Wang Xin, with the courtesy name Yuanjing, is from Beihai, and his family was in the theater. His ancestor Wang Meng, six generations ago, was the Prime Minister during the Qin Dynasty under Fu Jian and lived at the foot of Mount Hua in Fucheng. His father, Wang Yun, served as an official during the Wei Dynasty and had a good reputation. Wang Xin loved studying from a young age and was later invited by the Grand Commandant, Prince Yuan of Runan, to join the cavalry. In the past, when Wang Yue went hunting, the dapper military officials would follow him with swords and knives, but Wang Xin never followed the rules when it came to lining up. Wang Yue was a man who loved to have fun, sometimes returning from horseback riding late at night, while Wang Xin would often head back early. Wang Yue allowed Wang Xin to ride ahead, personally cracking the whip to urge the horse on. Wang Xin would loosen the reins, fold his arms across his chest, and let the horse run wild. Onlookers remarked that he was being too reckless. However, Wang Yue said, "Having such talent in my household, we shouldn't sweat the small stuff."
Once, Wang Yue threw a pile of money on the ground and let his subordinates scramble to collect it, but Wang Xin remained completely still. Wang Yue then intentionally spilled silver coins on the ground while looking at Wang Xin, who only picked up a single coin. On another occasion, Wang Yue was drinking with officials from the court and got up to move a chair himself. Everyone rushed to help, but only Wang Xin stood there holding a wooden board without moving. Wang Yue became angry and said, "I am the emperor's grandson, son, brother, and uncle. We are all drinking together, and I still have to move the chair myself. Who do you think you are to be so arrogant?" Wang Xin replied, "My position is lowly and not worthy of Your Highness's special treatment. How could I possibly do such menial work alongside princes and officials?" Wang Yue felt a pang of embarrassment upon hearing this. During the banquet, everyone was drinking happily, but Wang Xin was the first to get up and go back to his room to rest. Even after Wang Yue called him several times, he did not respond. Wang Yue had no choice but to go personally to call him: "You are so talented, yet you show such disrespect to your superiors. Is that appropriate?" Wang Xin said, "King Zhou of Shang was consumed by indulgence and ultimately lost his kingdom. You yourself seem oblivious, so how could a small official like me dare to take on that responsibility?" Wang Yue laughed heartily and left.
Wang Xin was later promoted several ranks and became the governor of Donglai. Subsequently, Li Shenjun, the Minister of Personnel, proposed that due to various reasons, there had been no limit on the number of positions for court attendants, and now Wang Yuanjing and others would be appointed as court attendants with a limit of eight slots. Wang Xin was also bestowed the title of Jinzi Guanglu Daifu. Emperor Wu occasionally dressed casually and frolicked with his close ministers, but every time he saw Wang Xin, he would immediately put on his hat and restrain his smile. Wang Xin was originally overweight, but after his family members passed away, he gradually became frailer. Yang Yin highly regarded Wang Xin's character and talents, viewing him as a role model. Later, Wang Xin was promoted to Secretary Supervisor.
Wang Xin and Xing Shao are good friends, their relationship just as solid as Yuan Luobin's. Later, Wang Xin went to Donglai to take a government position, and Xing Shao brought his entire family along. The people of Donglai heard that Xing Shao was the brother of Xing Gao, the leader of the rebel faction, and they planned to capture him. Wang Xin quickly protected Xing Shao, shouting, "If you want to capture Xing Zicai, you'll have to kill me first!" This helped save Xing Shao.
Wang Xin is someone who particularly enjoys lofty discussions and never speaks crudely. When he was in Donglai, a colleague was murdered, and during the interrogation, the suspect refused to confess. Wang Xin asked him, "The deceased hasn't returned, yet you came back unscathed; what's your explanation for that?" Later, Xing Shao shared this story as a joke with Emperor Shizong. When Wang Xin learned about this, he rushed to tell Xing Shao, "You really don't understand the will of fate!" He then told others, "Zicai deserves to die; I gave him a good scolding."
