Chapter 670: Ah Yu Lectures The Masses
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The more the examinees spoke, the more excited and indignant they became. Clearly, they treated the new top scorer as their stumbling block, as if he had obtained his achievements through the backdoor.
The more Ah Yu listened, the angrier she became. Her facial features were about to twist together.
[Child, don’t be rash. Those people are just talking. They can’t do anything.]
“I’m too angry. 1 don’t feel angry when others talk about me, but when they talk about Big Brother Ah You, I can’t get used to it!”
However, Ah Yu did not move in the end. If she rushed out to argue with them, those examinees would say something nasty again.
Hmph! No wonder they couldn’t pass!
They didn’t expect that after these people finished speaking, they would talk about something else.
“I heard that the person who booked the entire Defeng Pavilion today was not Duke Yong Manor, but a Wang Family.”
“I heard that the Wang Family just came to Wanning City. They haven’t even settled down properly, yet they eagerly sent their daughter to the newly appointed top scholar. Isn’t it evident that they knew he would be the winner in advance?”
“They’re simply birds of a feather!”
“In my opinion, the Wang Family is just unpresentable. 1 don’t know how they managed to cling to the rich and powerful, but they want to—Ah!”
That person was talking with his saliva flying everywhere, looking domineering.
Unexpectedly, something suddenly flew over and hit his mouth crooked.
He subconsciously covered his mouth. After letting go, the others saw a bloody tooth in his palm.
Looking at the item, it was actually an ingot of silver!
That person spat out a mouthful of blood and asked vaguely, “Foo—foo affacked fe?!”
Ah Yu suddenly stood out. “It’s me.”
“You little girl, why did you hit him for no reason? He didn’t provoke you and you even knocked out his teeth. How vicious!” Someone couldn’t stand it and criticized Ah Yu on the spot.
“How do you know he didn’t provoke me? With so many people present, why would I specifically hit him and not others? It must be because he has some problem. Just because you all don’t know about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,” Ah Yu paused and continued, “I heard that this person was lazy and incapable in his hometown, and he couldn’t even pass the exams. This time, he came to the capital for the examination, and it’s all through deception and trickery. The clothes he’s wearing are said to have been swindled from a girl’s family.”
When everyone heard this, they hurriedly took two steps back, afraid that they would have anything to do with this person.
The eyes of the person whose teeth had been beaten out widened in anger. “Tfat’s nonshense!”
Unfortunately, his teeth was missing and his mouth leaked air, so his words were not very clear.
Ah Yu didn’t give this person a chance to refute and continued, “Look, did I hit the nail on the head? If he really hasn’t done such a thing before, he’ll naturally be calm and composed. For example, all of you are talented and have never done anything wrong. Aren’t you also calm and composed now?”
After being showered with such praises, the people around were initially hesitant. However, as the girl continued her eloquent speech, they felt that if they were to contradict her, they might be associated with the notorious individual mentioned in the rumors. As a result, they kept quiet and didn’t dare to challenge her words.
That’s right. The young lady had been talking for a long time, but that person did not retort at all. Didn’t this mean that she had hit the nail on the head?
Seeing everyone nodding in agreement, Ah Yu once again, spoke up, “It’s not easy for one person to do bad things; there must be others around helping them. So, among those present, there are also accomplices of this person. Everyone must be vigilant and discerning. For instance, this person, this person, and this person have engaged in bullying and mistreating others in the countryside. Some have abandoned their poor wives, while others have fathered illegitimate children outside and still deceive wealthy girls. There’s even one person who has no shame at all and, in the middle of the night, took off their clothes and… ah, I’m just a young girl, it’s embarrassing to say!”
The faces of the few people who were originally watching the show turned pale when All Yu pointed at them. Some people were even furious on the spot.
However, Ah Yu did not directly say which of them had done something. Hence, the few of them looked at each other, all thinking about who had done what wicked things.
These people were not random either. They were all people who had gossiped previously.
“Could it be that Brother really did something so heinous?!” Someone was surprised and hurriedly asked.
The person who was asked shook his head like a rattle. “How is that possible?! I don’t know where this little girl heard it from, but she actually slandered us here. She simply has ulterior motives!”
“That’s right. She actually said such vicious words at such a young age. I wonder who instructed her to do so.”
The person who was called out quickly reacted and looked at Ah Yu with hatred. “Little girl, where did you hear about this and who instructed you?”
Upon seeing the reactions of these people, All Yu didn’t follow their words but instead asked with a smile, “My esteemed elder brothers and uncles, most of you have participated in the imperial examinations, which indicates that you are all learned and educated individuals. I believe you are all upright and principled, not willing to compromise your integrity for mere material gains.”
