"Emperor's presence is an expression of great importance to the officials, and no one would care about the details."
In addition to Cao Rui himself and the ministers accompanying the army on the expedition, all the ministers in Luoyang had already arrived. There was no reason to bow a second time.
Thus, all the space was left for the emperor, Wang Su, and a few others like Sima Yi and Xin Pi.
After the sacrifice, Cao Rui did not intend to conceal anything. He asked publicly, "Wang Qin, after the hundred days of mourning for Wang Simu, will Your Majesty order to annul the death?"
As soon as the emperor spoke, the crowd instantly fell silent, and all eyes turned to Wang Su.
Sima Yi had long been dissatisfied with the favor shown to Wang Lang and his son Wang Su.
At this time, Xin Pi was also staring at Wang Su's face with a furrowed brow, unlike Sima Yi.
No, you Wang Su are only thirty-something years old, what virtue or ability do you have to ask the emperor if he should annul your mourning?
Everyone is a Chancellor, what gives you the reason to have such good private relations with the emperor??
Just because you are the son of Wang Lang?
In fact, in Cao Rui's words just now, the choice of words was not accurate. Instead of using the word "duanqing," which means "to annul mourning," it should be "qifu," which means "to lift banishment."
The term "duanqing" refers to a political term that is the opposite of "dingyou," which is a state of mourning one's parents.
After the parents die, officials must resign and return home to mourn, which is called "dingyou." If they conceal this from their superiors and hide the parents' funeral, and if it is discovered, they will be severely punished.
However, if the court needs it and does not allow officials to engage in "dingyou," this is called "duanqing."
If the official has already begun serving a term of mourning, but the mourning period has not been completed and they are called out by the court to serve in office, this is called "qifu."
For Wang Su, using the term "qifu" is appropriate.
No matter whether the emperor's choice of words is accurate, the emphasis he is expressing on Wang Su is enough to make everyone else turn their eyes.
Wang Su's expression suddenly grew stern. He bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, since my childhood, I have been taught by my father and have devoted myself to learning Confucianism every day. Now that it is the period of mourning for my father, please allow me to serve the full three years of mourning."
Cao Rui glanced at Wang Su.
He did not show any courtesy to Wang Su, so he naturally did not think that Wang Su would show him any courtesy.
If Wang Su wants to be a loyal son in the eyes of worldly etiquette, then he can go ahead and do so.
Cao Rui nodded gently, "Three years? That would be twenty-seven months?"
"Three years of mourning, twenty-five months and it will be over." Wang Su answered: "I have investigated and found that twenty-seven months was a false statement made by Zheng Xuan, and twenty-five months is the correct principle."
Cao Rui had no objection. Whether it was twenty-five months or twenty-seven months, it was immaterial to the emperor who never cared about such details.
But Xin Pi, beside him, frowningly asked, "Ziyong, traditionally it has been twenty-seven months. I wonder where your argument differs from Master Zheng's by two months?"
Wang Su answered cleanly and simply: "The twenty-seven months mentioned by Zheng Xuan were based on the following: 'small auspiciousness after death, great auspiciousness after death, and middle month of the second year for sacrifices.'"
"After burial, the thirteenth month is called 'small auspiciousness,' and the twenty-fifth month is called 'great auspiciousness.' Zheng Xuan interpreted the word 'zhong' in 'zhong yue er dai' as 'jian', but I interpret 'zhong yue' as simply the middle of the month."
"In this case, it is two months short. It exactly matches the ritual in the book 'Questions on Three Years of Mourning,' which states that 'the mourning period of three years ends after twenty-five months.'"
Just as Xin Pi was about to continue asking questions, he was interrupted by Cao Rui's smiling interjection.
"After all, it's just a matter of ritual. Duke Sima is a great Confucian scholar, and Ziyong is also an erudite. If he can explain it clearly, there's no harm in following his explanation."
"Understood," Xin Pi replied with a calm expression.
Xin Pi's attempt to argue was to test the emperor's will. Since the emperor had already taken sides, there was no need to continue testing.
Serving the emperor, how could there be so many emotions and good or evil? It's just a posture made according to political needs.
It's about Wang Su's own father, and it has nothing to do with others.
