fake gentry

After seeing Xi Zhong off, everyone returned to Taoping, and Ge Hong went straight to take a bath.

Xie Hong then took out the letter written by Xi Xuan.

Zifang Bai:

It has been no more than ten days since I first met you on the left side of the road. I recall your posture before the waterfall, your appearance on the cliff, and all these things, your charm is something I have never seen before in my life.

I learned to play the zither from a young age, and I thought that with the Jiao Wei zither in my hand, no one of my peers could surpass me. But after hearing your music, I realized that there are always higher levels to reach.

Furthermore, the servant calligrapher He Nan was proud of it, but after reading your humble abode inscription, he dared not utter a word.

You, sir, possess such talent and learning at such a young age; whenever I think of it, I am both astonished and disheartened. I, Zhang Liang, have always been proud and have never bowed my head before anyone, yet before you I feel inferior in every way, utterly inadequate. However, I feel no resentment, only joy.

Today we part, and I cannot say goodbye to you. It is not that I do not wish to, but that I am truly unable to.

I leave the scorched tail of the zither to you; it is nothing special, but I hope that when you see the zither, you will see me as you see the zither.

Zifang bowed deeply.

Xie Hong read the letter twice, feeling a mix of smugness, amusement, and melancholy.

This girl is definitely competitive.

But to be able to win over a talented woman of the time and capture her heart, isn't that something to be proud of?

He then took out the Jiao Wei Qin (焦尾琴) and examined it closely. The paulownia wood of the instrument had a glossy black sheen, indicating that it was extremely well-maintained. However, in terms of sound quality, any modern craftsmanship could easily surpass it.

The so-called Four Famous Guqin are nothing more than a matter of fame.

Xie Hong was somewhat troubled. It was a waste to have the zither in his possession, since he only knew how to play it but not how to maintain it.

Ah Heng and Ah Ling stood to one side. The two women glanced at each other. Ah Heng's lips moved, but she probably felt that her husband's expression was more silent than usual, so she didn't dare to say anything. She secretly gave Ah Ling a look, and the two women quietly withdrew.

In the afternoon, Taoping was so quiet that only the cicadas chirped. Xie Hong was inevitably disappointed after Liu Chong left, and he couldn't bear to ask Chen San to do anything. So he started to look through the account books that Dong Xuan had sent up the mountain the day before.

The paper records the construction costs from last month, which Xie Hong needs to review.

Just as I was engrossed in watching, I suddenly heard a series of hurried footsteps outside.

"Hengniang, Hengniang, quickly go and inform the young master that a distinguished family has come to pay their respects."

Upon hearing the voice of the refugee A-Liu, Xie Hong immediately got up and went outside.

When A-Liu saw Xie Hong, his voice betrayed his nervousness: "My lord, two oxcarts have come by on the road. They don't look like the kind of carts that ordinary scholars ride in."

Chen San, who was secretly grieving, also heard the commotion and came out from another cave.

Looking up, I saw two oxcarts slowly approaching along the mountain road at the Taoping intersection.

The oxcart in front was ordinary, but it was guarded by four mounted retainers, no less impressive than the Xi family's retainers.

The servants leading the ox did not wear brown clothes, but rather lacquered gauze hats and wide-sleeved blue silk robes, which were the standard everyday clothes of low-ranking officials at the time.

The second cart was much wider, covered with a blue cloth curtain with black trim, and the oxen pulling it had red cloth strips wrapped around their horns and copper bells hanging from their necks, making a jingling sound as they walked.

This procession is even more elaborate than Xi Zhong's motorcade.

Behind the chariot were four mounted retainers, each carrying a ring-pommel sword, and with a horn bow and quiver hanging from their horses.

Chen San immediately went to Xie Hong and said nervously, "Young Master, it must be Magistrate Xie."

Xie Hong guessed that the person who came must be Xie Kun.

Apart from Xie Kun, no one else dared to use minor officials as servants.

Even Zhou Guang, the prefect of Xunyang, wouldn't dare, but Xie Kun could, because he was not only the prefect of Yuzhang, but also the chief administrator of Jiangzhou, the Marquis of Xianting, and a super famous scholar, so he had to make a grand entrance.

"Master Chen, quickly inform Ge Zhichuan to stop soaking. I'll go and greet my paternal uncle."

