Jinling, Zhenzhai
As the news of Jia Heng's arrival reached the Zhen family manor, Zhen Yingjia and others who were kneeling in the courtyard were shocked and couldn't help but look up.
And the faces of Gan and other female family members also showed surprise.
Jia Heng, how come they don’t know each other? Zhen Xi has been to Ning Guo's house several times before, and now she is still at Ning Guo's house.
On the other side, Princess Chu Zhen Qing pursed her pink lips, looking at the young man in python suit not far away with her narrow and clear phoenix eyes, her heart moved slightly.
Princess Zhen Xue of Beijing also held her handkerchief tightly and helped her mother Gan out of the backyard.
As for Fang Yaochun and Fang Kuang's father and son, they quickly moved aside. The father and son looked at each other and looked at each other in disbelief at the Jinyi palace guards who came from the gate.
I saw groups of Jinyi palace guards wearing flying fish uniforms and embroidered spring knives hanging from their waists. They entered from the gate and lined up in the front hall with a strict and quiet aura. Surrounded by a group of high-ranking Jinyi military academies, , a young man wearing a black and red python suit, with a sword on his waist, stepped in.
The young man's face was stern, his sword-shaped eyebrows flew into his temples, and his eyes were as bright as lightning, wandering across the distance.
Because it was winter, the young man put on a black cloak, adding a bit of solemnity.
Jia Heng's face was calm, and he turned to look at Zhen Qing and Zhen Xue without any pause. His clear eyes passed over Zhen Yingjia, Zhen Shao, and Zhen Xuan, and settled on Zhen Yingjia.
"Uncle Yong Ning." The eunuch surnamed Ge who delivered the order seemed to have a different face, with a smile on his fat face. He walked a few steps quickly, raised his hands towards Jia Heng and said, "We have met Uncle Yong Ning." .”
What does it mean to be arrogant at first and respectful at the end? What does it mean to turn over a book? At this moment, it was almost perfectly presented in front of the entire Zhen family.
The internal prison officer who had just delivered the order in front of the Zhen family had a warm and friendly smile on his face.
In fact, I don't blame the eunuch, because the more he is in the center of power, the more he can feel the weight of Jia Heng, a recent nobleman, in the emperor's heart.
Especially after the war in Henan, the victory at Haimen, and the capture of Prince Jurchen alive, Jia Heng was like a white moonlight in Emperor Chongping's heart.
There was news in the palace that the emperor had recruited Uncle Yong Ning as his son-in-law, and the rumors had not been refuted by the nobles.
Zhen Qing looked at the young man in python suit who looked like stars over the moon. His beautiful eyes under the curved willow leaves and thin eyebrows were full of surprise.
This bastard is finally here!
Under Zhen Lan's curved willow-leaf slender eyebrows, her red eyes were fixedly staring at the young man, as if she was carefully looking at Jia Heng for the first time.
The young man looked like an unsheathed sword. His face had lost the warm smile he had when he was touring various sights in Jinling. At this moment, his face was cold and his demeanor was serious.
And this is Yongning Bojiaheng, the Han Dynasty's commander-in-chief in imperial robes and military minister.
Zhen Lan's face was pale but beautiful, like a rose after being damaged by a heavy rain. She hesitated for a moment, bit her lower lip with her teeth, and held the handkerchief used to stop bleeding in her hand. She couldn't help but tighten it a little, and her eyes couldn't help but He stared at the young man.
Power, if she was as powerful as Brother Heng, would she still be bullied by the Fang family? Will your home be punished and searched?
But after all, this is a man's world, what can she do?
No, maybe there is a way!
Jia Heng raised his eyes to look at the eunuch named Ge and asked: "Eunuch Ge, why are the Zhen family still kneeling after receiving the order?"
Eunuch Ge smiled and explained: "This is not because we have a small number of people to prevent the men of the Zhen family from getting separated. Uncle Yongning, your family is here, and our family is relieved. All the prisoners of the Zhen family are here for Uncle Yongning." Check.”
It has to be said that Ge Naijian was not bullying the Zhen family before, but he definitely had real considerations and knelt on the ground. At least there was less confusion.
Of course, it is also because the people in the palace are accustomed to taking advantage of the situation and serving dishes to others.
"Eunuch Ge, thank you for your hard work." Jia Heng nodded and said with a gentle expression. Immediately, he looked at the Zhen family with sharp sword-like eyes and said, "Everyone, get up. It's very cold on the ground."
These words are like a ray of warm sunshine suddenly falling from the dark clouds in the cold winter, shining on the Zhen family, dispersing the dark clouds, and making the body feel warm.
Zhen Yingjia raised her head at this time, and in the sunken eye sockets, her old eyes looked at the boy in the python suit with complicated eyes. Zhen Qing quickly stepped forward and helped Zhen Yingjia up.
