King Xiang of the Red Chamber

Chapter 435: Managing the Family
"That's strange. Is it Wang Changshi's lie, or are you lying?"

The young eunuch wanted to quibble, but the other young eunuchs all spoke up, asking him to confess quickly and avoid causing big trouble.

At this moment, the young eunuch's crime of corruption was confirmed, and he was so angry that he immediately yelled: "You bastards, you each shared the 70 taels of silver, but you want me to bear the blame alone?"

"Aunt Dong, the servants took the silver to Wang Changshi that day. He insisted on only accepting 30 taels. I took the remaining 70 taels back. They were the ones who persuaded me to give up the money!"

"70 taels of silver, I took 20 taels, and each of them took ten taels. It was all them..."

Before the young eunuch could finish his words, the remaining people began to curse, trying to clear the matter up.

"You boy is a slanderer, and you just want to harm others with your empty words?"

"We don't even know what 70 taels of silver are..."

"Aunt Dong, don't believe him..."

Dong Fang actually knew what was going on. At this moment, she was so annoyed by the noise that she immediately yelled: "Shut up!"

After everyone calmed down, Dong Fang turned around and walked towards the main hall. She wanted to report the situation to the princess.

At this time, Baochai was coloring her paintings in the side hall, and it was easy for her to handle housework.

After listening to Dong Fang's account of the situation, Baochai said while coloring: "Pull these bastards outside Cunxin's door and give each of them thirty big boards with a cane!"

"Yes!" Dong Fang answered carefully. At this moment, she was greatly surprised.

After thirty days, even if these little eunuchs don't die, they won't be able to live for more than a few days.

It is said that the princess has a kind heart, but she is so ruthless when she gets angry... Dong Fang secretly smacked his tongue.

Looking up at Dong Fang, Baochai continued: "Tell me what I say again...all the servants and maids in the palace should go to Cunxinmen and let them see the consequences of being greedy!"

"Yes!"

Focusing on the painting again, Baochai said calmly: "Go ahead!"

"Yes!"

After Dong Fang left, Baochai looked at another female official in the hall: "These people are all Chen Chong's subordinates. I haven't argued with him about the bad debts before, but now something like this has happened again!"

"Immediately send someone to bring him back. First reward him with twenty big boards, and then wait for the prince to come back and punish you!"

Beating up a few minor eunuchs was not a big deal, but it was serious if Chen Chong, as the eunuch in charge of the palace, had to be held accountable.

"I'll take care of it now!" Du Hongmei, the female officer, replied.

Baochai is a princess, and she can decide all matters in the palace on her own, so no one will question her actions.

"Ying'er!"

"The servant is here!"

Baochai ordered: "Go and watch outside Cunxin's door. If anything happens, come and report it immediately!"

"Yes!"

At this moment, a large number of eunuchs and maids had gathered outside Chunxin's door, and the perpetrators had been tied up and pressed on benches waiting to be tortured.

Dong Fang, who was in charge of the punishment, was standing at the foot of the steps outside Cunxin's door. She looked extremely serious at this time.

"Everyone in charge, please hurry up and ask your subordinates to stand up. After finishing the errand, I have to go back to my mother-in-law!"

"Your Majesty is angry at the moment. If any of you get into trouble, you are asking for trouble!"

After Dong Fang's words, all the eunuchs present started shouting, and it was obvious that the eunuchs and maids moved faster.

Soon everyone stood up and the scene became quiet.

"These six people are greedy for ink and silver. Under the orders of the princess, each of them will be punished with thirty sticks!"

After reading this sentence aloud, Dong Fang immediately said: "Execution!"

As soon as she opened her mouth, the eunuch who was in charge of the execution did not hesitate. He picked up the big board and waved it at the people who were being tortured.

pop... pop... pop...

The wailing sounds at the scene continued, hitting the hearts of all the eunuchs and maids, making them somewhat alert.

Everyone always thought that the princess was kind, but now they understood that this was all an illusion, and they would have to pay with their lives if their master was angry.

After thirty sticks were applied, the tortured people could still howl at first, but by the end they were breathing out more than they were breathing in. Everyone knew that they would not survive long.

The scene was completely silent, everyone felt sad and became more and more in awe of the princess.

Seeing that everyone was frightened, Dong Fang said loudly: "These individuals think they can hide the truth and dare to deceive their master. They are extremely arrogant..."

Ying'er was watching from the side, so Dong Fang naturally wanted to take the opportunity to show off and let the princess know how capable and loyal she was.

Just listen to Dong Fang continue to say: "Your Majesty, I know everything very well, how could they hide it from me? I didn't argue with you in the past... I just treated you as human beings out of consideration!"

"However, the empress's kindness made these people become even more aggressive. They even dared to embezzle the money given to Wang Changshi. The empress did not execute them directly, so she was already merciful!"

It's a mercy, but it's a pity that it's of no use. It's just a few more days to survive.

"My Majesty asked you to be tortured outside Cunxin's gate to remind you to be loyal and sincere, and not to kill yourself in a moment of confusion..."

