I, the prince, only want to be deposed.

Chapter 191 Your Highness, please answer!
"..."

The accompanying Crown Prince Xianma Guo Zhen could not figure out what was going on in the Crown Prince's head.
Liu Ju had never been so active when attending court before.

How come when it came to participating in the "debate on deposing and enthroning the crown prince", he acted more impatient than anyone else?
Besides, what's the point of going so early?

Before the time comes, no one can enter the Xuanshi Hall in advance, and they can only stop and wait outside the South Sima Gate.

At that time, apart from Prime Minister Zhao Zhou and Imperial Censor Shi Qing who presided over the court meeting, the rest would almost all be Confucian scholars from the Imperial Academy and virtuous and talented writers who impeached or opposed Liu Ju.

Didn't Liu Ju feel embarrassed at all standing with such a group of people waiting to enter the palace?
Awkward……

When Liu Ju arrived outside the Jinma Gate, the atmosphere was indeed very awkward.

Most of the Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy were attending a court meeting for the first time. They attached great importance to it and even regarded it as the greatest honor of their lives. Therefore, they arrived earlier than Liu Ju.

Not only that, they also carried with them bamboo slips that had been written many days in advance, all of which were filled with criticism of Liu Ju. They quoted from classics and discussed the past and the present, and from every angle characterized Liu Ju as a heinous person who was unworthy of his position.

Even a scroll of bamboo slips could not fit in, and some people, like Dong Zhongshu before him, carried heavy wooden boxes on their backs.

Although most of these people did not know Liu Ju.

But when he saw Liu Ju's age and the court robes he was wearing, he immediately confirmed his identity.

then.

"Chua! Chua! Chua!"

The moment Liu Ju appeared, all eyes were focused on him like arrows, piercing his heart.

These people looked at each other unkindly.

Some are contemptuous, some are angry, some are critical, some are hostile, some are confident, and some gloat over other people's misfortunes...

However, Liu Ju only saw clear stupidity in these people's eyes.

Many of these people are already old, with gray hair, and should have accepted their fate long ago.

Even the youngest one looks to be over 30 years old.

But they are still so self-important, their emotions can still be manipulated at will by public opinion, and they are still being used as guns without even realizing it... pitiful.

In this regard.

Liu Ju could only express his heartfelt sympathy to them.

As for the awkward atmosphere, Liu Ju did not care about it. He even had a bold feeling of "facing thousands of people's criticism with a cold brow" in his heart. He thought of a picture in later generations that read "Do you want to be a coward for your whole life, or a hero for one second?"

"I have met His Highness."

However, there were two people who took the initiative to greet Liu Ju after he arrived. They were Prime Minister Zhao Zhou and Imperial Censor Shi Qing.

These two people actually have a common identity, both are the prince's tutor.

However, in this era, the Prince's Grand Tutor is different from the Prince's Junior Tutor. The Prince's Grand Tutor is usually just an honorary title. He is not as deeply bound to the prince as the Prince's Junior Tutor. Therefore, he will not be implicated by the prince unless he is too close to him.

"Lord Zhao, Lord Shi."

Liu Ju returned the greeting and said with a smile,
"It seems that I have really offended the public. Today, these people are well prepared. All they need to do is drive ox carts to bring bamboo slips to the palace."

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing smiled awkwardly when they heard this, and Shi Qing asked:

"I wonder if Your Highness is ready for this court meeting?"

While speaking, he secretly glanced at the ivory tablet in Liu Ju's hand.

The ivory tablet was completely blank, so white that it was dazzling...

"There's nothing to prepare. This time I only brought a heart to accept criticism and a mouth to admit mistakes. The rest is up to fate."

Liu Ju smiled very openly.

However, in the eyes of Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing, this open-mindedness only seemed naive and stupid, heartless, and even worse than this group of sour Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy.

They had no doubts.

If Liu Ju attended the court meeting today with the mentality of accepting criticism and admitting his mistakes, he would be like a sheep among wolves.

Don't be fooled by the fact that these Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy and the virtuous and talented writers are full of benevolence, righteousness, and morality. If you really give them the opportunity to step on you, they will immediately tell you what it means to kill without shedding blood and what it means to eat someone without leaving any bones. As long as you have a little compassion, it means that they still have a little benevolence, righteousness, and morality in their hearts.

The two of them looked at each other, and Zhao Zhou stepped forward and said:

"Your Highness, today is the court meeting. The so-called court meeting is where both parties hold their own opinions and debate. Therefore, no matter what you want to say, you can speak freely."

"Before the court meeting is over, right and wrong have not yet been determined, so how can we accept criticism and admit mistakes?"

"Also, Your Highness probably doesn't know that Your Majesty will not be participating in this court meeting. There will only be a few attendants present as witnesses. Your Highness doesn't need to worry about anything."

This statement couldn't be made any clearer.

His Majesty is not here today, so you must not be timid. At least you cannot allow this group of Confucian scholars from the Imperial Academy and virtuous writers to attack you. You must stand up and fight back where you need to.

"Thank you for your advice, Master. I know what to do now."

Liu Ju felt that there was no need to explain too much to these two people, so he bowed to express his gratitude.

"That's fine, that's fine."

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing showed relieved expressions after hearing this and bowed their heads in return.

It is far from the truth to say that they truly care about Liu Ju or that they are on Liu Ju's side.

In fact, they still maintained a neutral stance, especially regarding Shi Qing's non-stick pan.

Saying these now are just polite remarks. No matter what, Liu Ju is still the regent prince, and we cannot be disrespectful to him according to etiquette or else it will give others a chance to criticize us.