Zhen Shao, Zhen Xuan, and Zhen Zhu also stood up with the help of several juniors and servants of the Zhen family. They looked at the young man and felt a mixture of emotions in their hearts.
Zhen Zhu's eyesight was even more complicated. His daughter was serving this man in his house. In short, he was half of this young man's father-in-law.
Shui Xin, who was beside Zhen Xue, took Zhen Xue's bare hand, raised her pink face, and said in a sweet voice: "Mother, godfather..."
Zhen Xue knelt down and whispered in Shui Xin's ear: "Your godfather is busy with business."
In this room, Jia Heng looked calm and said: "The Zhen family has also received the decree from the Holy One. I have been ordered to investigate the case of the Zhen family and must punish the relevant criminals impartially. In addition, the eldest princess of Jinyang and the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Responsible for inspecting and inspecting stolen goods."
Zhen Yingjia, Zhen Shao and others listened without saying a word.
After Jia Heng finished his report, the eunuch surnamed Ge said with a smile: "Uncle Yongning, if there is nothing else, our family will go back to the posthouse to rest."
"Eunuch Ge goes back to rest. I will take care of the Zhen family and others." Jia Heng nodded and said, "Liu Jixian, send someone to see Eunuch Ge off."
When Ge Naijian left the Zhen family under the fierce guards, all the men, women and children in the Zhen family breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, the people in the palace are not as easy to talk to as "relatives" like Jia Heng.
Just when Jia Heng was about to ask the Zhen family to come to the hall to talk, Liu Jixian suddenly reported: "Captain, Fang Yaochun and his son Fang Kuang from the Imperial Academy of Nanjing are lingering in the mansion."
While they were talking, Fang Yaochun and Fang Kuang's father and son came closer, cupped their hands and said, "I have met Uncle Yongning before."
Jia Heng looked at Fang Yaochun and his son with an indifferent expression and asked, "Why is Mr. Fang here?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the Zhen family looked at Fang Yaochun and Fang Kuang, but a few of their eyes clearly showed resentment.
As for Zhen Lan, her face was almost as pale as paper, and she was biting her lower lip tightly. The humiliation just now was still rolling in her heart, like snakes and ants biting her heart, filled with resentment.
At this time, Zhen Xuan said coldly: "The Fang family has a marriage contract with our house. This time we came to break off the engagement. We had already tore up the marriage contract before."
Zhen Xuan did not mention the matter of changing his wife into a concubine because it was too embarrassing.
But just that, everyone in the Zhen family was shocked.
Zhen Qing's face didn't look very good, and she said coldly: "This is obviously because I saw the decline of my Zhen family, and now I'm adding insult to injury. What a capricious villain!"
This Fang family is really damned!
In fact, this matter is not due to the fact that the Zhen family still has two princesses, but because of the unpredictable power of God. Since the emperor despises the Zhen family, there is no need for the Fang family to disobey their superiors.
Jia Heng frowned and looked calmly at Fang Kuang, who was not far away with a look of fear on his face.
At this moment, Zhen Lan's mind moved, and a touch of sarcasm appeared on her quiet and charming face, and she said, "Why didn't father tell the Fang family that he shamelessly wanted to change his daughter into a wife?"
Even if she, Zhen Lan, was to be a concubine, she would not be a concubine to the Fang family who flattered her and put her down!
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of the angry female family members of the Zhen family suddenly changed, and they were confused and confused.
Changing a wife into a concubine, what on earth is going on?
Just from these four words, it seems to reveal something.
Even Zhen Qing frowned, her jade face was as crystal clear as frost, she looked at Zhen Lan and said, "Third sister, why do you want to change your wife into a concubine?"
Jia Heng looked at Fang Yaochun, his eyes a little dark, and said: "Change your wife into a concubine?"
Zhen Lan said coldly: "Fang Jijiu also took Uncle Yongning as an example, and said that the fourth sister was a concubine for Uncle Yongning and wanted me to be a concubine for the Fang family."
At the end of the sentence, there was a hint of evil in his eyebrows, and a cold and stern look surged in his bright eyes.
This girl turned out to have a personality similar to Zhen Qing's. At this moment, she completely overturned the table and embarrassed the Fang family.
Jia Heng looked at Fang Yaochun with a gloomy look and said, "Fang Jijiu also used me as an example?"
Seeing this scene, Fang Yaochun hurriedly explained: "Uncle Yong Ning, that little girl is talking nonsense. When did this official have such thoughts? She just came to break off the engagement. It was originally the Zhen family's wishful thinking."
As soon as these words came out, Zhen Shao, Zhen Zhu and others turned pale, and looked at Fang Yaochun angrily.
