Many of them had met Lin Shikang before, and it was hard to imagine that someone as gentle and polite as Lin Shikang could have such a mother and clansmen!
Chen Shaoyun: "Lin Shikang only achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examination, yet his clansmen began to bully others, even targeting his wife who was raising his two children. In order to help Lin Shikang marry the daughter of a high-ranking official, they even bribed villagers to give false testimony to frame Yang. Your Majesty, these are the testimonies of Wang Yuhe and Guo Dazhuang. Please take a look."
When Chen Shaoyun arrived in Wan'an County, he re-examined Lin Mingcai, Wang Yuhe, and Guo Dazhuang. Upon hearing that Chen Shaoyun was an imperial envoy sent by the emperor from the capital, they were terrified and lost their composure. Chen Shaoyun obtained their testimonies effortlessly. Only Lin Mingcai insisted that he had nothing to do with Lin Shikang and shifted all the blame onto himself and the deceased Lin Rongguang.
After reading the testimony, the emperor's face turned very ugly.
Seeing that the Emperor's expression was not right, Vice Minister Wang said, "Your Majesty, according to Lord Chen, the matter of divorcing his wife was not Lin Shikang's idea. He was unaware of it. It was his clansmen who did it behind his back. Lin Tanhua must have been implicated by his family and clansmen."
Zan Yongjin stepped forward to refute: "Even if Lin Tanhua was implicated, flies don't land on eggs without cracks. Lin Tanhua's numerous scandals are enough to prove that he himself also has problems!"
Moreover, as a scholar who ranked third in the imperial examinations, if his wife had truly committed adultery or had an illegitimate child, his clan would have covered it up for him and dealt with it upon his return. Yet, his clan insisted on interfering. If it wasn't at his behest, then he simply couldn't control them, or perhaps he was deliberately indulging them! Your Majesty, I believe his title of "Third Scholar" should be stripped!
Whether it was Lin Shih-kang's intention or not, everyone knows the truth, but there is no evidence.
After he finished speaking, Minister Wen of the Censorate stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this old minister agrees with Minister Zan's words. One must manage one's family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world. Lin Shikang can't even manage his own family, let alone control his own clansmen. He is hardly fit for any important task! If Lin Shikang were to hold an official position in the future, who knows how they would abuse his power to prey on the people, bully men and women!"
"Your Majesty, Lin Shikang came from a humble background, yet he achieved the third-highest rank in the imperial examination, which demonstrates his talent. Now, he has established the Tanhua Academy, helping more students and cultivating more learned scholars for our dynasty, which shows his ability and loyalty!" Minister Wang hurriedly said, fearing that the emperor would take back Lin Shikang's academic achievements.
After Vice Minister Wang finished speaking, Wei Wenhou, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Lin Tanhua is a talented man. Since abandoning his wife and daughter was not his wish, he should not be punished!"
He comes from the countryside, and his clansmen are likely uneducated and ignorant country bumpkins. If he can manage his clansmen well, our dynasty will have another talented person. This old minister believes we should give Scholar Lin a chance.”
Marquis Wen of Wei came from a poor family and it was no easy feat for him to rise to the position of Chancellor of the Imperial Academy. He knew all too well what it felt like to have a group of relatives in the countryside who were sabotaging you. He believed that Lin Shikang was harmed by a group of unreasonable and poor relatives.
Moreover, he had read Lin Shikang's articles, which were very well written. Lin Shikang had now established the Tanhua Academy to help more scholars. Wei Wenhou felt that Lin Shikang was a talented and capable person and that he had to help him.
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