How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

Read Chapter 102, "The Moon Won't Accompany Me, But I Will," now to begin today's exciting chapter.

"you say……"

"When the master was demoted to Lingnan and suppressed by the court, the eldest son had no hope of breaking the deadlock, so he went into seclusion in Shuiyun Pavilion, hoping to make the enemy wary in this way. This also perfectly explains why he exposed his true identity and sent this 'Shuiyun Sticker'. He wanted to tell those court bigwigs not to be reckless. If you dare to target the Zhou family with deadly force, Shuiyun Pavilion behind me can also send you a Shuiyun Sticker."

"If you can't inspire respect, then inspire fear!" Zhou Wenju sighed softly. "Old Zeng, your reason seems reasonable, but it's actually far-fetched, because the elder brother I remember was never this type of person."

"Yes, the eldest young master is deeply influenced by the master and is essentially the same kind of person as him. Logically speaking, he shouldn't have done such a thing. But young master, people can change!" Old Zeng said, "For example, young master, I never thought you would become like this."

Zhou Wenju was speechless at this.

Yes, people always change.

When the environment changes, people change.

If the soul inside your head changes, won't the person change too...?

"Alright, I'm leaving!" Zhou Wen stood up.

"Young master, aren't you staying home to celebrate the New Year?" Old Zeng asked.

"My father's already gone to his study to lament the fickleness of fate, what am I supposed to hold on to?" Zhou Wenju said, "Why don't you go back to my little courtyard..."

With a flick of his wrist, Zhou Wenju gathered up some candied fruit and dried fruit from the stove and stepped out of the county government office.

As he stepped out of the county government office, a cold wind blew in, and his figure rose silently into the sky.

Old Zeng looked up, a strange expression on his face.

Are you going back to the courtyard?

I told you, now that you have money, you live like a spoiled brat. Do you think your little courtyard is lacking in candied fruit and dried fruit for the New Year? Why are you making such a shabby scene?

So you were planning to go to Lonely Mountain!

On New Year's Eve, he went to flirt with a nun, carrying candied fruit and dried fruit...

My goodness, this old man has it so tough, having sons or daughters is no easy task...

Tonight, Gushan is truly devoid of any human warmth or human presence.

Tianjing Nunnery tonight is truly a secluded paradise.

The New Year's festivities at the foot of the mountain added a touch of joy to the waters of the East River, but the gate of Tianjing Nunnery stood alone in the cold wind...

The Zen gate is gently knocked upon.

Miao Ni Su Xin opened the door under the starlight, her face showing obvious surprise: "Young Master Zhou actually came to Lonely Mountain tonight?"

"From what you're saying, you actually know that tonight is Lunar New Year's Eve? It's not really 'time flies in the mountains, and the passing of winter makes one unaware of the years.'" Zhou Wenju smiled gently.

"This humble nun may be bald, but her ears and eyes are still there!" Su Xin smiled gently. "I can hear the firecrackers in the city and see the lights of every household."

"That's great. Tonight, I'll stay up with you to celebrate the New Year."

Su Xin frowned slightly: "Why does Young Master have such a strange idea?"

"Is this thought strange?" Zhou Wenju said, "Everyone in the city has someone to keep them company tonight. Even the peddlers and laborers have family reunions. Only you are alone on this lonely mountain. Even the moon refuses to come out, and the moon refuses to shine on the earth. Only I come to enjoy the cool breeze."

Su Xin gently shook her head: "Young master's words are as beautiful as poetry and painting, but it's a pity that it's like playing music to a cow. My humble nunnery is deep and secluded, and it's difficult for me to reach the realm of your wisdom."

"Is the Zen temple deep?" Zhou Wenju asked.

"Does the young master think it's not deep enough?" Su Xin asked in return.

Zhou Wenju laughed: "I've seen many Zen temples, and even a half-zhang Zen gate feels as deep as the sea. However, I don't find your Zen temple as deep as I do. I even have a misconception that your Zen temple is just an outer garment. When the breeze rises, spring comes, and it's all in the blink of an eye."

