CHAPTER 55: CHAPTER 55: DEBATE BEFORE THE COURT

In front of the Immortal Welcoming Garden, Shen Wenxing looked at the few Black Scale Guards at the entrance. After much hesitation, he resolutely stepped forward.

"Halt!"

"This is the Immortal’s mansion. No unauthorized persons are allowed near!"

Shen Wenxing quickly stopped in his tracks, bowed respectfully, and said, "I trouble you two to report to the Immortal that Shen Wenxing has come to visit."

Shen Wenxing?

The two Black Scale Guards exchanged glances. One of them furrowed his brow slightly and said impatiently, "The Emperor has decreed that even the crown princes and noble heirs are not to disturb the Immortal’s cultivation. Leave at once, or do not blame us for being discourteous!"

As they spoke, the other Black Scale Guard had already grasped the hilt of the sword at his waist.

Shen Wenxing stepped back a bit, but a thought formed in his mind.

Judging by their reaction, Li Heshan and Zhongli Qing must have returned and were inside the Immortal Welcoming Garden at this moment.

But how could he meet them?

These two Black Scale Guards certainly did not believe that he was acquainted with the Immortals.

I’ve got it!

A flash of inspiration crossed his mind, and Shen Wenxing immediately took out the porcelain bottle of Qi Nourishing Pill that Li Heshan had given him.

"Gentlemen, if you please, this is the Immortal Li once gifted me an Immortal Pill. I have met the Immortal and have come on an errand."

An Immortal Pill?

The two Black Scale Guards looked at the porcelain bottle in his hand, slightly doubtful.

"Is this really a gift from the Immortal?"

Shen Wenxing replied, "If you two doubt my words, you can ask the Immortal yourselves. I am a personal guard of the Yunzhong Border Army’s Left General. If there is a single falsehood in my words, I am willing to be punished by military law."

Seeing his confident demeanor, the two Black Scale Guards hesitated.

"Wait here then, Shao Yong, keep an eye on him. If he dares deceive us, let him taste the Inspectorate’s prison."

With that, one of the Black Scale Guards turned and walked into the Immortal Welcoming Garden.

A moment later, he returned with a peculiar expression and unusually deferentially bowed his hand:

"Brother Shen, the Immortal invites you in."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing quietly let out a sigh of relief.

He had indeed feared that Li Heshan might not recognize him.

"Thank you for your trouble."

Shen Wenxing cupped his hands, following him into the Immortal Welcoming Garden.

Passing through the corridor and crossing the elegant courtyard, they quickly reached the backyard of the Immortal Welcoming Garden.

Inside a pavilion in the courtyard, Li Heshan and Zhongli Qing were sitting cross-legged in meditation.

"The Immortal is cultivating, Brother Shen, you’d best proceed on your own. I’ll be taking my leave now."

"By the way, my name is Liang Xiaoqi. When you come to the Royal City in the future, you must come and find me for a drink."

Everyone loves to cozy up to the powerful. As a Black Scale Guard of the Inspectorate, Liang Xiaoqi wouldn’t usually act this way toward just any noble young master.

But Shen Wenxing was different; he actually knew the Immortal and had even received an Immortal Pill from him.

This naturally gave Liang Xiaoqi the desire to befriend him.

Shen Wenxing didn’t refuse; he immediately cupped his hands and said, "I will certainly pay you a visit in the future. Thank you."

After watching Liang Xiaoqi leave, Shen Wenxing glanced at the pavilion and slowly walked over.

Hearing footsteps, Li Heshan slowly opened his eyes.

"Younger Brother Shen, we meet again."

Shen Wenxing quickly bowed his hands: "Greetings, Immortal Li."

"Hehe... please sit."

Li Heshan clearly had become accustomed to being referred to as "Immortal" and did not counter, extending a hand for him to sit down.

Shen Wenxing entered the pavilion, but did not sit. After a slight hesitation, he bowed his hands and said, "My apologies for the abrupt visit, but I have something to ask of the Immortal’s help."

Li Heshan said nothing, looking at him with a faint smile.

Shen Wenxing was anxious, but he gritted his teeth and explained the situation regarding his brother and Lu Zhiyuan.

Upon hearing this, Li Heshan slowly stood up, hands behind his back, and said flatly, "For us cultivators, interference in mundane matters is a great taboo."

"However, since Younger Brother Shen has spoken, I will make an exception this once, to fulfill this bond."

Upon hearing these words, Shen Wenxing was overjoyed and quickly bowed: "Thank you, Immortal!"

