A carriage with glazed hairpins, driven slowly by the palace guards and the nun's retinue, cast a long shadow under the setting sun.
In the carriage carriage, through the bamboo curtains hanging on the windows on both sides, the lights sparsely fell, falling on the jade faces, beautiful necks and bodies of the two beauties.
Zhen Xue raised her eyes to look at her sister, who had a delicate face, and the shadows on her cheeks were getting brighter and darker as the lantern came closer and further away.
Zhen Qing was caressing the necklace in her hand at the moment, looking down with a gloomy expression. Under the reflection of the emerald, the red kodan coated with impatiens juice, the dark red color looked slightly majestic and dreamy.
"Sister, this necklace is very beautiful." Zhen Xue took the initiative to break the silence and said softly.
Zhen Qing gently took off the necklace in her hand, raised her fair and slender neck, and her charming face showed a bit of coldness and beauty. Although her heart was happy, she said angrily: "He just wants to use this trick."
Stay with me."
Zhen Xue stared at Zhen Qing, who was beaming with joy, and asked softly: "Does sister... fall in love with him?"
When Zhen Qing heard this, she paused slightly and said angrily: "Who would like...that bastard?"
Zhen Xue sighed softly and didn't feel comfortable asking any more questions. She couldn't help but think of herself who had been nagging her earlier and had complicated thoughts.
As dusk fell, the vast and sublime sky covered us like a black curtain.
The crescent moon is like a hook, and the hot summer wind blows the sycamore trees in the courtyard, and the rustling sound echoes in Jia Heng's ears.
After taking a bath, Jia Heng changed into a Su brocade robe and walked through the corridor with swaying lights to the study room in the front yard.
Liu Jixian quickly stood up from the pearwood chair, looked at the young man, cupped his hands and said, "Captain."
Jia Heng nodded and couldn't help but glance at Chen Xiao, who had a cold face and kept away from strangers, but the girl was obviously focused on him, and she suddenly frowned and glared angrily.
I teased Xiaoxiao a little earlier, allowing her to be immersed in the scene and really act like a monster on the spot.
"Tell me." Jia Heng sat down behind the table, picked up the tea cup, took a sip, and said softly.
Liu Jixian pondered and said: "Captain, Liu Shengzao's son is now at the Yangzhou Hundred Household Office and has been tortured. But at present, it seems that Liu Changdao doesn't know much about salt affairs."
"Ask him what he did with the salt affairs, just ask how many other people's wives he forced, how many things Liu Shengzao settled for him after his death, and all the shitty things about the Liu family, they all need to be interrogated to find out the circumstances.
"Jia Heng said in a deep voice.
Liu Jixian responded and asked in a deep voice: "Sir, Liu Changdao has been arrested. Do you want to inform Liu Shengzao about this?"
"Don't rush to inform us now. After the interrogation, if the evidence is conclusive, submit it to the Yangzhou magistrate's office to see how they deal with it." Jia Heng said in a deep voice.
When Yuan Jichong, the prefect of Yangzhou, was a local official in Nanyang, he was cruel and cruel to the people. Instead, he was transferred to Yangzhou, a prosperous land, to serve as a local official.
Jia Heng said: "A man who indulges his son in bullying men and women, a man who is corrupt and perverts the law, and commits adultery due to circumstances, is enough for the salt transport envoy and the Yangzhou magistrate to be dismissed from their posts."
Since we were worried about rectifying the salt affairs, we didn't ask about the salt affairs at all. It was all due to other matters. The salt affairs was instead involved in a series of cases.
But just like this, those people who came to Jiangnan should be unable to sit still. When he arrives in Jinling, there will definitely be a fight.
Chen Xiao looked at the young man who was frowning in thought. He still felt a little embarrassed and inexplicable in his heart. This was also because of his keen sense of taste, and that strange feeling seemed to be lingering in his heart.
"Did the Ma family confess anything new?" Jia Heng paused slightly and raised his eyes and asked.
"The confessions of the persons involved in the Ma family's collusion with Donglu through cargo ship smuggling have been recorded. My brothers have begun to search for relevant evidence to support the case, and the ships used for smuggling, together with the boatmen, are also arranging and arresting. In addition, Cheng
The boatmen of the Huang family are also involved. Sir, are you going to start taking people?" Liu Jixian said solemnly.
