257. My grandmaster, uncle-master, and teacher all took turns supporting me! (Page 1/2)
Seven days later.
It was the dead of night.
The capital city, which had long been under curfew and silent, was suddenly awakened by a fast horse and a secret letter arriving from Kaifeng.
It bombed countless high-ranking officials and nobles—
Men and horses fell over.
"Hiss! Cui Xian alone has declared war on more than a dozen schools of thought?!"
"What?! A proclamation of war is carried on a Kongming lantern and hung in the night sky?!"
"A performance of 'Prelude to Water Melody: When Will the Moon Be Bright?' captivated the entire audience!"
"His Majesty actually bestowed upon him a jade ruyi?! I have served him for many years and have never received such an honor!"
"The secret key to the eight-legged essay—good heavens, such a wonderful thing actually exists!"
Bang!
Snap!
Clang!
The lights in the mansions and residences suddenly came on.
Exclamations, angry shouts, and the sound of porcelain shattering rose and fell.
On countless faces, some aged, some shrewd, horror and anger intertwined.
That immature and arrogant young man, whom they predicted had "a ruined future," did not fall silent.
Instead, it caused a huge upheaval!
What's even more chilling is that imperial ruyi scepter: When did His Majesty bestow it upon us? And why?
The deeper meaning behind this is chilling upon closer examination.
This is terrifying to think about!
The most outrageous thing is—
That Cui Xian, he actually dared to write a proclamation!
You need to know.
This is a famous manifesto, and it is no ordinary piece of writing.
It is the clarion call of conquest, the pronouncement of regime, and the banner of morality.
A few hundred words can be worth ten thousand soldiers and can determine the rise and fall of a dynasty.
Throughout history.
Chen Lin wrote a proclamation for Yuan Shao, his words sharp and incisive, directly targeting Cao Cao's foundation.
Liu Bang's "Letter to the Lords" established the moral order by "punishing the wicked and destroying the tyrannical Qin".
Zu Junyan wrote a proclamation for Li Mi, listing ten crimes of Emperor Yang, which were "too numerous to record".
And Cui Xian's dozen or so declarations of ascension—
Not only is the language astonishing, but the content is even more horrifying.
An official slammed his fist on the table and cursed, "This kid is incredibly audacious!"
One of the senior officials was so angry that he trembled violently and almost fainted.
Yet some people, holding the paper with the inscription "Sharing the same moon across a thousand miles," wept tears of joy, exclaiming, "This line should only exist in heaven."
In short—
The entire capital city is in complete chaos!
The sky hastily brightened amidst the shock, anger, and unease of the city's powerful and wealthy officials.
Outside the palace gates.
The atmosphere was somber in the area where officials awaited their turn to attend court.
Some people huddled together whispering, while others paced alone with grim faces, their eyes flashing with the same surprise and indignation.
Many people unconsciously glanced frequently in the direction of the Grand Secretary Zheng Xiasheng.
Trying to catch a clue or attitude from that thin figure.
However, the old prime minister simply tucked his sleeves in and lowered his eyes.
It was as if he was still talking to the Duke of Zhou.
He was exactly the same as usual, drowsy and careless.
As the bells and drums sounded, the officials solemnly lined up to enter the court.
Almost every official carried a prepared memorial in their sleeve, determined to expose the audacious Cui Xian to the point of utter disgrace!
However, after Emperor Jiahe sat on the dragon throne...
Inside the hall, the officials exchanged encouraging glances: Brother, hurry up and go!
You should implicate him!
You should yell at him!
However, the intensity of the officials' eye contact was remarkable.
Inside the Golden Palace, the atmosphere was actually quite quiet.
Everyone here is shrewd; if this matter only involved Cui Xian, they would start criticizing him in no time.
But... in that young headmaster's hand was a jade ruyi!
If one rashly starts criticizing, the target might not just be Choi Hyeon.
An eerie silence descended.
At the very front of the assembled officials.
Vice Minister Chen Bingzheng straightened his clothes.
rear.
An official from the Censorate, known for his outspokenness, stepped forward with a heavy heart.
His face was full of "loyalty and indignation," and his voice was impassioned: "Your Majesty! I have heard that Cui Xian of Kaifeng, as the headmaster of Yuelu Academy, does not think about his duty of educating and guiding, but instead incites the Hundred Schools of Thought to fight!"
