Wei Ni

According to legend, Xun Lingjun liked to burn incense, and over time, his body was filled with fragrance.

Xun Yiying, who was orphaned at a young age, also followed suit. When he waved his sleeves like a gentleman, the fragrance wafted to his nose, which made Xiahou Hui feel annoyed.

There is no other reason.

Xun Xi's expression and words clearly revealed the arrogance of a son of an aristocratic family.

He was still unaware of this, and seeing Xiahou Hui remained silent, he took the opportunity to ask, "Wu Ying is a son of a single family, he is fickle and has no virtue, and is not tolerated by scholars. Moreover, in order to change his father's posthumous title, he flattered the officials and dignitaries to curry their favor. It would be unworthy of Zhiquan to use such a person. Well, now he is running around for Zhiquan, could it be that Zhiquan has promised him what he wants?"

Are you telling me how to behave in society?
Immediately, the smile on Xiahou Hui's face disappeared, and his eyes became colder.

"I won't comment on Wu Wenshu, and I never forced him to do anything, let alone promised him anything. However, Jing Qian may not know that I distinguish between gratitude and resentment, and I don't want to owe favors to others. Although Wu Wenshu got involved in this matter on his own initiative, it is beneficial to me after all. If the opportunity is right in the future, I will not hesitate to lend him a helping hand. Also, as for Shi Jian's provocation to me before, although the matter has passed, I don't mind making things difficult for him if there is a chance in the future."

Making things difficult for Shi Jian in the future
It seems that you don't have a reputation for revenge.
Furthermore, Shi Jian was sent by me. If his career is suppressed by you in the future, how should I deal with it?
If I protect Shi Jian, we will have a disagreement and a quarrel. If I don't protect him, wouldn't I be a person who is untrustworthy and ungrateful?
With your intelligence, you should be aware of the superficial interests here, but you still say that there will be a harsh stone to judge. Could it be that you are implicitly expressing that you have no intention of forming a career alliance with me?

Xun Yi was stunned for a moment by the sudden chill in the atmosphere and Xiahou Hui's words.

Fortunately, he came from a well-educated family and was not lacking in talent, so he quickly realized the problem.

Oh, no!

He didn't want to suppress Shi Jian, but was annoyed that I had instigated Shi Jian to provoke him for no reason!
Immediately standing up, Xun Yi bowed and apologized sincerely, "The matter with Shi Jian before was caused by me, Meng Lang, who disturbed me without reason. I regret it very much now. I only ask that Zhi Quan not be punished."

If you have any regrets, you won't be so cool.

After secretly complaining, Xiahou Hui did not stand up, but just casually bowed in return, "I dare not. Jing Qian is a gentleman of Xun Ling, how dare I offend him."

Uh!
Xun Yi, who had just stood up and was about to sit down, was stunned again.

After all, he was a rich kid who grew up under the glory of his father's generation, and he hardly felt the malice of the world. He was also orphaned at a young age, and his brothers all died young, so he lacked the ways of the world. Therefore, when he found that things did not develop in the direction he imagined, and was rebuked by Xiahou Hui in a tepid manner, he didn't know how to respond for a moment.

Or perhaps it was Xiahou Hui's words "Xun Ling is a gentleman" that touched his defenses.

He lost his father when he was a child.

Before he reached adulthood, his eldest brother Xun Yun died two years after Emperor Wen of Cao Pi ascended the throne because of his close relationship with Chen Si Wang Cao Zhi; his second brother Xun Ya also died of illness not long after he started his official career and served as a secretary to the general. The rest of his brothers also died young, and the glory of the family fell on his shoulders from then on.

Therefore, he did not like to hear the words "Xun Ling is a gentleman."

Because that means that the Xun family is still supported by the legacy of his late father; it also declares that he is of no benefit to the Xun family now.

Although this is the fact, it is still hard for him to accept.

Because every time I heard it, I always had a vague feeling of being despised as a "playboy who relies on his father."

"Jing Qian, please take a seat. Don't misunderstand me. I don't mean to be sarcastic."

Seeing him stunned, Xiahou Hui suddenly felt that his words just now might have been too harsh, so he extended his hand to ask for permission and explained, "Since Emperor Wu founded the country, there has been no one as talented as Xun Lingjun. Although I grew up in the army and not in the literati circle, I also admire Xun Lingjun very much."

After saying this, he raised his glass to invite him to drink, to show that he really had no intention of blaming anyone.

"Ashamed, ashamed."

Xun Yi, who sat down as he was told, felt relieved a little, and he also raised his cup to drink, saying humbly, "If I am not as decent as you, I will bring disgrace to my father's reputation."

After putting down the wine cup and getting over the embarrassment, he was hesitating on how to bring up the previous topic, but was stopped in his tracks by Xiahou Hui's next words.

"As you just said, I have always admired Lord Xun, and I also respect the beauty of the famous family in Yingchuan. I have thought that if one day I could be a guest at the Xun Mansion, it would be a great honor in my life."

"I was in the army before, and after returning to the capital, I was entangled in many things. I believe Jing Qian should know that my reputation is not good in the court, among scholars and the market. Therefore, although I admire the Xun family, I have never made friends with Jing Qian. It's not that I don't want to, but I dare not, for fear of disgracing the noble family."

"Last month, I received Jing Qian's letter from Xuan Bo. I learned about Jing Qian's earnest feelings. I was very happy, but also sad."

