The old lady Zhu Jiashi was sitting on the throne. Sitting next to her was Jiang Yonghe, the wife of Zhu Wanhong, the eldest son of Zhu, and Jiang Tao, the daughter of Jiang Tao, the chief minister of Qianhu in Cangzhou, North Zhili.
Zhu Wanhong stayed in the capital for a long time and did not return. Jiang Yonghe was called the Zhu family's wife, but in fact all the matters of the Zhu family were under the control of her mother-in-law. She was usually low-key and rarely showed her face.
The person representing the second room is Zhu Wanjian.
Sanfang, Zhu Niang.
The fourth son, Zhu Wanquan, was at the table.
Zhu Wanquan has just turned 20 this year and has been married for three years. He is the only scholar in the Zhu family. He has obtained the title of scholar. He is the Zhu family's hope for taking the imperial examination and joining the court in the future. He usually does not involve the Zhu family's royal clothes and guard affairs.
I didn't interfere in the family business, I just prepared for the provincial examination with peace of mind.
"I have called you here today to discuss important family matters."
Zhu Jia asked Butler Liu to guard the door, and no one except representatives of the Zhu family's houses could approach the back hall.
Zhu Wanjian glared at Zhu Niang across from him with a vicious look, and then said: "Mom, if you have anything to say, just say it."
Zhu Jia said: "My Zhu family is originally from the Jinyiwei family of the capital. Our ancestors served under Emperor Taizong of the Ming Dynasty and were given the imperial surname. It has been through four generations now. In the early years of Hongzhi, my Zhu family gained the trust of Emperor Xiaozong and ordered him to move to Huguang'an."
Lu, it has been more than twenty years now..."
"You are all descendants of the Zhu family. Do you know what my Zhu family's mission is to stay in Anlu?"
A question was asked to everyone in the Zhu family.
Only Jiang Yonghe looked calm and seemed to understand everything quite well, but could not speak to outsiders.
Zhu Jiashi said: "Actually, your grandpa came to Huguang to supervise Prince Xing's mansion on the order of the late emperor to prevent Prince Xing from causing rebellion."
"ah?"
This news surprised everyone present.
As descendants of the Zhu family, even Zhu Wanjian and Zhu Wanquan were completely unaware of this.
"Mother, my Zhu family moved to Anlu to monitor King Xing?" Zhu Wanjian was the first to feel confused.
Zhu Jiashi shook his head slightly and sighed: "Times have changed. I won't tell you the specific reason. I am just telling you about my family's mission. Your great-grandfather fell off a horse last year and was bedridden. I don't know how long he can hold on. If
If he’s not here... you, the younger generation, will have to shoulder your mission!”
"I gave birth to four sons. Among them, the eldest son should have stayed in Anlu to serve his parents so that he could inherit your great-grandfather's post of royal guard for thousands of households in the future. It's a pity that you, the second son, didn't live up to your expectations. Back then, you fought with several princes to compete for the oiran, and you were accepted by the censor.
The impeachment resulted in the loss of the position of Jinyiwei Baihu under the patronage of our ancestors; the third child was disobedient and insisted on going to the north to fight against the rebellion and make contributions, despite his mother's dissuasion. As a result, he lost his life; the fourth child had no official status and could not be used as a hostage, so only your brother personally
To the capital..."
"For these years, your brother has been under the emperor's feet. He is called a servant but is actually a hostage. He either guards the imperial mausoleum or guards the imperial edict. His life has been extremely miserable."
Zhu Wanjian said angrily: "Mom, what are you talking about? The eldest brother is the deputy of Qianhu, Jinyiwei, who dares to embarrass him?"
"Shut up!" Zhu Jiashi shouted.
Zhu Wanjian felt that his faith was about to collapse.
If it was true as Zhu Jiashi said, Zhu Wanhong, the eldest son of Zhu, could have stayed in Anlu to carry out the emperor's mission, but unexpectedly, he and his dead brother disrupted the plan...
