In the flower hall——
Under the guidance of the old servant, Jia Heng walked into the hall. Although he didn't look away, his eyes flickered and he took in the decoration of the flower hall. Judging from the decoration of the coffee table, tables and chairs, they were all ordinary objects, without any luxury. The meaning is magnificent.
At least from this point of view, Mr. Xu's life style is simple and he does not use luxurious utensils.
Jia Heng raised his head and looked at Xu Lu. An old man in his forties or fifties with gray hair and a cotton gown bowed and said, "After Ning Guogong, Jia Heng, who was born late, has met Mr. Xu."
At this time, Xu Lu also looked at the young man opposite him. He was tall and tall, with a clear face and a pair of eyes that were calm and firm, which made people forget to look at him.
Xu Lu nodded to Jia Heng and said in a deep voice: "Master Jia, please sit down."
Jia Heng thanked him and sat down.
Xu Lu tapped his fingers on Xiao Ji's letter, and looked at Jia Heng with sharp eyes. His expression was cold and his voice was a little oppressive, and he said, "Is what Mr. Jia said here true?"
Jia Heng cupped his hands and said, "I don't dare to deceive you a single word. Those bandits are staying at Longfu Inn right now. They want to attack tomorrow to steal the bride. The Ningguo clan leader secretly colludes with the bandits. Something will happen tomorrow. Once something happens, Wansheng can arrest these people and send them to the government. I have heard for a long time that you are upright and upright, so I also ask you to uphold justice for Wansheng."
Xu Lu looked silent for a moment and said: "The Duke's attackers colluded with thieves and bandits to rob relatives of the clan. Such a shocking thing is happening at the feet of the emperor? But, Mr. Jia, how did you arrest these people?"
Jia Heng said: "My late-born cousin is now the chief flag officer of the Wucheng Military and Horse Division. After hearing this, I was shocked and worried. I have found my friend Cai Baihu in the capital camp and brought several brothers with him. We are keeping an eye on them secretly, but these thieves are cunning, and even Lai Sheng, the steward of Ningguo Mansion, has tipped them off. If we want to capture them, we need to make trouble first."
Xu Lu's eyes flashed, and he vaguely felt that something was wrong. The clear eyes under his sword-shaped brows were like two sharp swords. He looked at the young man opposite and asked: "Master Jia, why didn't you take this person on the spot and let him go?" Your cousin will be sent to the Five Cities Military and Horse Division tomorrow, why do you come here to find me?"
When Jia Heng heard this, he stood up and said solemnly: "The land of Sanfu is responsible for public security and anti-theft. His duties belong to the Jingzhao area. Wan Sheng naturally found the master immediately and subconsciously. Kuang Cuihua Mountain bandits entered the capital and committed crimes. Behind him was the leader of the Ningguo clan. The mastermind, the Five Cities Soldiers and Horses Division cannot guarantee that they will not be afraid of Ning Guo's power, and the big things will be reduced to small things. Heng Wen, Mr. Xu, is upright and enforces the law impartially. If the adults don't want to care about it and dare not care about it, then there is no need for Wansheng to look for others. ”
Xu Lu's face softened a little, and he looked at the tall and tall young man and said, "Master Jia, please sit down. My official name is Jingzhao Yin. I am concerned with the security of Jingzhao. I must not sit back and watch those thieves and bandits causing trouble in Beijing. It is just a matter of great importance." , after all, it involves matters involving Ning Guogong’s house, and Mr. Jia complained as a member of the Jia family, so the matter feels suspicious, so we need to ask the whole story."
Is this an internal fight among the Jia family, using him as a raft?
Jia Heng said: "Master Xu doesn't know something. Heng is already the fourth grandson of Ning Guo. He belongs to a branch of the Jia family. Firstly, he has no official title. Secondly, he has little contact with Ningguo Mansion. If it weren't for this, The marriage will not conflict with the Ningguo Mansion."
As he said that, he told about the previous marriage conflicts, mainly about the stolen engagement, to clear Xu Lu's suspicion.
Xu Lu's reaction was indeed one of the several reactions he expected. He said that after more than 20 years of ups and downs in the officialdom, from the local to the central government, how could he be a simple and reckless minister?
Moreover, everything he did was not without doubts. The only doubt was that... it was too appropriate.
He had people monitor the bandits, and he investigated and found out that the person behind the bandits was Jia Zhen. This meant that he had done all the preparatory work, and was just waiting for Jing Zhaoyin to kick him in, enforce the law impartially, and go up. Spare impeachment.
How could these Jingzhao parents not be suspicious?
The suspicion is that he, Jia Heng, is either under the instigation of others, or is plotting against the clan leader as a side branch, with ulterior motives.
And he admitted that he had indeed "kidnapped relatives" and "beat people", which means that his purpose was simple and he was forced to fight against the oppression of the clan leader.