The emperor believed that Wang Xin was too out of line in his words and not someone who could accomplish great things, berating him: “You only care about your family background and status, but not about your own character!” There were also complaints that “Wang Yuanjing (Wang Xin's colleague) was always grumbling about the endless waterway project.” The emperor became even angrier and directly ordered his exile to Youzhou. Later, he called him back and appointed him as a Silver Blue Grand Minister, allowing him to act as the Minister of Sacrifices. The emperor was also angry and punished Ji Ye, the magistrate of Linzhang, and the scholar Li Wenshi, sending Ji Ye to Xue Fenglu as a slave and Li Wenshi to Cui Shun as a slave. Zheng Zimo whispered to Wang Xin: “There's no historical precedent for court officials becoming slaves!” Wang Xin replied: “Even Ji Zi was a slave once; it can happen!” Zheng Zimo conveyed Wang Xin's words to the emperor and added: “Wang Yuanjing compared Your Majesty to King Zhou of Yin.” Yang Yin came out to explain a few things. The emperor, however, said: “Wang Yuanjing is your teacher; all of this is what he taught you!”
Later, the emperor had a heated confrontation with the court officials, and Wang Xin claimed he was sick and didn't show up. The emperor sent people to capture him, only to find Wang Xin sitting there, shaking his knees and writing poetry. He was executed on the spot, and his body was thrown into the Zhang River. This took place in the tenth
My younger brother, Xi, whose courtesy name is Shulang and nickname is Shami, has been filial and sensible since childhood, with a graceful demeanor and strong presence. He especially loves to study, is also handsome, and has a strong presence. During the late Wei Dynasty, he moved to the seaside with our mother and older brother, where he became close friends with Xing Ziliang. Ziliang particularly admired his intelligent and perceptive nature and wrote to Xi's two older brothers in Luoyang, saying: "Your virtuous younger brother Milang has profound thoughts, is open-minded and unconventional, does not sweat the small stuff, always speaks with reason, composes poetry and essays with genuine emotion and exquisite language, simply outstanding! I worry he might cause you concern in the future, but rest assured he will make progress."
In the early years of Wei Yong'an, his second brother Hui was invited by the Liang Dynasty and recommended that Xi give up his commoner status to become an official riding attendant. He also suggested that Xi go to the King of Guangping to serve as a chief clerk. However, Xi chose to stay home to care for our mother, so he turned down the appointment. After our mother’s passing, he moved back to Ye City. He loved exploring Gong County and Luoyang, taking in the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers there, and made friends with Lu Yuanming from Fanyang and Wei Jijing from Julu. They traveled to Tianling Mountain together, seemingly contemplating spending their later years there.
Later, the Western Wei general, Dugu Xin, arrived in Luoyang and appointed him as the Chief Secretary. Xi then claimed he had been bitten by a dog and was seriously ill, unable to get out of bed. Some old friends suspected he might not have been bitten by a rabid dog and wrote to urge him to get up quickly. Xi replied, "Thank you for your concern about my health and for urging me to seek treatment quickly. Your kindness makes me feel you doubt that I was bitten by a mad dog. I certainly do not wish it was a mad dog that bit me, but the fact is what it is! Even if you doubt it, there's reason for that. Since you suspect it was not a mad dog that bit me, you might also suspect it was a mad dog, and that suspicion accounts for half the possibility. If you suspect it was a mad dog, then I should seek treatment; even if it turns out it was not a mad dog, there’s no harm done. If you suspect it was not a mad dog and do not seek treatment, what if it really was a mad dog? Then it would be too late. Therefore, over-treatment is always better than under-treatment; under-treatment might lead to death, while over-treatment generally causes no harm. If you say that Wang Xi's death would not be a loss, then I’m not worth saving; since you believe I am worth saving, then it would indeed be a loss. Why risk it and give up a sure-fire plan to save my life? Moreover, the general's reputation and generosity are known far and wide, and he is so powerful; why would he care about someone like me? If it must start with me, then the priority should be to save my life! Why don't you have a good talk with the general?" So, Dugu Xin showed him some leniency. Soon after, Dugu Xin left Luoyang, and Xi went back to Ye City.
