fake gentry

Xie Hong began to tell a story.

Before Ananda, a disciple of the Buddha, became a monk, he met a young woman on the road and fell deeply in love with her. Ananda then told the Buddha that he had fallen in love with a woman. The Buddha then asked him, "Just how much do you love that woman?"

Zhu Faqian's pupils contracted slightly.

Ananda replied, "I would be willing to become a stone bridge, enduring five hundred years of wind, five hundred years of sun, and five hundred years of rain, just so that she can cross the bridge."

Xi Xuan's face, hidden beneath her veil, suddenly froze.

"Buddha, please explain, Ah, once that woman crosses the bridge, she will simply be passing by."

"Therefore, Ananda suddenly realized the truth, let go of his attachment, forgot about the woman, and finally attained the state of a great Arhat."

After the story was told, Huangshi Rock fell silent.

After a long silence, Zhu Faqian sighed and said, "I only know that Ananda followed the Buddha in his practice and was foremost in learning, but I have never heard of any other story behind it. May I ask, sir, which sutra does this story come from?"

This was no challenge for Xie Hong.

He specifically researched this story.

"Zhu Gong is mentioned in the 'Buddha's Discourse on the Modern Woman' translated by An Shigao during the Han Dynasty."

Dozens of eyes were fixed on Xie Hong.

Is there such a scripture?

Gu He suddenly asked, "This scripture has been lost; where did you obtain it?"

Xie Hong blinked a few times.

Has it been lost to time?

Holy crap, I don't know! I can't answer a single question if you ask me again.

Zhu Faqian suddenly clasped his hands together and bowed deeply to Xie Hong:

"Thank you, young master. I thought I was well-versed in Buddhist teachings, but today I realize that I am nothing more than a person who recites scriptures. If you ever come to Jiankang in the future, I will reserve a meditation room for you at the White Horse Temple so that I can ask you for guidance every day."

The crowd initially erupted in uproar, but then gradually quieted down.

How lofty was Zhu Faqian's position among the scholars of Jiangzuo? He was invited to Jiankang by the emperor and could freely enter and leave the palace to lecture the emperor.

But at this moment, he bowed deeply to a sixteen-year-old boy. The gesture was not just polite; it was a genuine expression of equal respect.

"Please, my lord, bestow upon me the scriptures."

Xie Hong...

What scriptures were bestowed?

Is this the most painful period you've ever had?

I only remember one name.

"Master Zhu has become attached to appearances; I, your junior, have a verse to offer you."

Xie Hong probably can't even name all the orthodox classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections, but he's an internet user, so what information isn't there online?

The money from older women and aunties in the live stream isn't so easy to swindle; you have to have something solid to back it up, and you must have read all sorts of stories and anecdotes.

He slowly began to speak: "The body is a Bodhi tree, the mind a clear mirror. Constantly wipe it clean, lest it be covered with dust."

Zhu Faqian seemed to have been struck by lightning again.

These four lines of verse directly struck at some kind of obstacle in his heart.

He is well-versed in various classics, especially the Lotus Sutra, and in recent years he has been studying the Prajnaparamita Sutra. However, no matter how he interprets it, he always feels a sense of unease about going astray.

Over time, the obsession in one's heart grows stronger and stronger.

But today, upon suddenly hearing Xie Hong utter four lines of verse, I felt a sense of exhilaration, as if the clouds had parted to reveal the clear blue sky.

He now has a unique understanding of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, proposing that nothingness precedes existence, existence follows nothingness, and existence arises from nothingness, thus explaining the Prajna emptiness meaning of neither existence nor non-existence in the sutra.

His approach allows others who like Buddhist philosophy to quickly understand the meaning of Prajna, thus merging the two schools of thought.

However, this is also considered to be a deviation from the original meaning of Prajna, and it has been criticized as being overly attached to the level of nothingness, misinterpreting the emptiness of neither existence nor non-existence as a simple entity of nothingness.

"Where does this verse come from?"

Xie Hong showed no shame whatsoever: "These are my thoughts after reading the scriptures."

No way? Go check it out, it won't be available for over 300 years.

Zhu Faqian immediately stood up and left his seat, bowing deeply to Xie Hong once more: "This humble Taoist thanks you for your guidance, young master. Please accept my three bows."

