This son-in-law is wicked in a good way!

Wu Yuan watched Zhang Ping'an's retreating figure with a worried expression, and couldn't help but call out, "Zhang Ping'an, don't be impulsive! That's the inscription on the Quasi-Sage's Stele!"

Among the crowd, a petite and delicate figure also had a pale face.

"This scoundrel actually dared to go up there? Does he think the Inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage is some kind of storybook?"

Lu Ruoxue wished she could go up and pull him down.

At this moment, Lu Wenhao, who had just returned from the foot of the mountain, saw Zhang Ping'an walking up and couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"What's this guy doing at the academy?"

"Has he gone mad? This good-for-nothing son-in-law dares to question the inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage!"

Lu Wenhao was so angry that he was panting heavily.

Zhang Ping'an strode up the stone steps, stopped in front of the blank stone tablet on the right side of the entrance to the Hall of Learning, and picked up the carving knife placed on top of the stone tablet.

The wooden handle has been polished smooth and rounded by previous generations, giving it a wonderful feel.

All eyes were focused on his right hand, which was holding the carving knife.

Zhang Xuanling used the inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage to firmly anchor scholars in the noble cause of loyalty to the emperor and serving the country.

They used the guise of loyalty to the emperor and serving the country to commit illegal and disorderly acts.

Zhang Ping'an had been holding back a lot of anger.

Is loyalty to the emperor and serving the country the only thing scholars should do?

Yes, no.

In any era, intellectuals are always at the forefront of society, with the most avant-garde ideas and the strongest ability to learn.

They shouldn't serve one family or clan; they have more important things to do than loyalty to the emperor and serving the country.

They must build on the past and forge ahead into the future.

They are dedicated to the development of human civilization as a whole.

Zhang Ping'an felt a surge of hot blood in his chest, and his whole body trembled slightly.

He is not only challenging Cheng Yasheng, but also challenging the values ​​of everyone in this era.

His hand holding the carving knife trembled slightly, but he carved the stone tablet in one go with unwavering determination.

"To establish a moral compass for heaven and earth!"

To establish a life for the people!

To continue the lost learning of the sages!

May peace prevail for all generations!

boom!

An invisible aura of purity rose into the sky from the Hall of Learning, but everyone truly felt it.

That was the revival of fortune that had been sealed off for decades by the inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage.

The rules of the Second Saint have been broken.

Zhao Kongcheng's eyes shone brightly, and his whole body trembled with excitement.

To suppress his excitement, he could only tilt his head back and gulp down the wine.

"Cough, hahaha..."

"Excellent, excellent, excellent is the saying: 'To establish a heart for Heaven and Earth, to establish a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of the past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations!'"

"This is what scholars should be doing!"

Yang Tai and Zhang Xiaoru also trembled all over and excitedly roared to the sky.

"Okay, okay!"

"As the sage of literature said, books are the foundation of human progress. The responsibility of the academy is to pass on knowledge from generation to generation, so that even ordinary people can read and write, understand etiquette and righteousness."

"These four sentences perfectly align with the philosophy of the Sage of Literature!"

"This is what scholars should be doing!"

All the students in the academy were also deeply moved by the four sentences of Zhang Zai.

Some people in later generations said that Zhang Zai's four lines were empty and grandiose, but in terms of spiritual resonance, there are almost none that can surpass Zhang Zai's four lines.

"That's right, this is what scholars should do!"

A look of sudden realization crossed the faces of all the students.

Wu Yuan and Hao Shuwen hugged each other excitedly.

"Zhang Ping'an, godfather!" Wu Yuan shouted excitedly, admiring Zhang Ping'an to the point of prostration.

Lu Ruoxue also clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, her eyes filled with stars.

"My God, he refuted the inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage!"

"He actually did it!"

"No, I must bring such a talented person into the Prime Minister's residence!"

On the other side, Lu Wenhao stared wide-eyed, as if he had seen something utterly unbelievable.

"Did Zhang Ping'an really write this?"

"How is this possible!"

"He's so awesome!"