"Friends who are friends for profit will part when the profit is gone; friends who are friends for power will fall when the power is gone; only friends who are friends from the heart can make the friendship last. My friendship with Xuan Bo is based on our hearts; I want to be friends with Jing Qian in the same way. But Jing Qian first used Shi Jian to test me, and then used power and benefits to lure me in the letter, treating me like a shrewd person, which makes me sad."

"I am a descendant of Qiaopei, and it is my duty to protect the country of Wei. Jingqian is a descendant of a founding hero, and is determined to restore the merits of his fathers, which is also a blessing for the Wei Kingdom. What you and I are seeking is not different, so why are you so eager to be labeled as a bad guy?"

"I have always been reckless and impetuous. Today, I met Jing Qian unexpectedly and sat at the same table with her, so I will speak frankly. If Jing Qian is innocent and knows my heart, when Xuan Bo's mourning is over, the three of us can have a banquet together. Regardless of personal plans, we will only seek strategies that benefit the country. If Jing Qian thinks I am pretentious, then please forgive me for not knowing how to appreciate your kindness and for not being able to enter a high-ranking family. That's all I have to say. Jing Qian can decide on what to do, and I have no objection."

"Farewell."

After saying this, Xiahou Hui stood up, bowed and said goodbye, and left without waiting for Xun Xi to say anything.

Xun Yi didn't intend to say anything.

Just as Xiahou Hui just said, "That's all I have to say." Even if he kept him, he wouldn't know what to say.

He was not stupid, so he could probably figure out what Xiahou Hui meant. Don't be fooled by Xiahou Hui's generous attitude, his constant talk about how it is important to be sincere and how we should seek to benefit the country, all of which were just high-sounding words, and you can just ignore them after listening to them.

In business, talk about business; in government, talk about power.

They were all on duty in the capital Luoyang, and there was no shortage of opportunities to appear beside the emperor. If they were not friends for profit or power, what else was there to be friends with? Xun Yi did not think that there were no sincere and honest people among the officials in the court, but he was sure that Xiahou Hui was not one of them.

As for personal gain and state affairs, that's just an excuse.

It is said that even if one is in a low position, one must not forget to worry about the country.

But one of them is from Qiaopei, and the other is a descendant of a founding hero. If they are of low status, how can they come up with any plan that will benefit the country?
Sometimes, personal interests and national interests can be put in harmony!
To put it bluntly, Xiahou Hui's eloquent speech actually only talked about two things.

One reason was that Xiahou Hui was very dissatisfied with his attitude.

Some people believed that his action of first testing Chen Tai with the stone mirror and then leaving a letter at Chen Tai's place was a condescending attitude and an arrogance like almsgiving.

It also shows that Xiahou Hui is never someone who is willing to be inferior to others.

If he can't keep a calm mind, there's no need to talk nonsense about career alliance.

The other was to point out that he was too weak at the moment and did not have the basis for forming an alliance.

The words "the son of Lord Xun" were pointing out that he was still a person who relied on his father's influence to gain a foothold and had no achievements of his own; whereas Xiahou Hui had already established himself in the government through wars fought in the south and the north and with real achievements.

Want to promote an alliance between the two sides?
Okay, let’s go and persuade my nephew Chen Tai to join first.

Only by tying the Xun and Chen families together can both sides have a basis for discussing cooperation.

To put it bluntly, Xiahou Hui's words were quite aggressive and threatening.

But Xun Yi did not get angry.

It’s not that facts speak louder than words and getting angry won’t help.

But he knew that compared with relying on Sima Yi, the conditions offered by Xiahou Hui were obviously more cost-effective.

Yes, for the Xun family, relying on the Sima family is a way to retain their retreat.

Unless we are left with no other options, we will not choose the escape route.

May I ask, as the regent minister, if Sima Yi felt that a Zhonglang was talented and wanted to promote him, did he need other reasons to convince others?
Not necessary?

But when Sima Yi promoted him to be Palace Attendant, he even said in public, "He is the son of Lord Xun!"
how so?

Isn't it just to let everyone know that he, Sima Yi, is a grateful person, and he promoted Xun Yi to repay the kindness of Xun Lingjun for recommending him in the past?

First, by forming an alliance through marriage, and then by promoting the sponsor's son to an official position, Sima Yi had already repaid the favor of Xun Lingjun.

Therefore, apart from becoming dependent, Xun Yi could not think of anything else.

The world is bustling with people all for profit~
Not only are the noble families not immune to this practice, they are even worse than others.

Xun Yi still knew the basic ways of the world.

Therefore, he felt that the condition Xiahou Hui put forward was just to ask him to persuade his nephew Chen Tai, who did not want to participate in it, to change his mind, which was really not a big ask.

At least, the two sides are allying on equal terms, right?

Xun Yi, who had been sitting alone for a long time, raised his cup and drank it all, then stood up and went home.

He felt that it was not difficult to persuade Chen Tai. If he really couldn't persuade her, he could go to his sister and cry to her every day. How many times could Chen Tai disobey his mother's orders?

It's just a pity.

What he didn't know was that he had fallen into Xiahou Hui's trap.

Accusing him of arrogance and asking him to persuade Chen Tai, etc., were all excuses made by Xiahou Hui. He just wanted to drag him down.

According to the rules, one should observe mourning for three years (actually twenty-seven months).

Chen Tai, who only began to observe mourning at the end of last year, will have to stay in his hut for another two years.

Two years later
By then, Xiahou Hui would either be extremely powerful or lose all his power.

If it was the former, Xun Xi persuaded Chen Tai and tied the Xun and Chen families together, and he was not qualified to have an equal dialogue with Xia Houhui; and if it was the latter, Xun Xi avoided Xia Houhui like a snake! (End of this chapter)