Chapter 115: Deep Affection Between Master and Disciple, Conflict at the Court Assembly...
Zhang Shu returned to the Zhang residence looking exhausted, and everyone swarmed around him.
"Teacher, has Lord Ning agreed?"
She frowned, and upon hearing this, let out a deep sigh, as if the question were extremely difficult.
"Please speak!" Xun Han exclaimed anxiously, jumping up and down. "Oh!"
"Aunt, what's wrong?" Zong Suyi asked worriedly.
“Although Lord Ning and I have a past relationship, we haven’t been in touch for many years. My trip here today is merely to establish a connection with her. If I truly wish to persuade her to come out of seclusion, I’m afraid I’ll have to cater to her tastes and prepare some gifts,” Zhang Shu said with feigned seriousness.
“We still have enough money at home to buy ordinary things, but I don’t know if they will meet Lord Ning’s tastes?” Zong Suyi asked anxiously, unaware that something was amiss.
Zhang Ting, however, harbored doubts: He had only heard that Ning Yuanzhi was upright and strict, valuing righteousness over profit?
Zhang Shu said calmly, "Hey, Xiao Yi, you don't need to worry. Lord Ning's favorite things are common. Our family has hundreds or thousands of items, let alone one. It's a piece of cake for us to acquire them."
"What exactly is it?" Wu Pingliu asked curiously. She was temporarily staying at the Ministry of Rites to observe politics and had never heard of the Minister having any particular fondness for such things.
"That's because I'm an old acquaintance of Lord Ning, and that's how I know the secret. Lord Ning's favorite thing is that jar of signature medicinal wine from Zuihu Fang," Zhang Shu said with a smile, already immersed in her own dream. "When the time comes, I'll bring the wine and invite her to drink together. With my silver tongue, this matter will surely be accomplished!"
Zhang Ting: "..." Just as expected.
Forget about drinking together, forget about using your silver tongue. This old woman might just win him over today, then come back pretending to be struggling to get a drink.
Perhaps even the story about Ning Yuanzhi's fondness for medicinal wine was made up by her.
"Then I'll go prepare right now!" Zong Suyi immediately agreed. He was anxious to save his wife. Now, let alone a mere pot of medicinal wine, as long as it could save Zhang Ting's career, he would go even if it meant going through fire and water.
Zhang Ting calmly pressed down on his hand and said to Zhang Shu, "The doctor said back then that you should not drink alcohol in the future, otherwise it would worsen your condition. How can you let your disciple's health be harmed?"
The others immediately realized after hearing her words that the teacher really couldn't drink anymore.
Zhang Ting continued, "It's just a career path. If I can't become an official, I still have many other options. But if your health is harmed, I will regret it for the rest of my life."
A pang of guilt stirred in Zhang Shu's heart, but it lasted only a moment.
“I can also just watch Ning Yuanzhi drink,” she added righteously, her gaze firm and serious, showing no sign of anything amiss.
Zhang Ting smiled and said, "My teacher is old and it is inconvenient for her to work. Since Lord Ning likes that medicinal wine, you can just send a servant to deliver it to her residence. There is no need to trouble you."
How can we openly and legitimately drink alcohol if we don't allow it?
Zhang Shu immediately panicked, "This won't do!"
The rest of the people: "..."
If they still can't see what evil thoughts the old woman has, then they must be blind or deaf!
Zhang Shu was still trying to persuade her youngest apprentice when she suddenly felt the surroundings become quiet. She paused and looked at her other apprentices. When she saw their cold faces, she swallowed the words she was about to say and tried to make amends with an awkward smile: "What I mean is that if Lady Ning doesn't have any acquaintances to accompany her, she might feel resentful."
"Teacher, you and Lady Ning have been separated for many years, so you may not know that she is now least concerned about formalities. She will naturally understand our sincerity."
"No, your teacher..."
Wu Pingliu also interrupted her, saying, "I work in the Ministry of Rites and know that Your Excellency is simple and frugal."
Big and small, old and young, all came to intercept her, what could she say?
Zhang Shu snorted angrily, let out a heavy snort, and turned away in a huff.
A bunch of unfilial children who only know how to talk back to their teachers!
Although she was cursing in her heart, she couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth and smile.
...
A few days later, the voices attacking Zhang Ting in the court became even louder, and the pent-up anger seemed to explode at this moment.
Everyone remained indifferent, watching coldly as if it were none of their business.
Just as Emperor Chengtai was about to make the final decision and determine Zhang Ting's crimes.
