On the second day of April, it was the day for the imperial lectures.

The Jingyan is the highest-level lecture hall in a country, where the emperor lectured on scriptures and history in front of the emperor since the Han and Tang dynasties.

According to the common practice of the imperial court, when the climate is mild in spring and autumn every year, the imperial lectures are held on the second day of the lunar month.

On the second, twelfth and twenty-second days of the lunar month, all the cabinet ministers, the nine ministers and the noble officials had to attend the lectures. Even the Hanlin poets and the censors had to take turns to attend the lectures.

The person in charge of lecturing was called "Daily Lecturer" and was selected only from the Hanlin Academy.

Therefore, if Emperor Longqing wanted Zhao Hao to give lectures on stage, he had to first give him the status of a Hanlin.

As for the content of the lectures, it was not limited to classics and history, and some special topics would be added according to the emperor's personal interests.

For example, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong, he taught the art of war and postpartum care for war horses. During the reign of the previous emperor, he offered two interest courses, "Qingci Appreciation" and "How to Make Good Elixirs", for a long time.

Therefore, Emperor Longqing's sudden proposal to have someone talk about the science that was very popular in Beijing recently was not excessive at all compared with the two previous emperors.

Well, at least that's what everyone thought before the lecture started.

~~

Zhao Hao got up early that day and rechecked the teaching aids in the room with his apprentices. Then he previewed the content of the course, analyzed the possible areas of attack, and made plans for how to counterattack.

The look of facing a formidable enemy was unprecedented.

Because this lecture is of great importance.

Zhao Hao was not going to avoid the important issues and talk about general things like he did during his lectures at Lingji Palace.

He wants to bring out the real stuff and redefine the rules of the universe in the name of science!

This is not only a practical need to defeat the young cabinet ministers, but also the only way for scientific development.

Science is about the courage to forge ahead. How can we always shrink in the safety zone? We must always take this step!

As for the consequences... they shouldn't be too serious, right?

'After all, the Ming Dynasty is still very open to heresy in the academic field.' Young Master Zhao looked in the mirror and consoled himself: "I'm not in Europe. The Inquisition has no control over me..."

"Sir, are you satisfied with this?" Ma Xianglan put on the grass-green round-collar official robe for him, tied a black sash on it, and then put on the black gauze official hat firmly.

"Hmm, it doesn't quite suit me." Zhao Hao looked closely at the national defense green official robe on his body, as well as the pair of rather shabby quail patches on his chest. The joy he had in the past few days was gone.

"Young master seems a little nervous." Ma Xianglan used her slender fingers to smooth the collar of his snow-white shirt.

"He might even get beheaded." Zhao Hao joked.

"Then just say less." Ma Xianglan's heart tightened.

"Someone has to tell it." Zhao Hao said calmly, "Since the advent of the telescope, many things can no longer be concealed."

As he spoke, he raised the corner of his mouth arrogantly and said, "How can I give this honor to others?"

"Well, you really seem different now." Ma Xianglan looked at him intoxicatedly, then said firmly, "I will play a song for you."

"The one who knows me best is Sister Xianglan." Zhao Hao smiled and nodded, "I still want to listen to the song 'Ding Feng Bo'."

"Okay." Ma Xianglan looked at him deeply, and the scene when she played last time was still vivid in her mind. But the young master has already jumped from a small restaurant owner to the brightest new star in the Ming Dynasty.

"Xianglan will always be by your side." After saying this with a red face, she sat down on the piano, took a deep breath, plucked the strings, and sang softly with her red lips:

"Don't listen to the sound of leaves being blown by the wind, why not just hum and walk slowly..."

Zhao Hao walked out the door to the sound of free and unrestrained piano music.

The seven disciples and Zhao Shizhen had been waiting there for a long time, and they all paid him the highest salute.

"A bamboo stick and straw sandals are lighter than a horse, so who is afraid? A straw raincoat will protect me throughout my life."

As Ma Xianglan sang, Zhao Hao bowed deeply to his grandfather and father, then stood up and said loudly, "Let's go."

