(Two in one. Xie: The magical golden beetle, I won’t play support anymore, 100 votes may be waiting for my brother.)
Guo Chong was sitting at the desk in the large and warm imperial study room, looking through the memorials. The memorials on the desk in front of him had piled up into two small mountains. On the left side were neatly folded memorials that had not yet been read, and on the right side were a mess.
I have already seen the memorial.
Guo Chong frowned and threw a memorial in his hand on the hill on the right. The memorial made a clattering sound and fell to the ground with a clatter. Qian Delu, who was serving at the side, hurriedly bent down to pick up the memorial and put it gently on the ground.
On the table.
"Your Majesty, please rest for a while. It's not good for your health to work so hard. When are you going to see so many memorials? Let's rest for a while and see again." Qian Delu said in a low voice.
Guo Chong sneered and said: "With so many memorials, I only need to read one. This is the memorial that was sent after the morning meeting. So many people want me to severely punish Yan Zhengshu and Fang Dunru. I spent a long time flipping through it.
No one can speak for them. Hehe, Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru are really failed as human beings, and no one can excuse themselves and intercede for them."
Qian Delu smiled apologetically and said softly: "My slave, what did you think made the emperor unhappy? It turned out to be because of this. I don't understand. Didn't Master Yan and Master Fang commit the crime of treason? The ministers also asked for severe punishment.
Of course, the emperor is also very disappointed and angry with them. Why does he still want to see Zhezi who intercedes for him? This servant is very stupid and doesn't quite understand."
Guo Chong snorted coldly: "Of course you don't understand. This is called pushing everyone against the wall. I don't like this kind of behavior very much. You didn't read these excerpts. They only talk about their sins, and they are all gnashing their teeth with hatred.
I wish I could punish them quickly. But Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru really have no merit? I have clear rewards and punishments for my ministers. Merits are merits and faults are faults. To judge faults, we must also look at merit. Yan Zhengshen and Fang Dunru will be
Is it really as bad as they say? After all, they have worked hard for the reform. What I mean is that the atmosphere in the court is not right. When people are in power, everyone will flatter and say good things. Once they are guilty, they will be eager to kill everyone.
Step on them. When did my ministers of the Zhou Dynasty become so snobbish? I don't like what these people do."
Qian Delu snorted and nodded: "I see, I understand. Your Majesty is right. Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru are guilty, but they have no merit and hard work. How can you just talk about their crimes without considering them?"
Where is their credit? What the Emperor said is the truth, and these people have indeed gone too far."
Guo Chong said coldly: "It's more than excessive, this is obviously a unified voice. This is actually what I'm worried about. Some people like to win over and form cliques because of their pampering. These memorials in front of you are the evidence. Fang Dunru is serious
Su deserves to die. He dared to say such rebellious and unethical words, which is simply abominable. I still don’t believe it. No one dares to say a word for them in so many memorials. I’ll take another look.”
Guo Chong reached out and picked up a memorial from the hill on the left, opened it and read it. At this time, a small chamberlain came in from the door. Qian Delu walked over, the little chamberlain whispered a few words, Qian Delu hurriedly turned around
Report back and forth.
"Your Majesty, Lin Jue wants to see you."
"Lin Jue?" Guo Chong closed the memorial and frowned: "What is he here for? I still have two days of medicine."
Qian Delu said with a smile: "Perhaps he is the kind of person the emperor is looking for to intercede for Yan Fang and the other two. He was once Fang Dunru's disciple."
Guo Chong frowned and thought for a while, then nodded and said: "It's very possible. I haven't seen his memorial, and he doesn't seem to have written a memorial. Although Fang Dunru expelled him from the door, I heard that Lin Jue still treated Fang Dunru very well.
He is a man of love. He dares to intercede for Fang Dunru? I am somewhat looking forward to it."
"Has the emperor seen him?" Qian Delu asked.
"I'll meet you, of course I'll meet you. I'll declare my presence to him." Guo Chong waved his hand.
Soon after, Lin Jue followed Qian Delu into the imperial study. After the ceremony, Guo Chong asked Qian Delu to give him a seat, but Lin Jue did not get up.
"Your Majesty, I have something to say." Lin Jue lowered his head and said.
"What's wrong? Just say whatever you want." Guo Chong said with a smile.
"We would like to ask a favor for Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsu. I hope the emperor will be lenient and forgive their sins." Lin Jue got straight to the point and was not long-winded.
"Forgive them? Don't you know what they said? Those are treasonous words. They have become evil, do you know that? You actually dare to plead for him? You don't even think about the crimes they committed,
Are you here to annoy me on purpose?" Guo Chong shouted angrily.
