I studied in modern times

Chapter 783 Zhang Dunli is really scared
After reading Zhu Guangting's note, Zhao Xu's expression became extremely complicated.

After a long while, he finally sighed, "My Prince Consort... My Prince Consort..."

His face was full of disappointment.

This really isn't acting.

To be honest, what Zhang Dunli did makes it hard for people to remain calm!
Logically speaking, Zhao Xu had thought that Zhang Dunli might swallow most of the money and silk he had given him, and only give him some soup and water to please others.

This is normal!

Even hundreds of years later, in the modern era of Internet information where supervision is said to be everywhere, similar things still happen frequently.

Typical examples include the High Speed ​​Rail Line 2 with the name of the British Empire and the Berlin International Airport in Germany.

The commissioners ate and took food at the same time, and fed themselves and their relatives in full view of everyone.

What's more, now?
Therefore, the gold, silver and other treasures bestowed by Zhao Xu were a trap from the very beginning!

I was certain that Zhang Dunli would not really pay back the money.

It will definitely be swallowed up!
In this way, Zhao Xu could use this as a breakthrough point to completely discredit Zhang Dunli's reputation.

This is called fishing enforcement.

It is the unrevealed secret of the Yellow-browed Buddha of Little Western Paradise.

However, Zhang Dunli's behavior still made Zhao Xu unable to hold back.

Reality has proven that human greed can indeed reduce one’s IQ to a negative number.

According to what Zhu Guangting said on the note.

The prince consort did pay back the money!
And I paid the money back immediately!
However, the way he paid back the money was extremely outrageous.

According to Zhu Guangting: I have received a report from Wang Jing, a citizen of Xincheng, Bianjing, saying that [the money owed by the prince consort was only 150 strings of cash].

That's fine.

On the note, Zhu Guangting gave a detailed account of Zhang Dunli's repayment process: [The prince consort scattered the Jiaozi on the ground and said respectfully: "Hey! Come and pick it up!"]

[He bowed his head and picked it up, and found more than a hundred strings of Jiaozi. Because he was afraid of the prince consort, he gave all of it to the prince consort, because it was all the money that the prince consort had lost.]

[The son-in-law was displeased, but Jing was afraid of the son-in-law, so he gave his son more than a thousand strings of cash from his family property, as well as the deeds of the shops and houses in Kaifeng, to present to the son-in-law. Only then did the son-in-law smile...]

This……

It's so classic! Family members!

As soon as the scholars and officials read Zhu Guangting's letter of impeachment, they would immediately think of an article.

Bai Juyi's "The Charcoal Seller"!
Especially the scholars and officials of the New Party, they might go crazy on the spot!
The reason is very simple - the core achievement of the Xining Reform was to replace the yamen labor with the exemption law, and to replace the imperial examination with the exemption law.

This is a political achievement, and it is also the reason why the New Party was able to gain a foothold and convince other scholars to support them.

Now Zhang Dunli has done such a thing.

This is tantamount to a slap in the face of all New Party ministers!

Whether it is Li Qingchen or Deng Runfu.

Whether it is Cai Jing or Jia Zhongmin, they are probably unable to hold it back any longer.

And stepping on relatives by marriage is itself the political correctness of the literati.

Therefore, Zhao Xu could already foresee that a storm was forming in the court.

It will blow away Zhang Dunli's wealth and glory, and even his life!

The reason is very simple.

The wall fell and everyone pushed it!

Just like Wang Shen at the beginning, before Zhao Xu spoke out, Wang Shen was a scholar among the relatives of the emperor's wife, a wise man with wide friends, and a role model among the relatives of the emperor's wife - don't laugh, the class stance of the literati in the Song Dynasty is more firm than you think!
Wang Shen once risked his life to inform Su Shi of the incident, and was eventually put under surveillance for this.

In the eyes of the literati, this is definitely one of their own!

As for the fact that he had abused the princess, he had committed adultery with his maids and concubines at home, and even had a lot of fun outside.

In the eyes of the literati, these are nothing.

It can even be praised as romantic!
It's true nature!
However, over the past two years, Zhao Xu clearly expressed his dislike for Wang Shen.

As a result, Wang Shen's reputation took a 180-degree turn.

By now, he has been expelled from the scholar status!

He became a negative example of in-laws among the scholars!
……

The Empress Dowager looked at the impeachment document copied by the Tongjiansi.

The good mood in the morning disappeared in an instant.

The female officials and eunuchs around her were all trembling with fear.

"A cartload of charcoal, weighing more than a thousand pounds, the palace servants driving it cannot bear to waste it..." The Empress Dowager slowly recited the famous lines from "The Charcoal Seller".

"How could such an evil thing happen in my family!"

"Ancestors, you are above me..." She sighed, her eyes sweeping over the female officials and eunuchs in the hall.

She knew that these people all had husbands/wives and families outside the palace.

They will spread what happened today to enhance their reputation.

