As night fell, Hai Rui got on a sedan chair and went to Pan Xian's house for a banquet as promised.
On both sides of the sedan, closely followed a large number of armed guards, responsible for protecting Hai Rui's safety.
The people along the way were already used to this and could only curse inwardly: "Another dog official!"
As the governor of Henan, Pan Xian built his own mansion in the city. The decoration style of the mansion is quite simple, and the surrounding environment is quite quiet and not easily disturbed.
From the outside, Pan Xian's mansion looks like an ordinary wealthy house. It has a vermilion door. There are two very majestic-looking stone lions at the door. There is also a gilt plaque hanging on the top of the door, writing to Pan's second wife. Character.
But the strange thing is that the wall on Pan Xian's house is twice as high as that of ordinary people's houses.
Hai Rui's sedan stopped at the door. The doorman saw the distinguished guest coming. After confirming his identity, he quickly entered the mansion to report.
Not long after, I saw Pan Xian, Chief Envoy Yang Yinglin, Inspector Liu Yuan and other officials coming to greet him.
Pan Xian had a spring breeze-like smile on his face, and then he bowed to Hai Rui and said respectfully.
"The imperial envoy has arrived, and I am a bit disappointed to meet him from afar. I hope you will forgive me!"
Hai Rui glanced at the many officials around Pan Xian one by one, and immediately responded with a smile.
"What the hell, I'm taking the liberty to disturb you. I hope you won't blame me!"
Next, Pan Xian introduced the officials around him to Hai Rui one by one, and Hai Rui also acted very approachable, nodding and smiling frequently.
Immediately afterwards, everyone exchanged a few words, and with the intentional promotion of both parties, the atmosphere quickly became harmonious.
Then Pan Xian acted like he was belatedly thinking about it, and turned his gaze to Hai Rui, with a look of self-blame on his face.
"I'm just here to talk. The banquet has been prepared. Let's go in first!"
After Pan Xian finished speaking, the butler who had been waiting for a long time stepped forward to guide everyone on the way.
Pan Xian walked with Hai Rui, and the two exchanged a few insignificant words from time to time.
It wasn't until he entered it that Hai Rui suddenly discovered that there was a whole other world inside.
As soon as you enter the door, the first thing that catches your eye is a huge locust tree. Judging from the cracks in the bark and the space occupied by the tree, this tree is no less old than Hai Rui's previous tree in Shiqiao Village. At the entrance of the village, you can see the big banyan tree.
Only now did Hai Rui understand why the walls of Pan's mansion were more than twice as high as those of ordinary homes. It was originally to hide the big locust tree.
Pan Xian naturally noticed the look of amazement in Hai Rui's eyes. He took three steps at a time and came to the big locust tree. He gently stroked the bark on the surface of the big locust tree with his hand, and immediately introduced to Hai Rui: .
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy doesn't know that this tree has been here long before the official came to take office!"
"To be precise, Xiaguan's residence was built around this big locust tree."
After hearing Pan Xian's introduction, Hai Rui understood clearly in his heart. He immediately looked away and gave his evaluation.
"Well, that's right. When I return to the capital, I will plant some trees at home!"
After hearing this, Pan Xian suddenly became energetic and began to teach Hai Rui the secrets of this. From the selection of saplings to the suitable location for planting trees, Pan Xian knew everything, as if he had found it. Like a close friend.
In this way, after everyone passed through a long corridor, the maid who had been waiting here came up to them and took over the housekeeper's work. Under the leadership of the maid, everyone entered the room.
In the room, everyone sat down one after another according to the order they had arranged. As the most distinguished guest, Hai Rui should sit on the right side of Pan Xian.
Immediately afterwards, one after another delicacies were brought to the table by the maids in cool clothes.
Soon, Pan Xian stood up and suggested to everyone: "The imperial envoy has been tired from traveling and traveling. Today's meal should be a blessing for the imperial envoy!"
"I think, how about we all come together and pay a toast to the Imperial Envoy?"
"good!"
After the words fell, many officials present responded immediately, stood up from their seats, picked up the wine glasses placed on the table, and toasted to Hai Rui.
Seeing this situation, Hai Rui had no choice but to pick up his wine glass and clink glasses with these officials one by one.
After a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere quickly became lively, and everyone became less reserved.
After exchanging a few words, many officials present began to tell some interesting stories that they had experienced or heard in order to liven up the atmosphere.
Hai Rui was very happy to support this and acted very interested.
Then, seeing that the atmosphere was almost heightened, Pan Xian picked up the wine bottle on the table, poured a full glass of wine into his own glass, turned his eyes to Hai Rui, and poured out the bitter water.
"Imperial Envoy, you don't know something. It has been almost five years since I took office as the governor of Henan."
"And in these five years, I have never forgotten the oath I made when I first entered the official career, to let the people have clothes to wear, food to eat, and houses to live in!"
"It is precisely because of this that Xia Guan has offended many people. To tell you the truth, there are many people secretly looking forward to Xia Guan's misfortune!"
"Presumably, the Imperial Envoy, you came to Henan to investigate the case this time because you received the impeachment memorandum submitted by this group of people with ulterior motives, right?"
Hai Rui thought he had seen countless despicable and shameless officials since he took office in the Inspectorate, but the shamelessness of the Henan governor in front of him far exceeded Hai Rui's expectations.
"If I had gone to Shiqiao Village to check the situation not long ago, I might have believed your lies!"
Hai Rui thought this in his mind, raised his eyebrows, and responded without any wavering in his tone.
"Oh, really, it seems that the governor really loves his people like his own children!"
After Hai Rui finished speaking, he changed the subject and spoke slowly.
"But, regarding the impeachment memorial mentioned by the Governor earlier, I do have some definite news here. Do you want to know, Sir Governor?"
Hearing Hai Rui's words, the inspector Liu Yuan couldn't help but show a nervous look on his face, and even the hand holding the chopsticks trembled slightly.
When Pan Xian heard this, he couldn't help but become interested, and then asked.
"Oh, please make it clear, your Majesty the Imperial Envoy!"
Hai Rui saw that everyone's eyes were focused on him. After looking Pan Xian up and down, he turned around and spoke.
"My Lord Governor, let me tell you the truth. Your Majesty personally supervised this matter. Do you understand what I mean?"
After Hai Rui finished speaking, the room suddenly fell into deathly silence, with no one speaking.
After a long while, I saw Pan Xian forcing a smile out of his stiff face and trying to smooth things over.
"Haha, the imperial envoy is really good at joking!"
"Let's not talk about this, come on, drink!"
After saying that, Pan Xian raised his glass. Seeing this, the other officials at the table also wanted to let the matter go, so they raised their glasses one after another.
"Come, come, let's all drink together, cheers!"
Unexpectedly, Hai Rui had no intention of raising the glass. Instead, he picked up the wine glass and sprinkled the wine on the ground. He looked around with a smile and said slowly.
"Everyone, you can drink this wine anytime, but before that, I want to make a bet with you. Believe it or not, someone will come in and knock on the door later, saying that the granary is on fire!"
After Hai Rui finished speaking, Pan Xian and Yang Yinglin looked at each other and saw deep shock in each other's eyes.
Then Pan Xian looked gloomy and turned his gaze to Hai Rui, with a hint of threat in his words.
"Your Majesty the Imperial Envoy, do you know what you are talking about?"
Hai Rui was not afraid at all, he looked directly into Pan Xian's eyes and responded with a smile.
"Of course, I always knew what I was talking about!"
"The glass of wine you just drank is my tribute to you."
(End of chapter)
