Qin Keqing, Xichun, Youshi, second sister, third sister, and Ping'er were seated one by one, with their wives and maids waiting behind them.
Ping'er originally said that he was of low status and could not sit down. Qin Keqing smiled and said that Ping'er was a guest and asked Ping'er to sit down.
Being romantic, delicate, gentle and peaceful, when meeting people with a similar temperament, treating them with special courtesy will only make them appear approachable and noble in character, without losing their dignity.
Seeing Jia Heng, everyone looked at him. Ping'er, who was a little embarrassed, stood up first and said with a chuckle: "Uncle Heng, please come this way."
With that said, he planned to lead Jia Heng to sit on his chair.
Jia Heng nodded, looked at Ping'er with gentle eyes, smiled and said: "Miss Ping'er, let's sit down to eat together. This is a family banquet. There are no elders here, so you might as well be more casual."
At this moment, Ping'er was wearing a green cotton skirt, with picturesque eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes and peach cheeks. Under Jia Heng's gaze, she seemed a little embarrassed.
Youshi also smiled and joked: "Your master is not here, so I don't need you to stand still. Sit down."
Ping'er: "..."
Third Sister You stared at the beautiful Ping'er. After listening to Jia Heng's words, it turned out to be a family banquet and the standing rules her sister said, her eyes flashed and the corners of her mouth curved.
Ping'er thanked him and sat down again.
Jia Heng sat down with Tan Chun, Dai Yu, and Xiang Yun, and, under the service of the maids, gave up.
Jia Heng asked: "Is everything settled properly?"
Qin Keqing smiled and said: "The furniture, clothes and bedding have all been prepared and replaced with the best animal charcoal. I will definitely not wrong Sister Xichun."
Jia Heng raised his eyes and looked at Xichun not far away, and said softly: "Sister, do you think that courtyard is okay? If it's not suitable, I'll change it. I'll live wherever I feel comfortable in my own home."
Xichun's pretty little face didn't know whether it was the reflection of the lights or her mood. The cold look disappeared and she said: "Thank you, Brother Heng. There is no need to change. The courtyard is quiet, quiet and very warm."
Jia Heng smiled and said, "As long as my sister feels comfortable."
After that, Jia Heng didn't say much, and everyone just picked up chopsticks and spoons and started eating.
After dinner, Jia Heng and Dai Yu visited Xiangyun again for a while. Dai Yu said that she wanted to write the couplet so that she could take it back. Jia Heng agreed and wrote the couplet in handwriting for her.
.
Kunning Palace, in the palace, the lights are as bright as day, and the fragrance is warm and pleasant.
Behind the curtains, groups of palace maids in bright clothes stood waiting with their hands hanging down. The leading female official was wearing a female official's costume with exquisite patterns and exquisite materials.
The crane-shaped copper lamp shines brightly, reflecting on the clothes woven with gold threads on the body, adding a bit of beauty and wealth in the golden light.
And Yuanchun's plump face, illuminated by the lights, looked bright and beautiful. She looked like a peach and a plum, especially her fair and pink cheek skin, with a bit of baby fat. She didn't look like a woman over 29 years old at all.
.
Yuan Chun listened to the conversation of several noble people not far away, and when he mentioned Jia Heng, his bright eyes flashed.
During the past two months, she had heard the Queen and the Concubine mention Jia Heng several times in the palace.
Empress Song, Concubine Duanrong, and Princess Chen Zhi of Xianning had just finished dinner. At this moment, they were sitting around a small table, drinking tea and talking.
The Empress of Song Dynasty was wearing a plum blossom embroidered palace dress and a gold hairpin on her head. Her bright and charming face looked a little surprised after listening to Xianning Princess Chen Zhi's account of what she had encountered at the Princess's Mansion in Jinyang.
Revealed and said: "He promised to give you the position of meritorious officer in the Five Cities Military and Horse Division?"
Imperial Concubine Duanrong also cast curious glances. This beauty was wearing a sky-blue palace dress. She had practiced dancing all the year round, so her figure was not as plump as a pampered one. Instead, she had a figure that was no less beautiful than that of a woman in her 20s, but her eyebrows and eyes were overflowing.
