Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 714 - 654: Practice of the Law Class

Chapter 714: Chapter 654: Practice of the Law Class

Zhang San got out of bed in the morning and found the Cat-eared Lady had already prepared the water for him to wash his face.

It’s good to have someone take care of you.

After washing up, Zhang San changed into a new set of clothes.

Yesterday, he had thoroughly outwitted the Crown Prince, and Kaihuang had also agreed to the marriage between Wang Junwu and Princess Qionghua.

However, Wang Junwu had only just been ennobled, and as he was a pillar of the Jin River region, it was naturally impossible for him to marry now and then ignore the affairs of Jin River.

So for now, the marriage had been put on hold, with plans to wed when the flowers bloomed in the warmth of next spring.

After he had tidied up and eaten breakfast, Zhang San, accompanied by several maids, strolled toward the Imperial College.

After all, today he had to teach the students of Law Class A.

Just as Zhang San was contemplating what to teach today, he suddenly noticed Ma Bi not far ahead.

Zhang San intended to sneak up and spook the lad, but before he could get close, he saw other students from the Imperial College passing by Ma Bi, quickly walking around him.

Zhang San’s brow furrowed as he witnessed this scene. What’s going on here?

Why are they avoiding Ma Bi?

Zhang San vaguely sensed something amiss.

Though Ma Bi was known for his obstinate nature, he surely hadn’t done anything to make the other students from the Imperial College avoid him like this!

As Zhang San’s confusion deepened, he noticed Wen Bi not far ahead.

However, as someone approached and saw Wen Bi, they too went out of their way to avoid him.

If it were Ma Bi being a student from a humble family, Zhang San could understand why some offspring of noble families within the Imperial College wouldn’t like to associate with him and would take a different path.

But now, people were also avoiding Wen Bi.

Could it be...

Suddenly, a bold guess emerged in Zhang San’s mind. He turned and whispered a few words to the Cat-eared Ladies behind him, instructing them to investigate. Then, Zhang San proceeded alone toward Law Class A.

By the time Zhang San reached Law Class A, most of the students had already arrived.

Then, Baili Niezhen came in and whispered a few words into Zhang San’s ear.

Zhang San nodded slightly, and once all the students had arrived, he announced the start of class.

The students noticed that the teacher seemed to be in a good mood today, but those eyes looked as if they could kill.

"Teacher, what are we discussing today?"

Zhang San pondered for a moment before replying softly, "I am still contemplating."

Although the students of Law Class A knew their teacher was very casual with his lectures, today seemed excessively so.

"Originally, on my way here, I had decided on today’s lesson. But..."

As he said this, Zhang San glanced at all the students of Law Class A and said, "I just discovered that students throughout the entire Imperial College seem to be avoiding our Law Class A students. I had my maids inquire about it and only then did I learn that recently, because of me, you all have been somewhat ostracized by the other students in the Imperial College. Is that so?"

This matter had already started to show early signs.

After all, although Zhang San is now the Preceptor of the Imperial College, who doesn’t know that he calls the shots within the entire College?

Scholars are different from others, and one flaw of scholars is that the morally corrupt among them are very attuned to the times, whereas those with some persistence and belief will firmly stick to what they believe to be right.

Even if what they believe in might be wrong.

But they just felt that their beliefs were correct and held on to them very, very firmly.

As a result, many students of the Imperial College had developed a certain disposition; they were not bad people, nor were they evil. They simply believed Zhang San’s methods were incorrect, and so, for the past while, they had kept a respectful distance from the students of Law Class A.

Seeing his students silent, Zhang San also knew of their predicaments and appreciated that, despite such incidents, they hadn’t come to him with their troubles.

"Since you’ve been good to your teacher and have borne this undue burden alongside me, I am not one to be petty. Today, we won’t have class in the classroom..."

The moment they heard these words, the image of Zhang San executing the Grand Preceptor on the stone bridge flashed through the minds of many students.

It was just that no one had paid him any mind, but teacher, there was no need to go to such lengths!

At this moment, the silent and apprehensive students broke out into a sweat.

"Today, we will go out for a practical lesson. Everyone, gather your belongings, and follow me to the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s Government Office."

Upon hearing that they were neither going to beat up other teachers nor seeking out the Grand Preceptor with a knife, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, Zhang San had Baili Niezhen go ahead to the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s Government Office to inform Second Master Shen that they would be bringing the students there to examine some backlogged cases.

Soon, the students arrived at the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture’s Government Office.

And Second Master Shen warmly welcomed these students from the Imperial College.

Although Second Master Shen knew that most of these students were rooted in Confucianism, it was not important.

These individuals, assigned to the legal studies of the Imperial College, were likely to either end up at his own Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture or move on to the Ministry of Punishment.

And perhaps, they might even be absorbed by Legalism in the future.

Therefore, Second Master Shen was incredibly enthusiastic in his reception of these potential Legalist protégés.

Before long, Second Master Shen began to preside over the first case.

Zhang San led the group as onlookers from the sidelines.

The plaintiff and defendant were brought forward.

The plaintiff, a village woman, appeared calm at first, but as soon as she saw Second Master Shen, she started wailing and screaming as if it were he who was the defendant.

"Silence! Woman, speak of your grievances! I am the Magistrate of Metropolitan prefecture, appointed by the Imperial Court, and I shall seek justice on your behalf."

The students of Law Class A, standing by, watched Second Master Shen’s majestic and solemn manner with great envy.

Even though they had always followed Zhang San, they felt his realm was too lofty and distant, his actions sometimes too intense—as though they were specialized skills only their teacher could possess, completely beyond their capacity to learn.

However, the Magistrate sitting before them now epitomized an excellent learning model.

At this moment, they all hoped that one day they too could sit there like the Magistrate, upholding justice for the people!

Indeed!

We aspire to be like the Magistrate at this very moment!

The woman stopped crying instantly and then turned to point at the plaintiff man beside her, launching into a tirade of curses.

Every other word was a genital organ, every closing word a genital organ.

The furrowed brows of the students from Law Class A signaled their discomfort; they understood that Zhang San had brought them to observe in order to enhance their abilities.

Extracting relevant information about the case from the plaintiff’s words was one such skill.

Yet searching for key points amidst a tirade of genital references was an intellectually taxing task indeed!