The library was crowded with people, and it seemed like a commotion was going on inside.
"Hmph, this is a library! You uncouth bastards coming here are only defiling the sacred texts!"
The speaker was a young man wearing a purple robe, which was produced by a famous private embroidery workshop in Tokyo and was specially made for wealthy families.
A tall man shouted, "You're being incredibly unreasonable, sir! This library is supposed to be open to anyone. Even the Hanlin Academician Shi Ziming wrote in the Song Dynasty Gazette that reading is not a matter of social status, and anyone can read."
The young man scoffed, "Someone like you can read the Song Dynasty Gazette?"
The big man retorted, "Although I am illiterate, the storyteller's words are true, and since the storyteller's shop is located here, why can't we come in!"
“If you all come in, where will we, the true scholars, stand? Can you even understand what you're doing? Since you can't understand it, you're just taking up space, while we, the true scholars, can't read. Don't you think you're wasting our time?”
After he said that, the big guy was speechless.
Although I felt there was something wrong with what he said, it seemed to make a lot of sense.
These people are all illiterate, and if it weren't for the person who was explaining things to them, they would have been completely lost.
Those who were illiterate suddenly felt intimidated. They already had an innate sense of inferiority, and after being told this, they felt even more that they shouldn't be there.
A young man next to the purple-clad youth laughed and said, "Get out of here, all of you! Go back to farming, chopping wood, and carving timber. That's where you belong!"
A boy of about fourteen years old angrily said, "You've gone too far! We just want to study, and we want to learn more!"
"Ha, kid, I really don't know where you get your confidence from. You think you can just get lost like that when I tell you to!"
"Alright, alright, Sanlang, let's go back. I'll go buy you some books elsewhere, and we'll go back and read them."
"Mother, we can't afford to buy books, but there are plenty of books here."
"Let's go, Saburo, this is not a place for us, let's go quickly."
The boy looked at the group of young people with hatred.
"Why! Why can you come, but we can't! I refuse to accept this!"
The young man in purple laughed and said, "It's all because my father is Zhang Hong, the Palace Attendant! I am also an official of the court, serving as the Imperial Ancestral Temple Attendant."
His words stunned everyone.
Those scholars naturally knew what kind of official the Palace Attendant was. Although he was only a fifth-rank official, he served the emperor's clothing and was considered a close advisor to the emperor.
This is a very important person.
Those who were illiterate and uneducated, upon hearing this, realized that the young man in purple was the son of a high-ranking official, and they became even more frightened.
Those who were about to retort immediately backed down, not daring to say another word.
In the Song Dynasty, the people were all afraid of officials. When they encountered an official, no one dared to speak up, even if they wanted to.
Take Zhang Yuan for example. He originally had little talent and didn't even know many characters.
However, his father happened to be a Palace Attendant, and according to the rules of the Song Dynasty, officials of this rank could enjoy the privilege of having their children inherit their positions.
In other words, once his son grows up, he can obtain an official position in the imperial court without taking the imperial examination, and thereafter the court will support him.
It can be said that hereditary privilege was one of the most important reasons for the excessive number of officials in the Song Dynasty.
Upon hearing that some officials were leaving, the manager of the library muttered to himself, "It's good that they're gone; it'll be quieter now."
The boy called Sanlang, however, was young and strong-willed, and he couldn't stand such words. He immediately shouted, "We just want to study! What's wrong with wanting to study!"
"Hey, you little brat, you're still not leaving? Men, throw him out!"
The young man in purple smiled slightly and ordered the servants he had brought with him.
Upon receiving their master's order, the servants immediately began to eagerly prepare.
"Sanlang! Let's go!"
Seeing that the situation seemed to have deteriorated to the point of needing to take action, Zhao Ding quickened his pace and walked over.
“Young master, this is a library built with funds from the imperial court, specifically for people to consult. Your behavior is against the rules.”
When the young man in purple looked at Zhao Ding, he saw that his clothes were ordinary. Although he was wearing silk, it was the lowest grade.
"How dare you meddle in my affairs! You're supposed to be a scholar, so whose side are you on? Do you know that once these uncouth brutes can all read, our position will be shaken!"
Zhao Ding sighed inwardly, wondering how this person dared to say such things in public in this kind of setting.
If these words were to reach the Emperor's ears, Zhang Hong, the Palace Attendant, would likely be dismissed from his post.
Zhao Ding said, "I am Zhao Ding. I just feel that since the Song Dynasty Gazette has stated that anyone can come to study, this young master's actions are inappropriate. I advise you to take back what you just said, apologize to everyone, and let this matter rest."
Upon hearing this, the young man in purple burst into laughter, and the group of people around him joined in, looking at Zhao Ding as if he were a fool.
Just then, Tang Ke's son, Tang Rui, happened to pass by and, out of curiosity, went over.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Tang? I am Zhang Yuan. I've met Young Master Tang."
“Zhang Yuan? I remember now, your father, Zhang Zhongcheng, I’ve met him before.”
"I am deeply honored that Young Master Tang remembers me."
"Oh, I just heard some arguing over here, so I came to check. You guys continue."
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