"If you are not cautious, no one in the world will compete with you." [Shang Shu·Dayu Mo]
"They came to find you to unblock the palace and let go of a palace maid named Guo Zhao?" Sima Yi narrowed his eyes slightly when he learned the purpose of Li Yi's trip from Wang Fu.
Wang Fu knew that whenever the other person made such a look, it meant that he was interested in something. He didn't know what was special about this woman named Guo Zhao, so he asked, "What's wrong?"
"I'm just curious." Sima Yi gave up and quickly answered: "How did a wandering girl come to Chang'an from Jizhou? When there was no peace in the world a few years ago, it was not peaceful along the way.
And she, a weak woman, can not only come to Chang'an, but also be successfully selected into Weiyang Palace, this is really..."
"Zhongda, what do you mean?" Wang Fu frowned: "Li Yi and the others lied to me?"
Sima Yi glanced at Wang Fu, who had caught his attention, leaned back, and said slowly: "It can't be said to be a lie. They must have not told the whole story and concealed something."
"What are they trying to hide from me?" Little did he know that Sima Yi's casual guess made Wang Fu take it seriously, and Wang Fu couldn't help but guess.
It's just that this matter seemed like an ordinary request. Sima Yi didn't have much interest in it. He simply said a few words and changed the subject.
"I'll be leaving in three days."
"Leave? I thought you would stay here." Wang Fu said in surprise: "Isn't it good to stay in Chang'an? Although the country has deposed your family, it has not prohibited you from returning to Chang'an."
"I was really reluctant to leave when I first left. After all, Chang'an City is too big. There are still many places I haven't visited so far." Sima Yi showed a yearning look, but in fact he and Wang Fu had already moved to the main street of Chang'an City.
We visited all the alleys, and although Chang'an City is big, there is nothing special except Weiyang Palace. Wang Fu looked at Sima Yi's expression, and for a moment he suspected that the city he was talking about was not the same city as what he saw: "Leave.
I was very unwilling to do so, and soon after returning to my hometown in Hanoi, in order to relieve this depression, I began to study abroad."
"I have met many hermits in the mountains and forests, visited many great Confucians, and learned a lot during my travels." Sima Yi detailed his experience of traveling to Chenliu, Yingchuan, Henan and other places this year in a very satisfied tone.
Author: "Before I heard the bad news about your mansion, I wanted to go to Jianghuai again..."
Wang Fu seemed to have just discovered that the other person's appearance had also changed because of this year's study tour: his body was healthier than before, and his fair skin had become darker after exposure to wind and sun. The only thing that Wang Fu felt was a pity.
He could no longer see the confidence and wisdom in the other person's eyes.
"I think you seem to be an ordinary scholar now." Wang Fu had something in his mind and said it immediately, even a little disappointed: "You don't want to go back to Chang'an, are you running away from something? What else is there to escape from?
You have also seen the favor of my family. After a few years, I will naturally treat you..."
"I didn't escape." Sima Yi looked at Wang Fu and said firmly: "I originally thought that the collection of books in the palace and the teachings of the country's great scholars were enough for me to learn when I was a secretary, which I could never learn at home.
But it wasn’t until I started traveling that I realized the profound meaning of the country’s saying, “Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.” Mountains, rivers, folk customs, customs... these are not things that can be experienced in the imperial court. If I let you go at this moment
When I meet Zhuge Kongming again, he will definitely be inferior to me."
Wang Fu felt a little uncomfortable? Maybe he saw that a once charming young man was becoming increasingly depressed and mediocre? Giving up utility and chasing another elusive thing. Maybe the other person was just doing this as a disguise to protect himself? Or maybe...
…He never really understood what kind of person the other person was.
In the next two days, Wang Fu didn't know why. He didn't talk to Sima Yi anymore. Since he had relieved all his errands, he began to have nothing to do. Sometimes he would go to the Gewu Academy to find Ma Jun to see what he had recently developed.
A cart that can be pulled by a sail; or run to find Fuzhen, chat with Xiang Cun and others...
Li Yi came to see him again the next day. The purpose was to ask about the details of Guo Zhao. Only then did Wang Fu remember this forgotten thing.
At that time, he blurted out his promise in a fit of enthusiasm? Did he regret it afterwards? It turns out that Ye Tingling Cheng Kuang was promoted by Empress Dong, so he naturally knew who to distance himself from, but when Wang Fu came to him, he would follow the truth. As for the truth
The previous personal connections could not help Wang Fu spy on the palace at will. Although the Wang family's popularity has not weakened, many things have begun to go wrong.