The two men spoke in a refined and cultured manner.

However, they also understood it clearly.

Zhou Wenju bluntly told me, "I have a gut feeling: you are not a nun at heart!"

Because apart from your bald head, I haven't sensed any Buddhist or Taoist influence on you...

"In that case, let's go!" Su Xin turned around gently and stepped onto the bluestone path behind her.

That's her meditation room in front of you.

A small table and a teapot were placed indoors.

A plum blossom and three bamboos sway in front of the window.

The starlight, like water, reflects the myriad lights of Qishan County on this New Year's Eve...

A cup of tea is served.

Zhou Wenju opened the small bag he was carrying: "The other things in Lingnan are hard to describe, but the candied fruit and dried fruit are alright. Please try them, young lady."

Su Xin ate a few pieces of candied fruit and a piece of dried fruit, then slowly raised her gaze: "Young master, I truly find it hard to believe you've come to my door so late at night. You only came to keep me company out of loneliness on this solitary mountain. May I ask what brings you here?"

"I'm leaving! Can I say goodbye?" Zhou Wenju said.

"Where does the young master wish to go?"

"Heading to Beijing!"

"Won't they be back anytime soon?"

"Life is like a journey, and I am but a traveler..." Zhou Wenju said, "I cannot foresee when I will return home."

"I understand somewhat..." Suxin said, "You hope that I will take care of you after you leave, is that right?"

"I am grateful for your kind intentions, young lady!" Zhou Wenju said. "Actually, there is another matter I would like to ask you."

"What is it?"

"I would like to hear a different interpretation of the 'Yantai case'."

"The Yantai case?" Su Xin was quite surprised. "Why do you think that I, a recluse, could offer you a different interpretation of the Yantai case?"

"In this world, different perspectives lead to different understandings of right and wrong. You are from the previous dynasty, and the core of the Yantai case was the former crown prince. Your understanding of the Yantai case should be different from the perspective of the Yantai case that is generally accepted by the current dynasty."

This is indeed the most crucial reason why Zhou Wenju visited today.

He's about to go to Beijing.

Once he goes to Beijing, he will inevitably be affected by the Yantai case.

Because he is Zhou Liangsheng's son.

Zhou Liangsheng was implicated in the Yantai case.

They could even be called "remnants of Yantai".

This is the big picture.

He cannot completely avoid the Yantai case, so he can only delve into its analysis.

The Yantai case has already reached a public consensus.

However, as Su Xin said that day, history is always written by the victors, and everything about the Yantai case is just the official line from the government.

He wanted to know how the official stance was phrased outside of the court.

Rather than the official stance of the court, the only person he could think of was Su Xin.

She was a palace maid from the previous dynasty—at least, she herself admitted it.

"If you want to know my different interpretation, then you must let me know your current interpretation." Su Xin picked up a cup of tea and rinsed away the taste of candied fruit in her mouth.

"My interpretation is very orthodox!" Zhou Wenju said, "After the fall of the previous dynasty, the new emperor ascended the throne and gave the former monarch a grand funeral with the rites due to a member of the imperial clan. He also conferred the title of Prince Lanling upon the former crown prince, Yan Zheng, and granted him Lanzhou in the north as his fief. However, this Prince Lanling colluded with the Yan state, attempting to use Lanzhou as a bargaining chip to gain Yan's assistance in order to restore the previous dynasty. Led by Prince Zheng Yanchun, the court officials rose up against him, urging His Majesty to issue an imperial edict to execute this treacherous official. However, His Majesty, mindful of the blood ties with the Yan family, refused to issue the edict. Therefore, Prince Zheng Yanchun colluded with the court officials, took a desperate gamble, and defied the world's condemnation by forging an imperial edict to summon Prince Lanling to Yantai. He then arranged for experts from the Lingyan Pavilion to execute him directly. This act violated the Heavenly Laws, and Prince Zheng Yanchun was demoted to Zhengzhou. Those court officials who followed him were either killed or demoted, including my father... This is the Yantai case that I know of."

Book lovers are hotly debating: What exactly happened? Join the discussion!

