Zhenzhai, Xianzhengtang
Facing the lustful eyes of the Zhen family, the atmosphere in the hall seemed cold and stiff to the extreme.
The maids and servants serving around him were also too proud to show off.
But Fang Kuang was indeed one of the Six Horsemen of Jinling who was famous in the south of the Yangtze River. He said without changing his expression: "Shibo, this is also a compromise. I can't bear to let down your family's good intentions. I don't think Shibo has heard about the rumors in the past two days." Here we are, the imperial edict of condemnation from the Holy One is coming to Jinling soon. If the three girls from your mansion had come earlier, they would have been able to escape this disaster."
Although two daughters of the Zhen family married into the royal family, it was a lucky coincidence that the daughter who got married was not implicated in the Zhen family's case. Do you still want to fish out the Zhen family?
As for Zhen Lan, it would be inappropriate to be his first wife again.
Otherwise, the daughter of a criminal official is really a disgrace to the family. I'm afraid all the ancestors of the Fang family will feel humiliated under Jiuquan.
In fact, this is also the common view of the world.
The family members of the prison officials, such as the Princess of Chu, were not abandoned. They were already showing great kindness to the emperor of the Tian family, thinking of adding more children to the Tian family, and Zhen Xue could say that the married daughter was the water thrown away.
But for others, such as Zhen Lan who is not married, according to the system, she will be listed on the list to wait for the court to decide, and the emperor will either grant favors or punish her.
In fact, Chu Princess Zhen Qing's status is really not as respected as imagined. If she were a crown princess, she might still give some face to her family.
Zhen Yingjia's face was as gloomy as iron, and she said coldly: "Changing a wife into a concubine is an act of betrayal. The Fang family is also a famous eunuch in the south of the Yangtze River, a home of poetry, calligraphy and etiquette. How could they do such a shameless thing?"
Fang Yaochun frowned, his face looked unhappy, and he said: "Brother Zhen, these words are too serious."
Zhen Xuan said angrily from the side: "Your Fang family is also a house of poetry, calligraphy and etiquette. Your Lord Fang is an example for the scholars in the south of the Yangtze River. How could you do such a capricious and shameless thing?"
"Shameless? I sincerely disagree with this." Fang Yaochun's face also turned gloomy, and he said in a clear voice: "Last year during the Mid-Autumn Festival, Quanzi just accompanied a few people from the same year to Wangyuan to participate in the Mid-Autumn Poetry Festival. He had no intention of making any marriage arrangements. , but somehow I was deceived that Quanzi was young, and promised the third girl of your house to Quanzi in the name of my elder."
This matter was actually Zhen Xuan's own initiative, and he also took a fancy to the Fang family's reputation as a scholar. Coupled with the coaxing from the surrounding people, the Fang family later felt that the Zhen family's family background was good, so they followed suit.
Marriage at this level is originally an exchange of resources.
Fang Yaochun said, looking at Zhen Xuan with his old and turbid eyes, and asked: "Later, I really didn't want to hurt the friendship between the two families and let outsiders laugh at it, so under the persuasion of the matchmaker, I brought my dog to the house to propose marriage. It’s been just over a year since we got married, and the ink on the marriage letter has not yet dried, but my old heart is unwilling to accept it!”
Fang Jijiu was also angry when he mentioned this matter. He had no intention of clinging to the Jiangnan Zhen family in the first place, but his children were fooled by the Jiangnan Zhen family for some unknown reason.
Now it is true that the Zhen family, a house of palace servants, cannot last long. It is about to become a prisoner, and the emperor is disgusted. Isn't this a mistake for Kuang'er?
"How can my daughter from the Zhen family be a concubine?" Zhen Yingjia shouted coldly with a gloomy face.
At this time, Fang Yaochun frowned, his face was torn, and he simply said with a sneer: "How come I heard that Miss Zhen Si of your mansion has come to Uncle Yongning? And Uncle Yongning obviously has a wife, not a concubine. , and what are you doing? If you can be the concubine of the Jia family, you can’t be the concubine of my Fang family?"
A slap in the face!
