Being greeted by a group of generals in golden robes, Jia Heng entered the official hall, sat down behind Tiao Yu, and stared at the governor Liu Jixian.
"According to the command of the governor, the administrative department has sent people to interrogate, and Zhen Yingjia has listed an account. However, some things have not been recorded because of the age, and the humble official is still sending people to verify." Liu Jixian handed over his hand and reported.
This reflects the difference between Zhen Yingjia and Guo Shaonian. When the latter was the transfer envoy to the Lianghuai Capital, he recorded the amount embezzled from the Lianghuai Salt Transport Treasury during each of Emperor Longzhi's southern tours, in order to
Prevent liquidation in the future and keep a clean reputation.
The Zhen family, on the other hand, was so dazzled by their wealth and splendor that it was too late to cover up and destroy the evidence of the crime, let alone record it in detail.
Jia Heng nodded and said: "Interrogate slowly, don't rush, have all the officials of Tirenyuan been arrested?"
"Go back to the governor, we have sent people to arrest the relevant criminals." Liu Jixian said softly.
Jia Heng said: "The corruption in Tirenyuan is not only the Zhen family, but also other families. We must carefully check it."
Liu Jixian raised his hand and said yes.
"Captain, just now, a letter was sent from the flying pigeon from Beiping Mansion." Liu Jixian said.
As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper from his sleeve.
Jia Heng took out the paper and flipped through it, his face moving slightly.
After hearing the news from Peiping, the Jurchens sent an envoy, hoping to exchange for the peace treaty and the gift of property in exchange for Prince Duduo of Yu.
After Jia Heng finished reading, he put away the paper, his eyes uncertain, thinking about his next plan.
He had not been in Jiangnan for a long time and needed to go back to deal with the constraints from the courtiers.
There is no doubt that there must be peace treaty advocates in the Qi Party and the Zhejiang Party, and he wants to identify and kick out these weaklings.
Moreover, it was necessary to further influence Emperor Chongping to prevent the emperor from being deceived by slander. Beheading Prince Jurchen was the first step to make the Han great again.
Jia Heng nodded, took the book containing the text, and returned to a study room in the back hall, which was a place usually used for official business.
Jia Heng read it once, handed it to Princess Xianning, and said, "Xianning, you can take a look. Every account is recorded very clearly."
Princess Xianning's face, as cold as an iceberg and a snow lotus core, paused for a moment and asked curiously: "Sir, how much is the amount of embezzlement?"
Jia Heng took the book and said softly: "We received the emperor six times. Each southern tour was very expensive. In the ninth year of Longzhi, the total cost of reception was as high as 3.4 million taels. This is still
Not only did the salt merchants donate silver in return, but there was also the filial piety from everyone in the palace."
Are the Zhen family guilty? In fact, they are just one party to the corruption and depravity of the upper class.
With a hint of concern in her gloomy eyebrows, Li Chanyue came close and said softly: "Mr. Xiao Jia, can I still get the money back?"
Jia Heng said: "We can't recover it. Even if all the Zhen family is inspected, it will be difficult to make up for this huge shortfall. We can only look forward."
According to his estimation, the Zhen family's financial resources probably amount to tens of millions of dollars. Of course, this is assuming that real estate, gold and silver jewelry, and antique calligraphy and paintings are included.
The so-called filling of the previous shortfall only refers to filling the Zhen family's corruption in recent years, rather than filling the expenses of the Emperor's southern tour.
Jia Heng handed the account book to Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue, and said softly: "Xianning, you and Chanyue will look at it here first, and I will go and see Duduo."
Since Duduo was captured, he has never seen Duo Gege again except for being under strict supervision by the Jinyi Mansion.
It was not that Duduo had never thought of committing suicide. He had banged his head against a wall a few days ago, but was quickly stopped by the guards of the Jinyi Palace who were watching day and night. After being rescued by the guards of the Jinyi Palace, his will to commit suicide weakened.
Princess Xianning put down her book, looked at Jia Heng, and said, "Sir, I'll go with you."
She also wanted to be inseparable from her husband over there in Henan, instead of letting her cousin take her place now.
