Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 187 Two birds with one stone

Liu Jin said again: "There is still a small question about Xu Ji's father."

"Who is his father?"

"His father is Xu Gain, a doctor from the Ministry of Industry. He came to me this afternoon, hoping to clear up his son's bad record."

Zhang Yaozuo laughed, "It turns out that he is Xu Gain's son, so he is still his own."

Xu Gain is not Zhang Yaozuo's direct confidant, but as Zhang Yaozuo's daughter became more and more favored, he also began to hug Zhang Yaozuo's thigh. At the beginning of the year Zhang Yaozuo celebrated his birthday, he was busy and worked hard.

Since he is Xu Gain's son, it shouldn't be a big problem.

At this time, Zhang Yaozuo thought of something, "Where does Fan Ning live, have you found it?"

Liu Jin nodded, "The contact inn he stayed in was the old Caomen inn. He should live nearby. He probably rents a private house. You can find out after a little inquiry."

"Today we need to clarify where he lives!"

Zhang Yaozuo walked a few steps with his hands behind his back, and said again: "The government of Kaifeng will come forward and write a complete report to me. In addition, all kinds of evidence witnesses are ready and can come out to testify at any time."

"Do you want Fanning to make a separate report?" Liu Jin asked again.

Zhang Yaozuo shook his head, "That's too much of a trace, mix him with other people, I'll report to the officials."

Liu Jin bid farewell and left. Zhang Yaozuo couldn't bear the excitement in his heart. To defeat Fan Ning would not only avenge the one arrow three years ago, but also let him vent his anger.

In addition, Fan Zhongyan can also be charged with teaching Sun badly. With this charge, even if the officials want to use him again, they will think about it.

Thinking of this beautiful trick of killing two birds with one stone, Zhang Yaozuo couldn't help laughing smugly.

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Early the next morning, Zhang Yaozuo came to the palace in a carriage with the joint report from the Ministry of Rites and the Kaifeng government office.

Zhang Yaozuo went directly to the Imperial Study Room located in Zichen Palace, waited outside for a while, an eunuch came out with a smile and said: "The official family invites the father-in-law to come into the room to have a talk!"

Zhang Yaozuo walked into the imperial study room, and saw that apart from the emperor Zhao Zhen, there were Xiangguo Song You, Wen Yanbo and grand master Pang Ji in the imperial study room.

Today is the last day of the court, and the long holiday will start tomorrow. It is estimated that several people are discussing the matter of the court on New Year's Day.

Seeing Zhang Yaozuo coming in, Song Tickle smiled at him, while Wen Yanbo turned his face away, suppressing the disgust in his heart.

Pang Ji saw that Wen Yanbo was too obvious, so he chuckled, "Here comes the head of state!"

Zhang Yaozuo pretended not to see Wen Yanbo, greeted Song Tiao and Pang Ji, and then hurriedly stepped forward to bow to the emperor Zhao Zhen.

"The humble minister Zhang Yaozuo sees His Majesty!".

Zhao Zhen smiled slightly and said, "What's the matter with the father-in-law?"

Zhang Yaozuo submitted a report, "Your Majesty, this is the prostitution examinee caught by the Ministry of Rites and the Kaifeng government yesterday when they raided the brothels. According to the supplementary system for the imperial examination promulgated by your majesty, it is strictly forbidden for candidates to prostitute themselves during the imperial examination. These 170 five scholars You should be severely punished, this is the roster, please look over it, Your Majesty!"

The three important ministers are all a little strange. The seriousness of the imperial examination system is a matter for the Ministry of Rites. Zhang Yaozuo is in charge of the three divisions. What does this have to do with him?
Pang Ji was extremely sophisticated, and he immediately realized that Zhang Yaozuo was probably trying to use this incident to punish him.

Zhao Zhen's face was a little ugly. Seeing that the imperial examination was about to take place in one month, something like this happened. He repeatedly warned the scholars to concentrate on preparing for the exam and not to be fascinated by sex, but every time the imperial examination would catch a group of people.

