Top Scholar

Chapter 500 Master and Teacher (Seeking monthly votes)

Seeing this, Li Dongyang hurriedly instructed the steward, "Quickly take the Duke of Ying to change his clothes."

“Scholars are just different. They don’t call taking a dump a dump, they even change their clothes.” Zhang Mao laughed and left, finally saying, “I’m constipated. You two can chat all you want. Call me when you’re done.”

"No rush, no rush, take your time," Li Dongyang said with a smile.

Once only he and Su Lu remained in the hall, the Grand Secretary's face darkened: "What exactly are you up to, kid?"

If you've been wronged outside and have nowhere to vent your frustrations, can't you at least take it out on your grand-disciple?
Su Lu hurriedly said, "Grandmaster, you've wronged your grand-disciple. This is the Dragon and Tiger Class that the Emperor wants to organize. I'm just being a teaching assistant."

"Oh? Just helping out?" Li Dongyang stared at him with a half-smile, his eyes full of knowing wisdom. While Grand Secretary Li was playing the coy, Su Zhuangyuan was still nowhere to be found.

Li Dongyang immediately realized that Su Lu was the key figure in this Dragon Tiger Class...

Since the Emperor and the Duke of England were a lazy dragon and a mascot, how could they possibly concern themselves with such complicated matters? Su Lu, the teaching assistant, was naturally the one who handled the specifics.

Seeing that he couldn't hide it from the fox for a thousand years, Su Lu had no choice but to smile apologetically and explain, "Yes, His Majesty did inquire of his grand-disciple beforehand, after the palace examination, how about holding a class to teach us?"

“Of course I have to say yes,” he continued, half-truthfully and half-jokingly, “but my master also knows that the emperor is not fond of mundane affairs, so he left this matter to me to handle and forbade me to tell anyone.”

"That's more like it." Li Dongyang nodded in satisfaction. His self-esteem, which had been severely damaged by Jiao Fang, was finally somewhat restored by Su Lu.

"Let me see the draft articles of association." He held out his hand again.

Knowing he could get through this hurdle, Su Lu presented the thick set of regulations.

Under the lamplight, Li Dongyang could read ten lines at a glance, flipping through the pages rapidly, and still maintain a normal conversation with Su Lu. This was a basic skill he had honed over many years of reviewing memorials in the cabinet.

"Are you deliberately making it so complicated that people don't understand it?" Li Dongyang pointed out the obvious.

"Huh?" Su Lu said innocently, "Master, don't always think the worst of me. I haven't worked a single day, where would I get into those crooked ways?"

“That makes sense.” Li Dongyang nodded and said, “So you’re self-taught? This charter is well-written and detailed, and you’re experienced. You’ll definitely be fine following it. But there’s a hint of superiority in it. If you could write it simply, you’d write it in a way that’s incomprehensible to people… It’s like saying, ‘If you’re an idiot and can’t understand it, don’t bother reading it. Just leave it to me.’”

"Master, you've been wronged! Your grand-disciple may still be using the methods from exam essays out of habit. I will learn to write official documents properly in the future..." Su Lu firmly denied it.

“Actually, it’s quite good to write it this way…” Li Dongyang then laughed and said, “I only learned it when I was forty.”

"That grand-disciple just got lucky," Su Lu laughed.

"Alright." Li Dongyang nodded and asked in a deep voice, "Tell me your own thoughts."

"What my grand-disciple is thinking is to help the Emperor rebuild his trust in civil officials," Su Lu replied solemnly.

“Hmm.” Li Dongyang accepted his statement and agreed wholeheartedly, saying, “In the past two years, the Emperor has indeed been very suspicious of us civil officials. He doesn’t even want to see us, let alone discuss state affairs.”

“Yes, so I believe the most urgent task is to get the Emperor to rebuild his trust in civil officials!” Su Lu said in a deep voice.

"But does this trust include us old folks?" Li Dongyang asked quietly.

"Huh?" Su Lu hurriedly used his newbie privileges and looked at Li Dongyang with a puzzled expression.

As the saying goes, you have to sing the song that suits the mountain you're on. In front of Zhu Shou, he had to pretend to be all-knowing and all-powerful so that Zhu Shou would treat him as a treasure.

In front of your master, you have to act like a novice. Pretending to be an expert will only get you played by an even more experienced one.

"..." Li Dongyang felt conflicted, both thinking it was understandable that Su Lu didn't understand, and yet feeling that he should understand. He had no choice but to be more direct:

"This Dragon Tiger Class is excellent in every way, but there's one problem—I, the Grand Master, have become an outsider and can't get involved at all."

Before Su Lu could answer, he gave a self-deprecating laugh and waved his hand, saying, "Never mind, it's none of my business to interfere in court affairs anyway. I'm just an outsider placed on a high pedestal..."

These words were so poignant they brought tears to one's eyes. Su Lu tentatively asked, "Grandmaster, do you want to get more involved? Would your grand-disciple arrange a few more lessons for you?"

"Hehe..." Li Dongyang chuckled sheepishly, "If it's not too much trouble for you."

"No trouble at all," Su Lu quickly waved his hand and said, "I'll ask my master to give a few more lessons on 'Tiger Strategy' later, so that my classmates can have a good understanding of the true situation of the Ming Dynasty."

"No problem!" Li Dongyang smiled broadly and said happily, "I didn't expect to enjoy the blessings of my grand-disciple so soon."

"Hehe..." Su Lu smiled brightly and said, "It's really great to be able to help my master."