Jia Heng nodded and asked, "What about Chan Yue?"
Li Chanyue pursed her pink lips, looked at the two of them, and said softly: "It's fine if I'm here. You and your cousin can go there."
Jia Heng looked at the girl with beautiful features and said softly: "It's boring for you to be here by yourself. Just wait outside the prison later."
Xianning and Chanyue have become a little clingy now, following his rhythm wherever he goes. Compared with Xianning's direct request, Chanyue actually wants his care and attention more implicitly.
Li Chanyue said "hmm", her bright eyes lit up, and she felt happy in her heart.
prison, prison
After being captured alive for a few days, Duduo sat on his knees on a pile of withered grass, his figure hunched over. Through a small window in the southeast of the prison, the light came down, and it was clear that the Jurchen prince had unkempt hair and a bandage on his forehead.
There was a piece of bright red and bloody cloth, the cheek was sunken, and the eyes were bloodshot.
As the sound of the iron door opening from afar came, Duduo followed the sound and looked at it with a somewhat gloomy look.
This familiar sound of footsteps was so familiar to him, it was Jia Heng!
Sure enough, I saw a few Jinyi palace guards surrounding a young man coming from the dark corridor. The whole journey was eerily quiet. In front of the Jinyi governors like Jia Heng, there was no talkative prison boss.
Jia Heng looked at Dodo behind the fence. At this moment, in order to prevent Dodo from escaping, the prince had been shackled and chained.
"Crash..." The sound of iron chains dragging the ground sounded, and Duduo stared at the young man, his eyes full of resentment.
"Jia Heng!" Duduo almost gritted his teeth and squeezed out two words from his mouth.
At this moment, Jia Heng pressed the Emperor's Sword on his waist, looked at Duduo opposite him, and asked: "Duduo, are you okay?"
From the time he came to Yangzhou, the Jurchen prince began to assassinate him, and now he has become a prisoner among his subordinates.
Duduo said nothing and looked at the young man through the iron fence.
The two looked at each other for a moment, and Duduo sneered and said: "Even if you are lucky enough to win today, your big man's administration is corrupt, corrupt officials are rampant, and the people are miserable. How can you handle it alone?"
Jia Heng smiled and said: "Which year of the Han Dynasty are you talking about? Now the Han Dynasty has wise kings and wise ministers, and civil strife is gradually being eliminated. On the other hand, looking at the Jurchens, Huang Taiji has excluded dissidents and favored nepotism many times since he became the leader of the captives.
The Han people were robbed, and the heroes of Hebei, Shandong and other places suffered greatly. They all hated eating the captives' flesh and drinking the captives' blood! You are a savage beast like a small country and a treacherous person. It is the way of heaven to destroy you."
He is not afraid of anyone when it comes to verbal fights.
Duduo said coldly: "You just relied on the power of firearms to win a few battles by chance, but the monarchs and ministers of the Han Dynasty are content and jealous of the virtuous and capable. Even if you are as capable as Yue Fei, you can't escape the trap set by Qin Hui and other traitors. I'm waiting below.
you!"
This prince is indeed familiar with Han history.
Jia Heng said: "Then we will see you again on the battlefield. I heard that your country plans to send an envoy to negotiate a peace treaty in exchange for your return."
He also wanted Duduo to be sent to the capital to be offered as a prisoner to the Ancestral Temple, but he couldn't let him die, as the effects of Prince Jurchen's head would be less effective.
When Duduo heard this, his eyes flashed.
Jia Heng smiled and said: "We can make a bet. Since you said that the monarchs and ministers of the Han Dynasty are content and contented, you can see if we, the ministers of the Han Dynasty, are now discussing peace and war."
Duduo frowned and his eyes moved slightly.
If according to history books, the temperament of the Han court would definitely choose to make peace. He would indeed have a glimmer of hope, but at that time he would not be able to return to the Jurchens, but would have to go into self-exile.
He Duduo, a dignified man, would rather serve as a soldier and be wrapped in horse leather than die in prison!
Jia Heng looked at Duduo and saw that he had acquiesced, so he turned and left without saying much.