Zhu Jia continued: "With the late Emperor's immortal journey and your enthronement, things have come to an end. Our Zhu family no longer has to shoulder the heavy mission. However, we have no heirs. Undercurrents in the court are surging, and our Zhu family is in a difficult situation."
It’s getting tough again.”
Zhu Wanjian looked angry: "Mom, do you know what you are talking about? What is the relationship between the two?"
The fourth child, Zhu Wanquan, was thoughtful and took the initiative to explain to Zhu Jia: "Based on the legal system of the Ming brothers, the former emperor has no other heirs except the present majesty. If the current majesty... has any unforeseen events, the former emperor's brothers will
, that is, the successor of King Xing."
"Fourth, don't pretend to understand. His Majesty is young and strong today, how can he have no heirs in the future?"
In fact, this issue is not the Zhu family’s turn to worry about.
Whether or not the emperor has an heir, or when he will have an heir, how can the Zhu family, who are far away from Huguang, interfere?
Zhu Jiashi said: "Your eldest brother has suffered in the capital. The family has had to move his joints up and down for many years, spending countless money, but it is a drop in the bucket... If we can have children as soon as possible, everything may be turned around, otherwise, this bottomless life
The holes must continue to be filled.”
Zhu Houzhao has a son, so the Zhu family's mission is not that important. Zhu Wanhong can live a good life in the capital, and the Zhu family does not need to spend money on management.
That's the truth.
The scene was very tense.
For most people present, this was the first time they knew that the Zhu family's mission actually involved the stability of the country.
Zhu Niang asked: "Mother, why did you ask me to come here?"
Zhu Jia's expression was calm: "The Zhu family has settled in Anlu for many years. Thanks to the gifts of the late emperor and the current queen mother, they have a certain family background. The business should have been left to the person who knows how to manage it best, that is, the third daughter-in-law, you... What a pity.
You are not in the Zhu family now..."
"mother!"
When Zhu Wanjian heard this, he was completely angry.
Not only did he tell me that the family has a mission that I never knew about, but now he directly told me at the family meeting that he wanted to hand over the family business to the third daughter-in-law. He didn’t care about me as a son?
Zhu Niang stood up and saluted: "How can I be so virtuous and qualified as a concubine? I am the wife of the Zhu family. It is my mother and my uncle who have the final say in the affairs of the Zhu family."
"Um."
Zhu Jia was very satisfied with her daughter-in-law's attitude, "My son died young, and the property given by the court was left to your orphans and widowed mothers to take care of. As a mother, you can't ignore the dignity of your relatives and take it back rashly... If you have difficulties, you have to take it back."
The Zhu family, the door of the Zhu family is open to you at any time."
"Mom opened up the affairs of the Zhu family today because I also want to tell you that before I have an heir, my Zhu family will have to run a lot of expenses."
"My third daughter-in-law, I heard recently that your shop is in some trouble. Is there any solution?"
Zhu Jiashi did not directly ask about the origin of Xuehuayan, but asked about her daughter-in-law's difficulties in a concerned tone, as if she meant to lend a helping hand.
This is called courtesy first and then fighting.
Zhu Niang nodded: "The predicament has been alleviated."
"How was it solved?" Zhu Jiashi finally asked the question.
Zhu Niang hesitated for a moment.
Before coming, Zhu Hao gave her a "lesson", analyzing the changes that occurred during today's family meeting and discussing ways to deal with them.
Zhu Haoyan hit all of them one by one.
After Zhu Niang hesitated, she said in a firm tone: "My daughter-in-law bought some salt from a private salt dealer and sold it to inns and restaurants in the city to make up for the shortfall, and to avoid selling off the property left by her late husband to make up for it."
This rhetoric was taught by Zhu Hao.
"Private salt?"
Zhu Jia was really surprised when he heard the news.
Zhu Wanjian immediately attacked: "You dare to sell even private salt? You are so impatient!"
