Yangzhou Yanyuan Yamen, back house
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 brightening and darkening 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 look. The red kodan painted with impatiens juice reflected the jadeite, and 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, whose face was filled 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.
Dusk fell, and the vast and sublime sky covered the sky 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 pear wood 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 situation and truly become a monster on the scene. "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 interrogated. However, it seems that Liu Changdao doesn't know much about salt affairs."
"Ask him what he did with the salt affairs, and ask how many other people's wives he forced, how many things Liu Shengzao behind him helped him settle, and all the shitty things that happened to 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 solemnly.
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 who is doing it for a woman, 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. It was also because of his keen sense of taste, and the strange feeling seemed to linger 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 all been recorded. My brothers have begun to search for relevant evidence to support the case, and the ships used for smuggling and the boatmen are also being traced and arrested. In addition, Cheng The boatmen of the Huang family and 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 the 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 first, Yun Si needs to find an entry point if he is short of money.
"
Yangzhou Salt Merchant has only arrested one 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 critical moments.
Jia Heng thought for a while and asked: "Where is Qu Guang? Where are you now?"
What he was waiting for was the cavalry of Henan Dusi. Qu Guang, the commander of 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 soldiers 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. Five thousand cavalry troops will be stationed at the Jiangbei camp first. 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 will search for three more days, but if I can't find him, 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 he is still alive.
If we follow the history of parallel time and space, Duduo is still the protagonist of the Qing Dynasty's entry into the country to a certain extent.
"Ask Tushan, where exactly are the Jinsha Gang's pirates entrenched? After the navy has sorted things out, we will attack this group of pirates first." Jia Heng said softly.
"Yes, Commander." Liu Jixian responded and immediately turned around to get busy.
At this time, Jia Heng also got up, walked up to Chen Xiao who was sitting quietly, looked at the girl who glanced at him, and said softly: "Xiaoxiao, I haven't eaten yet, have you finished cooking? "
Chen Xiao's cooking skills are superb, even better than the local Huaiyang cuisine. Chen Xiao turned away and ignored Jia Heng, seeming to still be worried about Cai Heng's matter.
Jia Heng said softly, sitting 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." Where are you coaxing the children?
Jia Heng took the tea cup from the side, handed it over, and said softly: "Well, come on, have a sip of tea, and don't get angry."
Chen Xiao snorted coldly, reached out to take the tea cup, took a sip, and handed it over. Jia Heng took the teacup, 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, and he had nothing to be angry about. He whispered: "You go tomorrow Those salt merchants in Jinling will definitely not 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 a focused gaze.
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 show his attitude 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 keep an eye on me. 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 the King of Zhou and Princess Zhou?"
According to the last words of King Zhou, the coffin of King Zhou was buried in the ancestral mausoleum of the Taizu of the Chen and Han Dynasties 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 incident, he felt that his father's death was 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. 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, looked at the girl with icy skin and jade face, and said softly: "When we get to Jinling, I will accompany you to see it."
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. They are under the influence of melons and plums."
He went there to worship, in what name? In the name of my 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: "Then it's not easy for you to be wandering alone all these years." Chen Xiao: "Yeah. ” and said no more.
Jia Heng patted the girl's hand gently and said softly: "Okay, I'll go to Sister Lin's room."
Since he took Shui Xin over to stay with him for one night, he definitely wanted to spend more time with the little girl. He didn't know how long it would take for his body to return to normal. He also wanted to give Jinyang a child.
Thinking about this, I suddenly thought of Jinyang, and I don't know what she is doing at home with Chanyue, and Yuanchun and the others.
Recently, I have been a little confused with Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue...I don't know what the world is, so 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 candle swaying in the summer wind cast two figures, one large and one small, on the study cabinet.
Daiyu was sitting on the Taishi's chair, holding Shui Xin, who was carved with pink jade, in her arms. She was teaching Shui Xin how to write by herself. The little loli's white little hand was holding the brush tube.
"Auntie, why is my name so difficult to write?" Shui Xin said in a soft voice as she looked at the crooked word "Shui Xin".
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 in from outside. He entered the room and looked at the large and small people writing at the desk. He smiled and said, "You two are playing."
Shui Xin is like a smaller version of Daiyu, with pink and jade-like features, 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 down 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 and smiled: "What are Xinxin 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 and 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 against the door frame. It's nothing."
The mark left by Zhen Qing on his neck had just been cleaned of rouge, 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 it was too late."
Let Xinxin sleep in the same room as me. "
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 and Daiyu: "..."
Jia Heng reached out and gently pulled Daiyu's bare hand. Under Daiyu's shy 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 Daiyu, 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 rectification 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 starry eyes lowered, and there was a suspicion in her heart. Was it because she was asking too many questions?
The words were divided into two parts. It was night, the sky and the earth were dark, but the lights along the Slender West Lake were brightly lit, and the light of strings of lanterns dazzled on the river. From time to time, the sound of singing, dancing and orchestral sounds could 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, shrouded in a gloomy and gloomy atmosphere.
"Mr. Wang, what's the direction of the wind in Yangzhou Salt Garden now?" Bao Zuhui asked with a sigh.
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? Strictly speaking, no one can escape."
Huang Rishan said with a bitter 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, the old man looks more like a coincide."
"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 Yong Ning doing right now?"
Everyone 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 arms and food. The priority when going south was to reorganize the Jiangbei camp. This is also the responsibility of his military honors. From the beginning to the end, he never mentioned it. 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 secretly in cahoots with Donglu, he shouldn't just 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 solemnly.
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 the iron fist of the imperial court hit them, I realized that I 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 took the lead and said, "Master Liu is finally here. Now that 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, "Master 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 Yong Ning 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 Once the confession comes out, we'll wait 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 this attitude."
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.
"My intention is to take precautions as soon as possible and find a way to drive Uncle Yong Ning back to the capital. Even if I have to contact people from Liangjiang officialdom, I will 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? He must have a fight with the people of 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 reorganized. Many generals are uneasy. It's better to let them cause trouble. He is a military minister, and he can't organize the entire army. Come to think of it. He also ran back to the capital in despair."
Huang Cheng rolled his eyes and suggested: "Several other generals and colonels of Jiangbei Daying Jiedushi have been complaining a lot recently. If they can cause some trouble, I think if others can use their strength, this god of plague will be able to 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 go out to Yangzhou by boat with Yong Ningbo and see what his tone is." Wang Shouqi said in a low voice with a faint gleam in his old eyes.
