When this voice came out, everyone couldn't help but turn their heads.
When they saw a middle-aged man who was not very tall, whose appearance was not outstanding, but who seemed to be able to shoulder 10,000 things, they couldn't help but lose their voice.
"Master Dou."
"Uncle Dou."
"Sir."
Everyone greeted in unison, respectful and sincere.
Xu Mo was even more surprised, "Sir, why are you here?"
Dou Weiming stroked his little goatee, half angry and half helpless, "Your drum sound has spread to the Ministry of Personnel. After a little inquiry, I learned that there was a student who wanted to accuse the imperial examination of being unfair."
After asking again, the student's surname was Xu, a juren from a small local place.
Dou Weiming suddenly realized. He said it had been 20 days. How come he hadn't seen Xu Mo come to report the good news yet? With this kid's ability, he should at least be in the top ten.
"Xu Mo, Xu Mo, you really surprised and delighted this old man."
I was delighted that his talent was outstanding, not only did he get the jinshi degree, but he also got the championship.
I was surprised that his fate was bumpy. He was actually targeted by the Fang family and even had the courage to fight the Fang family.
However, thinking about it, when this kid was a commoner, he dared to oppose the county magistrate. After getting the juren degree, he sued the declining Xieyang County magistrate to the prefectural government. I heard that he also had conflicts with the magistrate of He Prefecture. Now he has sued the Fang family to the Fengjing Fu. He is really fearless and reckless.
But he liked it.
Dou Weiming let go of his little goatee and stared at Xu Mo appreciatively, "The Fang family is indeed a top family, and they do have power and influence. The prefect of Fengjing Fu is indeed unable to deal with them. Even the Minister of Rites can only avoid their sharpness, not to mention the Imperial Secretary."
This remark was really discouraging.
Qi Huai shamefully gritted his teeth, and Zhao Yuan pouted dissatisfiedly, both with indignation on their faces.
Only Xu Mo's eyes were bright, waiting for the next turn.
Sure enough, Dou Weiming paused and then said, "But aristocratic families are not of one mind. Interests can overturn the boat, and enemies can be found everywhere."
Xu Mo's eyes became brighter and brighter. He remembered what Chang Yan had said about the He family, and remembered the grievances between the He family and the Fang family.
If there is one He family, can there be no second and third He families?
"Sir," Xu Mo tentatively said, "is it possible that as long as there is enough support and enough right to speak, we can confront the Fang family and let the imperial court feel at ease to uphold justice?"
A child can be taught.
Dou Weiming couldn't help stroking his goatee again, "To put it bluntly, the imperial court also needs a backbone. As long as half of the aristocratic families in the court agree, the Fang family will not be able to do whatever they want."
After all, the Dayu Dynasty is not named Fang.
But where to find half of the aristocratic families, not only can they confront the Fang family, but also have people in the court.
The light in Xu Mo's eyes dimmed again.
The He family? They had only collaborated with the Fang family for a while, and might not be willing to collaborate for the second time, let alone take sides in the court.
Although Qi Huai supported him, the Minister of Rites was an old fox and would not do such a thing to offend the Fang family.
An ancient saying goes, it is difficult to send charcoal in snow, but easy to add flowers to brocade.
Although Qi Zhentian also had a loud and unyielding backbone, under the erosion of time, he tended more towards interests, and could only stand with Xu Mo when the general trend was clear.
"Little Xu, you're in trouble, aren't you," Dou Weiming sighed. "This is the reality of Fengjing. It has to be said that power must be used to confront power, which is the inescapable destiny that no one can escape."
No matter how bright an individual is, it can never match the efforts of others for more than 100 years.
A great grandfather three generations ago once said, "Why should your 10 years of hard work want to surpass the accumulation of my descendants for three generations?"
No matter how harsh these words sounded, they were equally true.
In peaceful times, the imperial examination had already given ordinary people a chance. Without the imperial examination and tests, ordinary people would be mediocre for a lifetime, defeated by the wealth accumulated by aristocratic families, and crushed by the power passed down from generation to generation.
Now in Fengjing, if Xu Mo wanted to defeat the Fang family, he could only borrow the power of others.
Just like two brothers borrowing momentum to fight, only this time the borrowing was bigger.
"Sir..." Xu Mo said bitterly with a smile, "But for me, where can I find the help of aristocratic families? How many families are willing to help people who are unrelated?"
The fact that Dou the Minister could appear meant that the Dou family counted as one.
The attitude of the He family was unclear, and it could only be said that there was an opportunity to strive for.
But it was still far from enough.
Dou Weiming didn't speak, he just vaguely glanced at the little chubby girl in the corner and sighed deeply.
"You still have to try first, what if you can get the support," Qi Huai raised his hopes again, "Xu Brother, we can't give up like this."
"Yes, this is the only chance," Zhao Yuan also echoed.
The young men discussed vigorously again, guessing which families could be solicited, which families were relatively fair, and which families were opportunists.
Relying on her petite figure, Jiang Sheng quietly left the crowd and sat on a rock in a daze.
She knew what Minister Dou’s glance meant, and she also understood that her brother had encountered great difficulties and needed the support of aristocratic families.
The Jiang family seemed to be a very powerful aristocratic family.
Could it help her brother?
Although she didn't want to be separated from her brothers, if she could help her brother get back the championship, it didn't seem to be bad.
Jiang Sheng twisted her hands together, her big eyes wandered aimlessly, eventually falling on the green skirt two steps away.
She looked up and saw Zhang Qiao's bright face as expected, "Sister Yao, why are you here too?"
"I was drawn here by the injustice drum," Yao Siqing's eyes were complicated. "You seem to have something on your mind."
Jiang Sheng smiled, "Sister Yao, my brother is in trouble, I want to help him."
From Xieyang County to Fengjing, she was neither smart enough nor capable enough. Only at the beginning when the brothers were sick and weak, she relied on seven years of struggles to barely come up with some ideas and contribute some strength.
Later, when life got better, the brothers began to show their brilliance, outperforming each other in intelligence and capability, while she was foiled into a little fool.
Although the brothers didn't say anything about it and her aunt protected her, there were always strange voices.
It was probably felt that outstanding brothers should not stand behind a little fool like her who only knew how to eat.
It was rare to have a chance to help now, and she could also get rid of the title of little fool. It didn't seem so unacceptable.
"Sister Yao," the little girl looked up, confusion flashed in her big eyes, "I should go to ask the Jiang family now, right?"
Even though she herself had rejected going back before.
Even though the Jiang family didn't seem to appreciate her much either.
"Ask?" Yao Siqing frowned slightly. "Little cutie, who said you have to beg the Jiang family?"
Jiang Sheng became more and more confused. Wasn't it that they needed something from the Jiang family now?
"Silly girl," Yao Siqing squatted in front of her and stroked her two little buns, "If you really need to beg, begging won't work even if you do."
People who really care about you do not need you to plead.
People who do not care about you, pleading is useless.
Jiang Sheng felt that she seemed to grasp the key point. She widened her eyes and stared hard at Yao Siqing.
Then she saw the graceful young lady in green stretch out her hand and point to the alley diagonally opposite the Fengjing Mansion.
There stood a pair of master and servant.
The master had a full head of silver hair, and his noble temperament was unconcealed despite the simple clothes and hairpin.
The servant was square and composed, with unconcealed concern in his eyes.
