History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 233 Nan Wei Yao, Dong Li Yin

The two mounted their horses and headed straight for the "Hongchi" scenic spot in the southeast, where they would meet up with Wei Yao's parents.

On the way, Wei Mao said, "According to the Zhao Dian chapter of the Book of the Later Han, the water surface of Hongchi was already hundreds of acres at that time. Emperor Huan of Han wanted to expand Hongchi further, but was dissuaded by Zhao Dian, the Chamberlain. It is said that the 'Eastern Capital Rhapsody' written by Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty, which praises 'the eastern part of Hongchi is clear and green, with green water flowing gently, with abundant river birds inside and lush reeds outside,' refers to the present-day Hongchi."

Wei Mao has been staying home less lately, spending all his time reading. He reads ancient histories and miscellaneous books that are hard to find in the marketplace. These books not only contain information about famous historical figures, but also describe the origins and changes of many scenic spots in Luoyang.

He compiled and copied a lot, and brought it all to Wei Yao today.

Wei Yao also told the other party what she knew: "When the late emperor returned to the capital after his southern expedition, he once sailed on Hongchi. The late emperor's ambition was to dig a canal from Hongchi to Luoshui. Then, in the future, when he went on a southern expedition, he could take a boat from Hongchi to Luoshui, then through the Yellow River, Bian River, Qingshui River, and all the way to Huai River! He could fight as soon as he got off the boat, just like he could fight as soon as he stepped out of the house!"

Hearing this, Wei Mao felt his blood boil and couldn't help but ask, "If I were to go on a southern expedition with the army someday, Yao Yao, would you be willing to come with me?"

"Of course! May all of China one day be our Wei territory, may the dynasty be legitimate and virtuous, and may we establish our rule over the Yellow River and Luo River regions! Giddy up—"

"drive--"

The two men rode their magnificent steeds at breakneck speed. Sensing their master's intentions, the steeds bravely forged ahead, undeterred by the weeds and bumps of the wild path!

The area around Hongchi is covered with endless rice paddies, and new villas and mansions are being built in many high-lying areas.

Today, Zhao Zhi was on her day off. She, her husband Wei Yin, Er Zhu Rong, and their servant Mai Ti had arrived early. They rented a fishing boat, and Zhao Zhi and her master cast their nets again and again, catching nothing each time, but their laughter filled the air.

Erzhu Maiti sang a folk song while rowing the boat, while Weiyin stood at the stern admiring the lake view. The flocks of wild geese and the rippling waves in the distance were the best depictions of a pleasant and carefree time.

The lake was so vast that Wei Yao didn't rush to find her parents. She and Wei Mao led their horses slowly and first visited the site where Cao Zhi boarded a boat to tour the lake.

Wei Yao said in surprise, "Mao, look, there are many Confucian scholars over there."

"What did you call me?" Wei Mao nudged her lightly.

Wei Yao pushed back with more force, and Wei Mao quickly wrapped his arms around her. He had a good plan: risk getting beaten up, quickly grab her and then let go. But when it came to using his courage, he realized he was cowardly. He didn't even touch Wei Yao, and his move was seen through.

Wei Yao's cheeks flushed pink, and her reproachful "humph" immediately dispelled Wei Mao's disappointment, turning him into contentment.

Actually, it's nice to just walk side by side with her.

Wei Yao and her companion did not intentionally approach these Confucian scholars; they simply happened to be passing by and stopped to listen to their diverse opinions and debates on poetry.

Wei Mao reminisced about the past and whispered, "When you weren't in the Book of Poetry dormitory, we would argue like this after we finished the exam, neither of us willing to give in."

Wei Yao smiled, recalling some things as well. In her previous life, Zong Yin had confessed to her that the place where they first met He Lan was the Hongchi Poetry Society. Of course, Wei Yao no longer cared about Zong Yin's change of heart, nor did she care whether He Lan had feelings for Zong Yin. Wei Yao was only concerned about the poetry society.

The Luoyang Poetry Society and the Pingcheng Poetry Society are completely different!
The poetry societies in Pingcheng, such as those established by Cui Xueguan, aimed to collect musical scores for singing poems from various places and then teach illiterate people to sing poems orally.

The rise of the Luoyang Poetry Society initially stemmed from the gatherings of Confucian scholars who came to Luoyang to make a living, seeking to make friends. These gatherings allowed them to discuss poetry, improve their studies, meet fellow townsmen, and support each other while living in Luoyang.

