Liu Xianglian is now a fourth-rank Mingwei general. Shen Cewei is in charge of the affairs and is on duty in front of the emperor.
Although his official position is not as high as Xue Pan's, the actual power between the two can be said to be very different.
Xue Pan is a confidant of the East Palace, and his future lies in the future. But Liu Xianglian was personally promoted by the Emperor. She controlled a quarter of the Divine Guards and her future was visible to the naked eye.
Today, as one of the generals of the Shence Guard, Liu Xianglian came to the palace early to patrol.
Ever since Yingchun was found to be pregnant, Liu Xianglian seemed to have transformed from a cynical boy to a mature person overnight.
Sure enough, a man's growth has nothing to do with age, but with the transformation of his identity.
"Dahu, take it..."
After patrolling around, Liu Xianglian came to the duty room and stuffed a cotton bag into the deputy's arms.
"If I remember correctly, today is your kid's birthday, and this is the gift your sister-in-law has prepared for you..."
"Oh, how can this be so embarrassing..."
The verbal rejection did not affect the speed of opening the gift at all. Men in the military are so down-to-earth. Opening the gift in front of others is not rude at all, but it is a reflection of the close relationship between the two parties.
"Ah! It's a chainmail! It's too precious, General, I can't have this!"
"Just take it when I tell you to, don't act like a bitch."
This time Dahu really didn't refuse with words. This kind of armor made of small iron rings made of fine steel and interlocked with each other is not only light, but also has extremely strong protective power.
Generals with more than a thousand households in the army can't do it all, let alone an ordinary official with a hundred households.
This set of chainmails was sent to Liu Xianglian from the south of the Yangtze River by the inhumane and loyal king Liu Ke when she was getting married. He said that he wanted Liu Xianglian to use it to train his own followers.
Yingchun learned that Zhou Dahu was one of her husband's confidants, and it just so happened that he was given such a set of chainmail, which could be called the second life of a military commander, on his birthday. As expected, Zhou Dahu's eyes were so moved that his eyes turned red.
After patting his chest to express his loyalty, Dahu grinned, took off his coat and put it on.
Before he could finish dressing, he saw a young father-in-law walking over quickly, panting and saying: "Oh, my Lord Liu, hurry up, follow your servant to Fengtian Palace, the emperor has an edict!"
"Your Majesty ordered me to go to Fengtian Palace?"
Liu Xianglian was very puzzled as to how he, a middle-level general, could be personally summoned by the emperor during the imperial meeting.
But soon his doubts were solved, and it turned out to be related to Duke Li Guo's Mansion.
…
The emperor was quite moved by He Yaomin's suggestion. The Duke of Liguo's palace was so skinny that a camel was bigger than a horse. The strength of the Liu family in the southwest border should not be underestimated. Those chieftains in the southwest were inextricably linked to the Liu family. .
If Liu Xianglian's hand could be used to take it back, it would be much easier to plan for Uzang in the future.
But before that, the issue of Liu Xianglian’s identity must be resolved first.
Because Liu Fang is really slippery, even if most of the court is impeaching him for not being strict in managing the family, and even for covering up the crime, he just pushes it away without taking any responsibility.
"Your Majesty, you relieved me of my official position and asked me to cultivate my moral character at home. I did as you asked. I focused on worshiping Buddha and chanting sutras at home. The ministers in the palace did not know at all..."
"I am indeed guilty of lax management of the family and lack of discipline. Please forgive me for the sake of the Liu family's loyalty to the country and forgive me..."
"I am willing to be crowned voluntarily to atone for my sins. I also ask Your Majesty to choose an heir for me to inherit the title my ancestors earned from fighting for the country..."
Not to mention, at least on the surface, neither the Ministry of Punishment nor Dali Temple found any evidence that Liu Fang was actually involved in the case.
Liu Fang is also an old dandy who spends a lot of time and money. Since things have reached this point and thousands of people are beating them, let's let it go.
Anyway, it is you, the emperor, who dismissed my official position and allowed me to stay in the palace to cultivate my character. I have lost my prestige at home and cannot control others.
Now that my nephew has committed a crime, what can I do? If you want to take away my title, you can show me the evidence that I committed a crime!
You still want the title of my Liu family without any evidence? Do you want the title that my ancestor of the Liu family paid for with his life? Do you want to take over the connections and influence that my family has worked hard to cultivate for hundreds of years?
Okay, then you can find me a son and settle my future, and I can take the initiative to abdicate in favor of someone more worthy!
This is political struggle, and it does not necessarily have to be a fight to the death. Exchange of interests is the most common way.
Regardless of justice or evil, at this time, the old tradition of "officials protecting each other" appeared again in the court.
Liu Fang's words immediately won the approval of many people. They believed that Liu Fang's move would not only give an explanation to the people, but also solve the problem of the title inheritance of the Liguo Palace. It was simply killing two birds with one stone.
