Aside from that, everyone increasingly believed that Emperor Chu was incompetent. If such a tyrant stayed in power, nobody could expect to enjoy good days.
They really wanted to replace the Emperor.
So even felt that the past chaos in the Northwest was heaven’s warning of dissatisfaction against Emperor Chu, and rumors began spreading, unfavorable to the Emperor.
However, the Emperor believed he was the mandate of heaven, thinking there was nothing wrong with killing off the Eldest Imperial Prince’s family.
He was the Emperor; not only was the Eldest Prince his son, but also his subject. A subject trying to seize his throne—should he not do sothing, could he still be deed an Emperor?
With the other princes gradually growing, if each of them followed the Eldest Prince’s example, how could he lead a peaceful life? Only by making a striking example, warning the other princes against courting death, could he live without worry.
The news shocked Magistrate Gu profoundly, his hands shaking with fear.
It seed his decision not to serve as a Capital Official but rather to transfer to Jiangnan as a Magistrate was correct.
The Capital was a den of dragons and tigers, not suitable for an ordinary person like him.
Looking at the Da Li Temple Prison Guards in front of him, he suddenly understood why Junior Minister Ming was eager to execute Lord Lai and the Old Gu Family.
All of this was for Gu Jin’an.
Junior Minister Ming was recruiting talent, recognizing Gu Jin’an’s talents and wanting to include him in the Ming Family, but he understood the Emperor’s ruthlessness well, so he approved the cases of Lai Zhi and Granny Gu early, sending his trusted guards who executed Lai Zhi and Granny Gu’s family without delay.
If they didn’t quickly execute Lai Zhi and the Old Gu Family, once the Eldest Prince’s situation was exposed, with the Emperor’s suspicion and ruthlessness, he would certainly annihilate both the Lai and Gu families completely!
However, this wasn’t what shocked Magistrate Gu most; he was most shocked that Junior Minister Ming had foreseen the Eldest Prince’s downfall to the extent of sending guards in advance for execution.
Magistrate Gu was overthinking it; things weren’t as sinister as he imagined. Junior Minister Ming, in the Capital with many inforrs, could easily learn so matters about the Eldest Prince and likewise, find it easy to save soone in advance.
"Is Magistrate Gu planning to transfer to Jiangnan? Have you chosen a good place?" the guard suddenly asked.
Magistrate Gu: "No, as long as I can transfer to Jiangnan, I will be satisfied."
Previously, this guard hinted that Junior Minister Ming would assist him in transferring to Jiangnan, and now it seed he could even choose the placent?
Impressive, truly impressive, but he wasn’t choosy, going to Jiangnan sufficed.
The guard said, "Alright, I understand."
The guard didn’t explicitly say he would assist Magistrate Gu, but listening to his tone, the guard’s words clearly conveyed Junior Minister Ming’s intention to help Magistrate Gu.
Ming Shaoqing himself helping arrange an official position; Magistrate Gu was overjoyed, personally handing over a red envelope, smiling: "It’s been a hard journey, safe travels."
The guard was not polite with Magistrate Gu, accepted the red envelope, then mounted his horse, departing quickly toward the Capital.
In fact, the guard should have left soon after executing Granny Gu and others, but he had another task of observing Gu Jin’an, so he waited until Gu Jin’an’s family left before leaving.
And Gu Jin’an did not disappoint his master; indeed he was extrely astute, as if born with the skills of strategy, achieving such success without the guidance of a Great Scholar.
After sending off the guard, Magistrate Gu began to clean up his relationships with other officials; if they were too close to the Eldest Prince’s faction, he needed to sever those ties.
...
The Prefecture was so distance from Tianfu County, and Gu Jinli and the others returned to Tianfu County on the morning of the third day.
"Hey, Dad, Dad, that looks like a mule cart from the Luo Family Escort Agency!" He Dacang stood on the ox cart, spotting a team of mule carts heading towards the county governnt, he excitedly shouted: "Looks like Good Brother An and the others are back."
Upon hearing this, Village Chief He couldn’t contain himself, hitting He Dacang’s leg with his cane angrily: "Quickly pull up there to take a look."
What’s the use of shouting? Didn’t he know how long he’d been waiting today? Wasting his ti here.
"Alright, alright, Dad, take it easy, I’ll pull you up right now." He Dacang hurriedly helped Village Chief He onto the ox cart, worried he might not stand steadily due to age, he supported him while pointing out direction: "There, right there, on Xu’s Shop street, do you see it, Dad?"
In front, on Xu’s Shop street, a team of mule carts was coming this way, and although it was less than ten carts, in the county city it counted as quite the procession.
"Yeah, I see it, I see it, that’s really a mule cart of the Luo Family Escort Agency. Heard it’s the Luo boy picking people up, no doubt about that." Village Chief He was extrely excited, having waited so long finally paid off.
People from Lianghe Village also arrived, and upon hearing this, were thrilled, asking: "Chief He, our top scorer of the county really ca back?"
Village Chief He beca proud, unwilling to respond to Lianghe Village folk, as to him what did it an by our top scorer of the county? Clearly, he was Da Feng Village’s top scorer of the county, what did it have to do with Lianghe Village?
However, the two villages were close after all, and he was the village chief of the top scorer, so externally he could not be rude, had to maintain deanor, thus smiled faintly: "Yes, our Da Feng Village’s Master top scorer returned."
His words were sharp, leaving folks from Lianghe Village quite stung.
Village Chief He was pleased, urgently telling He Dacang to beat the gong: "Quick, beat the gong and announce to everyone, our Da Feng Village’s top scorer has returned ho!"
"Aye." He Dacang imdiately picked up the prepared copper gong, banging loudly: "Da Feng Village’s top scorer Gu Jin’an has returned ho! Da Feng Village’s top scorer Gu Jin’an has returned ho!"
His voice almost broke from shouting, drawing all the people on the street to co see the spectacle.
He Jinseng and He Yinseng were inside the county governnt speaking with clerks when they heard the shouting, faces imdiately flushed, they excused themselves to the clerks and rushed out, saying to their father: "Dad, stop beating it, here is the county governnt gate, with your banging, everyone will co to watch."
He Yinseng also said: "Grandpa, you’re creating such a commotion, maybe it isn’t appropriate."
Village Chief He was furious: "Not appropriate? What’s not appropriate? That’s exactly what we want, for everyone to co watch the spectacle. It’s the top scorer, Tianfu County has never had a top scorer before, it’s a rare thing, one that ca from our village, should we not celebrate it loudly?"
If we don’t make a ruckus, what if another village claims him?
He then said to He Jinseng: "Why are you still standing there? Go and welco Good Brother An at once! You are from the sa village, supposed to support each other in the future, what are you being shy about? Quickly, go welco the top scorer!"
Village Chief He was proud that his grandson passed the student exam, but his grandson’s rank was far lower compared to Gu Jin’an.
His grandson barely scraped by, while Gu Jin’an surpassed the entire Prefecture’s students, ranking at the top of the county, so naturally, one who perford poorly must go welco the one who excelled.
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