Chapter 243 Gecko's Tail Cut Off
Pei Qing, as the Grand Tutor, was exceptionally talented.
There were many students facing Pei Qing.
Some of these students came from powerful families and entered officialdom through their family connections.
Many of the students who had no connections but were highly learned entered the Hanlin Academy.
With the prime minister wielding concentrated power, the Hanlin Academy was filled with sinecure positions.
Normally, they could only annotate and interpret scriptures, and the officials in the court would not pay attention to this.
As a result, almost 80% of the students in the Hanlin Academy were Pei Qing's students.
The establishment of the Hanlin Academy was not only intended to decentralize power from Prime Minister Cui.
It was also a gift from the Pei family to show their loyalty to her.
Qin Jinzhi was pleased to see that Prime Minister Cui's expression had finally changed.
How interesting it is to see two old foxes battling it out!
Pei Qing may have remained silent for many years, but his ambition and scheming have never been silent.
Others only saw him as a dying ember, a flickering spark.
Little did they know that with just a gust of east wind, that spark could quickly ignite a prairie fire.
After today, Grand Tutor Pei can return to the court.
Qin Jinzhi was very curious about how the struggle between these centuries-old clans would shake up the imperial court.
If Prime Minister Cui thinks that today's attack is only against Cui Ting, he is sorely mistaken.
Cui Ting, a hypocrite who relies on stealing his sister's essays to gain fame, is not worthy of Qin Jinzhi's schemes.
Cui Ting was merely a prelude.
In that corner belonging to the Hanlin Academy, members of the Cui clan were constantly being impeached.
Even old cases were accompanied by testimonies and confessions.
Prime Minister Cui's face gradually turned expressionless.
She was already planning this day when Qin Jinzhi gave the order to use the Hanlin Academy.
If the Hanlin Academy wants to take power away from him, the first thing to do is to severely damage him without leaving any room for compromise.
Only in this way can power be truly deprived of him, thus establishing a foothold in the court.
He just never expected that the Pei family, a family with a century of integrity, would become Qin Jinzhi's lackeys!
Others may not know, but Prime Minister Cui is perfectly clear about the situation in the imperial court.
Those from the Cui family were all students and disciples of Pei Qing.
Pei Qing was able to get close to the center of power, but he had no one he could rely on.
The students of the Hanlin Academy had great ambitions but had no way to serve in the government.
Qin Jinzhi's actions brought these people together with the Pei family.
The Cui family, on the other hand, served as their ladder to success.
Prime Minister Cui looked at the two grandfathers and grandsons on the high seats.
This monarch has actually raised yet another political monster.
One memorial after another was presented to the emperor.
The emperor looked at Prime Minister Cui, "Prime Minister, what do you have to say?"
Prime Minister Cui stepped forward respectfully. “Your Majesty, it is all my fault for failing to properly manage my subordinates. I was unaware of so many injustices. Although I was unaware of the situation, the crimes of my clansmen are too numerous to count. I also bear responsibility for my lack of discipline. I beg Your Majesty to severely punish the Cui clansmen and also to punish me.”
After saying that, he knelt down respectfully on the ground.
Since this memorial has been presented to His Majesty, it means that all preparations have been made.
His claim was undoubtedly a sophistry; as the head of all officials, even if he acknowledged the Emperor's authority, he wouldn't lose his life.
If the Hanlin Academy wants power, then give it to them.
There's no intention to be aggressive or ruthless; temporarily avoiding confrontation is for the purpose of better devouring the enemy.
Today's events were all due to his underestimation of his opponent.
He never truly considered Qin Jinzhi as an equal opponent.
People always learn from their mistakes.
Having held a high position for many years, arrogance is ingrained in his bones.
Qin Jinzhi really gave him a wake-up call.
If we don't take this seriously, the Cui family could be destroyed, and Qin Jinzhi might actually be able to pull it off.
Qin Jinzhi was not surprised at all that Prime Minister Cui had abandoned his clansmen like a gecko cutting off its tail.
This politician treats even his own daughter as a pawn and bargaining chip that he can discard.
Not to mention some of the clansmen.
