Liang Shanbo: The Poor Scholar-Emperor

Shanyin County, Kuaiji Commandery.

Outside the county town, there stands a vast manor.

The manor was surrounded by a rammed earth wall, over ten feet high, beyond which lay moats and fences, and further out were vast stretches of fertile farmland belonging to the clan. A private dock was also built near the water, facilitating fishing and the transport of goods.

The area within the walls was self-contained, divided into the residences of the main branch of the family, the clan school, the quiet study, the granary and storehouse, and the tenants' quarters, with its walls providing fortification.

This is the Langya Wang clan's manor in Shanyin.

The manor is not far from the city, so it is a place where people can live and do business in peace, and also where they can defend themselves in times of chaos.

Most prominent families in the Eastern Jin Dynasty lived in their own manors, which were mostly fortified settlements.

The Wang Family Manor is an example of this.

On this day, it was snowing in Shanyin County.

Inside the Jinglu Pavilion of the Wang Family Manor, a rush mat was laid on the floor, upon which were several low tables, on which were placed celadon water cups and writing implements. In each of the four corners of the pavilion, a charcoal brazier was placed, the charcoal fire burning brightly, filling the room with a warm and inviting atmosphere.

At this moment, there are four people in the hut.

Seated in the main seat was Wang Ningzhi. He was the son of Wang Xizhi and was about thirty years old. At this moment, he was holding a whisk, a common tool for scholars engaged in refined conversation.

Two guests were seated at the guest table. One was about forty years old, with a lean face and calm eyes; the other was about thirty years old, with a handsome face and upright posture.

Another blue silk curtain was set up inside the dwelling. The curtain was as thin as smoke, and one could vaguely see the figures of people in it, which gently separated a corner of the dwelling from the main room.

Behind the curtain, on the cushions, knelt a beautiful woman in her twenties. She wore her hair in a high bun, adorned with a tortoiseshell cloud-patterned hairpin and a plain silver hair ornament, with bright moon jade earrings hanging from her ears. She wore a crimson-purple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a ruqun (upper garment) and a xia (lower garment), a brocade belt around her waist, and a white silk shawl draped over her shoulders.

She was Xie Daoyun, Wang Ningzhi's wife.

Today's topic for discussion is "The Distinction Between the Hidden and the Manifest".

Wang Ningzhi advocated that scholars should value seclusion above all else, and that serving in office should only be a necessary expedient.

He gently shook his whisk and slowly began to speak: "The essence of a gentleman's conduct lies in upholding his principles. In the remote mountains and forests, there is true joy; in the court, there is nothing but a cage. The Book of Poetry says, 'The wise man dwells in the stream, finding great comfort.' Ancient sages hid in valleys, contemplating their thoughts in solitude, finding contentment within themselves. Thus, seclusion is the foundation, while prominence is secondary."

The older guest smiled slightly and asked, "Since Brother Wang advocates a life of seclusion, your father served in officialdom throughout his life, holding positions such as Prefect of Jiangzhou and Governor of Kuaiji. Brother Wang himself also served in office. I wonder if Brother Wang and his family are upholding or breaking with their principles?"

Wang Ningzhi paused slightly, his whisk stopping abruptly, and said, "Serving in office or living in seclusion, each should act according to the times. When the world is governed by the Way, one should appear; when it is not, one should live in seclusion. Confucius also said, 'If the Way is not practiced, I will take a raft and float on the sea.' Now that the northern lands have been lost and we are in a precarious situation in Jiangzuo, is this the time to practice the Way? It is precisely the time to retire and uphold one's principles."

The young guest frowned slightly: "Brother, you are mistaken. It is precisely because the northern lands have been lost and the court is in a state of partial peace that we need virtuous men to step forward and restore order. If everyone hides away and clings to their principles, who will restore the Central Plains? Our ancestor, the Governor of Yuzhou, crossed the river and swore an oath midstream; was it not to uphold his own ambition?"

Wang Ningzhi was taken aback, then forced a reply: "Zu Ti was a hero, far beyond the reach of ordinary people. Those of average or below-average ability should act according to their capabilities. Besides, seclusion is not about forgetting the world, but simply about cultivating one's will and waiting for the right time."

The older guest said, "Brother Wang speaks of cultivating one's will and awaiting the right time. May I ask, Brother Wang, how many years have you been cultivating your will? And how long are you waiting for the right time? If everyone says 'waiting for the right time,' where will that time come from?"

