Chapter 63

Xia Hongsheng was thoroughly annoyed by Wang Zike, feeling that Wang Zike had the potential to become a modern Tang Monk. So, he casually recited a poem to try to shut Wang Zike up and get some peace and quiet. Wang Zike had been asking non-stop questions, showing great interest in Xia Hongsheng's modern perspectives and theories. However, Xia Hongsheng did not expect that Wang Zike would shout the poem out loud in public, especially when the students were deep in thought, and everyone was holding their breath to avoid disturbing them. The loud shout immediately drew the attention of the onlookers and the students, even the old judges at the front turned to look. Therefore, Xia Hongsheng immediately turned and ran, thinking there was no point in waiting to be caught for disrupting the poetry gathering. Wang Zike was the son of a high-ranking official, and given his relationship with Duke Jiang Guogong Qutu Tong, his family was likely a noble one. As a high-ranking official's son, the scholars had little power over him, but Xia Hongsheng was just a commoner. If he were caught, it would not only disgrace his teacher and the academy but also involve Xu Qixian and others.

So, Xia Hongsheng ran away, thinking it was better to stay far from this troublemaker.

However, Wang Zike was stunned by Xia Hongsheng's sudden run and didn't understand why he was running. He quickly chased after him, shouting, "Jing Shi, why are you running?!"

This drew even more people to turn and glare.

Xia Hongsheng almost burst out with a curse. He saw the head teacher frowning and standing up, shouting, "Who is making a commotion and disrupting the poetry gathering?!"

Xia Hongsheng knew it was bad when he saw several people blocking his path. Realizing he couldn't run, he calmed down. After all, it was Wang Zike who made the noise, and Xia Hongsheng hadn't raised his voice at all. So, he stopped running, turned around, and walked back. Wang Zike had already caught up and asked, "Jing Shi, why did you run for no reason?"

"This isn't your garden. Your loud voice disturbed the poetry gathering. We are likely to be questioned for it," Xia Hongsheng reminded Wang Zike. As he spoke, the people who had blocked their way pushed through the crowd and led them forward without pushing them, just staring at them and guiding them to the front.

Xia Hongsheng gave Wang Zike a look, and they both walked forward. The head teacher and the old scholars looked at them disapprovingly, intending to scold the disruptors. But when they saw two young boys, they couldn't be too harsh. Still, they sternly asked, "Why did you two make such a commotion and disrupt the poetry gathering?"

"We were evaluating the poems and got excited, forgetting we were at the poetry gathering. We made noise and disrupted the order, which was our fault. We apologize, Head Teacher," Xia Hongsheng bowed and apologized. This was indeed their fault. At the poetry gathering, everyone was silent to avoid disturbing the students' thoughts and inspiration. This was not only a rule but also a courtesy. After speaking, Xia Hongsheng turned to look at Wang Zike, who didn't seem to realize he had done anything wrong and wasn't as polite as he had been at Qutu Tong's house. This made Xia Hongsheng frown.

"Head Teacher, Xia Hongsheng is a student of our Luozhou Academy. He is young and still has a child's heart. This is his first time attending a poetry gathering, and he got excited and couldn't control his emotions. Please forgive him," a voice came from below. Xia Hongsheng turned to see Xu Qixian standing up and bowing to the head teacher. Then, Master Wan also stood up and bowed, asking for forgiveness. Bai Jianzhi, seeing that both of them had stood up, also stood up.

The head teacher looked down, stroked his beard, and said to Xia Hongsheng, who was standing respectfully, "Since you are young and this is your first time attending a poetry gathering, I will not hold you accountable this time. Go back and watch quietly. Do not make any more noise."

"Thank you, Head Teacher!" Xia Hongsheng bowed again.

However, Wang Zike sneered and said, "What's so great about the Luoyang Poetry Gathering? I listened for a long time, and it's nothing special. The poems are weak and empty. What use are such poems?"

Xia Hongsheng's heart sank as the old scholars frowned, the students gaped, and the onlookers stared.

