Chapter 1083 What crime should be punished?

Simple question.

But the moment Yang Meishan heard these words, he completely collapsed to the ground.

The officialdom has its own knowledge.

If the emperor directly orders someone to punish him today, it will seem that he is being punished, but there is still hope.

But they had to call in these people who were at the pinnacle of power, and finally said something like this.

Finished

Yang Meishan's face was completely pale, even his lips were bloodless. He just looked towards where Mu Xu was.

Speaking of friendship, he had some friendship with the Grand Priest Mu. When he was young, he went to study in the capital because of his family relationship. He had a conversation with the Grand Priest Mu. After that, he entered the officialdom and worked as the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice for a year. He also drank some wine with the Grand Priest Mu.

Although he had asked to see Mu Xu several times during his visit to the capital, but was rejected each time or Xun Kuang had to entertain him, this was the first time he met him today.

But right now, as soon as he looked over, there was a pleading look in his eyes. He had no other choice but to long for the Lord of Priests.

Mu Xu lowered his head and noticed it out of the corner of his eye, but did not turn his head.

It is actually normal for the officials who came from the capital this time to move around everywhere. Many officials do this, and Yang Meishan is naturally one of them.

However, Mu Xu never paid any attention to Yangmei Mountain.

He was not qualified to be the Shao Yin of Jingzhao Prefecture, and he wanted to be the Langzhong of the Ministry of Justice. Human greed is like a snake swallowing an elephant, so Mu Xu refused to meet him and had no intention of meeting him as he was busy with the special examination at hand.

"I have failed in my duty and am guilty of negligence. Please punish me, Your Majesty!" Wei Jiu took two steps forward and bowed to the emperor and the empress.

Su Wenqing also took two steps forward and bowed, "I, your Majesty, helped Wei Jiu fill the vacant position, but I did not investigate the official's moral character. I am also guilty of negligence. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

Li Jiulang standing by also stepped forward to respectfully plead guilty.

Among the people who came, only Mu Xu stood still, mainly because this matter had nothing to do with him.

However, the advantage of being smart is that after hearing Yan Shu tell everyone about what happened here, he immediately knew what the emperor was going to do, so he followed him here immediately.

Mu Xu took a step forward and came to Li Jiulang: "Your Majesty, this old minister is also guilty."

Xia Fengxiang looked at Mu Xu.

Mu Xu bowed and said, "Because of the battle with Mobei, our Great Xia won a great victory. Your Majesty and the Empress opened a special examination, exempted the taxes in Yanyun, and rewarded the three armies to make them famous throughout the world. I, an old minister, was trusted by your Majesty to supervise this special examination, but when the special examination was opened, I was not doing my job well. I was slow to follow your Majesty's suggestion to follow the rules set by the Empress in the palace and set up a separate moral examination. Because of this, I am still discussing with the masters of the Imperial Academy, as well as the Grand Master and the Grand Tutor, so I have not presented it to your Majesty, and therefore have not announced to the world that everyone in the world, regardless of their background, can participate in this special examination. As a result, people like Liu Dongshan and Yang Xian, who think they have a family background and have made great achievements, can also participate in the special examination, making them self-righteous, looking high above the rest, and considering themselves as students of the special examination. This is actually the fault of my failure to do my job well. Please punish me, Your Majesty."

After that, Mu Xu continued, "The Imperial College is a place of learning for students all over the world. Liu Dongshan and Yang Xian studied in the Imperial College for half a year. This is because the Imperial College did not teach them morality. This old minister is the chief priest of the Imperial College. This is because this old minister did not teach them well."

Su Changan glanced at Mu Xu and was puzzled, because Mu Xu had actually mentioned before leaving Wuhekou Pass that he was thinking about adding something similar to an interview to this special examination. The reason was that he saw the civil service examination organized by Su Changan in the palace, as well as the examination held by Wuping Town to recruit those who wanted to participate in the study and the martial arts world to join the army, which gave him inspiration.

It cannot be considered a complete reform of the imperial examination system, it is just an additional interview to screen a group of people.

But the fundamental reason is that Mu Xu told Xia Fengxiang in his memorial that Su Changan once said, "Knowledge cannot filter out scum, and people with low knowledge are not necessarily of poor moral character."

Xia Fengxiang knew that since the palace adopted Su Changan's examination system, the efficiency of various departments had improved a lot, so he replied to Mu Xu and let him do it.

But now Mu Xu said that he had never mentioned this to Xia Fengxiang.

Su Changan clicked his tongue. This old fox said this directly in front of so many people. Was he trying to give all the credit to himself and his wife?

