Chapter 1051

After leaving the Zhengda Guangming Hall, Fei Ji wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

Although Fei Tong was exiled, and Fei Pei and Fei Yuhe might also be punished, at least he had clarified his relationship with Fei Pei in advance. So, in court, he was only reprimanded by Xiao Ming, and his official position was not shaken. To him, this was a blessing in his misfortune.

He could see that this incident was orchestrated by Xiao Ming from beginning to end, with the purpose of “killing the chicken to scare the monkeys.”

After all, if he could move the Fei family, which was renowned and powerful, who else in this world could he not touch?

Outside the gate, the Fei family’s carriage was waiting. Getting in, Fei Ji repeatedly urged the coachman to hurry back. He needed to find a way to give Fei Yuer a hint, so she could whisper in Xiao Ming’s ear and calm him down. Otherwise, his days ahead would likely be difficult.

But his carriage had not gone far when another carriage overtook it from the side. The bamboo curtain was lifted, and Ge Yiren smiled.

“Why is Elder Fei in such a hurry? How about we go to the Peach Blossom Manor outside the city for a few drinks together?” Ge Yiren said with a smile.

Fei Ji showed a polite smile. He said, “Thank you for the kind invitation, Elder Ge. But Fei Ji has suffered a great calamity and has many miscellaneous matters to attend to. I must decline.”

“In that case, I will not force you. However, if Elder Fei has time, you are welcome to come to the Peach Blossom Manor at any time. I will be sure to join you.”

Fei Ji’s smile remained, and he clasped his hands before lowering the bamboo curtain. At a time like this, he did not want to have any more association with Ge Yiren. He had a premonition that this matter would likely cause trouble for a while.

In the other carriage, Ge Yiren snorted softly when he saw Fei Ji’s bamboo curtain fall. He said to Wang Chengye, who was sitting with him in the carriage, “Back in Chang’an, he, Fei Ji, had to look at my face in court. I never expected that now I would have to be so humble to him.”

Wang Chengye did not seem to have heard what Ge Yiren was saying. He looked utterly foolish, muttering to himself, “The Ministry of Rites is gone, the Ministry of Rites is gone. I, Wang Chengye, am a sinner for all eternity.”

Ge Yiren frowned, and a wave of anger suddenly surged onto his face. He raised his hand and slapped Wang Chengye. He said, “I’m ashamed to have you as my student. It’s just the Minister of Rites, isn’t it? If it’s gone, it’s gone. Is there any need to act as if you’ve lost your soul?”

Wang Chengye was snapped back to his senses by the slap. Covering his stinging face, he cried, “Teacher, it’s not that your student is worthless. The Ministry of Rites has never been abolished in any dynasty. Today, it has been destroyed in my hands. How can I possibly have the face to live in this world?”

Ge Yiren sneered. He said, “The Ministry of Rites was bound to be abolished sooner or later. You have read the content of New Confucianism, haven’t you? The Emperor said that rituals are just formalities and everything should be simplified. Since everything is to be simplified, what’s the use of the Ministry of Rites? This time, taking advantage of your major mistake, he has a perfect excuse to abolish it.”

“Alas! If I had known this, I would not have conspired with the Fei family and Duke Tang to set up some private school.” Wang Chengye was filled with endless regret.

Ge Yiren stroked his beard and said calmly, “You’re wrong. This time, the abolition of the Ministry of Rites is a minor matter. The distinction between the noble and the common is the real big matter. The government decree that the Emperor issued in court today is clearly meant to destroy the scholar-gentry families that have been passed down for thousands of years. If this government decree takes effect, it will be the end for our families.”

Wang Chengye was startled. He asked, “Teacher, what should we do about this? My son, Xiao Yue, is already an adult. I was planning for him to get an official position in the court through your recommendation. If we follow the government decree that the Emperor is pushing, this matter will be ruined, won’t it?”

“That’s right. Not only your Wang family, but many other official families will also have their paths cut off from now on. This move of the Emperor’s is truly ruthless.”

Wang Chengye shook his head, his face filled with pain. “If my son cannot enter the court, will the Wang family only be able to survive on a few plots of poor land from now on? No, no…”

Ge Yiren watched the frantic Wang Chengye. Among all his students, Wang Chengye had the essence of his ideology, but he had a significant flaw: he was extreme in his views.

This matter had clearly stimulated Wang Chengye. His official position was gone, and now his son would probably not be able to enter officialdom either. For a person from an official family like him, this drop in status was difficult to accept.

It was like a person who was used to a life of luxury having to live a life of hardship.

The carriage traveled for another few miles and stopped at house number 308 on the south street of Qingzhou. To make it easier to charge for electricity and water, after the walls of the commoner’s residential blocks were torn down, each household was given a house number for easier management. Wang Chengye lived here.

“We have arrived. Since you no longer hold an official position, you will have to think for yourself about how to live.”

With that, Ge Yiren pulled up the carriage window and left, leaving behind a dejected Wang Chengye.

…

Imperial Study.

After the court session ended, Xiao Ming began to review memorials here. Before long, the Empress Dowager arrived at the Imperial Study, supported by Fei Yuer.

Seeing the two of them, Xiao Ming frowned tightly. He said to Fei Yuer, “I have said that the matters of the inner palace are under your charge, and you are not to meddle in court affairs. If you brought the Empress Dowager here to plead for Fei Tong, you can save your breath.”

Fei Yuer’s face turned pale. Xiao Ming had never reprimanded her in such a stern tone before. She immediately said with a sense of grievance, “Father did indeed send someone to deliver a letter to me, your humble subject, but am I not the kind of woman who understands that foreign relatives should not meddle in politics? I immediately sent someone to refuse my father. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you can ask Luoluo. She was there at the time.”

Concubine Zhen patted Fei Yuer’s hand at this time. She said to Xiao Ming, “Your Majesty, I happened to be in the Empress’s palace today. I came here after learning about what happened in court, not to plead for that scoundrel Fei Tong.”

Xiao Ming let out a slight sigh of relief when he heard this. In modern times, he hated family businesses the most because any of the boss’s relatives could abuse their power. They might not hold a high position, but they would meddle a lot.

Now that he was governing a country, he naturally disliked the inner palace meddling in government affairs.

“It seems I was overthinking.” Xiao Ming’s smile returned. Fei Yuer, however, was still a little hurt and turned her face away, ignoring him.

Concubine Zhen shook her head helplessly. She said to Xiao Ming, “Your Majesty, I came here today only to remind you to be careful. Although you changed the country’s name to get rid of the old and usher in the new, the evils that accumulated over hundreds of years in the former Great Yu Empire are not so easy to get rid of.”

“This son understands, but these evils are like the dust on this table. If they are not cleaned, they will only accumulate more and more. Rather than that, it is better to wipe them clean often.”

“That’s the logic, but applying too strong a medicine can harm the body. There is more than one emperor in the history of a thousand years who died an unnatural death because they harmed the interests of the powerful. I am only worried about your safety.”

Xiao Ming’s face changed. He understood that the Empress Dowager’s concern for him was a mother’s concern for her son, but these words still made him feel a chill all over his body.