After leaving the prison, Princess Xianning walked towards the young man. Seeing the young man looking thoughtful, he asked in a worried tone: "Sir, how are you doing?"
"It's nothing, go back to Ningguo Mansion." Jia Heng said in a low voice: "We have been packing up recently, it's time for us to return to Beijing."
In the carriage, Princess Xianning once again inquired about the situation of Duduo. Jia Heng briefly talked about the Jurchens' selection of envoys, and whispered: "The political situation in Beijing will surely be turbulent again. Over there with the Holy Emperor..."
Princess Xianning said softly: "Sir, don't worry, my father's side will never make peace. In recent years, the Jurchens have invaded the border and robbed the people. My father has been angry many times because of this. I am finally proud this time. How can I
Will you let this Jurchen prince go?"
Jia Heng said: "I'm not worried about the Holy Emperor, but there will be disturbances in the court situation, and I need to return to Beijing to take charge."
Emperor Chongping was still very firm on this point, but other courtiers were not so sure. Huang Taiji was good at deception and was as cunning as a fox.
Li Chanyue cast her clear and bright eyes on the young man's face and said softly: If Mr. Jia returns to Beijing, what will happen to the Zhen family in Jiangnan?"
Jia Heng said: "The Jinyi Mansion and the Internal Affairs Mansion have dedicated personnel to take charge of the house confiscation. After Zhen Yingjia has compiled the approximate figures, they can explain the matter to the public. It's okay for the eldest princess to stay in Jiangnan for a while. You and
Just follow me back to Xianning."
He was actually doing ideological work for the Zhen family, and he didn't have to do the rest of the specific work of confiscating the house himself.
As for Jinyang, if you have a child, it is actually more suitable to have a baby and raise the baby here in Jiangnan.
After returning to Beijing, she became pregnant three or four months later. Why did she go to and from the palace with such a big belly? If Empress Dowager Feng saw her, she would definitely ask who the father was.
There is also the emperor's thoughts, his sister will probably be messed up by him...
So it is better to stay in Jiangnan for a while.
When the spring comes next year, if the war against the captives breaks out as scheduled, and he seizes the opportunity to win another brilliant victory, Jinyang's pregnancy hurdle will almost be over.
At that time, even if the emperor knew who the child's father was, he would probably pretend not to know, and he would not take the initiative to ask who the child's father was.
At that time, there was no rush for Jinyang to return to the capital.
Li Chanyue nodded and said softly: "That's fine."
As he said that, he couldn't help but secretly look at the young man with a thoughtful look on his face. The bright eyes under his dark eyebrows were a little lost in thought.
When Mr. Xiao Jia concentrates on thinking, he is quite...
Princess Xianning leaned her head in Jia Heng's arms and whispered: "Sir, I haven't seen Sister Yun and Sister Tanchun for many days. How many days will Chanyue and I stay at Ningguo Mansion?"
Li Chanyue blinked her starry eyes, and said with a chuckle: "There is a foreign girl in the house, and my cousin has always wanted to go and have a look."
Jia Heng said warmly: "There are more girls in the mansion. You go and have lunch. Then I will take you back to the princess mansion in the evening."
Xian Ning and Chan Yue insisted on joining in the fun, and they didn't know what troubles Chai Dai would have, so they decided not to take the risk.
Then he couldn't help but think of the King of Chu, who hid in the post house at this time. Mopan probably didn't know how uncomfortable he felt.
It was hard for him to comfort him just now in front of everyone.
Ningguo Mansion, the inner hall in the backyard.
Zhen Xi had already received the news that Jia Heng had gone to Zhen's house for inspection. She had a look of worry on her face. Baochai comforted her and said: "Brother Heng should be able to find a solution. Sister Xi'er, don't worry too much."
.”
Others are also trying to persuade Zhen Xi.
Zhen Xi spent a lot of time in Ningguo Mansion, and she had become familiar with a lot of girls. They were all of the same age, and they talked about almost anything together. Zhen Xi had a weak temperament, and she was with Jia.
Heng’s special relationship.
