Chapter 79 So terrifying

Then, Zhu Gang shouted again: "Hey, hey, hey, everyone listen up, even Mr. Fan admires Qianqiu so much, saying that after reading his article, he is inferior to him. He has lived like a dog all his life and read books all his life, but it is not as good as a hair of Qianqiu's article!"

Fan Xianzu opened his mouth slightly, and his lips were unable to close. The smug look on his face had disappeared, and he looked at Deng Qianqiu with lifeless eyes.

At this time, Deng Qianqiu said, "Yes, this is an article I wrote with my eyes closed. I never expected that Mr. Fan would give such an evaluation. Mr. Fan, do you admire me so much? It seems that we are inseparable. Could this be what heroes appreciate heroes?"

Everyone suffocated.

At first, people were intoxicated by Fan Xianzu's wonderful lectures, and everyone felt that they had been enlightened.

But now...

Everyone began to be shocked...it seemed...after talking so much, it seemed like they were talking about loneliness.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a headache again.

Because at this time, Zhu Gang and Deng Qianqiu sang the same tune.

"Qianqiu, I never thought you were so knowledgeable. I admire you so much. I also bow down to you."

Deng Qianqiu said seriously, "Your Highness... please don't do this. The original intention of writing this article is just like what Mr. Fan said, civility, courtesy... It means humility and respect. In fact, I have such a character. As the saying goes, you can tell a person by his writing. What kind of person writes what kind of article! Your Highness, if you flatter me like Mr. Fan, I will be too young to know the immensity of the world. I will think that even a great scholar like Mr. Fan pays homage to me, and I will be intoxicated by myself. If this continues, it will be detrimental to my growth. Your Highness should teach me a lesson instead of flattering me like Mr. Fan."

Zhu Gang laughed ghastly, his laughter was sinister, he crossed his arms and said: "Well said, from now on, I will also be like Qianqiu, humble and respectful, let's be gentlemen together."

Deng Qianqiu said seriously: "Your Highness has such great ambitions, I really admire you. As the saying goes, those who are close to vermilion become red, and those who are close to ink become black. Being close to Your Highness has greatly improved my moral character."

"..."

Fan Xianzu's head was buzzing at this time, and he felt a little twitching in his brain. This harsh sound, like the cold wind in winter, penetrated every pore and made him feel heartbroken.

Zhu Yuanzhang had a ridiculous feeling, but... it seemed... that was the case.

At this moment... he wanted to be serious, but he felt it was funny. He wanted to laugh, but he felt... it was ungentlemanly.

Only Zhu Biao understood something at this time. He looked at Fan Xianzu with a strange look, as if he wanted to say something but didn't know what to say.

The faces of the other civil officials and guests were all livid. Logically speaking, things had reached such an absurd point that any upright minister in this hall should have stood up and said something sternly.

But at this moment... the words were on the tip of their tongue, but they swallowed them all back. They could only look at Fan Xianzu with sympathy and chose to remain silent.

Only Prince of Yan Zhu Di and Prince of Zhou Zhou Su suddenly felt heartbroken...it seemed like they had...made a bet.

At this time, Zhu Gang sighed and said, "Mr. Fan, please say something."

Fan Xianzu was as silent now as he was talkative just now.

He... was tricked by these two guys.

The problem is that this "article" is indeed written in Song Lian's handwriting, there is no mistake.

Besides, he had a preconceived notion and never thought that someone would play such a trick.

And now...what can he say?
If someone handed him a knife at this time, he would definitely want to stab Deng Qianqiu and Zhu Gang with one knife, the white knife going in and the red knife coming out, he would simply not live and everyone would be in harmony.

Of course, this was just a bold idea, and it was fleeting. He felt more ashamed than ever and just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.

At this time, Zhu Gang said again: "Mr. Fan, if you don't say it, I will. You said just now that you are inferior to him, right? But no one forced you! Moreover, your analysis of Qianqiu's article is extremely brilliant and touching. Even I feel that I have benefited a lot after listening to it. You said that Qianqiu's article is ten times better than yours. Is that what you said?" Fan Xianzu hung his head, he was like a stone sculpture, he just pursed his lips tightly, and said nothing.

Zhu Gang felt that he was always a person who would not give in even if he was right. He was even more confident at this moment and said, "It seems that Mr. Fan is quite discerning and can recognize a gem. It's a pity that his knowledge is still far behind Qianqiu's. Mr. Fan, did you lose this time? Tell me, tell me."

Zhu Gang stared at Fan Xianzu and asked him questions repeatedly.

