I really became a king.

Chapter 327: Standing for Scholars
As soon as the words "vicious and vicious woman" came out, everyone in the room was shocked.

No one expected that things would develop to this point. The Prince Yi in front of them was the first person in history to openly denounce the queen of a country as a vicious and poisonous woman.

They knew that Prince Yi and the Queen were already enemies and that there was no possibility of reconciling the conflict between them, but they still had to put in some surface work, especially since the other party was the Queen. How could they openly scold and insult her like this?
"Alas, after all, you are still too young..." Most of the people present sighed inwardly.

"Is this kid crazy?" Prince Yi Jiang Mo and others stared at Jiang Yi who was standing there, their faces full of worry.

Many people, including them, couldn't stand Ye Xinmei's so-called behavior, and some even hated her secretly, but they kept it deep in their hearts, and no one dared to put it on the table openly.

But Jiang Yi did it anyway. It felt good, and they also felt good listening to it, but the consequences were very serious.

Even Ning Donglai, who was always shrewd and thought he had the future son-in-law under his control, was stunned at this moment. He felt a little uneasy, as if he was pushing his precious daughter into the fire pit.

The Dali Emperor Jiang Zhenyi was so shocked by Jiang Yi's words that he lost his mind. He never expected that things would turn out like this. He flew into a rage and stood up abruptly, shouting:
"Asshole, how dare you talk to your grandmother like that? Why don't you admit your mistake to her?"

As for Ye Xinmei, her whole body was trembling slightly, and her eyes were filled with murderous intent as she looked at Jiang Yi.

After hearing Jiang Zhenyi's words, which were neither light nor heavy, she calmed down instead. She recognized the other party's tone and attributed the fierce confrontation just now to an internal family conflict. He was just trying to make a big deal out of a small matter.

Many people who had originally planned to stand up and attack Jiang Yi retreated quietly after hearing these words. It seemed that now was not the time for them to take action.

After hearing Jiang Zhenyi's words, Jiang Yi knew that he had guessed correctly. No matter what this royal grandfather had done to him in the past three months, it was obvious that he had no intention of completely abandoning him.

At least not yet, which means that I am still useful in the other party's mysterious plan.

"Yes, my grandson made a mistake."

Jiang Yi did not continue to be tough, but bowed slightly and said something ambiguous, which was a response to the emperor's words.

"It's okay. It's just that the Empress Dowager doesn't care about you enough."

To everyone's surprise, Ye Xinmei, who was the queen, did not show any sign of anger after being publicly scolded. Instead, she said something with a smile.

Judging from the tone of the voice, the scene just now seemed to be over.

But everyone knows that this is simply impossible. Now that the two have completely torn their faces apart, they will no longer have any scruples and a bloody storm is about to come.

What's more, the conflict between Prince Yi and the Ye family of Bailing has already reached an irreconcilable point. It's either you die or I die, and there is no possibility of reconciliation.

Many people looked at Jiang Yi, who was still calm and composed, and worried secretly: Are you really ready?
The face of the Dali Emperor Jiang Zhenyi was filled with a gratified smile, and he seemed very satisfied that he had resolved this contradiction. He laughed and said, "Well, we are a family, and a harmonious family brings prosperity."

Hundreds of thousands of people inside and outside the square heard this and didn't know what excuse to make. They could only laugh dryly and nod their heads in agreement.

Many people even felt a chill on their backs. Today's grand court meeting was full of weirdness. The king was not a king, and the ministers were not ministers. Instead, it was more like a family gathering. It was too much of a joke.

Since the founding of the Dali Dynasty, there has never been such a casual court meeting. This is probably just the temporary calm before the storm. I just don't know if I can escape unscathed when the storm really comes.

Many people secretly sighed, thinking that it seemed almost impossible to stay safe from the coming storm.

Since we can't be immune to it, what should we do then?
"Dong Chengyang." After a storm inexplicably "subsided", Ye Xinmei was the first to speak again, while the Dali Emperor Jiang Zhenyi still looked like a hands-off boss.

"I'm here." Dong Chengyang bowed and responded.

"You heard what Prince Yi said just now. He has high hopes for you bookmakers. Do you think you can take on this important task?"

Dong Chengyang looked confused. This question was actually what he had been thinking about for the past few years. What was the purpose of studying? But he got nothing out of it. Every time he felt that he had some understanding, it would stop at the critical moment.

