Chapter 0094: Playing the Lute to a Cow Xie Chengze, I Am Your Father Xie Chengze
The Su Family had inherited a legacy spanning centuries, their lineage characterized by unwavering integrity and noble character. They aspired only to pursue lofty ideals and serve enlightened rulers, thereby manifesting their unwavering principles.
During the tumultuous years of war, the founding emperor of Jian’an, riding a black steed, vanquished numerous warlords. It was his benevolence—refusing to slaughter civilians, plunder cities, or intrude upon households—that caught the Su Family’s attention. Thus, the Su Family staked their accumulated prestige as the foundation and the hearts of the people as their chess pieces, assisting the emperor in legitimately ascending the throne, robed in imperial yellow, and establishing the Jian’an Dynasty.
It was also the Su clan that, throughout the upheavals and turbulence of successive dynasties, diligently protected countless volumes of rare texts and precious manuscripts, shielding them from the ravages of war. This ensured the continuous transmission of knowledge, allowing the thread of culture to endure unbroken, flourishing across generations.
With such a prestigious lineage, even the emperor and the crown prince treated members of the Su Family with deference. How dare a profligate and witless Second Prince behave so disrespectfully toward a member of the Su Family?!
Su Haichao, who had never before been subjected to such discourtesy, immediately stiffened, his expression turning cold as he cast a displeased glance at Xie Chengze. His tone carried reproach as he said, “Your Highness, as a scion of the imperial family, though naturally endowed with modest talents, ought to pay greater attention to your words and actions. Refrain from uttering meaningless remarks and keep frivolous words from passing your lips.”
Su Wenhao let out a soft, derisive laugh, his words dripping with condescending arrogance. “Elder Brother, why waste your breath? As the saying goes, ‘To teach the foolish is like feeding grass to cattle. Even if chewed slowly and forced down, it will inevitably be regurgitated.’ In such cases, it is best to follow their nature. To insist on instruction would only result in wasted effort.”
The others at the table exchanged knowing smiles, their gazes toward Xie Chengze tinged with subtle disdain and displeasure.
Su Zhongyue cleared his throat lightly, signaling Su Wenhao not to go too far.
Xie Chengze raised an eyebrow slightly.
The term “regurgitation,” also known as “chewing the cud,” refers to the process where ruminants like cattle and sheep bring swallowed food back into their mouths to re-chew—a normal biological phenomenon in even-toed ungulates.
Su Wenhao’s remark had essentially compared him to a cud-chewing bovine, mocking him as a fool who would spit out knowledge even if it were chewed up and fed to him.
Well then, he might as well play along and let them experience what it truly means to “play the lute to a cow”!
A mischievous grin flickered across his lips. Xie Chengze rocked back in his chair, adopting an expression of pure innocence as he first turned to Su Qinghe on his right and asked, “This person must be your third brother, right? What is he blabbering about?”
Without waiting for Su Qinghe to respond, he immediately swiveled his head to Su Zhongyue on his left and inquired, “Academician Su, what did your son mean by that? Could you explain it to me? As you know, I lack talent and refinement. Their flowery language—all that talk of cattle chewing grass and regurgitating—is simply beyond my comprehension!”
Su Zhongyue: “…”
Su Haichao: “…”
Su Wenhao: “…”
For these scholars, nothing was more frustrating than hurling elaborate, classical insults at someone, only to have the target not only fail to understand but also innocently turn around and ask their father what they meant.
Their father was bound to be furious.
Sure enough, Su Zhongyue’s face darkened. He couldn’t tell whether Xie Chengze genuinely didn’t understand or was feigning ignorance. If he downplayed or twisted the meaning, it would constitute the crime of deceiving the imperial family. But if he explained it truthfully… Even if he looked down on the Second Prince, as an elder and the head of the family, he couldn’t openly disrespect imperial authority and risk displeasing Emperor Jian.
