Back to Tang Dynasty to be Emperor

When Li Ke returned to the mansion, he saw Wang De walking in before he could sit still. Before Li Ke could speak, he heard him say, "The emperor announced that the king of Han will see you in the imperial study."

Li Ke was a little surprised, why did Li Shimin find himself at this time? "I don't know what the father and the emperor are talking about with the children? Please tell the prince?" Li Ke asked Wang De.

"Your Highness, hurry up and follow this old slave into the palace, this old slave doesn't know why the emperor summoned you." Wang De said, cupping his hands.

"Please wait a moment, Wang Gonggong, I will come when I go." After Li Ke finished speaking, he flashed into the apse, and then he asked Lan'er to serve him to adjust his clothes. Before he came out, he said to Wang De, "Wang Gonggong please."

Wang Dewei turned to one side and bowed to let Li Ke go forward.

The two came to Ganquan Palace, and Li Ke just entered the imperial study after Wang De finished his report.Seeing Li Ke, Li Shimin said to him before saluting, "You don't need to salute, first tell me what you've been doing recently." Li Shimin's voice was flat and without any expression.

Li Ke was very surprised that Li Shimin would ask himself such a question, and said bluntly, "My father, my son is studying "The Analects of Confucius" in the mansion. Other than that, he is practicing martial arts and guns, and rarely leaves the mansion."

""The Analects of Confucius"?" Li Shimin repeated, "Then tell me what you saw? What's your opinion?"

"My son read the article "Wei Zheng", and Meng Yizi asked about filial piety. The master said: 'There is no violation.'" Li Ke replied, "When I talk about filial piety, my son understands a lot of truths."

"Tell me about your understanding!" Li Shimin raised his head to look at Li Ke at this moment and continued to correct the memorial.

Li Ke murmured in his heart, you are reading the memorial, can you listen to what I say?But he didn't dare to say that blatantly, so he could only take a breath and said, "Actually, the answer Confucius wanted to tell Meng Yizi was not the word 'no violation'. Because there is such a passage in the dialogue between Confucius and his disciples: Fan Chi Yu, the son told him, "Meng Sun asked me about filial piety, and I said 'no violation'." Fan Chi said, "What do you mean?" The master said: "In life, things should be done with propriety; in death, burial should be done with propriety, and sacrifices should be made." This should be combined with the above paragraph. Confucius just wanted to tell Meng Yizi what filial piety is through the mouth of his disciples. Because Meng Yizi was a doctor of the State of Lu at that time, Confucius could not speak directly about his filial piety. I can convey my meaning to him through this situation.”

"The situation at that time should have been like this. Meng Sun asked me about filial piety, and I said to me: 'No violation'. He asked me what filial piety is, and I told him 'five violations' and don't violate it. Fan Chi said: 'What is it? ' From this sentence, we can see the scene at that time. The student was driving in front, quietly, without speaking, while the teacher seemed to be talking to himself and told him that Fan Chi had just answered Meng Yizi's question about filial piety. , Looking back, teacher, what do you mean by this sentence? So Confucius said, there is nothing, it is very simple. When our parents are alive, we should honor them and 'do things with propriety'. Erchen thinks that here This "ritual" should be understood as care and love for parents in life and spirit. When they are buried in the ground, we have to die, bury them with rituals, and sacrifice them with rituals.

"Then, Confucius said that Meng Wubo asked about filial piety, and the master said: "Parents only worry about their illness." Meng Wubo, the son of Meng Yizi, asked Confucius about filial piety, and Confucius answered another answer, "Parents only worry about their illness." It means that when a child is sick, parents feel very sad and worried, and you should worry about them and honor them as they worry about you.”

"Therefore, I feel that everyone has a different status, but they are all the same for benevolence and filial piety. Whether they are children of a family or a doctor of a country, they should follow Confucius's theory of filial piety."

When Li Ke said this, Li Shimin suddenly raised his head and said thoughtfully, "Well, your explanation is quite novel. In this way, you really explained Confucius' question of filial piety here very clearly and thoroughly." Li Shimin echoed, "However, what do you understand about other places in the 'Weizheng Chapter'?"

At this time, Li Shimin was no longer asking Li Ke, but with the mentality of trying to teach him. He wanted to see how deep his understanding of "The Analects of Confucius" was when his son, who didn't usually study literature, read the book seriously. .