Her mature charm indicates that she is a woman who has given birth to a pair of children.
Chen Zhi said: "He said it at his aunt's place, in front of Brother Wang and his cousin."
Concubine Duanrong's phoenix eyes flashed, and she asked Empress Song, "Sister, what is the explanation for the position of meritorious minister?"
Empress Song smiled sweetly and said: "Rewarding meritorious deeds and punishing delinquents is the core matter of the Wucheng Army and Horses Department. It is convenient for Ran'er to contact personnel in the Wucheng Army and Horses Department. He clearly takes it seriously."
Would she rather think that it would be great to be given the position of chief registrar, or that it would be great to be given the position of deputy commander of a city, where although he has to take charge of his own role, he is a high-ranking nobleman who really walks around the streets and does things that sink him into a low-level official?
The noble concubine Duanrong smiled softly and said softly: "Later, my sister can call me into the palace and give you a few words."
Because after King Wei opened his palace, the whereabouts of the Five Cities Military and Horse Division were basically determined by Emperor Chongping, and the Empress of the Song Dynasty could summon Jia Heng to the palace to give some instructions.
Of course, he is a foreign minister after all. Although he can be seen, he still needs to be accompanied by various female officials.
Empress Song thought for a while and smiled: "That's it, I will pass on the oral instructions tomorrow..."
Suddenly he saw Jia Yuanchun standing aside, his heart moved, and he called: "Yuanchun, come here."
"Your Majesty." Yuan Chun heard the Empress Song calling her, and quickly stepped forward with light steps and gave her a blessing.
At this time, Princess Chen Zhi of Xianning looked at Yuan Chun, sizing up the female official, with a thoughtful look on her face.
Empress Xu of the Song Dynasty, Ai Wu Ji Wu, spoke with a softer voice and said with a smile: "Tomorrow, you will go to the Ningguo Mansion to convey the oral instructions of this palace, saying that I will prepare a small banquet for the opening of the palace next year by the King of Wei, and invite Yunhui General Jia Heng.
After entering the palace, you will go out to deliver the oral message and reunite with your family by the way. Just remember to come back before the palace door is locked."
As the lord of the Sixth Palace, Empress Song had the power to deal with "elder palace maids" like Yuan Chun who were not beholden to her. Even sending them back to the Jia family was just a matter of words.
Hearing this, Yuanchun felt mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, and said softly: "Thank you so much for your grace."
I haven't been home for several years, and I don't know how things have changed at home. My father still has Baoyu. How have I been these past few years?
Empress Song looked at Yuan Chun opposite with a smile and thought.
It's not like Xia Shouzhong never said that he would let Yuan Chun serve the Sage in order to win over the Jia family, but it was obvious that the Sage had great regard for Jia Ziyu, so her win over could not be too obvious.
"What's more, if the Jia family has gained the honor of a foreign relative, and the internal and external relations are harmonious, and then they are on an equal footing with me, what should we do?"
But he said that over at Ningguo Mansion, the next day, Jia Heng had breakfast and then went to invite Qu Lang from Jinyi Mansion to come over and tell the story.
In the morning, in the outer study, Jia Heng heard that his servant had come to report, so he put down the pen in his hand and called Qu Lang in to discuss the matter.
After a while, a tall and tall young man in warrior attire came in, stood in front of the desk, raised his hands and said, "I have seen you in this humble position, sir."
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Qu Qianhu, sit down."
As he spoke, he walked around the desk and sat down on a chair nearby.
A servant served him fragrant tea, which was steaming hot.
Qu Lang sat upright, doubts appearing in his piercing tiger eyes, and asked: "I wonder what's the reason for calling me a humble person?"
Jia Heng did not spare the circle and went straight to the point: "Qu Qianhu, how many years has King Zhongshun supervised the construction of the imperial mausoleum?"
