Chapter 682 - 249: Taught a Lesson

Chapter 682: Chapter 249: Taught a Lesson

Had they not been cleaning up his mess from behind the scenes, his actions wouldn’t have gone so smoothly, nor would he have remained undetected until now.

Zhao Jing felt a deep sense of gratitude toward the elders. He stood his ground in a posture of contrition, accepting whatever punishment they deemed fit to dole out.

Seeing this, Xu Shiniang sighed and continued, "You possess the talent of a Champion Scholar. If relying solely on your true strength and abilities, you would undoubtedly secure the first place. But with the current factions in the imperial court pulling strings, requiring you to take a step back and yield the title of Champion Scholar—you are dissatisfied, unwilling, and defiant. We understand all of this.

"But you must remember, by using underhanded methods to gather evidence and win the palace examination, what you lose is the foundation upon which your future standing rests.

"We are not punishing you because we know you are young, spirited, and proud. However, you must realize that those who truly sit in high places never get there by trampling over others, but by strengthening themselves and standing in an unshakeable position. Taking a step back today is not a defeat; it is leaving a path open so that your future self can walk more steadily and go much further."

Zhao Jing remained silent, but it wasn’t out of compromise. Rather, it seemed he was brewing over something.

Amidst the flickering firelight, he finally raised his head and looked straight at Xu Shiniang, candidly explaining his reasoning. "I vied for the position of Champion Scholar precisely to strengthen myself. If I achieve the Six Firsts, there will undoubtedly be a place for me in the imperial court, no matter what happens. Even a century from now, my name would go down in history."

Hearing this, Xu Shiniang’s expression darkened slightly. His voice was not loud, but every word struck like a hammer. "Do you think achieving the Six Firsts and leaving a mark in history relies merely on a golden list and the title of Champion Scholar? If your intentions are corrupt and your methods underhanded, even if you do pass as the Champion Scholar, the world will only respect the crown you wear, not the man beneath it.

"There is nothing inherently wrong with saying you vie for the title of Champion Scholar to strengthen yourself. Your mistake lies in using the wrong methods and destroying your own foundation. If you can employ dark schemes against your fellow Advanced Scholars today for the sake of a ranking, then tomorrow, you would spare no mercy toward your peers, colleagues, and relatives for the sake of power and status.

"A century from now, if history truly remembers you, will it record your peerless talent, or will it record that you resorted to any means necessary to frame your peers just to secure a first place? Leaving a name in history can mean leaving a lasting legacy of virtue, but it can also mean leaving a legacy of infamy.

"If you claim that the title of Champion Scholar should belong to the capable... Jing, if you cannot endure even this bit of grievance and this minor concession, how will you weather the political storms of the imperial court in the future? How will you shoulder the glory and disgrace of an entire clan?

"You want a place in the court, you want to be unshakeable, but you must understand this: talent and learning can get you up there, but only moral character will allow you to sit securely. If you clear your path with schemes today, someone will push you into the abyss with even more vicious schemes tomorrow.

"It isn’t that we forbid you from competing; we simply forbid you from competing in a way that destroys yourself. You inherently possess world-shocking talent and could look down upon the world with honor and integrity. Why must you insist on taking this narrow path of self-degradation?"

The candlelight flickered inside the study, casting shadows in a room so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Wisps of green smoke curled from the bronze crane incense burner, yet they failed to dispel the oppressive heaviness in the air. Outside the window, the night was as black as ink. The wind swept fallen petals against the lattice, creating a faint, desolate rustle.

Zhao Jing stood with his head bowed, his fingers tightly clenched beneath his wide sleeves. His knuckles turned white. The unyielding arrogance in his chest had been shattered by Xu Shiniang’s every word, unable to maintain even a fraction of its sharp edge.

After a long time, his tense back slowly relaxed a fraction. His throat bobbed a few times as he finally suppressed all his tumultuous emotions. His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a bone-deep clarity.

"It was I... who was narrow-minded and impetuous. I only focused on the laurel wreath of a Champion Scholar, only thinking about achieving the Six Firsts and leaving my name in history, yet I forgot that to establish oneself, one must first rectify their heart, and to act, one must first uphold their virtues."

The dancing candlelight illuminated the surging emotions in his eyes—regret, remorse, and the sudden realization of being awakened.

"’Talent must match the position, and virtue must bear the name.’ I couldn’t even grasp such a simple truth. I was dead wrong." He took a deep breath and slowly knelt on the floor, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "I, Zhao Jing, know my wrongs. From now on, my heart will turn toward the righteous path, and my actions will abide by the rules. I will absolutely never again let a moment of impulse ruin my life and disgrace our family’s honor. I beg the elders to give Zhao Jing another chance to correct his mistakes."

He prostrated himself, lightly touching his forehead to the ground. His tone was solemn and earnest, entirely devoid of his former arrogance. "Today, I swear right here that every word and action of mine hereafter will uphold the righteous path. I will not fail the elders’ teachings, nor will I fail the knowledge I have acquired. I will definitely keep today’s events in my mind at all times and never dare to forget them for the rest of my life."

The room fell silent for a moment. As Xu Shiniang looked at his prostrate figure, his expression finally softened. He let out a soft sigh, stepped forward, and reached out to help him up.

"Get up. You are merely young and spirited, blinded by temporary gains and losses. If you can recognize your mistakes, admit to them, and correct them today, your future remains promising.

"What we want is not for you to be submissive, but for you to act righteously and sit upright, so that in the future, you can shoulder the glory and disgrace of our family and secure your own prospects.

"Jing, remember this kneel today, and even more so, remember the words you have spoken today. We fervently hope that from now on, you will not be foolish again."