In the blink of an eye, it is mid-November. Most of the coiling on his body has been spent, and if he doesn't go home, he won't even have enough money to go home. Yuan Jue urged several times, and Shen Ruoyu finally made up his mind to say goodbye to Yingtian and continue to go north. Nangong Qiu was entangled left and right, and finally he promised to go to Yuhuatai one last time before leaving the next day, and let her pick up two more beautiful Yuhuashi to take with him.

Yuhuatai is outside Jubao Gate. The late autumn sun falls calmly and transparently on the mottled and magnificent rain flower stones, reflecting this place into the most beautiful and dreamy corner of the entire Yingtian capital.

Nangong Qiu had been crawling on the ground all morning, obsessively and almost stubbornly looking for the perfect rain flower stone she was looking forward to, which could represent all the masters. In the blink of an eye, it was lunch time, Shen Ruoyu and Yuan Heng were both so hungry that their stomachs were growling, seeing Nangong Qiu still in that posture and intently pounce on her pile of collectibles, looking at each small stone over and over again, tirelessly comparing back and forth, savoring it, obviously completely forgetting the time.

There are a lot of tourists in Yuhuatai, walking or sitting, scattered around them. They focused on Nangong Qiu's collection, and didn't notice that the three scholars dressed as tourists slowly paced over, leisurely walking in the colorful mountains and forests in autumn, and on the same colorful stone road, while looking down at the stones under their feet, while talking.

As they passed, one of them said:

"Sir, in the eyes of the students, the best place in Yingtiandu City should be this Yuhuatai."

The other laughed, "Won't you, Jiayou? I thought you must think that Wenyuan Pavilion is the best place in the capital. ”

The three words of Wenyuan Pavilion made Shen Ruoyu prick up his ears and listened carefully.

The man smiled and replied, "Brother Shiru; Wenyuan Pavilion is naturally a good place, but it is not as long as this Yuhuatai, and it is not as good as having such a Buddhist origin here. ”

The man who spoke sighed, "Yes; If the legend is true, the monk Yunguang preached the scriptures here, moved to the sky scattered flowers and rain, into the ground is a gemstone, Yuhuatai is named after this, it seems that Emperor Wu of Liang Xiao Yan's practice is indeed not shallow. ”

The third person in the group spoke at this time: "Xilu really thinks that Liang Wu can have such a creation? ”

When Shen Ruoyu heard that voice, he was stunned and raised his head. The three of them had already walked out a few steps, and looking at their backs, the three Confucian scholars were all ordinary thin figures, and their steps were elegant and calm. He involuntarily stood up and followed.

The man who was called Xilu replied: "A Jinling city, 'Four Hundred and Eighty Temples of the Southern Dynasty', is not enough, and it is necessary to give a rain flower platform from heaven." The prosperity of Buddhism is indispensable to Liang Wu's contributions. He is called the 'Monk Emperor' by historians, which is unique, and it is worth it when you think about it. However, it seems that Brother Nozomi has a different opinion on this? ”

When Shen Ruoyu heard the word "Xizhi", he only felt that his eyes lit up, and blurted out: "Mr. Zhengxue? ”

The three of them heard him shout, and at the same time stopped and turned around. The man on the left had a clear face, dignified and solemn facial features, and when he saw him, he was slightly stunned for a moment, and said in surprise:

"Shen Ruoxiao?"

"It's me, Mr. Zhengxue!" Shen Ruoyu was overjoyed, "Why did you come to Yingtian?" ”

The man looked him up and down and smiled, "I should ask you this question." Didn't you go back to Beiping? How did you get to Yingtian? King Yan sent you to deliver local products to the Son of Heaven? ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "No, it's not - I haven't been back to Beiping since I left Chengdu last time." ”

"What's going on?" The man asked, surprised.

Shen Ruoyu was a little embarrassed: "I was attacked and robbed by gangsters on the way and was injured, so I couldn't rush back." Later, I went to Wudang Mountain again and did some other things, so it has been delayed until now. ”

"Now, are you visiting the capital?" The man asked kindly.