He immediately ordered his monk servant to bring him the futon where he was kneeling, and he actually intended to kneel and bow to Xie Hongxing in front of everyone.

All the famous scholars were greatly surprised.

It should be noted that Zhu Faqian did not need to kneel even when facing the emperor.

A guest outside the secular world does not bow to kings and nobles.

Zhai Tang and Gu He were even more shocked. Although they were not as famous as Xie Kun, they were definitely famous scholars.

Zhu Faqian was able to sit at the same table as them, and in some ways, his reputation as the foremost scholar outside the secular world was even higher than theirs.

Zhu Faqian was actually impressed?

When Xie Kun looked at Xie Hong, no one knew what he was thinking.

Young man, are you going to become a monk?

Luo Shao, however, felt a sense of panic, as if he had tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead.

Putting everything else aside, if word got out that Zhu Faqian had paid homage to Xie Hong, Xie Hong's fame would surely spread to Jiankang, and the emperor might even have directly appointed Xie Hong to a prestigious official position, not to mention the possibility of him being recruited by princes and nobles.

His current predicament has not only become a joke, but Luo himself may also be punished, stripped of his scholar status, and reduced to a poor family.

It's just four lines of verse, what's so special about it? Has Master Zhu gone mad?

Xie Hong had no intention of accepting three bows from him. He immediately stepped forward, put his hands on Zhu Faqian's, and said, "This junior is truly trembling with fear and dares not accept it."

Zhu Faqian sighed, "Young master, your words are full of allusions; you are truly a man of high character. I wish to regard you as a friend."

Luo Shao felt as if the sky had fallen in an instant.

Did Zhu Faqian consider Xie Hong a friend?

Would Luo Shao dare to scheme against Zhu Faqian's friend?

Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare.

Little did he know that Xie Hong's four lines of verse were like a revelation to Zhu Faqian, making him no less than a benefactor.

Gu He, standing to the side, also exclaimed in surprise, "Master Zhu, you are so profound in your teachings, do you really value this young man so highly?"

Zhu Faqian said earnestly, "Just one poem from you, Master Xie, is enough for me to consider you a friend. Master Gu, I failed two of your three questions, so please ask me to ask you three more."

Gu He burst into laughter: "Isn't Young Master Xie a friend of Master Zhu? Why are you making me ask him such a difficult question?"

Zhu Faqian also laughed and said, "Friends are friends, but we'll still make things difficult for each other when necessary."

Xi Zhong and Ge Hong exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with both surprise and delight. They knew Xie Hong was undoubtedly talented. But the Xie family of Chen Commandery was a family tradition of Confucianism, yet Xie Hong possessed such a profound understanding of Buddhist principles. Even Zhu Faqian was impressed.

They don't even need to help spread the word; the hundreds of scholars present will naturally tell everyone about what happened today throughout Jiangzuo.

Gu He smiled and said to Xie Hong, "Young Master Xie, are you prepared to answer my three questions?"

Xie Hong calmly replied, "Please ask, Mr. Gu."

He appeared calm, but inside he was panicking.

God help me, I hope Gu He asks the questions as I've planned, otherwise the reputation I've finally earned will be ruined in an instant.

He only knew a limited set of empty ideals and slogans from the Confucian school.

Huangshi Rock fell silent again as everyone watched how Gu He would question Xie Hong.

Gu He was actually a little annoyed.

Who is he?

The Gu family of Wu County was a prominent and influential family.

A leading figure among the southern gentry.

But now we must make a name for ourselves among the northern gentry.

The chasm between the northern and southern gentry was invisible to the naked eye, yet it was as deep as a ravine.

But now he's in a bind.

His thought was that he must embarrass Xie Hong and absolutely could not let him become famous.

Otherwise, if word got out, it would be that he, a renowned scholar, was actually debating with a sixteen-year-old boy.

Those who know the truth will think they appreciate talent, while those who don't will think they're inferior to this kid. If word gets out, what will become of the reputation of the prestigious Gu family of Wu County?

But Gu He felt like a few cats were scratching at his heart.

He had already been hooked by the words Xie Hong had used earlier.