Red Mansion: I am Jia Lian

Chapter 382 The Real Event

In Jia Lian's mind, Emperor Chenghui is probably an enhanced version of Emperor Renzong of Song. He is kind to his subjects, has a strong and enterprising spirit, and has enough power and skills to change the status quo.

"I have read this memorial. Ning Qing has good intentions, and the salt administration has indeed reached the point where it must change. The Kaizhong Law is completely corrupt, and changing it cannot be achieved simply by strengthening supervision. What I mean is that it takes time to find the crux of the problem and prescribe the right remedy." In front of Jia Lian, Emperor Chenghui picked up Ning Ke's memorial and patiently explained it to him.

Ning Ke looked regretful after hearing this: "Your Majesty, it was me who was anxious."

Emperor Chenghui has always been tolerant of such ministers who want to do things and are enterprising. He waved his hand and said, "Ministers who are willing to do things will naturally be anxious when facing such a salt business. However, the interests of the upper and lower levels of the salt business are entangled and intertwined. If you want to completely change the salt business, you need to organize the team from top to bottom in a targeted manner to eliminate the malpractices to the greatest extent. After Ning Qing goes back, take some time to think about it. If you find a problem and raise it, you still have to solve it in the end."

This is the greatest characteristic of Emperor Chenghui, pragmatism!
Since Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established the salt and iron monopoly, the affairs of salt and iron have been a battleground for all major powers in every dynasty.

Thanks to the advancement of smelting technology, iron was completely open to the private market, while salt was still under a monopoly system.

Ning Ke responded to the emperor's words with an attitude of listening and teaching: "I am a humble minister with limited knowledge and have not been able to share your majesty's worries. This is my fault."

Emperor Chenghui waved his hand generously: "You don't have to do this. The original intention of the salt reform was to lower the price of salt and benefit millions of ordinary people. I am very pleased that you are willing to do this."

Jia Lian, who was standing aside, bowed his head and heard this, and almost laughed out loud. Well, it was mainly because of his preconceived judgment that Ning Ke's purpose was to lower the price of salt through reform.

This is really not Jia Lian's conspiracy theory to blame. The main reason is that the salt business is too complicated. Ning Ke's high-profile demand for the improvement of the salt business makes it hard to believe that he is not doing it to accumulate political capital.

Whether things can be done or not, whether things will be done or not, does not stop him from shouting slogans at all.

Knowing that there are things he cannot accomplish during his term in office does not stop him from taking a high-sounding stance for his election campaign.

Ning Ke's situation was also the same in Jia Lian's view. He saw Lin Ruhai being reused again and again to handle major cases. Who can guarantee that there was no private transaction in this process?
The benefits of private transactions have been obtained, and the reputation of being a capable official has been earned. How can Ning Ke not be anxious? They are all cabinet candidates, and whether they can enter the cabinet at a critical moment is often a matter of a hair's breadth.

So Jia Lian found it very interesting, but unfortunately the occasion was not right, so he could only hold back his laughter and watch the emperor and his minister perform a harmonious scene.

Ning Ke was actually quite embarrassed. After all, he had to continue acting in front of Jia Lian.

"I appreciate your advice. I will take my leave now!" Ning Ke took the initiative to retreat. He came and left in a hurry.

Emperor Chenghui did not try to keep him, but gave him a few words of encouragement and let him go.

Jia Lian was the only one left standing aside, looking down with no visible expression. Emperor Chenghui could not help but raise his voice: "Look up! Let me hit the back of your head, aren't you afraid of being convicted of deceiving the emperor?"

Jia Lian raised his head helplessly, and it was difficult to suppress his lips. Emperor Chenghui saw the clue and couldn't help but complain: "Minister Ning wants to do things and can do things. He is a capable minister!"

Jia Lian looked helpless and said, “I didn’t say anything!”
Emperor Chenghui was too lazy to look at his innocent face and waved his hand to chase him away: "Get lost, you are so young but you are full of evil intentions!"

Jia Lian left with a smile on his face. The moment he walked out of the hall, he straightened his back! He was serious and had become a different person.

Emperor Chenghui already knew Jia Lian very well and knew that he was the kind of person who would be lazy if he could, unless he encountered something that interested him.

As for Jia Lian, who clearly made great contributions but did not receive more rewards and therefore felt resentful, Emperor Chenghui was not worried.

If Jia Lian had too many ideas, given his status as a person who could enter the palace at any time, wouldn't he have to be around the emperor every day?

Emperor Chenghui judged that if the elders of the Jia family had not been so unpromising, Jia Lian might not have struggled in the officialdom. Perhaps, Jia Lian saw that his elders were suppressed, or made the wrong choice in the officialdom, and was forced to expose the fact that he was a genius in reading. In the eyes of the elders of the Jia family, the four kings and eight dukes were a guarantee of interests and status, but in Jia Lian's view, the circle of the four kings and eight dukes was a burden to the Jia family!

