Chapter 458: Learning Literature

However, Pei Ye had just prepared himself when the back door was pushed open quietly, and a figure walked in somewhat hurriedly, bent over and sat in the empty seat next to him.

His legs hadn't been crossed yet, and he had already started to take out books and notebooks. After being busy for a while, he finally sat down, still unable to catch his breath.

Pei Ye waited for him until this moment before opening his mouth: "Brother Fang."

Fang Jidao turned his head suddenly, looking at the young man beside him in astonishment.

"Brother Fang, you are late." Pei Ye said earnestly, "How did you arrive later than the teacher?"

Fang Jidao showed a look of shame: "Greedy for the quietness of the dormitory at noon, I studied for a while longer, it really shouldn't be."

"You must pay attention next time."

"Yes, yes." Fang Jidao still had the surprise of seeing a friend, "Why is Young Hero Pei here?"

"I'm here to study 'Analects,' didn't I say last time that I was also coming to the Imperial Academy."

"... I thought Young Hero Pei was joking."

Pei Ye squinted at him.

Fang Jidao stood up and bowed, saying earnestly: "After three days of parting, one should look at each other with new eyes. It was my old eyes that looked at people, and my mind was rigid."

Pei Ye smiled and grabbed his arm: "Don't be so serious."

Fang Jidao shook his head: "I reflect on myself three times a day."

"... What does it mean?"

Fang Jidao looked at him in surprise: "It's the words of the Master, talking about reflecting on oneself every day. Isn't Young Hero Pei reading the 'Analects'?"

"... Oh, I haven't read to that part yet."

"..."

Fang Jidao was silent for a moment, wanting to speak but stopping.

The Academy Master Xu Chuo had already started lecturing. Pei Ye felt that the atmosphere was much more relaxed than he had imagined, not serious and solemn at all. Sometimes after Xu Chuo finished reading a paragraph, many people below the hall would laugh knowingly.

Pei Ye could see that the woman was also very relaxed in this atmosphere, reciting and explaining word by word. She clearly only brought two books, but every explanation listed clear sources. Pei Ye found it very difficult to listen, but fortunately, the copy Xu Chuo gave him was annotated in detail.

"Dr. Xu just finished lecturing on 'Rites,' so she inserted more than ten days of 'Analects' to relax, Young Hero Pei arrived just in time." Fang Jidao was also in a relaxed sitting posture.

Pei Ye was puzzled: "Relax?"

"Young Hero Pei hasn't heard, reading the 'Analects' and knowing the joy of teacher and student?" Fang Jidao laughed, "This book is easy to read, and they are all stories, so naturally it doesn't take much effort."

Pei Ye frowned. He didn't see any "joy," nor did he see any "stories," only short sentences that were harder to read than sword principles.

He pointed to the line Xu Chuo had just lectured on with an open mind: "Brother Fang, I've read the explanation of this line, but I still don't understand—who is this 'You'? What does Zilu like?"

Fang Jidao tilted his head to look.

【The Master said: "If the Dao cannot be practiced, I will ride a raft and float on the sea. Will those who follow me be You?" Zilu heard this and was happy.】

This line indeed gave a very clear annotation, but it happened to lack a bit of common sense—he smiled and pointed: "You is Zhong You, his courtesy name is Zilu."

Pei Ye suddenly realized.

"Confucius said if the Dao cannot be practiced in the world, I will sit on a small boat and drift on the sea. The one who will follow me is probably Zilu. Zilu heard this and was happy, very proud. Confucius glanced at him and immediately changed his words, saying, Zilu is just braver than me, there is nothing else worth looking at." Fang Jidao laughed happily, "So everyone laughed—if you know that Zilu was always straightforward and reckless, and the teacher and student often quarreled, it's even more interesting."

"..." Pei Ye didn't think it was very interesting either. A name was very strange to him, and it was hard enough to understand the meaning. But being in this environment, watching Fang Jidao happily sharing with him, he couldn't help but hook the corner of his mouth, and lowered his head to study the annotations again.

