Chapter 196: Emperor Chongping, who also wants to raid his house
While a few people were talking, it was already time to light the lamp.
Jia Heng, Jia Zheng, Jia She and others also came out of the general manager's hall, and their servants prepared a banquet in a nearby house to entertain several accountants of Jinyi Mansion and the soldiers of the Beijing camp.
They drank wine and drank wine.
Jia Heng also drank two drinks with him, and then his cousins Dong Qian and Xie Zaiyi accompanied the guests. He walked out of the courtyard and walked along the Chaoshou veranda. Suddenly he looked up and saw Ping'er carrying a lantern, coming from the Moon Gate. He raised his eyes.
When he saw Jia Heng, he just smiled and came close enough to call out: "Uncle, Second Mistress Lian asked me to call you. The old lady has put some food over there for you to come and share."
Jia Heng nodded and said, "That's it."
Ping'er came forward with a lantern and said with a chuckle: "Grandma Heng, I just asked Feng'er to inform you that I've left some food here, so I won't go over there yet."
Jia Heng was startled for a moment, his eyes were warm, and he said: "Miss Ping'er is interested."
He was having dinner here in Rong Mansion, but he needed to be informed by Qing, but he was busy and forgot about it just now.
At first glance, he seems to be a caring person.
At this moment, Jia Heng raised his eyes and looked at the girl. The late autumn wind was already carrying a bit of chill. The lanterns hanging on the gallery were swaying in the wind. The bright candlelight dimmed circles of soft orange light with gradual changes in light and dark, which fell on the ground.
On the beaded hairpin between the clouds and the green bun, you can see a string of pearls shining brightly, one large and four small. Under the air bangs, the round and jade face becomes more and more gentle and soft under the light.
.
Being stared at by a pair of clear eyes, Ping'er pursed her gleaming lips, her curved eyelashes drooped with a clump of shyness caused by the man's inspection, and an imperceptible blush seemed to appear on Chuntao's beautiful face.
He chuckled and said: "Uncle Heng, this audit is finally over. Second Mistress Lian just said that she was so tired that she was sweating all over. She went back to have someone take care of her to take a bath..."
As he spoke, his voice gradually became soft and inaudible, and his heart beat a little faster.
I thought to myself, what is she talking about? Grandma went back to take a bath, what did she tell this boy to do?
She didn't know what she was talking about in a daze just now. She always felt that if she didn't say something just now, her heart would be beating faster and she would almost be out of breath.
Hearing this, Jia Heng's eyes narrowed and he thought to himself, it's time for Sister Feng to take a bath.
He just changed the topic and said casually: "In the past few years, there have been these big rats in Xifu who are secretly doing bad things. Sister-in-law Feng can support her alone. I think she is exhausted mentally and physically. Let's take a bath, sleep and have a good rest for a few days."
, which is also pretty good.”
Hearing this, Ping'er suppressed the thoughts that suddenly arose in her heart, looked at Jia Heng in surprise, her lips twitched, and said softly: "Uncle Heng is indeed doing great things outside, and he can understand the difficulties of the second mistress.
"
She really didn't expect that Mr. Heng would understand Second Mistress Lian so well, and that he knew both cold and hot things, which even Mr. Lian had never said before.
The second master would only say, "Good Feng'er, give me two hundred taels of silver. I need it urgently."
As Ping'er said in the original novel "Dream of Red Mansions", "The second master, even if the money falls into the frying pan, he still wants to fish it out."
"Sister-in-law Feng has two mothers-in-law above her, and Baoyu and a group of sisters below her. She is like a rat in a bellows, suffering from both ends." Jia Heng chuckled lightly and said: "But who is not difficult? No matter how difficult it is for her,
It’s not good to engage in such unscrupulous side businesses. You are her caring person. Please advise her more in the future. Don’t let her do things like collecting money from others and intervening in lawsuits. You need to know that good and evil will be rewarded in the end."
In the words of a certain boss, don’t worry about dancing now, be careful about making lists in the future.
Ping'er was startled for a moment, confusion appeared on his face, and he said, "What did Uncle Heng say?"
Jia Heng looked at Ping'er's confused expression and said, "It seems that you don't know?"
Also, Sister Feng and Jia Rong presumably wanted to avoid Ping'er regarding the loan sharking, but if Ping'er didn't know anything about it, I'm afraid that's not entirely true.
Ping'er's beautiful appearance changed slightly, and she said softly: "Although Second Grandma is usually more aggressive, when it comes to doing unethical business..."
"It seems that she is hiding something from you." Jia Heng said with a slight smile.
