At the end of September, without warning, the conflict between the Emperor and First Assistant Zhang broke out.
It started with a scholar who had just entered officialdom and was full of the righteousness of the world. He actually gave memorial to impeach Zhang Xiao Lian for dominating the court, wantonly embezzled and formed parties for personal gain. Zhang Xiao Lian was dominating alone for ten years, and never thought that someone would dare to impeach him. Zhang Xiao Lian snorted and naturally pressed down this memorial. He didn't think it was a big deal.
It was unprecedented to dare to impeach First Assistant Zhang. This scholar was beaten twenty times with the crime of slandering First Assistant. His superior was afraid of getting involve, no one would protect him, and the scholar soon lost his post. The scholar was only a bookworm all of his life, and his physical condition was not good. Now he was injured and lost his official position. In grief and anger, he even developed a high fever, and died within a few days.
After his death, the matter finally became big. After the incident reached the imperial censor's table, more and more talkative officials were impeached in the morning court, only then the Emperor aware about this matters.
Now half the court was Zhang Xiao Lian's people, Zhang's party naturally tried their best to refute, and then the impeacher was demoted or lost their job within a few days. This increasingly confirmed Zhang Xiao Lian's dictatorial and forming a clique reputation. The scholars in this dynasty paid attention to moral integrity, if they you were beaten or even went to jail because of these impeachment, it was not a disaster, it was a good reputation. The court was completely in shambles arguing about this, and Zhang Xiao Lian suppressed it strongly, while other literary officials continued to impeach him with enthusiasm.
In the carnage of morning court, Zhang Xiao Lian's power was still strong. After a period of time of troubles, the incident was finally suppressed. Instead, it was the people who impeached Zhang Xiao Lian who lost their post or suspended. In short, none of them had a good end. After this incident, Zhang Xiao Lian showed his power and might to the whole world. Although his title was First Assistant, but in reality he was the real power regent in this world.
The Emperor supported First Assistant Zhang in the morning court, and according to the teacher's wishes, sent off all officials who dared to say that First Assistant had embezzled, accepted bribes and manipulated power. However, there was a faint rumbling in the inner palace. It was heard that the Emperor said to the eunuch close to him that First Assistant Zhang was too powerful, and the Emperor seemed to be unhappy.
The wind rises at the end of Qingping. Although this incident was finally suppressed, everyone could tell that the Emperor and the First Assistant had a conflict, and the outbreak of a political crisis was only a matter of time.
Duke Yingguo Mansion was also terrified by this incident. A junior from the Gao family wanted to enter the six departments, but in terms of qualifications he was insufficient. According to the unspoken rules in the officialdom, the Gao family gave the First Assistant some filial piety, and the junior of Gao family also had his wish fulfilled by squeezing out his colleagues, and got the lucrative post in the six departments.
Such things were not uncommon in officialdom. Which nobility had never done this kind of thing in the overcrowded imperial court? Only Duke Yingguo Mansion slammed into the wind, and when the imperial censor wantonly impeached First Assistant Zhang, the Gao family was also found out, and they were labeled as Zhang's party. Although in the end it was only a false alarm, First Assistant Zhang used his iron fist to settle all this, and naturally Duke Yingguo Mansion also cleared from impeachment, but this incident scared the Gao family.
They were used to easy life and had not experienced such big battle for a long time. And because Yan Wang wanted to accompany the pregnant Wangfei, he frequently took leave from the court in the past few days, and perfectly missed the impeachment storm. Without Yan Wang in the front, the Duke Yingguo Mansion could only endured the entire political storm head-on.
Duke Yingguo was so frightened that he trapped himself in the study for several days and kept calling his advisors to discuss matters. Although Duke Yingguo Mansion was unscathed in the end, the Duke well aware that they were lucky this time. But what about next time? Seeing the Emperor was about to be in power, even if Zhang Xiao Lian was powerful, could his energy compared to the young Emperor? Duke Yingguo Mansion was labelled as a Zhang's party in this turmoil. If they didn't do anything, afraid they would suffer in the future.
The Emperor was fifteen this year, some people in the morning court had already mentioned the election for the empress. The Emperor's big wedding was followed by the young Emperor personally govern the court. If there was no accident, this matter would be officially handled next year.
Duke Yingguo Shizi had unexpectedly passed away, and the shu eldest son Gao Chen was only nine years old this year. Duke Yingguo could wait, but could the current political situation wait for Gao Chen to grow up?