Seeing that Li Shimin agreed with his point of view, Li Ke continued, "In fact, there is a passage of Confucius' own self-report in Weizheng: When I am ten, I am devoted to learning, at thirty, I stand, forty is not confused, and fifty is the destiny." At sixty, the ear is compliant, and at seventy, follow one's heart and do not exceed the rules. It is too important to put this passage in the political chapter. He told us through his own anatomy that the way to govern is to be in line with common sense. Everything you see and hear must be put into government affairs, and you should deal with things based on your own personal reality. He means that the most important thing for a person in politics is to have self-cultivation. Only he can understand the lives of the people, the situation of the country, and life. In order to better handle your own work.”

"Well, you're right. To be an official is to do things for the people. If you don't have personal contact with the lives of the people and don't have rich experience and experience, there will indeed be negligence and lack of rigorousness in government affairs." Li Shimin said, "You are right. The interpretation of "The Analects of Confucius" is concise and unique, with novel annotations, which is different from the previous great Confucianism who fixed Confucius' thoughts in a dogmatic way. The emperor did not expect that you will make such great progress in the past few days, and I am very relieved."

"Thank you for your compliment. My son is just expressing his own understanding and opinions. I also ask my father for advice." Li Ke said modestly. He saw that Li Shimin's tone was not as cold as before.Therefore, he is no longer too restrained when he speaks himself.

""The Analects of Confucius" expounds "Government with virtue and filial piety with benevolence". As long as you understand these two points, you can have a comprehensive understanding of Confucian thought." Li Shimin said with great interest.

Li Ke did not expect that Li Shimin would summarize the content of a book in eight words, but his explanation was very correct, which surprised Li Ke. They all said that Li Shimin was a learned emperor. His simple eight-character evaluation of "The Analects of Confucius" can tell the extent of his understanding of this book.Thinking of this, Li Ke respected Li Shimin in awe. He felt that this is the quality that an emperor should possess. Only by being knowledgeable and knowledgeable can one better govern a country through the wisdom of the predecessors.

Li Shimin felt a lot of comfort when he saw Li Ke acting like I understood.Among his sons, only Li Taibo has learned a lot and is very talented in calligraphy and painting. He just likes such a son.Now, Li Ke suddenly changed his nature, started to study calligraphy and painting, and continued to study hard, and his insights were unique. Sometimes he understood many things that he didn't understand after listening to his narration.

He glanced at Li Ke, saw Li Ke's respectful expression, and suddenly felt that he seemed a little suspicious. After all, he was his own son. Through his understanding of filial piety just now, he can understand so clearly, which shows that he is still a filial son.Thinking of this, he developed a kind of love for Li Ke again.

"You have been advising me for several days, holding Cuju competitions, and recommending talents. I don't know how to reward you, so I will give you an authentic work by Wang Xizhi!" After speaking, he glanced at Wang De, who understood, He took out a scroll from the bookshelf and handed it to Li Shimin. Li Shimin opened the scroll and took a look, then handed it to Li Ke.

"Father, this is the authentic work that you found through many collections, and I cannot accept your reward." Li Ke knew that Li Shimin was obsessed with Wang Xizhi's authentic work, so he said so.To be honest, he really wanted to get an authentic work, so that he could copy and watch it when he was free.

"Take what your father gives you, don't refuse any more." Li Shimin said thoughtfully.

"Thank you, father!" Li Ke stepped forward to take the scroll, overjoyed.

"I still have to correct the memorial, so you go down first!" Li Shimin said a little tiredly after giving Li Ke something.

"Father, please take care of the dragon's body!" Li Ke said excitedly, "Your servant will leave." After speaking, he bowed and left the imperial study.After leaving Ganquan Palace, he stopped by Concubine Yang's Qianqiu Palace.Seeing him holding something, Concubine Yang scolded with a cold face, who asked your father to ask for Wang Xizhi's authentic handwriting, don't you know that he especially loves this word?Li Ke didn't expect Concubine Yang to get angry, so she told Concubine Yang about her affairs in Ganquan Palace. Concubine Yang's face was cloudy when she heard Li Ke's story, and her expression improved after Li Ke finished speaking. It looks a little soft, it's good that your father bestowed it on you.Li Ke saw that Concubine Yang was hesitant to talk to him many times, so he knew that she seemed to want to tell him something, and felt that it was not so simple for Li Shimin to give him the authentic work.So, after saying a few more words, he hurriedly left the palace and came to Cen Wenwen's mansion.

Can Cen Wenwen guess the meaning of Li Shimin's move?Li Ke thought so.