Chereads / The Rise of a Scholar / Chapter 25 - So, you are not punished!

Chapter 25 - So, you are not punished!

Do Yeong and Park Sunwo were pacing outside the Office of inspector. "What if he will be thrown out of the academy? His entire hard work will be wasted in a second," stated Yeong, panicking.

"What are you saying? Be positive. It was the mistake of Wang Wook which made him attack him. I do not think head chief will think like that. They will not be impartial here," pronounced Sunwo.

"But everyone envies him. Hardly anyone is happy after he cleared civil services. This incident is perfect chance for throwing him out from here. They will tell people that other than Yangbans and a few Chungins no one should think to raise up. What if his family is punished for this?" Yeong worriedly said.

The doors of the office were opened. Head Chief, Seuk Han Min and Chief, Ye Joon came outside followed by other rank officials. Do Yeong and Sunwo bowed their heads immediately as they walked past them. As they left from there, Yeong and Sunwo stepped forward when they saw Wang Wook and Yoon Shik came there. Wang Wook glared at them and left from there.

"Yoon Shik, what happened? Is everything fine? They did not tell you to get out from here, right?" Do Yeong kept questioning Yoon Shik.

"Let him breathe first. Yoon Shik, everything is fine right?" Sunwo queried. Yoon Shik nodded which increased the confusion in the two.

"What? What happened inside? They are not throwing you out of the academy, right?" Do Yeong asked again.

"No, they are not. Head chief Min said that I did not do that big crime that they would throw me out," Yoon Shik replied. Yeong's eyes were teary so he quickly hugged Yoon Shik. "I am happy that nothing happened," Yeong said softly. Sunwo caressed Yoon Shik's arm and then trio had a hug.

"Do not do any such thing in future. We both were scared," said Sunwo and they pulled away. Yoon nodded and they climbed down the stairs.

"So, what did happen inside?" Sunwo inquired.

"They asked me a few questions. Then chief announced the punishment and scolded us. Today, I found the meaning of being a scholar- one who does not use violence and just using words can defeat a person in front of him that's why a scholar is most respected person in the kingdom," Yoon Shik asserted and then smiled.

"What?" Yeong and Sunwo mumbled at the same time.

"Nothing," replied Yoon Shik. They turned towards their dormitory.

"What about the punishment?" Yeong asked.

"On laundry day I have to wash everyone's clothes," replied Yoon Shik and flinched his brows.

"What? Your hands will not be yours then. How will you wash so many clothes? This is one harsh punishment," stated Sunwo. "What about him?" he further asked.

"He should not speak for two days. If he will then he will be flogged," stated Yoon. Sunwo laughed hearing the punishment. "I will make him talk," declared Sunwo and smiled.

"Let's hurry. We can be punished if do not arrive at the dorm in time," Yeong said and they fastened their steps. They reached the room and went inside. Lee Eunshi was reading something from a book while Sung Tae was lying down on his bed.

Seeing Yoon Shik he sat up on the bed while Lee Eunshi kept reading the book. "So, are you leaving? You should control this sharp tongue and anger of yours. I hope your family will not get hurt by this," Sung Tae commented.

Lee Eunshi too glanced at Yoon Shik.

Sunwo went to Sung Tae and sat beside him. Yeong closed the doors behind him. "Sung Tae, he is not leaving anywhere. Wang Wook was lying the facts. He should not pick up on personal issues of others lives," asserted Sunwo and smiled.

"Really? So, you are not punished?!" Sung Tae queried.

"You want me to get punished so badly. Indeed, I am punished for the wrong I did but not that way which you are thinking. I have to do the laundry job on upcoming Wednesday," declared Yoon Shik.

"I have never seen an idiot like you in my life. Throwing punches to an upper class- men! Your acts can endanger the lives of your family members. It is good to raise your voice but not the way you do. Stupid!!" Lee Eunshi finally spoke.

"If someone will say wrong about your mother then you will leave that person. You will get angry at some point," Yoon Shik muttered.

"But I will never attack that person especially at the place where such things are prohibited. Well, it does not matter to me whether you stay here or leave from here but if you truly want to be something then control your anger else you can get into bigger problems," Lee Eunshi pronounced. He then put aside the book on the table there and laid down on the bed, covering himself from the blanket.

Yoon Shik got realization that indeed he did wrong and he should control his anger. "Let's go to bed. It's late. We have to wake up earlier," Yeong stated and blew off the candles.

~~~~~~~~~

In the early morning, one bell was rang which indicated that all the students have to wake up and start their daily routine. All the students of the academy came out of their rooms and went for the bathroom routine.

Lee Eunshi saw the small spaces made to take the bath. In his Palace life he never once felt difficulty but now things are tough for him. The large bathhouse in the palace is no more provided in Sungkyunkwan. But this is the path from here he will open gates for his success.

Many Yangbans were feeling same but now they have entered a life where they will not only train themselves being a Scholar, government officials of the kingdom etc. but also the simplicity they need to apply in their lives. The equal environment provided to them is because it will make no one lesser than other.

Yoon Shik was happy seeing all this. From childhood days he heard only thing from people— that people with low status cannot do anything but seeing all this he has now more confidence in him that if one makes up mind for a particular thing he can achieve that- maybe he will take time but eventually he will achieve that.

After coming out of the bathhouse, he came to the room. "Yoon Shik, your dress has arrived," Sunwo said excitedly.

"What dress?!" Yoon Shik asked with a surprising look.

"The dress we student have to wear. The blue robes which shows the extent of knowledge," asserted Sunwo with a smile. Sung Tae and Lee Eunshi looked at them in disbelief. Yoon Shik quickly wore those robes and then tied his hair in a bun. The students of Sungkyunkwan have to wear a special type of gat (Korean hat) which is usually of black color but differs from those nobles. They then left for Dongwollang (the cafeteria).

After having their breakfast in the Cafeteria, they all left for Myeongnyundang- the Hall of Enlightenment where in the central part a huge Lecture hall was situated. Apart from Lecture Hall, there were a two small rooms which were used for Research and writings.

All the students took their respective seats in the hall. Floor wooden desks were made with a cushioned mattress put to sit over that. Inkstones were place on each desk on which blank ink was put. There was a high platform where from where teacher lectured the students.

Yoon Shik took his seat and put the brush near the inkstone. The white sheets were placed on the table. Some of the students were talking with each other while others were reading the books which they issued from the central library of the academy.

The noise of the students died out when the teacher stepped inside the lecture hall.