Chapter 1 Expulsion
With the world at peace, the next goal for both Northern Xiao and Southern Zhou was to consolidate their national strength.
Ten years, twenty years, or perhaps the next generation...
A war between the North and the South is inevitable.
Unifying thoughts is the enduring gene of this land.
While Zhou Jin went to Hezhou to bring the female relatives to Jianye in preparation for the coronation ceremony, Xiao Cong was already sitting in the Golden Palace listening to the court proceedings, following the path paved by generations of the Xiao family.
On the first day of the new emperor's reign, an auspicious day, everything was in need of rebuilding.
However, there are always those who spoil the fun.
The upright and incorruptible Imperial Censor Zheng stepped forward with his tablet and impeached the relevant personnel for the incident of eunuchs and palace servants suffering from diarrhea during the enthronement ceremony on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
"Your Majesty, I have submitted a memorial to impeach the Northern Garrison."
"The Northern Garrison should have been guarding the palace and maintaining order, patrolling day and night. However, on this day... they were negligent in their military preparations, thus disgracing our imperial authority... The relevant responsible personnel should be sentenced to one year of imprisonment according to the law."
"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach the Ministry of Rites."
"The Ministry of Rites is in charge of the ceremonial system, overseeing the five rites and the rituals of all departments. However... the rites for the Golden Wind and Jade Dew have become a scene of diarrhea. This is a failure of rites and music, a laughing stock in all directions. The Minister of Rites should take responsibility and have his salary reduced."
"Your Majesty, I wish to impeach the Prefect of the Capital."
"Half a month has passed, and the Prefect of the Capital has found nothing. He has neglected his duties, which has affected the soldiers. He should be punished with ninety strokes of the cane as a warning to others."
At Xiao Cong's coronation ceremony, seventeen members of the inner court suffered from diarrhea.
The Ministry of Rites responded promptly, ensuring the smooth conduct of the enthronement ceremony.
On this auspicious and prosperous day, Imperial Censor Zheng insisted on bringing up unpleasant matters.
Like a fly scurrying across a cake, it always feels unpleasant.
The culprit behind this unpleasant incident has already sent a message to Xiao Cong to confess his guilt.
Uncle Lin, standing in the ranks of officials, remained silent in response.
The Minister of Rites stepped forward to defend Censor Zheng against his impeachment.
"Your subject, in accordance with the duty of the Minister of Rites, which is to maintain order and purity, humbly submits this memorial to the throne..."
Xiao Cong, seated high on the dragon throne, turned his gaze to the memorial submitted by the Southern Zhou envoy.
The Southern Zhou Dynasty was established, and trade between the North and South was permitted. Should one agree or disagree?
Xiao Cong chose to agree.
Below the steps, Imperial Censor Zheng single-handedly fought against officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Jingzhao Prefecture, arguing fiercely and displaying extraordinary fighting prowess.
Someone pointed at Imperial Censor Zheng with their scepter and said, "Zheng, you scoundrel, did your wife make you kneel on the stone steps last night? Is such a trivial matter worth fighting to the death for!"
Imperial Censor Zheng's attention quickly shifted to his wife.
"You're talking nonsense! My wife is gentle, virtuous, kind, and respectful to her husband. She would never punish me by making me kneel on the stone steps!"
"Stop ruining my wife's reputation!"
Then Imperial Censor Zheng was dragged away by the Imperial Guards and made to kneel at Chongde Gate.
He was also fined six months' salary for speaking out of turn in front of the emperor.
Overwhelmed with pain, he knelt before Chongde Gate, clutching his chest and weeping, "My salary!"
I'm sure I'll be kneeling on the stone steps again when I get home today, waaaaaah...
*
After finishing his shift, Uncle Lin went straight to the Marquis of Weiwu's residence.
First, they met with Old Madam Lin and Madam Lin.
Then I took people to Lin Xiaocong's Zhaoshan Residence.
More than a dozen rabbit cages and rat cages of various sizes have been added to Zhaoshan Residence.
When Uncle Lin arrived, Qiu Chan was carrying a dead rabbit and was about to enter the house.
Seeing Uncle Lin arrive with his men, Qiu Chan shouted, "Young Master, Rabbit, it's not Second Master here to catch you!"
"Oh," came a flat reply from inside the room.
Uncle Lin didn't even glance at Qiu Chan, who looked nervous, and stepped into the study.
The men he brought were all waiting at the door.
The cicadas peeked out from the doorway.
In the study, Lin Xiaocong was flipping through an ancient book with yellowed pages on the couch. Hearing footsteps enter, he didn't even look up and said, "Second Uncle, please make yourself at home."
Uncle Lin sat down opposite Lin Xiaocong: "Mingxu, do you really want to assassinate the new emperor?"
"He won't let me go to the south, and he's trying to break me up with Rongrong. If I don't stab him, who else should I stab?"
"The new emperor has just ascended the throne and needs the Lin family, so I'm turning a blind eye to you. But have you thought about the consequences once the new emperor has established himself?"
"My lifelong wish is to kill him before he gains a foothold."
“You are being watched by the Northern Imperial Guards; you can’t assassinate him.”
"Yes, I know, he's afraid of me."