It is said that Emperor Shenwu of Qi wanted to find a person of good character, loyalty, and discretion to educate his sons, so he selected a group of individuals, including Gao Xi. Alongside Gao Xi were Cui Zhan from Qinghe, Li Du from Dunqiu, and Lu Zhengtong from Fanyang. At that time, King Wenxiang, the younger brother of Emperor Shenwu, was a powerful general. He took Gao Xi and the others by the hands and said earnestly, "My brothers are currently in their growth stage; their ambitions and perspectives are not yet fully stable, and they are easily influenced by bad people. I have to be careful! I hope you can guide them properly and help them grow into honorable people. As long as they can stay on the right path, your positions will always be at least equal to my brothers'. But if they go off course and make serious mistakes that affect the whole family, the consequences will be severe; it won't just be them who suffer." Gao Xi followed Emperor Shenwu to Jinyang, where he was appointed as a military officer in the Central and Foreign Affairs Office and also acted as a confidant to Duke Changshan.
During the reign of Emperor Qi Tian Bao, Gao Xi was sent to Taiyuan to serve as an official. Later, Emperor Wenxuan (the son of Emperor Shenwu) grew incompetent and indolent. King Changshan repeatedly advised him, but as a result, Emperor Wenxuan suspected that King Changshan was using Gao Xi to criticize him and wanted to execute Gao Xi. King Changshan privately told Gao Xi, "Doctor, tomorrow I might intentionally create trouble for you. This is to protect you and also to protect myself; you must understand and not blame me." Thus, in front of everyone, King Changshan administered twenty lashes to Gao Xi. When Emperor Wenxuan learned of this, he was furious, but since Gao Xi had already been punished, he did not kill him; he merely shaved his head, whipped him, shackled him, and exiled him to Jiafang. Gao Xi stayed there for three years, and King Changshan once more urged him, leading to even harsher beatings and a hunger strike as protest. The Empress Dowager was deeply concerned. Emperor Wenxuan said to those around him, "If this boy dies, what will become of my old mother?" So, every time he inquired about King Changshan's condition, the emperor would say, "Make sure to eat something; I’ll bring Gao Xi back to you." In the end, the emperor released Gao Xi and allowed him to return to King Changshan's side. King Changshan embraced Gao Xi and sadly said, "I’m afraid we might never see each other again." Gao Xi, in tears, said, "Justice from heaven is evident; it won't allow you to perish like this. Your Majesty is Your Highness's elder brother and also the ruler of the nation; how can you hold a grudge against Your Highness? If you don't think of yourself, you should think of the Empress Dowager!" Before he finished speaking, King Changshan managed to sit up and eat. Consequently, Gao Xi was pardoned and allowed to return to serve as a confidant to King Changshan.
Regarding Wang Fulu's duty, newly appointed officials must report to him and bid farewell upon leaving. Wang Xi said to Wang, "Accepting a noble title granted by the emperor in a private residence has always been deemed improper. All civil and military officials of the court must express their gratitude when entering and exiting; this practice should be standardized and abolished. The emperor is busy with state affairs, relying on Your Highness for assistance." Wang took this to heart.
Wang often remarked casually to Wang Xi, "The emperor is in a bad mood, and you have seen and heard more than anyone. How can I let a moment of anger silence me? You should help me draft a memorial; I will find a suitable opportunity to offer my advice." Wang Xi then listed more than ten matters to submit. He earnestly advised him, saying, "The situation at court is like this now. If you want to emulate Jie Zitui and disregard the lives of the dynasty, misusing medicine can confuse the mind, and swords do not distinguish between kin and strangers. If disaster were to strike one day, what would become of your family's legacy? And what about the empress dowager? You should comply for now and be cautious every day." Upon hearing this, Wang couldn't help but cry, saying, "Has it become this serious?"
