Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

After sending Fatty Feng away, Jia Cong did not leave. He just sat in the elegant room and waited for others.

He had already ordered Fang Ji to make an appointment with Zhao Huaian and several other senior members of the old party.

Not long after, Zhao Huaian, the right minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Lu Jie, the right minister of the Ministry of Justice, Yang Shaoyuan, the right minister of the Ministry of War, Xiao Ming, the left minister of the Ministry of Husband, Li Muyu, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, and others arrived in succession.

"My lords, please take a seat." Jia Cong greeted with a smile.

Zhao Huaian was familiar with the Jia family and said with a smile: "Zilong, you're welcome. I wonder why you called us here?"

Asking questions knowingly, Jia Cong secretly cursed and said with a smile: "I have something special to trouble some of you, the elders. Let's have a cup of tea first. The clouds and mist in Mount Lu here are quite good, which matches the elegance of these adults."

Everyone smiled and exchanged greetings.

Jia Cong was too lazy to talk and said: "Today in the Golden Palace, the factory guards are arrogant and domineering. All the elders have seen it. Even the Holy One has been plotted by him. I hope you will uphold justice."

Although everyone said a few words for Jia Cong in the Golden Palace, they only pulled Nan Si to stand up and block the gun. After all, they were the former ministers of the Supreme Emperor, so they still had some scruples about the case and did not want to get involved too deeply.

Lu Jie said calmly: "Uncle Dang Kou, as we agreed last time, we will help you and you will rescue the fourteen colleagues who were wrongly accused.

Now that we have kept our promise and contributed to your robbery of Beisi and Feng Yuan's case, it's time for you to fulfill your promise. How about we settle old accounts first and discuss new ones later? "

Jia Cong cupped his hands and said with a smile: "I am grateful for your great kindness day and night. Now the fourteen adults Cong have been rescued and are being taken care of in Nansi. They have enough food and clothing and can move freely. As you all know.

It's just that the relevant case is major and complex, with wide implications and numerous documents, and the factory guards are clinging to it, so it's hard to figure it out for the moment. I hope you will give me a few days of grace, and I will give you an explanation when this case is over. "

Li Muyu frowned and said, "Dang Koubo is using this to blackmail us?"

"Master Li said something serious, but Cong definitely didn't mean it. It's true that Nan Division is short of manpower, and they have to deal with the massacre by factory guards and handle cases, so they really don't have the skills to split their time."

Xiao Ming said: "Dang Kou Bo knows that if you lose your credibility, it will be difficult to get along in the court."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "Your Excellency, please rest assured about Cong's reputation. We have just discussed with Lord Feng of your department to let the Xue family spend five million to serve the imperial court in order to atone for their sins."

Xiao Ming was startled and said: "Really?" After all, he is the left minister of the household department. If the household department is rich, his life will be easy.

"Your Excellency, just go back and ask Feng Shilang. Since Feng Shilang trusts Cong, I still have credibility," Jia Cong said.

Xiao Ming nodded and stopped talking.

Yang Shaoyuan frowned and said: "What do you mean by cheating Kou Bo..."

Jia Cong said calmly: "The old party and our Nansi will benefit from both if we unite and harm both if we separate. I hope you will learn from this."

Everyone was silent for a while, but they agreed with this statement. This time asking Jia Cong to fish for people is an example.

Lu Jie said: "The Gongjin case is a heinous crime. Who dares to get involved? It's better not to have any wild ideas when trying to deal with Kou Bo."

Jia Cong said: "Everyone, it is good for everyone to support Nansi. There are many doubts about this case, and you all know it well. Why don't you say a few words of fairness? Is it good to have another official amulet in the future?"

Let's do this. This time, you will do your best to help Nansi overcome the difficulties. I promise you that if Beisi and Dongchang investigate you in the future, I will try my best to resolve it for you. How about it? "

Everyone pondered for a moment and looked at each other. This condition was quite tempting. If they could get the guard talisman of Jin Yiwei Nansi, it would be like an extra life for the officials in the capital.

Li Muyu said: "This discussion is somewhat interesting. But let's release the people in Nan Prison first, and let's talk about it later."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Are you looking at me as a fool? Now that Nansi is in danger, how can it be unreasonable for you to ask me to cut off my arms? Since you are not interested in this win-win deal, I won't force it.

But one thing, I want to remind you that those fourteen adults are not as loyal as you. In Beisili, a lot of nonsense was said about you. Cong Zheng was thinking about how to deal with it. "Jia Cong said calmly.

"You! Are you threatening us?!" Lu Jie said angrily, clapping the case and getting up.

Jia Cong smiled coldly and acquiesced.

Soft ones are not enough, only hard ones.

Zhao Huaian was busy trying to smooth things over and said, "Brother Zhanzhi, don't be impulsive. If you have something to say, it's easy to say it. Zilong has no intention of doing so."

