Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 55 Courtroom Debate
At the entrance of Yingxian Garden, Shen Wenxing looked at the Black Scale Guards standing guard at the gate. After hesitating for a long time, he resolutely stepped forward.

"stop!"

"This is the abode of immortals; unauthorized persons are strictly prohibited from approaching!"

Shen Wenxing quickly stopped and respectfully cupped his hands, saying, "Please inform the immortal that Shen Wenxing has come to pay a visit."

Shen Wenxing?
The two Black Scale Guards exchanged glances. One of them frowned slightly and said impatiently, "His Majesty has ordered that even princes and nobles are not allowed to disturb the immortals' cultivation. Leave now, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

As they spoke, another Black Scale Guard had already gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist.

Shen Wenxing took a step back, but he was already thinking about what to do.

Judging from their reactions, Li Heshan and Zhong Liqing must have returned and are currently in Yingxian Garden.

But how can I see them?
The two Black Scale Guards simply couldn't believe they knew the immortal.

Got it!

A flash of inspiration struck Shen Wenxing, and he immediately took out the porcelain bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pill that Li Heshan had given him.

"Please take a look, this is the elixir that Immortal Li gave me. I have met the immortal before, and I have come here to ask him something."

Elixir?

The two Black Scale Guards looked at the porcelain bottle in his hand with some suspicion.

"Is this truly a gift from the immortals?"

Shen Wenxing said, "If you two don't believe me, you can ask the immortal. I am the personal guard of the Left General of the Yunzhong Border Army. If I have uttered even a single falsehood, I am willing to accept military punishment."

Seeing his confident demeanor, the two Black Scale Guards hesitated.

"You wait here, Shao Yong. Keep an eye on him. If he dares to deceive us, we'll make sure he knows what the prison of the Censorate is like."

After the Black Scale Guard finished speaking, he turned and walked into Yingxian Garden.

A moment later, he emerged with a strange expression, his attitude unusually obsequious, cupping his hands in a fawning gesture.

"Brother Shen, the immortal invites you in."

Hearing this, Shen Wenxing secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He was genuinely afraid that Li Heshan wouldn't recognize him.

"Good work."

Shen Wenxing cupped his hands in greeting and followed him into Yingxian Garden.

After walking through the covered walkway and passing through the elegant courtyard, you will soon arrive at the backyard of Yingxian Garden.

Inside the pavilion in the courtyard, Li Heshan and Zhong Liqing were meditating cross-legged.

"The immortal is cultivating. Young Master Shen, you may proceed on your own. I shall take my leave."

"By the way, my name is Liang Xiaoqi. Brother Shen, you must come and have a drink with me when you come to the capital."

People like to curry favor with the powerful. As a member of the Black Scale Guard of the Surveillance Bureau, Liang Xiaoqi would not have acted this way if he were just an ordinary young master from a noble family.

But Shen Wenxing was different; he actually knew immortals and even received elixirs from them.

This inevitably makes Liang Xiaoqi want to befriend him.

Shen Wenxing naturally wouldn't refuse, and immediately cupped his hands and said, "I will definitely pay you a visit in person in the future. Thank you for your trouble."

After watching Liang Xiaoqi leave, Shen Wenxing glanced at the pavilion and slowly walked over.

Hearing footsteps, Li Heshan slowly opened his eyes.

"Brother Shen, we meet again."

Shen Wenxing quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "Greetings, Immortal Li."

"Hehe... Sit down."

Li Heshan was clearly used to being called an "immortal" and didn't object, gesturing for him to sit down.

Shen Wenxing entered the pavilion but did not sit down. After a slight hesitation, he cupped his hands and said, "I have come here today because I have something I would like to ask the immortal for help with."

Li Heshan didn't speak, but looked at him with a half-smile.

Shen Wenxing was uneasy, but he still mustered up the courage to tell her about his younger brother and Lu Zhiyuan.

After hearing this, Li Heshan slowly stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said calmly, "It is a great taboo for us cultivators to interfere in worldly affairs."

"Since Brother Shen has spoken, I will make an exception this time, as this can be considered as fulfilling this fate."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wenxing was overjoyed and quickly cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Immortal!"

Li Heshan waved his hand: "I only promised to save their lives. As for how to deal with them in the end, that's up to Emperor Yu to decide." "Brother Shen, please go back and wait."

Shen Wenxing was somewhat disappointed, but he also understood that he and Li Heshan had no real relationship, and that his actions this time were to repay a favor.

