Zhan Feiyu eyed the group of ill-intentioned young scholars. She suddenly grinned, clenched her small fists, and stepped back with her right leg, striking a fighting stance. With a voice full of vigor, she declared, "Who wants to go first, or shall we all go at once?"
Uh… the group of young scholars who had skipped morning class was dumbfounded. Especially when Zhan Feiyu’s smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression, her eyes even glinting with killing intent. The key was the practiced stance; was she a disciple of a martial arts school?
"From Shangsi County, Zhan Feiyu, I humbly request your guidance!" She stated her identity with proper decorum. As her right foot pushed off the ground, her body performed an aerial somersault, and her right foot landed with a sharp crack against a pillar of the corridor.
Landing steadily, Zhan Feiyu, with a stern face, cupped her fists again and asked, "I've made a fool of myself. Who wishes to spar with me?"
"Not me!" The youngest scholar was no more than six years old and had been at the academy for less than two months. Faced with Zhan Feiyu’s fierce gaze, he was so scared that he burst into tears.
The other young scholars also retreated with pale faces, shrinking together like timid quails, trembling. They were afraid Zhan Feiyu’s kick would send them flying.
A few older scholars remained calm. One of them whispered, "Junior Brother Qi, did we find the wrong person?"
"The name is correct!" replied the leading chubby boy, Qi Heng. He eyed the fierce Zhan Feiyu with suspicion. Could it be someone with the same name?
Ming Yongxi, who was leading them, was also stunned. When Junior Brother Qi Heng first brought the Class A students, Ming Yongxi hadn't reacted. But Zhan Feiyu's performance just now completely bewildered him. His grandfather and father had both praised Zhan Feiyu's talent for scholarship, so why was she a martial artist?
Having successfully intimidated a group of children, Zhan Feiyu, with her round face, tilted her head slightly and asked with a puzzled expression, "Aren't you here to fight me?"
The group of pale young scholars shook their heads like rattles. They were here to study at the academy!
"Then it's a scholarly duel?" A clear laugh rang out. Zhan Feiyu, turning the tables, shook her head. "Why didn't you say so earlier! You all came at once, more than ten people. I thought it was a brawl."
"A gentleman uses his words, not his fists!" The chubby boy Qi Heng's face turned red with anger. As a fellow top scholar in the county examination, he knew he was being toyed with by Zhan Feiyu. However, seeing Zhan Feiyu's small iron fists, Qi Heng inexplicably felt a bit intimidated.
"That's fine too," Zhan Feiyu straightened her small frame with an air of absolute arrogance, scanning the entire group. "Then you propose the topic. How do you want to compete?"
In the shadows, upon learning that his young disciple had not only skipped class but also led Class A classmates in a group act of mischief, his teacher Ming Er rushed over with a darkened expression.
Meanwhile, Headmaster Ming, seeing that the time was right, brought the reluctant Ming San to greet the guests. The father and sons happened to witness the preceding scene.
Headmaster Ming stroked his white beard and chuckled, "As the saying goes, change brings renewal, stagnation brings decay; change brings life, stagnation brings rigidity. This young girl, who could write such brilliant policy essays, is truly a quick-witted and adaptable talent."
"Just a cunning junior!" Ming San said with a stiff face, clearly holding a grudge due to Zhan Feiyu's earlier mockery.
"Boyu." Not bothering to address his sulking younger son, Headmaster Ming smiled and looked at his second son. "Qi Heng is your disciple. Tell me, who is stronger between the two of them?"
Ming San spoke first, his tone still somewhat aggressive. "The young girl is full of schemes. She could sell Qi Heng and he'd still count the money for her!"
Even though they were both top scholars in the county examination, one was naive and a bit childish, while the other could turn the world upside down with a flip of her hand. Thinking of the rumors about the Qin family, Ming Er and Ming San’s expressions grew more solemn.
The brothers looked at Zhan Feiyu and Qi Heng, who were about to engage in a scholarly duel. The former was calm and composed, while the latter was on high alert. At first glance, it seemed like an adult was playing with a child.
"I heard you have no talent for poetry, and your poems are merely passable. Let's compete in textual interpretation first, then in essays!" When mentioning poetry, Qi Heng proudly lifted his chubby chin and looked at Zhan Feiyu with disdain. If she were truly a prodigy, why wouldn't she be able to compose poetry? She was clearly a fame-seeker!
"Quite righteous of you," Zhan Feiyu nodded. "I'll set the first question. Listen carefully."
As Zhan Feiyu finished speaking, Qi Heng still held his chin high, nodding at Zhan Feiyu through his nostrils. The more than ten young classmates beside them strained their ears to hear the question.
"The author mentions seven individuals. Please respond with their names," Zhan Feiyu asked the first textual interpretation question concisely.
Qi Heng frowned and began to ponder.
The little scholar who had cried at the beginning, with red eyes, sobbed twice and tugged at his classmate's arm. "Which book is this from? Have we learned it?"
