northernbook Chapter 151 Feedback from the Holy Temple
Chapter 151 Feedback from the Holy Temple
Chapter 151 Feedback from the Holy Temple
Xu Zhou looked at Ye Ru with a hint of coldness in his eyes. This was the final test, and if he could pass it smoothly, the Prime Minister's plan would fall through.
Countless people were also looking at Ye Ru. This kind of test question based on the classics of the sages was quite difficult. It was a bit of a stretch for a novice to explain such a statement with his own thoughts. However, it was not impossible that some novice students from the families of the sages could explain it clearly, but they were only a minority after all.
This doesn't seem like writing poetry; it's more like explaining one's own insights.
In this way, the thought process of poetry becomes completely useless.
"Ye Tongsheng, I'm giving you a chance to make a name for yourself. If you think along with them, people will think you're only famous for poetry and prose, and that you have no real talent. You should know that once you reach the Jinshi level, you must study the classics of the sages to be blessed by the Wenqu Star and then improve your literary rank. So if you accept this opportunity, it will benefit your future."
Xu Zhou continued, but the conspiracy in his words was still faintly visible.
"Are you sure you're helping me improve my literary reputation and not preventing me from entering the academy?"
Ye Ru sneered.
"That's not true. I genuinely want what's best for Cecilia Yip."
Xu Zhou shook his head, his face full of indignation:
"I am well aware of the internal and external troubles facing the Chinese nation, and you possess genuine talent and learning. As the saying goes, learning requires diligent effort. Everything I have done is for your further advancement, so please explain this sacred saying to me in advance."
"Actually, I also want to see just how much talent Ye Ru has. Although the words of the classics of the sages are not difficult for me, they are a completely different story for a student."
Li Baiyuan, the Minister of Literature, was also looking at Ye Ru.
He understood that a smooth and successful journey was not necessarily a good thing, especially in a country like Yanhuang. A semi-saint, without undergoing trials and tribulations, would not have a stable foundation in his knowledge. Even if he reached the semi-saint level, his saintly power and talent would be no different from that of a great Confucian scholar.
"Well, as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait. It's understandable that Ye Ru can't answer in a short time."
Chen Tianjian frowned, then smiled.
Countless people looked at Ye Ru. After the first two rounds of testing, Ye Ru's level had already surpassed theirs by leaps and bounds.
Ye Ru glanced at Wen Xiang and noticed that the latter was also looking at him, and immediately understood the latter's intention.
After a moment, Ye Ru looked up and shouted loudly:
"The illuminating virtue in the Great Learning is the inherent, pure, and unpolluted nature that everyone receives from Heaven, capable of communicating with Heaven and Earth. 'Illuminating virtue' affirms that humanity is born with this illuminating virtue, which must now be manifested and made conscious. Human beings' actions of doing good and avoiding evil are not obligations imposed by social norms, but rather have an inherent, intrinsic basis. The value of moral practice arises from within; human nature is inclined towards goodness."
Upon hearing this first sentence, the surrounding students couldn't help but widen their eyes, but because their cultivation level was insufficient, they couldn't keep up with Ye Ru's train of thought.
As for Li Baiyuan, Chen Tianjian, and the others, they did indeed stare wide-eyed at Ye Ru.
No one knew what was going on, but they knew that Ye Ru's words must have been very helpful to them, given that they could shock Wen Xiang so much.
"Write it down quickly, write it down quickly."
Kong Hexuan nudged Meng Qingyang beside him, who immediately realized what was happening and quickly took out paper and pen, writing it down stroke by stroke.
"what's next?"
Seeing Ye Ru stop, Zhang Shuling quickly asked him.
After a moment, Ye Ru spoke again:
"To love the people means, after understanding the inherent goodness of one's own nature, to help others remove the things that pollute their hearts, so that they too can reach the same state of purity of heart as oneself. After realizing the innate ability of 'manifesting one's bright virtue,' one must 'love the people.' 'Love' means 'renewing oneself,' constantly renewing oneself, so that one is always moving forward on the path of doing good. Of all the changes and vicissitudes of life, only by following the inner desire for goodness and renewing one's virtue daily can one remain forever a new person."
As soon as he finished speaking, the words Ye Ru uttered materialized. These materialized words floated around Ye Ru like dancing sprites, and after a moment, they lined up and disappeared into his heart.
"Speaking fluently?"
Xu Zhou stared wide-eyed, filled with disbelief. The ability to speak fluently was a harbinger of profound meaning. To comprehend such profound meaning, one had to materialize the words spoken and then use the temple to transmit them back to one's own library.
"The highest good refers to the greatest freedom of the mind, reaching a state of unity with nature and the development of things. The direction of 'manifesting virtue' and 'loving the people' is 'to stop at the highest good.' Taking 'stopping at the highest good' as the direction or goal is tantamount to an endless expectation."
Ye Ru's expression was calm, like an old monk preaching, speaking slowly and deliberately, but every word carried a sacred power that entered the hearts of everyone.
"I don't understand."
Kong Hexuan frowned, trying his best to think, but he just couldn't understand the meaning of those words.
"Ye Ru's talent far surpasses ours; it would be a wonder you could understand him."
Meng Qingyang rolled his eyes and quickly wrote it down, because if he didn't write it down, the power of these words would be enough to erase the trace in his heart.
"Look, what's going on with the temple?"
At this moment, someone spoke up, causing everyone to look up. The temple began to glow, and a dozen large characters suddenly emerged from the statue of Confucius.
These large characters, shimmering with golden light, transformed into a surge of talent, instantly entering Ye Ru's body.
"Feedback from the temple?"
Wen Xiang's initial shock had completely turned into awe. The response from the Holy Temple was an auspicious sign, because the Holy Temple was created by Confucius and possessed his power. The fact that the Holy Temple was now responding meant that Confucius had descended upon this City of Outstanding Talents.
"This is impossible... The Holy Temple has responded to this extent. Could the Left Prime Minister be wrong? Confucius did not perish! Confucius did not perish!"
Xu Zhou suddenly panicked, took two steps back, and then plopped down on his bottom.
Zhang Shuling and the three teachers from Yuelu Academy ignored Xu Zhou. In front of the sacred temple, they even dared to make things difficult for the students who had passed the imperial examinations. This was simply courting death.
"Xu Zhou, as a teacher, you are a proper scholar, yet you have abandoned your duties of imparting knowledge and resolving doubts, and have even wantonly assisted the Left Prime Minister, using the classics and the four virtues of a gentleman to make things difficult for the examinees. You are guilty."
Suddenly, a chilling shout came from the sky, making Xu Zhou's face turn pale. He then stood up tremblingly and said:
"I admit my guilt."
"What is the punishment?"
"Crime, crime deserving death..."
Xu Zhou's face was completely bloodless, and a sense of regret and resentment welled up in his heart. Why did he help the Left Prime Minister?
However, just as Xu Zhou was terrified, the sound was like a deafening roar in the clear sky, making everyone's courage tremble!
"Considering your merit, after this matter is completed, according to the Holy Law, you shall be executed!"