Moreover, throughout the dynasties of the Great Xia Dynasty, there was usually only one list of candidates for the special examination, so the number of candidates was always only half of that in the ordinary imperial examination. Therefore, many children from poor families had no chance of taking the special examination.

Mu Xu is also using this method to tell everyone that this time, His Majesty has ordered that everyone can participate, and it is not that simple.

Su Changan smiled lightly. It was said that old people are very cunning. Doing this at this time not only helps him gain fame, but also helps his wife calm down.

Because this matter had been decided long ago, and it was only a matter of time before it was announced to the world, but now Mu Xu chose to say it in this way.

This is so high-end flattery.

Xia Fengxiang could hear the hidden meaning in these words, so he just looked at Mu Xu and said, "This matter is not urgent. Besides, regarding the special examination, I intend to add a special title, and we will decide later."

Hearing this, Mu Xu lowered his head and said nothing, but it was a good idea to tell the world about En Ke’s affairs!

The people around couldn't hear what was going on.

But everyone was swallowing their saliva as they watched the scene in front of them.

because

Never seen it!

I have always heard about things like ministers paying homage to the emperor and then imagined that scene myself.

But today

They all looked at the Grand Tutor, the Lord Chief Academician, the Prime Minister, and the Lord Secretary as they respectfully bowed and confessed their crimes to the Emperor and the Empress.

He also watched as the chief academician was discussing state affairs.

Is this what ordinary people can see?

Especially the Enke that Master Jijiu mentioned, isn't it said here without any announcement? For them to hear?

The common people pursed their lips and became inexplicably excited, because in fact, let alone these adults, it was impossible for them to see each other even once under normal circumstances. But today's scene was so surprising, how could they not be surprised, especially such a scene.

The most important thing is that the Emperor and the Empress are asking for justice for them!

But some clever scholars looked at the emperor in astonishment. Facing everyone, he increased their grace and reputation, and examined their moral conduct. These were all key information.

And once it is said like this, it means that it has been decided and must be done. After all, it was all decided by the Emperor and the Empress, and they never joke around. This is a done deal.

These students immediately showed joy on their faces.

When studying for the imperial examination, there is now an exemption from the imperial examination, and additional exemptions from the imperial examination will be granted. This is a great thing!

But some are happy while others are sad.

Although Yang Meishan's face looked pale just now, it still had some blood color.

But now he was completely pale, because Mu Jijiu's last few words specifically mentioned Yang Xian and Liu Dongshan, which seemed to mean that he would take away his son's fame and not let him take the exam.

Yang Meishan rolled and crawled, knelt down towards Xia Fengxiang, kowtowed several times and said: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please have mercy on me. All the blame lies with me. Although my son is spoiled, it is also because of my poor parenting. He studied hard, please have mercy on me, Your Majesty!"

Liu Dongshan, who was standing by, was not smart but he was not a fool either. He understood what Mu Xu said. Looking at Yang Meishan's actions, he understood that something really big had happened this time.

He immediately got up in a panic and looked towards where Xia Fengxiang was.

But before he could open his mouth, the sound of hurried horse hooves and carriage wheels was heard again.

Everyone turned back

The first person seen was a middle-aged man riding a horse, and behind him were two carriages, on which Xun Kuang and Yan Shu could be seen.

The crowd made way again.

The man on horseback immediately dismounted and knelt down towards Xia Fengxiang and Su Changan, with his forehead touching the ground. “Your humble servant Liu Changchun pays respects to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Queen.”

Liu Dongshan, who was standing by, had a look of hope on his face the moment he saw Liu Changchun. When he saw his brother, he quickly moved forward, wanting to tell him what had just happened, but he did not dare to speak.

At this time, the two carriages also stopped.

Yang Shanchang, Yan Ci and Gao Rou hurriedly got off the carriage and walked quickly towards Xia Fengxiang.

When the people around saw that a few more high-ranking officials had arrived, they were even more afraid to say a word.

Let’s be honest!

What I saw today is enough to brag about for the rest of my life!

"The guilty minister Yang Shanchang pays respect to His Majesty!"

Except for Yang Shanchang, Yan Ci and Gao Rou all claimed to be guilty ministers.

Over there, Su Wenqing, Mu Xu and others bowed and kowtowed. It was obvious at a glance that they had made a mistake, so they just did that naturally.

But it was when the carriage came over that the three people got off.

Liu Dongshan quickly whispered what had happened to Liu Changchun.

The main thing is that he has to say it. If he doesn't say it, not only will his fame be lost, but even the entire Liu family will have no chance of taking the imperial examination. What hope is there for the Liu family then!

Liu Changchun looked surprised and almost choked. After hearing what happened here from the informant, he hurried over and met Xun Kuang and others on the way.

At that time, Liu Changchun knew that the matter was far from being just a matter of forty taels owed by his brother!