When everyone heard this, they couldn’t help but straighten their backs a little. That’s right. Most of them were students from poor families, so they were naturally innocent. In other words, they were naturally honest and righteous people.
Not to mention bending over for a bit of rice, no one had given them any benefits at all.
“If you are speaking recklessly, 1 am certain that you are not acting on someone else’s orders, nor are you merely spreading rumors. You must have seen with your own eyes and heard with your own ears, isn’t that right?” Ah Yu noticed that some of them were starting to ponder and didn’t give them much time to think before she continued, “Can you guarantee that everything you say has been verified and is absolutely fair and just?”
When everyone heard this, they roughly understood. “Little girl, are you from the Qin Family or the Wang Family?”
Ah Yu: “I’m from a farmer’s family. My family came from the mountains where we didn’t have enough to eat. When 1 was young, 1 was often hungry, but my Grandma told me that one has to be morally upright, sit properly, speak reasonably, and act according to their beliefs. My mother also told me that although everything can be said, you can’t speak ill of others behind their backs, especially if it’s unverified rumors.
All of you are people who have read the books of the sages and can be considered students of the Emperor, right? You’re all men who are born with the right to study and go to school. You must know more about logic. Then 1 want to ask you, is what my Grandma and Mother said true?”
Everyone present was rendered speechless by Ah Yu’s words and did not know how to respond.
“This…”
The Wang Family also heard the commotion and came outside one after another, especially when Old Madam Wang heard the commotion on the street from the private room on the second floor. She pushed open the window and looked down to see Ah Yu, so she called the Wang Family over.
Coincidentally, everyone heard Ah Yu’s powerful words. “If you have any doubts about the Imperial Examination’s system, you can go and ask the Top Scholar or ask the governor of Shuntian Prefecture. At the very least, you can jointly submit a petition requesting to investigate if this year’s Imperial Examination is fair.
In addition, I also heard that the exam papers of all the examinees who passed the exam and entered the Imperial College will be open to everyone for a month to review. Everyone can see for themselves who performed well and who did not. Why is there a need to gossip here?
If you have real talent, instead of spending your time uttering sour words here, why don’t you return to your hometown as soon as possible and polish your heart? You can fight again next year.
You don’t have the courage to start all over again, nor do you have the courage to compete. You even lost your kind nature. Don’t you feel ashamed of yourselves?!”
These words not only stunned the examinees downstairs, but even the Wang Family on the second floor was stunned.
When did Ah Yu know so much?
Then, with a sudden change in tone, she continued, “You are still young, just about the same age as my brothers. What’s the harm in trying the exam a few more times? Take my second uncle, for example. He is nearing forty, yet he still diligently participates in the imperial examinations. We come from a humble rural family, without talent, power, or influence. All we rely on is the spirit of a scholar. He managed to pass the exam and rank among the second grade based on his true abilities and unwavering character. If a middle-aged farmer like him can do it, why can’t you?!”
Just as Eunuch Xi, who was in charge of delivering the message, hurriedly walked out of Defeng Pavilion, he heard Ah Yu’s voice coming from the gathering crowd. Her words were deafening.
“The Emperor seeks to gather wise and talented individuals, so that you all can govern the country, harmonize your families, cultivate your characters, and bring peace to the world. He hopes that you can bring blessings to the people and present petitions for the well-being of the nation. Yet, what are you doing instead? Even the women in my family understand that one must first empower oneself to avoid being looked down upon by others. They manage to refrain from engaging in gossip and judging others. If you are inferior even to women in this aspect, then you might as well go home and put yourselves in the place of your mothers, wives, and daughters.
See whether they would waste such opportunities by speaking foolishly or become wise individuals who help others and bring prosperity to the world!”
“Hua—”
The students’ faces turned red. Those who were too ashamed of themselves even fainted on the spot.
This was the first time they had been reprimanded like this in public, and they were even compared to “trash”. How could they stand it?
A woman listened in a daze and whispered to others, “This little girl looks very familiar. Which family is she from?”
Eunuch Xi’s voice sounded. “Village Lord Yu, I’m here to greet you. Do you think this decree should be announced at Defeng Pavilion or at your Wang Family?”
This time, everyone looked at Ah Yu with only fear.
This was actually the rumored Village Lord Yu, a true noblewoman who rose from a farming family!
They did not expect to meet her in such a state.
In this way, the students who were still thinking crazily and wanted to choke Ah Yu with their words also gave up and hung their heads, not daring to say another word.
If Ah Yu was just an ordinary girl, they would definitely teach her a lesson when they reacted. How could they let her make them lose face like this?
However, the other party was a Village Lord, so they had to consider their words carefully..