Lin Jue hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, please calm down. How dare I deliberately provoke your Majesty? I also think that Master Fang and Master Yan's remarks this time are too much and should be punished. I don't want to defend them, but I just want to ask for forgiveness from the Emperor."
They. It is true that they are guilty, but they are just wrong in their words. To determine whether a person is loyal or traitorous, it is not about what he says, but what he does. The remarks of the two adults, Yan Fang, are certainly extremely wrong.
But the Emperor thinks about what they have done before. Is there any act that is treasonous? They have worked conscientiously for the imperial court. This is a fact. If they are beaten to death for saying something wrong, I think it is unfair. So.
, I beg the emperor to see that the two adults, Yan Fang, have done some practical things for the great Zhou Dynasty, and for the sake of hard work without any credit, he can forgive the two adults. Let the world know that the emperor is benevolent and virtuous, and the emperor's kindness is great."
Guo Chong frowned and looked at Lin Jue who was kneeling in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "Lin Jue, you are the first person to come to plead for them so far. Have you seen these memorials in front of me? These are all civil and military works of the Manchu Dynasty.
The memorial submitted demands severe punishment for Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru. Although you and Fang Dunru have a close relationship, he has severed all ties with you, so why do you still come to plead for him? Aren't you afraid that I will punish you for your sins?"
Lin Jue said softly: "Your Majesty, I am not here to plead for personal reasons. Even if I am my enemy, I will not give up my principles just because of personal grudges. I want to plead for two veteran ministers who want to do something for Zhou Dynasty.
, rather than any grievances and emotional relationships between teachers and students. They did make mistakes, but no one can make mistakes, and it is a shameful thing for people to report their private remarks.
If I want to tell the truth, I would think that the person who reported the report is even more shameful. This is the behavior of a villain, and such people should be severely punished. Not only must they be severely punished, but their behind-the-scenes instructions must also be investigated. There are people in the court who have placed orders in other yamen.
Eye spies bribe officials to achieve personal goals, which will ruin the atmosphere of the court."
Guo Chong laughed angrily, pointed at Lin Jue and said: "Scream, according to what you said, the person who exposed his treasonous and unethical remarks is guilty? But the two Yan Fang who made the treasonous and unethical remarks are not guilty? I should have been kept in the dark.
?Lin Jue, Lin Jue, have you lost your mind?"
Lin Jue shook his head and said: "I have never said that the two adults are not guilty. It is really inappropriate for Fang Dunru to speak so wildly. Those three shortcomings are shocking and unacceptable. I just implore the emperor to consider it comprehensively and not to give him a stick for it.
Beat to death."
Guo Chong scolded: "Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsu are stubborn. Even if I want to spare them, I'm afraid they won't appreciate it. If I spare them this time, I might say what I will say next time. I'm not that lenient.
With such a big heart, how can I allow anyone to talk nonsense about respecting Heaven and the Patriarch? It has ruined the ethics of the entire Zhou Dynasty and disturbed the thoughts of the people in the world? That Fang Dunru is known as the great Confucian of the time, and there are many admirers of him both inside and outside the court.
As a man of high moral character and respect, he does not cultivate his rhetoric, and his influence is so bad that it is unacceptable. I don’t know how many people will follow his actions in the future, and the world will not be in chaos? Have you thought about this? Don’t I defend them? Qing
Even you said that the chaos in the religion had something to do with the new law, and I did not hesitate to issue an edict to protect them. But what did I get in exchange? Is it the treasonous words they said? "
Lin Jue nodded and said: "It has indeed caused a very bad impact. I am also very sad. I would like to talk to the two adults. If they are willing to bow their heads and admit their mistakes and eliminate the impact, the impact on this matter will be reduced a lot."
.If they are willing to admit their mistakes, can the emperor give them a lighter sentence?"
Guo Chong glared at Lin Jue and said, "What if I don't want to spare them lightly?"
Lin Jue kowtowed and said: "We dare to guess that the emperor actually wants to forgive them in his heart, because the emperor is a benevolent and righteous king, and the emperor will not beat him to death with a stick. The emperor gave them a chance this morning, but they failed.
Your Majesty. Your Majesty is giving them a chance. This can be regarded as the most benevolent and righteous thing. It can also be regarded as a battle between the Emperor and their kings and ministers, and the world will have nothing more to say."
