The students in the backyard were very excited at the moment. Lin Ping'an's words made their blood boil. Many of them began to ask themselves:
"What is the purpose of reading?"
“What can I do for this country?”
"How can I be considered the kind of useful person the dean said?"
Everyone was thinking and talking softly. When they saw Lin Ping'an walking down the high platform and running towards the corner of the academy, many people immediately stretched their necks, wanting to see who that person was and how he could make them. The dean is so urgent.
"King Xin, that's King Xin!"
The students who were nearby shouted softly, with excitement in their voices. Some bold students moved closer silently. After a while, exciting news came.
"His Royal Highness King Xin actually wants to become the master of the dean and study with us in this academy!"
The news immediately spread throughout the backyard like it had wings, causing a commotion throughout the backyard.
"King Xin, that is the younger brother of the current emperor!"
someone shouted.
"Yes, it seems that our dean is really hiding his secrets, and he actually impressed His Highness King Xin!"
"Tell me, if we meet King Xin in the future, should we call him His Highness King Xin, or senior?"
"You still don't understand this? There is no senior in learning, so of course I am called a senior!"
"If I go, then I will have a friendship with His Highness King Bei from now on. If I tell anyone about this, I'm afraid I will envy others to death!"
Everyone was talking softly, but then saw Lin Ping'an and others hurriedly walking out of the backyard. They couldn't stop guessing in their hearts, which big boss is here?
Today's opening ceremony has been full of twists and turns. Most of the guests have left at this moment, but the ceremony must continue.
At this moment, Jiang Xingzhou and others were a little lost. They had long been confused and almost forgot that the ceremony had not yet been completed.
Seeing the looks of these people, Lin Ping'an knew that no matter how much he tried to comfort her, it would be useless, so he could only turn his attention to Hua Fangfang.
Hua Fangfang smiled slightly and waved to Jiang Xingzhou and others. After a few people came to him, he said:
"Lin Ping'an and Dorgon have an old relationship. His Majesty has known about this for a long time. You don't have to worry."
After hearing Hua Fangfang's words, Jiang Xingzhou and the others breathed a sigh of relief.
When Lin Ping'an said it was okay, they only thought he was deliberately comforting themselves, and when Hua Fangfang said it was okay, then it must really be okay!
The four of them breathed a long sigh of relief, and their energy returned instantly. They bowed to Hua Fang and immediately turned back to the backyard to continue presiding over the unfinished opening ceremony.
"Your old man's words still apply."
Lin Pingan sighed, and when he came to Hua Fangfang, he still asked with some worry:
"Master Dean, will this matter really be okay?"
Hua Fangfang did not answer this question, but asked with a slight smile:
"To this day, do you still think that Dorgon is your brother?"
Lin Ping'an didn't think for too long, but nodded quickly, and said seriously to Hua Fangfang:
"Since we kowtowed and swore an oath, of course he is my brother."
Hearing this, Hua Fangfang nodded slightly and asked again:
"If we meet on the battlefield someday, how will you treat this brother?"
Lin Pingan's eyes showed determination and he said without hesitation:
"You should do your best to fight for the Ming Dynasty. If he dies, I will collect his body and keep vigil for him. If I die, he will do the same."
Yan Xiaoxiao's eyes shone with a strange light, and she glanced at Lin Ping'an with a strange look. It seemed hard to imagine that such a sentence would come from such a young man's mouth.
Nangong Cheng on the side couldn't help but admired:
"Well done. A true man stands upright. When grudges are clear, if you think this way, His Majesty will definitely not blame you."
.
The next day, the memorial to impeach Lin Ping'an flew like snow flakes to the imperial desk in the imperial study. Looking at the thick pile of memorials, Wei Zhongxian couldn't help but smile.
So he could only follow the old method and tell the contents of these memorials when Zhu Youxiao was doing carpentry work when it was most critical.
He tried to speak as lightly as possible. He originally thought that the emperor would be angry after hearing this kind of thing, but he didn't expect that Zhu Youxiao's attitude was even more understated than him.
I understand. "
"Zhu Youxiao only said four words and then immersed himself in his carpentry work again.
