At least when it came to the poetry collection, he was finished!
How dare he not analyze the poem? Wasn't that basically saying he thought Master Shen's poem was poorly written?!
After offending Master Shen, he could forget about passing any future poetry collection exams.
Ning Hao and Liang Yuan's expressions changed slightly. How could Junior Brother Chu fail to analyze even a single word?
This was no longer a matter of not knowing how. It was a matter of attitude.
In the back row, Lu Xian looked as though he was worried about Chu Ming, but inside, he was already gloating.
Chu Ming calmly closed Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, lifted his head, and met Shen Yu's gaze. His voice didn't waver as he said, "Because I think your poem doesn't need to be analyzed, sir."
Still talking back!
The atmosphere shifted subtly. The students all knew there was a show to watch.
Liang Yuan discreetly nudged Ning Hao. Ning Hao hesitated, but in the end, he braced himself and spoke up. "Master Shen, Junior Brother Chu only arrived at the academy yesterday. He's weary from the journey and hasn't had time to settle in. Liang Yuan and I dragged him to class, so he misspoke..."
Before he could finish pleading, Shen Yu raised a hand and cut him off. Keeping his eyes fixed on Chu Ming, he asked, "Why do you think my poem doesn't need to be analyzed?"
Chu Ming feigned a thoughtful expression, then replied, "Although your poem has no ornate flourishes, and lacks the meter and cadence a poem ought to have..."
How could he say that?
He might as well come right out and say Master Shen's poem was plain speech.
Ning Hao and Liang Yuan's hearts sank.
Lu Xian and the other students sat back to enjoy the show.
"Go on," Shen Yu said. His voice remained low, but to everyone else, it sounded like the prelude to an explosion.
"Your poem expresses exactly what you want to say, clearly and plainly, in the most direct way. I believe, sir, that you're opening up a new path."
The Great Qin Dynasty used classical written language. What did that mean? It came down to two things.
First was the form of the writing: it used traditional characters, with their complex strokes.
Second, all books that circulated—poetry, the Records of the Grand Historian, the classics, chronicles, fiction, travelogues, and everything else—were written in classical Chinese.
Huh?
Why did that sound off?
Was Junior Brother Chu praising Master Shen?
But Master Shen was a veteran teacher who'd spent most of his life teaching students. How could he possibly fall for that?
Lu Xian and quite a few of the students curled their lips in scorn. Chu Ming had only just realized he'd offended Master Shen and was trying to make amends this way. Too late.
Besides, Master Shen was an instructor, highly accomplished in poetry and exceptionally well-versed in literary composition. No one knew why the poems he wrote were so plain, but who would dare call them plain to his face?
That wasn't praise. It was acting clever!
Shen Yu said nothing as he stared at Chu Ming from the front of the hall. Only Ning Hao and Liang Yuan looked worried; everyone else seemed eager to watch the excitement.
"Do you really think so?"
To everyone's surprise, Shen Yu's voice suddenly changed. It rose sharply from its low pitch. Did he sound... excited?
And what was that fleeting, subtle expression on Master Shen's face, one they'd never seen before?
If they had to compare it to something in the students' experience, it was just like the excitement they'd felt when they passed the Academy Exam and got into the academy.
Had Master Shen... finally found someone who understood him?
Could Instructor Shen really fall for this?!
Everyone's gaze turned doubtful as they stared fixedly at Chu Ming.
Don't nod. Whatever you do, don't nod!
Chu Ming nodded silently.
"Good!" Shen Yu's excitement no longer flashed across his face and vanished. This time, he genuinely smiled—a smile the students had never seen before.
He stepped down from the platform and came to stand beside Chu Ming, holding up the exam sheet. "Your name is Chu Ming?"
"Mm." Chu Ming answered calmly.
"Just enrolled?"
"Yes." Chu Ming answered honestly.
"You're exempt from the poetry section of next month's exam."
"Thank you, Master Shen."
