In the first month of the fourth year of Yonghe, in 139 A.D., Zhang Kui, Lu Zheng and others framed the general Liang Shang for falsely passing on the holy decree, and Cao Teng and Meng Ben were convicted and punished.

"Chenliang Shang has a performance!" Above the court, Liang Shang played Emperor Shun.

"What does the general say?" Emperor Shun asked.

"According to the meaning of the Spring and Autumn Period, the meritorious service belongs to the generals, and the responsibility for the crime is only to punish the evil leaders, and the prison together is bound to involve many innocent people, and so many prisoners are imprisoned in the prison, which is not conducive to conforming to harmony and is not conducive to peaceful political education, so the case should be closed as soon as possible and the pursuit should be stopped." Liang Shang said respectfully.

"Since the general himself is not going to pursue it, let's close this case since the culprit is punished." Emperor Shun saw that Liang Shang actually begged for these people, so he no longer connected.

"Brother Boxia, you have a bodhisattva's heart, and you are about to find out the culprit in the DPRK and China, why don't you continue to investigate?" But after the next dynasty, Cao Teng and Liang Shang walked out of the hall together, Liang Shang word Bo Xia, it turned out that the two of them had become brothers after suffering together, and the two had the same ambition and similar personalities, and Liang Shang was even more grateful to Cao Teng for delaying time before, otherwise he would have died a long time ago.

"Brother Ji Xingxian, it's not that the foolish brother is weak and can be bullied, it's just that the Liang family has a high and powerful position by virtue of the status of a relative, and many people have seen the Liang family unpleasantly, this incident is a lesson, I want my Liang Shang to walk on thin ice for half my life, but it is still like this, hey, if it is wantonly implicated, there will be more people who hate our Liang family, and it is better to settle the grievances, if their children and grandchildren find my Liang family to take revenge, when will the grievances be revenged......" Liang Shang sighed and said to Cao Teng.

Cao Teng couldn't help but admire, he couldn't imagine that Liang Shang was not only modest and respectful, but also had such great wisdom, so he couldn't help nodding yes again and again, but he heard Liang Shang say, "Brother Xian happens to be empty today, why don't you go to Brother Yu's house for a drink?" ”

"That's it!" Cao Teng was about to talk to Liang Shang and readily agreed.

The two took a sedan chair together and came to the Liang Shang Mansion......

"Father, you're back! Can all those thieves be destroyed today? My Liang family can ...... in the future" As soon as the two entered the house, Liang Ji greeted him, and Liang Ji was only thirty years old at this time.

"Rebel! All day long you only think about killing those who disobey you, but you have killed all the people in this world! This is your Uncle Ji Xing, don't be rude in front of guests! Liang Shang said angrily.

"Yes! Father! Uncle Ji Xing! Liang Ji saluted Cao Teng, but he didn't know what Cao Teng's identity was, but he was a new official in the court.

During the banquet, Liang Ji saluted Liang Shang and Cao Teng and left, only to hear Liang Shang sigh, "Hey, this son is very restless, using my name to do nonsense outside, I think the foolish brother has been repeatedly restrained, but it is fruitless, only blame the foolish brother for not being able to teach, if the Liang family suffers in the future it must be caused by this son, hey......"

Cao Teng saw that it was the Liang family's housework, and it was inconvenient to say more, but he had already heard of this Liang Ji, this person was Henan Yin, but he acted as his father said, but he could only comfort a few words.

"Brother Xian, let's not talk about this, but tell me that your jade pendant is really a gift from the saint?" Liang Shang was unhappy in his heart, so he changed the topic.

"This jade was indeed given by His Majesty, when His Majesty was the crown prince......" Cao Teng also changed the topic with interest, talking about the origin of the jade pendant.

…………

His Majesty didn't like to read back then......

"Brother Ji Xing, this time you are here to recite these books for His Royal Highness, it is really boring to read these books every day, I want to come to Emperor Gaozu, Emperor Wu, Emperor Guangwu, aren't they all set the world on horseback, and which of these kings of Shoucheng is remembered by the world? His Royal Highness is going to hunt in the Upper Forest Garden. "This is a teenager who is only a teenager, his face is full of heroism, it is Liu Bao, the Shun Emperor who is the crown prince, and the person who is talking to him is Cao Teng.

"Your Royal Highness, but this is not the truth, but it is several times more difficult to keep the industry than the founding of the country, I want Emperor Gaozu to conquer the world, relying on the people to win the country, the people have been through Qin for a long time, and experienced wars, looking forward to stability and prosperity, Emperor Wenjing only respected Huang Lao, raised the people, made the country rich, Emperor Wu had money and food to drive the Huns to Mobei and no longer dare to invade the south, relying on the wisdom in this book, enough to be worth millions of soldiers......" Cao Teng knew that tomorrow the prince would learn more than the prince learned, and had to persuade the prince to study.

"Hmph, you know what! This prince doesn't care about you! This prince Liu Bao knew that Cao Teng couldn't distinguish it, so he ran away, leaving Cao Teng to sigh.

