Chapter 68 Convincing People with Reason
Lu Songli discovered that the information Chen Rong had sent back also included the topic for the next debate. This didn't surprise her. After all, the more time the contestants had to prepare, the more exciting the back-and-forth would be, and the greater the impact. And when she saw the topic, she had a strong feeling it was the one. It was perfect for targeting her father.
Since Fan Quan was the new sword prepared by the Xie and Zhao families for Emperor Kang Cheng, he must have personally reviewed it. If so, they would definitely find a reason to ask him to leave the palace. After all, this play was performed for Emperor Kang Cheng to see, and without him, the play would not be complete.
Lu Desheng also saw it, and said domineeringly, "Don't worry, when it comes to arguing with people, no, when it comes to debating with people, Dad has never lost." He is so confident in his professional field!
Lu Songli waved her hands and flattered her father, "Dad, of course I believe you. No one can compare to you when it comes to reasoning with people. Convincing people with reason is your forte."
That's a nice thing to say! Lu Desheng stroked his sparse mustache and nodded secretly. That's how sweet the little girl's words were. Yes, that's right. He was a very reasonable person! Whenever he met someone who was not convinced, he would convince them with reason.
"Yes, the Xie and Zhao families should never think of replacing me with Fan Quan. He is still too young!"
Puff! Lv Mingzhi, standing by, almost laughed out loud. How could his father and second sister talk so funny? When his father faced his enemies, he was clearly a man who would not give in even if he was right. His second sister was glorifying their father like that. Was she serious?
Jiang also rolled her eyes. The father and daughter really had a habit of one speaking and the other listening.
Lu Desheng and Lu Songli both looked at Lu Mingzhi, their faces clearly showing "What's wrong? Do you have any objections?", forcing him to put away his smile.
After Lu Mingzhi surrendered, Lu Songli said, "Dad, we can't fall into other people's rhythm and be led by the nose." Letting her father go to argue with Fan Quan would make him lose face. Given her father's status as a big troll in the Li Dynasty, even if he won, it would be unfair. Besides, winning would be deserved, and losing would be shameful.
My daughter, what you said makes sense. Why should they do whatever they want?
"So, girl, what do you say?"
"I have a better idea."
"What idea?" To be honest, Lu Desheng was a little curious.
Lu Desheng easily accepted his daughter's statement and followed her lead.
If people from later generations were here, they would definitely exclaim, "Censor Lu, your daughter used the sandwich trick on you!"
Fan Quan was trying to jump the gun and try to show off in front of the Emperor by stepping on her father's corpse. What a huge ambition and appetite! Paying attention to him would be giving him face, but they refused to give him this opportunity! He couldn't hold it back to death!
Want to follow her father's path and leave him with nowhere to go? Little guy, practice for another five hundred years.
"Let's do this..." Lu Songli took two steps towards Lu Desheng, then whispered his idea.
This strategy is just like what happens in the entertainment industry: someone is unique and shows signs of popularity right after their debut. The company wants to sign you, but you refuse. Then they'll find someone similar to you to compete with you for resources and try to replace you. If the original person ends up fighting with him, it would be a disgrace.
Jiang saw her husband and daughter huddled together, whispering. The little girl kept talking, and her husband nodded from time to time. She shook her head and laughed. It was rare to see such a good relationship between father and daughter.
This day is another great morning sun.
Lu Desheng did not arrive very early. When he arrived, the Grand Censor Zhou Chengzhong was already in a side hall unifying the will of the various censors in the Censorate.
When he came in, Zhou Chengzhong looked him up and down, his eyes fixed on his old official uniform for a long time.
Lu Desheng ignored him and sat next to them as usual.
When Zhou Chengzhong was mobilizing his officials, he looked at him twice with pity in his eyes, like a frog in warm water, with a raging fire at the bottom of the pot, but the frog in the pot was unaware of the warm water.
Lu Desheng raised his eyelids and glared back! Don't think he didn't see it, he was waiting to see his own joke.
After Zhou Chengzhong and his subordinates reached a consensus, he walked over to Lv Desheng and asked, "Sir Lv, why haven't I seen you wearing the court robes specially given to you by the emperor recently?"
Lu Desheng rolled his eyes, "What I wear is none of your business?" He would tell him that he was wearing the new court robes given to him by the emperor! Just wearing them inside? He would tell him that he was wearing two sets of court robes today, one inside and one outside?
This was his lucky court robe, how could he not wear it! If his daughter hadn't constantly told him to keep a low profile, to play dumb and not alert the enemy, he would have already flaunted his new court robe. Humph!
Lu Desheng, are you a volcano? Are you always ready to erupt? He bared his tongue, and just as the bell for court rang, Zhou Chengzhong could only point at him with his finger in frustration, shaking his head. "You—Lu Desheng, you!"
The bell for court rang. No matter what the officials were doing just now, they all stopped and began to tidy up their clothes and appearance, waiting to enter the hall for court.
As they stood, they heard a shrill voice shouting, "The Emperor has arrived, all officials kneel to welcome him!"
Emperor Kang Cheng walked over to the dragon throne with a gloomy face and sat down. He had been so engrossed in his cultivation last night that he hadn't rested well. He had wanted to take a day off today, but was persuaded to get up. He was in a bad mood.
All the ministers knelt down and shouted: "Long live the emperor."
"Stand up." Emperor Kang Cheng's voice was stiff and flat, clearly telling his ministers that I am in a bad mood today, and you can handle what happens next!
Wei Zili shouted the second sentence, "My fellow ministers, if you have something to report, please do so. If not, please leave the court!"
Ministers: ...
Ministers qualified to attend the Grand Court were all shrewd men, not fools. So, of course, the ministers noticed the emperor was in a bad mood. But in recent years, he'd rarely been in a good mood during court, and they were used to it. But today, it was too much. As soon as Longpi sat down, he wanted to leave the court. How could this be allowed?
Among them, the ministers headed by the Xie and Zhao factions looked at each other in confusion, and couldn't help but retreat in their hearts. They were going to recommend Lu Desheng for promotion today, so were they still going to proceed as planned? Forget it, let's see what the Xie family does first.
If the Xie family took the lead, it would prove that they were following the plan, so they would bite the bullet and submit a memorial. Moreover, since they were jointly recommending the emperor to promote his favorite minister, he should be very happy about it, at least he wouldn't take his anger out on them.
"I have something to report." The first person to come forward was Ji Yongqing, an official from the Xie family.
Emperor Kang Cheng was already in a bad mood, and when he saw Ji Yongqing's old face with wrinkles on it was the first to come out, his mood became even worse.
"What's the matter, my dear?"
Everyone lowered their heads, knowing that if Emperor Kang Cheng called a minister "Dear Minister" with his surname, it proved that he was in a good mood. If he did not use his surname, it meant that he was very displeased with this person at the moment.
Ji Yongqing seemed unaware of this, bowing slightly before speaking respectfully, "Your Majesty, I am old and frail. In recent years, I have often felt weak and unwell. The other day, I fainted at home and sent for a doctor. After examining me, the doctor said that my health has been severely weakened by my overwork on official duties, and that if I don't take good care of myself, my life span will be shortened. Therefore, I beg to retire and resign my position as Minister of the Supreme Court to return home to recuperate. I hope Your Majesty will allow this."
Ji Yongqing's resignation was like a drop of water splashing into a frying pan, leaving almost all the ministers stunned.
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