Of course Wang Fu would not tell Li Yi about his difficulties? He dismissed him casually and sat down to eat the food again.
Fu Jin, whom he met when he was a Northern Lieutenant, was waiting for him to take his seat before sitting down with Xiang Cun again. He smiled and said, "Is Guo Zhao a beauty? Why do they bother them so much? I want to see her."
"Don't mention this matter." Wang Fu was upset and said angrily.
Fu Jin was stunned for a moment, but didn't say anything.
"Beauty?" Xiang Cun seemed to have remembered something, and Quan said it as an interesting anecdote: "Speaking of beauties, I have only seen one. She is really not like a mortal..."
Wang Fu was intrigued by the other party and couldn't help asking: "Oh? Whose girl is it? Is it better to have the Cai Nu I saw in the palace?"
"It's hard to compare!" Xiang Cun said with relish: "But her appearance is indescribable. It can be said to be the most beautiful girl in the country."
Fu Jin immediately became vigilant and reminded in a low voice: "Stop talking."
"What?" Wang Fu didn't hear clearly. He saw the different looks on the two of them and asked curiously: "Where is such a woman now?"
Xiang Cun ignored Fu Jin's glance. He looked at Wang Fu and said with great regret: "It's a pity that such a woman has already married..."
"Oh." Wang Fu's interest immediately dropped by half.
Xiang Cun continued: "But later, because of her beauty, she was coveted by nobles again, causing the couple to separate."
"oh?"
After a while, Fu Jin and Xiang Cun were walking side by side on the street without saying a word. They passed by the bustling market and looked at the vendors selling fruits and vegetables along the way. Fu Jin suddenly remembered the glimpse of the beautiful figure that passed by on the street a long time ago.
Finally, he said to Xiang Cun with a slight complaint: "Why did you tell this matter? Aren't you afraid of causing trouble?"
"Let me ask you." The honest and conscientious Xiang Cun suddenly seemed a bit uncharacteristic today. He stood next to a well. The noise around him successfully concealed the secret conversation between them: "Is the Dong family stronger or the Wang family stronger?"
"No matter who it is, it's enough to kill us!" Fu Jin said almost through gritted teeth. Originally, this kind of thing had been gradually forgotten by people, and he also received the 'reward' afterwards to take charge of the canals and water conservancy around Chang'an. Qin Yi since
After Liangzhou returned from a serious injury, he began to feel depressed, and no one cared about him. As long as they didn't take the initiative to mention it, the matter would just go away. But just now, Xiang Cun clearly had bad intentions and took the initiative to provide evidence to the Wang family. Seeing that Wang Fu had just
With the sudden change in his expression, Fu Jin knew that this matter was going to be a big deal.
"That's why we have to rely on the strongest one first." Xiang Cun said matter-of-factly: "Don't you always want to be a high official? Zuo Ling and Hu Miao are just lackeys under Dong Qiaoqi's command. You flatter me blindly.
What good can you get? Isn't getting close to Wang Fu what you've been wanting to do lately? Rather than marrying someone else's lackey, it's better to step on Wang's ship directly. You complained about me and said it, but in fact you didn't stop me.
I, in fact, you are also thinking about inviting Wang Fu over this matter."
Fu Jin's face suddenly became cloudy and uncertain, changing very quickly, and his face faintly revealed the anger after being exposed. This was originally something he had been hesitant about and did not dare to speak in his heart, but he regarded it as a sign of weakness.
Cun was able to say it without hesitation, which made him seem inferior to him. If he hadn't been on the street at this moment, Fu Jin would have been so angry that he would have punched him.
After a long while, Fu Jin suddenly said: "...are you blaming me?"
Xiang Cun neither admitted nor denied, he met Fu Jin's gaze.
"You blame me for being too utilitarian. In order to be promoted, I harmed Qin Yi's family." Fu Jin's eyes were a little unkind. He knew that Xiang Cun and Qin Yi had a tacit relationship. He had been feeling guilty for so long, and even now he still helps him from time to time.
The other party: "So if you make this move now, you really don't want your life."
"Sometimes." Xiang Cun vaguely remembered the remarks of scholars he heard in the Taixue Academy, and felt that the principles contained therein are very applicable to today: "Life and righteousness also have their own weight."
After saying this, Xiang Cun left. He was not afraid that Fu Jin would turn around and go to Chang'an Ling Zuo Ling to report the news. He firmly believed that once the other party did this, he would probably be the first to incur Dong's revenge.
