Li Qingxian sighed softly to himself.
Back at the academy, Dai Tie had been one of the best students.
His parents farmed for a living, and several uncles and aunts had scraped together his tuition, hoping someone in the family might leap through the Dragon Gate.
He was neither as socially adept as Du Qizhen, who came from a merchant family, nor as good at reading faces as Lou Yushan, who came from an official family, so he seemed withdrawn.
Aside from being poor at dealing with people, there was nothing to fault in either his studies or his character.
Li Qingxian looked at Dai Tie and pondered quietly. The events of recent days flashed through his mind like a galloping horse watching flowers.
After a moment, Li Qingxian had an idea and walked downstairs.
He had taken only a few steps when Dai Tie rose and turned around. The two met face-to-face.
Dai Tie froze for a moment, then said stiffly, "You came to relieve yourself too?"
Li Qingxian smiled. "At our Night Guard Yamen, we either call it 'loosening up' or 'letting water out.' No one says 'answering nature's call.'"
"Yes. Different places, different rules," Dai Tie said.
"There was nothing wrong with that principle, but crooked-mouthed scholars recited it wrong. Scholars speak of fathers being fathers, sons being sons, rulers being rulers, and ministers being ministers. Was that not about different rules? So why did you stop liking it after leaving the academy for the yamen?" Li Qingxian asked with a smile.
Dai Tie was taken aback.
"What books do not teach is also learning. Besides, these books have taught it all along. We simply never learned it," Li Qingxian said.
Dai Tie said solemnly, "You are right! The sages said, 'If one can renew oneself for