Had Heaven Not Brought Forth Me, Xu Qingxiao, the Confucian Dao Would Be an Endless Night

That day.

The entire Great Wei Capital seethed with excitement.

All because an extraordinary verse had spread throughout Great Wei.

The Duke's Estates were the liveliest places of all. Almost every duke in Great Wei laughed heartily that day, then ordered the servants to lay out lavish banquets and invite their friends.

The Four Great Academies also erupted into waves of commotion. The moment Man Jiang Hong arrived, countless students from the Four Great Academies began studying and discussing this extraordinary verse.

Arguments sprang up one after another, but no one believed there was anything wrong with the verse itself. Every dispute concerned nothing more than who had written it, and for whom.

But before long, the peaceful Great Wei Capital erupted into an uproar once again.

Several dukes had started fighting.

The common people had no idea what had happened. These dukes were veterans of a hundred battles, men accustomed to winning submission through force. If fists could settle a matter, they would never bother with words.

Rumor had it that this extraordinary verse was precisely what had caused the dukes to fight.

Each of these dukes believed Man Jiang Hong had been written for him. None would yield to the others, and they began airing one another's dirty laundry. Once their shortcomings were exposed, they could no longer contain their tempers and came to blows.

The most outrageous part was that someone went to break up the fight, only to join in himself.

In short, the Capital boiled over that day, curses rising and falling everywhere. It would have been one thing if only the older generation had fought, but even the younger generation joined in.

That was how warriors were. Fighting was the best way to settle disputes.

At that moment.

Within the imperial court of Great Wei.

Inside the magnificent, imposing Yangxin Hall.

A dragon throne stood within.

Golden gauze veiled the dragon throne, and the hall was vast and empty.

A stunningly beautiful woman knelt below, utterly deferential.

Behind the gauze, only a faint silhouette could be seen.

Gracefully curved and tall, the figure stood there, a pair of beautiful legs faintly visible through the gauze.

But what truly inspired awe was not that exquisite figure. It was her presence. Merely standing there, she made others tremble.

This was Great Wei's Female Emperor.

A remarkable woman without equal in the world.

She stood below the dragon throne, a sheet of white paper floating before her.

"Your Majesty, this celebrated verse has already reached the Capital. Seven dukes have laid out lavish banquets because of it, each believing the verse was written for him."

"But their enthusiastic invitations to one another brought trouble instead. A scout just reported that the seven dukes were fighting among themselves, and even their descendants have joined the brawl."

"Several marquesses have joined in as well. I ask Your Majesty to intervene and put an end to the fighting."

The beautiful woman kneeling below spoke slowly, her voice exceedingly pleasant.

"It is only natural that a Timeless Verse should set the dukes quarreling."

"But for men of their rank to brawl among themselves is, ultimately, a disgrace to the court."

"Wan'er, draft an edict for me. As for their dispute over the verse, they may ask its author themselves when he arrives in the Capital."

"Brawling at the foot of the imperial city disgraces the state. They are to report for punishment of their own accord. Those above the rank of count are exempt. All other participants shall receive seventy strokes of the military rod or forfeit three months' salary."

The Female Emperor's voice was somewhat ethereal. She spoke slowly, her words echoing through the great hall.

"Wan'er obeys Your Majesty's command."

The woman bowed her head to the floor.

Then she continued.

"Your Majesty, there is also news from the Four Great Academies. Several Grand Confucians have praised this celebrated verse to the skies. Since both civil officials and military commanders appreciate him, should we summon such a man to the Capital early, to serve Your Majesty?"

She posed the question.

"No."

"Great talents throughout the world all have their pride. Taking the initiative to summon him might prove counterproductive."

"Moreover, anyone who could write such a verse is likely an advocate of war. The disputes at court are already fierce. Summoning such a man would only make the situation more unstable."

"Another northern expedition would damage Great Wei's very foundations. Let everything take its natural course, and warn the others not to set their sights on this man. Leave matters to unfold naturally."

"Furthermore, the Prefectural Examinations throughout the realm are imminent. Those are a matter of great importance."

The Female Emperor's voice rang out, perfectly calm, but that calm conveyed her resolve.

"Yes. Wan'er understands."

Kneeling on the floor, Wan'er nodded. As the Female Emperor's personal attendant, she knew a great deal, particularly about the situation at court.

Ever since Her Majesty had ascended the throne, the court had continued advocating another northern expedition. But the treasury was empty. The Martial Emperor's seven northern expeditions had drained Great Wei dry. Those who did not manage the household had no idea how dear firewood, rice, oil, and salt could be.

If another great talent arrived now and demanded a northern expedition, the situation would only grow more heated.

Letting matters take their natural course was the best solution.

She said nothing more and slowly withdrew.

At that moment.

Within the great hall.

The Female Emperor of Great Wei once again turned her gaze to the white paper.

The extraordinary lines of Man Jiang Hong met her eyes.

But soon, the paper ignited on its own, turning to smoke and vanishing.

Northern expeditions, northern expeditions. A pack of warriors who know only how to attack, never how to lie low and nurture our strength.

In a nation this vast, what doesn't cost money? The treasury is empty. I don't even have the silver to build a palace, and still they want to fight, fight, fight, fight, fight.

Father, if your spirit is watching from heaven, please send me a capable official who knows how to make money. If this keeps up, your daughter can only become a feckless ruler.

These thoughts rose in the Female Emperor's mind. Then, with utter helplessness, she took out an ancient book.

The words "Mind-Reading" were prominently written upon it.

Half an hour later.

An imperial edict emerged from the palace, putting an end to the chaos in the Capital City.

The dukes rested at home, grumbling and cursing. The others, however, did not get off so easily.