Zhen Xi's spirit-like eyes were filled with tears. She pursed her pink lips slightly and said softly: "Brother Heng, hasn't he come back yet?"
"I've sent my nanny over to ask. I'll let you know when there's news from the front yard." Daiyu took over the conversation and said softly.
And coincidentally, as soon as Daiyu finished speaking, a nanny quickly entered the hall and said happily: "Miss Lin, Miss Bao, uncle is back."
All the people in the hall, wearing hairpin skirts and coats, all became happy, got up and left accordingly, and were immediately stunned.
But Jia Heng not only came back by himself, but also brought two girls with him.
Baochai's beautiful eyebrows were condensed, her moist apricot eyes were slightly undulating, and her expression was slightly surprised.
Secretly, why are they?
Baochai had already met Princess Xianning and Princess Qinghe before going south with the eldest princess's ship.
As for Daiyu, she actually recognized Princess Xianning and the young princess. They had visited Ningguo Mansion as guests in the past.
Xiangyun and Tanchun looked at Princess Xianning and Li Chanyue beside Jia Heng. Xiangyun's apple-shaped round face smiled brightly, and they stepped forward to greet her, calling: "Sister Xianning, sister Chanyue, we haven't seen you for a long time.
Why don’t you come over here and play?”
Princess Xianning also had a soft smile on her face. She looked at Xiangyun affectionately and said, "Sister Yun, Sister Tanchun, there are a lot of things going on in the house these days, so I haven't come over."
Among the sisters of the Jia family, because Xiangyun has a cheerful personality, is cute and cute, and Tanchun has a heroic spirit, she is even more close to Princess Xianning.
The relationship between Princess Xianning and Baochai was mostly polite, and they could not get along with each other. This may be because Baochai had a heavy ideological baggage.
As for Daiyu, it was actually okay, but Daiyu was much closer to the gentle and quiet little princess.
Baochai looked at the young man and said softly: "Brother Heng, you are back."
Jia Heng looked at the girl with emerald eyebrows and moist apricot eyes, and said softly: "I'm back. The affairs of the Zhen family are almost over."
After saying that, he turned to look at Zhen Xi, who was feeling sad, and met the pair of eyes filled with tears, as spiritual as the stream, and said warmly: "Sister Xi'er, are you still thinking about her?"
Zhen Xi's bright eyes were filled with tears. She raised her head, looked at Jia Heng, and said softly: "Brother Heng, how is your family?"
Jia Heng handed the cloak to Yuanyang beside him, sat down, took the fragrant tea from Qingwen, and said comfortingly: "Actually, it's nothing, your eldest sister and second sister are both comforting Nujuan in the house.
The male members of the clan are now imprisoned."
When Zhen Xi heard this, her soft and pretty little face showed concern, and asked: "Brother Heng, where is the third sister?"
It has to be said that the girl's eyes were filled with tears, and the way the pear blossoms were covered with rain had a kind of sad and delicate beauty, just like a weak rose flower after the rain on the roadside.
Jia Heng pondered for a moment and said: "Your sister Lan? She encountered a bad thing. When she comes over, you can ask her again."
Xiangyun looked like a curious baby and asked, "What's going on? Brother Heng?"
Tan Chun pulled Xiang Yun's little hand and said angrily: "Sister Yun likes to get to the bottom of things."
Princess Xianning on the side took over the conversation and said in a clear voice: "It's the Fang family who originally made an appointment to get married. Seeing that the Zhen family is in trouble, they want to come over and break off the engagement."
Although Princess Xianning had not witnessed the whole process before, when she went to Zhen's house, she happened to see Fang Kuang being shot from left and right by the Jinyi palace guards. She looked for a palace guard to ask what happened.
"That Fang family is too abominable." Anger gradually surged on Xiangyun's white and rosy apple cheeks, and the little fat girl was clearly filled with righteous indignation.
Baochai also frowned secretly and thought to himself, how unexpectedly the promised marriage could change like this.
Baoqin Xiuli frowned slightly, with a hint of anger on her face as greasy as pear core, and said: "The Fang family are also scholars, why are they so treacherous?"
