However, many people deeply regret their actions, having ruined their careers by engaging in eloquent discussions at gatherings where they shouldn't have been. Now, not only are their careers gone, but they've even been stripped of their official titles and privileges.
Zhu Yunying clearly didn't care about the discussions or pleas from some civil and military officials. Even if there was a lot of talk about it for a while, he didn't care much. Although he was also very clear that some of the rules he was setting now might not be applicable in the future, and the cases he was handling now might not have much deterrent effect in the future.
However, what needs to be done still needs to be done. We must start nipping some bad trends in the bud now, so that they don't get worse.
There were also civil officials kneeling outside the Meridian Gate, hoping that His Majesty the Emperor would take pity on those scholars who had studied diligently for ten years. Suddenly, an envoy appeared and summoned Prince Xu, Zhu Yunwen, to an audience.
Wasn't it only said that one or two military officers who were devoted to literature participated? What, His Highness Prince Xu also attended the gathering of Huang Zicheng, Fang Xiaoru, and others?
No, what are Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng's true intentions?
Scholars and military officers—these two groups getting too close would naturally cause some discussion and touch a nerve with the emperor. But once the imperial family is involved, things become incredibly complicated.
Who is Prince Xu? He is the second son of Emperor Xiaokang, and the half-brother of the current emperor. Even in earlier years, although it was clear to everyone that the current emperor's position was secure, Zhu Yunwen was known for his literary talent and refined manners.
Furthermore, Prince Xu was born to Consort Lü, a concubine of the then Crown Prince, from a family of civil officials who were renowned during the Song Dynasty. In fact, some people felt that it might be a good thing if Prince Xu could become the Crown Prince's grandson.
Although everyone knew it was unrealistic, some people did indeed have such thoughts at one point. If Emperor Xiaokang hadn't died young, they might have actually been able to launch an operation, such as establishing an empress or doing something else to give Prince Xu a better chance.
But now, these civil officials are all wishing they could disappear as quickly as possible. If it were just ordinary members of the imperial family participating in a gathering, that would be sensitive enough. But this is even a prince who is considered to have a chance to meet the emperor, a prince disliked by the current emperor—this is utterly absurd!
Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng were so foolish! Those two guys were really scheming and full of pedantry!
Zhu Yunwen is probably going to be very cautious now, because he doesn't really have many ideas. In his earlier years, he did have some thoughts and ideas, but let alone 'father's death', even if his father hadn't died, Zhu Yunwen knew he would have had almost no chance.
There was no other reason than that his elder brother's position was too secure, and his power was considerable. All of that destined him to have no chance. His childhood fantasies were merely unrealistic fantasies born from his and his mother's lack of understanding of the political situation.
Zhu Yunwen attended the gathering hosted by Fang Xiaoru and Huang Zicheng without any ulterior motives. He simply loved reading from a young age and genuinely admired Confucianism. It's natural that Zhu Yunwen would feel closer to learned and accomplished scholars.
Anyway, he's just a leisurely, wealthy prince now, and he doesn't care much for romance or poetry, nor does he hold any official position in the Imperial Clan Court. Studying and conversing with scholars and Confucian masters is a pleasant thing for him.
But this wonderful thing actually violated a taboo?
Zhu Yunwen, with a bitter face, said to Zhu Yunying, "Your Majesty, you know what kind of temperament Second Brother is. If you ask me, he's just become stupid from studying too much. How much intelligence could he possibly have?!"
Zhu Yunying rolled his eyes at his younger brother and said irritably, "Do you need to pretend to be a good person here? Do you think we don't know what kind of person Yunwen is? Years ago, we told him not to just study books, but he wouldn't listen. His mother raised him to be like a Confucian scholar, as if he was afraid that what we taught him was heresy."
“The Lü family was afraid that you would corrupt my second brother. If it weren’t for the Emperor, my second brother might have had some chances,” Zhu Yunwen said carelessly. “Now that we think about it, the Lü family kept letting us play around back then, and that’s how we developed our current personality.”
Zhu Yunying was amused and praised him, saying, "You've finally grown a bit smarter. Although you're a bit slow, you've finally figured it out! If we weren't here, with your personality, even if you were the eldest son, you'd probably be able to hold a high position. Although Yunwen is a bit bookish, outsiders who don't understand might even think he's a benevolent ruler."
Zhu Yunwen chuckled. Others might not know what kind of person his second brother was, but he knew very well. Of course, Zhu Yunwen knew even better that this was only because his elder brother was giving his second brother face and hadn't said it so bluntly.
The second brother may appear kind on the outside, but he is a member of the Zhu family at heart, and if you ask if he's mean, he really is.
Furthermore, after so many years of getting along, Zhu Yunwen knew that his second brother was actually quite suspicious at heart. He just lacked the decisiveness and ruthlessness of his father and brothers, and was more indecisive.
Zhu Yunying looked at Zhu Yunwen and said, "We've been too lazy to discipline Yunwen these past few years. His temper is making us anxious. If he were to spout classical phrases and sage verses in front of us, we probably wouldn't be able to resist disciplining him. As for him, he probably knows he offended us in the past, so he doesn't dare to get close to us."
Zhu Yunwen quickly said, "I still have some contact with my second brother, and the fourth and fifth brothers also like to follow me. Your Majesty, if you ask me, the fourth brother has moved out since he established his own residence, and he's not happy following behind the second brother. The fifth brother is the same way. The second brother always thinks he is the wise prince, and I'm afraid he'll raise the fifth brother to be a bookworm as well."
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