Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 259 Two Years, Xie Yuan's Bet
[At the end of the same year, the Sui Dynasty and the Qi Dynasty resumed peace talks and redrawn the border between the two countries. ]

[The people of Da Qi expressed dissatisfaction with this, and four of the nine major surnames advocated war.]

[The Emperor of Great Qi issued an edict of self-blame, but it was still difficult to calm the turbulent situation. ]

[When spring returned the following year, the third teacher of the academy returned with a letter from the master himself, which stated: "It is not advisable to start a war lightly."]

【Thus, the government, the people, and the common people gradually settled down. 】

[In March, the two countries formally signed an alliance. ]

[The army returned to the capital, and Xie Ling was sent by the court to the western border and could not return to Beijing.]

[In the same month, a demonic riot broke out in Jiannan Road, led by the three demons Green Ox, Mountain Python, and Carp. They named themselves Pingtian Dasheng, Jiao Mowang, and Tongtian Bodhisattva, and led more than 10,000 demons to roar in the area.]

[The following month, several uprisings and riots occurred in Longyou Road, but they were suppressed after 15 days.]

[This year, you are already eleven years old. Although you have not set foot in school this year, you have already mastered the essence of the Confucian Four Books and Five Classics and the classics of academic research.]

[Dong Shao came to you six times, and you treated him with courtesy every time, without any impatience on your face.]

[You have been practicing the calligraphy left by Dong Shao for more than a year.]

[However, Dong Shao never taught you any knowledge. He only taught you the words in the book. When you asked for answers to your questions, he only answered you with a few words.]

[Although the days of the Xie Mansion have changed, it has no impact on you two, master and servant.]

[The Xie family, this majestic mansion that has gone through many generations of ups and downs, even if its reputation has been damaged, its roots are deep and lush, and its foundation has never been shaken. ]

[In contrast, Madam Yuan was the most anxious among the people in the compound. Her eldest son was the heir to the title. She was worried because Xie Ling was stripped of the title of Marquis Dingyuan.]

[The Second Courtyard of the Xie Mansion is quite peaceful, and even the Second Courtyard's mistress has been wearing brightly colored clothes recently.]

【Old Lady Xie asked her youngest son Xie Hong to intercede for Xie Ling.】

[However, Xie Hong politely declined the old lady's request, saying that he had long since left the academy and the court and could not interfere in state affairs.]

[Even Mrs. Yuan from the compound came to Qingliang Temple to burn incense, and tearfully begged Xie Hong to help, hoping that he would come out of seclusion to plead for Xie Ling in front of Prime Minister Su.]

【However, Xie Hong still firmly refused. 】

[From then on, a rift quietly developed between the Xie Mansion's main courtyard and the second courtyard.]

[However, for you, an illegitimate child, this did not cause any waves. ]

[In the blink of an eye, it is already autumn. Although the climate in Bianjing is not extremely hot, it is still a bit cool. ]

[It’s still okay on weekdays, but when it’s windy and rainy, the temperature drops sharply and you need to put on more clothes to keep warm. ]

[If the sky is clear, you need to wear light clothing. ]

[Today, although the sun is shining, the wind is quite strong. ]

[You are concentrating on practicing calligraphy in the courtyard. ]

【Suddenly, a loud noise was heard outside the courtyard. 】

[“Master Yuan, you forgot to wear the fur trousers that Madam specially prepared for you.”]

[A woman's voice sounded from behind, and she called him "Young Master Yuan" instead of "Master Wo Yun". This person was naturally Mrs. Zhuge's personal maid, and also Xie Yuan's wet nurse, Aunt Zhang.]

[“Oh, I get it. How can a young man wear this when he is out in the martial arts world?”]

[“Mother Zhang, please don’t let me lose face in front of my brother.”]

[After Xie Yuan sent Aunt Zhang away, he was about to enter the courtyard.]

【Xie Yuan looked at his cousin Zhang Yunzhi's half-smiley expression and felt discouraged. This was just one more embarrassing thing for him.】

[He awkwardly adjusted his clothes, then walked into the courtyard and shouted loudly as he entered the door: "Wutong, quickly make tea for Master Woyun."]

[In the past year, Xie Yuan has come here four or five times a month, and he has become familiar with you and Wutong.]

[At first, he was not used to the tea in your courtyard, but seeing that you always drank this kind of tea, he couldn't help but feel a little curious.]

[After trying it last time, the tea tasted sour and bitter, but this unique taste was something he had never experienced before, so he found it quite novel.]

[Seeing this, you smiled and said to him: "After all the hardships, there is happiness. Don't the heroes in the martial arts world have simple meals? How can they enjoy making tea every day?"]

[Xie Yuan was very happy when he heard this, and from then on, every time he came to Xie Guan's courtyard, he would make a pot of this tea.]

【Today, Wutong is not in the yard. 】

[Zhang Yunzhi looked at her cousin's "casual and carefree" look, feeling quite helpless. She then looked at the small but well-organized courtyard.]

[This summer, he came to live in Xie's house again.]

