Chapter 354
"That makes sense, but this matter has blown up so much. What if he actually does it? What will become of our family then?"
"Besides, His Highness the Crown Prince also said that we should not get involved in this matter and should observe first. If that young master Duan can get out of trouble on his own, His Highness the Crown Prince will naturally pay more attention to him in the future."
Shen Jun seemed to have made up his mind.
But if he had really made up his mind, he wouldn't be so worried.
"Does Father think our family can sever ties now? Father seems to have forgotten that Scholar Duan is still staying at the guest house," Shen Rang said calmly.
Hearing Shen Rang's words, Shen Jun's expression turned even uglier: "Then what should we do? Tell me!"
“It’s simple. We can’t get away with it anyway, so we might as well go all the way,” Shen Rang said in a deep voice. “If we kick him out now, the Marquis’s mansion will be known as opportunists, which is not a good thing either. Besides, if he is the top scholar in the provincial examination based on his own true talent, he might hold a grudge against the Marquis’s mansion in the future, which would be a loss. So for now, we have to help him.”
Shen Jun's heart began to waver after hearing Shen Rang's words: "Then tell me how you want to help?"
"I plan to go before His Majesty to see if I can help him out. If I can get Scholar Duan to see His Majesty, the rumors will fall apart on their own."
"You're going to vouch for him?!" Shen Jun exclaimed in shock. "Zirong, do you know what you're doing! Even if you cut ties with him now, it'll just mean a few bad words about you, but by doing this, you're dragging yourself down with you!"
One wrong move and the whole game is lost, and what is lost is the future of Shen Rang and even the entire Marquis's mansion!
"Duan Jieyuan is not easy to win over; this may be our only chance."
Shen Rang's attitude was even more resolute than Shen Jun's.
Since he had promised Yunxi, he would definitely see it through to the end.
Shen Jun's face was gloomy.
After a long silence in the study, Shen Jun slowly exhaled a breath of stale air: "Very well."
Even if something really happens, there's still the Crown Prince.
He is utterly loyal to the Crown Prince, and Shen Rang is even more capable. The Crown Prince will not stand idly by and watch the Marquis's mansion decline.
The father and son reached an agreement and went out together.
One went to the Censorate, and the other entered the palace.
Shen Rang entered the palace and explained Duan Huaichuan's situation in detail, but the emperor remained silent for a long time after listening.
Seeing this, Shen Rang pondered for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, Duan Jieyuan comes from the countryside and is not someone with any connections or influence. If he had not relied on his own true talent and learning, he would never have been able to sit in the position of Jieyuan. I beg Your Majesty to investigate clearly and at least give Duan Jieyuan a chance to prove his innocence."
The emperor did not speak, but his gaze, which carried a sense of oppression, remained fixed on him.
"I've heard that the scholar Duan is currently residing in your residence?"
"yes."
"I have also heard that you and your son have both joined the Crown Prince's faction?" The Emperor's gaze sharpened, and an invisible sense of pressure spread out.
"This is nonsense."
Shen Rang, without blushing or panting, knelt down, his back still ramrod straight: "Your Majesty's loyalty is as clear as day. As for my father's high regard for His Highness the Crown Prince, it is only because Your Majesty values His Highness the Crown Prince, and he has no ulterior motives."
His identity is hidden, and there is no real evidence to support those rumors. He can simply deny them. Besides, deep down, he has never truly served the Crown Prince.
While it is an undeniable fact that Shen Jun has joined the Crown Prince's faction, Shen Rang's statement suggests that it is entirely in accordance with the Emperor's wishes.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to lighten considerably.
The emperor laughed twice: "Shen Qing, according to you, if I were to depose the crown prince and install someone else in the future, your father would also follow my lead and switch allegiance to someone else?"
"The ruler and his ministers are of one mind; in the court, the ruler is only Your Majesty."
The emperor's eyes showed a hint of approval: "Get up."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Shen Rang got up as instructed.
"As for the matter of Duan Jieyuan that you mentioned, since you have come here in person, I will give him a chance," the emperor said. "I hope that this Duan Jieyuan will not disappoint me."
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, a series of drumbeats suddenly rang out.
The drumbeats were deep and resonant, as dense as raindrops, and clearly carried into the main hall.
That's the sound of the petition drum.
The emperor's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he gave a wink to the chief eunuch beside him.
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