So the Empress Dowager said, "It is because of my lack of virtue that I failed to lead the Prince Consort on the right path!"

……

Baoci Palace.

Empress Dowager Xiang looked at Zhu Guangting's impeachment and her face became embarrassed.

I chanted Amitabha Buddha several times.

What Zhang Dunli did was too outrageous!

His insolence, his arrogance, and his boldness have all exceeded Empress Dowager Xiang's tolerance and bottom line.

As a queen who came from a scholar-official family.

Empress Dowager Xiang knew very well that Zhang Dunli's arrogance had a great impact on the scholars' psychology.

Now, I’m afraid no one can keep Zhang Dunli’s title as Mizhou Surveillance Commissioner.

If things go wrong, you might even be transferred to a local location!
but……

He deserves it!
Empress Dowager Xiang clasped her hands together and sighed, "Yesterday's cause, today's result, no one is to blame!"

She now believes more and more in the Buddhist theory of cause and effect.

Because, in the eyes of Empress Dowager Xiang, she was lucky to have such a filial child as her Sixth Brother.

It was all because of her persistence in eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures, which moved the Buddha.

Therefore, in her opinion, Zhang Dunli deserved any retribution for his actions.

……

In the hall.

Lu Gongzhu leaned back in his chair, his eyes closed, his face changing from gloomy to happy, and thoughts were dancing in his mind.

The entire capital has now seen Zhu Guangting's impeachment.

Lu Gongzhu also summoned the ministers to discuss the matter.

Everyone was a little overwhelmed.

In fact, Zhang Dunli's behavior was so anthropomorphic that Lu Gongzhuo thought at the first moment that Zhu Guangting was making groundless accusations and even falsely accusing Zhang Dunli - could a normal person do what Zhang Dunli did?
No!

You owe money, and the government sympathizes with you and has given you generous wealth so that you can pay it back.

If you don't return it, you can just swallow up the emperor's reward yourself.

Why go about humiliating, threatening and even intimidating the victim?
However, after Du Tang sent someone to the Censorate to inquire.

Got it!
Zhu Guangting has both witnesses and physical evidence in his hands!
The victim named Wang Jing is now in the Censorate.

So everyone was shocked!

They had seen relatives by marriage who were courting death, but this was the first time they had encountered one like this.

It was not Zhang Dunli's domineering and arrogant behavior that shocked the ministers.

In the Song Dynasty, the ministers had seen many relatives and nobles who were more domineering and arrogant than Zhang Dunli.

What shocked the ministers was Zhang Dunli’s challenge to the imperial power!

As soon as the palace bestowed wealth and gifts, Zhang Dunli went to the victim's door, showing off his power and acting domineeringly!

It is really rare to see such a suicidal relative.

At least, it should be the first one to be publicly confirmed in the Song Dynasty.

So the officials in the hall were chattering and talking to each other all morning.

Even the people around Lu Gongzhu were talking about Zhang Dunli.

Even those Western Palace officials who were descendants of noble families were very dissatisfied with Zhang Dunli's behavior.

Killing people is not the right path! Zhang Dunli wanted both, which really embarrassed these noble children.

"Husband..." Wang Di appeared beside Lu Gongzhu.

"Chu Yi..." Lu Gongzhu opened his eyes and asked softly, "What's the matter?"

Wang Di reported cautiously in a low voice: "Sir, I was in the capital and heard some people talking..."

"Hmm?" Lu Gongzhu looked at Wang Di: "What's wrong?"

There were hundreds of officials coming and going in the capital.

These people have nothing to do, so they like to gossip in private.

Lu Gongzhu once enforced strict discipline and prohibited officials in the capital from criticizing state affairs.

For this, he even punished severely!

However, this trend cannot be reversed in a short period of time.

In private, this culture of gossiping still exists.

It’s just that it’s more secretive than before, and no one dares gossip in front of others anymore.

Wang Di whispered, "I heard people talking about the prince consort..."

"Some people say that it hasn't rained in Gyeonggi for more than a month..."

"I'm afraid this has something to do with the Prince Consort!"

Lu Gongzhu's expression suddenly froze.

Although, he himself does not believe in the concept of communication between heaven and man.

Almost no one trusts the prime minister of this capital.

However, the interaction between heaven and man is still one of the core propositions of Confucianism.

It is still a weapon used by scholars and officials to restrain imperial power.

The core idea of ​​the interaction between heaven and man is that if a natural disaster occurs, the emperor should quickly conduct self-inspection and correction.

See if you have done anything wrong that angered God?
At the same time, we should also look at whether there are any particularly serious injustices in this world?
Or, is there a villain in the court?

Even in the harem, are there any evil concubines or queens who may endanger the country?
All in all, this is a versatile strategy.

Since the beginning of March, the Gyeonggi region has been experiencing a long drought.

So, the ministers all submitted petitions to beg for leave.