This is the Yantai case!

The Yantai case that sparked endless controversy!

In the eyes of Zheng Wang Yanchun's faction and Zhou Wenju's father's faction, they were acting in a righteous manner. Seeing the former crown prince betray the country and the people about to suffer from war again, they were determined to physically eliminate this culprit, with the resolve of "If I don't go to hell, who will?"

However, in His Majesty's view...

However, it is an unforgivable crime.

Forging an imperial edict is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Openly killing the former crown prince is an act of betrayal that forces His Majesty to break his promise and be condemned by the world as a treacherous traitor. When His Majesty ascended the throne, he swore to the world that he would treat the former imperial family well. Only a little over a decade has passed since that vow, and His Majesty has already killed the former crown prince. How can His Majesty save face?

However, as everyone knows, although the methods used in the Yantai case were extremely radical and every clause conformed to the law of "exterminating nine generations of relatives," the ministers involved were originally acting in the interest of the country and its people.

Therefore, the Yantai case was handled with extreme caution.

Apart from one minister who went too far and was executed along with his entire family, the others were not executed along with their families. At most, they were killed along with a few of their core children and their property was confiscated. Many officials were dealt with even more leniently. For example, Zhou Liangsheng, who was not in the core circle, was only punished by having his property confiscated and being demoted to Lingnan. Although he was sentenced to seven or eight ranks of imprisonment, he still had an official position.

This was the mildest punishment ever given for offending the emperor's authority.

Being too lenient with court officials would make it difficult to win over the public, so the forces involved from the other side should be dealt with more severely.

This force is the Lingyan Pavilion.

After all, as a martial arts sect, Lingyan Pavilion dared to get involved in such a major event as the imperial court, so it's no wonder that the entire sect was wiped out.

Su Xin slowly withdrew her gaze from the distance: "The version of the Yantai case circulating in the world is indeed as described. This humble nun, residing in Gushan, is oblivious to worldly affairs; how could I possibly know the inside story that others are unaware of? I only know some details about the former Crown Prince's character. In my eyes, this Crown Prince was arguably the most spineless member of the Yan clan. He lacked ambition from a young age, and when the city fell and the clan was destroyed, he was utterly despicable. After the late emperor was executed by the Holy Temple, he personally removed the late emperor's head, placed it at his feet, and hung the Eastern Palace seal, smeared with dog excrement, around his neck before kneeling to welcome the new emperor. What I don't understand is, how could such a fatherless, motherless, and utterly unscrupulous person have the courage to collude with enemy states, and what qualifications does he have to restore the previous dynasty?"

Zhou Wenju was shocked.

This was indeed a detail he was unaware of.

The Yantai case sent a signal to the world that this crown prince harbored ulterior motives.

However, according to Su Xin, this crown prince is hardly the type to harbor ulterior motives.

The father was killed by the Temple.

Even after the man was dead, he still cut off his father's head.

The Crown Prince's Seal, representing the second-highest authority in the previous dynasty, was stained with dog excrement and hung around his neck.

Every single action of thiss is contrary to human ethics and is an insult to the previous dynasty.

If he truly intended to restore the previous dynasty, how could he have gone to such extremes?

It should be understood that restoring the previous dynasty is not something he can do alone. He needs a large number of loyal ministers and generals from the previous dynasty to assist him. How can his act of disgracing his father and the previous dynasty be worthy of the ministers' support?

With just these two details, he completely cut off the path to restoration.

However, it perfectly matches the behavior of a coward who is afraid of death.

When dynasties change, the new emperor's greatest fear is the restoration of the previous dynasty.

This crown prince's extreme act of humiliating the late emperor and the previous dynasty, thus cutting off the path to restoration, is exactly what the new emperor wants to see. The new emperor can also rest assured and raise this crown prince as a mascot...

"The world is ever-changing, and the situation is unpredictable. I understand it less and less," Zhou Wenju sighed softly.

"Throughout history, the affairs of dynasties have been the most complex and unsettling for people's hearts! I won't say any more..." Su Xin gently raised her hand: "Tonight is New Year's Eve. I wonder if you, a master of poetry of your generation, have any thoughts on this?"

