82 Lecturer in the Academy (1/2)
Chapter 82: Lecturer in the Academy
Translator: TransnEditor: Transn
”What is Etiquette? This is a very broad question. However, we shouldn't stop studying it because it's very important. Etiquette is as mysterious and far away as the Firmament. But should we stop exploring and studying the Firmament? Should we stop being curious about it? The answer is no. On the contrary, we observe clouds and wind in the day and study stars and the darkness at night. We want to know what the firmament really is and what is above it.”
”To answer a broad question in a way that we can understand, a concrete answer is needed, and that requires us to pay attention to the details. Just as when we study the stars, we focus on the movement of them and draw the beautiful and fixed lines down, which in the end becomes the subject of astrology.”
”That is why to answer the question of what the Firmament is, we begin from studying every specific line and every Qi, then seek the end of the world and feel the limits of primordial Qi. The same goes for the studying of Etiquette. We should start from details. If you want to ask me, what answer we will get if we study details and specific aspects of Courtesy...”
”I can tell nothing but my own understanding, that is: Etiquette is about rules.”
This lecturer who was in charge of teaching students Etiquette was the vice professor of the Academy. At 60 years of age, he spoke slowly, but clearly. His class was quite organized and logical. And students were all very attentive. However, Ning Que was very sleepy. The clearer the teacher was speaking, the sleepier he became.
At the Academy Entry Exam, his grade of Etiquette was the lowest of the fourth class; the Ding class. He was never interested in this course, especially when he was busy at writing, meditating, killing, gambling, and sleeping in the recent years.
Ning Que couldn't help but think, as he stumbled into sleep, of how miserable his life would be in the next few years if he had to waste every morning listening to these boring words.
But what happened next saved him from desperation and made him realize again how important the Academy was in The Tang Dynasty, where even lecturers here were no average people.
When the old lecturer mentioned that Etiquette was about rules, a disapproving voice said, ”Sir, our The Tang Dynasty is the most powerful country in the world and our emperor the most respected. It was by admiring Etiquette rather than by following rules that we made such achievement.”
Asking questions during the class was approved by the Academy. But it was after all the first day of school when this question was raised, thus, the atmosphere suddenly became very awkward, which even awoke Ning Que. Confused at the situation, he asked his desk mate Chu Youxian, ”Who is this student?”
Believed that all students were equal and aiming to providing all students suitable education based on their different talents, the Academy enrolled a great amount of students coming from ordinary families. But a student who dared to question his teacher at the first class either came from a very powerful family, or regarded himself as a genius. Standing next to his desk and waiting for an snawer, the student who challenged the lecturer was a son of a general.
The lecturer looked at him coldly and asked, ”So in your opinion, people don't need to obey rules?”
”Yes,” said the son of the general in a husky voice, ”Our country was founded on the basis of strong force. We keep winning wars by using our sharp weapons and neglecting those rigid rules. But, it doesn't mean that we don't admire Etiquette.”
The lecturer stared at that student expressionlessly, his face wrinkles gradually smoothed out, ”You mean that as long as you are strong, you are justified in doing anything?”
That student scratched his head embarrassingly, he then argued saying, ”It's not wrong to understand it that way. It's like when our country defeat Yan Kingdom heavily. So frightened at us, they even want to send their prince to our country as a hostage. Although Suffering from such a humiliation, their emperor never dares to be even a little impolite to our emperor, he still calls our emperor Sage King. ”
Ning Que heard the words at the back of the study, he knew this student's Etiquette score definitely would be lower than that of his.
The lecturer walkedtowards the student slowly and expressionlessly. When he reached him, he raised his skinny hand and forcefully hit the student. He was roaring with rage, ”As long as one is strong he is justified to do anything? In that case I'm now justified in beating you!”
A scream was heard in the study. The general's son, for some reason, either scared of the Academy rules or he respected his teacher, didn't dare to fight back. After bearing all the attacks, he looked really miserable; his nose was bloody ,his face was swollen and his mouth full of blood.
Sometime later, the lecturer stopped beating the student. He stared at the student, panting, ”If what you said was right, then I am right to beat you right now because I am more powerful than you.”
Finished his words, the lecturer resumed beating the student even more heavily. By this time, the study was a mess, with all the students standing all around and shocked. But, no one dared to stop their angry teacher. Until, Situ Yilan said, ”Master, you just prove he was right if you think you are more powerful and thus you can beat him!”