Songjiang City, Xu Mansion.

Since Xu Ying was personally escorted to Beijing by Hai Rui, the Xu family's status and reputation have plummeted. Except for a group of people who still gather in front of the door every day to demand the return of their property, many people have chosen to stay away from the Xu family.

The second son, Xu Kun, was expelled from the army, and the third son was escorted to Beijing to await trial. Now only Xu Fan is left alone. But many people know very well that Xu Fan is not a good person. In the past few years, he returned to Songjiang and often did evil things such as fighting and bullying. thing.

Although Xu Jie always gave people an amiable image, judging from the actions of his three sons, they were no longer kind people.

By the end of October, the weather had gradually turned colder.

Xu Jie was wearing a thick cotton-padded jacket and was sitting leisurely in the pavilion in the back garden, sipping tea and admiring the blooming chrysanthemums in front of her.

Originally he was enjoying his current luxurious life, but as Xu Ying was ordered to be escorted to the capital, he had such a worry in his heart, and he even woke up from his dreams several times.

Although there are Li Chunfang, Zhang Juzheng, Liu Tiqian and others taking care of the capital, and there are disciples and disciples all over the government and the public, I feel deeply uneasy every time I think of that kid.

If there is anything in this world that is most elusive, it is not the changes in climate in the four seasons, but that kid's machinations and chilling calculations.

With his political wisdom and decades of careful management, especially his alliance with the Shanxi Gang and other forces, he should have been invincible and even able to make his mark on the court.

Just because of the appearance of that boy, his power empire collapsed step by step. Not only did he end his idea of ​​creating a power heir, but he also forced himself to run away in embarrassment.

Throughout his entire political career, everything was going smoothly. Even his overseas release was just a small experience. However, as fate would have it, he encountered that monster in his later stages, and his decades of hard work came to naught.

If that kid wants to hold on to the Xu family this time, even with the protection of Li Chunfang, Zhang Juzheng and others, I'm afraid things will become very troublesome.

Although after her own instructions and guidance, as well as the protection of people in the capital, it was definitely impossible for Xu Ying to be charged with destroying embankments and flooding fields, there was no guarantee that Lin Haoran would be charged with other crimes.

That's why, these days, even if he eats dragon meat, he still feels it's tasteless, and he's always worried about what trouble that kid will do to him.

"Dad, what do you want from me?" The tall Xu Fan strode from the courtyard gate and asked loudly from a distance.

History is always surprisingly similar. Back then, Xu Jie's eldest son, Xu Fan, was always by his side. Now Xu Jie has resigned and returned to his hometown in Songjiang to take care of his old age. As a result, his second son, Xu Kun, was sent to the frontier in the capital, and his third son, Xu Ying, was sent to the frontier not long ago. Hai Rui was escorted to Beijing, and now they were the father and son left.

Xu Jie had always looked down upon his eldest son, so he said sullenly: "Did you go out yesterday?"

"That's right! It's boring to stay at home all day. Chen Yi said that there is a fresh dish in the United Restaurant that is good, so I went with him to try it!" Xu Fan responded with an honest nod, then swallowed and said: " Dad, I’m not just bragging, that Cantonese food tastes really delicious!”

"Did you turn a deaf ear to what I said? I told you to stay calm and stop causing trouble for me when you go out in the future!" Xu Jie's face became even more gloomy and he reprimanded directly.

Xu Fan was reprimanded, and even though he was unhappy he shouted: "Dad, why did I cause trouble? I just went out to have a meal with my friends, what kind of law did I break? Besides, it was Xu Kun and Xu Ying who caused trouble.

, I can always be fine!"

He used to be under the constant supervision of his father in the capital. In the past few years, he managed to live a comfortable life for a few days. However, his father resigned and returned and took control of him again.

Especially after Xu Ying's accident, he controlled his only remaining eldest son at home, and even refused to allow him to go out, so he also felt resentful in his heart.

"Don't think that I don't know what you did. Do you really think that you can feel at ease if the matter does not fall on you?" Xu Jie's attitude did not change, but he stared at Xu Fan coldly.

Xu Fan knew that he had indeed done something shady, so he stretched out his hand and wiped his nose and said: "Dad, I'm already in my forties, you can't treat me like a child! Besides, Hai

Hasn’t the King of Hell already gone to Beijing?”

"It's true that Hai Rui went to Beijing, but Wang Honghai is still keeping an eye on our family! Don't forget that Wang Honghai is Lin Haoran's disciple, and Wang Honghai gave you the credit back then!" Xu Jie's eyes were still staring at his eldest son,

He warned very seriously.

Xu Fan thought about the close relationship between Wang Honghai and Lin Haoran, and couldn't help but stop touching his nose, and seriously agreed: "Dad, I understand, I will definitely not take the initiative to provoke Wang Honghai!"

