Red Mansion Huacai

Chapter 380: Involving the Past
After hearing this, Li Weijian pondered while personally pouring tea for Baochai, saying, "Sister Xue, don't be anxious. After all, this is a lawsuit involving human life, and it won't be settled in a short time. Maybe there are other ways."

Baochai took the tea and held it in her palm, saying, "I know that this matter is difficult for Fourth Brother Jian, but... but Brother is the only child of the Xue family. Mother cries every day, and it is not good to let Brother be beheaded. Besides, Brother only injured someone by mistake this time, and he did not really want to kill anyone."

"My sister is right." Li Weijian responded, but he didn't agree in his heart. What does Xue Pan's life or death have to do with him? He just suddenly thought of Jia Yucun... This beast is now being used by the saint, and he is getting more and more rampant. Some time ago, the Ministry of War purchased horse carriages. Obviously, the carriages produced by Li Weijian's factory were of better quality and better price, but this beast was picky and split the order of 130,000 silver dollars into two, and 50,000 of them were given to a factory in Jinling.

Li Weijian had specially checked and heard that the owner behind this factory was the Jiangnan Lin family, who had produced a prime minister during the reign of Emperor Taishang.

Li Weijian had disliked Jia Yucun from the beginning, and when he saw Xue Pan's situation, he immediately came up with an idea. He said, "I heard that Sister Xue's cannery was able to run thanks to the help of the Grand Marshal. Why don't we ask the Grand Marshal for help? The Grand Marshal has a close relationship with the Xue family."

Baochai was so angry that her face turned pale. She said, "Don't mention it, Fourth Brother Jian. That man is just a coward who takes advantage of others' misfortune. In the past, the Xue family and him were just exchanged with each other, and there was no friendship between them."

Li Weijian was very puzzled. Sister Bao never showed her emotions on her face. How did Jia Yucun take advantage of her to make her so angry?... Oh, yes, the hairpin was waiting in the box for the right time to fly away.

Hiss... is that old guy setting his sights on Sister Bao?

Li Weijian was immediately upset. It was strange to say that he knew Sister Bao very well. If Li Weijian really married Baochai, he would not be happy. But if he had to watch Sister Bao fall into the hands of Jia Yucun, Li Weijian would feel sick just thinking about it.

Maybe this is what it means to eat from the bowl and look at the pot?
Li Weijian suppressed his anger, thought carefully, and suddenly smiled: "Since this is about Wenlong's life, it's no wonder that Sister Xue lost her composure. In fact, if Sister Xue thinks carefully, this way to break the situation... is not difficult."

Baochai immediately perked up after hearing this, bowed and said, "Please give me some advice, Fourth Brother Jian."

Li Weijian said, "How could Sister Xue forget that Wenlong's past affairs in Nanjing were all handled by Jia Yucun. If Brother Wenlong accidentally reveals it, then Shuntian Prefecture Governor Wan Weishu is very close to Jia Yucun. Sister Xue, do you think that if such a secret is revealed, who will be anxious, Wenlong or Jia Yucun?"

Jia Yucun was very good at scheming, and had climbed up Chen Hongmou's thigh earlier, and now he openly regarded himself as a member of the New Party. Moreover, he was ranked as the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War, and although he had never entered the cabinet, he could be regarded as the fourth most important figure in the New Party.

Li Weijian thought to himself that his teacher Yan Xiyao had just said a few days ago that the New Party was now so powerful that it was difficult to get rid of it. After several years of implementing the new law, Chen Hongmou had eliminated the policy of allocating land tax to each acre, but the rest of the new policy was completely eliminated by Yan Xiyao.

It is all thanks to Li Weijian, because he has made many innovations and offered many suggestions, such as tax police and urban renewal. It is possible that the current sage would rely more on Chen Hongmou.

It is also for this reason that Chen Hongmou's achievements have not been obvious, and he is now becoming more and more impatient, and has already come up with a plan to force officials and gentry to pay taxes together.

As mentioned in the previous article, the current emperor has many plans but no decisiveness. It was not because he was forced by the Dzungar Khanate that he decided to make a desperate effort to reform under the pressure of internal and external troubles. The current emperor would rather be a peaceful emperor.

Now that the tax revenue of Dashun has improved, without counting the revenue from the imperial court, the tax revenue alone is approaching 60 million silver dollars per year. If the revenue from the imperial court is included, it may be as much as 80 million.

