Chapter 83 Going to Fengyang
Unlike the critical situation Kong Yanjin had imagined, the capital was still peaceful, as if nothing had happened.
As soon as Kong Yanjin arrived, he obediently went into the palace to pay homage to the emperor. Emperor Zhu Yuhuan did not show any anger, but instead received Kong Yanjin warmly.
Kong Yanjin was suddenly summoned to the capital. He thought there would be blood and gore, but the current scene was truly unexpected, making Kong Yanjin even more confused about the emperor's mood.
Should this be investigated or not?
Kong Yanjin was very nervous, but the emperor summoned him to the palace every now and then just to listen to him talk about Confucianism.
The emperor's intention was like a knife hanging over Kong Yanjin's head, and no one knew when it would fall. Even though he had developed a body of steel and iron over the years in the Kong family, Kong Yanjin still found it a bit too much to bear.
"Shen'er, Yuan'er, this is the Duke of Yansheng."
Zhu Shuyuan and Zhu Jianshen looked at Kong Yanjin eagerly, their eyes full of curiosity.
The brother and sister, one five and the other four years old, were at an active age. Moreover, they were in the Palace of Heavenly Purity and there was no Zhou Yingying to look after them, so the two children immediately circled around Kong Yanjin with scrutiny in their eyes.
Rather than looking at people, the two children looked more like they were looking at something rare.
Kong Yanjin felt uncomfortable under the gazes of the two children, but he also knew that he was in the palace now and couldn't say a word.
"What is Yanshenggong?"
Zhu Yuhuan was a little amused and said, "They are the descendants of Confucius."
Zhu Shuyuan nodded seriously and said, "So that's how it is. Then Duke Yansheng and the Emperor have the same title."
Kong Yanjin was startled by these words and knelt down hastily, saying, "Your Highness, please be careful with your words. How dare I compare myself to Your Majesty..."
Zhu Jianshen stared at Kong Yanjin for a long time and asked, "Your Majesty said that Confucius had many students who inherited his teachings, but none of them had the title of 'Duke Yansheng'. Why can you have it? Is it just because you are a descendant of Confucius?"
Kong Yanjin didn't dare to say anything now. Instead, the emperor smiled and said, "Shen'er, we are all descendants of the Great Ancestor. That's why we can inherit the throne. The same is true for Yanshenggong."
Kong Yanjin kowtowed hastily and said, "Your Majesty, your words are too humiliating for me. I have no talent or virtue, but I rely on the legacy of my ancestors. Taizu and Taizong stabilized the country and ushered in an era of peace and prosperity. Their contributions will be remembered for generations to come..."
He carefully defended himself, but he could feel the emperor's gaze on his back becoming increasingly cold.
Only then did Kong Yanjin realize that he had said the wrong thing.
"No talent and no virtue, no talent and no virtue..." Zhu Yuhuan snorted and laughed and asked, "As the Duke of Yansheng, how can you be without talent and without virtue?"
Kong Yanjin hastily apologized, saying, "I was flustered and spoke without thinking. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me. I am willing to teach at the Imperial College and prove my innocence."
Zhu Yuhuan chuckled softly, his tone softening slightly, but the content of his speech nearly stifled Kong Yanjin's breath. "Lectures at the Imperial Academy are too unfair to a descendant of Confucius like Duke Yansheng. It just so happens that Yi Shuren hasn't repented yet. Go to Fengyang and persuade him properly, so that he understands what a 'lord' is. Come back after you've convinced him."
The emperor showed no signs of anger, and his words did not target Kong Yanjin, but Kong Yanjin, as the person involved, knew it clearly.
This is not "re-employment" at all, it is clearly exile!
Although Zhongdu Fengyang is the royal family's hometown, everyone knows that Fengyang is almost deserted and far inferior to the prosperity of the two capitals. Not to mention that after Emperor Taizong Zhu Di's Jingnan Rebellion, Fengyang has completely become a prison for royal political prisoners. Where can you go to reason with the royal prisoners? Isn't that a disguised exile?
Moreover, if Kong Yanjin passed away, his son who was in poor health would have to take charge of the Kong family. What would happen if Kong Kexu, the ancestor of the clan who had always been at odds with him, took advantage of the situation?
Before Kong Yanjin could even begin to defend himself or plead, Zhu Yuhuan continued, "Duke Yansheng had Shandong officials send a congratulatory message that clearly explained my legitimacy as the son of Emperor Xuanzong Zhang. However, this commoner refused to obey orders. His words showed no respect for our ancestral family rules, let alone Confucianism. The officials I sent to teach him were unable to tame him..."
Having said that, Zhu Yuhuan sighed and looked worried.
"The imperial court has always treated the Kong family with courtesy, enjoying the treatment of a first-rank official, ranking first among the civil servants. In the eighth year of the Yongle reign, Duke Yansheng was only ten years old and suffered from humiliation from his clansmen. It was Emperor Taizong who decided to let you, still so young, inherit the position of Duke Yansheng. They say that a young ruler makes a country uncertain, and isn't the position of Duke Yansheng no different? If Emperor Taizong hadn't resolutely opposed all objections, how could Duke Yansheng exist today?" Zhu Yuhuan looked down at him, a smile half smirking as he said, "Not to mention that when the Emperor was alive, Duke Yansheng requested a book, and he sent people to Fujian to purchase it. He was treated with the utmost courtesy. I never expected Duke Yansheng to be so disappointing..."
Kong Yanjin thought of many possible ways the emperor might take, but he never expected that the emperor would choose the most "shameless" one, which was to simply press Kong Yanjin's head and tell him to get out of here and go to Fengyang.
But Zhu Yuhuan was the emperor, and what he brought up were words he had said before, so Kong Yanjin had no good reason to object.
He supported Zhu Yuhuan's ascension to the throne, but there were many people like Yi Shuren who were not convinced in their hearts. If Kong Yanjin took on this matter, he would be causing trouble for himself, and if he did not take on this matter, he would be disrespectful to the royal family.
The word "propriety" that he loved to talk about the most had now become a huge mountain weighing down on him. Even if he could debate with a group of scholars, could he really defeat the emperor with just his words?
Kong Yanjin gritted his teeth and said, "I obey your command."
Zhu Yuhuan then revealed a gratified expression and said to the brother and sister next to him, "When the Duke of Yansheng returns from Fengyang, let him choose a lecturer for you two to start your education, okay?"
The two children, who were simply curious, responded obediently: "Okay——"
Upon hearing this, Kong Yanjin could only comfort himself in his heart that the emperor still needed the Kong family and needed him to argue for her, so he would not take direct action against the Kong family.
After all, Neo-Confucianism has been passed down for many years. How could it collapse overnight? As long as Neo-Confucianism exists, the Kong family will not fall.
If Zhu Yuhuan knew what Kong Yanjin was thinking, he would definitely laugh out loud.
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