Jia Cong gave him face and said with a smile: "What Mr. Zhao said is absolutely true. How could Cong have such intention? It's just for the sake of everyone's benefit."

Lu Jie snorted coldly and sat down slowly.

Everyone said nothing, each thinking about their own pros and cons.

Jia Cong said: "Cong has only one thing to say, please tell all the prime ministers. Beisi and Dongchang are just dead bones in the graves. How big a loss can you suffer if you make friends with Nansi? This is one of them."

Cong has always repaid his kindness and revenge. If you help me once, I may not be able to repay you in the future. This is the second one.

Supporting the Southern Division will make the Northern Division and Dongchang have some scruples in their actions, which is also a good thing for you, the third one.

Besides, there is one more thing...so and so. What do you think? "

Everyone weighed it for a moment, exchanged glances with each other, and already agreed 70-80% in their hearts.

Zhao Huaian said: "Zilong, I can't make the final decision on this matter. I'll go back and report it to the prime ministers and ministers, and then I'll get back to you."

"Cong is waiting for good news." Jia Cong breathed a sigh of relief. It was so damn tiring to deal with these people.

After seeing a few people off, I looked at the sky and saw that the sun was almost setting.

Jia Cong hurriedly came downstairs. There was another party at home in the evening.

The prisoner is almost turning into an actor.
-

Sitting in a room outside Yangxin Hall, Dai Quan was explaining things to several close eunuchs with a gloomy face after meeting Jia Cong.

"Go and keep an eye on the concubines in the palace and tell them to behave themselves. Don't try to be smart and try to use the tribute brocade case to gain fame and favor. That's asking for death. Anyone who doesn't listen to me will report to me."

"Yes."

"Over at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, someone took the Guangchu Secretary Satin Treasury, the Director of the Garment Treasury, the scribe, the writing style, etc., who were responsible for the acceptance, storage, and uniforming of the Xue family's tribute brocade, and asked me to interrogate them in detail."

"Yes. Manager, if the factory guards have taken action in advance, we..."

Dai Quan smiled coldly: "I don't believe that the factory guards could arrest hundreds of people from the Guangchu Department, including those related to the satin warehouse and the garment warehouse, along with their families. Remember, this is a secret arrest."

"Yes. I promise to let them say what they need to say."

"Yes. When I say hello to all the ministries, I tell them that this case involves the Tian family and it is not a trivial matter. Please make sure they decide it impartially."

"Yes. I understand." The eunuch nodded. The words "just and decisive" have a profound meaning. He made the meaning clear and there was nothing wrong with it.

"Also, Concubine Xian De, there must be some villains doing things in the past few days, trying to flatter the superiors and suppress the inferiors. Pass on my words and let the people below take care of them. Don't let some blind idiots offend the imperial concubine." . Report to the manager, I personally think that on the green head card..." A eunuch said with a evil smile.

Dai Quan nodded: "Remove all the blind concubines and replace them with virtuous concubines."

"Yes."

Turning the sign is a system followed in the palace. Before the emperor goes to bed, the eunuch will give the green-headed sign to the emperor, and introduce the portrait of each concubine and some of her information, such as the concubine's skills, origin, etc.

Whichever the emperor turned to was the one who slept with him.

The purpose is to prevent the emperor from favoring one person, to ensure that the Tian family is spread, and to prevent a certain family relative from rising up.

The emperor did not dare to violate this system easily, because the person who attended the bed every night would be recorded.

The Ministry of Rites, the Supervisory Office and other ministries will check regularly. Once they find signs of special favor, they will write a letter to remonstrate, asking the emperor to put the country, the country, and the country first.

Because in history, almost all emperors who favored one person were cowardly kings, mediocre kings, tyrants, or kings who destroyed their country.

The history pen is like iron, and jotting down a random note will not be a good thing for the emperor or his concubines.

However, this lottery system has long been broken by eunuchs in the past dynasties.

If any concubine offends someone or harms the emperor, if her green head card is removed directly, she will never see the light of day.

If you want to favor a concubine or the emperor you like, you only need to remove a few brands and replace them with this person, and the probability of sleeping with him will be greatly increased.

For example, Emperor Xifeng had twenty concubines. Excluding those who were pregnant or sick, the number of cards presented every night was fourteen or five yuan, ten of which belonged to Jia Yuanchun. Isn't that a sure thing?

This is the power of eunuchs.

Dai Quan thought for a while and said: "And... forget it, I will handle this matter myself, you can go ahead."

"Slave, I obey." Several of his confidants stepped back and went to arrange manpower for the sticky pole.

"Eunuch, Princess Ruyi has just entered the palace and is now heading to Changchun Palace." A young eunuch hurriedly came to report.

