The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 104

Li Zhuozhi was a little curious as to why Xu Tian would suddenly ask Fang Xuanling where he lived, but he still told him anyway.

After learning Fang Xuanling's address, Xu Tian sent Li Zhuozhi to the school. Once the students had all arrived, classes began. Only after class did Xu Tian go to Fang Xuanling's residence.

The main gate of Fang Xuanling's mansion had two large characters: Xuanyun Residence, and two armed men in black stood there, indicating that they were people of considerable importance.

"I need to see the master inside. You two should let me through," Xu Tian said.

The two men exchanged a glance, then asked directly, "Who are you?"

"I am Master Xu, and I run a school in this city."

The two men were somewhat surprised to hear that it was Master Xu, after all, he was the one who had been personally bestowed the jade pendant by the Emperor. But regardless, they knew that Fang Xuanling did not like Xu Tian. So they shook their heads at Xu Tian and said, "Master Xu, Master Fang is not here today. Please come again next time."

"They're not here, are they?" Xu Tian actually saw through their thoughts at a glance, and narrowed his eyes slightly. "Since they're not here, I'll wait here for a while."

When the guard heard that he had to wait, he realized that he could no longer hide the truth, so he simply went into the mansion to report.

When Fang Xuanling heard from his men that Xu Tian had arrived, he sneered, "He's here. I'll see what he's up to now."

He then stepped out of the mansion and saw Xu Tian waiting outside the gate as soon as he opened it.

He was about to speak when Xu Tian strode over menacingly. Standing before him, his expression was stern. "Why did you call people to beat me up?" he asked.

And you could tell from his words that the man in black had probably confessed. He was honest and straightforward; once he did something, he admitted it. After hearing his question, he asked directly, "I really can't send someone to teach you a lesson? You disregard the court, disregard the emperor, and attempt to be above the royal family. Is there anything wrong with sending someone to teach you a lesson?"

"I merely uttered a few words about the future of the Tang Dynasty, and you dare to lecture me like this? How strange indeed!"

"I'm curious? Then may I ask you, Master Xu, did you ever make Li Zhuozhi stand as punishment in the back hall?"

"So what? What does it matter?" Xu Tian asked.

Upon hearing Xu Tian's question, Fang Xuanling snorted coldly, his beard almost standing on end.

Seeing Fang Xuanling's attitude, Xu Tian was stunned when he remembered that Li Zhuozhi had said he was a prince.

"Hmph, remember? I told you you had ulterior motives and wanted to corrupt the prince and divide the court!" Fang Xuanling said coldly.

Xu Tian frowned slightly, looking at Fang Xuanling with some disbelief: "You mean Li Zhuozhi is really a prince, and you are a court official? Then Master Li... could it be...?"

"That's right, that's exactly what you're thinking. But you're still pretending not to know, and I really admire your composure!"

Upon hearing his words, Xu Tian's face flushed red with anger, and he frowned slightly. "I truly didn't know. If you insist on saying this, isn't that deliberate slander?!"

"Deliberately slandering you? Why would I deliberately slander you? Back then, the prince told you his identity, but you ignored him completely and insisted on sending him to the school to stand as punishment. Isn't that the truth? Most people would think twice when a child says he is a prince, especially since the child seems to have a significant background. But you, instead of thinking twice, taught him some audacious rules of conduct between ruler and subject. Isn't that malicious?"

Xu Tian was stunned for a moment when he heard what he said; he really didn't understand.

He was a diligent teacher and never taught his students anything bad, but he was extremely angry when he heard Fang Xuanling's words, as if his good intentions had been taken for granted.

“I said no, and that’s it. Fang Xuanling, why do you have to slander me like this? I’m just teaching and educating people properly, and I’ve never thought about how to divide the court!” Xu Tianqi’s shoulders trembled slightly.

"No? Do you think I'd believe that?" Wang Xuelin sneered again, his eyes particularly sharp. "Fine, since you say you have no ill intentions and no desire to divide the court, then leave Chang'an, leave the Tang Dynasty! Don't stay in Chang'an teaching and educating people, corrupting future generations and the social atmosphere!"