Chapter 198: The Lecture Begins
Chapter 198: The Lecture Begins
Wang Shouren had scarcely slept a wink last night, his excitement overwhelming him.
Early in the morning, he arrived at the Western Hills with dark circles under his eyes.
Sleepless the whole night, his eyes were swollen, and he felt somewhat weary, though his sturdy constitution meant it was no big impediment.
Not that Wang Shouren minded anyway; he was far more concerned about Fang Jifan. To him, the veil shrouding Fang Jifan was finally about to be lifted.
Was the man apprehended yesterday truly an Imperial Criminal?
An Imperial Criminal was easy to spot at a glance; that Fang Jifan couldn’t trick him.
Wang Shouren felt quite thrilled and asked Tang Yin and the others, only to learn his mentor was still asleep and that they should go ahead.
So, very soon, they were outside the Baihu Station.
A little while later, a carriage arrived.
It approached with great pomp, surrounded by dozens of Taoists who crowded around it, impassable. Two Taoist novices led the way. Upon reaching the Baihu Station, the novices halted, turned, bowed towards the carriage’s occupant, and spoke something.
Then the carriage curtain lifted, revealing a Taoist with a thin face that looked rather lazy under the morning sun.
This Taoist, possessing a regal presence, slowly stepped out. Around a dozen Taoists beside the carriage bowed solemnly to him.
He gazed straight ahead, accepting their deference as his due, like a deity long accustomed to mortal worship. He offered only a slight, fleeting nod before turning his eyes to survey the scenic beauty of the Western Hills.
This man was Li Chaowen, the imperial court’s newly appointed Realized Master of Dharma Propagation.
Over the past half-month, Li Chaowen had taken charge of the Longquan Taoist Temple. As the Second Perfected Master of the Northern Region and a man of promise, with the Temple Master secluded in the Three Pure Ones Pavilion immersed in scripture, the Realized Master of Dharma Propagation, Li Chaowen, naturally became the ruler of Longquan Taoist Temple.
He swiftly purged Zhang Chaoxian, stripping Zhang’s closest followers of their daoist registration.
Of course, this couldn’t have happened without the help of the Ministry of Rites’ Taoist Registry Department. Acting decisively and overriding objections, he forced the planting of Western Hills ginseng fruit across thousands of acres of temple lands. This incited major disturbances among many villagers.
But the land belonged to Longquan Taoist Temple. Those refusing to plant had their land immediately confiscated. Though grumbling filled the air, as the Realized Master of Dharma Propagation—a man who could once command wind and rain—no one could challenge him.
Everyone had no choice but to obediently follow his arrangement.
His thin face held a faint, elusive smile. Dressed in a plain Taoist robe, his salt-and-pepper sideburns bore the marks of time, and his deep-set eyes truly held the dignity befitting both a temple master and a Perfected Master.
As he stepped from the sedan chair, a Taoist retrieved a long chair from behind the carriage, placed it behind him, and said respectfully, “Perfected Master, please sit.”
Inside Longquan Taoist Temple, no one dared call him ‘brother-disciple’ anymore; he was referred to solely as ‘Perfected Master’.
Li Chaowen made no sound, just frowned slightly and shook his head.
The Taoist instantly understood the Perfected Master’s meaning. Hastily removing the chair, he trembled, “This humble disciple deserves ten thousand deaths.”
Li Chaowen gestured for the Taoist to calm down. “It’s fine…”
The Taoist, as if granted a royal pardon, stepped back several paces.
…
Wang Shouren and the others immediately noticed this Taoist. Xu Jing, peering from afar, couldn’t contain his excitement at seeing Li Chaowen in the morning light.
“That’s the newly invested Realized Master of Dharma Propagation! What brings him here? Presumably, he also knows our mentor. The Realized Master can command wind and rain, his Taoist powers are transcendent; he’s truly admirable!”
Hearing a ‘celestial being’ had arrived, Tang Yin and Wang Shouren also felt excited. They wanted to approach, but the Taoist seemed to possess an unapproachable majesty, so they could only observe from a distance.
Seeing the Taoist standing there, the center of attention under the bright sun, Wang Shouren’s eyes lit up. He couldn’t help sighing, “There are truly exalted figures beyond the mundane world. I truly wish to go seek his teachings.”
Wang Shouren, ever eager to learn, welcomed any opportunity. This wind-and-rain-summoning immortal genuinely stirred his aspiration.
Ouyang Zhi and the other two, however, remained perfectly still, like old monks in deep meditation, seemingly unaffected by the immortal’s presence. They didn’t even lift an eyelid. Only Jiang Chen remarked, “I wonder if our mentor is up yet.”
“Our mentor rises late; arriving later is no trouble. He’s at an age when he’s still growing. No hurry, no hurry.”
…
Suddenly, a horse galloped in. This time, it was a fierce-looking eunuch accompanied by several Imperial Guards. Dismounting swiftly, he hurried over and demanded brusquely.
“Has the Newly Established Count arrived yet?”
Zhang Xin, the Deputy Hundred-Household Commander, dared not neglect. Seeing more and more people arriving, he inwardly lamented. It seemed he wouldn’t manage to tend the fields today after all. He’d hoped that after Fang Baihu lectured for merely an hour, and once the Imperial Criminal was delivered to the Imperial Prison, he could till the soil in the greenhouse and add some fertilizer in the afternoon. Now, that plan was undone. Anxiety gnawed at him – he couldn’t afford delays with the land! Facing the eunuch, he replied, “Not yet.”
Hearing this, the eunuch didn’t get angry. He nodded lightly, then turned to address the gathered people solemnly.
“Someone is coming shortly. Once they arrive, you must not make noise or call out arbitrarily. His Majesty’s orders: As I have come in plain clothes, you are exempt from formal greetings.”