Shen Ruoyu nodded. "Mr. Zhengxue, aren't you the teacher of the prince of Shu? Coming to the capital too? ”

The man laughed, "No, no, no; I want to teach the prince to read in the palace of the king of Shu for the rest of my life, the corporal of the king of Shu, the corporal Lixian, and the son of the world is very smart and studious; It's a pity that I can't help it. When today's edict summoned me to the Hanlin Academy as a servant, I have only arrived at Yingtian. ”

"When?" Shen Ruoyu asked in surprise: "When I left Chengdu, it was still leap May, and it was only half a year later. ”

The man smiled: "Half a year is like half a life." The edicts of the Son of Heaven were written in the seventh month. It's been more than three months since I arrived in Beijing. ”

Shen Ruoliao wanted to ask something, but Nangong Qiu ran over from afar, stood beside him, and asked, "What's the matter, Ruoliao?" Did you run into an acquaintance? ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "I met a nobleman." Qiu'er, this is the world-famous scholar of Hanlin University, the former prince of Shu Wangfu, a professor of Hanzhong Mansion, a student of the great Confucian Song Lian, and a world-famous Mr. Zhengxue, Mr. Fang Xiaoru Fang is also. ”

Nangong Qiu's eyes widened and he looked at Fang Xiaoru, who had a quiet expression and elegant demeanor in front of him, only to see that he was dressed simply and neatly, his description was solemn, and his eyes were gentle and there was a firm light; When she first came out of the boudoir, where had she heard of Fang Xiaoru's name, but she heard that he was a scholar of Hanlin University, a prince of Shu Wangfu, and once heard Yuan Hui talk about the world-famous Ming Dynasty founding ministers, including Liu Bowen and Song Lian, who were even more overwhelmed by the other party's noble temperament, and immediately stood in awe, arched his hand and said:

"Nangong Qiujiu has a big name for Mr. Fang."

The three Hanlin Scholars on the opposite side all looked at Nangong Qiu in amazement. Shen Ruoyu saw her making a move, and was more amused in surprise, so he hurriedly pulled her hand down, leaned into her ear and said:

"Fool, wrong, you should bend your knees; The hand is for men. ”

Nangong Qiu immediately corrected himself and bent his knees to make a blessing. Shen Ruoyu said to Fang Xiaoru:

The gentleman smiled; This Nangong girl is a friend and companion I met when I was playing in Wudang Mountain, and my family is an old friend of Gao Dao, the head of Wudang Mountain. She has grown up, this is the first time she has left home to go outside, and she doesn't understand many things, please bear with me. ”

Fang Xiaoru didn't look at Nangong Qiu, just nodded slightly, faced Shen Ruoyu, and said:

"Let me introduce you."

He pointed to the two people who were as polite as him: "This is my student, surnamed Lin, Mingsheng, the word Jiayou, Hongwu 29 years to Confucian school in Sichuan, in July this year and I was called into the Beijing Division, and now it is the history museum editor, in Wenyuan Pavilion and the revision of the "Taizu Record". This is my aunt's eldest son, surnamed Lu, the original name, the word Xilu, Hongwu twenty-one years of Jinshi, edited for the Hanlin Academy, and now has just been appointed by the Son of Heaven as the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple. ”

After the three of them saluted politely, Fang Xiaoru asked:

"Ruo Xiao, how long have you been in Yingtian, and when are you going to go back?"

Shen Ruoyu said: "It's been more than ten days, and we plan to swim through Yuhuatai this morning and leave for the north to go home." ”

"Are you in such a hurry to go back?" Fang Xiaoru was a little disappointed: "I also want to ask you to go and stay for two days; Last time in the Shu Palace, we discussed some very interesting topics, and I want to continue to discuss with you. ”

Shen Ruoyu was puzzled: "I don't want to; But I've been delayed for a long time, it's been more than half a year since I left home this time, my mother doesn't know if I'm dead or alive, I must have been in a hurry, I have to go back quickly to report safety. ”

"And His Royal Highness King Yan," Fang Xiaoru smiled deeply, "He is also waiting for you to go back and report the news to him." ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "Exactly, so, I can only wait for the next time I come to Yingtian, and then visit the door." ”

Fang Xiaoru seemed to suddenly remember something, and said, "Ruo Xiao, two days, how about it?" ”

"What do you mean?" Shen Ruo didn't know what to do.

