The more Ren Shuquan spoke, the more agitated he became, completely disregarding the Director of Studies’ face, which had darkened like the bottom of a pot. Pointing at Xie Ying, he demanded, “Brother Xie, you tell us! Tell us, what exactly do we study for?!”
The Director of Studies immediately turned to look at his prized student and subtly shook his head.
This absolutely could not be handled recklessly.
This had already become a political matter.
These students were about to take the imperial examinations. If they got dragged into a political vortex at a time like this, their futures could be considered completely ruined.
But Xie Ying pretended not to see it and instead raised his voice: “To establish the heart for Heaven and Earth, to secure life for the common people, to continue the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!”
At the Imperial Academy, he had always been a prominent figure.
After all, he was a provincial graduate from one region, handsome and refined, from a good family, and favored by the Jijiu and the Directors of Studies alike. One could say he basked in limitless glory.
Students were like this, once one person took the lead and charged forward, it became very easy to stir their emotions.
The moment Xie Ying said this, every single person’s blood boiled with fervor.
The Director of Studies shut his eyes. For a moment, he even wanted to go over and shake Xie Ying’s brain.
What exactly was inside that head of his?!
Was this something he could involve himself in?!
Meanwhile, after a brief silence, the other students erupted into deafening shouts.
Almost all the students raised their hands and repeated Xie Ying’s words: “To establish the heart for Heaven and Earth, to secure life for the common people, to continue the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!”
Ren Shuquan also struggled free and rushed to the very front, continuously shouting, “To establish the heart for Heaven and Earth, to secure life for the common people, to continue the lost teachings of past sages, and to bring peace to all generations!”
Watching this, goosebumps rose all over Chang An’s skin. He hurriedly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked at Xie Ying beside him. “Y-you… why did you say that?! It’s over now! Everything’s over!”
“How is this over?” Xie Ying lowered his voice and pulled Chang An closer. “Do me a favor.”
Chang An gave an “Ah?” “I’m not delivering food to you in prison! You brought this on yourself.”
Xie Ying knocked him on the head. “What nonsense are you talking about? I’m asking you to go say a few words to Ren Shuquan.”
Chang An normally hated Ren Shuquan the most.
Hearing this, he immediately curled his lip. “Are you crazy? I’m not crazy. No way!”
Why the h*ll would he lose his mind and mingle with someone like that?
Xie Ying merely laughed. “If you go, I guarantee you’ll never have to see Ren Shuquan again. Are you going or not?”
Chang An was half-convinced.
But after another thought, well, Xie Ying had never lied.
What he said was always true.
He immediately asked, “Say what?”
“Go tell him that this commotion still isn’t enough. If they only make trouble like this, only people inside the Imperial Academy will know about it. Once the Jijiu and the others arrive, they’ll suppress everyone immediately.”
Xie Ying slightly curled his lips. “If he wants to make the matter as big as possible, he has to go outside. Tell him to go to the Confucius Temple and bring out Sage Confucius himself.”
?!
Huh?!
Chang An’s legs instantly went weak as he stared at Xie Ying in disbelief.
Did Xie Ying even know what he was saying?
Had he gone insane?!
Xie Ying took a deep breath. Thinking back to when Qi Yuan had said those words to him, he himself had likewise been unable to believe it for a long time.
After all, something like this was utterly unheard of. Even if they racked their brains, they never could have imagined it.
Chang An was a little afraid.
Stammering, he said, “I-I… Xie Ying, y-you… don’t drag me into this. I don’t want to die yet.”
Even if he wasn’t the best student, he wasn’t so desperate as to go provoke Sage Confucius!
If his family’s old master found out, he’d beat him to death and send him down below to apologize to Confucius personally!
Xie Ying laughed softly. “What does it have to do with you? You’re only making a suggestion to him. Whether he listens or not, that depends on him.”
Chang An looked at him skeptically, feeling something was off.
Still, after a while, he went over and whispered it to Ren Shuquan.
When people were emotionally worked up, they were very easily swept away.
Especially with so many supporters around him, so many admiring gazes, so many people surrounding him, he would never in his life experience such attention again.
Filled with righteous fervor, Ren Shuquan seemed overflowing with strength. Immediately, he shoved aside the instructors and loudly called out to the students: “Fellow students! Do you want to seek justice for a loyal minister?! Do you want to leave behind an everlasting name?!”
The students all responded enthusiastically.
Ren Shuquan continued, “Now a loyal minister has suffered injustice, this is a grievance for the ages! We scholars endure years of bitter study in order to serve the country and uphold the realm. If we turn a blind eye to Lord Ren’s sacrifice, then how can we ever dare call ourselves scholars again?!”
As he spoke, he raised his arm and shouted: “Fellow students, let us go to the Confucius Temple! Let us invite out Sage Confucius’ statue and cry injustice for Lord Ren! Let us demand that His Majesty severely punish the Lu family and heavily punish the Imperial Grandson! Let us seek justice for Lord Ren!”
Chang An’s legs nearly gave out and sent him collapsing to the ground.
Good heavens.
These b*stards truly dared to imagine anything.
Where the h*ll had they gotten such courage?
Xie Ying did not laugh. Squeezed within the crowd, he suddenly felt someone seize his arm.
It was his teacher, Teacher Guo of the Imperial Academy.
Teacher Guo grabbed him tightly and urgently said, “You cannot go! Xie Ying, don’t join them in this nonsense! Someone has already gone to summon the Jijiu and the others. This matter is no trivial affair, you cannot get dragged into it!”
In truth, by now, Xie Ying’s task was already complete.
He had done everything he was supposed to do.
What Qi Yuan had asked of him was only this much.
But he still wanted to personally go out and see what would happen.
Thus he frowned worriedly and said, “Teacher Guo, this student does not approve of them doing this. I only want to go watch and see whether I can persuade some classmates to return.”
That made sense.
Teacher Guo sighed heavily. “Go then, but be careful.”
Ah, students had always been the hardest to guide.
Once they caused trouble, it was never a joke.
Every time, it became a massive incident with countless people killed.
Teacher Guo stomped off to find help.
Xie Ying, meanwhile, followed the tide of people out of the Imperial Academy. He then watched as Ren Shuquan arrogantly led the students, attracting countless bystanders to join them along the way, until they reached the Confucius Temple.
There, they beat the guards protecting the temple, causing a clash.
Then Ren Shuquan emerged slowly from the Confucius Temple, holding Sage Confucius’ statue in his arms.
By this point, the Patrol Office and Military Command Bureau had already received the news and hurriedly brought men over.
Half the capital had been alarmed.
Students risking their lives to storm the Confucius Temple and carry out Sage Confucius’ statue,
D*mn it, since the founding of this dynasty, this had never happened before!
It was utterly unheard of!
People rushed around spreading the news.
Qi Zhen had just been drinking tea at home, thinking life had become somewhat dull.
Qi Yuan had said to wait a little longer, but it had already been quite some time. Why was there still no movement at all?
Instead, the Ren family’s reputation was only growing better and better.
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