He turned his head and looked at Jiang Yi. Even though his reaction was slow, he realized the dangerous situation the other party was facing. He sighed in his heart and made a decision.

"I am terrified and have failed to live up to the high expectations of His Majesty. I cannot take on this important task, so..."

After saying this, he suddenly looked much older and turned again into the ragged, timid, hunchbacked old man he was a few years ago.

Jiang Yi sighed, knowing what the other party meant. He was planning to give up Tianxia Academy completely.

Ye Xinmei glanced at Jiang Yi, as if to say, "Is this the scholar you have always protected and respected?" However, she smiled gently and interrupted:
"The prince calls you scholars and respects you very much. He has spared no effort to protect the academies of the world. Why do you have to belittle yourself?"

"Today I will only ask you one question. If you can answer it, I will agree to keep Tianxia Academy."

After saying this, he looked towards the square outside the palace and said loudly, "Including you, anyone who can answer it will count, including Prince Yi."

Everyone present was extremely curious when they heard this, secretly wondering what the question might be. Especially the tens of thousands of book craftsmen, they all secretly clenched their fists, and vaguely, they seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

Ye Xinmei stood up and took a few steps forward. She was wearing a phoenix coronet and a bridal robe, and was extremely dazzling in the square where more than 100,000 people gathered.

Even the Emperor of Dali, Jiang Zhenyi, who was sitting on the main seat, seemed a little dull at this moment.

Jiang Yi narrowed his eyes and looked at the "Imperial Grandmother" in front of him, then glanced at the "Imperial Grandfather" who was standing there with an indifferent expression, and shook his head secretly.

There is no two suns in the sky, and no country has two masters. In fact, during the fierce confrontation just now, he wanted to challenge this issue, but he held back in the end.

After all, if he did that, he might even offend this "imperial grandfather", and now is not the time.

"Since its establishment, Tianxia Academy has taught countless children to read and write. This is one of its achievements, but that's all, because this is the responsibility of Tianxia Academy. In addition to this, does Tianxia Academy do anything else?"

Ye Xinmei spoke slowly, looking directly at Dong Chengyang.

"Let me put it more bluntly. For so many years, you book craftsmen have only used Tianxia Academy as a tool to support your family. Have you ever done anything else?"

Dong Chengyang's face turned pale, and the tens of thousands of book craftsmen gathered outside the palace had similar expressions. Although this statement was one-sided, it was a fact. For many years, these book craftsmen had done nothing but teach young children to read and recognize characters. "The common people..." Dong Chengyang wanted to say something with a trembling voice, but Ye Xinmei did not give him a chance. His expression changed and he said in a rebuke:
"Now I want to ask you a question. You scholars don't practice martial arts, don't guard the frontiers, spend all day with books, and are powerless. What is the purpose of your existence as scholars?"

"This is what I want to ask you today. If you can't answer it, there is no need for the academy in the world to exist. I believe that without you book craftsmen, there is still a way to teach young children to read and write."

"As for you, go home and be safe!"

After saying that, Ye Xinmei glanced at the entire room, glanced at Emperor Jiang Zhenyi, and sat back down.

The entire palace, inside and outside, fell into silence.

In fact, this is also one of the grievances of most people towards the academies or book craftsmen in the world. You don’t practice martial arts, don’t guard the border, don’t engage in production, and are powerless. Why should the entire Dali Dynasty support you?
Of course, most people also agree that reading is beneficial to the practice of martial arts, and it is even a major foundation of secular martial arts. However, as scholars, you have made no progress in how to stimulate and utilize this foundation to the greatest extent.

So what is the meaning of your existence as scholars?

Dong Chengyang's face became even paler, and he always felt like there was a rage in his heart that was about to burst out, but it always dissipated when it reached his heart. He always felt like something was missing.

"Haha, as a scholar, you keep saying that you are protecting the academies of the world, but in the end you don't know what your meaning is..." Someone couldn't help but laugh.

"In this case, what is the point of preserving Tianxia Academy?"

"How do the scholars put it? Oh, yes, it is truly the greatest mistake in the world!"

"..."

This question was very sharp. Not only was Dong Chengyang speechless, but even the tens of thousands of calligraphers gathered outside the palace were speechless.

Then, hundreds of thousands of people who gathered around the tens of thousands of book craftsmen looked at the tens of thousands of book craftsmen who were standing there in silence with inexplicable eyes.

