There was a dead silence inside and outside the Meridian Gate. Hundreds of officials seemed to have lost their voices as this sarcastic poem echoed in their ears.
Only a scholar could truly understand the sarcasm in this poem, and how sharp it was.
Scholars were not afraid of being scolded, nor were they afraid of quarreling. Some even treated quarreling as a discussion and were pleased with themselves. Those with low status liked to quarrel with those with high status.
Those with long reputations liked to quarrel with those of the same rank, and even the Emperor. Once the Emperor was flustered and exasperated, they would point at the Emperor and say, "He's anxious, he's anxious …"
The Minister of State was the cream of the crop.
However, scholars, especially those with high status, were afraid of being scolded by three things.
One, history books.
Two, essays.
Three, poems.
Because these three things were related to what scholars cared about the most: reputation.
Reputation before and after one's life.
You shall perish with your body and reputation, but the river shall flow for eternity … these were words that struck at the heart. No scholar could tolerate the sarcasm in this poem. It was too malicious.
At this moment, the hundreds of officials from the capital felt their blood rush to their faces. They truly felt a great humiliation.
It was not only because of the poem itself, but also because the one who had humiliated them was a vulgar Warrior.
Only when the tall figure with the short cloak walked further and further away did an official speak in a trembling voice.
"Madman, brat, boorish man … How dare you humiliate us like this. Sirs, this is intolerable. Quickly send troops to behead this bastard. "
The one who spoke was the Left Imperial Censor Yuan Xiong. All his plans had failed and his mood was at an all-time low. His entire person was like a barrel of gunpowder. At this time, Xu Qi'an's deliberate act of stepping on him at the Meridian Gate made him so angry that his heart ached.
Yuan Xiong felt that Xu Qi'an's poem was mocking him and wanted to nail him to the pillar of shame.
The second to go berserk was the Assistant Minister of War, Qin Yuandao. He furiously rushed forward and shouted.
"Imperial Bodyguards, where are the imperial bodyguards? Stop that bastard for humiliating the nobles of the Imperial Court! How disrespectful! Stop him for me!! "
Unfortunately, the Imperial Bodyguards only listened to the orders of the Yuanjing Emperor. Even the princes and princesses did not have the authority to mobilize them.
Minister Sun's mood was rather complicated. Anger was unavoidable, but for some reason, he felt relieved. Xu Qi 'an didn't mention names.
He nailed everyone to the pillar of shame and shared it equally, so that the humiliation everyone suffered would not be so acute.
Minister Sun felt that there was something wrong with his mentality, but he couldn't figure it out. Minister Sun, who was well-read, had never read a book written by Lu Shuren.
"Duke Wei has really nurtured a capable subordinate."
The corners of Wang Shoufu's mouth twitched as he said sarcastically.
Even the shrewd and unfathomable Grand Secretary Wang was angered. The destructive power of this line could be seen at a glance.
All the officials looked at Wei Yuan in exasperation, questioning him with their eyes.
Wei Yuan seemed to have regained his composure as he calmly asked, "What is the meaning of this? Could it be that all of you have assumed my position?"
The expressions of the officials froze. They felt that Wei Yuan's light words had counter-attacked them.
"Then, then what should be written in the history books about today's incident?" A young Hanlin Academy lecturer asked in a deep voice.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the officials turn their heads and look at him quietly. Their eyes seemed to say: Did you study so much that you've turned your brain stupid?
The Hanlin Academy lecturer shrank his head and said, "Such a small matter is not enough to be recorded in the history books."
Wei Yuan said lightly, "The court meeting is over. It's not appropriate for the officials to gather at the Meridian Gate. Disperse as soon as possible."
After saying that, he took the lead to leave. After walking for a while, Wei Yuan could no longer hide the smile on his lips. He laughed gloatingly.
Leaving the palace gate and entering the carriage, Wei Yuan, who was in a good mood, told Nangong Qianrou, who was driving the carriage, what happened at the Meridian Gate.
