When Shang Zhuo spoke such words, he immediately drew the displeasure of his fellow students.
Someone elbowed him hard. “Shang Zhuo, what are you saying? Is that any way to speak of our master? We stand united against outsiders, not among ourselves.”
“That’s right, why are you taking their side?”
His fellow students all began reproaching him.
They couldn’t understand why he would cater to outsiders and publicly slander their own teacher.
Lin Shu, already irritable and agitated, immediately glared fiercely at the usually taciturn Shang Zhuo upon hearing these words. He clenched his fists, his jaw itching with the urge to grind his teeth. If it weren’t for the fact that he was his fellow student and study companion, he would definitely go forward and give him a good beating.
But in contrast to the fierce accusations of others, Jingrong looked at him with slightly appreciative eyes, thinking to himself that this person was intelligent indeed.
Shang Zhuo paid no heed to others’ verbal reproaches. Instead, he boldly met Jingrong’s gaze and said, “Although our master has many peculiarities, fortunately, the material for joyful learning lies in ritual education, and human impetuousness lies in sharp cleverness. What our master teaches us may be closed Confucian instruction, but meticulousness is thoroughness, and strict precision is respecting the way. Though it doesn’t follow the heart, the academic atmosphere is open-minded and not rigid, and it respects ancient classical literature. Moreover, those great principles in books are inherently useless and unheard of—so-called drawbacks aren’t really worth preserving, are they? Our master’s knowledge and insight are extremely elevated. Though he appears proud and aloof by temperament, in truth, he is a true teacher of the sagely way.”
Everyone was dumbfounded!
Shang Zhuo’s coursework wasn’t the most outstanding among the many students at the academy, but the words he just spoke were full of philosophical reasoning.
This also drew Ji Yunshu’s attention!
Naturally, she looked at him a few more times. That man had a gentle, kind face, lacking the proud bearing of a noble young master but possessing more of the refined scholarly air of a literatus. And from the moment this group entered, she had noticed the other four people’s books were dripping wet in their hands, while his alone was tucked inside his clothing, not a drop of rain on it!
This showed he was a true Confucian scholar.
These words from Shang Zhuo made Jingrong nod in admiration. “That’s right. Master Yu is indeed a true teacher of the sagely way. Although his temperament is peculiar, he is a rare sage. Over the past several decades, among those who placed in the top three in the Dalin imperial examinations, two were Master Yu’s students. The current Minister Chao and Minister Liu of the Personnel Ministry’s Records andè° Department, Minister Jiang Cheng of the Rites Ministry, Master Lin Si of the Hanlin Academy’s Transcription Office, and Secretary Bing of the Records Academy—all studied under Master Yu’s tutelage. Even His Majesty the Emperor must respectfully address him as teacher. Though he may be notorious, in terms of literary principles and righteousness, there is none before him and none after.”
The others were truly bewildered!
This person was truly strange—just now he had disparaged Master Yu, and now he was praising him to the heavens.
They didn’t understand his approach.
Lin Shu glanced at him. “You certainly switch your thinking remarkably fast.”
Jingrong smiled.
Shang Zhuo also smiled and said, “Actually, it’s not that this young master switches quickly, but rather that his earlier words only told half the story.” He cupped his hands in salute toward Jingrong. “Shang Zhuo, lacking in talent, spoke the other half of what you hadn’t yet said, young master. Please don’t laugh at me.”
Very polite.
And extremely clever!
Jingrong greatly appreciated this person. He stepped forward and stood before him. “You’re called Shang Zhuo?”
“Yes.”
“Compared to your fellow students, you appear much more calm and steady in temperament.”
“You’re too kind, young master.”
Jingrong pondered, then said, “If I remember correctly, because the current Crown Prince passed away, the spring examinations originally scheduled for March were postponed to July. Counting the days, next month you’ll need to go to the capital to participate in the metropolitan examinations at the Ministry of Rites examination hall. Why aren’t you staying properly at the academy, waiting to go to the capital for the examinations?”
