The Minister of Rites returned home in despair, his face slumped and pale, as if he had been stimulated by something.
Mrs. Hao looked at him in surprise and uneasiness: "Master, what's going on?"
"I have been dismissed from office." The Minister of Rites was confused, crying and laughing, "Nothing is gone, nothing is gone..."
"What?" Mrs. Hao stumbled and quickly supported the table, her face pale and colorless, "How could it be? Why was the master dismissed from office?"
"Father, there are officers and soldiers outside." The second son of Shangshu Mansion hurried in from outside. Looking at his father who looked pale and depressed, an ominous premonition appeared in his heart, "What's going on? Father, what's going on in our family?"
Hao Shangshu closed his eyes and said in a much older voice: "Go and pack some clothes and prepare two carriages. We are leaving here today."
"What?" The second son of the Hao family froze, and then he couldn't believe what he heard, "Father, what is going on? Has father been demoted? Where has he been demoted? We will have a chance to come back in the future. ?"
"It's not demotion, it's dismissal." Hao Qingshan said coldly, "From now on, I will no longer be a court official, and you will not be able to take the scientific examination. The three generations of our Hao family will not be allowed to enter the officialdom from now on!"
Hao Jinxi, who hurried from the inner courtyard after hearing the news, stood stiffly outside the door after hearing these words, not daring to take another step forward.
Three generations of descendants are not allowed to enter the officialdom?
The eldest son, Hao, with a face as deep as water, walked quickly in a blue satin robe. He ignored Hao Jinxi who was standing outside the door and walked directly into the door: "Father, what happened at home? I even heard the news in the academy... "
"Stop asking!" Hao Qingshan suddenly roared, "I have been dismissed from office and have nothing! Your Majesty is very gracious and did not kill me. He only asked us to leave the imperial city today. We will never be an official again in this life. You have you understood?"
Hao Jinxi's face turned pale, and the blood gradually faded from her face. She stepped across the threshold and stared blankly at her suddenly old father: "Is it the prince's impeachment?"
"No." Hao Qingshan didn't understand why she mentioned the prince, "It's Du Yushi, Dou Shangshu, and Uncle Xie Guo."
Uncle Xie Guo?
Hao Jinxi's body went limp and he almost fell to the ground.
"Jinxi!" Mrs. Hao quickly supported her, "Be careful."
The second son of the Hao family looked at his father with hope in his eyes: "Is my father wrongly accused? If so, my son will go and beat the Denwen drum now -"
"No." Hao Qingshan slowly shook his head, "I brought it upon myself. When I was the examiner, I took money from several students and arranged for several candidates to cheat on behalf of the Gu family. The evidence in Uncle Xie's hands is conclusive. The emperor did not order my death. I'm sorry, you don't need to say any more, go to the inner courtyard to inform a few aunts and your younger brothers and sisters, and pack your things quickly."
After these words were spoken, the expressions of the three legitimate children of the Hao family changed drastically. Wasn't their father wrongly accused?
Hao Jinxi tightened the handkerchief in his hand. Thinking of the Crown Princess's question yesterday, he felt a wave of regret and uneasiness in his heart.
Xie Guojiu impeached.
It must be because of Xie Danshu!
If she goes to the Crown Princess now and tells the truth, will she be able to save the Hao family's situation?
She turned around and ran out, her steps hurried and urgent.
"Jinxi, Jinxi, what are you doing?"
Hao Jinxi ignored it and ordered someone to prepare the car. She was going to see the princess.
However, when she arrived at the front yard, she discovered that officers and soldiers had already surrounded the Hao family's residence. Before Hao Jinxi even stepped out of the gate, someone stopped her: "Stop!"
"I want to see the Crown Princess!" She looked pleadingly at the officers and soldiers blocking the way, "I want to see the Crown Princess, can you let me go? The Crown Princess summoned me yesterday, and I -"
"The Emperor has decreed that the Hao family has been dismissed from office and demoted to common people. You should quickly pack your things and leave here!" An officer and soldier said coldly, "A daughter of a common people still wants to see the Crown Princess? What a fantasy!"
"I have something important to tell the Crown Princess, please be accommodating -"
"Go back." The officers and soldiers looked fierce, "The Crown Princess doesn't have time to see you."
Hao Jinxi was pushed back a few steps, her eyes were red, and she looked down at her wrist. On her white wrist was a crystal clear suet jade bracelet, a gift from Qin Zhilan, the legitimate daughter of the Qin family.
She wasn't sure whether what happened to the Hao family was because Uncle Xie Guo sought justice for her daughter. After all, even if her father did something he shouldn't have done, nothing would happen to them if no one impeached him.
It happened to be Uncle Xie Guo, but he didn't impeach her earlier and later. Something happened at the eldest princess's mansion yesterday, and today Uncle Xie Guo impeached her father.
Hao Jinxi felt extremely regretful that she should not have helped protect Qin Zhilan.
How could the Xie family allow others to bully their daughter?
But it's too late to say anything now.
…
The fact that Hao Shangshu was dismissed from office was unknown to everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty.
Grand Tutor Qin is now semi-retired and old. He goes to the morning court at most two or three times a month, mostly to complain of illness, and the emperor acquiesces.
But he had many disciples, and someone told him the news before lunch.
Grand Tutor Qin sat in the study for a long time, not knowing what he was thinking. Then he ordered someone to call Qin Zhilan over. The old man, who had always been highly virtuous and respectable, now looked at the arrogant granddaughter in front of him: "Zhilan, Hao Shangshu was impeached in court today."
Qin Zhilan's expression changed and she looked up at her grandfather in disbelief.
"Your Majesty thinks that he has not made many mistakes in the past. He just dismissed his official position and ordered his family to move out of the capital. He will not be allowed to enter the court in this life." Qin Taifu's voice revealed the elegance and gentleness of an old man, but also revealed a sense of oppression that cannot be ignored, "Three generations of descendants You are not allowed to enter officialdom."
Qin Zhilan's heart sank to the bottom.
"Zhi Lan, tell me the truth." Taifu Qin's eyes fell on her face, as if he wanted to see through all the hidden thoughts in her heart, "Does the fact that the Xie family girl fell into the water have anything to do with you?"
Qin Zhilan lowered her eyes and shook her head slowly: "Zhilan doesn't understand what grandpa means."
"If you don't understand, then you don't understand." Taifu Qin raised his hand, "Since the marriage to the Crown Prince of Prince Rong has been cancelled, in order to calm down the rumors outside, please don't go out during this period. I will attend your wedding. Shangxin——"
"Grandfather." Qin Zhilan said almost at a loss, with reluctance hidden in her lowered eyes, "My granddaughter only likes the prince."
Qin Taifu frowned: "The prince has no intention of you, so don't think about those unrealistic things."
Qin Zhilan's face changed slightly: "Grandpa——"
"Zhi Lan, a daughter's family name is very important." Mrs. Qin looked at her expressionlessly, "Once your reputation is ruined, it will be very difficult for you to find a husband. Besides, the Qin family is far less powerful than you think. Monstrous. Don’t think that your grandfather can do whatever you want as the Imperial Master. You not only have to think about your own reputation, but also the whole family.”
