good season

For all civil and military officials, today is a day that will go down in history!

Just today, in the Golden Palace, right under the emperor's nose, in front of all the officials, the upright Censor Jin actually bumped his head against the pillar!
It was not uncommon for civil officials to bang their heads against pillars, but Censor Jin was the first person to do so with such determination and passion since the founding of the Yongzheng Dynasty.

In the past, civil servants would bang their heads against pillars just for show.

One of them made a gesture as if he was about to hit me: "Don't stop me, no one can stop me!"

A group of extras tried to stop them: "No, absolutely not. If anything happens to you, His Majesty will be sad."

The ladder was handed to the emperor, who coughed and said, "My dear minister, why are you doing this?"

Long afterward, when the court officials recalled what happened that day, they would still be amazed at how Censor Jin was ready to face death with dignity.

With the determination of a moth to a flame and the calmness of being torn to pieces, with a bang, blood flew all over the sky. It was the dream of a young boy studying hard in the snow, it was the petals embroidered with love by a girl among the peach blossoms in March, it was the lime chant that young officials recited countless times in their hearts.

The thin body of Censor Jin fell down with a loud bang, which touched everyone's heart.

As Censor Jin fell, the court officials who had just questioned him felt a little guilty.

Before today, whenever Censor Jin opened his mouth, everything he said and pointed out was always dark and offensive.

For example, the Earl of Yan'an, who had just been fined one year's salary not long ago, brought his concubine to the banquet but not his wife.

When this matter came from the mouth of Censor Jin, it was infinitely magnified. He favored his concubine and neglected his wife, which was against morals, disrespectful to the ancient sages, and disrupted the social order. It was unacceptable.

There was also the son of Marquis Baoqing, who lost all his money gambling. When Marquis Baoqing found out, he scolded his son and the matter was over.

However, Censor Jin reported both the father and the son to the emperor. He said that Marquis Baoqing failed to manage his household properly and indulged his son in gambling, so he was not worthy of being a father. The eldest son of Marquis Baoqing was arrogant, extravagant, and lustful. He did not know the difference between the five grains and was lazy, so he was not worthy of being an heir.

In the end, Marquis Baoqing broke one of his son's legs in tears, and the matter was finally resolved.

So, when Censor Jin said today that he had something to report, everyone thought that he was going to report someone again.

But no one expected that Censor Jin did not report anyone. Instead, with tears in his eyes, he passionately requested the emperor to let the Prince of Liang return to his hometown and let his soul return to his hometown. If he could not attend his father's funeral while he was alive, he should die in front of his father's grave after his death.

Not attending a funeral is unfilial.

He died in front of his father's grave as an apology.

Censor Jin quoted from classics and spoke eloquently, and as a bystander, he explained the importance of Prince Liang returning to his roots.

How important is it?
That is, if Prince Liang died in the capital, some people would follow his example. When their father was sick, the son would claim to be ill and not go to take care of him. When their father died, the son would conceal the fact and avoid mourning.

Censor Jin cited an incident that occurred in Luoshi County two years ago.

It was the year of the major examination. Magistrate Luo Shi had made a lot of arrangements with everyone from top to bottom, and there was hope for promotion. However, his father was seriously ill in his hometown and no medicine could cure him.

So Magistrate Luo Shi sealed his father in a cave, but told outsiders that his father was saved by a wandering Taoist priest and that after he recovered from his illness, he followed the Taoist priest on his journey.

At that time, the retired emperor entered the Changshou Palace to cultivate immortality, and the noble families donated money to build Taoist temples. Therefore, Magistrate Luo Shi deceived everyone with this statement, and it was even written into the county annals by his flatterers.

Not long after, the magistrate was promoted to prefect and left Luo Shi County.

After the new prefect took office, two beautiful concubines were sent to him. The prefect became obsessed with the concubines and neglected his original wife. The wife was furious and during an argument with him, she spoke without thinking and revealed the fact that he had sealed his father in a cave and starved him to death.

Thus, the matter spread from mouth to mouth among the maids, and reached the ears of someone with ulterior motives, who reported it to the prefect. Unfortunately, this prefect took the position that the prefect originally wanted to assign to one of his own. So when the prefect heard about this, he made some arrangements, gathered witnesses and evidence, and reported the case to the Dali Temple.

The case caused a sensation and Emperor Yongjia personally intervened in the case. The prefect was eventually sentenced to death by slicing.

Now Censor Jin brought up this case. Before the incident of Prince Liang, there was a person who killed his biological father in order to escape mourning. The court at that time sentenced him severely to serve as a warning to others.