Is it strange that she is also a legitimate daughter who can serve as a concubine for that vulgar warrior, but when she gets to the Fang family, she becomes coquettish?
If Kuang'er didn't seem to have some appreciation for the third girl of the Zhen family, the marriage would have been canceled with a marriage letter, and there would have been less twists and turns.
When Zhen Xuan heard this, he looked slightly embarrassed and was speechless for a moment.
When Fang Kuang heard this, his expression paused.
He did not feel that he had wronged Zhen Lan. When he was sent to the Jiaofang Department, the concubine could not do anything.
As for the King of Chu? Now I am afraid that the King of Chu will not be able to protect himself. I heard from a good friend that when the Holy Sage investigates the Zhen family, he may find out something terrible, and it is possible that the King of Chu will also suffer from it.
He cannot be destroyed by the Zhen family.
Since Jia Heng was mentioned in the hurry, Fang Yaochun inevitably felt a sense of fear in his heart and said: "Brother Zhen, this old man has no choice but to do it. Kuang'er's bright future cannot be delayed by marriage. Otherwise, he will not change his mind no matter what." , If you don’t want to be a concubine, the marriage will be over."
The Zhen family cannot have any concubine.
Zhen Xuan's face was as gloomy as water, and he looked at Fang Yaochun, the anger in his heart was already burning his reason.
At this moment, in the back hall separated by a wall, Zhen Lan, who was listening to the people coming from the Fang family through the bead curtain and screen, felt as if she had been struck by thunder. Her face was as pale as paper, and her red phoenix eyes were shining with clear light, and there was a hint of crystal surging. , the humiliation in my heart doubled.
The maid Xiaolian on the side looked at Zhen Lan worriedly and whispered: "Miss."
Zhen Lan had clenched her pink fist tightly, her nails pierced her palms, and she still felt the pain. Her cold, bright eyes were stern, and she looked at Fang Kuang through the bead curtain not far away.
break off an engagement? After changing his wife into a concubine, Zhen Lan ended up in this situation?
The Fang family had humiliated her like this, and she would not be a human being unless she took revenge!
Thinking of this, a surge of anger surged in his heart, he made up his mind and headed towards the hall.
"Father!"
Zhen Lan walked in without looking at Fang Kuang and Fang Yaochun. She first saluted Zhen Xuan Yingying, then saluted Zhen Yingjia and Zhen Shao, and said, "Uncle, second uncle."
At this moment, the expressions of Zhen Yingjia, Zhen Shao, and Zhen Xuan in the hall changed slightly and they looked at the girl.
As soon as he said this, Zhen Xuan frowned and said, "Lan'er, why are you out here?"
Zhen Yingjia's expression paused, and she looked at the girl with pity in her eyes. She finally sighed and swallowed back the words of reprimand that came to her lips.
Fang Kuang also turned his face and stared at the girl with a face as beautiful as snow, bright eyes and white teeth, and a slightly pointed chin.
This is what the fortune teller says: he is mean and surly, and this face is not that of a prosperous husband.
Fang Kuang frowned and said softly: "Miss Lan."
Zhen Lan glanced at Fang Kuang coldly and said: "Father, the marriage contract with the Fang family is invalid. How can I, the tiger girl of the Zhen family, marry the dog son of the Fang family? If my daughter does not marry the Fang family, it is because the Fang family is not worthy!"
As soon as these words came out, Zhen Yingjia's complexion changed slightly, and Zhen Xuan's eyes were surprised.
Zhen Shao patted the little table beside him and said loudly: "Lan'er said it well! It turns out that the Fang family is not worthy!"
As soon as these words came out, Fang Yaochun's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and his temples were beating slightly with anger.
Fang Kuang was dumbfounded and looked at the girl with bright features and eyes looking forward to Shenfei in disbelief.
Doesn’t his Fang family deserve it?
Zhen Lan's somewhat narrow eyes stared coldly at Fang Kuang, with waves of anger welling up in her heart.
Fang family, you guys will regret it!
Fang Yaochun stood up at this moment, waved his sleeves and said, "Since the Zhen family is willing to break off the engagement, let's let this marriage be done!"
