That night, Li Shui slept in the alchemy room.
In fact, Li Shui was lying on the low couch and couldn't sleep at all.
He was worried. What worries me is not how to defeat Chun Yuyue in a verbal battle with the Confucian scholars, but how to let Chun Yuyue pass.
This old man risked his life, what a rogue. What nonsense is this about complaining in front of His Majesty and worrying about his face?
Tossing and turning, Li Shui finally fell asleep, but was soon woken up by Wu Jiao.
Li Shui then remembered that being in the palace was no better than being in Shangjun's courtyard, and he couldn't just sleep until dawn.
Li Shui sighed, put on his clothes, washed up, had breakfast, and walked slowly to the Yizheng Hall.
Because Li Shui woke up relatively late due to the first-come-first-come-first-serve approach to the water tower, he arrived at the Yizheng Hall much earlier than usual.
However, he found that many courtiers had gathered in front of the Council Hall, and the number was even greater than before.
Li Shui was a little puzzled: "Why did you all come so early today?"
Li Xin said with a smile: "Isn't this because of you, Brother Huai?"
Li Shui was a little helpless: "Are they all here to watch the show?"
Li Xin nodded vigorously: "Before watching the show, it is really unique to discuss with each other and exchange experiences."
Li Shui looked at Li Xin and said helplessly: "Brother Li, you are a bad student."
Li Xin said with emotion: "It's really comfortable to be a bad person and a shameless person."
At this time, suddenly a courtier pointed to the distance and shouted: "Here we come, Lord Chunyu is here."
All the officials looked in that direction, and soon, everyone saw the figure of an old man.
It is Chunyu Yue.
Chunyu Yue's steps were a little staggering, which made him feel a little pitiful.
Li Shui sighed: "This old guy is playing the emotional card."
Chunyu Yue walked to the door of the Council Hall and ignored anyone. He just stood there, closing his eyes and meditating.
A courtier who was close to him came up to Chunyu Yue and persuaded him: "Doctor, why are you angry with Huaiguzi? Why don't you keep this useful body and benefit the people of the world?"
Chunyu Yue slowly turned his head, glanced at this man, and then said lightly: "Do you think I will lose?"
The court official gave a bitter smile: "The Immortal is so eloquent that even if the Doctor has good reasons, how can he defeat him? It is better to ignore him and not fall into his trap and lose his life."
Chunyu Yue shook his head and said with a tragic face: "Right is right and wrong is wrong. I don't believe that people in the Qin Dynasty can really reverse right and wrong."
"Today I will prove to the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty in front of Your Majesty that justice and justice still exist in our country, Qin."
"If I really die, I hope to use this life to inspire you. I hope you can wake up from your dreams and eradicate the treacherous villains in the court."
When Chunyu Yue said the words "treacherous and sycophantic", he turned around and glanced at Li Shui.
Li Shui said to Li Xin with great grievance: "Your sister-in-law is a white-eyed wolf. I call him sister-in-law all day long, but he calls me a sycophant."
Li Xin patted him on the shoulder and said with emotion: "Brother Huai, I have wronged you."
Soon, the door to the Assembly Hall opened.
Ying Zheng had long known about the dispute between Chunyu Yue and Huai Guzi through Si Tu. This gave him a headache.
Chunyu Yue was a veteran minister in the court and Fusu's master. He was an upright and honest man, and Ying Zheng was very confident in him.
As for Huai Guzi, although he was a little unruly and acted recklessly, he was talented and made Da Qin prosperous.
Neither of these two people, Ying Zheng, wanted to give up.
Therefore, Ying Zheng sat on the throne and looked at the civil and military officials who were saluting below.
He found Chunyu Yue and Li Shui among them, and sighed.
Ying Zheng was a little worried, how should he make peace with Xini today? At least Chunyu Yue cannot be allowed to commit suicide, otherwise Fusu will be extremely sad.
After the ministers saluted, they began to discuss political affairs.
In the past, government discussions among ministers often took an hour or two, during which people would debate with each other to find an optimal solution. But today the discussion is fast as hell. It seemed like everyone wanted it to end quickly.
The person serving Ying Zheng today is none other than Ji Ming.
He looked at Chunyu Yue and Li Shui in the main hall, and his heart blossomed with joy.
He also heard that Banxian and Chunyu were at odds with each other. It seemed that the people he sent out yesterday were very capable and caused a lot of trouble for these two people.
For Li Shui and Chun Yuyue, no matter who wins or loses, it is good news for Hu Hai.
