The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

There are many people in the court who are well-informed, not to mention that the matter involves the prince's harem.

During the morning court session the next day, many familiar officials were whispering to each other at the palace gate.

Lord Guo arrived very early today, but his face was sallow, with dark circles under his eyes and a gloomy expression. There was no one around him, and he looked very lonely.

Colleagues who used to be familiar with each other kept their distance, for fear of getting stuck.

Everyone knows that Concubine Guo from the Eastern Palace had a miscarriage yesterday evening. The news has spread privately. That’s fine for now, after all, the prince is young and will have children in the future. One can only sigh that it’s a pity.

However, when the imperial physician was treating and investigating the cause of the miscarriage, he accidentally found incense containing Acorus calamus in Concubine Guo's bedroom.

It was what was left after Concubine Guo brought it in from outside the palace and gave it to the Crown Princess and another concubine.

The dosage was just right, and nothing could be seen at first glance. If the imperial physician had not been experienced and had superb medical skills, he might not have discovered it.

In the previous dynasty, concubines often used spices containing musk or saffron to frame other concubines for premature birth or miscarriage during palace fights.

However, the use of Acorus calamus is rare and uncommon.

In fact, the effect of Acorus calamus in this regard is no less than that of musk. It just needs to be used gradually and the dosage is difficult to control. Most people don’t know this.

Since the issue concerned the prince's offspring, the imperial physician did not dare to hide it. After discovering it, he reported it to Zhou Ziming and the prince immediately.

Zhou Ziming and the Crown Prince also attached great importance to the health conditions of the Crown Princess and another concubine, as well as the heir to the throne.

With the evidence conclusive, Concubine Guo's position was immediately abolished, and the chief eunuch Liang Fu was ordered to investigate the matter thoroughly.

How could Concubine Guo get such a vicious thing while she was in the palace? Naturally, she must have relied on her mother's family.

Everyone knows that murdering the royal heir is a serious crime punishable by execution of the entire family, and that is why everyone stayed away from Lord Guo today, fearing they would be implicated.

King Qin Qingshan's face was even colder, and he snorted softly not far away, indicating that a storm was about to come.

He currently has only this one legitimate daughter, so naturally he loves her very much and wants to help and support her.

Zhang Pingan said nothing, just waiting to see the show as usual.

Soon, it was time to go to court. Surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids, Zhou Ziming brought the prince over with serious faces.

As the pearl crown swayed, when she looked up, she could only see Zhou Ziming's tightly pursed thin lips.

Clearly in a bad mood.

Lord Guo also felt a tightness in his heart, knowing that today's hurdle would be difficult to pass.

There are always many people in the court who take advantage of others' misfortunes.

Sure enough, the first thing that happened at the court meeting was Qin Qingshan's report on the Crown Princess being assassinated and unable to conceive an heir.

Then the censors also came forward to criticize, saying that the Privy Councilor Guo had been engaged in long-term corruption, bribery, and drawing salaries without working.

With these two taking the lead, reports of things like Lord Guo abducting women and illegally occupying farmland immediately followed one after another like snowflakes.

Lord Guo was described as an unforgivable corrupt official who deserved death.

It is difficult to distinguish between true and false.

Lord Guo had been in officialdom for decades and was relatively calm. After refuting all the questions one by one, he knelt on the ground and cried to express his loyalty, indicating that he was completely unaware of the matter.

But how could Zhou Ziming miss this opportunity? At this point, it didn't matter whether he had done everything or not, but whether there was evidence to prove that he had done it.

As long as there is evidence, he will be punished according to the laws of the Great Zhou.

Besides, apart from anything else, plotting to murder the royal heir and accepting bribes are already serious crimes.

Zhang Ping'an watched helplessly as Lord Guo was dragged away by the Yulin Army while he cried out for justice and pleaded for mercy. He no longer had his usual majesty. He did feel a sense of pleasure in his heart as if he had gotten revenge, but at the same time, he also felt a faint sadness.

All of them, no matter how high their official positions, are actually just pawns in the hands of the person sitting on the dragon throne.

Once you are no longer needed, you become a discarded pawn and can be eliminated in an instant, unable to recover.

Considering that Lord Guo had served the emperor in the past, he was the only one sentenced to beheading, while the other three members of the Guo family were sentenced to exile 3,000 miles to Lingnan.