However, Xin Pi was still pondering in his heart. The emperor was so indulgent to Wang Su, what did he want Wang Su to do? Let's see how the two of them will explain it.
After Wang Su thanked him, Cao Rui asked again: "Is there anything that Duke Sima wishes for? If I can do it, I will fulfill his wishes for him."
Taking this opportunity, Wang Su took out a book from his sleeve and presented it to the emperor with both hands:
"Your Majesty, when my father lived, he wrote a thirty-volume collection of essays, among which this 'Commentaries on the Yi Jing' is his most proud work."
"My father's wish is to spread this 'Commentaries on the Yi Jing' throughout the world. I beg Your Majesty for your fulfillment of his wish, and I am immensely grateful."
Cao Rui glanced at Wang Su and extended his right hand to take the 'Commentaries on the Yi Jing'. He opened the book and flipped through a few pages, looking at the profound content with a mix of understanding and confusion, then closed it and held it in his hand.
"I won't go into detail," Cao Rui said. "I am well aware of your father's learning and your father's knowledge. I will ask you, does this 'Commentaries on the Yi Jing' have any prophecies or omens?"
"It has none of them at all!" Wang Su answered seriously: "My father and I have never believed in these things! My father's lifetime's efforts are all in this 'Commentaries on the Yi Jing'."
Cao Rui nodded and turned to hand the book to Cao Zhi.
"Let the imperial uncle take a look for me. If there are no problems, send it to the Imperial Academy as a textbook."
"I will follow your order." Cao Zhi took the book with both hands and carefully placed it in his chest.
One holding it tightly, and the other placing it in one's bosom; this is how scholars treasure books.
Cao Rui slowly said, "Since Wang Qin is an expert in the Yi Jing, I have something I want Wang Qin to clarify for me."
"At the outskirts of Chenpo, I witnessed with my own eyes the common people sacrificing to the ghost of Dong Zhongshu and also saw the Shenglu Pan for immortality that Han Wu sought in Chang'an…"
Cao Rui recounted the events in detail and then said, "There are many customs and excesses in the people's folkways, and I wish to discard them all."
"The Han Dynasty has lasted for four hundred years, its cultural foundation is profound. I intend to preserve the good things of the Han Dynasty, while also showcasing the new prosperity of the Wei Dynasty."
"The late emperor didn't have the chance to do these things during Huangchu years. Now that I have returned from the expedition to Shu, it's time for me to fulfill the late emperor's unfinished wishes."
Sima Yi was listening to the emperor's words from behind, and couldn't help but roll his eyes in his mind. The late emperor was only thinking of defeating the Wu Kingdom, where did he even think of such a high-level matter?
Using the late emperor as an excuse, isn't that dead testimony?
Wang Su frowned and stood in place, pondering for a while.
Cao Rui was not in a hurry, and turned back to the tablet of Wang Lang, adding a few sticks of incense. After that, he walked around a few circles, looking through the hall door and casting a glance at the ministers outside, who were idly chatting without doing anything.
As he walked back to Wang Su's side, Wang Su finally understood what was going on, bowing his hands and saying, "Important matters for a country are either about war or about worship."
"The Wei Dynasty has received the command of heaven and taken over the governance of the world from the Han Dynasty, and the court's ritual ceremonies for worship should be different from those of the Han Dynasty."
Cao Rui asked out loud, "How should they be different?"
Wang Su answered, "In the Han Dynasty, sacrifices to the heavens were all for the 'six days', not for one day."
"The new air of the Wei Dynasty should correct its roots and origins, sacrificing to the correct 'one day' instead of 'six days'."
"Wait, I'm a bit confused," Cao Rui called a halt to Wang Su who was discussing Confucian theories. "What do you mean by this 'six days' and 'one day' you're talking about?"
Wang Su asked, "Your Majesty, may I ask, is there only one 'Tian', or are there six?"
Cao Rui frowned: "Your words are ridiculous, Wang Qin! Tian is Tian, it is naturally one; where is the reason for six?"
The people in the hall all started to look at Wang Su.
It was likely that the emperor's voice echoed loudly, so Huaxin, with his years of experience and wisdom, walked in spontaneously from outside the hall, walked to the side of the people.
