Chapter 25: Should Be Executed

The rooster crowed.

The sky was not yet bright.

Carriages from major mansions set off one after another, driving toward the palace.

Outside the Xuanzheng Hall.

The officials who had just arrived were chatting in low voices.

"The wind is really strong today."

"When we went to the Xiao Mansion for the banquet yesterday, there was no wind at all."

"Over at the Northern Frontier..."

"Yo, look at who that is?"

As this sentence rang out, everyone looked in unison toward a group of people who had just walked past the palace gate in the distance.

Leading them was Xiao Wanlin, wearing a dark blue Confucian robe, draped in a dark green crane cloak, wearing a high crown, and walking toward the Xuanzheng Hall with more than a dozen civil and military officials.

Along the way, there were sounds of bowing and greetings.

While the officials were exchanging pleasantries outside the hall, the eunuchs inside the hall summoned them to enter for the early morning court.

Prime Minister He Fan made a gesture of invitation and said: "Old Prime Minister, please."

Xiao Wanlin said expressionlessly: "Prime Minister, don't worry about this old man. Please enter first. Without the Emperor's summons, this old man has no official position and, by logic, cannot attend the early morning court."

The Prime Minister didn't say anything more and entered the Xuanzheng Hall first.

Other officials followed into the hall one after another, waiting in silence.

Zhou Emperor Ji Feng walked slowly to the hall and yawned. It could be seen that he didn't rest well last night.

"I heard Old Prime Minister came to the early morning court today, why is he not here?"

The civil and military officials of the whole court couldn't help but look at Minister of Justice Xiao Qi.

Maybe they didn't understand what the Xiao family's banquet was about yesterday, but seeing Xiao Wanlin come to the Xuanzheng Hall today, even if they were slow, they understood.

The Chief Eunuch whispered two sentences in Ji Feng's ear.

Ji Feng smiled and said:

"Then summon Old Prime Minister into the hall. He is so old, yet he can't stay idle. He should just write memorials for me, yet he insists on coming in person. Great Zhou having such a good official is my blessing."

Xiao Wanlin was summoned into the hall and bowed to the Zhou Emperor.

Ji Feng opened his mouth: "Minister, what do you have to report? Could it be that you came to ask me for an explanation regarding the 'Xiao Jinchen' matter last time?"

Xiao Wanlin hurriedly said: "Your subject is terrified. Your Majesty, even if you gave this old subject a hundred guts, I wouldn't dare..."

Ji Feng smiled and interrupted: "Minister, don't be like this. I was just joking, just joking."

As the Emperor, how could he not know about some things in the capital?

Ji Feng didn't sleep well yesterday because of the Xiao family banquet. How could he not know what Xiao Wanlin wanted to do?

Whether it was Lu Fang or the Xiao family, they were both pillars of the country.

Both the palm and the back of the hand were meat. Ji Feng really didn't want the two to fight to the death, so he reminded him directly, hoping Xiao Wanlin would stop while he was ahead.

Xiao Wanlin understood, but still chose to continue:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subject did not come for that rebellious grandson this time, but for the 'Dream of the Red Chamber'."

"This text recklessly discusses and arranges the family affairs of the Royal Family and the Duke's family. Your subject believes that the person who wrote 'Dream of the Red Chamber' should be beheaded and displayed!"

As soon as these words came out, the hall was silent.

Everyone had read the elegant prose "Dream of the Red Chamber." It was true that there were inappropriate parts, but it was definitely not a capital offense.

Xiao Wanlin was clearly seeking revenge on Lu Fang.

"Summon Lu Fang into the hall!" Ji Feng frowned: "Old Prime Minister, I think we can talk about it by calling the person here. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding."

It didn't even take the time of an incense stick.

Lu Fang entered the hall in a hurry and bowed to the Zhou Emperor.

"Exempt from bowing!" Ji Feng said: "Old Prime Minister says that the Dream of the Red Chamber you wrote is arranging the family affairs of the Royal Family and the Duke's family. How do you explain it?"

"Your Majesty, this is baseless. Dream of the Red Chamber is a story that connects many characters in the human world. If it were according to Old Prime Minister's words, this can't be written, that can't be written, I guess it wouldn't become elegant prose."

