Although the emperor's plan to build the garden was delayed for a time due to Xiang Nan's efforts to obstruct it, the project was finally launched.
For some reason, Heshen persuaded some Jiangnan salt merchants to jointly contribute and raised five million taels of silver for the emperor.
As a result, new gardens were built in the western suburbs.
The person in charge of the construction was Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili.
Less than two months after the construction of the new garden began, news came out that during the construction of the garden, Shang Rong not only dug up people's ancestral graves, causing widespread resentment among the people, but also misappropriated money by passing off inferior goods as good ones.
Hong Derui, the imperial censor, submitted a memorial to Shang Rong. During the period when he was building the garden, he was on guard against the ten major crimes of stealing, passing off inferior goods, digging graves privately, and spending extravagantly.
Qianlong sent officials from the Ministry of Punishment, Ministry of Household Affairs, and Ministry of Works to investigate. After investigation, officials from the three ministries reported that Hong Derui's report was untrue and was purely a false accusation.
Qianlong was furious. Not only did Hong Derui be dismissed from his post and demoted to work in Quyang quarry, but his family members were also demoted as official prostitutes and official slaves for sale. It was really pitiful.
Xiang Nan saw this and knew that Hong Derui was innocent and his daughter Hong Xia was even more pitiful, so he decided to try to rescue their father and daughter.
…
It just so happened that Hong Derui had just been convicted and the new garden was built.
Qianlong personally named the new garden Wanchun Garden and invited officials to play with him.
Before Xiang Nan left, he told Du Xiaoyue, "Xiaoyue, if Mr. doesn't come back at noon, you go to the palace to beg the Queen Mother and tell her that Ji Xiaolan is going to be beheaded."
"Sir, why do you say that?" Du Xiaoyue asked in surprise.
Su Qinglian and Xiangyun were also shocked.
"Hey, I'm going to take a risk today." Xiang Nan sighed and said, "The emperor built the Wanchun Garden, which cost nearly six million taels of silver, accounting for one-sixth of the national treasury's annual revenue. It can buy four million taels of rice. To provide for 2.5 million people for a year.
Such extravagance and waste are really the shame of the Qing Dynasty and the suffering of the people. Although I tried my best to dissuade him, the emperor didn't listen at all. So I'm going to take a risk today and make the emperor admit that he was wrong. "
"Sir, are you going to offend Yan Zhijian?" Xiangyun said in shock.
Xiang Nan nodded.
"Sir, I admire you for sacrificing your life for justice for the country and the people." Su Qinglian said with admiration, "If the emperor really hangs his loyal ministers, Qinglian is willing to accompany you."
"Hey, it doesn't have to be like this. The most I can do is be frightened. The emperor is not willing to kill me." Xiang Nan waved his hand, "I tell you in advance to reassure you so that you don't get scared. Okay, I'm leaving. Xiaoyue remembers my words."
"Yeah." Du Xiaoyue nodded.
…
Xiang Nan then went to Wanchun Garden with Qianlong and the Manchu civil and military officials.
"My dear friends, today the sky is clear, the wind is gentle, the flowers and willows are accompanying each other, and the green water is rippling. My mood can only be described in two words - happy!" Qianlong smiled with satisfaction as he looked at this beautifully carved, magnificent and ingenious garden. road.
"The emperor is absolutely right. I accompany the emperor in the palace every day, busy with state affairs. Today, I have the honor to accompany the emperor to visit this garden, and I immediately feel relaxed and happy.
Just when he didn't know how to describe this feeling, the emperor said it clearly, he was really happy, very happy! Heshen immediately greeted him and said, "Your Majesty, as the emperor is pleased, we have some poems that we are about to present to the emperor to congratulate the prosperity of our family and country, the beauty of the garden, and the wisdom of your majesty." "
"Okay, okay, I also want to appreciate the literary talents of all of you, my beloved." Qianlong smiled and said, "In that case, let's make a poem with my beloved."
"In this case, this slave will not be humble." He Shen smiled, then glanced at Xiang Nan, "Scholar Ji, you are the most talented person in the world, why don't you come first?"
"Sir, I'm just thinking of something to say. I'll have it after smoking this cigarette." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "You come first, you come first."
He Shen nodded and then nodded to several ministers.
There are those who were second in the rankings, those who were the top picks of the year, those who were in the Hanlin Academy, and those who are illiterate in writing...
In Xiang Nan's opinion, most of the poems he wrote were sour and disgusting.
Seeing that everyone had written poems, He Shen invited Xiang Nan to do it again.
"Please sir, I still have two puffs left on my cigarette." Xiang Nan said with a smile.
He Shen curled his lips and said, "Your Majesty, for today's events, I specially wrote a poem about Chu and dedicated it to Your Majesty."
"Oh, read it quickly and listen." Qianlong said with a smile.
"Yes." Heshen took a breath and recited energetically, "Sigh, there are beautiful gardens floating in the Western Mountains! Wandering around Langui, the green water is whirling. The wind is so graceful, Birds stay and fish rest. This family and country are prosperous, and their fame spreads far and wide..."
…
Xiang Nan really got goosebumps all over his body when he heard his artificial chanting.
"Ah~hahahaha~" He then covered his face and howled, which instantly disturbed He Shen's poetry.
"Ji Xiaolan, are you crying or laughing?" Qianlong asked doubtfully.
"Mr. Ji, the Emperor is asking you a question!" He Shen said unhappily. He was reaching the climax of his chant, but Xiang Nan got it all mixed up. It was really a mess.
"Your Majesty, on such a happy day, there is no reason to cry! I am so happy, so happy." Xiang Nan wiped his tears and said, "Aren't there words in the books about crying with joy and being extremely happy and sad!"
"Yes, yes, it's unbelievable. I really can't see you crying with joy." Qianlong waved his hands and said, "Okay, are your poems ready?"
"Report to your Majesty, I'm ready." Xiang Nan quickly stood up and said.
"Then read and listen." Qianlong said immediately.
Xiang Nan nodded and took out an Allegro from his pocket, "Please allow your Majesty to accompaniment with bamboo knots."
"That's right." Qianlong nodded.
Xiang Nan immediately started to play Allegro, crackling and lively, "Wanchun Garden in the western suburbs is beside the water. There are mountains, water and terraces. A terrace has eight pillars, one pillar at a time."
From a distance, there are thousands of willow trees on the hillside, and one willow costs one hundred thousand yuan. A lake was dug on the side of the water, and a gold boat floated on the lake. The rockery was originally made of silver, and the peonies cost emeralds. This place was originally a grave for ancestors, and the lonely ghosts have lost their homes..."
In the queue, Shang Rong, the governor-general of Zhili who was responsible for supervising the construction of Wanchun Garden, was so scared that he was sweating coldly and his calves were shaking when he heard Xiang Nan's words.
Qianlong originally thought it was quite interesting, but the more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong.
The willow tree cost a hundred thousand yuan, the dragon boat cost a gold price, and the peony cost an emerald price. The most terrible thing is that even the lonely ghosts and wild ghosts have appeared in the cemetery.
"Shut up!" Qianlong shouted quickly, "Ji Xiaolan, you always do these disgusting things to me when I am happiest."
"I will die!" Xiang Nan kowtowed hurriedly.
"Humph, it's a disgrace to the scenery and a huge disappointment! Let's go back to the palace!" Qianlong said angrily.
Today he came here in good spirits and came back disappointed! He was very disappointed!
Civil and military officials also quickly followed.
"Ji Xiaolan, you can do it. You can count treasures well." He Shen sneered, "Okay, maybe you will really need it someday."
