Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 135 The Mind Returns to Righteousness! The Emperor's Certification! (Second Update)
Yan Shifan returned from the Hanlin Academy looking rather dejected.

He discussed with Xu Jie and Zhao Shichun until so late, but still couldn't find an effective way to persuade them.

As soon as they entered the Imperial Academy, they saw Gui Zai walking towards them carrying books. This classmate lived in the dormitory next door and often came over to play after class these days.

Where is Mingwei?

“I just saw him go to Master Xu’s place.”

"Sigh! Is it going to disband so soon? My Isshinkai... It hurts so much..."

Yan Shifan sighed again, his eyes darting around, wondering if he should slip away and make a run for it.

A few months ago, when he was still Gui Zai's little follower, he would have cut ties without hesitation at this point.

After all, Haiyue's actions were very much like a monkey going to the Heavenly Court for the first time, feeling that the position of Bi Ma Wen was too lowly and too humiliating, so he simply made a scene at the Peach Banquet and rebelled.

The nature of the matter is not that serious; it's just a matter of disbanding the Yixin Society. Perhaps the scholars of the world really like this kind of upright and unyielding spirit. Just now, Xu Jie and Zhao Shichun were completely in awe of him. But His Majesty is definitely not happy!

You are not the all-powerful Sun Wukong, how can you betray the Emperor's favor and defy the Jade Emperor?

Ugh!
Will this implicate us?
But as he recalled their time together, and realized he'd never had a true friend like this before, Yan Shifan gritted his teeth and made another decision that went against his principles: 'Father said, choose friends based on virtue, not power. If I run away now, I won't even respect myself!'

Thinking this way, he relaxed, or rather, he became somewhat fearless, and headed towards the courtyard where the chief priest Xu Gao was.

When he first met Haiyue, he secretly spoke ill of the Imperial Academy Chancellor Xu Gao, because the latter did indeed have some disagreements with his father Yan Song. It was true that when Yan Song was the Imperial Academy Chancellor, his achievements were too outstanding, and he arranged everything in an orderly manner. After Xu Gao took over, he found it difficult to establish the prestige that belonged to this term, which naturally led to some discord.

However, these minor conflicts vanished after Guo Xun's outburst at the Imperial Academy. In particular, Yan Shifan still remembers the smug expression on the face of Xu Gao, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, when the Marquis of Wuding was slunk away. It was also because of this man that Yan Shifan was caught up in the chaos.

But now there's the turmoil surrounding the Yixin Society, and it's uncertain whether this aging chief priest can withstand such a dramatic turn of events.

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Great!"

Just then, a burst of laughter came from over there, and Haiyue and the chief priest Xu Gao came out. The two were chatting and laughing, and the hearty laughter came from the latter.

Yan Shifan rubbed his eyes, thinking he had misread it, and hesitated before stepping forward to bow: "Chancellor Xu!"

"East Building!"

Xu Gao's expression at this moment was like that of an elder visiting during the New Year, as warm and friendly as could be: "Focus on your studies and become a pillar of our Ming Dynasty in the future!"

"Yes Yes!"

Yan Shifan suddenly realized what was happening and was overjoyed. He then looked at Haiyue and asked, "The Yixin Society isn't going to disband?"

Before Haiyue could answer, Xu Gao stroked his beard and laughed, "Disband? How could we disband? His Majesty still wants to bestow calligraphy upon the Yixin Society. You'll understand once the courtyard is chosen! Let's go!"

The three of them walked towards the main courtyard.

Along the way, seeing Haiyue's tall figure from afar, and not even having time to notice that Xu Gao was also traveling with them, many students took detours as if avoiding a plague.

Clearly, the news had spread, and everyone was hiding from the rebellious stable boy who had broken away from the Heavenly Court.

Haiyue remained calm, Xu Gao secretly shook his head, while Yan Shifan glared fiercely at the students who avoided her.

Upon arriving at their destination, Yan Shifan was astonished by what he saw: "Is this Jingyi Pavilion? Why is our Yixin Society's courtyard located opposite?"

Jingyi Pavilion is not a small pavilion, but the main building of the third courtyard of the Imperial College. It was built in the seventh year of Jiajing's reign and has the imperial calligraphy of "Jingyi Zhen" and other articles such as "Annotations on Fan Junxin Zhen" and "Annotations on Cheng Yi's Four Admonitions on Seeing, Hearing, Speaking and Acting" engraved on stone tablets inside.

Now, the headquarters of the Isshin-kai is located opposite the Reiichi Gate, where they can see the five-bay gate.

Xu Gao personally inspected the place and made sure it was respectable enough that His Majesty wouldn't feel slighted if he visited. Only then did he nod in satisfaction: "How about calling this place 'Yixin Pavilion'?"

Not to mention Yan Shifan couldn't stand it, even Haiyue felt it was a bit much: "Chancellor Xu, it's just a matter of need for the academy, I would never dare to change my name at the Imperial Academy!"

Xu Gao stroked his beard and said, "Indeed! Indeed! Once His Majesty personally writes it, it will surely be remembered for generations to come. How could I possibly change it at will?"

Haiyue: "..."

That’s not what I meant!

Also, you are a fourth-rank official, so don't smile so obsequiously!
To be honest, Haiyue didn't expect that the first person to fawn over her so directly would be the principal of her own school. Xu Gao had only been a little timid in front of Guo Xun, and at other times he still behaved quite dignified. But when he heard that Yixin Society would be stationed at the Imperial College, his attitude became completely undisguised.

Power is truly terrifying! And it's certainly easy to become addicted to it!
Yan Shifan also noticed it, but for a moment he didn't understand why there had been such a drastic change after he went to the Hanlin Academy. Fortunately, it was a good thing, so he said excitedly, "I'll go call Shisilang and Lin Jingfu over so we can clean up together."

