fake gentry

A complex light flashed in Xie Kun's eyes.

He looked at Xie Hong and remained silent for a moment. He wanted to say that it was unnecessary, but he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Xie Hong's guess was absolutely right.

Xie Kun was lying.

What's the point of investigating family history? You could search it to pieces and still not find anyone named Xie Ji. Because there simply isn't such a person.

However, Xie Kun had to acknowledge Xie Hong for the sake of his family.

After the Battle of Huangshiyan, Xie Hong's fame was unstoppable.

His last sentence, in particular, was his trump card.

It didn't matter if Xie didn't acknowledge it; he went to find Huan, which immediately put Xie Kun on a pedestal, making it impossible for him to get down.

Whether it's his demeanor, his manners, or his talent, Xie Hong has already won over everyone.

Therefore, even if Xie Kun suspected Xie Hong's identity, he still only had one path to take—to accept him despite his suspicions.

Moreover, Xie Kun anticipated that he might not live much longer, and he knew too much. He didn't know what Prime Minister Wang might do to him.

Therefore, Xie Hong's return to the clan will not affect Xie Shang's position as clan leader, but will greatly enhance the reputation and status of the Xie clan of Chenjun.

But despite all his calculations, he never expected Xie Hong to pull this stunt.

Blood test for kinship?

Could he really be a blood relative of the Xie family?

There's no way around it; this is how royal bloodlines are tested in this day and age.

Even centuries later, during the Song Dynasty, Song Ci, known as the father of forensic medicine, included blood-drop kinship testing in his records of exonerating wrongful convictions, and believed it without a doubt.

Xie Hong stood up and stepped forward, picked up the slender bone needle from the lacquer tray and silk cloth, held it in his hand and gently pricked the tip of the needle with his fingertip.

Blood beads welled up from his fingertips and dripped into the celadon bowl. Then he wiped the bone needle clean and handed it to Xie Kun with both hands.

Xie Kun took the bone needle, hesitated for a moment, then pricked his fingertip and squeezed out a drop of blood into the bowl.

Two drops of blood slowly approached each other in the water, eventually merging together.

Xie Kun's expression suddenly relaxed, but then a look of shock appeared on his face.

Xie Hongzhen is indeed a member of the Xie family!

Little did he know that Xie Hong had brought him lukewarm water.

Xie Hong then reached into his collar and pulled out a jade pendant, presenting it to Xie Kun with both hands.

The jade plaque is engraved with the seal script character "谢" (xie).

Xie Kun took the jade pendant and examined it repeatedly in his palm, his mind in turmoil.

It's confirmed, this is the real Xie family, I'm a fake.

This jade plaque is made of the finest mutton fat jade, and the ancient seal script on it is clearly Qin seal script.

This means that the jade pendant has been passed down through generations and is the only keepsake of the Xie family of Chenjun.

Xie Kun held the jade pendant in his hand with mixed feelings and remained silent for a long time. Then he solemnly placed the jade pendant back in Xie Hong's palm, closed his fingers, and clenched them tightly.

"As a member of the Xie family, why do you associate with refugees? Taking in refugees is a good deed, but you are a member of a gentry family and should have self-respect. Leading a group of refugees on the mountain, no wonder you have been falsely accused of banditry. Have you ever considered that if there are vicious people among these refugees, your life will be hanging by a thread?"

Xie Hong did not argue, nor did he express any dissatisfaction.

"Your discourse on Confucianism that day even impressed Gu Junxiao, but your words were too shocking. For every person who loves you in the future, there will be just as many who envy and hate you."

Xie Kun's tone softened a bit: "After all, he's still young at heart and needs to be tempered. So come and stay by my side as a literary assistant."

During the Han Dynasty and the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the prefectures established the position of Literary Clerk, who was in charge of local schools, education, etiquette and moral education. His function was similar to that of the deputy director of the municipal education bureau and education commissioner today. He was a high-ranking and respected official.

Sima Yi once served as a literary clerk in Cao Cao's Prime Minister's office.

However, in modern times, the literary clerk has also taken on the functions of instructing aristocratic children and serving as an advisor, much like a chief of staff in terms of culture and education.

In short, although his rank wasn't high, he had access to the inner circle, making him an eighth-rank official.

For a member of a second-class aristocratic family to enter officialdom, this position was already considered very good.

But Xie Hong obviously couldn't agree to that.

"My nephew wants to continue studying in his hermitage on Mount Lu and may not leave the mountain for at least a year."

Xie Hong couldn't help but raise his head, his tone suddenly turning serious: "Do you think your official position is too low?"

