「anwhile, in the Great Yan Imperial Palace.」
The palace was especially lively today. The renowned Qi Xingyan, having been reinstated to his official post, was reportedly giving a lecture at Jingxin Studio. He was teaching the sons of princes, dukes, and other high nobles, which had attracted a crowd of scholars who held official posts, as well as Imperial Tutors from the Hanlin Academy and officials from various governnt offices.
Lu Mingyuan hadn’t wanted to go. He’d spent the first half of his life studying and had only just managed to escape it. Besides, there were two things he hated more than anything else.
Lectures and exams.
But for so reason, Qi Muxue had been uncharacteristically insistent today, dragging him along. To save her face, he finally relented and went with her to listen.
Jingxin Studio was a private school within the Imperial Palace, established by Emperor Yong’an for the children of Dukes, Marquises, and other Noble Families. There wasn’t a single youth from the Lower Class among them.
And what a figure Qi Xingyan was.
Everyone present knew exactly who he was. Of course, other Great Scholars would occasionally lecture at Jingxin Studio, but Qi Xingyan was no ordinary Great Scholar.
To be precise, besides being a Great Scholar and the forr Mountain Master of Shengjing Academy, Qi Xingyan held another, far more important title.
He was a descendant of the Li Sheng.
The Li Sheng was the third person in history to beco a Saint.
He had existed long before the founding of the Great Yan, even before the ancestors of the preceding Great Zhou dynasty established their empire.
The Li Sheng’s doctrines were still applied by all nations. The principle of "revering rites and music to shape order" was what kept everything within the country running smoothly. This included the proper conduct between a ruler and his ministers. Even most of the current official bureaucracy was based on his teachings, which advocated for universal love.
Even the later Confucian Saint pointed out flaws in his teachings, but the Li Sheng’s exalted status was undeniable.
In the year he achieved sainthood, the Li Sheng was nad National Preceptor by the Emperor of Great Zhou and was honored with a place in the Grand Ancestral Temple.
The Li Sheng had seven great disciples who spread his teachings, known as Ritual Studies, to the four corners of the world. After sending his disciples out to preach his Dao, he himself vanished and has not been seen since.
Qi Xingyan hailed from the lineage of the first disciple, who happened to be the Li Sheng’s own son. Therefore, there was no dispute that he was a descendant of the Saint.
In truth, the Qi Family’s history had not been a smooth one. Over a thousand years, they had faced decline several tis, surviving only on the lingering prestige of their Saintly ancestor and the ager stipends provided by the Court. They were little different from the Lower Class.
Unable to stand this state of affairs, a sixteen-year-old Qi Xingyan, believing his family had squandered the Saint’s teachings, left ho alone. He journeyed south in search of knowledge, eventually arriving in Jinling Prefecture. There, he entered the private academy of a Great Sage. After years of arduous study, he passed the imperial examinations, rising from a humble Confucian Scholar to an Advanced Scholar. He then entered the Confucian Temple for advanced studies and, upon their completion, attained the rank of Middle Fifth Grade.
Yet this was rely the tip of the iceberg of his youthful exploits, and a large part of why he was so popular.
He beca a Great Scholar only after overcoming countless hardships, and his upright, dignified character later earned him the great trust of Emperor Yong’an.
Today, Lu Mingyuan saw many people crowded outside the studio, listening intently. He glanced at the two words written on the lectern—"Saintly Atmosphere"—and couldn’t help but yawn.
But he had to show the old man so respect, so he forced himself to pay attention.
"Excuse , Elder Mr. Qi, what is the ’Saintly Atmosphere’? Or perhaps, what is a Saint?" a young Confucian Scholar asked.
Qi Xingyan smiled faintly and offered an explanation.
"The Dao of a Saint is to be naless and fearless."
"When one can ignore fa and infamy, disregard the fear and dread in one’s heart, and rge one’s character and virtue into a single, flawless whole, one can achieve a Saintly Atmosphere."
Qi Xingyan’s explanation sent the officials and Confucian scholars in attendance into deep thought.
’Does this an that if a person’s character and virtue reach Perfection, they can beco a Saint?’
Lu Mingyuan narrowed his eyes. He pondered for a mont but ca up with nothing.
"Heh."
Seeing that everyone was still confused, Qi Xingyan chuckled and explained, "This old man will pose a question for you all to consider. Imagine there is a person before you, a complete stranger. He is about to be run down and killed by a runaway carriage. You have the ability to save him, but in doing so, you will take his place and be killed by that sa carriage."
"Do you save him, or not?"
Many were stunned by the question. Lu Mingyuan thought for a mont and realized it was remarkably similar to the trolley problem from his past life.
’Save him or not, soone still dies.’
Beside him, Qi Muxue found the question fascinating and was the first to answer.
