History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 211 Yuan Pi Goes to the Capital
When several doormen trotted over and led Xi Jiao into the front yard, Xi Jian was sitting under the eaves, using yarrow stalks to divine the future.

"Your son, Xi Jiao, pays his respects to his father."

Xi Jian looked his eldest son up and down, a thousand emotions choking him and making his throat ache. He pretended to look at the ground, forcing back his wet tears. "The art of divination is truly mysterious. I predicted that you would return to the manor today, and it was indeed accurate."

Xi Jiao: "Perhaps the letter I sent home in advance will be more effective?"

"Haha, just like when you were little, always bringing up your father's shortcomings." Xi Jian looked closely at his son's face again and said, "Your eyes are like your mother's, bright and proud! Have your teachers and fellow disciples entered Sizhou?"

"I am still in Bingzhou. I miss Ayi, so I left them temporarily and hurried back. I also miss my father."

Xi Jian's disappointment turned to joy, and he beckoned towards the side door. Xi Jiao turned around and saw his younger brother Xi Yi running towards him.

It's normal for the two brothers to feel a bit estranged after not seeing each other for several years, but fortunately, Xi Yi is lively and talkative, and he made his elder brother laugh with just a few words.

Xi Jiao asked about the important matter: "Father, please help me find a fellow student. She is a young lady named Wei Yao. Her father's name is Yin. He has always been a tutor in the household of a wealthy official named Sanqiwei. Wei Yao is a direct disciple of Confucius, and Confucius misses her very much."

His surname was Wei, and he was under the protection of the Wei Yi family. Xi Jian couldn't help but think of his aunt's descendants and agreed, "Alright, tell me about her situation in detail."

Within the territory of Bingzhou.

Fuzeng Mountain in Bingzhou is the source of the Nie River, and Nie County, located east of this mountain, is named after the Nie River. The study group from Cui Academy in Pingcheng will camp at the foot of Fuzeng Mountain tonight. Many other travelers and merchants are also camping here. As night falls, wisps of smoke rise from the yurts.

As night deepens, countless stars transform into a vast, open canopy, creating a breathtaking night that inspires awe. To go to bed early would be a waste, so the students of Xunyi Academy gather around the stars and moon to listen to their teacher, Kong Wenzhong, teach the poems of the "Da Ya" section.

Two young men emerged from a nearby felt tent, supporting an elderly scholar. This scholar was none other than Yuan Pi, who had served under six generations of Wei emperors and risen to the position of prime minister. The two young men were not his grandchildren, but children born to his second wife. After his first wife's son rebelled and was executed, Yuan Pi, grateful for the late emperor's forgiveness of him and his two children, renamed both sons: one "Repentance" and the other "Excess."

Despite his advanced age and frail health, Yuan Pi was actually strong, with clear eyes and hearing. Once he could hear the lecture clearly, he stopped approaching and stood there until the lecture was finished.

On the way back, Yuan Guo pointed to the mountain peak: "Look, a star has fallen! Father, this is a good omen. Perhaps Yuan Xi and Yuan Cheng are dead."

"Do they even deserve it?!" Yuan Pi looked up, his face covered with spots of various sizes, which made him look not only sharp but also somewhat terrifying.

After entering the felt tent, Yuan Pi criticized Yuan Guo: "So-called divination is based on a thorough understanding of astronomy and geography, as well as history and current politics, and is a meticulous calculation. It is not superstition about falling stars or false ghosts and gods! Moreover, whether or not I can kill Yuan Xi and Yuan Cheng depends mostly on luck. I do not want them to die. What I want is for the new emperor to see that I am still useful and can help him seize real power and take charge of the government as soon as possible!"

Yuan Hui: "Father will get his wish."

Yuan Pi: "I have to make my wish come true, even if it's not what I want. I've staked everything on this trip to the capital. If I miss this opportunity, I won't have the chance to wait for another new emperor."

Yuan Guo said regretfully, "It's such a pity about Sengzhi. Father nurtured her for many years, and she died just when he was about to use her. And then there's Bingfang Brothel in Pingcheng, which sold spies. I don't believe that Yuan Zhi didn't guess that Bingfang was run by Father. He actually destroyed Bingfang!"