The effeminate godson snorted and said, "Godfather, weren't you also among the officials at that time?"
The smile on Wei Yuan's face faded little by little.
Outside the Meridian Gate, Huaiqing and Lin An remained where they were, watching the dispersing figures of the civil and military officials.
"Your bodies and names will be destroyed, but the rivers will flow forever …" Huaiqing murmured in her heart. Her eyes reflected the figures of the officials, but in her heart, there was only the tall and straight figure in the uniform of a night watchman, who carried a sword and left.
Xu Ningyan was different from the ordinary Warrior. He knew how to attack the enemy's weak spot and how to use the sharpest attack to retaliate against the enemy without endangering himself.
Using poetry to attack the scholar's weak spot was Xu Ningyan's unique ability.
"The dog slave is really awe-inspiring …" Lian An murmured.
There was only one scene in her eyes: The dog slave's light poem made the civil and military officials fly into a rage, but they could do nothing about it.
In Lian An's heart, this was something that even her father could not do. Although her father could oppress people with his power, he could not do it as lightly as the dog slave.
Her charming peach blossom eyes sparkled, and she somewhat proudly puffed out her chest, barely sticking out the size of Huaiqing's daily life.
…
In the bedchamber, after the morning court session, the Yuanjing Emperor, who was holding a scripture in his hand, silently listened to the old eunuch's report and knew everything that happened at the Meridian Gate.
"Good courage."
The Yuanjing Emperor smiled, but it was not clear whether it was praise or ridicule.
However, the old eunuch could confirm one thing, and that was that when the Yuanjing Emperor learned of this matter and Xu Qi 'an's arrogant behavior, he had no intention of punishing him.
He could vaguely guess the Yuanjing Emperor's thoughts. Xu Qi 'an's behavior was to move him closer to the position of a lone official, following the old path of Wei Yuan.
And a lone official was often the most reassuring to the Emperor.
A young man with ability, talent, and talent was, of course, more in line with the Emperor's wishes to be a lone official, compared to him who was successful from all sides and formed cliques everywhere.
"Your body and name shall perish, but the rivers and rivers shall flow for eternity!"
The Yuanjing Emperor laughed loudly with a playful expression on his face. "Good poem, good poem. Our Daibun's poetry champion is well-deserved. My companion, pass on my oral order, order the Hanlin Academy to record this matter in the annals of history. I want to read it personally. "
This was the Emperor's revenge against the bookworms of the Hanlin Academy … The two poems by the Xu brothers had pleased the Emperor. The old eunuch accepted the order and retreated.
Your body and name shall perish, but the rivers and rivers shall flow for eternity!
The Yuanjing Emperor recited this poem again, the joy on his face gradually receding, and the desire for immortality burned even more fiercely.
…
During lunch, Chu Yuanzhen listened to his old friend talk about what happened in the court, and at the end, the scene of Xu Ningyan single-handedly blocking hundreds of officials with his saber, and ridiculing the officials with poems.
This, this was actually a way to break the deadlock … The idea of using the nobles to resist the civil officials was not bad, but it was extremely difficult. How did Xu Ningyan and Number Three do it … Number Three and Xu Ningyan were indeed brothers, their talent in poetry was astonishing.
It was a pity that Number Three was still young, and his rank was still low. He was too far behind his cousin, Xu Qi 'an. Otherwise, Number Three would have been among those who entered the tomb that day.
Of course, the Confucian system had been weak for a long time, so it was understandable that Number Three's rank was low.
As for the poem that Number Three wrote in the court, Chu Yuanzhen praised it, and did not say anything more. It was a good poem, but the last line did not win his heart.
Instead, it was Xu Ningyan's poem that ridiculed the officials that made Chu Yuanzhen's blood boil, and he drank three cups of wine on the spot.
"I've long wanted to scold those people like this, but unfortunately, poetry is not my forte. Xu Ningyan is indeed Daibun's champion of poetry, it's very profound. "Chu Yuanzhen laughed.