But I didn't expect it to come to this.

If the Liu family, a family of scholars, cannot pass the imperial examination, it will be completely finished!

Xia Fengxiang ignored Yang Shanchang and the others and asked them to stand there in a bowing posture.

Su Changan looked at Liu Changchun and said, "Master Liu, Liu Dongshan owes money to other people and won't pay it back."

Liu Changchun was stunned for a moment. He had just seen Su Changan. Although he was amazed, he was more focused on what Liu Dongshan told him. He didn't have the mind to look more.

When he heard Su Changan's words, he turned his head to look at Su Changan. When he really saw the queen, although Liu Changchun had heard of her appearance before, he was also a little surprised. But now was not the time, Liu Changchun pursed his lips and said immediately: "Bring it."

As he spoke, he pulled out a bag of silver from his sleeve, and then looked at Su Changan: "Your Majesty, Madam, there are seventy taels in total, I brought them all, forty taels is the money I owed, and thirty taels is for apology."

As he spoke, he carefully placed the silver on the ground, then looked at Su Changan and said, "Your Majesty, Dongshan is still young. Because he often studies at home, he doesn't understand many things. Moreover, your mother likes Dongshan the most. When Dongshan was young, your mother always bought things for Dongshan. This time Dongshan admits his guilt, please show mercy, Your Majesty."

When Su Changan heard his mother mentioned, his expression was slightly stunned.

Xia Fengxiang on the side had no expression. He just looked at Xia Yuanyuan and smiled, then helped Xia Yuanyuan wipe her greasy mouth, with no intention of saying anything.

Su Wenqing and others just glanced at Liu Changchun.

No wonder the old man of the Liu family passed away. It hasn’t been many years since the Liu family, which was a prominent family in Liuzhou, became the poor state it is now.

When Yang Meishan heard this and looked at Liu Changchun, he wanted to jump up and hit him. How stupid! How could you mention the Queen Mother at this time!

When Liu Dongshan heard this, he nodded immediately: "Yes, Your Majesty, your mother, my eldest sister loves me the most and gave me clothes before. This time... This time is my fault. Please have mercy on me, Your Majesty, please have mercy on me and don't take away my fame! Please have mercy on me for the sake of my eldest sister!"

Su Wenqing's face turned pale.

Others looked at the two brothers as if they were dead people.

All the people looked at the two men, and then at the Queen. They looked at each other. If the Queen just forgave them, they couldn't say anything. After all, it was not a big deal. Besides, the Queen was kind and filial, and Madam Su was upstairs.

Su Changan smiled at Liu Changchun and said nothing to him. Instead, he looked at Shopkeeper Sun and said, "Shopkeeper, I heard that you organized a poetry event to celebrate the victory in Wuhekou and Shuozhou. Liu Dongshan wrote excellent poems and won the prizes, which were the banquets. After that, he started to buy from you on credit?"

Shopkeeper Sun was stunned for a moment, then he looked at Su Changan carefully, then at Liu Changchun, his lips moving, not daring to say anything.

Su Changan said softly, "Ma Situi, go to his shop and get the poem to show to Mu Xu and Xun Kuang. They are knowledgeable and can tell whether the poem is good or not."

Ma Shitui bowed immediately, turned around and walked towards the shopkeeper Sun's shop nearby.

Not long after, he came out, holding a paper in his hand, and Ma Situi went straight towards where Mu Xu and Xun Kuang were.

Mu Xu only took a glance and then looked at the Queen: "Your Majesty, it's just okay."

Xun Kuang didn't say anything, just smiled gently.

When Liu Changchun and Liu Dongshan saw this, they were startled, but they didn't understand what Su Changan was doing.

However, Su Changan looked at Shopkeeper Sun and said, "You are afraid that he will say he is my uncle, so you have to give him the title."

When Manager Sun heard this, he looked at Su Changan, then glanced at Liu Changchun and Liu Dongshan.

Su Changan said, "Just tell me, don't be afraid. I'll give you an explanation today, and no one will bother you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Sun swallowed his saliva and nodded: "It was that day when he said he was your uncle, many scholars dared not speak, and I had no choice but to choose him."

Su Changan looked towards Maomao: "Paper and pen."

When Maomao heard this, he quickly took out a pen and paper from his small bag.

Su Changan took it, thought for a moment and wrote directly, "Black clouds press down on the city, the city is about to collapse, the armor shines towards the sun, the golden scales open. The horn sounds fill the sky with autumn colors, and the rouge on the frontier is purple at night. The half-rolled red flag is facing the Yishui River, the frost is heavy and the drums are cold. I will report your intention on the golden platform, and I will die for you with the jade dragon."

