After Zhao Nanxing and Qian Yiben asked this question, Gu Xiancheng's expression became more solemn.
But Gu Xiancheng could not deny that what Qian Yiben said was true.
He really should know the truth behind the murder of An Xifan and others.
Because, if the emperor is the one calling the shots in the court, then he is the one calling the shots in the scholar forest.
Therefore, he will not know the inside story about anything related to Qingliu civil servants, and he may even know it better than Jin Yiwei.
Gu Xiancheng had no choice but to tell the truth: "You'd better not ask any more about this matter. The poisoning and killing is just a one-sided statement by Jin Yiwei!"
"What kind of words are these!"
"Our family really disagrees with what Uncle Shi said."
Zhang Jing stood up first and continued:
"I, Mr. Su (An Xifan), have always been the gentleman I admire the most. My father-in-law and others are also outspoken and admirable. How could he lose his life in such an unexplained way?"
"How could we just ignore their deaths? Even if the cats and dogs we only knew lost their lives, we still have to know the reason."
"Furthermore, according to the new etiquette, the common people treat them as innocent children, let alone gentlemen like me, Mr. Su?"
After saying that, Zhang Jing looked at the crowd: "Are we just saying we feel sorry, but in our hearts we don't regard Mr. Wo Su and others as friends at all?!"
"That's what my father-in-law said."
"I'm not as good as my father-in-law!"
Zhao Nanxing echoed, then looked at Gu Xiancheng:
"Uncle Shi, what is the truth behind the sudden death of Mr. Su and others? Others may not ask, but we must ask. Otherwise, how can we be considered friends?"
"Yes, His Majesty has ordered the Jinyi Guards to conduct a strict investigation. Your Majesty still takes Mr. Wo Su seriously. Are we really so cold-blooded and let them die in vain?"
Qian Yiben asked.
Meng Yanghao also said: "This is indeed the way to be unfriended. Today we don't ask about the cause of Mr. Wo Su's death. If we do this in the future, who will ask us?"
Gu Xiancheng looked at the three people and knew that if he didn't say anything, he would lose the hearts of the scholars. For a moment, he could only sigh and said:
"Forget it, I do know now."
"who is it?"
Zhao Nanxing asked hurriedly.
Zhang Jing also straightened his chest and listened attentively.
Gu Xiancheng said: "Mr. Dongquan!"
"Why did he do that?"
Qian Yiben asked quickly.
Gu Xiancheng said: "Mr. Dongquan's intention is good. He is afraid that the traitor party will use the King of Chu's rebellion against Wu Gong to cause a big case and ban him from the party, so he thinks that first, the colleagues who have spoken for Wu Gong will be permanently silenced." Mouth, this is also for the peace of the world's scholars!"
"Uncle Shi is really confused."
At this time, Meng Yanghao said something and said: "How can you know such a thing and not report it?"
Zhao Nanxing asked Gu Xiancheng: "How did uncle Shi know?"
Gu Xiancheng said: "Mr. Dongquan hoped that I would not use my reputation among scholars to delve into this matter, so he told me frankly. Mr. Meizhou who went to Burma can prove it."
"This Shi Dongquan is really evil! He used to be different when it came to subscribing for coupons, and now he does something cruel and despicable. It's not surprising!"
Qian Yiben couldn't help but criticize Shi Xinglai at this time.
Zhao Nanxing also followed: "He still underestimates the emperor, thinking that the emperor will not ask more questions because the minister he hates died suddenly, so he dares to do this! But in fact, your majesty is much more loyal than him!"
As Zhao Nanxing spoke, he accused Gu Xiancheng and said: "Uncle Shi also obviously had his mind clouded by his personal agenda and did not treat the emperor fairly. He even thought that the emperor would not ask. But in fact, the emperor has always been true." When treating the people of the world as human beings, if Li Zhi's case was exposed, unjust, false, and wrongful convictions were not committed; nor was Li Sancai's case organized and banned from the party! Therefore, how could the emperor really sit on the throne of An, Yue, etc. The prince was poisoned and didn’t ask any questions?”
"That's why I said Uncle Shi was confused!"
"To actually know about this kind of thing but not report it, doesn't it mean that you don't regard An, Yue and others as friends, or that you treat your majesty as a coward regardless of the facts, and for the sake of the apparent peace of the scholarly community, he does not hesitate to cover up the traitor."
Meng Yanghao then talked about Gu Xiancheng.
Gu Xiancheng blushed and held a breath in his chest for a long time. He suddenly stood up and glared at Zhao Nanxing and Meng Yanghao.