The younger generation is different; it’s common for them to be sharp-tongued. Even if they show some disrespect toward the Second Prince, it’s merely the impulsiveness of youth and won’t be severely punished.
Su Zhongyue wiped a faint sweat from his brow and glared at Su Wenhao, signaling for him to resolve the situation himself.
Su Wenhao reluctantly lowered his gaze and muttered, “Nothing much, just that Your Highness is rather shallow in learning.”
“Oh?” Xie Chengze nodded approvingly. “This prince quite agrees—I am indeed lacking in knowledge. It seems Heaven is fair: having bestowed upon me unparalleled beauty, it took away academic talent. You see, while you may excel in scholarly gifts, your appearance leaves much to be desired.”
Su Wenhao: ???
How did this turn into personal attacks!
“Our bodies, hair, and skin are received from our parents!” Su Wenhao roared, springing to his feet. “What does that have to do with intellectual talent?”
“Mhm, exactly. So you’re all rather unattractive,” Xie Chengze deliberately took the words out of context, nodding in agreement. “Only your Second Young Master possesses peerless elegance and extraordinary handsomeness, truly the pinnacle of the Su Family’s appearance, single-handedly elevating the clan’s aesthetic to an entirely new level.”
Su Qinghe lowered his head, the corners of his lips twitching upward involuntarily. Even the irritability from sleepless nights vanished in that moment.
The Second Prince certainly knew how to strike where it hurt while leaving no room for rebuttal.
Su Wenhao, deeply dissatisfied, glanced at Su Qinghe beside him and suddenly snorted, an idea forming. “If we follow Your Highness’s logic, then those who are both beautiful and talented must also die young due to Heaven’s fairness?”
The smile on Su Qinghe’s lips froze instantly. He looked up at Su Wenhao in disbelief.
Su Zhongyue and Su Haichao both frowned slightly. “Wenhao.”
“What? This is what the Second Prince implied!” Su Wenhao retorted discontentedly. “Your Highness, wasn’t that your meaning just now?”
Xie Chengze’s expression darkened. He narrowed his eyes, studying Su Wenhao with an unreadable gaze before suddenly letting out a low laugh.
“It appears the Su Family’s talents are merely so. Any sensible person would recognize my earlier statement couldn’t withstand scrutiny—it was merely face-saving banter. Yet the Third Young Master insists on rebutting by invoking the prematurely deceased. Such disrespect for the dead truly broadens this prince’s horizons and makes me question whether your family’s reputation has been undeserved all along!”
“I—your subject didn’t mean—” Caught in Xie Chengze’s counterattack and seeing it escalated to the family’s honor, Su Wenhao panicked and hurriedly defended himself. “Your subject didn’t intend that!”
“Not that meaning? Then what did you mean? Or were you also just speaking recklessly to save face and win the argument?” Xie Chengze pressed relentlessly.
Scholars cherish face above all. How could Su Wenhao admit he misspoke merely to preserve his dignity? Unlike Xie Chengze, whose shamelessness knew no bounds, he could only fret anxiously and cast a pleading look toward Su Haichao.
Su Haichao closed his eyes briefly, exhaling slowly before speaking gravely, “My third brother is still young, in the throes of knowledge-seeking hunger, and prone to childish verbal sparring. We beg Your Highness to be magnanimous and understanding.”
Xie Chengze remained unimpressed. “In seeking knowledge, one must not neglect moral cultivation. Remember: when three walk together, one must be my teacher.”
He gently raised the jade cup, took a delicate sip, his demeanor exuding the grace and dignity of royalty. Then, in a calm tone, he remarked, “The perspective from which one views matters truly reflects the subtleties of the human heart and reveals the essence of human nature. Your third brother, by comparing it to the way cattle ruminate, only sees the difficulty of digesting the indigestible and the challenge of teaching the unteachable. Yet, I say that cattle have four stomachs, capable of consuming all kinds of grains.”