Chapter 216: The Scholars
The group dismounted at the entrance of the alley. The attendants remained there while Yang Feng led the Weary Marquis deeper into the lane.
The alley was narrow, with footprints densely covering the snow, but no hoof prints or wheel tracks. At a worn-down door, Yang Feng knocked twice with the door ring, then stepped back to the stairs and waited silently. Han Ruzi stood beside him, feeling as if they were visiting a recluse.
After quite a while, the door finally opened gently. A boy around ten years old emerged and bowed to them both, saying “Please wait in the back cottage.”
Han Ruzi suddenly noticed something interesting – the way martial artists bowed seemed more casual, with hands almost touching their chin and elbows lowered close to their sides, appearing both humble yet guarded, ready to switch from politeness to combat at any moment. The scholars’ etiquette was much more complex – even a child performed it properly: hands clasped about half a foot from the chest, arms spread wide like a fledgling’s wings.
After assuming the proper posture, martial artists would move their hands and mouth but not their head, keeping their gaze fixed to observe the other’s reaction. Scholars did the opposite – keeping hands and mouth still while bowing their head and waist slightly, only speaking after straightening up.
Though the scholars’ etiquette might seem rigid, these stiff postures indicated that they posed no threat and had absolutely no intention of fighting.
Han Ruzi and Yang Feng were led to the back courtyard where there was indeed a cottage. Inside there were mats but no tables or chairs. Han Ruzi recalled his study sessions in the palace and thought that maintaining these ancient customs was quite tiring.
There were several thin cushions on the mats. Han Ruzi knelt on the guest mat, with Yang Feng slightly behind him to show the master-servant distinction. The door was half-open, letting in both the cold wind and clear sounds of children reading.
“Is this a private school?”