Zhou Wenju casually recited: "Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the old year departs; the spring breeze brings warmth to the New Year's wine; the sun shines brightly on every household; everyone replaces the old door charms with new ones—that's all!"

Su Xin's teacup remained still in mid-air: "Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the old year departs; the spring breeze brings warmth to the New Year's wine; the sun shines brightly on every household; new peachwood charms replace the old ones… Young Master, your casual recitation is a timeless masterpiece. Next, shouldn't it be: a seven-colored chain rises through the sky, and the ten thousand households of Qishan gaze at each other from afar? Is that right?"

Zhou Wenju was slightly taken aback.

I rely on!

I just recited it casually, but this poem is so famous.

It's so famous that it only takes one Lunar New Year's Eve to naturally bring it to the forefront.

Now that I've already recited it, shouldn't I write it down?

Zhou Wenju rubbed his hands together lightly: "Everyone has had a tough time. So many people bear the name of scholars, yet they don't even write a few decent poems in their entire lives. Is it a bit unfair of me to provoke them during the New Year?"

Su Xin rubbed her forehead: "Young Master, haven't you done enough to provoke scholars from all walks of life? When you first started writing poetry, didn't you ever think about how unethical that was?"

"That's true!" Zhou Wenju nodded. "My father probably still has some idea that I went up Lonely Mountain tonight. Let him see that I did something worthwhile tonight, so that the old man won't get any funny ideas..."

With a flick of his wrist, the precious pen was in his hand!

With a flourish of his brush, the ink fell onto the gold paper.

The next moment, seven-colored light enveloped Lonely Mountain, and a seven-colored thread shot upwards through the sky. Above the void, the Sea of ​​Dao opened...

Just as he had predicted, the entire Qishan area was in an uproar at the same time.

The joy of the New Year for countless intellectuals was instantly replaced by shock...

"Another poem in seven colors!"

"Another road to the sea!"

"Tonight's program is ruined, I have to go back to my studies!" A scholar in the restaurant jumped up and started running: "Otherwise, tomorrow is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and my father will use the Zhou family's son as an example to give me a severe scolding..."

"What are we supposed to do during the New Year? Can't we even have a proper New Year celebration?" Other scholars also stood up at the same time, each of them feeling immense pressure.

Yes, yes, other people's sons are so outstanding that the neighbor's son can't even face anyone...

Inside the county government office, Zhou Liangsheng suddenly pushed open the window.

The cold wind blew in, but to him it was like a spring breeze, and his face flushed.

She stepped out of her endless resentment towards her eldest son.

She felt immense joy and pride in her second son.

"Amidst the crackling of firecrackers, the old year departs; the spring breeze brings warmth to the New Year's wine; the sun shines brightly on every household; new peachwood charms replace the old ones... Wonderful, wonderful! This is the best poem for New Year's Eve!" Zhou Liangsheng stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Master, it's Wen'er!" Madam Zhou suddenly pushed open the study door: "At the end of the silk thread, there is his projection."

"I saw it!" Zhou Liangsheng said, "This unfilial son, going to Lonely Mountain on New Year's Eve, is truly a challenge to worldly etiquette, and it's everywhere!"

Although he eventually called him "rebellious son" and pointed out that his son's mistake was "against propriety," there was not a trace of blame on his face. There was only extreme excitement.

Old Zeng poked half his head in from outside the study: "Master, the young master's actions don't violate etiquette. His nighttime trip to Lonely Mountain is for legitimate business! It's a testament to his diligence in his studies!"

"You want to explain for him?" Zhou Liangsheng glared at him, then burst into laughter before the glare was even finished...

The entire backyard of the county government office finally had the atmosphere that a new year should have.

Above the Dao Sea, a giant silver fish of literary energy returned along the silk thread and disappeared into Zhou Wenju's brow.

The quiet meditation room on Lonely Mountain gradually lost its literary brilliance and returned to darkness.

Zhou Wenju scratched his head lightly: "I seem to have overlooked something."

"What?"