Why did Wang Anshi, the prime minister of the Northern Song Dynasty, still propose a kiss to Su Xun, knowing that Su Xun did not serve as an official and a half-post in the imperial court?
In feudal society, being able to marry such a prominent and high-ranking official family as the prime minister of the imperial court is something that many people dream of, and they will enjoy endless glory and wealth for a lifetime.
Who is this Su Xiaomei? Not only did he not fancy the son of the prime minister, but he also thought that this person would be floating in the pen, and I am afraid that it would be difficult to live long. You know, Wang Yun, the son of Prime Minister Wang Anshi, is young and intelligent, a twenty-three-year-old high school scholar, and Wang Anli and others are called the "Three Kings of Linchuan".
All this has to start with Su Xun.
Su Xiaomei has no teacher and is not inferior to Su Shi
Su Xun, although he has not been an official in his life, but he is quite talented, often socializes with the literati Yashi, has two sons and a daughter, and both sons are officials in the imperial court, that is, the famous Su Shi and Su Zhi, and the youngest daughter is Su Xiaomei.
For the little girl Su Xiaomei, Su Xun did not force her to learn female red and let her like. The patriarchal ideology in feudal society could not be completely avoided in the Su Xun family.
Su Xun valued the education of his two sons Su Shi and Su Zhi, because these two children were originally gifted and much better than their peers, and they did not pay much attention to the little girl.
When Su Xiaomei was ten years old, she subverted Su Xun's cognition.
The plants in the courtyard of the Su family's mansion bloomed, snow-white and crystal clear, filled with a burst of fragrance. Su Xun came out of the study, saw this scene, couldn't help but be interested, took out the pen and ink, and wrote freely:
Tianqiao Linglong Yuyi Qiu,
The eyes are always quiet.
White clouds are suspiciously coming out between the branches,
The bright moon should stay from here.
As soon as the first half was written, the family ran in and told Su Xun that there were guests coming to visit, and Su Xun was afraid of delaying the guests, so he put down his pen and ink and walked into the guest room to meet the guests.
Su Xiaomei played from Su Xun's study to the yard, and saw the verse written by her father, oh, isn't this writing about the flowers in the yard? Su Xiaomei thought about it, then picked up the pen and ink and wrote down:
The flaps fold the butterfly wings,
The group is surrounded by a crystal ball.
Fake Rao borrowed fragrant wind to send,
He Xian plum blossom in Longtou.
After writing, Su Xiaomei looked at it for a while, quietly put down the pen, and jumped into the study to play.
After a cup of tea, Su Xun came back, ready to enter the study, suddenly remembered that the poem was only half written, so he turned back to the courtyard and continued to write accurately. Su Xun couldn't help but be taken aback when he saw it, because someone had already written the second half.
Although the handwriting is crooked and oblique, full of childishness, the content is neat, and the words are beautiful, which is a good poem, could it be that Su Xiaomei did it?
After Su Xun finally determined that it was written by Su Xiaomei, she was impressed by Su Xiaomei, and she really had no teacher. Su Xun began to personally guide Su Xiaomei to read books and write poetry.
Su Xiaomei is particularly intelligent, and she never forgets when she reads books, and she is no less than Su Shi and Su Zhi, so that Su Xun often can't help sighing, how good it would be if Su Xiaomei was a boy, scientific examinations and officials. At that time, women were hardly allowed to serve as officials in the imperial court or participate in scientific expeditions.
The topic changed, how did Su Xun know Wang Anshi? After all, as mentioned earlier, Su Xun has not been an official in his life.
During the Northern Song Dynasty, the literary atmosphere was very strong, and many great literary heroes emerged, the most typical of which was the eight masters of the Tang and Song dynasties, including Ouyang Xiu, Wang Anshi, Sansu and so on.
Ouyang Xiu and Su Xun cherished each other, often talking about literature, history, and politics together, and often had the same opinions. Once, Ouyang Xiu held a family banquet at home and invited many celebrities, including Wang Anshi.
After three rounds of drinking, Ouyang Xiu introduced Wang Anshi to Su Xun, although the two were famous, but in addition to being polite to each other on the surface, in fact, the two disliked each other.