At this time, Fang Kuang met those sharp-sword-like eyes and noticed the hostility in those beautiful eyes, and his heart suddenly lurched.
For some reason, a strong uneasiness suddenly arose in my heart.
At this time, Fang Yaochun said: "Kuang'er, what are you doing in a daze? Give the marriage certificate to the Zhen family."
This time he felt that he was too polite. With the Zhen family looking like it was going to be defeated, how could he still be so arrogant and domineering?
No wonder, as the memorial in the residence newspaper said, "The family tradition of the Zhen family is corrupt, and the children are arrogant and domineering."
A girl can be so arrogant and rude, how can she be a good match?
And with such a mean and surly face, she is definitely not a good wife and a good match!
Fang Kuang was silent at this moment and handed it over from his sleeve. There was some hesitation on his young and handsome face, his lips moved, and he hesitated to say: "Miss Third..."
After all, they had written some letters before, so both parties knew something about each other's situation.
At this time, Zhen Lan's maid Xiaolian took it from Fang Kuang and said crisply: "Miss, here it is."
At this time, Zhen Lan took the marriage certificate. The golden red paper was dazzling in her palm, as if it was mocking her.
"Stab!!!"
In the astonished eyes of everyone, Zhen Lan tore up the marriage contract three times and threw it to the ground like snowflakes. She said bitterly: "It is my Zhen family that looks down on people like you. From now on, the Fang Zhen family will No more involvement!”
Seeing this, Fang Yaochun looked at the girl with a faint look, and shouted: "What a unruly and shrewd Miss Zhen San."
With his status, he couldn't easily argue with a girl, so he just ignored her, but he didn't want the girl to be so arrogant!
He didn't believe it. If he spread the word, how could anyone marry such a domineering and aggressive girl?
Maybe there is no need to get married. The Jiaofang Division of the Ministry of Rites in Nanjing sent it to the Qinhuai River with a pair of jade arms and a pillow for thousands of people!
"Kuang'er, let's go." Fang Yaochun's face was gloomy, and he pulled Fang Kuang, who was already stunned as Zhen Lan tore up the marriage certificate, out of the hall.
Zhen Yingjia was sitting on a chair now, looking at the girl with a complicated expression.
Because the incident happened suddenly, there was no time to stop it.
"Lan'er." Zhen Xuan sighed and looked at his daughter, who had red eyes, a frown on her face, and a look of hatred that could not be eliminated. She couldn't bear to be blamed, and said: "Let's leave it like this today, go back. .”
Zhen Lan Yingying bowed, her eyes filled with tears also left a drop of clear tears, and she was about to leave the main hall.
At this moment, a servant's panicked voice came from outside, saying: "Master, the angel who announced the order from the palace has arrived."
In the past few days, the rumors in Jinling City have also reached the ears of the servant. The imperial edict at this time is obviously not a good thing.
Indeed, after a period of traveling south from Beijing to Jinling, the imperial edict was escorted by a middle-aged eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Daming Palace to Jinling and arrived at the gate of the Zhen Mansion.
When the Fang family father and son and their servants who had just walked under the eaves of the corridor saw this, they did not leave in a hurry and looked in the direction of Yimen.
Fang Yaochun said: "Kuang'er, you have to walk on thin ice when traveling in officialdom. If you are not careful, your family will be destroyed, your wife will be separated, and the Zhen family will be finished."
Fang Kuang looked gloomy and nodded, gradually forgetting the angry blood-red pupils in his heart.
She is just an ordinary woman. Now that the Zhen family has fallen, she has no chance to rise again.
After all, this is still a man’s world!
"Let people call Lin'er and Jue'er to go together to receive the order." In the hall, Zhen Yingjia's face changed, her heart was awe-inspiring, and she ordered, leading Zhen Shao, Zhen Xuan and others, and quickly walked towards Yimen welcomes him.
At the same time, Zhen Qing, Zhen Xue, Zhen Yingjia's wife Gan, Zhen Shao's wife Sun, Zhen Xuan's wife Xu, and Zhen Zhu's wife Wang in the backyard also heard the news.