As for Liu Zixin's crime, it would be fine to spare his life and instead be sentenced to exile. Anyway, those who died were all singers and maids and concubines, and they were of low status. Using the lives of other members of the Liu family to pay for the crime was considered an explanation given by the court to the people.
Even though the emperor was worried about this, half of the people in the court stood on Liu Fang's side again, wanting to resolve the matter through a compromise.
He could only send a message to Liu Xianglian to come over and ask this confidant young man for his opinion.
When most of the courtiers thought that Liu Xianglian should kneel down to express gratitude, Jia Lian, Jia Cong and others all curled their lips and sneered.
Sure enough, Liu Xianglian, who was dressed in bright light armor, knelt down and clasped her fists, and replied decisively: "Your Majesty, I, Liu Xianglian, do not want to!"
"What?"
Fengtian Hall immediately became noisy, and many people frowned, feeling that Liu Xianglian was a little...
"I don't know how to praise!"
Liu Fang was already very dissatisfied with Liu Xianglian, his nephew. If it weren't for the purpose of finding a way out for his son, he would never be happy to let this bastard call him father.
The emperor had already tried very hard to hide the ridicule in his eyes. Many of the courtiers in the court were still stuck in the past and had not kept up with him.
During the previous discussion on the crime bank, he had already asked Zhang Zhengju to join the three departments to restart the law revision, which had already shown his attitude of governing the country according to law.
But they still think about the strategy of governing the country by compromise and transaction. How pedantic!
"Oh? Liu Xianglian, my dear friends are all looking forward to you joining the Si Li Kingdom and inheriting the title. You are Liu Fang's nephew. Calling daddy will give you a title. It's not a loss for you. Why not? willing?"
The emperor's words clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with certain people and certain things. Several big bosses in the cabinet and the Sixth Ministry had already heard the emperor's suppressed ridicule and anger.
Liu Xianglian had no extra thoughts about this and just glanced at Liu Fang who was staring at him angrily.
"Your Majesty, I have parents. Although they have died young, I have not repaid the kindness of having children. How can I abandon my father and join another family for some utilitarian gain?"
When Liu Fang heard this, she was so determined that she immediately panicked.
He quickly scolded: "Confused! Don't you have a surname of Liu? Why did you switch to another family? I'm still your uncle..."
"That's not what Lord Liu said when he drove my father out. Before my grandfather's body was even cold, Lord Liu drove my father and several uncles out of Duke Liguo's Mansion. You can tell me at that time that we are no longer the same family since then. , they are two families."
Liu Xianglian retorted without hesitation, using Liu Fang's original words to make him blush. Many people in Fengtian Palace were already snickering.
Those officials who originally supported Liu Fang's proposal also complained in their hearts that Liu Fang's mud could not hold up the wall.
This matter has reached a deadlock again. The only suitable candidate is Liu Xianglian, but she is still unwilling...
"Dear ladies, you didn't expect that there are still people in this world who don't love officials!"
"Ignore the grievances of the people and trade with officials and titles, you can't imagine it!"
"Liu Zixin and other criminals will be dealt with according to the law by the Ministry of Punishment. As for Liu Fang's crime, it will be put aside for the time being and sent to the imperial prison to await trial. The three departments discussed together and came up with a charter. From now on, those who attack nobles will be dealt with by the Governor of the Fifth Army. We must strictly screen and don’t let people with no morals or conduct tarnish the reputation of the imperial court.”
The emperor waved his hand, and the Han general on duty stepped forward, took Liu Fang into custody, and dragged him away from Fengtian Hall.
All the civil and military officials in the palace bowed to accept orders, and did not dare to raise any objections.
Everyone could hear the emperor's dissatisfaction. Everyone started to act like a quail, and no one stood up to help Liu Fang.
…
The great court meeting unexpectedly ended in a dramatic manner. The emperor walked away in a puff of his sleeves, and the ministers gathered in piles, whispering to each other.
Jia Cong and others gestured their thumbs at Liu Xianglian, and Liu Xianglian only responded with a smile.
"Brother Liu regards fame, fortune and wealth as rubbish. He is a role model for us!"
He Chong really didn't expect that the inevitable thing would turn out like this, but he admired Liu Xianglian's actions. He stepped forward and cupped his hands and said: "But Brother Liu has to be prepared. After all, the Liguo Duke's Palace is the founding Duke's Palace. Liu Jue Since I have not committed any serious crime, the imperial court cannot directly take away his title. After all, it has to choose an heir to inherit the title, so as to give an explanation to the people."
Liu Xianglian nodded. Judging from the current situation, the title in Duke Li's Mansion will most likely be given up.
Liu Fang's son had committed such a serious crime. If the court did not deal with Liu Fang, the head of the family, the material arguments between the government and the public would not be suppressed at all.
And the people who are qualified to succeed this title can be counted on one hand.
