A Fight

Li Baimu stared at the bulletin wall. More and more students gathered around the wall and even some mentors came to check what the fuss was. After reading the poem, the mentors slapped their thighs, too taken by the words. They lauded the work's simplicity and wisdom.

Li Baimu's sharp ears picked up an ongoing conversation.

"First, we had a 'Fear not a journey of loneliness' and now, this poem on learning? Is there a breakthrough in Dafeng's poetry scene?"

"In the past 200 years, good poems were few and far between. Now, we have two great poems. At least our generation of scholars can proudly face the next generation."

"Compared to the previous poem, I believe this one will have better longevity. It will be frequently used to motivate scholars."

"Why is there no author? Which Confucian scholar wrote this?"

'No author… Better longevity…' Li Mubai's heart drummed excitedly. While his two best friends were occupied, he stealthily made his retreat.

"Brother Chunjing?" Zhang Zhen looked around and realized the man was gone.

"He was still here…" Chen Tai scanned his surroundings. Then, he pointed in the direction of the wall. "There!"

Zhang Zhen turned around and saw Li Mubai dispersing the students. He made it to the wall and took up a brush.

Zhang Zhen and Chen Tai focused their attention on the wall—their pupils deepened and details 100 meters away appeared crystal clear.

Besides the poem title—On Learning—Li Mubai had written a single line of words.

[Between the 37th and the 38th year, this poem was inspired by Mentor Mubai's encouragement to study.]

It basically meant Li Mubai was the source of inspiration.

The two elders were shocked.

"Shameless old man! Put down that brush!"

…

There was a private chamber at the back of the academy. It was built against the mountainside—to the east was a six-layer waterfall, to the west was an evergreen bamboo forest.

Bamboos in the north were a rare sight. It was difficult to cultivate and propagate them. Only in the south could one witness the phenomenon of bamboo shoots growing from the ground after a stormy night.

The academy mentors had transplanted the bamboo plants and laboriously cared for them. It took 50 years of cultivation to achieve this lush bamboo forest.

Scholars were very much taken by bamboos. They praised the plant's strength of character and likened it to humans.

The White Deer Academy headmaster had entered the room one day and saw the vibrant bamboo forest, unyielding to the seasons. 'They are a representation of myself. This shall be my abode. Everyone, please leave.'

That was how the room became the headmaster's private chamber.

Within the elegantly-designed tea room sat an old man in a hemp robe and a woman in a lavish dress. They were enjoying tea together. Outside the room, a row of armored soldiers was on guard.

The old man's unkempt white hair cascaded freely down his back. The laugh lines and frown lines on his face were deep—when he smiled, the eye wrinkles had the other two beat.

Based on only appearance, it was hard to believe the weathered old man was the White Deer Academy's headmaster.

The Confucian leader of this era.

The woman sitting across him was past her teens but her hair was tied into a straightforward spiral bun. A dazzling ornament held up the hairstyle. The styling was a sign of an unmarried woman.

She wore an ivory dress with exquisite embroidery patterns. The ends of her dress swept the floor.

The woman was fresh-faced and beautiful like an untainted lotus flower. Her clear eyes were cool as ice, showcasing the aristocratic aloofness.

No longer a child, the curves of her body stood out.

The crown princess's voice sounded, light as a chime, "We've not met in half a year. The silvers in your hair have grown in abundance."

The headmaster smiled as he sipped his tea. "Lines of frustration, they are."

"Along the way, I heard some scholars…'Fear not a journey of loneliness, for you are not a stranger to the realm'!" The crown princess's eyes flickered with emotions.

"It is such an amazing piece. I really loved it. I wonder which Confucian scholar wrote it?"

Zhao Shou shook his head and smiled.

"Why are you mocking me?"

"It is not you that I mock. I'm laughing at the fact that all the talents in White Deer Academy could not compete with a person's random ramblings. Dafeng's scholars are too rigid in their thinking. Traditional and soulless. Poetry requires the soul to be open."

"This… You worry me, Headmaster." The crown princess had a serene expression as her slender fingers lifted the teacup. She sipped her tea elegantly as a lady of the Imperial family would.

Zhao Shou sighed and said, "The poet isn't a scholar but a low-level official in Changle County."

The crown princess's face twitched.

Dafeng's crown princess was different from other women. Daughters of nobility often took up a musical instrument, learned some chess, studied some books, and did art—that was sufficient for that time and age.

Shirking off traditions, the crown princess had picked up chess from Wei Yuan, learned the art of war with Zhang Zhen, and studied governance under Chen Tai. She could dictate Confucius's scripture and her policy essays were on par with the scholars in the Imperial College.

She was an erudite, through and through.

When she was 18, the Emperor allowed her to join the book-making process in Hanlin Academy. However, last year, the crown princess tried to rewrite the history books and was ousted by the officials.

"Will you not consider taking up an official position?" The crown princess's eyes were sincere as her tone was serious. "Confucianism prioritizes the people. Why would you waste the little years you have left?"

Few people knew that Qingzhou's provincial administration commissioner position was initially awarded to Zhao Shou.

However, he refused the position and wrote a recommendation to the courts to select Ziyang's Layman.

"I wouldn't mind wasting my years if my students have a path to knowledge." Zhao Shou sighed. "Unfortunately, even after more than a dozen years of hard work, we're still unable to cross this moat set by the Second Sage1."

"You hold on too much to the past. There's no need for that." The crown princess casually refilled her tea. "The Emperor awarded you the position in hopes to reestablish the White Deer Academy's presence in the imperial courts. For the future of your students, you shouldn't reject the offer."

Zhao Shou chuckled. "Losing control of Wei Yuan? Or are the reds and purples2' dragon-slaying techniques improving?"

The crown princess uttered each word from the depths of her heart. "It's for the common folk of Dafeng, for the people of the realm."

Zhao Shou had a sardonic smile.

The crown princess sighed. As she spoke, her tone changed. "After the Battle of Shanhai Pass, Dafeng has been weakening. The frequency of disasters increases every year. Countless sinecures3  and widespread corruption among the courts.

"The gentlemen in courts only care about their political feud. Many prattle nonsense while few actually pull their weight. Headmaster, the empire needs a tailor."

Before Zhao Shou could say a word, the crown princess continued. "Three years ago, the Northern Barbarians violated the treaty and crossed our borders multiple times, threatening our people.

"The Southern Barbarians destroyed the horse roads and ambushed our guarded towns, intending to claim the land as theirs.

"The Western Zhu Kingdom has been eyeing for an opportunity to spread Buddhism through the Central Plains."

At that point, her voice was louder and strained. "Headmaster, as a man of culture, shouldn't you be doing your part to defend and protect the empire?"

Zhao Shou stared at the crown princess. Then, his eyes drifted away from the beautiful and arrogant face to gaze at the bamboo forest.

He shook his head and sighed. "It's not that I don't want to, but the time is not right. Please, take your leave, Your Highness."

The disappointment in the crown princess's eyes was evident. Just as she was about to bid farewell, the sounds of running footsteps came from outside the private chamber. One of the mentors entered and said, panting, "Headmaster, Li Mubai, Zhang Zhen and Chen Tai are fighting."