Chapter 46: The Examination, Words of the Sage

  "This yin world is really relentless, it actually has such a move, I almost fell for it."

  Chen Jiu didn't think about it either. The Yinsi could dominate the life and death of all living things, if there was no way to intimidate them, they would have been overthrown long ago.

  "Never mind, once I get into Qingzhou Academy, I won't come back. With the remains of the saints guarding it, I believe those guys won't dare to cause trouble."

  For the next seven days, Chen Jiu was honest and stayed in the wine tower to review Zhu Zi's articles. As for Yin Si's means, Chen Jiu could only sigh with admiration, his cultivation was not enough, he couldn't break through the second yuan and enter Yin Si, everything was a waste of effort. Of course, if you really want to enter Yin Si, there is another way, that is, to commit suicide.

  The gate of Qingzhou Academy is crowded with carriages and horses, people coming and going, a hubbub of noise, some students arriving early at the academy, others preparing to take their exams.

  Chen Jiu got off the horse-drawn carriage early and walked towards the inside, it was so crowded that if he waited for the carriage to come over, he would definitely be squeezed to death here, let alone take the exam.

  Chen Jiu took out his own waist card as he walked up to the door of the book house.

  "The disciple guarding the gate looked at him and said: 'Go inside, fourth examination hall'."

  Chen Jiuyu's mouth corners revealed a hint of a smile: "Are there many people taking the exam this year?"

  "That year was not many, this year is considered few, only eight hundred people." The disciple said nonchalantly.

  "Eight hundred people" Chen Jiubao's head was a bit dizzy: "How many were admitted?"

  "It's probably less than three hundred."

  "Ah," Chen Jiuyi responded with a single word and walked inside.

  There were over thirty examinees in this room, Chen Jiu sat in the first row, and the white-bearded teacher had already stood at the front.

  "Now that everyone is here, I'll tell you about the rules of the exam." The voice was thick and didn't sound like an old man at all.

  "The first and most important one is that you cannot cheat."

  "Article 2: During the examination, one must not look around."

  "Article 3: Candidates must not leave the examination room at will."

  "Did you all understand?" asked the Master.

  The crowd below seemed like primary school students, responding in unison, the key was to leave a good impression on the husband.

  "All right, today's exam topic is 'What is propriety'." The Master has spoken.

  The people below heard this and frowned, this topic is not simple, what is courtesy?, it's hard to say.

  "The Master said: If one does not know the Mandate, he cannot be considered a gentleman. If one does not know propriety, he cannot take his stand. If one does not know words, he cannot know people."

  As soon as the words fell, there were strands of mysterious energy surging in the air, and the majestic righteous energy was rapidly condensing. A purple glow gradually dyed the sky red.

  Inside and outside Qingzhou City, countless cultivators fled in a hurry. A wicked cultivator with an ominous look on his face said: "Damn it, this Qingzhou Prefecture is really capable of stirring up trouble! That accursed Demon Saint, is he trying to ascend to the heavens or something?"

  No matter how uncomfortable you feel in your heart, what should be run is still to be run, otherwise you will become a gray under the vast and righteous atmosphere.

  In a corner of the academy, Li Hui, this great Confucian scholar, suddenly stood up: "This is the spirit of justice and righteousness, these are true words of wisdom. Looking at the direction, it is my Qingzhou Academy. Could it be that the sage has arrived at my Qingzhou Academy?"

  After finishing speaking, Li Hui instantly turned into a dark shadow and disappeared on the spot.

  Inside the book house, Mr. Fu stared blankly at Chen Jiu, to be precise, he was staring at the paper in Chen Jiu's hand, on which the words were radiating a brilliant light, and a strong and intense aura of justice was boiling over from the text.

  "This is a true saying, unless you were a sage in your past life."

  But after all, being a scholar, he quickly calmed down and quietly watched Chen Jiu sink into contemplation, not daring to disturb him. This is the moment of Confucian enlightenment, who dares to easily disturb it?

  The rest of the candidates stopped their pens at this time, looked at Chen Jiu with a dazed expression, and all the candidates' minds were buzzing with the previous famous saying, as for what exam, questions, they had all forgotten.

  At some unknown time, Li Hui appeared beside Fuzi, who was just about to make a bow, but was stopped by Li Hui: "Don't move, don't disturb this scholar's enlightenment, maybe our academy will produce a sage."

  As he looked at Chen Jiu's familiar face, the Dean was also stunned. He really didn't expect that the little guy who had accompanied him just a few days ago and visited his own home would be able to comprehend the wisdom of the saints. This is something that only a sage or someone who has attained enlightenment can do.