"He's not afraid of you, he just doesn't have the time to deal with you right now!"
"Therefore, Second Uncle should do his utmost to serve you. Mingxu's life and fortune are entirely entrusted to Second Uncle, Father, and my brothers."
Uncle Lin took a deep breath: "The Imperial Kitchen asked you to check whether the diarrhea of the seventeen palace servants was due to poisoning. But after you left, the number of people with diarrhea in the palace actually increased. Was that your doing?"
“I am of noble character, how could I do such a thing?”
"The Jingzhao Prefecture invited you over a couple of days ago. After you left, all the fat brocades that the Jingzhao Prefecture had raised for thirty years died. Was that your doing?"
"Second Uncle can have doubts, but if you want to convict him, please provide evidence."
"Do you know how miserably the Prefect of the Capital wept in the Golden Palace today?"
Lin Xiaocong turned a page of his book: "The new emperor's ears are suffering."
"He said you poisoned the koi fish, which is suspected of being a veiled threat against people."
"Perhaps the bad guy who killed the carp did have that intention."
Uncle Lin deeply understood what it meant to be shameless, leaving others speechless.
He got up to leave, but suddenly turned around and lunged at the book in Lin Xiaocong's hand.
Lin Xiaocong keenly protected the book: "This is a rare copy given to me by Master Huangfu."
After the commotion inside the house, the people outside exchanged glances, and the next moment the four of them attacked Qiu Chan.
Lin Xiaocong heard Qiu Chan cry out, "Young Master, save me!"
Upon hearing this, Uncle Lin stopped, dusted off his robes, and walked outside.
"If you want the cicada to live, then behave yourself."
Lin Xiaocong carefully tucked the book into his pocket: "Second Uncle, this isn't fair."
Uncle Lin ignored him completely.
Two servants entered carrying a rope, bowed to Lin Xiaocong, and said, "Excuse me."
"Second Uncle?" he called out.
The only response he received was the pitiful screams of cicadas.
Lin Xiaocong surrendered without resistance and was taken to the ancestral hall by his second uncle.
"I'll ask you one last time: have you thought it through? Will you leave your clan for Southern Zhou?"
Uncle Lin stood in front of the ancestral tablets, his back to Lin Xiaocong.
Lin Xiaocong sat cross-legged on the futon and smiled, "Now the two countries are living in peace."
"Second Uncle, there's no need to go to the point of having to leave the clan."
"Is there trade? Is there border trade?"
"I still have dozens of pharmacies in Nanzhou. Since there's no trade, won't those pharmacies in Nanzhou be thrown into chaos?"
"The Southern Zhou Dynasty has just been established, and everything needs to be rebuilt. Doesn't the new emperor want to take advantage of its weakness and seize its advantage?"
Silver... is like water that carries a boat.
"Commerce is the path of silver."
He was confident and spoke with an arrogant tone. Although he was at home researching poisons and medicines, he was very sensitive to the direction of national affairs.
"Second Uncle, did the palace give us any instructions today?"
Uncle Lin slowly loosened his grip on his right wrist with his left hand, which was behind his back.
It's a pity this child is smart but doesn't use his intelligence in the right way; it's infuriating.
"Yes, there was something to say in the palace today."
Lin Xiaocong laughed: "Is the new emperor so fed up with me that he's decided to stop meddling in other people's business?"
Uncle Lin originally wanted to use the cruelty of the Li clan to extinguish his thoughts about that Li woman.
I didn't expect him to know everything.
Enraged, Uncle Lin turned around and pointed at him: "You deliberately acted like that hopping toad, forcing the new emperor to banish you far away!"
The southern border needs stability. Xiao Cong wants to use the Lin family, but he won't take Lin Xiaocong's life.
So Lin Xiaocong kept jumping around in front of Xiao Cong, chasing him from south to north.
Lin Xiaocong chuckled: "Second Uncle, I'm swan meat, not a toad."
Enraged, his second uncle personally dragged him out of the mansion and handed him over to the Imperial Guards of the Northern Army who were waiting at the gate.
"roll!"
"I'm so angry!"
Lin Xiaocong was shoved into the carriage at the door.
He moved to the window, pushed the curtains open with his head, and asked, "Second Uncle, where are we going?"
Cao Guangli, grinding his teeth on horseback, said, "I am ordered to expel Young Master Lin Qi from the country!"
Lin Xiaocong glanced at Cao Guangli's resentful eyes and cursed Xiao Cong in his heart.
He quickly called out to Uncle Lin.
"Second Uncle, Cao Guangli is a homosexual. I want someone else to expel me!"
Before Uncle Lin could speak, Cao Guangli jumped from his horse onto the carriage, grabbed the reins, and lashed the horse's rump with a whip.
The carriage sped off.
"Lin Qi, you've finally fallen into Grandpa's hands!"
Uncle Lin took two steps forward, and Lin Xiaocong's voice could be faintly heard: "Commander Cao, calm down!"
Cao Guangli: "You're finished!"
Startled, Uncle Lin immediately cried out, "Someone! Someone!"
"Go quickly and save the Seventh Young Master!"
The imperial guards following Cao Guangli exchanged bewildered glances, filled with horror.
Commander Cao actually likes Young Master Lin?
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