Early in the morning, accompanied by a loud cock-a-doodle-doo, Qingzhou City seemed to come alive.
In the civilian homes, some wealthy families carried their own coal stoves into the courtyard and began boiling water and cooking. Those who were reluctant to spend silver on coal stoves, meanwhile, sent up long plumes of cooking smoke.
The streets of Qingzhou also became lively. Vendors set up stoves by the roadside, selling flatbreads, fried dough sticks, and tofu pudding to passing merchants. The snack stalls along the street were filled with people.
Amidst this clamor, the newsboy’s voice rang out as usual.
Merchants and scholars on the street, out of habit, bought the day’s newspaper to learn about the changes happening in the Great Yu Empire. After all, due to limited information, they rarely knew what was happening outside.
“Treatise on Celestial Bodies? What is this?”
The tofu pudding stall in front of the Chamber of Commerce was packed with merchants. The content of the newspaper quickly caught their attention.
“The Earth is round, rotating around the sun. The solar system also has nine planets…” The young merchant read the content of the newspaper word by word. The other merchants eating all pricked up their ears and listened.
“There’s no Chang’e on the moon. The shadows on its surface are merely lunar seas. There is no life on the moon…”
“There are no immortals on the moon?” A passerby exclaimed.
The merchants looked at each other. An older merchant said to the young merchant, “Han Zheng, is that truly what the newspaper says?”
“No mistake. I’ve read for a few years; I can still recognize the characters,” Han Zheng sighed. “Has this Qingzhou Daily gone mad? If there are no immortals on the moon, and the sun is not a golden crow, and there are no immortals in heaven, wouldn’t that mean His Majesty is no longer the true Son of Heaven?”
At this, the older merchant stretched out his leg and kicked Han Zheng. “Are you seeking death, boy? Shut up!”
The older merchant was Han Zheng’s uncle. However, Han Zheng not only didn’t shut up but retorted, “The newspaper clearly states that, and it’s said that this newspaper was reviewed by His Majesty. Perhaps this is exactly what His Majesty means.”
The merchants fell silent. Soon after, a merchant said timidly, “This might lead to big trouble.” Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on NovelHub(.)net
Everyone looked at each other, no longer discussing the issue, but silently eating and waiting for developments.
Compared to the discussions on the streets, the Confucian scholars in Qingzhou City who revered Confucianism were in an uproar. A group of Confucian scholars, holding newspapers, rushed to a residence in Qingzhou City.
The plaque above this residence bore the character “Ge.”
Inside the courtyard, an old man was practicing the Five Elements Fist, looking serene and elegant. He seemed unconcerned by the group of Confucian scholars bursting in.
Although Bowen Academy’s influence grew day by day in Qingzhou Province, a large number of Confucian scholars in the Great Yu Empire still lived in old ways of thinking. After years of arduous study, they were unwilling to start anew and had been seeking to restore the imperial examination.
The leading Confucian scholar, named Yu Yuankun, looked at the old man and said, “Elder Ge, what time is it that you can still remain so calm? Now His Majesty wants to destroy the foundation of our Confucianism! If you and Lord Cui Hao do not step forward, thousands upon thousands of Confucian scholars in the Great Yu Empire will have no way to live!”
The old man, referred to as Elder Ge by the Confucian scholars, was none other than Ge Yiren.
A year after Prince Zhao was driven out of Chang’an, he had not received any appointment from the imperial court. Unable to bear it any longer, he brought his entire family to Qingzhou Province to scout out opportunities. At the same time, bearing the title of a great Confucian scholar, he was welcomed by Confucian scholars upon entering Qingzhou City, and even reopened a Confucian academy to lecture.
“If the Emperor is not anxious, why are you? Confucianism has been passed down for thousands of years. Since the Han Dynasty, it has been exclusively revered and flourished, enduring five dynasties unshaken. How can you understand the reasons for this? You may return for now; I will enter the palace myself to remonstrate with His Majesty,” Ge Yiren’s eyes flickered.
The Confucian scholars, hearing this, all showed excited expressions. Yu Yuankun said, “Then we shall rely on Elder Ge to step forward.”
Ge Yiren nodded and said to his butler, “Send the scholars back.”
After the Confucian scholars departed, two figures emerged from behind the rockery in the courtyard. They were Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang.
Glancing in the direction the Confucian scholars had left, Ge Yiren said, “Elder Ge, these Confucian scholars have little ability but are very noisy. Getting too close to them will inevitably lead to trouble.”
“That’s right. His Majesty’s grand gesture this time is precisely aimed at these stubborn Confucian scholars. If we get too close to them, the three of us will likely never serve in officialdom,” a person said.
Ge Yiren gently stroked his beard. After reading today’s newspaper, he had already made a decision. He said, “Today’s events are an opportunity for the three of us to become high-ranking officials. Have you two not seen through it yet?”
“What do you mean by that?” Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang looked puzzled.
Ge Yiren said, “The current Emperor is no ordinary person. This ‘Treatise on Celestial Bodies’ is meant to destroy the foundation of our Confucianism, but it also denies his status as the true Son of Heaven. The reason he dares to be so reckless is only because his authority is now supreme, and no one can shake his imperial throne. So, the time has come for a Confucian reform. If the three of us can seize this opportunity, we will surely achieve great success, and at the very least, live a life of wealth and prosperity.”
“Confucian reform.” Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang exchanged glances. As great Confucian scholars, they understood the history of Confucianism very well.
Throughout history, Confucianism had always been subservient to imperial power, serving as an instrument for imperial rule. Precisely because of this, Confucianism had been able to endure for a thousand years.
When Xiao Ming ascended the throne, they mistakenly believed that the Great Yu Dynasty would still follow the old system. But now it seemed that this Emperor’s ascension was tantamount to a dynastic change.
If that was the case, they would need to reconsider.
“Elder Ge’s vision is indeed far-reaching, beyond what the two of us can compare to. In that case, we should collectively seek an audience with His Majesty,” Ni Kuang said.
Yu Zhiyong also suddenly understood. He said, “Precisely, precisely.”
“Good. In that case, I will have the butler prepare a carriage. The three of us will go to the palace gate to request an audience with His Majesty. In my opinion, the current Emperor is exceptionally intelligent and will certainly grant us an audience.”
Ge Yiren said loudly.
With that, the three took a carriage and headed towards the imperial palace in the south of the city.
Outside the palace gate, they were stopped by imperial guards. After an announcement, they were granted permission to enter.
The three were overjoyed. Following Qian Dafu, they walked into the palace. Along the way, the three excitedly observed the facilities within the imperial palace.
For over a year, they had been sidelined from court and it hadn’t been easy. Now, they secretly resolved to seize this opportunity.
Following Qian Dafu, they soon arrived in front of the imperial study. At this point, Qian Dafu let the three enter.
Ge Yiren straightened his clothes, then cautiously entered the imperial study with Yu Zhiyong and Ni Kuang.
At this time, Xiao Ming was standing with his back to them. After they paid their respects, Xiao Ming slowly turned around.
The novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my at /c/caleredhair