In the eighth year of the Tai Yuan Dynasty (383), Xie An’s son-in-law, Wang Guobao, was autocratic and reckless. Xie An hated his conduct and often imposed restrictions on him. Wang Guobao therefore hated Xie An and stirred up dissension, causing suspicion and deepening contradictions between Emperor Xiaowu and Xie An.
Once, Emperor Xiaowu summoned Huanyi for a banquet, and Xie Anshi sat beside him. Emperor Xiaowu ordered Huanyi to play the flute. Huan Yi looked obedient and immediately picked up the flute and played a piece of music. Then he put down the flute and said, “I’m not as good at playing the zither as playing the flute, but it’s also enough to make my own music. With singing, please allow me to play the zither and sing, and invite a person to play the flute.” Emperor Xiaowu appreciated the harmony and smoothness of his music, and ordered a geisha in the inner palace to play the flute. Huan Yi also said, “The prostitutes in the inner palace must not cooperate well with the foolish minister. The foolish minister has a servant who is good at playing together.”
Although it was very inappropriate to let slaves go to the main hall at that time, Huan Yi’s easygoing behavior, which valued respect and inferiority as nothing, was greatly appreciated by Emperor Xiaowu, and he immediately agreed. While the servant played the flute, Huan Yi played the zither and sang the “Poem of Resentment”, saying, “It is not easy to be a ruler, but it is difficult to be a minister and a good person alone. Loyalty and trustworthiness are not obvious, but there are doubts. Zhou Dan assisted Wen and Wu, and the” Jin Teng “did not publish its work, pushing the heart to assist the king’s government, and Second Uncle countered rumors.” The lyrics of the song are euphemistic and bleak, expressing Cao Zijian’s infinite resentment at the emperor’s suspicion and inability to resolve his sadness, which is very similar to Xie An’s situation at that time.
Upon hearing this, Xie Anzhi was filled with emotion, and he couldn’t help but sob and shed tears, which made his clothes wet. He stood up and sat down beside Huanyi, saying, “This is all that makes a difference! Thank you very much!” When Emperor Xiaowu heard such advice, his face showed guilt and he felt very guilty.
Wang Huizhi joined the army as a cavalry Cao under General Huanchong, who was responsible for managing the horses. But instead of changing his old habits, he still looks like an upstart all day.
Huan Chong deliberately asked Wang Huizhi, “Wang joined the army, which department do you manage in the army?” Wang Huizhi thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know what department it is. People often lead horses in and out. I think it’s either riding Cao or riding Cao!” Huan Chong asked again, “How much is the total number of horses you manage?” Wang Huizhi answered nonchalantly, “It’s about asking my horse keepers. I never ask, how can I know the total number?” Huan Chong asked again, “I’ve heard that many horses have become ill recently, and how many have died?” Wang Huizhi looked as usual and said, “I don’t even know the number of live horses, how can I know the number of dead horses?” Huan Chong listened, but couldn’t help but stop asking.
One day, Wang Huizhi was summoned to Jiankang, the capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, and his boat was moored at the Qingxi Wharf. It happened that Huanyi was passing by on the shore, and Huanyi and Wang Huizhi did not know each other. At this moment, a guest on the boat said, “This is the King of Huanye (with the word Huanyi).” Wang Huizhi then ordered someone to say to Huanyi, “I heard that the king is good at playing the flute, can you try to play a song for me?” Huanyi asked, “Who is on the boat?” The servant replied, “Wang Huizhi is also.” Huanyi was already a senior official and noble at this time, but he also heard of the name of Wang Huizhi for a long time, so he got off and got on the boat.
Huan Yi sat on the Hu bed and took out “Ke Ting”, a jade flute from Cai Yong, a great musician of the Eastern Han Dynasty who had accompanied him for many years. The flute sounds three times, and the melody of plum blossoms gradually rises. Wang Huizhi closed his eyes and listened to the flute. As he turned around, he felt as if he were in winter. The cold wind was blowing and the heavy snow was flying. He couldn’t help but shiver. In a trance, I suddenly saw a plum blossom standing proudly on the branch, a gust of wind blowing through, and a faint fragrance wafting through my nose… Ah! How refreshing and noble it is! In a flash, all the snowflakes unexpectedly began to fly towards the sky, and the plum blossoms also flew ethereal towards the clouds like fairies. Wang Huizhi couldn’t help but stretch out his hand, only to feel that he was immediately as light as a swallow and involuntarily flew towards the sky
I don’t know when, Huan Yi had already finished playing and got up and left quietly. By the time Wang Huizhi slowly opened his eyes, Huanyi had already disappeared. “Wang Huizhi couldn’t help sighing, ‘On a sunny day, spring is warm, and suddenly it turns cold. You are noble and clean, and you have entered the dust. How can you go back to the sky and hear a song of plum blossoms blooming from you?'”