This is the standard way to organize a prison. Follow the clues, arrest a large number of people, and then torture them continuously until more and more people are involved.
Jia Heng thought for a moment and said softly: "There is no rush. You can wait. Yunsi is short of money and needs to find an entry point."
There is only one Yangzhou salt merchant to arrest now. As for Yunsi's deficit, Qi Kun or Lin Ruhai still need to raise it, and then Jinyi Mansion Guards will assist in the investigation.
Moreover, there are no soldiers and horses in charge. The local soldiers and horses in Yangzhou alone may not be able to suppress the situation at the critical moment.
Jia Heng thought for a while and asked again: "Where is Qu Guang? Where are you now?"
What he was waiting for was the cavalry of the Henan Dusi. Qu Guang, the commander of the Henan Dusi, led five thousand cavalry to the Jiangbei camp. With the troops and horses, the chaos in Yangzhou could be suppressed calmly. All that was left was to find out the root cause of the deficit.
.
"The flying pigeon sent the message this morning. The troops and horses have arrived at Huai'an Mansion and will not arrive until the day after tomorrow." Liu Jixian said in a deep voice.
"Let them speed up their march. The five thousand cavalry troops will be stationed in the Jiangbei camp first, and later five thousand infantry troops will be dispatched from Henan to go down by boat." Jia Heng put down the bowl of tea and said in a deep voice.
Liu Jixian nodded in agreement, and then whispered: "Sir, Duduo has not been found yet."
Jia Heng said: "I'll look for it for three more days, but if I can't find it, I'll forget it first."
In this era, finding someone has always been a time-consuming and labor-intensive task. If you really can't find someone, you can only say that Duduo's life should not be terminated, or that his life is not exhausted.
If we follow the history of parallel time and space, Duduo is to a certain extent the protagonist of the Qing Dynasty's entry into the country.
"Ask Tushan, where exactly are the Jinsha Gang's pirates entrenched? After the navy has sorted things out, they will attack this group of pirates first." Jia Heng turned and said softly.
"Yes, Commander." Liu Jixian responded and immediately turned around to get busy.
At this time, Jia Heng also got up, walked to Chen Xiao who was sitting quietly, looked at the girl who raised her eyes and glanced at him, and said softly: "Xiao Xiao, I haven't eaten yet, are you ready to cook?
"
Chen Xiao's cooking skills are superb, even better than the local Huaiyang cuisine.
Chen Xiao turned away and ignored Jia Heng, as if he was still worried about Cai Heng's matter.
Jia Heng said softly, sat down gently in front of Chen Xiao, and said warmly: "Xiaoxiao, okay, don't be angry. You just blamed me for not being gentle or serious. I really didn't mean it."
Chen Xiao frowned, turned away, and said sullenly: "Don't call me."
What about coaxing children?
Jia Heng took the tea cup from the side, handed it over, and said softly: "Well, come on, have a sip of tea, don't get angry and get into trouble."
Chen Xiao snorted coldly, reached out to take the tea cup, took a sip, and handed it over.
Jia Heng took the tea cup, put it aside, and asked, "What are you cooking today?"
Chen Xiao glanced at Jia Heng angrily and whispered: "Crystal pig's trotters, squirrel mandarin fish, Yangzhou old goose..."
Jia Heng said softly: "Then you know a lot of dishes. With such cooking skills, whoever wants to marry you in the future won't need to hire a cook."
The girl in front of him must have seen a lot of his moves between the curtains.
"You..." Chen Xiao frowned, his cheeks were embarrassed and red, and he completely lost his temper. After all, he was his cousin, so he had nothing to be angry about. He said in a low voice: "You go to Jinling tomorrow, those salt merchants
I definitely won’t be able to sit still.”
Jia Heng said: "It turned out to be confusing for them."
"Aren't you afraid that they will join forces and cause trouble?" Chen Xiao asked with his eyes fixed.
Jia Heng shook his head and said, "Not now. We haven't reached that point yet. The rope has just been put on. When they reacted, it was tightened all at once."
The merchant's weakness is innate. As long as he doesn't put on a show of fighting and killing, some people will take chances.
"But now you are the son of Dongma's family and Dongliu Shengzao. I'm afraid they will get suspicious and unite to deal with you." Chen Xiao said worriedly.