Grand Tutor Wen Yanbo even took the lead and asked to resign from his positions as Grand Tutor and Minister of Military and National Affairs due to the long drought.

The two palaces and the emperor all comforted and encouraged him and tried to retain him.

Then, starting from mid-March, every few days, Lu Gongzhu would take the ministers to Daxiangguo Temple, Kaibao Temple, and Zhongtaiyi Palace to pray for rain.

The two palaces and the emperor also appointed eunuchs to go to various temples and Taoist temples to pray for rain.

however……

Whether it was the prime minister, the two palaces, or the emperor, they all sent people to pray for rain.

The drought in the capital is still continuing.

If we follow the theory of the interaction between heaven and man...

Lu Gongzhu's heart began to beat rapidly.

He simply used the process of elimination and knew that the private discussions of the officials in the capital were probably the common conclusion of the scholars and the people in the capital after the incident of Zhang Dunli fermented!
The reason is very simple.

Look...

The emperor and the two palaces sent people to pray for rain.

But it still didn't rain, which meant it had nothing to do with the emperor or the two palaces.

The ministers also went to pray for rain, and more than once!
Even the Grand Tutor Wen Yanbo took the elders in Beijing to the Taiping Xingguo Temple to pray for rain!

Therefore, if it doesn’t rain, it is most likely not related to the prime minister and the elders.

The current emperor is too young, and it is obviously impossible that there is someone in the palace who might harm the royal heir in the future, Zhao Feiyan, or who might usurp the throne, Wu Zetian.

As a result, the circle of suspects was quickly narrowed.

It just so happened that Zhang Dunli’s case broke out.

just in case……

Thinking of this, Lu Gongzhu took a deep breath and said to Wang Di: "Hurry up the ceremony..."

"Don't make this public or discuss it with anyone else!"

This matter is too risky!
It is not something that someone with a sensitive identity like Wang Di can touch.

If he touched it, it might be used as an excuse to attack Wang Anshi!
"Yes!" Wang Di bowed and accepted the order.

……

Princess Shoukang and her husband Zhang Dunli came to the inner east gate trembling with fear.

They didn't come here on their own initiative.

He was summoned into the palace by an imperial decree from the Qingshou Palace.

When they arrived at the inner east gate, Liang Congzheng from the Imperial Pharmacy, who had been waiting for the princess and her husband, came out to greet them.

"Your Highness, Prince Consort, I am waiting here in compliance with the order of the Grand Empress Dowager..." Liang Congzheng stepped forward and bowed, then said to Princess Shoukang and Zhang Dunli, "Your Highness, Prince Consort, please follow me into the palace."

"Thank you, guard!" Princess Shoukang hurriedly apologized with a smile.

Zhang Dunli also said, "Thank you for your hard work!"

However, Liang Congzheng only responded to Princess Shoukang's words: "I dare not, this is my duty!"

He didn't even take the Jiaozi that Zhang Dunli quietly handed to him.

He stuffed it directly back into Zhang Dunli's hands.

"My dear Prince Consort, you are embarrassing me!" Liang Congzheng said to Zhang Dunli expressionlessly, "How dare I take your things?"

"If the Queen and the Emperor knew about this, they would definitely skin me alive!"

Zhang Dunli felt like he was falling into the abyss after listening to this!
When a eunuch refuses to accept your benefits, you should know that the consequences will be very serious.

At this moment, Zhang Dunli's mind was full of regret.

I regret not listening to my wife.

I regret being too proud in front of Chang Shan and Wang Jing!

He should at least pretend to do it!

it's good now!

Zhang Dunli felt that the Imperial College might be waving to him.

He has to go and keep Guo Xianqing and Wu Anchi company!
The key is that Guo Xianqing has performed well, and it is said that he will be able to graduate from the Imperial College during this year's Xinglong Festival.

By then, it would be just him and Wu Anchi in the Imperial College, staring at each other!

Just thinking about it made Zhang Dunli feel scared.

The legend about the Imperial College was swirling in his mind.

However, it is too late to regret now.

Chang Shan's entire family has disappeared.

I heard that he sold his house in Beijing overnight. Does anyone know where he went?

As for Wang Jing?

That bastard is in the Censorate now!

He was the one who first reported it!

How brave!

However, Zhang Dunli couldn’t take care of all these things now.

He knew that he was in big trouble now!
At this time, Zhang Dunli's IQ finally started to improve.

He finally understood what situation he was facing.

His problem is not anything else.

The in-laws of the Song Dynasty can be domineering, lawless, and even bastards!
Officials always tolerate these shortcomings of their relatives.

However, the emperor will not tolerate an in-law who does not listen to his orders and openly disobeys his orders!
This is contempt for imperial power!

This is a big taboo for relatives by marriage!
If you are not careful, even going to the Imperial College may become a luxury.

He might even end up like Wang Shen!

So, Zhang Dunli is really scared now!

(End of this chapter)