But now, the dignified Prince of Liang did not go back to attend his father's funeral, and abandoned his widowed mother and younger brother. Even if he was really sick, what would the world think?

Does it mean you can disrespect your parents just by claiming to be sick?

Therefore, the action of Prince Liang was totally wrong.

Censor Jin believed that although Prince Liang had his reasons for what he did, he was indeed unfilial.

How can we eliminate the impact of this incident in the court and the country? He must atone his sins in front of his father's grave. He must return to Liang to build a hut and observe mourning. Even if he dies, he must die in front of the tomb of King Liang.

There is no other way. Prince Liang’s status is too high and his influence is too great. He can only eliminate the impact of this incident by making up for his unfilial behavior. Otherwise, there will inevitably be a second and third County Magistrate Luo Shi.

If the king is like this, if the officials are like this, then what about the people?

A gentleman should focus on the basics, and the way will come into being when the basics are established. Filial piety and brotherhood are the foundation of benevolence!

Filial piety and respect for elders are the foundation of being a human being. If one is not filial to his biological parents, how can he be loyal to the court?
If this continues, the dynasty will be in danger.

When Censor Jin got so excited, he hit his head against the pillar to express his determination with his blood!

Emperor Yongjia had an unclear expression. He could not say whether he liked or disliked Censor Jin. However, before today, Censor Jin was very useful.

The Great Yong Dynasty had been established for more than 120 years. In addition to the Eight Kings, there were also many clansmen in the capital, and there were also those nobles who were self-righteous because of their ancestors' military achievements. These people were thorns in his eyes, but he could not deprive them of their titles or confiscate their property. Just like the Liang Palace, he could not move all of them. He could only influence them little by little, from ambitious wolves to obedient dogs.

So he needs people like Censor Jin. He needed them before and he will need them in the future. There must be such people in the court at all times.

But he didn't expect that this time, Censor Jin made such a big fuss just for Prince Liang.

Emperor Yongjia did not believe that this was Censor Jin's own decision.

Censor Jin was a man who cared a lot about his reputation, so those he attacked were mostly those who already had a bad reputation.

For example, the son of Marquis Baoqing was a famous playboy in the capital.

For example, Prince Consort Xiao, whom he had impeached, had kept a mistress without telling the eldest princess and was despised by the entire royal family.

What Censor Jin is best at is to portray himself as an honest and upright official by giving a hard time to those who are down on their luck.

But now, everyone in the capital knows that Zhao Tinghan is about to die, and the Liang Palace is in a precarious situation, which is already a cause for sympathy. Given Jin Yushi's usual behavior, he would not choose Zhao Tinghan as his target.

Emperor Yongjia has decided to have the Embroidered Uniform Guard keep a close eye on Censor Jin after court session.

This collision not only broke Censor Jin's head, but also brought out a lot of voices of approval.

"I second the proposal."

"I second the proposal."

At this moment, a eunuch ran in quickly and whispered something in the ear of the eunuch in charge, Eunuch Li. Eunuch Li's expression changed slightly.

The strangeness of Eunuch Li did not escape the eyes of Emperor Yongjia. He remained calm and said, "Call the imperial physician to check on Censor Jin. By the way, let the imperial physician check on Prince Liang to see if his sick body can hold out until he returns to Liang. Alas, Prince Liang is the eldest son of Prince Liang. I have watched him grow up. How can I bear to see him die?" The emperor did not say the rest. The ministers secretly guessed in their hearts, wondering whether the emperor could not bear to see Zhao Tinghan die in the capital, or could not bear to see him die on the road.

There is no minister in the court who is a real fool.

Why didn’t Zhao Tinghan return to Liang to attend the funeral?

Is he really so sick that he can't get up?

As a son, even if you can’t get up, you have to let others carry you back.

But Zhao Tinghan did not go back. Even a fool could see that someone was not letting him go back. Zhao Tinghan was afraid that he could not even leave the Prince Liang's Mansion.

Hearing that the second son of Prince Liang was mediocre in talent, docile and polite, there was no doubt that in the eyes of the emperor, this second son with little sense of existence was far more suitable to inherit the throne than Zhao Tinghan, who grew up in the bloody capital since childhood.

Fortunately, Zhao Tinghan was frail and sickly, otherwise who knows whether he would have followed in the footsteps of the Prince of Wu and died in an unclear manner.

So the emperor asked the imperial physician to see Zhao Tinghan, which sounded like he cared about Zhao Tinghan's health. In fact, as long as the imperial physician said that Zhao Tinghan's body could not bear the hardship of traveling, then Zhao Tinghan would have to stay in the capital obediently and die in the capital.

Because once letting him leave the capital, it would be like letting a tiger return to the mountains.