"These bureaucrats are all talented people. Even if they don't know the details for a while, they will still feel that something is wrong." Jia Heng looked at Xu Lu who had a silent expression and sighed in his heart.
Xu Luwen heard the explanation and looked surprised for a moment. He looked at the young man opposite and said, "That's it."
A few days ago, he was quietly listening to Judge Fu Shi in the Yamen. He mentioned that Jia Zhen, the leader of the Jia clan, was beaten in Cuihong Mansion, and his face was so swollen.
He also reprimanded them that day. He did not talk about official business in the official hall, but privately said that some parents were ill-mannered and how they behaved.
Fu Shi was usually a cunning official who was bent on gaining power. He had just been recommended by Jia Cunzhou of the Rongguo Mansion and was able to serve as the Jingzhao Yasi and serve as general judge. Since he was a disciple of the Jia Mansion, what this young man said was indeed true.
Xu Lu remembered what happened before and got the confirmation. After thinking about it, he made a decision in his heart and said in a deep voice: "I will deal with this matter impartially! Mr. Jia, if you capture the thief tomorrow, just go to Jingzhao to deliver him to him." , I will examine this case strictly and make sure it is not in vain!"
Hearing this, Jia Heng looked excited and cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Mr. Xu."
"Do we still have enough manpower to deal with that bandit?" Xu Lu frowned and asked again.
Now that his doubts are gone, he looks at the young man across from him with admiration. This young man is calm and composed when faced with troubles, and he is quite a talented person.
It's just a pity that the surname is Jia...
Jia Heng said: "Sir, I have more than twenty people here, all of them are good players. We are more than enough to capture the thief."
"Be sure to leave someone alive, otherwise there is insufficient evidence. If the person behind the scenes is safe and sound, I might take revenge on you." Xu Lu warned with a gloomy face and sharp eyes.
If Shangshu wanted to impeach the Ningguo patriarch, he would be unable to do anything without the testimony of the bandits and Lai Sheng.
"The dignitaries in the capital are running rampant and causing trouble in the place, and the Jia Mansion has even planted private individuals in the Jingzhao Mansion. If we can take advantage of this, we can deter these thieves who trample on the laws of the imperial court." Xu Lu thought.
At this moment, Jing Zhaoyin was already thinking about using this matter to sweep away the unhealthy trends in the city of Shenjing.
Jia Heng left Xu's Mansion again under Xu Lu's instructions, and only breathed a sigh of relief when he left Yongyefang, where Xu's Mansion was located.
"This Xu Lu is simple and honest outside but fierce inside. It is difficult to deal with. He is worthy of local experience. If this person is found in the Metropolitan Procuratorate... there will be some turmoil in Chen Han's officialdom in the future." Jia Heng shook his head secretly, feeling that this It had nothing to do with him, but suddenly, he vaguely remembered something.
If he takes the second county examination in the winter of next year, Xu Lu will probably be the examiner.
"It's useless to think about this right now. It's better to go back. There's still a tough battle to be fought tomorrow."
Jia Heng put away his thoughts, and his tall and tall figure disappeared into the vast night of Shenjing City.
In Rongguo Mansion, night falls, and a bright moon hangs in the sky, casting thousands of soft rays of light.
In the Rongqing Hall, the lights were brightly lit, and laughter and laughter could be heard from time to time.
The maid and grandma stood behind the mahogany glass screen with their hands down, serving the hall full of pearls and jade. The wives and grandmothers of the Jia family were all dressed in silk and satin, and their golden hairpins were swaying. They were shining brightly. They gathered at a table and polished dominoes.
Mother Jia is sitting on a wooden chair with mink velvet backrest and pear blossom. She is wearing a brown satin fringed jacket and an jade bracelet on her arm. Her silver hair is neatly combed back, revealing deep forehead wrinkles. Her face is rich and rosy. , with a kind smile, Yuanyang stood aside, looking at the cards for Jia Mu, Sister Feng, Youshi, and Li Wan smiled and talked.
Just because tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, Jia Muyin smiled and said: "On the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is best for the whole family to come over and have fun."
The big family that Jia Mu talks about naturally refers to the two houses of the East and West. It's just a normal day. During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the reunion is beautiful. The daughters-in-law and sisters-in-law of the two houses will talk and laugh in the backyard, while the men guess the numbers in the front yard. Eat wine.
Sister Feng is wearing a light yellow skirt with embroidery on the front, a pearl necklace on her neck, and a yellow flower on her temples, which makes her look charming and embroidered, making her look like a fairy concubine. Jia Mu's words made the red phoenix eyes under Liu Shao's eyebrows smile, and she said with a chuckle: "Old ancestors, we have asked the second master to invite a theater troupe to perform in the house for three days, and there are also drummers and storytellers. That’s very well said.”
