Chapter 1176: Sitting In to Force the Emperor's Hand!

Zhang Zhang Yushi didn't die, but the matter still blew up!

The Censors are capable, especially when it comes to whipping up public sentiment—none can compare. They stirred up a batch of hot-blooded youths, mainly scholars, who ran to the palace gates to sit in protest, demanding that the court and the Emperor severely punish the Brocade Guard.

The Brocade Guard and its subordinate unit, the Prison of Imperial Decrees, have no respect for Wang Fa, treating the law as nothing. They openly beat court officials, nearly killing someone, all just to obstruct an investigation. One can see how arrogant and unbridled the Brocade Guard's daily conduct truly is.

Emperor Jian Shi sat inside the Palace of Supreme Yang, having just finished taking his elixir, in precisely the moment when both body and mind felt supremely pleased.

But at this very moment, a palace servant reported that a group of scholars, mainly students from the Imperial Academy, had run to the palace gates to sit in protest, demanding severe punishment for the Brocade Guard.

In an instant, Emperor Jian Shi's good mood was utterly destroyed.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd! They run to the palace gates to sit in protest—what are they trying to do! This isn't petitioning at all, it's plainly forcing my hand. A pack of ungrateful wretches with no loyalty to sovereign or father! Where is Xiao Xiao Jincheng? He's caused such a massive mess and still dares to hide—is he tired of living! Where is Xie Changling? Where is the Minister of Rites? Where are the people from the Imperial Academy? Are they all dead? Scholars have run to the palace gates to sit in protest and pressure their sovereign father—why have I heard not a single report of progress? Are they all playing dead?"

Emperor Jian Shi was so angry his face contorted, turning iron-green, and he raised his hand to smash a set of official-kiln white porcelain.

Today it was Eunuch Gan's turn on duty.

Hearing this, he thought—good news!

He had long been displeased with the Brocade Guard's surnamed Xiao, and seized the chance to drop poison in the Emperor's ear. "Your Majesty, calm your anger, drink some tea to soothe your temper. I've already arranged for people to invite several my lords from Zhengshitang. The Minister of Rites is currently outside the palace gates trying to reason with those scholars. It's just…"

"Just what?"

"It's just that the Brocade Guard's daily conduct is quite arrogant—they only rein themselves in a little before Your Majesty. Regarding this matter, I'm afraid… Your Majesty, the Brocade Guard has lost the people's hearts!"

Emperor Jian Shi's eyes bulged. "The Brocade Guard is my hawk and hound—what hearts do they need to win?"

If the Brocade Guard won the people's hearts, that would be the end! Wouldn't he, the Emperor, have no sense of security at all?

The Brocade Guard, from beginning to end, can only serve as the Emperor's hawk and hound, running dog, thug—public grievances boiling, curses raining down. Only this way can the Emperor use the Brocade Guard with confidence, with peace of mind, and be able to sleep at night!

Eunuch Gan, knowing he had misspoken, hurriedly dropped to his knees to beg forgiveness.

Emperor Jian Shi rubbed his brow and ignored him.

Eunuch Gan's words were unpleasant to hear, but they did remind him—the Brocade Guard's reputation stank, and now they'd provoked those Censor curs. This matter, he feared, could not be easily concluded.

He was well aware that those hot-blooded scholars, even if they made a fuss, couldn't actually cause much of a stir—it was just that the fallout was too bad, the reputation too damaged, and once it spread it would harm his imperial dignity and honor. Pure, unadulterated disgust.

The ones who truly knew how to make trouble, and could blow things up, were those Censors. They were the ones pulling strings behind the scenes.

Right now was a troubled time—when those Censors started making noise, no one knew how many matters, how many people, would get dragged in.

Add the drought to that, and the scene left him, as Emperor, feeling nothing but endless weariness.

Eunuch Gan stole a glance at Emperor Jian Shi, saw the Emperor's face dark and brooding, lost in deep thought, and he too began pondering how to drop more poison about the Brocade Guard. If he could use this chance to strip the surnamed Xiao of his post, that would be satisfying indeed.

But, looking at the Emperor's troubled expression, he feared the surnamed Xiao's position would remain steady and secure.

