Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 14: Courtesy first, then attack
Lu Zheng and his companions entered Mingyue Tower and came to a unique garden inside.

The garden is full of blooming flowers, with a pleasant fragrance. There is also a pond of fresh water in the garden, with some bamboo mats and low tables arranged around the pond.

The students who had arrived early had already taken their seats and had asked for beauties to accompany them, where they were drinking and having fun.

Li Zhao took Lu Zheng and others to find a place to sit together, and did not say hello to those people.

Everyone had their own small group, and Li Zhao was too proud of his status to take the initiative to go over.

Soon, the pretty maids in the garden diligently served tea and dried fruits.

Not far away, a student spotted Lu Zheng and his companions and said loudly, "Hey, isn't this our county's Tiandi Xiucai? It was difficult to meet you before, and only Master Li could invite you."

Everyone in the garden followed the sound and looked at Lu Zheng and others with different expressions.

Lu Zheng looked at the person who was speaking and felt a sense of familiarity. He must be a former classmate.

There was a hint of sarcasm in this person's words, and it seemed that he and the original owner had not gotten along well in the past.

A gentleman is open and honest, while a villain is always worried. Lu Zheng no longer cares about the past.

He stood up and served tea, saying, "I, Lu, have indeed been busy a few days ago, so I have been closed to visitors. If I have been disrespectful, I hope you will forgive me."

[You have a broad mind and don't fight with petty people. Your literary spirit +1.]

Faced with Lu Zheng's sincere apology, those students who wanted to criticize and ridicule him were unable to speak for a moment.

Seeing that no one made any sarcastic remarks, Lu Zheng sat down again.

A good friend of Li Zhao said with a smile, "I see that Brother Lu is new here. How about I treat you and find a courtesan to accompany you so that we can spend a wonderful night together tonight..."

Li Zhao, who was standing next to him, quickly said, "Go away, go away! We are gathering here today to exchange knowledge, not to have fun!"

Li Zhao then said to Lu Zheng, "We always play around like this when we're together, so don't take it to heart, Brother Lu."

"It's okay. I appreciate your kindness, but I really have no interest in these courtesans." Lu Zheng said.

A few of them also knew how to read people's expressions and stopped mentioning such things.

Someone asked curiously, "I heard that Brother Lu is going to study at our academy in the future?"

"Hmm?" Lu Zheng showed a hint of doubt. Who spread this rumor?

Li Zhao explained, "I didn't say anything. They saw you visit Dean Xiao, so these rumors started."

Li Zhao knew what to say and what not to say, so he didn't mention a word about what happened between Lu Zheng and Dean Xiao to anyone else.

Lu Zheng said, "I just went to visit Dean Xiao. I have some things to do recently. The matter of joining the academy is just a rumor."

……

Not far away, on a pavilion.

Two beautiful women were leaning on the railing, looking at the Hundred Flowers Garden in the distance.

One of the women was wearing a white long dress, with a graceful figure, a rosy face, a pair of foxy eyes flashing, and a charming look.

The woman next to her was wearing a bright red dress, with delicate features and a cold look on her face.

Both girls were famous courtesans in Mingyue Tower, one was named Su Mei and the other was named Zhu Er.

If Lu Zheng saw the woman in the red dress named Zhu'er, he would find that she was somewhat similar to the female ghost Zhusha.

Su Mei's eyes flickered as she stared at Lu Zheng from afar, whispering, "Sister Zhu'er, isn't Lu Zheng the lustful nerd you mentioned earlier? How come after you absorbed a few breaths of his yang energy, he became a scholar of heaven and earth?"

Zhu Sha frowned when he heard this. God knows... Oh, God knows what's going on.

But that night, she pinched Lu Zheng, and it seemed that this allowed Lu Zheng to break through.

Zhu Sha couldn't understand why a scholar could make such a breakthrough?
Seeing Zhu Sha didn't answer, Su Mei leaned over and nudged Zhu Sha, "Your husband is now a scholar, why don't you go and see him?" Zhu Sha frowned and said, "If you want to go, go by yourself. I'm not interested."

"Not interested?" Su Mei said in a charming voice, "I haven't inhaled the Yang energy of the scholar of heaven and earth yet. I really want to try it. Are you really willing to give it to me?"

Zhu Sha sneered, "He's under the protection of the county magistrate now. Why don't you try to touch him? It doesn't matter if you get skinned, but don't implicate me."

"I don't want his life, I just want to absorb some of his yang energy." Su Mei said.

"Then go ahead." Zhu Sha said lightly.

Su Mei chuckled upon hearing this, "He seems like a serious person now. There are a lot of people here. I'll go to his house tonight and have a good chat with him. Let's just watch the fun here first and see what these scholars can do. Do you think Lu Zheng can control these people today?"

"I don't know." Zhu Sha said expressionlessly.

She found that she didn't understand Lu Zheng at all. Since that night, he seemed like a different person.

……

At this time, students began to arrive at the Hundred Flowers Garden one after another.

Several scholars escorted a handsome man in gorgeous clothes into the garden.

The man's name is Jia Gu. He comes from a scholarly family in Kaiyang County. Now he has reached the level of a scholar and is the best student in Class A of Beishan Academy.

Everyone said that if Jia Gu studied for another year or two, he would have a chance of passing the imperial examination.

Jia Gu was usually very popular among other students in the academy and had many followers.

However, Li Zhao didn't like this person very much. He always felt that he was a bit of a hypocrite, so he didn't interact with him much.

Jia Gu came to the garden and saw Lu Zheng and others at a glance.

He strode over and greeted several people as he approached.

Lu Zheng, Li Zhao and others stood up to return the greeting, not wanting to be impolite.

Jia Gu looked at Lu Zheng and said with a smile, "I've heard of Brother Lu for a long time, and now I finally get to meet him. He's truly extraordinary."

"Mr. Jia, you are too kind." Lu Zheng smiled back.

Jia Gu smiled and said nothing more. He led his people to an empty seat, and then asked someone to call dancers and musicians to entertain everyone.

After all the students arrived, Jia Gu stood up with tea and said, "Everyone, listen to me!"

Upon hearing this, all the students looked at Jia Gu, wanting to hear what he had to say.

Jia Gu said slowly, "Our Kaiyang County hasn't produced a scholar of heaven and earth for many years. Lu Zheng is the first one in recent years. We should use tea instead of wine to toast Brother Lu Zheng. This will bring honor to our Kaiyang County!"

After saying that, Jia Gu took the teacup and saluted Lu Zheng.

The other students followed suit and stood up to salute Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng also quickly stood up and returned the greetings to everyone.

The scene was once very harmonious.

Afterwards, Jia Gu said, "Today is a rare day off, so we, Class A, can gather here to discuss academic matters. Brother Lu is not an outsider, so why not give us a start by writing a poem and let us see the literary talent of this scholar?"

When some students heard this, they immediately spoke up in agreement.

The beautiful singers in the Hundred Flowers Garden were also curious and wanted to see what kind of poetry Lu Zheng, a man of extraordinary talent, could create.

Good fellow, the party has just begun and you're already using your ultimate move? Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows.

(End of this chapter)