After hearing this, Qu Lang thought for a while and said: "The imperial mausoleum has been under construction since the 21st year of Longzhi, and Prince Zhongshun has been in charge of it for sixteen or seventeen years."
Jia Heng pondered and said: "You recently asked your confidants to check which company purchased the earth, wood and stone materials used in the construction of the imperial mausoleum? Who were the brick and tile craftsmen used? Investigate this matter slowly and be sure to keep it secret.
It’s better to keep it secret.”
Generally speaking, as long as it is a large-scale construction project, embezzlement of work payments is almost always present. However, it is almost meaningless to try to bring down Prince Zhongshun on the crime of embezzlement of work payments.
But if you add in cutting corners, this is much worse than corruption of work payments.
This is unfaithful and unfilial, cutting corners on father's good soil. In the context of etiquette and law governing the world with benevolence and filial piety, this is enough for a loyal and obedient prince to drink a pot, and he will either die or be disabled.
The various princes in the court are the targets of thousands of people.
Collect evidence first. As for who will expose it, it will definitely not be him. It can be left to the censor.
"Even if there is no cutting corners, just the matter of corruption is enough to make King Zhongshun anxious." Jia Heng's eyes were deep, thinking.
If he had his way, he would naturally find ways to kill him, but whatever the emperor wanted, he had to consider it.
Qu Lang nodded, a flash of surprise flashed through his heart, and said: "I'll make arrangements for my humble position."
Jia Heng made arrangements and stopped talking about the matter. Instead, he asked, "What have Lu Jingyao and Ji Yingtian been busy with during my absence for more than a month?"
Qu Lang looked solemn, lowered his voice, and said: "Sir, Mr. Lu recently seems to want to intervene in the court's rectification of the salt affairs in the Huaihe River. He has sent a lot of Jinyi to the southern provinces. It is said that Mr. Lu started from Jinyi a month ago.
It has something to do with the transfer of manpower to the south."
Originally, Lu Jingyao knew that he had suffered a serious loss from Emperor Chongping regarding the Sanhe Gang incident in Dongcheng. He heard that his position as commander of the Jinyi Guards and Tongzhi seemed to be shaky.
Lu Jingyao was anxious to get angry. After listening to the advice of an expert, he always paid attention to Jia Heng's movements.
For Lin Ruhai's safety, Jia Heng once advised Emperor Chongping to send troops south to Yangzhou to protect Lin Ruhai. After that, he dispatched a group of Jinyi guards to Yangzhou.
Naturally, this could not be completely kept secret in the Jinyi Mansion. After Lu Jingyao learned about it, his mind couldn't help but feel that it might be an opportunity to express himself. It happened that in recent months, the cabinet and the six ministries were discussing the rectification of the Lianghuai Salt Affairs.
Lu Jingyao had an idea and thought that this matter might be an opportunity to make up for his past mistakes, so he sent his capable men south to the Lianghuai Salt Fields to spy on the news.
Jia Heng frowned and said, "Lu Jingyao's move may scare others, so let people pay close attention first."
In his opinion, Lu Jingyao probably watched him act vigorously and resolutely on the Sanhe Gang in Dongcheng as a detective in Jinyi Mansion, and he was copycat and imitating the tiger here.
only……
"In the land of Lianghuai, people run it like an iron barrel, and their influence is intertwined. It goes from the salt official to the governor and the vassal department. The power of the Jinyi Mansion is strong in Shenjing, but when it comes to the land of Huaiyang,
The strength is so weak, and there is a high probability of self-defeating."
Jia Heng thought about it and sighed.
Really...I can do it with me.
Qu Lang pondered for a moment and said: "Your Excellency, it is not easy for people under me to keep an eye on Lu Tongzhi, as they can easily be discovered. I recommend someone to you, Zhao Qianhu of Nanzhen Fusi. If Brother Zhao sends someone, he will
It’s much more secretive.”
Without any legitimate reason, he stared at his superiors, the staff of Beizhen Fusi, firstly because they had doubts in their minds, and secondly, because their faces were familiar and they were easy to detect.
