Temple of Confucius

Shen Peigong held the official position of Taizhong Dafu.

This official position enjoyed a salary of two thousand shi (a unit of grain), and also had the right to revise the Mingtang (a type of ceremonial hall), correct the calendar, change the colors of clothing, and conduct imperial tours and sacrifices, all in accordance with Confucian School rites.

Shen Peigong's official duties could be performed anywhere, so he did not have a fixed office or a residence, and his living quarters were secluded and rarely known to outsiders.

Zhao Wan, Wang Zang, and others had been in office for six months, and their residences were official houses allocated by the imperial court.

Once the two men were imprisoned, their official residence was also taken back.

Therefore, it was impossible for Zhao Wan and others to return to the Imperial Censor's official residence after their deaths.

They're at the Confucius Temple!

If the bodies could not be handed over, the bodies of Zhao Wan and the others could only be sent to the Confucius Temple.

This was a gathering place for Confucian School scholars, and it was also used to preside over some special events.

It is common for sectarian groups to establish temples. Confucian School not only has the Temple of Confucius, but also the Temple of Mencius, and other well-developed schools of thought also have temples and monasteries as places to conduct their affairs.

It was very difficult to establish temples and monasteries in Chang'an City; only schools of thought that had surrendered to the imperial court could openly and legitimately do so.

Finding these places is not difficult.

After a moment's thought, Kong Anguo knew exactly where Kong Zhong and the others had gone.

Shen Peigong might not have the time to target Kong Zhong and his associates, but he couldn't resist their voluntary approach.

This made him jump up quickly, almost as if he was about to run over.

"Brother Dongfang, if my father puts his face close to Professor Shen Pei's, will he be beaten to death?" Kong Anguo asked in a low voice.

"It's unlikely to be that bad, but they'll definitely teach them a lesson!"

Zhang Xuezhou waved his hand.

Having ruined Shen Peigong's important plans, Shen Peigong naturally wouldn't give Kong Zhong a friendly look.

However, as long as Shen Peigong doesn't go mad, the other side probably won't kill Kong Zhong and the others; some form of punishment will be unavoidable.

"As long as they don't kill him, it's fine!"

Kong Anguo froze in place.

As long as Kong Zhong is alive, things will be easier to handle.

Of course, his rush to the Confucius Temple was of no use, since Kong Anguo had neither power nor status and could not influence the decision at all.

But we still have to go where we need to go.

If Kong Zhong and the others were beaten half to death, Kong Anguo would still have to pull them out and take them to a doctor.

Knowing he couldn't change the situation, Kong Anguo calmly cleaned up the food scraps and handed the shopkeeper half a tael of money for breakfast.

"Brother Dongfang, do you know where there are good doctors in Chang'an City?" Kong Anguo said, "If my father is beaten half to death, we will still need to find a doctor to treat his injuries."

"It's a coincidence that my neighbor across the street has excellent medical skills. He performed a major operation yesterday, and the patient is now safe," Zhang Xuezhou said.

"That's wonderful!" Kong Anguo nodded repeatedly. "I'll arrange a carriage to take my father and uncles over!"

"My home is at the 18th Lion Alley in Laoshu Hutong. My neighbor has a Pixiu statue there, it's easy to find," Zhang Xuezhou told him, then asked curiously, "Are you so sure your father was definitely beaten and injured?"

"My father... oh, definitely!"

Kong Anguo nodded.

Being able to sing doesn't necessarily mean you can write music, and being able to write poems doesn't prove you can be a good official. Although Kong Zhong is a great cultivator, this doesn't mean he has sufficient composure in terms of temperament and other aspects.

Kong Anguo felt that his father was skilled in concealment, but he would most likely be unable to tolerate the speculation or accusations of some great scholars and would eventually step forward to defend himself.

If Kong Zhong were to step forward, a beating would be inevitable.

"Do you want me to help you carry them?" Zhang Xuezhou rolled up his sleeves and said, "It's always easier for two people to carry someone than one. If they only have minor injuries, I have a Technique Method I can use to help!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Brother Dongfang!"

Kong Anguo thought for a moment, then quickly nodded.

"Uncle Du, I want to go to the Confucius Temple!"

Kong Anguo waved to Du Wencai, who was queuing in the distance, and Du Wencai quickly waved back.

"Don't wander off when you get to the Confucius Temple, I'll be right back with the money!"

If it were anywhere else, Du Wencai would worry about losing Kong Anguo, but the Temple of Confucius is unlikely to be lost.

Du Wencai also allowed Kong Anguo to go to the Confucius Temple.

After waving to signal, he calmly waited in line.

"My father isn't going to get beaten right away. If he does, I won't be able to catch him in time," Kong Anguo said helplessly. "Let's walk slowly. The Confucius Temple isn't far from here; it's only about three miles by weaving through the alleys!"