The policy of requiring officials and gentry to pay taxes together is to dig at the roots of the gentry. If it is really implemented, not only will it be a great plan, but even the emperor will not be given a good posthumous title in the future. Unfortunately, the emperor is a person who cares about his reputation, so he keeps making excuses, so that this policy is still being argued in the court and will not be implemented for a while.

Under such circumstances, the Saint was naturally unwilling to be coerced by Chen Hongmou, and privately hinted to Yan Xiyao that the New Party was too powerful, implying that it must be checked and balanced.

How to check and balance? It just so happened that Xue Pan was courting death, and Jia Yucun was the fourth most important figure in the New Party. Isn't this just a coincidence?

Sister Bao was very surprised when she heard this, and then she said angrily: "Brother Jian, are you hoping that my brother will die soon?"

How could he dare to speak out such a private matter? If he did, his brother would die in prison without any clear reason.

Li Weijian smiled and said, "If there is no other help, what Sister Xue said is of course correct. But now Sister Xue has come to ask for permission in person, just for Sister Xue's sake, I have to protect her." After a pause, Li Weijian said, "Wenlong, just tell me, I guarantee that no one will dare to do anything bad."

Sister Bao was silent after hearing this, and thought for a long time. With Li Weijian as a guarantor, this worry was eliminated, but the Xue family would probably be hated by Jia Yucun from now on. Even without Jia Yucun, the remaining New Party would regard the Xue family as a thorn in their side.

Baochai had a clear idea, but she couldn't say it. Under the emperor's feet, the nobles and the nobles had to behave themselves. Who dared to beat someone to death in the street? But her brother had really done such a thing. There were witnesses and evidence, and there was no way to argue. If she wanted to find that one-shot opportunity, she had to take an unconventional approach.

If my brother really confessed his past, Jia Yucun might have to put pressure on Shuntian Prefecture to suppress the case in order to keep his official position. Baojie couldn't weigh the pros and cons for a while, so she just said, "Thank you for your advice, Fourth Brother Jian, but I can't make the decision on this matter. I still need to ask mother."

Li Weijian said calmly, "It's okay, you can ask the concubine. But we have to do it as soon as possible. If it is proven to be a solid case, even if they are determined to drag Jia Yucun into it, I'm afraid Brother Wenlong will not be able to avoid death."

"I don't need to." Sister Bao stood up and bowed to Li Weijian: "It's the day of Fourth Brother Jian's big wedding, but I come to bother you with my troubles. It's really not right. Mother and I will come to your house to express our grievances tomorrow. I'll take my leave now."

"Oh, I'm sending Sister Xue off."

"Brother Jian, please stay."

Li Weijian still sent Xue Baochai to the outside of the Yimen Gate, and watched her get on the carriage before returning to the study. He picked up his pen and wrote down the reasons clearly, then called Ding Rufeng: "Go, send it to my teacher's house immediately."

Ding Rufeng took the order, put the letter in his pocket and rode away. Li Weijian then went to look for him.

At this moment, the banquet was over, and everyone in the Jia family was tactful, so they all returned to Rong Mansion together when they saw that it was almost time. The two opera troupes received the reward money and left with many thanks.

The rest of the concubines all left tactfully, only Daiyu led Zijuan and Xueyan to the Dengxian Pavilion. Li Weijian climbed up the stairs, and Zijuan smiled and covered her mouth when she saw him: "Madam, I was right, the master is coming now?"

Daiyu felt relieved, and smiled at Li Weijian and said, "Why did Fourth Brother come to look for me, an old friend, instead of accompanying Sister Xiuyan?"

"What are you talking about? You sound so jealous." With a naughty smile, Li Weijian sat down carelessly, picked up the teacup in front of Daiyu, took a sip and said, "Sister Xue came just now."

"She?" Daiyu was very surprised. Since the incident at Dicui Pavilion, the two girls had rarely seen each other since then. Daiyu asked, "Could it be that she is here to congratulate the fourth brother as well?"

"Looking for help." Li Weijian shook his head and told the story of Xue Pan beating someone to death.

Daiyu frowned upon hearing this and said, "Why did she come to ask for help from Fourth Brother instead of asking the Wang or Jia families for help?"

Li Weijian said, "Wang Ziteng is now in a difficult situation. As for Jia's family, your uncle is still in Jiangnan with Baoyu, and Brother Lian is staying at home. How can he help?"

Daiyu ignored the two families' situations and only asked, "Did Fourth Brother agree?"

"How should I agree? You did give me some pointers." Li Weijian then repeated what he had said before.

Having been the mistress of the house for more than two years and having many contacts with ladies of high rank, Daiyu was no longer a simpleton. She frowned and thought, "Could it be that Lord Yan intends to deal with Jia Yucun?"

