Chapter 474

Yan Yan Feiqing pushed open the door to meet the first ray of dawn as usual. There was only one breakfast left on the stone table in the courtyard. He walked over and picked up an apple. Pei Ye was lying on the table, earnestly writing on a piece of white paper.

Yang Yang Zhenbing was sharpening his sword moves on the side.

"You seemed to have returned very late last night; why are you up so early today?" Yan Yan Feiqing's calm eyes looked toward the boy next to him.

"Rushing to finish something." Pei Ye frowned and didn't look up.

"You either sleep until noon or stay up all night; your body is uncoordinated, and your meridians are easily disordered," Yan Yan Feiqing said calmly. "You can learn a set of Daoist health-preserving techniques."

Pei Ye was interested: "What kind are there?"

"What kind do you want?"

"Are there any that help seventeen or eighteen-year-olds grow their muscles and bones?"

"Physical appearance is determined by fate; wealth and status cannot be sought."

"." Why are you so talkative today?" Pei Ye lowered his head to write again. Next to him, Yan Yan Feiqing finished the apple and picked up a plum.

"Master said, wake up and know the world first," the Daoist said calmly. "One must ask a few questions about the human world every day to avoid excessive purity of heart, which easily leads to evil... What are you writing?"

Pei Ye rolled his eyes: "You didn't ask me before."

"When you weren't here at this hour, I always asked Yang Yang Zhenbing." Yan Yan Feiqing picked up another plum and said lightly.

Yang Yang Zhenbing practiced his sword earnestly on the side without saying a word.

"Then what about when neither of us came?"

"Then I asked the grass, trees, insects, and birds in the courtyard."

". I think you have already entered evil."

Yan Yan Feiqing tilted his head to look at Pei Ye's paper and read slowly: "Serving the ruler should be done with the Dao..."

Pei Ye hurriedly covered it, looking at him vigilantly.

Yan Yan Feiqing didn't care: "Is this discussing Confucius's way of ruler and subject?"

Pei Ye raised his eyebrows, hesitating as he loosened his hand a little: "That... do you think it's written well?"

Yan Yan Feiqing frowned as he looked.

In fact, it was only a few sentences in total. Because Pei Ye had asked Fang Fang Jidao, this thing had to be written in classical Chinese, and it was best to have citations. He had really racked his brains to come up with a few sentences, and he thought Xu Chuo wouldn't blame him.

As for the content, Pei Ye was relatively confident because the topic was very simple, even a multiple-choice question, and he had his own option to choose.

But at this moment, Yan Yan Feiqing's pause made him somewhat anxious, thinking there was a mistake somewhere: ". What's wrong?"

"Nothing, the characters are not easy to recognize," Yan Yan Feiqing said calmly. "This piece of yours wins by being straightforward; it's quite good. If you want to change it, you can—"

Pei Ye was waiting for the Daoist to continue, but he saw him look at the sun, and the words were cut off. He turned and returned to the lounge chair.

"." Pei Ye was stunned for a long time before realizing that the "quarter of an hour" was up.

Sure enough, the person held up an opened book, no longer caring about Pei Ye's sleep problems or his school assignment.

Pei Ye laughed in anger, put away his books and ink pen, packed his things, and walked out of the courtyard gate.

He still heard from behind: "Yang Yang Zhenbing."

"."

"The plums are good; bring more tomorrow."

"Mm."

Imperial Academy.

After many days, it was finally Xu Chuo's lecture again. Pei Ye came to the large lecture hall he had visited when he first enrolled. He arrived quite early today, and the hall was still sparse. Fang Fang Jidao was still not in this session; he wouldn't see him until the afternoon session, so Pei Ye sat on the edge of the second row and placed his books neatly.

In fact, his mind was still on that charming new sword. He couldn't put down that new, cold feeling, and he spent the day imagining its different appearances when facing an enemy.

But soon, a not-unfamiliar discussion entered his ears again.

". There is no progress at all. I went to the Five Clouds Building last night, and business is still booming. I even ran into Helmsman Zhao. He is a Seventh Life cultivator, and he even asked me if the fish soup was salty enough."

"Is he not panicked at all?"

"That's why I say he has the demeanor of a great general. If this happened to me, I would have been worried all day. This is a true Jianghu leader."

"Actually, you know it if you think about it. The Taiping Cao Gang can take root and spread in the Divine Capital, booming and flourishing. It's a fantasy to think a few people can overthrow it," someone said. "Look at the academy these past few days—those young masters in blue and purple, those sons of the five tombs—who isn't sneering? Look at their attitude, and you know what the trend of this matter is in the imperial court."

"Lord Di shouted very loudly that day, attracting everyone to watch. After a few days, it turns out there is thunder but no rain."

"Hahahaha, don't mention it. I went to West Pool last night to watch the excitement of the 'Ten-Day Banquet' and saw that great leader from afar—that is truly 'magnanimous and calm, face like a flat lake.' If you don't go to see it, you really don't know what kind of person is written in the books!"

"."

