Chapter 183 Repeated Refusal
Huo Lin took a deep breath, suppressing his agitation, his gaze still fixed on Jiang Wenyuan.
Jiang Wenyuan felt the tangible gaze from above, and his whole body trembled violently. He lowered his head even further, his back covered in cold sweat, and his official robes were soaked with sweat.
Oh, my benevolent savior, could you please tell him why the Emperor is so relentless today?!
Huo Lin looked at his cowardly appearance, and the vein on his forehead throbbed again.
Inhale, exhale, that damned calming mantra, hurry up and take effect!
He suppressed his disgust and tried his best to make his voice sound as calm as possible.
"Minister Jiang has served in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices for many years with great diligence, which pleases me greatly. The sacrificial rites at the Imperial Ancestral Temple are of great importance to the state. Since you are already familiar with the rites and music, I would like you to preside over this Winter Solstice Grand Ceremony. What do you think?"
Winter Solstice Festival?
That was a grand ceremony second only to the sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, a position that many high-ranking officials of the third or fourth rank would fight tooth and nail to get involved in.
The Emperor actually appointed a seventh-rank scholar as an assistant?
This pie is too big; it could easily choke someone.
If you do your job well, that's expected; if you mess it up, even the Emperor himself can't save you.
Moreover, if he accepts this job, he'll attract countless resentful eyes, and they'll turn white into black.
Jiang Wenyuan was so frightened that he kowtowed repeatedly.
"Your Majesty, this is unacceptable! This humble servant is of limited talent and learning, and holds a lowly position. I am afraid I am not capable of shouldering such an important responsibility. Please, Your Majesty, reconsider!"
Huo Lin frowned.
I've seen mud that can't be propped up, but I've never seen mud that's clinging to the corner of a wall and refusing to be helped.
However, given his fragile heart, it's understandable that he wouldn't dare to take on the Winter Solstice Grand Ceremony.
Huo Lin patiently extended another olive branch, his tone becoming more resolute.
"Since you feel that the responsibility of the Grand Sacrifice is too heavy, then I will transfer you to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices as Assistant Director, in charge of sacrificial food. This is your forte, so it should be fine, right?"
From seventh rank to sixth rank, this...this...
Doesn't sound that scary?
But the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices was a formidable figure, notoriously strict.
Moreover, if there is even the slightest mistake in preparing the sacrificial food, it is a crime punishable by death.
No, no, the risk is too great. I'd rather stay at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and be a leisurely scholar.
Promotion? Those are all death warrants.
He already has a daughter who is quite the star in the harem, so it's better to keep a low profile to avoid causing trouble for her.
This time, Jiang Wenyuan even forgot to kowtow and fell directly to the ground, his voice trembling uncontrollably, carrying a tragic and desperate air.
"Your Majesty! Your humble servant is of limited talent and learning, and is not fit for such a great task. My duty of checking and counting sacrificial vessels at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is already the limit. I really... I dare not take on such a heavy responsibility. I beg Your Majesty to rescind your order."
In the end, his voice even broke into tears, as if Huo Lin was not promoting him, but pushing him to the guillotine.
The entire hall was silent, and all the ministers stared in disbelief at the scene.
I've seen people refuse promotions, but I've never seen someone refuse so resolutely, as if facing certain death.
Is Jiang Wenyuan out of his mind?
Huo Lin looked at Jiang Wenyuan, who was lying on the ground below, trembling like a leaf in the wind, and a surge of anger rose within him.
Great! Excellent!
He is also incompetent and lacks knowledge, making him unfit for important tasks.
He only knows these two sentences. Did he buy his way into the imperial examination?
He turned down one job after another, looking as if he were about to be beheaded. How could she have such a father?
Huo Lin slammed his hand on the armrest of the dragon throne, his anger barely contained.
"Jiang Wenyuan!"
His chest heaved, about to erupt, but his gaze suddenly fixed on Jiang Wenyuan's pale, terrified face, which also held a hint of reckless stubbornness.
Wait a minute, that expression, that tightly pursed lip, that defiant look...
Sometimes, when Jiang Huan got annoyed by his teasing, she would puff out her cheeks and glare at him.