Ning Yuanzhi stepped forward, holding his court tablet. "Your Majesty," he said, "I have something to report."
What was this slippery old fox going to say? Emperor Chengtai was extremely curious and temporarily put aside the sentencing of Zhang Ting, unaware that he had lit the fuse of a war.
Ning Yuanzhi pressed her face against him, accusing Xu Xiang of corruption and framing his colleagues. She claimed that all the officials attacking Zhang Ting were arranged by Xu Xiang because Zhang Ting held a grudge against her for refusing to marry her grandson.
Xu Pin remained hidden all day long and never showed his face in this world, so he was caught completely off guard when he was impeached.
Her apprentice, Song Yin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, was the first to jump out, pointing at Ning Yuanzhi and spewing: "Lord Ning, please stop talking nonsense! Putting aside what Zhang Ting is really like, Prime Minister Xu is an upright man who has risen to the position of Grand Secretary. Why would he make things difficult for a mere compiler of the Hanlin Academy? His Majesty is still here in the hall. Don't act as if the hall is your own private residence and just spout nonsense!"
"Lord Song, why don't you say in front of His Majesty that you and your apprentice have been treating the Ministry of Personnel like your own home?" The Vice Minister of Rites sneered. "In the eight generations of our Great Yong Dynasty, this is the first time such a strange thing has happened! Master and apprentice, one master and one apprentice, have been treating the government office like their own home, guarding it strictly, forming cliques and engaging in corruption, and not allowing other officials to enter!"
Song Yin felt a lump in her throat and glared angrily. "Lord Liu, the Ministry of Personnel keeps a roster for every assessment. If you have any questions, feel free to check! Our Ministry of Personnel is upright and honest." She turned to Emperor Chengtai, cupped her hands, and said, "The Ministry of Personnel are all His Majesty's loyal ministers. Your Ministry of Rites should not form cliques and factions for personal gain, assuming that everyone else is like you!"
"Song Yin, you!"
"What's wrong, Lord Liu? Am I wrong? If you dislike the Ministry of Rites and want to come to the Ministry of Personnel, don't resort to such despicable means."
"That's utter nonsense! Song Yin, do you dare swear to His Majesty that you and your disciple have never eliminated dissidents?"
The other officials were happy to watch the spectacle, such as the faction led by Prime Minister Gao, but in an instant, the flames of war spread to them.
At that time, Zhao Xi was secretly laughing to himself, thinking that when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits.
"Lord Zhao, you are an imperial censor of the Censorate. Tell me, have any officials reported to the Censorate that Minister Xu and his disciples have engaged in corrupt practices and formed cliques for personal gain?"
Zhao Xi stood there stunned. "Huh?" She didn't react for a moment. All the officials were staring at her. She timidly told the truth, "...It seems that it is indeed true."
Gao Xiang, who had been standing aside watching from the sidelines as nothing concerned him, gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and cursed under his breath as an idiot!
Liu Yu, the Vice Minister of Rites, felt he had turned the tables and sneered, "Lord Song, listen to this! Let alone forming cliques for personal gain, the 'good deeds' you and your apprentice have done are simply too numerous to recount, enough to fill three days and three nights!"
With a strong premonition, Liu Yu's next words were: "My colleagues, look at Prime Minister Gao. Lord Zhao is her disciple, but he only serves in the Censorate and has never extended his reach to the Cabinet. And look at Prime Minister Xu. He is the head of the Ministry of Personnel, and his disciple is the second-in-command. What else is there to say?"
Zhao Xi then became anxious, "Lord Liu, why are you involving others in your dispute with Lord Song?"
"I'm just stating the facts."
Then someone stepped in to mediate, saying, "Gentlemen, please stop arguing. We are still in court. We need to focus on important matters."
"What do you mean, Lord An? Official conduct, framing, and protecting those who oppose others are not serious matters?"
"Lord Liu, how could you do this? I was only acting out of good intentions. All the disputes originated from your Ministry of Rites. Stop making trouble!"
"A bunch of parasites who draw salaries from the imperial court have the nerve to say that the Ministry of Rites is being unreasonable?"
The other officials affected also spoke up, and it seemed that they were about to be plunged into an endless war. Emperor Chengtai, annoyed by the clamor of his ministers, leaned back on his dragon throne, rubbing his temples in frustration, suppressing his anger.
Xu Pin had no choice but to step forward and sternly rebuke them: "Enough!" His cloudy old eyes swept around, carrying a deep warning, "The imperial court is not a marketplace, nor is it a place for you to play house!"
