115 Literary Mind
◎Are you not afraid of even death for your country?◎
Students took to the streets, some holding banners to protest against Cui Zhicong, others spreading the details of Guan Fuzhi's tragic death along the streets, running around and shouting, their momentum growing stronger and stronger.
Qingyun hurriedly reported the news from outside, "Sir, someone from the East Factory said there's a commotion in the Imperial College and the Imperial Academy."
Xue Ji: "Because he's locked up?"
Qingyun nodded, "Yes."
"What's the point of causing trouble? Why not just kill him? That would also eliminate harm to the people."
Xue Ji drank his tea alone. He had anticipated this situation. Cui Zhicong might not have caused such a big incident. But the death of a close friend, the loss of all his hard work, had inflicted upon him, had inflamed the student rebellion.
"But that's as it should be. Those scholars who studied for ten years only knew the Four Books and Five Classics, the principles of heaven and earth, and morality. Many fools just read books by rote and believed in their own principles. I hate this kind of filth the most."
Although students are weak, they are the most perceptive. Although they are reckless, they are beneficial to the country and the people. It is best for me to use these people, and it is also best to help her.
"Do you want to take care of it?" Qingyun asked.
Xue Ji took a sip of tea, picked out a few leaves, and clicked his tongue. "This isn't the business of the Imperial Household Department. Wait a minute."
Qingyun: "Yes."
"Does Cui Zhicong know?" Xue Ji asked.
Qingyun shook his head. "I don't know. Your Majesty means to suppress it and not make it public."
This was beyond Xue Ji's expectations. Why would they want to suppress it? The person was already dead, and the rumor had spread among the people. It would be difficult to keep it secret.
"Just delay it for as many days as possible." Qingyun noticed his surprise, but since Fu Hua had given the order, he had to delay it.
Xue Ji was helpless and could only sigh to himself in vain. It was really hard for him to come up with this bad idea.
People from all walks of life in the court and the country questioned Fu Hua's political ability, saying that it was far inferior to that of the previous emperor. He lacked foresight and insight. Fortunately, the people around him were still reliable.
It would have been fine if he'd just been quiet, a nodding mascot, but this man was full of shady tactics, using all his ingenuity on women. He'd give them a slap in the face and then a sweet date, neither refusing nor agreeing, using all sorts of tactics to pit these women against each other, and then he'd reap the benefits.
Although I am incompetent as a king, I can easily handle romantic affairs in bed.
With a king and father like this, rebellion is inevitable sooner or later.
Xue Ji put down his teacup, held his forehead, and said mockingly, "We shouldn't suppress it now. How can the student's affairs be left unresolved? If the government doesn't speak out and the king doesn't take any stance, it will be like an ant trying to shake a tree. It will only intensify the conflict and will be of no benefit!"
Qingyun nodded and said, "Is that so?"
Xue Ji instructed: "Master Cui, please do me a favor and come to my house for a visit."
"I'm afraid he doesn't have time." Qingyun said that the Ministry of Rites had a lot of complicated affairs, and Cui Zhicong really had to take the time to come now.
"Then go and invite him," Xue Ji said, "I don't believe he won't come. It's useless for him to stay here as a half-baked person. Don't bother others."
"yes."
Cui Zhicong is a blockhead who has made no progress at all. It was a waste of time that Rong Qianyu recommended him at that time. Now he is repaying her kindness in this way. He is too lazy to pretend for a moment.
"Also, go inform Commander Fang that the students are weak and reckless. If something really happens up ahead, disperse them and dissuade them. Don't resort to violence and cause any loss of life."
Qingyun responded, "I think Lord Fang knows what's going on."
Xue Ji was not worried about him, but was afraid that his subordinates were not well-mannered. The Jinyiwei faced strong opponents, so it was inevitable that they would be rough in treating these students.
He deliberately spread and exaggerated Cui Zhicong's behavior in order to close the net one day, and he couldn't make any mistakes at such a critical moment.
