Chapter 53: Master of Pure Conversation

Zong Ce stretched out his arms to block between the servants and Wang Yang: "Don't do anything!"

He looked at Xie Xinghan: "Girl, what are you doing?"

Xie Xinghan's willow eyebrows were angry: "Ask him yourself!"

Zong Ce turned to Wang Yang: "What exactly did you do? Lecher... could it be that you???" He immediately cast an admiring look at Wang Yang.

What kind of look is that!!

Wang Yang didn't have time to complain and hurriedly explained:

"Nothing of the sort! Yesterday morning, Xie Niangzi asked about my family background, and I thought, I thought she wanted..."

"You still dare to say it!" Xie Xinghan's cheeks burned when she thought of that scene.

"I don't want to say it either, it was a misunderstanding!"

"Then what about 'traveling in the rivers and lakes carrying wine'? Could that also be a misunderstanding?!"

Xie Xinghan's eyes turned red. She was a clean and innocent girl, and because of this poem, she was spread and discussed by those lecherous disciples, and even became a popular song in brothels. It was too shameful!!!

Zong Ce was happy and asked Wang Yang: "I heard people singing this poem outside a while ago, so it was written by you? Is it the song or the lyrics? The lyrics are well written! The song is not good..."

"No... neither the lyrics nor the song were written by me! I don't understand poetry! Even less music!" Wang Yang hurriedly denied. At the same time, he was puzzled in his heart, how could this poem be sung outside? He hadn't told anyone else! Could it be that Yue Yue Xiao Pang told someone? That's not right, Yue Yue Xiao Pang didn't want to show others what he wrote before, how could he spread this poem?

Actually, even if it spread, it shouldn't be a big deal, right? The poem praises Xie An's achievements, and there are no taboo words... Could it be that Xie An's prostitution caused controversy? That's not right, this is the Six Dynasties era, "A New Account of Tales of the World" and official history both record this matter to show Xie An's style, so where is the problem?

Oh, that's right, she should be relatively observant of etiquette and belongs to the traditional school, so she doesn't like the style of famous scholars, feeling that others promoting the prostitution of their ancestors is a disgrace to the family name, so the flattery of the first line of the poem was a kick to the horse's hoof...

While Wang Yang was pondering, Xie Xinghan was already extremely angry: "Send this lecher to the Jiangling County Magistrate! I want to accuse him of the crime of insulting a lady and violating etiquette!"

Wang Yang's heart sank.

One was an extremely angry noble girl, and the other was a famous scholar who didn't think it was a big deal.

This matter didn't seem big, but if not handled well, there was a possibility of collapse.

Actually, he still had to represent the Commandery Academy to compete against the Wang Guan Academy. Even if Xie Xinghan looked at Liu Zhao's face, she shouldn't send him to the county magistrate for punishment.

Besides, just relying on the poem he wrote, plus the story he made up for Yue Yue Xiao Pang about the music family owing Xie An a favor, saying it was a crime was a bit too much, right?

But the problem was that he still had a big hidden danger. Now that the household registration hadn't been handled yet, if Xie Xinghan lost her mind and really sent him to the county magistrate, and then his identity was checked, the consequences...

No!

Must turn the situation around!

"I see, Xie Niangzi has always had hostility toward me, it turns out she mistakenly thought I was the author of this poem." Wang Yang looked like he suddenly realized.

"You still pretend?!" Xie Xinghan became angrier the more she thought about it.

"I have indeed heard this poem, but I don't know why Xie Niangzi is convinced that I wrote it. 'Traveling in the rivers and lakes carrying wine, the Chu waist is slender and light in the palm.' These two lines are actually written well... but they were definitely not written by me, I can swear to heaven." Wang Yang said extremely seriously.

These two lines were written by Du Mu, if you want to find someone, find Du Mu.

Here he played a word game. He only said these two lines were not written by him, but others heard it and naturally thought the whole poem had nothing to do with him.

Seeing Wang Yang's solemn appearance, Xie Xinghan was also suspicious. After all, she was convinced that Wang Yang was the person who stopped the carriage and shouted that day, she just felt the voice was similar, but had no real evidence. Xiao Ning also didn't see the person's face, and listening to the voice really couldn't be taken as accurate... Just as she was thinking about whether to call the four servants who accompanied her that day to identify the person, Wang Yang said:

"Alright, since Xie Niangzi doesn't believe me, let's go to the county magistrate to distinguish clearly, and it can also restore my innocence. Let's go."

Wang Yang put his hands behind his back and turned to walk out. He thought: Uncle Zong, why don't you come and pull me? If I go to the county magistrate, who will help you find a place!

