Sima Guang has always prided himself on justice. The improper relationship between Huirou and Huaiji would damage the reputation of the Song Dynasty royal family, so Sima Guang naturally wanted to kill them. Sima Guang showed an upright style when he first met Huaiji. When he first met Huaiji, he was surprised by Huaiji's talent and learning. Huaiji was not only good at calligraphy, but also had rich knowledge of state governance. Such a person should be placed in front of him. It's okay to go to court, but it's absolutely impossible to put him next to Song Renzong. Based on this consideration, Sima Guang took the opportunity to impeach Huaiji when he saw Huaiji for the first time. He believed that the official family should transfer Huaiji away from the official family and not allow Huaiji to continue to be with the official family, lest Huaiji's talents and learning would interfere with him. The official's judgment on state affairs was that Zhao Zhen did not pay much attention to Sima Guang's impeachment at that time and continued to let Huai Ji stay by his side.
01. Although Sima Guang is just, his thinking is too rigid and he cannot accept the feelings between Huaiji and Huirou.
After the ministers represented by Fan Zhongyan, Xia Song and others were replaced in Zhao Zhen's court, Sima Guang became another eloquent remonstrator around Zhao Zhen. It cannot be said that Sima Guang Guang is a treacherous minister, because everything he says and does is indeed for the sake of the country and the country of the Song Dynasty. It's just that Sima Guang's thoughts are too feudal and he regards the rules left by his ancestors as the truth. Whenever an official wants to violate the ancestral system, Sima Guang will immediately risk his life to remonstrate until Zhao Zhen adopts it. Sima Guang originally had an opinion against Huaiji. He believed that as a eunuch, Liang Huaiji should not read poetry and books. Such a person could only be harmful to the country. Now that Liang Huaiji and Huirou had secretly communicated with each other, Sima Guang Guang will naturally write a letter of impeachment.
02. Sima Guang believed that Huaiji and Huirou were damaging to the reputation of the royal family, but Ouyang Xiu felt sorry for the misfortunes of Huaiji and Huirou.
In Sima Guang's eyes, nothing was ever a private matter for officials. As long as it harmed the Song Dynasty, he would immediately and ruthlessly write a letter of impeachment. Regarding Huaiji and Huirou, Sima Guang was even more He felt that the princess and the eunuch were so audacious that they actually did something that harmed the reputation of the royal family. It was absolutely impossible not to deal with them. So after Huirou ran back to the palace, Sima Guang's voice of impeachment never stopped, but Ouyang Xiu did not impeach Huirou Huaiji, just like when he was impeached by the officials because of his relationship with his niece. At this time, Ouyang Xiu remained silent, feeling only sympathy for Huaiji and Huirou.
03. Ouyang Xiu was moved by the feelings between Huaiji and Huirou. Although he knew that their behavior was wrong, he could not bear to impeach them.
Ouyang Xiu once had a niece, and he treated this niece with all his heart. When he heard that his niece had been arrested, he changed his usual selfless style and helped his niece get out of trouble. It can be seen that in Ouyang Xiu's heart, the relationship between him and his niece is very deep. The encounter between Huaiji and Huirou reminded Ouyang Xiu of his past self. He knew that the behavior of Huaiji and Huirou was wrong, and the impeachment letter was what the rational Ouyang Xiu should do, but the emotional side of Ouyang Xiu's heart prevented him from being cruel enough to hurt the feelings between Huaiji and Huirou.