Duke Yingguo sat in the study all night, boiling almost half his remaining hair white. The next day, he summoned the Gao family's elders to come in to discuss the matter of Gao Ke's adoption under Shizi Consort Wei.
In the face of the entire family's survival, even the blood line would have to make way. Although Gao Chen was the grandson of Duke Yingguo, the difference between Gao Chen and Gao Ke was like heaven and earth, no matter in age or intelligence, the difference was too large. The second-generation pillar of Duke Yingguo Mansion had unexpectedly died. Duke Yingguo Mansion urgently needs an heir who could support the entire family as soon as possible.
Gao Ran had been paying attention to the news of her maiden family. When she heard that her grandfather was going ahead with the adoption, she was so angry that she threw a tea set.
"Is grandfather stupid? Chen boy is his real grandson. We have a huge family business, why he want a cheap outsider?"
Tao Mama hurriedly stepped forward and covered Gao Ran's mouth: "Oh miss, you can't say such things, it's a taboo word. Duke Yingguo is your grandfather, you can't speak like this about Duke Yingguo."
Gao Ran was still very angry. Once Gao Ke adopted under Wei shi, Gao Ke was the son of Wei shi and Gao Xi's younger brother, and he was the di son of Duke Yingguo Shizi. Moreover, he was older than Gao Chen, so wouldn't Gao Ke become the eldest brother? With the di eldest son, how could the title of the Duke fall to Gao Chen?
What's more, in this case, Gao Ke would inevitably enshrine Wei shi's incense. Han shi cautiously accept a compromise her whole lifetime, did she still have to look at Gao Ke's attitude in the second half of her life?
Why was Gao Ke, a different branch's child whose parents had both died, stole the things from their family?
Gao Ran couldn't sit still, and immediately set up the carriage and took people to return to the Duke Yingguo Mansion.
Duke Yingguo Mansion was also not peaceful, Gao Ran first went to see Duke Yingguo old madam. Duke Yingguo old madam didn't look good, but she was still calm. After Gao Ran greeted her, she hurriedly said: "Grandmother, grandfather want to adopt Gao Ke under father?"
"Yes." After a few days, the old madam had accepted this fact. She was indeed partial to her grandson, but these days Gao Ke paid respect every morning and evening. Even if the old madam wore the halo of the matriarch, she had to admit that Gao Ke was much better than her grandson. If their husband and wife were selfish and forced to let Gao Chen became Shizi, then after two years, or maybe not even a year, when the Emperor gets married next year, the catastrophe of their mansion would come.
The heir was too young and couldn't be put in power, coupled with Gao Chen's shu background, quite possibly make their political opponents argue about their rank, and would reduce Duke Yingguo Mansion's duke title to a marquis or even a count. The situation could even worse, if then someone in the court attacked the Duke Mansion as Zhang's party, only relied on Duke Yingguo alone, could they withstand it?
After hearing these things, Duke Yingguo old madam could only resign to their fate. Who made her son die early? If Duke Yingguo Shizi was still alive, why would they need to worry about this? Her son' children blessing were thin, he only had two daughters and a son under his knees, and Gao Xi passed away early. Duke Yingguo old madam knew that her son had always feel guilty to Wei shi all of these years. Maybe if they adopt an intelligent son for the two of them, let the husband and wife' incense to continue, let Gao Xi has a younger brother to rely on, her son in the underworld would be happy.
The old madam accepted this fact, and she focused more on investigating the night Duke Yingguo Shizi had an accident. The manservant next to her son said that Shizi had been investigating Yun yiniang's affairs for the past few days. Perhaps, he galloped on a moonlit night and caused the horse to fall, was also related to this matter?
Seeing the old madam's calm expression, Gao Ran was almost furious. She hated iron for not becoming steel, looked at the old madam like an idiot: "Grandmother, are you confuse? Chen boy is father's biological son. Apart from his surname Gao, what does Gao Ke have to do with our family? Why don't you care about your own blood, but give the family property to an outsider?"
"He is adopted under your di mother, he is your brother from the same parent." The old madam reminded Gao Ran coldly, "He will become Wei shi's di son, you and Gao Xi's younger brother. If you are wronged by your in-laws, in the future you have to count on Gao Ke to support you. An outsider, why is it so unpleasant to hear."