His whole body felt carefree, and he had the urge to immediately find Xu Ningyan, and drink with him, and get drunk.
But considering that Xu Ningyan had just solved his cousin's imperial examination cheating case, and that there were still some trivial matters to deal with, he resisted the urge.
…
In the Prince's Mansion.
Simu Wang, who had been closely following the case, used her own channels to find out about the fierce struggle that happened in the court today, as well as the satirical poem at the Meridian Gate.
"I knew it, Xu Huiyuan's talent is unparalleled, how could he cheat in the imperial examination? Hmm, in this case, his cousin, Xu Ningyan, is even more impressive. He was able to mediate, and actually made Cao Guogong and Prince Yu speak up for Xu Huiyuan, and made the officials of the court speak up for them.
"This network is extraordinary. What surprised me the most is that Wei Yuan did not make a move. From the beginning to the end, he just stood by and watched. In this way, Xu Huiyuan will not be branded as a member of the eunuch's faction, and this is a good thing for him. "
Of course, it's also a good thing for me … Miss Wang smiled sweetly.
Maid Lan 'er was at the side, pretending to listen very seriously, but in fact, she was very confused.
"Lan 'er, go to the Xu Mansion again, and help me make an appointment with Xu Huiyuan … No, that will not be reserved, and it will seem like I'm asking for credit." Miss Wang shook her head, and gave up on the idea.
She thought, at this time, silence can show off my bearing and style. If I eagerly go to ask for credit, it will make the mistress of the Xu Family look down on me.
Between smart people, there is no need to make things too obvious, as long as there is a tacit understanding.
…
Celestial Commissioner.
When Yang Qianhuan passed by the alchemy room on the seventh floor, he heard the juniors inside discussing what happened in the morning court. He originally did not care about these matters in court, and was too lazy to listen.
But when he heard the three words "Xu Ningyan", Yang Qianhuan's footsteps slowed down. His instincts told him, perhaps, this was another opportunity to increase his knowledge.
"Prince Xu's poem, it is really satisfying. I think it can be called the first satirical poem in the history of all time."
"Look at what you said, it is too exaggerated, but it is indeed very satisfying, especially in front of the civil and military officials, blocking the Meridian Gate, and saying that …"
Poem? What poem?
Yang Qianhuan approached silently, and said in a low voice, "What are you talking about?"
The white-robed gold cultivators were shocked, staring at the back of his head, and complained, "Senior Yang, you are like this every time, it is scary."
Yang Qianhuan ignored them, and asked, "What did Xu Ningyan do this time, blocking the civil and military officials alone at the Meridian Gate? What is the first satirical poem in the history of all time? "
The white-robed gold cultivator told Yang Qianhuan about what happened today.
Yang Qianhuan felt like he was struck by lightning, an image appeared in his mind. After the court was dismissed, the civil and military officials slowly walked out of the Meridian Gate, at this time, they suddenly saw a white-robed figure standing there with his back facing the crowd, blocking the path of the officials.
The officials were furious, scolding the white-robed magician for not knowing the immensity of heaven and earth, daring to block their path.
The white-robed magician ignored the scolding, and suddenly, let out a long chant, "Your body and name shall perish, not wasting the river for eternity."
The civil and military officials were dumbstruck, shocked on the spot.
Thinking of this, Yang Qianhuan felt like his body was swimming with electricity, and could not help but tremble, goosebumps appeared from his neck and arms.
"Why, why can Xu Ningyan always do one thing after another that makes people envious? He single-handedly blocked 400 rebels in Cloud State, and fought with Buddhism under the eyes of the public … It's too unfair, too unfair.
"When is the next court meeting? I, I also want to go to the Meridian Gate, I must go. "
…
In the afternoon, in the Musical House.
Xu Qi'an and Fu Xiang sat opposite each other, drinking tea, talking and laughing. He told Fu Xiang about what happened in the court today, and attached the patriotic poem "composed" by Xu Xinnian, and the half of the poem he wrote at the Meridian Gate.