  However, if it were to be made known to the people present, Chen Jiu was not the enlightened one they thought he was, but rather had been led into an indescribable realm by the words of a saint from his past life. It's unknown what kind of thoughts the crowd would have.

  Yin Si, Judge's face changed: "Despicable, it really is a pseudo-sage, it seems this plan can only be changed".

  At this time, Judge Bao was furious, saying "You are a would-be immortal, why don't you find a quiet place to cultivate the Way of Sages? Why are you running around everywhere?"

  Chen Jiuxia's pen moved swiftly, her handwriting bold and free-flowing, as one by one, vivid characters leapt onto the page, though they were not the profound words of a sage.

  It is "rites" rather than "reason", the beginning of rites lies in eating and drinking. In ancient times, people would offer sacrifices to spirits with millet and pork, and then drink from earthenware cups and beat on clay drums. It was as if they could convey their respect to the spirits through these acts. When someone died, they would climb to the top of the house and wail, saying "So-and-so has returned". Then they would offer food and wine, and the body would be buried in the earth while the spirit ascended above. Therefore, the dead were laid with their heads to the north, and the living faced south, all following the original rites.

  In ancient times, the former kings had no palaces. In winter they lived in caves and in summer they lived in nests. They did not have fire for cooking. They ate fruits of grasses and trees, meat of birds and beasts, drank their blood, and chewed on their hair. They did not have hemp or silk. They wore feathers and animal skins.

  The ruler is the one who enlightens, not the enlightened person. The ruler is the one who nourishes, not the nourished person. The ruler is the one who serves, not the served person. Therefore, if the ruler enlightens people, there will be transgressions; if he nourishes people, there will be insufficiency; if he serves people, there will be loss of position. Therefore, the common people govern themselves for the sake of the ruler's self-control, nourish the ruler for their own peace, and serve the ruler to make themselves prominent. Therefore, propriety is clearly expressed and distinctions are fixed. Therefore, everyone loves his death but worries about his life.

  Chen Jiuxian's past life didn't dare to say that he was familiar with the Book of Rites, but he had some understanding of it. He just needed to take out a few fragments and he could muddle through.

  Li Hui, a great Confucian scholar on the other side, couldn't help but applaud and praise after reading Chen Jiu's description of Li: "Wonderful! Wonderful! It's really wonderful. If one hears such a doctrine in the morning, it would be worthy to die in the evening."

  On the other side, Old Master's face was filled with an expression of incredulity: "Is this really done by this young man who is not yet twenty years old? Not to mention the previous passage that stirred up the majestic purple energy of the sages, just looking at this chapter on etiquette in front of us, even a great Confucian scholar or a secondary sage would find it difficult to achieve."

  Chen Jiu's article is too outstanding, although it's just a fragment taken by Chen Jiu, but even so, it makes people look up to him in admiration.

  This is a narrative about propriety, a definition of propriety, this is the heavenly way, this is the human way of propriety.

  Chen Jiu didn't have the majestic and upright spirit, but it doesn't matter, the will of the universe naturally bestowed the vast and majestic spirit onto Chen Jiu's pen.

  The majestic and upright energy permeates Chen Jiu's body, which looks ancient and mysterious. The intricate patterns are constantly jumping, and the majestic and upright energy is being quietly absorbed thread by thread.

  Li Hui's face showed a hint of envy: "If I had such an opportunity, I would certainly be able to attain the status of a secondary saint. What a pity, what a pity, this great opportunity was wasted by this little brat."

  On the other side, Husband comforted: "Director Mo, don't worry, this sage's manuscript must contain the profound meaning of heaven and earth, and the Confucian Tao. As long as you are the first to read it, you will surely gain great opportunities."

  Li Hui heard this and clapped his hands in praise: "Good, good, good! I never thought that I, Li Hui, would have a day when I could be the first to read the sacred Taoist scriptures. Heaven has not been unfair to me. As long as I can take a look at those sacred and virtuous writings, I am willing to die."

  On one side, the husband's mouth corner revealed a wry smile. Being able to read the sage's article is still a first for whoever doesn't want to do it, what a rare opportunity, unfortunately, who made their own rights not big enough? Facing a principal who was clearly not on the same level, Old Husband could only choose to retreat.

  Looking at the old man with a sorrowful expression, the principal smiled slightly: "Old Li, you have been in our academy for decades, no merit but hard work. How about this, I'll promote you to be our vice president one day?"

  The principal asked with a smile.