Zhang Xin froze for a moment. ‘Calamity!’ he inwardly wailed. ‘The Imperial Carriage is actually coming! Forget fertilizer today.’
Wang Shouren and his group nearby, possessing sharp ears, overheard. They exchanged bewildered glances.
‘Why is His Majesty coming here?’
…
Fang Jifan only rose well after the sun was high. Glancing at the sky, he roared, “I have to teach! I have to teach! Hurry, hurry! Clothes!”
Xiang’er helped him dress. Too hurried even for his usual teasing, Fang Jifan washed up frantically and raced his horse out of the city.
Only upon reaching the Western Hills did he discover the place was surrounded pack tight – layers upon layers.
The outermost ring was clearly soldiers from the Capital Garrison—a full battalion encamped there. Elite Cavalry patrolled everywhere on horseback. Spotting Fang Jifan, they didn’t stop or question him.
Further in, small clusters of individuals wore fish-patterned robes—Jinyi Commandants.
Naturally, their fish-patterned robes weren’t the genuine, imperially bestowed Flying Fish Uniforms, but the embroidered spring sabers at their waists were authentic.
They paid Fang Jifan no heed either.
The entire Baihu Station seemed evacuated.
Fang Jifan took a deep breath. He knew the Emperor had arrived.
Summoning his nerve, Fang Jifan entered the schoolhouse adjacent to the Baihu Station.
The children were dismissed early today. Inside, Wang Shouren and the others knelt in attendance. The Realized Master of Dharma Propagation, Li Chaowen, also knelt.
Emperor Hongzhi had indeed come.
Fang Jifan spotted him instantly.
He wore plain Confucian Robes, a scholar’s scarf on his head. Though claiming to travel incognito, his entourage included an entire Capital Garrison battalion and countless agents from the Eastern Depot and Imperial Guard—Fang Jifan suspected this was pointless overkill.
Yet Emperor Hongzhi seemed pleased with this incognito act. Like an aged Confucian Scholar, he sat expressionless.
He occupied a corner seat in the schoolhouse, apparently wishing not to disturb Fang Jifan’s teaching.
Zhu Houzhao was also in commoner’s attire. Sitting submissively beside Emperor Hongzhi, he barely dared to breathe in his Imperial Father’s presence, head bowed. His expression was hidden, thoughts inscrutable.
Xiao Jing stood hunched nearby, dressed ludicrously in a round-collar merchant’s gown—completely out of place.
The only one clad in official attire, the imperially bestowed Flying Fish Uniform, was Mou Bin.
Mou Bin stood with arms crossed beside Emperor Hongzhi, his face grave.
Upon entering, Fang Jifan seemed about to approach Emperor Hongzhi.
A young eunuch quickly intercepted him, pulling him aside and whispering, “His Majesty’s oral decree: No need for formalities. Proceed with your lecture.”
Fang Jifan glanced at Emperor Hongzhi, flashing him an innocent smile.
Emperor Hongzhi deliberately turned his face away disdainfully, as if unwilling to engage with him.
Zhu Houzhao, however, eyes gleaming, signaled frantically to Fang Jifan as if he had something urgent to say.
Sadly, Fang Jifan only had eyes for the Emperor. Seeing the Emperor give him the cold shoulder, a wave of loneliness washed over him. He slowly ascended the lectern instead.
Clearing his throat, he took his seat.
It felt rather awkward, admittedly… mainly because the audience had grown significantly.
Fortunately bolstered by impenetrable confidence, Fang Jifan remained outwardly calm.
As soon as Fang Jifan entered, Tang Yin, Xu Jing, Ouyang Zhi, Liu Wenshan, and Jiang Chen stood up, preparing to bow deeply as student to Mentor.
Wang Shouren also had to rise, unsure what level of courtesy to offer.
The six had barely stood up, not yet bowed, when they heard a resounding thump beside them. Someone knelt down immediately, pressing his forehead to the ground, exclaiming clearly: “Disciple Li Chaowen pays respects to Grandmaster! May Grandmaster be perpetually blessed and eternally healthy!”
The kowtow was executed perfectly—smooth as flowing water in one fluid motion. His head remained firmly pressed to the floor until Fang Jifan permitted him to rise.
“……”
Xu Jing and the others were aghast—had this Perfected Master gone mad?
They also felt cheated.
Their tentative step felt like planning a moderate discount, only to find the neighbor next door had gone straight to a clearance giveaway—pay nothing and get bonus gifts!
This Perfected Master had no shame!
So it became awkward—should they offer the student’s bow, or the full kowtow? The grand gesture now seemed inappropriate.
Yet Ouyang Zhi quickly regained his composure. Around their mentor, no matter the strangeness, nothing seemed abnormal. Child’s play! What was this? He, Ouyang Zhi, had seen much! Hadn’t they weathered greater storms before?
Ouyang Zhi therefore performed the student’s bow exactly as protocol demanded, saying respectfully, “Greetings, Mentor.”
The others then followed his example.
Wang Shouren also bowed courteously without speaking, pressing his lips together in respectful silence.
Fang Jifan nodded slightly. Only then did Li Chaowen rise slowly and sit back upon his cushion.
…
Emperor Hongzhi was slightly bewildered. Xiao Jing looked at the Realized Master’s undignified posture with distaste—was the man secretly a eunuch too? Perfected Master? Bah!
Mou Bin also felt his teeth ache; he wanted to curse but restrained himself on account of the Emperor being present.
…
Refocusing, Fang Jifan disregarded his disciples momentarily. His gaze swept the assembly. Then, raising his voice clearly, he declared:
“Today, I shall teach you the principles of being a human… and being an official!
Listen carefully!
Bring the Imperial Criminal inside!”