Jia Heng said: "So let's see what they will do. You recently asked your people to help me keep an eye on it. I think they might do something wrong."
Chen Xiao nodded and said softly: "Then I will keep an eye on it for you."
Jia Heng turned to Chen Xiao and asked softly: "Let's not talk about it for now. When we go to Jinling tomorrow, why don't you go and pay homage to King Zhou and Princess Zhou?"
According to King Zhou's last words, King Zhou's coffin was buried in the ancestral mausoleum of Chen Han Taizu in Jinling, not in Shenjing City. As for Princess Zhou, she was originally from the south, but in Chen Xiao's eyes, because of this, she even felt that her father
His death is particularly suspicious.
In fact, the ancestral tombs of the four kings and eight princes of the Taizu Dynasty are all in the south, so there is the saying of the Twelve Hairpins of Jinling, because the Twelve Hairpins' ancestral home is in Jinling, and after Jia Zhen died, it was Jia Rong who carried the coffin to Jinling for burial.
Chen Xiaoyu paused for a moment, her eyes dimmed, then she became quiet again, and sighed softly. Apparently, the mention of her father made the girl feel quite heavy.
Jia Heng was silent for a moment, then looked at the girl with icy skin and beautiful face, and said softly: "When we get to Jinling, I will accompany you to have a look."
Chen Xiao was stunned for a moment and said softly: "Don't go. There are people paying attention to your every move. How can it be spread to Shenjing like this? Besides, Jinling may not have eyeliners in the palace, who are under the influence of melons and plums."
He went over to worship, in what name? In the name of his eldest nephew?
Jia Heng nodded and said, "Okay, then how have you worshiped your father all these years?"
Chen Xiao was silent for a moment and said softly: "I bring a spiritual tablet with me, and I will burn a stick of incense during festivals."
Jia Heng said with emotion: "It's not easy for you to be wandering alone these years."
Chen Xiao said "Yeah" and stopped talking.
Jia Heng patted the girl's hand gently and said softly: "Okay, I'll go to Sister Lin's room."
Now that I have taken Shui Xin over to stay with me for one night, I definitely want to spend more time with the little girl. I don’t know how long it will take for my body to return to normal. I also want to give Jinyang a child.
Thinking of this, I suddenly thought of Jinyang and wondered what she was doing at home with Chanyue, as well as Yuanchun and the others.
Recently, with Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue, I have been a little... I don't know what the world is. I'll just go back and write two letters.
On the other side, in the courtyard where Daiyu lives, two girls are using poles to lift down the lanterns hanging on the eaves of the corridor, lighting candles, and then putting them up again. The dim yellow light fills the entire room like water in an instant.
.
In the wing room, the red candles swayed in the summer wind, projecting two figures, one large and one small, on the standing cabinet of the study.
Daiyu was sitting on the Taishi chair, holding Shui Xin with pink jade in her arms, and was teaching Shui Xin how to write by herself. The little Lolita's white little hand was holding the brush tube.
"Auntie, why is it so difficult to write my name?" Looking at the crooked word "Shui Xin", Shui Xin said in a waxy voice.
Daiyu couldn't help laughing and said: "Because the character Xin has so many strokes."
Holding the fragrant, soft and pink Shuixin, Daiyu suddenly felt some special feelings. Only when she hugged the child did she suddenly realize that she had become an adult and had a sweetheart.
At this moment, I suddenly heard an attacking voice from outside: "Uncle Heng is here."
Not long after, Jia Heng was seen striding from outside, entering the house, looking at the large and small people writing at the desk, and said with a smile: "You two are playing."
Shui Xin is like a smaller version of Daiyu, with pink carved jade, curved eyebrows, and a face so pink that it can make you pinch water.
"Godfather." Shui Xin called sweetly, her pink face showing joy.
Jia Heng came closer, bent his knees and picked up Shui Xin, and said warmly: "Xinxin, your mother has gone home first. Xinxin stays here to sleep with her godfather tonight."
Shui Xinnuo said: "Mother just told me."
Jia Heng hugged Shui Xin, smiled and said, "What are Xin Xin doing with your Aunt Lin?"
"Auntie taught me how to write," Shui Xin said with a chuckle.
At this time, Daiyu's starry eyes looked at the young man who had just taken a bath, and said softly: "Brother Heng, are you done with the work ahead?"