With the fall of Lord Guo, the Privy Council became much quieter for a while, and everyone began to act with Zhang Pingan as the leader.

This made Zhang Ping'an suddenly much busier than before.

At this time, my fifth brother-in-law Xu Kezhang had arrived and settled in the inn.

He cherished this opportunity very much and took it very seriously, making his own strategies and plans in advance.

The people who will be sent to the Western Regions have almost been decided.

The leader was a member of the Lu family's side branch, who worked in the Ministry of War and was a cousin of Minister Lu.

As a result, just the day before Zhang Ping'an was about to submit the list, this person broke his leg while riding a horse and could not get out of bed.

It takes a hundred days to heal a broken bone. Now, let alone going to the Western Regions, I can't even go on duty.

Zhang Ping'an even went to the Lu Mansion to visit him specially. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he still had to maintain an external attitude.

"Sir Zhang, I'm really sorry. I didn't know this horse was so fierce. Now it's suddenly injured. I don't know if it will delay our trip to the Western Regions."

Looking at the person opposite him with a sincere, regretful face and sighing, Zhang Pingan really wanted to punch him. It was too fake!

He was too lazy to play along with the other party, so he told him to have a good rest, saved his face, and left.

Before leaving, he left behind a sentence that made people toss and turn in bed.

"Lord Lu was seriously injured this time. I'm sure he'll have a leg problem. For safety's sake, I think it's best for you to stay at the Ministry of War. This position is quite suitable for you now!"

No one in the court is a fool. If you dare to retreat in the face of danger, you must be prepared to live a mediocre life and stay in your current position.

Zhou Ziming, in particular, hated this kind of deserter the most.

It is obvious that this person is the abandoned child of the Lu family. It is a pity that he has such talent. It is not easy to cultivate a person who is both civil and military.

After hearing this, Liu Sanlang was even more anxious than Zhang Pingan. He frowned and said, "Everything is ready, and the date is almost set. The Lu family suddenly withdrew. What should we do now?"

Maodan'er was also going with him this time, and he had been looking forward to it for a long time. If it wasn't going well at the beginning, what would he do next? Liu Sanlang was a little superstitious at this time.

"Prime Minister Lu is slapping me in the face. In fact, I know what this old fox is thinking. He just wants to reap the fruits if he succeeds when he officially goes on a diplomatic mission," Zhang Ping'an shook his head calmly.

Because he was promoted too quickly and blocked his way, Prime Minister Lu always disliked him, and he knew it very well.

He had been on guard since the Lu family recommended themselves.

"But it doesn't matter. I have been prepared for this. I have a backup candidate in the court."

At this moment, Lin Junhui, who had been listening quietly at the side, suddenly looked up and said, "How about I go?"

"You're going?" Liu Sanlang frowned. "This is no joke. You're a civil servant... this..."

"What? You look down on civil servants?" Lin Junhui raised an eyebrow, picked up his wine glass and laughed impudently, "Actually, I've had this idea for a long time, and I hesitated for a while before. Now that this has happened, it seems like it's God's will."

Zhang Ping'an knew that he was not satisfied with the official position assigned by the Ministry of Personnel. It was difficult to get promoted in the Ministry of Rites and it did not have much real power, so Lin Junhui had always been a little depressed.

It's just not on my lips.

"Ping'an, you often say that wealth and honor are sought in danger, and I think that makes sense. I originally thought that it would be enough to get an official position in the capital and gain a foothold, but when I really took this step, I found that it was still not enough. There is not much to do in the Ministry of Rites. I am now in the prime of my life and I really don't want to waste my best years here. Now that the world is at peace, there are not many opportunities to make achievements. Going to the Western Regions is a good choice. Once approved, I will at least have a third-rank title. If I can successfully return alive, no matter what position I am assigned, it will be much better than my current one. I hope you will help me!"

Looking at Lin Junhui's serious and determined eyes, Zhang Pingan knew that it was futile to persuade him.

But he couldn't help but say a few more words: "This trip to the Western Regions is a life-or-death journey. You know, it's not that easy. What if... how are you going to explain it to the Lin family?"

"No chance of that happening. I will definitely come back alive. I have a feeling it!" Lin Junhui put away his usual carefree smile and spoke firmly, word by word.

After saying that, he drank the wine in the glass, and the light in his eyes was brighter than the bright stars!

"Okay, I believe you!" Zhang Pingan paused, stopped persuading him, and drank a glass of wine.