The next day, Wang told Wang Xi, "I pondered it all night and have decided to let it go." He then had his servants burn the memorial right in front of Wang Xi. Later, Wang seized several opportunities to offer earnest advice, which ultimately angered the emperor. The emperor ordered his guards to pin his arms behind his back, drew a knife to his neck, and scolded, "What do you know, you little brat? Who taught you to use those official methods to criticize me?" Wang replied, "Everyone in the world is silent; who else dares to speak besides me?" The emperor ordered him to be beaten, and he received dozens of blows from clubs until the emperor, having drunk too much, finally stopped. After that, the emperor indulged in pleasures, and this lifestyle spread among the royal family. Wherever the emperor went, he lingered, living by night as if it were day, except at the residence of the King of Changshan, where he quickly left after visiting.
The emperor has passed away, and the King of Jinan has taken the throne. The King of Jinan said to Wang Xi, "The emperor was ineffective, and we can still live a leisurely life." He then added that the court is generous and benevolent, truly a good emperor for preserving the existing order. Wang Xi replied, "May Heaven bless him in his reign, but the crown prince has been entrusted to a foreigner. Now he suddenly has to deal with state affairs and manage those capable ministers and military generals. If His Majesty is still young and lacks experience, he may struggle to handle all these challenges, and if he allows others to issue edicts in his name, power will surely fall into the hands of others. Although Your Highness wants to protect your fief, is that even possible? Even if you manage to step back, can you ensure your family's legacy for the long term?" The King of Jinan thought quietly for a long while and finally asked, "What do you think we should do?" Wang Xi said, "Duke Zhou assisted King Cheng in governing the world, acting as regent for seven years before returning power to King Cheng. This sets a precedent; Your Highness should consider it carefully." The King of Jinan said, "Who am I to compare myself to Duke Zhou?" Wang Xi replied, "Given your current position, can you truly escape the example of Duke Zhou?" The King of Jinan did not respond. The emperor was preparing to leave and ordered the King of Jinan to go with him, while appointing Wang Xi as the Grand Historian of Bingzhou. Shi Le arrived in Ye City, killed Yang, Yan, and others, and the court issued an edict appointing him as the Grand Chancellor and Commander of all military affairs, entrusting him with command over the civil and military officials. When Shi Le returned to Bingzhou, he summoned Wang Gongxi and said, "If I had listened to you earlier and not let those petty officials seize power, I would have almost ruined the country. Although the king's side is temporarily quiet now, what will ultimately happen to me?" Wang Gongxi replied, "Your Highness's previous position could still be guided by Confucian principles. But the current situation is tied to the Mandate of Heaven; it can't be influenced by personal feelings or worldly matters."
After a while, Shi Le requested that Prince Rui of Zhao Duke be appointed as the Grand Chancellor, and Wang Gongxi be appointed as the Sima. Every night, Shi Le summoned Wang Gongxi to the palace, but during the day he did not speak to him, because he considered Wang Gongxi to be cultured and gentle, fearing he might not win the support of the public, especially those military generals. Later, Shi Le called Wang Gongxi into a secret chamber and said, "Recently, those nobles have been pressuring me, saying I am going against the will of heaven and that it is ominous and fear a change may come. I am thinking of using the law to restrain them!" Wang Gongxi replied, "The court has recently distanced itself from its relatives; do you not consider the importance of blood relations? Your Highness, acting hastily is unbecoming of a minister. You are now like a thorn in your side with a knife to your throat, with suspicion all around; how can that last long? Moreover, the will of heaven is hard to predict, with cycles of rise and fall, and the divine is unpredictable, disasters follow one after another. Even if you are humble and cautious, even if you hold the treasures of the world, that would still defy the will of heaven and undermine the late emperor's legacy!" Shi Le said, "You dare to speak such words that should not be spoken; I must take action against you!" Wang Gongxi replied, "I believe that the will of heaven and human affairs are connected, and that’s why I risked my life to speak my mind. To express my true feelings today is also a blessing from heaven!" Shi Le said, "The country is in danger and needs talented people to assist; how can I dare to discuss this privately? You should keep that to yourself."