"Sister, you have thought it clearly," Li Weijian said, "but the meaning behind it is not about my old mentor, but -" Li Weijian raised a finger and pointed upwards.

Jia Yucun had taught Daiyu in her early years, and because Daiyu married Li Weijian, his wife Jiao Xing wanted to make friends with her. Daiyu felt a little reluctant when she thought of the past, but she never said it out loud. She knew that she could not interfere in the important affairs of the court.

After a long while, Daiyu said, "If Lord Yan takes action, my master will definitely be defeated this time, right?"

"Things like these change with time and circumstances. It's too early to say anything now. I just sent a letter to the teacher's residence. Let's see what the teacher decides."

After saying this, Li Weijian thought of Xing Xiuyan in the room, and his mind could not help but drift away. Daiyu saw it, and she was a little angry, but also sympathetic, saying: "Sister Xing has been waiting for you for a whole day, you should go and see her."

Li Weijian pretended to be very reluctant and agreed. After he came down from Dengxian Pavilion, he hurried towards Zhijue Zhai.

On the Dengxian Pavilion, seeing Li Weijian's excited steps, Zijuan smiled and excused him, "Madam, don't be angry. Others marry new people and forget about the old ones. It's not easy for the master to still think about you."

"Do I need you to enlighten me? How could I not know what kind of person Fourth Brother is?" Daiyu thought to herself, Fourth Brother is good in every way, except that he is too... amorous and lustful.

But Li Weijian arrived at Zhijue Zhai excitedly. The maid who served him spoke to Xing Xiuyan inside, then she smiled and covered her mouth and quietly retreated.

Because she was a concubine, Xing Xiuyan never covered her head with a veil, and there were no dates, longans, peanuts, etc. on the bed. Hearing the footsteps approaching, Xing Xiuyan lowered her head, her face flushed, and she didn't dare to look up. After a while, Li Weijian came closer and saw a beautiful narcissus, which did not compete with other flowers in spring, but kept its own place, calm, indifferent, and unperturbed by praise or criticism, but it could not hide its inner beauty.

Xing Xiuyan waited for a long while before she raised her eyes with a blushing face, and saw Li Weijian looking at her with burning eyes and a smile on his face.

Xing Xiuyan stood up and bowed: "Master..."

"Ah."

Xing Xiuyan asked shyly, "What are you looking at, Master?"

"Enjoy the flowers."

Xing Xiuyan heard the hidden meaning and said, "There are so many beautiful people in the mansion, and I am just an ordinary person. Why should I be worthy of your attention?"

Li Weijian smiled and sat down beside her. He pulled her hand and said, "You are a daffodil. You don't compete with other flowers, but you decorate the whole winter."

Xing Xiuyan felt embarrassed by the compliment and turned her head away, saying, "How can I be as good as you say, Master?"

"If I say yes, then yes. Otherwise, why would I sacrifice my dignity to marry you?"

Xing Xiuyan said, "It's obviously me who sacrificed my dignity and kept sticking to the master, that's why—"

"So that's how it is. That means they are in love with each other."

As he spoke, Li Weijian embraced Xing Xiuyan, and Xing Xiuyan leaned her head obediently on Li Weijian's shoulder, listening to Li Weijian softly saying, "You don't have to be so restrained in the future. There are not many rules at home. Just do whatever you want to do."

Xing Xiuyan thought for a while and said, "I have been thinking for a while, and it seems that I have no other strengths except cooking." After a pause, she raised her head and looked at Li Weijian and smiled, "Just now, the fourth sister was joking that to capture a man's heart, you must first capture his stomach. I am so good at cooking, it seems like I did it on purpose."

Li Weijian lifted Xing Xiuyan's chin and asked, "Did you do it on purpose?"

Xing Xiuyan nodded gently at Li Weijian's gaze, and Li Weijian couldn't help but be moved. He immediately lifted her chin and covered it. After a long time, Xing Xiuyan hugged him tightly. Li Weijian looked at the sky outside, and was annoyed that the sun had not yet set. Then he heard Xing Xiuyan's stomach rumbling, so he said, "We've been hungry for half a day, let's eat something first."

"it is good."

............................................................

There is no mention of Li Weijian being a groom again, but it is said that Ding Rufeng delivered the letter and then sat in the gatehouse drinking tea waiting for a reply.

Yan Xiyao had just finished dinner. He went to the study and unfolded the letter. He read the whole story and couldn't help but smile. Then he sighed and said, "My disciple... is a lucky general."