"Come with me." As Shen Yu spoke, he grabbed Chu Ming by the wrist and tried to lead him away. But no matter how hard he pulled, Chu Ming wouldn't budge. "You're stronger than you look."
"Where are we going?" Chu Ming couldn't quite figure out what the instructor was up to.
"To eat." When Shen Yu couldn't move Chu Ming, he simply stopped pulling and told him what he wanted.
What?!
Master Shen was personally inviting a junior student to eat with him?
More than twenty pairs of eyes instantly turned their way. If their gazes could have turned into swords, they wouldn't have hesitated for a second.
Lu Xian's mouth hung slightly open. His throat felt as if something were stuck in it. It was more bitter than the medicine he'd taken when he was sick and more sour than vinegar.
Ning Hao and Liang Yuan stared blankly, their necks almost twisted backward before they even realized it.
Could something like this really happen?
Liang Yuan nudged Ning Hao. Only then did they turn their bodies around too, exchanging glances.
Ning Hao: Why?
Liang Yuan: How should I know?
Eat?
Chu Ming himself was taken aback. After all that, this academy instructor, who looked about the same age as Steward Fang, wanted to take him out to eat?
The instructor didn't seem nearly as stern as he looked.
But was it really just a meal?
He disliked classical written language and championed simplified characters and vernacular. This instructor really did seem intent on breaking new ground...
"Sir, I still have class." He clasped his hands and bowed.
Shen Yu let go. "Class? Very well. I'll wait for you in the dining hall."
Then his expression turned stern again. He swept a cold glance around the room, and the students hurriedly sat up straight at their desks.
As soon as the instructor left, the students could no longer sit still.
Several students sitting nearby passed Lu Xian and surrounded Chu Ming. "Brother Chu, I'm Su Zhi."
"Brother Chu, I'm Mo Ran. Lu Xian and I are good friends. Right, Brother Lu?"
Lu Xian froze.
"Brother Chu, my surname is Chu too. My name's Chu Yizhuo. Maybe we're even related by blood."
"..."
As for the students in the front row, a few hesitated, then decided not to ingratiate themselves with Chu Ming and turned to leave instead.
A few others smiled at Chu Ming, bowed slightly, and filed out of the Lecture Hall.
"Chu Ming... I feel like I've heard that name somewhere," one of the students leaving murmured.
Ning Hao stood at his desk, his eyes shining as he looked at Chu Ming.
"Senior Brother Ning, haven't you always wanted to study poetry and literary composition under Master Shen? Junior Brother Chu got an invitation from him. Why don't you ask Junior Brother Chu to take you along?" Liang Yuan said with a faint smile.
"Don't let pride get in your way. How can we scholars give up such a good opportunity just because we care about something as trivial as face?" he added.
"Senior Brother Ning, this is your chance to speak privately with Master Shen, the instructor of Baiyuan County and a master of poetry."
Ning Hao loved poetry and literary composition, and had always regarded Shen Yu as a celebrated master. He'd hoped to receive his guidance for a long time.
He turned to look at Liang Yuan, then at Chu Ming, and finally took a step forward.
But before he could leave his desk, he saw Chu Ming pick up Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy. Calmly addressing the students clustered around him, he said, "Excuse me, make way. This book is heavy. Someone could get hurt."
"Haha, Brother Chu, you're joking. How could anyone get hurt?"
"Exactly, Brother Chu, don't worry. I came first in the Academy Exam, and I've trained in martial arts too. I'm strong and sturdy. Even the guards at my house aren't as strong as I am. Who could possibly hurt me?" boasted the student named Mo Ran.
Trained in martial arts?
Some of the other students looked disdainful, while others looked envious.
But not one of them moved aside.
No, one person did.
Lu Xian quietly took a few steps back.
Back in Willow Town, after the Academy Exam, he'd been standing outside the private school when he'd heard those words from afar—and seen the exact same scene.
Holding Poetry, Politics, and Military Strategy, wearing that calm expression...
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