This question touched their hearts, and it was the fundamental reason why most of them rejected book craftsmen from the bottom of their hearts. They did not practice martial arts, guard the frontiers, or engage in production. They only kept company with books all day long and did not even have the most basic means of making a living. How could they be favored by others?
For this reason, almost all people tried their best to prevent their children from becoming bookworms, even if it meant they had to become slaves in wealthy families.

Of course, they all understood that reading and writing were indeed beneficial to secular martial arts, but it was really limited. After all, it was because these book craftsmen themselves were not motivated enough and failed to discover the greatest value of their existence.

"It shouldn't be like this...it shouldn't be like this..."

Dong Chengyang seemed to be stupid. He kept muttering to himself, his eyes were dull and he had lost all his energy. He looked like he had lost his soul.

Seeing this, Ye Xinmei felt secretly proud and glanced at Jiang Yi intentionally or unintentionally.

But Jiang Yi's current state made her feel a little uncomfortable. He stood there quietly. Not only did he not look decadent, but he was like a towering mountain.

This made her very uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but sneer inwardly. Just as she was about to say something, Jiang Yi spoke himself.

He just sighed lightly, took a step forward, looked at the distraught Dong Chengyang, and said, "Sir, why are you like this?"

Dong Chengyang looked up at Jiang Yi blankly. His eyes lit up, but then went out. He said bitterly, "I'm sorry to disappoint Your Majesty... This world's academy..."

Jiang Yi suddenly shouted, "Sir, why don't you wake up!"

“Haha, it seems that Prince Yi must have some opinions. You might as well say them out and let the hundreds of thousands of people present here experience them…” Ye Xinmei said with a half-smile, not disguising the sneer in her tone.

Jiang Yi glanced at Ye Xinmei and ignored her. He just looked at Dong Chengyang and said slowly, "A scholar should not be corrupted by wealth and honor, nor be moved by poverty and humbleness, nor be bent by power and might. This is the character of a scholar!"

Hearing this, Dong Chengyang looked up at Jiang Yi. There was a glimmer of light in his dim eyes, and the decadent air in his body became much less, and he finally regained some energy and spirit.

Jiang Yi continued, "To cultivate a noble and upright character and to establish the dignity of a gentleman is what it means to be a scholar."

"Your Highness, why do you have to beat around the bush? You might as well answer the Queen's question directly. This is what a scholar should do today." Ye Xinmei said, with a sneer in her brows.

"Haha, what the Queen said is absolutely right. Your Majesty, please get straight to the point." A man stepped forward and echoed.

"Yes, yes, the noble spirit and the dignity of a gentleman are nice to talk about, but they do not answer the question of what the meaning of a scholar's existence is."

"..."

There was a series of echoes immediately. Jiang Yi's words were indeed shocking, but he was avoiding the main point and did not answer the question at all.

Jiang Yi turned around and looked around, and saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him. Some were mocking, some were worried, but there was no doubt that none of them were optimistic about the Tianxia Academy.

Jiang Yi's face was calm, but he was a little anxious in his heart. Almost all the words he wanted to say were blocked by Ye Xinmei and others. Just relying on these three sentences "not practicing martial arts, not guarding the border, and not engaging in production" basically sentenced the Tianxia Academy to death.

As for other things, such as secular martial arts background, they are all empty talk now and cannot change the situation at all.

Seeing that Jiang Yi just remained silent, some discussions gradually began to arise around them, especially from Ye Xinmei's faction, who all seemed to be waiting to see a joke.

"Speaking of which, Your Highness is not a scholar, so why bother getting involved in this mess..." Ye Xinmei advised, and it sounded like she was doing it for Jiang Yi's own good, but she had no intention of hiding the sneer between her brows.

Jiang Yi glanced at her, feeling anxious and inexplicably melancholy at the same time. Coming from the future, he always felt that scholars in this world should not have fallen to this point. He felt very upset.

He couldn't help but think of Mr. Wen in the Yinshan Realm, a man of scholarly air and wisdom. The other man had an extraordinary talent for martial arts, but he gave up his martial arts and spent his entire life just to plead for scholars, truly worthy of the title of role model for all ages.

Determined to ask for a mission, a role model for all eternity? Jiang Yi suddenly understood, and had the answer in his mind. He looked around and said slowly and loudly:
"You ask what is the meaning of scholars... I can tell you!"

"Set up a heart for the world, plead for the lives of the people, inherit the knowledge of the past saints, and bring peace to all generations!"

“This is the meaning of scholars’ existence!”

(End of this chapter)