Chapter 351
Late at night, at the inn.
Zhan Feiyu was momentarily surprised, then put down her brush and stood up, walking towards the door. "To think Lord Zhang would visit so late, please forgive my lack of proper welcome."
"My visit this late is truly an imposition, Miss Zhan need not be so formal." Prefect Zhang was not even wearing his official robes and was accompanied by only one attendant, clearly intending to avoid attention.
Stepping aside to welcome him in, Zhan Feiyu gestured for Prefect Zhang to sit. He Nuan immediately brought tea and then retreated to stand in a corner.
A faint scent of ink wafted through the air. Prefect Zhang glanced at the desk by the window. It was already close to midnight, and Zhan Feiyu was still diligently studying. Even with Scholar Gu as her teacher, her reputation for achieving top honors in the imperial examinations was a testament to her own hard work.
Late at night was indeed not the ideal time for tea. Prefect Zhang also knew Zhan Feiyu's character well, so he bypassed pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Your words are too kind, Lord. Though I now hold the title of Xiucai, even if I pass the provincial and metropolitan examinations in the future, it will merely be to secure a means of livelihood. I am content with simple food, a gourd of water, and a humble dwelling." Zhan Feiyu refused without hesitation.
However, she truly hadn't expected Prefect Zhang to be so determined, wanting the Zhang family to become her supporters. It was a pity; their paths were different, and they could not conspire together. Zhan Feiyu harbored no such ambition.
"Yan Yuan found joy in the Way, and though he ate simple fare in a humble alley, his joy remained unchanged." Prefect Zhang knew it was impossible to make Zhan Feiyu agree in just a few words. His expression grew solemn as he continued, "May I ask, what is your Way, Miss?"
Yan Yuan was content with poverty and found joy in the Way. But in Prefect Zhang's view, if Zhan Feiyu truly had no ambition, why would she study so diligently? Ultimately, she was simply more perceptive than her peers. Such a person, with lofty aspirations, how could she be willing to remain in a humble dwelling?
Zhan Feiyu smiled and said, "Confucius, when he was in hardship between Chen and Cai, could not even get a bowl of wild vegetable soup, and had not tasted a grain of rice for seven days. He slept during the day to conserve energy. His disciple Yan Hui went to beg for rice. When it was almost cooked, Confucius saw Yan Hui snatching rice from the pot and eating it.
A moment later, the rice was cooked. Yan Hui invited Confucius to eat. Confucius pretended not to see (Yan Hui snatching the rice). Confucius stood up and said, 'I just dreamt of my late father. This pot of rice has not been touched. Let us offer it to the ancestors first, and then we shall eat.'
Yan Hui replied, 'No, when the rice was cooking, ashes from the charcoal fell into the pot. If I were to pick them out and discard them, it would be too wasteful of grain, so I ate them.'
Confucius sighed, 'They say seeing is believing, but what you see may not be the truth; they say to follow your heart, but your heart can often deceive you. Disciples, remember, understanding a person is not easy.'
Therefore, understanding the truth of a matter is not difficult. Confucius believed that understanding the essence of human nature was difficult.
Prefect Zhang understood the meaning behind Zhan Feiyu's use of this anecdote. He did not understand Zhan Feiyu, so how could he presume to say she had ambition? How could he conclude that she was not a scholar content with a simple life?
"Miss Zhan, though I am stationed in Longyou Circuit, I have heard some rumors. Scholar Gu has held a high position for years, yet has had little contact with the Gu family. At my age, I still need to plan for the younger generation of the Zhang family. I imagine Scholar Gu is the same. But once Scholar Gu retires in the future, have you considered your long-term prospects?"
Prefect Zhang frowned. As the Prefect of Suzhou, and in terms of age, he could be considered Zhan Feiyu's grandfather. Yet, he visited the inn late at night, which was a testament to Prefect Zhang's sincerity. He was even willing to offer the Zhang family wholeheartedly, but he hadn't expected Zhan Feiyu to remain unmoved.
However, to say Zhan Feiyu had no ambition, comparing herself to Yan Yuan, Prefect Zhang did not believe it at all. Zhan Feiyu's refusal might be because she looked down on the Zhang family, or perhaps she had other plans.
"Lord Zhang, if you are worried because of the Yang family of the General's Mansion, there is no need. Old General Yang will not retaliate against the Zhang family for what happened in the past." Seeing that persuasion was futile, Zhan Feiyu decided not to waste any more time and spoke her mind directly.
