There was an elegant elder named Cui Wenzhao, from the Cui Family in Lincang, currently serving as the Director of the Rituals Department.

Cui Wenzhao wore a moon-white scholar's robe, with a gauze cap on his head, a golden ribbon around his waist, and a ring and pendant on the right side, a Gentleman's Long Sword on the left.

After standing up, he first bowed to the high screen, then cupped his hands and bowed to Lu Zhiyuan.

After the ceremony, he leisurely said, "Rituals are about restraining oneself and knowing action through adherence to etiquette, that is the mark of a gentleman."

Lu Zhiyuan sneered.

"When did Cui Sheng become a gentleman?"

Embarrassment flashed across Cui Wenzhao's face, knowing that Lu Zhiyuan was subtly referring to the time in Lincang during their academic debate when Cui secretly went to the Inspectorate to report because he couldn't win the argument.

Yet, at this point, he could only use all he had learned in his life to defeat Lu Zhiyuan from the angle of "rituals" in front of Emperor Yu and the scholars of the world, leaving him no room to turn around.

"Whether I am a gentleman is for others to evaluate, please debate, Lu Sheng."

Fearing that Lu Zhiyuan would expose his deeds in front of so many people, Cui Wenzhao quickly changed the subject.

Lu Zhiyuan shook his head with a smile, then lifted the tea cup in front of him.

"Gentlemen, consider this cup as 'ritual', and the tea inside as 'emotion'. If one holds strictly to form, the tea stagnates, what difference is there from stagnant water?"

Cui Wenzhao snorted coldly: "Lu Sheng, your words are greatly mistaken. The clearly states: men at capping, women at hairpin, to restrain oneself and return to rituals, this is the order of heaven and earth. To act casually, how is that different from a beast?"

With these words, everyone in the hall nodded in agreement.

Clearly, everyone agreed with Cui Wenzhao's statement.

Lu Zhiyuan slowly stood up and looked outside the hall.

"Earlier, did anyone notice the two intertwined pines in the garden outside the hall?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked toward the garden outside and indeed saw two intertwined ancient pine trees, which was quite peculiar.

Lu Zhiyuan continued, "Two intertwined trees, does it hinder their towering stature?"

"Rituals should be like a bamboo frame supporting seedlings, not iron chains binding giant trees."

"Lu believes, rituals are cultivation, beginning in the heart, arising from emotion, not... performed outwardly."

As he said this, he smiled at Cui Wenzhao.

The implication was clear.

Rituals are a form of cultivation; if one's inner cultivation is lacking, merely doing it on the surface is hypocrisy, not understanding rituals.

After hearing this, Cui Wenzhao's face turned red, and his fingers trembled as he angrily pointed at Lu Zhiyuan!

"Nonsense!"

"Nonsense!"

"The gentleman's path of rituals is the standard set by the sages, you are distorting it!"

"Your Majesty, I request to punish Lu Zhiyuan for the crime of disrespect in the hall!"

Seeing the old man's fit of anger, Shen Wenyan couldn't help but speak:

"Roaring in the hall, who is truly disrespectful, let the scholars decide."

Some Confucian scholars and courtiers in the hall all looked at Cui Wenzhao with peculiar expressions, apparently not expecting this man, always self-proclaimed as knowledgeable in rituals and regarded as a paragon of gentleman, would be so easily unmanned by mere words.

Engaging in such a discourteous act as "roaring in the hall."

Clang!

A copper bell rang behind the screen, and everyone stopped their discussions.

Cui Wenzhao realized his loss of composure at this point and sat back in his original seat, pale-faced.

"The lord asks again, what is…"

"Your Majesty, I have a word."

Before the eunuch's words were finished on the high platform, an elder with a full head of white hair slowly walked out from behind seven great scholars, bowing as he spoke.

The eunuch glanced at him and turned to head behind the screen.

After a moment—

"Xun Sheng, please speak."

Upon receiving permission, the elder cupped his hands, then turned to Lu Zhiyuan, a hint of apology in his eyes.

"I know Song Yan has great talent, yet when a boat sails in a torrent, a sharp turn may capsize it. Does Song Yan know this?"

