"Wonderful, wonderful. People who care about the common people may not all be in the imperial court...... This sentence is simply too well said, it has won my heart, it has won my heart. Cao Shujun couldn't help but jump up and laughed, "Xia Langjun, I was so disrespectful to you just now, it was my lack of eyes and rudeness, please bear with me." ”

After speaking, he bowed.

Xia Xiang returned the salute and smiled lightly: "Cao Sanlang is polite, I just said something, and it wasn't all for you, it was for you, you don't have to thank me." Furthermore, if you are obsessed with crafts and want to be a craftsman or a craftsman, I naturally agree. If you just want to indulge in the mountains and rivers, and just want to be at ease, I don't think so. ”

Cao Shujun said curiously: "I only said that I am dedicated to the Tao, and I didn't say that I like handicrafts, Xia Langjun, where did you know that I am obsessed with handicrafts?" Could it be ......" When he spoke, his suspicious and narrow gaze fell on Cao Shuli.

Cao Shuli saw that Cao Shujun suspected that she was secretly revealing the news to Xia Xiang, and scolded angrily: "It's really stupid, Xia Langjun is afraid that he has already discovered the difference in the fan in your hand, so he offered to ask you to give the fan." After he has the fan in his hand, open it and you can see your name on the handle of the fan......"

"Really?" Cao Shujun was half-convinced, his eyes widened, and he looked directly at Xia Xiang, as if Xia Xiang could see through it at a glance as long as he lied.

Xia Xiang smiled calmly: "Don't hide it, at the beginning, I only wanted you to be single-minded, and other than that, I had no preferences." Later, when I saw that you couldn't leave your hand, I felt an unusual taste. If you are really a carefree person, you will not care so much about a fan, not to mention that the fan is not superior in terms of material or shape. With your status, even a golden fan and a jade fan will not be able to put it down, unless it means something extraordinary to you. I tentatively asked for a fan, and you gave it away, and then I had the fan in my hand, and it was clear at a glance after I opened it. ”

Xia Xiang did only think that Cao Shujun did not seek fame at the beginning, only for free and easy, and had a heart of "I am looking for immortals from a leisurely time, not to be a person in the world", and after talking, I found out that in fact, Cao Shujun is not false to the Tao, in addition to the Tao, he is still a teenager, playful, and likes delicate items, whether it is dressing up or the jade on the body and the jade in his hands, there is no place that is not meticulous and nothing is not fine.

The people who are really to the Tao, with wide clothes and robes, are like immortals, and there are even people with their hair and disheveled clothes, the so-called leisure, isn't it to do whatever they want and not be constrained by everything in the world? Cao Shujun not only wore gorgeous and exquisite clothes on his body, but even the embroidery on the sleeves was also ingenious, not a common pattern, Xia Xiang knew at a glance that it was from a personal hand.

However, whether it was from Cao Shujun's hand or not, Xia Xiang was not sure, until he noticed that whether it was Cao Shujun's sleeves, neckline, or Peiyu's pattern, it was the same logo, and he understood a little in his heart.

The pattern is not complicated, but the seal "曺" of the variant character of "Cao", it goes without saying that the pattern comes from the hands of people surnamed Cao. So who else could there be besides Cao Shujun?

In the Tang Dynasty, the word "Cao" was often written as "曺", either to show their own uniqueness, or to show their profundity, no matter what the reason, "Cao Cao" was common in the Tang Dynasty.

After the Great Xia, especially after Sima Zuo strongly promoted the style of plain writing, not only did literati no longer like rare characters when writing books, but even variant characters were rarely mentioned, and the character "曺" was completely replaced by the character "Cao", and many people no longer even knew the character "曺".

Xia Xiang guessed from the word "曺" that the embroidery on the clothes and the patterns on the peiyu were all from Cao Shujun's meaning, but whether he did it himself or not, he didn't dare to draw conclusions. When he carefully observed that Cao Shuli and Cao Yongguo's clothes and Peiyu did not have such a pattern, he was even more convinced of the fact that Cao Shujun's pattern was deliberately made by him to express his maverick behavior, and there was no doubt that the pattern came from his own hand.

Therefore, Xia Xiangcai intended to ask for Cao Shujun's fan. On the handle of the fan, there is an exact same pattern, and the fan is very different from the common fan in terms of material and shape, which makes him even more firm in his inference. In addition, Cao Yongguo also inadvertently mentioned it, which made him even more firm in his judgment.