Fang Xiaoru said: "You stay in Yingtian for two more days, just two days." We finally met once, and we can't say goodbye in such a hurry. After two days, you leave for home. ”

"But—Mr. Fang, we've already settled all the money for the store. It's because if we don't go home, we won't have the money to go home. ”

Fang Xiaoru smiled: "This is easy to do; I would like to ask you and Miss Nangong to be aggrieved and stay in the cold house for two days. I happen to have two daughters who can accompany Miss Nangong. I wonder if the two of you can appreciate their faces? ”

Before Shen Ruoyu could speak, Nangong Qiu had already said:

"Scholar, my grandfather is also with us, won't you let him go to live in your house too? That's a lot of crowding. ”

Fang Xiaoru said with a smile: "If there are more guests, the host will naturally be more happy." I don't know where Miss Nangong's grandfather is now? ”

Nangong Qiu immediately beckoned Yuan Heng over and said, "This is; He is a famous immortal in the world, and his fortune-telling is accurate. ”

Fang Xiaoru's eyes flashed, he looked at Yuan Hui cautiously, and asked, "Please ask the master to respect the name?" ”

Yuan Heng already knew who was standing in front of him, and he was like Shen Ruoxiao in his heart, secretly complaining that Nangong Qiukou was unobstructed; King Yan invited Yuan Heng to go north, although it was not very confidential, but in the eyes of the imperial court, it was definitely not a good thing. However, Nangong Qiu's words had already been spoken, and Yuan Hui was not good at lying, so he had to answer honestly:

"Mr. Fang is polite; The old man's surname is Yuan Mingjun, and the word Tingyu. ”

When Fang Xiaoru and the others heard this, they seemed to be taken aback; Fang Xiaoru looked at Yuan Hui solemnly, and saluted politely and coldly:

"It turned out to be Yuan Gaoren; I've admired the name for a long time. I would like to invite the master to take the Nangong girl to the house for a short stay for two days, and also ask the master to appreciate his face. ”

Yuan Heng hurriedly said: "Where, Mr. Fang is too polite; As long as Shen Shaoxia agreed, how could Yuan and his granddaughter dare to refuse Mr. 's good intentions. ”

Shen Ruoliao could only say: "In this case, if Ruoliao is respectful, it is better to obey his fate." I'm going to have a lot of trouble with Mr. Zhengxue. ”

Fang Xiaoru smiled generously: "Why be polite. I can't hide it, if I don't want to, I will keep you for two days, there is something important to do. ”

"What's the big deal?" Shen Ruoyu asked cautiously.

Fang Xiaoru looked at Yuan Hui and Nangong Qiu on the side, and blinked mysteriously:

"How can the heavens leak; Still, I think, by tonight at the latest, you'll know. ”

It was the first time Shen Ruoliao had seen Mr. Zhengxue, who had always been serious, also had such naughty times. He laughed and said:

"Okay; Then Ruo Xiao is looking forward to it. ”

Shen Ruoyu and the three of them stayed at Fang Xiaoru's house. Fang Xiaoru's house is not big, and he is already a little nervous about receiving three guests. There are only Fang Xiaoru's wife Zheng, two sons Fang Zhongxian and Fang Zhongyu, and two daughters. Fang Xiaoru also has a younger brother, Fang Xiaoyou, who lives in Ninghai's hometown.

Fang Xiaoru's father, Fang Keqin, was a well-known Qing official and servant, who served as the prefect of Jining, and was honest and cautious, diligent and loving the people. The edict ordered Jining to reclaim the famine once every three years, but the local officials often levied it at will, and the people's resentment boiled; After Fang Keqin took office, Ou Tian was the ninth rank, and his subordinate officials were strictly constrained to collect taxes according to the rank period, and they were not allowed to disturb the people as treachers, and the effect was remarkable; The amount of barren land cultivated has increased dramatically. He built schools, built Confucian temples, and promoted education; Strike the construction of the city and labor to avoid the suffering of the people's conscription. Yongjiahou Zhu Liangzu led the boat division to Beiping, the river dried up, so he drove 5,000 people to dredge the waterway, Fang Keqin thought that the people were too much, and repeated admonitions to no avail, so he cried and prayed to the sky day and night, sure enough, it rained heavily, the water was several feet deep, and the river was self-open, and Zhu Liangzu boatman arrived smoothly.