This kind of discussion was not the first time he had heard it. Pei Ye had roughly distinguished their origins over these past few days. Some had naturally opposing stances; they stood on the side of the Southern Office, so naturally, they were sarcastic when talking about the isolated trio.

Others were passersby discussing it. Now that a few days had passed, the Taiping Cao Gang's momentum was growing, and the dignitaries coming and going at the Ten-Day Banquet gave a sense of "the whole capital is helping." Especially 【Taiping Partridge】 Qiu He Tianyu, whose Ten-Day Banquet brought a bold and distinct Jianghu atmosphere to the Divine Capital. The Divine Capital had always rewarded heroes, and by comparison, the trio investigating the case naturally seemed dim and lusterless.

There were also opportunists and those who followed the wind, taking advantage of the conflict to step on the other side and curry favor with the dignitaries beside them, and so on.

This kind of voice inevitably ruined his mood. Pei Ye pulled himself out of his sword thoughts. At this time, the lecture hall was almost full. Pei Ye recognized many familiar faces of the same grade. Just then, a young girl in a light blue, white-like silk shirt walked in, holding books. She stood still and looked around the lecture hall, her gaze still falling on the seat next to Pei Ye: "This classmate, may I ask if this seat is taken?"

"Ah, no."

"Thank you."

The girl nodded, gathered her skirt, and sat down upright. Her temperament and upbringing from a famous family were quite outstanding. But she was not like Lu Xiu, whom Pei Ye had seen, who seemed to come from a world on high, but rather more like a scholarly family steeped in family learning.

Pei Ye actually recognized this girl who seemed to be of the same age. She also always sat in the first or second row in the same grade's classroom, and because she was of similar age and had unique beauty, he had an impression of her.

And Pei Ye clearly perceived that as she sat down, the voices of some people's discussions grew louder, some people stopped talking, and others became gentle and elegant.

Just then, he saw her lower her head to tidy up her books, turn her head, and say clearly: "Classmates, several teachers left articles before the tenth day. Those who have finished can write down their names and hand them to me."

Pei Ye was startled, and the lecture hall suddenly fell silent. Then, someone quickly straightened their collars and walked over, handing over the folded papers in order. Everyone who delivered them bowed very politely, all whispering a sentence like "Thank you, Classmate Changsun" or "Please, Classmate Changsun, submit this."

The girl returned the courtesy one by one.

Before long, there were three stacks of different sizes on her desk. The girl moved the heaviest stack to the floor with some difficulty, while Pei Ye was somewhat confused.

He looked at these booklet-like things. He hadn't come for the previous lessons, so he didn't know what they were handing in, especially the heaviest stack, the thinnest of which had fifteen or sixteen pages. He didn't know which teacher had left it.

Seeing that no one else was coming to hand them in, he finally couldn't help it: ". This classmate."

"Hmm?" The girl turned her warm, bright eyes with some surprise.

"That, I have an assignment for Dr. Xu Chuo, it's... discussing Confucius's way of ruler and subject. I don't know if you are collecting it?" Pei Ye asked somewhat hesitantly.

"I am collecting it, classmate. Just hand it to me." The girl nodded earnestly.

"Oh, oh, that's good." Pei Ye hurriedly flipped through his bag for the white paper he had written a third of with large characters, laughing on the side, "I didn't come for the previous lessons, so I didn't know what you were handing in."

The girl's bright eyes were puzzled: "Nothing was handed in?"

"It's this discussion of ruler and subject," Pei Ye still laughed. "Hasn't Dr. Xu Chuo's already been collected once? I see none here."

"There is, classmate."

". Ah?"

The girl pointed to the heaviest stack: "This is Dr. Xu's 'Discussion of Ruler and Subject'."

"."

"."

The girl's bright eyes looked at him with some confusion. Pei Ye stopped the action of digging into his bag and looked at the girl in front of him quietly.

"That..." he said after a silence, "I remember when she left the assignment, she said that in the 'Ba Yi' chapter, it says 'The ruler employs the subject with propriety, the subject serves the ruler with loyalty,' and in 'Feiyu Xian Jin' it says 'Serve the ruler with the Dao,' and to write according to serving the ruler with loyalty or with the Dao... I don't know, classmate, how do you interpret this topic?"

The girl tilted her head: "There is nothing to interpret about this topic. It basically means three layers of meaning."

Pei Ye had already stiffened.

"The first is to test the meaning of the classics. Although it says 'with loyalty or with the Dao,' in Confucius's mouth, it is actually the same meaning. The so-called 'subject serves the ruler with loyalty' does not mean flattering the ruler, but governing the country and performing one's duties with the Dao; that is loyalty to the ruler."

"In the 'Zi Lu' chapter, Confucius said when facing the ruler, 'If what he says is not good, and no one opposes him, is it not almost the case that a single word will ruin the state?' This is the same principle. If you really choose one side to refute the other, it is a misunderstanding of the classics."

Pei Ye was silent.

"The second is to criticize current politics. The so-called 'Serve the ruler with the Dao; if it cannot be done, then stop. Now, You and Qiu can be called capable subjects.' Today, the political scene is turbulent. Who is a 'capable subject'? Master Xu wants to see the insights of the students."

