Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 7 Kill me

Guo Xun is no ordinary person.

His ancestor, Guo Ying, followed Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, in his campaigns from the age of eighteen. It is said that he even personally shot and killed Chen Youliang. He was eventually enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuding for his military achievements.

After inheriting the title of Marquis of Wuding, Guo Xun first supported the Jiajing Emperor in the "Great Rites Controversy," and thus received great favor.

He then personally compiled and published "The Complete Record of Martial Merits and Heroes of the Ming Dynasty" to promote the merits of his ancestor Guo Ying in killing Chen Youliang.

Ultimately, this influenced the Jiajing Emperor, securing for his ancestor Guo Ying the honor of being enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple alongside six other princes, including Xu Da and Chang Yuchun. Guo Ying himself also successfully rose to the rank of Duke of Yi and was granted the title of Grand Tutor.

From then on, he single-handedly brought the Guo family's status and power to their zenith, making them an influential and powerful noble family.

However, Yan Maoqing was even more aware that Guo Xun had a fatal flaw.
—That's too arrogant!
After being promoted to Duke of Yi and Grand Tutor, Guo Xun became incredibly arrogant.

He abused his power, profited from the people, and oppressed them. In the capital alone, he owned more than a thousand shops, which was hated by the court officials. Censors and censors submitted memorials to impeach him.

That alone wouldn't be so bad, but the key issue is that he didn't know how to restrain himself in front of the Jiajing Emperor.

According to historical records, Emperor Jiajing once issued an imperial edict to Guo Xun, ordering him to work with the Minister of War to clarify the military affairs in the capital. However, Guo Xun not only failed to comply with the order for a long time, but when faced with impeachment from censors and officials, he also questioned Emperor Jiajing in his memorial to defend himself: "What is it that requires such an imperial edict?"

This is like lighting a lantern in a toilet.

Therefore, Guo Xun has successfully made it onto the Jiajing Emperor's death list.

If Yan Maoqing remembers correctly, in about six months, Guo Xun will be imprisoned and sentenced to death...

With these thoughts in mind, Yan Maoqing's gaze shifted to Manager Liu.

Since Yan Shifan asked this question, then there must be no mistake; Manager Liu must be one of Guo Xun's men.

Whether Guo Xun knew about his collaboration with Manager Liu or not, in the eyes of outsiders, it was tantamount to being associated with Guo Xun, the only question being the depth of that relationship.

This... might not necessarily be a bad thing?
The answer sheet had already begun to have an effect; even Yan Song and Yan Shifan were unwilling to have anything to do with him and immediately expelled him from the Yuzhang Guild Hall.

Now that he has become involved with Guo Xun again, when Guo Xun is imprisoned and sentenced to death in six months, it will be the end of the period of observing politics and selecting officials. Wouldn't he be implicated in some way?
There is only one thing to pay attention to during this period:

That means you must be careful to maintain a proper distance and absolutely not get too involved with Guo Xun.

That way, even if they get implicated, they won't lose their lives.

As for Guo Xun... he can simply give up his desire to help others and respect their fate.

Just as he was thinking this, Manager Liu bowed slightly and gave an answer that neither Yan Maoqing nor Yan Shifan wanted to hear:

"In reply to Young Master Yan, it is both the idea of ​​a petty person and the will of Duke Yi."

"This……"

Yan Maoqing had no desire to be in Guo Xun's sights, at least not so soon.

But then he thought again. Although Manager Liu had a business relationship with him, they weren't related. If it weren't for Guo Xun's intention, there was really no need for him to be so attentive today, personally carrying his boxes and offering him a house for free. What's wrong with a newly appointed scholar?
Just be more polite when you speak. Do you think you're more prestigious than those Beijing officials who could kill three people with a single brick?

Thinking about it this way, this answer seems to be the most reasonable.

He just couldn't understand why he had attracted such a big karmic consequence when he simply took advantage of the popularity of popular vernacular novels, adapted a popular novel of about 10,000 words from later generations, and casually found a bookstore to try his luck in finding a way to make money after returning to his hometown.
He was even a little unsure whether this should be considered a surprise or a shock.
Yan Shifan finally had to admit that he had underestimated Yan Maoqing.

But then again, who would have thought that a poor scholar who had no relatives in the capital and could only stay at a guild hall could be able to get on the good side of the Duke of Yi in such a short time?
Although some officials and wealthy merchants in the capital had long been eyeing these poor scholars from humble backgrounds, hoping to marry them off to wealthy families and secure a future where their entire family would rise to prominence.

But they would have to wait until the imperial examination ceremony was over, or until the selection of junior scholars was completed, to see the potential of these scholars from humble backgrounds before making a purchase.

Furthermore, given the Duke of Yi's family background and status, it seems unlikely that he would need to resort to such methods.

Therefore, he couldn't understand what clever methods Yan Maoqing had used to so quickly curry favor with the Duke of Yi.

Based solely on the impact of that answer sheet, it would be best for Yan Maoqing to stay away, at least for the Yan family at present, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Even for the Duke of Yi, it's unlikely to bring any benefit.

He had previously heard his father, Yan Song, say that memorials impeaching the Duke of Yi for corruption and lawlessness were flying everywhere in the court, and now with the addition of Yan Maoqing, his reputation in the court and among the people would only get worse, and he would receive even more criticism...

However, the power struggle between his father Yan Song and Grand Secretary Xia Yan has now become public, and the Duke of Yi and Xia Yan are mortal enemies.

The enemy of my enemy is my ally; we can use each other when necessary.

Therefore, he felt it necessary to report this matter to his father immediately and discuss a plan in advance to avoid being caught unprepared later.

However, this was only due to the relationship with the Duke of Yi, and did not mean that Yan Shifan regretted expelling Yan Maoqing from the Yuzhang Guild Hall.

Besides, it would be absolutely unacceptable for him to eat and then vomit in front of these scholars. Otherwise, he and the Yan family would be looked down upon, and how many people would remain loyal to the Yan family in the future?
So Yan Shifan simply nodded and said to Manager Liu, feigning composure:
"In that case, please convey my regards to the Duke of Yiguo. Please make yourself at home."

"I will certainly convey your message. I take my leave."

"..."

Watching Yan Maoqing and Manager Liu's figures gradually disappear into the distance, Zhang Yusheng and the others couldn't get a word in edgewise, but their hearts were in turmoil.

Duke Yi!
That's the Duke of Yi!
Without making a sound, Yan Maoqing had already ingratiated himself with the Duke of Yi!

What an enviable backer this is! What a desirable career path this is! What an opportunity this is that people are jealous of!
Just kill me, give me a quick death!

So what if Yan Shifan inexplicably expelled me from the Yuzhang Guild Hall? Isn't the Duke of Yi a bigger backer than the Yan family?
So why did Yan Shifan expel Yan Maoqing from the Yuzhang Guild Hall?
I wonder what he's thinking now?
Zhang Yusheng and the others secretly glanced at Yan Shifan, pondering to themselves.

Fortunately, we have never had any enmity with Yan Maoqing, so we can still visit Luming Pavilion from time to time to create chance encounters and communicate with him privately.

So when he rises to prominence, he might even help me out of our shared experience as fellow graduates of the imperial examinations...

(End of this chapter)