The Path of the Sage

Chapter 56: Please choose

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In the early summer morning, the sky is unusually clear, and the blue gradually deepens from near to the horizon.

The weather was not as hot as it was at noon, and the carriage moved slowly in the cool breeze.

Fang Daniu drives carefully to avoid accidents in the city.

Tan Yu and Nie Shi looked normal, but they were extremely alert in their hearts, because Madam Fang and Butler Fang had already warned them many times that if Fang Yun was hurt today, then the relationship between them and the Fang family would be over.

Fang Yun had no mood to read. He slowly pondered the world, his future, and how to gain a foothold in the academy.

Entering the Fuwen Academy and becoming a "student" is a new step in life.

"What awaits me in the Fuwen Academy is a brilliant and colorful life, or a stormy and muddy journey?"

Not long after, Fang Daniu said from outside: "Young Master, we have arrived at the Academy of Literature."

Fang Daniu's voice sounded a little nervous.

Fang Yun smiled slightly, put his book box on his back, lifted the door curtain, got off the carriage and looked forward.

The prefectural academy of literature is very similar to the county academy of literature and the state academy of literature, and there is a huge square in front of each of them.

This prefectural academy was even larger than the provincial academy, because during the prefectural examination, tens of thousands of students were accepted here to take the examination for the title of scholar. The provincial academy only accepted scholars to take the examination for the title of juren, and the number of scholars was far less than that of students, so the area it occupied was not as large as that of the prefectural academy.

The Fuwenyuan has a main gate and six side doors. The main gate is closed and only two side doors are open.

It was still early and there were few people on the street. A few scholars or students were entering the Fuwen Academy carrying their book boxes.

Tan Yu whispered, "There's nothing unusual around here, no one will do anything here. Daniu will stay outside to watch the car, and Nie Shi and I can go in as attendants."

Fang Yun did not answer Tan Yu because he saw three familiar faces at the side door. They were all from the Lishan Society who had invited him to attend the poetry meeting a few days ago. Among them was Gao Minghong, his fellow villager from Ji County.

As soon as Gao Minghong saw Fang Yun, he waved and walked over quickly.

Gao Minghong's face was gloomy. He walked closer and then said, "Fang Yun, something's going to happen!"

"What's wrong?"

"I just learned the news a quarter of an hour ago. Liu Zicheng and other members of the Ying Society suddenly gathered at the place where the new students reported, and also called in many students. The strangest thing is that even Wei Yuanjun suddenly showed up. It is impossible for him to receive the new students in person. We in the Lishan Society also hurriedly gathered together. Many people got the news and came. Now most of the people in the Wen Academy are behind the door, and more are on their way. I suspect that they are targeting you, so I am waiting outside the door to give you a warning."

Fang Yun's expression changed slightly after hearing this, and he said, "Liu Zicheng is indeed still determined to do evil, and he finally came out in person this time. Can you guess what they are going to do?"

Gao Minghong shook his head and said, "We have discussed for a long time but have not come to a conclusion. After all, this is the prefectural academy of literature. It is not possible to hurt you. Your safety is not a problem. At most, they will attack your literary reputation. You are famous for your poetry and lyrics, so you are not afraid of their provocation. Liu Zicheng is not stupid enough to use the old method to attack you. As for writing a policy essay on the meaning of the classics, it is also impossible. You have just become a student. If they test you with a policy essay on the meaning of the classics, even if you keep silent, it will not affect your literary reputation."

"I thought about it a few days ago, but I still have no clue. After all, Liu Zicheng comes from a famous family. He has the Lord of the Guards below him and the Left Prime Minister above him. There are so many things he can do, and I can't guard against them." Fang Yun said.

Gao Minghong looked worried and said, "If it was just Liu Zicheng and the Yingshe people who were targeting you, I wouldn't be so worried. After all, the Yingshe doesn't belong to Liu Zicheng. Since Yan Yue and others got into trouble, many people have stayed away from Liu Zicheng, and his influence in the Yingshe has greatly decreased. Those who support you have the upper hand. But now that Wei Yuanjun is here in person, this matter will never end well. After all, Wei Yuanjun can decide everything."