"Using the ingenious and frivolous Kongming lanterns to spread outrageous and absurd proclamations, and further flaunting imperial objects of dubious authenticity, is truly disturbing the scholarly community and shaking the foundations of the nation!"
"His intentions are despicable, and his actions deserve punishment!"
"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you immediately issue an edict to thoroughly investigate the matter, reclaim the gifts, and severely punish those responsible!"
His words were like a floodgate opening.
Several more people stepped forward to echo this sentiment, their words vehement, yet they seemed somewhat lacking in conviction.
Chen Bing stood at the head of the civil officials, his eyes fixed on his nose, his nose seemingly reflecting his inner thoughts.
The faint curve at the corner of his mouth betrayed his amused and appreciative mood.
Just as the sound of the accompaniment was somewhat weak and the scene was delicate.
At the very front of the civil servants' column, a thin, frail figure, who often seemed to be resting with his eyes closed, slowly began to move.
Grand Secretary Zheng Xiasheng took a step forward.
It was just one step, yet it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
The entire court fell silent instantly, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Grand Secretary Zheng did not immediately raise his voice in rebuttal.
He simply used his seemingly murky but now clear and bright eyes to slowly sweep over the people who had spoken earlier.
Then, he turned to the throne, cupped his hands, and spoke.
His voice wasn't loud, even somewhat aged and hoarse, but it was exceptionally steady:
"Your Majesty, this old minister has something to say."
Emperor Jiahe said, "Speak."
Previously, Cui Xian had bluntly stated that all twenty classics had flaws, which triggered numerous attacks and impeachments.
As the grandmaster, Zheng Xiasheng remained silent.
So much so that many people have forgotten the Grand Secretary who has been able to stand firmly in the court for so many years—
Does a universe reside within a sleeve?
A qualified political player should first position himself as the prey and then patiently wait.
Once the storm has passed, people's hearts become restless.
It is he who should stand up and make everyone remember—
In this imperial court, who truly holds the reins?
Do you really think I, Zheng Xiasheng, am a clay Buddha, without any temper?
Do you really think my obedient little grand-disciple is someone you can mold and abuse at will?!
Zheng Xiasheng bowed to the throne, his voice steady yet carrying a certain weighty quality.
The sound resounded throughout the hall.
"Today, the memorials presented by the gentlemen all point to Kaifeng, and every sentence concerns Cui Xian."
(This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading) 257. My grandmaster, uncle, and teacher all took turns supporting me! (Page 2/2)
"However, after listening to you all, I feel that what you gentlemen are truly worried about is probably not what that young headmaster has done."
He raised his eyes, his gaze as still as a deep pool, and slowly swept over the ministers in the hall.
"What worries you gentlemen is why His Majesty bestowed upon him the jade ruyi? What worries you is why he can command the support of hundreds of men with a single call?"
"What worries me is—is it truly time to hear new voices about this centuries-old system of selecting officials and teaching methods?"
He spoke clearly and slowly about the phrases "given by His Majesty" and "the way of selecting officials."
"Professor Cui's actions certainly had their recklessness. But to deny his original intention of inspiring students and exploring the meaning of classics simply because his methods are astonishing, or even to condemn him for 'inciting chaos'..."
Zheng Xiasheng's voice lowered slightly as he spoke each word clearly:
"Then I would like to ask all the officials in the court: Are we upholding the tradition of learning, or are we afraid of new changes? Are we defending the orthodox tradition, or are we... clinging to our own sects?"
As the last four words were uttered, the air in the hall suddenly froze.
He didn't raise his voice, nor did he glare at her; he simply stood there and, in the calmest tone, asked the most pointed question.
Then he bowed again:
"This old minister is foolish and dull-witted. I only see that the headmaster appointed by Your Majesty is in his position and performing his duties."
"If this action is wrong, the court's laws and His Majesty's judgment will prevail."
"However, his heart is pitiable, his will is evident, and the spirit of learning and seeking truth that he inspired among scholars is especially valuable."
After speaking, he returned to the column and stood with his eyes downcast.
No one in the hall, whether civil or military officials, uttered a sound.
The eight characters "fear of new changes" and "hold fast to one's own position" are like needles piercing the hearts of everyone, and upon careful consideration, a chill creeps in.
Prime Minister Zheng was known for his mild-mannered nature and kind treatment of others.
It has been many years since he has shown such sharp edges in the court.
These remarks were subtle yet insidious, each sentence seemingly righteous and grand in its own way.