It would be fine if he died, but what if he didn't die and survived?
Could the emperor not issue an edict to let him inherit the throne?

Of course not.

At this moment, the simple and kind ones have already rushed over to join Censor Jin in the charge, while the cunning and treacherous ones remain silent.

Today's court meeting ended in this strange atmosphere.

Just now, Eunuch Li's face changed suddenly. Emperor Yongjia saw it, and many civil and military officials also saw it.

Eunuch Li is a man who never shows his emotions. What happened today to make his face change so drastically?
I don’t know whether this incident happened inside or outside the palace.

However, the ministers who had this question soon got the answer.

As soon as they left the palace, their servant who was waiting outside told them the truth.

There is a strange phenomenon in the sky, something big is going to happen in the capital!

At this time, Emperor Yongjia had already learned about this matter from Eunuch Li.

Even Censor Jin, whose wound had just been bandaged by the imperial physician, heard about it.

The ministers outside the palace were shocked by this strange phenomenon that had just happened and might still be continuing. They did not even go back to the government office, but got into their sedan chairs or carriages and headed for the scene of the incident.

Emperor Yongjia frowned, no matter whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, as long as there were strange phenomena in the sky, it was a big deal for the emperor, a very big deal.

It was not convenient for Emperor Yongjia to leave the palace, so he called the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lu Qian, and asked Lu Qian to go and see for himself. If it was really a celestial phenomenon, then it would be fine. But if someone was causing trouble behind the scenes, Lu Qian could do whatever he wanted.

Censor Jin sat down on the ground with a thud, and his already sore buttocks hurt even more from the fall.

It’s so scary, those people are so scary, the people in Prince Liang’s mansion are so scary.

Jin Yushi didn't dare to think, if he hadn't spoken up for justice today and didn't hit the pillar, then
Censor Jin suddenly remembered the crows he saw in the Thunder God Temple last night.

Before he entered the door, a flock of crows flew out of the Temple of Thunder.

Although he was startled at that time, he didn't care.

But now it seems so terrible, so terrible.

Crow, it really is a crow, how can there be so many coincidences in this world, it is obvious that there is a master in Prince Liang’s mansion, no, it is a god, an immortal, an immortal who can see through everything, drive away gods and raise ghosts, and turn beans into soldiers!

The place where this strange phenomenon took place was Kuixing Tower.

Time goes back to an hour ago.

The closer it got to the provincial examination, the more scholars came to the capital to prepare for the test.

The first thing these scholars did when they arrived in the capital was not to find an inn to stay in, but to rush straight to Kuixing Tower to pay homage to Master Kuixing.

Only in this way can their sincerity be reflected.

They will come to worship a second time on the day before the exam.

When the results are announced and they see their names on the list, they will come to Kuixing Tower again. This time they come to express gratitude, or to fulfill a vow.

The nearest event at this time is the provincial examination in August. After the examination, those who come to worship at Kuixing Tower will be successful candidates in the imperial examination.

In February of the next year, candidates from all over the country would rush to the capital to take part in the imperial examination held every three years. Some families with money would leave for the capital after the Mid-Autumn Festival.

At that time, the process was still the same. As soon as you arrived in Beijing, you would come to worship Kuixing, and then come again and again. Those who passed the exam would stay in the capital and wait to take part in the palace examination. Of course, they would still come to worship Kuixing and go through the whole process again.

Among all the civil and military officials in the court, all those who entered the officialdom through the imperial examination had come to worship Kuixing.

Over the years, thanks to countless generations of scholars who have come one after another, the area around Kuixing Tower has become the most lively and prosperous place in the capital.

Today, when all the civil and military officials entered the palace to attend the court meeting, another group of scholars came to the capital.

They came to Kuixing Tower alone or with servants, carrying luggage and book boxes, full of hope.

Bang, bang, bang, several heads bowed down. When I raised my head, I saw that around and behind me, there were all students like me.

At this moment, their emotions were extremely complicated.

These people are all his competitors. He has to use the pen in his hand to carve a bloody path through them, and then kill all the way until he stands before the emperor.

The scholar was filled with mixed emotions, and walked out of the hall with a nervous yet excited heart. This was the capital city, the place he had been dreaming about, and this was his first time here.

Hey, why is it dark?

It was sunny when I just entered, but now the sky is dark.

Is it going to rain?

The scholar subconsciously looked up at the sky, and the next moment he was stunned.

When I looked up, it was pitch black, like a dark cloud pressing down on the sky, and it seemed like a storm was about to come.

The scholar exclaimed, because he saw a crow, a crow!
Countless crows hovered in the sky, like a lid covering this prosperous and splendid capital city! (End of this chapter)