Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 13: Mingyue Tower

Lu was sitting at his desk, carefully drawing a simple map of Kaiyang County.

When you go out and don't have a navigation system, if you don't remember the route, let alone looking for monsters, you might even get lost while walking.

Li Yuan, who was standing next to him, said, "My dear nephew, just go to those towns and villages. Don't go to those uninhabited places where demons are rampant."

Lu Zheng did not agree, but simply said: "Junior still cherishes his life and will not act rashly."

Li Yuan suggested again: "How about this, I'll arrange a guard for you, a martial arts master of the second level, a bodyguard of our Li family, and he's quite skilled..."

Lu Zheng quickly refused, "I'm going to study abroad, how can I bring guards with me?"

Li Yuan couldn't help but say, "That's true. When the saints traveled around the world, they brought many disciples and attendants with them. What's wrong with you bringing a guard with you?"

"That means we're going on a trip, not a study tour." Lu Zheng smiled helplessly.

Only after Lu Zhenghao refused did Li Yuan give up the idea.

Li Yuan looked at a corner of the study and took a three-foot-long sword from a shelf.

The long sword was unsheathed, a cold light flashed, and a sharp sword energy emerged.

Li Yuan handed the sword to Lu Zheng, "A gentleman wears a sword to show his virtue. This sword is the one I carried when I was young. I used it to kill demons, and it has some spiritual power. You should carry it with you for self-defense."

Lu Zheng saw that this sword was extraordinary and quickly refused.

Li Yuan pretended to be displeased and said, "If Dean Xiao can give you jade, can't I give you a sword?"

Lu Zheng couldn't refuse anymore, so he thanked him, took the sword, and placed it on the table.

He thought that he didn't know any sword skills, and if he tried to learn it, it would take a lot of time. He probably could only carry it as a decoration for the time being.

After spending some more time, Lu Zheng drew the map and marked many places.

Just then, Li Zhao walked into the study from outside.

"Father, Brother Lu!" Li Zhao bowed and greeted happily.

Li Yuan raised his eyebrows. "Aren't you studying in the academy? Why are you back?"

Li Zhao smiled and said, "The dean gave us a lecture on Mencius, and then gave us students in Class A three days off. However, he also assigned us homework: writing an essay..."

"Oh." Li Yuan didn't ask any more questions and said, "It's lunch time now. Let's go eat together."

Li Zhao said, "Father, I have an appointment with some classmates this afternoon. They want to get to know Brother Lu, so I want to take Brother Lu out this afternoon. I hope Father will agree."

Li Yuan nodded slightly. "This is a good thing. You young students should communicate more. Take Lu Zheng over this afternoon. Don't lose the friendship between you and your classmates. What do you think, nephew?"

Lu Zheng thought that he would have to interact with these students sooner or later, so he said, "Okay."

At noon, Lu Zheng had lunch at Li's house.

Li Yuan had a lot of dishes carefully prepared and treated Lu Zheng as a distinguished guest.

Lu Zheng had a full meal. The cooking methods in this world were relatively simple, but the chefs in the Li Mansion had good skills, and the ingredients were good, so the food they made was quite appetizing.

After dinner, Lu Zheng took a short rest in the guest room before going out with Li Zhao.

The two of them got in a carriage and headed to the gathering place.

"Where are we going?" Lu Zheng asked.

Li Zhao said with a smile: "Mingyue Tower, we have already booked a place."

Lu Zheng thought about it and had never heard of this place. He just thought it was some high-end restaurant.

After all, the original owner was poor and had never been to expensive places. Li Zhao said again: "Brother Lu, there will definitely be people who will compete with you in talent and learning. You can't lose to them."

Lu Zheng thought to himself, as expected, this party is not that easy to attend.

Comparing talents? What talents did he have? Lu Zheng thought, he was definitely not good at poetry and prose. If we were to compare the six arts of a gentleman, he could only crush these students in mathematics.

But obviously, those students would not choose to compete in mathematics. Even if they wanted to compete, it would not be just this one.

Lu Zheng said softly, "My literary talent is far inferior to that of you scholars who have been scholars for many years. It's normal for me to lose to others."

Li Zhao was anxious when he heard this, "Brother Lu, don't be so modest. You are a scholar of heaven and earth, and you have a literary talent. How can you lose to them in terms of talent and knowledge..."

In the academy, there are many small groups in a class.

Li Zhao is naturally on Lu Zheng's side now, and doesn't want to lose the upper hand at the party.

Seeing Li Zhao like this, Lu Zheng had no choice but to say, "I'll do my best!"

Li Zhao smiled and said, "I certainly trust Brother Lu! When we go there, we must suppress the arrogance of certain people."

Lu Zheng thought to himself that he was not a student of Beishan Academy, so how could he get involved in the fight between you students.

Li Zhao lowered his voice again and said, "Brother Lu, you don't know that many people in this class were once your classmates. They all look down on you. You must fight for your dignity."

So that’s how it is… Lu Zheng suddenly understood.

It is impossible to compare talents and knowledge, after all, it is not my field of expertise.

Lu Zheng was thinking about how to deal with the situation this time so as not to lose too much face.

Not long after, the carriage they were riding in stopped outside an elegant pavilion.

Lu Zheng got out of the car and looked at the decorated building in front of him. The faint sounds of singing girls could be heard from inside.

"Is this a brothel?" Lu Zheng looked at Li Zhao beside him.

Li Zhao nodded and smiled, "Yes, this is a brothel that opened recently. The courtesans inside are no worse than those in the state capital."

Li Zhao's words already showed that he was a frequent visitor here.

Lu Zheng's face darkened. He thought Mingyue Tower was a restaurant or teahouse, but it turned out to be a brothel.

It seems that Mingyue Tower has just opened for business. You scholars really know how to have fun, coming here to gather in broad daylight.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but say seriously, "If Brother Li had told me earlier that we were going to this kind of place, I wouldn't have come."

Seeing Lu Zheng about to leave, Li Zhao quickly stopped him and said, "Brother Lu, please don't. Let's just talk about academic matters inside. We won't do anything else. My father is in charge, so I don't dare take you to spend the night here."

In this world, it is normal for scholars and students to visit brothels. Only a small number of Confucian scholars who adhere to traditional etiquette think that this is inappropriate.

Seeing Lu Zheng's big reaction, Li Zhao thought that Lu Zheng's family was not well off before, and he probably had never been to such a place. He usually only read books of sages, so it was understandable.

At this moment, several of Li Zhao's friends also arrived here.

They came closer and greeted each other.

Faced with the enthusiasm of the crowd, Lu Zheng felt helpless and had to follow Li Zhao and the others into Mingyue Tower.

Lu Zheng quickly calmed down after entering Mingyue Tower. He was a righteous man and had even been to a mass grave. Why would he be afraid of coming to such a place?

As long as you stick to your original intention and don't go beyond the rules, there is nothing you can't do. It can also be considered a kind of practice.

(End of this chapter)