activa-t Chapter 181 Ingratitude and Deceit (16)
Chapter 181 Ingratitude and Deceit (16)
When Ning Yi walked out of the teahouse, she was completely dizzy and could barely walk.
Some students who knew Ning Yi noticed that he seemed somewhat dazed, which inevitably led to more rumors.
Even Ning Yi couldn't resist Shen Zhangyin's favor.
Shen Xuntang was portrayed as a demon or monster that sucks people's life force.
Gu Yao simply smiled upon hearing this.
On the contrary, Shen Shenwei was extremely angry and said he would take people to the capital to arrest those who spread rumors.
Gu Yao couldn't help but laugh when he saw his cheap apprentice's angry expression.
"If you go and arrest people, wouldn't that confirm that I have a relationship with Ning Yi?"
Shen Shenwei looked at that indifferent face, pursed his lips, and finally sighed without saying anything more.
He just felt it wouldn't work; Ning Yi's appearance was hardly that of someone his master would take a liking to.
He looked so fierce.
If Master were to consider it, he should find someone like the Tenth Prince.
Moreover, the Tenth Prince and his master shared a deep bond built over a long period of time.
Ning Yi is nowhere near as good as him.
But he didn't dare say it.
This rumor had been circulating for some time, but it was directly dispelled by the news that Ning Yi had become the top scholar.
This top scholar, who won the imperial examination twice, was a staunch anti-eunuch.
Even the previous year's top scholar, who had always sided with Shen Xuntang, broke with the eunuch faction.
Gu Yao sat in the same teahouse as last time, in a private room where he could hear the storytelling in the main hall.
He looked at the anxious Ning Yi across from him, smiled slightly, and poured him a cup of tea. "Young Master Ning, come and listen to the most popular story in the capital recently."
Ning Yi was somewhat puzzled. More than seven days had passed since the palace examination, and this was the first time Shen Xuntang had come to him.
Gu Yao didn't say anything, but turned his head to look into the hall.
The storyteller slammed his hand on the table and began to tell the most popular story in the capital recently.
"As the saying goes, there was a powerful eunuch in the previous dynasty."
He was utterly wicked, bullying men and women; the evil deeds he committed were countless.
Countless people have died at his hands.
However, due to his immense power, the common people and officials dared not speak out against him.
The common people lived under the exploitation of the eunuch faction, a life of misery and despair.
Natural disasters and man-made calamities are a living hell.
Everyone wanted a deity to appear and take away this wicked man who had committed so many evil deeds.
The turning point came with a scholar.
The scholar was handsome and was forcibly taken away by the eunuch, but through his own efforts, he passed the imperial examination twice and persuaded the previous top scholar to defect.
The two joined forces to fight against the eunuch faction, ultimately bringing peace to the land.
"it is good."
A round of applause came from downstairs.
"That's exactly how it should be! With the eunuch faction in power, the people are suffering. What kind of order is this?!"
"..."
The crowd downstairs was furious, venting their discontent with the eunuch faction's rule.
As Ning Yi listened, cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He turned to look at the young man in front of him, who appeared completely calm.
They can even nod with a smile.
He was a little curious, didn't this person ever get angry?
"Master Shen, aren't you angry?"
Gu Yao was taken aback when he heard this. "Why should I be angry? What they said is the truth, isn't it?"
Besides, I had my subordinates write this story, so why should I be angry?
"The current emperor is muddle-headed and incompetent, indulging in the pursuit of immortality and the pleasures of men and women. The fact that the Great Qi Dynasty has managed to remain in its current state is already a testament to the virtues accumulated by the previous wise rulers."
Hearing Shen Xuntang's blunt words, Ning Yi broke out in a cold sweat.
That Master Shen has a truly venomous tongue!
While that statement is true, who would dare to speak so frankly?
It could only be the powerful and influential Minister Shen right before us.
Ning Yi really couldn't figure out what the person in front of him was thinking.
No one sharpens their own knife and clips their own wings.
Shen Xuntang looked at the young man in front of him who dared not answer and was only drinking tea with his head down, and said nothing more.
***
The emperor died near the end of September.
Because his death was not honorable, it was kept secret.
Shen Xuntang urgently summoned several highly respected senior officials and members of the imperial family.
He sat in the main seat, lazily raising his eyes to look at the men in front of him, each of whom could be his father if taken out individually.
"My lords, you must have heard about this matter. It is ultimately dishonorable. I believe we should let it go. What do you think?"
Although he said he wanted to discuss it, there was absolutely no intention to discuss it in his words.
They didn't even see the concubines who had played with their emperor to death on the dragon bed.
It is said that he was beaten to death on the spot by Shen Xuntang.
Now they have nowhere to investigate, even if they want to.
There are no witnesses or witnesses, what's the point of investigating?
The group exchanged glances and reached a consensus.
The eldest of the elders, Grand Secretary Feng, said with a solemn expression, "What Minister Shen said is absolutely right. However, the position of Crown Prince is vacant. We should discuss the successor carefully, as it concerns the fate of the Great Qi Kingdom."
His gaze was fixed on the young man before him who held absolute power in the court.
The ascension of the new emperor may well present an opportunity.
An opportunity to remove the eunuch faction.
When the eunuch faction holds power, their rule is ultimately illegitimate and lacks legitimacy.
The late emperor trusted and indulged Shen Xuntang, but the new emperor may not.
How can you allow others to snore and sleep on the side of the couch?
The people present began to plot their options, considering how to elevate the prince they supported to the throne.
But before they could even start arguing...
Shen Xuntang then laughed.
He scanned the group of people before him, each with their own thoughts, and a mocking smile appeared on his lips. "The late emperor was wise. He had long ago stated that he was not in good health and had already made a will to establish an heir. Would you gentlemen like to take a look?"
The excitement on their faces froze, but when they met the young man's amber eyes, which were as pale as glass, they felt a chill run down their spines.
Gu Yao remained unmoved by the winds, allowing the group to scrutinize him.
Grand Secretary Feng had already guessed something. He looked at the confident young man, who made no attempt to conceal his true intentions, with an ambiguous expression.
"Then I'll have to trouble Manager Shen."
Gu Yao and Grand Secretary Feng exchanged a glance, then leisurely stood up, patted the wrinkles on their robes, and slowly took out the imperial edict from the secret compartment.