Chapter 26 Xiao Fan Shixian
"I do have doubts in my heart." Zhan Doudou muttered, his eyes deep.
"Where are the doubts?" Si Lili's curiosity was completely aroused, and he was full of curiosity about the second prince of Qing Kingdom.
Zhan Doudou said slowly: "I have been able to understand the subtle changes in Qing's internal affairs in the past. They were all controlled by Emperor Qing behind the scenes, with the intention of weakening the power of the second prince. However, since Fan Xian returned from Northern Qi, the situation has quietly changed. Change.”
"What are the changes...specifically?" Si Lili asked, trying to capture every detail.
Zhan Doudou smiled bitterly and shook his head: "This change is not only harmful to Qingguo, but also promotes its internal clarity and prosperity. Whether it is anti-corruption and fair selection in the imperial examination, it is of great benefit to Qingguo. A beneficial move.
What is even more surprising is that even an unruly talent like Fan Xian is willing to be driven by him and achieve a great career. "
Hearing this, Si Lili's evaluation of the second prince of the Qing Kingdom improved again, and he thought to himself: It is indeed extraordinary that this person has such means to make a wise man like Fan Xian bow. If you have the chance, you must see it with your own eyes.
"How can your majesty be as wise and powerful as the second prince?" Si Lili comforted, trying to ease Zhan Doudou's worries.
Zhan Doudou looked into the distance, with a trace of imperceptible worry flashing in his eyes:
"I hope so. However, if Emperor Qing abdicates the throne one day and this person succeeds, I hope he can be a little indulgent and uninhibited and give Daqi a chance to breathe..."
On the other side, Fan Xian met his father-in-law Lin Xiang by chance and respectfully handed a list back to him: "Shibo, this list belongs to its original owner."
Lin Ruofu's face darkened and he reproached: "You are too impulsive! You must know that 'the wind will destroy the trees that are beautiful in the forest'. You have just established a foothold in your official career, why bother to offend the civil and military officials of the dynasty and destroy yourself?" future?"
Fan Xian persuaded me with gentle words: "Shibo, I have my own sense of discretion. Do you still remember? The second prince has promised to take on this matter for me."
"Don't be fooled by appearances and become a pawn in the hands of others!" Lin Ruofu was still worried.
Fan Xian smiled slightly and pointed to the sky: "Don't worry, Shibo, I have the most solid backing in my hands. No one can match it, and no one dares to offend."
Lin Ruofu suddenly realized it and secretly exclaimed: "He actually did it..."
The atmosphere above the court hall was solemn. Li Chengze and the second prince stood side by side, seemingly chatting, but in fact there was an undercurrent.
However, Guo Shangshu was isolated and helpless, and officials around him avoided him for fear of being affected by the coming storm.
With a crisp sound of the chime, Emperor Qing entered the hall, everyone bowed, and the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Guo Shangshu was sweating profusely, waiting for the unknown trial.
Emperor Qing opened his mouth, but did not mention political matters. Instead, he showed a few poems, which made everyone look at each other in confusion, not knowing what they meant. And this court meeting seems to be brewing more far-reaching changes.
As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Hou held the scroll high and slowly unfolded it facing the ministers. On it was clearly written: "Establish a heart for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the people, carry forward the unique knowledge for the saints, and create peace for all generations."
As soon as these words came out, all the scholars in the court were moved, and the voices of admiration kept coming:
"Every word is precious, and it reaches people's hearts!"
"Mr. Fan is full of talent and has a new work coming out. This is really a blessing for the literary world!"
"This is the grand scene of Qingguo culture. We are lucky enough to witness it. It is truly a blessing for three lifetimes!"
Fan Xian stood among them, but his mind was as clear as a mirror, knowing the true origin of this poem, but his face remained calm.
Li Chengze signaled Fan Xian with his eyes, and the latter understood it and immediately led the ministers to agree, while several high-ranking ministers had their own thoughts and tried to figure out the holy meaning from the poems. Chen Pingping was sitting on the wheelchair, her gaze like a torch, locked on Emperor Qing's expression; Lin Xiang also opened his eyes slightly, watching the changes in the court.
After "You eat and you are rich, and the people are fat and the people are anointed", this poem once again became a masterpiece that stirred up the government and the public. Its meaning is far-reaching and speaks directly to people's hearts.