"Keep an eye on it and report to me when the princess passes by the Yangxin Hall."

Early in the morning, Princess Ruyi heard that the Xue family's tribute brocade case had occurred in the Golden Palace today, and that Jia Cong was involved, which shocked her.

No matter for the sake of Jia Cong or Baochai, she could not remain indifferent, so she hurried into the palace and wanted to go to the queen to find out the truth first.

She had grown up in a palace, so she didn't know that the case was so important that if she wasn't careful, her family would be confiscated and her family would be wiped out.

As soon as I arrived at Yuehua Gate, I saw two eunuchs coming out of the corner gate opposite and calling a thousand greetings by the roadside.

"This servant pays your respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Ruyi glanced at the person who came, but it was not convenient to ask him. After getting off Fenghu, he smiled slightly and said, "Where are you going, Eunuch Dai?"

Dai Quan said with a smile: "I just got some free time. I was planning to go to Changchun Palace to pay my respects to the Queen."

Ruyi nodded and said, "Just come with me."

"Yes. Your Highness, please." Dai Quan bowed and followed.

Princess Ruyi's eyes moved slightly, secretly thinking that Dai Quan was well-informed and must have some knowledge, so she stopped slightly and looked at the eunuchs and palace maids behind her who were carrying Fenghu.

Dai Quan's seven orifices were exquisite and he hurriedly said: "Follow me from afar."

"Did your Highness have any orders?" Dai Quan said in a low voice as he dismissed the palace attendant.

Princess Ruyi said: "What happened this morning..."

Dai Quan secretly smiled in his heart, as expected, beauties love heroes, so they are waiting for you. He pretended to be puzzled and said: "I wonder what your highness is talking about."

Ruyi stamped her feet and said, "Of course it's a matter between... the Xue family... and Jia Cong."

Dai Quan shook his head and sighed: "The princess inquires, but I dare not hide it. This matter is really troublesome, and the Holy One is also a little troublesome."

Ruyi frowned slightly and said: "It's just a group of poorly colored brocades who want to come to the Xue family to do old errands. How dare they be so bold? It must be because the servants are careless in doing things. Reprimand them, fine them some money, and then cut them off." Won’t a few servants just get married?”

Dai Quan smiled bitterly and said: "What His Highness said is absolutely true, but the factory guards insist on insisting on it. They must be charged with disrespect and involve the Jia family..."

"What does the Yun Brocade from Xue Jiagong have to do with the Jia family?" Ruyi asked anxiously.

"Three of the Xue family's mother and son have been living in the Jia family for several years, and they often do business together. They are also close friends for a long time. With the ability of factory guards to grab and bite, they can easily pull the Jia family into trouble," Dai Quan said.

"Asshole. Are the factory guards allowed to do whatever they want and concoct unjust sentences? No one in the civil and military dynasties dares to say a word of justice?" Ruyi said angrily.

"Your Highness, be careful what you say. Walls have ears." Dai Quan hurriedly bowed and said: "This matter involves the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, who dares to plead for mercy? The fact that the case is not allowed to fall into the hands of the factory guards is the result of the protection of all the great officials."

"Huh. I'm going to ask my mother to go." Princess Ruyi stamped her feet and left quickly.

"Hey, Your Highness, please walk slowly." Dai Quan hurriedly caught up and said, "It may not be helpful to ask the Queen for this matter."

"Why is this?" Ruyi said.

Dai Quan said in a low voice: "To put it more seriously, this case is disrespectful to the two old saints. Your Majesty and the Queen are juniors. How can you intercede for the prisoner if you don't strictly investigate and deal with them? This is one of them.

If the empress really intercedes, not only will it not help the matter, but it will also cause more trouble and even anger the Supreme Emperor..."

"Why is this so?" Ruyi was surprised.

"Just imagine, Your Highness, the Supreme Emperor will think that the Queen is speaking on behalf of whom, naturally it is the Emperor. Then... wouldn't this be even worse? This is the second reason."

Princess Ruyi is not stupid, and she instantly realized that this is the truth. If two emperors are involved in a small case, it will be a battle for imperial power and honor, and the fight will be bloody.

"What do you mean, father-in-law?"

"In my humble opinion, if Your Highness wants to intercede on behalf of the Xue family, you should simply not go to see the Queen first. If the Queen knows about this matter, she will be in a dilemma, which will be unsightly.

Why not go straight to Ningshou Palace and find the Empress Dowager to intercede? As long as the Supreme Emperor opens his mouth, big things will naturally become trivial. Dai Quan whispered.

"Go to Ningshou Palace." Princess Ruyi was very decisive and turned around to board Fenghu.

"I respectfully send you off to Your Highness." Dai Quan smiled slightly from behind. Brother Jia Cong, my heart has been broken for you, so you have to keep up the good work. (End of chapter)