History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 156 Flying Cry Dies

The day before yesterday, Yuan Jingrong told her that there was a very hateful servant named Feiming in the Dongyue Flower Shop run by Xi Jiao's family. He instructed beggars from the East City to spread all sorts of bad things about her, mocking her family for being a patron, and even ridiculing her for studying poetry so hard in order to become a concubine for a wealthy and powerful family.

At that time, besides anger, Wei Yao had other considerations. In this world, the powerful and wealthy can act beyond the law, while the dignity and lives of ordinary people are as worthless as weeds. Therefore, the horror of this rumor lies in reminding some unscrupulous powerful people that they can use their power to oppress her family and abduct her into their mansion as a concubine.

So just silencing a few scoundrels and shutting up Fei Ming's foul mouth is useless. If we want to stop similar rumors from the beginning, we have to cut it off at the root!

We must use greater power and influence to frighten away those powerful figures who have the idea of ​​taking her as a concubine! So after listening to Yuan Jingrong's story, Wei Yao went to find her mentor Confucius. She expressed her ideal of studying hard, hoping to be recommended by officials to enter the palace to lecture on poetry and become a female historian dedicated to promoting rites and culture.

When Wei Yao spoke of her ideals, she did not try to gain the Master's sympathy by talking about her helpless background. Instead, every sentence was powerful and inspiring, which made Kong Wenzhong's heart surge with emotion! This was because the person he admired most in his life was Gao Linggong Gao Yun, who shared the same ideals and persevered in his studies despite difficulties.

Kong Wenzhong immediately took Wei Yao to see Director Cui and complained that his disciple had been slandered.

This is not only a disgrace to Wei Yao, but also a disgrace to Kong Wenzhong!
This is not only a disgrace to Cui Academy, but also a disgrace to all aspiring young women in the world!
Thus, Cui Xian rushed to the prefectural government to report the matter. Only by uniting the Cui clan and the prefectural government to suppress the rumors that were corrupting female students could the message be spread throughout the city that... that girls seeking education, just like boys seeking education, was encouraged and protected by the imperial court!

In the afternoon, when Wei Mao returned to the ranch, Wei Yao, Cui Zhi, and Kong Mi were each occupying a spot, reciting poetry.

Wei Yao was talking about the "Jianjia" section of the "Qin Feng" chapter.

Both students and ordinary people present could recite the entire poem from memory. However, many people were hearing it for the first time when the poem was analyzed from the perspective of "satirizing Duke Xiang for failing to follow the rites of Zhou."

"The reeds are green and lush, the white dew is like frost," this poem begins with the technique of "evoking the imagery."

The lush and vigorous reeds, though lacking resilience, symbolize the Qin people who were unfamiliar with the rites and laws of Zhou. At that time, Qin seemed prosperous, but because it did not know etiquette and morality, the people, though gathered together, could not obey Duke Xiang of Qin.

The white dew turns to frost, which symbolizes the "yearly affairs" returning to the Zhou Dynasty. By learning the Zhou rites and then teaching them to the people, the people of Qin will become like reeds covered with frost, not only prosperous but also resilient, knowledgeable in etiquette and virtue, and obedient to the decrees of Duke Xiang of Qin.

Wei Yao's interpretation of the poem was eloquent: "When we read ancient poems, we should interpret them in the context of the time they were written. This way, we won't get bogged down in the literal meaning and narrowly interpret 'The Reeds and Rushes' as just a love poem. The next line refers to 'that person'..."

Meanwhile, screams of agony echoed from the state dungeon. Fei Ming and the beggar children were being tortured together. Biting, cursing, and crying mingled as they rushed out of the torture chamber. Xi Jiao sat outside, listening calmly without a trace of pity.

The beating continued for a quarter of an hour until only the muffled sound of the cane could be heard in the torture chamber and no one cried out.

The jailer dragged out several corpses and led them into the shadows of the passage. Only then did Clerk Gou and Xi Jiao rise. The two returned to the surface, and in the slanting sunlight, Xi Jiao tried to savor the lingering warmth of the clear sky before thanking the Clerk and bidding him farewell. After leaving the government office, he hurried south to Bai Deng Mountain, to his mother's burial site.

