Peace Order

Chapter 1836 - 90: The Sun Will Set, But It Will Rise Again!

Nan Hanwen lifted his head, looked at the sunlight outside, and yawned.

Reflected in his eyes was Jiangnan of this season, the wind carried a slight chill, but not a biting cold, perhaps because too many things had happened this year.

Chen Dingye died by the sword, the Great Khan fell in battle, the Sword Madman rode a dragon, disappearing from the martial world; Emperor Ying wielded a sword, vanishing from the world.

And the last Red Emperor, with a blazing fire, painted an imperfect yet perfect ending to eight hundred years of romantic heroism.

Emperor Chen, Emperor Ying, the overlord of the grasslands, the divine shooter of the flying eagle, the monarch, the knight—all appeared one by one over the past sixty years, showcasing their talents and brilliance, drawing the attention and focus of everyone.

They seemed to be the heroic figures chosen by the heavenly mandate.

In the torrent of this era, the contending heroes faded away one after another in just one year.

When Nan Hanwen was young, he studied; Tantai Xianming wanted him to study history, but reading it once wasn’t enough, reading a second time wasn’t enough, he became frustrated, ended up reading in the Mountain God Temple, too lazy to cook meals, he’d cook porridge, wait for it to cool and harden, then cut it into several pieces and eat the cold porridge when hungry.

After years of such diligent effort, he finally achieved something.

Full of spirit, he went to ask Tantai Xianming, only to be given a position as a servant by the middle-aged Confucian scholar; Nan Hanwen was stunned, Tantai Xianming smiled and said, "First, let you strive bravely and work hard, then tell you, all effort ultimately has no significance."

"This is the first lesson I taught you."

"This is how the rules of the world are."

"Diligent work has no use; many books read may not serve any purpose, not everything done with hard work has meaning."

Back then, Nan Hanwen felt indignation.

Tantai Xianming laughed again: "But read those ’useless books,’ and then you’ll understand the flavors within them, and hone some skills from worldly experiences." With a wave of his sleeve, he dismissed him, back then the young Nan Hanwen felt indignation.

Recalling now, the Confucian scholar’s demeanor was indeed composed and noble.

Even though Tantai Xianming said they were useless books.

But Nan Hanwen still felt that those days of reading history helped him to stabilize his heart, allowing him to stay in Chen Country during middle age, and now with white hair and a pale face, he holds another kind of demeanor.

Now looking at Jiangnan, the world, he inexplicably feels the youthful sensation of reading history.

Nan Hanwen brews tea.

In the chaotic world, it always starts with vigor.

Here are heroes, there are weeds, rising successively, as one finishes singing, another steps on stage, they contend against each other, seeing the great struggle of the world, seeing the heroes in adversity, the young talents, yet ultimately all wither, thus marking the era’s turn, entering another golden age.

The fierce heroism starts out lively, but later becomes lonely and desolate.

Perhaps it is so.

Even the wind of Jiangnan carries a slight chill.

Outside, the book-boy is sweeping fallen leaves. After Qu Hanxiu passed away, Nan Hanwen took him in as his book-boy. When the great scholar of etiquette passed away, he left Nan Hanwen many volumes.

Nan Hanwen picked up the writings left by Qu Hanxiu, continuing to compile new codes of conduct.

The so-called codes of conduct were merely morals and laws.

In the volumes left by Qu Hanxiu, he wrote: ’The old man once discussed the future of the world with Prince Qin, and once glimpsed the prince’s aura and the waves in his heart, to tell the truth, his vision was too far-reaching, unexpectedly forming a system, very much like looking down from a high point.’

’But, too high.’

’So high that it exceeds what the people of this era and ninety percent can understand; even among the remaining ten percent, ninety-nine percent cannot glimpse even one end of the waves in his heart. With such vision and aura, taking measures beyond the ordinary person’s, certainly would not succeed.’

’Boy, do you know what etiquette is?’

’Etiquette is morality, you and I...’

When the writing reached this point, it paused, the ink settled and smeared into a stain, and then continued with more writing, Nan Hanwen could see much carefree spirit in this pause and continuation.

’It should be you, remember, the so-called codes of conduct are to build steps and bridges between the hearts of the people of this era and the visions seen in Prince Qin’s heart, one is too high, one is too low.’

’Only by restraining with etiquette, warning with laws, can they gradually move forward.’

’The two words, codes of conduct, are not something terrible, like flood beasts.’

’Fearsome and hateful, only because they are [decayed and outdated]’

Qu Hanxiu’s writing carried a scornful air, as the saying goes, seeing the writing is like seeing the person, one can see the character in the words, but this is inaccurate, another is, reading the writing of an old friend, it feels like the friend never left, still chatting leisurely.

Nan Hanwen couldn’t help but smile: "Still as usual, Mr. Qu."

"Seemingly off-track but often uttering surprising words."

Then turned the page.

Qu Hanxiu’s writing was somewhat anxious: ’Also, remember, boy, after finishing compiling the new codes of conduct, definitely definitely put my name in!’

’The old man should have a great name!’

’Don’t say it’s vulgar!’

’Success and fame are what we scholars have pursued all our lives, despising those who deceive the world and steal a name, but through upright deeds and transmitting our name through history, isn’t that a pursuit?’

’Remember, definitely remember!’

’Don’t forget, or else I’ll come to find you every year...’

Nan Hanwen closed the volumes.

The young book-boy carried in the tea, seeing Mr. Nan Hanwen pressed his temples, first tiptoeing to place the tea ware on the table, then poured the tea, and asked wonderingly: "What’s wrong, sir?"