Chapter 57: Fallacious Reasoning

Previously, Imperial College Director Liu mentioned that he had invited Chen Fan to enroll in the Imperial College, but Chen Fan had turned him down.

Fang Zhenru had assumed Director Liu was exaggerating. After all, in this entire world, who could possibly refuse such an extraordinary opportunity to enter the Imperial College?

However, seeing Chen Fan’s resolute refusal at this moment, Fang Zhenru realized that Director Liu had not exaggerated at all.

"With such astonishing talent as yours, failing to enter the Imperial College would be a tremendous loss for our Great Xia. This old man will never allow such a thing to happen," Director Liu said firmly.

Looking at Director Liu’s stubborn expression, Chen Fan found himself in a difficult spot. How on earth could he make this man give up this idea?

Suddenly, Chen Fan’s eyes lit up.

"May I ask you, Director Liu, what will become of me in the future if I go to the Imperial College?" Chen Fan suddenly countered with a question.

Believing that Chen Fan had a change of heart, Director Liu immediately broke into a smile.

"In the future, there is a very high probability that you will pass the imperial examinations with flying colors, become an official governing a region, bring prosperity to the people, and ensure they live and work in peace and contentment."

"This is the path a true gentleman ought to walk," Director Liu said with a smile.

In his eyes, Chen Fan had already been persuaded by his words, which filled Director Liu with a sense of fulfillment.

He had already begun to picture the scene of Chen Fan making a brilliant impression at the Imperial College.

"So if I go to the Imperial College, it is simply to ensure that the common people can live and work in peace and contentment in the future, is that right?" Chen Fan continued to press.

Although he did not understand why Chen Fan was asking this, Director Liu still nodded and replied, "Precisely."

Hearing this, the corners of Chen Fan’s lips curled up into a smile.

At the sight of this smile, a bad premonition suddenly arose in Director Liu’s heart.

"Ensuring that the common people live and work in peace and contentment ultimately boils down to securing their food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, doesn't it?" Chen Fan asked once more.

Hearing this, Director Liu hesitated for a moment, but still nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, the smile on Chen Fan’s lips grew even wider.

And the sense of foreboding in Director Liu’s heart intensified accordingly.

"Think about it, Director Liu, if Great Xia only has officials and no merchants, can the food, clothing, shelter, and transportation of the common people be guaranteed?" Chen Fan continued with another rhetorical question.

Faced with this tricky counter-question, Director Liu was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

"As long as my business grows large enough, I can likewise guarantee the food, clothing, shelter, and transportation of the common people."

"Therefore, doing business and taking the imperial examinations lead to the exact same end result: securing the livelihood of the common people."

"By the same logic, going into trade is no different from taking the imperial examinations."

Chen Fan said with a smile.

Upon hearing what Chen Fan had to say, Director Liu was suddenly struck by the feeling of having a multitude of things to retort, yet finding himself entirely unable to voice them.

"This junior will take his leave now. May the two lords rest early!"

Seeing the situation, Chen Fan quickly made his escape.

"You're just twisting logic... sophistry! How can humble merchants ever be mentioned in the same breath as the imperial examinations?" Director Liu roared in anger.

However, by this time, Chen Fan’s figure had already vanished from the room.

To think he had been argued into a state of complete speechlessness by Chen Fan—this only made Director Liu even more furious.

"I shouldn't have saved him in the first place," Director Liu said viciously.

"Hahahahaha."

Beside him, Fang Zhenru suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

Hearing this laughter, Director Liu grew quite displeased.

"What are you laughing at? Could it be that you agree with this brat's distorted heresies too?" Director Liu complained indignantly.

Although Fang Zhenru held the lofty position of Imperial Tutor, the two men were close lifelong friends, which meant Director Liu spoke without any reservations.

"If I don't agree, what can be done? Can you refute a single word he just said?" Fang Zhenru asked with a smile.

This left Director Liu momentarily speechless.

"To be able to place lowly merchants on par with high-ranking officials—throughout this entire realm, I fear he is the only one," Fang Zhenru said, a look of deep appreciation shining in his eyes as he gazed toward the door.

"What is your assessment of this kid?" Director Liu asked, looking at Fang Zhenru with a serious expression.

He knew that this old friend of his had an uncanny accuracy when it came to judging people, and he was eager to hear Fang Zhenru's evaluation of Chen Fan.

Hearing this, Fang Zhenru did not reply immediately. Instead, he fell into deep thought, clearly indicating that Chen Fan was a difficult subject to appraise.

Just as Director Liu was growing impatient, Fang Zhenru finally spoke.

"He possesses courage, resourcefulness, and a touch of greed. But more importantly, there is an unspeakable aura about him."

Hearing this, Director Liu immediately furrowed his brow.

"Can you be more specific? What kind of aura exactly?" Director Liu said with dissatisfaction.

"I cannot quite put my finger on it either. It is simply an aura that compels people to trust him. If the words Chen Fan just uttered had been spoken by any ordinary scholar, would you have been left without a counterargument?"

Director Liu subconsciously shook his head.

"That settles it. Why were you left speechless just now? It was because deep down in your heart, you had already yielded to Chen Fan's logic; it was only your pride that refused to admit it aloud."

"Today is the first time this old man has ever witnessed scholars unite to such a degree, all merely to rescue a young man holding neither rank nor official title."

"From the eyes of those scholars, this old man saw genuine respect—a look of reverence that far surpasses what they show us."

"This old man firmly believes that given time, this boy's achievements will undoubtedly surpass yours and mine. Perhaps he will even accomplish feats capable of transforming Great Xia."

Fang Zhenru said with utmost solemnity.

Director Liu had never expected Fang Zhenru to hold such an extraordinarily high opinion of Chen Fan.

Naturally, Chen Fan was entirely unaware of the conversation taking place between these two men.

Right now, he was eagerly making his way toward the prison, ready to bring Yingchun and Yingxia back out.

The prison guards already recognized Chen Fan and knew that Yan Bei held him in extremely high regard, so Chen Fan encountered no obstacles and entered smoothly.

Over the past few days, in consideration of Chen Fan and his companions' peace of mind, Yan Bei had refrained from torturing any prisoners, meaning Chen Fan did not hear those horrific shrieks echoing through the halls as he walked in.

"Chen Fan!"

Just as Chen Fan was hurrying anxiously to retrieve his wives, a prisoner in one of the cells suddenly called out to him.

Chen Fan turned to look and discovered that Chen Hao was locked up inside.

He was crammed into a cell alongside a dozen other inmates.

At this moment, Chen Hao’s hair was unkempt and his face filthy; he retained none of the demeanor of a refined young gentleman that he once possessed.

"Hahahahaha."

"So you've been locked up too! I knew you wouldn't be able to defeat the Zhao family."

Chen Hao suddenly burst into wild laughter.

In his mind, Chen Fan’s appearance here meant he had also been arrested. After all, the prison was not a place just anyone could enter at will, and this realization brought Chen Hao immense glee.

If there was one person Chen Hao hated above all others in this world, it was undoubtedly Chen Fan.

How could Chen Hao not rejoice upon seeing Chen Fan reduced to the exact same miserable fate as himself?

"Crack!"

"What nonsense are you spouting? Young Master Chen is an esteemed guest of Lord Yan! If you dare utter another word of garbage, see if I don't whip the skin off your back!"

Just as Chen Hao was reveling in his triumph, a prison guard lashed out with a whip, cutting through the air and shouting angrily at him.

Chen Hao was instantly knocked to the ground, a long, bloody welt appearing across his body.

With a cold sneer, Chen Fan walked directly toward Chen Hao’s cell, stopped right in front of him, and looked down at him from above.