Ping'er and Sister Feng also hid some things from each other, such as Qiao Ping'er joking about saving Jia Lian, and helping Jia Lian carry money on Sister Feng's back to mourn Second Sister You, and the list goes on and on.
Hearing this, Ping'er said softly: "Second Grandma is the master, so she should hide some things from me."
Jia Heng said: "Okay, let's not talk about this for now. Rongqing Hall is in front of us."
Ping'er nodded.
Rongqing Hall
Mother Jia's hair was as silver as silver on her temples and she was smiling. She had taken a nap in the afternoon and was very energetic at the moment. She was listening to several people talking about the audit.
Behind him, Yuanyang, Amber, Jade and other maids were rubbing their shoulders.
I just heard Tan Chun say with a smile: "Old lady, Brother Heng asked the accounting experts in Jinyi Mansion to check everything, and found a total of 580,000 taels of silver that was not reconciled to the account. Then Wu Xindeng and the others supported it.
I can't help it, so I started recruiting. I'll make up for the loss in a few days."
Hearing this, Mother Jia felt a little sad on her face, and said: "These things look good on weekdays, but I didn't expect them to be stealing the property in the house. Alas, it's hard to guard against thieves day and night."
After taking a bath just now, she changed into a light yellow dress, wore a gold silk eight-treasure bun with beaded hair, and was tied to Sister Feng, who was wearing the Five Phoenixes of Chaoyang and a beaded hairpin. Her fair and rosy melon-seed face was flushed and charming because of the bath.
The spring flowers and autumn moon were shining brightly, and she said delicately: "Old ancestor, you don't know, these evil servants are so shameless, they arrange all kinds of things behind the master, even the eldest master and the second master dare to arrange it, but I don't have to do it with my grandson-in-law."
said."
When Jia Mu heard this, she was stunned for a moment and asked, "How did they arrange it?"
Sister Feng said: "These are all bastard words to underestimate the master. The eldest master and the second master are still angry right now."
Jia Mu sighed, not wanting to ask further questions, and said: "I have indulged them all these years. I thought they had served the house for decades, a big family, and several generations of busy people.
It's not easy. It's okay to live a decent life in private. I never thought...sigh..."
Sister Feng comforted her with a smile: "Old ancestor, you are kind and kind, but your heart is weak and you don't know what is good or bad. As you talk, people are trying to ride on your master's head."
Thinking about Lai Da's dignity in the past when she was in the mansion, all the servants in the mansion would call her "Grandpa Lai", and even her young master would have to show respect.
Mother Jia was silent for a moment and asked: "Wu Xindeng's daughter-in-law and Shan Daliang's family were also taken away by others. What are you and Brother Heng going to do with them now?"
After all, I am getting older, and I still miss my old feelings a little bit.
This is also human nature. The person who was waiting in front of me just now, chatting and laughing to relieve his boredom, was taken away the next moment.
Sister Feng said: "Old ladies, they have all been sent to Zhuangzi to farm, but the money they lost has to be made up by their men."
Jia Mu nodded and said: "They are all old servants in the mansion. Even if they have made a big mistake, it is not easy to kick them out and fend for themselves."
Sister Feng smiled and said, "How can that be possible?"
Apart from other things, what if these people are allowed to chew maggots because they don't know the secrets of their master? Besides, if the money is not enough, they still have to work and farm, and they will be able to make up for it.
At this moment, the woman outside came into the house and said: "Old lady, Second Grandma Lian, Uncle Heng is here."
Hearing this, Mother Jia had a smile on her face and said, "I was talking about Brother Heng just now, but he came over without thinking. Yuanyang, go and greet him for me."
Li Wan, Daiyu, Yingchun, Xichun and Tanchun all stood up or gazed at each other in the house.
Well, Baoyu is not here, he has gone back to write his thoughts after the visit.
Tomorrow night is the deadline for handing in homework as Jia Heng said. If it continues to be delayed, you can only say that you didn't bring it. However, not bringing it means you didn't write it.
Mrs. Wang was still sitting in the hall, looking up at the two figures, one tall and one low, reflected in the screen.
She planned to wait for a while to see if she could tell the found silver in front of the old lady.
Yuanyang responded with a smile, and before he left to meet Jia Heng and Heping'er, he saw a man and a woman entering the hall one after the other. Whoever owns the ringworm will own the whole world.
Jia Heng's expression was indifferent, and he bowed to Jia's mother who was sitting on the Arhat bed. His eyes swept across the pearls in the Rongqing Hall, and when he found that Baoyu was missing, he frowned and asked, "Why isn't Baoyu here?"
Well, he was just out of curiosity. Gu Xi
Mrs. Wang: "..."