Ji Ming thought with a smile: It seems that my strategies are becoming more and more sophisticated, and I have even figured out the trick of borrowing a knife to kill someone.
Then, Ji Ming subconsciously touched his neck.
After touching it, Ji Ming was a little confused. He didn't know what happened today and kept touching his neck involuntarily.
My neck always feels a little awkward, itchy, and tingling. But if you feel carefully, you can't notice anything.
Ji Ming shook his head in confusion.
By this time, political matters had been discussed.
Chunyu Yue stood up, saluted Ying Zheng, and said with great sadness and anger: "Your Majesty, you are banishing an immortal in Xianyang City and ruining my reputation. I ask your Majesty to uphold justice."
Ying Zheng nodded lightly: Sure enough, he is here.
He looked at Huaiguzi: "How did you ruin Dr. Chunyu's reputation?"
Li Shui stood up and said with a sad face: "Your Majesty, I have been doing things down-to-earth and being an honest man. When did I ruin the reputation of others? It must be Dr. Chunyu who is trying to catch the wind and use the heart of a villain to judge the heart of a gentleman. , I misunderstood you.”
What Li Shui said didn't sound very nice, almost blaming Chunyu Yue.
However, Li Xin looked at Li Shui with a look of relief: Banishing the Immortal really gave me face, Zai Qian gave way to my sister-in-law.
Other adults in the court also thought: Exiled Immortal was more polite today and did not falsely accuse Chunyu Yue of treason. Um? Wait, why did I think he was polite when he didn't accuse anyone of treason? How is this going?
Ying Zheng looked at Li Shui helplessly: "Have you ever done this?"
Li Shui said categorically: "I have never done this."
Chunyu Yue took a deep breath and thought: It seems that today I really have to die to prove my innocence. It doesn't matter. Although I die, my good reputation will remain in the world.
Thinking of this, Chunyu Yue said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty, please allow me to tell you everything that happened."
Ying Zheng nodded.
Later, Chun Yuyue said: "A few days ago, I heard that Mr. Fu Yao wrote a book under the pseudonym Beiming Youyu, which is called Journey to the North."
All the courtiers present suddenly realized that this book was really written by Master Fu Yao.
Ying Zheng felt a little uncomfortable when he heard him mention Journey to the North.
He has read "Journey to the North", and the content in it is really... well, it's hard to describe in a word.
I heard Chun Yuyue continue to say: "The old minister thought that what was described in this journey to the north was Prince Fu Yao's political strategy in Beidi County. This idea was very good, so I also elaborated on the Confucian strategy of governing the country. The book "The Land of Yao and Shun" was written."
Ying Zheng nodded.
Nowadays, when the imperial examination is held, current affairs policy is an important examination content. It is not a bad thing to write books and discuss the strategy of governing the country. On the contrary, it helps to cultivate talents.
Chunyu Yue briefly said: "Later, the old minister made a bet with Ban Xian in Shang Jun's Courtyard, to see which of these two books would sell better."
"After confirming the bet, the veteran has been tight-lipped and has never publicized it."
"When I went out for tea that day, I heard that Zhou Qingchen was praising Beidi County, and his words were so flattering that it was almost unbearable."
Zhou Qingchen was standing not far from Chunyu Yue, his face sinking into the water, and his emotions didn't seem to fluctuate at all.
Li Xin was amazed when he saw it: This man really got the true inheritance of banishing the immortal.
Chun Yuyue took a deep breath: "After hearing this flattery, the veteran felt indignant. Because the veteran has read the book Beidi County, and the content is naturally novel, but he cannot deserve such praise from Zhou Qingchen. Zhou Qingchen This move is to flatter and kill Mr. Fu Yao."
When Li Shui heard this, he was slightly startled and thought: How can it be said from this perspective? This old man Chunyu Yue is awesome.
Chunyu Yue continued: "First of all, the veteran was so indignant that he couldn't help but refute Zhou Qingchen, lest the young master's Northern Journey would be a big disappointment and damage the young master's reputation after it was released."
After hearing this, Ying Zheng nodded slightly.
He actually knows very well that blindly praising is not the best. Raising the expectations of the people, they will definitely be very dissatisfied when they get the book. It's better to lower their expectations and give them a surprise.
Of course, Fu Yao's book...can there be any surprises?
Ying Zheng gets a headache just thinking about it.
He said calmly to Chunyu Yue: "Go on."