The old madam was an authentic ancient woman who grew up in a patriarchal society and had a high degree of acceptance for such things like adoption. The ancient clan paid attention to the family, not the blood relationship. As long as he was adopted under Shizi and Wei shi, Gao Ke would worship the incense of these two people. He would have nothing to do with his own family, even if he met his biological mother, he would call her "Auntie". Of course, the human's heart made out of flesh, the grace of giving birth, the grace of raising up your children, it could never be severed. But Gao Ke was a bit fortunate in this aspect, his parents had passed away for many years, and his family only had the widow sister-in-law and nephew. Gao Ke's blood relationship with his original family was very weak. In the future, there was no need to worry about getting close to his biological mother and not to Duke Yingguo Mansion. Adding his own talent, he could make up for the fact that he was not the biological son of Shizi.
The inheritance of children, wasn't it for incense offerings? The old madam really didn't understand how Gao Ran had such selfish and strange thoughts.
Gao Ran became angry and couldn't help but used Yan Wang Mansion to pressure people: "Grandmother, after all, Chen boy is my younger brother from the same mother. If the mansion is handed over to someone else in the future, then how about the in-law relationship between the Gao family and Yan Wang Mansion?"
Duke Yingguo old madam's eyes became even more baffle: "After the adoption, Gao Ke will personally come Yan Wang Mansion. Adoption after all an orthodox ceremonial rite, how can Yan Wang only care about a mere blood line and not recognize the proper heir? And not only that, Yan Wangfei also have the grace of recognizing Gao Ke's worth. This name is very useful, so we can go to Yan Wang Mansion often to please Yan Wangfei."
Whose attitude was the most important in Yan Wang Mansion now? Of course it was Yan Wang. However it was not easy to please Yan Wang, but if you pleased Yan Wangfei, it was far more useful than to please Yan Wang.
When it was over, Gao Ran found out that she and the old madam didn't have the same wavelength. The old madam really thought that after adopting, it would become their own son. Gao Ran, who grew up in a small modern family, couldn't understand it. Both the old madam and Gao Ran felt that the other party was unreasonable and stupid, so the conversation broke up on bad terms.
Gao Ran came out from the old madam's courtyard and went directly to see Han shi. Han shi looked panic, when she saw Gao Ran she immediately pulled her and cried: "Ran'er, Lord Guo will adopt Gao Ke under Wei shi. At that time Gao Ke will become Wei shi's son. Of course he will stand on Wei shi's side, and towards us, the people who compete with him for the title, how can he have a good face?"
Gao Ran sighed, of course she thought of this too. In case the adoption was successful, they would not only lose tens thousands wealth of the Duke Yingguo Mansion, but also bear the risk of being snubbed by Gao Ke, which made matters worse. Han shi cried without manners, and tightly clutched Gao Ran's hand: "Ran'er, I heard people say that your grandmother investigate Yun Niang's matter these past few days. If she finds out the truth about Yun Niang, she will knows that I lied to her, fully aware where Shizi was but didn't save him, will she kill me?"
Gao Ran was silent. If Gao Chen became the Shizi, then of course the future Duke Yingguo's biological mother would not be sold, but if it was Gao Ke who inherit the title... then Han shi would just an ordinary concubine. With the old madam's character who always doted on her son, it was hard to say what would happen.
Han shi kept crying in Gao Ran's ear, and her cry made Gao Ran feel agitated. Gao Ran cursed unhappily: "Don't cry, these things originally is your fault, what's the use of crying now?"
Han shi was stunned, tears hung on her cheeks, looking very ridiculous. Obviously she hadn't expected Gao Ran to say this.
Gao Ran took a deep breath, she had no way back, she could only give her all into this fight. It seemed that since Lin Wei Xi appeared in the capital, Gao Ran had continuously been unlucky, everything went wrong. Now Lin Wei Xi was pregnant, threatening Gu Cheng Yao's Shizi position, even Gao Chen also messed up by Lin Wei Xi and missed the Dukedom.
Gao Ran suddenly felt a strange feeling, why did Lin Wei Xi target her like this? Why did Lin Wei Xi get involved in the battle over the successor of Duke Yingguo Mansion? What kind of relationship did she have with Duke Yingguo Mansion?
Gao Ran curled her fingers lightly. In the end, she need to know whether they had relationship.