Seeing Haiyue nod, he dashed out, his eyes darting around, but instead of going to find Hai Rui and Lin Daqin first, he deliberately kept a sullen face and circled around each school and dormitory, sighing from time to time.

"Brother Donglou, here's the book back. I'll decline." "Yan Donglou, weren't you quite the big shot a few days ago? Why are you so dejected today? Humph! I want to join the club, and you won't allow it? Serves you right!"

"Serving one's lord with the Way is the only way; if it is not possible, then one should stop! The gentlemen of the Yixin Society do not follow the vulgar or flatter the world; they are solitary, pure, and proud, and we admire them!"

Some avoided it like the plague, some turned back from their journey to the West, some gloated, and some offered comfort and admiration.

The small Imperial College (Guozijian) already reflects the myriad aspects of human life.

Instead of just reminiscing, Yan Shifan carried a small notebook in his pocket and wrote down the general words and actions of everyone.

Hmph! Just you wait!
Before long, I'll bring up all the old grievances one by one!
Indeed, it didn't take long. When Yan Shifan returned to his dormitory, he called Hai Rui and Lin Daqin, and brought Gui Zai along as well. When they returned to Jingyi Pavilion, they saw a group of people filing in from afar.

"It's an official from the Directorate of Ceremonial!"

"Look! Isn't that the chief eunuch, Wang Da Dang, leading the group?"

"Is the vermilion tray in his hand a gift from the emperor?"

Not only them, but many people were alarmed.

The Imperial Academy was the premier institution of learning in the land, and many of its students were either wealthy or noble. That's why some people had previously ridiculed Yan Shifan, because they had also wanted to join the Yixin Society but had been turned away by Yan Shifan. Naturally, they hated him and seized the opportunity to mock him.

These people were also perceptive. When they saw the eunuch enter the Imperial Academy, they quickly followed. When they saw the person in charge, they were immediately surprised.

The Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs was theoretically a civil service office within the inner court, with most officials ranging from the fourth to the sixth rank. Officials of the fourth rank wore scarlet, those of the fourth rank wore dark scarlet, and those of the fifth rank wore light scarlet. Officials below the sixth rank wore blue or green. Eunuchs could wear ivory plaques and purses. Although they did not wear the sashes or jade pendants of civil officials, they still looked dignified, majestic, and extraordinary.

The person who came at this time was Wang Bao, a fourth-rank eunuch who was in charge of drafting documents. His insignia was a lark. Although his rank was not high, he actually held the power to approve drafts and personnel transfers. He was a top eunuch who could be respectfully called "Grand Eunuch"!

When they arrived at Jingyi Pavilion, Haiyue and Xu Gao were already waiting. When they saw Yan Shifan leading his men, they gave him a look and signaled for them to come over.

Yan Shifan dared not approach for a moment, until Wang Bao turned around, smiled slightly at them, a stark contrast to when he had imprisoned Empress Dowager Zhang, and said in a gentle voice: "Talented men of the Yixin Society, come and listen to the decree!"

'I'm a talented man now? Haha! I'm a talented man now!'

Yan Shifan then stepped forward unsteadily and said in unison, "This student obeys the decree!"

Wang Bao's message was oral, not an official imperial edict, but the intonation made it seem as if the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty himself was present: "I have heard that you have formed a society to study, called the 'Society of One Heart'! In this world, only the heart can communicate with the divine, and only sincerity can penetrate metal and stone. You read the books of sages and worthies not for the sake of trivialities, but to cultivate the righteousness of your hearts. Now I give you these words, hoping that you will remember them in your hearts... If you ever stand in the court, remember the vows you made today in your studies—to cultivate our hearts together and bring peace to the world!"

Although the long and eloquent article contained no substantial points and consisted mostly of words of encouragement, the emperor's attitude was clearly revealed.

"Bestow a title upon me!"

The scroll of imperial calligraphy on the vermilion tray slowly unfurled, revealing the four large characters "心猿归正" (The Mind Monkey Returns to Righteousness) like a golden spear unsheathed, with the last stroke seemingly still stained with fresh vermilion.

"His Majesty has decreed that this calligraphy should be hung on the main beam of the main hall of the Yixin Society."

"The student obeys!"

A cold wind swept through the hall, making the imperial calligraphy rustle, but none of the people in the hall felt cold; their hearts were warm.

A personal gift from the Emperor!

The restless mind must be brought back to its proper place!

It hangs in the main hall of the Yixin Society!

Yan Shifan's heart pounded wildly.

Look left, look right, look up and down.

These four characters don't sound like "The Monkey King Returns to Righteousness" at all, but rather like "The Great Sage Equal to Heaven"!
My brother Mingwei is amazing! He clearly "rebelled against the Heavenly Court," yet he was named the "Great Sage Equal to Heaven."

How on earth is this done?
However, Yan Shifan knew that once he became successful, Yixin would truly become successful.

Meanwhile, the many onlookers not far away had turned pale, especially those who had returned the Journey to the West earlier; their legs went weak.

Of course, some were happy while others were sad. For example, Assistant Professor Cui in the crowd was so excited that his eyes turned red.

The mind returns to its proper place; does this mean that the philosophy of mind is about to be deregulated?

The long-awaited day for the study of mind is finally coming. We can now explore knowledge with ease, without having to worry or be anxious.

Regardless of the myriad expressions of humanity, after seeing off Wang Bao and his entourage from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, and looking at the increasingly enthusiastic faces surrounding them, Yan Shifan proudly put his hands on his hips. Hai Rui, initially expressionless, couldn't help but smile slightly: "That's great, the Imperial Academy is about to boil over!"

(End of this chapter)