Jia Heng nodded and said, "I'm done with my work. I have nothing to do for now."
The bright starry eyes under Daiyu's beautiful eyebrows blinked, she walked closer, stretched out her hand to touch the red mark on her neck, and asked: "Brother Heng is injured on his neck?"
Jia Heng smiled and said: "When I was fighting against the enemy the day before yesterday, I accidentally rubbed it against the door frame. It's okay."
The mark left by Zhen Qing on his neck had just been washed away, but the mark could only go away in a few days.
Daiyu didn't see any clues, so she didn't ask any more questions. She chuckled and said, "Brother Heng, I said I would like Xinxin to sleep in the same room as me tonight."
Jia Heng said: "Since my sister wants to sleep with Xinxin, let Xinxin sleep with you tonight. I will go back after telling you a story."
Xinxin raised her rosy little face and said in a sweet voice: "Godfather, why don't you and your aunt sleep together? I'll sleep between you."
Jia Heng, Daiyu: "..."
Jia Heng stretched out his hand and gently pulled Daiyu's bare hand. Under Daiyu's shy and angry eyes, he gently squeezed the back of the hand. The two of them would sleep on the same bed one day.
Daiyu's cheeks were as bright as fire. She just glanced at Jia Heng angrily and pinched the hand gently, but...she was not willing to use force.
Then, Jia Heng and Dai Yu, who was blushing with shame, sat down and started eating food around a table. The two sat with Shui Xin in the middle.
Daiyu looked at the young man, picked up the chopsticks and picked up the dishes, and asked casually: "What do Princess Chu and Princess Beijing want to say to Brother Heng?"
Jia Heng didn't "hide it" either. He smiled and said in a low voice: "It's just about the reorganization of the Jiangnan and Jiangbei camps. The second and fourth sons of the Zhen family are both generals in the Jiangnan camp. I'll ask Princess Chu in advance.
There are two princesses of Beijing."
As he said that, he picked up a piece of goose meat with chopsticks and put it in the Daiyu bowl. He chuckled and said, "Sister, eat this. This is delicious."
Daiyu softly said "Hmm", her eyes lowered, and there was a suspicion in her heart. Was it because she was asking too many questions?
The words are divided into two parts. It is night, the sky and the earth are dark, but the lights along the Slender West Lake are brightly lit, and the light of strings of lanterns shines on the river. From time to time, the sound of singing, dancing and orchestral sounds can be heard in the distance along the lights and water.
Because a fire broke out in Huanhua Building and the men, women and children of the Ma family were arrested, Yangzhou salt merchants gathered here to discuss countermeasures.
At this moment, seven salt merchants from Yangzhou were sitting in the flower hall of the Wang family manor, enveloped in a gloomy and gloomy atmosphere.
"Mr. Wang, what's the direction of the wind in Yangzhou Yanyuan now?" Bao Zuhui sighed and asked.
Huang Rishan and Huang Cheng also looked at Wang Shouqi. As the oldest of the eight major salt merchants, he had witnessed Emperor Longzhi's southern tours several times. It could be said that he had experienced countless storms and waves.
Cheng Peili said coldly: "I'm afraid they will catch us all in one fell swoop. Who among you here can say that you haven't smuggled things to the north during this time of year? To be strict, no one can escape."
Huang Rishan said with a bitter look on his face: "It can't be said like that. The severity of the crime can't be generalized."
Wang Shouqi frowned and said, "Uncle Yongning took the old horse. The whole thing seems more like a coincidence to me."
"Coincidence?" Several people looked at each other and exchanged glances.
Wang Shouqi frowned, looked around at the salt merchants, and asked: "If there hadn't been the assassination the day before yesterday, I would like to ask you, what is Uncle Yongning doing right now?"
Everyone's faces looked thoughtful.
Wang Shouqi said: "He just received hundreds of thousands of taels of silver from us that day, and he also said that he planned to go to Jinling to ask for ordnance and food. The priority when going south was to rectify the Jiangbei camp. This is also the responsibility of his military honors. From the beginning to the end, he never mentioned
and salt affairs.”
"It wasn't until the day of the assassination that it became a big deal because it involved a Jurchen prince, Beile." When Wang Shouqi said this, he secretly hated Ma Xianjun for being so stupid and causing such a disaster.