Cao Shujun smiled, happy and convinced: "Xia Langjun's eyes are like torches, and I admire them." I don't know what else Xia Langjun saw? ”

Xia Xiang smiled and said nothing, he naturally saw some things, but it was not yet the time to break it.

Cao Yongguo was also surprised, stood up, and asked in disbelief: "What happened just now, is it true?" ”

"It's true, Daddy." Cao Shuli knew that her father suspected Cao Shujun and Xia Xiang of acting, and came forward to testify, although she also suspected that Xia Xiang was so young and really had such nuanced insight, but she also knew that Xia Xiang and Cao Shujun were indeed meeting for the first time, and the two did not communicate privately, "Xia Langjun just met San Lang an hour ago. ”

Cao Yongguo secretly admired, such a caring junior is indeed rare, especially a person who reads, but even so, it is impossible to persuade him to change his mind in a few words, he smiled slightly: "People who make fans are everywhere, it is not surprising." Although Daxia does not suppress business, nor does it despise craftsmen, everything is inferior, only reading is high. Only high school jinshi can find a background, and only then can he benefit one party for the first term of office. ”

"Cao Gong, is the picture of Yuanming's return to seclusion a gift from a friend?" Xia Xiang did not take Cao Yongguo's words head-on, but took advantage of the situation, he stood with his hands in his hands, looking up at Yuanming's hidden figure, and had mixed feelings in his heart.

In the past three years, Li Dingshan has taught him what he has learned in his life, he not only read poetry and books, but also learned the way of life, the hundred schools of thought, the three teachings and nine streams, astronomy and geography that cannot be learned in other gentlemen. Li Dingshan is not an old master who knows how to work, and does not reject miscellaneous theories outside the books of sages. It was because of his open-mindedness and tolerance that Xia Xiang was able to learn many things that were deviant or dismissive in the eyes of orthodox scholars.

Cao Yongguo was shocked, and couldn't help but glance at Xia Xiang more, seeing that Xia Xiang was calm, he thought that maybe he was too worried, Xia Xiang was just a student who went to Beijing to take the exam, how could he have anything to do with Li Dingshan, and said calmly: "Yes, it was given by Song Chaodu, the waiter of the Ministry of Works." ”

"Song Chaodu?" Soon after Xia Xiang entered Beijing, he didn't have time to inquire about Li Dingshan's origin, and he didn't know what Li Dingshan had held. Why did you change to the Ministry of Works? ”

The six departments are the household department, the officials department, the military department, the criminal department, the ritual department and the ministry of works, if ranked according to the size of their responsibilities and authority, the household department and the official department are in charge of the world's granary and official hats, there is no doubt that they are in the forefront. The second is the Criminal Department, which is in charge of the world's criminal affairs, and the Ministry of War, which is in charge of the world's soldiers and horses, and even the Ministry of Rites, which manages the world's imperial examinations and the affairs of vassals and foreign countries, is also more powerful than the work department. The Ministry of Engineering is in charge of many matters such as construction projects and the decree of Baigong Shanzegou Xuntuntian, compared with the other five ministries, not only things are cumbersome and messy, but also have always had many affairs but are prone to accidents. For example, digging rivers and tuntian fields to open up wasteland, and so on.

The transfer from the servant of the ministry to the waiter of the Ministry of Works is not derogatory, it is regarded as a transfer, it is a transfer for the same level, and the authority is greatly reduced.

Xia Xiang, the name of Song Chaodu, has heard of it, because Song Chaodu is an upright person, and once wrote to the emperor in person, the emperor didn't want to listen to his impassioned words anymore, turned around to leave, and every time the emperor took a step, he knelt down and shouted to the saint to stay. The emperor took five steps, his head hit the ground, knocking his head and bleeding, the emperor had no choice but to stay patient and listen to him. After that, whenever the emperor mentioned Song Chaodu, he always remembered that he was forcibly left behind, and for this reason, although the emperor recognized Song Chaodu's talent and personality, he had a headache for his uprightness.

If Su is indeed a tough upright, Song Chaodu is a straightness who advances by retreating.

Cao Yongguo stroked his long beard, shook his head and smiled: "Promotion, demotion and transfer are commonplace things in the DPRK and China, so there is no need to make a fuss." Just like me, although I am still laughingly called the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple, in fact, I am already at home and I am dismissed, but it is only a matter of time. ”

It turned out that Cao Yongguo was from the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple in Wupin, Xia Xiang first entered the capital, and he had some understanding of the official position, but he was not very clear about who and what the position was. Among the officials in Beijing, the Shaoqing of Honglu Temple is not only not high-level, but only a minor official from the fifth grade, and has no real power, which is virtually useless. It can be said that Cao Yongguo has no place at all in the capital where high-ranking officials are like forests.

