Manbao took so snacks to find Bai Shan and the others during their break.
Everyone had a quarter-hour break between classes, and several of them sat together on the railing under the corridor to eat snacks.
Bai Shan and Bai Erlang liked the golden crisp the most, and while eating, they asked, "Where did you get this snack? To have the imperial kitchen make this kind of snack costs quite a bit of money, doesn’t it?"
"No money needed, the Empress Dowager gave it to ." Manbao handed another softer snack to Yin Huo for him to eat, and ntioned the emperor’s instructions to her, "His Majesty said we must not write that morial, it will cause trouble."
Upon hearing this, Liu Huan imdiately asked, "Should we still tell my grandfather?"
He didn’t want to approach his grandfather about these matters at all, thinking talking about it might get him scolded.
Manbao glanced at him and said, "Forget it, let’s just consider it idle chatter among us. Alas, the grown-ups are ruthless, they wish to crush others if things don’t go their way. Why can’t everyone just agree to disagree in harmony?"
Bai Shan nodded empathetically, "That’s why the official arena is perilous; we should listen to His Majesty."
Libationer Kong stood behind them with hands clasped and asked, "What official arena is perilous?"
The five sitting on the railing were so startled by the voice that they nearly fell off. They quickly turned around to see Libationer Kong standing behind them and didn’t think twice before jumping off the railing and bending their heads and hands in respect.
The classmates watching couldn’t help but laugh quietly; so even whispered, "Serves them right for attracting attention all day long; they got caught today, didn’t they?"
The voice wasn’t loud, yet everyone heard it clearly in the quiet environnt since no one else was speaking.
Libationer Kong’s sharp gaze imdiately flew over. Bai Shan and the others dared not look up to see who it was, but Libationer Kong directly called out the na, "Lu Yue, step forward."
Lu Yue: ...
He dared not resist, stepped forward with head bowed, and candidly admitted his mistake, "Sir, I acknowledge my error."
Libationer Kong asked him, "What was your mistake?"
Lu Yue felt a mont of discomfort as he faced Bai Shan and the others, replying hesitantly, "I, I shouldn’t have gossiped about classmates."
However, Libationer Kong’s expression didn’t improve as he continued questioning, "Just now, they ntioned that in matters of governance one should agree to disagree; I ask you, where does this saying co from?"
Lu Yue remained silent with his head bowed, having no idea where it ca from. How did he know it wasn’t sothing they just said offhandedly?
Libationer Kong’s expression turned even more severe, and he admonished, "I’m asking you, either say you know or say you don’t know. How did I teach you in the past?"
Lu Yue was startled and quickly apologized, honestly saying, "I don’t know, sir."
Many in the classroom sneaked their heads out of the windows to watch; several even walked out to spectate directly, and nurous assistant lecturers ca out from their offices.
Mr. Zhuang was among them, and all stood obediently with hands lowered, watching Libationer Kong teach the students.
Libationer Kong then turned to Bai Shan and others, nad Bai Shan, and asked, "You tell , where does it co from?"
Bai Shan quickly chewed and swallowed the food in his mouth when Libationer Kong was scolding others; at this mont, upon being asked, he still had so remnant snacks in his mouth.
He swallowed hard once more and softly replied with his head lowered, "It’s from the Records of the Grand Historian: Book of Music..."
Before he could finish, Libationer Kong nad Bai Erlang and asked, "Bai Cheng, you tell , which sentence?"
Cold sweat instantly appeared on Bai Erlang’s forehead. He racked his brains and said haltingly, "Music... promotes unity, while ritual... promotes distinction..." but couldn’t recall the rest.
Nervously, he glanced at Bai Shan, yet the position they stood in was sowhat apart, so he looked to Zhou Man on his left instead.
Manbao caught his gaze, slightly lifted her eyes, and discreetly extended a finger beside her...
Bai Erlang, sowhat uncertain, said, "Unity —"
Manbao discreetly pointed at herself and Bai Shan, and winked at him slightly. Bai Erlang said, "Unity is akin to affection?"
Libationer Kong raised his eyelid and glanced at him, making Bai Erlang imdiately lower his head, not daring to speak; similarly, Manbao didn’t dare to move her finger.
Although nobody else noticed their secret exchange apart from Mr. Zhuang standing nearby, since Zhou Man only moved her finger.
Libationer Kong: "What is next?"
Sweat dripped from Bai Erlang’s forehead; he secretly glanced at Manbao again. Mr. Zhuang couldn’t help but cough lightly, causing Manbao, who intended to give a hint, to obediently bow her head and remain still.
Bai Erlang also beca obedient and softly said, "Sir, I don’t rember the rest."
Libationer Kong’s expression improved significantly compared to before. He nodded slightly and said, "At least you know where it cos from and understand its aning."
Liu Huan, standing on Bai Erlang’s other side, felt shivering, fearing that Libationer Kong might turn to him next.
Libationer Kong, however, skipped him entirely, glancing at Yin Huo briefly before focusing on Zhou Man with a softer expression, asking, "Zhou Man, you tell ."
Manbao secretly breathed a sigh of relief and respectfully said, "Music promotes unity, ritual promotes distinction. Unity brings amicability, distinction maintains respect. When music prevails, it leads to dissolution; when ritual prevails, it causes separation."
Libationer Kong nodded slightly, satisfied, and then turned to address the observing students, "When ritual and propriety are upheld, all statuses are balanced; when musical expression is unified, harmony prevails between ranks. This principle is not only to be learned now but must be kept in mind for the future. If everyone can agree to disagree, it will nurture human relationships with affection, regulate conduct to maintain order between superior and subordinate, achieving universal harmony."
He looked at Lu Yue, sternly saying, "Lu Yue, do you know what your greatest mistake is?"
With head bowed, Lu Yue dared not respond.
Libationer Kong sighed, "Distinction promotes respect; you have differences but failed to uphold etiquette, leading to offensive words."
No matter what Lu Yue thought inside, he sincerely apologized, admitting his mistake.
With his admission, Libationer Kong’s temper flared as he rebuked, "Therefore, you should read more; look at Bai Shan and Bai Cheng, they are younger than you yet can both recite Records of the Grand Historian. Despite being much older, you don’t even know where ’agree to disagree’ cos from... "
Libationer Kong lectured on reading, etiquette, and their historical achievents for two whole quarters of an hour, significantly exceeding the class ti.
Yet nobody dared interrupt Libationer Kong; even the musician responsible for ringing the bell refrained from striking it, standing still obediently.
The Crown Prince handling affairs at the Office of Palace Affairs heard the commotion from the back and curiously ca to take a look.
He stood at the courtyard gate, witnessing Libationer Kong scolding a group of students, turned imdiately to leave, hesitated after taking a few steps, and returned to stand at the gate’s side.
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