Guo Chong said coldly: "You don't want to put a high hat on me, I won't do this. This time Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsheng committed the crime of treason and failed to live up to my expectations. How can I be lenient? However,
...As you said, I don’t want to beat them to death with a stick. Rewards and punishments should be clearly defined, merits and demerits clear, and they have done some things. I can be lenient, but the premise is that they must apologize to the people of the world and withdraw their
Inappropriate remarks. Moreover, they must also admit some mistakes they made about the new law before. I don’t want to take the blame for them. I made the edict for them. This time they must also clear my name. Lin Jue,
Do you understand what I mean?"
Lin Jue felt a trace of sadness in his heart. Guo Chong not only wanted Yan Fang and the two to apologize for their remarks this time, but also wanted to trace the source and take the blame for the Qingjiao Rebellion. Guo Chong already regretted issuing the edict, and he did not want to be responsible for the whole incident.
This shows that Guo Chong's entire mentality has changed. A few months ago, he knew that he was seriously ill and would not have much time left, so he issued an edict to establish a prince because he wanted to create a stable transfer of power.
Of course, there are many complicated other considerations in the atmosphere. But now that his illness is getting better, he has actually regretted it for a long time. Taking this opportunity, he wants to reverse the case for himself.
"Go and tell them that I have treated them with all my kindness and righteousness, and I have been tolerant enough to them. Over the past two years, I have supported them under so much pressure, but they have let me down. I want them to understand that my
Patience is also limited, and my endurance is also limited." Guo Chong said again in a deep voice.
Lin Jue nodded slightly and said in a deep voice: "I thank the Emperor for your kindness on behalf of the two adults. I also thank the Emperor for giving me this opportunity to persuade them. Wei Chen will go to see you tomorrow... no... tonight."
Your Excellency, please convey the Emperor's wishes to them. I really hope that this matter can be resolved successfully."
Guo Chong nodded and said: "I understand what you are thinking. Lin Jue, you are a compassionate and righteous person. Although you refuse to admit that this move is because of friendship, I know that you are one of the teachers and students who will never forget the past with Fang Dunru."
Friendship. In fact, I am very happy that you can come. I don’t want the civil and military officials of the dynasty to start adding insult to injury, and I don’t like this kind of trend. Although Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsu are guilty, they don’t need to be pushed down by others. Lin Jue,
The fact that you are here means that I am not wrong about you. I do not want the lives of Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsheng, although most of the memorials here require me to severely punish them. If you can persuade them to turn back, I will naturally reduce the punishment.
. But at the same time, I also hope that you will not get stuck in it. This matter has nothing to do with you after all. I also have expectations for you and don’t want you to stumble on this matter. Do you understand what I say?"
Lin Jue solemnly agreed, but felt a little cold in his heart. Guo Chong's words revealed a secret. It turned out that the purpose of so many people reporting to the court was to kill Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsu. How crazy these people were. Fortunately, Guo Chong
I probably didn't want to kill Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru. It all depends on whether the two adults can compromise and admit their mistakes and apologize. It's a matter of life and death. I must persuade them to turn back. Otherwise, I'm afraid things will really happen.
Oops. Even if Guo Chong doesn't want to kill anyone, but everyone is demanding severe punishment, and if the two adults insist on refusing to compromise, they may have to be cruel.
Sometimes it is not a question of whether he should be killed, but a question of whether he has stepped down and whether the emperor's prestige has been maintained. In order to maintain the dignity, sometimes even people who should not be killed have to be killed. These things are in
I don’t know how many times in the history of overestimation this has happened.
With Guo Chong's permission, Lin Jue immediately left the palace and returned to Yulin Lane to pick up Fang Huanqiu and her daughter. Mrs. Fang was overjoyed when she heard that she could go see her husband. She hurriedly cooked some of Fang Dunru's favorite side dishes.
In the food box, he also brought a jar of wine. Fang Huanqiu packed up a few cotton-padded clothes and took them with him. When the sky was dark, Lin Jue, Sun Dayong and more than a dozen nursing staff gathered around the big car in which the Fang family's mother and daughter were riding and went out.
I don’t know whether it was intentional or just the procedure, but Fang Dunru, Yan Zhengshu, and seven or eight key officials from the Ordinance Department were imprisoned in the Yushitai Prison. This was originally the territory under Fang Dunru’s jurisdiction, and was taken over by Fang Dunru.
There are dozens of officials who were personally sent to this prison, but today, Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsun are also imprisoned here. This must be said to be quite ironic.
When Lin Jue entered the Yushitai, he found that all the staff here had been replaced. Only a few of the previous officials were left, but all the police officers and garrison troops had been replaced, and they had been controlled by the Forbidden Army inside and out.
Control. Obviously, Lu Zhongtian and Yang Jun moved very quickly. They had completely controlled the Yushitai, and also tightly controlled Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsu. At the door, Lin Jue met Yan Zhengsu.