“Precisely because we’re going to the capital in a few days, our master had us go down the mountain to purchase some books to bring along. Who knew it would rain on the way back?”
“Oh.” He drew out the sound, nodded, and said, “After the July metropolitan examinations comes the palace examination. As students of Master Yu of Mingshan Academy, I believe you’ll certainly obtain the tribute scholar title and compete for the top three positions.”
Shang Zhuo said humbly, “I’ll borrow your auspicious words, young master.”
At this moment, Muruo, sitting in the corner of the pavilion, slowly opened the wine flask he carried with him and took several consecutive gulps.
The wine’s aroma mixed with the scent of rainwater, permeating the pavilion and instead releasing a somewhat sweet fragrance.
Only Lin Shu frowned, wrinkled his nose, then covered it with his hand, glaring at Muruo with great distaste.
Muruo said with narrowed eyes, “I think this rain won’t stop for a while. Since Mingshan Academy is just ahead, why not walk a bit further and rest at Mingshan Academy for the night, then set out again tomorrow morning?”
Lin Shu snorted coldly. “Our academy has never accepted miscellaneous outsiders.”
“Whether they accept or not depends on who the people are. Your Master Yu wouldn’t refuse anyone, but us—he wouldn’t dare refuse.”
“Such big talk.”
Muruo smiled and didn’t respond further, only pouring another mouthful of wine into his mouth.
Jingrong actually agreed with what Muruo had just said. The northern terrain was complex, and with the heavy rain making the road surface slippery, if they traveled through the night, something unexpected or chaotic might inevitably occur. If they could lodge at Mingshan Academy for the night, that wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
So he simply instructed Lang Bo, “After the rain lets up a bit, we’ll go to Mingshan Academy.”
“Does this subordinate need to notify Master Yu in advance?”
“No need. Let’s give him a surprise.”
“Yes!”
A surprise? Better hope you don’t startle Master Yu—after all, he was already an elderly man past sixty years of age and couldn’t handle being frightened.
After the rain gradually stopped, Jingrong had wanted to invite those students to ride in the carriage together, but they were stubborn by nature. Clutching their dampened books, they quickly ran off toward the academy.
Mingshan Academy wasn’t very far from here either. The carriage proceeded slowly and arrived after about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense!
Lin Shu and the others, who had hurried back to the academy first, immediately went to find Master Yu after changing into clean Confucian robes.
At that moment, Master Yu was dozing in his study, sitting hunched over against the back of a pear wood chair, head lowered and eyes squinting. His face couldn’t be seen, only his head of white hair and grizzled beard, while in his hands he still held a discipline ruler.
In the room, there were also the sounds of birds chirping!
Accompanied by the fine drizzling rain, it was indeed a good time for a nap.
“Master.”
Lin Shu walked in with light steps and called out!
No movement.
“Master.” He called out again.
Only then did Master Yu shake his head, lift his face, stroke his long grizzled beard, and stare at the visitor before him with eyes reduced to mere slits.
“You’ve returned?” His voice was very deep and hoarse.
“Yes.”
“Did you purchase all the books?”
“We did purchase them, but it rained heavily outside, and quite a few books got wet.”
“Oh.” Master Yu was adept at drawing out his sounds. His head turned, assuming the posture of a lazy, leisurely elderly man in his twilight years. He looked at Lin Shu again. “Then what are you standing there for? Go dry the books.”
Lin Shu swallowed his words for a moment but didn’t leave.
Master Yu placed the discipline ruler in his hand on the table and asked, “Is there something else?”
“Master, a group of people has arrived outside and is heading toward our academy, saying they want to lodge here for the night.”
Lodge for the night?
Master Yu’s wrinkled face instantly darkened. He waved his sleeve. “Chase them away, chase them away.”
Lin Shu secretly smiled to himself. “Yes, this student will go chase them away immediately.”
After responding, he bowed again in salute and left.