"In the future, you are not allowed to leave the house without my permission!" Xu Jie reached out to pick up the tea cup on the table, but he made a rule.

Xu Fan wanted to protest, but seeing that his father had already made up his mind, thinking that he could continue to walk out secretly, he pretended to agree: "My child obeys!"

Xu Jie took a sip of tea, looked up and saw Xu Fan being so obedient to him, and couldn't help but feel slightly relieved.

In fact, he also reflected during this period. The reason why Xu Kun and Xu Ying had troubles one after another was mainly because he was too doting on Xu Kun and Xu Ying.

On the contrary, because he has always been very harsh on Xu Fan, although Xu Fan also did a lot of evil things, he was still within control after all. Unlike Xu Kun who was sentenced to exile, Xu Ying was contaminated with the evil deeds of destroying embankments and flooding fields.

A great sin.

At this time, the housekeeper hurried over and handed over the letter: "Sir, this is a letter from the capital!"

Xu Jie's eyes couldn't help but light up, and he immediately took the letter and opened it.

Xu Fan originally planned to go back to his courtyard to continue drinking, but when he heard it was a letter from the capital, he couldn't help but turn his head and look at the letter in his father's hand.

"Shao... Shao Fang, this pig head will destroy our Xu family!"

Xu Jie read the latest situation reported in the letter, his entire face turned pale, and he seemed to have suddenly aged more than ten years and murmured angrily.

I thought that as long as Xu Ying refused to plead guilty, the matter would be calmed down. But I didn't expect that Shao Fang would actually take the initiative and use the banner of calming down Xu Ying's case. Wasn't this going to push the Xu family into a pit of fire?

What surprised him even more was that Gao Gong, who had been idle at home for more than two years, could resist the temptation of power. Is this still the Gao Gong he knew?

"Dad, what's wrong?" Seeing his father's reaction, Xu Fan couldn't help but stepped forward and asked with concern.

Xu Jie's hands and feet were already cold, and he seemed weak as he handed the letter in his hand to Xu Fan and said: "You... take a look!"

Xu Fan took the letter and looked at it curiously, but saw that his father was secretly planning Gao Gong's comeback. He couldn't help but turned his head and looked at Xu Jie in shock: "Dad, don't you know that Gao Gong and Lin Haoran are in the same group? Why do you do this?

Isn’t this stupid thing a lesson to others?”

this……

When the housekeeper next to him heard these words, he couldn't help but look worriedly at Xu Fan, who sometimes spoke carelessly.

Xu Jie was rarely angry, but he slumped down in his chair and let out a long sigh.

He naturally knew that Lin Haoran and Gao Gong had an alliance back then, and the relationship between the two was considered good. However, there was never any friendship in the officialdom, and there were only naked interests. Friendship was simply not worth mentioning in the face of power.

Just like Yan Song had been treating him well, and the two families even got married. But facing only one throne of chief minister, he saw that Yan Song refused to move, so he stabbed Yan Song fiercely from behind.

Since it had been more than a year since he resigned and returned home, if their relationship was really close, he should have proposed to Long Qing to recall Gao Gong to the cabinet.

But the reality is that no one mentioned this matter, but they continued to leave Gao Gong, who was only 54 years old, in Henan. This was because Lin Haoran did not want Gao Gong to come back.

It was precisely because of this that he formulated a plan to help Gao Gong recover, thereby promoting Gao Gong and Lin Haoran to fight against each other, but unexpectedly, things seemed to be different from what he had imagined.

A bitter look appeared on Xu Jie's face. Facing Xu Fan's questioning, he didn't know how to explain to Xu Fan that he was complicating things.

But I don't know whether Lin Haoran had some reason to catch Gao Gong, or Gao Gong was not a person obsessed with power at all, so Gao Gong chose to take the opportunity to stab him this time.

"Dad, what should we do now?" Xu Fan looked at Xu Jie who was silent, but knew that it would be useless to dig deeper, so he asked.

Xu Jie's eyes turned to the northern sky, but he said with the last trace of sustenance: "After all, it was me who helped him to rise to power. He should remember his old feelings no matter what, and shouldn't kill all my Xu family!"

If there hadn't been Shao Fang's involvement, the matter would have had more room for maneuver, and Xu Ying could even have been acquitted.

But now that Shao Fang had gone too far and was suspected of colluding with internal officials, there was no way he could escape this beating.

Now we can only hope that Long Qing can recite his "contribution to the dragon" and contribute to the edict. Long Qing will lightly punish his Xu family because of his old feelings.

This news was like a north wind blowing southward, but it brought a cold wave to the Xu family.

It's November, and the capital has become a bit chilly.

