Chapter 1307: Inscription, Benevolence and Righteousness! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
Master Zhu had many years ago retired to this thatched hall, withdrawing from the secular world. He would even avoid meetings with members of the imperial household.
Although Li Junxian was the leader of the Confucian Sect, not even he could do anything if Master Zhu refused him.
The thatched hall was devoid of noise as Li Junxian silently gazed at Master Zhu.
Master Zhu finally spoke.
”I understand. Leave this matter to me!”
Whoosh!
Li Junxian breathed a sigh of relief.
”Senior Brother, my deepest gratitude!”
Li Junxian gave a deep bow and stood up.
……
Two days later, a piece of news shook the empire. The highly revered and only 'Master' of Gaozong's era, and the only Master of the present age, Master Zhu, had finally reemerged.
This event sent shockwaves through society, particularly the Confucian school. Across the Nine Provinces, countless renowned and learned Confucians became agitated and impatient at the news, and rushed to make their way to the capital.
”Honored Father, you are already of advanced age, and this place is extremely far from the capital. In your condition, I worry that you will not be able to tolerate the stresses of traveling by carriage!”
At a certain place in the empire, a son gripped the carriage of his father, who was more than eighty years old, and urged him to rethink his journey.
”Bastard thing, do you know who Master Zhu is? Let alone the stresses of the carriage journey, even if I were to die on the road today, this old man would still do so with no regret. On the contrary, by stopping me now, you'll make me live with eternal regret, and as a father, I will never forgive you!” the white-haired and wrinkled old father on the carriage harshly rebuked, stubbornly overruling his entire family.
Similar events were taking place all throughout the realm. The news of Master Zhu was like a massive boulder thrown into a lake, making the splash created by the conflict between the militarists and Confucians seem much smaller by comparison.
At the appointed time, countless venerable Confucians had gathered in front of the temple of learning to silently wait.
Such a grand display attracted countless onlookers. Many of these people were less than forty and had no idea who Master Zhu was, but when they heard of his background, all of them became solemn and respectful.
”A living sage, a true living sage!”
All the common people felt deep veneration, and some people even set up living memorial tablets in their homes to worship Master Zhu. The imperial household even had to send Golden Guards to maintain order and discipline around the temple of learning.
Even as the sun neared its zenith, there was still no sign of Master Zhu. Despite this, not a single one of the numerous Confucians gathered in front of the simple and solemn temple felt any impatience. Finally, after some time…
”Look at that!” someone suddenly called out, and the crowd instantly turned to look.
At this moment, a thin figure dressed in an immaculately white robe had appeared in front of the temple of learning. That person held his hands behind his back, and merely by standing there, he exuded the aura of a lofty and majestic mountain.
”Master Zhu!”
”Master Zhu!”
The sight of that figure galvanized the crowd, all the venerable Confucians getting down on their knees and kowtowing on the ground. Some of the old men in their seventies and eighties were even weeping in joy.
They appeared to be aged and virtuous luminaries in the eyes of many, but only they understood how insignificant they were in front of Master Zhu. Compared to Master Zhu, they were just 'youths'.
When they were still children, Master Zhu was fifty or sixty years old and renowned throughout the world, worshiped as the leader of the Confucian school. By the time each of them had made their names, Master Zhu had long ago retired. For many of these learned Confucians, being able to see Master Zhu in their lifetimes was an incredible honor that could allow them to die without regret.
Even the Golden Guards were stunned to see all these old scholars weeping. They only knew that they had been sent to guard an important Confucian leader, but they had no idea just how important Master Zhu was. Some of the Golden Guards even put down their weapons and kneeled to Master Zhu.
Master Zhu said nothing, only calmly gazed at the scene before him and then turned around. Someone had already stepped forward at this point to unroll a large white ream of paper. Master Zhu extended a hand, where someone was already waiting with a brush already dipped in ink.
”Everyone, look, Master Zhu is about to write!” someone called out, and everyone instantly turned their eyes to see what Master Zhu was going to write.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
With great flourish and force, Master Zhu wrote out two words: '仁义'!