Xia Xiang would not be disrespectful because of Cao Yongguo's low position, so he continued the topic just now: "The Yuanming Hidden Picture is Li Dingshan, but Li Dingshan and Li Gong's handwriting?" ”

"Exactly." Cao Yongguo secretly glanced at Xia Xiang, saw Xia Xiang's expression as usual, and felt a little at ease, Li Dingshan is now a disaster that everyone avoids, the third prince wants to get rid of it quickly, almost everyone in Beijing knows it, he is afraid that Xia Xiang will harbor evil intentions, "Xia Langjun doesn't know Li Gong?" ”

"I don't know." Xia Xiang didn't dare to rashly reveal his relationship with Li Dingshan, and wanted to take the opportunity to ask Li Dingshan about his origins, so he said, "Who is Gong Li?" ”

"The Yuanming Retreat Diagram is a ......gift from Li Gong three years ago" Cao Yongguo did not answer Xia Xiang's question directly, he put his hands behind his back, stood in front of the Retreat Diagram of Yuanming, and sighed softly, "Xia Langjun, in your opinion, Tao Yuanming's retreat to the countryside, is it a pleasant intoxication after quitting the officialdom, or a grievance in the predicament?" ”

Tao Yuanming's poems had a great influence on the literati of the Tang Dynasty and Daxia, and Lianche, who was known as the first genius of Daxia, praised Tao Yuanming as "like a master craftsman, without seeing the traces of an axe and chisel", and made dozens of poems with Tao, which shows Tao Yuanming's high status in his mind.

Cao Shujun was anxious in his heart, his father and Xia Xiang didn't talk about his big things, but they talked about Tao Yuanming, how could he not make him restless, he wanted to interject but didn't dare, so he had to look at Ambassador Cao Shuli again and again.

Cao Shuli secretly waved her hand at Cao Shujun, signaling him to be calm and not to be impatient. Compared with Cao Shujun's eagerness, she is much calmer. And she also saw that Xia Xiang and her father seemed to be chatting indiscriminately, but in fact, they were still making a fuss about the entry of Confucianism and the birth of Taoism.

It can also be said that Xia Xiang is using Yuanming's hidden picture to sit and discuss with his father.

Cao Shuli thinks that she has seen more young talents, whether it is the prince of the son of the prince or the son of the prince, for her, it is no different, whether it is the arrogance of the prince or the conceit of the son, it will not make her heart pound. Even if the other party really has superhuman talents, and is full of economic and eloquent words, in her eyes, there is always a sense of frivolity and showmanship.

Xia Xiang is different, although he is not as noble as the prince, he is as calm as a pine. The so-called gentleman is more virtuous than Yuyan, gentle and zeal, and benevolent...... Xia Xiangzhou has a warm air up and down, and his face is full of confidence and freedom from time to time, quite a golden mean that combines the entry of Confucianism into the WTO and the birth of Taoism.

I heard my father say that only after a person has experienced ups and downs and vicissitudes will he be confident and free. Cao Shuli secretly looked at Xia Xiang's square but moist face, and suddenly his cheeks were slightly hot and his heart beat faster, how could his serious appearance have a charm that makes people's hearts ripple?

Where did Xia Xiang know Cao Shuli's sensitive and amorous daughter's thoughts, he was imagining the relationship between Li Dingshan, Song Chaodu and Cao Yongguo in his heart, and he was also seriously thinking about Cao Yongguo's question.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Xiang had a plan in his heart: "Cao Gong, in my humble opinion, Tao Yuanming's retirement to the countryside is neither a pleasant intoxication after withdrawing from officialdom, nor a complaining grievance in a difficult situation......"

"What do you mean by that?" Cao Yongguo was surprised, he asked no less than ten people this question, everyone's opinion is different, but everyone will choose one of them as a point of view to deduce, Xia Xiang denied all of them, but it is rare.