Dong Fang kept talking. As a female officer who has experienced a lot of experience in the palace, her personal qualities are definitely first-rate.

Before she could finish her words, she heard noises coming from outside. Everyone's eyes widened when they saw it, but it was the guards who escorted the eunuch in charge, Chen Chong, in.

"You are so presumptuous, I am Eunuch Deng's man, how dare you be so unreasonable!"

Chen Chong was gambling, and when he learned that something happened in the palace, he hurried back. He happened to meet the person who took him on the road, and then he was taken back to the palace.

Du Hongmei was waiting for him at the gate. When Chen Chong appeared, he ordered the guards to take him down, so the scene just happened.

Listening to Chen Chong's shouting, Du Hongmei said coldly: "Eunuch Chen, no matter who you are, you are also a slave of the palace. Now the queen wants to punish you, do you want to disobey me?"

"You're talking nonsense. What did I do that your Majesty wants to punish me?" Chen Chong still argued.

"I know exactly what you committed!" Du Hongmei didn't want to say more.

"According to the order of the Queen Concubine, Chen Chong was lax in his duties and made trouble... twenty punishments with the cane!"

These conversations were heard by more than 200 people present, which made them more and more in awe of Baochai.

"I want to meet the princess!" Chen Chong shouted, squeezing his neck, obviously still trying to get through.

"Ignore it, I will torture you immediately!" Du Hongmei said coldly.

The longer Du Hongmei stayed with the princess, the more clearly she became aware of how smart and wise this empress was, and all she had to do was follow her orders.

At this moment, Chen Chong also knew that it was useless to argue, so he stopped struggling and planned to receive the twenty sticks honestly.

As Du Hongmei said, of course Chen Chong knew exactly what he had done.

At this moment, he has realized that the most important thing is not the twenty pieces of money, but the money he had been greedy for before.

If these things are found out, Chen Chong will die.

"I have to think of a way, I have to think of a way..." Chen Chong's head was spinning.

"By the way...Eunuch Deng, I can only ask him for help. I respect him very much on weekdays!"

When Chen Chong was thinking about his escape, the guards had already pushed him to the ground, and a eunuch came forward and waved the big board.

Seeing that the execution eunuch was suspected of "letting go", Dong Fang reminded him coldly: "If you are showing favoritism, aren't you afraid of ending up like him?"

These words were more useful than anything else. They frightened the execution eunuch and increased his strength. At this time, he no longer cared about Chen Chong's identity as the manager.

"What's going on outside?"

Walking out of the main hall of the Chief Secretary, Wang Pei'an asked the clerk who was packing up the books. The latter respectfully replied: "It's the princess who is punishing the eunuchs!" While this man was speaking, another clerk came in from the outside, his expression full of excitement. meaning.

This person went out specifically to watch the excitement. It was obvious that he had figured out the cause and effect at this time, so he couldn't wait to come back and share it.

Because of Wang Pei'an, the eunuchs also disliked the chief minister and the minor officials, and the two sides had deep conflicts in private.

Now that the eunuchs are suffering, they are extremely happy.

"Sir, those eunuchs in the inner palace who are greedy for money and property are being punished with sticks now!"

Wang Pei'an nodded and said calmly: "These eunuchs are the most treacherous, and now they are reaping the consequences!"

"My lord, do you know whose silver they are greedy for?"

Wang Pei'an said righteously: "As long as you are greedy, no matter how greedy you are, it is a sin!"

"That's the truth, but what a coincidence is that they are greedy for the money you gave me, sir!"

"It turns out that the royal palace gave you 100 taels of silver on New Year's Eve, and these people actually stole 70 taels of it!"

Of course Wang Pei'an still remembered the 70 taels of silver. To be honest, such a thing happened, which made him feel a little complicated.

He seriously stated his interests to the palace, and the eunuchs were just scolded. On the contrary, his unintentional actions caused these people to be severely punished.

"Those eunuchs should restrain themselves if this matter is resolved!" Wang Peian said in a deep voice.

The palace's punishment of eunuchs is a family matter, so Wang Pei'an will not ask any questions. He only cares about when Zhu Jinghong will come back today and he must not miss the afternoon class.

It's not that afternoon classes are particularly important, it's because Zhu Jinghong missed so many classes that Wang Pei'an cherished every class he had.

At this moment, Zhu Jinghong, who was worried about Wang Pei'an, was accompanying the emperor to review the new army.

So far, the training of the Northern Four Guards has lasted for a full year, and these four armies have undergone great changes from top to bottom, inside and out.

There is no doubt that all the envoys were greatly shocked. The "rumors" they originally heard were now confirmed as reality.

The military parade has ended and the participating troops have withdrawn one after another, but Zhu Xianming has no intention of leaving. Instead, he wants to entertain envoys from various countries here.

The campus is spacious and can show Zhu Xianming's broad mind, so he held a banquet here.

Soon the eunuchs set up the tables and chairs, and after Zhu Xianming took his seat, a group of envoys took their seats.