Although Wang Anshi is an official in the imperial court, he is not slender, giving people a very sloppy feeling, others raise a glass to drink, but Wang Anshi does not drip wine, there is a feeling of unkindness. And Su Xun is a tall and clean person, naturally he is not close to Wang Anshi who is not well dressed, and naturally scoffs.
Su Xun is personable and talks well, but he has never obtained an official and a half-job, and in Wang Anshi's eyes, he can't even pass the first place in the imperial examination, which is in vain and has no real material.
Later, Wang Anshi became the prime minister, and Su Xun thought that his two sons were officials in the imperial court, but he still couldn't affect the children's career because of himself, although he didn't want to, he still forced a smile to deal with Wang Anshi.
And Su Shi and Su Zhi are becoming more and more famous, and Wang Anshi wants to win them over and reduce enemies, so Wang Anshi often talks to Su Xun about heaven and earth.
The years flies, Su Xiaomei is sixteen years old in a blink of an eye, and it is also the age to talk about marriage, Su Xun asked Su Xiaomei's request, Su Xiaomei is not vague at all, bluntly said that her talent can be comparable to her two brothers, and she has to choose by herself. Su Xun has always respected his children's own ideas, so he followed his wishes.
At this time, Su Shi came back from outside and happily told Su Xiaomei that she had won the Buddha Seal.
It turned out that Su Shi liked to talk about scriptures and Buddha, and had some Buddhist friends. Once Su Shi meditated with the Buddha seal in the bamboo forest, and the Buddha seal said to Su Shi, "Respect the monarch and sit like the Buddha." Su Shi saw the golden robe of the Buddha seal dragged to the ground, and couldn't help but say that the above state was better than cow dung. Buddha Yin smiled slightly and did not answer.
Su Xiaomei listened and told Su Shi that it was actually her brother who lost. Because the Buddhist scriptures know that what is in the heart is true in the eyes. It means that what is in the heart, then what is seen, the Buddha seal is filled with the Buddha, so what you see feels like the Buddha, and brother, what about you? What is installed in the heart, it will naturally feel like something when you see it.
Su Shi listened to Su Xiaomei's words, and her face turned red with shame.
And Su Xiaomei is not only talented, but also can predict the future of a person by reading this person's articles.
Su Xiaomei broke the article and knew about life, and missed the rich marriage because of her ugly appearance
As the saying goes, drinking alcohol makes men open their hearts the most, and drinking and bragging shows the nature of men.
Because of drinking and bragging, Su Xiaomei was almost involved in a marriage by Su Xun.
Once, Wang Anshi invited Su Xun to drink and chat, because the spring breeze was proud that Wang Anshi drank a few more cups and began to brag. Wang Anshi said, my son Wang Yun can be memorized by heart as long as he reads a book.
Su Xun drank a little floating, as if it was not the prime minister who drank with him, but an old drinking friend for many years, so he raised his tongue and said casually: "Whose son has to read twice when he reads?" Wang Anshi suddenly remembered Su Xun's son Su Shi and Su Zhi, only to know that he had said the wrong thing, but unexpectedly, Su Xun himself added, "Don't say my son, my little daughter Su Xiaomei can also remember it by reading a book just once." ”
Wang Anshi rolled his eyes, and it was also rumored that Su Xun's little daughter was talented, thinking that his only son Wang Yun happened to be named on the gold list, and he had not yet decided on a relative, just right, he had an idea in his heart.
Wang Anshi took the words and sighed, "It's true, the spiritual energy of Meishan has reached your Su family." Su Xun then realized that he had missed his mouth, and hurriedly took his leave with the strength of alcohol, worried that he would say the wrong thing after drinking, Wang Anshi got up and persuaded, "My little child is not talented, just have a good homework, please advise." So he arranged for someone to bring Wang Yun's article to Su Xun.
Su Xun returned home worried, remembered Wang Anshi's confession, and quickly unfolded the article and read it carefully, only to find that this was an article with beautiful writing and active thinking, which was a good article, and he liked it a little. Early the next morning, he summoned Su Xiaomei and asked Su Xiaomei to help him review this article, and at the same time test whether Su Xiaomei could see this Wang Yun's literary brilliance.