Xia Xiang opened the folding fan, turned his back behind him, and smiled slightly: "Just now I ate a bowl of wontons in the night market outside." The wontons are sold by a couple, who, in the eyes of outsiders, are busy every day, barely satisfied, and have a difficult and difficult life. But in my opinion, the two of them are in love with each other, married as husband and wife, love each other, get along day and night, and I don't know how much more happiness they have with each other than couples who have been separated for a long time. ”

Cao Shujun finally couldn't help jumping out and snorted coldly: "It's obviously Tao Yuanming, how did you get involved with the old man and woman who sold wontons?" Xia Langjun, don't go about digression, okay? ”

"Don't worry, listen to me slowly." Xia Xiang shook the folding fan in his hand a few times, and smiled, "Li Taibai and Du Zimei have been busy all their lives, but they have no way to serve the country, and they still shed poems for future generations." Tao Gong resigned and went into hiding, and wrote the famous sentence of 'leisurely seeing Nanshan'. Li Shangyin spent his whole life in the midst of party struggles, with a bumpy career and depression, leaving behind a large number of untitled poems. Speaking of which, whether it is for the government or for the people, or for the mountains and rivers, it is nothing more than a lifestyle choice. As long as you have peace of mind, what difference does it make if you are far away from the rivers and lakes or high in the temple? ”

Cao Shujun originally had an indignant look, but as soon as Xia Xiang finished speaking, his face slowly relaxed, nodded and smiled. Cao Shuli nodded slightly, revealing a knowing smile. Cao stroked his long beard with his fruitful hand, silent, and his expression was indifferent.

"Therefore, Tao Gong returned to the countryside because he wanted to indulge in the mountains and rivers and indulge in the fields, and live a peaceful life." Xia Xiang smiled lightly, so far he has concluded that the picture of Yuanming's return to seclusion must be made by Li Dingshan, three years ago when Li Dingshan left Beijing, he gave Song Chaodu this picture, it can be seen that Li Dingshan had the heart of retreat at that time, but Song Chaodu transferred this picture to Cao Yongguo, and I don't know what he thought.

"Having said that, I think Tao Gong's retreat is really a helpless move. If the court is politically harmonious and the officialdom is clear, why should Tao Gong resign and leave? Cao Yongguo shook his head slightly, feeling concerned.

"Haha......" Xia Xiang suddenly laughed loudly, there was a lot of mockery and ridicule in his laughter, he held his hands on his shoulders, his eyes looked at the sky, and he stood proudly.

Cao Yongguo suddenly changed color and took a step back. Cao Shuli's eyebrows were tightened, and she was slightly displeased.

"Laughing at what?" Cao Shujun was also enraged by Xia Xiang's unbridled laughter, and grabbed Xia Xiang's sleeve, "Xia Langjun, you are taught by Confucius and Mencius, and you are a moral article, how dare you be so presumptuous in front of the elders in other people's families?" ”

"That's right." Xia Xiang took a step back, broke free of Cao Shujun's hand, stopped Xiao Wu's move to make a move with his eyes, and bowed solemnly, "If you can't even stand the ridicule of others, how can you achieve great things?" If you resign and retire as soon as you encounter difficulties, it is not free and easy, it is an escape from the world, or an escape! The whole world is turbid, I am only clear, and it is clear. The whole world is drunk, and I am sober. If the court is politically harmonious, and if the officialdom is clear, what is the use of asking us to wait? The eldest husband should do something and not do something, serve the court, whether it is good or bad or life or death, how can he have the heart to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages? File its sharpness, solve its disputes, and its light, with its dust, is the avenue. ”

After saying a word, no one answered, and the room was quiet for a while. Cao Yongguo's expression was solemn, and he bowed his head and said nothing. Cao Shuli was thoughtful, her eyes flashing. Cao Shujun put his hands behind his back, walking back and forth non-stop.

Xia Xiang continued to say aloud: "So my generation of scholars, if they are dedicated to serving the country, regardless of whether he is politically competent or not, just stand forward, even if it is a sea of cliffs, swords, mountains and fires, although he dies, he has no regrets." If you really want to return to the countryside, you will be an idler who loves the landscape, reciting poems and paintings, and enjoying yourself. What I am most afraid of is that I want to serve the country and am afraid of the difficult road ahead, I want to return to the countryside and I want to listen to the call of the court at any time. is so in a dilemma, and it hurts to hurt oneself and make a big deal. Cao Saburo ran away from home, and when he thought of doing it, he was a real man. Cao Gong, I have a sentence, whether it is right or wrong, let me listen to it. Since San Lang doesn't have the heart to gain fame, has the ambition to ask questions, and likes strange tricks and tricks, it is better to follow his temperament and let him go, as long as he is at ease, it is also a good thing. ”