They had to choose between forfeiting their salaries and receiving the military rod. Those above the rank of count were fine, while those without titles obediently went to receive their strokes.

Salaries were already meager these days. They might be nobles, but they had little silver to spare. Some dukes' sons, in particular, had barely any spending money.

Forfeit their salaries? That was out of the question. They would rather take the military rod. It was not as though they had never been beaten before.

There was no helping it. That was Great Wei's current state: short of money, from top to bottom.

Regardless, the dispute had been settled.

And so, several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Wuchang Year One.

The seventh day of the fourth month.

There were fewer than three days left until the Prefectural Examination.

Yet that could not curb the enthusiasm of Xu Qingxiao's admirers.

Over the past few days, Bailu Academy had seen a constant stream of visitors, all hoping to glimpse Xu Qingxiao and see just what sort of person he was.

Unfortunately, over those days, Xu Qingxiao had practically become a bookworm, reading continuously inside the library.

Moreover, word had spread that Xu Qingxiao read every kind of book. Bailu Academy's library had three floors and housed seventy thousand volumes. Xu Qingxiao had already finished every book on the first and second floors.

He was now reading on the third floor.

Everyone could understand such a reading speed. After all, Xu Qingxiao had attained enlightenment and possessed a photographic memory. He needed only to scan a book once to remember it.

As for the three Masters, they came every day to wait for him.

The more earnestly Xu Qingxiao read, the fonder they grew of him.

Perhaps this was the peculiar nature of scholars.

They were unlike anyone else.

During the morning hours.

Within the library.

Xu Qingxiao's expression grew excited.

Over these past few days, he had read tens of thousands of volumes, partly to study and deepen his understanding, partly to learn about the state of the world. But most importantly, he wanted to understand the Literary Palace inside his mind.

Now, Xu Qingxiao had finally discovered some clues.

The book in his hands was titled Record of the Sage's Residence.

Much like a diary of daily activities, it recorded the Great Sage's everyday life, along with some of the sage's remarks.

Xu Qingxiao did not know whether it was genuine.

However, it mentioned the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace, though without much detail, merely touching upon it in passing.

What excited Xu Qingxiao was another matter mentioned within.

The Sage's Disciples.

The First Literary Sage, otherwise known as the Great Sage, had seven exceptionally outstanding disciples.

However, all of them had died during the Age of Utter Darkness.

All seven disciples were Half-Saints. One among them possessed extraordinarily handsome features and peerless talent, with the potential to become a sage.

But that era had been far too dark. This disciple had used his own body to seal a demon and save all living beings.

Handsome features, peerless talent, a disciple of the sage.

Of those three qualities, aside from peerless talent, the other two matched the man in the Literary Palace.

At that thought, Xu Qingxiao quickly leafed through the book. Finding no further clues, he turned to other volumes.

Four hours later.

Xu Qingxiao found some more clues.

"Zhaoge."

The name of the sage's eldest disciple.

[Zhaoge, the Great Sage's foremost disciple. At his birth, the stars trembled, celestial music sounded in the heavens, and purple qi came from the east. He composed poetry at three, extraordinary verse at five, and was renowned throughout the world at ten. At twenty, he established his purpose; at twenty-five, he became a Grand Confucian. He later became the sage's student and foremost disciple.]

[At thirty, he entered the realm of Half-Saint, an unprecedented achievement. Alas, he lived in an age when a Heavenly Great Fiend plunged the world into chaos. The Half-Saint Zhaoge sacrificed himself to seal a Peerless Demon. Later generations erected sacred statues in his honor.]

[This account was recorded in ancient books and uncovered through the research of Renwang Botong of a later age.]

There were very few records of the deeds of the Sage's Disciples.

Through his reading over the past few days, Xu Qingxiao had also learned a great many things.

The so-called Age of Utter Darkness was exceedingly remote, its distance measured in tens of thousands of years. It was not even entirely certain that such a period of history had existed.

The only certainty was that traces of the Great Sage existed in the world.

But that history was far too distant. There were still quite a few tales of the Great Sage, but very few of his disciples.

That era had been far too dark. All kinds of books had been destroyed, and humanity had nearly been wiped out. It was only natural that no written records remained.

Moreover, many books had been fabricated by later generations. They were fine as conversation over tea, but under serious scrutiny, they could hardly stand up.

Yet Xu Qingxiao believed what these accounts said.

Because the Heaven and Earth Literary Palace in his mind happened to contain seven statues, and the characteristics of the two matched remarkably well.

"The Great Sage's foremost disciple."

"Thank goodness I didn't overstep."

"I've really stumbled upon a treasure this time."

At that moment, Xu Qingxiao could barely contain his excitement.

With the help of the foremost disciple of the first sage under heaven, why should he fear a mere demonic seed from an unorthodox art?

At that thought, Xu Qingxiao could not help setting down the book in his hands.

After reading for several days, he truly was a little tired.

Xu Qingxiao glanced at the sky outside.

It was already noon.

Several consecutive days without food, drink, or sleep had left him somewhat weary, but above all, he was hungry.

Xu Qingxiao headed downstairs and out of the library in high spirits.

Having learned the handsome man's identity, he was practically free of worries now.

He was in a good mood.

An excellent mood.

So good that when Xu Qingxiao stepped out of the library and basked in the first rays of sunlight, he could not help stretching luxuriantly.

He could not resist speaking, either.

"Had heaven not brought forth me, Xu Qingxiao, the Confucian Dao would be an endless night."

Xu Qingxiao's voice was not loud. His tone conveyed, above all, confidence.

People liked to say a few words when they were happy.

But just as Xu Qingxiao finished stretching.

The very next moment, he froze where he stood.

Because thousands of pairs of eyes had settled on him.