There was a look of fear on Mrs. Sun's well-maintained fair face. She looked at Mrs. Gan and asked, "Sister-in-law, this...is this an imperial edict to punish sins?"
Mr. Gan's face was pale, his hands and feet were cold, and he sighed, "I don't want to end up in this situation."
Zhen Jue's daughter-in-law, Zhang, looked at Zhen Qing eagerly and said, "Princess, please think of a way, and the prince, please ask for mercy from the palace."
Facing everyone's gaze, Zhen Qing shook her head. Her voice was no longer as charming as before, and she said in a low voice, "Now that the imperial edict has been issued, it is already too late."
Even though she had long anticipated the arrival of this day, and Jia Heng's constant "suppression" had made her less obsessed with rescuing the Zhen family from being confiscated, she still felt depressed when she saw the panicked scene of everyone in the mansion.
After all, this is the place where I have lived for more than ten years...
"Why is it too late?" Zhen Xuan's daughter-in-law Xu couldn't help but said: "Let the prince think of something, we are royal relatives, even if we discuss marriage, we shouldn't be blamed."
When the other concubines heard this, they immediately talked in a variety of ways.
Zhen Qing's crystal-clear jade face was covered with frost, and her red lips were bitten white by her teeth. Immediately, she whispered: "The prince has been thinking of ways these past two days, visiting some people to ask for mercy."
The King of Chu had moved away from the Zhen family two days ago, both to avoid trouble and to avoid suspicion.
But this matter is like a thorn in Zhen Qing's heart.
At this time, Zhenlin's daughter-in-law whispered: "If Xi'er is not in the Ningguo Mansion of Uncle Yongning, can the Ningguo Mansion ask for mercy from the palace?"
Zhen Qing was silent for a moment, her clear eyes were lost for a moment, and she whispered: "Uncle Yongning went to the Jiangnan Camp. He has been busy with military affairs these days."
That bastard's previous attitude had always been very clear: Whose child would be held?
One of Zhen Shao's concubines frowned and said: "How can this be like this? We have been close friends for several generations, and he is being favored now. He is allowed to plead for mercy in the palace without any effort. How can he hide? Already?"
Zhen Shao and several of Zhen Xuan's concubines spoke in agreement.
"This is still a family. No matter what happens, we can't count on you."
Listening to the words of the Yingying Yanyan around, I don't know whether they are talking about Jia Heng or the King of Chu. Zhen Qing's jade face was frozen, and her heart was inexplicably irritable. She scolded a group of young concubines: " Shut up! Are you still making noise at this time? Isn’t it chaotic enough?”
After all, she is a princess, and her status is extremely respected. With such a scolding, several noisy young concubines suddenly fell silent.
Zhen Shao's concubine's face changed slightly and she looked at Zhen Qing. She was a little afraid, but she felt a little embarrassed to be scolded by a junior. She muttered: "Now is the time to find a way to overcome the difficulties. The princess has always had good ideas. To be able to do it, you have to make an idea."
Youdao is a sutra that every family has difficulty reciting.
Mr. Gan looked towards the front yard, feeling inexplicably anxious. Seeing this, he smoothed things over and said, "This is the decree of the palace, and no one else can say anything about it."
Shui Xin on the side raised the little face of the porcelain doll and whispered: "Mother, why did you mention your godfather?"
Zhen Xue put her arms around her daughter, with a look of worry cast on her elegant and beautiful face, and said, "Xinxin, can I take you to your godfather's house in the afternoon?"
After all, this is my mother's family. Although I have worried about it countless times in the past two days, there is no solution.
On the other side, Zhen Baoyu's face looked like a full moon in the Mid-Autumn Festival, with a look of confusion on her face. She asked Zhen Xue, "Second sister, people are saying that the palace is going to punish someone these days. What's going on?"
Zhen Xue looked at Zhen Baoyu and said softly: "Baoyu, something happened at home. Please follow your mother later and don't go anywhere."