About a pillar of incense, Su Xiaomei's review of the article was handed over to Su Xun, and she commented:
Ambilight is its strength;
The next pen floats, which is its short;
It is more than enough to take a name, but it is difficult to live long.
Su Xun was shocked when he saw it, this comment must not be seen by Wang Anshi, otherwise it will be a big trouble, quickly write a few words of praise by himself, and cut Su Xiaomei's comment. After a while, Wang Anshi sent someone to pick up the article and asked Su Xun to go with him.
Wang Anshi was very happy when he saw the criticism, so he asked Su Xun, can Ling Nu have a marriage match? Can it be a good marriage for Qin Jin? Su Xun knew from Su Xiaomei's comments that Su Xiaomei did not fancy Wang Anshi's son at all, so she said to Wang Anshi that the little girl was sixteen years old, just because her appearance was really ugly, so far the matchmaker did not dare to come to the door, and after she was really not worthy of the prime minister, she was afraid to insult her ancestors and ancestors, which was really ashamed.
Wang Anshi knew that Su Xun was a straight person, and he was a little suspicious of Su Xiaomei's ugly appearance, so he arranged for someone to inquire quietly.
A few days later, the next person came back to report that although Su Xiaomei was talented, she was indeed ugly, with high cheekbones and deep eye sockets. Wang Anshi listened, and no longer had the idea of letting Wang Yun marry Su Xiaomei.
At that time, unmarried women could not go out and show their faces, so how did people know that Su Xiaomei was ugly?
This is exactly what happens without a book.
It turned out that on that day, the next person ran outside Su Xun's yard, and heard Su Shi and Su Xiaomei playing and playing, and quickly lay on the wall to eavesdrop.
Su Shi laughed at Su Xiaomei's high cheekbones and deep eye sockets, so she chanted a poem on the spot:
There were no three or five steps before the trial,
The forehead goes to the painting hall first.
Several times to wipe the tears deeply,
Stay with two springs.
Su Xiaomei did not dare to show weakness, so she made fun of her brother Su Shi for not combing her hair and not brushing her beard, and exported it into a poem:
Two pockets of mourning grass come out between the lips,
Beard hair and sideburns are not.
Lips and teeth have not been found several times,
Suddenly, weeds came out.
Since then, Su Xiaomei's outstanding literary style has been widely spread, causing countless talents to come to pursue; At the same time, the news of Su Xiaomei's ugly appearance was also spread, but there were still some people who were half-convinced, after all, hearing is seeing is believing.
In the face of Su Xiaomei's many suitors, Su Xun asked the suitors to write an article first, as long as the article was shown to Su Xiaomei, Su Xiaomei would have a chance.
Whose article finally got into Su Xiaomei's eyes?
Who finally made Su Xiaomei's generation of talented women moved?
Su Xiaomei found true love, and the person in the three tests finally became a dependent
Finally, there was an article that made Su Xiaomei's eyes light up, and the author of the article was Qin Guan Qin Shaoyou, Su Shi's old friend.
Qin Guan's article was deeply loved by Su Xiaomei, who believed that Qin Guan's talent was comparable to her two older brothers.
"If it weren't for Er Su's life, this text would be radiant." This is Su Xiaomei's evaluation of Qin Guan's article.
It is said that good men do not value women's appearance at all, but value talent and connotation.
That's self-deception.
Qin Guan was no exception.
Qin Guan had never seen Su Xiaomei, and decided to find out the truth before proposing, is Su Xiaomei as ugly as rumors outside?
When the opportunity came, Qin Guan finally found out that on the fifth day of March, Su Xiaomei was going to the temple to worship early in the morning, and there were regulations at that time, and the worship of the temple by large families needed to avoid the world, only in the morning or evening. So, Qin Guan disguised himself as a Yunyou Taoist priest and arrived at the temple very early.
When Su Xiaomei came down from the palanquin, Qin saw Su Xiaomei's facial features, not at all the ugly facial features that were rumored outside, although it was not a heavenly appearance, but it was also a small family jasper, slender and gentle, like a lotus out of the water and not a demon.
Qin Guan couldn't help but pretend that the Taoist priest was talking to Su Xiaomei, Su Xiaomei was quick-witted, and the tricky questions raised by the Taoist priest were all solved.
