Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 69

During Wu Zetian's reign, the chaos in the court led to great damage to the social order. The nobles and princes, once they gained power, became lawless, and there were even cases of spoiled brats beating and killing officials.

Even during that period, there were never any large-scale brawls involving hundreds of people in Chang'an; most of the fighting was simply a direct rebellion.

When Chang'an County learned of this, they were horrified. The key issue was that there were too many people involved, and Chang'an County couldn't handle it.

Ultimately, it was the Jingzhao Prefecture that issued the order, and the Imperial Guards were directly dispatched to arrest the person.

On that very day, the news of this matter reached Li Longji's ears.

This infuriated Li Longji, because he had been suppressing these powerful figures and relatives of the emperor for the past two years, which meant that they were defying his orders.

Li Longji immediately ordered the Jingzhao Prefecture to thoroughly investigate the matter, regardless of the other party's identity, and to investigate it severely without any leniency.

If you don't give me face, then I won't show you any mercy either.

It was already night. Usually at this time, only a few patrol teams could be seen on the road. But today was different. There were luxurious carriages heading straight for the capital city, completely ignoring the curfew.

Inside the Jingzhao Prefecture, the lights were on, people were bustling about, and there was a constant murmur of noise.

Lobby.

"Does your Jingzhao Prefecture arrest people without distinguishing right from wrong?"

An old man, extremely angry, questioned Meng Wenli, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture: "This nameless old scoundrel has disrupted the moral order and corrupted public order. My student went up to demand an explanation and was beaten until his head was bleeding, yet you still arrested him and brought him here. This is truly outrageous!"

The old man was none other than Jiang Yanbo, a doctor at the Imperial Academy. He hadn't intended to get involved in this mess and let the higher-ups have a headache, but the students had stirred up trouble.

Moreover, the students of the Imperial Academy were fighting under the banner of defending their honor, but they ended up being beaten bloody, so of course he had to stand up for his students.

Meng Wenli put down his teacup but remained silent, as if waiting for something.

Immediately, a person on the right stepped forward and said, "This is outrageous! What right do you students of the Imperial Academy have to interfere in the affairs of the Nameless Academy?"

This person was none other than Wang Maozhong. He then said to Meng Wenli, "Prefect of the Capital, almost everyone saw it. It was their students who first came to cause trouble and attempted to break into Wuming Academy. My son, as a student of Wuming Academy, naturally protected his academy. Isn't that right?"

Jiang Yanbo said, "Your son injured more than ten people with sticks, while my students were unarmed. Who is the one committing violence?"

It's no exaggeration to say that his son is the number one fighter in the Nameless Academy.

Han Dachui stepped forward and said, "Dr. Jiang, don't talk like that without understanding the situation. If my son had gotten into a fight in front of the Imperial College, it's uncertain whether he would have survived to this day."

Jiang Yanbo said excitedly, "Your sons have done it before, have I ever asked my students to beat them with sticks?"

Wang Maozhong said, "But our son did not attempt to force his way into the Imperial Academy. Besides, the Imperial Academy is heavily guarded. How can Wuming Academy compare? What do you mean by disrupting the moral order? I think they are just lusting after the beauty of the women, and they are even using Dr. Jiang's name. Dr. Jiang should go back and clean up their house."

Seeing that the other party was turning the tables on him, Jiang Yanbo was so angry that his face turned purple. A scholar encountering a soldier—reason is useless! Pointing at Wang Maozhong, he said, "You bastard!"

This touched a nerve with Wang Maozhong, who flew into a rage, rolled up his sleeves, and charged forward, yelling, "You old bastard, I'll fight you to the death!"

The people nearby quickly pulled him back.

Jiang Yanbo was so frightened that he took several steps back.

"enough!"

Meng Wenli stood up. “You’ve all had enough of arguing. This matter is still under investigation, and I have just received an imperial edict that I must investigate it thoroughly and cannot tolerate it. Therefore, I dare not release him before the matter is clarified.”

"Good good!"

Seeing that Wang Maozhong had gone mad with desire, Jiang Yanbo dared not stay any longer and said, "Tomorrow I will ask His Majesty whether a courtesan can serve as a teacher, and whether my student was wrong to protect his teacher's reputation?"

“I’m not afraid of you.” Wang Maozhong’s fiery temper flared up as well. “I’m going to ask Sanlang whether the students of your Imperial Academy can be lawless.”

"Alright, we'll see!"

"We'll see."

After a shouting match, the two groups parted ways.

The remaining small fish and shrimp trembled in fear, not daring to utter another word, and slunk away, afraid of being seen.

After they left, a clerk came to Meng Wenli's side and whispered, "Prefect of the Capital, someone just came from the prison and said that those纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who are spoiled and dissolute) seem to have gone mad."

"crazy?"

Meng Wenli was greatly surprised.

The registrar nodded.

"Come on! Take me to see this quickly."

Upon arriving at the prison, just as they entered, they heard someone say, "When Bo She gets home and sees that many people have been killed, how will he let it go? If he leads his men to pursue him, he will surely suffer the consequences."

Then someone else said, "To know the truth and still kill is a great injustice!"

The first person said, "I'd rather betray the world than let the world betray me. Hahahaha!"

