Fang Zheng was in a miserable state at this time. His official robe had long been taken off, his hair was messy, and his face was stained with black and yellow patches. He was really in disgrace.
"Thank you, sir?"
Although Fang Zheng didn't have much dealings with Xie Xiuwen, he still knew about this character.
Xie Xiuwen asked the prison boss to open the door, and then stepped back.
"Fang Zheng, it's true that you accepted bribes. Do you know your guilt?"
The gleam of light that had just risen in Fang Zheng's eyes dimmed in an instant. He had no choice but to take the silver. Even if he only took one or two, it was still called taking.
"Understanding one's duty and knowing one's guilt."
Seeing that his attitude was acceptable, Xie Xiuwen nodded slightly: "I thought that the amount of bribes you collected was not large and that you had other secrets, so I asked the Holy One for mercy. The Holy One is merciful and decided to give you another chance."
Fang Zheng suddenly raised his head: "Do you really mean what Mr. Xie said?"
Xie Xiuwen raised his eyebrows: "Is there any benefit for me to coax you?"
Fang Zheng was stunned, yes, he is like this now, why is there any need to coax him?
"I have sent a letter to your family. You can pack it up and go home. Remember, you will be at home tomorrow waiting for the call from the Holy Spirit."
"I humble my duty and obey my orders."
Fang Zheng was still a little unbelievable, "Mr. Xie, why do you want to help me?"
Why?
This is not the place to talk.
"Go home first."
Fang Zheng returned home in a daze. It was not until he was soaked in hot water that he realized that he had really been let home.
Early the next morning, Chen Shuang was ordered to bring another letter.
"My master said that everything he asked you to prepare is written in the letter, so you should prepare well. This is your last chance. If you can't seize it, you will have to watch your family suffer along with you."
Fang Zheng originally thought it was some treasure that Xie Xiuwen wanted, but when he opened it, he found that it was about the key points of building fortifications.
Fang Zheng is not stupid. After thinking about it for a while, he will understand the key point.
Xie Xiuwen's desire to keep his house was not just a temporary kindness.
In fact, if he could see through this case, the Holy One would definitely be able to see through it too.
Fang Zheng is just a small person who accepts bribes. His superior officer took it, and his superior officer's superior officer took it. If he didn't take it, wouldn't it be tantamount to telling everyone that he didn't want to be in the official department anymore?
In desperation, he could only take it.
Others get a thousand taels, and he gets a fraction.
Even so, he was still tricked.
Fang Zheng had no evidence, so even if he exposed all those Shangguan, what would be the use?
He was the one who came forward to do things, and he was also the one who contacted people. It was only after he came back that he handed over the banknote. But who can prove that he did not steal the banknote himself?
This is also the most difficult part of the case.
Xie Xiuwen can actually understand Fang Zheng's helplessness in the officialdom.
When he was assigned to work, he often got into trouble.
It's just that he is different from Fang Zheng.
The master behind Fang Zheng is Wang Qinshan, a cabinet minister.
And the person who can support Xie Xiuwen is actually Xu Yuanqing.
However, Xu Yuanqing has never been an official in the court, but he can influence the holy will. This specialness is something that several cabinet ministers combined cannot compare to.
Therefore, most people are afraid of Chief Xu Shanzhang behind him, so no one dares to openly and openly oppose him.
After that, people called him a close minister of the emperor, and they no longer dared to look down upon him casually.
This journey seems to be going smoothly, but the several dangers experienced along the way cannot be explained clearly in a few words.
The next day, Emperor Jingwen summoned Fang Zheng.
Everyone who got the news was shocked.
Does Fang Zheng have any other trump cards?
Not only did Dali Temple release people, but they were also summoned by the Holy Spirit personally. What is the secret here?
Xie Xiuwen, who knew the inside story, played off against those who came to inquire, refusing to say anything pleasant or admitting that he was directly related to it.
Even if Wang Qinshan came to ask, he didn't give an accurate message.
When the decree came down, Fang Zheng was sent to the northwest, still a fifth-rank official, and everyone was shocked.
Fang Zheng not only saved his life, but also his official status. Naturally, he was very grateful to Xie Xiuwen.
When Fang Zheng left Beijing, Xie Xiuwen went to see him off in person.
"Thank you so much for saving my life, sir. If you are called upon to do anything, I will definitely die without mercy!"
As Fang Zheng said this, he knelt down to salute.
Xie Xiuwen stopped him: "Master Fang, you don't have to be like this. We all serve as officials in the same dynasty and serve our great government. We should work together to help each other."
Fang Zheng's eyes were filled with tears. When he was in trouble, his wife and children asked for help, but how many people were really willing to lend a helping hand?
It was Master Xie who not only helped him, but also asked for no thanks. Just because of this, Fang Zheng could never forget his kindness for the rest of his life.
"Thank you, sir. After this incident, I have understood clearly that there are no strong relationships in the officialdom. Everything is just self-deception."
"Master Fang, don't be so pessimistic. The days are still long. And now that you are still an official, your young masters can finally plan a future. Master Fang still needs to work hard and strive to complete the fortifications as soon as possible, and then transfer Return to the capital and become an official."
"Thank you for your advice, sir."
"Actually, Mr. Fang, you don't need to thank me too much. The one who truly appreciates talents is the Holy One. Even if I had never suggested it, the Holy One would not take your life. Mr. Fang will do your best in the future and remember that your master is the Holy One." "
Fang Zheng naturally kept it in mind. Besides the Holy Emperor, who could easily decide the life or death of a court official?
From then on, every year and festival, the Fang family would definitely send a generous gift to the Xie Mansion. The two families would come and go frequently, and the family members would become familiar with each other.
In the blink of an eye, the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching again, and Xiangxiang Braised Restaurant is starting to prepare gift boxes again.
The gift box will be different every year, sometimes with two layers, sometimes with three layers, and the types of braised vegetables inside are also slightly different.
The most important thing is that some braised vegetables are only available in this gift box during the New Year and holidays, and are extremely difficult to buy at ordinary times.
It's not that Liu Ruolan doesn't want to make this money.
It’s true that some ingredients are hard to come by, so we can only do this.
For example, braised beef is very rare.
As for the Xie Mansion, because of Xie Xiuwen's relationship, it can be allocated some almost every month, but the quantity is not too much.
This year's Mid-Autumn Festival, Xie Rongzhao came up with a new trick, adding braised meatballs, and divided into two types: pork meatballs and beef meatballs.
Naturally, some flour and eggs are added to the beef balls. Most importantly, there are extra fillings and soup inside, which makes the taste unparalleled.
The gift box with beef balls has the highest price tag.
Gift boxes containing pork knuckles, pork balls, and quail eggs came second.
The one with the lowest price is the one with pig's trotters.
Liu Ruolan flipped through the account books and couldn't hold back the smile on her face.
"My dear, it's not even the Mid-Autumn Festival yet. We have collected more than three thousand taels of silver just from the gift boxes sold in advance. We will definitely make a lot of money during the Mid-Autumn Festival this year!" (End of Chapter)
