Chapter 167 First Clash
"Alas, the old man died a truly unjust death!"
I heard that when the prince took the old man away, the old man was hosting a banquet for the candidates who had come to the capital to prepare for the imperial examinations.
The old lady also told the old master to come back early, saying that the manor had prepared his favorite Shaoxing wine-infused drunken crab, but he hadn't been able to taste it before leaving.
"That landlord is really ruthless!"
Taking advantage of His Majesty's absence from the capital, how dare they lay a hand on Lord Shangguan?
Oh, that's terrifying!
"Who says otherwise! They suddenly came up with a case about privately made dragon robes, and then used the investigation as an opportunity to drag the old man down."
Everyone knows that the old master is definitely on the Crown Prince's side!
The Crown Princess is from the Shangguan family!
"His Majesty is personally leading the expedition. How shocked he will be if he finds out about this!"
Lin Xiang's memorial is difficult to write!
"What's so hard to write? Just write the truth. Everyone has eyes to see what really happened and how the old man passed away!"
Lin Xiangcai wouldn't pretend to be blind!
"Hey, look, isn't that Lady Lin's carriage?"
They must have just returned from the Shangguan residence!
"Yes, I heard that Prime Minister Lin went to the Shangguan residence as soon as he received the news last night, and Madam Lin also went to the Shangguan residence early this morning."
"Alas, with the passing of the old master, not only are the people of the Shangguan family heartbroken, but the students must be even more heartbroken!"
It's unlikely that Da Yu will produce another person as good as Lord Shangguan!
...
As more and more people gathered, their comments started to become a bit sharp.
Regardless of who it was, everyone was convinced that it was King Wu who killed Lord Shangguan.
Even specific details known only to those in the Ministry of Justice have been leaked to the public.
For example, being grabbed by the clothes and slammed against the wall...
The old man remained defiant to the death and refused to confess his guilt...
There's also the story of King Wu having someone write down a list of crimes and have the old man sign it, which led to the old man rebuking King Wu, thus enraging him...
Some even say that the whole thing about privately made dragon robes was just a smokescreen from the beginning.
The King of Wu's real goal was to bring down the old man.
Not long ago, the old master's disciple impeached someone from the Wu King's mother's family, causing heavy losses to the Ruan family. The Wu King was just taking this opportunity to seek revenge...
Who knew that things wouldn't be controlled properly, and no one expected the old man to be so resolute, which led to his death in the Ministry of Justice prison.
...
Regardless of whether it was a teahouse or a restaurant, the situation was overwhelmingly in favor of Lord Shangguan, who was being wronged.
Upstairs at Chunbuwan, Song Zhimian and Princess Yongxin had been listening to the commotion below.
"It seems everyone is criticizing the King of Wu right now, and no one has come out to cause trouble yet," Princess Yongxin said softly.
Song Zhimian peeked through the crack in the window at the packed lobby, but dared not relax for a moment.
"It's not time yet!"
"Those people want to steer the conversation elsewhere and stir up a debate. The best time is when everyone is discussing things most enthusiastically," Song Zhimian said softly.
"The most lively time?" Princess Yongxin was taken aback.
Yes, that's when it's at its most lively.
Princess, let me give you an example. When a pot of oil is at its hottest, that is, when it's smoking...
"What would happen if you sprinkled a few drops of water into the oil at this point?" Song Zhimian asked.
Princess Yongxin thought about that scene for a moment...
It caused an uproar on the spot...
"Given today's situation... would they dare?" Princess Yongxin was still a little hesitant.
"What's there to be afraid of? The government hasn't made a decision or given a specific answer yet, so everyone has the right to discuss it."
Moreover, those students and candidates for the imperial examinations were fond of arguing.
They don't actually like this one-sided situation.
Princess, have someone keep an eye on the first person to jump out.
"This person must have someone pulling the strings behind the scenes!" Song Zhimian said, then continued to look at the scene in the lobby below.
...
Song Zhimian guessed correctly. Just when the atmosphere of everyone's discussion reached its peak, a different voice emerged.
"Actually, I don't quite understand it."
Will that prince really make a move?
He must have considered the consequences of his actions!
They just brazenly killed Lord Shangguan like that?
"That doesn't seem to make sense! There must be something we don't know about this." A scholar dressed in a moon-white long robe suddenly said.
The once bustling teahouse suddenly fell silent.
Just as everyone was about to follow the scholar's words and think further, another voice emerged.
"What are you trying to say? Are you trying to say that the prince was also framed?"
Who would frame him?
Nobody forced him to arrest Lord Shangguan, right? Nobody forced him to interrogate Lord Shangguan, right?
Didn't he rush to do all of these things?
Now that you've caused Lord Shangguan's death, you still don't want to take responsibility, is that it?
Is there something else going on behind the scenes? What could it be?
The only truth is that Lord Shangguan died at his hands, and that's what we've seen.
The other day, when the issue of privately made dragon robes came up, wasn't it you people who were gossiping behind my back?
What do you mean? Something big must be happening. Is someone plotting something?
Now, the problem facing everyone is that the King of Wu has killed Lord Shangguan.
Then you said things weren't that simple, that there were things you didn't know.
You don't know anything, so what are you talking about?!
Are you trying to play a trick on everyone again?
"Or are you trying to make a fool of everyone again?" another candidate immediately retorted without hesitation.
"Exactly, do you think we're blind?!"
"He must have been paid to spout nonsense here, just to muddy the waters and make us say less against that person."
"Does someone like that even deserve to participate in next year's imperial examination? With such character, if he becomes an official, he'll only bring disaster to the people!"
"He won't know the pain until it happens to him!"
"Shameless! I really don't want to sit next to him!"
...
The other candidates quickly silenced the one in the white robe with their own words.
Everyone was wondering if there was something big going on behind the scenes, as that scholar had said...
Now that I think about it...
Doesn't that person just think everyone is blind?
Everyone looked at the scholar in the white robe with disdain.
People who dare to take any kind of money are not afraid of the King of Hell coming after them!
The scholar in the white robe who had spoken earlier was somewhat surprised; something was very wrong with the situation today.
No matter what I said before, there were always people who agreed with me.
Before my own people could even chime in, they were contradicted...
He wanted to argue back, but a scholar opposite him gave him a light kick.
The man immediately fell silent.
Upstairs, Song Zhimian and Princess Yongxin exchanged glances as they watched the scholar leave in a hurry.
Soon, the two of them followed them out.
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