Tiantang Splendid

Chapter 5218 Expelled from Chang'an
Seeing Chai Zhewei's disheveled appearance, Wang De was speechless for a moment: "What are you doing?"

Chai Zhewei seemed to finally come to his senses. He took two steps forward, grabbed Wang De's leg, and cried out, "Please let me go! His Majesty has already pardoned my crimes. How can you bring up old grievances? I want to see His Majesty! I want to see the Princess! The Princess will surely plead with His Majesty for me, and she will also plead with Fang Jun..."

Seeing Chai Zhewei rambling incoherently with tears streaming down his face, Wang De's brows furrowed into a deep frown. He said in a low voice, "Slap him."

They are truly spineless, shameless, and utterly lacking in backbone!
Furthermore, it's understandable to handle some things privately, even if there are no bottom lines, but how can you shout it out in broad daylight?

Making it public knowledge would damage the royal family's reputation.

It was the same imperial guard who grabbed Chai Zhewei by the collar and swung his other hand, slapping Chai Zhewei across the face with a loud "smack." Chai Zhewei screamed in pain and tried to slap him again...

Wang De's eyelids twitched, and he quickly stopped him: "That's enough!"

He glared at the imperial guard. Whose son of a noble family is this?
He seems quite perceptive, but in reality, he's clueless and reckless...

The imperial guard released Chai Zhewei and took two steps back, looking listless and withdrawn.

I had hoped to make a good impression on the chief eunuch, but things went awry...

Looking at Chai Zhewei, who was lying on the ground still crying, Wang De felt no pity and said calmly, "His Majesty's decree states that since Chai Zhewei has returned to Chang'an due to illness, the imperial physicians should examine him and treat any ailments he may have."

After saying this, he looked at the two imperial physicians who had accompanied him and said, "Gentlemen, please take a good look at him and see what exactly is wrong with him."

"Here."

Two imperial physicians stepped forward to help Chai Zhewei up and sit him in a chair. They gently comforted him before beginning their examinations.

After a long while, the two, their foreheads slightly sweaty, looked at each other and nodded subconsciously.

Wang De had always thought that Chai Zhewei was faking his illness, but seeing the two imperial physicians' somewhat solemn expressions, he began to wonder if Chai Zhewei really had some incurable disease.
"Gentlemen, what was the result?"

The two imperial physicians stood up and breathed a sigh of relief. One of them said, "According to our diagnosis, Chai Dalang does not have any serious illness, but he has quite a few minor symptoms."

Another person added: "Judging from Chai Dalang's plump physique, oily face, thick white and greasy tongue coating, and slippery pulse, this indicates a dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in transporting and transforming food, preventing the proper distribution of nutrients and causing them to accumulate as dampness and turbidity, which over time will produce phlegm. The internal accumulation of phlegm and dampness obstructs the flow of qi, hence the abdominal distension and heaviness in the limbs. This belongs to the category of 'diseases caused by rich and fatty foods'..."

Wang De nodded.

Although he had never studied medicine, as the chief eunuch, he paid the most attention to the health of the noble ladies in the palace, so he still understood basic medical principles.

The so-called "illness caused by rich and fatty foods" is simply "overnutrition" caused by long-term consumption of refined and fatty foods...

The first person added, "Among them are cases of spleen deficiency with dampness and phlegm obstruction. The treatment should focus on strengthening the spleen, resolving dampness, and promoting digestion, supplemented by exercise to guide the flow of qi and blood, so that the phlegm and dampness will naturally dissipate..."

Wang De waved his hand: "Why go through all that trouble? Since it's a 'disease caused by rich food,' we just need to reduce the amount of nutrition, and the symptoms will disappear on their own."

"what?"

The two imperial physicians looked astonished.

The logic is correct, but as the saying goes, "Rome wasn't built in a day," and such "illnesses caused by rich food" don't develop overnight. To eliminate the symptoms, one must proceed step by step. How can one be so arbitrary and brutal?
Wang De looked at Chai Zhewei, whose eyes were lifeless, and said calmly, "His Majesty also issued an edict that if Chai Zhewei recovers, he should not linger in the capital but return to the Protectorate of Hanhai as soon as possible to atone for his crime of treason. Although I cherish family ties and am grateful for Princess Pingyang Zhao's kindness, the country has its laws and the family has its rules. Sparing your life is already an act of leniency. If you linger and refuse to leave, it would be tantamount to trampling on the law and would be unjust. I hope you will act accordingly."

The imperial physicians and guards standing nearby all exclaimed in admiration at His Majesty's true kindness and benevolence!
Because of the kindness and care he received from Princess Pingyang Zhao back then, he has been grateful to this day and has taken good care of her two sons. Even when they committed the heinous crime of treason, he was able to retain their titles and property and even spare their lives!

Throughout history, has there ever been such a benevolent monarch?

On the contrary, it is the shameless and ungrateful people like Chai Zhewei who not only fail to reform themselves to repay Your Majesty's great favor, but also secretly return to Chang'an and stay there, causing Your Majesty to be impeached by the censors and even bear the infamy of "injustice"...

They all glared angrily.

Chai Zhewei was still unwilling: "His Majesty and I are cousins, and my younger brother is even the emperor's son-in-law. If you let me see His Majesty, I will surely be able to ask for a favor so that I can stay in the capital!"

Wang De shook his head and sighed: "Why don't you understand? Sparing your life has already damaged His Majesty's reputation. Others who should have been beheaded have been beheaded, and those who should have had their property confiscated have had their property confiscated. Only you not only saved your life, but also did not lose your title or property. If we allow you to linger in Chang'an, how will others slander His Majesty? His Majesty has shown leniency to you because of Princess Pingyang Zhao's kindness. You should also consider His Majesty's prestige and take the initiative to protect him."

