Chapter 114: The Fury of the Masses

"What did you just say? Repeat that!"

The Libationer of the Imperial Academy was well past the age of "knowing the decree of heaven." At sixty, his temperament had long been smoothed by the passage of time; he was not a man easily provoked to anger. Moreover, one could not attain the position of Libationer without profound scholarship and cultivation.

Yet at this moment, Luo Binwang’s response had incited the old man to fly into such a rage that he disregarded the presence of all the scholars in the empire. His outburst silenced the entire crowd; even Cui Xiangrong dared not utter a word.

"My meaning is simple: Your Excellency is failing to distinguish right from wrong, acting without regard for the facts. By listening solely to the words of others, you risk partiality and tarnish the dignity of the Imperial Court."

Luo Binwang remained expressionless, his voice cold. He was not a fool; he understood his precarious situation. But he was clearly of that "unbending" character, unlike Zhang Yuzhi, who knew how to sail with the wind. In truth, this is how a real scholar ought to be—unwilling to bow for a few pecks of rice, unafraid of the powerful, and effortlessly upright.

In reality, however, such people are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. They are usually solitary, without friends, and achieve little in terms of worldly success. This has been the case since ancient times. Sometimes, a person who lacks guile and grace, even when right, finds no support. Thus, in his later years, Confucius arrived at the Doctrine of the Mean. "The superior man is composed and at ease; the small man is always full of anxiety." Yet, one who is overly rigid is not necessarily a superior man.

Having served as an official for many years, the Libationer had long ago learned to weigh interests. The scholar’s ideal of "uncompromising integrity" garnered him no favor here.

"Hahahaha... I, Sun Dianyu, have spent sixty years cultivating my spirit and over a decade in office, yet this is the first time I have encountered a student so utterly lacking in respect for hierarchy. Luo Binwang, for the sake of your youth, I shall overlook the scene you caused at the Hongwen Pavilion. Go now. Leave Chang'an, and never return."

The Libationer flicked his sleeves coldly and began walking toward the pavilion, his anger having turned to a chilling, icy calm. But he had taken only three steps when an even colder voice rang out behind him.

"Why should I leave? Libationer, from the local examinations to the county and provincial trials, I, Luo Binwang, have taken first place every time. This quota for the provincial nomination was granted by the prefecture government. By what authority does a Libationer of the Imperial Academy do this? Furthermore, this entire move is clearly incited by petty men and is utterly devoid of reason."

"What did you say?"

As soon as Luo Binwang’s voice fell, Sun Dianyu stopped. He did not turn back, but his voice had changed completely. If his previous attitude had been that of a teacher dealing with an impudent pupil, he was now facing a formidable enemy.

Witnessing this, Lu Xin’s hand, resting against a willow tree, trembled.

"Damn it! Why is this kid so stubborn? If he just bowed his head and admitted his fault, this would all blow over. Looking at the Libationer, if someone were to plead for him, he would surely be lenient. You, scholar from Yuezhou... did you see this man during the provincial exams?"

"See him? How would I know? There are over a dozen prefectures under the Yuezhou Governor’s Office; anyone from those places can call themselves a Yuezhou man. This kid is so thick-headed, he must have crawled out of some deep mountain forest—no different from a monkey. If it were me, I’d be currying favor with Zhang Yuzhi, not picking a fight with a Zhaowu Commandant and a Duke’s son!"

"Sigh, not all scholars are as shameless as you."

"Brother Xin, what are you saying? Is that shamelessness? That’s called being tactful, cautious, and knowing how to navigate the world. Confucius preached the Doctrine of the Mean; 'The Way cannot be departed from for an instant; if it could be departed from, it would not be the Way.' Therefore, the superior man is cautious when unseen and fearful when unheard. Nothing is more visible than what is hidden, nothing more manifest than what is minute. This kid doesn't understand what should be said and what shouldn't, who can be offended and who can't. Even if you gave him an official post, he’d end up dead."

"Enough, spare me your useless talk. And stop misinterpreting the Sage’s Doctrine of the Mean. In any case, this man’s future achievements may well surpass those of this Libationer."

Lu Xin frowned. After all, he came from a later era and knew the reputation of the Four Paragons of the Early Tang. Regardless, he respected Luo Binwang’s character. Such a person is rare, not just in this feudal society where imperial power is supreme, but even in the modern world of freedom and democracy. Moreover, the whole affair was not his fault.

"This examinee, you ask by what right the chief examiner acts. Shall I tell you?"

Before anyone knew it, another group had arrived outside the Hongwen Pavilion. They had interrupted just as Luo Binwang was questioning Sun Dianyu. At such a critical moment, any sound commanded attention. In an instant, every gaze turned toward the source. Lu Xin was no exception, watching as a middle-aged scholar and three young examinees slowly entered the crowd.

