The first long reply didn't blame Lu Mei 'er, but used abundant emotions to explain his point of view. That was, he could accept Lu Mei' er, but his ancestors couldn't, and those women who sacrificed themselves to be unable to study also couldn't accept it, so he felt that Lu Mei 'er shouldn't become a scholar.
Not long after, someone rebutted his point of view.
"I am a descendant of an aristocratic family, and already know part of the conversation between Fang Sheng and the Kong family head. Fang Sheng has a point of view that especially shocked me, that is, the scale of our view of problems must be expanded, continuously expanded, to the limit of our understanding. When we measure the entire history of the human race, we will realise that our slash-and-burn ancestors may not have accepted us wearing luxurious clothes, the Shang and Zhou ancestors may not have been willing to abolish slavery, and the ancestors before Kong Sheng also felt that only a small number of people were worthy of education. And just a few days ago, no, it can even be said that now and for quite a long time, there are still people who feel that women shouldn't participate in the imperial examinations. But, I will end my reply by quoting Fang Sheng's three shortcomings. "
"There is no need to fear the changes in the heavens! Ancestors are insufficient! Human words are insufficient! "
Following that, someone rebutted the first long reply.
"If I was a woman, and my father died fighting the demons and barbarians, and in order to not sell myself to the brothel, I worked hard as a farmer and didn't have time to study, yes, I would indeed complain. But, what would I complain about? Would I complain about those girls in the brothel? No! Why? Very simple, their hearts are more bitter than mine! Do you all understand? When I work and farm, I suffer, but what I suffer is my body, and my spirit, my heart, at most, is fatigue. I am self-reliant, I am a healthy person, I may occasionally feel bitter, but most of the time, when I see those girls in the brothel, my heart is filled with pride. I don't despise them, but I am indeed more noble than them! "
"If I complain, what would I complain about? I would first complain about the demons and barbarians, because they killed my father! Then, what would I complain about? I would complain about the officials, because those officials didn't help a martyr's family like me, because those damned officials caused me to have no time to study! Then, what would I complain about? Finally, I would complain about those who stand at the top of the human race, yes, I understand them, they are not omniscient and omnipotent, but, they indeed didn't do better! "
"So, the girls will be jealous of Lu Mei 'er, and even have some resentment, but in the end, they will still feel that she should become a scholar!"
However, very few people objected to the long second chapter.
This was because the angle of Su Ling's reply was very, very ingenious. While talking about her feelings, she also added in logic. She didn't criticize, criticize, or complain. In the end, her point was that Lu Mei 'er was only trying to prove that she wasn't wrong. This was a very unique angle, so much so that many people felt that if they continued to pursue the matter, they wouldn't be able to live with their conscience. Thus, they decided not to retort this long reply.
Although the opposing side did not object to Su Ling's reply, they still argued from various angles and objected to Lu Mei 'er being a Tong Sheng.
An entire day had passed, but the heat of the debate had not dissipated.
Many people began to write new articles on the discussion board, sorting out the viewpoints of both sides, and then listing out the outstanding replies to the debate, commenting on them one by one.
Since they were commenting on the viewpoints of both sides, they had to be neutral and objective. Thus, this was the first time in the history of the rankings that such a situation had occurred. Even though everyone had been forcefully divided into two camps, there were almost no arguments or attacks on each other in those popular articles. Instead, they were all praising the replies to those debates and occasionally pointing out some flaws. Not only did the original authors not get angry, they even expressed their gratitude.
In the storm, a small boat would not sink.
This led to more and more people being able to view the debate calmly, and began to view Lu Mei 'er as a Tong Sheng, and even calmly view both men and women taking the same exam.
This influence was huge because all the articles on the rankings were conveying the same message: We are only discussing whether Lu Mei 'er should become a Tong Sheng. As for taking the same exam, there is no need to consider it. Since it has already become a fact, we can't be bothered to object.
The Miscellany and Gyeongo scholars quickly realized that something was amiss. They realized that this was Fang Yun's method of diverting the attention. While they were impressed, they began to take action.
Thus, a portion of people continued to viciously attack Lu Mei 'er, but another portion of people began to flatter her!
"Lu Mei 'er is a perfect Saintess. I think that the Notre-Dame should include her as a Notre-Dame, and confer her the title of Saintess, on the same level as Xusheng!"
"You men are really despicable. In terms of talent and virtue, most of you are not as good as Lu Mei 'er, so please shut up. Lu Mei' er will definitely become a great scholar in the future, or even a Half-saint!"
"Everything that Lu Mei 'er did was forced. She is innocent. She definitely did not do anything wrong. The ones who are wrong are us men! We must wash away all the stains on Lu Mei 'er's name, and let her become the spiritual leader of us scholars! "
The flattery towards Lu Mei 'er naturally led to even more intense attacks. The originally favorable situation on the rankings began to waver.
Until Lu Mei 'er's own reply appeared in the debate article.
"Fate makes fools of people. Since I have been assigned to the opposing side, then let me say, why should I not support myself becoming a Tong Sheng!"
"I am tainted with filth, I have experienced darkness, I have suffered humiliation. This is really nothing, I have already calmly accepted it. I also naively thought that after I passed the Imperial Examinations, even if I met with attacks, I would still be able to accept it. But I was wrong. I am already standing on the edge of collapse. I cannot accept the criticism of the world. "
"I can confidently say that I, Lu Mei 'er, am definitely one of the strongest women in the human race. But even I am unable to withstand this kind of pressure. I naturally think that Lu Mei' er should not become a Tong Sheng, and should not hope for other brothel women to participate in the Imperial Examinations."
"These days, I finally know that this is not a world that believes in education without discrimination. This is not a world where the glory of Confucius shines. This is also not a world where people who have completely turned over a new leaf can start anew! This world cannot tolerate the filth on others. It cannot tolerate the shadows behind others. It also cannot tolerate anyone who stands in the darkness and looks up to the light! "
"Lu Mei 'er is not worthy of this world."
"So, I, Lu Mei 'er, should not become a Tong Sheng!"
"But I have never regretted it."
Lu Mei 'er's debate reply caused a temporary silence to appear in the debate.
Many people could see that Lu Mei 'er's reply was filled with anger and helplessness.
There was no problem with the angle of her debate. She could no longer withstand the pressure, so in order to avoid death, she might as well not become a Tong Sheng and avoid the sky full of rumors and slanders and even attacks.
But, any rational scholar would be able to understand Lu Mei 'er's true meaning.
If brothel women could not become Tong Sheng, it was not because of sin, not because of mistakes, not because of shallow knowledge, but because of everyone's criticism. This kind of world was not a scholar's world!
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