He flipped through the report and said coldly: "What else can I say, these scholars will be disqualified from the imperial examination according to the regulations!"

At this time, Pang Ji saluted and said, "Your Majesty, can I show the old minister?"

Zhao Zhen handed the report to Pang Ji. Pang Ji looked at the roster and saw the name Fan Ning on the second page. He immediately understood that Zhang Yaozuo's target might still be Fan Zhongyan.

Pang Ji pointed to the roster and asked with a smile: "There is a Fan Ning here who has the same name as Fan Xiwen's grandson. I wonder if they are the same person?"

Everyone was startled, and they all looked at Pang Ji, what's the problem here?
Zhang Yaozuo cursed secretly, 'Sly old thing! '

He originally planned to fish in troubled waters to punish Fan Ning and disqualify Fan Ning from the imperial examination. When Fan Ning found out that he could not participate in the imperial examination to appeal, he would refute him with evidence. Only in this way could he completely defeat the boy who had offended him.

Unexpectedly, Pang Ji was so cunning that he discovered his plan.

Under the eyes of everyone, Zhang Yaozuo could only nod his head and said, "It is indeed the same person!"

Pang Ji looked at Zhang Yaozuo in surprise, "The father-in-law is not mistaken! How could Fan Ning prostitute?"

Zhao Zhen also recollected it, and he asked, "Is this Fan Ning the child prodigy who gave his birthday to the Grand Master's Mansion three years ago?"

Pang Ji nodded, "It's him, so the old minister remembers very clearly that he is only about twelve or thirteen years old this year! I heard that it is the No. An immature boy, he will prostitute?"

Zhao Zhen glanced at Zhang Yaozuo, and he understood a little bit in his heart. He remembered the scene three years ago very clearly. Could it be that Zhang Yaozuo was really taking revenge on Fan Ning?

"Guo Zhang, what's going on?" Zhao Zhen said slightly displeased.

Of course Zhang Yaozuo would not drag himself into it. He bowed and said, "This is the result of a joint investigation by the Kaifeng government and the Ministry of Rites. I don't know the specific reason. Your majesty can call them to inquire, but since it is registered, I think it must be There is a basis."

Zhao Zhen immediately said: "Li Yangtian, the minister of Xuanli Department, sees you!"

At this time, Wen Yanbo looked at the roster and said dissatisfiedly: "Your Majesty, it is a bit arbitrary to accuse these candidates of violating the imperial examination ban based on just a roster, and I don't know if there is any grievance in it? These scholars are ten years old. , if they are wronged, it will undoubtedly be a major blow to their lives, we suggest not to draw conclusions lightly, it is best to hand over to a third party for review and investigation."

Zhang Yaozuo said angrily: "Is the joint inspection by the Ministry of Rites and the Kaifeng government not enough? Do you have to add a third party?"

Wen Yanbo said coldly: "Obviously, a child of twelve or thirteen years old can be charged with prostitution, what else can't be done?"

Song You smiled and smoothed things over and said: "As far as I know, there are indeed cases of 13-year-olds visiting brothels. Some teenagers mature early, and with that interest, they may enter brothels out of curiosity, and we can't generalize it. .”

At this time, the eunuch reported at the door: "Your Majesty, Li Shilang from the Ministry of Rites has arrived."

"Acclaim him an audience!"

"Call Li Yangtian, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, to see him!"

"Call Li Yangtian for an audience!"

Shouts were heard, and not long after, a middle-aged man wearing a fourth-rank official uniform walked quickly towards the imperial study.

This person is Li Yangtian, the minister of the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites is fully responsible for the imperial examination. They are responsible for the organization, registration, invigilation and other matters. The hundreds of examiners and examiners in the Judging Court have been quarantined. The follow-up matters of the imperial examination It's all done by the Ministry of Rites.