The sage had just spoken a few days ago, and Yan Xiyao was still thinking about how to attack the Chen Party, when this ready-made knife was handed to him.

It was already getting dark. Yan Xiyao paced in the study room for a while, clutching the letter. Suddenly, he called the housekeeper and ordered, "Send someone to secretly keep an eye on Shuntian Mansion, especially to take good care of Xue Pan. Don't let him die a violent death."

The butler agreed, saying that such matters were already handled well, and immediately ordered the servants to handle it without further ado.

............................................................

But Baochai was thinking all the way back home. Just as she arrived home, Xia Jingui and Aunt Xue came to greet her.

Aunt Xue asked, "My son, how is it? What did Jian'er say? Did he agree to help?"

If a ruler is not discreet, he will lose his subjects. Baochai glanced at Xia Jingui and said, "There is still room for maneuver in this matter, but mother must make a decision."

At that moment Baochai sent away the cursing Xia Jingui, and returned to the main room with Aunt Xue, where she whispered to her about Li Weijian's bad idea.

Aunt Xue was only thinking about how to save Xue Pan, so she didn't care about anything else. She said, "Amitabha, Brother Jian has finally come up with a good idea. My son, you can't care about anything else now. What house and money are nothing compared to your brother's life? I think it's better to follow Brother Jian's idea and make a big fuss about this. Jia Yucun is now the Grand Marshal. If he doesn't want to be dismissed, he will definitely cover up this matter."

Baochai continued, "I'm afraid my brother has met with murder in prison...but Fourth Brother Jian said he would definitely save some of them."

"Then what are you waiting for? I will go find Zhang Dehui and inform your brother about this as soon as possible."

Sister Bao sighed and finally agreed. No matter what the outcome of this matter was, the Xue family would never be able to gain a foothold in the capital.

He immediately looked for Zhang Dehui and ordered him to make arrangements to inform Xue Pan of this matter no matter what.

Zhang Dehui took the order and went away. He spent five hundred taels of silver to bribe the jailer and quietly informed Xue Pan of the matter.

Xue Pan had been locked up for a few days, and his savagery had long since disappeared. He thought that his uncle was Wang Ziteng, a popular figure in front of the saint, and he had just beaten a clerk to death, so at most he would have to pay some money. Unexpectedly, the Shuntian Prefecture magistrate refused to change his mind and tortured him without a confession. In the past few days, Xue Pan had been beaten with a stick, and he had already confessed that he had accidentally beaten the clerk to death in anger after drinking.

There is a saying that the gate of the yamen faces south, and if you don’t have money, don’t come in.

The Xue family was completely unaware that just as they had spent money in Shuntian Prefecture, Leng Zixing, with the money that Xue Pan had earned from his trip south to purchase goods, also spent money in Shuntian Prefecture.

Leng Zixing had a good plan. If Xue Pan died, wouldn't the business become his? It is said that money can move people's hearts. Because of a coincidence, the money spent by the Xue family and Leng Zixing turned out to be the same.

The newly appointed Shuntian Prefecture Governor Wan Weishu ate both the plaintiff and the defendant. Seeing that the amount of money offered by the two parties was not much different, he simply decided to delay and would only favor whichever party offered more money in the end.

Unexpectedly, the situation suddenly changed.

That night, Leng Zixing negotiated with the Wan family's manager and gritted his teeth to agree to pay another 1,000 taels. Wan Weishu did not wait for the Xue family to send the money, and the next day he sent the prosecutor to give Xue Pan a hard time.

Early that morning, the bailiff brought Xue Pan to the court.

The judge slammed the gavel and said, "Hey, you bastard, why don't you tell the truth? How did you beat someone to death?"

I had to spend more effort as usual, and I had to give Xue Pan another beating, but Xue Pan just kept on beating his head and said, "Master, please be merciful, I will tell you everything."

"Oh? Then tell me now!"

Xue Pan said: "My name is not Xue Yu, but Xue Pan. I am the descendant of Ziwei Sheren, and my father was once an imperial merchant."

The magistrate frowned and said, "Nonsense, your household registration clearly says it's Xue Que."

Xue Pan grinned and said, "Please forgive me, sir. Actually, I beat someone to death in Jinling before, so I had no choice but to change my name."

"Ok?"

Xue Pan looked at the magistrate and said proudly, "The person who handled this matter is the former Jinling prefect, now the Grand Marshal of the Ministry of War, Jia Hua. If you don't believe me, just ask the Grand Marshal."

The judge gasped and said, "Nonsense! You are just making false accusations, come on, beat me up!"

(End of this chapter)