Li Heshan waved a hand: "I only agree to ensure their lives. As for their ultimate fate, it will be up to Emperor Yu’s decision."

"Younger Brother Shen, you should go back and wait."

Shen Wenxing felt a bit disappointed, but he also understood that he had no deep connection with Li Heshan. This act of intervention was to repay a favor.

Moreover, Li Heshan’s words were very clear: this was the last time he would help, and after this, their bond would be severed.

At least they would be alive; as long as they were not dead, there was still a chance.

After bidding farewell to Li Heshan, Shen Wenxing returned to the lodging house.

Time flew by, and soon it was the day of the court hearing.

A rumor spread rapidly through the streets of the Royal City, circulating among the scholars and literati.

Everyone knew that today at the Imperial Extreme Hall, the Literary Dao sage Xun Zaizhou would be debating with the renowned "Literary Dao eccentric" Lu Zhiyuan from decades ago, accompanied by seven current great scholars.

Suddenly, teahouses, brothels, and inns in the Royal City were crowded with scholars who had traveled from all over Great Yu, eager to witness this grand event of the Literary Dao in person.

Some astute businessmen also sensed a business opportunity, spending a fortune to bribe palace insiders, all for access to the debates’ content as soon as possible.

With everyone’s eager anticipation, Lu Zhiyuan and Shen Wenyan were escorted by a group of Black Scale Guards into the Imperial Extreme Hall in the palace.

At that moment, the hall was filled with civil and military officials along with the Wenyuan Pavilion’s scholars.

On the nine-tiered high platform within the hall, a screen concealed the supreme throne.

The two Black Scale Guards unlocked their shackles and brought a round chair, offering tea.

Though Lu Zhiyuan’s hair was slightly disheveled, his body stood tall like a pine, arrogantly surveying the seven people across from him with no hint of fear on his face as he sat down, while Shen Wenyan stood behind him, neither arrogant nor humble.

"Silence!"

On the high platform, the eunuch’s voice rang out, and the hall immediately became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

"The monarch asks, what is a ruler and a minister?"

"Lu Sheng, answer."

This was a debate topic obviously proposed by Emperor Yu, with Lu Zhiyuan designated to answer first.

Lu Zhiyuan’s voice was somewhat hoarse, yet he declared boldly, "A ruler and minister are like a ship and water. Water has no fixed form but bears a mighty weight. The people’s will is the mandate of heaven!"

"Nonsense!"

No sooner had he said this than an elder with graying hair and beard, dressed in a blue robe, expressed indignation: "The ’Rituals·Dubhe Chapter’ states, the ruler is like the North Star, whereas other stars revolve around it. What Lu Sheng speaks seeks to disrupt the order of the stars?"

"How can the commoners engage in discourse?"

This individual was named Zhou Jingzai, a great scholar from Beidi County.

Lu Zhiyuan glanced at him and smiled faintly, "Zhou Sheng, you mentioned ’Rituals,’ are you aware of another saying in it?"

Zhou Jingzai was taken aback, giving a cold snort, "Please enlighten me."

"A ruler governing the world must be virtuous, as ministers follow their monarch. If the ruler forgets his duty, he forfeits his position..."

Lu Zhiyuan’s voice was firm and resounding, and the more he spoke, the darker Zhou Jingzai’s face became.

"This... this is a later fabrication, not recorded in the ’Rituals’!"

Lu Zhiyuan ignored his pettiness and spoke again, "Zhou Sheng, did you just claim that commoners are unworthy of discourse?"

Zhou Jingzai frowned, "People can be led by it, but not made to understand it..."

"Ridiculous!" Lu Zhiyuan rose in anger, "You are pedantic, twisting the true meaning of the sages. The sage’s teachings should nurture like spring rain, not build high walls to obscure the people’s wisdom!"

Zhou Jingzai’s face turned ashen, and his mouth opened and closed for a long time without managing a word in reply.

The other great scholars around him also wore heavy expressions, contemplating Lu Zhiyuan’s recent words.

Within the hall, the expressions of many students were peculiar, ranging from confused to indignant, to excited, yet none dared to speak.

Shen Wenyan’s face was full of joy, triumphantly looking at Zhou Jingzai, genuinely happy for Lu Zhiyuan!

Ding!

A clear bell rang from behind the screen.

Zhou Jingzai’s face appeared ashen; he knew he had lost.

"The monarch asks, what is etiquette?" The eunuch’s voice sounded again. "The students answer."

The second debate topic began, this time with one of the great scholars on the opposite side being asked to answer first.

Among the seven, excluding Zhou Jingzai, the remaining six furrowed their brows in thought, and one of them slowly stood up.