Zhu Gang really didn't mean to rub salt into the wound. He was the banker. Although the winner had been decided, he knew his brothers and sisters very well. None of them were easy to deal with. What would he do if they cheated?
So he had to ask clearly and make Fan Xianzu admit defeat himself.

So he continued, "You don't want to tell me, right? If you don't want to tell me, then I have to repeat what you just said. I'm going to read it..."

Zhu Gang coughed and took out a few bamboo slips.

These bamboo slips are used for shorthand, making it convenient for people to record while standing.

It was only then that everyone realized that while Fan Xianzu was talking incessantly, Zhu Gang had been hiding aside and recording his words.

The young man had no moral principles and came prepared.

So, everyone: "..."

Finally... Fan Xianzu was anxious, his face was extremely ugly, and the memory just now began to attack his almost collapsed heart. He gritted his teeth, and of course he didn't dare to provoke Zhu Gang, but stared at Deng Qianqiu angrily, gnashing his teeth and said: "Deng Qianqiu, you are despicable, you are shameless!"

Everyone looked at Fan Xianzu, but their expressions changed.

Because in fact, since the winner has been decided, no matter what, Fan Xianzu was indeed defeated this time. At this time, anyone with a little shame should admit his mistake and admit defeat.

But Fan Xianzu chose the most unscholarly way and directly fought back.

As the saying goes, if you are right you can go anywhere in the world, but if you are wrong you can hardly take a single step. It would have been fine if Fan Xianzu had just admitted defeat, but he chose to fight to the end.

Then... Deng Qianqiu naturally stopped pampering him.

Deng Qianqiu's expression of relief faded, and he said coldly, "I am despicable and shameless? Dare you ask me how despicable and shameless I am? This article... I just asked you to read it, and it clearly stated that it was written by Lord Song himself, but I didn't say that the article was written by Lord Song. But you... read it by heart, and when you heard Lord Song's name, you immediately respected him as if he were a god, and you thought you were smart, and you explained it in a eloquent way. In the final analysis, the truly shameless people are precisely people like you."

"What?" Fan Xianzu was furious, but at this moment, although he was extremely angry, he was already at a disadvantage. Deng Qianqiu's retort was like a bolt from the blue. His body shook, his face turned red, and his eyes were full of bloodshot.

Deng Qianqiu continued, "The people you admire, the ones you always talk about, whether it's Confucius, Mencius, Cheng Zhu, or Song Lian, as long as they are famous, you will do your best to praise them. But these people also read books, and after reading, they have their own thoughts, which is why they are famous today. But you, you claim to be well-read, and you say you have a belly full of ink, but in fact you are just a parrot that can only imitate others. You only know how to read, and you keep saying that you speak for the saints, but in fact, you have nothing in your head, and you just recite from the book, and you still call yourself a scholar."

"Bah, what kind of scholar is this? A scholar who doesn't use his brain is a parrot all his life. I have listened to many of your lectures, and the things you taught are like the leftovers chewed up by others. You never have your own opinions. Let me ask you, what is the point of reading this book?"

Fan Xianzu was so angry that he was shaking all over. His face turned red and he glared at Deng Qianqiu, wishing he could cut Deng Qianqiu into pieces with his gaze.

Deng Qianqiu looked at the anger in his eyes and sneered, "If all the scholars in the world were like you, they would flatter an article without thinking, as long as the author of the article was more famous than you, and feel complacent about it. Then what's the point of the court raising scholars? His Majesty invited you to the main hall to teach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the princes to read, but if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the princes all learned from you, can they become talents in the future with such ridiculous things?"

The veins on Fan Xianzu's body were exposed, his body was shaking constantly, and his bloodshot eyes began to turn yellow.

Deng Qianqiu did not intend to give up, and continued: "It is really sad and ridiculous. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince trusts you so much and admires your knowledge, but you use such useless knowledge to mislead His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. It's a pity that you still call yourself a scholar and a disciple of the sage. If Confucius were still alive, he would definitely kill you, a useless scholar who ruined his school. Otherwise, if he keeps a brainless waste like you, but uses the banner of the sage's school to cheat and deceive people everywhere, Confucianism will be doomed!"

When Fan Xianzu heard this, he suddenly felt as if he was struck by lightning, as if he was hit hard in the heart by a muffled blow. He suddenly covered his heart with his hands, feeling extremely sad and angry, and shouted: "You...you...Puff..."

It wasn't over yet, he felt a sweetness in his throat and a mouthful of bloody phlegm spurted out. Fan Xianzu felt a heartache and then he uttered "Ah...ah...ah..." sounds from his mouth.

Deng Qianqiu said: "Don't play dead, we are learning from each other."

(End of this chapter)