Volume 4: Gathering of Sages Chapter 514: Women Must Be Strong
After the emperor summoned Hong Shanchang, the empress dowager actually summoned Hong Shanchang's daughter the next day, and praised her for her filial piety and upright character , and gave her a piece of Lu silk. She also sent her trusted female official Yuquan to escort her out of the palace. For many people, this was a big question that was enough to speculate for many days. But at noon on this day, they found that they didn't have to guess.
Because the Empress Dowager issued an imperial decree, appointing Hong as Princess Yongping's tutor, and all her rank and treatment were the same as those of the princes and friends.
Although there was an official position called Prince Friend among the royal officials in the Tang Dynasty, except for a few of the most prominent princes during the most prosperous years, this position was in name only most of the time.
Especially those princes who were later left to fend for themselves in the mansions of the Tenth Prince or even the Sixteenth Prince. They had never even seen the system of royal officials. There were not even royal tutors and chief historians, let alone any royal friends below the fifth rank.
In the Ming Dynasty, the position of Prince Friend was also sometimes there and sometimes not. In addition, the princes were often very cautious in granting titles, and very few could be granted the title of prince when there was a crown prince. Those princes who were granted titles outside were all outdated and insignificant characters. Therefore, the prince himself did not care whether there was such an official position as Prince Friend among the officials in the palace, and the officials who were named would sigh that they were unlucky.
Therefore, many people hurriedly flipped through the books after hearing the news, and finally found out that Hong's position as the princess's tutor was compared to the position of the prince's friend, and after finding out, they all felt that it was a bit mysterious.
The princes and friends of the Ming Dynasty are also from the fifth rank!
This is not low for ordinary officials. However, if we look at it from the perspective of the goal of the eldest prince's consort, it seems far from it. Of course, most people think that the title of the eldest prince's consort sounds glamorous, but in fact it is a bottomless pit. On the contrary, the title of Princess Yongping's tutor can enjoy the treatment of a fifth-rank official and be close to the emperor and empress. Isn't it wonderful?
When countless people's attention was focused on the Hong family's incident, Zhu Tingfang, who was originally ordered to pacify Cangzhou, returned to Beijing and threw a few pirates to the Ministry of War. Naturally, few people paid attention to this "trivial matter".
After all, the Cangzhou incident had been discussed again and again in the court, and then was suppressed by one thing after another, such as the sudden appearance of the deposed queen, the imperial chef selection competition, the sudden formation of a bustling business district around the Xinglong Tea House, and the sudden appearance of building a public school in the outer city...
As a result, both the court officials and the common people felt overwhelmed. Even Zhang Shou, who was said to have accompanied the emperor to meet Hong Shanzhang and Yue Shanzhang yesterday, and to have accompanied the empress dowager to meet Hong Shi today with Zhu Ying, was too lazy to comment after hearing about it.
As a handsome, elegant, mysterious poor young man who has never faded from people's sight since he came to the capital last year, they would not be surprised if one day people could ascend to heaven playing the flute with Zhu Ying like Xiao Lang and Nong Yu did in the past.
However, facing the piece of Lu silk and the imperial edict, Hong Shanchang, who was arranged to live in Yashe, was very disappointed. As soon as the imperial envoy left, he could not help but be furious at Hong.
"How could this happen? Did you mishandle your behavior when you met the Queen Mother today, and that's why you are in this situation? The Hong family has a long tradition of poetry and literature, and you have been a farming and reading family for many years, but the Queen Mother actually gave you a piece of Lu silk. Is this a mockery that your talent and character are only worth this piece of vulgar Lu silk?"
"Princess Yongping, as a woman, is hosting a literary gathering. She is simply arrogant and bold. The Queen Mother and the Emperor indulge her so much, but they still let you be their tutor? She should get married at her age, why does she need a tutor? She must have spread rumors in front of the Queen Mother and the Emperor, which ruined your merits..."
If she married the eldest prince and became the eldest prince's consort who was responsible for advising and disciplining her husband, would that be a great merit?
Facing a father who was heartbroken and chattering non-stop, Hong seemed unusually calm. She neither tried to persuade nor to defend herself, because she had long been accustomed to such a father who was strict with himself and others, so she simply let her father vent his disappointment. Every time this happened, she was very glad that her father did not become an official.
