Chapter 287: Concepts Are All Important Matters
“Investigation of Things is a meticulous field, truly requiring careful consideration. We shall conclude here for today,” Prime Minister Wang stood up, smiling, and announced the end of the literary gathering.
With Prime Minister Wang’s keen perception and insight, he had already realized the immense turmoil Li Xiaonan’s few words might ignite, and could not let her continue speaking.
Gu Yan glanced sideways at Prime Minister Wang, then stood up, saying with a smile, “That is acceptable.”
Meeting Li Xiaonan’s gaze, Gu Yan extended his folding fan, placed it under Li Xiaonan’s arm, and gestured for her to rise.
Li Xiaonan glanced sideways at the folding fan, deeply impressed by Gu Yan’s skill in changing his expression and acting.
“I will have Shi Gun escort you back.” Gu Yan walked Li Xiaonan to the hall entrance, bent slightly, and lowered his voice, saying, “Do not go out again after you return. Those guards will remain with you.”
“Is there any danger?” Li Xiaonan’s eyes widened.
“There is no immediate danger, but it is to prevent people from coming to seek your advice and bothering you,” Gu Yan said with a smile.
Li Xiaonan felt relieved and, under Gu Yan’s gaze, descended the steps and got into the carriage.
Gu Yan returned to the hall, stood beside Prime Minister Wang, shoulder to shoulder with him, leisurely fanning himself, looking from the hall to the garden, and then from the garden back to the hall.
This brief literary gathering, which had almost ended as soon as it began, had thrown the entire garden into an uproar. Most of the scholars present were in groups of three or five, their voices growing louder and more impassioned as they spoke. Some scholars sat or stood in a daze, lost in thought.
The voices of discussion within the main hall also grew louder and louder.
Wu Jie sat behind and to the side of Mr. Dongxi, his face ashen.
His teacher was about to be ruined, and his sect was gone.
Prime Minister Wang followed Gu Yan’s gaze to Mr. Dongxi, whose face was ashen. After a moment’s hesitation, he lowered his voice and said, “Although Song Yun is no match for Miss Li’s mastery of Investigation of Things, his knowledge of classics and history is worthy of a grandmaster. Young Lord, let us not pursue a cornered foe.”
“A Nan has always told me that the difference between Investigation of Things and classics, history, and poetry lies in the fact that Investigation of Things is learned for practical application. Only now have I truly understood A Nan’s words, ‘learned for practical application,’” Gu Yan said with a cold laugh. “Song Yun, as A Nan deduced, has been using his so-called scholarship to hide among the scholars of Jiangnan, stirring up trouble, reaching out everywhere, manipulating power, and achieving his selfish desires. This has been going on for more than a year or two.”
Prime Minister Wang’s face paled slightly. “What has the Young Lord discovered?”
“Mm.” Gu Yan glanced sideways at Prime Minister Wang and gave a noncommittal hum.
“If Song Yun is implicated and punished after today, countless people will use Miss Li’s words just now to infer others, leading to unimaginable turmoil. Even you and I will not be spared. Young Lord, look around here and there.”
Prime Minister Wang gestured from the clamorous hall to the even more clamorous garden.
“Prime Minister Wang worries too much. I have never hidden behind others, and Prime Minister Wang is also a righteous person who guides others with his own conduct. If this turmoil can wash away the petty habit of some people who are always quick to criticize us, I believe it is not a bad thing,” Gu Yan said with a smile.
“Once turmoil arises, countless people will stir the pot. Young Lord, can you entrust the matter of Song Yun’s transgressions to me to handle?” Prime Minister Wang asked with a wry smile.
Whether Miss Li’s words were improvised or pre-arranged with the Young Lord, who knew? But the Young Lord had a purpose in initiating this literary gathering. At this moment, this Young Lord must be intending to use those words, starting with Song Yun, to stir up a great storm, thereby purging the entire gentry and literary circles of Jiangnan.
Regardless, he could not stand idly by and let the Young Lord stir up this storm, let the Young Lord purge Jiangnan, or even the literary world of the entire realm. Even if he could not prevent this purge, he had to do his best to ensure it did not harm the literary heritage of Jiangnan and the world.
“Does Prime Minister Wang know of Song Yun’s transgressions?” Gu Yan asked pointedly.
“Not at all,” Prime Minister Wang replied quickly.
If he knew of Song Yun’s transgressions, wouldn’t that make him an accomplice to Song Yun!
