The First Lackey Under The Empress

As Song, the successful candidate in the imperial examination, was led away from the bustling streets and into a quiet alley next door, he saw Zhao Du'an leaning languidly in the carriage.

The carriage was parked quietly on the cobblestone road.

The windproof curtain of the carriage was lifted high, and Zhao Du'an was still flipping through several Confucian books annotated by Master Zhengyang. Now, he put down the books and revealed a smile:

"Old Mr. Song, how have you been?"

Seeing the infamous "Little Yama," a favorite of the Empress, the fifty-year-old Song, the successful candidate, trembled all over, and the surge of heat in his heart was instantly cooled by half.

It was as if, in the dead of winter, someone had stripped him naked and poured a bucket of water over his head.

His lips parted, and he stammered slightly, "Envoy Zhao..."

Zhao Du'an raised a hand and smiled:

"Don't call me that anymore. After returning to the capital, I ceased being an envoy long ago. Hmm, after I left, how is Taicang?"

Only then did Song, the successful candidate, wake up. He calmed his mind and began to recount the subsequent events.

There wasn't much that was surprising. After Zhao Du'an left, the Prefect Sun Xiaozhun took control of the overall situation.

He interrogated the other criminals involved in the silver mine case one by one and gradually dug deeper, and the entire prefectural prison was overcrowded for a time.

As one of those involved in the case, Song, the successful candidate, was also called by Sun Xiaozhun to answer questions several times. Although he returned unscathed each time, Song, the successful candidate, personally witnessed several families in the prefectural city with deeper roots than the Song Family Village being thrown into prison by the Prefect and their family property confiscated.

This caused a great shock to the old candidate who had lived a stable life for most of his life.

After that, his teacher Zhengyang passed through Taicang, and he went to escort him.

He entered the city muddle-headedly and also learned of the deaths of Gao Lian and Wang Chusheng.

"It's good that everything is stable," Zhao Du'an nodded, acting as if he were chatting with an old friend. Suddenly, he changed the subject and said:

"I heard that you followed Master Zhengyang to the capital. Did you just return from the Imperial Academy?"

Song, the successful candidate, shrank back, and nodding, he said with a stiff scalp:

"My teacher came to the capital, and as a disciple, I should serve him..."

He was very flustered!

Although he had the identity of the "Zhengyang School" to protect him, having witnessed Zhao Du'an's methods, he understood that this man could crush him without lifting a finger.

"Haha, don't be nervous," Zhao Du'an said, as if he had seen through his thoughts:

"Master Zhengyang has come here to issue a challenge to the imperial court, but although I am a martial artist, I have always respected learned scholars. Master Zhengyang's name is like thunder in my ears.

I was thinking of personally visiting him, but it is ultimately inconvenient. Haha, I happened to see you here, Song, the successful candidate, so it's perfect. I have some doubts about my studies. Could I ask you to enlighten me?"

He shook the representative work of Master Zhengyang in his hand, "Collected Annotations on the Six Scripts."

Song, the successful candidate, was stunned. This King Yama stopped him just to ask him about academics?

"This old man is shallow in learning and lacking in knowledge. I don't know what doubts you have, Lord Zhao?"

Zhao Du'an asked with a smile:

"What is true learning? What is the right path for scholars in their studies and conduct?"

That was it? Song, the successful candidate, was surprised. This question was precisely the theme of the academic discussion four days later, and he naturally knew it by heart. He said:

"The Sage said that investigating things to extend knowledge, and rectifying the heart with sincerity...is the path of virtue. Investigating things should mean thoroughly investigating the principles of things, so that understanding and knowledge reach the ultimate..."

As a disciple of Zhengyang, this set of theories was naturally the typical view of the Zhengyang School and a relatively orthodox theory in the Confucian circles of the Great Yu Dynasty.

The so-called "upholding true learning" was not to be unconventional, but to trace back to the source and reintroduce this set of theories.

Zhao Du'an revealed a look of realization, then frowned and said with a bitter face:

"I also saw this said in this book. But a few days ago, I heard a different statement that conflicts with this book, so I am confused."