If a person becomes an official, will he be so angry that his boss will be so angry that he will want to kill him? Will he be so angry that his subordinates will stab him in the back every day, and then try every means to fabricate evidence to bring down such a plague god?
My father, who attaches great importance to etiquette, is well versed in classics and history, and has impeccable moral character, but is too ignorant of the ways of the world. Thanks to the strict environment of Yuzhang Academy, with the support of the previous principal and many famous scholars and local families from Yuzhang Academy, he has been able to live safely to the present.
Because those who backed them believed that in order to maintain the atmosphere of Yuzhang Academy in cultivating honest and upright people, such a strict headmaster was necessary. Of course, if there was power, then it should be divided among them...
As for her... she fully understood the intentions of those people, and was the one who spared no effort to persuade her father to stay away from official career, no one else.
Because no matter whether it was the old head of the mountain or those famous scholars and aristocratic families, no one was embarrassed to persuade her father to give up the idea of official career. But she did what they could not do, and those upper-class celebrities in Jiangxi were particularly satisfied with her, an older woman with knowledge and taste, and returned the favor by promoting her as a filial daughter.
The only thing they lacked was to build a filial piety arch for her without any commendation from the imperial court!
Over the years, she had saved poor women one by one through the cracks in her father's rules and etiquette, and selected those who could accept guidance, teaching some people skills and others knowledge, so that those who could read and write but did not know the ways of the world could understand the human nature, and women who had been humiliated for no reason could broaden their horizons and know that the world was not just about their mother's family and their husband's family...
At the same time, she has been quietly looking for some special talents in Zhaoming Academy over the years, subtly attracting them to pay attention to those miscellaneous studies that the Taoist gentlemen disdain to pay attention to. Of course, this is difficult, because she herself does not understand these things, so she can only do some things secretly when she represents her father to give books to people. Of course, she will never leave any text as evidence.
Even if she happened to misjudge someone, books like "Dream Pool Essays" could not be used as a handle to accuse her.
Because she had learned from her father's complaints in her early years that the current emperor liked to be different, so she only hoped that talented students would be inspired by these books, write some unique articles, and make something special to attract people's attention to Zhaoming Academy. Although it took a lot of time, she finally succeeded.
As for the Empress Dowager's decree, although it was still far from what she had expected, it could at least be considered a successful step.
Although her father was a man of integrity and propriety, and seemed extremely reluctant to let her become the princess's tutor, he would never righteously reject the empress dowager's kindness, because the eight words of praise from the empress dowager were also a compliment to her father.
Mrs. Hong stood there in silence until Dean Hong had said enough and was tired. She was just about to give her father some gentle advice to save his life when a voice came from outside: "Brother Hong, Dean Xiao from Suzhou Taihu Academy and Dean Xu from Songjiang Huating Academy are here. They have agreed to go out and get together, so I came to ask you what you think."
Dean Hong was so excited talking just now that he didn't pay any attention to the noise outside. He realized the voice belonged to Dean Yue. He snorted coldly and was about to refuse, but he saw Dean Hong step forward and whispered something to him.
"Dad, all the wise men have gathered in the capital. This is a rare event. Why don't you go and meet them?"
Dean Hong was not very interested in this kind of communication, and frowned at this moment. But Mrs. Hong persuaded him softly: "When we came out, didn't the old Dean tell Dad that he hoped you would make friends and learn more about the celebrities in other academies, so that we can make friends with each other and help each other in the future?"
Principal Hong, who strictly abides by etiquette, is of course a person who respects teachers very much. He has deep respect for his teacher, the old principal who handed over Yuzhang Academy to him. So he has been working diligently all these years.
He had no sons but only one daughter. He always despised those hypocritical people who were more chaste than others. After his wife died, he did not take concubines and devoted himself to the academy. As for the family, he left it to his daughter to take care of. As for his son, he had already agreed with his eldest brother who had many children that he would adopt one of them when he died. He did not worry at all that his daughter, who was known for her chastity, would be bullied in the future.
Of course, he also knew that the old principal's original words to him before leaving were to try his best to find out what outstanding figures there were in other academies, and then make corresponding preparations to prevent the talented people from his own academy from suffering unexpected setbacks in the joint and palace examinations.
It should be noted that in next year's competition, Yuzhang Academy's goal is to try its best to win one of the top three!