On the vertical day, Taifu will test Liu Baoxue, but it is three questions, each question is answered for two quarters of an hour, and then the next question, the first question is the Confucian principle of governing the country, the usual exam is only because Cao Teng reads with him, that is, Cao Teng first answers himself, and then the answer to the prince to copy, this Taifu is old, some old eyes are dizzy, and he has fooled the past many times.

This time is still the case, this filial piety to rule the world, self-denial and revenge, monarchs and ministers father and son, Cao Teng has long been familiar with the chest, only a moment to write to the prince Liu Bao, the second question is Dong Zhongshu advocated "heaven and man induction, monarchy divine grant", Cao Teng is also a pen dragon snake, and there is no delay.

But when I heard this third question, it was a few words about the harm of eunuchs interfering in politics, and I couldn't help but turn pale, although this Zhao Gao pointed to the deer as a horse, framed Fusu, and cholera Chaogang, and when Emperor Wu of this dynasty, Su Wen framed the prince to perform witchcraft and made the prince and the queen all executed, and he was originally written by the letter, "No, how did I think of this eunuch plotting to kill the prince?" Cao Teng couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, "Could it be that this Taifu is insinuating me?" "I am the chamberlain who always accompanies the prince.

In his heart, he thought that this Taifu was a relative of Queen Yan, and wanted to persuade the prince to alienate the eunuchs since he was a child, and he unconsciously turned from shock to anger, and actually wrote Cai Lun to make "Cai Hou Paper", and the kings of the past dynasties relied on eunuchs to defeat their relatives, such as when Emperor Zheng Zhong helped Emperor He get rid of the Dou family, and now Emperor An uses Li Yan to get rid of the Deng family, the more he writes, the more energetic he becomes, and he forgets the time.

It is said that this topic is not difficult, Cao Teng can finish writing it a long time ago, but at this time, it was not handed over to the prince, and the prince was impatient, so he went to see the prince answer the question.

Originally, the prince saw that the prince's first two questions were answered really well, he was well versed in the way of Confucianism, and he appreciated it in his heart. When I got closer, I looked at it for a while, and my mouth trembled angrily, "This! This...... These are the ones who teach His Highness! These eunuchs brutalized the loyal and good, and did all kinds of evil, how can they still say that they helped the Han family eradicate the traitorous party. ”

"This doesn't seem to be His Highness's handwriting, does it?" Only then did Taifu realize that it didn't seem to be written by the prince, but he was angry just now. Turning his head to look at Cao Teng, he already understood nine times out of ten in his heart, and shouted angrily at Cao Teng, "You eunuch wrote it!" On your knees! ”

"No, Taifu, it is indeed written by His Royal Highness...... "Where is Taifu willing to believe, and he said in his heart, "This eunuch wrote these bewitching princes when the prince was young, and now the prince is extremely protective of this person, won't he have to obey this person's words in the future." If I don't take the opportunity to get rid of it at this time, it will really be a problem for raising tigers, and it will be very detrimental to my Yan family......" so he had the heart to kill Cao Teng.

Taifu's mind flew and he took it to heart, and turned to the prince and said, "If it is really His Royal Highness who wrote such absurd words, he was also bewitched by this guy, and the old minister is really ashamed of the trust of the saint, the holy minister originally ordered the old minister to teach His Royal Highness the words of the sages, the way to govern the country, but who knows that this filthy thought has entered the heart of His Royal Highness, and the old minister is guilty, so he will go to His Majesty to tell the old man and go home......"

"Don't let your father know!" Liu Bao shouted in surprise, thinking that if he let his father know that he had abandoned his studies these days, and that Cao Teng had replaced him in the examinations, he would be furious, and he would not dare to squeak anymore.

Seeing that Cao Teng did not have the protection of the prince, the Taifu said without fear, "This eunuch bewitches the prince, come here, give me a hundred rods!" Two guards came in outside the door and put Cao Teng out, which was obviously to beat Cao Teng to death, thinking that ordinary people would not be able to stand it if they beat fifty.

The wooden stick hit Cao Teng at once, and a miserable scream reached the ears of the prince in the house, and Liu Bao was frightened when he heard it, but after a while, it was silent, Liu Bao was shocked, shouted a few times but no one answered, and hurriedly ran to the backyard, seeing that Cao Teng had been beaten to the flesh, fainted, tears had flowed out of his eyes, and he shouted behind Cao Teng, "If you want to fight, hit His Royal Highness!" The guards had no choice but to stop.

But when he saw that the prince saw Liu Bao running out, he also went out of the house, and saw that the prince was lying behind Cao Teng, and he knew that he could no longer use force, thinking that even if this person did not die, he would not be able to get off the ground for several months, and then slowly persuade the prince to stay away from this person, so he ordered the guards to retreat and restore sight to the emperor.

Looking at Cao Teng, who was covered in blood, Liu Bao shed tears of hatred, "As a prince, I can't even protect the people around me!" Today's meal is going to be won for Your Highness, and Your Highness owes you this kindness! ”