The First Auxiliary Road from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 1220: Taking a detour

The Queen's reaction of declining Mr. Jingge's offer to be the Grand Lady's Tutor seemed to be within her expectations, so it did not attract any remonstrance.

Even Lu Ying, whose proposal failed, just looked at Yu Ziwen and Han Baozhi standing beside him.

Yu Ziwen stepped out holding a sceptre and said loudly, "The Empress knows how to use people and really understands Mr. Jingge's character... For the sake of the country, we wanted to invite Mr. Jingge to the capital, but he refused to accept the invitation on the grounds of being too old and weak. We had no choice but to ask the Empress for permission to let him come to the capital to teach."

"So that's how it is." Sheng Ran saw that they had changed their words, and didn't care. She just nodded and said casually, "Since Mr. Jingge himself has no intention of traveling, let him retire in his hometown! The old man has worked hard for the court for decades, and it's time for him to enjoy the leisurely life in the countryside."

Yu Ziwen's expression remained unchanged after hearing this: "The Queen is compassionate to her wise ministers, which is a blessing for the country. However, Mr. Jingge has profound knowledge and is well-versed in ancient and modern times. He has studied the strengths of hundreds of schools of thought and combined the abilities of the six ministries. He can be called a great scholar of the time, and his ability to govern the country is far superior to that of ordinary people. I think that if we can let him teach the princess, even if he only supplements the textbooks used by the princess, writes letters regularly, or lets his students teach on his behalf, it will be beneficial to the princess's growth."

"Mr. Jingge's disciples? Aren't they all serving as officials in various places in Da Chu? Could it be that Yu Qing wants me to transfer them back?" Sheng Ran was very familiar with the appointment of officials in the court. She had an impression of most of the resumes of officials who held important positions in various prefectures and states.

"Empress, Master Jingge has a closed disciple who has studied with him for more than 20 years. He passed the imperial examination in the second year of Yanping and returned to Master Jingge before being appointed as an official. Now the scholars and literary circles all say that this boy has the style of Master Jingge."

"Are you talking about Ji Cong, the runner-up in the second year of Yanping?" Sheng Ran thought of Emperor Yanping's evaluation of him, "profound knowledge and innocent thoughts", and couldn't help but smile.

"It's this guy."

"Since Yu Qing recommends him so strongly, I guess Mr. Ji has already arrived in Kyoto?"

"I heard that Master Jingge sent his disciple Ji Cong to travel three years ago, and when he returned, he asked his disciple to find a place to teach. Therefore, we wrote to him and suggested that his disciple come to Kyoto to teach."

"Can this gentleman come and wait outside the palace today?" Sheng Ran became interested and ordered, "If he is here, you can ask him to come and see you."

This hit the mark exactly what Yu Ziwen wanted, and he immediately said that Ji Cong was waiting outside the hall.

"Announce it quickly."

"Here!"

……

"Yuan Jie'er, Yuan Jie'er, look! It's him!"

Sheng Yuan waited until he felt sleepy. He thought he would have a fierce argument, but instead he met an acquaintance!
“Huh?!!!” Sheng Yuan’s eyes, which had been narrowed at first, widened instantly when he saw the person coming. “Why is it him?!”

She had no impression of the runner-up in the second year of Yanping, but she remembered the man who came to the palace very clearly.

"Wenzhen, do you know him?" A colleague nearby noticed what Sheng Yuan and An Yu were doing and couldn't help but lean over to ask in a low voice, "Is he an acquaintance?"

"Acquaintance?! Haha, not really, at most he looks familiar." Sheng Yuan shook his head honestly.

The appearance of this person instantly brought her back to the debate on the stage that year.

The debate ended with her and Mr. Ji Cong despising each other.

Although she expressed her opinions to her heart's content at that time, Sheng Yuan didn't want to recall the past when she thought of the various jokes that followed.

"Are you going to have another debate with him?" An Yu held the hu tablet and whispered in Sheng Yuan's ear, "Humph, I didn't expect that he came to Beijing to debate because he opposed the imperial examination for girls, and now he wants to compete with you for the right to teach the princess! I wonder if he is embarrassed or not!"

"Embarrassing?! Don't forget what he is fighting for! To teach the first legitimate female crown prince is enough to go down in history!"

The honor of being recorded in history was enough to make most civil and military officials lose their minds. "Huh?! Yuan Jie'er, listen." An Yu had paid half of his attention to Ji Cong since he appeared.

While talking to Sheng Yuan, this person had finished answering Sheng Ran's questions.

Look at how calm he is, there is none of the excitement and immaturity he had during the initial debate on the ring.

"It would be strange if he didn't make progress!" Sheng Yuan listened to An Yu's muttering and whispered, "He has studied with Master Jingge for so long, and then traveled all over Da Chu... If he doesn't change, Master Jingge will not let him come to Beijing on his own."

"Maybe!" An Yu curled his lips at Ji Cong whom he hadn't seen for a long time, "You should pay more attention. I feel that this guy may have bad intentions!"

"Let's hear what he says!"

……

"You mean sit down and discuss philosophy?" After asking Ji Cong a few questions, Sheng Ran was a little surprised when she heard Ji Cong's request.

"Your Highness, I think that there are many teachers for the princess. If you want the princess to be successful in her studies, you should unify the textbooks, standards, and rules."

Sheng Ran nodded, motioning for him to continue.

"If there is only one standard, then the question of what to choose becomes a problem. Either you take my opinion or use the other party's textbook. Therefore, I think those who have different opinions should sit down and discuss it."

6◇9◇Book◇Bar

"That makes sense." Since this matter concerns Xiongwa, Sheng Ran couldn't help but become serious.

"But, Mr. Ji, do you really just want to discuss the matter at hand?"

"I dare not speak nonsense."

"Okay." Sheng Ran nodded, and her eyes met the little sister who was looking at Ji Cong eagerly.

“???” Noticing Sheng Yuan’s lip shape, Sheng Ran looked at it carefully several times but couldn’t react, so he figured out the two words “meet”.

Has she met this Mr. Ji? !
Before the second year of Yanping? !
How come she doesn't remember?!

Sheng Yuan saw that her sister's eyes were a little confused, and she was helpless and could only repeat the phrase "chickens pecking at each other" with her lips.

“!!!” When Sheng Yuan said this, Sheng Ran remembered.

You should have told me earlier!
As one of the main debaters in that debate between Kyoto students and non-Kyoto scholars, it is not easy for her to forget it!
"Well, since Mr. Ji has this plan, I have to support him! In this case, why don't we have a debate here!" Sheng Ran looked at all the officials this time, smiled, and said softly, "The morning court is always the time when the most important officials of the court come. If Mr. Ji wants to have a debate, now is the most appropriate time."

"If you allow, I will obey your order." Ji Cong answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Seeing him like this, Sheng Ran seemed to have no memory of the previous duel, and couldn't help but be shocked.

I don’t know whether this person really forgot or has a hidden trick up his sleeve; if it’s the latter, then this person is very cunning.

……

The moment Sheng Yuan turned his head, his eyes met the other person's gaze.

"Empress, may I ask for advice from the famous Sheng Liuyuan?"