When Shao Xun arrived by the banks of the Yi River, he was greeted by a scene filled with vibrant and colorful figures, almost too dazzling to take in all at once.
Leisure activities like these had their roots in the Qin and Han dynasties, but by the Wei and Jin periods, they had developed distinct characteristics.
These activities included wrestling, soccer, arrow throwing, chess, and even various forms of entertainment.
Essentially, they were outdoor gatherings where people enjoyed the pleasant weather and beautiful scenery during the spring.
By the Wei and Jin era, due to the rise of aristocratic politics and the gentry's preference for refined and elegant pursuits, these leisure activities began to lean more towards the artistic and cultured.
Wrestling, archery, and martial arts? Not exactly "refined" or "elegant," right? What people wanted was the sophisticated charm of the Wei and Jin period, a touch of artistic freshness.
Two men rolling on the ground wrestling? Not exactly appealing!
If men were like this, women naturally disliked such activities even more.
So, today, most of the women were engaged in drinking tea, playing chess, painting, calligraphy, and composing poetry.
Don’t think their cultural level was low.
In fact, the education level of women from aristocratic families during the Wei and Jin period surpassed that of the Han dynasty.
During the Later Han, Confucianism had become highly theological, emphasizing the suppression of human desires and promoting a strict hierarchy between men and women.
This greatly limited women's education, and even if they were educated, it was mostly in matters of etiquette and morality.
The Wei and Jin period still upheld male dominance, but women were no longer as "inferior" as before.
The rigid feudal ethics had loosened somewhat.
The stagnation and theological turn of Confucianism, along with political corruption and prolonged warfare, had shaken the traditional value system.
Scholars of the Wei and Jin period began to question life, and as old values crumbled, new ideologies had yet to take shape.
This led to a society where idle talk, indulgence, and extravagance became the norm.
Scholars advocated for individuality, freedom, and the exploration of self-worth and the meaning of life.
In education, the idea of "transcending conventional morality and embracing nature" gained widespread acceptance among scholars.
As a result, the fruits of women's education began to show.
A large number of talented women, skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and dance, emerged.
They were no longer just "paper figures" confined to feudal ethics but became more three-dimensional and vibrant.
Seems like a good thing, right? After all, inflatable dolls aren’t exactly satisfying.
From a distance, Shao Xun saw Lady Pei surrounded by a crowd, like the moon amidst stars.
She was wearing a layered robe with a short top and a wide bottom, a style that was both simple and elegant.
The upper part was a modified version of the traditional Han dynasty deep robe, fitting snugly and generously filled, ensuring no child would go hungry.
Her waist was tightly cinched with a silk belt, making it exceptionally slender.
A slight touch would surely leave one intoxicated.
Over the belt was a waist wrap, similar to an apron, covering her hips with layered, pointed decorations that fluttered beautifully in the breeze.
Upon closer inspection, it was clear that her well-rounded figure caused the robe and decorations to rise in a graceful arc, swaying gently in the wind.
If it were to rain, wetting the hem, the curves would become even more pronounced.
At this thought, Shao Xun suddenly felt a pang of guilt.
Lady Pei had been kind to him, his benefactor, and such impure thoughts were inappropriate.
But his sixteen-year-old body was brimming with youthful energy, and the allure of a woman like Lady Pei was irresistible.
Young married women, with their mature charm, were far more appealing than those undeveloped young girls.
Hard to resist.
"It's you," a voice called out.
On the grassy field, two girls, one older and one younger, were picking wildflowers.
Seeing Shao Xun pass by, the younger one immediately squinted her eyes and smiled.
"Greetings, young ladies," Shao Xun bowed.
Though both were young, one was still a child, the same girl he had met at the Yu family last year.
The other, around sixteen or seventeen, stood gracefully with a serene demeanor, like an orchid in a secluded valley.
She glanced at Shao Xun briefly before turning her attention back to the flowers in her hand, lost in thought.
For a girl from a scholarly family, it was normal to look down on military men.
The younger Yu girl, still naive, hadn’t yet grasped the harsh realities of the caste system.
"This is Sister Liang, from General Liang's family," Yu Wenjun chirped happily, introducing the girl beside her.
"She’s from the prestigious Liang family of Anding and is soon to become the Princess of Yuzhang."
The Liang family of Anding was indeed a well-known aristocratic family.
During the Eastern Han, the powerful minister Liang Ji held immense influence, with three empresses, six noble consorts, and two grand generals in his family, controlling the court for twenty years and installing three emperors.
Though their influence had waned since the Wei and Jin period, they still lingered at the fringes of the top-tier aristocracy.
"General Liang" likely referred to General Wei, Liang Fen.
The position was theoretically high-ranking, but Liang Fen probably didn’t have the authority to establish his own office, limiting his power in the court.
His best bet would be to secure a regional position, like a governor or military commander, but it was unclear if he had the foresight for that.
