Chapter 146: The Most Poisonous and Old Conspirator
The Xisi Archway has always been the most lively and prosperous place in the entire capital. From various shops to the market, there is an endless stream of people coming and going every day. Otherwise, the annual Autumn Showdown would not have chosen a place like this.
A piece of land. But since that time has not yet come, people coming and going will naturally not pay attention to the few pillars that were once full of heads. There are also many small merchants and hawkers selling their own fruits through the space below.
.
Since the place is lively, there are all kinds of restaurants, restaurants and teahouses around, but most of them are common people looking for a place to relax and have a rest. There are not many private rooms and the like. There are few dignitaries coming and going, and the Jinyi Xiaowei and Dong who are in charge of the detectives
There are not many factory fans. At this moment, in a small teahouse at the end of Mutton Alley, the first alley south of Xisi Archway, a waiter is carrying a big teapot to refill the tea guests everywhere, but two people at a table in the middle of the wall
But all the tea drinkers shook their hands, and the waiter walked away with a smile.
"Third Master, we've come to this point. If you don't help me, I'll really have to jump into the Jade River!"
"Come on, the Jade River is only so deep that it can't drown you!"
Seeing Xu Yi staring at him, Mr. Ying smiled and said in a low voice: "It's all because of you that you are too reckless. You actually bribed so many unreasonable people to ruin Xu Xun's reputation. The result was just right."
He fell into the hands of Beizhen Fusi. I have told you a long time ago that Mr. Ye, the number one figure in Beizhen Fusi, had kept that boy with him for several days in Nanjing. Do you really think he was a country bumpkin from out of town?
What about now, have you hit a brick wall?"
Xu Yi only knew that he had offended Beizhen Fusi, but he didn't know that he had also offended another nobleman. Even so, he was already on fire, but at this moment he had to say with a smile: "Third Master, I made a lot of mistakes.
It's all my fault, but now I really have nothing to do. Look now..."
"I've told you before that you should stop playing in these crooked ways. I told you to go and find Master Ma, the Minister of Civil Affairs, but you just didn't listen. Come on, since you can't ruin his reputation now, you can let it go for the time being.
.Ma Shangshu has always been an old-fashioned person who "pays great attention to the age of his concubines, and Mr. Ma can be half the master of his family affairs."
, "But I have no friendship with Master Ma" and I have never met Mr. Ma..."
, "Isn't this me?"
Seeing the disapproval on Mr. Ying's face, Xu Yi's heart skipped a beat. What he said was that there was someone above him, but he was actually asking someone to make the connection. He spent a lot of money to convince a godson of Li Rong, the eunuch Bingbi, the eunuch of the ceremony, but there was already someone there.
There was no reply for a long time. Although he knew that once the so-called Ma Shangshu's career was gone, he was determined to spend countless money on it, but there was no other way at the moment. He had to kill the horse and treat it as a live horse doctor." He asked for advice with a smile on his face.
The third master Ying pointed a few words with a smile, suddenly stood up and threw some money on the table, and then said calmly: "For the sake of your sincerity, I will take you there this time.
Know the way and it will be much easier for you to go alone next time!"
Xu Yi couldn't believe that this most difficult master could be let go so easily. He was overjoyed but also a little worried. He diligently helped Mr. Ying onto the carriage and then drove him all the way to the end of the field. He got off the car.
When he asked, others really said that this was Ma Shangshu Hutong, and there was indeed a plaque of Ma Mansion hanging in front of the door. Uneasy, he pulled two people around to inquire about it, and they immediately believed it, and let the Third Master Ying lead him for seven years.
I walked around to the back door, and after a while I knocked on the door and went in.
An hour later, the two of them just went out. Xu Yi was happy and distressed, while Third Master Ying was putting on airs to teach Xu Yi how to deal with serious people. When he saw Xu Yi get on the carriage and drive away quickly, he turned in.
Mr. Ying, who was in the alley next to him, suddenly came out again, stood there for a moment, knocked on the back door, gave instructions to the person who opened the door, and then turned around and left.
He didn't go far. He first went to a horse and carriage dealer to hire a car. After getting in the car, he drove in a big circle in Dongcheng. After a long time, he stopped at the back door of a large house in Anfu Hutong near West Chang'an Street.
Not long after the announcement, a middle-aged man who looked like a butler came out. He stepped forward and whispered a few words, and finally nodded and bowed before leaving.
In the evening, a carriage with no ornate decoration stopped at the front door of the house, surrounded by the entourage of the third concubine. The housekeeper Li Zheng stepped forward and diligently opened the curtains of the carriage himself, and helped an old man in his early teens.
After getting off the car, he followed the others all the way into the house. The others all knew their master's rules and followed far behind. No one dared to come closer than ten steps.
"Master, Ying San came here today and said that the matter has been completed, and Xu Yi has already met Mr. Ma.
Then Xu Yi complained bitterly to Mr. Ma for a while according to Ying San's words, and the other party agreed to plead his case in front of Ma Wensheng on his behalf."
"Did he see it with his own eyes?"
"Yes, sir, don't worry, he personally accompanied Xu Yi there. He established a friendship with Mr. Ma more than half a year ago, and he didn't expect someone to find out." Li Zheng nodded quickly, and added softly, "Little
Please tell me, sir, should I let Ying San slip away directly, or should I continue to pretend?"
