The next day, in the morning, the prince's party continued to raise the issue of paying homage to Kong Kangda to the emperor.
At this time, a minister came out to propose to the emperor that he should pay homage to Mr. Li. The minister first told in detail what Mr. Li had done for Zhou Dynasty, for the people, and for the scholars. He also said that Kong Kangda was not qualified to be commemorated because everything Kong Kangda did back then was a disaster caused by the Kong family.
Kong Taichang and Kong Yuan, father and son, listened to the minister talking about what the head of the Kong family had done back then, and they lowered their heads in shame.
The minister said that it was Kong Kangda's duty to clear away the grievances of the scholars back then. He also said that Kong Kangda failed to discipline the head of the Kong family well, which was why the scholars were wrongfully framed and killed.
He also said that when Kong Kangda was alive, apart from doing this, he did not do anything else to benefit literati.
Also, the person who proposed to continue to pay attention to Confucianism when he returned to scholarhood was Mr. Li, not Kong Kangda. The person all students in the world should be grateful to most is Mr. Li, not Kong Kangda.
Kong Kangda is far inferior to Mr. Li, so why should the world celebrate his birthday?
The one who should really be worshiped solemnly is Mr. Li, not Kong Kangda.
Other ministers said that everything Kong Kangda did was just to make up for the sins committed by the Kong family, and that he was not qualified to be solemnly memorialized by the court.
People from Daiwang's party echoed the words of these ministers, saying that Kong Kangda was not qualified to be worshiped by the court.
People in the prince's party tried hard to refute the fact that Kong Kangda was not qualified to be worshiped. Of course, they did not dare to refute the fact that Mr. Li should be commemorated.
Another minister said that since he wanted to pay homage to Kong Kangda, he should pay homage to Mr. Li first.
The emperor is sitting on the dragon chair, with his right leg bent and his right foot on the dragon chair. He rested his right elbow on the knee of his right leg, supported his face with his right hand, and looked at the ministers who were already arguing below with a playful expression.
The minister who previously proposed to pay homage to Mr. Li was not from the prince's party, nor from the king's party, nor was he a supporter of the fourth prince, but a neutral faction.
After he proposed it, the prince's party and the king's party quarreled over whether to pay homage to Kong Kangda.
Yesterday morning at the court meeting, people from the prince's party proposed to worship Kong Kangda, but people from Dai Wang's party did not refute, firstly because the emperor did not agree, and secondly because they also wanted to win the support of the world's scholars. The reason why they retorted today was because the neutral minister raised the issue of paying homage to Mr. Li.
Neutral ministers do not support any prince. They are only loyal to the emperor. In other words, their attitude represents the emperor's attitude at a certain time.
Since the emperor objected to paying homage to Konkanda, the ministers of the acting king's party would certainly refute it and oppose it vigorously.
Originally, the people in the King's Party were reluctant to pay homage to Kong Kangda. Although the Kong family did not express their support for the prince, everyone agreed that the Kong family supported the "prince". Now that it is known that the emperor is unwilling, it just gives the people of Daiwang's party an opportunity to object openly.
After the ministers of the neutral faction presented the report, they saw that the prince's man and the man acting for the king were quarreling, so he silently retreated to his seat, and then acted as if the matter had nothing to do with him.
The prince and Duke Zhen didn't speak, and neither did King Dai or Marquis Xuanping.
The emperor watched the show for a while and coughed lightly. The originally noisy court suddenly became very quiet. The ministers of the prince's party and the ministers of the acting king's party, who had been quarreling just now with red faces, immediately shut up and stood still.
"Kong Taichang."
When Mrs. Kong heard the emperor calling him, her heart skipped a beat. She immediately walked out of the row and respectfully replied: "I am here."
The emperor looked at Kong Taichang and asked in a gentle tone: "What do you think?"
