Red Mansion: Bastards rule the roost

Xue Pan and Yang Shen screamed like pigs being slaughtered, and the victims and common people watching nearby cheered and laughed in unison.

This is also the reason why caning must be performed on the bare buttocks. Firstly, it makes the person being caned feel ashamed and embarrassed, and secondly, it allows bystanders to see clearly that it is a real beating.

If you wear pants and can't see the tragic scene of your skin being torn apart, who will still respect the law?

However, the executioners had been subdued by the Embroidered Uniform Guards long ago, and apart from the first few real blows, which were intended to bring out the true feelings, the rest were just like a spring breeze caressing the buttocks, with only a slight pain.

If you really get beaten with ninety sticks, unless you have Jia Cong's horizontal training skills, no matter how tough you are, you will be killed.

Zhuang Qing watched indifferently from the side, listening to the yamen runners shouting out every detail. The beating was over in a moment. The two men's buttocks were covered in blood, and the place where they were tortured was swollen an inch high.

The bailiff stepped forward and pulled up the trousers of the two men, saying, "Master, the execution is over."

Bao Gangfeng nodded and said, "This person has committed another crime. He will be handed over to the Jinyiwei for trial."

"Yes."

The Jinyi captain who had been waiting for a long time hurried over to help Xue Pan up.

"Brothers, take her away as well." Xue Pan said in a low voice while breathing his last.

The captain glanced at the woman, and immediately two more people came forward and pulled the woman away.

"Hey! Sir, this is someone from my Yang family. What are you doing..."

The captain sneered and said, "Her adulterer is guilty of a serious crime, so we will naturally take him back to the prison for interrogation. What? Is your Yang family also involved?"

Yang Jiazi was shocked. Who would dare to commit the serious crime mentioned by the Jinyiwei? He hurriedly said, "My lord, this whore is immoral and a disgrace to our family. Our family has nothing to do with her."

"Words are not enough, write a letter of divorce and send it to the Southern Division." said the captain.

"Yes, I will ask my brother to write it and send it to me when he comes back."

"Let's go." Zhuang Qing waved his hand, and everyone took the two men to the carriage that had been prepared outside the door and went to the Southern Pacification Office.

"Brother, that was a close call. We didn't expect that man to be a wanted criminal of the Imperial Guards!" said someone nearby.

Yang Jiazi also wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Being associated with Jinyiwei would mean losing everything. He hurriedly said, "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you go to the dock and find big brother back?"

"I have already sent someone there. My eldest brother has been busy collecting grain these days and cannot get away."

"The house is on fire, why are you still sending food? Send a fast horse to urge him to come back and tell the Jinyiwei what they mean. If he really can't come back, at least write a letter of divorce and send it back. This is a matter that will destroy our family!" Yang Jiazi said angrily.

"Yes Yes."

Xue Pan had never suffered such hardship before. The last time he was beaten with a stick, it was not so painful. He lay in the carriage and cried and cursed at the same time.

Zhuang Qing suppressed his smile and said, "Master Xue, please be patient for a while. I have already given instructions and the yamen runners did not use much force. The wound looks serious. It will heal in ten days or half a month. I will go to the South Office and apply some medicine and the pain will go away."

Xue Pan said angrily: "Since you have arranged it, you still want to kill them like this. I will kill them later."

Zhuang Qing smiled and said, "You don't know, sir. The boards used to beat people in the yamen look the same, but they actually come in three different weights. The lightest is the hollow board I use, which is soft and won't hurt bones.

Next is the regular solid board, for ordinary people who have money to spend but not much;

The heaviest was an iron or wooden cane, which was hollowed out and filled with sand and lead. It would break bones and tendons when hit by it. It was extremely cruel and was used exclusively on people who had no money.

In addition, the clerks' methods were such that one or two dozen strokes of the cane could kill someone, but you are still alive and well after receiving a hundred strokes of the cane. Isn't that a sign of mercy?"

Xue Pan was horrified when he heard this, and immediately wilted. He stammered, "Forget it, I won't bother with them. As for the Yang family's daughter-in-law..."

Zhuang Qing smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. I will do you a favor and make sure the Yang family won't make any trouble."

Xue Pan smiled happily upon hearing this and said, "Very good, I will definitely reward you handsomely."

"You are too polite, sir. This is my job." Zhuang Qing waved his hand.

"Alas, what a pity that such a good butt was beaten to pieces." Xue Pan said with pain.

Zhuang Qing raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Don't worry, sir. I will apply my wound medicine later and guarantee that there will be no scars. In half a month, I will give you a white and tender buttocks."

