Chapter 118: The Sage’s Troubles

At that moment, Fang Jifan held half a watermelon. He gently scooped with a spoon, taking a piece of the seeded flesh into the spoon, and put it directly into his mouth!

A unique sweetness immediately spread across his taste buds. Although it was a cold day and there was no refreshing coolness to relieve the heat, it had a special flavor of its own. Especially in this era, during the long winter, very few fruits and vegetables could survive. The only edible ones were things like radishes shipped from Jiangnan via the Grand Canal, which were not easily perishable.

This long-lost sweetness made even someone like Fang Jifan, who had long tasted countless delicacies, feel unusually content. “Delightful, Your Highness. Your watermelon is grown very well.”

Zhu Houzhao stared fixedly at Fang Jifan, couldn’t help but drool, and eagerly picked up another half. He imitated Fang Jifan, scooped a spoonful into his mouth, swallowing the seeds along with it. Only after wiping his mouth did he speak: “Delightful. This Palace dares not take all the credit. We brothers grew it together. Good, very good. Old Fang’s contribution is first, This Palace’s is second.”

“Not at all, not at all, Your Highness is first.”

“What is there to argue about? This Palace says you are first, so you are first.”

The two looked at each other and laughed heartily, their spoons not stopping. In a short while, they had each finished their half of the watermelon.

Patting his belly, Fang Jifan let out a comfortable burp. What is the ultimate enjoyment? The ultimate enjoyment isn’t about eating all the delicacies under heaven, but about eating something that few others in this world can have. Just like this watermelon, who in the whole world could eat it at this time? Even though everyone had eaten it before, so what? This is the meaning of life. The meaning of life lies in seizing as many scarce items as possible. Right now, watermelon was scarce.

“Old Fang, should we cut another one?” Zhu Houzhao licked his lips, feeling unsatisfied. It seemed the previous conflicts and arguments had completely vanished. Tonight, he even felt that Fang Jifan was closer to him than before.

We two brothers have grown melons together.

Most importantly, these past few days, Fang Jifan had been too lazy to pay him any mind. He had been pitifully taking care of the watermelons alone, finding it somewhat dull. Only then did he realize that with Old Fang by his side, he felt much less lonely.

Fang Jifan’s face turned stern: “If we eat another one, we’ll just want to eat another after that. The rest are to be kept for selling. We need to build our reputation so we can make a fortune next year.”

“Oh.” Zhu Houzhao thought it made sense. “Right, we need to sell them. But how should we sell them?”

Fang Jifan then said: “Pick some to send into the Imperial Palace. Following Your Highness’s earlier intention, to offer them respectfully to the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Your Highness. As for His Majesty…”

“Don’t send!” Zhu Houzhao said without hesitation.

Fang Jifan said ‘Oh,’ and then said: “As for the others, we should sell them wherever there are many nobles.”

“Then, where are there many nobles?” Zhu Houzhao widened his eyes, looking like a curious child.

Fang Jifan looked completely bewildered. Damn it, you’re asking me? How would I know?

…

The sky was gradually getting dark.

Wang Hua, the Junior Supervisor of the Household of the House of the Crown Prince, had finished his duties for the day.

Returning home, he entered the main hall and had just sat down when he saw his son, Wang Shouren, enter with quick, short steps. Wang Shouren bowed and said: “Your child pays respects to Father.”

“Bo’an.” Wang Hua smiled, motioning with his hand. “Come, sit. How is your preparation for the Policy Essay of the Palace Examination going?”

The Palace Examination was still two months away, so there was no hurry. However, many Tribute Scholars who aimed to pass the imperial examination had already begun sharpening their tools. Wang Shouren was no exception.

Wang Shouren shook his head and said: “Today, your son was engaged in long contemplation.”

‘Kao’ meant thinking. Adding ‘long’ in front of it made Wang Hua bristle with anger. That meant you spent the whole day pondering nonsensical matters.

“Oh? Do you have something on your mind?” Regarding this son with his peculiar temper, Wang Hua felt a bit helpless but had to restrain his impatience.

Wang Shouren said with a solemn expression: “I heard that the Tribute Scholar Xu Jing jumped from a building.”

Wang Hua frowned. What does someone else jumping from a building have to do with you? You spent the whole day thinking about this?

Seeing his father’s unpleasant expression, Wang Shouren added: “It is said that it was because he sought to apprentice himself to Fang Jifan but was unable to, hence he committed such an irrational act. Fortunately, heaven protects the good; his injuries were not serious. And he finally got his wish, entering Fang Jifan’s school.”

Wang Hua couldn’t help but say: “Bo’an, the Palace Examination is what truly matters.”

“This is also a matter of the utmost importance.” Wang Shouren argued. “The Book of Rites – The Great Learning states: ‘Investigation of Things, Extension of Knowledge, Sincerity of Will, Rectification of the Mind, Cultivation of the Self, Regulation of the Family, Governance of the State, Pacification of the World.’ Master Zhu Xi said: ‘Things are the myriad phenomena. Ge means to come, to arrive. When things arrive, one’s mind is clearly discerning and does not react to external things; this is the Extension of Knowledge.’ Therefore, those who wish to make their will sincere, first extend their knowledge. The extension of knowledge lies in the Investigation of Things. When things are investigated, knowledge is extended. When knowledge is extended, the will becomes sincere.'”