The one who was particularly touched was Guo Zheng. He had just been reprimanded by the second prince, and when he heard the poem, he felt mixed emotions in his heart. "Establishing a destiny for the sake of the people, and carrying forward the unique knowledge for the saints"
Isn't this the philosophy he should uphold when he is in charge of Chunwei? Fan Xian's move was tantamount to pointing out where he had failed in his responsibilities.
Upon seeing this, Emperor Qing showed a satisfied look on his face and said slowly: "This poem has profound meaning and great ambition. It was dedicated to me by a loyal minister of my dynasty. The aphorism in it is that I should reflect on myself and practice it... …”
Chen Pingping immediately stepped forward, turning her wheelchair gently, and spoke sincerely: "Your Majesty is diligent in your administration, loves the people, and promotes education so that students can inherit the legacy of the sages. Your Majesty's achievements will surely benefit future generations and create our Daqing foundation for generations to come!"
Veteran Qin Ye snickered secretly on the sidelines, amused by Chen Pingping's compliments.
Not to be outdone, Prime Minister Lin and Chen Pingping praised His Majesty: "Such excellent works demonstrate His Majesty's sage and win the hearts of the people. They are truly a blessing to the world's scholars and a blessing to the people!"
Emperor Qing took advantage of the situation and changed the topic, pointing directly at the theme of the meeting: "In that case, I will treat the Spring Imperial Examinations seriously and will not allow any mistakes."
"Guo Zheng, come forward and listen to the order!"
When Guo Zheng heard this, his face turned earth-colored, he staggered out, his legs were trembling, he almost fell to his knees, but he managed to hold himself up. He knew very well that if he showed weakness at this time, he would be in a desperate situation.
"Li Chengze, Fan Xian, what happened in the examination room?" Emperor Qing pretended not to know, but in fact he wanted to make it clear, which caused the officials to laugh and discuss.
As a prince, Li Chengze couldn't directly criticize him, so Fan Xian stepped forward and detailed Guo Zheng's fault: "Guo Shangshu neglected his duties, abused his power for personal gain, undermined the fairness of the imperial examination, and even wanted to frame innocent candidates, which chilled the hearts of scholars. I sincerely request you. Your Majesty severely punishes him and revokes his post as chief examiner in order to set the record straight!"
A minister under the eldest prince stepped forward and spoke sincerely:
"Your Majesty, you need to think twice about this matter! Although Guo Shangshu is suspected of being eager for quick success, he has not yet put it into practice. As the Minister of Rites, he should shoulder the important responsibility of spring.
Even if there are occasional mistakes, it is not advisable to be dismissed easily, so as not to chill the hearts of all ministers..."
Although this statement seems clumsy, it is like what a small official said from the bottom of his heart, adding a bit of sincerity.
When Fan Xian heard this, he responded tit-for-tat: "Can hurting a scholar's heart be considered a minor offense?
A child from a poor family studies hard in a cold window, just for the chance of success. If he is devastated by this, how can he talk about building a country? "
The rebuttal minister was not willing to be outdone: "They are just a few poor people, and they are not the whole picture of scholars. Such people are often eager to achieve success and will inevitably follow sideways. Although Guo Shangshu's words are harsh, they are not completely unfounded. It’s really aimed at this kind of trend.”
As soon as this statement came out, many officials in the court nodded in agreement. They had their own calculations in their hearts. Their contempt and rejection of the children from poor families stemmed from the maintenance of the power structure.
Emperor Qing looked on with cold eyes, unhappy in his heart. He knew very well that foreign officials took advantage of the opportunity of spring to try to infiltrate power and divide and rule. This was something he would never tolerate. Consolidating imperial power and unifying thought are his ultimate goals.
Li Chengze keenly captured his father's thoughts and stepped forward with a clear and powerful voice: "You seem to have overlooked the key point. Guo Zheng's fault was not negligence or deception, but that he arbitrarily deprived the working students of their future with his own selfish desires. ,
Depriving them of the opportunity to change their destiny through legitimate channels. If this is not severely punished, how can it convince the public?
How can we demonstrate His Majesty’s impartiality and selflessness? "
(End of chapter)