Chunyu Yue responded and said: "The veteran spent one night writing an article refuting Zhou Qingchen. Most of this article was a comment on Zhou Qingchen, but it also implicitly mentioned that expectations for Northern Journey should not be too high."
"But after this article was read out in public, it aroused countless criticisms. The people yelled at the old minister, saying that the old minister was insecure, a treacherous villain, and regarded wealth as life. All kinds of unsavory words made the old minister unbearable."
"Later, the old minister ordered his servant to inquire about it, and then he realized that before the old minister's article was read out, the banished immortal announced the bet between us. Therefore, the old minister's behavior seemed to be smearing the Northern Journey. "
After hearing this, the courtiers suddenly realized.
Yesterday, many people were indeed scolding Chun Yuyue on the street, and these courtiers had heard a little bit about it, but they couldn't quite figure out how Chun Yuyue had caused public outrage.
Today, I heard Chunyu Yue's personal explanation, which solved the confusion for the courtiers.
Li Shuigan laughed and said to everyone: "In this way, the damage to Dr. Chunyu's reputation was entirely caused by his own carelessness. Does this have anything to do with me?"
Courtiers, you look at me and I look at you, and you see that this is really the case. No wonder he was banished to immortality.
However, Chunyu Yue sneered and said: "If this matter ends here, I will admit it. But the banished immortal should not have found an idle person, pretended to be a servant in my house, and slandered Northern Journey everywhere, so As a result, the veteran’s reputation is really getting worse.”
"It's just a matter of slandering Journey to the North in person, but actually doing small things behind my back. How can this... veteran have the face to live in this world?"
When Chunyu Yue said this, his voice already sounded like crying.
Li Shui was a little helpless. He said to Chunyu Yue: "Dr. Chunyu, why do you say that he was sent by me? This person goes everywhere to slander Journey to the North, and I am the victim."
The two men repeated the debate they had held yesterday in the palace of the Imperial Palace. The courtiers were confused and confused, and they only knew that their logic was one after another, interlocking, and endless.
Ying Zheng's head was pounding after hearing this. He vaguely felt that if the debate continued like this, they might not be able to reach a conclusion in thirty to fifty years.
He said calmly: "Where is that idle man?"
Zhao Teng stood up and said, "He has been imprisoned."
Ying Zheng said: "Bring it up."
Zhao Teng immediately ordered a guard to take the people.
Ji Ming, who was standing next to Ying Zheng, didn't notice this at all.
He is studying his neck. Is his neck getting more and more uncomfortable? It seems like it shouldn’t stay on my shoulders...
A quarter of an hour later, Guapi was brought to the main hall.
He lay on the ground, shaking with fear, and almost peed.
Ying Zheng asked calmly: "Did someone instruct you to do this, or are you just talking nonsense out of ignorance?"
Ying Zheng's intention was very obvious. Let Guapi admit it. In this way, both Li Shui and Huai Guzi would be able to get off the ground, and this matter would have a happy ending.
As for who instigated Guapi, Ying Zheng could just investigate it privately later.
But Guapi is just a market gangster, so how can you tell the meaning? Even if I heard it, I wouldn’t dare to say that I made the decision on my own.
If the emperor comes to kill you, isn't it certain that he will be dead?
So Guapi said bravely: "You villain, you are a villain who is ordered by others."
Ying Zheng's face darkened and he asked again: "Who instigated you?"
Guapi turned his head subconsciously and looked at Li Shui.
All civil and military officials in the court looked at Li Shui thoughtfully.
Li Shui said angrily: "You have to think clearly before biting me. This is in front of His Majesty. How dare you lie? Your Majesty has a magical thing called the mushroom. After taking it, you will tell the truth."
"It's useless if you lie now. As long as His Majesty lets you eat mushrooms, you still have to tell the truth. But then, you will be severely punished."
Guapi was trembling with fear.
Emperor, will you let yourself eat mushrooms? If His Majesty is recruited, His Majesty's face will not look good.
But... if the immortals and ministers insist on persuading Your Majesty to take out the mushrooms and let me take them, what should I do?
Guapi was completely panicked. He suddenly realized that people above the court really couldn't afford to offend him. The way other people play is simply beyond what I can imagine.
When Guapi was panicking, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Ji Ming.
His eyes suddenly lit up: Isn't this the eunuch from that day?
So Guapi pointed at Ji Ming, as if grasping a life-saving straw, and said in a tearful tone: "The villain doesn't know anything. The villain did what this adult ordered."
I was a magician in the Qin Dynasty
