When Ernest Renan saw Lionel, he hesitated, withdrew what he was about to say, and decided to observe the situation first.
Lionel Sorel stood directly on his seat so that everyone could see him.
"Silence! Please listen to me!" His voice was not loud, but because he was looking down from above, it penetrated the noise, drawing everyone's attention to him, and for a moment, it actually quieted down.
Lionel, taking the plunge, stepped directly onto the backs of the chairs in each row until he reached the front row. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, he leaped down and stood beside that Tomson Ku.
He first glanced at this young man, who was about the same age as him. He noticed that although he had a Chinese appearance, his expression and demeanor were entirely European, completely different from the old scholar with a pigtail and a skullcap that he had in his impression. He couldn't help but be a little lost in thought.
But he quickly adjusted and turned to the audience: "Professor Renan, you advocate for reason, and I deeply agree. However, here today, what I see is the light of reason obscured by clouds of prejudice and arrogance."
Before Renan could retort, Lionel turned to Chen Jitong and the young man, his gaze sincere and serious: "Gentlemen, I admire your courage and knowledge in defending the dignity of your nation! Your love and confidence in Chinese culture are moving.
But, gentlemen, do you realize—when you angrily declare that Chinese civilization is a 'precocious giant' and the West is merely a 'toddling child';
When you contemptuously dismiss the philosophical and artistic achievements of the West, you are merely using the same arrogance to counter arrogance, using another form of 'civilization superiority theory' to combat the prejudice before you.
It is dangerous, two Chinese gentlemen, you are sliding into the abyss where the object of your criticism resides!
Please remember—never argue with an arrogant fool, because he will drag you down to his level and then defeat you with his rich experience!"
Chen Jitong and Tomson Ku were stunned. At first, they thought this Frenchman was on their side, but they didn't expect to be lectured immediately.
The Sorbonne students present were also stunned. They originally thought Lionel was criticizing the Chinese, but why did the last sentence sound so harsh?
Louis-Alphonse almost jumped out of his chair: "You bastard, who are you calling an arrogant fool? I will duel you! Duel!"
Albert de Rohan, a fellow aristocratic student, looked at Louis-Alphonse's exasperated expression and found it both amusing and chilling.
Ernest Renan seemed to have caught a scent of something, and with a dark face, he silently sat back down.
Lionel ignored Louis-Alphonse and instead swept his gaze across the entire hall: "People of Sorbonne! Look at yourselves! Look at this lecture hall today! When a scholar from a distant land, with sincere intentions, shares the cultural treasures he is proud of, what do you give him in return?
It is frivolous imitation, malicious mockery, and cultural discrimination in the name of academia! You cling to your limited understanding, refusing to comprehend the essence of another great civilization!
Is this the 'tolerance' that Voltaire and Diderot taught us? Your arrogance stems from ignorance! Your discrimination stems from narrow-mindedness!
Mr. Chen's pigtail is indeed incredibly ugly, but are our ladies' ribs, deformed by corsets, beautiful? Are our gentlemen's rotten teeth, corroded by syphilis, beautiful?"
Chen Jitong: "…"
The Sorbonne students: "…"
Both sides felt as if they had been slapped by Lionel.
Lionel didn't care how complicated their feelings were: "The purpose of a lecture is to share knowledge, not to display superiority. Your arrogance stems from ignorance! Your discrimination stems from narrow-mindedness!
Sorbonne, today is its day of shame!"
Lionel's voice was not loud, but every word was impactful: "True dignity, Mr. Chen, Tomson, lies not in proving oneself 'older' or 'superior' to others;
But in being able to uphold the bottom line of civilization, no matter what prejudice and injustice one faces, rather than rolling in a cesspit with pigs!"
Chen Jitong showed a hint of shame, while Tomson Ku looked indignant but did not retort.
Lionel's voice still echoed in the auditorium: "Likewise, true reason and civilization, Professor Renan, fellow students, lie in acknowledging one's own limitations and having the most basic respect and curiosity for different civilizations!
If Sorbonne loses this spirit, then its proud 'knowledge and reason' are nothing but empty words!"
Then he turned to Louis-Alphonse: "Mr. Montferrand, I heard you are also participating in the 'Poetry Society' this weekend?"
Louis-Alphonse's face still bore the sickly red of lingering anger. He snorted at the question: "Not only will I participate, but my father will also give a speech at the 'Poetry Society'. Don't think that publishing a novel makes you a big shot, Lionel Sorel!
You are just an item at the 'Poetry Society'! Hahaha, an item to be entertained and chosen by others!"
