In recent days, ministers attending the morning court have discovered something strange.
The Emperor of the Song Dynasty, who has always been gentle and easy-going, has had a stern face when he attended court these days.
He glanced at each of his ministers with a sullen face, as if he were looking at an enemy.
It was unknown who had offended the emperor, but his anger was still lingering. Sometimes he would even scold the ministers for the smallest matters in the government, without mercy.
As a result, court officials became more cautious when reporting on official business, and even spoke in much lower voices.
"Your Majesty, what's wrong? You've been angry for a few days. Previously it was about the Criminal Court, and today it was about the Silver Platform. They were just minor mistakes. Is it necessary to be so angry?"
After the morning court session ended, the officials left the palace and could not help but start talking among themselves.
Someone said, "You don't understand this, don't you? This is because Prime Minister Lu is deeply favored by the emperor. Look at Fan Zhongyan, the powerful governor of Kaifeng Prefecture, who was demoted to the position of secretary and junior supervisor."
"You mean His Majesty is angry about Prime Minister Lu?"
"Of course not. Otherwise, there hasn't been any major events in the court recently. It's not just about Prime Minister Lu being impeached."
"That seems to be the case."
"Of course, Prime Minister Lu is the emperor's tutor. How could he be easily defeated by a jerk like Fan Xiwen?"
"Prime Minister Lu is indeed worthy of being Prime Minister Lu. He is a veteran of two dynasties and remains unshakable."
Everyone sighed.
The most recent major event in the court was the impeachment of Lu Yijian.
It's strange.
A few days ago, Fan Zhongyan impeached Lu Yijian, after which Fan Zhongyan's friends wrote letters one after another to impeach Lu Yijian.
For example, Secretary Yu Jing, Prince's Assistant Yin Zhu, Works Doctor Wu Zunlu, Imperial Library Proofreader Ouyang Xiu, Cai Xiang, Longtu Pavilion Direct Academician Li Hong, Jixian Academy Proofreader Wang Zhi and others, all expressed their views on this matter.
On the contrary, Prime Minister Lu, who was extremely powerful, made almost no move. None of the many imperial censors and censors promoted by his followers stood up to refute Lu's opinion. The entire Lu Party was as quiet as a calm lake.
Only Yin Zhu's friend, the censor Gao Ruone, rebelled and rebuked those who impeached him on behalf of Lu Yijian.
For a time, there were many rumors in the court, and many people thought that the prime minister Lu Yijian had fallen to this point. Is he really going to fall?
As a result, in just three days, Fan Zhongyan was demoted to the position of Secretary Shaojian, and Zhang Yi, the Longtu Pavilion Attendant, was replaced as the acting governor of Kaifeng Prefecture.
After Fan Zhongyan was removed from office, he became much quieter. He stayed at home every day and did not continue to write letters to impeach Lu Yijian. It seemed that he had accepted his fate, which was surprising.
But this matter seemed to have passed just like that, as if everything happened and nothing happened at the same time.
So much so that many people, looking back on it later, couldn't help but admire it deeply.
Prime Minister Lu is worthy of being Prime Minister Lu.
No matter how you attack me from all directions, I will remain unmoved.
The Sacred Heart is in your hands.
There is no need to fight back, just watch coldly, and Your Majesty will help you.
It seems that Prime Minister Lu's position is still as stable as a rock!
"Lord Xiwen, what's wrong with you?"
Inside the hall of Fan's residence in Daguan Lane, Liangmen, in Bianjing's outer city, Ouyang Xiu complained to Fan Zhongyan, "Hundreds of officials were after you, and it was you who told us not to impeach Lü Yijian. What were you thinking?"
"Yes, Xiwen. You told us that Lü Yijian was extremely powerful and favored his people. You decided to impeach him, and you weren't afraid of being demoted. That's why we stood firmly by your side. But after you started the fight, you immediately backed off. Why is that?"
"I just don't understand. Even though Lü Yijian holds a high position of power, Xiwen, you've always been unafraid of power. How come you changed your mind immediately after His Majesty summoned you to the palace? Could His Majesty still threaten to kill you?"
"Hmph, if Your Majesty dares to set a precedent for killing scholars and officials, I'm afraid even Lu Yijian will have to persuade him. Besides, Xiwen doesn't mind dying, but I just don't understand, Xiwen, what are you afraid of!"
"Fan Xiwen, please say something."
Yin Zhu, Yu Jing, Wu Zunlu and others sat on the armchairs, not even having time to drink their tea. They all looked at Fan Zhongyan and slammed the table to question him.
This is outrageous.
It was Fan Zhongyan who took the lead in impeaching Lu Yijian.
When these good friends heard that their brother was going to do something big, they immediately rolled up their sleeves and got to work together.
As a result, the brothers who took the lead betrayed the revolution in the blink of an eye and stopped their activities.
It's like when we were little, there were two gangs of kids in the village, and the two leaders had a quarrel and immediately called their friends to prepare for a fight.
When Ouyang Xiu and his men picked up iron bars and benches and rushed over to start fighting, they looked back.
Oh my god, the boss ran away.
What does it mean?
Are you playing tricks on them?
Ouyang Xiu, who was only thirty years old this year, puffed his beard and glared at Fan Zhongyan like a little rooster in a fight, as if he meant that he would not leave today if Fan Zhongyan did not give a reason.
But Fan Zhongyan, who was sitting there, looked a little dazed, as if he didn't notice that his friends were angry.
"Bang!"
Ouyang Xiu, who had a bad temper, slammed the table and said, "Lord Xiwen, didn't you hear what everyone was saying?"
This voice suddenly woke Fan Zhongyan up.
He was still thinking about the reforms that would take place a few years later when he suddenly remembered that Ouyang Xiu and his men had come to his house, asking him for an explanation.
It seems that I still need to appease my friends first.
Fan Zhongyan had no choice but to say, "We all misunderstood Lü Yijian. Your Majesty took me to the inner hall and told me everything about the dethronement of the empress. He said that it was his instructions that Lü Yijian did it. Therefore, it was not Lü Yijian who interfered in the harem, but your Majesty who did it."
"Even so, it's true that Lü Yijian held immense power and controlled the appointment of officials. This has always been your biggest annoyance, Fan Xiwen, and you impeached him for this reason by creating the Chart of All Officials. Why?"
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