Such a relaxed atmosphere lasted for almost the entire afternoon class.

Until the lecture reached the following line, Xu Chuo recited as usual, but the atmosphere in the hall quieted down. The students didn't straighten their sitting postures, but the small movements on their hands stopped, and their faces also restrained.

【Ji Ziran asked: "Can Zhong You and Ran Qiu be called great ministers?" The Master said: "The so-called great ministers: serve the ruler with the Dao, if not, then stop. Now You and Qiu can be called 'tool ministers'."】

Xu Chuo explained as usual. Pei Ye felt the atmosphere in the hall somewhat blankly. Rather than saying it was heavy, it was better to say it was a vigorousness that had not yet erupted.

Fang Jidao was also silent for a moment, tilted his head and whispered: "There are eight hundred students like me in the academy, the so-called 'talented ones among the commoners'."

Pei Ye was slightly stunned: "... What does 'tool minister' mean?"

"Ministers who just make up the numbers."

"..."

And Xu Chuo didn't expand on this, just glanced at the sky and stopped there, putting away the book: "In the 'Eight Rows' chapter, Ding Gong asked: 'How should a ruler use a minister, and a minister serve a ruler?' The Master replied: 'The ruler uses the minister with rites, and the minister serves the ruler with loyalty.'"

"'Now in the 'Advanced' chapter, it says 'serve the ruler with the Dao.' Those who are interested can write an essay and hand it to me. Remember to write your origin and name." Xu Chuo put the book into the box, "Class dismissed today, everyone please feel free."

However, no one moved. The students all looked respectfully at the woman on the platform, waiting for her to tie her robe again and glance toward the back. Pei Ye immediately closed the book, hurriedly said goodbye to Fang Jidao, and followed the woman's figure.

"I have greeted the academy, you are a student of the academy from now on, just come to class anytime. Only one thing: after graduation, there is no 'monitor student' status." Pei Ye took the book box, and the two walked in the corridor with dappled tree shade, "For those without family background, this is a quota selected. You are not proficient in writing, this quota cannot be directly granted to you."

Pei Ye nodded: "It should be, I have no use for it."

Xu Chuo smiled: "Not for fame, you are the rare pure-hearted seeker of learning in this academy."

"... Yes."

Between the conversation, they arrived at a quiet pavilion under the shade. Xu Chuo lowered her head to unlock it, and pushed the door open, and the fragrance of books filled the air.

"Is this copy easy to use?" Xu Chuo pointed to the 'Analects' in his hand.

Pei Ye touched his head: "It's written very clearly, it's just... I don't understand many annotations."

Xu Chuo nodded, moved her eyes to look for them on the bookshelf, and raised her hand to pull down two books and hand them to him: "'Erya'."

She wandered for a while, pulled out two more: "The one in your hand was annotated by me, this 'Analects Collection Explanation' was organized by He Yan of the ancients, it is much more complete; and this is 'Mencius,' the logic is also smooth, take it to read too."

"Oh, oh." Pei Ye took them, already holding four books.

Then Xu Chuo looked up and searched carefully, saying faintly: "Then you should also start by reciting... Oh, there is just this one."

Her gaze fell on a high shelf. She stood on tiptoe and reached out to grab it twice, but didn't reach it. Pei Ye was about to step forward, but the woman had already moved a wooden stool she often stepped on, stood up, and pulled two books down: "Crown Prince Zhaoming's 'Selections of Refined Literature,' take it to read too."

"... Oh." Pei Ye let her stack them on the books, already six volumes.

Then Xu Chuo looked up and pointed: "Then move that set of 'Shuowen' away too, I don't use it often now."

Pei Ye looked up. No wonder she didn't help him take them this time. It was a full fifteen volumes of books. ===== CHAPTER 459 =====