As the poetry society gradually developed, the sons of local powerful families in Luoyang County also joined. Judging from Wei Yao's current experience, the powerful families that Zong Yin considered to be powerful were actually poor families whose fortunes had declined. After joining the poetry society, the sons of poor families were even more enthusiastic about gathering and exchanging ideas than the scholars from other places. By the time the treacherous Gao family interfered in the government, the poetry society had long deviated from its original purpose of discussing poetry and had become a place for exchanging information and currying favor in officialdom.

Wei Yao: "Let's go." These people are talking and laughing on the beautiful Hongchi shore. They should go to the ruins of the Imperial Academy to copy the stone scriptures and learn more useful classics. Just as they were about to leave, they heard someone mention the name "Wei Yao," and then they heard more discussions about Wei Yao.

"Is the Wei Yao you're talking about the young lady reciting the poem 'Guan Ju' at the well in the city?"

"It's her. I heard she lives in the south of the city, so now there's a saying: Wei Yao in the south of the city, Li Yin in the east of the city."

“I’ve heard about it too. I even inquired about it. These two young ladies are about the same age. It’s said that Li Yin’s poetry is better than Wei Yao’s. Do you know who Li Yin is? She’s the only daughter of Li Biao, the former Imperial Censor.”

"What is Wei Yao's background? Is she a descendant of a meritorious official?"

"No, he's just surnamed Wei. But he's lucky to have found a teacher named Kong from Lu County. But it's a long and arduous journey, so who knows if he's a direct disciple or just someone who audited a few classes?"

"Huh? Comparing Li Yin and Wei Yao together is too... wouldn't that damage the reputation of the Li family of Dunqiu?"

A Confucian scholar argued in defense of Wei Yao: "Can a person's talent or lack thereof be entirely determined by their birth? I was there when Wei Yao was lecturing on poetry, and she lectured very well. Moreover, Yuan Fan, the young master of the Yuan family of Chenjun, was also lecturing on the same day. Would the young master Yuan be lecturing in the same courtyard with a fraudster?"

"What you're saying is true! These days, you have to consider social status first, and then your talent and learning!"

"What a joke! Lady Wei has gone to the Imperial Academy to teach poetry. The Imperial Academy is the official school of the court. If we were to consider social status first, why couldn't Lady Li go to the Imperial Academy?"

"You're the joke! You've never seen the world. A palace school is no different from an official school? Haha—"

One person shouted to mediate: "What's all the arguing about? Let Miss Li and Miss Wei have a lecture contest, then we'll know who's the champion!"

Wei Yao gently tugged at Wei Mao's sleeve and left, so that others wouldn't see his furious expression.

"This is a poetry club? A bunch of foul-mouthed people!"

Wei Yao knew that this fellow always carried a small bronze mirror with him when he went out, so she took it out of his cloth bag and looked at him: "Smile."

Wei Mao obediently grinned.

Wei Yao held the bronze mirror at a distance, reflecting both himself and his face in it.

This time, Wei Mao was truly happy.

After appeasing him, Wei Yao continued to reason with him: "To revitalize the nation, we Confucian scholars should advance side by side. I hope that my reputation for poetry can be the same as it was in Pingcheng, but that doesn't mean I have to stand out in Zhonggao and trample other talented women into the swamp."

"Mao, you too. I hope you have a bright future, and I also hope that all my fellow disciples have a bright future."

Seeing that Wei Mao was still angry, she looked back to make sure no one was approaching, and whispered, "Think about it, even if Li Biao is no longer an official, he is still a famous scholar in Luoyang. If his only daughter, Li Yin, had a reputation that even high-ranking families couldn't suppress, she would have been famous in Luoyang long ago. Why now of all times? And why is she being compared to me?"

Wei Mao, as expected, forgot his anger. He understood the deeper meaning in Wei Yao's words: "This was deliberately done by someone?! Hmph, Li Yin from the east of the city... Regardless of whether Miss Li's talent can compare to yours, her reputation has already risen, and it's risen so quickly. In the future, whenever people mention you, they will mention her. Although this method is ruthless, it is really hard to unravel."

Duxiu Zhonggao: This phrase comes from Tao Yuanming's poem "Traveling to Xiechuan". "Gao" refers to the land next to the marsh.

(End of this chapter)