Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

The tenth day of the first lunar month is a day of rest.

Dou Fengjie, along with Dou Shang and Dou happy, tidied up the courtyard, struck the wooden fish, and loudly recited the "Lingbao Wuliang Duren Shangpin Miaojing" (The Supreme Scripture of Limitless Salvation of the Lingbao School). Their voices were perfectly timed to coincide with the chanting of sutras at the neighboring Fahai Temple.

The abbot of Daozhen Temple was helpless, but could only endure it.

Although those outside the secular world are detached from worldly affairs, they lack the ability to confront a duke.

The eleventh day of the first lunar month.

Dou Fengjie was idly sipping tea in his official residence when he saw Zhang Anan, the Inner Attendant Director of the Palace Secretariat, Left General of the Palace Gate, and Marquis of Wenjiang County, wearing a tall hat and holding a whisk, his sharp gaze sweeping towards him.

After a moment, the dark-skinned and thin Zhang Anan nodded slightly: "I have served three masters, and this is the first time I have seen you so audacious."

After a pause, Zhang Anan softened his voice: "But it was quite satisfying."

He served Yang Yong, the deposed crown prince of the Sui Dynasty, and Yang Guang, the emperor of Sui. During the siege of Yanmen Pass, he drew his sword and killed Turkic soldiers. Although he was a eunuch, he was a true man.

The problem of eunuchs wielding power existed since the founding of the Tang Dynasty; later generations merely paid homage to their predecessors.

Even when Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Longji, announced the marriage of his daughter-in-law, it was merely a tribute to Li Shimin.

In the early years of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the social atmosphere was not upright. Expecting future generations to correct this trend is like trying to make ice from boiling water.

Dou Fengjie clasped his hands and said, "General, you flatter me. I am merely young and willful."

"General, have you come to arrest this official and bring him to justice?"

This was Zhang Anan's favorite title. Dou Fengjie, a mere Duke, addressing Zhang Anan by his title always seemed condescending.

"It wasn't an arrest, but rather the censor Li Xusheng impeached him in court, saying that the steward had dealt with Murong Xiaojun, the King of Gaochang of Tuyuhun, so much so that he almost fled back to the Western Sea."

"The Minister of State Ceremonies, Tang Jian, and the Vice Minister, Liu Shan, joined forces with Changsun Huan to refute the accusations, while the Minister of Personnel, Changsun Wuji, and the Vice Minister of Personnel, Yang Shidao, disagreed."

"His Majesty is curious and has summoned you to the palace for an audience. After all, a grand hunt will be held at Kunming Pool in the middle of the month, and it would be best if Murong Xiaojun were present."

The grand parade was like a scare tactic, a way of showing foreign lands how powerful the Tang Dynasty was.

This large-scale search was actually conducted specifically for the Tuyuhun.

Unfortunately, no amount of seductive charm or attempts to frighten Murong Xiaojun could deter the greedy Busabo Khan, Murong Fuyun, from backing down.

If we don't give Tuyuhun a good beating, people will think that the Tang Dynasty is afraid of Tuyuhun.

Moreover, Murong Paopao was exceptionally confident in his escape strategy.

"Don't say you weren't warned" is just empty talk if it can't be realized.

Unfortunately, Dou Fengjie's ideas were seen as quite unconventional by the rulers and ministers who valued "subduing the enemy without fighting."

Dou Fengjie, being a lowly official, was not qualified to attend court and naturally did not have a special court dress. He simply entered the Taiji Hall wearing a blue official robe.

In the imperial court, Crown Prince Li Chengqian, with a slightly soft beard, and the chubby Prince Li Tai of Yue stood tall at the foot of the jade steps.

The Tang Dynasty's Gu-raising plan has already begun!

A hint of apology flashed in Li Tai's eyes, and he felt ashamed for failing to make Zhishi Sili the consort of Princess Yongjia.

Okay, even though the chubby kid was bragging, he still knows how to be embarrassed.

"Your subject, Censor Li Xusheng, has impeached Dou Fengjie, the head of the Imperial Household Department, for leading students of the Imperial Medical Academy to suppress Murong Xiaojun, the King of Gaochang of Tuyuhun."

"Now that Murong Xiaojun has suffered from diarrhea multiple times and has closed his Yangguan (a point on the body), he may not be able to participate in the Kunming Pool Grand Sampling."

