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因多次劝谏新皇，年近七十的蒲松龄，从礼部尚书任上被贬。愤满之余，辞官归乡，着书立说。
Of course, he did not create "Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio" as he held a disdainful view towards such works.
蒲松龄的着作为《民始弘业两朝学桉》，详细记述本朝太祖、太宗时期，思想学术派系的诞生、发展和演变。
其中一个重要内容，是他将自然科学家，也划定为新朝的学派人物！
Those who study natural sciences are collectively referred to as the "Physics School".
物理一词，起源很早，可以追朔到先秦时期，庄子就有“析万物之理”的说法。
甚至在蒲松龄笔下，自然科学能与理学分庭抗礼，而且统归于儒学门下。
即，儒学分为天理、物理两大派，传统的理学和心学是天理派，新兴的自然科学为物理派。
The Tenrikyo sect focuses on social research, while the scientific community emphasizes natural research.
刚开始，物理派吸收套用程朱理学的世界观，以此让自身的发展更能为大众接受。
在民始朝的末年，传统大儒与新兴科学家们，爆发了非常激烈的学术分歧和争论。甚至有大儒提出，自然科学属于歪门邪道，主张将自然科学排斥出朝堂和学校。
在太祖赵瀚的力保下，各级学校的教材，反而了增加自然科学内容。
当越来越多的年轻人，从小学习自然科学，并一个接一个走上朝堂，一个又一个成为社会中坚力量。主流舆论开始逐年反转，真正的传统大儒都死光了，新兴的大儒个个都学过自然科学。
Tianli School and Physicalist School begin to integrate and evolve!
新兴的天理派大儒们，主动吸收自然科学成果。他们将自然科学知识，填补吸纳进传统儒学，甚至修改一些古籍，比如《礼记》当中的“腐草为萤”。
《礼记》属于五经之一，连礼记都能修改注释，还有什么不能改的？
在蒲松龄的笔下，太祖赵瀚被定性为物理派开山祖师。前朝的徐光启等人，也被视为先驱者，乃至收纳了帕斯卡等移居中国的西方学者。
执掌礼部数年，蒲松龄熟悉教育和科技事业，他来编写《民始弘业两朝学桉》最具权威性和说服力。
“祖父，有贵客拜访！”正在读高中的孙儿，跑进书房里通报。
The school system was also reformed during the tenure of Pu Songling.
小学五年，初中三年，高中三年，大学四年，七岁为入学年龄。
长达十五年的学习期，导致许多女学生望而却步，基本在读初中时就已订婚，初中毕业立马结婚生子。无数有志向学的女子，硬着头皮去读高中，能撑着压力读完的少之又少。
As for female college students, they are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns!
不改不行，跟歧视女性无关，主要是知识大爆发，需要学习的内容越来越多。压制女子读书，那只是附带效果。
The threshold for applying for officials has also been raised.
必须拥有初中毕业证，才能报考县镇级别的吏员。而且实际操作时，初中毕业生往往不具竞争力，除非能够托关系走后门。哪像太祖赵瀚那会儿，小学毕业的吏员比比皆是。
Pu Songling asked, "Who is the distinguished guest?"
His grandson handed him a visiting card.
蒲松龄看了一下名讳，立即起身说：“快去打开正门！”
造访者是前明太子的孙辈朱怡奋，蒲松龄亲自到院中迎接。
Zhu Yifen's face was filled with sadness as she said, "I have been entrusted by my late father to visit you, sir."
"Please come in and rest," Pu Songling said.
朱怡奋却递上一封信，那是朱慈烺的讣告：“家祖今春病逝，特请先生撰写墓志铭。”
Pu Songling was taken aback, then he sighed.
