Chapter 45
Chapter 45
The *Book of Changes* is a mysterious text. Within its pages, one could find a passage for nearly every event and phenomenon, whether it be a problem from two thousand years ago or two thousand years in the future. Because of this, selecting a passage from the *Book of Changes* might seem easy, but choosing one that precisely captured the essence of the new policy was no simple task.
When one thought of the *Book of Changes*, the phrase that typically came to mind was, "A dragon that soars too high will have regrets, for it cannot last long." Many people, including the old master of the Lin Clan, used this passage to describe the new policy. However, that was the very phrase that had just been analyzed. Shen Lang thought for a moment, then quickly came up with another.
Only a statement imbued with philosophical principle could allow for a deeper discourse on the current state of the new policy's implementation in the State of Yue, and only then could its core truth and essence be fully analyzed.
Just then, the old master spoke.
“It is no matter if you cannot think of one. This is a very difficult and profound question.”
But Shen Lang simply shook his head and opened his mouth to speak.
“Nothing goes that does not return; such is the way of Heaven and Earth.”
The old master was stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief.
“Excellent, excellent!”
With that, the old master slammed his hand on the table. Overcome with emotion, he walked right up to Shen Lang.
“The rumors are utterly absurd. How could such a person be a simpleton? It must be the fabrication of common folk, jealous of the virtuous and talented. Young Master Shen is so brilliant and wise. The passage you chose is so profound and piercing that I can hardly believe it came from the mouth of a young man.
But after hearing your words, I realize there is no better phrase to describe the situation of the Count’s Estate and the implementation of our State of Yue’s new policy. Excellent, truly excellent…”
The old master clapped his hands and said.
“A student of such brilliance has no business being in this class.”
The old master’s praise went on for several minutes. The dozen or so other students in the class wore faces of complete confusion, whispering amongst themselves.
“What on earth did he say? Why don't I understand a single word?!”
“I have no idea!”
“What does that passage Shen Lang said even mean?”
“What passage did he say?”
“The old master has never praised anyone like this before… Has he gone mad?”
“He must have. He probably has a thing for pale-faced lunatics.”
The old master’s words were no exaggeration. The passage Shen Lang had quoted from the *Book of Changes* pierced the very core of the new policy in the State of Yue.
[Nothing goes that does not return; such is the way of Heaven and Earth.]
What did this phrase mean? In heaven, on earth, and in all of creation, for everything that goes, something must return. For people, there are bent parts and straight parts, long parts and short parts. But with affairs, it is the opposite; situations are often reversed.
A simple interpretation might make Shen Lang’s choice of words seem unremarkable, but this passage was not directed at the Count, but at the King of Yue.
‘Your Majesty, you fiercely implement this new policy, relentlessly stripping the fiefs and military authority from the old, established nobility to gather all power into your own hands. But for every action, there is a reaction. Do not forget, Your Majesty, that no matter how powerful the State of Yue becomes, it is but a vassal state of the Great Yan Dynasty.
Today, you strip the fiefs and power from the established nobles within your country, but who is to say that one day the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty will not do the same and seize the power of the King of Yue? Who is to say that today’s hunter will not become tomorrow’s prey? Is your implementation of this new policy not just you tying your own noose? Therefore, Your Majesty, do not handle this matter to the extreme; leave some room for leeway!’
‘A talent, this man is undoubtedly a true talent!’
The old master, one of the Count’s trusted advisors, did not easily consider even those who passed the imperial examinations to be true talents. Passing the examinations, he believed, was possible for anyone with a certain degree of intelligence, diligence, and luck. A true talent, however, must possess great wisdom. More precisely, a person with the wisdom to see through the essence of highly complex matters at a single glance, a person like Young Master Shen. Only such a person could prevent a family from straying down the wrong path and falling into peril.
And to think that the heavens had bestowed upon him not only such a handsome face but also such a brilliant mind. The old master made a resolution. He would absolutely report this to the Count, ensuring that a precious gem like this young lord would not be left buried in darkness and dust.
As the class drew to a close, the old master felt a pang of regret. He disliked teaching, considering a class full of dullards to be a waste of time. He had taken on the role solely for the sake of Jin Mucong, the heir to the Count’s Estate.
However, Jin Mucong was particularly dim-witted, even among the students in the academy, and teaching him profound wisdom was like casting pearls before swine. Then, just as he was parched, Shen Lang appeared like a refreshing spring of sweet water—a brilliant talent. The feeling was exhilarating, almost beyond description.
***
After class, Jin Mucong looked at Shen Lang with a hint of jealousy.
“Shen Lang, do you have any friends?”
“None.”
“Then why do you think you don’t have any friends?”
“When a person possesses too much at once, they are bound to make everyone else feel inadequate.”
Jin Mucong couldn’t help but clench his fists.
‘I don’t know why, but I really want to punch this guy.’
But then he remembered how Shen Lang had covered the wall with the names of his enemies the day before, and Jin Mucong immediately shrank back, saying gruffly.
“Hmph, well, I’m not sitting next to you anymore.”
As Jin Mucong left, Shen Lang was once again left alone.
“Hmph, what’s he showing off for? If he’s so great, why hasn’t he taken the imperial examinations?”
“Yeah, that’s right. Only incompetent people become live-in sons-in-law.”
“He’s just a pale-faced freeloader, what’s so great about him?”
Hearing such words, Shen Lang felt an unbearable sense of pity. Had they not yet heard of my magnanimity? To think these whelps, the ink on their family registers barely dry, have no fear of me.