This old man, with his cowardly yet resolute manner, is so similar to her.
Especially that expression, it's exactly the same.
However, she wasn't that cowardly.
Huo Lin's anger deflated instantly, like a punctured balloon.
If he berates his father-in-law here, he'll be locked out for a week by Jiang Huan when he gets back.
It's not worth it.
So the remaining anger dissipated completely, and although he still had a stern face, his tone softened a bit.
"Look at your pathetic self. I didn't force you. If you don't want to, fine. What are you crying for? Go back to your seat."
Jiang Wenyuan: ? ? ?
No, no further investigation? The Emperor has let him go?
Thank God! May Buddha protect us!
He felt as if he had been granted a pardon, and scrambled to his feet, repeatedly expressing his gratitude: "Thank you, Your Majesty! Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Then he rushed back to the back of the line as if he were fleeing, this time he really wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
Huo Lin looked at his disheveled back, feeling both annoyed and amused.
Forget it, we can't count on this old man.
He recalled the Jiang family genealogy he had looked through yesterday.
Who else can make some achievements?
After much thought, on this thin page, the old and the young alike are all of the same ilk, utterly useless.
but......
He suddenly remembered that Jiang Huan actually had a maternal family name, Xu.
However, he participated in political struggles in the previous dynasty, took the wrong side, and was demoted to Jiangnan.
The charges against the Xu family were too serious at the time, and he had long wanted to exonerate them, but he was too busy with other matters and could not find the time.
Fortunately, the Xu family still has a few capable people.
Firstly, it can uphold the integrity of the court and prevent good officials from being wronged.
Secondly, it also allowed her to have some truly talented and accomplished families standing behind her.
He cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the officials below, who were still in a state of shock and bewilderment, instantly restoring his cold and aloof imperial demeanor.
"Wang Degui".
“Your servant is here.” Wang Degui hurriedly stepped forward.
Huo Lin's voice was steady and powerful, clearly resounding throughout the entire hall.
"By imperial decree, the case of the salt tax in Jiangnan in the previous dynasty has far-reaching implications. Among them, Xu Zhengqing, the prefect of Jiangning, was found to have no real evidence and was only punished for negligence. However, the punishment was too severe, causing him to be wronged. Considering that his family has been scholars for generations and that he has been an upright official, I hereby issue a special decree to exonerate him and restore the reputation of the Xu family."
These words shocked the entire hall. The officials looked at each other, their faces filled with astonishment and bewilderment.
Although the court had discussed this matter before, there was no indication of it beforehand and no follow-up action afterward. Why did the emperor suddenly bring up this old case from the previous dynasty again?
Upon further reflection, the officials began to grasp the meaning of the matter.
Isn't the Xu family the maternal family of Consort Zhuang?
Before everyone could fully process this bombshell news, Huo Lin's next decree followed.
"Furthermore, I hereby order the Jiangnan Circuit to immediately investigate the current situation of Xu Zhengqing's descendants, the three brothers Xu Xiuyuan, Xu Zhiyuan, and Xu Muyuan. Once the situation is ascertained, I will summon them to the capital and make my own arrangements."
"Your servant obeys the decree." Wang Degui's heart trembled, and he quickly bowed to accept the order.
Huo Lin's gaze swept over the officials below the steps, each with a different expression. "This matter concerns the dignity of the court and the reputation of the innocent. It must be handled properly and without error."
"Your Majesty, we obey!" the officials replied in unison, though their hearts were filled with turbulent emotions.
The morning court session ended in an even more eerie and shocking atmosphere.
After the court session ended, Huo Lin deliberately lingered a step, looked at Jiang Wenyuan who was hunched over and wished he could grow wings and fly away, and called out loudly, "Jiang Wenyuan."
Jiang Wenyuan froze, almost kneeling down again, and turned around with a mournful face.
"Your Majesty..."
Huo Lin looked at his cowardly appearance and sighed helplessly, but his tone became much gentler.
"Alright, don't be afraid, I'm not going to eat you."
He paused, looking at Jiang Wenyuan's even more terrified eyes, and added a sentence.
"Visit her in the palace more often when you have time."
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