The Great Seminary

Chapter 228 Dispute
Zhang Gui felt a tightness in his chest because of what happened to his friend.

She was already pretending to be nonchalant, but now the noise outside is making her even more upset.

However, "even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake," and besides, Changsheng Tiemu is a dragon, while he is the snake.

Even if you're furious but haven't reached a certain point, you can only suppress it, lower your head, and keep swaying back and forth.

After a while, the noise outside gradually subsided.

A short while later, Zhen Ciyun walked into the main hall of 'Shui Zi Twenty-Three Dormitory' with a gentle expression.

Beside her was her younger sister, Zhen Shijing, who looked sullen, and behind her were her personal maids.

Seeing that the two young ladies had finished school.

Zhen Baimei and Zhen Youlan hurriedly handed over warm handkerchiefs to wipe their faces.

At the same time, Zhen Baimei whispered to him:

"Miss, Sir Winter, the Westerner, has been waiting for you in the hall for a while."

"Sir Winter, isn't that...?"

Before Zhen Ciyun could react, Zhen Shijing, who usually wore Taoist robes and was now dressed as a female Taoist priest in soft, moon-white silk, suddenly brightened up and turned from anger to joy, saying:

"Sister, I told you he would come looking for you again, but you didn't believe me."

What cat in the world doesn't love fish? I used to pretend to be serious because I thought I never had the chance.

She was straightforward by nature, and having learned of Zhang Gui's arrival from her sister, she had been eagerly anticipating seeing the spectacle, and now her wait had finally come to an end.

"Don't talk nonsense."

Zhen Ciyun covered her younger sister's mouth.

She turned the screen around and came to Zhang Gui, saying softly, "You've come."

Zhang Gui was taken aback, feeling a little uncomfortable with Zhen Ciyun's seemingly plain but actually extremely intimate greeting.

But since he needed their help, he had no choice but to get up and put on a smiling face.

Yes, they've arrived.

You've finished school with Miss Shijing? You must be tired.

Zhen Shijing looked at him with a half-smile but remained silent.

Zhen Ciyun nodded gently, indicating that Zhang Gui should sit down.

Then she sat down next to him.

Seeing that neither of the two girls responded, Zhang Gui could only continue making conversation.
"It was so noisy outside just now, it didn't sound like 'debating scriptures' to me..."

"That's just how you are. You know it's a shameful thing, but you still try to put on a righteous front and say it in a nice way."

"Debating scriptures? What kind of 'debating scriptures' is this, more like a rogue's or a shrew's street brawl?"

Zhen Shijing's sharp words, ironically, piqued Zhang Gui's curiosity.
"Who is that person, and what is their business?"
"How dare Xianhezhai issue an order to supervise the construction of the 'Great Wolf Capital' of Yuanshan, a place of immortal ironwood! This is outrageous!"

"It's nothing," Zhen Ciyun said softly.

Do you know the Xuanqian family of Xining Prefecture, Longjin Province, Ming Dynasty?

"have no idea.

I come from humble origins and didn't even know that there was a Xining Prefecture in Longjin Province, let alone anything else.

Zhang Gui shook his head vigorously, like a rattle-drum, and retorted in a humorous, supporting manner:
"What happened to the Di Xuanqian family?"
Is it so that even in Yuanshan's 'Big Wolf Capital,' they have influence, able to say and do whatever they want?

"No, that's not it," Zhang Gui replied, though he knew Zhang Gui was just making things up to amuse him.

Zhen Ciyun shook her head seriously, "The Qian family of Di Xuan doesn't have face, they've lost all sense of shame."

Today we will be discussing the "Mencius's Classic on the Supreme Importance of People's Livelihood".

"If a ruler treats his subjects like his hands and feet, then the subjects will treat the ruler like their own heart and soul."

If the ruler treats his subjects like dogs and horses, then the subjects will treat the ruler like a fellow countryman;
"If a ruler treats his subjects like dirt, then the subjects will treat the ruler like an enemy."