In Emperor Chenghui's mind, Jia Lian was a person who didn't mind whether he was a high-ranking official or a low-ranking official. Or, he saw that being at the top was lonely, so he was unwilling to seek personal gain.

Up to now, Jia Lian has been able to make a living by his own ability, which is unique among the children of nobles.

As for the hidden conflict between Ning Ke and Jia Lian, Emperor Chenghui would not care even if he saw it.

It is precisely because Jia Lian has a good attitude that Emperor Chenghui feels that he cannot completely control this guy. How should I put it? It's very contradictory.

On the one hand, Emperor Chenghui hoped that Jia Lian would be as enterprising as other ministers. On the other hand, he did not want to see Jia Lian become a philistine, rather than pretending to be a philistine for the sake of comfort.

When returning from the northwest this time, what Emperor Chenghui actually hoped to see most was that Jia Lian would take the initiative and express that he would stay in the army in the future and return to the noble path of his ancestors.

Unfortunately, after Jia Lian came back, he was no different from before. The first thing he did was to hand over the military power and go home for vacation. He really had no attachment to the military power. If it were other ministers, they would be unimaginably free and easy.

Emperor Chenghui's real intention of letting Jia Lian keep the gold medal was very clear. When needed, Jia Lian would obediently lead the troops to fight.

Let's put it this way, Jia Lian was trained to be both civil and military. In the future, Jia Lian will not only be of great use in government affairs, but also serve as the emperor's first thug.

Thinking of the silent contest between Jia Lian and Ning Ke just now, in which Ning Ke, whom he favored, was defeated, Emperor Chenghui couldn't help feeling a little tired.

It's all Jia Lian's fault! He disturbed Ning Qing's heart!

Emperor Chenghui, who was not interested in government affairs for a while, went out to the harem. He got off work early today and wanted to relax.

Well, let’s put it this way, Jia Lian worked hard outside for two months, and Emperor Chenghui was also worried in the palace for two months, and he had no interest in the harem at all.

Strolling to a crossroads, Emperor Chenghui hesitated for a moment and took the west road.

In less than an incense stick of time, the Yuan Fei's palace was right in front of them. The eunuchs who were sweeping the courtyard immediately dropped their work, knelt by the road and shouted, "Your servant greets His Majesty!"

Yuanchun came out to greet them. The little princess in the arms of her nurse showed no fear at all. She waved her hands at Emperor Chenghui and shouted, “Ahhh!”

When facing the princes, Emperor Chenghui always has lawsuits on his mind. Only when facing the ignorant little princess and feeling her innocent heart, he will smile unconsciously.

After motioning Yuanchun to step aside, Emperor Chenghui went inside and took a seat. Seeing Yuanchun busying around instead of letting the servants do it, he was deeply touched.

Other women in the palace, once they were about to leave, often put on airs and were too lazy to help. Yuanchun had not changed much. She was the same as she was in the past. Whenever the emperor came, she would not ask anyone else to do the things she could do herself. A light fell on the couch, and the little princess tried to catch the light with her hands. Every time she failed, her hands were in front of her eyes, and her eyes were full of confusion. She tried to catch it repeatedly but failed.

This scene made Emperor Chenghui laugh!

Before dinner, Yuanchun took advantage of the fact that no one was around and whispered, "Your Majesty has been staying in the study for nearly two months. I am satisfied that you can come here to take a look. It is still early, Your Majesty, please go to the Queen's place."

This was something that Emperor Chenghui had not expected. After a moment of shock, Jia Lian's face came to his mind. That boy was not competitive. If he was given something, he would take it. If he was not given something, he would be fine. The one in front of him was much more cautious. It was said that the Jia family was not good at educating their offspring and had a bad family tradition. But besides Jia Lian, there was Yuanchun.

Jia Lian outside would try to avoid being lazy whenever possible, but Yuanchun in the palace has been urging the emperor to treat everyone equally since she gave birth to the little princess.

The Jia family has produced two weirdos!
"Okay, I'll go to Kunning Palace now and come back tomorrow to see what you have to say." Before leaving, Emperor Chenghui pinched Yuanchun's buttocks.

Looking at Yuanchun's red face, Emperor Chenghui laughed and left.

After leaving the palace, Jia Lian quickened his pace. The food in the palace tasted good, but it was too stiff and uncomfortable to eat.

It can only be said that it was an unexpected gain. I didn't expect Ning Ke to take the initiative to put his face forward to get spanked.

Actually, it was not very kind of the emperor to use his own hand to hit Ning Ke. However, it was a good thing.

As for the emperor, even one like Song Renzong, who could swallow the spit from Han Qi, would still resort to cannibalism when someone really threatened his throne.

Not to mention that this is an enhanced version. Jia Lian really doesn't want to leave the impression of forming cliques in the emperor's mind. Especially when interacting with senior officials, he must not leave such an impression. As for Zhang Tingen, no one would doubt anything, and the master-disciple relationship is stable.

The weather was too hot, so Jia Lian mounted his horse and galloped back, not wanting to stay any longer.