朱慈烺这位前朝太子，虽然没遭到打压，但始终有官场天花板。他的最高官职，只做到了山西省参政，而蒲松龄做了好几年山西布政使，跟朱慈烺的交情可说非常要好。
将故人之孙安排妥当，蒲松龄夜间提笔，突然不知该怎么写开头。
前朝太子的身份，实在太敏感了，而且当今陛下还是个小心眼儿！
……
Forty years ago in autumn.
Zhu Meirong was already 36 years old, and her older brother Zhu Cilang returned to Beijing for work and requested to visit the palace.
Zhu Cilang said that when he passed through Hebei on his way back to Beijing, he specifically went to see the Ming Imperial Tomb. The Siling (the tomb of Chongzhen) was built by Li Zicheng, and the King of the People lived in Beijing for a couple of months. What kind of state would the tomb have been built in? Now, after many years of neglect, not only is it overgrown with weeds, but even the tomb mound has been dug up by grave robbers.
朱慈烺只敢把盗洞堵上，又铲除杂草，把墓碑擦干净。他想自己掏钱，把父亲的陵墓规整一下，就算达不到帝王标准，至少也得赶上乡下土财主。
This kind of tidying up the cemetery also requires a report!
"The Siling Tomb has been stolen?"
赵瀚听得有些无语，忍不住吐槽：“这盗墓贼没长脑子吗？李自成让人立的坟，还能埋进去多少金银财宝？”
其实盗墓贼也很无奈啊，大明皇陵那么多坟墓，只有崇祯的墓最好盗掘，其他皇帝的墓得用炸药才行。
朱媺娖说：“陛下，请准许妾身的兄长，告假去修缮父亲坟茔。一应费用，不劳官府拨款。”
Zhao Han thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry about the accounts of the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works. The royal family will allocate two thousand taels of silver for your older brother to use for repairs. I will also give him a six-month leave to handle his affairs."
Chongzhen can be considered as Zhao Han's father-in-law, so it is reasonable for him to pay for his father-in-law to repair the tomb. Moreover, he also took in Tian Guifei, whom Chongzhen favored the most, so he should be more tolerant and magnanimous towards his former brother-in-law.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Zhu Meiduo is very happy.
赵瀚拉着妃子的小手问：“你这刚出月子三个月，身体养好了没？”
"Yes, I have fully recovered," Zhu Meiduo blushed and replied, with a palace maid watching nearby.
Marrying an emperor who is more than ten years older than herself, Zhu Mei'er still leads a happy life.
This emperor is quite loyal and has few concubines in the palace. If they take turns to serve him, there will be two times per month with leftover turns. Moreover, even for empresses like the queen and Tian Fei, although they are old and showing signs of aging, the emperor will still spend time with them, usually without engaging in intimate activities, simply having casual conversations.
在朱媺娖的感受中，皇帝不仅是夫君，还像父亲，还像兄长。
赵瀚把宫女当做空气，将朱媺娖拉到自己大腿坐下：“听说你最近画艺大有长进？”
Thanks to Sister Liu's teachings," Zhu Meiju leaned against the Emperor's embrace and said.
柳如是保养得极好，特别是做妃子之后，也不跟谁争什么，整日里修身养性，无忧无虑过得万般自在。今年虽已四十八岁，却似个三十出头的妇人。
赵瀚搂着朱媺娖的腰，嗅着妃子身上的香味，忙里偷闲聊了些闲话，便说：“过两天出城秋猎，我得抓紧时间，把没处理好的政事给办完。”
“那妾身去准备八宝粥！”朱媺娖知道皇帝又要加班了。
以前，父皇也是如此忙碌，她有时还会去旁观。当时年龄小，不清楚父皇在忙些啥，反正就是看各种公文，看着看着便气得拍桌子，朱媺娖在旁边大气都不敢喘。
As time goes on, her father, the Emperor, becomes more prone to anger and irritability.
眼前这位皇帝夫君，批阅奏折却一向从容，而且多数时候速度奇快。有时还会抱怨：“此等小事，部院便可解决，送到内阁纯属胡闹，送到 面前就他娘离谱！”
It was past 10 o'clock at night, and Zhao Han was still reviewing memorials.