They were the ones who obviously humiliated themselves, but now they were the ones being criticized. How could Gu Xiancheng bear this?
When Zhang Jing saw Gu Xiancheng standing up suddenly, he quickly asked him: "Uncle Shi, what's going on?"
Then, Zhang Jing advised: "It is inevitable that there will be unpleasant words between friends, so don't worry about it."
Gu Xiancheng then put on a stiff smile and said: "What you are saying is that I was at fault in this matter and I was sorry for An, Yue and other Dukes."
"Uncle, you don't have to blame yourself too much. In fact, we don't have the integrity to do anything. As Mr. Jinxi said, the family has too many personal agendas, so that we only care about protecting our fellow students and don't care about right and wrong. That's why we are in this situation today. He was imprisoned by Emperor Shengming and taught a lesson."
"Uncle Shi might as well inform the emperor himself of this fact. Although he, Shi Dongquan, is a respected minister, he must have the emperor's wisdom and will not favor him. In this way, he can be considered worthy of An, Yue and other Dukes."
Qian Yiben also persuaded Gu Xiancheng at this time.
Gu Xiancheng smiled sarcastically, and then said: "What Qixin said is that I will go to the meeting to advocate for this matter."
"That's good."
Qian Benben said with a smile.
Gu Xiancheng changed the subject at this moment, came out and pointed to a pair of couplets in his Donglin Hall and said:
"Just now Qixin mentioned that he was taught a lesson in the imperial prison. I have also heard for a long time that today there are great scholars giving lectures there to criticize the current ills. I wonder if this is consistent with my Donglin Hall?"
"The sound of wind and rain and the sound of reading can be heard in my ears. I am concerned about everything in the world, including family affairs, national affairs, and everything in the world."
Zhang Jing came out first to read, and then said: "I do know about this. If the Donglin Party can be like the prison, quasi-dissenting opinions will appear, and first make it clear that he is not a person with perfect morals, and is willing to correct himself The point of view is actually the same purpose.”
Gu Xiancheng became unhappy when he heard what Zhang Jing said.
That night.
Zhang Jing immediately sent a secret report to Beijing to inform Zhu Yijun who was the person who poisoned An Xifan, Yue Yuansheng and others.
Gu Xiancheng himself had written a notebook to expose the matter, but when he gave it to his brother Gu Yuncheng and sent someone to Beijing, he hesitated again.
Gu Yuncheng asked: "Brother, what are you hesitating about?"
"Once this book is published, my reputation will be greatly damaged!"
"Sooner or later in the future, everyone in the world will know whether I, Gu Xiancheng, acted as a friend because of the persuasion of Zhao, Qian and others, or because of the persuasion of an eunuch. My reputation will plummet, while the emperor's reputation will greatly increase. In this way If so, how can I enter the imperial court and control the people in the future?"
Gu Xiancheng said.
Gu Yuncheng nodded and said: "Zhao Mengbai and Qian Qixin went to the imperial prison, and they suddenly seemed to be different people. This put my brother in a dilemma and had to lose his reputation. After all, I am too smart!"
"yes!"
"And what I'm more worried about is that the views advocated by Shin Shi-hsing and others that the Holy Will is the Will of Heaven and the Lord of Man is the Holy Man are really accepted by people all over the world. In this way, the Lord of Man and the Holy Man cannot be separated, and it cannot be like the country of Taixi. People are in charge of the affairs of the common people, and people are sages who understand etiquette."
Gu Xiancheng said again.
Gu Xiancheng was influenced by the Western thoughts brought by Western missionaries in this era. He always wanted to separate the state and religion, that is, the human master and the human saint are relatively independent, and it is even better for the human saint to control the human master.
And he became that human saint.
But Gu Xiancheng now finds this more and more difficult, and even the gentlemen in Shilin are not convinced by him.
Gu Yuncheng nodded at this time and said nothing more.
Gu Xiancheng still gave Gu Yuncheng the book that exposed Shi Xing: "It's better to submit it, lest someone take the initiative to flatter the emperor and cause disaster to my Gu family."
"good!"
Many days later.
Zhu Yijun indeed received three secret reports exposing Shi Xing, one from Zhang Jing, one from Gu Xiancheng, and one from Zhao Nanxing.
Zhu Yijun smiled after getting the secret report from Zhao Nanxing, and then told Zhang Yue: "Zhao Nanxing still wants to make progress, let the officials find an opportunity to retaliate against him!"
(End of chapter)