"Hahaha, okay! Thank you very much. I will talk to Brother Cong later and ask him to promote you." Xue Pan said with a smile.

"Oh, I would like to thank you for your grace, sir." Zhuang Qing bowed and shook his head and sneered in his heart, thinking, do you think the prince is as stupid as you.

"It's okay, it's okay. Brother Cong is my brother-in-law. It's just a piece of cake for our family." Xue Pan said carelessly.

More than half an hour later, Zhuang Qing took the two of them to the Southern Division for a tour, then changed to another carriage before sending them to Jia Cong's mansion.

In the main hall, Jia Cong, Jia Lian, Aunt Xue and the second wife of the Xue family, who had rushed over after hearing the news, were already waiting.

"This useless bastard! He is a disgrace to our family. Why doesn't God take him away so that I don't have to worry about him?"

Aunt Xue's eyes were red, she cried and scolded, anxious and angry, and scolded Xue Pan from head to toe.

Baoqin's mother hurriedly comforted her, "Sister-in-law, Pan has been filial and honest since he was young. This time he must have been seduced by a whore. Fortunately, he is a child with backbone and refused to announce his family background. This can be regarded as preserving the dignity of his ancestors."

Jia Cong almost laughed out loud. This is called having backbone? Filial piety can atone for sin? He glared at Jia Lian and said, "Explain to the two ladies what happened."

"Yes, yes, the cause of the incident is..." Jia Lian was about to explain when he heard a servant come to report that Xue Pan had been sent back.

Jia Cong hurriedly said, "Bring it in."

After a while, several Jinyiwei came in carrying two stretchers.

"Greetings, Your Majesty. I have brought Mr. Xue and Yang Shen back. Please give them your instructions, Your Majesty." Zhuang Qing said.

"Get up." Jia Cong glanced at the stretcher and asked, "How was the beating?"

"It's just a minor injury. I've applied medicine on it. It's nothing serious." Zhuang Qing said.

"Ouch! Is this still mild? It hurts so much, oh my god..." Xue Pan shouted when he saw his mother.

"My son..." Aunt Xue had already rushed over. Looking at his bloodstained pants, she felt heartbroken and cried, "Who is so cruel to beat you like this?"

Xue Pan saw his mother in pain and comforted her: "Don't be sad, mom. At least I haven't disgraced my ancestors. No matter how he interrogates and tortures me, I will just use a pseudonym and not say that I am Xue Pan, the imperially appointed Ziwei Sheren. That old man Bao can't do anything to me."

Aunt Xue burst into laughter and said, "Well, my son has grown up and become sensible."

Jia Cong almost laughed out loud. Loving mothers often spoil their children. It was just like this. So he said, "Mother-in-law and aunt, go and see Baochai first. I will talk to Pan'er and then send someone to take him home."

"Okay." Aunt Xue wiped her tears and took her sister-in-law back to the inner house.

"Pan'er, rest assured and recover. I will come to see you another day." Jia Lian was afraid that Jia Cong would blame him, so he hurriedly said goodbye. Jia Cong glared at Xue Pan and asked, "How did you get involved with her?"

Xue Pan turned his head to look at the woman next to him and muttered, "It's all because of this prisoner Lian Er who misled me. He always said in front of me, 'The most famous prostitute in the industry is not as good as a married woman' and 'With a delicate body, you still want a married woman'...

I just wanted to give it a try, and when I went to her shop for a drink that day, we fell in love, and we got along really well... Oh, come on, it's true... Hey, I've asked Captain Zhuang to bring her here for me."

The woman had been frightened to death when she heard people calling Jia Cong "Prince" before. Now after hearing Xue Pan's words, she was even more ashamed and just lowered her head without saying a word.

Jia Cong sneered, "What a wild idea! Will your mother and your mistress allow you to take this immoral woman home?"

Xue Pan was stunned and dumbfounded. His mother was fine, she would just scold him a few words at most. But it was really hard to fool Xia Jingui. Although she had restrained herself a lot now and no longer made unreasonable demands, she had the upper hand in this matter and it would be strange if she didn't kill herself. Even his mother couldn't say anything to her.

"Go back, your wife is waiting for you at home." Jia Cong waved his hand and said with a smile.

"Wait a minute." Xue Pan hurriedly called out, "Brother Cong, you must help your brother this time. We have brought the people back. Look at this... After all, we were beaten together. We are still friends in need. If I just leave her alone, people will think I am disloyal if the news gets out. No, no, I won't do such a thing."