Jia Heng shouted: "That's enough! I don't want to hear Mr. Fang messing around here. Mr. Fang is a scholar. He has made a marriage contract and then goes back on his words. I don't want to be so treacherous."
When Fang Yaochun heard this, his expression changed, and he became a little angry. Mainly because once the name of treachery came out, he was afraid that the Fang family's reputation in Jiangnan would be affected. His voice couldn't help but become colder, and he said: "Uncle Yongning, breaking off the engagement is due to the old man and the old man. Regarding the Zhen family’s affairs, Uncle Yongning is here to investigate and deal with the Zhen family’s affairs, not to make decisions for the Zhen family.”
"Master Fang, are you teaching me how to do things?" Jia Heng glanced at Fang Yaochun coldly, his face as frozen as ice.
Fang Yaochun: "???"
However, he saw that all the guards in Jinyi Mansion around him were looking at him with unkind expressions.
Fang Yaochun couldn't help but feel timid. He calmed down and said bravely: "I just remind Uncle Yongning not to abandon public service for personal gain or bend the law for personal gain."
He is a scholar from the Qing Dynasty in the south of the Yangtze River. How can he be bullied by his martial arts? Aren't you afraid of the uproar among Jiangnan scholars?
Jia Heng's face was silent and he said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty does not doubt me, but ordered me to deal with it at my discretion. How can you, a Xiaoxiao like you, who has added insult to injury, be able to make random remarks? The person in charge of the culture and education of Southern Province actually did this. How can we teach scholars without faith? I will definitely tell the Holy One about this matter."
Fang Yaochun's expression changed slightly and he said, "You, you..."
Is this going to be impeachment?
Zhen Qing's beautiful eyes flashed, and she secretly thought, just now she called the villain of the Fang family who made things worse, but now this is called... a woman sings and her husband follows her.
Jia Heng said, not bothering to pay attention to Fang Yaochun. He waved his hand as if to ward off flies and said, "Except for those related to the Zhen family, drive away the rest."
"Yes." Liu Jixian responded loudly, and then called the royal guards beside him.
Several fierce-looking Jinyi palace guards surrounded Fang Yaochun and his son Fang Kuang, and said with cold expressions: "Master Fang, please stop."
Fang Yaochun's face was ugly, and his heart was filled with indignation. He snorted coldly, felt polite and scolded him for being domineering.
Fang Kuang looked at the young dignitary with a handsome appearance and similar age to himself, and said indignantly: "The emperor's eagle dog, how can he be so domineering?"
When Fang Yaochun heard this, he was shocked and said, "Kuang'er."
Hearing this, Jia Heng suddenly stared at Fang Kuang and asked, "What did Young Master Fang say?"
Liu Jixian also had a bad look on his face, and his eyes were like those of a tiger or a wolf.
Fang Kuang was also frightened by the tiger-wolf-like gaze at this moment.
Fang Yaochun's expression suddenly changed and he whispered: "Uncle Yongning, the dog's words are meaningless."
Fang Yaochun was not worried about the dispute just now, because he was offering wine to the Imperial College, with peaches and plums all over the world, and the Qingliu of Southern Scholars ranked among the top five.
Therefore, Jia Heng could only talk about Shangshu's impeachment instead of directly arresting the two, otherwise the public opinion in the Southern Scholars would be in an uproar.
Of course, this is because Jia Heng is not a simple cruel official, but a military minister. To put it bluntly, he is shameless.
You can't imitate Wei Gong, it will only arouse greater resistance from Shilin.
"Rebuking the emperor's personal guards and looking for resentment? Mr. Fang, what does it mean for your son to speak without meaning?" Jia Heng looked at Fang Yaochun and said: "Is your son a scholar? Or is he a man of merit? Just based on this unethical act, I will be punished. You can go to the Ministry of Culture and Rites to seize his title!"
At this time, the management of scholars included this item. It would be a big deal to imprison them in this way.
After all, he was not really disrespectful, and being punished for his words was a sign of a powerful minister and a powerful eunuch, but it was detrimental to his... reputation.
However, it is unethical to use his wild words and deprive him of his fame. On the contrary, he has a certain degree of maneuverability. In terms of threatening effect, he can hit the snake seven inches.
When Fang Yaochun heard this, his expression suddenly changed, and he said quickly: "Uncle Yongning, the dog was in a moment of passion, and his words were incomprehensible, and he had no intention of disrespecting me."
Fang Kuang on the side looked pale, and a sense of fear inevitably arose in his heart.
Jia Heng's expression paused, and he said: "Since you have spoken without meaning, someone is here to pull this mad man down and slap him twenty times!"
It seems feasible to implement the Ministry of Etiquette, but in fact it is not easy to implement, because most of the Ministry of Rites does not sell his face, scolding a child to get on top of the line, or engaging in games, it is easy to fall into the blame.
