Joy of Life: I am Li Chengze, and I have mastered the Eight Wonders

Chapter 26 Little Fan Shixian
"I do have doubts in my mind." Zhan Doudou pondered, his eyes deep.

"What are your doubts?" Si Lili's curiosity was completely aroused, and she was full of curiosity about the second prince of Qing Kingdom.

Zhan Doudou said slowly, "In the past, I was able to see through all the subtle changes in Qing's internal affairs. They were all manipulated by Emperor Qing behind the scenes, intending to weaken the Second Prince's power. However, since Fan Xian returned from Northern Qi, the situation has quietly changed."

"Changes...what exactly are they?" Si Lili asked, trying to capture every detail.

Zhan Doudou smiled bitterly and shook his head:
"This change is not only harmless to Qing, but also promotes its internal clarity and prosperity. Whether it is anti-corruption or fair selection in the imperial examination, it is a move that is of great benefit to Qing.

What is even more surprising is that even an unruly talent like Fan Xian was willing to be driven by him and achieved great success. "

Upon hearing this, Si Lili's opinion of the Second Prince of Qing Kingdom improved again. She thought to herself: This man actually has such a means to make a wise man like Fan Xian bow down. This is indeed extraordinary. If she has the chance, she must see it with her own eyes.

"Your Majesty is wise and brave. How can a mere Second Prince compare to you?" Si Lili comforted, trying to ease Zhan Doudou's worries.

Zhan Doudou looked into the distance, a hint of barely perceptible worry flashing across his eyes:

"I hope so. However, if one day Emperor Qing abdicates and this person succeeds him, I hope he can be a little more indulgent and unruly, giving Da Qi a chance to breathe..."

On the other side, Fan Xian ran into his father-in-law, Lin Xiang, and respectfully handed him a list: "Uncle, this list is returned to its original owner."

Lin Ruofu's face darkened and he reproached:
"You are too impulsive! You must know that 'a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind'. You have just established your foothold in the official career, why do you want to offend the civil and military officials and ruin your future?"

Fan Xian advised gently: "Uncle, I know my limits. Do you remember? The Second Prince has agreed to take responsibility for this matter for me."

"Don't be fooled by appearances and become a pawn in the hands of others!" Lin Ruofu was still worried.

Fan Xian smiled slightly and pointed to the sky: "Don't worry, uncle. I have the most solid backing in my hands. No one can match me, and no one dares to offend me."

Lin Ruofu suddenly realized and secretly exclaimed in his heart: "He actually did it..."

The atmosphere in the court was solemn. Li Chengze and the second prince stood side by side, seemingly chatting, but undercurrents were surging.

Minister Guo was isolated and helpless, and the officials around him avoided him for fear of being affected by the coming storm.

Following the sound of a clear chime, Emperor Qing stepped into the hall. After everyone paid their respects, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.

Minister Guo was sweating profusely, waiting for the unknown judgment.

Emperor Qing spoke, but did not mention political affairs. Instead, he showed a few poems, which made everyone look at each other in confusion. And this court meeting seemed to be brewing more far-reaching changes.

As soon as he finished speaking, Eunuch Hou held up the scroll and slowly unfolded it to the ministers. On it was written:
"Establish a mind for the heaven and earth, establish a destiny for the living people, carry forward the unique teachings of the past saints, and create peace for all generations."

As soon as these words came out, all the scholars in the court were moved, and voices of praise rose one after another:
“Every word is like a pearl, and it touches people’s heart!”

"Mr. Fan is so talented and has published new works. This is a blessing for the literary world!"

"This is the grand spectacle of Qing culture. We are fortunate to witness it. It is truly a blessing in our lifetime!"

Fan Xian stood in the middle, his mind clear as a mirror, knowing the true origin of the poem, but his face remained expressionless.

Li Chengze signaled Fan Xian with his eyes, and the latter understood and immediately led the ministers to agree. Several high-ranking ministers, each with their own thoughts, tried to figure out the emperor's intention from the poem. Chen Pingping sat upright in a wheelchair, his eyes as sharp as torches, staring at Emperor Qing; Prime Minister Lin also slightly opened his eyes, quietly watching the changes in the court.