In fact, it wasn't that Zhao Kongcheng and the two great Confucian scholars lacked the knowledge to write the four lines of Zhang Zai; it was simply due to the limitations of their time.

Born in an era where monarchical power was supreme, the inscription on the stele of the Second Sage, representing loyalty to the emperor and serving the country, was almost the pinnacle of morality.

They might have vaguely sensed that there were more important things for scholars to do than being loyal to the emperor and serving the country.

However, they were limited by the times; they lacked the vision and perspective of Zhang Ping'an, a latercomer.

Therefore, Zhang Ping'an was able to break free from the moral constraints of the Inscription on the Stele of the Second Sage and refute it from a higher level.

Putting the carving knife back in its place, Zhang Ping'an suddenly turned around, his eyes fixed intently on Zhang Xuanling.

"Lord Zhang, in my opinion, this is what scholars should truly be doing!"

"Lord Zhang, do you have any objections?"

Zhang Xuanling's face was as pale as paper, and he staggered back a few steps.

When the academy's fortunes broke free from their seal and returned, he immediately felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

Disagreement?

He wanted it, but he didn't dare to have it.

If there are objections, it means that the four sentences of Hengqu are not accepted, and the four sentences of Hengqu need to be refuted.

He can't.

Moreover, he genuinely agreed with the four lines of Zhang Zai.

Because he was also a scholar.

Sun Guihua was also pale; the four lines of Zhang Hengqu had a profound impact on him, no less than that on Zhang Xuanling.

He was simply more patient than Zhang Xuanling.

"Why is Lord Zhang silent?" Zhang Ping'an asked with a sneer.

Zhang Xuanling's face turned almost liver-colored.

He looked at Zhang Ping'an as if he were seeing him for the first time, his eyes filled with shock and confusion.

"This good-for-nothing, he barely had any schooling and wasted three years in prison, how could he possibly write such a mediocre line!"

Although he secretly agreed with Zhang Zai's four lines, he would never admit it out loud.

"How dare you, you brat!"

Zhang Xuanling suddenly shouted.

"How dare you write such disrespectful and ungrateful words! Where do you place imperial power? Where do you place His Majesty?"

"This is clearly outrageous and blasphemous!"

"It seems that this academy has indeed become a hiding place for rebels."

Before he could finish speaking, Yang Tai shouted, "What utter nonsense!"

"Zhang Xuanling, you dare to criticize even these four sentences? You are unworthy of being a scholar!"

Zhang Xiaoru, his face grim, retorted, "You may be shameless, but if you dare to slander these four sentences, you will be making an enemy of all scholars in the world!"

Zhang Xuanling's expression changed several times. He was now in a precarious situation and had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere.

"These four lines are well-written, but it's not up to you, His Majesty, to decide what is not something scholars should do."

Have you not heard that when the emperor is angry, a million corpses will fall?

"Nothing in this world is greater than imperial power!"

"Today, the academy will obediently close the mountain, or don't blame me for being impolite!"

Zhang Xuanling waved his hand at the armored soldiers, and dozens of heavily armored soldiers immediately drew their longswords and pressed forward.

When reasoning fails, they resort to using power to oppress people.

"That's truly displeasing to her mother!"

"You people at the Imperial Academy have truly lost all the integrity of scholars."

"Since you're being unreasonable, then this old man also knows a thing or two about martial arts!"

Yang Tai rolled up his sleeves, ready to take action.

Zhang Ping'an hurriedly grabbed him: "Mr. Yang, wait a moment. Even if we were to take action, it shouldn't be you who does it. That would be giving them too much credit."

Yang Tai now looked at Zhang Ping'an as if he were a rare treasure: "Ping'an, do you have any good ideas?"

Zhang Ping'an chuckled and turned to look at Zhang Xuanling.

"Lord Zhang, you only know the wrath of the emperor, but do you know the wrath of a common man?"

Zhang Xuanling sneered, "The anger of a common man? Even if a common man gets angry, what can he do?"

Zhang Ping'an grinned, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

"A common man's anger can spill blood five steps away."