Yesterday, Kong Taichang felt it was inappropriate when he heard that ministers from the prince's party proposed to pay homage to Kong Kangda. Later, his son Kong Yuan persuaded him that Kong Kangda should be solemnly worshiped by the court, which would enhance the status of the Kong family. Besides, it was the prince who brought up this matter, so it was justifiable. After hearing this, he felt that his son was right. However, just now, he knew that the emperor did not approve of worshiping Kongkanda. Furthermore, he could not refute Kong Kangda's statement that it was right to save the scholars, because the person who unjustly accused and harmed the scholars was the head of the Kong family.
"I feel that Mr. Li should be memorialized by the world..." Kong Taichang did not say whether Kong Kangda should be memorialized.
The emperor looked at the prince again and asked, "Prince, what do you think?"
Before the prince could answer, Duke Zhenguo quietly gave him a look. He understood immediately.
"Father, I also think that Mr. Li should be worshiped by students all over the world, but Mr. Kong Kangda should also be worshiped. Both of them are great Confucians and should be respected by students all over the world, so I think we can worship Li first. Old gentleman, then I will pay my respects to Mr. Konkonda.”
"Dai Wang, what do you think?"
"Father, I believe that the most important person for students in the world to worship is Mr. Li, not Kong Kangda." The king knew in his heart the purpose of the prince's group, and he would never let the prince get what he wanted. "My son, I think what many adults just said is right..."
After hearing what the king said, the emperor looked at the fourth prince and asked, "Fourth, what do you think?"
The fourth prince said in a calm tone: "Father, Mr. Li just did what he should do, and there is no need for students from all over the world to worship him." From his tone, it seemed to be saying that this was not an important matter and not worth it. Take it out and say it.
When Mrs. Kong heard the fourth prince say this, she felt like he had been slapped so hard on the face that it hurt.
Kong Yuan lowered his head, but his face looked a little ugly.
The emperor asked Taichang Cheng and Shaofu Cheng again. They were from the Li family.
Taichang Cheng and others said the same thing as the fourth prince, and also said that Mr. Li was not a saint and was not qualified to accept the worship of literati students from all over the world.
After hearing this, Marquis Xuanping immediately praised the Li family for being humble and virtuous, unlike some people who just wanted to be worshiped by the world without doing anything.
As for the Kong family, Marquis Xuanping had long since given up trying to win over them. Ever since Kong Taichang's youngest daughter committed suicide, Marquis Xuanping knew that Kong Taichang and his family hated Dai Wang and would never support Dai Wang. In this case, there is no need to win over Kong Taichang and the others.
The emperor turned his attention to Duke Zhenguo, who had been silent. I saw Duke Zhen Guo looking calm, as if this matter had nothing to do with him.
Marquis Xuanping spoke again and supported allowing scholars all over the world to worship Mr. Li.
The Duke of Zhen Guo still didn't speak, and his expression didn't change at all.
The corner of the emperor's mouth raised a hint of a smile: "Dear ladies, do you agree to allow scholars all over the world to worship Mr. Li?"
"Your Majesty, your Majesty." The minister who had previously offered to pay homage to Mr. Li knelt down and said.
Then, the ministers from Daiwang's party also knelt down. Then, He Xiang and Liu Taishi also knelt down.
The ministers in the prince's party did not dare to stand any longer, so they knelt down and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
"Although I know that Mr. Li doesn't care about this, all my dear friends think that he should pay homage to him, so the prince will pay homage to Mr. Li on my behalf."
When the prince heard this, he raised his head and looked at the emperor in shock.
"Prince."
"My son is here." The prince was about to refuse when he heard the emperor say, "You will be responsible for paying homage to Mr. Li."
"Father..."
The emperor interrupted the prince and asked in a somewhat dissatisfied tone: "You don't want to?"
The prince's heart tightened and he hurriedly said: "I don't have it. This is my honor, but I think my fourth brother is more suitable to take charge of this matter."
"The fourth child is not a prince, how can he be suitable to take charge of this matter?" The emperor narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Since you don't want to, then..."
When the prince heard this, he became anxious and said quickly: "Father, if my son is willing, I will definitely take charge of this matter."
"If you don't want to, I won't force you."
