"These two events also began to ferment in Luoyang City."
If we say that Zhuge Dan and others were captured from the Han Shu Bureau and could be covered up, then the fiercely brave horse riders entered He Yan's home, bringing in so many people first to Chongwen Observatory and then to the Imperial Tribunal.
It has already started to spread.
The Imperial Tribunal Grand Officer Gao Ru was sighing continuously in the hall and said to the Imperial Tribunal Supervisor Wang Guan: "Wang Guan, what's going on in the court lately?"
"The first was the Secretariat, then the Executive Bureau, and now the Chongwen Observatory. The turbulent politics of this dynasty are becoming more and more confusing for me."
Wang Guan, sitting behind the desk, put down his pen and looked up at his superior: "In the opinion of this subordinate, if Grand Officer Gao wants to understand the political situation of this court, it might be more trouble than it's worth."
"Grand Officer Gao sits in the position of Imperial Tribunal, enforcing fairness and following the law in all things. It is unlikely that he would stir up any trouble."
Gao Ru sighed and said, "Wang Guan speaks the truth. It is I who am too fixated on the politics of the court."
"During the questioning of Yuan Kan, he asked whether 'The Eight Exceptions' could be cited. How should we handle this matter? I really don't want to go to the palace again to ask."
"It seems that Grand Officer Gao is troubled by the recent chaotic situation in the court." Wang Guan shook his head gently, stood up, and placed the interrogation records of Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun that had just been organized by Liu Pan on top of Grand Officer Gao's desk.
"Grand Officer Gao looks at Wang Guan: "Wang Guan, I just can't understand. The power of the Secretariat is reduced, and the Visitors benefit. The case involving Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and others from the Executive Bureau, and the case involving He Yan and others from Chongwen Observatory - who benefits from these cases?"
Wang Guan was about to turn around and leave, but upon hearing Gao Ru's words, he helplessly said, "I fear that the Grand Officer is overthinking it. Can't it be that Zhuge Dan, He Yan, and others have broken the law and are therefore being detained? Why must one find a scapegoat?"
However, Gao Ru shook his head: "Wang Guan, I'm not saying that you are young and inexperienced. I've been working as a supervisor of the legal affairs department in the Imperial Tribunal for many years, and I've never seen a major event that had no one behind it."
"Although it is not clear at the moment, I believe that as the investigation progresses, the truth will become apparent."
Wang Guan bowed and said, "Regardless of what Grand Officer Gao says, it would be best to submit a memorial to the palace regarding the 'Eight Exceptions' matter. How about I draft a copy for you to review first?"
Gao Ru rubbed his beard and said, "Then let's do it like that. Wang Guan, remember not to write anything that might suggest any personal bias, just accurately record the facts."
"Let the emperor decide these matters."
Wang Guan replied, "Understood. Grand Officer Gao might as well go and check on He Yan and the others."
Gao Ru said, "Not in a hurry! People have already been taken to the Imperial Tribunal. I'm not in a hurry!" To Wang Guan, he said, "Grand Officer Wang, let people give them paper and ink so they can write whatever they think of!"
Wang Guan nodded in agreement.
......
Inside the Office of the Duke of Song.
In front of the enraged Sima Yi, Sima Shi dare not conceal anything from him. He placed all the wujishans he took from He Yan's house in front of Sima Yi.
Sima Yi dared to strike He Yan, but in the face of his own beloved son, he was unwilling to lift a finger.
Although Sima Shi was completely unaware of why his father was so angry, he still carried out the order. Even in the Sima family, where he was beloved, he dared not contradict his father in the slightest.
After listening carefully to Sima Shi's account of his interactions with Xiahou Yan, He Yan, and other renowned scholars in Luoyang over the past six months, Sima Yi looked into his son's eyes and said:
"Ziyuan, was this substance something you requested from He Yan, or did He Yan give it to you of his own accord?"
Sima Shi slightly bowed his head, and his gaze directed to the ground: "It was the son who requested it of his own accord."
"Why?" Sima Yi pursued the question.
"The son also heard from He Yan and Zhuge Dan that this substance is the most potent in stimulating passion and enhancing strength, so he brought it home to take."
"How many times have you taken wujishans?"
"Three times. Including the one in He Yan's mansion, there have been a total of three times." Sima Shi gathered his courage and asked, "Father, what is happening?"
"What is happening?" Sima Yi snorted coldly: "Ziyuan, both you and I have been duped by He Yan!"
As Sima Yi recounted the incident involving Zhuge Dan from yesterday and the one occurring today at Chongwen Observatory involving He Yan, Sima Shi began to truly panic.
"Is it true that taking wujishans prevents one from holding office, Father?" Sima Shi's lips trembled slightly, and he could not believe this.
Sima Yi had passed the peak of his anger and began to seriously contemplate the causes and consequences of the matter.
Sima Yi said, "Ziyuan, your father has already explained the situation to you. Now I have an idea, but I am alone and cannot get any advice from others. You can listen and tell me what you think."
Sima Shi swallowed hard and nodded heavily.
Sima Yi stroked his beard and said, "In this matter, both you and I, father and son, are actually involved."
Regarding your father, it is Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and Xu Yun from the Executive Bureau's Personnel Department. According to the emperor's actions, your father and Wei Zhen are likely to be involved."
"But national affairs do need someone to manage them. It's estimated that at most, they might lose some of their fiefs or be demoted, but their actual power and responsibilities are unlikely to be affected."
Sima Shi nodded nervously. For this young man, he had always seen his father being given more important duties and promoted to higher positions after committing acts of merit.