"Mother, my son is dead. He was beaten to death. I followed your instructions. I didn't kill him. He suffered all the consequences of his own actions! Mother, are you happy?" Xi Jiao had never shed tears in front of others since her mother's unjust death. Now, with no one around and only the autumn leaves falling, she let her grief run wild and tears streamed down her face.

"Why should two people who don't love each other get married? Mother, you say Father has changed, no, he hasn't changed. Not only has he not changed, he also hates you! Under the same roof, how could he not know your quick temper and understand your pride? He handed that mother and child over to you to deal with, just to make things difficult for you!"

He shook his head, weeping, “Mother, I will not be like you. I cannot bear this injustice! When Father went to Luoyang, I decided the day I left Feiming by my side that I would make this servant die! I spoiled him and made the other servants respect him, and finally raised him into a fool who didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth and dared to offend even the powerful and wealthy!” “Doing stupid things will be punished.”

As darkness fell, two deer shadows appeared in the denser, darker area ahead. They stopped alertly, presumably looking towards Xi Jiao.

Xi Jiao slowly got up, but still startled the two deer, who hopped and ran away, looking back. A swaying image of a red "double deer knot" flashed through Xi Jiao's mind, leaving him deeply puzzled, and he immediately chased after the two deer.

As evening fell, bonfires were lit on the pasture, and some people gathered around them singing folk songs.

"The stream flows down the Longtou River, drifting westward, thinking of me, adrift in the wilderness."

"Departing from Xincheng in the morning, lodging at Longtou in the evening, unable to speak due to the cold, my tongue curls up in my throat."

Some people chanted ancient poems in unison.

"The reeds are green and lush, the white dew is like frost; the one I long for is on the other side of the water..."

Singing filled the fresh grassland and lingered in the night sky with the gentle autumn breeze. Students who could dance danced gracefully, and the teachers also joined in, beating drums, chimes, or playing the sheng (a type of reed pipe instrument) to accompany the songs and dances.

Cui Xian invited Kong Wenzhong for a walk by the river. Cui Xian told him, "Those who spread rumors have been severely punished. The magistrate will announce their crimes throughout Hengzhou. Brother Kong, your anger should subside now."

Kong Wenzhong bowed in gratitude.

Cui Xian returned the greeting, and the two laughed heartily. Cui Xian then assured him, "Brother Kong, rest assured, I will definitely keep Wei Yao's matter in mind. When the time is right, if Governor Yuan does not recommend him, I will send a letter to my cousin Cui Xiu and ask him to recommend Wei Yao."

Just as Kong Wenzhong was about to thank him again, Cui Xian stopped him, smiling and saying, "I also have a favor to ask of you, Brother Kong. It's the same one I mentioned before. Brother Kong, please consider it carefully again. The official school in Luoyang has been delayed for a long time. The court keeps saying that it should respect Confucianism and Taoism and not let the four arts fall into disuse. But teaching and lecturing on the classics requires a proper school, and it also needs Confucian teachers who are both virtuous and learned and who do not seek empty titles as academic officials."

Seeing the other party remain silent, Cui Xian half-jokingly said, "In ancient times, Confucius led three thousand disciples to travel around the states. Brother Kong can also lead the disciples of the Xunyi Academy to travel to Sili and recite the Book of Poetry. When the teacher's reputation is great, the disciples' reputation will also be great, and vice versa. At that time, you and your disciples will complement each other, and your good story will be passed down to future generations. Then our lives will not have been in vain."

Confucius nodded: "Alright, I'll consider it."

At a narrow bend in the river, Wei Yao, Wei Mao, Wu Ji, and Bu Yanzhen were together, talking about Wei Zhen leaving Pingcheng for Luoyang.

Bu Yanzhen has clearly lost weight, but he is not dejected. On the contrary, this forced separation has given him a clearer understanding of some things, and he has grown as a result.

With Wei Zhen not around, Wu Ji didn't dislike Bu Yanzhen as much anymore, and even took the initiative to ask her, "If Wei Zhen thinks Luoyang is good and stays there instead of coming back, would you go to find her?"

(End of this chapter)