Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 70 The Professional at Troublemaking

Wu family.

"So, Hongxiu is unwilling to accuse them?" Wu Xin frowned slightly.

“Hongxiu is an extremely loyal woman. She still believes that she is the one who caused trouble for Wuming Academy.” Li Linfu nodded and said, “But it doesn’t matter. Now that His Majesty wants to investigate this matter thoroughly, the other party is very likely to put the blame on Hongxiu. When that happens, I will stand up for Hongxiu and she will not stand by and watch her die. She will have no choice but to stand on my side and accuse the other party.”

However, the other party left too many loopholes in the process of inviting Hongxiu. For example, Wang Xiaoque entered Qingxin Pavilion through shameless means, and Prince Sipu allowed the Jiaofang to be registered under Hongxiu. If Hongxiu were to come forward and testify, they would have no way to clear their names.

Wu Xin smiled and nodded, then added, "However, the Wang family has not made any moves yet."

Li Linfu laughed and said, "Although the Duke of Qi is illiterate, he is not without brains. If he were to step forward now, he would only lose more than he gains."

However, Wu Jijiu should not worry. It seems that he has asked Wang Maozhong to step forward, but this will only lead the Wang family step by step into an abyss of no return.

Wang Maozhong, relying on His Majesty's favor, has been arrogant and domineering, which has long aroused the dissatisfaction of many ministers in the court. As long as this matter is brought up, regardless of who wins or loses, the ministers in the court will definitely regard Duke Qi and Wang Maozhong as being on the same side.

This would sow discord between the royal family and the outer court.

"Ha ha!"

Wu Xin laughed loudly, "Li Zhongyun's plan is truly ingenious. No matter which side wins, a rift will appear between the Wang family and the outer court. Come, let me toast Li Zhongyun."

Li Linfu quickly raised his glass, but said, "I dare not, I dare not. It was just a small favor, nothing to mention. If anyone is to blame, it's the Wang family for being so arrogant."

As Li Linfu had predicted, things unfolded as Wang Shouyi was unable to step forward, so Wang Maozhong naturally took up the mantle. However, it wasn't for Wang Shouyi's sake, but rather because he felt the other party had gone too far and he couldn't swallow his anger.

My son was doing well in his studies, and you went and caused trouble, resulting in his arrest. Do you think I'm easy to bully?

The key issue is that Jiang Yanbo even called him a servant, so he must fight to the death.

However, most of those who opposed the nameless academy were civil officials, including Chancellor Zhang Yue, Vice Minister of Rites Han Xiu, and most censors.

Those who supported the Nameless Academy were all military officers, because those who studied at the Nameless Academy were either sons of imperial relatives or sons of military officers.

Now that the maternal relatives are all keeping their distance, it has become a very pure contest between civil and military officials.

Li Longji was also very troubled by this.

Now he is planning to achieve both civil and military success, but you want to create a division between civil and military affairs. Aren't you going against my wishes?

It's no longer a matter of right and wrong, but rather a matter of political stability.

Li Longji was forced to step in and handle the case.

on the main hall.

"Your Imperial Academy has far too much leniency in its supervision. Whoever my son hires as his teacher, even if it's just a courtesan, is my business. How can you possibly allow it? This is utterly absurd."

Wang Maozhong launched a fierce attack on Jiang Yanbo.

In front of the emperor, Jiang Yanbo was not afraid of this brute and immediately retorted: "This is not a question of who should be the teacher, but a matter of moral principles and ethics. If courtesans can be teachers, then I ask you, which scholar in the world would still be willing to call himself a teacher? This would ruin the thousand-year-old tradition of our Chinese nation."

"Your Majesty, do not listen to this old scoundrel's nonsense."

Wang Maozhong said, "Hongxiu was invited by Mr. Wuming to help with the studies, and the results have been remarkable. If Your Majesty does not believe it, you can ask Dachui and the others. Their sons have become diligent and studious ever since they entered Wuming Academy."

Therefore, no one has any objection to this. As parents, we hope our children will succeed; is that against the natural order?

Li Longji was unsure how to make a judgment.

He abhorred this matter, but the problem was that it was indeed students from the Imperial Academy who came to him. However, he couldn't ignore what Jiang Yanbo said, since it involved traditional etiquette.

Just then, Meng Wenli, the Prefect of Jingzhao, requested an audience.

Li Longji quickly summoned him in, and before he could even bow, he asked, "Prefect of the Capital, have you investigated this case thoroughly?"

Meng Wenli said, "Your Majesty, the general course of events has been investigated. It was indeed the students of the Imperial Academy and some sons of nobles who first went to Wuming Academy to cause trouble. The argument escalated into a fight. The students of Wuming Academy came out later. It is said that someone tried to force their way into Wuming Academy, and they were there to protect the academy."

Li Longji nodded and asked, "Then who made the first move?"

Meng Wenli said, "The situation was very chaotic at the time. They all had their own version of events. The only thing that can be confirmed is that the students from Wuming Academy came out later. However, they did come out with sticks and injured several students from the Imperial Academy."

"Well done!" Wang Maozhong thought to himself with satisfaction, but said aloud, "There's a huge fight going on outside, so what's wrong with them taking some wooden sticks for self-defense?"

"Self-defense? Self-defense? Would that make my student's head bleed?"