Whether it was an ordinary private school or Qingya Academy, the initial enlightenment for new students typically involved the "Three Character Classic," "Hundred Family Surnames," "Thousand Character Classic," and "Thousand Family Poems" – collectively known as "Three Hundred Thousand Thousand," supplemented by "Young Scholar's Treasury" and "Rhyming Enlightenment."
If their progress was fast, they would also read the Four Books with their teacher, but that was limited to reading. Explanations would only begin a year later at the earliest.
"I remember this seems to be from 'The Analects - Book XIV, Xian Wen'," the classmate tried to recall. It was indeed from "The Analects," but the names of these seven people didn't seem familiar. Had he misremembered?
Not daring to disturb Qi Heng, who was deep in thought, the young scholars looked up and their gazes collectively fell upon Ming Yongxi, who was standing aside. Although they were all in Class A, as the eldest son of Ming Er, Ming Yongxi already held the title of Tong Sheng, so his scholarship was naturally more solid than theirs.
Ming Yongxi also felt overwhelmed. He knew this sentence was from "The Analects," but the names of the seven individuals were not in the main text, but in the commentary. Ming Yongxi had just recalled it, but could only remember four names.
"There are seven people in total: Chang Ju, Jie Ni, Zhang Ren, Shi Men, and He Kui," Qi Heng listed five names and then paused. After a moment of hesitation, he said with regret, "I can't remember the other two names."
Ah… the group of young scholars looked disappointed. Junior Brother Qi had lost. But thinking that they didn't even know a single name, they blushed with embarrassment.
"Yi Feng Ren, and Chu Kuang Jie Yu," Zhan Feiyu provided the remaining two names and looked at the battle-ready Qi Heng. "It's your turn to ask a question."
Qi Heng had likely harbored the intention to compete since he learned Zhan Feiyu was visiting Qingya Academy. Eager to regain his footing, he immediately asked, "To see someone who is respectful to his lord, serve him, just as a filial son cares for his parents. Please respond to the following passage."
"'To see someone who is disrespectful to his lord, punish him, just as a falcon pursues birds'," Zhan Feiyu's answer came out of her mouth.
Ah… the group of young scholars looked disappointed again. The little scholar with red eyes couldn't help but speak, "Junior Brother Qi, your question was too easy."
Several classmates beside him nodded vigorously like pecking chicks. Two even glared angrily at Zhan Feiyu. "Your questions were so difficult, and Junior Brother Qi's questions were so easy. Your victory is unfair!"
"Mmm-hmm!" A chorus of young scholars who didn't want to lose nodded in unison, their eyes fixed expectantly on Qi Heng, hoping he would ask a difficult question this time.
With this back-and-forth, a quarter of an hour passed. Zhan Feiyu and Qi Heng each posed ten textual interpretation questions, with Zhan Feiyu winning eight to Qi Heng's ten.
Qi Heng, having lost two questions, wanted to continue, but footsteps were heard from behind him.
The group of young scholars looked back, their faces suddenly turning pale. They stammered, "Headmaster, Teacher…"
Qi Heng, who had led the truancy, looked at the stern Ming Teacher, especially meeting his severe and disappointed gaze. Qi Heng panicked, realizing he had disgraced his teacher.
Unlike the frightened young scholars, Zhan Feiyu stepped forward and bowed. "Headmaster Ming, Teacher Ming, I have been presumptuous."
After all, Zhan Feiyu's teacher was Scholar Gu. Even though Scholar Gu was far away in the capital, every five days, her essays and poems were sent to the capital by express horse for Scholar Gu's review, and the assigned homework was also sent back.
Accompanying them were essays from students in Class A at the Imperial Academy and other academies in the capital, including essays on policy, examinations, poetry, and miscellaneous writings. The competition just now was indeed a case of Zhan Feiyu bullying the younger ones.
"As the saying goes, 'Learning alone without friends leads to ignorance and narrow-mindedness.' Headmaster Ming smiled kindly, his gaze gentle as he looked at the trembling young scholars. "You have already competed. It's time to go back and study."
The young scholars, as if granted a general amnesty, nodded with joy. Fortunately, the Headmaster had spoken, otherwise, the Teacher would surely have spanked their hands and punished them by copying essays. Thinking of Teacher Ming's usual strictness, the group of young scholars couldn't help but shiver.
Qi Heng's face was set, his eyes filled with unwillingness. "We haven't competed in essays yet!"
Zhan Feiyu saw Teacher Ming's face turn as black as the bottom of a pot. It was likely that if it were Ming Yongxi, Teacher Ming would have resorted to gentlemanly force.
"Very well. Since that is the case, I will set the question. Whoever breaks the topic first wins!" Ming Er was as disappointed in Qi Heng now as he had valued him before!
More than the outcome of the competition, Qi Heng's arrogance and complacency truly disappointed Ming Er. He couldn't help but reflect that perhaps he, as a teacher, had not taught well. Zhan Feiyu had only been studying for two years, but because of her tutelage under Scholar Gu, both her talent and her conduct were far superior to Qi Heng's.
