After passing through several long corridors and steps. Walking through several large gardens, several large ponds, and more than ten round-doored and walled entrances, following behind the old chief steward, Hong Yi spent the time of a meal before arriving at the main residence in the center of the Marquis of Wu Wen's residence. The saying "Once entering the noble's residence, it's as deep as the sea" has been best verified in the residence of the Marquis of Wu Wen. Even for Hong Yi, after this random wandering, if it weren't for the old chief steward leading the way, he would surely get lost and not know his directions. Of course, this was because he had long lived in a corner and hadn't moved around in the residence. With his status, he couldn't walk around too much in the residence. In his memory, only when he was a child did he come to the main residence with his mother. In this residence of the Marquis, where human feelings were as cold as swords and frost, it wasn't his home. "Why can't my heart be calm?" Before arriving at the main residence, Hong Yi suddenly felt a little nervous and uneasy. He knew that it was because the majesty of his father, the Marquis of Wu Wen, was too heavy. This sudden summons, he didn't know what was going to be said. "A scholar should calm his mind and not change his expression even when a mountain collapses in front of him." Hong Yi thought in his heart, calming his nervous thoughts, and followed the old chief steward into the main residence. The main residence of the Marquis' residence was built magnificently and mightily. The ground was paved with large slabs of Artemisia stone, smooth as a mirror and hard as iron. In the main hall of the main residence, there was a row of large, simple and ancient redwood chairs. In the center was a huge character. The font was upright and proper, giving a sense of compelling people to be well-behaved and orderly. It was the character "Ritual". Under the character "Ritual" was a large rosewood tribute table that was large enough for four or five people to lie down on. There were many items placed on the tribute table, all covered with bright yellow satin. Apparently, they were items bestowed by the emperor and were all offered with incense. On the large chair on the left of the tribute table sat a person in splendid and luxurious clothes, wearing a purple-gold crown. This person had slightly gray temples, and his hands were placed on the armrests of the large chair, as white as jade and spotless, giving people a feeling of grasping infinite power. Wherever this person sat, there was an awe-inspiring majesty that made people unable to look directly and could only obediently lower their heads. He was the true master of the entire Marquis of Wu Wen's residence, the Marquis of Wu Wen, Hong Xuanji, the pillar of the state in the court, and the martial sage of the Great Qian Dynasty. "Hong Yi, stand on the right. I have something to say to you." Seeing the old chief steward bring Hong Yi in, the Marquis of Wu Wen pointed with his hand. Hong Yi responded and walked to the right of the hall and stood still, saying loudly, "Father, what instructions do you have?" "Hmm?" Just as Hong Yi was speaking, the old chief steward, who had retreated to the corner of the door, looked puzzled for a moment. It seemed that he was a little surprised by Hong Yi's composure. Even the eldest son of the Marquis' residence who was already married, in front of Hong Xuanji, all trembled and didn't dare to breathe loudly. "I heard that you replied to Princess Yongchun with a line of cursive script? Why not use regular script? Flaunting your literary talent and poetic ability? Instead of reading the righteous doctrines and principles, you do these deviant things?" The Marquis of Wu Wen said lightly, his tone was cold, making people shiver involuntarily. Even though Hong Yi firmly held in his heart the principle that a scholar should not change his expression even when a mountain collapses in front of him, he still felt a chill on his back and broke out in a cold sweat. "Hmm?" Seeing that Hong Yi didn't answer him, the Marquis of Wu Wen gave a cold "hmm". As soon as this cold "hmm" came out, the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop significantly. Hong Yi felt his calf muscles go weak and almost collapsed. If it weren't for the fact that he had practiced the Bull Demon's Mighty Fist and his body was stronger, this moment of the Marquis' majesty, he felt that he might very well have collapsed. "Father is right. I won't dare in the future." Hong Yi lowered his head. He knew that in front of Hong Xuanji, there was no chance to refute. Even if your reasoning was correct, you still had to submit. The Marquis of Wu Wen emphasized rules the most. Hong Yi knew that if he were to refute, it wouldn't be strange to be either having his legs broken for a minor offense or being beaten to death by family rules for a major one. This rule applied not only to him but also to the eldest son of the legitimate wife. The strict and rule-abiding governance of the Marquis of Wu Wen's residence was renowned throughout the entire court and was also appreciated by some scholar-officials. "Hmm." The Marquis of Wu Wen gave another "hmm", but this time it wasn't cold. His tone eased somewhat, and Hong Yi immediately felt that the temperature in the entire hall rose a little and his calf muscles stopped cramping. "You violated the family rules in this matter. Originally, you were supposed to be beaten with twenty sticks, but you have a scholarly title and the imperial examination for the provincial level is coming up in the spring after the new year. You are going to participate, so I'll let you off for now. If you pass the examination