Jiang Yanbo glared at Wang Maozhong and then said to Meng Wenli, "Also, why doesn't the Prefect of the Capital explain why the students of the Imperial Academy went to the nameless academy?"

"I've also inquired about this matter. Most of them know about Hongxiu in Pingkangfang, but their accounts differ," Meng Wenli said. "Most of the students at the Imperial Academy are against Hongxiu becoming a teacher, believing it would disgrace the title of teacher."

Another group of people went to support Hongxiu becoming a teacher.

Another group went to rescue Hongxiu, mainly because they believed that Prince Sipu had forced Hongxiu to go to the Nameless Academy to have fun with their son. Li Longji was completely bewildered. "Then what exactly happened?"

Meng Wenli said, "According to my investigation, it is indeed true that Prince Sipu requested the return of the Hongxiu household registrations to the Jiaofang. However, according to Li Jieman, the son of Prince Sipu, Prince Sipu did this for the sake of educational reform in the Ministry of Rites."

Jiang Yanbo immediately retorted, "That's utter nonsense. What does this education reform have to do with a courtesan?"

Meng Wenli said, "I don't know the specifics either. According to Li Jieman, it's because the Prince of Sipu highly values ​​Mr. Wuming's vivid teaching method. He believes that this vivid teaching method can greatly revitalize the culture of our Great Tang Dynasty and is very much in line with the current policies of the court, so he gives it great support."

"Is it that lively teaching method again?"

Li Longji became increasingly confused as he listened.

Wang Maozhong immediately said, "Your Majesty is unaware of this, but this vivid teaching method is truly ingenious. It has made all the students of Wuming Academy forget to eat and sleep and work hard to improve. We parents can all testify to this. I also agree with Prince Sipu to incorporate it into the education reform."

Jiang Yanbo said, both amused and annoyed, "You're just a martial artist, what do you know about education?"

Wang Maozhong said, "I don't understand, but I do know that students who are not taught well at the Imperial Academy all become hardworking and motivated when they go to Wuming Academy. Is it the students' fault or the teachers' fault?"

"you."

This sentence almost made Jiang Yanbo so angry that he vomited blood.

Li Longji hurriedly said, "Stop arguing. Invite Prince Sipu here first, and I will ask him clearly before we discuss this further."

When he first heard about this, he simply thought it was just another case of those spoiled brats being arrogant and domineering. He had repeatedly emphasized this before, but they still wouldn't listen. This time, he was going to teach them a lesson.

It's a very simple case.

Little did I know that there were so many twists and turns involved, with more than three parties involved, as many as four or five, intricately intertwined, each with its own reasons.

There was no other way but to call Li Qiao.

Li Qiao received word of this last night.

Like Wang Shouyi, Li Qiao dared not show his face, but he never expected that Li Jieman would also push all the responsibility onto him. Last night in the Jingzhao Prefecture, he directly stated that he was in charge of this matter, instead of saying that he asked his father for help.

It was only because Li Jieman was currently imprisoned in the Jingzhao Prefecture that Li Qiao would have been willing to sacrifice his own family for the greater good.

That's incredibly filial.

This accusation is truly deadly.

He became the mastermind, and it was his own son who accused him.

There's no way to argue it out.

When Li Qiao arrived at the palace, Li Longji asked, "Prince Sipu, I heard that you instructed Hongxiu, a courtesan from Pingkangfang, to join the Wuming Academy."

Li Qiao glanced at Li Longji furtively and saw that Li Longji's face was extremely ugly. He was inwardly groaning, but said aloud, "Your Majesty, this was at my behest."

Li Longji asked, "Why?"

Li Qiao said, "It is because I believe that the vivid teaching method created by the anonymous master can revitalize the culture of our Great Tang Dynasty. Therefore, I hope to incorporate it into the court's education reform."

However, I did not force Hongxiu. It was Mr. Wuming who approached Hongxiu first, and Hongxiu agreed to join Wuming Academy. I simply had the music academy return Hongxiu's household registration.

He didn't sleep a wink last night, weighing the matter carefully. After much deliberation, he concluded that he had to accept the blame his son had thrown at him.

Although it's not a big deal for him to return a courtesan's household registration, and he has the right to do so, times have changed. Now that things have blown up so much, this small matter will be magnified infinitely and may be seen as an abuse of power for personal gain.

If it can only be said to be for the public good, then Li Jieman's accusations are the only solution, at least it is a noble reason.

Li Longji then asked, "What exactly is the vivid teaching method?"

Li Qiao hurriedly said, "This method is profound and involves many aspects. I think it would be best to invite the anonymous master to explain it to Your Majesty in person."

He didn't take it seriously at the time, so he didn't remember much about it.

The prison of the Jingzhao Prefecture.

"Brother Que, I have a feeling of unease. Could this be harming my father?"

Li Jie said with concern.

Wang Xi laughed and said, "Don't worry, it won't harm you. We're doing this for your father's own good. Just wait and see, after this, your father will definitely rise to a higher level."

Huangfu Sengnian said in a low voice, "You should worry about Old Tao rather than your father."

Wang Xi said confidently, "That's not necessary. Although this is the first time Lao Tao has fought alone without support, he is no longer the fledgling he once was. Moreover, we are well prepared and there won't be any problems. In the end, we will be the ones to turn the tide."

(End of this chapter)