"It's alright. Never be discouraged. Destroy Bingfang and Zhifang in Luoyang. Although Sengzhi is dead, her wealth and many disciples remain. So you must keep the list of monks and nuns that I gave you."

June 1st.

As Wei Yao entered the Changhe city gate, the bustling caravans were far more numerous than usual, with most of the carts carrying timber. Merchants always had more information than ordinary people, and Wei Yao inquired and found that, as she had expected, the Yaoguang Nunnery would begin construction today. "Miss Wei," the Seventh Prince Yuan Yu said, being escorted by more than twenty mounted warriors as he entered the city gate.

Wei Yao quickly went over and bowed.

She didn't ask, but Yuan Heng told her on his own initiative, "The palace is going to build an outer temple, and I'm going to go and take a look."

Wei Yao could guess why the other party was so eager to see the construction of this nunnery. With the late emperor's death, many concubines in the harem must have the need to become nuns. Such a large group of people could not all stay in the inner temple of the palace, but they had an unbreakable connection with the palace. Therefore, it was most appropriate to choose to practice outside the palace.

Presumably, the Seventh Prince's mother was in the same situation.

A bamboo hat was hanging on Wei Yao's book box. She took it down and handed it to Yuan Yun, but it was taken by the leader of the other's warriors. She immediately explained, "I just bought it and haven't worn it before. There's a lot of dust in the place where we're carrying out construction work. Your Highness can wear it to protect your eyes from the wind and sand."

Given their different statuses, Wei Yao explained the situation and then politely took her leave.

Yuan Heng snatched the bamboo hat from the samurai and angrily scolded, "I am sworn brothers with Miss Wei. If you ever disrespect Miss Wei again, you will do all my homework for me! Humph!"

Xi's official residence.

It was almost half past dawn, and all the palace students put down their work and ran towards the palace school. This scene made the other palace servants extremely envious, and they were most envious of the sixteen young palace maids of Qixing Academy.

Everyone knew that the lecturer, Lady Wei, loved to give exams. There was a big exam every three days and a small exam every day. Any palace maid who passed the exams would not have to do any more chores. She could go to the lecturer's residence to study and practice calligraphy, and she could even use the excuse of cleaning the residence to avoid going back to the crowded and dirty palace maid quarters at night.

"Damn it, they're all free now, leaving all the work to us."

"At first, there were rumors that this lecturer Wei would not be able to teach at the palace school for more than a few days. But as it turns out, he is becoming more and more successful every day. I think he will replace Jiang Shunu sooner or later."

Xiao Dande, the Zhuozhuo sisters, and Yang Miaoqian pulled a cart of animal feed along this dirt road. All the gossip they heard along the way was about Instructor Wei and Qixing Academy. The three of them were the unlucky ones who were assigned extra work. In addition to cleaning the livestock pens, they were also given the heavy task of transporting animal feed early in the morning.

They were not strong, so two of them pushed from behind while one pulled from the front. What would have taken an adult three trips to complete was seven trips for them. The friendship from their homeland has, I don't know when, turned into a situation where no one wants to talk to each other.

Unyielding spirit cannot feed them, nor can it shield them from whippings or completely block out the harsh words and ridicule they endure. But if they choose suicide, what will be the point of their long suffering? Will it have been for nothing?

Yang Miaoqian pulled the cart ahead, secretly wiping away her tears. She found Xiao Dande's boastful revenge plan both laughable and pathetic. Xiao Dande had said that their current hard work was actually a form of endurance, and that once they gained access to the female official in charge of the pharmacy, they could obtain poison, sneak into the palace, and sprinkle it into the emperor's well, thus killing him.

Ha, got your hands on poison? To poison the Wei Emperor?
The longer I stayed in Xi's official residence, the more I realized how ridiculous and audacious this delusion was!

Divination (卜筮): a form of divination using yarrow stalks and other materials. In the Northern Wei Dynasty, officials serving the emperor were primarily skilled in classical studies, medicine, and divination.

Friendship based on social status or background: Friends who associate with each other regardless of their social standing or origin.

(End of this chapter)