He easily used the martial artist he had trained for many years as a stepping stone for Cui Hao's growth.
Such people have cold-heartedness etched into their very bones.
The emperor said coldly, "Prime Minister Cui, you have disappointed me greatly."
Prime Minister Cui offered no explanation, only pleading, "Your Majesty, punish me!"
Cui Ting couldn't believe what was happening before his eyes.
If it weren't for suing him, how would it have involved so many members of the Cui family?
They even dragged their father into being punished!
The emperor's voice was cold. "All members of the Cui clan mentioned in the memorial shall be imprisoned in the imperial prison and beheaded in the autumn. The families of those involved shall be exiled and their property confiscated. Prime Minister Cui has failed to properly restrain his relatives and is hereby fined one year's salary and confined to his quarters for three months. The affairs of state shall be temporarily handled by the Hanlin Academy and Minister Du. During the Prime Minister's confinement, Lang Qingfeng shall temporarily take charge of the affairs of state in the Hanlin Academy."
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
"Your subject accepts the imperial decree and expresses his gratitude!"
One stepped forward to receive the decree, while the other knelt to accept the punishment.
As Prime Minister Cui stood up, he saw a slightly sarcastic look on Qin Jinzhi's face.
I wonder how Prime Minister Cui feels about this?
Du Zhong was a step behind and quickly said, "Your subject obeys the decree."
Besieged on all sides, surrounded by wolves.
The Hanlin Academy was coming on strong from the front, and Du Zhong was eyeing it covetously from behind.
Prime Minister Cui, can you accept this courtesy?
The emperor looked at Cui Ting, who was dumbfounded, and said, "Imprison Cui Ting and this woman. After verification and investigation, they will be punished. Minister Pei loves the people like his own children, and I am deeply gratified. Go back and take good care of your injuries. My Great Jin needs good officials like you!"
Pei Jinnian knelt and kowtowed, "Your subject obeys the decree!"
After the court session, Pei Jinnian followed behind Qin Jinzhi.
“Princess, it turns out your real purpose is not Cui Ting.”
Qin Jinzhi looked back at Pei Jinnian's face, then turned her head back.
“Pei Jinnian, this is just the calm before the storm. Do you think that killing some members of the Cui family and confining Prime Minister Cui to his quarters is enough to achieve your goal?”
Upon hearing this, Pei Jinnian respectfully replied, "Jinnian is foolish and humbly requests Your Highness's guidance."
Qin Jinzhi didn't blame him. Pei Jinnian had only recently entered the court and didn't even know how to be a good swordsman.
"Once the matter of Cui Ting is resolved, His Majesty will issue an edict appointing you as the Prefect of the Capital. Remember to find more allies."
Pei Jinnian watched Qin Jinzhi's departing figure, his mind reeling.
Today's beating of the petition drum is not only a prelude to confronting the Cui family, but also a way to build momentum for his appointment as the Prefect of the Capital.
An official who loves the people like his own children, that's how he got to that position.
The will of the people.
The sun hung high in the sky, yet Pei Jinnian felt utterly cold.
The more he interacted with Qin Jinzhi, the more terrified he became.
This fear stemmed from his growing awareness of the ideological gap between him and Qin Jinzhi.
He returned to the Pei residence and went straight to Pei Qing's study without even treating his wounds.
Pei Qing immediately ordered a servant to fetch the family physician.
"Has Prime Minister Cui been punished?"
Pei Jinnian was silent for a moment, "Grandfather, among the Hanlin Academy scholars who visited the Cui family today, I saw many of your students. Was this all a scheme you and the Princess orchestrated from the beginning?"
Pei Qing gestured for Pei Jinnian to sit down, saying, "Court intrigues have always been like this."
Pei Jinnian fell silent again. "Grandfather, don't you think your grandson is too useless?"
Pei Qing took a deep breath.
"I have protected you too well; I have never told you about the dark side of the court."
But the princess was different; she was exposed to the blazing sun and also in darkness.
No one among the younger generation in the capital could rival her.
If she didn't possess such abilities, she would have been completely devoured long ago.
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