Young Master Gao? Call me Little Grand Secretary!

Gao Zhao's words caused not only Fan Tong and his group to stop awkwardly, but also the students of the Imperial Academy nearby to turn around and look.

Are all foreign students this brave these days?

Have they all come to the Imperial Academy to cause trouble?

"As the saying goes, success comes first. As an outsider, it is only natural for you to stand when you come to listen. How can you force us to take seats? That is impolite!" A young insider in blue robes spoke slowly from the side.

Immediately, someone chimed in, "We have studied hard for many years to be promoted to the inner dormitory and are qualified to sit in the hall. You are just here to broaden your horizons and stand to listen to the lecture. It is only your duty."

"Haha... You arrived late and still want seats? Why not use that energy to study and get into the inner dormitory as soon as possible!"

……

As soon as the sarcastic remarks of the inner students were uttered, many of the surrounding imperial students nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with arrogance and mockery.

The group from Biyong were immediately embarrassed. Su Mian's face flushed red with embarrassment, while Fan Tong was indignant. He believed his scholarship was not lacking and that promotion to the inner quarters was only a matter of time, yet he was being ridiculed like this. He wanted to be angry but dared not.

The other students from Biyong who had followed were stuck in place, unable to move forward or retreat. They could only complain that Gao Zhao had made trouble for no reason, humiliated himself, and made them feel awkward!

If it weren't for this section, everyone would have just stood there and listened to the whole thing, but now it seems a bit awkward!

Gao Zhao, however, showed no embarrassment whatsoever. Although you are inner disciples and should be respected, that is not a reason for you to disrespect me.

After all, respect is mutual! I respect you all in my heart, so why don't you show it in your actions?

Do you think I'm invincible with guns and clubs, or that my cannons and swords are unfavorable

"You're full of talk about 'inner learning' and 'outer learning,' showing absolutely no courtesy! Are you my disciples of Confucianism, or my lackeys of Legalism?!"

The group of imperial students were furious, pointing at him and shouting, "You vulgar wretch! Just because things don't go your way, you accuse someone of being a Legalist lackey! Where do you get your sense of propriety?!"

Gao Zhao was too lazy to think of a retort. Confident in his superior martial arts skills, he simply raised his fist and said to the group, "Come on, let's have a fight first, then we'll talk about etiquette!"

"Vulgar!" The crowd was so angry they jumped up and down.

Even the students of Biyong were extremely embarrassed.

Gao Zhao scoffed, thinking to himself that if Confucius hadn't been so powerful in martial arts, who would have listened to his teachings?

Anyway, if a fight breaks out over seats at the Imperial Academy, everyone will lose face. It's all about who has the thickest skin!

"Haha..." The student sitting at the head of the table suddenly burst into laughter, stood up, and looked at the students on this side, smiling as he said:

"In Confucian scholarship, the most important thing is to treat guests with humility and courtesy, rather than relying on one's status to be arrogant, using distinctions of rank to differentiate between superiors and inferiors, or belittling guests based on seating arrangements. Is this not merely empty talk about benevolence, righteousness, and propriety, while engaging in arrogant and disrespectful behavior?"

"Gentlemen, as the hosts today, how about we give way to these newcomers who have come from afar? Let them know that the benevolence, righteousness, and propriety we speak of and the principles we learn are not empty words!"

The students all stood up, cupped their hands in greeting, and said, "Brother Tingchen is absolutely right. Why not offer us a seat?"

The seats immediately became empty, which made the students of Biyong School feel awkward, as they were embarrassed to sit there!

Gao Zhao, seemingly unburdened by the pressure, plopped down in the head seat, glanced at the crowd, and raised his voice, "You all understand the principle of humility, but why didn't you offer it up in the first place?"

