History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 222 Have you ever heard of waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump?
"I want a bowl of mutton soup, clear broth, and a serving of rice cake. Wei Mao, if you keep swaggering around the city looking for me like this, I won't speak to you for a day."

Wei Mao nodded repeatedly. Seeing her filled him with joy, hearing her speak brought him happiness; what did it matter what she asked for? Wait a minute! He came here in a huff!
"Yesterday your fellow disciples came to the capital, and you were also in Yinian. Moreover, you knew that they came to my house to submit their visiting cards, so why didn't you come with them?"

"I went yesterday, but you're not coming this morning."

"you……"

Anger is like ice, but words are like honey. The taste of first love is always a mix of icy coldness and exhilarating joy. No matter the taste, it strikes straight to the heart.

"Yaoyao."

"Ok?"

A soft "hmm" sounded like a small animal's claws gently scratching at Wei Mao's heart. He scratched hard to relieve the itch and said, "There's something that's already in the past, but I have to tell you. Before, I asked Lu Baozhen to cover up our meetings several times, which led to misunderstandings between our elders. Don't worry, Lu Baozhen and I have each found reasons to explain things clearly. The reason I'm telling you this is because her younger sister, Lu Baohuan, is prone to talking nonsense. I want to prevent you from overhearing things from her and misunderstanding me and Lu Baozhen."

"Okay, I understand. I also have something to tell you. I'm settled now and need to send letters to Gao Lou and Jing Tongmen. My mother has helped me find a caravan to transport goods."

“That’s great. I’ll buy some of the latest horse tack and saddle ornaments from Luoyang for A-Jing, and also a set for Brother Gao Huan.”

At this moment, a group of knights shouted and cleared the way; it was Yuan Zhen leading his entourage through this area.

Wei Mao said, "His Majesty has ordered the Seventh Prince to oversee the construction of Yaoguang Temple, with the Grand Chamberlain Bai Zheng assisting him. My father's Imperial Guards have been transferred to guard the three western gates of the palace and to garrison Yaoguang Temple."

“I also asked my father. There is a Buddhist nun in the palace named Ciqing, who is His Majesty’s tutor. Ciqing is very old and entered the palace during the Liu Song Dynasty. The female officials in the palace form cliques, but their power is generally divided into two factions: one is the prisoners, and the other is the criminals.”

"There is also a third type, which are the personal maids that the concubines brought into the palace from outside. But in the current situation, these maids either go home with the concubines of lower rank or become nuns at Yaoguang Temple with their masters."

Wei Yao: "I understand."

Wei Mao meant that if she wanted to become a female official, she could only wait until His Majesty finished his three-year mourning period. At that time, His Majesty would surely take in many concubines, and then she could serve as a female official under the guise of a maid.

But Wei Yao felt that since the court had given her a one-year trial period, it meant that the court or His Majesty had the idea of ​​improving the system of female officials. The premise was that she herself had to be good enough and have enough talent and reputation to be exceptionally granted by His Majesty to supplement the imperial edict for female officials.

Wei Yao did not tell Wei Mao her thoughts. After the two parted at Qianqiu Gate, Wei Mao sent a letter to his father to confirm his father's rest date. At this time, all the shops in Jin City were open for business. He quickly bought four kinds of candied fruit, four kinds of freshly steamed rice cakes, and four kinds of fresh braised food, and carried them to the gate of Changhe Palace to give to his teacher's wife Zhao Zhi.

After Zhao Zhi and Wei Maocai exchanged a few words, Yuan Pi and his two sons came out of the palace. His Majesty sent his trusted guard Yu Deng to help Yuan Pi and escort them all the way here.

Yuan Pi gazed at the towering palace towers on both sides with deep emotion, and said sadly, "Such a magnificent new palace, I wonder if I will ever have the chance to stand this close and see it a few more times?"

Is there a trap in what he's saying? Yu Deng didn't dare to respond.

Yuan Hui comforted his father, saying, "It's already a blessing that His Majesty didn't prevent us from staying in Luoyang any longer. Father, let's go back now."

"The old fox's child must also be a fox," Yu Deng smiled faintly, bowed, and remained silent.