, "Of course he will continue to pretend to be his best friend, Mr. Ma. Let Xu Yi spend more on him, and he won't stop until the trouble becomes big. Then it will be impossible for Ma Wensheng to occupy this position." The old man's steps were still slow.
, but the words in his mouth were as sharp as a knife, "This Xu Yi doesn't know the heights of the world. He performed such a monkey show and bumped into the hands of the prince. He also wanted to get a title. It's a pity that he doesn't have to use it! Yes!
Yes, I asked you to check on that Xu Xun, what happened?"
"Sir, Nanjing is far away from the capital. I'm afraid it won't be long before we get to know each other one by one."
"I originally thought there was still time, but I didn't expect that he would meet the prince by such a coincidence. He should be well-off.
Forget it, Nanjing will slowly check it out and see if you can get the handwriting of his adoptive father Xu Bian and write me a letter."
The old man seemed to be saying something extremely ordinary, without even the slightest change in his tone, "In addition, let Ying San give Xu Yi a blow, saying that if Xiao Jing is not eliminated, he will definitely not be able to get the Earl of Xing'an. Doesn't he just recognize it?
Is the Chief of Ceremony Bingbi Li Rong's godson? After learning this information, Xu Yi will definitely take Xiao Jing into his own hands when doing things."
This old man was none other than Jiao Fang, the current Chief of Staff. When Li Zheng left, Jiao Fang walked into the second door with her hands behind her back, but her heart was far from as calm as her face. He and the Chief of Ceremonies were writing.
Li Rong has quite a friendship. If we can really use this matter to bring down Ma Wensheng and bring Xiao Jing along with him, it will be more beneficial for him and Li Rong to take the position together! Of course, without Xiao Jing's support, that little Xu Xun
At a young age, it is easy to get to know the prince because of the good luck and luck, and then you can join the East Palace.
When he arrived in the study to question his three sons on their homework, he called his eldest son, Jiao Huangzhong, in front of him.
He first checked some of the stereotyped essays his son had written recently and then asked if he was ready for the provincial examination before finally raising his head.
"Can you blame your father for letting you take the provincial examination so late?"
"Father must have deep meaning."
Seeing that the eldest son in his early forties was as respectful and sensible as ever, Jiao Fang took the lead and nodded: "You are very talented, but now Liu Jian, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian and the others are in charge of the cabinet, and Ma Wensheng is suppressing me, because
You are my son and a half. Even if you take part in the imperial examination, they will definitely keep you in the second or even third place. As a father, if you cannot make further progress, you will not be able to take the exam. Otherwise, you will only make people laugh. My Jiao family has no one.
people!"
Zhuang Zhong's eyes suddenly brightened up: "Then dad asked me to take the provincial examination this time because he thought this subject was promising?"
"You don't have to think too much about this, I have my own arrangements."
Jiao Fang nodded reservedly, then didn't say much, and gave her son a few instructions before letting him leave. After dinner, as usual, he walked in the yard for a while and then entered the study on a whim.
So he simply ordered the book boy Yunfu to spread out a long piece of rice paper, dipped his pen in thick ink, and wrote two lines of poetry in one breath, but it was "There will be long winds and waves, and I will hang my cloud sails to help the sea." Appreciate it with your hands behind your back.
Seeing this painting of calligraphy that he was quite satisfied with, he had to think about it again and again.
Although there are many officials in their early seventies in the court, he is not on good terms with Liu Jian, nor is he on good terms with Xie Qian, and even has the same hatred with his immediate boss Ma Wensheng. He can cling to his current position firmly.
It depends on his ruthless methods, otherwise the official, Zuo Shilang, would have been replaced long ago.
Although Emperor Hongzhi admired his talents, he trusted Ma Wensheng even more. If he didn't think of ways to find a way for him, Jiao Fang would not even be able to get the position of Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs at an age when he was about to become an official, let alone join the cabinet!
He had previously learned from Li Rong, the eunuch Bingbi, the Superintendent of Ceremonies, that Fu Rong, Xu Chu, and even Zhang Mao and others in Nanjing had written a letter to commend Xu Xun. At that time, he had already begun to plan this plan, and the plan was gradually coming into being.
, naturally a little smug. At this moment, he gently stroked the beard on his chin, thinking of Ma Wensheng's sad resignation, a smile could not help but appear at the corner of his mouth. However, at this moment, he suddenly caught a glimpse of Yun Fu, who had only been in the house for a month.
Staring at his handwriting, his face was filled with confusion.
A downcast expression.
Jiao Fang came from a humble background. Although her career has not been spotless over the years, it is by no means luxurious. She only has a dozen or so servants. It has been more than a month since Yun Fujing was introduced to the government and she is usually taciturn.
He was rarely wordy with others, but he knew how to read and write, and things in the study were even more orderly. Although he could not be said to be very trustworthy, he felt that this young man was very easy to use. At this moment, he realized that something was wrong with Yun Fu, and he frowned.
He coughed lightly, and sure enough, he immediately saw the person hurriedly lowering his hands and lowering his head as if suddenly awakened, but the expression on his face still showed a bit of disappointment that had not been concealed.
"Yunfu, you just read these words for so long, what do you think?"
"My master's calligraphy has both strength and softness, and the charm is so vivid. How dare I judge it? I just think it's good."
Hearing his answer, Jiao Fang didn't feel sorry for herself. She immediately called him to press the paper and picked up a pen to write three or two random pieces, but she never saw anything about Yun Fu.