"This is what it means to know is easy but do is hard! Knowing is the beginning of doing, and doing is the completion of knowing. To know but not to do is not to know at all! If you can achieve the unity of knowledge and action, then you will not be far from reaching the highest good."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, sensing that there was more to the story. Just as they were about to press for details, the sound of drums and music suddenly came from outside.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

One person shouted, and all the students quickly stood up to greet him. The once noisy Dunhua Hall became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

All the students of the Imperial Academy and the Imperial Academy bowed their heads, straightened their clothes, and stood holding their breath. Even Gao Zhao did not dare to be the slightest bit careless, because Zhao Ji really could kill him!

As the imperial carriage drew nearer outside the palace, the jingling of jade pendants and the resounding music filled the air.

Zhao Ji, dressed in a crimson official robe with a jade belt hanging down his waist, walked calmly into Dunhua Hall.

Behind him followed Grand Tutor Cai Jing, Commander-in-Chief of the Palace Guard Gao Qiu, Grand Master of Ceremonies Liu Siming, and a group of Imperial Academy Doctors and Confucian scholars, civil and military officials lined up in a majestic and imposing manner.

Instantly, officials and students shouted "Long live the Emperor!" and respectfully welcomed him.

This was the first time Gao Zhao had seen Zhao Ji. He was in his thirties, tall and slender, with a handsome face, but with the face of a scumbag, making people want to throw sulfuric acid at him.

"Rise, all of you!" The emperor's gaze swept over the more than a thousand scholars standing solemnly in the hall, a smile playing on his lips as he calmly settled his gaze on the seats in the hall.

Cai Jing also sat down on the left, smiling as he looked at the students, seemingly very happy to see so many talented young people in the room!

His arrival was somewhat unexpected. Grand Tutor Cai held a prestigious position and was only required to visit the Council of State Affairs once every three days. Yet today he came to the Imperial Academy, which shows that he attaches great importance to matters here!

Gao Qiu stood on the other side and looked up to see Gao Zhao sitting in the first seat on the east side. He couldn't help but frown slightly. This position was not his!

Knowing Gao Zhao as he does, he's definitely up to something again!

When Gao Zhao saw him looking over, he winked and made faces at him to show his affection, which made Gao Qiu so angry that he gritted his teeth. Didn't he know what kind of occasion this was? How dare he act so recklessly!

Zhao Ji smiled at the crowd and said, "I heard the Imperial Academy was debating righteousness and profit a few days ago, and it was quite a lively discussion. Coincidentally, I am also very interested in this, so I would like to hear your insightful opinions. Today, I will follow the format of the Imperial Lectures, and you will all be storytellers in the Chongzheng Hall. What do you say?"

The emperor's joke was not going to be awkward, and everyone praised His Majesty for being wise and not ashamed to ask questions!

Liu Siming smiled and said, "Then please, students, step forward!"

The ten students who won the debate walked out from the crowd, and Gao Zhao noticed that the middle-aged man who had given him his seat earlier was among them.

This is not surprising, given what he said earlier about giving up his seat. It not only defused the crisis of them almost being beaten, but also showed the demeanor of these selfless students as seniors.

He was definitely harboring evil intentions!

Gao Zhao cursed under his breath, then got up and walked towards the stage.

This surprised all the classmates who knew him!

This is the Emperor's court, not a playground. You can't just fool around here!

"Brother Gao, stop fooling around..." Fan Tong came to his senses and quickly tried to stop him.

Qin Hui and Su Mian were also filled with worry, wanting to pull him back, but they dared not move.

So they could only watch in astonishment as Gao Zhao stepped forward and became the eleventh of the ten!

Not only were they surprised, but everyone in the Imperial Academy and the Imperial Academy was astonished by his actions!

What shocked them even more was that the officials in front of the emperor did not stop him.

Gao Zhao glanced back at the crowd, a cold smile playing on his lips. Was it so strange that he was participating?

If it weren't for me, this debate wouldn't even exist today!

Emperor Huizong's gaze lingered on Gao Zhao for a moment longer before he said, "Let's begin!"