Wei Zhongxian secretly breathed a sigh of relief and thought silently in his heart:
"Lin Pingan, Lin Pingan, this is all our family can do. If those old dogs like Yang Lian bite you, then our family has no choice."
Based on Wei Zhongxian's understanding of Yang Lian and others, this matter will never end here.
Sure enough, at the court meeting on the third day, Yang Lian was the first to jump out.
This old gentleman has never tolerated sand in his eyes. He saw countless memorials to impeach Lin Ping'an flying into the palace, but there was no response like a stone sinking into the sea. He suddenly felt that Wei Zhongxian must be responsible for it. In this case, he would face it in person today. Your Majesty, please ask clearly.
With the emergence of Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Gu Dazhang and others, the most bizarre officials in the Ming Dynasty also jumped out one after another.
The reason why these officials are called weird is because they are really weird.
There is a rule in the Ming Dynasty that the speaker is not guilty. In other words, it doesn't matter what you say. Even if you scold the emperor, the emperor can only endure it. Even if he wants to settle accounts, We can only look for opportunities secretly in the future, and we can never pull him out and chop him in front of him.
Of course, some emperors had bad tempers. Sometimes they were really angry when they were scolded, and they would give dozens of insults to their officials.
However, in the eyes of the public officials, being able to get criticized by the emperor for speaking out for justice is an extremely glorious thing, which can last a lifetime.
Therefore, they are not afraid of getting slapped, and even look forward to getting slapped. This creates the unscrupulousness of the officials.
In the beginning, the officials were relatively good and could discuss the matter, but in the later period of the Ming Dynasty, these people were just looking for trouble. As long as they could catch a little trouble, they would definitely make full use of it. It doesn't matter whether there is evidence or not, as long as they can criticize , that’s cool.
So at this moment, saliva was flying in the court, and the voices of impeachment against Lin Ping'an were overwhelming. Some people even touched their heads to the ground, crying and demanding that Zhu Youxiao severely punish Lin Ping'an.
Wei Zhongxian's heart skipped a beat, but there was nothing he could do about it. Other things were fine. This matter of fornication was a matter of principle. If he interceded for Lin Ping'an, he would definitely get angry.
So he could only watch, even though he was anxious, there was nothing he could do.
Shi Fenglai's face was extremely ugly. He knew that the emperor in front of him had never had his own opinion. Facing such a large-scale impeachment, he was afraid that he would immediately order Lin Ping'an to be thrown into prison.
"If this is the case, then my reputation in this life will be ruined!"
He sighed silently in his heart. Everyone knew that Lin Pingan wrote a poem specifically for him, and it became a good story. But now that the poet has become a national thief who had an affair with Hou Jin, then this is not a good story. , but a shame rack nailed to him.
Zhu Youxiao, who was sitting on the throne, watched everyone's performance expressionlessly. Now he could finally understand the helplessness and boredom of his ancestors and emperors facing these officials.
"Being an emperor is really a troublesome thing. How can it be compared to the joy of quietly enjoying carpentry work in my carpentry workshop."
He thought silently in his heart, trying his best to suppress the annoyance in his heart.
After a while, the voices in the hall finally became quieter. What the officials wanted was to reason and argue with the emperor, not to perform an endless one-man show by themselves.
So the courtiers all looked at Zhu Youxiao on the dragon throne, waiting for the emperor to speak.
Zhu Youxiao finally spoke, but his words made everyone stunned.
"Lin Ping'an and Dorgon have an old relationship. I have known about this for a long time. This is a family matter and is not worth mentioning. Please don't make a fuss."
After hearing this, Yang Lian stamped his feet and shouted:
"Your Majesty is confused, how can this matter be considered a trivial matter? Lin Ping'an is the director of the Tai Hospital, and was awarded the title of Lieutenant of Fengguo by your Majesty. Now he has an affair with Hou Jin, and both men and gods are angry. I hope your Majesty will learn from it. Jiang Ning Ping'an's house will be confiscated and executed, as a mark of respect!"
After Yang Lian finished speaking, the rest of the crowd knelt down and shouted in unison:
"I hope your Majesty will learn from it!"