"In Xuanji and Yuheng, the seven celestial bodies are aligned; in the dance of Guan Wu Gan Yu, there are seventy years of Miao Ge. Based on these two lines, set the topic." Teacher Ming's face was dark, and his voice was icy. When this question was announced, the young scholars felt as if they were listening to gibberish.
Zhan Feiyu was also slightly stunned. Teacher Ming was truly angered to set such a "jie da" (a type of poetic challenge where two unrelated lines are combined). This was definitely a deliberate difficulty. Generally, even with "jie da" questions, the two lines would have some thematic connection.
However, the question set by Teacher Ming was clearly intended to be difficult, forcing unrelated sentences together and then requiring a response based on them. This was undoubtedly making things difficult! Even a Xiucai or Juren would likely not be able to figure out how to respond in a short period.
Qi Heng knew that Teacher Ming's question was not for the sake of competition but was set for him. However, after racking his brains, he still didn't know how to respond. His mind buzzed chaotically.
After a long while, Qi Heng lowered his head. "Teacher, I was wrong."
"'Arrogance brings loss, humility brings gain. The sea accepts all rivers, and its capacity is vast!' Since you know your mistake, go back and copy 'The Analects' three times." Teacher Ming's anger subsided when he saw Qi Heng admit his mistake.
His gaze fell upon the young scholars beside him. Teacher Ming's voice suddenly became stern. "And you lot, go back and copy 'The Analects' once. Submit it in three days!"
The young scholars, who thought they had escaped, immediately wilted like frostbitten eggplants. They dejectedly turned to leave. They would have preferred Teacher Ming to spank their hands.
But when they thought of Qi Heng having to copy three times, they felt immensely comforted. Junior Brother/Senior Brother Qi was in a worse situation; three copies meant his hands would be swollen!
...
Ming Family's backyard.
"Second Madam, I just went to the front and saw that Second Master reprimanded Young Master Qi Heng and the others..." The little maidservant recounted the scene of the competition vividly, which amused Yin Yuanhui and Old Madam Ming.
"Mother, I told you that young girl is adorable. It's a pity she only likes to read. She's almost become a pedant like Ming Er." Thinking of the rosy-cheeked Zhan Feiyu, Yin Yuanhui wished she could snatch her from the front courtyard.
Old Madam Ming smiled at her daughter-in-law, who looked on with affection. "In a couple of years, when your health improves, if you have another little daughter, wouldn't that be good?"
If you're so eager for someone else's little girl, why not have your own?
Yin Yuanhui was about to nod, but her face instantly fell. She said weakly, "Mother, you know Ming Er's personality. When I think of Third Brother saying that men and women should not touch each other, I don't even want these three brats! And when I think of my little daughter being taught to be a little pedant by Ming Er, I don't want to have any more children."
Old Madam Ming was amused by this and looked sympathetically at her dispirited daughter-in-law.
Regarding her second son's rigid and upright nature, Old Madam Ming was also helpless. He had been serious since his enlightenment at the age of four. While it seemed good when he was young, by the time he reached his twenties or thirties, not only would Yin Yuanhui find him tiresome, but Old Madam Ming herself would also find him tiresome.
"Taohong, go to the front courtyard and wait. If it's early enough, ask Miss Zhan to come to the backyard," Old Madam Ming instructed. It wasn't that she was putting on airs, but as women of the inner chambers, it was inconvenient for them to meet guests in the front courtyard.
"Yes, Old Madam." The little maidservant took the order and withdrew.
Front courtyard, study.
After the tea was served, Ming Er did not come over. Instead, he went to watch Qi Heng and the other young scholars read and write. At this moment, Headmaster Ming was seated in the main seat, and Ming San still sat below with a stiff face, speaking as little as possible.
After some pleasantries, Headmaster Ming looked at the impeccable Zhan Feiyu and had to sigh that the younger generation was indeed formidable. Not to mention Qi Heng and the group of young scholars, even his own two sons would likely be defeated by Zhan Feiyu.
"Headmaster Ming, I heard that Qingya Academy often recruits talented students, but in the end, they choose to go to the Qin family's clan school?" Zhan Feiyu asked tentatively.
This was not the first time the Qin family had done this. They had likely become proficient through repeated practice, leaving no trace of wrongdoing. Therefore, the Qin family was not criticized but instead gained a reputation for cherishing and valuing talent.
"Isn't Wan Yunhao a prime example!" Ming San retorted to Zhan Feiyu. He also disliked the Qin family immensely.
However, the Qin family was powerful. They not only had backing in the imperial court but also had many relatives and friends who were officials. Even if some were only seventh-rank county magistrates, their sheer numbers, when united, formed a formidable force.
In contrast, although Qingya Academy had cultivated many students, firstly, there was no blood relation, and secondly, Headmaster Ming and the others did not exploit their favors. Therefore, the Qin family dared to be so brazen in poaching people.