Previously, her father said that she should get married to those scholars from the Hanlin Academy. How could these scholars be so virtuous?
Tan Chun twisted his eyebrows and said in a low voice: "For every person who slaughters dogs for justice, most of them are scholars who are unfaithful."
Zhen Xi frowned, her hazy eyes showed anger, she pursed her slightly pale pink lips, and her heart was complicated and inexplicable.
My sister’s marriage has been called off? What will my sister do next?
Princess Xianning said coldly: "What's even more disgusting is that the Fang family actually wants to change their wives into concubines. It's so shameless!"
As soon as these words came out, Daiyu was shocked and said softly: "Changing your wife into a concubine?"
Baoqin raised her face as white as snow and said, "This family is so shameless, how can we just let them get into trouble like this?"
"The third lady of the Zhen family has torn up the marriage contract, and the engagement has been concluded." Princess Xianning said in a clear voice.
"That's how it should be. How can you still marry into such a family?" Xiangyun said softly.
Tanchun nodded and said with emotion: "Sister Lan has a stronger heart."
If it were her, she would not only tear up the marriage contract, but also throw the paper in the faces of the Fang family.
In the past few days, Zhen Lan and Tan Chun have been getting along well with each other, and they can be regarded as... cherishing each other.
Princess Xianning said softly: "As for that Fang family's rude words, sir, I have already taught that Fang family a lesson."
Because the matter involved the relationship between Zhen Xi and Jia Heng, Princess Xianning did not elaborate.
Jia Heng took the tea cup, looked at Xianning who was mingling with the Jia sisters, took a sip of tea, and glanced at the expressions of Daiyu and Baochai.
Chai and Dai looked normal and listened quietly, with sympathy appearing on their faces from time to time.
Well, everything is fine.
At this time, Tanchun looked at Jia Heng, with worry lingering in Yingli's eyebrows, and asked: "Brother Heng, this Fang family is very famous in Jiangnan official circles?"
I don’t know if Brother Heng’s actions will cause an uproar among Jiangnan scholars again.
Jia Heng put down the teacup, faced everyone's gaze, and said: "The Fang family is one of the cleanest people in the south of the Yangtze River, and has a good reputation among the scholars, but obviously virtue is not worthy of it. Even if this matter spreads, it probably won't be explained.
To be honest, the Fang family will not take the initiative to publicize it, and will even cover it up."
"Previously, Sister Wen and Uncle Li from Sister Qi's family, weren't they the Imperial Academy's wine festival?" Xiangyun's eyes moved, and he suddenly remembered something and said in a waxy voice.
In the past few days, Li Wen and Li Qi were not in the Ningguo Mansion. Because Li Shouzhong said a few words, the Cao family could only let Li Wen and Li Qi return home, and they were already planning to go to Shenjing to join Li Wan.
Wait until everyone has finished discussing this matter.
Zhen Xi looked at the young man in the python suit and asked: "Brother Heng, uncle, and uncle are in prison, why don't they do something."
Jia Heng said softly: "It's nothing."
At this time, Xiangyun took Zhen Xi's little hand and said softly: "Sister Xi'er, brother Heng is here, so there is no need to worry."
Zhen Xi nodded, glanced at the young man with a clear face, and felt relieved for the time being.
Brother Heng treated her like that before... maybe he wouldn't just sit back and watch the family.
Looking at the lively people, Daiyu's bright starry eyes flashed under her smoky eyebrows, and she said softly: "Brother Heng, it's already noon while we are talking. The princess and the princess are still here, so you might as well go first
Just have lunch."
Jia Heng looked at Daiyu, who had just suddenly become a "big lady", nodded and said: "Okay, I happen to be a little hungry too."
I thought to myself, just listening quietly, are you waiting for this experience after accumulating strength? This sense of territoriality...
Well, this sudden ladylike demeanor is full of charm, but it is a bit strange when paired with Daiyu's weak and timid appearance.
Princess Xianning looked intently at the girl with eyebrows as dark as willow smoke, her clear eyes flashed, and her hibiscus jade face was thoughtful.
This Miss Lin seems to have spent a lot of time going south with her husband?