Tang Ning listened to the old gentleman's scolding, pursed her lips and chuckled: "You are here, aren't you? Besides, I am too young to convince the public, and I am already eye-catching enough."
"Here at the academy, please block it for me. I'll hide my shame for a while. After this period of time, I'll find another opportunity to make a big splash."
Mr. Tong was amused by her, and his serious face couldn't hold back: "You are thick-skinned. Is this how you use a blockbuster?"
Tang Ning chuckled.
Yue Jian came over with a tea stove, and Tang Ning took a small pot on the side to make tea. When the aroma of tea filled the room, Mr. Tong asked: "Is Governor Xiao's injury better?"
Tang Ning gently stirred the tea soup with a teaspoon: "It's still like that. I'm afraid I won't be able to get out of bed in a short time. Lu Qin had murderous intentions when he started. Brother, I blocked the disaster for me."
Speaking of the aristocratic family, Mr. Tong's eyes were stained with disgust: "People from these aristocratic families are used to being unscrupulous. They treat the world as their own, ignore the law and do whatever they want. It's a pity that the emperor is weak, let alone other people... …”
Having said this, the old gentleman couldn't help but sigh:
"If this world continues like this, sooner or later there will be chaos."
Although he was not in the court, he also knew that the power of the Wei Dynasty was declining, that there were tigers and wolves in the north and south, and that the courtiers of the famous families in the partial court only cared about taking power and did not care about anything else.
"That's why Mr. Cao and I asked you to come out. This academy does not ask for anything else. It can cultivate more people with lofty ideals and provide new blood for the court. Maybe it can suppress the aristocratic families."
Tang Ning gently lifted the teapot, brushed off the first bit of tea soup, and poured it into a bowl on the side. Then he added new water into the pot and watched the flames in the furnace licking the body of the pot.
"There is too much clutter in the court, and heavy medicine is needed for serious illness. More fresh blood can always bring vitality."
Mr. Tong shook his head when he heard this: "It's easy for you to say, but it is not for these students to get official positions in the court. It is very difficult for people without financial background to enter the court."
In such a large court, there are countless officials from poor families, otherwise they would not be suppressed to this extent by aristocratic families.
Tang Ning said: "That was before, but not necessarily now."
Mr. Tong was startled when he heard the words. He saw the teacup spinning in the little girl's hand, and the water in it was rippling. Just like the words in her mouth, it fell into her ears and made huge waves.
"His Majesty intends to open a subject to recruit scholars, and the Qingliu faction in the court is also trying its best to win over it. Half of the reason for the establishment of Rongsheng Academy is the competition between the royal family and the aristocratic families."
"Before, the aristocratic families had been blocking the way. The Lu family and the other families were unwilling to cede their own interests and give up the power to select officials. However, this time Lu Qin made a big mistake. His Majesty had originally intended to lingchi, so Lu Chongyuan wanted to protect him. Life, promise to give in."
Mr. Tong was shocked: "Is this true?"
Tang Ning said: "It is absolutely true that Lu Chongyuan personally wrote a book for Cao Gong and asked him to intercede for Lu Qin in court. In exchange, the Lu family agreed to open a new school to obtain scholars. Although several other aristocratic families would still block it, as long as Lu Qin If the family retreats, it will be difficult for the aristocratic family to stay together."
The power of an aristocratic family is like the embankment of the Guhe River. It is difficult to cope with it when they are united, but if it fails in one place, it will be difficult to restore the decline.
"Brother has made arrangements earlier. Once the Lu family retreats, the other families will start fighting among themselves. With the help of the Qingliu faction, no one can stop this matter. The imperial court will definitely punish Enke by next year at the latest."
From the initial disbelief, Mr. Tong's face turned full of joy. He waved his sleeves, clapped his hands, and laughed heartily: "Okay, okay!! If this can be done, the governor and the county chief will have great influence on the students all over the world." kindness!!"
Tang Ning poured out the water from the tea bowl and said, "This matter is not due to me and the two of us. It is only Duke Cao and the others who should be thanked by the whole world."
