Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

Cui Mansion.

After hearing what the Lu family patriarch said, Cui Mingan roared in anger:

"Has Li Gang gone mad? A tutor to two emperors, a titan of the Tang Dynasty's literary world, actually kneeling before that brat?"

The head of the Lu family said anxiously:

"Lord Cui, the Imperial Academy is in complete chaos now."

Li Gang threw away all of Mencius's works and spent his days drawing circles on the blackboard, talking about universal gravitation.

The students at the Imperial Academy no longer even memorize the Four Books and Five Classics; instead, they all go to the Moon Gazing Tower to throw iron balls.

"Several teachers from our aristocratic family who were stationed at the Imperial Academy have been expelled by Li Gang."

"absurd!"

Cui Mingan roared through gritted teeth.

Li Gang held a very high position among the literati; his leading the defection was tantamount to stabbing the core of the aristocratic families in the back.

If all the scholars in the world were to follow suit and study physics, the literary tradition monopolized by aristocratic families would truly collapse.

"No, we must not let this evil rumor spread."

A ruthless glint flashed in Cui Minqian's eyes.

"No matter how high Li Gang's seniority is, he can't surpass everyone else. Go and invite Lu Deming to come out of seclusion."

Upon hearing this name, the head of the Lu family's eyes lit up.

Lu Deming was a representative of the orthodox Confucianism of his time.

He's someone who can go toe-to-toe with Kong Yingda and Li Gang.

three days later.

Outside the Taiji Hall.

A huge crowd knelt down.

Lu Deming, dressed in a faded coarse cloth Confucian robe, knelt at the very front.

He was followed by hundreds of renowned Confucian scholars and officials from prominent families.

"Your Majesty! The Crown Prince is teaching sorcery in the Eastern Palace, bewitching people. Even veteran ministers like Li Gang have been deceived by him, and his reputation has been ruined in his later years."

Lu Deming burst into tears, his aged voice echoing in the main hall.

Li Shimin's head was buzzing at this moment.

Lu Deming was no ordinary censor.

He was a great Confucian scholar who was on par with Kong Yingda and Li Gang.

If someone were to get even a minor scrape in the main hall, scholars all over the land would drown the walls of Chang'an with their spittle.

"Minister Lu, please rise. Let's talk this out."

Li Shimin gave Wang De a wink.

Wang De rushed to help him up, but Lu Deming pushed him away.

"If Your Majesty does not severely punish the Crown Prince and abolish that so-called 'investigation of things and evil spirits,' this old minister will kill himself by crashing into the dragon pillar of the Taiji Hall today, to atone for the sins of the scholars of the world!"

Hundreds of renowned scholars shouted in unison:

"We implore Your Majesty to severely punish the Crown Prince and eradicate the evil spirits!"

Li Shimin rubbed his temples, feeling his blood pressure soar.

This time, the powerful families have learned their lesson. Instead of getting involved in matters of interest, they're directly using their moral and ethical high ground to pressure you.

If the imperial power forcibly suppressed Lu Deming, Li Shimin would be branded a tyrant for all time.

Helpless, Li Shimin could only turn to look at Li Chengqian, who was standing to the side yawning.

"Gao Ming, you've caused this mess, you'll have to deal with it yourself."

Li Shimin brilliantly shifted the blame.

Li Chengqian stretched and strolled over to Lu Deming.

"Old man Lu, are you saying that what I teach is evil magic?"

Lu Deming raised his head and demanded:

"Isn't that right? The earth is a sphere, and everything has gravity."

This is utterly absurd. The ancient Chinese concept of a round heaven and a square earth was established by sages. You are betraying your teachers and ancestors.

"Are the decisions made by sages always correct?"

Li Chengqian said with a face full of disdain.

"Even the sages said one should not speak while eating or sleeping, but I see you arguing more loudly than anyone else in the court."

"You! You are an insult to civility!"

"Alright, stop wailing and crying."

Li Chengqian waved his hand.

"Since you all think my investigation of things is evil, then let's have a fair and square contest."

Li Chengqian turned to face Li Shimin and clasped his hands in greeting:

"Father, I propose that a great debate between the old and new schools of thought be held in the square outside the Taiji Hall in three days."

"Debate?" Li Shimin was taken aback.

"That's right. Lu Deming represents traditional learning, and I represent modern learning."

"If I lose, I will smash the Imperial Academy on the spot, depose myself as crown prince, and from now on live a life of seclusion, never setting foot in the court again."

boom!

The entire court was dumbfounded.

A bet on the position of crown prince?

Isn't this going too far?

Fang Xuanling charged straight out from the ranks of civil officials:

"Your Highness, you mustn't! The position of Crown Prince is the foundation of the nation; how can it be treated so lightly?"

Li Shimin also grew anxious, slammed his hand on the table, and stood up:

"Gao Ming, what nonsense are you spouting? Get out of my sight!"

"Father, I am not being silly."

Li Chengqian's gaze was fixed on Lu Deming.

"But if I win, the Tang Dynasty's imperial examinations must immediately add two subjects: mathematics and physics, and their weight must be equal to that of the Mingjing and Jinshi examinations."

"Old Lu, do you dare to take this?"

Lu Deming sneered.

He could recite poems at the age of three, read classics at the age of five, and in debates, who in the world could out-argue him?

Even if the Crown Prince summoned Li Gang and Kong Yingda, he didn't take them seriously.

There has always been a saying: "In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second."

These great Confucian scholars were all arrogant people.

Cui Mingan frantically tried to signal to Lu Deming through the crowd, afraid that the old man would refuse.

Deposing the crown prince is something that powerful families dream of.

Lu Deming stood up and agreed:

"Very well! This old minister accepts."

Three days later, this old minister will see how His Highness the Crown Prince's superstitious tales can stand up to the teachings of the sages.

"It's a deal. Wang De, draft the decree and proclaim it to the world!"

Li Chengqian snapped his fingers.

Li Shimin's face had turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

That unfilial son can't feel at ease unless he's angry.

After the court session ended.

"Arrogant! Utterly arrogant!"

Cui Mingan, along with several heads of prominent families, walked along the palace road, laughing loudly.

"The Crown Prince has completely cut off his own escape route this time. Debating the classics with Lu Deming? He probably can't even recite the entire Analects of Confucius."

The head of the Wang family echoed:

"Lord Cui is right. Let's wait and see how he loses the position of Crown Prince."

"When the time comes, we'll settle both the old and new scores, and the properties in Liaodong, as well as the royal trading company, will all be ours."

On the other side, in the East Palace Study.

As soon as Li Chengqian entered the room, Changsun Chong and Xiao Shunzi knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness, you are foolish! Lu Deming is a renowned Confucian scholar of our time, with students and former officials all over the world. To debate with him is like walking into the line of fire!"

Changsun Chong was almost in tears.

Cheng Chumo then leaned in and said:

"Your Highness, how about I take a few brothers tonight and beat that old man up in a sack, so he can't get out of bed for three days?"

If he can't come, then the debate is canceled, right?

"Get lost!"

Li Chengqian kicked Cheng Chumo in the butt.

"Debate relies on the mind, not fists. Besides, when did I ever say I wanted to debate with him?"

Changsun Chong was stunned:

"If we don't debate scriptures, what are we debating?"

"He spoke to me about the great principles of sages, and I responded by talking to him about reality."