Zhu Youxiao looked at everyone coldly, with an imperceptible sneer appearing on the corner of his mouth, and asked in a deep voice:
"Yang Lian, since you said he had an affair with Hou Jin, do you have any evidence?"
"A few days ago, at the opening ceremony of the Bamboo Forest Academy, Dorgon sent someone to deliver a cartload of gifts, all of which were gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, jades, and specialties from Liaodong."
Yang Lian said hurriedly, and then pointed at the people behind him: "What everyone saw with their own eyes that day is all facts."
Zhu Youxiao nodded, but he sneered and said slowly:
"Are there not enough gold, silver, jewelry, antiques, jades, and specialties from Liaodong flowing into our Ming Dynasty from Liaodong? You must have those specialties from Liaodong in your house. If you say that Lin Ping'an is having an affair with Hou Jin based on this alone, Then can you be charged with the crime of having an extramarital affair?"
At this point, his tone became more severe, and he said with a hint of chill in his tone:
"There is also a lot of wood in my carpentry workshop from Liaodong. Do you think I am also having an affair with Hou Jin?"
These words were a bit strong and unreasonable, and they were obviously a change of concept. Yang Lian was the first to react and shouted:
"Your Majesty, that's different. Even though we have those specialties from Liaodong in our house, they were bought with real gold and silver. But now these things were given to Lin Ping'an by Dorgon. The two cannot be confused."
The rest of the people reacted immediately, and the hall suddenly became chaotic again.
Zhu Youxiao suddenly changed his color and said gloomily:
"This matter does not need to be discussed further. Ming Dynasty is a country of etiquette. Lin Ping'an is just a child. It is normal to interact with others and receive gifts. Are the ministers making things difficult for him, aren't they afraid of being laughed at?"
This was naked support. Everyone looked at each other in astonishment and were speechless for a moment.
Yang Lian sighed heavily. He really didn't understand how the emperor could end such a major event so lightly. Could it be that there was something hidden in it?
Wei Zhongxian was delighted. He didn't expect Zhu Youxiao to be so tough today. This was extremely rare in the past.
So he immediately went out and said:
"Your Majesty is wise. At that time, Guan Yu and Zhang Liao were their own masters and even met each other in battle. However, this did not hinder the friendship between the two. Even if Lin Ping'an had an old relationship with Dorgon, it was still a personal relationship. As long as it is not used for personal gain, Sir, I think this is nothing serious."
Wei Zhongxian hasn't read much, but he loves to listen to stories. He couldn't put it down for this novel written in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. He listened to it a lot on weekdays. At this moment, he was very proud to tell the story between Guan Yu and Zhang Liao. He came out with a proud look on his face.
Zhu Youxiao's expression softened. He felt that Wei Zhongxian understood him best. The others sneered at Wei Zhongxian's face, but there was nothing they could do.
Yang Lian calmed down, knowing that it would be useless to talk about this matter anymore, so he said to Zhu Youxiao again:
"Your Majesty, I have one more thing to report."
Zhu Youxiao nodded, but heard Yang Lian continue:
"That day at Zhulin Academy, His Royal Highness King Xin wanted to accept Lin Ping'an as his teacher. I thought this was inconsistent with etiquette and law. You must not mess with the rules!"
What Yang Lian said is correct. In the Ming Dynasty, all teachers who can become the children of the royal family are selected from a million. They are usually selected from those who have passed the imperial examination. Only the outstanding ones can enter the Hanlin Academy and become common people. , and only these Shujishi are qualified to become teachers of the prince or other royal children.
People at Lin Ping'an's level simply don't have the qualifications.
When Zhu Youxiao heard this, he thought about it and asked Yang Lian strangely:
"Who does King Xin worship as his teacher? What does it have to do with me?"
Yang Lian was choked for a moment, and when he was about to say a few more words, he saw Zhu Youxiao stood up with a flick of his sleeves, and the eunuch beside him immediately screamed: "Retreat from the court!"
Zhu Youxiao left, and everyone in the court looked at each other. Zhu Youxiao today made them feel a little strange, and they also felt deeply confused.
What is strange is that the usual Zhu Youxiao will never be as tough as today. What is puzzling is why the emperor becomes so tough when talking about Lin Ping'an?