Li Yangtian walked into the imperial study room, bowed and saluted, "My minister sees Your Majesty!"

Zhao Zhen put the report on the table and asked, "Is this report completed by the Ministry of Rites?"

Although Li Yangtian was not in Zhang Yaozuo's party, he did not dare to offend the head of state. He had communicated with Liu Jin before and knew the general situation.

Li Yangtian bowed and said: "Your Majesty, this report was jointly completed by the Ministry of Rites and the Kaifeng government office, and I also know about it."

Wen Yanbo seized this loophole, and immediately asked: "Since it was completed by the Ministry of Rites and the Kaifeng government office, why did the third division government office submit it? Is this matter related to the third division government office?"

"This..." Li Yangtian was at a loss for words for a moment, he really couldn't answer this question.

Song Tiao smoothed things over and said, "Guo Zhang is notoriously jealous of evil. Now that he has encountered it, how can he stand idly by? In fact, it doesn't matter who submits the report, what matters is the report itself."

Pang Ji winked at Wen Yanbo, not to confront Zhang Yaozuo in front of the emperor, but to save some face for the emperor.

Pang Ji asked with a smile: "We are all very surprised that Li Shilang was found here. Does Li Shilang think it is possible that there is a boy of twelve or thirteen years old in this report?"

"Master Pang is talking about Fan Ning?"

"It's him. Can Li Shilang explain it to the emperor and us?"

Li Yangtian said calmly: "Fan Ning was not caught on the spot, but among the scholars we caught, someone reported that he was also in the brothel at that time, and then escaped. Later, we found some witnesses, It does prove that there is such a thing, so we think Fanning should be punished as well."

"Wait a minute!"

Wen Yanbo suddenly heard the clue, and quickly asked: "I heard correctly, Fan Ning was not among the prostitutes you caught, but you put his name in the report because Some people say that he prostitutes, I understand correctly, right?"

"The meaning is correct, but it cannot be said that way. We have evidence, so."

"That witness of yours knew Fanning?"

"The witness is a boy in a brothel. Fan Ning spent five taels of silver asking him to buy a suit of clothes, and got out of the brothel."

"Then, have you found Fan Ning himself? Did he admit that he was a prostitute? Did he sign it?"

"not yet!"

Wen Yanbo turned around and said to the Emperor Zhao Zhen: "Your Majesty saw it too, and you didn't even get in touch with me. Using a few trumped-up charges to convict others, and handing over the list to His Majesty, isn't that absurd?"

Seeing Wen Yanbo's sharp words, Zhang Yaozuo feared that Li Yangtian would not be able to stand up, he stood up and said, "There may be some things that were not handled properly, but the Ministry of Rites and Kaifeng Mansion did not wrong Fan Ning, he is indeed involved in whoring, and should be severely punished according to the law! "

At this time, Song Xi came out to smooth things over again, and he bowed to Zhao Zhen, "Your Majesty, it is better to investigate the matter clearly. If Fan Ning was wronged, the Ministry of Rites should apologize to him. If he did not wrong him, he should also bear the necessary punishment. I wonder what His Majesty thinks?"

Zhang Yaozuo immediately said: "Your Majesty, I also agree to investigate clearly!"

Zhao Zhen looked at Pang Ji, and Pang Ji smiled slightly: "The veteran agrees to the investigation, and the veteran is willing to preside over the investigation."

How could Zhang Yaozuo let Pang Ji preside over the investigation? He quickly winked at Song Tickle, Song Tickle understood, and stepped forward with a smile, "Your Majesty, I am willing to cooperate with Grand Master Pang in the investigation!"

Zhao Zhen knew well that Zhang Yaozuo was making use of the topic. At this time, he also pretended to be confused, so he nodded, "This matter is related to the imperial examination system. Although it is a small matter, it involves a lot. It should not be underestimated. I will leave this matter to the two important ministers. Request a clear conclusion for me today!"

(End of this chapter)