***
The next class was arithmetic. Since arithmetic was not a subject in the imperial examinations, many academies did not teach it. However, the academies of noble families often taught practical subjects, cultivating specialized talents in each generation. Thus, arithmetic was a crucial subject that was a mandatory part of the curriculum at the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate.
Xu Wensu was one of the estate’s most powerful administrators. He held the authority to manage and oversee the inflow and outflow of the estate’s finances, provisions, and supplies. Having held this position for a considerable time, no one dared to treat him lightly. Perhaps because of this, he was proud and had always acted with an air of arrogance.
As the most outstanding mathematician in Xuanwu City, he naturally became the arithmetic teacher at the estate's academy. As he entered the classroom, Xu Wensu’s eyes fell upon Shen Lang. It was inevitable. Shen Lang’s handsome features made him stand out, a crane among chickens wherever he went.
The only problem was that the look Xu Wensu gave Shen Lang was incredibly sinister and sharp.
Why? Was it jealousy? At over fifty years of age, Xu Wensu was unlikely to have any romantic interest in Jin Mulan. At his age, many men in his line of work found that their vital parts no longer stood at attention. Besides, Shen Lang had no notable interactions with him, so there was no reason for conflict. Shen Lang decided to observe him further.
After entering the classroom, Xu Wensu glanced at Shen Lang with a look of vague hostility, but he said nothing and took no action. He began his lesson. However, his class consisted of nothing more than basic arithmetic problems and was incredibly dull. Eventually, Shen Lang’s mind drifted, and he began to doze off.
“Shen Lang, stand up!”
Xu Wensu, who had been lecturing, suddenly roared. Shen Lang was one of the lucky ones. Another student, who had been drifting in and out of sleep, was so startled that he fell out of his chair and onto the floor.
Shen Lang stood up. Xu Wensu, holding a disciplinary ruler, stood before him and said in a cold voice.
“Hold out your hand. I will strike you ten times.”
Shen Lang realized that Xu Wensu was looking for any excuse to harm him, driven by some inner rage and hostility. Having wielded power in the estate for a long time, he was proud, hated to lose, and was uncompromising in his ways, always insisting on getting what he wanted.
Was Xu Wensu a relative of Wang Lian, Mo Ye, or Jin Shiying? Could he have been the one who incited Jin Mucong to beat Shen Lang yesterday? If so, his methods of revenge were far too simple and crude.
In truth, Xu Wensu was an exceptionally petty man. He had been cultivated by the previous Count and had shown a natural talent for arithmetic, keeping the estate’s various accounts in perfect order for over two decades. As the Count and Countess were not skilled with finances or accounting, they had to rely on him, which meant they had to tolerate his difficult nature. This situation had made Xu Wensu increasingly arrogant and tyrannical. He would strike not just Shen Lang, but even Jin Mucong on the palm if he felt like it.
Xu Wensu shouted harshly at Shen Lang.
“What are you staring at? Hold out your hand! You are beyond help, so these ten strikes are to make you reflect and learn your lesson.”
His words sounded quite righteous. Besides, it was an immutable truth that a teacher could discipline a student. Yet, among the dozen or so students in the class, not a single one was paying attention, and nearly half were asleep.
“Sir, I was neither sleeping nor disrupting the class. Why do you intend to strike me?”
Xu Wensu bellowed.
“Are you suggesting I should not reprimand a student who is not paying attention and whose mind is wandering?”
“But I already know everything you are teaching, sir. That is why I was not listening intently!”
Hearing this, Xu Wensu was dumbfounded. He would strike a student when he wanted to strike, and curse one when he wanted to curse. Not just ordinary students; even Jin Mucong had been hit by him several times. When the Count found out that Jin Mucong had been struck, he had simply said, “Well struck. Continue to strike him.”
“Respect the teacher and value the Way” was an important principle that held true in this world as well. But now, Shen Lang was talking back to his teacher, Xu Wensu.
Xu Wensu’s face turned menacing as he said in a cold voice.
“You dare talk back to me? It seems ten strikes are not enough—you deserve thirty! Afterward, you will kneel before the portrait of Confucius for three hours!”
“I cannot obey that command!”
At that moment, the expressions of the surrounding students changed dramatically. Xu Wensu was their most feared teacher. They had never imagined that Shen Lang would dare to defy him and talk back.
Xu Wensu was furious, but he laughed, his voice filled with rage.
“Haha… Such arrogance, such insolence. We shall see how the Count deals with you. Just you wait!”
*Crack!*
Xu Wensu’s ruler slammed down on the desk, breaking it in two. He then immediately stormed out of the classroom to tattle to the Count. Jin Mucong’s face paled slightly as he went to Shen Lang’s desk.
“Brother-in-law, you’re in big trouble! You’re definitely going to be beaten until you can’t sit down!”
“Is Teacher Xu Wensu always like this?”
Mucong nodded with a look of pity. He himself had been struck seven or eight times by Xu Wensu.
“That man is the living ledger of our estate. But he has a terrible temper, so everyone here is afraid of him.”
That wasn’t surprising. People who were proficient in mathematics were often not known for their high emotional intelligence.
“Was he the one who encouraged you to beat me yesterday?”
Jin Mucong quickly shook his head and replied.
“I can’t say. I’m a man of honor.”
*From now on, you're the littlest dummy. Don't say another word.*
“What is his relationship with Wang Lian, Mo Ye, and Jin Shiying?”
“He’s cousin Wang Lian’s maternal uncle. He’s also a distant relative of my mother.”