They've all become top scholars in the imperial examinations, and you're telling me this i

Chapter 54 Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it.

Water can carry a boat, and it can also overturn it.

These eight words were like ice water poured into boiling oil, instantly igniting the entire audience!

After a brief silence, snickers, gasps, and angry whispers erupted almost simultaneously.

"Absurd! Absolutely ridiculous!"

A sharp voice rang out first; it came from a middle-aged civil official beside Fang Xuanling. He pointed at Chen Guangrui, his face full of disdain.

Although Chen Guangrui is a newly crowned top scholar, many people now know that he is close to Wei Zheng and has become a thorn in the side of many.

Adding to this, his arrogant behavior today has already displeased the Crown Prince, and now that he has seen the words "Chen Guangrui," he has jumped out to show his displeasure.

This pleased both the meritorious officials of the Prince of Qin's mansion and the Crown Prince.

"Chen Guangrui! Where did you get this twisted logic? 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it'? This is clearly plagiarism, copying Xunzi's 'Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it'! You, a newly appointed top scholar, are here to answer imperial commands, yet you use the words of the ancients to shirk your responsibilities? This is an insult to literature! You have no respect for the law!"

Upon hearing this, many of the successful candidates in the imperial examinations showed expressions of sudden realization and agreement. Copying phrases from predecessors to appease His Highness? That's incredibly audacious!

Immediately afterwards, Changsun Wuji's icy voice, like a tangible icicle, pierced through the air.

"This is more than just perfunctory! This is harboring malicious intent! 'Overturned boat'? What are you implying? Are you making veiled accusations, implying that the court is unstable? How dare you write such arrogant words about 'the people being more important than the ruler' in front of His Highness? What is your intention? This is treason!"

Before he could finish speaking, an elderly minister beside him trembled and echoed,

"This is alarmist talk! Your Highness has been working diligently to govern the country, and the people are united in your loyalty. How can you say that the boat will capsize? You are just a newly promoted scholar who has not yet stepped into the court. How dare you speak so presumptuously about the state of the world and the relationship between ruler and subject? This is the beginning of chaos!"

The accusations piled up, ranging from plagiarism to outrageous treason, instantly overwhelming Chen Guangrui.

Crown Prince Li Shimin finally shifted his gaze from those eight characters and landed on Chen Guangrui's face.

His gaze was deep and unfathomable, carrying an invisible pressure that seemed to dissect his every expression. The hall fell into a suffocating silence once more, everyone waiting to see how this "arrogant top scholar" would end up.

"Chen Guangrui,"

Li Shimin spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, yet every word carried immense weight.
"Give me an explanation. You first showed disrespect to me, and then submitted your paper with such words. What are you trying to say?"

Chen Guangrui met that gaze without fear, his voice clear and calm:
"Return to your highness."

"Firstly, His Highness posed a question, simply stating 'feelings arising from the scene,' instructing students to 'write down what they see and think, regardless of genre, using the painting as a topic.' Upon viewing this painting, I saw high winds and rough seas, a lone boat precariously suspended, and the boatman struggling to stay afloat. In a moment of inspiration, I felt that only these eight characters could truly capture the perilous and unpredictable nature of the scene and the boatman's heart. What I thought of were these eight characters, a spontaneous expression of my feelings and the direction of my heart. Just as Xunzi himself uttered these words based on this scene and these feelings."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over those who were criticizing him, and continued.
"Secondly, although I have not yet been granted an official position, I am here today not only as a newly appointed scholar but also as one of Your Highness's subjects. May I ask Your Highness, how did the wise rulers of ancient times, Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang, gain the world? It was not because of their noble lineage, but because they cared for the people! Why did they lose the world? Xia Jie and Shang Zhou did not lose the world because Heaven did not favor them, but because they treated the people like dirt!"

"On the contrary, Your Highness, at the end of the Wude era, the world was in chaos and the Guanzhong Plain was devastated. It was Your Highness who recruited heroes, regardless of their background, and promoted them based solely on their talents. You quelled the warlords, brought peace to the four directions, and enabled scholars, farmers, artisans and merchants to live in peace. Mr. Fang Xuanling and Mr. Du Ruhui were originally commoners, but they were fortunate to meet Your Highness's discerning eyes, who offered them advice and made strategic plans."