After Wang Fu learned about this 'surprise', he couldn't care less about what Li Yi asked him to do. Only then did he suddenly remember that Sima Yi seemed to be leaving Chang'an on this day, so he hurriedly rode out of the city to look for him.
Sima Yi did not look for him again in the past two days. Instead, he visited a few old friends who were still willing to hang out with him. Then he drove out of the city at noon that day, preparing to go to Lantian, take Wuguan Road to Jingxiang, and then follow the river.
It went straight down to Jiangdong. When the car arrived at Changting outside the city, Wang Fu, who was riding on horseback, finally stopped him.
"No need to see you off. After I finish traveling in Jingyang, I will go to Hebei on the way to Qingxu and have a look outside the Great Wall. At that time, I will turn back to the west and return to Chang'an from Bingzhou. It will not be too late for you and me to meet again." Sima Yi saw Wang Fu rushing.
Come see each other off, open the car window, and happily share your itinerary with each other.
Wang Fu was out of breath. He held the horse's rein with one hand and grabbed the window frame with the other, saying, "Don't leave. I need your help with something big."
He truthfully told what he had just heard, and added his own speculation: "When the country led its troops to the eastward expedition, Dong Cheng stayed in Chang'an and plundered the women of the people. Do you still remember? That Qin's wife was unknown in the end.
Finally, I already have witnesses here, and this matter also involves Ting Wei and Jing Zhaoyin. As long as I expose the matter again, the country will definitely ask about it, and then..."
"How about waiting then?" Sima Yi interrupted before the other party finished speaking: "The reason why this matter was suppressed at that time was that Han Sui and other rebels rebelled, the situation was crisis, and Zhao Gong, Yang Gong and other talents were saved.
Wanting to put things to rest, and thinking of nominating the ancestors, I reached an agreement with Dong Cheng and gave up. Now that you have brought up the story again, where will you put Mr. Zhao and others?"
Wang Fu was dumbfounded. These things were exactly what he had never expected, but he was really unwilling to give up this rare opportunity. Now in the eyes of others, perhaps the Wang family is still the maternal family in the eyes of the emperor, a famous relative. But since then
After his father left, Wang Fu began to feel a sense of crisis in his heart, as if he and his brother Wang Duan alone were not enough to support everything in front of him. Because of the mourning, he and Wang Duan both resigned from office, but Xiao Qi
What happens after that? What other positions will the emperor grant them?
These are all uncertain factors, and they are also the reasons why Wang Fu is eager to make achievements and attract the emperor's attention.
"That's why I need Zhongda!" Wang Fu clung to the window sill with one hand, not wanting to let the moving carriage pass him: "Zhongda, you can stay. With your wisdom, even if this is impossible, why should we worry?
Can’t we find another way?”
"Zhongzheng." Sima Yi called up the other party's expression and said with a very serious expression: "We all want to go up, but have you ever thought about why we sit in that position?"
"Just..." Wang Fu was about to say, but his voice stopped as if it was stuck.
Why? Because he is the emperor's cousin? Because Sima Yi is younger than his peers and even smarter than most people?
He had never considered this issue before. In the past, this issue was so insignificant to him, as if he deserved everything.
Seeing Wang Fu's silence for a moment, Sima Yi sighed and said patiently: "I used to be conceited, but it wasn't until Duke Huangfu entrusted me with the great responsibility that I knew where I always wanted to sit and what I wanted to do.
In fact, it was not what I wanted. During that time in Chencang, I could hardly sleep at night. I was terrified every moment, fearing that I had done something wrong and missed a loophole, but I still had to be calm and composed in front of others.
"
Wang Fu had never heard Sima Yi talk about this. In his impression, Sima Yi seemed to be very sure of everything. But after the accident, his vigor, his edge, and his pride seemed to have disappeared overnight.
However, he was so broken that he could no longer see the high spirits he had before.
"Actually, I should have gone out to study a long time ago. It's just that I stayed in the court for too long at that time, and my body and mind were obsessed. I can only do some tricks that I think I'm smart." Sima Yi pushed Wang Fu and stood on the edge of the car window.
Wang Fu, who was lost in thought, took his hand back unconsciously: "This time I want to go to more places to see and think about it."
"Will you come back?" Wang Fu, who had recovered his senses, couldn't help but asked when he saw Sima Yi's carriage had gone away.
This question made his trip really feel like a farewell.
"Wait until I have the ability." The words were accompanied by the creaking sound of the carriage, and they went further and further away on the ancient road with sprouting willow branches.