"Are you on patrol today?" Yu Wenjun asked.
"The world is in chaos, and the situation is dire. Patrols are necessary," Shao Xun replied.
"It’s rare to have a chance to enjoy the spring. Who knows when the next one will be," Yu Wenjun sighed like a little adult, her crescent-moon eyes now tinged with worry.
"War is not far off," Shao Xun also sighed.
"I wonder if we’ll make it through this year."
"Ah?" Yu Wenjun covered her mouth in surprise, the wildflower in her hand brushing against her cheek, creating a charming scene.
Liang Lanbi glanced at him but remained silent.
"Places like Luoyang, at the heart of the storm, I don’t know why people insist on staying," Shao Xun said, looking at the distant mountains and rivers.
"If you want to enjoy flowers every year, you should move to the south."
"Why?"
"War is coming," Shao Xun said.
"Fighting will decimate the population, and in the end, the Xiongnu from Bingzhou might take advantage."
Liang Lanbi frowned, seemingly troubled but also displeased with such pessimistic talk.
Yu Wenjun instinctively asked, "But aren’t you very capable? None of my family’s soldiers are as skilled as you."
Shao Xun chuckled.
"On the battlefield, with thousands of arrows flying, what use is bravery? The most powerful skill in the world is 'gathering the masses.' It has the power to move mountains and change the heavens. I—I’m far from that. I’m just a small pawn drifting in this chaotic world, unable to control my own fate, let alone others."
His words left everyone silent.
Yu Wenjun blinked, unsure of what to say.
After a long pause, she naively asked, "Will you help me?"
Shao Xun smiled and replied earnestly, "Yes."
"That’s good," Yu Wenjun’s lips curled into a smile, her eyes crinkling with joy.
Liang Lanbi shot her younger companion a look, unsure of what to say.
Earlier that day, the two had shared a carriage and encountered a strange Taoist who claimed they both had the "phoenix aura," destined for great nobility, possibly even becoming empresses.
She didn’t believe it, but seeing Yu Wenjun chatting so happily with a soldier, it was clear she wasn’t destined to be an empress.
As for this soldier, he could only marry a woman from a military family, a world apart from theirs.
Shao Xun, noticing Liang Lanbi’s disinterest, politely excused himself.
Yu Wenjun regretfully bid him farewell.
At just seven years old, though she had been writing poetry since six, she had little experience with people or the world.
In her eyes, this warrior was the most skilled and capable person she had ever met.
Her perspective was different.
Since the year before last, she had overheard her father and brothers’ heated debates and constant complaints, vaguely understanding that the world was in turmoil, with constant wars.
And in times of war, the most important thing was martial skill.
To her seven-year-old mind, this was just common sense.
As for other matters, she couldn’t grasp them yet and didn’t want to.
Compared to Yu Wenjun, the sixteen or seventeen-year-old Liang Lanbi was much more mature, her thoughts far more complex.
She understood well who held power and resources in this world.
To thrive in these chaotic times and attain a higher status, it was essential to connect with the right people.
The Prince of Yuzhang might be a good match—though she had no choice in the matter, as it had already been decided.
After leaving the two girls, Chen Yougen, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
"Commander, do you fancy noble ladies?"
"What are you getting at?" Shao Xun glanced at him.
"With your prowess, why lower yourself?" Chen Yougen said dismissively.
"If you really like a noble lady, just let me go for a month, and I’ll bring one back for you."
Shao Xun was speechless.
The others chuckled.
Chen Yougen was serious.
In some chaotic places, like Bingzhou, some noblewomen had almost become prostitutes, being passed around like commodities.
"Enough!" Shao Xun pushed him away.
"Go check on the blacksmith and see if my heavy sword is ready."
"Yes, sir," Chen Yougen saluted haphazardly and left.
Shao Xun stood on the riverbank, gazing at the spring scenery.
Every so often, he would reflect.
What had he done recently? What had he gained? What challenges did he face? Was he closer to his ultimate goal or further away?
Overall, he was making steady progress, but it felt like there was always a ceiling above him.
He thought of Liu Yu.
At thirty-seven, Liu Yu had encountered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: the rebellion of Sun En of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, which had thrown eight southeastern provinces into chaos.
By the next year, at thirty-eight, Liu Yu had distinguished himself through bravery and military achievements.
At thirty-nine, he finally became a governor.
Haha, almost forty, and only then did he gain control of a single province.
So, why hadn’t he risen earlier?
The ceiling was real.
Birth determined fate, not ability.
Sometimes, it was truly frustrating.
Fortunately, this was the north, not the stable south.
In times of great chaos, many rules were overturned, and opportunities might be greater.
Of course, the current order hadn’t completely collapsed yet.
The descendants of the Sima family and the barbarians would need to continue their struggles, tearing apart the dark shroud above and breaking the iron shackles, giving those without noble birth a chance.
The feeling of not being able to control one’s own fate was truly unpleasant.
(End of Chapter)