Mr. Yan...?
Zhang Shi was in a daze for a moment and then realized that this was Yan Guoan's father. He was the elder of the pavilion ten years ago. He hadn't visited him in a long time...
After saying goodbye to King Wu, he left King Wu's Mansion and went straight to Yan Mansion.
Before I left, I sent someone to prepare some gifts.
When they arrived outside Yan's mansion, Menzi recognized Zhang Shi at a glance.
He quickly invited him in and then went to report it.
Zhang Shi sat in the hall, observing everything around him.
Ten years ago, Mr. Yan was still very popular in the cabinet, and then retired after becoming successful.
His son Yan Guoan also has a prosperous official career, and the family can be said to be prosperous!
But after Yan Guoan was beheaded, everything began to decline...
It has been such a long time, but there is still a sense of desolation in Yan's mansion, as if there is no life left.
After waiting for an unknown amount of time, Mr. Yan slowly walked out from the side of the hall with a cane.
I saw him, his beard and hair all white, hunched over, walking over tremblingly.
Zhang Shi quickly got up to pick him up.
Mr. Yan raised his eyes. Although his eyes were dim, he could still see his shrewdness.
"You're welcome, I can still leave."
After waving his hand, Mr. Yan sat on the main seat.
At this time, Zhang Cai sat down with peace of mind.
"Mr. Yan, long time no see. Are you feeling well lately?"
The servants were still serving tea. Mr. Yan leaned his cane on the edge of the table, picked up the tea cup and took a sip.
He lowered his eyes and replied: "At this age, half of my body is already buried in the ground. Do you think I can still get better?"
"Also, don't call me Mr. Yan. I'm just an old dog abandoned by Your Majesty."
Zhang Shiqian laughed twice: "Mr. Yan was joking." Then he hurriedly lowered his head and drank tea.
The resentment in this old guy's heart has not subsided at all, and it chokes people when he opens his mouth.
"Okay, don't be too pretentious. Since Guoan's death, all my students and subordinates have stopped coming."
"Isn't that the same for you? Why did you come to see me today? If you have anything to say, just say it."
"I'm too old to waste time and listen to nonsense!"
Zhang Shi twitched the corners of his mouth, looking a little embarrassed.
"Then since Mr. Yan said this, I will speak out."
"I came here today to tell Mr. Yan some good news, and it concerns Fang Zhengyi!"
As soon as Fang Zheng said one or three words, Mr. Yan immediately raised his head and looked at Zhang Shi with squinted eyes: "Please speak!"
"Fang Zhengyi betrayed his country and sought profit. He accepted 60,000 taels of silver from Beirong and prepared to work with them to sell the iron ore." Zhang Shi said concisely and comprehensively.
But as soon as the news came out, Mr. Yan calmed down.
He sat on the chair without saying a word, just holding the tea cup quietly and not knowing what he was thinking.
Zhang Shi was not in a hurry, just thinking that he was old and slow to react.
After a long time, Mr. Yan slowly said: "Where is the evidence?"
Zhang Shi shook his head: "I found a notebook among the belongings of the Beirong Mission, and it was written down by Grand Master Paba himself."
"The Beirong mission has left now, so this note is naturally gone, but Chen Hongke, the minister of Honglu Temple, can testify that this is what he saw with his own eyes!"
Mr. Yan put down his tea cup, looked at Zhang Shi, and said disdainfully: "Why would the Beirong people let you see such a private note? It's a divorce plan!"
"Is it important to alienate us? Mr. Yan, there are only you and me now, so I will speak out."
"Don't you want to avenge Yan Guoan?! It can be said that the Yan family is in this situation because of Fang Zhengyi!"
"It's a pity that Yan Guoan... He is talented, impartial and upright, and is respected by his colleagues. He is truly a pillar of the country. It will not be difficult to join the cabinet and become the prime minister in the future! I have always admired him."
"But I didn't expect that a clown like Fang Zhengyi would pop up halfway! I don't know how His Majesty was deceived by his sweet words and allowed such a person to openly speak nonsense in the court!"
"It's true... the world is declining."
Water mist gradually began to gather in Mr. Yan's dim eyes.
He clenched his fists unconsciously and said with a trembling voice, "My son... died unjustly!"
"My Yan family has been loyal for generations... Your Majesty killed the National Security Council in vain just because a few untouchables died. I am unwilling to do so!"
"Guoan has devoted all my life's efforts... The fate of the Yan family rests on him."
"How can I not want to avenge him!"
"Fang Zhengyi, the dog thief! I can't wait to eat his flesh and sleep on his skin!" As he said this, Mr. Yan shed a handful of tears.
Zhang Shi was delighted: "That's right! If these evil thieves are not eliminated, the court will never have peace! Then Mr. Yan..."
"But this matter has nothing to do with me. If you want to impeach me, do it yourself, don't involve me. I am just a commoner now, and I still have a family business to protect."
“…..”
damn it! What's going on with this dead old man?
You are really getting older. Just now you had runny noses and tears, but now you are saying that it has nothing to do with you?
Zhang Shi couldn't help but start to feel irritable.
Mr. Yan sneered: "If you are looking for me just to borrow my power to help you bring down Fang Zhengyi, then forget it."
"I've investigated his background, and you want to bribe him with just 60,000 taels? Your Majesty won't believe it either!"
"Your Majesty knows all about my students and old subordinates!"
"Although Guo'an is dead and I want to avenge him, the family still needs me to maintain it, so I won't take this risk with you."
"I..." Zhang Shi was speechless for a moment.
He had imagined countless scenes when he came, but he never expected it to be this kind of scene.
This old guy is so calm and cold-blooded!
"I know that Fang Zheng made your son miserable, but it is not easy to successfully bring him down."
Seeing that things suddenly had room for change, he hurriedly asked: "Mr. Yan, please speak."
"Although Fang Zhengyi is frivolous on the surface, he is definitely not that simple!" Mr. Yan said with a deep look on his face: "He established Banshan Newspaper in the name of the prince and manipulated hundreds of officials. Although he is not well-known in court. Good, but he has been using newspapers to win over the people and even recruit talents."
"Eight people from the Banshan newspaper passed the imperial examination this time! But as far as I know, there were only a dozen reporters in the newspaper! There was even one Jieyuan!"
"After the rankings were released, Banshan Newspaper began to recruit new reporters aggressively. This time, they no longer even evaded the news. They bluntly stated that it was to cultivate future officials."
"Fang Zhengyi is so shameless that he can recognize the eunuch as his brother, and through his relationship with Li Yansong, over time, how many people in the court and local generals will be Fang Zhengyi's confidants! Have you ever thought about this?"
"Furthermore...to say something treasonous, this son has such good intentions, and the prince has been trained by him, won't he become..."
"Puppet!?" Zhang Shi blurted out.
"I didn't say this..."
Fuck you! You old yinbi!
Zhang Shi cursed secretly in his heart and felt a chill running down his spine.
That’s right! This old guy's analysis was right. He really didn't think of this level before.
I didn't expect that Fang Zhengyi, at such a young age, would have such deep and terrifying thoughts!
It's so scary! Then in another ten or twenty years from now, the imperial court will not become his sole authority? He can kill whoever he wants?
...
