Volume One, Chapter 18: Such a Damn Dilemma
“Your Majesty the Empress, what do you mean by this? Su Chen disrespected his elders in class, slept on the lectern, and even spoke back to the master. How can this be my fault?”
Thrown down with a splash of wet saliva on its pages, the book landed before Song Fangshan, momentarily freezing him in disbelief. This venerable scholar, who had lived nearly sixty years, felt a surge of profound humiliation.
No matter how esteemed Song Fangshan was in the realm of Confucian scholars, to be confronted by Empress Wu Zetian with such a book—damp with saliva and carelessly tossed before him—was an unprecedented affront. If this matter were not clarified, Song Fangshan feared he would become the laughingstock of the scholarly world.
Now anger flared within Song Fangshan. Even before the Empress, he was determined to argue his case. After all, a scholar’s entire existence was for his reputation; once that was lost, life was worse than death.
As Song Fangshan’s rebuke echoed, puzzled and uncertain gazes turned to Wu Zetian. Since ascending the throne, the Empress had proven to be cunning and strategic, skilled at turning the tides with subtlety. If she wished to protect Su Chen, why would she resort to such an unwise tactic?
No one believed there was anything significant in the saliva-stained book. They saw only the Empress’s effort to save face, protecting Su Chen—her chosen candidate for the inner academy—by twisting facts and distorting truth.
“Damn it, what’s gotten into the little darling today? Has she lost her mind?”
“Impossible. Why is she so fiercely defending the young master? He was just taking a nap! If they didn’t want him in the inner academy, they could have simply expelled him. Why make such a chaotic fuss?”
“No matter how I look at it, something’s off. That old man must be trying to set me up!”
“But it’s so complicated. Should I repay blood with blood, tooth for tooth, and ruin that scoundrel’s reputation? Or should I play along, quietly withdraw from the inner academy, and live a carefree life? This is truly a dilemma...”
Su Chen himself was somewhat troubled. Intelligent as he was, he quickly perceived the underlying scheme, yet hesitated to choose his path.
Should he pursue his own happiness, idling away in peace? Or should he exact revenge?
Overhearing Su Chen’s inner musings, Wu Zetian nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood!
“You bastard Su Chen, do you think your head is just for decoration? Others strive for promotion, titles, and high office, but you waste that brilliant mind on lazy idleness!”
“You ingrate, can you not muster any ambition?”
At this moment, Wu Zetian was genuinely worried for Su Chen.
From her perspective, he was a raw jade waiting to be polished—destined to become a treasured heirloom with careful craftsmanship.
Yet the most distressing thing was that this jade was intent on becoming a foul, hardened stone in a cesspit, concealing all its brilliance.
Infuriating! This bastard had the intellect but chose to feign ignorance. What a waste!
Her teeth grinding, Wu Zetian sneered inwardly:
“You want to lie low? I won’t give you that chance. Today, I will expose your deeds to the world and reveal your talents to all!”
With solemnity, the Empress commanded:
“Guo, the academy dean, since Song Fangshan refuses to read it, you shall. If even you cannot discern the secrets within, then you might as well abdicate your position!”
Her cold voice rang through the Hall of Justice. The gathered students and scholars gasped collectively.
It was clear the Empress was determined to defend Su Chen at all costs, even if it meant implicating others.
Not only was Song Fangshan being accused of misjudgment, but Guo Qingshu, the esteemed academy dean with a reputation surpassing Song Fangshan’s, was also dragged into the fray.
No one expected the Empress’s sweeping accusation to reach Guo Qingshu.
Confused, Guo Qingshu thought: Who have I offended? Why am I caught in this mess?
Yet, facing the Empress’s unwavering gaze, Guo Qingshu could only gesture to a nearby student: “Bring me that book.”
The student, resigned, retrieved the saliva-stained tome tossed at Song Fangshan.
Accepting the book, Guo Qingshu opened to the first page. It was the “Great Learning,” one of the Four Books—a standard text of the inner academy.
At first glance, nothing seemed unusual. But as he prepared to turn to the next page, he uttered a soft “Hmm.”
That subtle sound drew the attention of everyone present.
As one of the most learned scholars of the age, Guo Qingshu’s reaction was weighty.
Before anyone could grasp the meaning, the dean’s expression softened into one of rapt fascination.
He began to read aloud softly:
“The way of the Great Learning consists in manifesting one’s bright virtue, in loving the people, and in stopping at what is right...”
Strangely, the more he read, the more engrossed he became, as if spellbound.
This unnerved all present in the Hall of Justice. Some students even pinched themselves, questioning reality.
Today’s events were anything but normal. It seemed as if everyone had taken some strange potion—Su Chen appeared foolish, and yet both the Empress and the dean were acting strangely obsessed.
“This situation is far from right,” Yan Danqing soon sensed. Exchanging looks with Changsun Yan, the two ministerial heirs, though intelligent, were still baffled by the unfolding mystery.
Such an extraordinary occurrence was truly a once-in-a-millennium event.