As for the outcome of this court meeting, they already had the answer in their hearts.

Not to mention that Liu Ju is only seventeen years old now, and his experience and knowledge are insufficient.

Even if it were the two of them, they would not have any chance of winning if they were to debate with more than a hundred Confucian scholars and virtuous scholars with their mouths. The best strategy was to avoid it as much as possible. Moreover, the issues to be debated today were extremely unfavorable to Liu Ju, which was a bad start for those Confucian scholars and virtuous scholars...

What else could Liu Ju do if he didn't come with a heart to accept criticism and a mouth to admit his mistakes?
……

Before I knew it, the time had come.

Under the guidance of Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing, Liu Ju entered the Xuanshi Hall together with more than a hundred Confucian scholars and virtuous writers from the Imperial Academy.

Liu Ju also sat in his own "special seat", opposite the Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy, while Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing's seats were located between the two sides, making it easier to preside over and maintain order.

In addition, several attendants also appeared in the hall.

However, as soon as they came in, they went behind a table in a corner of the hall and began to divide the work of arranging bamboo strips, pouring water and grinding ink. It was obvious that they were just secretaries of this court meeting.

As for Liu Che, he was not present at all.

Even Liu Che's closest Yellow Gate Minister Su Wen did not show up...

But no one would have thought of it.

In fact, Liu Che was sitting in the back hall of the Xuanshi Hall at this moment, separated from the main hall by only a screen and a door.

In order to make it easier for observers to listen, he also ordered people to carry the dragon couch to the place closest to the door to ensure that every word said in the main hall could be heard clearly.

And Su Wen was standing aside, waiting on command.

At this moment, Su Wen no longer had any extra thoughts in his mind, because he already knew what kind of big move Liu Che had prepared. Once this big move was used, it would immediately kill this group of Confucian scholars and virtuous writers from the Imperial Academy, and Liu Ju's position as the crown prince would still be as stable as a rock.

But before that.

Liu Che had a bit of a bad taste in his heart. He wanted to see how Liu Ju would behave when facing these sour Confucian scholars, and then show up as a savior to save the situation...

at last.

"Since both parties are seated, let's begin this court meeting."

After Prime Minister Zhao Zhou gave a very simple opening speech, he went straight into the court discussion, first looking at the Confucian scholars of the Imperial Academy and the virtuous and talented scholars:
"Please ask one of you to question the Crown Prince first, and then the Crown Prince will explain and debate the question."

"The old man will come first!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an old man in the front row who looked to be over 60 years old stood up, unfolded the bamboo slips in his hand, took a look, and then asked loudly,

"The Book of Filial Piety says: Filial piety is the principle of heaven, the righteousness of earth, and the conduct of the people. Do you agree with this, Your Highness?"

Liu Ju raised his eyes slightly upon hearing this, and uttered a word:

"Dian."

"Since Your Highness regards this as a classic, then I will ask Your Highness again."

At this time, the sixty-year-old man was still unaware of the seriousness of the problem, and continued,

"Those who love their parents dare not be mean to others, and those who respect their parents dare not be rude to others. They serve their parents with love and respect, and impart moral education to the people and punish the people throughout the world. This is the filial piety of the emperor."

"Use the way of heaven, share the benefits of the earth, be careful and frugal, and support your parents. This is the filial piety of the common people."

“So from the emperor to the common people, filial piety has no beginning or end, and there is no one who worries about not being able to do it.”

"Does Your Highness agree with the filial piety between the emperor and the common people?"

Liu Ju still only raised his eyes slightly, and this time he said three words:
"A code within a code."

"Since Your Highness agrees, then please explain in front of us, what is wrong with Shi Wanjun, a commoner, who followed the rules of filial piety and had to decline Your Highness's proposal of marriage?"

The old man finally showed his edge, staring at Liu Ju angrily, and asked loudly in an excited tone,

"Why did Your Highness force him to drown, and also force the Shi family's eldest mother to death, and also impose capital punishment on the Shi family?"

"Your Highness, if you persecute people who are in mourning, is that a disrespect for filial piety?"

"As the saying goes, 'Those who love their parents dare not be mean to others, and those who respect their parents dare not be rude to others.' Your Highness is both rude to those who are in mourning and mean to those who are in mourning. Can it be considered that Your Highness is the most unfilial of the unfilial?"

"Your Highness, please give me a reply!"

The voice just fell.

"color!"

"Good question!"

"Your Highness, please answer!"

There was immediate applause from the Confucian scholars and virtuous writers of the Imperial Academy.

Zhao Zhou and Shi Qing shouted "Silence" several times before the scene calmed down.

More than a hundred Confucian scholars and virtuous scholars from the Imperial Academy sat back down, waiting for Liu Ju's answer with eager eyes.

Some people even unconsciously curled up the corners of their mouths, looking as if they were sure of victory.

This question is actually very powerful. First, it made Liu Ju acknowledge the rationality of filial piety, and then it made Liu Ju acknowledge the different filial piety that the emperor and common people must follow.

From big to small, from high to low, Liu Ju's mouth has been completely shut.

Then he used the filial piety that even the emperor must follow to evaluate Liu Ju's outrageous actions.

With such a powerful series of moves, not only Liu Ju, but even they themselves didn't know how to deal with it perfectly.

And after this question.

Then comes the real killer: If you cannot observe the filial piety of an emperor, then are you worthy of being the crown prince, or a candidate for the emperor?

then.

Under the gaze of everyone, Liu Ju suddenly laughed and asked:
"You are so filial! I am really curious, did the Shi family give birth to you or raise you to make you so filial to them?"

(End of this chapter)