Chapter 414

In the 12th year of the Imperial Court's rule, its image externally has always been benevolent with a tinge of weakness.

In the incident of the knife holder, it did not eradicate the phenomenon of knife holding, but spared talented scholar An Jun to allow him to attend the imperial examination.

In the incident of fraud in the imperial examination, it did not point out the Fang family clearly, but it took the opportunity to order a re-examination.

It seemed that it did not do enough in all areas, and was restricted everywhere, but it could still do something to salvage its reputation, so as not to be completely incompetent.

Perhaps it could not be completely blamed on the Imperial Court.

The Previous Emperor acted too decisively. The military power that should have been controlled by the Emperor was diluted. The Cabinet that was originally established to strengthen imperial power, on the contrary, restricted the Emperor. Even the Imperial Guards, the defense line within the imperial city, had the eyes of the prestigious families.

Without being able to wield real power, and without absolute guts, it was not easy for the Imperial Court to reach this point.

It was like a teetering tumbler doll, listening to whoever spoke more, and agreeing with whoever was reasonable.

Even Chang Yan believed that the reason why Eldest Brother Xu Mo was able to become the top scholar was because he worked behind the scenes and tried every means to make it happen.

It was not until everything was put together that he realized it was not the case.

The Imperial Court clearly knew the seriousness of the fraud in the imperial examination, but still approved both Fang Yuan and Xu Mo to be in the first class. It was very likely that it appreciated Xu Mo's talent, and also fancied Fang Yuan's proposal.

The former new star could help it contend against prestigious families, while the latter's proposal brought huge wealth.

But fraud in the imperial examination would eventually ferment. The two people involved in cheating cases could not become pillars of the state at the same time. The anger of scholars would rip through the sky to demand the truth from the entire dynasty.

The Fang family knew clearly, so they joined forces with their relatives by marriage of prestigious families to donate, both to curry favor with the Imperial Court and temporarily suppress the public dissatisfaction, while squeezing out hostile prestigious families to achieve killing three birds with one stone.

And the Imperial Court did not have to do anything, it just needed to wait for the fermentation of the fraud in the imperial examination.

If things went well, it could gain benefits from the Fang family, with the cost of only having to sacrifice the insignificant Xu Mo.

If things went badly, it could also heavily strike Fang Yuan, while getting rid of some restrictions and consolidating imperial power.

Without analysis, how could it be so incisive? Chang Yan only then realized that his understanding of his father was perhaps not so thorough.

"So, after the Spring Viewing Banquet, the Fang family earned money for the Imperial Court, and when the fraud in the imperial examination fermented, only Eldest Brother would have to be sacrificed?" After struggling for a long time, Jiang Sheng finally understood. Her small face was pale. "Should we sabotage the Spring Viewing Banquet? We can't let the Fang family succeed."

If the Fang family succeeded, what would happen to Eldest Brother?

"No, we can't, and we have to hold the Spring Viewing Banquet grandly." Chang Yan sighed. "Not only can't we sabotage it, we have to make the Spring Viewing Banquet a success."

The so-called Spring Viewing Banquet was actually a donation in nature.

Led by the Fang family, prestigious families, together with several imperial princes, donated a total of 300,000 taels of silver.

Today's prestigious families were richer, and all kinds of accumulated wealth could probably raise nearly one million taels of silver.

If the Imperial Court used the one million silver to eat, drink and be merry, expand its residence and mausoleums on a large scale, its actions would arouse public outrage, or even stink for thousands of years.

But in reality, the money was to be sent to the border areas, to feed, clothe, and comfort the families of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, so that they could safely spend the cold winter.

It would also be used to smelt iron ore and forge more sturdy armor and blades for soldiers to go to battlefields to kill enemies and expel the Tatars.

When one reached a certain height in life, absolute black and white ceased to exist, so did right and wrong.

From Xu Mo’s point of view, for the millions of scholars, this emperor was irresponsible, even dared to mess with fraud in imperial examinations.

But for the well-fed border guards, and the relatives of soldiers who had lost their sons and husbands, who could say that he was not good!