[This was her fourth visit to Xie Guan’s courtyard, all to avoid the noise of the ladies and young ladies in Xie’s mansion. All they talked about was the demeanor of a young man from one of the nine great families in Bianjing, or how a student in the academy was favored by his teachers, or how his poems were widely praised, and so on.]

[Zhang Yuzhi couldn't stand the annoyance, so she followed her cousin to get some peace and quiet.]

[There was an unconcealable sadness on her face. Her father's affairs were becoming increasingly difficult, and her mother was worried day and night.]

【Since the war between the Sui Dynasty and the Qi Dynasty, the situation in Zehu has changed dramatically. My father used to advocate the destruction of demons and the peace of the Qi Dynasty, and he used thunderous means to deal with Zehu, but this caused the demon force in Zehu, the "Dragon Palace", to turn against him and join the Sui Dynasty.】

【After this battle, my father was further criticized by the court and has not returned to the capital for three years.】

[This year, Da Qi adopted a policy of appeasement towards the Zehu demons, and my father became even more disheartened.]

[He repeatedly submitted memorials to the court: "The evil spirits are more dangerous than the Sui Dynasty. The Sui Dynasty is our species, but the evil spirits are a foreign race. If we allow them to run rampant, they will surely bring disaster to our descendants."]

【However, the imperial court turned a deaf ear to it and ignored it. 】

【Zhang Yuzhi sighed softly and walked into the courtyard.】

[Although I have been here four times, I have never had any contact with the disfavored illegitimate son of the Xie family. I just use this place as a place to escape.]

[Following Xie Yuan was He Xiao, a scholar who was studying for Xie Guan at the time. When he learned that Zhang Yuzhi was coming, he was overjoyed and hurriedly followed her.]

【Zhang Yuanlai came here on his own initiative. He has been to Xie Guan's courtyard many times this year.】

[Adding the singing girls who often accompany Xie Yuan, the team of more than ten people is spectacular. ]

[The news that Xie Guan and Xie Yuan were on good terms had already spread throughout the compound.]

[It was also during this year that Xie Guan's name began to spread quietly in the mansion, with a somewhat uncommon flavor.]

[He is a member of the Xie family who is well-mannered, filial, and hardworking.]

[During this year's Lantern Festival, Old Lady Xie sent her maid to give your courtyard an extra bowl of glutinous rice balls.]

[Because of this incident, Manager Wu, who was in charge of the monthly salary and the purchases for each courtyard, actually stepped into your courtyard several times in person.]

[This year's autumn clothes were delivered early. ]

[Whenever the thin and mustachioed Wu entered the courtyard, Wutong was always unhappy and never made him a pot of hot tea. In her heart, she still resented the fact that the autumn clothes had not arrived and the monthly money for medicine was insufficient when the mistress passed away.]

【But you are always quite enthusiastic and have a great time talking to him. 】

[At this time!] [You looked at Xie Yuan and his group and said with a smile: "Wutong is not here today."]

【Xie Hou'er was quite sensible and immediately started to make tea in the courtyard. 】

【Xie Yuan watched you place the paper, ink, brush and inkstone on the large stone table in the courtyard, and write with ink.】

[There is also a plate of peanuts and green vegetables next to the paper. ]

[“Brother Guan, you are living a comfortable life these days. You are either reading or practicing calligraphy every day.”]

[Over the past year or so, in addition to playing chess, Xie Yuan has challenged you to memorize books many times, but he was defeated miserably every time.]

[No matter what book it is, no matter how obscure it is, as long as you read it once, you will be able to memorize it by heart.]

[Xie Yuan was speechless several times after being struck by you. He went from being furious at first to getting used to it.]

[In order to win you, he memorized a book in advance, and then competed with you. He found that you could recite it fluently after just reading it once, and even remembered the number of words and pages clearly.]

【Xie Yuan asked how you did it. 】

[You said: "Because after I became blind, my mind became more peaceful, as if I had gained wisdom."]

[Zhang Yuanlai, who was standing by, couldn't help but laugh when he heard this: "Master Guan, I'm afraid that an immortal must have touched his head and given him a sudden enlightenment."]

[After hearing this, Xie Yuan had an absurd idea in his mind. He returned to his courtyard and even thought of blinding his eyes with smoke in the hope of awakening this wisdom.]

【Given Xie Yuan's personality, he would do what he said. Fortunately, Mrs. Zhuge discovered it in time, hugged her son and cried, and finally stopped Xie Yuan.】

【After this incident, Xie Yuan studied even harder, often studying late into the night until dawn. 】

[After trying hard, you will understand the difficulty. This will also make him gradually admire you in the subsequent competitions and accept defeat with a sincere heart.]

[After a while, the relationship between you two becomes more and more familiar. ]

【During this year, Xie Yuan studied poetry and books diligently, and his original attitude that studying was a mundane thing changed quietly.】

[Unconsciously, he had acquired a scholarly temperament, and his original aristocratic and unruly demeanor had quietly disappeared.]