On the contrary, Nanzhen Fusi, who specializes in internal investigation of illegal activities, acts expediently.
Jia Heng frowned and said, "Zhao Yi?"
He has a good relationship with Zhao Yi, and he played a role in his promotion to Nanzhen Fusi Qianhu, but that doesn't mean he can be trusted.
"Zhao Qianhu wanted to visit you, but he never got the chance." Qu Lang whispered.
When Jia Heng heard this, his heart moved slightly, knowing that this meant making good friends.
After he became the first-class Yunhui general, coupled with the first army of Guo Yong's camp and the holy family, the political banner he set up also gained some appeal.
Old friends like Zhao Yi were somewhat reserved before and only helped with things that did not violate their principles, but now they are obviously unable to sit still.
Jia Heng muttered: "He is also an old acquaintance. If he has this intention, he will secretly send someone to pay attention to Lu Jingyao to see what he is going to do."
Although he knew that Lu Jingyao would most likely not turn out to be an anti-dog by painting a tiger, he had no reason to stop Lu Jingyao's positive performance now, because as a colleague of the Jinyi, Lu Jingyao had been scouting and supervising the two capitals and thirteen provinces, sharing the emperor's worries. This helped
The Lianghuai Salt Service collects information, which is a manifestation of its due diligence.
Jia Heng turned around and asked: "Where is Ji Yingtian?"
Qu Lang said: "Master Ji has been fine recently, but Captain Qiu has recently been sending people to the north to spy on the enemy in the East."
Jia Heng looked strange and said, "After being reprimanded by the Holy One for Lan Qianhu, he became a little smarter."
There are no fools who can hang out in Jinyi Mansion. Lu Jingyao and Qiu Liang were clearly "following" him. Seeing that he got the Holy Family and rose to prominence, they began to search for the "Holy Family Code".
Then, Lu Jingyao went south and Qiu Liang went north.
"Don't worry about it, let Qiu Liang be busy first, but you have to keep in touch with Lan Qianhu. Since Qiu Liang is so enthusiastic about Donglu, if he is talented, he will be transferred to Peking next spring."
Because the Military Intelligence Department was under the Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department, a large number of manpower would definitely be deployed after its establishment. Since Qiu Liang was so eager to seize the enemy from the east, transferring him to Northern Xinjiang was a benevolence.
Li Zan was appointed to the Economic Strategy and Appeasement Department. As the initiator of the Military Intelligence Department, he recommended one or two people, which was mentioned casually.
When Qu Lang heard this, his face paused slightly and his heart beat wildly.
As soon as Captain Qiu left, the governor of Beizhen Fusi...
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Let's do this for now. I'll prepare a banquet in my house in the evening. You and Zhao Qianhu can come over and have a party together in the evening."
Since his return, he has not yet invited the generals under Guo Yongying to a banquet, and it was just a good time to have a banquet in the evening to discuss the reorganization of the army.
"Yes, sir." Qu Lang responded, stood up, and left.
Jia Heng sat for a while, then stood up and was about to return to the inner hall.
And suddenly at this time, I heard an outside servant reporting, "Sir, the eldest son of the Wang family has come to send an invitation."
"Wang Yi?"
Jia Heng frowned and said, "Just say I'm not here, accept the invitation, and have someone send him back."
The servant said: "The Wang family went to the Xifu first and invited Master Zheng. Together they said they wanted to see the uncle in the flower hall, as well as the Xue family from Lixiangyuan."
Jia Heng's face paused, and he thought to himself that Wang Yi clearly did this on purpose. He was worried that he would not see him, so he first went to Xifu to invite Jia's mother, and then invited Jia Zheng to come with him, and also brought along Xue Da, who was probably watching the fun.
brain.
He is the head of the Jia clan, so it is impossible for him to leave Jia Zheng alone.
After thinking for a while, he said: "That's it."
In the flower hall
Wang Yi was sitting on a chair made of pear wood, sipping fragrant tea, with Jia Zheng sitting on one side and Xue Pan sitting below him, smiling.
