I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 226 Persuading Lu Jia

Xinmi was a bustling and prosperous town with a rich cultural atmosphere. When Sun Yi and his group first arrived, they found out about Lu Jia in less than half a day.

It is well known that Lu Jia's name was legendary and widely acclaimed in Xinmi. Despite his young age, he was exceptionally gifted, possessing not only remarkable eloquence and persuasive skills but also a brilliant and eloquent writing style. It is no exaggeration to say that almost everyone in Xinmi knew the name Lu Jia. Whether high-ranking officials or ordinary citizens, everyone used Lu Jia as a role model and example when educating their children.

Unlike Lin Qi, who acted cautiously and chose to remain hidden, Sun Yi and his group appeared more straightforward and frank. They didn't adopt a roundabout strategy but decided without hesitation to pay a visit to this renowned figure. However, things clearly didn't go as smoothly as they had hoped.

When Sun Yi and his companions arrived at Lu Jia's residence, they found it already bustling with visitors. A steady stream of people came to pay their respects to Lu Jia, including scholars from other places who had come to admire him, as well as locals. Some challenged Lu Jia to a duel, eager to test their skills; others humbly sought his knowledge, hoping to learn something from him; and still others simply wanted to take this opportunity to befriend this genius.

Faced with so many competitors, Sun Yi and his companions felt a profound sense of powerlessness. After all, aside from visiting as ordinary scholars, they had no other special advantage. Moreover, due to certain circumstances, they could not reveal their true identities. Therefore, among this diverse group of visitors, Sun Yi and his group found it extremely difficult to stand out. Ultimately, unsurprisingly, their first visit was met with a ruthless rejection, leaving them with no recourse but to be turned away.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window and fell on Sun Yi's face, waking him from his sleep. After stretching, Sun Yi was about to get up when he suddenly heard a commotion outside the door. Curious, he opened the door and saw several servants from the post station gathered together, excitedly discussing something.

"What are you all talking about? It's so lively!" Sun Yi walked over and asked.

One of the servants, recognizing Sun Yi, quickly said, "Honorable guest, you may not know, but we have just received news that Lu Jia is going to have a heated debate with someone at Mingyue Tower."

This incredibly exciting news instantly revitalized Sun Yi's previously somewhat listless spirit! His eyes widened, and his face shone with undisguised excitement. This upcoming debate not only meant he would have the opportunity to meet the renowned Lu Jia in person, but more importantly, it offered him a chance to personally verify whether Mr. Lu Jia's profound knowledge was truly as unfathomable and awe-inspiring as the rumors suggested.

Moreover, if everything went smoothly, he might even be able to take this excellent opportunity to secretly approach Lu Jia and complete the mysterious task the princess had entrusted to him. Thinking of this, Sun Yi felt a surge of excitement and could no longer contain his feelings. He waved his hand and, without hesitation, gave the order to the servant beside him: "Quickly prepare the horses!" At the same time, he himself rushed into the room and hurriedly began to wash up.

A moment later, Sun Yi was ready. Dressed in a blue robe, he stood tall and handsome, exuding a dashing and heroic air. He then swiftly mounted his horse, spurring it on with his legs, and the steed galloped towards Mingyue Tower like an arrow released from a bow. The sound of hooves echoed through the sky, raising clouds of dust.

When Sun Yi arrived at Mingyue Tower, he found it already packed with people. Groups of three or five were gathered, discussing the debate that would begin the next day. Sun Yi finally managed to squeeze to the counter and shouted, "Manager, please reserve me a room!"

The innkeeper looked up at Sun Yi, his face showing reluctance, and said, "Sir, I'm really sorry, but because today's debate is attracting so much attention, all the rooms have been booked. However... if you're willing to pay double the price, there's one last room available."

Sun thought to himself that he was lucky to have managed to snag this last room, so he didn't care about the price. Without saying a word, he took out some silver and handed it to the innkeeper, successfully obtaining the room key.

Time flies, and the day of the debate arrived in the blink of an eye. That day, Sun Yi got up very early, dressed carefully, and arrived at Mingyue Tower ahead of time. Entering his reserved private room, Sun Yi found a comfortable seat and quietly waited for the debate to begin.

At this moment, the area below Mingyue Tower was teeming with people, shoulder to shoulder. Some stood craning their necks to peer inside, while others sat on the steps chatting with others. Everyone was filled with anticipation for the debate, whispering among themselves and speculating about which debater would emerge victorious. Some even set up betting pools on the spot, wagering on who would win the debate.

Just then, a cheer suddenly erupted from the crowd. It turned out that Liu Qi, one of the main figures in this debate, had arrived. Liu Qi was dressed in a white robe, with striking features—sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a handsome face, and an upright posture. His appearance immediately attracted the attention of many, especially the young women, whose eyes sparkled with admiration. Behind Liu Qi followed a group of loyal followers, who continuously chanted his name and cheered him on.

Not long after, Lu Jia strode in with steady steps. His tall and imposing figure immediately drew everyone's attention. Upon seeing him, the crowd instinctively stepped aside, making way for Lu Jia.

Lu Jia walked steadily to the center of the venue and stood opposite Liu Qi, who was already waiting there. Their eyes met, and sparks seemed to fly in the air. At this moment, the entire restaurant fell silent, everyone holding their breath, anticipating the start of this exciting debate.

The restaurant owner personally stepped forward to moderate the debate. With a smile, he calmly stood between the two men, cleared his throat, and began, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to have two exceptional individuals with us today for a unique debate. The topic of this debate is—Heaven and Man! I believe this topic will spark your thought and discussion. Now, please allow me to introduce the viewpoints of both sides. This young master Liu Qi advocates that humans should follow the way of Heaven and pursue a state of harmony between Heaven and Man; while the young master Lu Jia firmly believes that human will can overcome Heaven, and that through unremitting effort, one can change their destiny. Now, let us officially begin this clash of ideas!”