Thanks to Lin Pingping's introduction of briquettes to the people in the capital, the heat generation costs of many people in the capital have been greatly reduced, so they are not afraid of the cold winter.

As this cabinet implements policies of light taxation and emphasis on industry and commerce, the face of the capital has been significantly changed, and many people feel that their lives are slowly getting better.

After learning that Xu Ying was finally escorted to the capital, this incident was published by the "Sunchon Ilbo", which aroused widespread concern among the people in the capital.

"Such a vicious person should be punished with death!"

"I'm afraid it won't be easy to decide this matter!"

"If anyone dares to protect this evil person, I will be the first to disagree!"

"Mr. Lin Ge was known as Qingtian when he was the governor of Shuntian Prefecture. I believe he will seek justice for the hundreds of Baihe villagers who drowned!"

…

As the incident spread, restaurants and teahouses started talking about Xu Ying's case, and many people were already placing their hopes on Lin Haoran.

Not to mention his reputation in the officialdom, Lin Haoran now has an unparalleled reputation among the people. Many people support this prime minister who has been praying for the people since he was the prefect of Leizhou.

Capital City, Xingbu Yamen.

Because the case involved so much, a joint trial of the highest standards was held among the three divisions. Currently, the top officials of the three divisions are Liu Tiqian, the Minister of Punishment, Wang Bai, the censor of Zuodu, and Xu Gongyuan, the minister of Dali Temple.

Liu Tiqian was an official from the Northern Clique. He had completely surrendered to the Xu Party when he was serving as the general envoy. It was only with the resources of the Xu Party and the Shanxi Gang that he was able to sit on the throne of the Minister of Justice.

Xu Gongyuan was from Nanzhili. He was a Jinshi in the 20th year of Jiajing. He was first appointed as the head of the household department. He was appointed as the governor of De'an by a doctor in the household department and became the minister of Dali Temple.

The reason why Xu Jie was so confident in the early days was precisely because the Minister of Punishment was Liu Tiqian, and the Minister of Dali Temple was Xu Gongyuan. Liu Xiuqian and Xu Gongyuan, who received his favor, naturally protected their sons.

As Hai Rui sent the people to the Yamen Prison of the Ministry of Punishment, the three of them interrogated Xu Ying and Xu Guangnian together.

Although Xu Guangnian insisted that he was instigated by Xu Ying, Xu Ying accused Xu Guangnian of framed revenge due to personal grudges, and the case quickly reached a deadlock.

Faced with this situation where both sides held different opinions, Liu Tiqian was shocked and put an end to this case, which had attracted great attention from the outside world.

Wang Bai noticed Liu Tigan's behavior, but he didn't say much.

Liu Tiqian watched Xu Ying and Xu Guangnian being taken away, and asked hypocritically: "Wang Zongxian, Xu Siqing, according to you two, did Xu Ying instruct Xu Guangnian to destroy the embankment and flood the fields?"

"This matter has been going on for a long time, and it is very difficult to investigate! But Xu Guangnian has no evidence and can only rely on one-sided words, but it cannot be judged that Xu Ying instigated Xu Guangnian to destroy embankments and flood fields!" Although Xu Gongyuan has a clear name, he still protects the Xu family.

Liu Tiqian was secretly happy, and turned to look at Wang Bai, who had been silent all this time, and said, "Wang Zongxian, I don't know what you think?"

"Liu Shangshu, this trial focuses on one word! Just now Xu Ying kept silent and denied it, but you didn't even move his finger. How can you know the truth?" Wang Bai straightened his face and said with dissatisfaction.

Although he had already guessed that Liu Tiqian would be targeting the Xu family, this way of trying the case, which was like playing house, really made him look like an idiot.

But he didn't understand in his heart. It was clear that the Xu family had lost power, and now the Shanxi Gang was in name only, but he didn't know why Liu Xiuqian still protected the Xu family in this way.

Liu Tiqian did not speak, but gave Xu Gongyuan a wink. Xu Gongyuan immediately understood and said: "Wang Zongxian, Xu Ying is an official of the imperial court and the son of Mr. Xu Ge. It is inappropriate to use torture instruments on him." Bar?"

"Haha... Dozens of people in Baihe Village were drowned by the flood. Shouldn't we give them an explanation?" Wang Bai asked rhetorically when he heard this argument.

this……

When Xu Gongyuan heard what Wang Bai said was equally reasonable, he couldn't help but look at Liu Tiqian in embarrassment.

"Wang Zongxian, this matter is very involved, and we don't know what the holy will is! Let me report the facts of the case first, and then make a decision!" Liu Tiqian had already planned it, and even expressed his stance.

Wang Bai frowned slightly, he was not sure whether Liu Tiqian wanted to protect the Xu family or wanted to find out what his boss was saying first, so he stopped saying anything.
Chapter completed!