Sun Yongning had just made this earth-shattering move of sacrificing his own relatives for the sake of justice. He was upright and incorruptible, but before he could even get comfortable in his seat, he was impeached by the censor, who accused him of indulging in pleasure during the mourning period and losing his moral integrity.
What’s interesting is that the person who submitted this memorial was none other than Sun Yongning’s cousin.
When the memorial arrived at the cabinet, Xu Shun frowned and read it through his reading glasses. He took a breath and stood up with a worried look on his face. He sighed and said, "What should I do? What should I do?"
All government offices were going to seal up and go on holiday starting today. Gao Ping was busy sealing up the case files. When he heard Xu Shun say this and took another look at the book in his hand, he subconsciously felt that something was ominous, but he couldn't help but ask, "What happened? What's the big deal that's worth the deputy assistant minister's worry?"
"Well, take a look." Xu Shun still had a worried look on his face. He handed the memorial to Gao Ping and sat on his own huanghuali chair. "It's really a troubled time. It's almost the New Year. Isn't this going to make it difficult for us to have a good year?"
When he said this, Gao Ping's heart skipped a beat. When he opened the memorial, his head buzzed and he was completely stunned.
Yang Bo had hinted before that this matter would not be so simple, but he did not expect that revenge would come so quickly, and in this way.
The charges of committing adultery during the period of mourning or filial piety are the simplest but the most difficult to explain. They can basically pin the blame on you.
Especially since the person who put this accusation on you is your cousin, the matter becomes even more difficult to explain.
The terrible thing is that there is a rule in the officialdom of the Great Zhou Dynasty that once you are impeached, you have to put down the work at hand and go home to wait, or submit a memorial to defend yourself, or wait until the matter is investigated thoroughly.
But how can we find out everything right away
This move was too much to resist.
Gao Ping held the memorial tightly in his hand and looked at Xu Shun: "The Deputy Minister thinks..."
"If it was just us, it would be fine." Xu Shun looked regretful, "But this memorial has been sent all the way from the Sixth Department, how can we withhold it? Well, let's see what His Majesty says."
Gao Ping was so angry that he was dazed.
But what can he do now? Yang Bo is not strong, and all the memorials from the cabinet were sent directly to the emperor after Xu Shun gave them the draft. According to his master's usual behavior, he would never take the lead.
The chief teacher had to give in, so could he really stop the deputy assistant from submitting the memorial
But he felt equally bad in his heart.
He had endured for so many years and finally made it to the top, becoming a Grand Secretary. However, just because he did not follow Xu Shun's wishes, he was oppressed and suppressed.
Today is Sun Yongning.
What about the future? Will it be his turn
He was frightened, and when he saw Xu Shun looking at him with a smile, he lowered his head even more.
When this memorial was handed over, Sun Yongning fainted from anger.
People at that time valued family, and although he was a cousin, because he had the word "grandson" in his name, he was already considered to be one of your family members. If someone else came out to report such a matter, he could still argue, but when his family came out, he couldn't even defend himself clearly.
Gao Ping went to see him once, felt pity for him, and went to his teacher's house that night.
Yang Bo was reading a junior's article at home. When he saw him coming, he raised his eyes and asked him to sit down: "Are you here for Yongning's matter?"
Gao Ping was about to speak but stopped talking. Seeing Yang Bo speak first, he was stunned for a moment, and then asked in confusion and indignation: "Yuan Fu, are we just going to shrink our heads like this? I am your man, and they clearly don't take you seriously!"
Yang Bo sighed and said, "Isn't it common knowledge that the Xu family has ignored me over the years?"
Otherwise, why had he served as a prime minister in name only for so many years and allowed power to fall into the hands of others
Yang Bo said this himself. Gao Ping was speechless. He had no choice but to sit down and said, "So are we just going to let it go? How long will it take for us to endure this?"
He complained coldly: "This cabinet is almost becoming a one-man show for the Xu family. Whatever they say goes! What use are we still for?!"
"What's the hurry?" Yang Bo glanced at the lanterns hanging high outside the window and said in a light tone: "Let's all have a good New Year first."
Gao Ping had no idea what Yang Bo meant, but Yang Bo refused to say more and just asked him how the trial of Wen Runze and the others was going.
The matter was being investigated by the Censorate, but how could they not have informed the Ministry of Justice? Gao Ping naturally knew about this, and upon hearing this, he said, "Old Sun has been in control of the Ministry of War for so long, it's not like he doesn't have this much ability. The evidence is solid, there are witnesses, everything is complete, there's no way they can get away."
Yang Bo raised his eyebrows and said, "Okay, okay! The Xu family thinks highly of themselves. Go and tell Yongning to spend the New Year peacefully. No matter what happens, don't panic."
Gao Ping sensed something was wrong, but when he saw that he was calm and composed, and obviously had a plan in place, he felt a little relieved - having a way to deal with it is always better than having no way at all.
He went to the Sun family in person.
Madam Sun was cursing her cousin for repaying kindness with enmity and being an ungrateful person. She couldn't help but curse the Xu family a few hundred times. However, Sun Yongning knew that revenge in the political arena was always like this, so he remained calm. Seeing that his wife was furious, he tried to persuade her: "What is there to be angry about? The world is bustling with people because of profit. The world is bustling with people because of profit."
Once you understand this, you won't worry about these things anymore.
Madam Sun wiped her tears and said, "How can I explain this clearly? It's obvious that they are trying to ruin your reputation and future..."
The Zhou Dynasty ruled the world with filial piety. The accusation of being unfilial is like a mountain hanging over your head. It is no exaggeration to say that it can crush you to death.
This time, Madam Sun really wanted to bite off a piece of meat from the Xu family.
Seeing her husband remained silent, she could not help but grow angry: "It is said that your master is the Prime Minister, but I don't think you have gained anything from it! You have been bullied like this, and no one has come out to support you."
Just as Sun Yongning was about to speak, his confidant came to report that Gaoping had arrived.
He immediately laughed: "Who said Yuan Fu wouldn't support me? Isn't it coming now?"
Mrs. Sun was half-believing and half-doubting, but at this critical moment, someone coming to visit was considered to be thoughtful and a timely help. She sighed heavily in her heart, and when she saw her husband go out, she calmed herself down and asked someone to send tea, fruits and snacks to the front yard.
Gao Ping had already arrived in the front yard. When he saw Sun Yongning asking him to sit down, he waved his hand and said, "No, it's not easy to come here. I'll go see Wencai."
Sun Yongning led him to Sun Wencai's yard.