Chapter 24: Fengyi

  Liu Bian gave a brief explanation, and Wang Yue understood. Although he was not as confident as Liu Bian, he had rich experience in confronting people, and in order to overwhelm his opponent with momentum, he deliberately made various moves to mislead his opponent, which was also a common trick, and it was not difficult to understand the method of Xu Shao.

  "Your Majesty is wise."

  "Alas, let's not mention it. If it weren't for Princess Tang reminding me, I would have almost been deceived by him." Liu Bian thought for a moment and said: "You immediately arrange someone to monitor the Yuan Mansion and see if Xu Shao has gone to the Yuan Mansion."

  "Yes." King Yue responded loudly and turned around to make arrangements.

  "Sister, you've read a lot of books, but have you ever heard of heroic spirit?"

  "Haoran air?" The Princess of Wan year blinked: "You're saying, Mengzi's Haoran air?"

  "Yes, Xu Jie said that Yuan Wei has such a majestic and dignified demeanor, which is the result of cultivating his spirit. And what he cultivated was a vast and harmonious energy."

  The princess of Wan Nian thought for a moment and shook her head: "I've never heard of the Haoran air. However, I have heard of the practice method of Confucius' dignity."

  "Then tell me quickly." Liu Bian was overjoyed and pulled the sleeve of the Empress of Ten Thousand Years, letting her sit on a rock. He himself bowed with a smile, asking for her guidance. The Empress of Ten Thousand Years smiled and hastily avoided the question. "Your Majesty, I am not worthy to be your teacher. Actually, it's quite simple. Confucius once said that a gentleman must have dignity to command respect. To have dignity, one must first be solemn and not speak or laugh carelessly, which is what people usually call 'warm yet strict, majestic yet not fierce, respectful yet calm'. When walking, one cannot rush, but should slow down. When performing rituals, the movements should be larger, with both sleeves spread out like a big bird's wings, just like...".

  After listening to the explanation of Princess Wan, Liu Bian suddenly realized. This I understand, isn't it just psychological suggestion? The same person, wearing a suit and tie, is a successful person, high-end and atmospheric, enjoying attention everywhere; Wearing a T-shirt, big pants, and a pair of slippers, that's a lazy man, who can't look up to anyone. Yuan Yi and Yuan Shao are not like this, they have a tall stature, regular facial features, plus the official prestige cultivated over the years, of course, they must look more majestic than ordinary people.

  Is this what is meant by the method of cultivating one's spirit? The Confucian school often speaks of guarding ritual propriety, which itself implies that behavior and demeanor must conform to certain formalities. The Confucian school also emphasizes being cautious when alone, even if one is by oneself, one cannot sit carelessly or slovenly, but rather must maintain a dignified posture, as if meeting with others. Perhaps it is through this constant and prolonged effort that they cultivate their dignity, slowly bringing it forth.

  Although he had figured out a lot, Liu Bian still didn't dare to think that he was right, so he sent someone to invite Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi was a great Confucian scholar who studied the Three Rites, and should be quite familiar with these things.

  Lu Zhi arrived and listened to Liu Bian's question. Lu Zhi furrowed his brow: "Your Majesty knows one, but not the other."

  "What's next?"

  "When performing the ritual of Confucianism, one's back should be straight, indicating that one's character should be upright. One's head should be bowed, indicating that one cannot be arrogant. The hands are clasped together between the heart and mouth, indicating that one's words and actions should be in harmony. The arms are held out to the sides, with a slight curve in the middle, indicating that one should maintain humility." Lu Zhi explained once more, finally saying: "Especially the harmony of the heart and hands, this is the key point."

  "What's the key method?"

  "Your Majesty can try it out, and you will know once you experience it personally." Lu Zhi bowed and said: "A gentleman is warm and refined like jade, with a dignified presence without anger, relying not on intimidation but on inner confidence and self-respect, with a broad and upright spirit. Only then can one establish oneself and cultivate dignity. This has a special name, called Fengyi."

  Phoenix?

  "Yes, her bearing is like a phoenix." Lu Zhi said, cupping his hands and bowing, his two large sleeves fluttering, elegant and free-spirited.

  Liu suddenly understood that these two big sleeves were not just a pair of phoenix wings, and Lu Zhi's current momentum was similar to Yuan Wei's. The difference lies in the fact that he didn't have the same air of superiority as Yuan Wei, leading the heroes. This can't be blamed on Lu Zhi, after all, the Lu family and the Yuan family were far apart, and his official career wasn't as prominent as Yuan Wei's. To put it bluntly, he lacked confidence and authority.

  After Lu Zhi's explanation, Liu Bian basically understood.

  "Maintain this posture even when alone?"

  "This is the significance of being cautious when alone." Lu Zhi continued to explain what it means to be cautious when alone. As Liu Bian had guessed, being cautious when alone is about maintaining a certain state of mind, which is called "as if the gods are present". This comes from a phrase in the Analects: "When sacrificing to the gods, it's as if the gods are present." Just like when you're making an offering to the gods and you imagine them watching over you, when you're alone, you should also behave as if you're face-to-face with others, maintaining a sense of reverence and not daring to be even slightly lax. Only by doing so can you naturally cultivate a dignified demeanor that is consistent inside and out, rather than just pretending to be something you're not.

  Liu Bian's eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but feel a little ashamed. It turned out that the ancient books still had such a mind method, how did he not notice it before, thinking it was all rubbish.

  ……

  It was late at night and Liu Bian had once again come to the secret chamber, carefully examining Lao Zi's portrait.

  As Laozi explained, his hands were clasped in front of his chest, his head slightly lowered, and his large sleeves fluttering like a phoenix's wings.

  Liu Bian took a step back, his hands slowly rising from both sides of his body, clasped together in front of his chest, with his fingertips lightly touching, and the center of his palms facing his heart.

  In an instant, he felt a kind of indescribable solemnity, as if he were worshiping the gods and ancestors at the same time. Not only did his face dare not show any disrespect, but his heart also became solemn. He adjusted his breathing, relaxed his mind, and experienced the subtle changes in his body, especially the sensations in his palms and chest. At first, he only felt a slight numbness and heaviness in his arms, but gradually, the numbness spread throughout his arms, connecting with his chest, which also became swollen. The sound of his heartbeat grew clearer and clearer, echoing in his ears.

  His arm was getting more and more sore, heavier as if it had a thousand pounds on it, but Liu Bian gritted his teeth and persisted. He had to experience the "heart-hand correspondence" that Lu Zhi talked about, to see if he could feel the so-called "Haoran air".

  After an unknown amount of time, his palm suddenly jumped, as if a drop of rain had fallen onto the calm water surface, causing ripples to spread out and resonate continuously. And this rhythm seemed to be in harmony with his heartbeat, echoing each other.

  The heart and hands had a faint but very clear feeling.

  "Boom! Boom! Boom!" The shock between his hands and heart grew more and more apparent, constantly impacting the two arms that were propping him up, impacting his body, expanding outward, like a surge of righteous energy, surging in his chest.

  Liu Bian laughed, laughing very happily. He understood the so-called Fengyi, understood the so-called presence of God, and understood the so-called Haoran Zhi Qi. In short, this is a bit like self-hypnosis in later generations. The secret of the Yuan family, the secret that Xu Shao did not want to say, should be this posture, Haoran Zhi Qi is this kind of swelling feeling. And Yuan Wei's bright and upright dignity was also formed through such methods, after years of practice, slowly cultivated.

  The secret in this room was not the Spring Palace on the wall, but three paintings. The former emperor abandoned the fundamental and sought the secondary, strayed from the right path, indulged in the art of sex, and thus lost his life prematurely.