"Generals like Yuchi Gong and Qin Qiong, though surrendered generals, have earned Your Highness's trust and respect, thus displaying the might of the Tiger Warriors! This is clear evidence of Your Highness's broad-mindedness, inclusiveness, and deep understanding that 'the people are the foundation of the nation'! Your Highness's great achievements cannot be accomplished by one person alone; they are truly a vessel that gathers the hearts and strength of the people of the world!"

His voice sounded particularly powerful in the quiet garden:
"Your Highness aspires to create an unprecedented golden age. To achieve this, it is not enough for a monarch to be the sole ruler. One must clearly understand that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it! This is not an alarmist statement, but a warning! It is the fundamental path for Your Highness to create a grand undertaking and to secure the country! These eight words are my advice to Your Highness and to the future as a citizen and scholar of the Tang Dynasty!"

His words were clear, logical, and well-founded, completely refuting the accusation of "plagiarism" and cleverly deflecting the label of "treason." He listed Li Shimin's past achievements and his ability to recognize and appoint capable people, ultimately focusing on the core principle of "putting the people's hearts first."

The previously clamorous accusations were silenced by his words.

Li Shimin listened quietly. When Chen Guangrui spoke of his efforts to recruit and accept traitors, and to give important positions to Fang Xuanling, Du Ruhui, Yuchi Qinqiong, and others, a glint of light flashed in his deep eyes.

After Chen Guangrui finished speaking, Li Shimin did not respond immediately, but unconsciously tapped the sycophantic poem presented by Sun Fujia with his finger.

The hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone held their breath, awaiting the Crown Prince's decision.

Suddenly, Li Shimin let out a short, ambiguous laugh.

"Ah."

He looked up at Chen Guangrui again, and the scrutiny in his eyes seemed to have faded somewhat, instead revealing a strange, meaningful gaze.

"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it..."

Li Shimin slowly repeated the eight words, paused for a moment, and finally spoke. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I find this argument very reasonable. This thought has been lingering in my mind for a long time, but I have never seen it expressed so clearly and plainly as you have."

"hiss!"

Despite their best efforts to restrain themselves, countless gasps of astonishment still rang out from the crowd! The officials and scholars were all taken aback!

Just moments ago, the accusations were like a raging storm of treason, but His Highness the Crown Prince actually... actually agreed with them?! And even thought he was right?
Sun Fujia's face was almost drained of color. His poem, which he had just written with all his might to praise the emperor, suddenly became pale and laughable after the crown prince's judgment that it was "very reasonable"!

A tremendous panic and an intense jealousy burned within him. Seeing that the Crown Prince seemed about to be "bewitched" by this young man, he thought of the important trust placed in him by Fang Xuanling and others, and of Wei Zheng whose residence had been surrounded and searched…

He could no longer contain himself, and suddenly took half a step forward, saying urgently,
"Your Highness! Chen Guangrui's words seem reasonable, but they are malicious! He has been frequently visiting Wei Zheng's residence recently and is very close to Wei Zheng! Wei Zheng is now under suspicion, yet Chen Guangrui has made such remarks before the Emperor at this time, saying something about 'the people are the foundation of the state.' What is his intention? Could it be that he wants to use this opportunity to exonerate Wei Zheng? I urge Your Highness to investigate carefully! There must be some shady dealings involved!"

Sun Fujia's accusations were like a thunderbolt from a clear sky! Instantly, they forcibly linked the "Wei Zheng case" with Chen Guangrui's cautionary tale!

Li Shimin's gaze suddenly sharpened! The slightly admiring expression on his face just now froze instantly, and his sharp, razor-sharp gaze shot towards Chen Guangrui again, containing a deeper level of inquiry.

Everyone, including Li Jing, was on tenterhooks.

Facing Sun Fujia's accusations and the Crown Prince's cold gaze, Chen Guangrui's lips curled into an extremely indifferent, even slightly sarcastic, smile.

He did not look at the furious Sun Fujia, but calmly looked at Li Shimin and said in a clear voice,

“Lord Sun, you are mistaken. Does my association with someone mean I have to speak for them? This is an attempt to frame me.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the nobles of the Prince of Qin's mansion who were filled with astonishment and uncertainty due to the Crown Prince's attitude, before finally settling on Sun Fujia's face. His tone suddenly turned cold, and he retorted with undeniable authority, "..."
"I've heard about the 'Wei Zheng case' you mentioned. A few days ago, when he was serving as the Chief Clerk of the Imperial Household Department, some documents went missing from the palace. I just want to ask, who said that the case was definitely committed by Lord Wei Zheng?!"

(End of this chapter)