Not long after, the court issued a decree, and because the position of Prime Minister was of great importance, a number of officials were promoted. Wang Gongxi was appointed Deputy Minister of Personnel while also serving as a General. Lu Yao, the Prime Minister's envoy, was about to depart, and before leaving, he held Wang Gongxi's hand and said: "The Prime Minister's achievements are unparalleled, and people across the land support him, singing praises of his merits everywhere. Everyone has high hopes for him. We, like many others, want to be loyal and dutiful, but now we must go on missions outside and miss the chance to express our loyalty face to face; I can only hope for divine guidance." Wang Gongxi then relayed Lu Yao's words to Shi Le. Shi Le replied, "If there are doubts about me both inside and out, Zhao Yanshen has been serving by my side every day; why hasn't he said anything? You should have a private chat with him." Seizing the opportunity, Wang Gongxi asked Zhao Yanshen, who replied, "I’m also quite worried about these rumors and have wanted to tell you for a while, but every time I get scared and can't speak. Since you have already mentioned it, I’ll be honest with you!" So the two of them together advised Shi Le.
At that time, many princes, ministers, and generals, as well as governors from various regions, submitted memorials to report on state affairs. In August in the first year of the Qianming era, Emperor Zhao ascended the throne. The emperor issued an edict to Wang Xi, stating, "Why do you always treat yourself as an outsider and rarely show your face? From now on, you don't need to be constrained by the official rules and regulations. If you have any thoughts, just write a memorial and submit it whenever you have the time." The emperor then ordered three officials, Shangshu Yang Xiuzhi, Hongluqing Cui Jie, and others, to gather every evening after work in the Eastern Corridor to organize ceremonial practices, music, differences in official ranks, court banquets, and the changes in vehicles and attire that had been abolished over the dynasties. Whether it was the morally upright talents who had long been buried, or those who were smooth-tongued, deceptive, and harmful to state affairs, along with the flow of vehicles and taxes in the market, the rituals of marriage and funerals, and the hierarchical system of nobility and commoners, anything that is outdated yet still in use today, or historically useful but has since been abolished, had to be carefully considered and gradually written into memorials for submission. There was no need to prepare everything at once; whatever came to mind could be reported at any time. Morning and evening, Wang Xi was provided with royal meals, and he could only return after completing his tasks. At that time, the officials requested the establishment of an Eastern Palace, but the emperor had not yet granted permission. The emperor often had Wang Xi oversee the crown prince’s attire and etiquette in the Eastern Hall, guiding him in performing rituals and greetings. Wang Xi served as the crown prince’s tutor and was also responsible for safeguarding the emperor's jade seal and insignia. When the crown prince conducted sacrificial ceremonies, Wang Xi also served concurrently as Zhongshuzi. The emperor told Wang Xi, "Now that you hold such an important position, you must not be as casual and negligent as you were before."
The emperor planned to conduct a northern expedition and asked Wang Xi what people were saying outside. Wang Xi said, "Everyone on the road is saying the emperor is going to war." The emperor replied, "The Kumo Xi are invading from the south, and I haven't personally been on the battlefield yet, so I want to use this opportunity to drill the troops." Wang Xi said, "It's understandable for the emperor to inspect the border, but if you rashly send troops, it might disappoint the people of the world." The emperor said, "Only a coward would think like this; I will make decisions based on the actual situation." The emperor sent General Pei Ze and Chief Scribe Cai Hui to secretly observe the officials in search of faults to frame them, and the court officials affectionately referred to them as "Pei and Cai." At that time, these two reported to the emperor that after the emperor's northern expedition, some people said Yang Xiuzhi and Wang Xi often drank and entertained with others, completely disregarding public affairs. The emperor then ordered Yang Xiuzhi and Wang Xi to receive forty lashes each on their legs. The emperor executed a man in the court and then asked Wang Xi, "Does this man deserve death?" Wang Xi replied, "His crime indeed deserves death, but it's unfortunate that the place of his execution is inappropriate. I've heard that criminals should be executed publicly for all to see; the palace hall is no place for executions." The emperor's expression softened as he said, "We should reconsider this practice for the princes and ministers going forward."
