The first long reply did not blame Lu Meir, but expressed his point of view with abundant emotions, that is, he could accept Lu Meir, but his ancestors could not accept it, and those women whose ancestors sacrificed their lives but could not go to school could not accept it either, so he believed that Lu Meir should not become a student.
Soon, someone refuted his point of view.
"I am a descendant of an aristocratic family, and I already know part of the conversation between Fang Sheng and the head of the Kong family. Fang Sheng has a point of view that particularly shocked me, that is, we must expand the scale of looking at problems, and continue to expand it to the limit of our understanding. When we measure it from the entire historical timeline that runs through the human race, we will find that our ancestors who used slash-and-burn farming back then may not accept us wearing gorgeous clothes, and the ancestors of the Shang and Zhou dynasties may not be willing to abolish slavery. The ancestors before Confucius also believed that only a few people deserved education. And just a few days ago, no, it can even be said that now and for quite a long time, there are still people who think that women should not participate in the imperial examinations, but I want to end my reply by quoting Fang Sheng's three shortcomings."
"Don't be afraid of natural disasters! Don't follow the example of your ancestors! Don't be concerned about what people say!"
Then, someone else counterattacked the first long article.
"If I were a woman, my father died fighting against the demons, and I worked hard as a worker and farmer in order not to sell myself to brothels, and had no time to study, yes, I would indeed complain. But what would I complain about? Would I complain about those brothel girls? No! Why? It's very simple, their hearts are more miserable than mine! Do you understand? It was miserable when I was working and farming, but it was my body that suffered, and my spirit and my heart were at most exhausted. I am self-reliant and I am a healthy person. I may feel miserable occasionally, but more often, when I see those brothel girls, my heart is full of pride. I don't despise them, but I am indeed a little nobler than them!"
"If I complain, what will I complain about? I will first complain about the monsters because they killed my father! What will I complain about next? I will complain about the officials because they did not help the families of martyrs like me. It was those damned officials that made me have no time to study! What will I complain about last? The last thing I will complain about is those people who stand at the top of the human race. Yes, I understand them. They are not omniscient and omnipotent, but they certainly did not do better!"
"So, the girls will be jealous of Lu Meir, and even feel a little resentful, but in the end, they will all think that she should become a student!"
However, few people objected to the long second article.
Because Su Ling's reply angle was very clever. While talking about emotions, she also incorporated facts. She did not criticize, blame, or accuse. The final point of view was that Lu Meir was just proving that she was not wrong. This was a very peculiar angle, so much so that many people felt that if they pursued it relentlessly, they would not be able to live with their conscience, so they simply did not fight back against this long reply.
Although the opposing side did not object to Su Ling's reply, they still argued from various angles to oppose Lu Meir's becoming a student.
A whole day later, the heat of the debate has not dissipated.
Many people started to open new articles on the debate list, sorting out the views of both sides, and then listing the excellent debate responses and commenting on them one by one.
Since it is a commentary on both sides' views, it is necessary to remain neutral and objective. Therefore, this situation occurred for the first time in the history of the discussion list. Although everyone was forcibly divided into camps, there were almost no arguments or mutual attacks in the popular articles. Everyone was praising the debate responses, and occasionally some flaws were pointed out. The original authors whose flaws were pointed out were not angry, but expressed gratitude.
In the storm, the boat does not sink.
This led to more and more people, because they were able to look at the debate calmly, began to look calmly at Lu Meir's becoming a student, and even looked calmly at boys and girls taking the exam together.
The impact was enormous, because all the articles on the discussion board were conveying one message: we were only discussing whether Lu Meir should become a student. As for whether boys and girls should take the exam together, there was no need to consider it. It had become a fact anyway, so there was no need to object.
Miscellaneous scholars and the scholars of Qing Kingdom soon realized that something was wrong and that this was Fang Yun's way of shifting the focus. While they admired him in their hearts, they began to act.
So, some people continued to attack Lu Meir viciously, but others started to flatter her to death!
"Lu Meir is the perfect Saint. I think the Holy Academy should admit her into the Holy Academy and make her a Saint, the same as a Void Saint!"
"You men are so despicable. In terms of talent and virtue, most of you are not as good as Lu Meir, so please shut up. Lu Meir will definitely become a great scholar or even a semi-saint in the future!"
"Lu Meir was forced into everything she did. She is innocent and has done absolutely nothing wrong. It is us men who are wrong! We must clear all stigma for Lu Meir and make her the spiritual leader of us scholars!"
The flattery of Lu Meir naturally caused more intense criticism, and the original good situation of the discussion list began to waver.
Until Lu Meir's own reply appeared in the debate article.
"What a twist of fate. Since I have been assigned to the opposing side, let me tell you why I shouldn't support myself in becoming a Tongsheng!"
"I have been stained with filth, I have experienced darkness, I have suffered humiliation, but this is really nothing, I have already accepted it calmly. I also naively thought that even if I was attacked after passing the imperial examination, I would still be able to bear it. But I was wrong, I was already on the verge of collapse, and I could not bear the accusations of the world."
"I can confidently say that I, Lu Meir, am definitely one of the strongest women in the human race, but even I cannot bear this kind of pressure. I naturally think that Lu Meir should not become a student, nor should I hope that other women from brothels should participate in the imperial examinations."
"These days, I finally know that this is not a world that believes in education for all, this is not a world where the glory of Confucius shines, and this is not a world where people who have changed their ways can start over! This world does not tolerate the filth on others, the shadows behind others, or anyone who stands in the darkness and looks up to the light!"
"Lu Meir, you are not worthy of this world."
"So, I, Lu Meir, shouldn't become a student!"
“But I have no regrets.”
Lu Meir's response brought a brief lull in the debate.
Many people could see that Lu Meir was full of anger and helplessness when she replied.
There was nothing wrong with her debate angle. She could no longer bear the pressure, so in order to avoid death, she simply decided not to be a student and avoid the rumors and even attacks.
However, any rational and educated person can understand what Lu Meir really meant.
If a girl in a brothel cannot become a scholar, it is not because of sin, not because of mistake, not because of lack of knowledge, but simply because of the accusations of others. Such a world is not a world for scholars!