The oxcart came to a stop at Taoping. The clerk leading the ox put down the footstool, and a servant in his forties got off the first cart. He was wearing a turban, a blue straight-hemmed robe, and a black sash around his waist. He was clearly the steward of Xie Kun's mansion.

He walked quickly to the second car, bent down, and lifted the curtain.

A boy was the first to climb out of the car.

The boy was about fourteen or fifteen years old, dressed in a moon-white linen shirt with a belt around his waist. He was handsome with delicate features and a face like jade, especially his bright and intelligent eyes.

After getting out of the car, he didn't look around, but stood beside the car with a bow.

Xie Hong guessed who the visitor was the moment he saw the boy.

Xie Shang.

Xie Kun's only son is fourteen years old this year.

Xie Shang was known as a child prodigy from a young age. He was exceptionally intelligent in his youth, proficient in music and dance, and skilled in calligraphy and philosophical discussions. He started his career as an aide to the Minister of Works and successively served as a friend of the Prince of Kuaiji, a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, the Chancellor of Jiangxia, the Governor of Jiangzhou, and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Later, he became General Who Guards the West, overseeing the military affairs of the four prefectures of Yu, Ji, You, and Bing. He served as the Governor of Yu Province for twelve years, and it was he who truly solidified the foundation of the Xie clan of Chen Commandery as a first-class aristocratic family.

Xie Kun, still leaning on his bamboo cane, slowly got off the car.

Today he changed into a long robe with wide sleeves and black trim, with a plain belt around his waist. He did not wear a crown, but only tied his hair up with a bamboo hairpin.

Xie Hong quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply: "Greetings, Lord Youyu."

Xie Kun frowned slightly, and Xie Hong looked up and met his eyes.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

Xie Shang looked up at Xie Hong with an indescribable curiosity in his eyes.

Wow, this guy is so tall!

moment.

Xie Kun lightly tapped his bamboo cane on the ground: "What did you call me?"

Xie Hong hesitated for a moment, then bowed deeply to Xie Kun: "Hong greets Uncle."

Xie Kun's expression immediately softened, and he took two steps forward with a friendly smile: "Your brother and I have come from afar, so hurry up and bring out your ice cream."

Xie Hong...

Are they all that famous?

Who the hell leaked this?

Yes, it must be Zhou Guang.

Xie Shang stepped forward and greeted Xie Hong: "Your younger brother, Shang, courtesy name Renzu, age fourteen, greets elder brother."

Xie Shang stood down, bowing his head slightly to Xie Hong, his eyes clear and bright as he looked at Xie Hong.

Xie Hong looked Xie Shang up and down several times, even more excited than when he saw Xie Kun.

People, huh.

This kid left behind just as many anecdotes as his father, and he was more handsome, more charming, and more awesome than his father.

Xie Hong remembers two things most clearly about Xie Shang.

The first thing was that he retrieved the Imperial Seal of the State during his northern expedition, which made the Eastern Jin Dynasty the legitimate dynasty in terms of legal lineage.

The second thing is that it left behind a story – "The alluring beauty of Zhenxi", which describes a man with a beautiful appearance and extraordinary demeanor.

During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there was a very famous courtesan named Song Yi. She was originally the beloved concubine of Shi Chong, a wealthy man from the Western Jin Dynasty. She was renowned for her beauty and was famous among the aristocratic circles for her exquisite flute playing.

Let's take a look at who Song Yi has been with.

Shi Chong, Wang Dun, Emperor Ming of Jin (Sima Shao), a famous scholar, one of the Eight Earls of Yanzhou, and Ruan Fu, Minister of Personnel.

Ruan Fu had an older brother named Ruan Xian, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove. There was an ancient Chinese musical instrument called the Qin Pipa, which is now called Ruan, and it was named after him.

Song Yi eventually followed General Xie Shang, the General Who Guards the West.

According to "A New Account of Tales of the World", after Song Yi followed Xie Shang, Xie Shang asked her with a smile, "How do I compare to Wang Dun?"

Song Yi said that Dun was like a country bumpkin, while Jun was like a nobleman.

It means that Wang Dun was just a country bumpkin who only knew how to farm, while you were the dashing and noble one.

This is the origin of the name "Zhenxi Yaoye Gu".