“Regarding Song Yun’s affairs, I believe the Young Lord already has a plan. The Young Lord also has the matter of the Maritime Tax Bureau. If Song Yun’s affairs are also handled by the Young Lord, people might mistakenly believe that Song Yun’s matter is related to the Maritime Tax Bureau,” Prime Minister Wang said in a gentle tone.
“If Minister Wang handles it, how does Minister plan to proceed?” Gu Yan asked after a moment of silence.
“Investigate thoroughly,” Prime Minister Wang replied.
Gu Yan appeared surprised, his eyebrows raised, his expression solemn. After a moment of silence, he replied cautiously, “This is not an urgent matter. If it is to be handled, it must first be investigated thoroughly. Only after all witnesses and physical evidence are gathered can we discuss how to proceed.”
“What the Young Lord says is very true.” Prime Minister Wang paused, then changed the subject. “The other day, I heard some idle talk from a few people in the Ministry of Revenue, saying that the Mr. Niu the Young Lord sent to reconcile accounts possesses astonishing skill in divination.”
“Mm.” Gu Yan hummed, waiting for Prime Minister Wang to continue.
Prime Minister Wang continued, “In recent years, because the Ministry of Revenue’s reports have been too slow, the Crown Prince has reprimanded them several times. Last month, due to the flood relief in Henan, the Crown Prince demanded figures for population and funds, but the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Revenue were slow to calculate them, causing the Crown Prince to lose his temper.
“Now, due to the changes in the Maritime Tax Bureau, the military expenses and supplies being sent north, as well as the adjustments for population and transportation, are proving difficult for the Ministry of Revenue. Could the Young Lord be willing to part with Mr. Niu? Allow Mr. Niu to take on a task in the Ministry of Revenue, specifically for the collection and accounting of maritime tax silver and the allocation of northern military expenses.”
Gu Yan looked at Prime Minister Wang and nodded with a smile. “Minister is like half a teacher to me. Since you have given the order, how dare I disobey.”
Gu Yan left the Imperial Examination Hall, made a detour, visited the Pang Residence, and after leaving the Pang Residence, entered the palace to request an audience with the Crown Prince.
After Gu Yan left, Prime Minister Wang tactfully admonished the officials present and then instructed several professors from the Imperial Academy. As he left the Imperial Examination Hall, his attendant quietly reported Gu Yan’s visit to the Pang Residence.
Prime Minister Wang returned to his small office in the Imperial City, sat and thought for a while, took half a cake of tea, and headed towards the Imperial City Department on the other side of the Imperial City.
From the year the Emperor ascended the throne, Prince Wei took on the task of the Imperial City Department. Over the past thirty-odd years, Prince Wei’s duties have changed countless times, but his office has always remained in those two rooms of the Imperial City Department, never moving.
Prince Wei had just heard the entire literary gathering at the Imperial Examination Hall when his old servant reported: Prime Minister Wang had arrived.
Prime Minister Wang and Prince Wei sat under the corridor, drinking tea and talking for about half an hour. Prime Minister Wang took his leave and returned. Prince Wei sat alone for a little over a quarter of an hour, then rose to request an audience with the Emperor.
……………………
Second Great Aunt Gu, after leaving the Imperial Examination Hall, headed straight for Prince Wei’s Mansion.
Second Great Aunt Gu vividly recounted the short literary gathering and sighed, “When my younger brother broke off the engagement with the Shi family, I thought he had finally tired of Eldest Sister Shi constantly lecturing him with pretense. Now I truly understand. My brother broke off the engagement not because Eldest Sister Shi was too formidable, but because he felt she wasn’t formidable enough.”
“Why are you bringing up the Shi family?” Eldest Great Aunt Gu shot her sister a glance.
The matter of her brother breaking off the engagement was something their Gu family had truly wronged the other party.
“Mother, don’t listen to Second Sister’s nonsense. When choosing a wife, one looks at character and temperament. If their character and temperament are good, the more capable they are, the better,” Eldest Great Aunt Gu said, trying to appease her.
“Eldest Sister is right,” Second Great Aunt Gu said with a dry laugh.
“It’s not about that!” Princess Consort Wei pressed her temples forcefully.
Her son had dragged this Miss Li into his official duties and his marriage into court politics!
“You all go back first, everyone go back!” Princess Consort Wei waved her hand in annoyance.
Second Great Aunt Gu wanted to say more, but Eldest Sister pulled her aside, and the two quickly took their leave.
“You go and tell His Highness that if there is no urgent official business at the yamen, he should return early,” Princess Consort Wei instructed her trusted old woman.
The old woman agreed and hurried out.