Even the Fang family who proposed the donation could gain a lot of goodwill.

"But, shouldn't the Fang family's coercion of prestigious families to donate provoke resentment?" Jiang Sheng did not understand.

Chang Yan nodded. "Perhaps it would provoke some resentment, but it had allied with its own prestigious families and squeezed hostile prestigious families. Even if there was resentment, it would not be afraid."

Later, when the donation became the Spring Viewing Banquet, some officials or rich people might feel unhappy.

Such dissatisfaction could become a blade to attack the Fang family when it declined, but as long as it won the heart of the Imperial Court and aroused the admiration of the commoners, the Fang family would always be the Fang family, and some resentment would not even dare to speak out loud.

After all, Jiang Sheng was still too unfamiliar with the officialdom to naively believe that offense meant death and backstabbing meant destruction.

If that was really the case, the Imperial Court would not have been restricted by prestigious families to such weakness.

"But you were right about one thing," Chang Yan glanced at the time and suddenly spoke faster, "Eldest Brother is indeed in danger."

All the things the Fang family did was to delay the fermentation of the fraud, not to suppress the fraud in the imperial examination. Wise people all knew that scholars would eventually burst out voices sooner or later. Once it fermented, either Fang Yuan or Xu Mo would have to become the scapegoat.

The favoritism of the Imperial Court and the voices of scholars were very important at this moment, and could even become the critical decisive factor.

"You must inform Eldest Brother to be cautious and vigilant these days, and remember to make many friends and establish his reputation as a great scholar."

"Also tell Third Brother to return to the border with General Jiang. Do not leave the army, and try to gain military power as soon as possible, so as to have enough right to speak."

"Second Brother may encounter crises more intense than the business dispute with the Liao Family. Tell him not to worry or be afraid, and to convey any issues by sending lychees."

"And Fourth Brother... learn medicine well from Doctor Wu, don't let my painstaking efforts go to waste."

The bell rang in the distance again, indicating that the banquet was about to begin.

Chang Yan took one last look at his seemingly taller sister, still said nothing, turned around and climbed over the window lattice.

After going through this difficult and dangerous meeting, it was unknown when they would see each other next time.

Jiang Sheng held back her tears. The "Fifth Brother" she wanted to call out was stuck in her throat and did not come out eventually.

"The Imperial Court is about to arrive at the main hall." Yao Siqing's voice came from outside. "Shall we go back sooner or wait for a while?"

Although they were so close as siblings, they had to rack their brains to avoid suspicion about connections, and even stagger their appearance time, in order to prevent people from doubting.

"Wait for a while." Jiang Sheng wiped her tears clean. "It's harder for Fifth Brother, let him go back first."

The two of them sat in the respect hall for a while before slowly getting up and returning to the Baohe Hall.

The originally slightly noisy main hall immediately quieted down. The rarely seen members of prestigious families sat in their respective positions, waiting for the arrival of the host of the banquet.

The Fifth Imperial Prince had just sat down shortly before and was talking with the Fourth Imperial Prince, seeming to be expressing abdominal discomfort.

Jiang Chengyu was alone guarding a large table. The empty seats next to her made her extremely bored. When she finally saw Jiang Sheng, she eagerly waved and called out, "Here, here, sister come over quickly."

Yao Siqing nodded, and first returned to the seat behind the Second Madam of Yao Family.

Jiang Sheng also returned accordingly behind Second Madam Jiang.

The two sisters had just sat down, before Jiang Chengyu could explore and inquire, noises came from the main hall, "The Emperor arrives."

The Emperor of the Imperial Court, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, strode out from behind a screen, glanced around the hall full of riches and honor, with inexplicable emotions surfacing in his eyes.

Led by the four imperial princes and one princess, the middle ministers brought their wives, children and subordinates. They unanimously bowed with cupped fists, "Greetings to Father Emperor (Emperor). Ten thousand blessings and safety to Father Emperor (Emperor)."

The Emperor, who was talked about among the public, finally appeared.