Fang Yun asked: "No matter how powerful the Wei Yuanjun is, he is not greater than the national law! Can he just kick me out of the Fu Wenyuan?"

"He can't kick you out directly, but if he finds an excuse, he can kick you out. If he's more ruthless, he might seal your academic record and prevent you from going to any academy or college, or even make it difficult for you to take the imperial examination. I used to hope that you could go to the state academy, but if you go to the state academy, I'm afraid that the left prime minister's faction will use this to attack Jianmei Gong for abusing his power. After all, Jingguo has never had a precedent of a student going to a state academy. Although other countries have had it, they were all recommended by the saintly families."

Fang Yun said, "Now that I'm at the door, I have to go in, otherwise he will definitely punish me for skipping school or being late. Let's go, I want to see what Liu Zicheng and Wei Yuanjun can do! This Dayuan Mansion is not named Liu! No matter what tricks he uses, we will stop him! Liu Zicheng can't stop my holy way!"

Fang Yun's eyes were determined. He straightened his chest slightly, raised his head, and walked forward with steady steps without any fear.

The vortex of literary talent in the Wen Palace was spinning faster and faster.

Gao Minghong and the others looked at each other and nodded in agreement. Regardless of Fang Yunwen's reputation and literary talent, his calm attitude in the face of danger and his fearless spirit were not something that ordinary people could compare to.

"It's no coincidence that he became a Shengqian student." A scholar whispered.

The others nodded and followed Fang Yun forward.

Tan Yu and Nie Shi looked at Fang Yun with strange eyes. They could not imagine that Fang Yun at this moment was like a veteran going to the battlefield, with a strong will, like a reef standing firm in the tsunami.

There was no one checking at the door, so Fang Yun and others entered smoothly.

Fang Yun looked around and saw a row of tables about ten steps away.

Fang Yun originally thought that this place should be the place to receive the fourteen new students. A few lecturers and some servants would be enough to take the students and their families to their respective dormitories and then introduce them to the rules of the Fuwen Academy.

However, the actual situation there was completely different from what Fang Yun had originally imagined.

Several officials in official uniforms sat behind the table, while hundreds of people stood on both sides and around the table. Most of them were scholars studying in the provincial academy of literature, and there were about twenty students. The rest were low-ranking officials or even runners.

More than two hundred people were there watching Fang Yun.

There was no wind at the entrance of the Academy of Literature. It should have been warm under the summer sun, but everyone felt that it was like early spring here and the chill had not yet dissipated.

Fang Yun felt a little cold.

Wan Xuezhen, the examiner of the Ji County examination, was also among them. He looked serious and nodded to Fang Yun, his eyes seeming to remind Fang Yun to be careful.

Fang Yun saw Liu Zicheng standing among those scholars.

He was a very handsome young man, with fair skin and elegant appearance.

The two people's eyes met, one had a slightly cold expression, the other had a blank expression, and soon they glanced at each other like strangers.

Each of them saw a ferocious beast in the other's eyes.

Fang Yun bowed to the officials and said, "I am Fang Yun, a student. Greetings to all the gentlemen."

It was quite standard and there was nothing impolite about it.

Wan Xuezheng smiled and said, "As expected of you, you are the top scorer in Ji County, the top two in the county exam, and the emperor of Jing State. In just a few days, you have become even more elegant. If you cannot enter our academy, it will be a loss for Dayuan Prefecture. If it is snatched away by another prefecture, it will be a dereliction of duty. Lord Yuanjun, what do you think?"

The guard had a kind face, but his voice was a little sharp: "When we recruit people from the Academy of Literature, we first look at their moral character and then their talent. In my opinion, Fang Yun's admission to the Academy is like a rotten fish thrown into the pot, which has tarnished the reputation of our Academy."