Wang Ningzhi was taken aback again, but after calming himself down, he said, "Everyone has their own destiny, and we cannot force everyone to be the same."

The young guest said, "Since uniformity cannot be forced, why did you just say 'it is precisely the right time to retire and uphold one's principles'? Does this mean uniformity is desired, or that uniformity should be avoided?"

Wang Ningzhi was speechless, his whisk resting on his lap, unable to continue.

The quiet room fell silent.

Just as Wang Ningzhi was in a predicament, Xie Daoyun's voice came from behind the blue silk curtain: "The distinction between the hidden and the revealed lies not between the mountains and forests and the court, but in one's own heart."

She continued, "Chao Fu washed his ears, and Xu You drank from his calf; these were acts of seclusion. Yi Yin carried the tripod, and Fu Yue built rammed earth walls; both later became teachers of kings—these were also acts of seclusion. Seclusion resides in the heart, not in the mountains; service is found in the affairs of state, not in the court. If one's heart is in the mountains and forests, even living in the court will not diminish one's ambition; if one's heart has no home, even entering the deep mountains will only lead to endless striving."

The older guests showed slight changes in their expressions.

Xie Daoyun continued, "Moreover, the so-called reclusion is not about fame or fortune, but about what one seeks. To live in seclusion for one's own reputation is to maintain one's integrity, which is a minor form of seclusion; to live for the sake of the world is to take responsibility, not to compete. It is acceptable to live in the open while keeping one's mind hidden. A wise person only looks at the substance in one's heart, not at appearances or empty fame."

Upon hearing this, the young guests unconsciously sat up straight and became solemn.

Xie Daoyun concluded, "As for the phrase 'waiting for the right time,' Taigong fished on the banks of the Wei River at eighty, which was waiting for the right time; Zhuge Liang farmed in Nanyang, which was also waiting for the right time. Waiting for the right time does not mean not to act, but rather to wait for a time when it is possible to act. If there is ultimately no time to act, then cultivating one's own virtue is also one's duty. However, who dares to make a hasty judgment on the phrase 'ultimately no time'?"

Upon hearing this, the two guests looked at each other in silence.

Wang Ningzhi felt both embarrassed and relieved. Embarrassed because her wife had saved her from an awkward situation in front of the guests; relieved because the situation was finally resolved.

He shook his whisk again, coughed lightly, forced a smile, and steered the conversation elsewhere.

A moment later, the two guests stood up.

The older guest straightened his clothes, bowed to the blue silk curtain, and said, "Hearing the clear voice is like seeing the person in person."

The young guest also bowed, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately he didn't.

……

……

When Xie Daoyun returned to her study, it was snowing.

Several wintersweet trees grow outside the study's corridor, currently in full bloom. Their branches are adorned with tiny, pale yellow buds, which stand out beautifully against the backdrop of white snow. A cool breeze blows through the corridor, carrying the delicate fragrance of the wintersweet into the study in waves.

There was no plaque above the door of the study; only a plain note was pasted on the door frame with two characters written on it: Xue Zhai (雪斋). The characters were written by Xie Daoyun herself in running script, with elegant strokes and a balanced structure.

Upon entering, one is greeted by bookshelves lining all four walls.

The bookshelf, made of nanmu wood and lacquered in a light lacquer, reached up to the ceiling. It was filled with scrolls, arranged in order, each scroll with a small wooden tag attached to its end, bearing the book's title, categorized and neatly organized.

His collection of books numbered thousands, encompassing classics, histories, philosophical works, and literary collections, all neatly and comprehensively presented.

The air was filled with the scent of ink from paper, the fragrance of rue for insect repellent, and a faint fragrance of winter plum blossoms.

A low sandalwood table was placed under the window, with writing brush, ink, paper and inkstone on its surface.

Xie Daoyun knelt down in front of the low table, gently untied the plain white silk shawl from her shoulders, and handed it to Qingxiao behind her. Qingxiao took it with both hands, carefully folded it, and placed it on the clothes rack beside her.

Qingxiao was Xie Daoyun's personal maid. She had a pretty face and gentle features. She had been with Xie Daoyun for two years and knew her temperament and habits very well.

After she put the shawl down, she was about to turn around to add charcoal when she heard Xie Daoyun call out, "Qingxiao."

Qingxiao stopped and turned around.

Xie Daoyun said, "Open the window."

Qingxiao was slightly taken aback: "Everyone, it's snowing outside, and it's very cold."

Xie Daoyun said, "That's why I asked you to open the window. Open it up and let some air in."