Zhu Ping'an looked at his old neighbor who was sitting on the ground waiting to eat watermelon, and curled his lips helplessly. The old neighbor's attitude undoubtedly showed directly: Even if you talk nonsense, I will not believe a word of it.
However, by this time Zhu Ping'an had almost figured out his old neighbor's temper, and he knew that the more he explained at this time, the more counterproductive it would be. It would be better to seek truth from facts and state the facts.
"I dare not hide it from you, sir. I submitted a petition to request for relief mainly out of consideration for my senior brother Yang Jisheng, in order to please His Majesty and increase the chances of success."
Therefore, Zhu Ping'an didn't bother to organize a reason, but directly told his old neighbor his original intention in a realistic way.
"Huh, you are quite honest."
The stubborn old man sitting on the ground originally wanted to wait for Zhu Ping'an to make some fancy arguments, and then expose Zhu Ping'an's hypocritical face in person and teach Zhu Ping'an a lesson with stern words. However, he did not expect Zhu Ping'an to be so honest. This made him feel very uncomfortable with all the words he had prepared for the lesson. He was stunned for a long time before he snorted, stroked his gray beard, and said something in a bad mood.
However, although he still had a bad look on his face, his impression of Zhu Ping'an had improved a little.
Although this guy is a flatterer and a traitor, he is honest and not hopeless. In addition, this guy flatters in order to plead for Yang Jisheng, which is much better than those who flatter for fame and fortune.
"Honesty is the foundation of human beings..."
Zhu Ping'an was about to say a few humble words, but he was ruthlessly interrupted by the stubborn old man before he could even begin to speak.
"You are honest! Do you think I am praising you?" The stubborn old man interrupted Zhu Ping'an's humble words in a bad mood, pointed his bony finger at the prison ceiling above his head, and said with his gray beard trembling, "You can deceive God by pleading for Yang Jisheng?! There will be a disaster in the country during the solar eclipse. If you don't rescue him, it will endanger the emperor, the Ming Dynasty for thousands of years, and the people of the world. You ignored the people of the world for Yang Jisheng. Do you think you are great?!"
Well... ...
Zhu Ping'an was choked by the lesson given by his old neighbor.
It is undeniable that the old neighbor is a typical comrade who is patriotic, loyal to the emperor and loves the people.
However, the worldview of the old neighbor and his own are in two completely different eras. In the old neighbor's worldview, a solar eclipse means that the country will suffer a disaster, and if no rescue is done, it will endanger the people of the world; while in his own worldview, a solar eclipse is just an objective astronomical phenomenon, and there is no symbolic meaning of disaster. Different worldviews naturally lead to different understandings and behaviors. Zhu Ping'an really didn't know how to get back to his old neighbor.
"The boy knows he is wrong."
Helpless, Zhu Ping'an had to admit his mistake.
"Humph, no sincerity."
The stubborn old man snorted. He was not very satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's attitude of admitting his mistake. He felt that Zhu Ping'an admitted his mistake too quickly, so quickly that it made people feel a little perfunctory.
Uh, you are really a willful old comrade, Zhu Pingan looked at his old neighbor speechlessly.
"Young people, don't think about taking shortcuts. Shortcuts are easy to take, but they will lead to nowhere. You should be down-to-earth and take one step at a time. Even if you walk slowly, you will walk straight and upright, and there will be no end."
The stubborn old man looked up at Zhu Ping'an and said something meaningful, half sarcastically and half educationally.
Well, yes, what the old neighbor said makes sense. There are no shortcuts in life. You have to keep your feet on the ground.
"Thank you for your teachings, old man. I will keep them in mind."
Zhu Ping'an bowed to his old neighbor and thanked him. He thought that if there is something wrong, we should correct it and if there is nothing wrong, we should try to improve ourselves. This life teaching from the old neighbor is worth thanking.
"What's the point of telling me? You have to do it to remember it." The stubborn old man said unhappily.
Zhu Pingan smiled helplessly.
"By the way, let me ask you, what was the result of you writing the petition of 'cheating heaven' to plead for Yang Jisheng?" the stubborn old man asked with some concern.
Yang Jisheng was a younger generation that the stubborn old man admired very much. Among the younger generations he knew, Yang Jisheng's ambition, integrity and career were unmatched. Only Shen Lian could be compared with him, but Shen Lian's career could not compare with Yang Jisheng. In his opinion, Yang Jisheng's "Remonstrance to the Horse Market" and "Request to Execute the Thief Song" he submitted not long ago were almost superior to the Qin and Han Dynasties, even "Policy for Public Security" could not surpass them. Yang Jisheng learned from Han Shangshu and concentrated his mind and thought, wanting to wake up the Great Shun and talk to him. How much knowledge and ability did he have, and could anyone reach his level?!
Therefore, after Yang Jisheng presented the "Please Execute the Thief Song", the stubborn old man applauded and admired it very much, but he was also worried about Yang Jisheng. Sure enough, Yang Jisheng was soon imprisoned and sentenced to death. Before he was imprisoned, the stubborn old man also ran around and pleaded for Yang Jisheng, but unfortunately, it was of no use. On the contrary, several people were beaten with a stick in the court for pleading. After Emperor Jiajing issued an oral order, no one dared to plead for Yang Jisheng anymore. The only one who dared to plead for Yang Jisheng was Zhu Ping'an.
Unfortunately, before he could hear the outcome of Zhu Ping'an's memorial, he was thrown into prison because of the memorial about the solar eclipse. He was cut off from the outside world, and the prison guards were very tight-lipped. He had no idea how things were developing outside.
If we calculate by time, based on the verdict of the last trial of Yang Jisheng, it seems that tomorrow will be the day when Yang Jisheng will be executed.
After the stubborn old man was imprisoned, he had nothing to worry about except Yang Jisheng, who made him feel deeply sorry.
Although he did not hold much hope for Zhu Ping'an's petition for mercy, after all, so many people, so many people who were more influential than Zhu Ping'an, pleaded for Yang Jisheng but it was useless, so how could he expect much from Zhu Ping'an
However, no matter how slim the hope is, it is still hope after all. It is always better to have a little hope than to despair.
So, the stubborn old man looked at Zhu Ping'an with a slim hope, and asked about Yang Jisheng's news without any hope.
"After my 'deceiving God' memorial was submitted, the emperor was greatly pleased and ordered the cabinet to draft an edict to grant amnesty to the whole country! Except for the ten unforgivable crimes and officials who have committed corruption and abuse of power, all living criminals will be pardoned depending on the severity of their crimes. Although those sentenced to death cannot be pardoned, they can be given a reduced sentence and exempted from the death penalty. Senior brother Yang Jisheng is also among them. Although Yang Jisheng is still imprisoned in the imperial prison, his life is no longer in danger for the time being."
Zhu Ping'an curled the corner of his mouth and replied softly. When mentioning the memorial, he deliberately added the word "deceiving the heaven" to express his emotion a little.
"Ah?! Good! Good! Good!"
The stubborn old man was stunned when he heard this, he couldn't believe his ears, then he was overjoyed and said three good words repeatedly.