Everyone knew that Li Wenying reprimanded Wei Yuanjun for Fang Yun, making Wei Yuanjun look bad in front of many officials. Everyone guessed that Wei Yuanjun would retaliate, but they didn't expect Wei Yuanjun to be so direct. This was definitely not normal.

Fang Yun looked at Wei Yuanjun and asked coldly, "Why do you say that, Yuanjun?"

"You attacked the important officials of the court when you were not a student. This is presumptuous! You spread the word without any evidence that Liu Zicheng wanted to kill you. This is slander! You were about to be classmates with Yan Yue and others, but you shattered their palace. This is tyranny! You wrote the article to strengthen the country and temper the courage, but you didn't know to hand it in to the imperial court. This is greed! How can a person who is presumptuous, slanderous, tyrannical and greedy be qualified to enter my Jingguofu Academy of Literature? As the head of the Dayuanfu Academy of Literature, I declare that Fang Yun, the first in the Ji County case, is morally corrupt, greedy and treacherous, and has no respect for the court. I cancel his qualification as a student and prohibit any academy or college from accepting this bastard!"

Gao Minghong and others turned pale, thinking that Liu Zicheng and Wei Yuanjun were too ruthless, because Wei Yuanjun made excuses based on "morality", even if Li Wenying came in person, he could not completely overturn Wei Yuanjun's evaluation.

From now on, Fang Yun will have to bear the label of "abandoned student of the Academy of Arts" for the rest of his life. He will be suspected of having done something extremely evil and will be looked down upon wherever he goes. If he is not determined enough, he will lose confidence and give up on himself, let alone study with peace of mind.

In their view, if the children of nobles were expelled from the Academy of Literature, they could still live a carefree life. However, Fang Yun was a child from a poor family and could only get ahead through studying. Unfortunately, he was rejected by the Academy of Literature and had to go to other academies and colleges to study. That would mean the end of his life.

Without a teacher's guidance for a long time, no matter how good your literary talent is, you will not be able to produce qualified interpretations of the classics, and you will not be able to pass the examination to become a scholar, let alone a juren.

Everyone couldn't help but feel fear, especially those poor students and scholars, who were afraid of incurring the wrath of Lord Wei. The chances of passing the imperial examination were already small, and if they were kicked out of the academy, it would be almost impossible for them to pass.

Expulsion from the Academy would be fatal to anyone.

But Fang Yun is different, he has his own world of wonderful books!

Fang Yun couldn't help but burst out laughing and looked at Liu Zicheng: "Brother Liu, is this your method? This trick may be useful to others, but it's not worth mentioning in my opinion! I know you have a backup plan, this is just the beginning, but do you think I will let you do it calmly!"

Liu Zicheng smiled and said, "Fang Yun, what are you talking about? How come I don't understand? It's obviously the Lord Yuan who thinks you are not qualified to be in the Academy of Literature. What does it have to do with me? Alas, you are just like what the outside world says, a young and arrogant man who has no respect for his elders. Lord Yuan, Fang Yun and I have met several times before. Although he is mean and greedy, he is still my friend in the past. Can you let him go?"

"This man is extremely evil and treacherous. Even if you recommend him, we cannot keep him here. Someone, drive him away!"

Six or seven officers came over, but Fang Yun took a deep breath and said, "Wait, you seem to have forgotten one thing! This Academy of Literature is not the Academy of the Lord, or even the Academy of Literature of Jing State, but the Academy of Literature of Confucius! It is the Academy of Literature of all saints! Everyone with a literary title can do one thing!"

"Fang Yun, don't do anything stupid!" Gao Minghong urged loudly.

"Master, you absolutely can't do that!" Tan Yu hurriedly stopped him.

Everyone stared with wide eyes and looked at Fang Yun in disbelief. Everyone guessed what Fang Yun was going to do.

Fang Yun faced the direction of the holy temple and bowed.

"Fang Yun, a student from Ji County, invites you to choose me!"

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Tomorrow is Monday again. I would like to ask for your recommendation votes in advance. Please let this book continue to be number one on the newcomer list and stay on the weekly recommendation list. I bow and thank you very much.