There was no way out after Zhu Niang spoke, and her tone was firm: "All this is a matter of urgency. If we don't sell private salt, the shop cannot be saved. If we follow outsiders, I will be ashamed of my late husband, and I will not be able to see you again even if I am under the clouds."
, If I can pay off my foreign debt, I will never touch anyone again..."
"Hmph, believe it or not, I will sue the government today..."
Zhu Wanjian felt that he was sure of victory.
The Ming Dynasty had a clear definition of the sale and purchase of salt. Regardless of whether the buyer or the seller crossed the line, the salt bought and sold was considered "private salt".
"The Law of the Ming Dynasty" says: "Anyone who sells illegal salt will be given a rod of one hundred and a three-year apprenticeship." It also says: "Those who break the law of salt, buyers and sellers, will be given eighty rods each, their teeth will be reduced by one grade, and the price of salt goods will be included.
official".
The treatment is not serious!
However, Zhu Jiashi reached out and interrupted her son, "The third child's mother-in-law is indeed as responsible as my third son. It is not a bad idea to do expedient measures to preserve the family property, as long as you keep your heart."
"Mom, you... can you bear this?"
Zhu Wanjian didn't expect that her mother would actually side with Zhu Niang on this matter, and her eyes widened for a moment.
Zhu Jiashi said: "But I found out that the quality of the private salt you sold back is even better than the official salt, but why?"
Zhu Niang still followed her son's words: "These are good official salts, but they were transferred to Huguang to be sold. Either the salt source is not in Huguang, or there is no salt source, it becomes private salt, and the salt itself is salt."
The quality of the salt is very good, so the salt will not be eaten by bad people. In addition, there is no need to buy hundreds of rock salt at a time and sell it back. You can also pay for the goods on credit, so my daughter-in-law bought some back..."
"Aren't you afraid of something happening?" Zhu Jia asked.
Zhu Niang said: "My daughter-in-law destroyed a lot of salt before, and the official salt is still there. Even if it is discovered by the government, she can cope with it and not be unprepared. Moreover, my daughter-in-law did this to preserve her late husband's property."
.”
"In this case, I won't ask any more questions. You can go back."
Zhu Jiashi waved her hand and asked Zhu Niang to leave.
Zhu Wanjian wanted to say something else, but Zhu Jiashi glared at her and said nothing in anger.
…
…
After Zhu Niang left, the family meeting ended.
Zhu Wanjian had already been dismissed, but the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Finally, he simply turned back and was surprised to find that Zhu Jia was discussing matters with Butler Liu in the back hall, and his anger became even more intense.
Mother looks down on herself!
"What's going on? The third daughter-in-law is selling private salt. What a great opportunity is this? As long as it goes to the government, her shop will be taken back. Or are you really afraid that the Zhu family's reputation will be damaged and let her do whatever she wants? If she
If we make money by selling illegal salt, how long will it take for us to get the shop back?"
Zhu Wanjian questioned loudly with his face covered.
Zhu Jiashi waved her hand to Butler Liu: "You must act according to my instructions and make no mistakes."
"Yes, old lady."
Butler Liu bowed respectfully to Zhu Jia and went out without paying attention to Zhu Wanjian.
"Mom doesn't ask me to do anything now. Will someone named Liu be in charge of the house in the future?" Zhu Wanjian stared at her blood-red eyes and trembled all over.
Zhu Jia stood up from the chair she was sitting on: "Who said that being a mother would allow the third family to do whatever they want?"
"you……"
Zhu Wanjian was confused again.
The pleasant look on Zhu Jia's face disappeared and turned into a cold one.
"If my mother hadn't said that before, how could the third family take it so lightly? If she didn't continue to engage in illegal business, how would the government catch her?
"My mother will not only ask the third son's family to give my third son's property with both hands, but also catch all those who traffic in illegal salt, and take the rare snowflake salt purchasing channel as her own!"