"Song Yan" was the style name of Lu Zhiyuan, using it signified Xun Zaizhou's respect and acknowledgment for him.

The people present may not have understood Xun Zaizhou's words, but Lu Zhiyuan seemed thoughtful.

"Song Yan, listen, in the past on the streets of the Royal City, there was a cart driver named Zhao Er. His cart carried three people, and suddenly he went into a frenzy in the bustling street, recklessly colliding."

"If Song Yan were the commander of the Forbidden Army dealing with this, how would you decide?"

When Xun Zaizhou finished speaking, everyone in the hall frowned in deep thought.

Someone secretly proposed shooting Zhao Er; once he's dead, the horse will soon stop without anyone driving it.

But this statement was immediately opposed by others.

Zhao Er bore no guilt; he simply fell ill suddenly. He shouldn't die for this. What would his family do if he were shot dead like this?

Someone else proposed shooting the horse pulling the cart; without the horse, the cart would soon come to a stop as well.

However, this proposal was instantly denied by those knowledgeable in carriage driving.

If the horse were suddenly shot during a fast ride, the carriage would surely overturn, injuring or even killing the passengers.

"If letting him recklessly drive on the street, those common people would also suffer!"

Even this and that were not feasible, someone couldn't help but speak out.

Shen Wenyan behind Lu Zhiyuan looked worriedly.

This was a tricky problem, and he didn't know how his teacher would respond.

Lu Zhiyuan furrowed his brows and thought for a long time, then relieved, smiled lightly, and looked at Xun Zaizhou.

A hint of sorrow appeared on Xun Zaizhou's face. He solemnly made a grand salute to him, then turned to bow to the screen on the high platform: "Your Majesty, forgive me, this old minister takes his leave."

Watching Xun Zaizhou's departing figure, Lu Zhiyuan slowly turned around, looked at Shen Wenyan behind him, and gave a gentle smile.

"Ah Nu, I must leave."

Shen Wenyan was dumbfounded and somewhat anxious, "Teacher, you can answer, you surely can!"

When imprisoned by the Inspectorate, Emperor Yu had issued an Imperial Decree stating that if Lu Zhiyuan won against the great scholars in the court debate, he could be pardoned.

The first two debate topics were easily won by Lu Zhiyuan. Although this topic seemed tricky, he believed his teacher could answer it.

Lu Zhiyuan shook his head slightly, slipping a note into his hand.

"Look at it when you return to Jinliu Village."

"I've been secluded for years, writing down half a volume of sentiments. Later, let Uncle Ya take you to get it."

Having finished these instructions, he turned with pride, slightly bowing to the screen on the high platform: "Your Majesty, I have lost."

Upon these words, many students and courtiers in the hall let out a sigh of relief unanimously.

They truly feared Lu Zhiyuan would defeat Xun Zaizhou, who hailed from the Confucius Temple.

If indeed it reached that point, it would likely cause a great upheaval in the literary circles of Great Yu, even impacting the path of sages and worthies tirelessly sought by scholars.

Now, Lu Zhiyuan lost, which represented the correctness of the sages' path and turned his words into heresy scorned by the people.

"Teacher!"

Shen Wenyan rushed over, dropping to his knees.

Lu Zhiyuan gently lifted him, "Do not mourn, I die for the path in my heart, fortunate indeed."

After saying this, he calmly awaited the verdict from the high platform.

The eunuch stepped out from behind the screen, looking at Lu Zhiyuan with pity, pronouncing loudly:

"The Imperial Decree, Lu Zhiyuan, Doctor of the Imperial Academy, acts with reckless arrogance, insubordinately offending above, deserving the utmost punishment. Yet, due to his advanced age and his past teaching grace towards me, I cannot bear to kill him. Therefore, order the Inspectorate to 'remove his tongue, rendering him unable to speak; sever his wrist, rendering him unable to write' as punishment. His student, Shen Wenyan, and servant, Uncle Ya, are to receive twenty strokes and house arrest for ten years as deterrence."

Upon the eunuch's announcement, over ten Black Scale Guards rushed in from outside the hall, taking the two away.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.