Just when everyone was worried, a nun ran over and said in a tearful voice: "The eldest madam, the second madam, and the princess, the imperial edict said that the eldest master and the second master will be imprisoned for questioning, as well as the third master Lin and Jue. Fourth Master, we all have to ask questions."
The female family members with different expressions and muttering in low voices all around them turned pale when they heard this and became as silent as cicadas.
When Zhen Qing heard this, her face was as cold as ice. She looked at Mrs. Gan not far away and said, "Mother, let me go and take a look."
At this time, Princess Zhen Xue of Beijing also said: "Sister, I will go with you."
At this moment, the front yard is in chaos. The inner prisoner is standing in the middle, surrounded by the inner guards in rich robes and robes. There are about dozens of them, lined up from the gate to the Yimen, standing with swords in their hands, their expressions are cold and invisible. An evil spirit spreads out.
The middle official who came to convey the order was surnamed Ge. He was slightly fat, had a gloomy face, and his serious smile was obviously a bit fierce. This person was a eunuch in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he was asked about the order, but he was not detained on the spot. take.
Eunuch Ge delivered the bright yellow silk and said, "Zhen Yingjia, please accept the order."
Zhen Yingjia's face was ashen, and the eunuch who delivered the edict had just read out the imperial edict drawn up by the cabinet, which contained six articles of reprimand and guilt for the Zhen family. It was like a basin of cold water that poured down the Zhen family members who knelt down in the courtyard to listen to the edict in winter. It cooled down my heart.
Only in the end I heard harsh words of punishment.
"The convict officers Zhen Yingjia, Zhen Shao, Zhen Zhu, etc. were all dismissed from their posts and questioned. All the men of the clan were sent to prison and interrogated for their crimes. The female family members were imprisoned in the mansion pending trial, and their property was confiscated and brought to the officials..."
In fact, this was because of the dignity of Princess Chu and Princess Beijing, and the female family members were not all sent to prison together.
Zhen Yingjia seemed to be paralyzed on the spot at this moment, with a pampered and fair face that was almost ashen. He raised his trembling hands above his head and said dejectedly: "The guilty minister accepts the order, long live my emperor."
Not far away, Zhen Shao, Zhen Xuan, and the fourth master of the Zhen family, Zhen Zhu, who had just been "rolled over" by the internal supervisor named Ge, were not far away. In addition, there were Zhen Lin, Zhen Jue and other young children of the Zhen clan. All of them looked gloomy. With a fearful face, he knelt down to thank the holy grace, and the mountains shouted long live.
As for the reason why he was ordered by his mother to join the army during his filial piety, it is completely non-existent.
This is the thunder of the emperor. After committing a crime, it is completely useless to count the merits he has made in the past.
What's more, he didn't make any merit at all before.
Fang Yaochun was in the back hall of the rockery southwest of Yimen. When he had just delivered the order, he took his son Fang Kuang to hide behind the flower wall. Seeing that the order had been delivered, he shook his head secretly and left through the side door.
The middle-aged eunuch had eyes like a hawk. He saw them at a glance and said with a sinister smile: "Who are you?"
People from the Zhen family? Dare you refuse to obey the imperial edict?
He was about to ask someone to take it down on the spot.
Fang Yaochun hurriedly came forward and said with a smile: "This father-in-law, the subordinate Fang Yaochun is offering wine to the Nanjing Imperial College. He brought his dog to the Zhen Mansion to do business. It is a pity that he didn't have time to listen to the holy teachings. I don't know if the holy bow is safe?"
When Eunuch Ge heard this, the coldness in his eyes dissipated a bit, and he said calmly: "Good morning, Holy Gong."
"Since I'm a guest in Zhen's Mansion, I don't need to linger any longer and leave immediately." Ge Naijian said coldly and waved his hand, signaling Fang Yaochun and Fang Kuang to leave.
Seeing that the eunuch was so arrogant, Fang Yaochun secretly cursed the eunuch, and then whispered to Fang Kuang: "Let's go."
Fang Kuang felt a little frightened when he saw this scene of wielding a knife and a gun.
At this moment, under the flower wall rockery at the corner of the hall, Zhen Lan was holding the vermilion pillar with one hand, watching this scene quietly with red and phoenix eyes under the willow leaves' slender eyebrows.
