The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 232 There's a ghost in that book
The loud, forceful curse suddenly silenced the noisy bookstore. Many students looked at the person who had spoken with anger. Who was so arrogant as to dare to rebuke the top scholar appointed by the late emperor and use such foul language? Did they eat stinky tofu this morning?

Possessed by a ghost?
Who among those present wasn't a scholar who didn't speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits? How dare this old man in his simple robes spout such nonsense in a bookstore?

Lang Jiuchuan calmly walked in amidst the tranquil yet tense atmosphere, looking at the highly respected old man who dared to criticize him.

Master Xue, you really do have a fiery temper.

He glared at the student, clutching a brand-new book, and snorted heavily. He tossed the book to the student who was empty-handed and glaring at him resentfully, saying, "Looks like you've been poisoned by Liu Feng's books too. Take it, poison yourself every day. Anyway, your brain won't get too bad."

The student hurriedly took it, and seeing that the book was creased, he angrily said, "Who are you? Books should be cherished, look what you've done to it!"

"That's right, Mr. Liu Feng is a top scholar who passed the imperial examinations three times in a row. Who are you to criticize him so arrogantly? What's wrong with 'excelling in studies leads to officialdom'? People should know that of all professions, only studying is noble. How is studying wrong?" Another scholar in brocade robes added, "As the saying goes, 'Those who master literature and martial arts can serve the emperor.' Aren't we all studying to become officials and serve the country and its people? If that's the case, what nonsense is there about Mr. Liu Feng's idea that 'excelling in studies leads to officialdom'?"

"Yes, yes."

"Who doesn't study to get ahead in life?"

"That's right, ten years of hard study, and one day you leap over the dragon gate, who hasn't done it?"

"Stop talking! Do you even know who he is...?"

Master Xue looked at the students who were refuting him and said, "From what you've said, your understanding of 'those who excel in learning will become officials' is exactly what Sheng Huai'an's collection expresses: that the purpose of studying is to become an official, to rise in rank and make a fortune? If that's the case, just say it directly: to stand out from the crowd, to bring glory to one's ancestors, and to change one's family. Why use 'for the country and the people' as a cover-up?"

"This is sophistry; that's not what we meant at all," the students said, somewhat embarrassed and annoyed.

"What does that mean? Sheng Huai'an's annotations in this collection, when summarized, don't they all mean that studying is only for getting ahead and rising in rank?" Master Xue slapped the desk beside him and said, "The principle of 'excelling in studies leads to officialdom' means selecting talented people through the imperial examinations to serve as officials. Only truly knowledgeable people can bring benefits to the people. In this collection of annotations, I only see the ultimate purpose of studying as becoming an official, which distorts the principle of 'excelling in studies leads to officialdom'."

"Studying hard for years to rise above others is not wrong. As the headmaster of Lu Ning Academy, isn't Master Xue also cultivating talents for Da Dan by teaching and nurturing students? And it's not unreasonable for students from poor families to strive for a better life for their families." An old man stepped out from the crowd and said with a faint smile, "Just as people eat grains, studying is about taking a step further and reaching the imperial palace. It's just a desire of us mortals. Master Xue, don't expect them to be without desires. Having a purpose gives them a goal and direction, and only then can they strive for it."

Ah, Xue, Master Xue?

One of the people huddled in the crowd rolled his eyes in exasperation. He had just whispered that it was Master Xue from Lu Ning Academy.

Master Xue looked at the old man in plain clothes, took two steps forward, and bowed with his hands clasped: "Grand Tutor Fang, why are you here too? You are insulting me. Why call me Master Xue? Just call me Little Xue."

Grand Tutor? The students in the hall were excited. Today was indeed an auspicious day for them to go out. They had actually encountered two famous people, Master Xue and Grand Tutor Fang. Today was truly a lucky day for them.

The student holding the collection rolled his eyes, thinking that his opportunity had arrived.

Grand Tutor Fang, who also rose from humble beginnings to a high position, should rightfully stand on the side of those from humble backgrounds. So he stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "This student, He Guang, greets Grand Tutor and Master Xue. I am blind and do not know the true appearance of my two teachers. Please forgive me if my words have offended you."

Xue Shi snorted: "I am no longer worthy of being a teacher. I am not as capable as Sheng Liufeng to be anyone's teacher. The Grand Tutor is right. You have studied hard for ten years, all for the sake of entering the Golden Palace. I have already passed the imperial examination. It would be wrong of me to ask you to be without desires."

Grand Tutor Fang smiled and shook his head. Despite his advanced age, he still had the same temper and hadn't changed. He then said, "You are also the headmaster of the academy. With the special imperial examination approaching, it is a blessing for these children to teach a lesson."

"You flatter me. How could I possibly presume to teach you my humble skills? I simply cannot stand Liu Feng's new book. It is arrogant throughout, praising only high-ranking officials and belittling others. According to him, if a scholar does not ultimately become an official, then all his reading has been in vain?" Master Xue sneered, "If that's the case, then only becoming an official is the highest form of learning. Who will then impart knowledge? Who will enlighten children? Who will teach you the classics? Who will grow the grains and weave the cloth? There are 365 professions, and every profession can produce an expert. How come, in his opinion, only studying and becoming an official is the noblest? Does he not eat, drink, wear clothes, or defecate?"

"What's most infuriating is that his entire essay is arrogant, and he tries to whitewash the situation and cover up his arrogance with the phrase 'those who excel in learning will become officials' at the end. It's so bad that it makes you want to vomit your dinner from last night." Master Xue said with a dark face, "Sheng Huai'an also came from a poor family. I've read his top scholar's essay. He was indeed incredibly talented at the time. But after serving as an official for decades, what kind of garbage has he written that is so disgusting? Has he really become corrupted by the ways of officialdom?"

Everyone: "..."

Brush brush.

Lang Jiuchuan picked up the Liu Feng Book Collection that had been put down and quickly flipped through it. He first looked at the top scholar's paper, which was written in a very smooth style. The policy essays were all about people's livelihood, showing concern for the country and its people. From the policy essays, one could see that he was humble and tolerant.

The new annotations, along with some debates, are more arrogant and conceited.

Can the corrupt officialdom really change a person's original intentions so much?

Having been in a high position for a long time, one looks down on others, which is why they become so arrogant.
Lang Jiuchuan put down his books and looked at Xue Shi again. Perhaps because Grand Tutor Fang was there, his temper had subsided considerably. He didn't say anything else, but only commented on Liu Feng's top scholar exam paper from that year, quoting classics and making the hall quiet. Some people even wrote down his words.

She didn't take the imperial examinations, so she ignored them. While everyone was crowding over there, she easily found the shelf with the enlarged history books and regional maps of Dan. She asked for a map, and also took the history books and regional gazetteers. Seeing that more and more people were coming after hearing about it, she didn't rush to leave. She directly opened the regional gazetteer in an open space and started reading.

She had originally intended to let Fuqi out to watch as well, but considering that this was a bookstore and it was crowded with students preparing for the special imperial examination, she was afraid that the yin energy would harm them, so she decided not to do it.

But since Fu Qi cannot come out, the Little Nine Towers can be summoned, allowing him to observe the current grandeur from within the towers.

However, after a short while, Fu Qi spoke up from inside the tower: "Little Jiu, there's a ghost in that book!"