【Abdominal poetry and gas from China! 】

[In the middle of the year, Old Lady Xie fell ill. Xie Hong came back from Qingliang Temple to visit his mother. When he saw Xie Yuan, he couldn't help but praise him:]

[“Brother Yuan, after not seeing you for a year, you look like a scholar in the academy.”]

【After hearing this, Xie Yuan's face turned red.】

[Mrs. Zhuge was extremely happy. It was rare for a great scholar like Xie Hong to praise others. Such words were a compliment to her heart.]

[Because of Xie Hong's words, the reputation of Xie Yuan as a wealthy disciple over the past ten years has been reversed. ]

[For Xie Yuan's study, Madam Zhuge even came to visit him in person and left a gift for him.]

[However, later, when someone asked about Xie Guan, Xie Yuan would always say: "Brother Guan, you must have been enlightened by an immortal to have such talent."]

[Zhang Yuzhi paid much attention to Xie Guan's affairs because of her cousin Xie Yuan, but she didn't take it seriously in her heart.]

[She believes that her father was praised as a child prodigy and could remember everything he saw, even everything he heard. She also inherited his talent and can memorize many poems just by reading them aloud once.]

【No surprise! 】

[But as for what Xie Yuan said, that one can read and recite the History of the Six Kingdoms in one day, this is a classic book of 80,000 to 90,000 words, and it is difficult to finish reading it in a short time even if you read a drama picture book.]

【Therefore, Zhang Yuzhi expressed doubts about this.】

[He understood Xie Yuan's personality. He was very concerned about his reputation. If he lost to a mediocre person, he would be ashamed. Most likely, he was exaggerating.]

[Zhang Yuzhi had her own maid ready with a horse stool. Every time she came, she would greet Xie Guan first, and then she would read the latest issue of "Bianjing Fengwuzhi" quietly beside them, not disturbing the two of them, just to have some peace and quiet.]

[In the courtyard, the sycamore tree is full of golden branches and the sun is warm, so there is no need to look for a shady place. ]

【After Zhang Yuzhi sat down, she looked towards Xie Guan and nodded slightly.】

[Since Xie Guan took off his eye patch, he exuded a unique temperament and was handsome. In terms of appearance and bearing, he was not inferior to those children of wealthy families.]

[This may be the reason why she finds it hard to dislike this young man, and why she follows her cousin here so many times.]

[You are actually surprised. Xie Yuan came to visit yesterday, so why did he come again today? ]

【Xie Yuan smiled mysteriously: "Brother Guan, how about we make a bet?"】

[You chuckled and responded: "Sixth brother, what do you want to lose to me?"]

【Xie Yuan touched his head, looking slightly embarrassed.】

[He has been betting with you frequently recently, but he always loses more than he wins, and has almost never won.]

[“If you win, I will obey your orders in the future as long as they do not violate the moral principles of the martial arts world. I will go through fire and water without hesitation.”]

【Xie Yuan knew that you had no interest in antiques, beautiful books, or maids, so he came up with this bet.】

[After these words were spoken, even Zhang Yuzhi, who was reading quietly at the side, couldn't help but raise her head slightly and cast a curious look.]

[The faces of the guests and singers behind Xie Guan changed. The stakes were too high. Knowing Xie Yuan's temper, no one dared to dissuade him.]

[You did not agree immediately, but asked: "What if I lose?"]

【Xie Yuan smiled and said: "Then you, Guan, will need to complete a trivial task for me."】

[You frowned slightly, looking at Xie Yuan's confident look. Although you had some doubts in your heart, you did not refuse immediately.]

[“Compare what?”]

【Xie Yuan shook his head and pretended to be mysterious: "A big event happened in the court today. Do you know about it?"】

[You shook your head. You have lived in this quiet courtyard for a long time, without anyone to rely on. How could you hear the news from the outside world?]

[“That’s right. Only a few people in the court know about this matter, so it’s understandable that I don’t know about it. I only learned a little from my uncle.”]

[Xie Yuan continued, "This matter concerns Jiannan Road, Zehu, and my father's return to the court!"]

[“Zehu!”]

[When Zhang Yuzhi heard these two words, Xie Yuan's uncle was also a governor of a state. She calmly took the scroll in her hands and placed it on her knees.]

【Xie Yuan did not keep the secret: "The leader of the demons in Jiannan Road, Pingtian Dasheng, wrote a letter to the court. They will pretend to surrender to the Dragon Palace. Da Qi will then send a large army and cooperate with Da Qi to severely damage the Dragon Palace."】

[“However, Da Qi’s accomplices have received news that the demons in Jiannan Road are secretly contacting the Dragon Palace in Zehu. The demons in Jiannan Road want to follow the example of the Dragon Palace and carve out a territory in Jiannan Road to govern themselves. Please ask the Lord of the Dragon Palace to tell Da Sui that they plan to launch a surprise attack on Da Qi’s army as a token of their loyalty.”]

【Xie Yuan paused, looked at Xie Guan and asked: "Brother Guan, which piece of news do you think is true?"】

Always write wrong.

Xie Yuan’s cousin, Zhang Yuzhi.

Xie Yuan’s mother, Mrs. Zhuge.



(End of this chapter)