"If it were a family mber, I would save them, of course. If it’s a stranger, by the ti one finishes deliberating, the person would already be dead. So, the initial reaction would naturally be not to save them."
She glanced at Lu Mingyuan and blinked. "The Venerable Sage of Ren said, ’A Gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall.’ He would never place himself in a perilous situation."
Qi Muxue’s answer was quick and well-reasoned, and many people nodded to themselves in agreent.
’As expected of the most talented woman in the Imperial Capital.’
’The daughter of a Great Scholar is truly impressive.’
Lu Mingyuan, beside her, gave her a helpless look and couldn’t help but smile.
’Wasn’t I the one who told her that?’
Aside from Qi Muxue, almost no one on site could co up with a decent answer.
Many of them, upon introspection, knew they would unhesitatingly choose to save the person in the hypothetical scenario.
Because it was only a hypothetical.
But if they were truly in that dangerous situation, they might not possess the courage, determination, or ability to save anyone.
Not acting was the best choice, and the wisest one.
Even Qi Xingyan nodded slowly upon hearing his daughter’s response.
"Mu Xue, it seems your studies have progressed recently."
"Indeed, a Gentleman would not intervene."
He was affirming Qi Muxue’s answer.
But then, Qi Xingyan posed another question to the crowd.
"But if it were a Saint, do you think they would save the person?"
Faced with this counter-question, many of the students were left speechless. The previous question had boxed in their thinking, leaving them unsure of how to even approach this one, and too timid to answer.
At this mont, Qi Xingyan’s gaze locked onto Lu Mingyuan, and he chuckled.
"Sixth Prince, what do you think a Saint’s choice would be?"
Seeing Qi Xingyan’s eyes on him, Lu Mingyuan thought for a mont before replying.
"A Saint... would save him, I suppose."
As soon as he spoke, all eyes turned to Lu Mingyuan. Their expressions were a mixture of confusion, doubt, and sheer bewildernt.
"And why is that?"
Qi Xingyan asked with a persistent smile.
Lu Mingyuan gave a faint smile, his eyes deep. "In this world, there aren’t always so many ’whys.’ Because he is a Saint, he would not shirk his duty."
A gentle smile spread across Qi Xingyan’s face upon hearing Lu Mingyuan’s answer.
"It seems the Sixth Prince already understands what a Saint is."
He seed quite satisfied with the answer.
A Saint does not shirk his duty.
The question was simple, but it made Lu Mingyuan’s mind race with possibilities.
’This isn’t just a question.’
’It’s a real scenario.’
’What if it wasn’t one person in front of the carriage, but a group of people?’
’Or an entire country?’
’To take it to the extre, what if it were the entire world?’
What is a Saint?
A Saint is the one who stands up when the entire world is collapsing and everyone else is running away.
Lu Mingyuan admitted to himself that he could never be a Saint.
Qi Xingyan then offered his own interpretation. "A Saint would save the person because with great power cos great responsibility. If one wishes to beco a Saint, saving others is the most fundantal requirent. Any hesitation, doubt, or avoidance would disqualify them. Of course, anyone who can act to save another without a mont’s hesitation has taken the first step toward possessing a Saintly Atmosphere."
All the students present listened with rapt attention. Chen Ke, a Scholar from the Wenyuan Pavilion, was also in the crowd, listening with a captivated expression.
When he heard Lu Mingyuan’s words—"he would not shirk his duty"—a look of admiration filled his eyes.
’The Sixth Prince is truly incredible to have answered so quickly.’
Of course, many others simply thought Lu Mingyuan had gotten lucky.
...
「After the lecture.」
Qi Muxue found Qi Xingyan, her eyes full of anticipation as she asked:
"Father, what did you think?"
Qi Xingyan nodded lightly. "The boy is indeed exceptional. He thinks deeply and reacts quickly. Though he may appear unremarkable, he has great potential. He’s far more promising than the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng."
A blush crept up Qi Muxue’s fair cheeks. "Actually... the reasoning for my answer was sothing he told ."
"Oh?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Xingyan’s expression grew intrigued.
"If that’s the case, then this Sixth Prince runs far deeper than anyone imagines."
As they were speaking, a sudden SHUFFLE SHUFFLE SHUFFLE sound echoed from within the Imperial Palace.
It made both of them turn their heads.
Just then, a bolt from the blue struck the Imperial Palace, sending countless people into a frantic scramble.
The Imperial Guard protecting the palace gathered to secure the gates, the atmosphere growing tense and solemn.
Back in Qingzhu Hall, Lu Mingyuan witnessed the commotion just as his mother, Wang Zhaoyan, rushed over with a Palace Maid, her expression fraught with anxiety.
She had co to tell him one thing.
The Holy Emperor was ill.
...
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