朱媺娖端来八宝粥，赵瀚边喝边看，还有闲心聊几句，御笔一直在写东西。
八宝粥喝完，又批了十几份文件，朱媺娖看看墙角的时钟，提醒道：“夫君，快到十一点了，今天就先歇息吧。”
"It's time to go to sleep." Zhao Han rubbed his shoulder.
朱媺娖连忙帮皇帝按肩，一边按摩一边问：“虽已入秋，暑气却重，夫君要不要再洗澡？”
“洗洗也好，一身臭汗。”赵瀚有点后悔定都南京了，这破天气热得让人难受。
Zhu Meiyu immediately instructed the palace maid beside her, and the maid hurriedly went to arrange hot water.
赵瀚继续批阅公文，待洗澡水烧好了，终于才结束加班。
洗得一身清爽回来，朱媺娖已侧躺在竹簟上，轻薄纱衣半透明，媚眼如丝道：“夫君，臣妾已出月子三月多，医生说可以同房的……”
To be honest, Zhao Han feels a bit exhausted and only wants to go to sleep right now.
朱媺娖翻身站起，纱衣滑下，半露香肩，跑来给皇帝宽衣。宽着宽着，就把皇帝拉去交皇粮。
翌日起床，赵瀚觉得腰酸背痛，决定接下来两天，都去费如兰那里拉家常。
宫里的母老虎太多，他真有点扛不住。
特别是那位欧洲妃子，每月最多侍寝两天，一见面就跟要吃人似的。皇帝办公累了咋办？乖乖躺好，老娘自己来！
转眼又是秋猎，皇帝带着后妃、子女，以及一大帮武将和钦天院学者出城。
春游带文官和翰林院，秋游带武将和钦天院，每年这两次游玩已成定例。后妃和皇子皇女们也很喜欢，因为规矩更放得开了，不但可以出城耍，大臣的妻儿子女也会来。
后妃们跟大臣的妻子一起耍，皇子皇女们跟大臣的儿孙一起耍。每年都能结识新朋友，比闷在宫里开心多了。
还有集体节目，所有人围坐在马场里，观看马戏、马球、足球等运动。
只要愿意，任何人都可报名参赛，而且皇帝允许赌博，只要赌资别太大就行。
马场当中，年轻男女欢呼不断，各自为看好的选手加油。
赵瀚身边坐着后妃，他们也参与了赌博，大家都以赢皇帝的钱为乐。
禄天香虽然沉稳了许多，但遇到这种场合，必然亲自参赛，此刻正骑马追逐着小球。
所有后妃当中，去年新纳的哈萨克公主吉别可，是皇帝最宠爱的妃子。但这种公共场合，反而坐在最外围，因为她的嫔妃品级最低。
"We won!"
As the referee's whistle sounded, half of the audience cheered.
Fei Rulan smiled and said, "Your Majesty, I'm willing to accept the bet."
“拿去，都拿去，我就没赢过几次，”故意买弱队的赵瀚，此时也开怀大笑，又对柳如是说，“柳妃，你下次莫要跟我买一边。”
Liu Rushi said, "Farmers are more inclined to gamble, and the odds are even higher for underdogs."
“也对，那咱明年肯定赢，”赵瀚举着酒杯站起，“诸君，且满饮此杯，祝我华夏永世大同！”
"Wishing for eternal peace and unity in Huaxia!"
The crowd shouted in unison, their voices like thunder.
It was a sunny autumn day, with gentle wind and abundant rainfall, and the whole world was prosperous.
(The new book "A Guide to Time Travel in Northern Song Dynasty" will be released tomorrow around nine o'clock in the morning.)
（另外，推荐观看电影《流浪地球2》。自来水，没收钱，三个多小时没尿点，准备找时间去二刷。）