#417 - Four lines from Hengqu
It was as if a collective body-freezing spell had been cast. After Wei Changtian retorted with, “What on earth does this question even mean?”, everyone else was stunned for a good while, unable to recover.
The abruptness of this turn of events was no less than when you confess to a girl, and after she sincerely praises you for all your good qualities, she suddenly drops the line, “We’re not compatible.”
Originally, everyone had been expecting Wei Changtian to effortlessly answer this age-old problem, or at least offer some unique insight, just like he had composed nine immortal poems in a row at the Spring Dragon Poetry Meet.
But the result was that he didn't even understand the question? Seriously?!?
What did he mean by “What on earth does this question even mean?”
Shen Ran had already explained it clearly enough!
Could it be that Wei Changtian only knew how to write poetry? Or perhaps...
Were even those previous poems not written by him?!
But if not him, then who else could it be?
The crowd didn't realize that their guesses were the truth, and Gui Pei'an also revealed a hint of disappointment that was difficult to conceal at this moment.
He wasn't disappointed that Wei Changtian couldn't answer the question that had troubled him his whole life, but rather disappointed that Wei Changtian was truly so lacking in knowledge.
A belly full of poetry and books naturally brings a refined air—this saying is not an exaggeration.
At least, for a second-rank Great Confucian, it was indeed possible to roughly judge a person's character and talent merely through “observation.”
Therefore, Gui Pei'an, who had seen countless people, had already felt this sense of disappointment from the first moment he saw Wei Changtian.
Yes, Wei Changtian did indeed have a handsome appearance and an extraordinary temperament, with a hint of unyieldingness and confidence subtly mixed in with his composure.
Such an impression was actually already considered outstanding among the younger generation of the same age.
But Gui Pei'an still felt it wasn't enough.
At least, not enough to possess the bearing to create a poem of the “Spring River Flower Moon Night” level.
However, this poem had indeed been recited from Wei Changtian's mouth, so Gui Pei'an had temporarily suppressed the suspicion in his heart, thinking that he had misjudged.
But now, the reality showed that he had not misjudged.
...
With a light sigh, Gui Pei'an stopped looking at Wei Changtian, instead shaking his head slightly and picking up his teacup to drink tea.
Although Shen Ran was also somewhat surprised at this time, his reaction was not as obvious. After being slightly stunned for a moment, he opened his mouth to answer Wei Changtian's question.
“Young Master Wei,”
“Simply put, this question is... Why do people live? What exactly are they pursuing?”
Why do people live?
You could have just said that earlier! Why all the useless stuff?
Hearing the answer, Wei Changtian rolled his eyes, and at the same time, he almost instantly figured out how to answer.
Without caring what others were thinking now, he immediately turned to look at Ning Yu Ke.
“Your Majesty, what do you think you live for?”
“This...”
Ning Yu Ke never expected that Wei Changtian would turn around and throw the question back at her, and she couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
However, she reacted quickly. After thinking for a while, she replied with a solemn expression:
“As the ruler of a country, what I seek in my life is naturally for the people under my rule to live and work in peace and contentment, with ample food and clothing.”
“Understood.”
Nodding, Wei Changtian smiled and looked at Gui Pei'an, who was drinking tea.
“Grand Secretary Gui, what about you?”
“...”
Hearing Wei Changtian ask him again, Gui Pei'an really wanted to say, “If I understood, would I still be asking you?”
However, the cultivation of a Great Confucian did not allow him to do so, so after putting down his teacup, he still prepared to give an honest answer.
“Um, Grand Secretary Gui...”
Gui Pei'an was getting into his explanation when a voice suddenly interrupted inappropriately: “Could you put it a little simpler?”
“...”
Looking at Wei Changtian's confused appearance, Gui Pei'an felt both annoyed and amused. In the end, he was too lazy to cast pearls before swine, so he shook his head and casually replied—
“In this old man's life, I only want to comprehend what these heavenly principles really are.”
“Understood.”
Nodding again, Wei Changtian shifted his gaze to Shen Ran, who seemed to be lost in thought.
“Young Master Shen, what about you?”
“Me?”
Shen Ran's expression turned serious, and he immediately said the “famous saying” that had once raised the entire Kui Xing Academy by an inch.
“To continue the lost learning of past sages, though there be ten thousand people, I shall go!”
“Well said, ambitious.”
Wei Changtian praised him very sincerely.
He had heard about the events in Da Li a few days ago, and he also knew that Shen Ran had said this sentence during the contest for the position of Holy Son at the Kui Xing Academy.
Although this sentence “To continue the lost learning of past sages” partially overlapped with the “ultimate answer” he was about to give, unlike his own act of “literary plagiarism,” Shen Ran's was a heartfelt sentiment.
And now that things had come to this point, he might as well just say all of the “Four Admonishments for Scholars” that were almost universally known in his previous life.
“Ahem, Your Majesty, Grand Secretary Gui, Young Master Shen.”
With his expression becoming slightly serious, Wei Changtian, having made up his mind, slowly stood up.
He took a few steps forward and stood in the center of the hall under everyone's gaze.
“You have each given your own answers just now. To summarize simply, they are actually three sentences.”
“Grand Secretary Gui said that he only wants to comprehend heavenly principles in his life, which is to establish the heart for Heaven and Earth.”
“Your Majesty only seeks to have the people under her rule live and work in peace and contentment, which is to establish destiny for the people.”
“Young Master Shen put it even more clearly, which is to continue the lost learning of past sages.”
“So, why must people live for the same thing, and why can't they each have their own pursuits?”
“In my opinion, these three sentences are actually all answers to that question.”
“...”
All three sentences are answers.
At first glance, Wei Changtian's words seemed to say nothing, at most just refining the answers of the three people just now.
But it was this “refinement,” and the final “each have their own pursuits,” that made everyone freeze at once.
Especially Gui Pei'an and Shen Ran, who were now lost in contemplation for a long time.
The candlelight flickered, and the hall suddenly became silent.
Until Gui Pei'an suddenly raised his head, looking at Wei Changtian with an extremely complex expression, and asked softly:
“Young Master Wei, is there not a fourth sentence?”
“There is.”
Nodding, Wei Changtian looked directly at Gui Pei'an, who seemed somewhat excited, and then six words, neither too loud nor too soft, rang out clearly in the hall.
“To establish peace for all generations.”
“...”
To establish the heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish destiny for the people.
To continue the lost learning of past sages, to establish peace for all generations.
When these four sentences, which had long been overused in various transmigration web novels of his previous life, became complete and continued to echo in everyone's minds, everyone unconsciously stood up abruptly, opening their mouths wide but unable to utter a word of exclamation.
Gui Pei'an's face suddenly turned flushed, and his spotless white robe also swayed slightly due to the trembling of his body.
He felt as if a bolt of lightning had flashed through his mind, splitting open the chaotic fog in an instant.
For Heaven and Earth, for the people, for past sages, for all generations.
The emotion brought about by such a spirit and ambition that could span thousands of years, past and present, was too magnificent, even making everyone suddenly feel a kind of insignificance that could only be experienced when watching the sea tide.
This was a kind of exhilarating yet indescribable shock.
A shock from another ancient civilization with a history of five thousand years.