"You don't need to be humble. Although Cao Dejiang's actions are worthy of the world, the Qingliu faction is not without selfish motives. It is you and Governor Xiao. If it weren't for you two, this matter would have been impossible."
When Mr. Tong was in court, Xiao Yan had not yet entered the palace. By the time Xiao Yan's power came to power, he had already lived in seclusion.
He had heard of Governor Xiao's reputation, and thought he was just like the powerful eunuchs and traitors of the previous dynasty, but he never expected that he could have such great rights and wrongs.
Mr. Tong suddenly couldn't help but sigh: "In fact, back then there were people as righteous as Governor Xiao who wanted to purge the court and were full of passion for the world and the people. It's a pity..."
He sighed deeply, full of regret.
Tang Ning's heart moved: "Are you talking about Prince Ru?"
"you know?"
"I've heard some, but not in detail. Do you know what happened back then?"
Mr. Tong hesitated for a moment, seeing that Tang Ning was full of doubts, he sighed softly: "I was still in the court when Prince Ru was in court, and I know a little about his affairs. If you want to hear it, I can tell you. It’s just that this matter came out of my mouth and entered your ears, so don’t mention it again after leaving here.”
Tang Ning naturally understood the importance and quickly agreed.
The tea soup was boiling on the stove. After Tang Ning poured it for Mr. Tong, Mr. Tong touched the slightly hot tea bowl and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Prince Ru was born during the reign of Taizu. At that time, the late emperor was neither his direct descendant nor his eldest son, and his status was not very noble. However, Prince Ru was smart since he was a child and was born with precocious wisdom. When he was two years old, Taizu Qingyan stayed by his side to educate him. At the age of five, he was familiar with hundreds of schools of thought. At the age of seven or eight, he was already able to write, ride, and shoot. At a young age, he already had the majesty of the emperor..."
"Wait a minute." Tang Ning interrupted: "I remember that the late emperor was his direct descendant?"
"He is a direct descendant, but the late emperor only adopted Prince Ru when he was seven years old. This matter was known to all the old officials at that time, but no one mentioned it again after the late emperor came to the throne."
Tang Ning seemed to understand something when he heard this. When Prince Ru was two years old, Taizu Qingyan stayed by his side to educate him. When he was seven years old, the late emperor adopted him and became his direct descendant.
Why doesn't this look like Emperor Taizu looked at the late emperor? Rather, it seems that in order to pave the way for the future of Prince Ru, he just gilded the late emperor?
Tang Ning couldn't help but said: "Did the late Emperor take advantage of Prince Ru?"
Mr. Tong was amused by her statement: "I don't know, Taizu didn't say it clearly, but many people in the court had guesses at that time."
At least in the eyes of those people at that time, the late emperor had taken advantage of the ruthless prince.
Mr. Tong smiled before returning to the topic.
"Prince Ruo has been with Taizu since he was a child, and was personally trained by him. He is extremely talented in both civil and military affairs. When he was ten years old, he had already shown his talents in the court, and even followed Taizu to court."
"Later Taizu had to abdicate due to the relapse of an old injury he suffered during his young campaign, and passed the throne to the late emperor. At that time, according to the imperial decree of passing the throne, he was directly granted the title of crown prince."
The ten-year-old boy suddenly became the crown prince of the Wei Dynasty, and his status was only lower than that of the late emperor.
Although Taizu abdicated the throne at that time, the power of the court was still in his hands, and the late emperor was like a half-"puppet" leading the emperor's reputation.
Taizu taught Prince Ru almost step by step how to show off his appearance as a wise king and win the hearts of the people. It was not until his death four years later that the power of the court returned to the hands of the late emperor. At that time, Prince Ru and the late emperor, who were just fourteen years old, were almost in charge of the court together. In the Tang Dynasty, the prince's reputation even surpassed that of the late emperor.
Tang Ning had a strange look on his face as he listened to Mr. Tong's words.
Why did she feel that these things between Prince Ru and the late emperor were vaguely familiar, as if she had heard them somewhere?