Xie Hong quickly shook his head.

"You are my nephew, grandfather, and father. Now that your father is gone, I will be your father from this day forward." Xie Kun looked at Xie Hong: "Don't refuse, it's settled then."

Xie Hong was unwilling to agree and bowed again, saying, "Clan leader, I would like to find a suitable opportunity to go to Guangzhou."

Xie Kun was stunned again and remained silent for a long while.

The Tao family was poor and relied solely on Tao Kan. If Tao Kan died, the Tao family would immediately collapse.

The Xie family of Chen Commandery is currently on the rise and has finally reached the threshold of a second-class aristocratic family. Why would a genius in the family take the initiative to seek refuge with a poor family?

If word gets out, it will become a laughing stock among the aristocratic families.

But Xie Kun is now worried about something else.

That is, the greater Xie Hong's reputation, the more dangerous it becomes.

If the emperor sends an envoy to Xie Hong, will he go to Jiankang? If Prime Minister Wang Dun comes to recruit him, will he go to Wuchang?

Jiankang and Wuchang are now huge pits of fire; anyone with a little foresight would never jump in.

Now that Xie Kun has acknowledged Xie Hong, whether out of love or consideration for his family, he cannot avoid this issue.

In this day and age, if Xie Hong wants to take up an official post, there is only one place that is truly safe.

That is Guangzhou.

Since Xie Hong did not go to Yanzhou with Xi Zhong, he must have seen the danger in Yanzhou.

Tao Kan, whose character is beyond question, and who deeply detested idle talk, was exactly Xie Hong's type.

Xie Kun could forcibly keep Xie Hong by his side, but if Wang Dun forcibly conscripted him, it would only harm Xie Hong.

He couldn't help but sigh, "Just as I thought."

It seemed he had already guessed Xie Hong would say that, so he didn't show any surprise. He glanced at Xie Hong again, and a very faint smile suddenly flashed in his eyes, like an elder looking at a junior who always surprises people, with a bit of helplessness and a bit of relief.

Then he waved to Xie Shang beside him.

Xie Shang immediately stepped forward and knelt down.

"Your younger brother is still young. Let him stay with you on the mountain for a while. You can teach him. If he disobeys, punish him as he should, without holding back."

"what?"

Xie Hong was truly dumbfounded.

What the hell can I teach?

They've already exhausted their three tricks.

The longer Xie Shang stays, the closer he gets to the current situation.

Xie Shang turned around and bowed deeply to Xie Hong: "Brother, please guide me in the future."

As he spoke, he straightened up, his eyes filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Xie Hong glanced at Xie Shang, then at Xie Kun, who sat behind the desk with a burning gaze, and gave a bitter smile to himself.

I'm only sixteen years old.

Ge Hong, who had spent the most time with Xie Hong and knew him best, immediately advised, "Fengzhi, you have such profound knowledge that even Zhai Daoyuan, Gu Junxiao, and Master Zhu are impressed by you. Don't refuse. Lord Jun is doing this out of kindness. If Young Master Xie stays here, it will be a declaration to everyone that anyone who dares to doubt your identity is questioning the entire Xie clan."

Xie Hong had no choice but to help Xie Shang up and turn to Xie Kun, saying, "The clan leader has given the order, and I will do my best. Although I am dull-witted, I understand the principle of teaching according to aptitude. Therefore, I will not teach Jian Shi the classics, but will only guide him through words and deeds."

Xie Shang couldn't help but ask, "Brother, what is meant by teaching according to aptitude? From which classic text does the idea of ​​teaching by example and words come?"

Xie Hong wanted to kick this guy to death.

How the hell would I know?

Xie Kun chuckled and said, "It seems that Feng Zhi is truly well-versed in both Confucianism and metaphysics. In the former case, she quoted from the Analects, 'Advanced Chapter,' where Zilu and Ran You asked her what to do after hearing it, and Confucius gave different answers, which is to teach according to aptitude. As for teaching by example, I think it may come from Zhuangzi's 'The Way of Heaven,' where the value of words lies in meaning, and meaning has its own path. What the meaning follows cannot be conveyed by words. Feng Zhi's learning is so profound that I seem to be inferior to her."

Xie Hong was deeply impressed.

That's what a cultured person is like. You're so smart because you're cultured; you can find the origin of any idiom you use.

When Xie Shang looked at Xie Hong again, his eyes were full of stars.

I've gained another fanboy.

Xie Hong got arrogant.

Calligraphy Master, come here, and see if I can take you down.