"The third is to state one's own feelings and ambitions. These are two sentences of Confucius discussing the way of being a subject. From this, one can express one's own wishes. This is the layer that widens the gap between articles—classmate, aren't you going to hand in your assignment?"

Pei Ye lowered his head silently and took out the white paper he had written less than half of, covering the first sentence "Serving the ruler should be done with the Dao" with his hand.

The girl looked at this paper with some surprise for the first time, looked at the boy's face as if to confirm, and then took it with some hesitation.

". That," the girl said after a silence, "if it is to be handed to Master Xu, you must write your name on it."

"Oh, oh."

In Pei Ye's embarrassment, he only heard a very small, indignant voice from the back two rows that would never be heard by others, but happened to enter the ears of a Sixth Life cultivator: "Damn, how can you pick up girls even by pretending to be an idiot!"

"Pavilion Master, whatever topic you leave for this 'Analects' in the future, can you explain it to me before letting me write?" After the morning class ended, Pei Ye followed Xu Chuo to the quiet room, his first sentence muffled.

Xu Chuo looked at him with slight suspicion: "Why?"

"These things have too many twists and turns," Pei Ye sighed lightly. "I am too stupid."

Xu Chuo looked at him again: ". I didn't expect you to have such a discouraged attitude."

Pei Ye shook his head silently, not saying a word.

Xu Chuo smiled lightly and pushed open the door: "I think you are spoiled by sword assignments. You want to understand the meaning of the classics after only a few lessons; others don't need to learn then."

". Maybe."

The two chatted as they walked into the room, and the topic returned to the Carp Pavilion case.

"The people from the Ministry of Justice that night cannot take action again recently," Xu Chuo said.

Pei Ye looked at her.

"If his movements are locked, the assassination attempt against me two years ago will happen again immediately."

Pei Ye frowned solemnly.

"But as long as Di Jiu is there, he can leverage some normal power, such as the Court of Judicial Review or the Sixteen Guards," Xu Chuo continued, scalding the teacup. "This is why I asked him to take the case—as long as the case is truly investigated, a Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is enough to push it to the end."

"I just don't know how Lord Di's progress is now."

"Employ people without suspicion."

"Mm."

The two were quiet for a while, and Xu Chuo suddenly said: "Let me see your article?"

". I handed it to that Classmate Changsun."

Just then, the door was knocked on very politely. Pei Ye answered the door and was startled to see it was the girl who sat with him in the lecture hall.

Her face was a bit strained as she held a large stack of booklets, and Pei Ye's light sheet of paper was thoughtfully tucked between two booklets.

The girl was also surprised to see him here, but she shook her head and didn't want Pei Ye's help, walking in by herself.

". Young Lady."

"Put it down." Xu Chuo looked up, poured three cups of tea, and gestured to Pei Ye. "Just in time to introduce you. This is the granddaughter of the Minister of Ceremonies, Changsun, the youngest 'master of the five classics' in the Imperial Academy, very earnest in her studies; Changsun, this is Pei Ye, very powerful with the sword."

The two exchanged greetings. As soon as Pei Ye raised his head, he saw Xu Chuo had keenly pulled that white paper out of the stack of folders.

"Is this yours?"

". Yes." Pei Ye drank the tea with True Qi to avoid the heat and bowed. "Pavilion Master, there is another class over there in the afternoon, so I will go first."

"Go."

Pei Ye rushed out the door.

"Is it that unbearable to look at?" Only the two remained. Xu Chuo unfolded the paper with a smile, scanned it twice, and laughed. "It seems he really read 'Mencius'."

Changsun looked over curiously, and Xu Chuo pointed out the boy's "citations": ". If the ruler treats his subjects like his own hands and feet, the subjects treat the ruler like their own heart and belly; if the ruler treats his subjects like dirt and mustard, the subjects treat the ruler like an enemy."

Changsun nodded hesitantly, but saw Xu Chuo calm down after laughing, her brows and eyes looking at these sentences quietly, silent for a long time.

Changsun rarely saw this overly beautiful face reveal such an expression of looking into the distance while leaning on a railing. It was usually peaceful, calm, and lightly smiling.

After a long time, the woman sighed softly, closing the page: "Truly good. Sword eyes and snow spirit, words cannot hide it... It should be so. This piece is selected as exquisite; transmit it to the lecture hall."

Changsun was stunned, not expecting such an evaluation at all, but saw Xu Chuo hand it to her: "The middle part is all filled with four-unlike things he racked his brains to fill in. Just look at the first and last sentences; that is his ambition."

Changsun looked down, and it read: "Serving the ruler should be done with the Dao... If the Dao is different, do not conspire together."

The girl was stunned for a moment.

But the next moment, in the quiet room, she suddenly sensed a heart-palpitating silence.

"Don't transmit it." Xu Chuo looked at the last page and changed her words calmly. "The writing is not clear; copy it ten times as punishment."

Changsun was completely stunned. Only then did she move her gaze to the "name" the boy had obediently added at the back.

"Pei Ye discusses Confucius's way of ruler and subject."

"—Submitted to the teacher, Xu Chu."