Truly unfair!

"Your Majesty, shall we send people to drive away those scholars?"

"Shut up!" Emperor Jian Shi's eyes bulged.

Eunuch Gan raised his hand to slap his own mouth, the slaps ringing out sharp and clear. "This servant knows his fault, knows his fault! This servant is shallow and ignorant, only knowing those scholars are no good—how dare they pressure Your Majesty and cause Your Majesty grief! This servant believes that anyone who opposes Your Majesty deserves death. Those ungrateful scholars, causing trouble for Your Majesty, deserve the harshest punishment!"

Emperor Jian Shi, hearing this out, eased his expression slightly and said softly, "Enough, get up. At least you still have loyalty to speak of!"

"This servant has no other ability, only a heart full of loyalty! Please, Your Majesty, see clearly!"

Emperor Jian Shi finally gave Eunuch Gan a proper look, and was somewhat satisfied.

"In the future, mind your words when you speak! Matters of state—a eunuch like you, if you don't understand, then don't talk nonsense! This time I'll let it pass, but if there's a next time, don't bother coming to serve."

"Many thanks to Your Majesty for sparing this servant's dog life! This servant will surely keep Your Majesty's teachings firmly in mind and never dare to offend again!"

Eunuch Gan was overcome with tears and mucus, weeping with joy!

That expression, those gestures, that bearing—utterly, completely loyal! Emperor Jian Shi saw it and was greatly satisfied.

The dog of a servant still had his uses.

With this little interlude, by the time the ministers of Zhengshitang arrived at the Palace of Supreme Yang, Emperor Jian Shi's mood had barely improved, more than half his fury quelled.

"Speak, all of you!"

Emperor Jian Shi got straight to the point, not a word wasted!

Someone offered a suggestion. "Your Majesty need not worry. That group of scholars outside the palace gates is running on nothing but reckless courage, only daring to sit in protest because of a surge of spirit. That spirit, barring accidents, will have leaked away by tomorrow morning at the latest.

This minister's opinion is: first, don't bother with them, and there's no need for force to drive them away. In fact, we should even provide them food and water. Once they endure tonight, by tomorrow someone will take the lead in withdrawing on their own. Once one person leads, others will follow. Within three days, not a single scholar will remain outside the palace gates. This matter can be resolved without lifting a finger."

Emperor Jian Shi nodded slightly to himself, then asked, "Do you all think the same?"

"Your Majesty, the scholars are a minor matter—nothing more than extra gossip for the world. No need to mind it."

"That group of scholars is brazen beyond belief—how dare they sit in protest at the palace gates and pressure their sovereign father? Outrageous. This old minister believes they must be given a lesson, a Shenkede Sect lesson."

"A lesson must be given, but there's no rush. If we act now, I'm afraid some will be driven to desperation. Better to wait quietly for them to withdraw, then settle accounts one by one afterward!"

"How to settle accounts?"

"All students from the Imperial Academy shall be expelled and barred from the imperial examinations. As for the remaining students—those with titles shall have their titles stripped, those without shall be driven out of Jingcheng and forbidden to linger. How does that sound?"

"Excellent!"

With one sentence, the futures of that group of students outside the palace gates were ruined.

The ones who schemed and goaded these students into sitting in protest and forcing the Emperor's hand truly deserve death.

Back in the day, Zhao Mingqiao also liked to whip up public sentiment, sending hot-blooded youths to the front. But he never wagered scholars' futures as the stakes—at least he had some bottom line.

The ministers finished their discussion and waited for Emperor Jian Shi to decide.

Emperor Jian Shi sat on the dragon throne and said flatly, "Approved!"

And so the matter was settled!

"Now let's discuss the Brocade Guard's feud with the Censorate. Speak!"

"It counts as a mutual brawl!"

"The Prison of Imperial Decrees was at fault first and must be severely punished!"

"Obstructing the Censorate's investigation—the nature of this matter is very serious. This old minister's suggestion is that the Brocade Guard, from top to bottom, needs a severe purge. They rely on Your Majesty's backing and act with increasing recklessness. I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict strictly restraining the Brocade Guard—we cannot continue indulging them."