But the stern aura emanating from between the lines, the undeniable protection beneath the calm, can be translated into just one sentence:
Are you even capable of touching my grand-disciple?
On the throne.
Emperor Jiahe didn't even lift his eyelids, but gently placed the jade bead he had been playing with for a long time on the table, making a soft "tap" sound.
Then, a calm, almost detached voice rang out in the silence:
“That jade ruyi scepter of Cui Xian was indeed a gift from me.”
That's all there is to it, no further explanation.
In an instant, all the civil and military officials in the court seemed to have their throats gripped by an invisible force.
An indescribable sourness and frustration, like an overturned jar of aged vinegar, quickly spread in everyone's heart.
Many officials subconsciously lowered their eyes, but their fingers secretly clenched in their sleeves—
I'm insanely jealous!
Just as some officials, their anger overwhelmed by reason, were preparing to launch another attack on Cui Xian.
A resounding announcement suddenly rang out from outside the hall:
"Reporting—to Your Majesty!"
"Urgent dispatch! Shaanxi Provincial Governor Li Duan reports a great victory in disaster relief! The victims are safe and sound, and there is no worry about autumn planting!"
The sound was like tearing silk, fiercely shattering the almost stagnant silence and bitterness in the hall.
A weary messenger rushed into the hall, still in his armor, and knelt on both knees, holding a sealed secret report high above his head.
All eyes in the court were immediately fixed on the report of victory.
The words have arrived even before the person has!
This is hardly good news.
It's clearly Li Duan, the Provincial Governor of Shaanxi, who's backing up his own nephew!
Upon hearing the words "Great Victory in Shaanxi Disaster Relief".
The emperor on the throne straightened his back almost imperceptibly.
He carefully read through the victory report and nodded slightly:
"Li Duan handled this matter thoroughly, which greatly pleases me. It is evident that practical results far outweigh empty talk."
At this point, the emperor seemed to casually change the subject, his tone becoming somewhat lighter, "As for Cui Xian... he was young and impetuous, and his actions were a bit out of line."
"Let's wait and see, and observe the results."
With just a few words, the tense court debate that had just taken a light turn.
Having said that, he didn't wait for anyone's reaction.
Emperor Jiahe rose and went behind the screen.
"Court adjourned!"
The high-pitched voice of the eunuch in charge of ceremonies rang out.
The entire court of civil and military officials bowed and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" but their hearts were in turmoil.
Zheng Xiasheng remained calm and slowly exited the main hall with the crowd.
It was as if the turbulent events that had just transpired had little to do with him.
And that report of victory from Shaanxi, along with the emperor's ambiguous final "Let's see"—
Like two enormous boulders, they smashed the entire court, leaving officials bruised and battered.
Like a clown.
On the other side.
Public opinion in the capital was in an uproar even earlier than in the imperial court.
The details of Cui Xian's solo battle against a hundred families and the transmission of the proclamation by the heavenly lantern, along with that deadly jade ruyi, have spread like wildfire throughout teahouses and taverns.
Amazement and anger flew together, with some exclaiming, "Could this child be the reincarnation of the God of Literature?" and others condemning him as "arrogant and rebellious, shaking the orthodox tradition."
The news reached the Dong family, who were scholars of the modern text school of Confucianism.
The current head of the household, Dong Shifang, smashed his beloved Jun kiln brush washer on the spot.
"You ignorant brat, how dare you insult the Dong family so blatantly!"
His face was flushed red, and he angrily said to the clan members and disciples, "Quickly contact all sides and collect evidence of their fallacies in words and deeds."
"I will make the whole world know that his so-called 'new learning' is nothing but baseless nonsense, and within three months, I will surely ruin his reputation!"
However, before the Dong family could launch their counterattack...
Another piece of news, like a meteorite falling to earth, left the entire literary world of Beijing dizzy and disoriented—
A letter from Kaifeng was delivered directly to the desk of the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.
Its content can be simply summarized as follows:
"Twenty years have passed. Have you forgotten how much it hurt when you were beaten back then? How dare you bully my disciple? In three months, we'll settle this score outside the Imperial Academy."
The signature is that dazzling name that once commanded the respect of a generation.
——Donglai.
The old Chancellor of the Imperial Academy held the letter in his hand, his vision blurring.
The news exploded, and the entire capital went crazy—
That terrifying force that dominated the literary world for twenty years has returned.
For no other reason than that.
Just to give his apprentice a chance to settle this score—
Smash it back hard!
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