Chai Zhewei was so grief-stricken that he could not speak.

Although being in Chang'an meant confining me to this post station and preventing me from going out, my family sent me delicious food and drink every day, allowing me to live a carefree life. But was the Protectorate of Hanhai even a place fit for a human? Not only did I eat meager rations and have no oil or fat, but I also had to accompany the soldiers on patrols, on guard duty, and even build fortifications and herd sheep…

If someone were to honestly and diligently work at Hanhai, they probably wouldn't even last a year.

Why did His Majesty ignore him before, but suddenly send people to drive him away?
Chai Zhewei pulled Wang De aside and asked in confusion, "But what happened?"

Wang De glanced at him and said, "It's nothing serious, but Princess Baling has entered the palace and asked the Empress for an official position in a fiefdom. She will soon be going to take up her post there. The Chai family may be moving out of Chang'an. If you have the opportunity to come back in the future, I'm afraid you will have nowhere to stand."

"Ok?"

Chai Zhewei was taken aback at first, then flew into a rage, exclaiming, "This bastard has no brotherly affection whatsoever! I was the one who sent him to beg Princess Baling, how come he asked for an official position for himself instead?"

Wang De sneered, "You two brothers are truly birds of a feather. Now you understand why His Majesty was so furious and banished you from Chang'an?"

Before Chai Zhewei could speak, he waved his hand and ordered, "Pack Chai Dalang's belongings, get him a travel permit, and send him to Hanhai immediately."

"Here!"

……

Although the investigation of Chai Zhewei was conducted behind closed doors, the Duting Post Station was bustling with people of diverse backgrounds, making it impossible to truly isolate the news. Before long, the news of Chai Zhewei's expulsion from Chang'an and repatriation to Hanhai spread from the Duting Post Station.

For a time, the Chai brothers became objects of ridicule and contempt.

While there are certainly those who hate and despise it, there are also many who envy and are jealous of it.

The Tang Dynasty now implements the "Imperial Examination System," which requires passing the imperial examination to obtain a proper official position. Military officers need to study and be assessed at the "Military Academy" and obtain approval from the Ministry of War before they can be promoted. The previous system of selecting officials has been abolished, leaving a group of nobles and second-generation aristocrats who had not yet obtained official positions at a loss.

His Majesty's "feudal system" has provided an opportunity to acquire a large number of military merits, and many nobles and powerful families have their eyes on this matter, hoping to obtain official positions through it.

However, the navy staged a "popular election" in Japan, which led to the acquisition of Japanese territory without bloodshed. This tactic will inevitably be imitated again and again, and the series of wars that everyone expects are almost impossible to occur. This path has been blocked.

Their last hope was to obtain an official position in a fiefdom.

Although the fiefdoms were all located in remote and undeveloped areas, they were still officials recognized by the Ministry of Personnel. If they could spend a few years in their fiefdoms and make some connections, they might have a chance to return to their homeland to serve as officials. However, there were only a few fiefdoms and very few official positions, making the competition extremely fierce.

Therefore, even though the Chai brothers shamelessly begged Princess Baling to help them obtain official positions, others didn't even have the opportunity to be shameless...

……

The Changsun family, which lived in Chongrenfang and was just across the street from the Liang State Duke's Mansion, had long lost its former glory of bustling traffic and endless visitors. Now, under the leadership of the patriarch Changsun Yan, the Changsun family closed their doors and remained low-key and patient, trying to recover and lick their wounds.

Changsun Chong died in prison, Changsun Huan committed suicide in front of his own mansion, Changsun Jun died suddenly in the Western Regions, Changsun Dan had died a violent death long ago, and Changsun Wen died in battle... The once prosperous Changsun family has now gradually declined.

The remaining members of the Changsun family all knew the current state of their household. They abandoned their former dissolute and unruly habits and obediently stayed at home to study and practice martial arts, hoping that one day their family would rise again.

However, the current uproar over the selection of officials for the fiefdom has shattered the tranquility of the Changsun family.

The Changsun family remained indifferent to the previous clamor about enfeoffing their country outside its borders and launching military campaigns to destroy it, because everyone understood that His Majesty would never allow the Changsun family to dabble in military power, let alone obtain a noble title.

Now, there's no need for large armies to conquer other countries or wage war abroad. A simple "popular election" can bring many foreign states and islands into the Tang Dynasty's territory. Officials in these fiefdoms naturally don't need military merit; they can be appointed simply by recommendation...

The sons of the Changsun family were inevitably tempted.

Since even Chai Zhewei was spared death, and the Chai family's title was not stripped, their property was not lost, and their reputation was not ruined, it is enough to show that His Majesty is truly kind and benevolent. Therefore, the Changsun family may also have a chance to rise again.

Even if they don't expect to be as prominent as when Changsun Wuji was alive, they can at least get their children some official positions so that they can support the family.

Many things may seem impossible, but you only know if they actually work after you've tried them.

Changsun Yan, the current head of the Changsun family, then had his own ideas.

However, he also knew that the reason he was able to become the head of the family was because his older brothers had all died. He could not persuade the Guanlong aristocratic families to speak on behalf of the Changsun family based solely on his personal talent and character.

So when he learned that Princess Chang Le had left the palace to stay in Zhongnan Mountain for a while, he immediately set off to follow her.

Since the Chai family was able to plead with Princess Baling, why couldn't the Changsun family do the same for Princess Changle?