"A few days ago, I heard some words that made a lot of sense. The other day, I met a talented man from a humble background at Yixiangju. He wrote a poem that scared the Turks so much that they fled in panic. I asked him why he didn't attend the poetry gathering. Do you know what he asked me?" Without waiting for the head teacher or the scholars to get angry, Wang Zike turned to the students and said loudly, "He asked me, what do the people eat, what do they plant, how do they plant it, and when do they plant it? What do the people wear, how are they made, and how can more people wear them? What do you do when there's a disaster or a bandit attack? When you are starving, do you want a feast or a poem? I answered that I would rather have a meal. Then he said, this is the truth. If you only write poems and don't understand the seasons or the crops, if you only talk about the words of the sages and the ways of the gentlemen, and have no strategies to solve hunger or defend against enemies, how can you benefit the people? He asked me to look at the great officials and scholars who have been praised by the people throughout history. Has any of them been praised just for writing good poems? I thought about it and found it very reasonable. You students, the poems you write are beautiful but empty. Which one can solve the problems of our Tang Dynasty? When you can write a poem that can drive away the Turks, then come to the poetry gathering!"

"Rascal!" Bai Jianzhi immediately slammed the table, "How dare you insult us students? Do you not respect the Head Teacher and the elders? A mere child, how dare you criticize our poems here?"

The other students were also furious. Anyone would be angry if their hard work was dismissed as worthless. Moreover, the students who had been with Xia Hongsheng at Yixiangju knew he was talking about Xia Hongsheng and looked at him.

Xia Hongsheng was sweating. Even though he had experienced many big scenes in the future, he was still shocked by Wang Zike's words. With these words, not only did Wang Zike offend the students and the Luoyang Academy, but Xia Hongsheng himself was also implicated.

Xia Hongsheng thought quickly and, before the head teacher could speak, stepped forward and said to Wang Zike, "Brother Zike, I know you are the son of a noble, and you have been pampered all your life, with almost no one daring to contradict you. But, Brother Zike, no matter your status, when you are in a place, you must follow the rules. If the rules are right and reasonable, they should be respected and followed. At the poetry gathering, regardless of the quality of the poems, everyone was focused on writing, and no one made a sound to avoid disturbing them. You know that once your train of thought is interrupted, you might never think of a good line again, and a good poem might be ruined. Our noise disrupted the students' thoughts, which was our mistake, unrelated to the quality of the poems or our status. When you make a mistake, you should feel remorse and apologize. Throughout history, many emperors have issued self-criticism edicts for their mistakes, and even the current emperor has apologized to his ministers for his mistakes. This is because right and wrong are only related to reason, not status. Since we made a mistake first, we should apologize to everyone here, Brother Zike. Don't think that just because you are of high status, you don't need to take responsibility for your mistakes."

Xia Hongsheng couldn't stand it, couldn't stand it at all. Does he think he can act however he wants just because he is the son of an official? Wrong is wrong, and you must apologize. What's with that high-and-mighty attitude? He needs to be educated, must be educated. At such a young age, he already thinks he can get away with anything. What will he be like when he grows up?

"This... Jing Shi, I was speaking up for you! Why are you...?" Wang Zike was surprised by Xia Hongsheng's words and pointed at him angrily.

"What do you mean? I'm telling you the truth to prevent you from going down the wrong path. I'm only doing this because I consider you a friend. I wouldn't do this for just anyone!" Xia Hongsheng rolled his eyes. He had two intentions with his words: one was to educate Wang Zike, who was a good person but had been spoiled, and the other was to mention his noble background to the old scholars, hoping they would give him some face and let the matter drop.

"Hahaha, it's rare to have a true friend. You are quite fortunate!" The head teacher suddenly stroked his beard and laughed, turning to Wang Zike, "Tell me, what was the poem that scared the Turks? If it's as you say, I will let this matter go."

Wang Zike turned around, looked at the students below, and then loudly recited the poem "Man Jiang Hong"!