Xu Jiang thought to himself: "It has a bad reputation, that must be an euphemism."
"Lin Qinnian was furious and publicly protested the injustice of the two students who had been pushed out. He even threatened that if he were to be listed alongside these two idiots, he would not be the top scholar."
Good courage and good character.
Xu Jiang seemed to recall the unprecedented scene in the Golden Palace where the newly crowned number one scholar angrily denounced the unfairness of the imperial examination system.
"These words shocked the world and drew immediate condemnation and criticism from the court officials, especially those in the Ministry of Personnel. However, the late emperor greatly admired his courage and, having always valued talent, pardoned his impudence in front of the palace and appointed him to the Ministry of Personnel."
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiang was speechless. The late emperor wasn't just cherishing talent; he was clearly using Lin Qinnian as a piece of firewood to set the Ministry of Personnel on fire.
"If Lin Qinnian joins the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry will inevitably be turned upside down. The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel then united with officials from all levels to write a letter of opposition, but the late emperor insisted on his own way. Seeing that they could not bring him down openly, they could only make trouble secretly. They picked up words from Lin Qinnian's articles and poems, quoted them out of context, and fabricated charges to ruin his reputation. But Lin Qinnian was not a person who would sit still and wait for death. When the Ministry of Personnel threw dirty water on him, he followed suit, picking apart the articles and poems written by officials from all levels of the Ministry of Personnel, and even the scholars they recommended, and refuted them one by one. He also wrote an article to denounce their forming cliques, practicing favoritism and fraud, and wrote a letter advocating the abolition of the imperial examination system." At this point, everyone's faces showed admiration.
Xu Jiang was stunned and exclaimed that it was wonderful, saying that Master Lin was truly a brave warrior.
Lou Jing continued, "This matter caused a great uproar, even splitting the court into two factions, arguing furiously. The late emperor, unable to bear the turmoil, ordered both men to be punished with fifty lashes to appease the gentry. First, Lin Qinnian was demoted and decreed never to be employed again, in order to appease the aristocracy. Later, the power of the Ministry of Personnel to examine was transferred to the Ministry of Rites, and the system of imperial examination recommendations was cut off, to appease the anger of the poor students."
Du Hui sighed, "Lin Qinnian single-handedly restored fairness to students across the country. It's a shame that this also ended his official career."
The previous emperor had used him as firewood to burn the Ministry of Personnel, so naturally he had no intention of keeping him from the beginning. Thinking of his current difficult situation, Xu Jiang couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He was a top scholar.
No wonder I felt terrified and in awe when I first saw him.
Lou Jing said, "If you want to invite him to write and print, I'd be convinced. Lin Qinnian is not only brilliant and courageous, but his calligraphy is unparalleled. Back then, his calligraphy was the object of many students' emulation, but unfortunately, most of them only managed the form, not the substance."
Yuan Zu sighed, "Without a strong character, how could one achieve such exquisite skills? How can others imitate such courage and integrity?"
"Hearing what you said, I feel uneasy. I don't know whether I can invite you or not." Xu Jiang looked at Lin Hongchu pitifully.
Lin Hongchu coughed twice and looked away, not meeting her gaze.
Yuan Zuzhi suddenly asked Lin Hongchu, "Did your family run the Nanshan Academy in Daixianfang?"
Lin Hongchu nodded, "Exactly."
"I wanted to pay him a visit, but I haven't found the right opportunity." Yuan Zuzhi turned to Xu Jiang and said, "Leave this matter to me. I'll discuss it with him and consider it as a contribution to Zhuchun."
"That's perfect." Xu Jiang happily agreed, and then said, "Please tell Master Lin that this book wasn't copied in vain, and the printing paper wasn't wasted. If he's willing to lend his hand, he'll definitely be paid handsomely."
Yuan Zuzhi frowned and said, "Is he the kind of person who only seeks money? Don't underestimate him."
"I have spoken carelessly, sir, please convey this meaning."
Not seeking money, but wanting to treat illness, the suffering of birth, old age, sickness and death is difficult to escape even for the most noble person.
Seeing that he was going, Du Hui naturally didn't want to be left behind, so he said, "You can't go alone, call us to come along."
Lou Jing also quickly agreed.
After the few of them had agreed, Yuan Zuzhi brought up the matter of asking Xu Jiang to find the book. He was inevitably disappointed when Xu Jiang said that there had been no progress.
"There's no need to rush this matter. Don't worry, sir. After the spring, I'll go out and collect books. Maybe I'll find something."
"Then I'll trouble you, Shopkeeper Xu, to take care of it."
Seeing that Du Hui and Yuan Zuzhi had finished their discussion, Lou Jing licked his lips and asked greedily, "Madam Xu, do you still have that mushroom oil? Can you sell me two more jars?"
"Yes, I'll get it for you." Xu Jiang said and got up and went to the backyard.
"Who said I was fat?" Du Hui sneered as he glanced at Lou Jing's obviously thick waist. "I see that Brother Lou has gained a lot of weight these days."
Yuan Zuzhi also teased, "Didn't Brother Lou say that to maintain good health you need to eat less?"
"How much of that did I eat?" Lou Jing whispered, "Most of it went into the stomachs of my wife and that unfilial son." He pinched it with his hand again and said, "I only ate this little."
Du Hui rolled his eyes and said, "That's ridiculous."
Speaking of Lou Yunchun, Yuan Zuzhi asked, "Has there been any progress on that matter, nephew?"
Lou Jing shook his head. "I don't know yet. He never talks to me about official business at home."
When Xu Jiang returned with the mushroom oil, Lou Jing asked her, "Madam Xu, has no one been bothering you lately?"
"No, I guess he doesn't dare to come." Xu Jiang handed him two cans of mushroom oil.
"That's good." Lou Jing then asked, "How much are two cans of mushroom oil? Or I can leave some money here first and come back to get it after we finish eating to avoid trouble."
Lou Yunchun's generous behavior must have been inherited from his father.
Xu Jiang couldn't help laughing and said hurriedly, "Just take it back and eat it. If it's not enough, come back for more. If I charge you for such a small amount, it would be a waste of our friendship."
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