Everyone followed him and filed out of the house.

"The chilly spring breeze sobers me up, it's a little chilly, but the slanting sunlight on the mountaintops greets me."

The master, his disciples, father and son rode in several carriages and headed towards Donghua Gate.

Until I can no longer hear the heavenly sound of 'neither wind nor rain nor clear sky'...

~~

Usually the imperial lectures were held in the morning, but there were exceptions.

For example, today, it was not until the afternoon that Emperor Longqing, accompanied by twenty Han generals and the eunuchs of the Imperial Household, arrived at the Wenhua Hall.

In this extremely elegant occasion, the Han generals also took off their armor and put on bright red flying fish uniforms, equipped only with embroidered spring swords, and did not carry any exaggerated items such as golden melons and golden maces.

After the emperor sat down on the dragon throne facing south, Teng Xiang loudly ordered all officials to come in and pay their respects to the emperor as per etiquette.

Then, the officials from the Honglu Temple placed a desk in front of the imperial throne for the emperor to review, and another desk a few steps away was set up, which was the lecturer's podium.

When the arrangements were completed, the officials attending the lecture filed in according to their shifts, lined up on either side of the desk, and then followed the instructions of the ceremonial officer to perform a series of tedious ceremonies.

~~

Zhao Hao was not among them. As one of today's lecturers, he had to wait in a side hall.

In addition to him, there were two other daily lecturers in the side hall, both of whom were familiar faces - one was Wang Xijue and the other was Shen Shixing.

Chef Wang is open-minded and free-spirited, and he can't keep quiet even in such occasions.

Wang Xijue came close to Zhao Hao and whispered, "You better be careful. The day before yesterday, Lord Xu sent out a message asking the Imperial Academy and the Imperial Observatory to be prepared to severely refute every word you say."

Shen Shixing looked at the chef helplessly and thought, traitor.

"As long as you two don't take action, I'm not afraid of anyone." Zhao Hao has adjusted his mood by now.

"Great!" Seeing that he still had the energy to joke, Chef Wang gave him a thumbs up and said, "We'll try to shorten the conversation and give you more time."

Shen Shixing secretly sighed that he had made a mistake in making friends, and could only smile and nod.

At this time, the official in charge of the imperial lecture summoned two people to come in and give lectures.

Shen Shixing bowed to Zhao Hao and left the side hall without saying a word from beginning to end.

"This guy is too cautious." Wang Xijue grinned and followed him out.

Zhao Hao thought to himself, how can a child who grew up under someone else's roof be as loved by your father and mother as you, a wealthy man?

He paid close attention to the two people's lecture to avoid any etiquette mistakes later.

After Shen Shixing bowed, he stood in front of the podium and began to speak. After he finished speaking, he closed his copy of The Great Learning and stepped aside, while Wang Xijue continued to speak on another copy of The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government.

When giving lectures, the lecturer could speak and point without stopping, and all other people had to listen attentively, even the emperor was no exception.

Zhao Hao couldn't help but wonder, how could he refute me?

It was not until he saw that after Wang Xijue finished speaking, Xu Ge Lao, who was in charge of the imperial lectures, asked the audience to express their opinions that he realized this was the order.

The hanging heart was finally put back into my stomach.

What I'm most worried about is that you won't let me finish what I'm saying. After I finish, we can just talk as much as we want!

Let me also have the pleasure of debating with a group of scholars.

"Send the Imperial Academy's attendant Zhao Hao to give a lecture."

Then he heard Lord Xu singing loudly, and Zhao Hao hurried out of the side hall and kowtowed before the emperor.

After being called to stand up, he stood in front of the podium, facing those curious, hostile, or worried gazes, and said in a deep voice:

"Today, let's start with Xunzi's Theory of Heaven."

"Xunzi said: Heaven's ways are constant, they do not exist for the sake of Yao, nor do they perish for the sake of Jie!"

ps. Fourth update, 11600 votes plus more, asking for monthly votes and recommendation votes~~~