Lu Fang said sonorously.

Yesterday, he also thought it through. If Xiao Wanlin really wanted to make trouble with "Dream of the Red Chamber," it was nothing more than writing "Imperial Concubine's Visit Home" in the book, and writing about the Rongguo Duke and Ningguo Duke.

He would likely make an issue of this.

Therefore, he thought of quite a few counter-arguments yesterday, and he really wasn't afraid of the other party.

"Absurd!" Xiao Wanlin sneered: "You disloyal and unfilial little thief, using the Ning and Rong mansions in the book to insult and map the Duke of Xiao, you should be executed!"

Prime Minister He Fan stepped forward and said:

"'Dream of the Red Chamber' is elegant prose recognized by the Heavenly Dao. The novel writing method in the book is a school of its own. As far as I know, Lu Fang was writing this book before he had a grudge with the Xiao family, and it was not malicious arrangement of the Duke of Xiao."

Xiao Wanlin snorted coldly: "Prime Minister, these words are wrong. If Lu Fang's arrangement of the Royal Family and Duke's family affairs is not handled, and scholars of the Great Zhou follow suit in the future, that would be terrible. Your Majesty, this child Lu Fang should be executed!"

Seeing that the timing was ripe, Xiao Qi stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Lu Fang recklessly discussing the Duke and the Royal Family should be executed!"

Several officials who had received favors from the Xiao family stepped forward together: "Your Majesty, this child Lu Fang should be executed!"

Seeing someone take the lead, more people stepped forward, requesting to execute Lu Fang.

Fan Sheng frowned and finally stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, Old Prime Minister's statement is not unreasonable."

Seeing the Xiao family's power, Lu Fang couldn't help but curse in his heart.

If the Zhou Emperor really succumbed to the pressure and threw him into the Ministry of Justice prison, he would have endless suffering, and it was even possible that he would die in prison.

Just as Lu Fang wanted to refute.

A eunuch walked in from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, Great Confucian Su Li requests to see you outside the hall."

"Hurry, please invite him in."

Zhou Emperor Ji Feng said busily.

After a while, an elderly scholar in his sixties, leaning on a wooden staff, walked in. This person had disheveled hair and a dirty face, wearing a patched Confucian robe, but he walked steadily, and his eyes were as bright as stars.

Su Li bowed to the Zhou Emperor and looked back at Xiao Wanlin:

"You old fellow, at such a great age, your legs are almost stepping into the coffin, yet you are still here making things difficult for the younger generation. You are truly shameless! How! Is it because you think our master sect has no one left!"

"Xiao Wanlin, I ask you, have you ever written imagery-level poetry in your life?"

"Have you written elegant prose?"

"Have you condensed a book spirit?"

"A Great Zhou talent recognized by the Heavenly Dao, yet you want to kill him for your own selfish interests. What kind of heart do you have!"

Coming up was a burst of scolding, making Xiao Wanlin's face turn white.

"Eldest Senior Brother is awesome!"

Lu Fang shouted in his heart.

Although he had never met this Eldest Senior Brother, he had heard of his name and life. As long as he was in the right, this Eldest Senior Brother, who was upright all his life, dared to confront anyone.

He thought he would have to face the Xiao family alone this time, but he didn't expect that Eldest Senior Brother, who was traveling everywhere, would come out to support him.

Great Zhou scholars arguing was very common. Even in the hall, there were people who made moves because of arguing, so there was nothing inappropriate.

Xiao Wanlin stared and said: "Su Li, you old thing, you actually dare to shout in the hall. You don't want to live anymore, do you?"

"So what if I scold you?" Su Li sneered: "Old bastard, if you bark like a dog again, believe it or not, I will slap you with my big ears?"

"You are looking for death!"

Xiao Wanlin shook his whole body, as if the whole time had stopped. He reached out and hit Su Li's face.

He was only half a step away from entering the Semi-Sage realm, and dealing with Su Li, this Third Rank Great Confucian, was "more than enough."

He had waited for this opportunity for too long! ===== CHAPTER 26 =====