Of course, a slap in the face should be given.
When Fang Kuang heard this, his face turned gray and he was about to open his mouth to distinguish.
At this time, several Jinyi palace guards had already rushed over and dragged Fang Kuang away, leaving Fang Yaochun helpless on the spot with an ugly look on his face.
Compared with his son's career and fame, his slap now is indeed the lightest.
But this... this is a great shame!
Zhen Lan watched Fang Kuang being taken away, her delicate body trembled, the aggrieved look on her face as clear as snow dissipated a little, her eyes flashed, and she felt the joy of revenge in her heart.
This is power!
In the face of power, everyone in the Fang family will bow to it.
And this is what she just took advantage of!
Take advantage of Brother Heng's influence to teach the Fang family a lesson.
It can be said that the girl who had her first taste of power was both shocked and slightly excited.
Thinking of this, the girl couldn't help but narrow her bright eyes and look at the boy in the python suit. Suddenly, at this moment, she met the pair of deep eyes. But for just a moment, the profound eyes quickly left, only The girl's heart was slightly shaken, and her inner lake was filled with ripples.
This... Brother Heng has noticed?
But why are you still... following her?
Jia Heng glanced at Zhen Lan and thought to himself, he is really the youthful version of Mopan. He is already so scheming at a young age and knows how to kill people with a borrowed knife. He had deliberately provoked conflicts between him and the Fang family.
But I just find it interesting.
Immediately, he looked at Fang Yaochun, suddenly smiled and said: "After Mr. Fang goes back, won't he confuse right and wrong and say that I insulted the junior for trivial matters?"
Fang Yaochun's fair complexion was green and red, and he couldn't say a word at the moment.
There was only one thought in his mind, he was so good, why did he provoke this vicious dog?
Kuang'er was right, he really had the ears of a court eagle!
A sneer appeared at the corner of Zhen Qing's mouth, and she looked at Fang Yaochun, her phoenix eyes shining with coldness.
A skinny camel is bigger than a horse. Even if her Zhen family is in decline, she is not someone that cats and dogs can easily bully.
Everyone in the Zhen family also had joy on their faces at this moment.
Seeing that Fang Yaochun was already convinced, Jia Heng's expression immediately returned to indifference. He did not look at Fang Yaochun, but stared at Zhen Yingjia and whispered: "Let's talk in the hall first."
At this moment, Zhen Yingjia's face was pale, and she was watching the young man in python suit, who had just calmed down a little in panic, and entered the Xianzheng Hall with the help of several juniors of the Zhen family.
In the hall——
Everyone sat down and was silent. For a moment, the atmosphere was even a little strange.
At this moment, in addition to the men of the Zhen family, the women were also gathered in the hall, with expressions of despair on their faces, looking expectantly at the young man in the python suit, waiting for his words.
Jia Heng put down the teacup, looked a little calmer, and said: "Zhen Shibo also knows the Holy Spirit's intention. The Zhen family members entered the imperial prison and confessed the corruption in Tirenyuan. Some of them involved the southern tour during the Longzhi period. The Zhen family and others Those who have enriched themselves during the year must be clearly distinguished in the account books, whether they are public or private, and I will report the truth to the superior. However, if you conceal it and refuse to report it, and resist the inquiry of the Holy Father, I will also report it to the superior. Then don't blame me for not being able to do so. Be polite."
He didn't want to give the Zhen family the illusion that he could be lenient to the Zhen family because of his previous actions.
Zhen Yingjia's expression changed, and she sighed and said, "Zi Yu, my Zhen family has a lax family tradition, and I have really failed to do so."
At this time, Zhen Lin's daughter-in-law Yang suddenly said: "Brother Heng, how come you are also a popular person in front of the Holy Lord, so you can't plead for mercy?"
Jia Heng glanced at Zhen Lin's daughter-in-law, looked a little colder, and said: "Now that the imperial edict has been issued, it is useless for anyone to plead for mercy."
Zhen Lin's daughter-in-law wanted to say more, but Zhen Shao glared at her coldly. She felt fear in her heart and suppressed her words again.
Zhen Lin also took Yang's arm at this time and signaled with her eyes.
Zhen Yingjia sighed and said: "Zi Yu, the Zhen family is in such a bad situation, and it is their own fault. The memorial to apologize has been delivered to the capital."
At this time, it is the time to ask for help. It is not good to have some unrealistic fantasies.
Jia Heng nodded and said: "That's good. When Shibo arrives in prison, don't take any chances. You can record all the deficits of the three major weaving bureaus in the past and confess them frankly. You can also beg the Holy One. Well, if you shirk the blame like this, after the Holy Spirit is angry, if you want to be given a lighter sentence, you can't."
(End of chapter)