There were more than 80 envoys from various vassals, tribes, chieftains, and khanates, and there were people wearing all kinds of clothes on the scene.

In addition to these envoys, cabinet ministers from the Six Ministries and Nine Ministers, as well as senior officials from the Fifth Army Governor's Office were also present, which showed that the banquet was of extremely high standard.

The prince and Prince Rui were also there. They were seated on the left and right under the throne, above the cabinet and the six ministries and nine ministers.

Putting Prince Rui on an equal footing with the Crown Prince in such a public occasion really opened the eyes of the foreign ministers.

"By the way, isn't there a prince in the Ming Dynasty now, but I don't know where he is?" An envoy asked in a low voice.

It is normal for an envoy from the Ming Dynasty not to recognize Zhu Jinghong when he is on a mission to the Ming Dynasty for the first time.

The person who was asked answered in a low voice: "The one standing on the right side of the throne with a sword is the one!"

"Ah? It's him... I thought he was a guard!" The envoy who asked the question was extremely surprised.

"No bodyguard can match this martial artist. His Royal Highness, King Xiang, is the most brave in the world!"

"To be honest... His Highness is just a little taller than an ordinary person. It's hard to tell how brave he is just by looking at his stature!"

"you do not believe?"

"Of course I believe it, I just find it incredible!"

There were whispers below, while Zhu Jinghong stood beside the throne and listened to the work report of the chief minister of the cabinet.

The matter in Yingtian Mansion has basically calmed down. Zhao Yushan wants to expand Qingzhang to the entire Jinling, and is currently having preliminary discussions with Zhu Xianming.

Regarding the matter of expanding the scope of Qingzhang, Zhu Xianming had actually made plans for a long time, and now he is conducting preliminary discussions.

Expanding the scope from a government to a province is by no means as simple as issuing an imperial edict, and requires more complete preparations.

It is said that if a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools. The Jinling local officials who implement the will of the imperial court have become the first link to be arranged.

To put it simply, Zhao Yushan wants to remove the "disobedient" people and replace the "own people" who are obedient.

It sounds like there is a suspicion of eradicating dissidents and nepotism, but it is also the most effective way to do big things.

But the difficulty with such a plan is to get the emperor to agree. After all, personnel power is no joke.

Of course, Zhao Yushan is only talking about preliminary ideas at this time, and the specific list of personnel will need to be carefully considered.

But even so, he still talked about his initial conception of the entire Jinling exchange for a full ten minutes.

It seems inappropriate to talk about such a big event in this informal setting, but it just proves that Zhao Yushan has a sophisticated mind.

It doesn't matter if you tell the emperor in private that you are rejected, but if you talk about these rejections in court, the meaning will be completely different.

"What Zhao Qing thinks is extremely safe... go back and draw up a list first, and then convene a court meeting to make a final decision!"

Of course, Zhu Xianming can decide on his own in such a major matter, but he still wants to follow due procedures and give some people a chance to complain.

"Yes!"

"Okay, the banquet is about to start. You should also take your seats!" Zhu Xianming said with a smile.

"Wei Chen retire!"

After Zhao Yushan retired, Zhu Xianming took a sip of tea first, and then asked: "That Jia Hua... was promoted to the deputy envoy of the Jinling Administrative Department and succeeded He Gujin as the plenipotentiary director. Was it too fast?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jinghong subconsciously looked around, only to find that the old man turned back to look at him.

What does the old man mean?Is he asking me?Does he think Jia Yucun is mine?It shouldn't be...

"Is your boy deaf?"

"Dad, are you asking me?"

"Is there anyone else here?" the emperor asked.

"Dad, how can my son understand these important things? Besides, my son doesn't know whether Jia Yucun can do it!"

"Don't you know each other well? He has done many things for you!"

Zhu Jinghong was the focus of the emperor's attention. Jia Yucun's "Supreme Emperor's Birthday Gift" was specially presented to him, and he helped him find foreign sailors and boatmen from Jinling. It was impossible to hide these things from the emperor.

At this time, Zhu Jinghong was particularly magnanimous and heard him say: "I've done a few things and it's not too familiar, but if you really want to ask your son what he thinks, all he can say is...this man does have some skills, and he does things well." Reliable!"

Zhu Xianming smiled slightly, but didn't say much about it.

"Dad, why don't you set up a seat for your son? He has done the work of a guard!"

"Look at your outfit, you don't have the dignity of a sect king. Why do you want to sit down instead of standing?"

At this moment, Zhu Jinghong was wearing a sash, wrist guards on his hands, and a sword on his waist. If he had put on armor, he could go to the battlefield.

In fact, Zhu Jinghong did not reject being a bodyguard by the emperor's side at all. After all, not everyone could have this qualification.

"By the way, you said you were going to send people out to sea to do things. How are the arrangements?" Zhu Xianming asked about this matter again.

"The arrangements have been made. They will leave Beijing in a few days!"

"There are many pirates and bandits on the sea. It is not easy to do business. Those..."

Zhu Xianming continued to talk. Because of his attention to maritime matters in the past year, he had become a semi-expert.

(End of this chapter)