Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 192 Grandmaster Xu
In the imperial palace, Chen Yu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue, walked briskly towards the imperial study with a booklet in his hand.

Suddenly, a spring breeze seemed to blow, and a gentle breath came.

Chen Yu subconsciously turned his head and looked sideways, and saw a Taoist approaching.

The Taoist priest wore a white jade crown and a white Taoist robe embroidered with cloud patterns. He had an immortal look and an extraordinary temperament.

Chen Yu paused, turned around and saluted respectfully with a smile on his face, "Chen Yu, I pay my respects to Grandmaster Xu!"

Xu Shou was a great Taoist master who worked at the Anguo Imperial Astronomical Observatory.

In other words, he is a master who has practiced Taoism for thousands of years and is at the same level as the great Confucian scholars.

Even the Emperor Anguo would respectfully call Xu Shou his teacher.

This great master is usually elusive, and it is difficult to find him even if you go to the Imperial Observatory.

But now he appeared here, which made Chen Yu inexplicably have some thoughts.

Xu Shou slowed down his pace and looked at Chen Yu with a friendly smile, "It's Minister Chen. Long time no see. How have you been lately?"

"Okay, very good." Chen Yu smiled and nodded.

In fact, he was not very familiar with Xu Shou. It was a rare opportunity for them to meet and talk to each other occasionally.

Chen Yu whispered, "Grandmaster, are you here to see His Majesty?"

Xu Shou smiled and glanced at Chen Yu casually, saying calmly, "Yes, just like you. Let's go and see His Majesty together."

"it is good."

Chen Yu bowed slightly, followed Xu Shou half a body length behind, and went to the imperial study together.

In the imperial study, An Taixuan had finished processing official documents and was practicing calligraphy.

The pen moved like a dragon, and a fierce murderous aura surged from the paper, causing the table to tremble slightly.

An Taixuan waved his sleeves, and everything calmed down.

"The war poems that Lu Zheng provided are really good, not bad at all!"

"I have accomplished the emperor's affairs, and earned a good reputation both in life and after death... I wonder if this scholar is still alive. If he could be employed by me, he would be a great scholar-general!"

An Taixuan looked at the poems on the table and felt emotional.

At this moment, an eunuch came in from outside and respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, Grand Master Xu and Minister Chen of the Ministry of Revenue request an audience!"

Upon hearing this, An Taixuan's expression straightened and he said, "Let them in!"

After a while, Xu Shou and Chen Yu walked into the imperial study.

They both bowed and said in unison, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

An Taixuan smiled and said, "Master Xu, Mr. Chen! Come, come, take a seat, and serve tea!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

The two of them sat down respectfully.

An Taixuan looked at Xu Shou and said, "Master Xu, I haven't seen you for a while, and I miss you so much. Is there something important that brings you here today?"

Xu Shou smiled and said, "It's nothing important. I just have some matters of my own to attend to, so I came to consult Your Majesty."

"Oh?" An Taixuan looked curious and ordered, "Then everyone else, please step back first!"

Xu Shou said, "There's no need to be so polite. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

Upon hearing this, An Taixuan said, "Master Xu, please tell me. If I can help, I will do my best."

Xu Shou was not from Anguo. It was only after the late emperor made great efforts that he was able to stay in Anguo and take up a position in the Imperial Observatory.

Over the years, Xu Shou has done a lot for An Guo.

When An Taixuan was young, Xu Shou personally taught him for a period of time.

An Taixuan had great respect for Xu Shou.

Xu Shou raised his sleeve slightly, and a booklet appeared in his hand.

He simply showed it briefly and then said, "Your Majesty sent this book on mathematics to the Imperial Observatory some time ago. I'm curious, who wrote it?"

An Taixuan's eyes flickered when he heard this, and he said with a smile, "What's wrong? Is there anything wrong with this math book?"

Xu Shou slowly shook his head and said, "There's nothing wrong with it. It's just that some of the content is extremely profound, and I can't figure it out. So I want to find the person who wrote this book and humbly ask for his advice."

An Taixuan was shocked and asked in surprise, "Master Xu also doesn't understand?"

He had previously asked someone to copy this mathematics booklet and send it to the Imperial Observatory because he thought the people there would be able to understand this profound mathematics.

Those people in the Imperial Astronomical Observatory are all masters who can calculate the sky and the earth and are proficient in mathematics.

As a result, even Xu Shou came to see him in person and said that he could not understand some of the contents.

An Taixuan couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that there's something wrong with the content above?"

Xu Shou thought for a moment and said, "There should be no problem. It's just that I can't understand some of the principles and don't know why."

"Uh..." An Taixuan's expression became a little interesting.

He had never expected that the booklet sent by Lu Zheng could actually embarrass a figure like Grandmaster Xu.

I had heard before about Lu Zheng’s literary competition. He was unmatched in mathematics and even the problems in various mathematical books could not stump him.

I thought the rumors were exaggerated, but now it seems that they are really outrageous.

Xu Shou said, "Your Majesty, please tell me which master wrote this book?"

What great man? He’s just a young man… An Taixuan thought to himself.

"Well..."

An Taixuan's expression was a bit conflicted. He had previously promised An Jing that he would not interfere with Lu Zheng's affairs for the time being and let him grow slowly. He pondered for a moment and said, "The booklet was sent by the eldest princess. Master Xu wants to find someone. Go ask An Jing."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shou couldn't help but nodded, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for telling me."