Song, the successful candidate, asked curiously, "May I ask what statement you heard, sir?"

Zhao Du'an said lightly:

"Oh, it's roughly things like 'The mind is principle,' 'Extending innate knowledge,' and 'The unity of knowledge and action.'"

Seeing that Zhao Du'an had no intention of killing him and that the conversation had entered his most familiar field, Song, the successful candidate, relaxed a lot. Hearing this, he couldn't help but smile:

"Such a statement is truly...novel."

He deliberately used the neutral word "novel," but in his heart, he was disdainful.

There were too many scholars in the world who were unconventional and liked to come up with new words, seemingly profound words, for nothing more than to show off and seek fame.

Song, the successful candidate, had been studying for decades and was accustomed to this kind of thing. He instinctively looked down on it, thinking it was just some crazy student deliberately making strange remarks to attract attention.

But out of consideration for Zhao Du'an's identity, he couldn't belittle it.

"Lord Zhao, I can only say that in my many years of studying, I have never heard the Sage say anything similar," he said euphemistically.

"Is that so?" Zhao Du'an said with some disappointment, smiling, "I understand. Haha, I have something to do, so I'll leave first."

"Uh...I wouldn't dare delay your time, sir," Song, the successful candidate, cupped his hands and watched the carriage rumble away.

...

Once he was sure the carriage had left, he stood there blankly, frowning, feeling very strange.

Was he overthinking it?

Could it be that the man really just happened to meet him and chat for a few words?

That's right, he was just a minor successful candidate from a local area. What did he amount to that he deserved the special attention of the Empress's favorite minister?

Thinking this way, he relaxed his brow, put his mind at ease, and started walking back. But after walking dozens of steps, he frowned again:

"The mind is principle, extending innate knowledge, the unity of knowledge and action..."

"These words...seem..."

At first hearing, he had only thought it was nonsense, but now, as he pondered it, it was like aged tea, gradually exuding flavor.

Thinking about these words, Song, the successful candidate, unknowingly walked back to the inn where he was staying.

More than a hundred disciples of the Zhengyang School had entered the city, and one inn could not accommodate them all. Therefore, they were scattered in several inns.

Song, the successful candidate, was unable to stay with his teacher and only chose to stay in the same inn with several of his fellow disciples.

He went upstairs in a daze and was suddenly startled as a door opened to his side, and he accidentally collided with someone.

“Ah, Junior Brother Song, did you bump into something? Are you hurt?”

The person who emerged from the room was a middle-aged man with extraordinary bearing, about thirty or forty years old, yet he called the older Song scholar 'Junior Brother'.

This person was named Lu Cheng, one of Master Zhengyang's most prized students. He was the 'Senior Brother' to all the disciples, and also the disciple of the Zhengyang School who had truly received the 'true teaching'.

As the saying goes, in learning, there is no distinction between young and old; the accomplished are teachers. Therefore, this address of 'Junior Brother' was not out of place.

“Senior Brother Lu, I'm fine, I was just thinking about something.” Scholar Song regained his senses and waved his hand to indicate that he was alright.

Lu Cheng smiled and said, “Oh? You came back alone?”

“Yes,” Scholar Song briefly explained how his group had been kicked out of the Imperial Academy.

Then, almost inexplicably, he said:

“Senior Brother, there is something I don't understand. When I came back, I met a… uh, someone I knew, and we chatted. The topic of Correct Learning came up, and the other person proposed a viewpoint that I cannot comprehend.”

Lu Cheng smiled and said, “Oh? Tell me about it.”

“The mind is principle, extend the innate knowledge of good, the unity of knowledge and action.”

“…This, is rather… interesting, allow me to ponder it for a moment or two.”

“Alright, I will return to my room first and come back later to seek Senior Brother's guidance.”

Scholar Song took his leave, knowing that matters of learning required careful consideration.

…

Lu Cheng returned to his room, closed the door, and chewed on these words.

At first, he didn't pay much attention, but gradually, his brows furrowed.

He sat for a while, feeling his mouth dry and tongue parched. He got up, picked up the teapot, and poured himself some water. But just as he was pouring the water, a flash of lightning suddenly streaked through his mind.