Qin Guan was full of joy at this time, and his heart was steady, and he hurriedly went to Su Xun to propose a kiss, Su Xun naturally agreed with his mouth, but Su Xiaomei proposed to ask for the title of the gold list before he could talk about marriage.
This made Qin Guan very embarrassed, as if he had been poked in a scar, it turned out that Qin Guan's two scientific expeditions were named Sun Shan, and he had long been discouraged.
However, the power of love is endless. Qin Guan decided to take the scientific examination again, and finally got the Jin Shi exam, ready to marry Su Xiaomei.
Just when Qin Guan was about to enter the newlywed cave room, he found that the door was locked from the inside, and there was a table outside the door, and there were three pots on the table, each pot was placed in front of a lamp, a bag was placed in front of each lamp, and a little maid stood next to it.
Qin Guan hurriedly asked the maid what was going on?
It turned out that Su Xiaomei specially set up three questions, answered three questions correctly, and the young lady would come out and personally drink three glasses of wine into the cave room; Answer two questions correctly, drink a cup of tea, stand until the second half of the night, and come back tomorrow; Answer a question correctly and go back to study for three months.
Qin Guan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that there was no problem with this, and he answered. The maid took out the first question, Qin watched it, and couldn't help but get embarrassed.
There are no impermeable walls.
It turned out that the matter of Qin Guan dressing up as a Yunyou Taoist priest in the temple had long reached Su Xiaomei's ears, in fact, Su Xiaomei also guessed that it was Qin Guan on the spot and decided to punish Qin Guan well.
Who knew that Qin Guan thought a little and wrote a Tibetan poem, very sincerely apologized to Su Xiaomei, probably meaning that I shouldn't be so anxious to pretend to be a Taoist priest to see you, how offensive to ask for forgiveness, it is all a fated marriage, there is no need to rush for a moment.
In this way, the two questions were successfully completed, and the last question was completed, and the last question was linked.
Closed doors and windows before the month
At first, Qin Guan felt simple at first glance, but felt that he did not reach the artistic conception of the upper link, walking back and forth while thinking, unconsciously it was almost midnight, Qin Guan still did not come up with a suitable lower link, at this time, he saw another person walking out.
This person is his friend Su Shi.
It turned out that Su Shi learned that his sister was making it difficult for Qin Guan, and wanted to find out, and found that Qin Guan had words in his mouth, and his hand had imitated the work of opening doors and pushing windows, and he knew that this was in the next link, and wanted to remind Qin Guan, and he was worried that Su Xiaomei knew that it was cheating, but it was a bad thing, and he was also worried that Qin Guan's face would not pass, watching the time pass little by little, Su Shi was anxious, picked up a stone and threw it into the pool with a "bang", and the splash of water shook the moon's shadow violently.
Qin Guan saw it, suddenly realized, and quickly picked up the pen and wrote the following link:
Throw stones to break through the underwater sky
At this time, Su Xiaomei came out, personally poured three glasses of wine, drank it all with Qin Guan, held Qin Guan in her hand and entered the cave room, and when she was about to step over the threshold, Su Xiaomei groaned:
Little sister is small
Small hands, small feet, small mouth
Small but not stingy
You have to be careful
Qin Guan paused for a moment and said:
Travel less young
Young family, few rooms, few wives
Rare and rare
May I marry a girl
It turned out that Su Shi secretly helped Qin Guan, Su Xiaomei didn't know, this was the last additional question, and finally Qin Guan and Su Xiaomei became a good union for a hundred years.
Wang Anshi's son Wang Yun died young within a few years, whether this is the Mandate of Heaven or Su Xiaomei's divine prediction coincidence, it is unknown.
But Su Xiaomei is indeed a talented woman who is no less talented than Su Shi, but little known, not moved by wealth, only for affection, to find her own happiness, in that feudal society where men are inferior to women, fortunately, Su Xiaomei's life is her own decision.
Resources:
Feng Menglong's "Awakening Hengyan" Volume 11: Su Xiaomei's Three Dilemma Bridegroom
CCTV: "Tang and Song Eight People: The Story that Su Xun and Wang Anshi Have to Tell" August 5, 2016
Li Yu's "Meishan Show" Volume II, Volume 2, Twenty-Eighth