However, he got the answer and did not leave. Instead, he looked at Chen Yu.

Noticing Xu Shou's gaze, An Taixuan asked, "What does Minister Chen have to report?"

Chen Yu quickly said, "We at the Ministry of Revenue have also carefully examined this mathematical booklet. Some of its contents are quite useful. We have used new algorithms to calculate income and expenditure, which has saved us a lot of time. Therefore, we have come to inform Your Majesty and would like to ask Your Majesty to introduce some of the mathematical methods in this booklet to the Imperial College."

"Also, our Ministry of Revenue also wants to know who created this mathematics..."

Hearing these words, An Taixuan's expression became even more exciting.

He couldn't help but glance sideways at the booklet on the table.

He also kept a copy for himself, the original, but he didn't read it much because every time he tried to study it carefully, it felt like reading a mysterious book, and he couldn't understand it at all...

An Taixuan said, "First of all, I have agreed. You can go to the Ministry of Revenue and talk to the Imperial College. Second, go find the Princess!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Chen Yu was delighted and thanked him quickly.

Both Xu Shou and Chen Yu stood up and took their leave.

After leaving the imperial study, Chen Yu couldn't help but look at Xu Shou beside him, "Is Grandmaster Xu going to the Princess's residence now?"

Xu Shou nodded slightly. "How much has Minister Chen learned from studying mathematics?"

Chen Yu said ashamedly, "I can't understand most of it. It's like reading a heavenly book. I have no idea who wrote it. Some of the symbols in it have never been seen before in many ancient books that we in the Ministry of Revenue have read."

A group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue gathered together to ponder for a long time, but they were completely confused and had no idea what the formulas and patterns behind it meant.

Xu Shou said leisurely, "Mathematics is an extremely profound art... This art is the ultimate truth of heaven and earth, eternal and unchanging. How can mortals like us easily decipher its mysteries?"

"Grandmaster Xu is absolutely right!" Chen Yu agreed deeply.

Even if the contents of other books of sages are obscure, at least the text can be understood.

This is considered learning. If you don’t understand it, you really can’t even reach the threshold.

The two of them quickly walked out of the palace.

After leaving the palace, Xu Shou waved his long sleeves and the two disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Chen Yu only felt himself being blown by a light breeze, and in the blink of an eye, he was already outside the Princess's Mansion.

Chen Yu said excitedly, "Grandmaster Xu, please wait a moment. I'll go knock on the door."

Chen Yu arrived at the gate and explained his purpose directly to the guards outside.

When the guards learned that Xu Shou and Chen Yu were visiting, they hurriedly reported it.

After just a few breaths, a maid came in and invited the two into the house.

Arriving at a spacious living room, An Jing walked out and greeted the two of them, smiling and saying, "Master Xu, Minister Chen, please come in!"

"Your Highness."

The two walked into the living room and took their seats.

An Jing looked at Xu Shou and said, "Grandmaster, I'm sorry for not coming to greet you. Why did you bother coming here in person?"

Xu Shou smiled and said, "I came here to get to know someone from Your Highness..."

Xu Shou didn't waste any words and told them the purpose of their visit.

An Jing raised her eyebrows when she heard this. She couldn't help but look at Xu Shou and then at Chen Yu.

It turns out that Grandmaster Xu and the Ministry of Revenue both want to find Lu Zheng.

This kind of thing really puts her in a difficult position.

I had received a letter and a gift in return from Lu Zheng before. The content of the letter clearly showed that he did not want to get involved in the affairs of the court, and only wanted to travel and practice alone in peace.

Even though these valuable gifts were sent in return, no favors were asked for.

Let her take credit for herself as a way of repaying the favor of the walking token.

An Jing didn't want to push Lu Zheng out in front of others so early and ruin the little friendship between them.

Seeing An Jing's troubled expression, Xu Shou couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, is there anything you find difficult to say? Feel free to speak up."

An Jing thought for a moment and said, "The person the Grandmaster is looking for is indifferent to fame and fortune. An Jing treats him with courtesy and does not dare to be arrogant because of his status. If I tell you where he came from, I am afraid it will disturb his life..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Shou nodded slightly. "All hidden masters are like this. Well, I won't embarrass Your Highness. Thank you for telling me this!"

After saying that, Xu Shou stood up and looked at Chen Yu again, "Let's go, Minister Chen."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yu also stood up and said goodbye. Since even Grandmaster Xu said so, he naturally didn't dare to ask any further questions.

After leaving the princess's mansion, the two went their separate ways.

Xu Shou stood outside the mansion, lightly pinching the magic formula with one hand, and muttered softly: "South..."

Not long ago, An Jing returned from the south. He wanted to find that person, who should be over there.

Since that person didn't like being disturbed, he would just approach him as an ordinary Taoist.

Thinking of this, Xu Shou's figure flashed and disappeared.

An Jing sat in the hall, and soon someone came to report.

"The Grandmaster went south?" An Jing sighed. "The Grandmaster can predict the future. He wants to go find someone, and I can't stop him. I hope Lu Zheng won't blame me."

She never thought that Lu Zheng's booklet could be so tempting that even Xu Shou, who had been in seclusion for many years, came out to look for him.

(End of this chapter)