Chapter 2385 - 2106: It’s Always Been Like This

"It’s quite rare." Dressed in a lotus-green brocade robe with a pure white crane cloak over it, Cai Yan looked at Chen Xi with great interest. "So, do you need me to add some historical references or correct classic books for you again? Or do you have some confused ideas that you need me to revise?"

"It’s not that." Chen Xi said awkwardly, then added an explanation, "You make it sound like I always ask you to do this."

"In my impression, that’s indeed the case." Cai Yan pretended to ponder, then confidently spoke. Chen Xi knelt on the spot, not knowing how to respond. Instead, Cai Yan chuckled softly, "Alright, just say what you want. There’s no need for this formality."

Chen Xi felt slightly awkward, but quickly adjusted. "It’s like this, something happened with Ji Xiang, which you might have guessed, so she won’t be able to appear in public for a while. Besides, with Zijing’s temperament, Ji Xiang will settle down soon."

"Yes, regarding this matter, I had some suspicions when I read the content in the book." Cai Yan nodded, "So, you want me to take care of this mess? To teach the part of the School of Mind about Unity of Knowledge and Action and take over Ji Xiang’s school?"

"That’s right." Chen Xi nodded, "Ji Xiang has been taken away by Zijing. Furthermore, from what I understand, she wasn’t particularly interested in teaching many students. She truly teaches only Zhang Chunhua and isn’t committed to the others. But those students also never intended to be diligent in learning from Ji Xiang, while you are different."

Zhang Chunhua had been met by Chen Xi several times, a little loli not much older than Xin Xianying. The two of them got along well, completely not showing the ruthless nature described in history books. She was just a rather smart little loli, quite likable.

However, Ji Xiang seemed to like Zhang Chunhua very much, so she taught some things. Restricted by an earlier agreement, she kept to teaching proper content of the School of Mind without doing anything inappropriate.

Speaking of the School of Mind’s extension from the Si Meng School’s Unity of Knowledge and Action, it’s indeed very powerful. At least, most current Confucian schools of thought find it hard to challenge the School of Mind’s intentions.

As for Xin Xianying, although said to be Chen Xi’s disciple, she was actually always under Cai Yan’s guidance. But recently, since Second Miss had children, Cai Yan started learning childcare, keeping herself busy. Thus, she didn’t have much time for Xin Xianying, leaving her to self-study.

Similarly, Zhang Chunhua had a similar situation. Though Ji Xiang liked Zhang Chunhua, she recently got married and had been indulging in festivities. Even Lub Su wasn’t working overtime anymore, so naturally, Ji Xiang had little time for Zhang Chunhua.

In this situation, the two lolis found common ground, being of similar ages, they could play together relatively well. Gradually, they became quite familiar with each other, thus Chen Xi often got to see Zhang Chunhua.

"Why look for me?" Cai Yan frowned, slightly sulking. Recently, childcare had made her a bit edgy, but she was happy to see her nephew changing every three days, so she contentedly cared for him.

"Ah, if not you, then who? There’s no one reliable left. Right now, only you have the experience and ability." Chen Xi explained helplessly, feeling that today Cai Yan was somewhat out of it.

"I have to care for my nephew." Cai Yan said wearily. Recently, she hadn’t been getting much rest because Yangg Hu was difficult to manage. "Actually, you can find someone else."

"There’s no one else." Chen Xi said speechlessly, "If I could find someone, I wouldn’t have bothered you."

"Although I’d like to help, it’s really not possible now. I have to look after my sister and nephew." Cai Yan, seeing the earnest look in Chen Xi’s eyes, still refused his proposal, "I suggest you seek out the Grand Empress Dowager."

Lately, Cai Yan was being tormented by Lady Tang. Second Miss had practically mastered caring for a baby, while Cai Yan still wore a wooden expression. Lady Tang’s adept movements deeply affected Cai Yan.

In Cai Yan’s memory, she had always been faster than Lady Tang in learning anything, faster than her sister. But this time, she suffered a heavy blow, feeling disheartened.

"I heard you’re still causing trouble for your sister?" Chen Xi’s eyes rolled at the news, switching to a different approach, prodding Cai Yan with a challenge.

Hearing this, Cai Yan looked at Chen Xi, displeased, without saying a word.

"You’d better stay at home and read. Some things don’t suit you. If one divides life into two modes, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and wine suit your lifestyle. Clearly, the mundane life of rice, oil, salt, soy, vinegar, and tea is not for you." Chen Xi advised.

"Besides, you don’t have children yourself, so you don’t need the practice." Chen Xi ruefully counseled. How absurd, he thought. He really wanted to tell Cai Yan, it’s perfectly normal that you can’t learn, that’s not your child. Before you have children of your own, you’ll simply never learn to care for them.

Lately, Cai Yan had been in a foolish phase, always thinking of looking after her nephew. Yet caring for an infant is a world apart from taking care of adults. As a result, the family lessons were put on hold, but she simply couldn’t learn even if she wanted to.