Wang Su asked again: "May I ask Your Majesty, was the late emperor born from a human?"
Was Cao Pi born by a human?
Sima Yi frowned and stepped forward half a step, pointing at Wang Su and shouting loudly, "Wang Su! You dare not to speak imprudently in front of the emperor!"
"Wait." Cao Rui looked coldly at Sima Yi, raised his hand to stop him, and then turned to Wang Su and asked: "I don't think you would dare to go mad in front of the emperor."
"Stop beating around the bush, speak clearly, what exactly do you mean?"
Wang Su looked at Sima Yi with a glance, turned to face the emperor, and said, "Your Majesty, the late emperor was born from humans. Emperor Wu and the Empress Dowager were both human beings and not deities."
"Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty cut the white snake and rose to power, being hailed as the son of the Red Emperor."
"The Heavenly Mandate brought forth the sacred bird, and it was born to establish the Yin Dynasty."
"The Xia Dynasty was the offspring of the White Emperor, the Yin Dynasty the son of the Black Emperor, and the Zhou Dynasty the offspring of the Blue Emperor."
"The ancestors of the Xia, Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties were all born through divine inspiration."
As Wang Su spoke, Sima Yi also realized at once, retreated two steps back and remained silent.
The words just now were indeed too over-enthusiastic! Wang Su is a renowned Confucian scholar of his time. He should not have questioned Wang Su's views in front of the emperor on a whim.
Cao Rui seemed to have understood something, and directly looked at Wang Su, saying, "Continue, Wang Qin, I am listening."
Wang Su said, "There are five emperors of heaven - Azure, Red, Yellow, White, and Black. The ancestors of the rulers of all dynasties were born through divine inspiration between their mothers and the spirits of the five emperors."
"The emperor, as the son of heaven, is the descendant of one of the five emperors he is inspired by, known as the Senti Emperor."
"May I ask Your Majesty, among the five emperors, which one is the descendants of the Cao family?"
Cao Rui turned his back and said in a very familiar manner, "Emperor Wu once wrote the 'Family Memoir', claiming that the Cao family is the descendant of Cao Zun Duo. There are also those who say 'The Cao family originated from Chu'."
Wang Su asked again, "Or perhaps they are descendants of the Yellow Emperor, or of Zhufeng. The ancestors of the Cao family are also not verifiable. Your Majesty, which emperor do you wish to choose as the ancestor?"
Cao Rui sneered and said, "The so-called five emperors of heaven - Azure, Red, Yellow, White, and Black - are just the five vital energy forces. The Cao family gained the land and became the emperor. Why do they need to rely on such strange stories?"
"I thought this statement was quite amusing!"
Wang Su bowed and said, "Whether it be the Han rituals or Zheng Xuan's teachings, during the sacrifice to heaven, one's ancestors are also enshrined along with the divine emperor of inspiration. Therefore, the five emperors representing the five directions and their vital energies are also regarded as the emperor of heaven."
"Therefore, during the sacrifices of the Han Dynasty to heaven, Tian (Heaven) God, and the five emperors representing the five directions and their vital energies, a total of six days are observed. Zheng Xuan also explained this."
"To the east, the Blue Emperor Ling Wei Yang was accompanied by Taiwu for sacrifice; to the south, the Red Emperor Cha Meng Nu was accompanied by Ye Di; to the center, Huangdi E Hubei accompanied by Huangdi himself; to the west, the White Emperor Bai Zhao Ju was accompanied by Shao Wu; and to the north, Zhi Guang Ji was accompanied by Zhuang Xu."
"In my opinion, Zheng Xuan's theory of the six heavens is erroneous!"
"If Your Majesty does not wish to conform to such strange theories, or does not wish to regard the vital energy of the five directions as ancestors."
"Then the Wei Dynasty should not be the same as the Han Dynasty. It should worship 'one day' instead of 'six days', to restore a new dynasty's ceremonial etiquette!"
"Heaven is one entity; how can there be six?"
Wang Su bowed deeply and said, "Important matters for a country are either about war or about worship. Please Your Majesty to carefully consider what I have just said!"
Watching the emperor's thoughtful expression, Sima Yi shook his head and sighed lightly.
Zheng School is over! (The chapter is completed.)