It was as if he had been struck by five thunderbolts!

The mind is principle…

Extend the innate knowledge of good…

The unity of knowledge and action?

Lu Cheng was struck as if by lightning, his brain suddenly seized, and he entered a state of deep thought. His eyes were unfocused, but countless thoughts were churning in his mind.

“Splash, splash…”

The tea overflowed from the cup, but he didn't notice. He let the entire pot of water flow onto the table, and then trickle down onto the floor.

Completely unaware!

“That's not right… That's not right! Heretical theories, outrageous!?”

“But… if it were really like that, how could the investigation of things to extend knowledge be explained? Wouldn't Master's annotations be completely wrong? From the very beginning, was the fundamental direction wrong? How is that possible?”

“But, if I think about it like that, wouldn't it be…”

One thought after another leaped up in his mind like fish swimming in the sea, then fell back down, spreading ripples that were brewing into a storm.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

“Senior Brother… I've come to ask about that question…”

Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and Scholar Song returned.

He was speaking, but the next second he was stunned, staring blankly at the tea water flowing freely in the room, the wet books, and the teapot casually thrown on the table, almost rolling off the edge.

And at Senior Brother Lu, who seemed to be possessed, pacing back and forth in the room, muttering to himself.

“Senior Brother, what's wrong?” Scholar Song was dumbfounded.

He saw that Senior Brother Lu, who was usually well-composed, had the demeanor of a gentleman, and was gentle and polite to others, now had a somewhat distorted expression, and his condition was obviously not right.

Hearing the movement, Lu Cheng turned his head, revealing somewhat reddened eyes.

“Ah…” Scholar Song was startled. “Senior Brother, what's wrong with you…”

Lu Cheng took a deep breath, the confusion and madness in his eyes receded, and he regained clarity. He smiled apologetically, rubbed his face, and said:

“I was thinking about something, I was a little out of sorts.”

Lu Cheng thought for a moment, and carefully said to the still bewildered Scholar Song:

“About the matter you asked me, I also can't quite figure it out. How about this, I'll go out and consult Master.”

Scholar Song was taken aback. His scholarship was not solid enough, and he only felt that these few words seemed to contain profound mysteries, but he had not yet fully tasted their deep meaning.

Seeing that even the Senior Brother, whose scholarship was second only to the Master in the school, could not answer, he couldn't help but be shocked.

“But it's already dark…” he stammered slightly, “At this hour…”

Lu Cheng didn't listen at all and had already walked out, the sound of his footsteps going downstairs spreading:

“It's still early, there's still time.”

“Senior Brother Lu? Where are you going?”

At this moment, those disciples of the Zhengyang School who had gone out happened to return to the inn and couldn't help but ask.

Lu Cheng just waved his hand, without explaining in detail, and rushed out of the inn, leaving a group of people looking at each other in dismay.

…

Dusk had arrived, and the capital was shrouded in night.

Lu Cheng arrived at another, more imposing inn without stopping, and found that the guests outside the building were gradually dispersing, all of whom had come to visit Master Zhengyang after hearing the news.

However, to avoid disturbing their Master, almost all the guests were stopped by the disciples at the door.

“Senior Brother Lu? You've come?” A disciple asked in surprise.

Lu Cheng nodded and said, “I have something to discuss with Master.”

“Master is in his room in the inn.”

“Okay.”

As a member of the family, there was naturally no reason to stop him.

Lu Cheng passed through the crowd and arrived at the backyard of the inn, at the exclusive room for Zhengyang to reside in.

At this moment, the lights were already lit in the room.

After Lu Cheng knocked on the door and entered the room, he saw a middle-aged man wearing a Confucian robe, a square hat, and a beautiful beard under his chin, sitting upright behind his desk, flipping through the classics, preparing for the debate in a few days.

“Lu Cheng ah,” Master Zhengyang raised his head, revealing a smile, “Why have you come at this hour?”

Lu Cheng respectfully bowed, performing the disciple's greeting, and then said:

“Master, there is a matter of learning that I do not understand, so I have come to ask for guidance.”

Thanks to: Crow Feather wd for the 500 coin reward support!