“……” Usually at such times, Wang Hua would typically have a speechless expression, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

But Wang Shouren was very serious: “Master Zhu Xi’s words instruct us to understand the principles of the world through observation. It is said: ‘To exhaustively probe the principles of things, desiring to reach their ultimate point without omission.’ Regarding this person Fang Jifan, your son has one thing he doesn’t understand. Why are so many people apprenticing themselves to him? Why, despite his notorious reputation in the capital, are talented individuals like Ouyang Zhi, Tang Yin, and Xu Jing willingly following him and honoring him as their teacher? Your son has developed doubts in his heart, but no one can resolve this confusion for him. Therefore, your son thought of Fang Jifan. Perhaps… one can comprehend certain principles from him.”

Wang Hua was so angry he almost coughed up blood: “What is there to deeply investigate about this person? You, focus your mind on the proper path.”

Wang Shouren, however, seemed unconvinced: “Father once said that as long as your son passed the imperial examination, you would no longer restrict him.”

“……” Wang Hua was speechless. Back then, to make Wang Shouren study obediently and take the Imperial Examination, Wang Hua did indeed make such an agreement with Wang Shouren. But who would have thought…

He sighed and couldn’t help but murmur: “Ah… Your temper is truly strange, not half like your father’s. As for this person Fang Jifan, even I cannot see through him. To call him some pillar of the state, heh… But to say he is truly utterly wicked, I, having worked with him in the House of the Crown Prince, also feel that isn’t the case. Although this person often speaks harshly, your father feels his fundamental heart is not bad.”

“What your father worries about most is him leading the Crown Prince into mischief. But interestingly enough, just a few days ago, His Highness and Fang Jifan had a disagreement and have been ignoring each other since.”

Speaking of this, Wang Hua seemed somewhat gloating, stroking his beard with a slight smile at the corner of his mouth.

Wang Shouren couldn’t help but ask: “A disagreement? May I ask what they disagreed about?”

Wang Hua sighed, glanced at his strange son Wang Shouren, and still said: “The House of the Crown Prince is a place where things cannot be hidden. I only found out yesterday that the cause was actually related to Wang Shi, the Minister of Revenue of Nanjing, mobilizing troops in Guizhou to suppress a rebellion.”

Wang Shouren became curious: “Your son remembers now. A few days ago, it was mentioned in the Capital Gazette. Minister Wang memorialized his plan for suppressing the rebellion. Your son thought Minister Wang’s method of advancing gradually and consolidating at each step was quite appropriate. As long as he proceeds steadily, he is sure to leave the Rebel Army with no place to stand.”

Wang Shouren was no ordinary person; he had unique insights into military strategy. Since the time of Emperor Yingzong of Great Ming, when Emperor Yingzong was captured by the Oirats of Mongolia and the imperial court compensated and sued for peace, this event cast a huge shadow over the young Wang Shouren’s heart. He vowed from a young age to definitely master military strategy and serve the country loyally. By the age of fifteen, he had repeatedly submitted memorials to the Emperor, offering strategies to suppress peasant uprisings.

Of course, being merely a Xiucai, Wang Shouren’s memorials naturally sank like stones in the sea, without even a ghost of a response. After that, Wang Shouren simply traveled to Juyong Pass and Shanhai Pass, surveying the frontier regions extensively. From that time on, he already had the ambition to administer affairs everywhere.

Wang Hua looked at Wang Shouren: “What you said is correct. The Crown Prince thought the same.”

Wang Shouren looked surprised: “Is that so? I didn’t expect His Highness the Crown Prince to also be well-versed in military strategy.”

Wang Hua smiled and didn’t continue to dwell on the Crown Prince’s view: “But that Fang Jifan bragged shamelessly, saying that Wang Shi’s strategy would certainly meet setbacks, and the troops suppressing the rebellion would inevitably suffer heavy losses. His Highness the Crown Prince argued with him relentlessly, and in the end, they parted on bad terms.”

Wang Shouren frowned, lost in thought. After a long while, he said: “Your son believes Minister Wang’s plan has no issues; it is the most reliable battle tactic. It seems Fang Jifan is going to be mistaken this time.”

Having said that, he laughed. Wang Shouren was an extremely proud person. If he saw a strange person, he couldn’t help but want to study him. But once he found that person was just so-so, he inevitably lost interest. He laughed again and said: “Previously, Fang Jifan did many things that your son found interesting. But now it seems, he is just like that. Perhaps he really was just lucky before.”

Wang Hua nodded approvingly: “Now, you should focus your mind on the proper path, right?”

He hesitated for a moment, looked deeply at Wang Shouren, and said: “There is one more thing. It wasn’t appropriate to mention, but His Majesty has strictly forbidden anyone in the House of the Crown Prince from spreading this matter. This person Fang Jifan, with his wild talk and confusing statements, deluded His Highness the Crown Prince. He actually instigated the Crown Prince to grow watermelons with him in the House of the Crown Prince…”

“Grow watermelons…” Wang Shouren was stunned. “At this time of year, can watermelons be grown?”

Wang Hua looked at Wang Shouren with a faint, knowing smile and did not respond, as if to say, See, now you know what this Fang Jifan is all about. This person… is just a brain-damaged patient. You, being perfectly fine, not focusing your mind on the upcoming Palace Examination, but on such an absurd person… Ah…

Wang Shouren pondered briefly, a look of disappointment also seeming to appear on his face. He shook his head and said: “This Fang Jifan, it seems there is no need to ponder him in detail anymore. However… after your son traveled to Juyong Pass and Shanhai Pass, he has been quite concerned about border affairs. He wants to submit a memorial to the imperial court regarding the ‘Eight Matters of Frontier Defense in the Northwest.’ However, your son is merely a Tribute Scholar, his words carry little weight. Border defense matters involve the foundation of the state; they absolutely must not be neglected. Could Father please submit this memorial on your son’s behalf…”