Fang Keqin was extremely frugal as an official, eating meat at most once a day, wearing a cloth robe for ten years, mending it again and again, and never discarding it for new clothes. He was the prefect of Jining, and his political achievements were quite good, but he never took credit for himself, he was respectful, he didn't like to be famous, and he once said to his three sons: "Near the name will be powerful, and the prestige will harm the people, and I can't bear it." ”

In the eighth year of Hongwu, the "empty seal" case occurred, and Fang Keqin was involved in it, and was arrested by the imperial court to Beijing. The people of Jining were empty, blocking the road, preventing the imperial court from taking away the prefect Fang, and made up a ballad and sang: "Who will I serve?" The power of the king. Who will live me? The Rain of the King. Do not go, my people's fathers and mothers. The crying all the way shook the sky, and the officials sent by the imperial court were also moved to tears. However, in the end, Fang Keqin still could not escape, and together with countless other local officials, he added an unjustly killed head to one of the few major cases in the Ming Dynasty. Fang Xiaoru, his eldest brother Fang Xiaowen, and younger brother Fang Xiaoyou went to Yingtian to carry his father's coffin back to his hometown. The eldest brother Fang Xiaowen lost his mother when he was thirteen years old, and the three brothers were as studious as Fang Xiaoru. Fang Xiaowen has been mourning for his father since then, and the vegetable diet is finally made until he dies of illness.

After Fang Xiaoru was mourned, he returned to his teacher Song Lian and continued to study until he died. Song Lian praised him very much, and once wrote in the preface to his "Poem on the Returning to the Rooftop": "Give it a day's length, and everyone who comes to receive the scriptures is scattered in all directions today." Although the millet is abundant, it is not as good as the barnyard with autumn, and there are many of them. Late Tiantai Fang Shengzhi is straight, and he is also dignified, and does not move to things, Yingrui has candles. Occasionally, it is a text, like water gushing out of the mountain. Among the noisy birds, seeing this lonely phoenix, Yunhu doesn't like it! ”

The great Confucian Song Lian compared Fang Xiaoru to the "lonely phoenix" in the "noisy birds", and everyone in the world knew the depth of Fang Xiaoru's knowledge, and competed to copy each of his poems. In the fifteenth year of Hongwu, Fang Xiaoru was recommended to Beijing, and Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang saw his well-behaved manners, admired him very much, and said to the prince Zhu Biao: "This Zhuang Shi should be an old man." "Give him a lot of coins and let him go home and continue his education. Later, an enemy falsely accused Fang Xiaoru, and the court arrested him in Beijing, and Zhu Yuanzhang saw Fang Xiaoru's name on the list of criminals, and immediately released him. In the twenty-fifth year of Hongwu, Fang Xiaoru was once again recommended to enter the court, and Zhu Yuanzhang said: "This is not the time to use filial piety." "Appoint him as a professor in Hanzhongfu and let him teach and educate people. Zhu Yuanzhang's real intention was to leave Fang Xiaoru to his successor, Zhu Yunwen, the emperor's grandson, so that Fang Xiaoru could assist the future Son of Heaven more wholeheartedly. Fang Xiaoru taught in Hanzhong Mansion and lectured tirelessly with all students. Zhu Chun, the king of Shu, heard of his sage, and personally went to Hanzhong to invite him to Chengdu to be the tutor of the prince. The king of Shu respected the filial piety of the other party to the extreme, and specially opened a study house for him, with the title of "Zhengxue", so the people in the palace also called Fang Xiaoru "Mr. Zhengxue".

In the leap month of the 31st year of Hongwu, Zhu Yunwen, the grandson of the emperor, ascended the throne as the Son of Heaven. The young Son of Heaven has admired Fang Xiaoru for a long time, and after just a month on the throne, he couldn't wait to summon Mr. Fang to the Beijing Division, except for the Hanlin Academy; Zhu Yunwen is fond of books, and the other party treats him with a teacher's courtesy, so that he reads with him day and night, and asks Mr. Fang to explain when he encounters questions, and often consults Mr. Fang about government and state affairs.

Just as Zhu Yuanzhang expected, Fang Xiaoru's extreme trust and reliance on the young Son of Heaven moved him to the core, and he felt that he could not repay it, so he devoted himself wholeheartedly to assisting and instructing the Son of Heaven. However, before that, he was just a teacher in substance, only dealing with books and simple reading students all day long, including the prince of Shu, for dealing with complex government affairs and major military events, whether he could do whatever he wanted like making a fuss, and he was able to do whatever he wanted.

However, he didn't think of that yet. He was just very happy that Mr. Fang, whom he admired, had finally entered the Hanlin Academy, served by the side of the Son of Heaven, and had an identity worthy of his virtue and talent.