and become a provincial scholar, this matter will be written off. If you fail, the family rules will still be implemented." The Marquis of Wu Wen said with no expression on his face. "Yes, Father." Hong Yi lowered his head again. "Although poetry is not formal righteousness, it can still show one's agility in literary thinking. Your poem was quite decent." The Marquis of Wu Wen said again, "You are already fifteen this year. According to the laws of our Great Qian Dynasty, you have reached adulthood. What are your plans?" "Father, I want to learn archery and horseback riding skills. I hope Father will成全 me." Seeing that the atmosphere was a little more relaxed, Hong Yi boldly presented his plan. Archery and horseback riding skills were beyond Hong Yi's affordability. Although he had ten red gold coins, he couldn't afford a good horse or a good bow. Not to mention, to keep a horse, one needed a groom to take care of it. Hong Yi couldn't possibly take care of it himself. One was the issue of status. It wouldn't sound good if a scholar were to act as a groom. The second was that taking care of a horse was hard work. One needed to get up at night to feed it, and there were many particulars. It was too time-consuming and energy-consuming. "You haven't mastered the righteous doctrines yet. What are you learning archery and horseback riding skills for!" Upon hearing this, the Marquis of Wu Wen slightly frowned. It seemed that he strongly disagreed with Hong Yi's desire to learn archery and horseback riding skills and flatly refused, "First master the righteous doctrines. If you haven't mastered them and learn martial skills, you'll just be a rash fellow. Don't mention this matter again. Do you understand?" "Yes." Hong Yi still didn't refute. "Alright, you may go. Chief Steward Wu, take him to the accounting room to withdraw one hundred taels of silver for him to prepare for the imperial examination." After saying this, the Marquis of Wu Wen waved his hand, "Go." …………………………………………………………………………………………………… "Why won't you let me learn martial arts? Could it be that you're afraid that after I pass the imperial examination for the provincial level and enter the military, gain military achievements, and possibly be awarded a title? My mother might be granted a title, disrupting the rules of the Marquis' residence." Walking on the way back to his own courtyard, Hong Yi closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. If he were to pass the imperial examination for the provincial level, enter the military, gain military achievements, and be awarded a title, and his mother were to be granted a title, then his mother's memorial tablet would immediately be placed side by side with "Lady Ci'an". Even his father would have to offer incense during every family sacrifice. This would be too much of a disruption to the rules of the Marquis' residence. It would be a complete upheaval. This was something that the rule-abiding Marquis of Wu Wen couldn't tolerate. Hong Yi guessed in his heart that this was the fundamental reason why his father opposed his learning of martial arts. Although Hong Yi himself was only a scholar and was still a long way from passing the imperial examination for the provincial level and achieving military achievements, he was very confident of achieving it. "I must do it myself, fight for my mother to be granted a title and let the entire Marquis' residence have a look!" Hong Yi clenched his fist and secretly said. "But then again, Zi Yue is also a martial sage and even a ghost immortal. But when facing him, why didn't I feel such great pressure? Could it be because of the accumulated majesty? Sure enough, without strength and confidence, these principles of scholars remaining calm when a mountain collapses in front of them are somewhat insubstantial!" When facing the majesty of his father, Hong Yi finally understood that without strength, the composure and righteousness of scholars were somewhat insubstantial. "If I were a martial sage, I would definitely dare to argue based on reason in front of my father. What is the greatest in the world? It's reason. Even father and son can argue based on reason! Even monarch and subject can argue based on reason!" "If the monarch has major faults, scholars should advise. If the monarch repeatedly refuses to listen, then he should be replaced! Father's reasoning of submission has deviated from the original meaning of scholars. However, how can I argue about these principles?" Hong Yi thought in his heart. If the emperor has major faults, scholars should advise. If the emperor repeatedly refuses to listen and insists on his own way, then you should abdicate! This is the principle of scholars! Unfortunately, without strength, these principles cannot be upheld. Thinking and thinking, Hong Yi walked back to his own small courtyard, closed the door, and thought quietly. Looking at the table, he suddenly felt a little regretful about the burned "Martial Arts Classic". Hong Yi's gaze involuntarily turned to the brazier where the Martial Arts Classic was burned. "Hey? What's that!" It was better not to look. As soon as he looked, he discovered the dark golden scripture in the ashes of the brazier. Hong Yi walked over and picked up this scripture with the fire tongs. He discovered that this scripture was like a silk scroll. When lifted, it was a large piece! Extremely thin, it was densely covered with characters. In the middle was a golden Buddha statue, sitting in the void, surrounded by countless suns, moons, and stars rotating around it. This scripture was made of some unknown material and couldn't be burned by fire. Hong Yi saw the name of the scripture as soon as he looked.

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