Li Xusheng, the censor with shifty eyes, dressed in a blue robe and wearing a xiezhi crown, raised his bamboo tablet and began to speak loudly.

"It's not surprising that the Censor-in-Chief knew about Murong Xiaojun's diarrhea. What's strange, Old Cheng, is how you knew he was tightly shutting his yang gate?"

Cheng Yaojin, the former governor of Luzhou and Duke of Su, who had completed his term of office and was returning home, looked at Li Xusheng with curiosity, his rough face full of a sly smile that any old man would recognize.

Dou Fengjie couldn't help but laugh.

"Those who have the Way will receive much help," which clearly means that the "Way" is on their side.

Looking at Li Xusheng again, Dou Fengjie couldn't help but complain, "Another member of the Tang Dynasty's Li family with the character 'Xu' in his name became the famous Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill). How can this guy in front of me be worthy of using the character 'Xu'?"

He's at most a nobody!

Zhang Anan gestured for a reply, and Dou Fengjie could only raise the bamboo tablet he had temporarily received and say, "If the Censor does not understand medicine, then do not speak nonsense."

"You should know that even normal human urine can sometimes be used as medicine, called 'Ren Zhong Bai' (人中白)."

Li Shimin glanced at Zhen Liyan, a fifth-rank official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Zhen Liyan slowly nodded.

Using human urine as medicine is not a strange thing.

Dou Fengjie continued his nonsense: "Diarrhea is also one of the methods used by doctors to treat diseases. Once the accumulated problems in the abdomen are cleared out, a cure can naturally be achieved."

"Has the Censor personally tested the Yangguan problem?"

Upon hearing this, the previously solemn Taiji Hall erupted in wild laughter, with Cheng Yaojin and Tang Jian laughing the loudest.

Li Xusheng realized what was going on and said that Murong Xiaojun had closed his eyes, making it sound like he was implying that the two of them were having an affair.

unwise!

Li Xusheng was now in a dilemma and had no choice but to bite the bullet and impeach: "Murong Xiaojun was clearly covered in sweat, yet the steward covered him with blankets; this is tantamount to murder!"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yaojin stopped laughing and scrutinized Dou Fengjie with his large, round eyes.

Tsk, this kid, he has the same big temper as his father!

"I remember when I was young I suffered from wind-cold, and my mother would cover me up and make me sweat like that."

"So, according to the censor, my mother is also plotting against me?"

Dou Fengjie killed the whole topic.

Even if Li Xusheng had the greatest courage, he wouldn't dare to speak ill of the deceased Lady Zan.

After all, which family doesn't have an elder who doesn't understand medical knowledge?

"Furthermore, I do not recall that the Censorate has the authority to communicate with foreign states. I would like to ask the Supervising Censor to clarify how you knew about Murong Xiaojun's situation at the Sifang Pavilion?"

"Don't try to brush it off with rumors; you're already suspected of having ties with foreign countries."

Dou Fengjie slapped a huge accusation on him.

After all, it's not normal for people from the Censorate to go to the Sifangguan to cause trouble.

These words not only made Cheng Yaojin and Zhang Anan eye Li Xusheng with hostility, but even made the Imperial Censor Xiao Yu glare at them angrily.

Xiao Yu knew that Dou Fengjie's deceased father, Dou Gui, was just as despised as he was, and that Dou Gui was causing trouble for Dou Fengjie because of old grudges, but Xiao Yu didn't care.

However, this does not mean that Xiao Yu could tolerate his subordinates colluding with foreign powers.

Private interests cannot override public interests; this is the bottom line!

"Tell the truth, or you know the torture methods used by the Censorate."

Xiao Yu spoke in a sinister tone.

Officials enjoy privileges and punishments that are superior to those of commoners. For example, being forced to lie on thorns or having one's fingers shaved with bamboo sticks are things that officials experience first.

Li Xusheng offered a feeble explanation, saying things like "I heard it from a servant" and "I reported it on hearsay," which only made him sound more and more ridiculous.

Dali Zheng Zhang Yungu's eyes showed reluctance: "In the end, he was just doing his job, and even if there were deviations, it is not appropriate to be too harsh on him."

Dou Fengjie finally understood how Zhang Yung-gu, who wrote "Da Bao Zhen," had died.

A good person can be kind occasionally, but a kind person who is overly kind will only end up dead!

Even after bringing up "collusion with foreign countries," he still dared to step in and bail people out; he's incredibly stubborn.