At this moment, the Zhen family is a square, spacious courtyard, with fierce guards inside and outside. Everywhere you look, there are Zhen family members kneeling in the courtyard, and Fang Yaochun, who is flattering and smiling, It was like a nightmare that would never go away, leaving a heavy shadow in the girl's heart.
Entangled in a heart, it seems that breathing has stagnated.
Eunuch Ge said coldly: "Prisoner Zhen Yingjia, the Holy One has decreed that the detailed inspection and investigation of Tirenyuan will be handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in conjunction with the Jinyi Mansion. Uncle Yongning will be here later."
As he said that, he held the fly whisk and looked indifferently at the kneeling Zhen family members below, while the solemn atmosphere around them seemed to be pressing on the hearts of the Zhen family members like a dark cloud.
Just hearing Uncle Yong Ning's name made me feel shocked.
Zhen Lan's beautiful eyebrows furrowed, her bright eyes flashed, and the original feeling of suffocation seemed to have subsided a little unconsciously.
It was he who came to inspect? Yes, he is the governor in imperial robes, a close minister of the emperor...
At this moment, accompanied by the sound of jingling rings, the female members of the Zhen family also walked through the halls and alleys. Under the guidance of Princess Chu Zhen Qing and Princess Beijing Zhen Xue, they came to the front yard and saw this scene. , looking mostly shocked.
However, Mrs. Gan and Mrs. Xu did not wait in the backyard for news from the front yard. Instead, they stopped in the flower wall corridor and almost fainted when they saw the Zhen family kneeling in the courtyard.
Sent to prison and questioned all at once...
Zhen Qing calmed down and walked forward with graceful and elegant steps. She held up her charming hair and said with a faint expression on her Yanye face, "This father-in-law, I am the eldest daughter of Zhen Qing, Zhen Qing."
The internal prison officer surnamed Ge looked at Zhen Qing, his eyes moved slightly, and he cupped his hands and said: "It turns out she is Princess Chu, I am polite."
With that said, he saluted Zhen Qing.
I know Zhen Qing well.
Zhen Qing frowned and said: "My father-in-law, can you let the children of the clan pack their things and say goodbye to the female family members."
It was already winter, and the early morning frost had not yet melted away. Zhen Yingjia and Zhen Shao were both kneeling on the ground, not daring to get up because they were awaiting punishment.
The eunuch surnamed Ge looked indifferent and said in a cold voice: "According to the order of the Holy Emperor, all the men of the Zhen family are sent to prison and are not allowed to move. Without the permission of the Jinyi Mansion and the Internal Affairs Mansion, the servants dare not do it. Princess, please go to the post house." I'm going to find His Highness the King of Chu, and please don't embarrass me here."
As soon as these words came out, Zhen Qing's face turned ugly. How dare this dog slave be so rude to her!
He couldn't help but feel angry towards the man who hid in the post house.
Zhen Xue, who was on the side, pulled Zhen Qing's arm, her soft and graceful eyebrows showed concern, and she said softly: "Sister, they are also following orders."
At this moment, Zhen Yingjia and the other four brothers, as well as the Zhen family members, were all kneeling, and this beauty also felt a little uncomfortable.
Zhen Qing's jade-like face was as frosty as she said coldly: "I know."
Why doesn't that bastard come? ! Aren't you afraid that she will be so angry that she may have fetal irritation?
Well, actually I haven’t shown my pregnancy yet.
And just when Zhen Qing's jade face was covered with frost, there was the chaotic sound of horse hooves outside the archway of Zhen Mansion. A large number of guards in Jinyi stood in front of the door, blocking all sides of the Zhen family manor. Even Fang Yaochun and his son were blocked as soon as they arrived at the door, and they could only go to the door. Stay aside.
Then came the Jinyi palace guards holding embroidered spring knives. They dismounted and came to the gate tower surrounded by a young man wearing a wingless crown with a mountain shape on his head, a black and red sitting python suit, and the emperor's sword on his waist.
"Uncle Yongning is here!"
(End of chapter)