To climb uphill is not a feat of ability, but to descend the slope steadily and clearly is the true skill.
"The key to the matter is actually in Zhuge Dan, Yuan Kan, and He Yan."
"From a public affairs perspective, it is He Yan who conspired with Yuan Kan and Zhuge Dan to abuse public office for personal gain and seek fame and fortune, using the official instruments of the court. According to the law, both Yuan Kan and Zhuge Dan, as Secretaries of the Bureau of Personnel, should be beheaded."
"But outside of official matters, this was actually the result of He Yan and others' pursuit of frivolous association, mutual self-promotion, and seeking power and advantage. In all honesty, Ziyuan, you will also be classified as one of these people."
Sima Shi sighed and said, "Father, what can we do about it? Please save me!"
"Foolish!"
Sima Yi suddenly burst into anger: "Just now, I didn't curse you. Your association with Xiahou Yan, He Yan, and others is natural, and taking wujishans is also an accident that affects innocent bystanders."
"But now you want your father to save you? What's wrong with your brain?" Sima Yi pointed at Sima Shi's face and said: "You are the eldest son of your father! How could your father not save you? How could he not want to save you?"
Sima Shi's shoulders hunched up, and he sat cross-legged on the bench with his lips pursed, daring not to utter a single sound.
Sima Yi stared at his son for a long time, then finally shook his head unwillingly and said, "This matter cannot be linked to the wujishans! Your father would rather break his word himself than connect this incident to the issue of frivolous association."
"Your father is the Duke of Wuyang, the Grand Master of Works, and the Recording Chancellor. Even if his position is stripped away, he shouldn't be deprived of his three high official ranks."
"Instead, it's you! If you really cannot serve as an official because of the wujishans, that would truly be a mistake that could ruin your entire future."
"Father..." Sima Shi at this point was in tears, kneeling on the floor and unsure of what to say.
Sima Yi walked forward and patted Sima Shi's shoulder: "Ziyuan, you are still young. While your father is still able to protect you now, it's good to experience some setbacks. It will make you more careful in your future actions."
Sima Yi lifted Sima Shi's chin with his right hand and looked into his son's eyes seriously, saying, "Regarding this matter, if anyone else asks you about it, you can admit fault with your mouth, but you must remember in your heart that you are not at all wrong!"
"A person with character and wisdom can become great! If he cannot even accommodate himself, how can he accommodate the world's affairs!"
"Yes." Sima Shi nodded continuously: "Father's words, son will remember."
......
In the afternoon, in the North Palace.
With Sima Yi absent, Emperor Cao Rui was unwilling to summon the remaining Cao Zhen, Dong Zhao, and Wei Zhen again.
In the study, there were only four officials of the inner court: Xin Bi, Chen Jiao, Yang Fu, and Wang Shu.
Cao Rui leaned back in his reclining chair, rubbed his eyebrows, and softly said, "The Grand Officer of the Imperial Tribunal asked the emperor if the 'Eight Exceptions' could be used to determine the sentence. What do you four think about this matter?"
After Liu Xie left, Xin Bi had developed the habit of speaking first. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the 'Eight Exceptions'—ruling on kinship, friendship, virtue, ability, merit, rank, diligence, and guests—I fear there may be a tendency to overuse these titles."
"What do you mean?" Cao Rui looked up at Xin Bi.
Xin Bi said, "According to Liu Kongcai's view, the 'Eight Exceptions' are to discuss whether death can be spared when eight types of people commit capital crimes. Exile below death row will reduce the punishment by one degree."
"But there are too many types of people," Xin Bi counted on his fingers, "Kinship, friendship, merit, rank, and guests—all of these have clear standards."
"But the evaluation of 'merit,' 'ability,' and 'diligence' can be too subjective, and there may be loopholes to exploit."
Cao Rui nodded lightly: "Mr. Xin's meaning is to delete the three types of 'wisdom,' 'ability,' and 'diligence' right?"
Xin Bi nodded: "Such subjective matters without clear standards should not be included in the laws."
"What are your thoughts, the three of you?" Cao Rui looked around the room.
Yang Fu bowed and said, "I think it would be better not to use the 'Eight Exceptions.' If the emperor wants to spare someone's life, pardoning them will suffice."
Chen Jiao glanced at Yang Fu and interjected, "Yang Minister, there is a difference between the two."
Yang Fu was about to reply, but Cao Rui pointed at Chen Jiao and said, "Let Chen Minister finish first."
"Yes." Chen Jiao said, "The 'Eight Exceptions' are not meaningless actions. They are a manifestation of using ritual codes in laws. The principle that 'punishment does not reach officials' is merely a means for the emperor to attract members of the imperial family, the nobles, and the officials."
Seeing Yang Fu turn back to look at him, Cao Rui smiled and spread his hands, "Yang Minister, have you not seen? This emperor of mine also needs to maintain good relations with the distinguished ministers and nobles."
Yang Fu remained silent and nodded. Meanwhile, Wang Shu finally spoke up: "If according to Your Majesty's words, leaving only 'kinship', 'merit', 'rank', and 'guests' would be sufficient."
"Royal family, state heroes, people with titles, and descendants of the previous dynasty. If you want to gather hearts for Your Majesty, you only need to have these four categories of people."
Cao Rui nodded and said, "From eight to four exceptions? That can be done as well."
"What about Yuan Kan? Can he be considered under 'merit'?"
Wang Shu bowed and said, "Yuan Yan's father, Yuan Huan and Yuan Yaoye, indeed had contributions to the Great Wei. But whether he deserves the 'merit' exception actually depends on whether the emperor wants to kill him." (This chapter ends)