After writing, Su Changan handed it to Shopkeeper Sun and said, "They used my name to intimidate you. I can't repay you for the banquet you ate, but this poem can be regarded as my help in winning the first place. I got those banquets from you, so I won't be sorry to others. This poem is not very good, you can take it."

Seeing this scene, Mu Xu and Xun Kuang's eyes lit up.

Your Majesty hasn't written any poetry for many months!

When Liu Changchun heard this, he was stunned and began to wonder what this was for. Was he trying to figure out what was going on?

Thinking of this, Liu Changchun pursed his lips and glanced at Su Wenqing, but when he saw the old tutor's face was very ugly, he immediately withdrew his gaze. But when he looked at the Empress, he felt that the Empress was going to settle the matter for the sake of her eldest sister?

When Manager Sun heard this, he looked at the paper again and his hands began to tremble a little.

It was Ma Situi who took the paper and handed it to Shopkeeper Sun. However, when Ma Situi glanced at the poem, he was startled.

'It's not that good!? '

On the other side, Mu Xu and Xun Kuang saw Ma Shitui's expression and had the urge to rush over, but they held back.

Shopkeeper Sun took the paper tremblingly, not daring to look at it. He just looked at the Queen and said, "How can this be done, Queen? I am not that lucky. You..."

Su Changan said, "Just take it, and you also took the seventy taels over there, it's all what you deserve. But if you want to sell the poem, that's fine, but if someone wants to force you to sell it, just report it to the authorities and say that I asked you to do so."

Just two simple sentences and give Manager Sun a talisman!

Shopkeeper Sun looked at Su Changan, his eyes suddenly reddened, and he immediately knelt down: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty!"

If Manager Sun couldn't get the forty taels of silver back today, his whole family would be left with nothing. Moreover, if he did this himself, he would be retaliated against by the Liu family. He was ready to pay back the money and quickly fled the capital with his wife and children and returned to his hometown.

When Ma Shitui saw Su Changan's gesture, he quickly helped Manager Sun up.

Su Changan turned his head and looked at Liu Changchun and Liu Dongshan: "The matter is settled just like that."

Hearing this, Liu Changchun and Liu Dongshan felt a little nervous. Draw? What does that mean? It's over?

After the two looked at each other, they showed joy for no reason.

The people around were also silent, which was understandable as it was human nature.

Liu Changchun showed a look of joy on his face: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, Your Majesty. I will definitely go to see my elder sister. The Liu family will remember your kindness!"

How could Liu Changchun not be ecstatic!

Since the matter was settled like this, it meant that the Queen publicly acknowledged him as her uncle, and the Liu family would be completely different from now on!

But at this time.

Su Wenqing said, "You are allowed to come and meet my daughter-in-law? Moreover, your Liu family has declared that you are the uncle of the Empress and are related to the Empress. Since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, your Liu family is the first to do so."

Liu Changchun was stunned and turned to look at Su Wenqing.

Su Wenqing looked at Liu Changchun: "Liu Changchun, let me ask you! Have you been claiming to be the uncle of the Queen Mother for the past few months? My daughter-in-law has obstructed you several times, but you have no repentance and are even more rampant!"

Liu Changchun looked at Su Wenqing. Things were changing so fast that he couldn't accept it. But he looked at Su Wenqing and said, "My Lord, I don't understand what you mean."

Su Wenqing snorted coldly and looked at Su Changan: "Please punish the Liu family! For several months, when you and Your Majesty went to Yandi to personally conquer Mobei, the Liu family claimed to be your uncle in the capital because they have a sister-in-law relationship with my daughter-in-law. But in fact, as early as twenty years ago, the Liu family severed their relationship with my daughter-in-law. Moreover, in the past few months, they have been parading in the streets under your name. Although this old minister tried to dissuade them, he was concerned about Your Majesty's kindness and filial piety. He was afraid that my daughter-in-law would know about this and get upset, and then you would blame yourself. So you could only silently send people to deal with them after they paraded around, in order to save your reputation. But the Liu family not only did not know their fault, but became even more rampant! That's why they are guilty today!"

When Liu Changchun heard this, his expression changed drastically: "Grandmaster! The Queen is my eldest sister's biological daughter, so how can I not be the Queen's uncle? Moreover, it was my grandfather and father who severed the relationship with my eldest sister, not me and my mother!"

Su Wenqing looked at Su Changan and said, "Who told you that the queen is my Su family's biological child! The queen was adopted by my daughter-in-law before she left the palace. What does your Liu family have to do with her? You are the ones who have destroyed the queen's reputation, used it to make a lot of money, and bullied the people! You even don't take the officials of Daxia seriously! What crime should you be punished for!"

"ah?"

(End of this chapter)