The scene suddenly fell silent, as if the air had stopped moving. Everyone looked at Louis-Alphonse with surprise and unease; even Ernesto Renan showed a look of disgust.
Louis-Alphonse then realized that he had said the wrong thing—some facts, even if everyone knew them, were a sin to speak aloud.
Lionel, however, was not angry; he merely nodded calmly: "Very well, Mr. Montferrand, I originally only wanted to say that I was ashamed to be associated with you at the 'Poetry Society', but you seem to have given me a more compelling reason.
Since the 'Poetry Society' involves your participation, and you yourself said it is a place where filth gathers—then I apologize, I am not an item, nor do I intend to be chosen by anyone."
Lionel's words exploded in the auditorium like a thunderclap. Participating in the 'Poetry Society' was a dream for many Sorbonne students, especially those from ordinary backgrounds. Lionel was actually going to withdraw?
Their first thought: "With the patronage of a noblewoman, he certainly has a strong backbone!"
Then they had another thought: "Doesn't that mean a spot at the 'Poetry Society' will open up?"
At this thought, many students cast envious, supportive, and grateful glances at Lionel—no matter how unpleasant Lionel's words had been before, at this moment, he stood with the people!
Chen Jitong and Tomson Ku felt a mix of emotions. Lionel's words struck them like a heavy hammer. They realized that in the face of great humiliation, their counterattack had indeed almost fallen into the trap of mutual biting.
Chen Jitong took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and once again faced the entire hall. His voice returned to its initial calm: "Thank you for this gentleman's frankness. He made me feel the greatness of Sorbonne."
He turned to Lionel and the other young Chinese man: "Mr. Lionel Sorel? And, Tomson Ku…"
Lionel nodded: "Yes, Lionel Sorel!"
Chen Jitong did not shake hands with them but cupped his hands and bowed to the two: "Thank you! Today is not a day of shame for Sorbonne; it is glorified by your righteous words!
If you two are free, you are welcome to visit my Great Qing Legation. Both I and Lord Guo will warmly welcome your arrival!"
Then he turned to Professor Latour today: "This lecture, which began as a drama, also ends as a drama. This was not my original intention, but perhaps it is more valuable. Professor, it seems today's lecture can only end here!"
After speaking, Chen Jitong no longer looked at anyone. He straightened his back and, just as he had arrived, walked out of the auditorium accompanied by Professor Latour.
Ernest Renan did not lose too much face this time; he merely tapped the floor with his cane again and turned to leave; Louis-Alphonse followed behind him, his face flushed with shame.
As people gradually dispersed from the auditorium, Tomson Ku remained. He extended his hand to Lionel: "You are the Lionel who wrote 'the old guard'? In the two weeks I've been in Paris, I've heard your name and discussions about 'the old guard' everywhere."
Lionel shook hands with him and nodded: "Yes, 'the old guard' was written by me."
Tomson Ku, seeing Lionel's amiable attitude, brightened: "I didn't expect you could not only write novels but also speak so sharply. I haven't met many people like that even in England—hmm, Wilde might be one."
Then he surveyed Lionel's build and appearance, and couldn't help but warn: "But he is truly an odd character, you'd best not meet him... Er, actually, it should be best not to let him meet you..."
Tomson Ku looked towards the exit of the auditorium again, as if Chen Jitong's back was still there: "Chen... Although I defended him, his pigtail is truly hideous!
If you ask me, the first thing China needs to do to become a strong nation is to cut off that damned pigtail!"
Lionel glanced at the back of Tomson Ku's head again and said meaningfully: "Tomson, you should know that some people have pigtails on the back of their heads, and some people have pigtails in their hearts.
The pigtail on the back of the head is easy to cut, but the pigtail in the heart is not!"
Tomson Ku was stunned by these words. He immediately felt that this was the most profound and exquisite maxim about China's reform he had ever heard, and it was said by a Frenchman.
He looked at Lionel again, his eyes filled with shock and admiration, and he directly clasped Lionel's hand: "For that sentence alone, I'll treat you to 'Chabanais' tonight! All expenses are on me!"
Albert, who stood beside the two, struggling to interject, was practically crying with envy—"Chabanais," located in the Second District, was the most upscale and expensive brothel in all of Paris. Even Prince Edward of England would secretly cross the sea to visit from time to time.
It was said to have multiple themed private rooms, encompassing customs from all over the world, with beauties from even Japan and India. The decor was luxurious, and it even had hot and cold running water and marble bathtubs.
Albert couldn't afford to go to "Chabanais" with his meager living expenses, so his gaze towards Lionel repeated one phrase: "Take me with you! Take me with you! Take me with you!..."