou Zhun was startled and quickly bowed deeply to express his gratitude for Emperor Chai Zongxun's guidance.

Chai Zongxun said no more about this matter and began to chant:
“What is in your heart is what matters to the world.”

(This is the author's original pair)

As soon as this couplet came out, thousands of newly-appointed scholars in the hall were all amazed and praised it profusely.

This couplet shows Emperor Chai Zongxun's great ambition to care about the country and the people and to make the world a shared future for all, which is extremely domineering.

Ding Wei saw that Chai Zongxun's words to Kou Zhun just now contained a warning, and he could not help but feel extremely grateful to Chai Zongxun. At this moment, he loudly praised Chai Zongxun for his unparalleled couplet, calling him the "Emperor of Ci" with the best literary talent in history.

Kou Zhun and Yang Yi were also greatly impressed and praised him highly.

Chai Zongxun said:

“Talent comes in thousands of forms, but poetry and couplets are only a matter of literary thought.

There was a related story in Bian Jing.

During the Warring States Period, Hui Shi was on his way to Daliang, Wei State, to be the Prime Minister. On the way, he encountered a big river. In a hurry, Hui Shi waded across the river on foot, but accidentally fell into the deep water.

When he was in danger, he was rescued by a boatman.

The boatman asked, "Where are you going in such a hurry?"

Hui Shi said: "Liang has no chancellor, I want to go and see him."

The boatman said, "You are trapped between the oars. Without me, you would die. How can you help me?"

Hui Shi said: "As for you being on a boat, I am not as good as you; as for keeping the country safe and protecting the people, you are as ignorant as a dog's ear."

Talent has its specialties, and Chinese officials must not regard literary talent as the only talent.

I know that Mr. Ding is talented in finance and accounting, and I am planning to re-measure the land and population in my Great Zhou soon. Mr. Ding can give me some advice and suggestions. "

Ding Wei was overjoyed when he heard this, as accounting was his expertise. He immediately realized that Emperor Chai Zongxun was deliberately creating an opportunity for him to showcase his talents and regain his face in front of the new scholars.

Ding Wei immediately started talking about the role, methods, and significance of accounting, and proposed some ways to improve efficiency.

Thousands of Jinshi in the palace listened carefully and found that Ding Wei was indeed a talent in finance and economics. Much of the knowledge he talked about was something they had never heard of before, and they could not help but look at Ding Wei with new eyes.

Chai Zongxun was satisfied that Ding Wei was indeed talented in finance. He turned to look at Kou Zhun with meaningful eyes.

Kou Zhun was stunned for a few seconds before he understood what was going on. He immediately approached Ding Wei and saluted, saying:
"Mr. Ding is indeed a man of great talent and a very easy-going person. I was careless just now! I apologize for this!
Given his talent, why not become your Majesty's Prime Minister in charge of financial affairs in the future?"

Ding Wei was flattered and quickly returned the greeting:

"Mr. Kou's teachings to me are very true. I must use them to constantly motivate myself, so that I can serve Your Majesty in the future and live up to Your Majesty's expectations."

Ding Wei bowed to Chai Zongxun and said:
"Today, I heard your Majesty's divine words, and my humble mind was suddenly enlightened. I also want to write a poem to continue the story, but I am afraid that it may be insulting to your Majesty's ears."

Chai Zongxun smiled and said:
"Lord Ding has long been known among the people as 'Sun Ding'. Don't be too modest. Let's recite a poem to help with today's drinking."

After expressing his gratitude, Ding Wei chanted slowly:

"Phoenix Nest
The red palace and jade city lead to Langyuan. Laurel, star and elm trees, the spring scenery is endless. Xiao, harp, pipa and sheng are playing at the banquet for the immortal guests. Peach blossoms fill the Penglai Palace.

Nine-colored clouds are used to cut feather fans. Clouds and mists are used as carriages, and phoenixes and cranes ride on carved chariots. The road leads to the Jade Pool, but it is late to return. The sun and moon in the pot are as far away as the sky.

It’s also a good word.

(End of this chapter)