...
Late at night, at the inn.
Zhan Feiyu was momentarily surprised, then put down her brush and stood up, walking towards the door. "To think Lord Zhang would visit so late, please forgive my lack of proper welcome."
"My visit this late is truly an imposition, Miss Zhan need not be so formal." Prefect Zhang was not even wearing his official robes and was accompanied by only one attendant, clearly intending to avoid attention.
Stepping aside to welcome him in, Zhan Feiyu gestured for Prefect Zhang to sit. He Nuan immediately brought tea and then retreated to stand in a corner.
A faint scent of ink wafted through the air. Prefect Zhang glanced at the desk by the window. It was already close to midnight, and Zhan Feiyu was still diligently studying. Even with Scholar Gu as her teacher, her reputation for achieving top honors in the imperial examinations was a testament to her own hard work.
Late at night was indeed not the ideal time for tea. Prefect Zhang also knew Zhan Feiyu's character well, so he bypassed pleasantries and got straight to the point.
"Your words are too kind, Lord. Though I now hold the title of Xiucai, even if I pass the provincial and metropolitan examinations in the future, it will merely be to secure a means of livelihood. I am content with simple food, a gourd of water, and a humble dwelling." Zhan Feiyu refused without hesitation.
However, she truly hadn't expected Prefect Zhang to be so determined, wanting the Zhang family to become her supporters. It was a pity; their paths were different, and they could not conspire together. Zhan Feiyu harbored no such ambition.
"Yan Yuan found joy in the Way, and though he ate simple fare in a humble alley, his joy remained unchanged." Prefect Zhang knew it was impossible to make Zhan Feiyu agree in just a few words. His expression grew solemn as he continued, "May I ask, what is your Way, Miss?"
Yan Yuan was content with poverty and found joy in the Way. But in Prefect Zhang's view, if Zhan Feiyu truly had no ambition, why would she study so diligently? Ultimately, she was simply more perceptive than her peers. Such a person, with lofty aspirations, how could she be willing to remain in a humble dwelling?
Zhan Feiyu smiled and said, "Confucius, when he was in hardship between Chen and Cai, could not even get a bowl of wild vegetable soup, and had not tasted a grain of rice for seven days. He slept during the day to conserve energy. His disciple Yan Hui went to beg for rice. When it was almost cooked, Confucius saw Yan Hui snatching rice from the pot and eating it.
A moment later, the rice was cooked. Yan Hui invited Confucius to eat. Confucius pretended not to see (Yan Hui snatching the rice). Confucius stood up and said, 'I just dreamt of my late father. This pot of rice has not been touched. Let us offer it to the ancestors first, and then we shall eat.'
Yan Hui replied, 'No, when the rice was cooking, ashes from the charcoal fell into the pot. If I were to pick them out and discard them, it would be too wasteful of grain, so I ate them.'
Confucius sighed, 'They say seeing is believing, but what you see may not be the truth; they say to follow your heart, but your heart can often deceive you. Disciples, remember, understanding a person is not easy.'
Therefore, understanding the truth of a matter is not difficult. Confucius believed that understanding the essence of human nature was difficult.
Prefect Zhang understood the meaning behind Zhan Feiyu's use of this anecdote. He did not understand Zhan Feiyu, so how could he presume to say she had ambition? How could he conclude that she was not a scholar content with a simple life?
"Miss Zhan, though I am stationed in Longyou Circuit, I have heard some rumors. Scholar Gu has held a high position for years, yet has had little contact with the Gu family. At my age, I still need to plan for the younger generation of the Zhang family. I imagine Scholar Gu is the same. But once Scholar Gu retires in the future, have you considered your long-term prospects?"
Prefect Zhang frowned. As the Prefect of Suzhou, and in terms of age, he could be considered Zhan Feiyu's grandfather. Yet, he visited the inn late at night, which was a testament to Prefect Zhang's sincerity. He was even willing to offer the Zhang family wholeheartedly, but he hadn't expected Zhan Feiyu to remain unmoved.
However, to say Zhan Feiyu had no ambition, comparing herself to Yan Yuan, Prefect Zhang did not believe it at all. Zhan Feiyu's refusal might be because she looked down on the Zhang family, or perhaps she had other plans.