“However, the most important thing right now is to rebuild the Emperor’s trust in civil officials. This opportunity is already hard-won, we mustn’t mess it up.” Li Dongyang, prioritizing the overall situation, said, “How about this, just let me have one more class than others.” “Yes,” Su Lu replied softly, “I will obey my master.”

"Don't be too anxious," Li Dongyang gently comforted him. "It takes more than one day for ice to freeze three feet deep, and it also takes more than one day for ice to melt. These things can't be rushed. We can only gradually and slowly melt away the barriers in His Majesty's heart."

"Understood," Su Lu replied softly.

Li Dongyang finished looking at the class schedule and handed it back to Su Lu, saying, "I see you also invited people from the eunuch faction, but not Jiao Fang."

“That Jiao fellow is like a mad dog, repeatedly humiliating my teachers. If we disciples still invite him, won’t others bully us to death in the future?” Su Lu said firmly, “Inviting Liu Yu and the others is to prove to the Emperor that this is not a factional struggle, but a purely personal grudge!”

"Hmm." Li Dongyang nodded and smiled, "I think you didn't just slap him in the face; you must have a backup plan, right?"

"I really didn't think that much about it," Su Lu said pitifully. "Why does Grandmaster always think of me as an old fox? I also need time to grow up."

“Alright…” Li Dongyang had no choice but to accept his self-positioning and said in a low voice, “Actually, this is a good opportunity for Jiao Fang to step down as Minister of Personnel. As the second-in-command of the cabinet, he also serves as the Grand Chancellor, which is completely against the rules. It’s just that the rules are no higher than Liu Jin’s.”

“Yes.” Su Lu nodded: “Jiao Fang’s arrogance largely stems from the fact that he also holds the position of Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and he believes that he can control all officials in the country. In particular, the fate of officials below the fourth rank is in his hands.”

“That’s true.” Li Dongyang nodded. “Although the three of you top scholars are out of danger, most of your classmates still need to pass the selection process. If we don’t help them remove this obstacle, they will all suffer.”

"..." Su Lu looked at her scheming master and thought to herself, "Damn it, we haven't settled the score from last time yet, and now you're going to use me as a pawn again."

The previous debt referred to his helping Li Dongyang thwart Liu Jin's plan to promote the garrison eunuch to governor. His master still hasn't rewarded him...

Seeing that Su Lu didn't respond, Li Dongyang knew he was in the wrong, so he stopped talking and said, "This matter is not urgent, we'll talk about it later."

"Yes." Su Lu nodded.

At this moment, the Duke of England finally finished squatting in the toilet and shouted loudly at the door, "Scholar, we should take our leave! There's another place to go."

"Yes." Su Lu quickly replied, stood up and said goodbye, "Class is at Chenshi tomorrow, Master, just come a quarter of an hour early."

"Don't worry, we won't be late." Li Dongyang saw them to the door, watched the sedan chair disappear into the night, and then hummed a little tune as he returned to the back hall.

"Feeling better now?" Madam Zhu ladled rice for him again.

"That's right." Li Dongyang took it, shoveling rice into his mouth while beaming, "From now on, I won't envy Wang Zhenze for having a disciple who has made it big. My grand-disciple is just as good!"

"Isn't that still the same person?" Madam Zhu added another bowl of rice to his bowl.

~~
Su Lu and the Duke of England visited Wang Ao's residence that very night, asking him to come to the Leopard Chamber the next day to teach etiquette.

Wang Ao readily agreed and then asked Su Lu what specific requirements he had.

Su Lu was about to speak when the Duke of England suddenly stood up, clutching his stomach, and said, "Oh dear, my stomach hurts again. The yellow croaker we ate tonight must not have been fresh."

He laughed awkwardly and said, "Grand Secretary Wang, I'm going to have to stay at your residence again."

"Please, please go ahead." Wang Ao quickly instructed the steward to take him to the outhouse.

Only the master and disciple remained in the hall. Su Lu was about to explain when Wang Ao waved his hand first and said gently with a smile, "Don't worry, your master won't be jealous of the Emperor. I have no intention of forming factions. Once the situation is less difficult, your master will retire and return to Suzhou to live out his days..."

"Teacher!" Su Lu hurriedly stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and looked very sad.

Of all the students in this Dragon and Tiger Class, Wang Ao was the most affected. He only had this one class, yet the emperor wanted to cultivate them into his "imperial faction," so it was best for him, their mentor, to consciously distance himself from them…

Wang Ao stood up, stopping him from continuing, and said, "Good disciples are not many; having one like you is enough. Rest assured, I will not easily resign until the country is out of danger."

“Teacher…” Su Lu’s eyes reddened slightly with emotion. He had originally wanted to apologize to his teacher, but Wang Ao comforted him instead, telling him not to feel any burden…

Then Wang Ao inquired in detail about the class's curriculum, faculty, and assessment standards, offering many valuable suggestions that greatly benefited Su Lu. The two chatted for quite some time before they heard the Duke of England shouting from the courtyard:
"Finished, let's go, next place!"

"Sigh, just go for it. I'll support you no matter what." Wang Ao stood up to see him off, then earnestly said to Su Lu, "Just remember, don't use all your strength or all your power. Leave yourself some room for maneuver."

"Yes, disciple will remember your teachings, teacher." Su Lu bowed deeply to Wang Ao before taking his leave.

P.S. Happy New Year everyone!
I wrote a side story today, so I haven't written the third chapter yet. I'll just leave it at that. I'm going to bed early on New Year's Day.

Good night, Makabaka.

(End of this chapter)