Even if he was not in secret collusion with Donglu, he should not sit back and watch the assassination. He should at least communicate with them.
"Mr. Wang, it's too late to say anything now. What do people want to do now with knives and guns?" Jiang Tong said in a deep voice.
You’ve already been beaten, why are you still here reflecting on what’s wrong?
Wang Shouqi twirled his beard under his chin with his hand and said: "Brother Jiang, please be patient. What I mean is that Uncle Yongning may not have that intention. We'd better find out. We'll wait and see what happens now. It's not advisable to act rashly."
Seeing this scene, Xiao Hongsheng sighed secretly.
All of these people in front of me were usually majestic figures in Yangzhou, but when they were hit by the iron fist of the imperial court, they realized that they had no power to fight back.
Rebellion cannot be carried out unless absolutely necessary.
Fortunately, the Xiao family is not deeply involved with Donglu, and there is still a way to turn back.
Just when Xiao Hongsheng was thinking about the pros and cons, a servant's report suddenly came from outside, "Master Wang, Master Liu is here."
At this moment, Wang Shouqi and others quickly stood up and welcomed Liu Shengzao into the cabin.
Because they were related, Huang Rishan was the first to speak: "Master Liu is finally here. Now the old horse is gone. There are still seven salt merchants in Yangzhou. Our fortune and life are all on Master Liu."
Liu Shengzao sat down and said: "Mr. Huang is serious, we are all grasshoppers on the same rope, just helping each other in the same boat. From what I can see, Uncle Yongning is already sharpening his sword."
As soon as this statement came out, everyone was shocked. Why are you sharpening your sword?
Liu Shengzao said: "I am in the capital and have visited all the major prisons. I know that when handling cases, Jinyi Mansion always pulls out carrots and brings out the mud. Now that Ma Xianjun has been arrested, how many clues do you think will fall into the hands of Jinyi Mansion? Once someone from the Ma family
We'll wait until the confession comes out, and let people follow the clues to find out the salt affairs, without any investigation at all."
Cheng Peili said: "What Mr. Liu said is true. I think he has such a posture."
For example, when it comes to smuggling, the Cheng and Ma families have collaborated several times and even shared ships to transport goods. If some shopkeepers confess, the Cheng family may also be dragged into the water.
Wang Shouqi sighed: "Master Liu said this, even if we don't take the old horse, as long as we are determined to investigate, how can we withstand the investigation?"
There are many things that, if you really want to investigate, you can't escape at all.
"My intention is to take precautions as soon as possible and find a way to drive Uncle Yongning back to the capital. Even if you contact people from Liangjiang official circles, you must send him back to the capital." Liu Shengzao said quietly.
Bao Zuhui asked: "Bo Yongning went south to rectify the Jiangbei camp. Now that he is busy with military affairs, how can he go back?"
Liu Shengzao said softly: "I also plan to go to Jinling tomorrow. The brother-in-law of the former governor of the rivers, Gao Bin, the governor of Liangjiang, Mr. Shen Fang, and Mr. Yongning have many disagreements over river affairs. You can contact us."
Jiang Tong nodded and said, "Isn't he going to Jinling to ask for pay? There will definitely be a fight with the people in Jinling."
Huang Rishan said: "I inquired about the news and heard that I will leave tomorrow."
Cheng Peili's eyes flashed, and he whispered: "The Jiangbei camp has been in arrears for a long time, and now it needs to be rectified. Many generals are uneasy, so why not let them cause trouble? He is a military minister and can't rectify the entire army. Come to think of it. He also ran back to the capital in despair."
Huang Cheng rolled his eyes and suggested: "The other generals and commanders of Jiangbei Daying Jiedushi have been complaining a lot recently. If some troubles can be caused, I think if others can help, this God of Plague can also do it." Sent away."
Just use money to bribe some generals and soldiers to build momentum.
Wang Shouqi said: "Don't be so busy now, otherwise, once it is found out that we are responsible, we will be completely torn apart. Why don't I go test Uncle Yongning tomorrow?"
Cheng Peili asked: "Master Wang, how do you test this?"
"I will go to Jinling tomorrow and wait at the Yanyuan Yamen early. I will take a boat out of Yangzhou with Yong Ningbo to see what his tone is like." Wang Shouqi said in a low voice with a faint gleam in his old eyes.