"What exactly do you want to say?" Cai Yan turned her head to look at the other side, obviously not very pleased. She was supposed to take care of one of them.

"To get you to teach, to have you keep an eye on those aristocratic family women, so they don’t cause trouble. We have a group of young and capable generals and middle-level officials over there, they’re unmarried, full of youthful vigor, and can’t resist temptation." Chen Xi nearly slammed his head on the table. Let’s just speak plainly; Cai Yan has been acting unusually lately.

This is the Han Dynasty, do you know what era the Han Dynasty is? During the Han Dynasty, there wasn’t Neo-Confucianism, and feudal thinking hadn’t reached its peak.

Simply put, women weren’t constrained yet. A princess having a hundred or so male concubines was perfectly normal, Empress Dowagers having male concubines was as normal as can be, women remarried frequently, and a queen having been married before was not uncommon.

In the distant past, there was Liu Che’s mother, who married the Golden Prince first, then became the queen, then transformed into the Empress Dowager; more recently, there was Liu Bei’s Empress Wu, Sunx Quan’s Empress Xu, all married before their union with the Emperor—this wasn’t a serious issue, because...

During the Han Dynasty, the Classic of Poetry was still studied, the "Guofeng", "Shaonan", "Ye You Si Jun", described divinely as being innocuous, but in reality, what is it? Well, actually, this is ritual, this is Guofeng, this is ancient traditional culture...

Every school of thought of Han Confucianism interprets the Analects in its way, but "In late spring, when the Spring garments are ready, five or six adults, six or seven children bathe in the Yi, enjoy the breeze at the WuYu Pavilion, and sing on their return," combined with the Classic of Poetry, cough, cough, cough, it’s pretty much like that, just traditional culture...

In short, if you equate the Han Dynasty with the kind of Neo-Confucianism of the Song and Ming Dynasties, then you’re mistaken; Han Confucianism is still relatively reliable, with quite a high level of philosophical depth.

Before the Han Dynasty, the shout was "free for the running person," the Han Dynasty shout was "the running person becomes a concubine," later it went quiet.

The reason is simple, after Neo-Confucianism, Zhu Xi renamed "running" directly to "lewd running," catching one means killing one, so even though the openness of the Han Dynasty wasn’t as terrifying as the Pre-Qin, how open it actually was, check the historical records, there are many unskewed places where you can glimpse the situation back then.

Now the situation is that Cai Yan has a bunch of fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls under her, some are legitimate daughters of aristocratic families, some are not, but basically, they haven’t married or been engaged yet. Speaking of engagement, unless their family is in Ye City, generally, they won’t come to attend classes.

Chen Xi didn’t know exactly how many young girls there were before, but this time he found out because classes were free to attend, optional, and Cai Yan did not question where the students who attended her classes went. It was all up to their own volition, so the attendees each time were only about one-third of the total.

Now there are over a hundred girls without supervision, their families aren’t around, and they’ve started forming groups and wandering about, which is getting dicey. Many girls and many boys are actually no different.

The current situation is that Liang Xi and Jia Mu are starting to be flirted with...

Actually, if you want to say it’s flirtation, it’s not a big deal; after all, they’re all grown people who aren’t married, it’s not surprising to be flirted with, and there’s nothing unethical about it, men and women should marry when appropriate, the problem is this group is only flirting.

Some even start flirting with those like Lul Xun and Lu Yu who have wives, anyway, after Cai Yan stopped managing these young girls, at first, they behaved fairly well, but extending over several months, everyone exposed their true nature.

Well, it shouldn’t be said it was their true nature, it should be "three years to learn good, three days to learn bad," these people have excellent upbringing in all aspects, only they stayed in Ye City to study poetry while waiting for two others, at most they brought a few servants, because the family had migrated north, now they’re turning things upside down.

"Just easing their temperament a bit, because you didn’t let them participate during the Shangsi Festival. Recently, I wasn’t around, maybe they’ve just gotten used to being lax, and men should marry, I don’t see any problem." Cai Yan said indifferently.

"I have a problem, can they not run in groups outside the barracks?" Chen Xi said expressionlessly, "They’re bound to cause trouble eventually."

"Relax, they won’t cause trouble, even if choosing husbands, they won’t let anyone take advantage easily, trust me." Cai Yan said leisurely, not paying any heed, "They’re just looking, even if they don’t insist on social matching, it’s not to that extent."

"Then just wait, in a few days I’ll organize a large matchmaking event; there are so many nonchalant people and quite a few single men on my side too. If you don’t manage them, I’ll gather them all for a matchmaking event." Chen Xi said in exasperation, those women’s meddling has seriously hindered official duties.

Those young girls let loose, gradually learning bad habits, are very attractive to middle-level officials who rose to this point relying on their abilities, as it’s always been historical.

Forcing Chen Xi, if this group isn’t dealt with, problems will sooner or later arise!