"The streets are so crowded right now, even carriages can't get through. Walking is the only way to get around!"

Zhang Xuezhou nodded.

Seeing his father about to be beaten, Kong Anguo's composure and calmness are truly remarkable.

After pondering Kong Anguo, Zhang Xuezhou suddenly remembered that he hadn't seen his parents for six years and didn't know if Zhang Zhong and Lady Yourong were doing well. Suddenly, he felt more at ease.

If you lack the ability, maintaining your composure is clearly the most sensible choice; any anxiety, anger, or recklessness will not bring any benefit.

Zhang Xuezhou was helpless; as time went on, he could only seek help gradually. Kong Anguo, on the other hand, was powerless to stop the incident from happening, and could only send Kong Zhong and the others to seek medical treatment.

Both of them were in a great mood, and their visit to the Confucius Temple was just like that of casual tourists.

Along the main street, crowds gathered in joyful celebration, while at the Confucius Temple, the area was packed with people, filled with a sense of sorrow and anger.

Amidst the mournful sounds of the chime bells, women cried out in anguish.

The Temple of Confucius is not a funeral hall, but the great Confucian scholars who died here are worthy of being enshrined here.

"Brother Dongfang!"

As they approached the Confucius Temple, Kong Anguo began to feel increasingly uneasy.

The Confucian School school had excellent territory; the Confucius Temple covered more than 500 square meters and was equipped with pavilions, towers, and corridors, which could accommodate hundreds of people at a time.

But at this time, not only could they not enter through the normal passages, but people had even climbed onto the rooftops of pavilions and towers, with at least two or three thousand Confucian scholars gathered here.

The matter had clearly become quite a commotion. If the King of Huainan hadn't been handing out money in the streets, the gathering of Confucian scholars might have spread and even attracted onlookers, making it not surprising that tens of thousands of people had gathered.

A large and diverse population has its drawbacks, but the fact that everyone there was Confucian made it difficult for Kong Anguo to infiltrate the Confucian Temple.

Even if Kong Zhong and others were beaten in the Confucius Temple, Kong Anguo would hardly see it.

He was very knowledgeable, but he was undoubtedly inexperienced in handling these matters, and he was quite overwhelmed by the huge crowds at the Confucius Temple.

"Your father probably wouldn't just walk in so openly," Zhang Xuezhou said. "They might still be hiding at some underground entrance, observing the situation!"

"That makes sense!"

Let's find a higher spot to take a look first!

Zhang Xuezhou found two old trees outside the Confucius Temple and gestured for Kong Anguo to climb the trees to check the situation.

"That's a bit far!"

Looking at the distance of over two hundred meters, Kong Anguo felt that Zhang Xuezhou had chosen a location that was too far away, but if Kong Anguo were to look for a more suitable high point right now, he really couldn't find one.

Seeing Zhang Xuezhou swiftly climb up the tree, Kong Anguo had no choice but to find another old tree more than ten meters away to climb as well.

"Not far!" Zhang Xuezhou shouted back, "I can see the coffins in the Confucius Temple from here!"

You have a great eye!

Kong Anguo's muffled voice came from behind, clearly indicating that he hadn't seen anything clearly.

"Brother Dongfang, have you seen my father?" Kong Anguo shouted.

Let me take a closer look!

Zhang Xuezhou looked at the two coffins in the distance. He steadied himself against the tree trunk, and as his body swayed, Yangpo soared into the air.

"Lord Shen, why don't we join forces with the King of Huainan and rebel directly, expose that old hag in Anle Palace, and then overthrow the current emperor? Only in this way can we Confucian School get justice!"

"The Prince of King of Huainan has thousands of retainers, each one a master. If he were to rule the court, what role would the Confucian School have?"

"Once the King of Huainan has served his purpose, he will surely kill him, and may even wipe us all out!"

"Gentlemen, haven't you ever suspected there's a traitor among us? Who could so clearly report the affairs of Confucian Scholar Zhao and Confucian Scholar Wang to the imperial court?!"

"Find the traitor and execute him!"

"Yes, we must find the traitor first!"

Just as Zhang Xuezhou's spirit reached the vicinity of the Confucius Temple, he heard the sounds coming from the main hall of the Confucius Temple.

"Who's hiding there eavesdropping? Come out!"

Just as he was about to hear what these people had to say in their argument, a layer of red light appeared on the Sage Kong in the main hall of the Confucius Temple.

This prompted Shen Peigong, who was sitting below the Sage Kong, to quickly raise his head.

He shouted, but before Zhang Xuezhou could get away quickly, a head popped out from behind the Sage Kong.

"Hello everyone, I'm giving my ancestor a back bath!"

With an embarrassed expression, Kong Zhong lifted a panel under the wooden statue of Sage Kong, wiped the dust off the panel with his sleeve, and then crawled his entire body out from under the statue.