In the distance, Li Xuanmao watched Yuan Pi and his son leave with a deep frown. He then looked at Zhao Zhi, who gestured for Wei Mao to stay put. She went over and asked, "Does the Chief Secretary have something to say?"

"That old scoundrel is Yuan Pi! He really did come to the capital. Although there's no evidence that Zhifang Flower Shop was instructed by this old scoundrel, he's definitely the one who wanted to kill the Minister!"

Zhao Zhi: "Understood. I'll step away for a moment to see my little apprentice off." Li Xuanmao's eyebrows stood up in seriousness. He hadn't expected Zhao Zhi, as the head of the guards, to act as if nothing had happened after hearing this, and even offer to see her little apprentice off? Yesterday's apprentice was the son of the Qihu chieftain, so who is this little apprentice today?

As Wei Mao walked along carrying the empty food box, he wondered to himself, "Why is my teacher's wife giving me this? Is she going to warn me to stay away from Yao Yao?"

A peddler selling straw hats was walking ahead. Zhao Zhi called him over, picked out two suitable ones, gave one to Wei Mao, and instructed him: "Afterwards, no matter who asks you where I took you, you should say that I took you past the West Gate before we parted ways."

Wei Mao watched with his mouth slightly open as his teacher's wife disappeared into the crowd.

what's the situation?
I have a feeling something terrible is about to happen!
Weren't you just enjoying your braised pork?
Zhao Zhi lowered her straw hat and went into a latrine. When she came out, her guard's clothes were tucked inside, and the clothes that were originally underneath were on the outside.

Wearing two layers of clothing every day since becoming a guard in the sweltering summer heat was a routine Zhao Zhi had followed, precisely to cope with today's situation.

She hurried along the direction Yuan Pi and his two sons had gone.

It was Yuan Pi's first time visiting the Luoyang Imperial Palace, and he was reluctant to leave. Just then, one side moved quickly while the other moved slowly, and Zhao Zhi soon spotted the three figures.

The conversation took place in two separate locations, one in the fasting palace.

After Yuan Pi and his son left, the palace returned to quiet, and Emperor Yuan Ke spread out paper to practice calligraphy.

Today is the day the imperial attendants depart from the capital after inspecting various prefectures and kingdoms. Before long, the governors and magistrates of these places will experience promotion, demotion, and punishment. Those who are promoted may not necessarily have good political achievements, and those who are demoted may not necessarily be bad.

The same applies if you think about it the other way around.

For example, Guo Zuo was recommended by the Prince of Xianyang, but he was indeed a capable and insightful man, worthy of the position of Minister of Personnel. Cui Xiu was recommended by the Prince of Beihai, but before the Prince of Beihai's recommendation, Cui Xiu had already repeatedly requested to go to Bohai Commandery.

As an emperor, he could not question Guo Zuo and Cui Xiu based on who recommended them.

All under heaven are subjects of the king!
When did Yuan Ke come to this realization? Just now, during Yuan Pi's rambling on about his past political achievements.

Yu Deng has gone to see Yuan Pi and his son off, and now only Ru Hao and the imperial physician Wang Xian are serving him.

Yuan Ke wrote a passage from the "Five Vermin" chapter of Han Feizi. After finishing it, he asked the two men, "Have you ever heard of waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump?"

"I have never heard of it."

Yuan Ke read it aloud and explained, "This story is about a farmer in the State of Song who, after accidentally obtaining a rabbit that had died after hitting a tree stump, abandoned farming and spent his days guarding the stump, hoping to reap without sowing. In the end, he became a laughingstock among the people of Song. Han Feizi wrote this story to satirize Confucius, the ancestor of the Confucius family."

The emperor paused briefly, and Ru Hao immediately said, "Your Majesty, I understand now. Confucius's ancestors were from the State of Song."

The emperor nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Yuan Pi wants to return to the court and assist me as he did the previous kings. His idea just matches the record in 'The Five Vermin'... Now he wants to govern the people of the present age with the policies of the former kings, but he is just like someone who waits for a tree stump!"

"How could I possibly trap myself by inviting such an old scoundrel who is even more arrogant and presumptuous to a central position!" Yuan Ke thought to himself.

Of course, the emperor would soon realize that this thought was unnecessary, because Yuan Pi died not far from the palace.

(End of this chapter)