flstandardbreds Chapter 720: The Selfish Motive of Impeachment
Chapter 720: The Selfish Motive of Impeachment
Sensing the displeasure in Emperor Xiao's tone, Zhong Xingyun did not dare to continue speaking.
"I have made this very clear just now. As long as the Women's Academy does not make any mistakes or cause any trouble, it cannot be closed at will. There is no need to discuss this matter today. I am a little tired. If there is nothing else, I will withdraw from the court."
After Emperor Xiao spoke like this, Zhong Xingyun could not continue speaking.
The court officials bowed and saluted, "Your Majesty, I respectfully send you off."
After the morning court session ended, some court officials began to leave one after another.
Zhong Xingyun walked to the side of Shen Yanxi and said, "Prime Minister Shen, what I just said was also for the sake of our Beiyang country. I hope you will not bear it in mind."
"Master Zhong, you are joking. We are all thinking about Beiyang. Even if we have different opinions, we can just express our own views. Why should we hold grudges?"
"That's great!" Zhong Xingyun said with a smile.
"If you have nothing else to say, Master Zhong, I will take my leave now."
"Prime Minister, please."
As he watched Shen Yanxi leave, the smile on Zhong Xingyun's face faded.
The Minister of Rites walked up to Zhong Xingyun and said, "Sir, why do you have to impeach the Women's Academy? It will not do you any good to offend the Prime Minister."
"Since I am in the court and am the Minister of Rites, I should naturally perform my duties conscientiously. Even if it offends Prime Minister Shen, I cannot turn a blind eye to those things that are against etiquette." Zhong Xingyun straightened his back and spoke with great righteousness.
The Minister of Rites looked at it, thought for a moment and said, "Your Excellency is so fair and strict, I admire you, but it seems that the emperor still wants to keep the women's academy, so your impeachment has no effect."
"That may not be the case." Zhong Xingyun snorted and laughed. "What the emperor said just now is that the Women's Academy will not be closed unless there are any problems. But if something happens to the Women's Academy, or if the female officials in charge of the Women's Academy cause any trouble, then the Women's Academy can naturally be closed down."
"My lord, what you mean is..."
Zhong Xingyun glanced at the other party and said, "Don't worry, I have no intention of using any shady means. I don't believe that they won't have any problems. As long as they are caught, even with Prime Minister Shen, they may not be able to save the Women's Academy!"
Outside the Golden Palace, Pei Zhaozhi and Shen Yanxi walked side by side.
Thinking about what happened just now, Pei Zhaozhi frowned in confusion, "Zhong Xingyun seems to be very opposed to the women's academy. When he impeached me before, I just thought that as the Minister of Rites, he had the authority to discuss this matter. But just a few days later, he brought up the old matter again, and his attitude is even more resolute than before. It seems a bit strange."
The proposal to close the girls' college was just rejected two days ago. Under normal circumstances, it should not be submitted again so soon.
Although Zhong Xingyun is not considered a very worldly-wise person, he would never take the initiative to cause trouble. He knew very well that doing so might offend Yan Xi, but he still did it. He even wanted to take the initiative in the morning court, which was not like his usual style.
"Maybe it's because he has selfish motives." Shen Yanxi's eyes understood.
Facing Pei Zhaozhi's puzzled look, Shen Yanxi smiled and said, "Zhong Xingyun's family is in turmoil right now. His two daughters are both clamoring to go to the girls' academy, which is giving him a headache."
"Since Zhong's daughter can read and write, they can naturally invite a teacher to come to the mansion to teach her. Why does she need to go to a girls' school?" Pei Zhaozhi was puzzled.
"They are not going to study in the academy. Suining and her friends posted a notice a few days ago, hoping to hire a talented female teacher. I heard that the two sisters of the Zhong family are very interested in this matter and want to go. But Zhong Xingyun has already started to arrange a marriage for his daughter, and the proposed marriage partner is the legitimate son of the Marquis of Mingchang. He is worried that this will affect the marriage between the two families, so he firmly opposes it and caused quite a stir at home."
"I see!" Pei Zhaozhi understood. "If we can marry our daughter to the Marquis of Mingchang Mansion, it will indeed be a very good match for the Zhong family."
Although Marquis Mingchang did not participate in court affairs in most cases, the Marquis Mingchang's family had made great contributions for generations and had intricate connections with the court. Marquis Mingchang's wife was the emperor's sister, so his family background was considered one of the best in the entire imperial city.
If their children can really become in-laws, it will be a great help to Zhong Xingyun's career.
"So the Marquis of Mingchang Mansion doesn't want the daughter of the Zhong family to be involved in the women's academy, and wants to go back on their word?"
Shen Yanxi shook his head. "Mingchang Marquis's Mansion has not made a statement yet, but Zhong Xingyun is very nervous and firmly opposes this matter. Now both daughters have been locked up at home and are not allowed to go out. However, her two daughters are also very determined. The eldest daughter of the Zhong family even said that she does not want to get married at all, let alone marry into Mingchang Marquis' Mansion."
Therefore, Zhong Xingyun was very dissatisfied with the Girls' Academy, and the reason why he impeached them one after another was probably because he thought that if the Girls' Academy could be closed down, it would completely put an end to his two daughters' thoughts.
"How does Prime Minister Shen know so much about the Zhong family's affairs?" Pei Zhaozhi looked at Shen Yanxi curiously, "Could it be that the Prime Minister has spies in every government office?"
"I am not that idle." Shen Yanxi looked calm, "When he first impeached the Women's Academy a few days ago, I sent someone to investigate. After all, it is related to Ningning's matter, so we can't be careless."
“Tsk tsk.” Pei Zhaozhi shook his head. “The Prime Minister is really devoted to his wife. I just don’t know if Sui Ning knows how much you have done.”
"She doesn't need to know this." Shen Yanxi smiled warmly when mentioning Jiang Suining. "The generals at the border will be appointed to the imperial court soon. She has a lot of things to do. As for these, I will block them for her."
Looking at Shen Yanxi's smile, Pei Zhaozhi suddenly realized, "I was thinking, the court has been going smoothly recently, and Xilin's affairs have been resolved smoothly, what else can affect your emotions? Now it seems that you were gloomy a few days ago, but you are as cheerful as a spring breeze today, probably because of Sui Ning."
"So what?" Shen Yanxi smiled even more.
"The Prime Minister really admitted it straightforwardly." Pei Zhaozhi looked helpless, and reached out his hand to pat Shen Yanxi's shoulder, "As a friend, I would like to remind you to be more restrained. After all, you are the Prime Minister of a country. How can you be so emotional when it comes to your wife?"
Shen Yanxi pushed Pei Zhaozhi's hand away, then reached out and patted his shoulder.
"Some things can't be hidden. Of course, you are alone and don't even have a lover, so I don't think you can understand it."
Pei Zhaozhi: “…”
Why do you still poke people's hearts? It's a great thing to have a wife!