A few days later, Cui Zhicong really took the time to come to Xue's house, and he accepted the invitation after much hesitation.
Xue Ji was quite polite to him, which made him feel very honored at the time.
"I've been wanting to invite Mr. Cui to my house for a while, but I haven't been able to find time. It's really an honor for me to have you here today."
Xue Ji poured him tea. Not many people could be served by him personally, and today Cui Zhicong could have this honor. Xue Ji poured the tea and pushed it in front of him. Cui Zhicong was so happy that he was a little overwhelmed, looking at Xue Ji with a silly smile.
He is handsome, with fair skin and delicate features, like a carefully painted painting.
Unlike other eunuchs who were servile, he stood straight and straight, making people think that he was a handsome young man. He did not look like a eunuch who would wield a knife to kill people.
Cui Zhicong kept smiling and his eyes never left Xue Ji. His handsomeness was very prominent, otherwise Rong Qianyu would not have mistaken him for Fu Hua when she first saw him.
"Your Excellency, the Minister of Internal Affairs, are too polite. You are a man close to the Emperor, and I am only a minor official. You are too kind to me."
Xue Ji felt a little annoyed by his gaze. No one had ever dared to stare at him so directly, let alone being stared at by a fool. But he had no choice but to endure it and continue chatting.
"This time, I asked you to come here to help the Empress find teachers for the princes and princesses. The royal heirs are growing up, and it's time for them to learn to understand the world."
Cui Zhicong held the teacup and said, "Yes."
"Some of my men went there a few days ago," Xue Ji paused, "Do you... have any recommendations?"
It was obvious that there was no one to recommend him. Xue Ji was a little puzzled as to how this person had passed the imperial examination. Could he have given a house to some examiner or some provincial governor?
He has no talent and no brains. He is really the same family as his stupid sister.
Cui Zhicong said truthfully: "Not yet, but since your majesty trusts me, I will do my best to find it!"
Xue Ji raised his eyes and smiled at him, "Thank you for your hard work, here's a toast to you."
"Thank you, sir!"
As the two drank tea, Qingyun came running to report, "It's bad, sir! Students from the Imperial Academy have taken to the main street, asking Your Majesty to punish us!"
Xue Ji rolled his eyes at him and said, "Why are you so flustered? Master Cui is still here."
"It is said..." Qingyun didn't say anything, but just kept looking in the direction of Cui Zhicong.
Xue Ji also knew what was going on. Seeing that Cui Zhicong was a little uncomfortable, he said, "Just tell me what you have to say. Lord Cui is not an outsider."
Qingyun: "Empress Ke has been caught selling official positions, and the students are protesting!"
As soon as these words were spoken, Cui Zhicong lost his balance and the scalding tea spilled on his hands. He was so frightened that he almost fell off his chair. This man was not a very cunning man, but this sentence scared him so much that he lost his composure.
Xue Ji glanced sideways, wondering how such a cowardly person could dare to do such a shameful thing.
"Take someone and go check it out!" Xue Ji immediately stood up and suddenly turned back, "Master Cui, you can stay in my house for a while."
Cui Zhicong kept bowing and thanking him, "Thank you very much, sir. There must be some misunderstanding here. Can you please plead for me? This is a misunderstanding!"
Xue Ji patted his hands and kept comforting him, "Don't worry." He ordered the servants to take good care of him, took the dagger and went out with Qingyun.
The Xue Mansion was near the main street, not far from the Imperial College. The voices of students protesting could be vaguely heard at the doorstep, which showed that the Imperial College was in turmoil at the moment.
Xue Ji hid himself and said to Qingyun, "There's drugs in the tea. Tell someone to keep him under guard."
Qingyun nodded, "Yes."
As expected, the Imperial Academy was surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, but the students' emotions did not diminish at all.
Over the past few days, Ji Wuzheng's face was extremely bad, and he was still shouting, "If the treacherous ministers are not removed, the country will have no peace. A scum like Cui Zhicong is not worthy of being loyal to the country!"