Sister Feng smiled and said, "Baoyu asked Xiren to wait for him early, and Sheyue took care of him. After dinner, he went to write something."
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Let him write it carefully. I will read it tomorrow night."
The smile on Jia's mother's face did not diminish. She had already learned from Tanchun that the young man in front of her was "educating" Baoyu. It was hard to say anything, but she still knew the difference.
Jia Mu smiled and nodded, and said, "Brother Heng, thank you for your hard work this time. Yuanyang will move the embroidery pier over. Brother Heng and I will talk for a while."
Yuanyang responded, moved the embroidered pier and placed it in front of Jia Mu's right hand, and smiled lightly as she asked Jia Heng to sit down.
Jia Heng looked calm, nodded, and said, "You're welcome, old lady."
Sister Feng said with a smile: "It's the same for our ancestors. If a family doesn't speak the same language as the two families, it's just a heretic. However, it's not easy for busy people like Brother Heng to take time out to help check the accounts. Don't you know?
I took the time to deliver a memorial to the palace, but I was so busy that I didn’t even know what to call him."
When Jia Mu heard this, her face was a little moved, and she looked at Jia Heng in surprise.
"I've been busy lately with the emperor's mission assigned by the emperor, a major case that all civil and military officials are watching." Jia Heng took the tea handed to him by Yuanyang, nodded to the oval-faced girl with a pretty face, and said: "Old
Madam, when the Duke is here, you also know that the emperor is in a hurry to get things done, and they are watching from inside and outside, so the sooner it is done, the better."
Hearing this, Jia Mu nodded slightly, sighed, and said, "It's not easy for you to be an official outside."
"Old lady, why don't we start the banquet first?" Sister Feng said softly with a smile on her charming face.
Jia Mu smiled and said: "Okay, I forgot, Yuanyang, hurry up and ask them to serve the food. Brother Heng is also hungry now."
As they spoke, several people stood up and sat down one after another at a round table. Mother Jia sat at the top, Sister Feng accompanied her on the left, followed by Li Wan, Daiyu, Yingchun, and Xichun.
On Jia Mu's right side were Jia Heng and Tan Chun, while Mrs. Wang was still sitting aside.
Jia Mu greeted her, but Mrs. Wang just smiled and said, "I used some with Baoyu earlier, so I'm not too hungry now."
Tan Chun sat next to Jia Heng's right hand. The childish girl seemed to have just changed her clothes. She was wearing a peach-blossom light pink dress, with a rosy face and a thin application of pink and white. A girl of this age,
In fact, it is not suitable to wear too much makeup. Youth is the best rouge and gouache. The jade bracelet-wearing jade hand picked up a tea cup and said with a chuckle: "Brother Heng just said the emperor's mission, but what happened to you the day before yesterday?"
Son?"
"I don't want you to know." Jia Heng put down the tea cup, turned to look at the girl with handsome eyes and slender eyebrows, and a charming temperament, and said with a smile.
As expected of the princess in the original work, she is quite keen on these things.
When everyone at the table heard this, they all looked at the two of them, because Jia Heng was the center of their gaze at the moment. Every time he spoke or smiled, even Mrs. Wang on the side cast a cold look at them.
Tan Chun said softly: "This matter has caused quite a stir in Beijing. My sister-in-law was also talking about it yesterday and she was a little curious. Brother Heng, just don't mind me talking too much."
"How could it be? It's rare for the third sister to be interested in these things." Jia Heng smiled and said: "However, because it is official business and the matter is confidential, it is difficult to say more now. After a while, the dust will settle.
, and then I’ll tell you the whole story.”
The girl had reminded him a bit before, and he could tell that the girl was quite interested in politics.
"I have many questions to ask Brother Heng for advice." Tan Chun said with a light smile, his eyes filled with autumn water.
Because they are sisters of the same clan, and because Jia Heng is the patriarch of the Jia clan, no one thought there was anything wrong with this statement.
Jia Muyin laughed and said, "Aren't you going to be an official? Please tell me what to do. And during the meal, you are not allowed to talk about official business."
At the end of the sentence, I deliberately made a face, but obviously everyone knew it was just a joke.
Sister Feng also smiled and echoed, saying: "If you talk about this again, Brother Heng will punish himself with a drink later."
Jia Mu looked at this scene with a smile and thought to herself, how many years ago, when her husband was around, she was talking about some outside things during the meal. She listened quietly to the side, and everything in the past seemed like yesterday.
At that time, when he was still being relied upon by the palace, when did it start that there were no more of these things in Rongqing Hall?