As a result, Qian Guanhai, a direct descendant of the Qian family, openly used the example of the Ming-Song "current emperor" to argue that:

He treated his subjects like dogs and horses, and was not subdued by the grand principles of morality; he controlled them entirely through power and intrigue.

They treat the common people like dirt, offering no government relief during natural disasters, but instead adding man-made calamities by allowing imperial merchants to drive down prices and force the purchase of land. This is hardly the demeanor of a 'ruler'!

As a result, the room erupted into chaos, becoming as noisy as a hot kiln, making it a laughing stock for everyone.

"I see." Zhang Gui nodded in understanding. "There's no point in watching or laughing at the jokes."

Who in the world doesn't know how arrogant, self-important, and incompetent Emperor Hezheng was?

However, this is something that cannot be said so bluntly in public.

Otherwise, it would be tantamount to hijacking the opinions of everyone present and crowding around oneself to steal the spotlight.

It's absolutely disgusting.

Anyone who dares to argue with him is essentially breaking his game; that takes some guts.

After all, Xianhezhai is located in the capital of Yuanshan Kingdom. To speak on behalf of Emperor Hezheng here, tsk tsk tsk…”

“He is Sun Chonghe, the granddaughter of Mr. Huaihe.” Zhen Ciyun sighed softly.

"She most admires Dr. Jiuqing of the Zhang family of Pingyang, who is known as one of the 'Two Outstanding Figures' alongside you."

It used to be said that "The Book of Filial Piety Between Father and Son" was a magnificent piece of writing that could be passed down through the ages.

But I never expected that my current position would be like this. In fact, many of my former classmates, childhood friends, and relatives are now divided by their positions.

And there's likely to be more and more of them in the future.

After all, no matter how much the Ming and Song dynasties claimed that the dynasty was on the verge of collapse, it was like a centipede that, though dead, does not fall down.

Even a mighty empire that has stood for hundreds of years always has to go through a period of turmoil, dragging down thousands of heroes before things finally settle down.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Gui couldn't help but recall a dynasty in his previous life that was renowned for its "civil administration".

Despite having only half its territory remaining, it still managed to survive for over a hundred years.

Even at the time of its final demise, two hundred thousand loyal ministers and virtuous men perished at sea.

"Perhaps I've underestimated things? If the Ming-Song court can still put up a fight for a while, that would be wonderful!"

A rather delightful thought flashed through his mind, but he casually muttered something unintentionally:
"If Mr. Huaihe is his granddaughter, then she should call Brother Jiuqing 'brother-in-law'."

Through all these twists and turns, we've become distant relatives by marriage, yet now we're all serving different masters.

It truly evokes a lot of emotions.

"What are you thinking? If we consider relatives like that, then we're practically worlds apart."

Moreover, you just said that Emperor Hezheng was "stubborn, arrogant, and incompetent," so how could he possibly seem to recognize him as his "master"?

"I misspoke," Zhang Gui said, regaining his composure.

Zhen Ciyun gently tugged at Zhen Shijing's sleeve, signaling her to stop finding fault, and then spoke up herself:

"You probably only come to me when you need something."

"Speak, what brings you here today?"

"I couldn't persuade that bastard Zhang Jiujiang, so I decided to go back to Ming Song myself."

But I can't help but worry.

Hearing Zhang Gui unconsciously cursing his brothers in front of her, a hint of joy flashed in Zhen Ciyun's eyes.
"You want me to help look after him, right?"

"exactly."

Zhang Gui nodded and took out a lifelike little two-tailed raccoon dog figurine from his pocket.

"In case of any unforeseen circumstances, you can use it to protect yourself from Jiujiang."

If you don't need it, you can have it.

"You're so 'generous' to give me a piece of jade."

Zhen Shijing grabbed the raccoon dog figurine from her sister, her expression turning teasing, but then her eyes widened slightly.
"You are really generous, giving away such an item so easily."

As expected.

Zhen Ciyun, standing to the side, again covered her younger sister's mouth and asked curiously:
What is the origin of this two-tailed raccoon dog?

(End of this chapter)