Therefore, with the enemy standing outside the door, it was indeed correct for Hong to give such a tactful reminder, but Hong just felt uncomfortable. So, he left Hong behind and walked straight to the door, opened it, and saw that it was Yue Shanzhang standing there with a smile on his face. He asked coldly, "Are you going now?"
When Yue Shanzhang was in the courtyard before, he had heard what Hong Shanzhang said, which was completely unrestrained and undisciplined. He knew that he didn't even need to find a way to tell the secret, as the people serving here would naturally report it to the relevant people. Therefore, he did not show any strange expression at this moment, but instead seemed more polite and friendly.
"Yes, all those who were summoned are here. If we sit down and discuss, the truth will come out."
"I don't know how to drink." Without caring whether he was talking too much, Hong Shan said these few words stiffly, and then he snorted, "It's a good opportunity for me to learn from the wise men from all sides!"
Seeing Principal Hong say this and walk out, Hong smiled bitterly in her heart, but she had to show a gentle smile on her face and bowed to Principal Yue. Seeing that the principal of Zhaoming Academy, who arrived in the capital first, actually bowed to her politely, and then turned around and followed her father calmly, she walked forward and closed the door calmly, and then rubbed her eyebrows.
My father probably didn't know that when the old headmaster learned that the emperor had summoned my father, he immediately invited her over in the name of his wife. Then when he met her in person, his extremely old face was wrinkled like a bitter gourd.
"Yuan Niang, you grew up under my care, almost like my granddaughter. You followed your father to the capital, so you must keep an eye on him and don't let his mouth cause trouble! Alas, I don't expect him to be a teacher for the princes. With his personality, he is only suitable to stay in the academy. Because of his good reputation, even students with extraordinary family backgrounds would never dare to do anything to him as a teacher."
"But once you become a teacher to the prince, it's different. Your father is upright and can't tolerate any sand in his eyes. He will speak out when he doesn't like something. His students are probably not as foolish as he is! But his temper is suitable for the academy, but not for the officialdom."
"Of course I know that he has no intention of standing by the emperor's side. I'm afraid he will beg to be released when he appears before the emperor. But I'm worried that his mouth will offend people in the capital! You must keep an eye on him and advise him at all times!"
Hong sighed deeply again, and then went to the desk, dipped the brush in water and ground ink, opened another visiting card, and wrote a line of beautiful yet sharp small characters on it - "Mrs. Zhao's Grand Madam Yijian..."
She wrote very quickly and finished a visiting card in a moment, ending it with "Junior Hong pays his respects a hundred times". After she finished writing, she saw the ink was gradually drying, then she took it out personally, but ordered the mother she brought with her to call a maid who worked in the elegant house, gave her a handful of money, and asked her to find someone to deliver the letter to the Duke of Zhao's mansion on her behalf.
Hong did not send the servant she brought with her to deliver the letter, but instead gave the visiting card to a maid in Yashe, so the visiting card immediately appeared in the outer court of the Silijian. Lu Chan pondered over the visiting card for a long time, and finally handed it to Chu Kuan. But to his surprise, Chu Kuan did not even look at it and handed it back directly.
"Find a low-key person to send him to Duke Zhao's mansion, and don't say anything unnecessary."
Seeing Lü Chan's surprised face, Chu Kuan said calmly, "Principal Hong of Yuzhang Academy probably has no intention of staying in Beijing to teach the prince, so even if he is pedantic, the emperor will be more tolerant of him. As for this Hong, since she has frankly stated the purpose of her trip, there is nothing more to say. The Queen Mother's decree has been issued, and her title of filial daughter is set in stone."
"But what if the Queen Mother still lets her become the Crown Prince's consort..." Lu Chan hesitated to speak.
"Just accept it. With the eldest prince's useless character, do you think he will become the King Xuan of Qi after marrying a virtuous wife? To be honest, even the deposed queen doesn't have such a beautiful dream now!" Chu Kuan mercilessly ridiculed the former queen, now Concubine Jing, and then smiled and said, "Hong wants to open a girls' school, why not see how she does it?"
"Now that the queen is deposed, the first and second princes are also deposed. The third and fourth princes are still young and can be molded. If Hong really has that ability... why can't there be another woman in the prince's tutor? Zhang Shou can't be the only one who stands out!"