After being exposed to the sun all the way, Jia Lian had no appetite after entering the room. He was shirtless and looked very unpresentable. After wiping himself with a wet towel and sitting down, he picked up the teacup and drank the warm tea in one gulp, feeling comfortable.

The women in the room had all eaten. Wang Xifeng and Guixiang were taking naps in their respective rooms, with only Ping'er serving them.

"Okay, you go and rest too, and take care of the children." Jia Lian put on his thin shirt again and asked Ping'er to rest as well.

"Master hasn't eaten yet. I'll ask someone to go to the kitchen and order some." Ping'er was about to go out to call someone, but Jia Lian stopped her and said, "It's hot and I have no appetite. Just order a bowl of noodles."

Wang Xifeng, who was inside, was startled by the conversation outside. She came out with a bulging belly and complained after hearing this: "My master is kind-hearted. The monthly salary for the small kitchen staff in the back kitchen is five yuan, and the work is not much and not tiring."

Jia Lian stood up and helped her sit down, but he didn't respond: "Why did you get up? Are your legs still sore?"

While talking, he lifted Wang Xifeng's legs, pinched them, and pounded them. Wang Xifeng couldn't stand this, and whenever Jia Lian did this, she would immediately soften completely.

"You have maids and old women. Aren't you afraid of people gossiping about you doing this?" Wang Xifeng's eyes were drawn and her voice was extremely gentle.

She said so, but in her actions she was watching with peace of mind. Other women would not be jealous even if they saw it, this was a treatment Wang Xifeng enjoyed exclusively.

"Nonsense, you should love your own wife, what's there to gossip about?" Jia Lian has a very mature system to deal with Wang Xifeng.

In fact, she didn't think about it for too long, just a few minutes, and then Wang Xifeng struggled to retract her legs, just to show her status.

"Let me tell you something. My second uncle from the middle courtyard wants to be sent out to teach. The old lady has also agreed. Where do you think he should go?"

Jia Zheng was an official in the capital, and the fifth rank was the ceiling. It was almost impossible to go up. Jia Lian guessed that Jia Zheng gave up the comfort of the capital and was sent to serve as an official in the capital because he felt that he had no sense of existence in the capital. This is really the reality. Jia Lian is too dazzling and has become the representative of the Jia family. But the relationship between Jia Lian and Jia Zheng is a bit awkward, and they are not very close to outsiders.

"If I were your second uncle, I would also choose to be sent out. After three years, I would pass the imperial examination and be promoted to the next level with some effort. Even if the fourth rank of Yin Meng official is the highest, it is better than being neither up nor down now."

Jia Lian did not hide his true opinion in front of Wang Xifeng. Wang Xifeng could not help but frown and said, "Second uncle wants to go to Guangdong and Guangxi!"

If it were in the past, Jia Lian would definitely think that choosing to work under Wang Ziteng was a bad move, but now it is different, it is actually a good choice.

Jia Lian could not help but nod his head in approval. "It's not that my second uncle is incapable, he just slacked off before."

Wang Xifeng didn't understand and asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Jia Lian said tactfully: "As long as I am here in the Jia family, no matter how much my second uncle does, it will be hard for others to say anything."

Wang Xifeng's eyes still revealed stupidity and confusion, and Jia Lian stopped explaining: "If you can't figure it out, don't think about it. It's the master's business." As he said this, he touched Wang Xifeng's face to show his affection.

"There's sweat on my face!" Wang Xifeng dodged for a moment, then didn't, squinting her eyes and looking like she was enjoying it.

The ten-day vacation passed quickly, and it was another day back to work, and Jia Lian felt listless.

After getting up early, he sat on the bed in a daze, allowing Xiren and Xiangling to help him dress and almost push him to go wash and comb.

Xiren pleaded, "Master, please be kind. Last night, you told me again and again that you must wake me up in the morning."

Xiangling pretended to squat in front of him, and Jia Lian came back to his senses. He pulled Xiangling up and said, "You are awake, completely awake. If there is something important today, you must take the initiative to go to the palace to see the emperor."

Xiangling then stopped and got up to help Jia Lian wash and change his clothes.

What made Jia Lian so concerned? It was simple. The envoys who had visited the West returned to Beijing at an express delivery of 600 li. Of the 300 people who had gone out, less than half returned. Fortunately, all the ambassadors were alive. Wang Ziteng received the news in Guangzhou and immediately sent a messenger to report. Well, as long as there was no rebellion or foreign invasion, even Wang Ziteng would not dare to use an express delivery of 800 li.

Wang Ziteng said in the letter that not only the diplomatic corps had returned, but also the English diplomatic corps had arrived in Guangzhou. The letter also said that after a simple rest and replenishment, the diplomatic corps would continue northward to Tianjin in at most half a month.

In Jia Lian's view, the return of the diplomatic envoys was not a big deal; the arrival of the trouble-making diplomatic envoys was a real big deal.

(End of this chapter)