Zong Ce saw that the pure conversation was about to fail, and hurriedly grabbed Wang Yang: "Brother Wang, don't be angry! That ghost place of the county magistrate, where is it for us to go?"

He turned to Xie Xinghan: "Xie girl, a small poem, it was originally just some gossip, only a fool would take it seriously! If it really makes a scene at the county magistrate, and it comes from your mansion, wouldn't the busybodies make more trouble?"

Xie Xinghan's pretty face was like ice, silent.

Wang Yang hurriedly offered a step: "Regardless of whether this poem was written by me, it's my fault for acting frivolously, otherwise why wouldn't Xie Niangzi think this poem was written by someone else? The so-called flies don't bite—"

Wang Yang was just criticizing himself, seeing Xie Xinghan's star-like eyes squint, he immediately changed his words: "It's still my own words and deeds that are wrong, I will apologize to Xie Niangzi."

He bowed deeply to Xie Xinghan.

Zong Ce smoothed things over: "Girl, it's actually all a misunderstanding, it's fine once it's said. I came here specifically to find you for pure conversation today, the weather is clear and the breeze is gentle, it's just right for a talk, why spend time on such small things?"

"I don't want to see this person, let him go out first." Xie Xinghan glared at Wang Yang and sat down again.

"How can that be? I can't talk to you, Brother Wang is the reinforcement I specifically invited, what should I do if he leaves?"

Xie Xinghan's exquisite chin lifted slightly, with a proud expression: "I don't talk to such lecherous people."

Zong Ce looked sideways: "You wouldn't be afraid of losing, would you!"

Xie Xinghan snorted coldly: "The radical method doesn't work on me."

Zong Ce whispered to Wang Yang: "Brother Wang, hurry up and help, as long as you win against her, I will definitely handle the household registration for you properly!"

Alright, in order to get a household registration, keep fighting!

Wang Yang thought for a moment and said: "Forget it, let's go, I just offended her, I feel bad in my heart, and I won against her once before, maybe it was because of that time that she hated me, if I win again, wouldn't it be bullying?"

The voice seemed low, but the volume was not small.

Xie Xinghan couldn't bear it anymore and said angrily: "You are talking nonsense! When did you win against me?"

"'Book of Documents: Yu Tribute', the debate on the Three Rivers, didn't you lose and admit defeat? And said: 'Young Master's knowledge is brilliant, the little girl admires you'."

Wang Yang pinched his throat and imitated Xie Xinghan's tone.

Too cheap!!!

Xie Xinghan discovered for the first time that she wanted to beat someone so much, beat him violently!!!

Xiao Ning was also angry. Her lady was noble and talented, when did anyone dare to be so rude to her?

Xie Xinghan pressed her hands on the brocade mat: "That was Confucian classics!! If it were pure conversation, you wouldn't be able to go through three rounds under my hands!!"

Pure conversation was a characteristic activity among scholar-officials during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, referring to academic debates mainly based on the Three Mysteries and extending to other metaphysical philosophies, also known as "Xuan Tan."

"Round" is a term in pure conversation, one asks a question, one answers, which is "one round." Generally, if pure conversation encounters a strong enemy, there are even those who debate from morning to night or even to a hundred rounds. Xie Xinghan said she could take down Wang Yang in three rounds, which was simply not putting Wang Yang in her eyes.

Xie Xinghan's family had been masters of pure conversation for generations. She was influenced by it and had been immersed in this way since she was a child.

Back then, the great talented woman Xie Daoyun of the Eastern Jin dynasty was famous for her pure conversation, making many famous scholars feel inferior. Xie Xinghan was known as "Little Xie Daoyun," so her pure conversation power could be imagined.

And in Xie Xinghan's eyes, Wang Yang was a typical Confucian disciple.

Although there were many people in the world who were both Confucian and Xuan, like Wang Yang, who could completely convince Liu Zhao in the field of "Book of Documents" at such a young age, his diligence and focus could be imagined.

The so-called specialization in surgery, since it is "specialized," it is not easy to be "broad." Like Wang Rong, a genius who is both broad and specialized, how many can there be in the world? That is the first talented scholar of this dynasty!

So although Xie Xinghan was very convinced by Wang Yang's "Book of Documents" skills, when it came to pure conversation, she didn't put him in her eyes.

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Note: Many people have misunderstandings about pure conversation, thinking that pure conversation only talks about the Three Mysteries. In fact, it is not. The scope of pure conversation is very broad. Although it is mainly based on the Three Mysteries, it also extends to Buddhism and other cosmic life philosophies, and even includes character reviews. For those interested in this point, please refer to Tang Changru's "Pure Conversation and Pure Discussion" and Tang Yiming's "Wei Jin Pure Conversation." ===== CHAPTER 54 =====