The emperor wanted Zhang Xi to take on the important position of Shizhong, but Zhang Xi firmly declined, insisting he would not accept it at all. Some advised Zhang Xi not to isolate himself too much, but he replied, "When I was young, I met many high-ranking officials and nobles. They were all ambitious at the beginning, but before long, they all failed. Moreover, my personality is inherently easygoing and carefree; I can't handle the tedious affairs of state. How can I be sure the emperor's favor will last? If I make a mistake one day, I might not even have the chance to resign. It's not that I don't like being a high official; I just want to think it through." Once, during an archery competition among officials, Zhang Xi hit the target and was entitled to a silk reward according to the rules, but since he didn't write his name on the arrow, the officials didn't award him the prize. Zhang Xi remarked with a smile, "I’ve got plenty of martial skills, but I’m lacking in literary talent."
Zhang Xi had no sons, and the emperor wanted to grant him a concubine, sending a young eunuch to announce the decree at his home. When the empress heard about this, she told Zhang Xi's wife. Zhang Xi asked his wife to respond, but she remained silent. Zhang Xi patted his chest and stepped back. The emperor burst out laughing when he heard this. After Emperor Xiaozhao's death, Zhang Xi was devastated, and his health deteriorated as a result. Emperor Wucheng already disliked his refined and slow demeanor, and this only made him dislike Zhang Xi more. Therefore, every time Zhang Xi presented his memorials, he was often harshly reprimanded, yet he remained calm and unhurried. Later, he served as the governor of Dong Xuzhou and the director of the secretariat. In the early years of Wuping, he was promoted to Grand Minister of Ceremonies, granted the title of Yitong Sansi, and was also responsible for compiling the Chronicles of Daily Affairs, while on standby at the Wenlin Pavilion.
Zhang Xi was a person of calm demeanor; even while holding a prominent position, he always maintained high moral standards. During his tenure in Bingzhou, despite the frequent wars, he never let worldly matters trouble him. Whenever the weather was nice, he would compose poetry and essays, travel around, climb high and enjoy the view, and find joy in banter and feasting, earning him the nickname "the Poet of the Unconventional." He once visited Jin Temple and wrote a poem: "As the sun sets, it's time to head back; the fish and birds seem to linger." Just then, the messenger from Prince Xi arrived, summoning Zhang Xi, but he was delayed in arriving. The next day, Prime Minister Lu Sidao, the ceremonial scholar from the West Pavilion, said to Zhang Xi, "Yesterday when you were summoned, you looked surprised. Was it because you were too engrossed in playing with the fish and birds to attend to serious matters?" Zhang Xi smiled and replied, "I had a great time yesterday, drank quite a bit, and you guys are one of the reasons I lingered, not just the fish and birds!"
Later, when Jinyang City fell, Zhang Xi and his colleagues fled northeast to escape the pursuit of the Zhou army. The mountain roads were rugged and perilous, and they feared encountering bandits, but Zhang Xi leisurely warmed wine and took medicine, completely unperturbed. Everyone urged him to hurry, but he said, "Don't rush me; if I didn't have any regrets, I would have made it to the top long ago."
After the fall of Qi, Emperor Wu of Zhou appointed Xi as Grand General of Ceremonial Affairs and a counselor to the Crown Prince. These two positions sounded quite impressive, equivalent to the Minister of National Defense and a part-time tutor to the Crown Prince at that time.
In the first year of the Kaihuang era of the Sui Dynasty, when the Sui Dynasty had just been established, Mr. Xi passed away in Luoyang at the age of seventy-one. The court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of Grand General of Ceremonial Affairs and Governor of Cao Prefecture, recognizing his lifetime achievements. The title of Grand General of Ceremonial Affairs also sounded quite prestigious, which was a higher rank, serving as a respectable legacy for him.