She turned her gaze to Ning Yuanzhi, "Minister Ning, you must have evidence to support your claim that I harbor resentment towards Zhang Ting." She then looked at Liu Yu, "Vice Minister Liu, the court is a place of justice and impartiality. When you accuse me and Song Yin, you must provide evidence. To speak recklessly in front of His Majesty is to deceive the emperor."
Ning Yuanzhi chuckled lightly, "When Zhang Fengyi accused Zhang Ting and Xu Xiang, who didn't know that you were the first to stand up for her?"
Xu Pin's eyes were sharp, as if they were carrying knives, shooting towards her. "The court is in chaos, and it is my duty to take charge. In private, I have no dealings with Censor Zhang, and I was unaware of the matters she reported. So how can you say I'm protecting her?"
Ning Yuanzhi's smile deepened upon hearing this, and he turned to Zhang Fengyi, who was trembling behind him, and said, "Imperial Censor Zhang, did you hear that? You've been abandoned by Prime Minister Xu, and he said it has nothing to do with you."
Seeing the two great Buddhas fighting today, Zhang Fengyi was terrified and knelt on the ground, stammering, "This humble official, this humble official..." He was filled with remorse and wished he could go back a few days and slap himself a few times.
If she had known that Zhang Ting had the Minister of Rites as his backer, she... she wouldn't have provoked him.
Seeing how frightened she was, Song Yin's heart skipped a beat. Fearing that she might confess everything if she was provoked, he stepped forward and rebuked Ning Yuanzhi: "Lord Ning, is it not enough that your Ministry of Rites has already framed your colleagues? Now you want to torture your subordinates with fabricated charges?"
Ning Yuanzhi didn't even glance at her, only saying contemptuously, "Minister Song, do you have the right to speak when I'm arguing with Prime Minister Xu?"
Song Yin choked, feeling both angry and embarrassed, but she could only glare at her and turn her head away without saying another word.
The entire court of officials wished they could shrink into a crack, for fear that a spark might accidentally burn them.
Xu Pin closed his eyes briefly. He was getting old and didn't have the strength to argue anymore. Seeing that he couldn't hide it any longer, he said, "Regardless of my relationship with Zhang Fengyi, just regarding the matter she recommended, if Lord Ning has any objections, just present the evidence to His Majesty."
“Since I dare to bring this up, I have brought evidence with me. But Imperial Censor Zhang, when the truth comes out, you will be guilty of framing your colleague. Why don’t you take this opportunity to redeem yourself?” Ning Yuanzhi felt that this intimidation of Zhang Fengyi was not enough. “Prime Minister Xu has made it clear that he will not protect you.”
Xu Pin glanced at Zhang Fengyi kneeling on the ground. The smooth ground shimmered with a layer of water. What could he possibly expect from her? He sighed, "I am the head of all officials. If Censor Zhang is innocent, Lord Rong Ning cannot possibly frame her."
"Minister Xu, take a look for yourself! Your statements are inconsistent, and you still claim you have nothing to hide?"
Xu Pin calmly said, "Lord Ning, the court session is urgent. You should refrain from saying anything unnecessary and delay the time of your colleagues and His Majesty."
"Enough!" Cheng Tai stood up abruptly, his eyes filled with anger, clearly having suppressed it for a long time.
Upon seeing this, all the civil and military officials immediately prostrated themselves on the ground, crying out, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"
Emperor Chengtai exhaled and rubbed her temples. "Why should I be angry? It's already a blessing that I haven't been angered to death by you!" She pointed at the officials below, her fingers trembling.
At this moment, she deeply regretted Ning Yuanzhi's words. The old fox was indeed an old fox; he stirred up trouble with his words.
After a long while, the tinnitus gradually subsided. She weakly sat back on the dragon throne. She still had to take charge of the overall situation herself. What Xu Pin? He was completely unreliable!
"Ning Yuanzhi, since you say Zhang Ting was framed, then produce the evidence."
That damned girl must have taken Zong Xuanyue's grandson as her concubine, right?
"Your humble servant obeys the decree."
Ning Yuanzhi replied respectfully, beckoning someone to present the evidence. His gaze clashed with Xu Pin's, both sides displaying a hidden sharpness and refusing to yield.
Xu Pin was also wondering: His Majesty's greatest hatred was for Zhang Ting taking a member of the imperial clan as a concubine—that was an undeniable fact. What evidence could Ning Yuanzhi possibly produce to allow Zhang Ting to escape punishment?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