The middle-aged man wore a simple green robe and a scholar’s cap, with a distinct beard that gave him the air of the Wei and Jin dynasties. The three younger men were all dressed in white—one handsome, one tall and thin, and one broad-shouldered and sturdy. Though different in appearance, all possessed an extraordinary aura. Their spirit, their attire, and their gait all radiated an inherent nobility. In short, they were of the same class as Cui Xiangrong.

This aura was not cultivated overnight; it had nothing to do with how many books one read. It was accumulated over generations, flowing through their family bloodlines, taught by elders from childhood. From their daily habits to their manner of speech, they were different from ordinary men. In this regard, Zhang Yuzhi, the Duke’s son, was nothing more than a parvenu.

To put it simply, some people put on airs and you find it pleasant, while others, just by standing there, make you feel revulsion.

As these four appeared, they didn't even have to speak; the surrounding scholars moved aside to clear a path. This was the true power of a prestigious family. This aura was a natural, potent "energy" that drew people in, creating an instinct to attach themselves to it—a natural advantage in any era.

Cui Xiangrong clearly recognized them; his eyes fixed on the handsome youth who had spoken, his brow furrowed in evident displeasure.

Sun Dianyu, who had been about to unleash his wrath, suppressed his anger upon hearing the handsome youth’s voice. It wasn't just him; among the hundreds of scholars present, many scions of aristocratic families changed their expressions, showing signs of apprehension.

"Am I seeing things? That is... the Gold Jade Pendant of the Qinghe Cui clan, the Six Dusts Ring of the Fanyang Lu clan, the White Feather Fan of the Xingyang Zheng clan, and... the Exquisite Sheng of the Taiyuan Wang clan. Five of the seven great lineages of the Tang have arrived?"

"Terrifying. This imperial examination is truly terrifying! Except for the Imperial family and the Zhaojun Li clan, almost all the 'Five Surnames and Seven Lineages' are here. If they all participate, with their scholarship and connections at court, even if we pass the exams, we’ll never be appointed to office!"

"Indeed... ten years of bitter study, all for this day. But the path ahead is far too narrow. Still, to see scions of five great lineages in one day—that is a stroke of fortune in itself."

Listening to the whispers, Lu Xin’s frown deepened. One only needed to hear a few words to know that the prominence of these four was known to all. In contrast, Luo Binwang stood alone, with no background, isolated by everyone.

Even Tu Chengli, standing in the distance, though merely an observer, had sided against Luo Binwang. To Lu Xin, a man from the modern era, the scene was deeply uncomfortable.

Equality for all was clearly a farce in this age.

"This kid is finished. He hasn't just offended a Zhaowu Commandant; he's been targeted by a group of aristocratic scions. If I were him, I’d kneel and kowtow for mercy. But looking at him, that’s clearly impossible. Brother Xin, don't you think this kid is a fool? He really is beyond saving!"

"Shut up!"

Lu Xin’s face was grim as he clenched his fists tightly. He could clearly feel that at this moment, the way everyone looked at Luo Binwang had changed. Even the impoverished scholars, who shared his humble origins, now viewed him as a villain, eager only to stay out of his shadow.

"Who are you?"

Luo Binwang still stood in the corner, his face cold, his empty sleeves fluttering. Because he was young, his features were still remarkably boyish. Combined with his tattered clothes, he was the sort of person who would be looked down upon anywhere, let alone in front of these aristocratic youths.

Seeing Luo Binwang’s question, the handsome young man gently opened his pure white folding fan and smiled faintly.

"Xingyang, Zheng Huiming. The Governor of Jiangzhou, Zheng Shanguo, is my grandfather."

"Oh, so a descendant of a high official."

Luo Binwang nodded slightly, his expression unchanged. Seeing this, Zheng Huiming snapped his fan shut, his eyes narrowing.

"Heh. You just questioned the Libationer as to what authority he has to expel you from Chang'an. Now, I shall answer you. By your own admission, you are a provincial nominee, not a product of the Imperial Academy. According to the laws of our Great Tang, the chief examiner of the imperial examinations has the right to question your status, and if necessary, may have you detained by the Ministry of Revenue or the Imperial Academy for investigation. Since Lord Sun is one of the chief examiners and the Libationer of the Imperial Academy, do you still say he has no authority? Furthermore, you, a commoner without rank, dare to shout and scream outside the Hongwen Pavilion and defy a court official. If you were granted a title, would you not eventually look down upon the Emperor himself? With such a temperament, how can you be allowed to take the examination? As the saying goes, 'poor mountains and evil waters breed unruly people'—that has proven true today. Not only does the Libationer intend to deal with you, but a single petition from us could reach the ears of the Emperor, and have you charged with the crime of disrespecting your superiors and challenging the social order!"

"Disrespecting my superiors? Hahahaha... are you quite finished?"