The family members also came to visit the prison, but they were prohibited from entering and were not allowed to visit at all. If Lin Jue hadn't been holding Guo Chong's handwriting, they would not have been able to enter at all. Even so, when entering the door, a strange official said
There were a lot of no-nos, saying that Yan Fang and the two were serious offenders of the imperial court and could not have any inappropriate contact. The wine and food carefully prepared by Mrs. Fang were also blocked from outside, saying that they were not allowed to eat the food brought in to avoid accidents. Only
A few cotton-padded clothes were allowed to be brought in. It was also stipulated that there was only half an hour, and one must come out when the time was up, otherwise they would be forcibly evicted.
Although Lin Jue was angry, he did not want to argue with them at this time. These people were obviously ordered by Lu Zhongtian and others, and they did not want anyone to visit Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsheng. He went to see the emperor in the afternoon and requested to visit Fang Dunru.
They must have known about Dun Ru and Yan Zhengsheng. After all, the emperor had their eyes and ears around him. They just couldn't stop themselves from meeting people, so they could only make things difficult for them for various reasons.
It was dark and windy, and the air was so cold that it seemed to freeze. Lin Jue, Fang Huanqiu, and Mrs. Fang entered the dark prison under the "protection" of a group of forbidden soldiers. When the prison door closed behind them,
, suddenly seemed to be isolated from the world.
The cell leader had been replaced a long time ago, and he was no longer the Zheng Xi whom Lin Jue knew. He was replaced by a fat, middle-aged man with an expressionless face. He didn't talk too much nonsense, and he led seven or eight jailers carrying lanterns.
He led Lin Jue and others to a row of prison cells.
"Prisoners are detained in Tianzi No. 3 and No. 4 cells. You are not allowed to enter and can only visit through the fence. When the visiting time is up, leave immediately. Do not make loud noises, laugh or cry, otherwise you can leave immediately. Mr. Lin, can you
understand?"
Lin Jue said in a deep voice: "Thank you for your work, but I also tell you that I am here to visit you according to the order, and you are not allowed to watch and eavesdrop. If such a situation occurs, I will report to the Holy Spirit and punish you severely.
"
The cell leader cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, we are not interested in taking care of these things. Let's go."
The cell leader waved his hand, and a group of people followed behind him and left in confusion.
Lin Jue walked forward holding a lantern, while Fang Huanqiu supported Mrs. Fang and followed behind. The three of them searched one by one along the corridor, and not far from the end, they found the adjacent Tianzi No. 3 and No. 4 prison cells.
When I looked in through the fence, it was so dark inside that I couldn't see anything clearly.
"Master Yan! Mr. Fang! Student Lin Jue is here to see you." Lin Jue called in a low voice.
"Dad! Yan Shibo! What's wrong with you?" Fang Huanqiu cried in a tearful voice.
Mrs. Fang stood there, staring at the dark corner of the Tianzi Prison No. 4, and whispered: "Qiu'er, your father is here."
Lin Jue and others hurriedly stared in, but couldn't see clearly in the darkness. But soon, a slow figure walked from the darkness to where the lantern light could reach. It was undoubtedly Fang Dunru. He didn't know where he was.
How did the teacher’s wife recognize it?
"Sir!" Lin Jue shouted.
"Daddy!" Fang Huanqiu cried.
Fang Dunru was wearing a middle coat, and the official clothes had long been removed. His hair was in a messy bun, with some grass clippings on his hair. He looked old and decadent. When he saw Lin Jue and others, Fang Dunru's eyes were full of surprise.
He disappeared and said in a deep voice: "Madam, Qiu'er, what are you doing here? Is this a place where you can come? Lin Jue, why did you bring your master's wife and junior sister to a place like this? You are simply confused.
Do they all know?"
Mrs. Fang walked forward slowly, handed the cotton coat she was holding into the fence, and said softly: "Husband, it's time now, so don't lose your temper. Have you lost your temper rarely in your life? Lin Jue means well.
But you still want to scold him? Shouldn’t our mother and daughter come? Husband, don’t you think about us and our daughter at all?”
Fang Dunru looked guilty, but quickly returned to normal, and said in a deep voice: "Madam, Huanqiu, don't worry about these things. Lin Jue, I want to ask you one thing, don't bring them to see me again.
.If you miss the old friendship, please send your junior wife and junior sister immediately away from the capital, away from the place of right and wrong. Don't bother me. You don't need to come again, so as not to delay your future."
Lin Jue said in a deep voice: "Sir, if we don't talk about such things for now, can you allow the student to say a few words to you? We only have half an hour, sir, can you listen to me?"