"I can give the title of Duke Li to whomever I want. Anyway, if you want me to call him Liu Fang's father, that's just a dream!"
Liu Xianglian was too lazy to pay attention to the scandalous matters at Duke Li's residence and changed the subject: "Forget it, let's not talk about these nonsense. Brother Xue is getting married. He sent another post and invited us to his house for a banquet... ...Huh? Where are Brother Lian and Brother Cong?"
…
Jia Cong caught up with his brother who was about to leave the palace, looked around and asked in a low voice: "What is the second brother's next plan? You can't really ask the second brother-in-law to call Liu Fang his father, right?"
"Plan? What plan? Such important matters are naturally your Majesty's final decision. You don't think that my brother and I can control these, do you?"
Jia Lian spread his hands and looked innocent.
But Jia Cong knew his second brother too well. It was such a coincidence that a businessman bought such a piece of wasteland outside the city and dug up the body.
Jia Cong rolled his eyes: "Second brother, don't hide it from me. Tell me what you are going to do next so that I can cooperate..."
"Dudu Jia, uncle, I have come here to deliver a message on the orders of my superintendent!"
A captain of the Dragon Guard held a letter in his hand and interrupted the brothers' whispers.
Jia Lian took the letter and opened it in front of the captain of the Long Imperial Guard. There was only one line in the letter: Keep up the good work, but enough is enough.
"Go back and tell your governor, I understand."
The captain accepted the promise and quickly left the crowd.
Jia Cong clicked his tongue and said: "As expected, things in Beijing cannot be hidden from the eyes of the Long Guards. It seems that His Majesty has been keeping an eye on the affairs of Duke Li's Mansion for a long time. Second brother, your arrangements are probably under the eyes of the Long Guards." .”
Jia Lian put the letter away, put it in his sleeve, and tapped Jia Cong on the head: "I never thought of avoiding the eyes of the Dragon Guard from the beginning. From the time when I caused chaos in the Liu family house to the end, If you have an heir to his family, you will know that this matter cannot escape His Majesty's eyes. Otherwise, how could I have obtained the medicine that can kill a person's heir so easily?"
Which of the Qinlou and Chu Pavilions in the capital does not have a hidden secret from the Dragon Guards?
When Jia Lian got the prescription from a certain beau in the brothel, he immediately thought it was given to him by the Dragon Guard.
But he was barefoot and not afraid of wearing shoes. At that time, he, Jia Lian, couldn't see the future, and the Liu family was unkind, so don't blame me, the Jia family, for being unrighteous. Let's finish playing together!
It was because of his ruthless determination that the direct descendants of Duke Li's family were almost extinct.
When the Jia family rose again and Jia Lian ascended to a high position, what happened at the beginning was nothing.
After all, Jia Lian is a confidant of the imperial party. How can Liu Fang, a has-been Madam Niu, be compared with his future Duke Rong Guo.
"Then what are you going to do next?"
Jia Cong was very curious about what role his second brother played in this incident involving the Liu family.
Jia Lian waved to him and said, "I never thought of letting Liu Fang go from the beginning. Liu Zixin and others are just appetizers, and the main event hasn't even started yet..."
…
There is no shortage of gossip in the capital, and there is no shortage of people talking about it in teahouses and restaurants.
The head of Duke Li's mansion was imprisoned by the emperor, and the elders of the Liu family were in chaos.
They were afraid that the Tiqi of the Dragon Imperial Guard would surround Duke Li's Mansion in the next moment and confiscate the Liu family and exterminate them.
Fortunately, there are still a few sober people in the Liu family, who understand that the emperor will not really do everything, and will eventually leave face to Mr. Liu who is loyal to the country and died fighting for the country.
Liu Xianglian would always meet uncles and brothers from the clan inexplicably these two days, and aunts and daughters from the clan would also come to visit her home.
These people may have looked on with cold eyes at first, but they were the elders of the clan after all. Yingchun suppressed the dissatisfaction and restlessness in Liu Xianglian's heart and met them one by one.
Soon, Yingchun figured out the meaning from it. When her husband was not at home, she asked her maid to go to her home to invite brothers Jia Lian and Jia Cong.
"Second brother, although I have also thought about letting my husband inherit the title of Duke Li, but if my husband wants to inherit Liu Fang's name, I don't want this title! What Your Majesty values the most is your husband's loyalty and filial piety. Liu Fang and others... ...If your husband is allowed to inherit Liu Fang's lineage, what's the difference between accepting a thief as your father?"
This was the first time that Jia Lian took a serious look at his biological sister. He didn't expect that the submissive little girl back then had such wisdom and scheming.
He shook his head and said with a smile: "Who said you have to be an heir to get a title? You underestimate me too much. It just so happens that I have nothing to do today. I will take you to see a big show..."
Monthly ticket recommendation ticket
(End of chapter)