Wang Yi is about thirty years old. He is wearing a finely woven Su brocade robe and a fur cloak. He has a tall and straight figure, a fair complexion, a tuft of beard under his nose, and a pair of gloomy eyes looking at the paintings hanging in the central hall of Ning Mansion.
The painting of green pines and white cranes symbolizes the longevity of the pines and cranes.
Wang Yi said with a smile to Jia Zheng on the side: "Uncle, I remember that when Brother Zhen was here, this painting was still a welcoming pine tree. I don't want it to change after just a few months without seeing it."
Jia Zheng's face looked strange. It was obvious that he was not able to answer the question when Jia Zhen was mentioned.
Xue Pan's eyes were as big as copper bells and he said: "Cousin, it's not Brother Zhen who has done something bad."
Jia Zheng obviously didn't want to mention this matter, because now the East and West governments are keeping a secret about Jia Zhen's matter, so he changed the subject, coughed, and asked: "How many guests did your father invite for his birthday tomorrow?"
"
Wang Yi didn't want to listen to Xue Pan's nonsense. He never took his eyes off Jia Zheng and said with a smile: "All the relatives in our family have been invited, including the Prince of Beijing, the Prince of Nan'an, the Duke of Zhen Guo, and the Duke of Li Guo. There are more than ten of them, and I
I just sent the invitations."
Jia Zheng nodded, twirled his beard under his chin, smiled and said: "These are old relatives, it's time to treat them to me."
Father Yi Zheng's political acumen is not enough to judge the internal turmoil.
The prince invited dignitaries from Beijing, Nan'an and the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion precisely because he wanted to negotiate with the baby tomorrow.
Wang Yi smiled again and said: "That's not all. The guerrilla generals of the 12th Regiment and above have sent invitations, as well as Liang Shilang from the Ministry of Revenue, Yang Ge's hometown from the cabinet... these civil servants have also sent invitations."
In the past few days, Wang Ziteng was not without help. At Fang Ji's suggestion, he took the opportunity to go to the Ministry of Household Affairs to coordinate the pay of the soldiers in the capital. Wang Ziteng had dinner with Liang Yuan, the minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, twice.
Because the title of Minister of the Ministry of War held by Wang Ziteng may not be considered highly in the eyes of some Qingliu who think highly of themselves.
However, Liang Yuan served as an official in the Ministry of Household Affairs as a general official and did not care about his background at all.
The two of them were having dinner together, and while the wine was flowing, Liang Yuan mentioned Jia Heng's domineering attitude. He thought that Wang Ziteng would defend him, but he didn't expect that he would agree with him. So, after going back and forth, the two of them became friends.
Liang Yuan set up a bridge and delivered a message to Yang Guochang, the chief minister of the cabinet. However, Yang Guochang asked Wang Ziteng to abide by his official duties and do good things for the emperor, but he did not see Wang Ziteng.
Although they had not met each other, after several conversations and showing support, Wang Ziteng became more confident.
It can be said that Wang Ziteng has everything ready, and he thinks he has enough bargaining chips to negotiate with the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion.
This optimistic mood naturally infected his son Wang Yi.
When Jia Zheng heard this, he looked surprised and said, "Mr. Yang Ge? He will also go to the mansion for a banquet tomorrow?"
No wonder Jia Zheng was not surprised. The chief minister of the cabinet adjusted the yin and yang, treated all officials with courtesy, and gave it to the prince to celebrate his birthday?
Well, what are you thinking about?
When Wang Yi saw Jia Zheng's reaction, a trace of imperceptible pride flashed in his eyes, and he smiled and said, "The invitation has been sent to the Yang Mansion, and it has been received over there. I think I should arrive tomorrow."
But he wouldn't say why the chief minister of the cabinet attended the banquet?
It would be a good idea to let his son go there for him.
Jia Zheng said with emotion: "Your father has always been talented, and he has been on the rise since then."
Jia Zheng, Jia She, and Wang Ziteng were friends together when they were young. Now that Wang Ziteng is getting bigger and bigger, Jia Zheng is not without some envy in his heart.