What the hell?

Meng Wenli was completely bewildered. He quietly went to the wall and peered inside. He saw a young man shaking his head and twisting his buttocks, shouting to himself, "Girls are made of water and flesh, men are made of mud and flesh. I feel refreshed when I see girls, but I feel disgusted and suffocated when I see men."

Then the young man from the Wang family clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Excellent! That was a smooth recitation. Brilliant!" "Hiss!"

They might have really gone mad, but it's impossible for them all to be mad together. These people were all rich and powerful, so Meng Wenli didn't dare to be presumptuous. He walked over and asked, "What are you doing?"

Li Jieman quickly got up and obediently replied, "In response to Uncle Meng, we are completing the lessons assigned by our teacher."

"Homework?"

Meng Wenli was dumbfounded.

Li Jieman said, "This is a vivid teaching method created by our teacher. We can do our homework no matter where we are."

Did I ask you that?
Meng Wenli had no time to think about engaging teaching methods; he was simply amused by how the prison in the capital had become so amiable. He couldn't help but chuckle and ask, "You still have the energy to do your homework?"

Wang Xi said, "We know we are innocent and acted entirely in self-defense. We are only staying here to assist you, Uncle Meng, in your investigation. We will leave sooner or later. If we do not finish our studies, our teacher will punish us."

Meng Wenli finally understood: So you don't take me seriously at all, keeping me locked up here while worrying about the master's punishment.

Talent!
Although Wang Xi and Li Jieman were arrested, Wang Shouyi and Li Qiao did not show up, because they both knew that these relatives of the imperial family were the targets of the emperor's purge, and showing up would only make things worse.

This matter was entrusted entirely to Wang Maozhong, so Wang Maozhong and his team had no concerns about it.

"Master Zhang, you've finally arrived."

Upon seeing Zhang Jiazhen, Wang Shouyi immediately went to greet her.

"Shouyi, what exactly is going on?"

Zhang Jiazhen asked Wang Shouyi.

Wang Shouyi said, "This time, my son is truly innocent. Mao Zhong inquired earlier and found out that a group of students from the Imperial Academy led a group of people to cause trouble at the Nameless Academy and even tried to rush in. My son and his friends fought with them while trying to protect the academy."

Zhang Jia-zhen then asked, "Why did the students of the Imperial Academy cause trouble at the nameless academy?"

"It's all because of that Hongxiu. They say that Hongxiu being a teacher is a disgrace to the teaching profession," Wang Shouyi sighed.

Zhang Jiazhen pondered for a while, then frowned and said, "Even if they were the ones who started the trouble, if they reveal the reason, I'm afraid no one in the court will support you."

Wang Shouyi asked, "Then what should I do now?"

Zhang Jiazhen stroked his beard and said, "Although that nameless man is skilled in training, his actions are too unconventional and will eventually cause trouble. The matter is still unclear, so you must not make a fuss to avoid losing more than you gain. But even if you get through this dangerous situation, this academy must not continue to operate."

Wang Shou nodded. "My wife and I have just discussed it, and we also feel that this academy absolutely cannot continue to operate."

I can't risk my life for my son's education, can I?

Even if we put it bluntly, the ministers in the court would not support courtesans becoming teachers in academies. Does your Wang family want to fight for it?
To contend with such a thing would be to damage the relationship between the royal family and the ministers of the outer court.

Qingxin Pavilion.

"My benefactor, how is the situation?"

Hongxiu quickly came out to greet Li Linfu and asked him the question.

Li Linfu gave a wink, "Let's go inside and talk."

The two went to the back hall, and Li Linfu said, "His Majesty already knows about this matter and has ordered the Jingzhao Prefecture to investigate it thoroughly. This is not a good situation!"

Hongxiu stomped her foot lightly, "How could this happen? It's all my fault."

Li Linfu immediately said, "How can you blame yourself for this? Just ignore those rumors and gossip. But those spoiled brats went out and got into conflicts with others."

and."

Hongxiu hurriedly asked, "And what?"

Li Linfu said with concern, "Hongxiu, you need to take care of yourself now!"

Hongxiu asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"

Li Linfu said, "You are my biggest worry right now. The whole court and the public are on the side of the Imperial Academy. Those nobles, in order to save their sons, will probably try to pin the blame on you."

Upon hearing this, Hongxiu felt somewhat relieved and sighed softly, "That was my own fault, I can't blame anyone else."

Li Linfu said, "I supported you going to Wuming Academy back then, so I can't just stand by and do nothing. Rather than waiting for them to frame you, you should take the initiative and accuse them of forcing you to go to Wuming Academy."

Hongxiu was shocked. "I would never do that."

Li Linfu said, "Red Sleeves."

Hongxiu bowed and said, "Thank you for your help. Although I am a woman, I would never do such an unrighteous thing."

Li Linfu sighed, "Fine, since you don't want to, I won't force you. But if they dare to frame you, I will never let you be falsely accused."

We won't harm anyone, but we can't just sit and wait to die either.

Hongxiu said with delicate eyebrows, "I don't want to involve my benefactor in this matter."

Li Linfu said firmly, "No matter what you think, I will never stand idly by."

(End of this chapter)