Maybe at that time, she already knew that if she could support the Duke's mansion without losing its momentum, she would be worthy of the Duke.
Now, from this Ningguo side branch, we can see some signs of regaining momentum.
When everyone heard this, they said nothing more and started eating their dinner with their bowls and chopsticks.
…
…
The night is already dark, and a crescent moon hangs in the dark sky, casting thousands of cool moonlights.
In the majestic and magnificent Daming Palace, the lights are brightly lit, and the floor is as clear as water, reflecting the figures of palace maids and eunuchs standing with hands hanging down.
In the inner study room, Emperor Chongping had just served dinner to the eunuch. He was sitting behind the desk, reading Jia Heng's memorials by candlelight, and there was clearly a copy of the spy lurking in Jia's house on the imperial desk.
A summary of the detective stories sent from the internal police station.
The memorial is Jia Heng's apology memorial.
Emperor Chongping put down the memorial, a look of thought appeared on his resolute and cold face.
Dai Quan hesitated for a moment and said softly: "Your Majesty, this Jia Heng...isn't he a bit overstepping his bounds?"
He had felt frightened when he read the report of the investigation. He threatened to lend the Emperor Sword to Jia Huan? This was too bold.
But looking at what the detective reported about the moral power of the Emperor's Sword, I felt that this was not the case.
"Jia Zheng had three sons. The eldest son Jia Zhu died young, and the concubine Jia Huan, I heard, was raised in the hands of a woman. He was vulgar, stupid, and ineffective. Now Zi Yu is the head of the Jia clan. He uses the emperor's sword to learn from each other and educate his children. He is normal.
, Ming Zun is inferior, if Jia Huan has made some progress in the future, why not lend him the emperor's sword?" Emperor Chongping's eyes fell on the memorial, but his mind was lingering on the detective's report, "Use his virtue instead of his power.
, The Emperor’s Sword is both a sword of authority and a sword of holiness.”
In the Tathagata, the king and his ministers have a beginning and an end. This incident is recorded in the history of the country, and it may not be impossible to create a good story about the relationship between the king and his ministers.
When Dai Quan heard this, he secretly sighed that Jia Heng was really a member of the holy family. He thought about it and said, "Your Majesty, the Jia family has recently been rectifying the family affairs and checking the deficit. As far as I know, the front and back, east and west,
The government has investigated the deficit of more than one million taels of silver."
Emperor Chongping nodded, walked to the carved window lattice with his hands behind his hands, looked at the vast night, and said in a low voice: "Since I took charge, I have seen that the Ministry of Finance has suffered a lot of deficits, and the Zhen family in Jiangnan has welcomed Taizu and the Supreme Emperor.
During the southern tour, there was also a lot of shortfalls. They were in charge of the Jiangning Weaving Mansion, and they misappropriated an unknown amount of official money to have Zhen's household utensils, clothing, food, and extravagance."
When Emperor Chongping said the last words, there was a bit of sternness in his eyes.
Jia Heng investigated the Lai family and other unscrupulous slaves and made up for the public's shortfall of more than a million taels of silver. If he inspected the Zhen family and other slaves of the Tian family, how much silver could he get?
Dai Quan's expression changed and he said: "Your Majesty, Nanny Zhen and the Queen Mother..."
"There is nothing more than Aunt Lai on either side." Emperor Chongping snorted coldly and said solemnly.
The situation of the Jia family is almost the same as the predicament he is facing now. The old lady of the Zhen family had an old relationship with the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother even received favors from the deceased old feudal lord of the Zhen family.
Emperor Chongping pondered for a moment and then said: "You will pass on my oral instructions later and ask Lu Jingyao and Ji Yingtian of Jinyi Mansion to fully cooperate with Jia Heng."
When Dai Quan heard this, his heart moved and he cupped his hands and said: "Yes, Your Majesty, I will go right now."
Emperor Chongping watched Dai Quan leave. Deep in the heart of this wealthy emperor, there was a feeling of "jealousy" that he absolutely did not want to admit.
"There are nine disasters in ten places in the world. The barbarians in the north are causing trouble. The Ministry of Household Affairs has become increasingly unable to sustain it in the past two years. And the salt tax in the south is not good this year, and there is another three million taels less. Wait for the next year, the Zhen family will
Maybe you can give it a try."
It can be said that because Jia Heng's raid on the Lai family brought a lot of excitement to the emperor, he already had the intention to raid the Zhen family in advance.
A mere servant has accumulated a million taels of silver in his savings over the past ten years. If the Zhen family is raided, wouldn’t he get at least five to six million taels of silver? And then give the treasury a blood transfusion?