"Father, I am not unwilling, I am very happy."
"In that case, you will worship Mr. Li on my behalf."
"Yes, Father."
"Do you, my beloved, have any objections?"
"I have no objection."
"The Duke of Zhenguo."
"I'm here."
The emperor ordered: "You assist the prince."
Zhenguo Gong's face remained calm, without any change.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The emperor nodded with satisfaction and immediately asked: "Do you have anything else?"
"Nothing's wrong with you, sir."
"Then retire." The emperor stood up, stretched, and immediately left Chengguang Hall.
Sun Kui shouted loudly: "Retreat!"
The ministers knelt down and greeted the emperor respectfully: "Long live the emperor, long live the emperor."
King Dai stood up first, looked at His Highness the Crown Prince with disdain, and mocked the Crown Prince unceremoniously: "Brother, if you are not willing to pay homage to Mr. Li on behalf of your father, I can go and pay homage to Mr. Li on your behalf."
The prince stood up, glared at the acting king, and said in a cold tone: "I don't need my second brother to do it for me."
Dai Wang took two steps forward and got very close to the prince.
"Brother, I just saw what it means to steal a chicken but lose the rice." He said, clasping his fists at the prince, "I have to thank you for letting me see it, brother."
The prince gave the king a cold look: "Second brother, I can let you see other things."
"You shot yourself in the foot?" King Dai said with a sarcastic smile, "I saw it just now."
"you……"
Just as the prince was about to say something, he was interrupted by King Dai: "Brother, you'd better go back to the East Palace quickly and ask the imperial doctor to take a look at your feet to see if your feet are injured?" After saying this, he laughed. He left, leaving behind an angry and livid-faced prince.
Duke Zhen Guo walked beside His Royal Highness and said calmly: "Go back to the East Palace."
"Uncle, look at the acting king..."
"Don't pay attention to him." Duke Zhen raised his hand and patted the prince's shoulder gently, "Go back."
The prince nodded obediently and immediately took Duke Zhen Guo back to the East Palace.
As soon as he arrived at the East Palace, the prince couldn't help but make a fuss.
"Uncle, did your father do this on purpose?"
"The emperor did it on purpose." Zhen Guogong had already guessed that worshiping Kong Kangda would not go as they wished. He knew in his heart that the emperor would know their real purpose of raising this matter.
"First he is the acting king, and now he is the fourth brother. Anyone can do it except me." The prince said angrily, "The fourth brother has not yet been crowned the king. My father first gave him General Lu's daughter in marriage, and now he wants to marry him." Paying homage to Mr. Li, my father is building momentum for my fourth brother."
The Duke of Zhen was not angry at all. He drank tea slowly.
Seeing that Duke Zhen was not angry at all, the prince asked with confusion: "Uncle, why are you not angry at all?"
"What is there to be angry about?" Duke Zhen Guo put down the tea cup in his hand, "I told you before why the emperor would build momentum for the fourth prince. Now that you know it, there is nothing to be angry about."
The prince naturally knew in his heart what the emperor's purpose was in doting on the fourth prince, but he couldn't help feeling unhappy.
"However, by doing this, the status and influence of the Li family will be greatly improved, which is not a good thing for us." The reason why they proposed to pay homage to Mr. Kong Kangda was to improve the status of the Kong family. But I didn't expect that things would turn around and turn into worshiping Mr. Li. "The Li family is the mother clan of the fourth brother. Improving the status and influence of the Li family is equivalent to helping the fourth brother."
The Duke of Zhen knew clearly why the emperor proposed to pay homage to Mr. Li, but he could not tell the prince.
"It is you who worship Mr. Li, not the Fourth Prince."
"What's the point of worshiping me? The Li family won't support me." The prince frowned and said, "My father asked me to worship Mr. Li. It's like punching the Kong family in the face. It's also a slap in the face." My face." He patted his face gently.
"The fourth prince is a chess piece to check and balance you and the king. What do you care about him so much?" Zhen Guogong did not take the fourth prince seriously. For now, both the fourth prince and the Li family had trouble with him. Not a threat. "Do you want the king to pay homage to Mr. Li?"