Fu Xiang was a person who loved poetry, and her heart was moved after listening to it. Especially for the deeds of Xu Qi'an who single-handedly blocked the hundreds of officials, she was full of admiration, and her beautiful eyes seemed to be dripping tears.
"Please do me a favor, spread the news of what happened in the court today." Then, Xu Qi'an put forward his own request.
The Musical House was the fastest and most convenient transit station for spreading information.
"Then, what are you going to pay them?"
Back then, Fu Xiang would not have rejected him. Her limpid eyes stared straight at Xu Qi 'an.
It was impossible to hide one's love, and Fu Xiang's yearning for Xu Qi'an was full of water.
An hour later, Xu Qi'an went to see Ming Yan, Xiao Ya, and several other familiar Top Courtesans, and asked them to spread the news of what happened in the court today at the tea party.
Then he rode the little mare back to the mansion.
The imperial examination cheating case was a fatal blow to Xu Xinnian's reputation. Especially after deliberately spreading the news, the scholars in the capital and the common people all knew that Xu Xinnian got the Huiyuan Exam by cheating.
This impression would slowly settle in the following time, and once it became a brand, even if the imperial court proved Xu Xinnian's innocence in the future, it would be difficult to change the image in a short time.
Moreover, the imperial examination cheating case was not over yet. In five days, it would be the palace examination, and Xu Qi'an had to guard against Minister Sun and other desperate people who would make trouble on the eve of the palace examination.
For example, inciting the Guozijian students to cause trouble.
If the public opinion could be turned around in a short time, then the Guozijian students would have no justifiable cause, and it would be difficult for them to achieve anything big.
When everyone knew that Xu Xinnian was wrongly accused, even if you pretended to ignore it, you would not get the public's approval and support.
Whether it was fighting a war or plotting, the ancients paid great attention to justifiable causes.
"Even if I use up the favor from King Yu, it's not a loss. Fortunately, King Yu no longer wants to fight for fame and wealth, or he might not stand up for me … As for High Duke Cao, I haven't given the benefits I promised. With the power of the Duke and the King of Zhenbei, if I go back on my word, I'll definitely be punished …
"The King of Zhenbei probably doesn't know about this. It's the plan of the Deputy General and High Duke Cao. However, I'm just a small silver gong. Even if the King of Zhenbei finds out, he won't blame the Deputy General. "Besides, even high-ranked martial artists would be tempted by the Undefeatable Vajra of Buddhism. After all, it could increase defense, and when cultivated to a high level, it could even lead to a breakthrough in combat strength. There was no reason for him not to be tempted.
"So, I still have to give the benefits that I promised. "But, I can write the Nine Yin Manual backwards …"
…
After dusk, the Xu family's dining table was enveloped in a joyous atmosphere. Aunt was passionately putting food into Xu Xinnian's bowl and Xu Qi 'an's bowl.
It was as if both of them were her biological sons.
This kind of attitude would not last long. In the future, when she was angered by her nephew to the point of screaming, Aunt would remember the old grudge, and then their relationship would return to normal.
But at this moment, Aunt's gratitude was as sincere as pure gold.
Xu Lingyue liked this kind of family atmosphere very much. She worshiped her big brother more and more, and her bright eyes were always on Xu Qi 'an.
"Well, I have something to say."
Lina swallowed her food and looked at Xu Qi 'an and the second uncle Xu with a rare serious attitude.
"What is it?" Xu Qi 'an asked while eating.
The second uncle Xu, on the other hand, picked up his wine glass and took a sip. He looked at Blacky from Nanjiang out of the corner of his eye.
Lina's little face was serious. She looked at Xu Lingyin and said, "I want to take Lingyin as my disciple."
"Pfft …" Xu Qi 'an spat out his rice.
"Pfft …" The second uncle Xu spat out his wine.
The whole family was caught off guard.
Xu Xinnian shook off the rice on his body with a look of disgust. He moved further away from his big brother and looked at Lina. "Tell me your reason."
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