This poem, following "You eat and your salary is the fat and blood of the people", has once again become a powerful work that has stirred the court and the people. Its meaning is profound and goes straight to the heart of the people.

Guo Zheng was particularly touched. He had just been admonished by the Second Prince, and when he heard the poem, he felt mixed emotions.
Isn't this exactly the philosophy he should uphold when managing the Spring Examination? Fan Xian's move was tantamount to pointing directly to his failure to fulfill his responsibilities.

Emperor Qing saw this and showed satisfaction on his face, and said slowly:
"This poem has profound implications and lofty aspirations. It was presented to me by a loyal minister of my dynasty. I should reflect on the aphorisms in it and also practice them..."

Chen Pingping stepped forward, turned his wheelchair slightly, and spoke earnestly: "Your Majesty is diligent in government and loves the people. You have vigorously promoted education. Students are able to inherit the legacy of the sages. Your Majesty's achievements will surely benefit future generations and create a foundation for our Daqing that will last forever!"

Qin Ye, an old minister, chuckled secretly on the side, and found Chen Pingping's compliments quite amusing.

Lin Xiang was not to be outdone and joined Chen Pingping in praising His Majesty:
"This masterpiece demonstrates your majesty's wisdom and wins the support of the people. It is a blessing for scholars and the people of the world!"

Emperor Qing took advantage of the situation and changed the subject, directly pointing to the theme of the court meeting: "Since this is the case, I will treat the matter of the spring imperial examination with great care and will not allow any mistakes."

"Guo Zheng, come forward and listen to my orders!"

Hearing this, Guo Zheng's face turned pale, and he staggered out, his legs trembling, and he almost fell to his knees, but he held himself up. He knew very well that if he showed weakness at this moment, he would be in a desperate situation.

"Li Chengze, Fan Xian, what exactly happened in the examination room?" Emperor Qing pretended to be ignorant, but actually intended to make it clear, which caused all the officials to laugh and talk about it.

As a prince, Li Chengze could not directly criticize Guo Zheng, so Fan Xian stepped forward and detailed Guo Zheng's mistakes:
"Minister Guo has neglected his duties and abused his power for personal gain, undermining the fairness of the imperial examination. He also wanted to frame innocent candidates and discourage scholars. I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely and remove him from his position as chief examiner of the Spring Examination to set things right!"

One of the prince's ministers stepped forward and spoke earnestly:

"Your Majesty, you need to think twice about this matter! Although Minister Guo seems to be eager for quick success, he has not put it into practice yet. As the Minister of Rites, he should shoulder the heavy responsibility of the Spring Examination.

Even if there are occasional mistakes, it is not appropriate to dismiss him lightly, so as not to discourage the officials..."

Although this remark seems clumsy, it is just like the bottom of the official's heart, which adds a bit of sincerity.

Upon hearing this, Fan Xian responded sharply, "Can it be considered a minor offense to hurt the feelings of scholars?

Poor children study hard just to get into college, but if they are discouraged by this, how can they talk about building a nation?"

The minister who refuted the argument was unwilling to be outdone: "They are just a few poor scholars, not the whole picture of scholars. Such people are often eager to achieve success, and inevitably take unconventional paths. Although Minister Guo's words are harsh, they are not completely groundless. They are actually aimed at this kind of atmosphere."

As soon as these words were spoken, many officials in the court nodded in agreement. They had their own calculations in their minds. Their contempt and exclusion of children from poor families stemmed from their desire to maintain the power structure.

Emperor Qing watched coldly, feeling unhappy. He knew very well that officials from the outer court were taking advantage of the Spring Examination to infiltrate the power and divide and rule, which he could not tolerate. Consolidating the imperial power and unifying thoughts were his ultimate goals.

Li Chengze keenly grasped his father's thoughts and stepped forward with a clear and powerful voice:
"You seem to have overlooked the key point. Guo Zheng's fault was not negligence or deception, but that he wantedonly deprived the helper students of their future for his own selfish desires.
They have been deprived of the opportunity to change their fate through legitimate means. If this act is not severely punished, how can the public be convinced?

How can you demonstrate your Majesty's impartiality and selflessness? "

(End of this chapter)