The more indignant he became, the more his fellow townsmen in the audience pulled him down, "Stop talking, Wu Zheng! The Jinyiwei are here!"
Ji Wuzheng no longer cared about these things. He had always been a proud man, and the fact that he led the riot this time also showed that he was a man with a clear distinction between love and hate. "Am I afraid of the Jinyiwei? We are all speaking out for the country. Even if it means death, it is worth it!"
The Jinyiwei, armed with scimitars, surrounded the leading students in a well-trained manner. The scimitars gleamed coldly, but the students did not retreat, but became more and more excited.
For these young students, justice and fairness are of paramount importance and they will not betray even if a knife is placed on their necks.
"Dismiss Cui Zhicong, dismiss Cui Zhicong!" Li Yan took the lead in shouting. He was a very prestigious student among the Imperial College and came from a prominent family in Longxi.
Among the Jinyiwei wearing flying fish uniforms, one person was spotted with a spring sword embroidered on his belt, black armor on his shoulders, and a gorgeous python uniform with a red background and gold embroidery of python patterns.
The visitor was Fang Xinqiao, commander of the Imperial Guard. "Students, do you really have to cause trouble like this so early in the palace exam? You are all pillars of our nation, so do you have to be labeled as disruptive?"
Li Yan was more rational than Ji Wuzheng. "We are doing this for Your Majesty and for the country. If this is the case, Your Majesty is unworthy of being a king and father!"
A voice came from not far away, "Are you not afraid of even dying for your country?"
Xue Ji arrived in casual clothes with an outstanding temperament. After leaving the Imperial Household Department and taking off his official uniform, few people could recognize him.
When the students saw such a person coming, they were surprised and talked about it in low voices.
"Who is this?"
Someone muttered, "I don't know, it looks so grand."
"That's Xue Jiming, right?" A student recognized him.
"No way, a eunuch dressed like this?"
Xue Ji ignored everyone and walked to Fang Xinqiao's side. "Xinqiao, what's wrong?"
Fang Xinqiao had no choice but to persuade them. They were all warriors, so they couldn't win over these students. "You can see it too. It's like this. I can't persuade them, and I can't take action either."
Xue Ji shouted to the crowd: "Who was that just now? Are you not afraid of death?"
Li Yan shrank back, then stood up and replied, "I'm not afraid!"
Upon hearing this, Xue Ji quickly drew his knife and pointed it at Li Yan, shocking both the students and the Jinyiwei. They had agreed not to fight, so what was he doing?
"How about I kill you right now and let your name go down in history?"
Fang Xinqiao, who was standing by, hurried to stop him, "Jiming, don't be impulsive..."
One student scolded him: "You eunuch, how dare you act so rashly!"
Xue Ji didn't care what these people said. He'd heard them say things like "eunuch" and "wild dog" so many times that he was no longer surprised. Sometimes he even looked forward to seeing what new words they could come up with to correct him, the person involved.
"Cui Zhicong is currently at my residence. If you are determined, you can charge into Xue's house and kill him. You can both leave your name in history and avenge your hatred. Don't you know of such an immediate method, or do you not dare?"
This is true. Since he would rather die than regret, shouting at the top of his lungs is not as cost-effective as actually killing Cui Zhicong.
Of course, this is not the way for scholars.
One of the students retorted, "Do you think everyone is as cruel as you?"
Xue Ji couldn't help laughing at their contradictory words. "Since you're determined to fight to the death, are you afraid of killing? If not, why are you pretending to be loyal? You are the emperor's disciples, the future pillars of the country. After ten years of hard study, you only know such a clumsy method. Are you willing to die for a false praise?"
As soon as these words were spoken, most of the students lost their spirit, became panic-stricken and lost their composure.
Ji Wuzheng seemed to be getting anxious, perhaps because he saw the students' morale was low and they were losing their composure. He said in a panic, "Why did the Queen recommend this villain? It's her fault for not overseeing the person she appointed. Shouldn't she give me an explanation now?"
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