The prince said without any hesitation: "Of course not."
"The Li family does not support you, nor will they support the king, so you don't need to care." Duke Zhenguo said with some disdain, "The emperor is praising the Li family more and more. Do you think this is a good thing?"
The prince asked in confusion: "What do you mean?"
The Duke of Zhen Guo said meaningfully: "It is easy to fall when you climb high."
The prince understood what Duke Zhen Guo meant, and immediately a smile appeared on his face.
"Uncle is right."
"Let the emperor continue to praise the Li family. It is best to promote the Li family to the altar."
When the prince heard this, his heart moved and he immediately had a plan.
"Uncle, should we use the issue of worshiping Mr. Li to stir up trouble?"
The Duke of Zhen Guo thought for a moment, then shook his head and said disapprovingly: "We don't want to do anything."
"Uncle, didn't you just say that it's easy to fall when you climb high?"
"It would be bad if the emperor finds out that we are adding fuel to the flames." Duke Zhen Guo said with a deep smile, "In order to attack the Kong family, they will help us praise the Li family."
"That's true, it saves us the trouble of taking action." The prince's originally bad mood instantly improved due to the words of Duke Zhen, "Uncle is still wise."
The Duke of Zhen looked at the prince helplessly and dotingly: "You are just too impatient."
"Fortunately I have you, uncle."
When the Duke of Zhen heard this, he smiled slightly and said immediately: "Write a eulogy in memory of Mr. Li. It should be sincere and let all the scholars in the world know that you respect Mr. Li very much. Understand ?"
"Don't worry, uncle, I will write it well."
In terms of writing articles, Zhen Guogong was not worried that the prince would not be able to write well. The prince has been very talented in literature since he was a child and can write good articles without any advice from him.
Next, how to pay homage to Mr. Li on behalf of the prince of Zhenguo Bus.
The prince listened very seriously and immediately assured the Duke of Zhen that he would do a good job in this matter.
After Duke Zhen Guo finished paying homage to Mr. Li, he left the East Palace and returned to Duke Zhen Guo's mansion.
The eldest son of Zhenguo Duke's Mansion learned that his father was back and hurriedly came to the study to see him.
"Dad, what does the emperor mean?"
"What else could it mean?" Zhenguo Gong said calmly, "Suppress me."
Hearing this, the Crown Prince of Zhenguo Palace had a look of astonishment on his face: "Dad, do you mean that the Emperor knows the true purpose of our proposal to worship Mr. Kong Kangda?"
The Duke of Zhen Guo nodded slightly.
"So the emperor took advantage of this incident and proposed to pay homage to Mr. Li?"
"That's right." Zheng Guozheng said, "It's not surprising that the emperor knows our purpose. It would be strange if he didn't know."
The prince of Zhenguo Palace said in astonishment: "Your Majesty, he..."
"The emperor is too smart. It's really difficult to be clever under his nose." At this point, Zhen Guogong sighed helplessly, "Well, it's really not a good thing to have an emperor who is too smart. .”
"Dad, what should we do next?"
"Following the emperor's wish, I will praise the Li family."
The eldest son of Duke Zhenguo immediately understood what his father meant, and then said: "On behalf of the king, they will try their best to praise the Li family, and we don't need to do anything. When the Li family is praised too highly, there is no need." If we take action, the Kong family will take action against the Li family."
The Duke of Zhenguo said with a smile: "That's right."
The prince of Zhenguo Palace smiled and said: "The emperor's move is really clever, but he was mistaken by his cleverness."
At this time, the emperor in the imperial study sneezed.
He rubbed his nose and said, "The Duke of Zhen Guo must be talking about me, saying that I am being clever and trying to elevate the status of the Li family."
The second update is here.
Zhenguo Gong and his son: It’s so scary.
Emperor: There is something even more terrifying. Do you want to know?
Zhenguo Gongfu and his son: I don’t want to know.
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