Moreover, Li Heshan had made it very clear that this was the last time he would help, and after this, their relationship would end.

If it's about saving your life, then so be it. As long as you're alive, there's still a chance.

After bidding farewell to Li Heshan, Shen Wenxing returned to the post station.

Time flies, and the day of the pre-trial trial has arrived.

On the streets of Wangcheng, a piece of news spread like wildfire among many scholars and literati.

Everyone knows that the sage of literature and philosophy, Xun Zaizhou, will be accompanied by seven contemporary Confucian scholars to debate with Lu Zhiyuan, the "eccentric scholar" from decades ago, in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

In no time, the taverns, brothels, and inns of the royal city were packed with scholars who had come from all over the Great Yu Dynasty. They had traveled thousands of miles just to witness this grand literary event.

Some shrewd businessmen also sensed a business opportunity and spent a lot of money to bribe people in the palace, just to get the details of this debate as soon as possible.

Amidst everyone's eager anticipation, Lu Zhiyuan and Shen Wenyan were escorted by a group of Black Scale Guards to the Imperial Palace's Hall of Supreme Harmony.

At this time, the Hall of Supreme Harmony was filled with civil and military officials and Confucian scholars from the Wenyuan Pavilion.

On the nine-story platform in the palace, a screen obscured the supreme imperial throne.

Two Black Scale Guards removed the shackles from the two men and brought over a round chair, serving them tea.

Although Lu Zhiyuan's hair was a little messy, his posture was as upright as a pine tree. He arrogantly glanced at the seven people who were waiting in ambush opposite him, without the slightest fear on his face. He sat down and Shen Wenyan stood behind him without being humble or arrogant.

"quiet!"

On the high platform, the eunuch's voice rang out, and the hall instantly became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"You ask, what is the relationship between a ruler and his subjects?"

"Lu Sheng answered."

This is a debate topic, which was obviously proposed by Emperor Yu, who specified that Lu Zhiyuan should answer first.

Lu Zhiyuan's voice was somewhat hoarse, but it was firm and resounding: "The ruler and his subjects are like a boat on water, which has no fixed shape but can carry immense weight. The will of the people is the destiny of Heaven!"

"What nonsense!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a blue robe, spoke out indignantly: "The Book of Rites, in the chapter on Tian Shu, says, 'The ruler is like the North Star, remaining in his place while all the other stars revolve around him.' Does Lu Sheng mean to disrupt the order of the stars?"

"How can we talk about peddlers and laborers?"

This man was named Zhou Jingzhai, a great Confucian scholar from Beidi County.

Lu Zhiyuan glanced at him and said with a faint smile, "Zhou Sheng mentioned the Book of Rites. Do you know that there is another saying in the Book of Rites?"

Zhou Jingzhai was stunned for a moment, then snorted coldly: "Please enlighten me."

"The ruler is the ruler of the world, the virtuous become ministers, the ruler upholds the way of the ruler, and those who lose the way return to the fields..."

Lu Zhiyuan spoke with a firm and resolute tone, and the more he spoke, the uglier Zhou Jingzhai's expression became.

"This...this is a fabrication by later generations, not recorded in the Book of Rites!"

Lu Zhiyuan ignored his evasiveness and spoke again: "What Zhou Sheng just said, that commoners and laborers cannot discuss matters of principle?"

Zhou Jingzhai frowned: "The people can be made to follow a path, but they cannot be made to understand it..."

"Ridiculous!" Lu Zhiyuan stood up angrily: "You are all pedantic and misinterpret the original intention of the sage. The sage's teachings should be like a spring breeze and rain, not like building high walls to block the people's wisdom."

Zhou Jingzhai was pale, and his mouth opened and closed for a long time, but he couldn't utter a single word.

The other scholars around him also looked grave, pondering Lu Zhiyuan's words.

Inside the hall, the students had strange expressions—some were bewildered, some indignant, and some excited—but none dared to utter a sound.

Shen Wenyan was overjoyed and looked at Zhou Jingzhai with pride, genuinely happy for Lu Zhiyuan!

Ding!
Behind the screen, a clear bronze bell rang.

Zhou Jingzhai's face was ashen; he knew he had lost.

"You ask, what is propriety?" the eunuch's voice rang out again. "The students answer."

The second debate topic began, and this time the scholar on the opposing side was called upon to answer first.

Of the seven people opposite, apart from Zhou Jingzhai, the other six frowned in thought, and one of them slowly stood up.

(End of this chapter)