The Minister of Personnel arrived and was stopped at the gate, as the Imperial Academy was strictly managed and no unrelated personnel might enter.
He had purposefully changed out of his official robes before coming, so no one recognized him. Fortunately, it was the day-off at the Imperial Academy, and he could only gain entry by reporting his nephew’s prominent name.
As he walked into the Imperial Academy, the place was desolate. He walked for a long time without seeing anyone and assumed it was because of the day-off and that all the students had gone home or out.
Finally, he encountered a student hurrying along, grabbed him, and asked where Lian Mu was. Upon hearing the name, the student, who was also looking for Lian Mu, quickly dragged him into a run, saying they were running late as the lectures had already started long ago and lamented arriving too late after just receiving the message.
The Minister of Personnel, Feng Lianian, didn’t understand why but felt instinctively that following the student would lead him to Lian Mu.
However, he was not young and had just had a match with that old man earlier today. He hadn’t expected to run around in the Imperial Academy and it was quite a strain on him.
As they ran, he couldn’t keep up, and couldn’t help but lean against the wall and call for the student to slow down.
The student had no choice but to stop, his expression anxious. Seeing him exhausted, he did not dare to hurry him.
Seeing this, he gasped and told the student that merely pointing out the person’s location would suffice; he had been to the Imperial Academy before and could find his own way there.
After hearing this, the student told him that Brother Lian and Mr. Qin were debating at the Chongwen Altar. He detailed the location carefully to ensure he could find it, apologized hurriedly, and then sprinted away until he was out of sight.
The Chongwen Altar, formerly known as Chongwen Pavilion, was renamed after renovations. It served as the public lecture space of the Imperial Academy. The Minister of Rites, that old man, had once lectured there. The roof was dome-shaped, supported by sixteen large columns, open on the sides, with a square raised platform at the center, symbolically representing the heaven and earth, where the lecturers would speak.
The Minister of Personnel felt very strange. Lian Mu had just arrived at the Imperial Academy, unfamiliar with life and still under suspicion of corruption, how had he become involved with Minister Qin?
Moreover, Minister Qin was a great Confucian scholar, while Lian Mu was merely a Jieyuan from Taiyuan Prefecture. How could he qualify to debate, and what doctrine were they discussing?
Unable to comprehend, he decided it would become clear once he arrived.
With no further thought, he continued towards the Chongwen Altar, all the while marveling that His Majesty was indeed generous to spend so much silver. The Imperial Academy was initially very small, now greatly expanded to even include archery classes, while His Majesty’s own palace was patched up and barely managed, yet he spared no expense here, treating these scholars exceptionally well.
As he walked, the Chongwen Altar finally appeared in sight, but the scene before him was somewhat baffling—all the students of the Imperial Academy were here, no wonder he saw no one on the way!
The area was packed inside and bustling outside. The student who had brought him was also there, all the students quietly listening. Two voices could be heard from inside; one he recognized—it was Minister Qin’s.
And the other clear and resonant voice, could it possibly belong to the Taiyuan candidate—Lian Mu?
Feng Lianian unconsciously drew closer, walking up to the student who had brought him and looked towards the central platform where two people sat, one on each side.
On the left side of the platform sat Minister Qin, deeply engaged in his discourse, looking thoroughly invigorated.
His gaze shifted across from Minister Qin, where a scholar in a Confucian robe sat, about twenty years old, handsome, with an elegant and composed demeanor, showing no signs of unease, smiling as he listened to Minister Qin’s words, not overshadowed by the brilliance around Minister Qin, as if he naturally belonged there.
The person debating with Minister Qin on the platform was indeed Lian Mu.
This story is rather long; he and Minister Jia were conversing merrily when an old man entered, none other than Minister Qin from the Imperial Academy.
At that moment, Minister Jia, no longer guarded as before, even showed a hint of eagerness in his eyes, becoming much friendlier and introducing him to Mr. Qin on the spot.
Mr. Qin was very interested in him, and seeing that he had some research on calligraphy, he struck up a conversation with him. As they talked, the conversation shifted to side topics and gradually came to the Doctrine of the Mean.
It so happened that he also had some experiences and insights, so the two of them started discussing the Doctrine of the Mean.
The Mandate of Heaven is called nature, following nature is called the Way, and cultivating the Way is called education. The Way, moreover, should not be abandoned even momentarily; what can be abandoned is not the Way.
The more they talked, the more they clicked, and more and more people gathered around them. A few students outside the window accidentally broke the window frame, and that was when they realized they had been discussing for quite some time.
Mr. Qin, speaking freely, suggested that since the area was cramped, they should move to another place to let all students listen. He wondered if he was willing to do so.
His thoughts flowed like water—fluid and alive, stagnation meant death. Hence, not only was he not unwilling, but he was also extremely eager.
Thus, they came here, and he and Mr. Qin have been talking ever since in this open lecture area, with the students from the Imperial Academy below.
Benefitting from his prior experiences of exile and numerous dangers, he was capable of multitasking and staying aware of his surroundings.
While speaking, he noticed a gaze that differed greatly from the other students of the Imperial Academy. He glanced subtly and saw an elderly man, about fifty years old among the crowd at the back, who had a very distinctive demeanor and was observing him, though his gaze bore no malice.
He nodded slightly to the elderly man in acknowledgement and then turned his head to focus intently on what Mr. Qin was saying.
Feng Lianian’s heart trembled slightly at the sharpness of the young man, whose gaze was warm and polite.
Could this be Lian Mu, the one who caused a huge stir among the candidates from Taiyuan Prefecture?
The same Lian Mu who became a Jieyuan?
Wasn’t it said that he was lame? How different he is from what he had imagined!
He couldn’t help murmuring aloud, "Is he really lame?"
It was as if he was asking someone else, and also questioning himself.
An engrossed student nearby, disturbed, shushed him discontentedly before turning his head back to listen intently.
He came to his senses, remained silent, and calmed his mind to listen. As he listened, his astonishment only grew. Could a mere candidate discuss the Doctrine of the Mean with Minister Qin?
No wonder! No wonder the Grand Tutor spoke up for him; he finally understood that if he were the Grand Tutor, he would also stand up for such a person.
Anyone who had met this young man could sense the burgeoning talent within him, talking to him was as refreshing as a spring breeze, like a gentle stream flowing over the heart.
His insights into various subjects were profound, unique, and astute, often proposing different perspectives that prompted deep reflection and were tremendously enlightening.
Minister Qin cherished his students dearly; no wonder he chose to teach here, allowing the students to glean insights as well.
The differences between individuals are extremely vast. Some people naturally possess an indomitable radiance that illuminates those around them, yet it is not blinding, inevitably drawing others towards them, and Lian Mu was such a person.
He was confident that such a figure, given time, would undoubtedly become a great instrument, a renowned minister of his generation, as long as he was afforded time.