Jia Cong laughed angrily and said, "How can you call this a friend in need? Well, if you want her, just find a house to put her away. Don't bring her back, lest she get angry."

Xue Pan hurriedly said, "I don't need to worry about this. As for Jin Gui...you talk to me, she will listen to you." He raised his eyebrows.

Zhuang Qing and the other Jinyi captains hurriedly lowered their eyes to the ground to indicate that they heard nothing.

Jia Cong was slightly embarrassed and said angrily, "Asshole! What are you talking about? Why would your wife listen to me? Don't talk nonsense and ruin my reputation."

Xue Pan hurriedly said: "I'm not saying that there is anything between you and her, I'm saying that she believes in you and she doesn't dare to refute anything you say."

Jia Cong snorted coldly: "This is your family affair, it has nothing to do with me, take it away!"

"Yes." Zhuang Qing waved his hand and led the captain out.

"Wait, wait." Xue Pan shouted, but the captains didn't listen to him and just walked away.

"I have information! Important information!"

"Hmm? Come back." Jia Cong said calmly, "What information?"

Xue Pan winked and looked around.

Jia Cong waved his hand and ordered all the captains to withdraw, leaving only Zhuang Qing.

"Well, keep her here. She knows more about this matter." Xue Pan said hurriedly.

"Hurry up and tell me!" Jia Cong said.

"I heard that a shadowy secret fan has appeared on the Tongzhou wharf. You think this is fake? The south transports millions of dan of grain every year. Isn't that bad?
There must be a big case among them, a shocking case!" Xue Pan said mysteriously.

Jia Cong was shocked. This was related to the grain transport, so the case was not trivial. He asked, "What is the secret talisman fan? Why is it related to the grain transport?"

Xue Pan laughed dryly and said, "It's just a broken fan. I don't really understand it. You can ask her. Her maternal family is a military ration broker."

Zhuang Qing stepped forward and explained in a low voice: "Your Highness, the food and salaries of the nobles, officials, and troops in the capital mostly rely on grain transport.

After the grain from the south arrived in Tongzhou, someone had to inspect and accept it and transport it to various government warehouses. The military grain brokers were private brokers selected by the Grain Office, and they specialized in this business from generation to generation.

The token of his love is the secret fan, which is more valuable than life to the military ration broker, and he will never show it to anyone easily. It is said that it is a fan full of secret symbols.

Jia Cong nodded, looked at the woman and said, "Tell the truth."

Yang Shen said hurriedly: "I pay my respects to the prince. I heard this from my husband. He is the 'Son of Heaven' and holds the secret fan. He said that he accidentally discovered that there was a secret fan on the two docks in Tongzhou since some time ago, just like the shadow of the fan in his hand.

He knew that this matter was too serious, so he dared not make it public and just kept silent. "

"What does 'Son of Heaven' mean?" Jia Cong asked.

"He is the head of the military grain brokerage. He is ranked first, named after the word 'Tian' in 'Tian Di Xuan Huang', commonly known as 'Tian Zi Yi'. He is rotated every three to five years and is in charge of the secret talisman fan. This round happens to be my husband's 'Tian Zi Yi'," said Yang Shen.

Jia Cong asked: "What does the secret talisman fan look like? Why is it so important?"

Yang Shen said, "Your Highness, I have only seen it once. There are many ghostly painted peach charms on the fan, as well as nicknames of various military grain brokers. At the dock, people only recognize the fan and not the person. As long as you hold this fan, anyone can collect the grain from the south."

Jia Cong finally understood that the secret fan was not only the identity certificate of the military grain broker, but also the seal granted by the Grain Office for accepting and inspecting the grain. If someone else got it, wouldn't the country's grain be embezzled?

Thinking of this, he was shocked and asked hurriedly, "Zhuang Qing, how much grain is transported to the capital every year?"

Zhuang Qing said hurriedly: "I am not very clear about this matter, but it is about four or five million shi."

Yang Shen said hurriedly, "Your Highness, I heard from my husband that the minimum is 4 million shi and the maximum is 7 million shi, depending on the harvest in the south."

Jia Cong sneered and said, "More than ten years ago, the capital handled an empty warehouse case. After so many years, could it be that another rat has been raised?"

Zhuang Qing said, "Your Highness, if the granaries are full, there must be many rats. This is obvious. I think this matter is very serious and we need to investigate it carefully in secret."

"Why do you think it's a very important matter?" Jia Cong asked.

“Replying to Your Majesty, a valuable item like the Secret Talisman Fan is carefully crafted by a special workshop designated by the Grain Office. It must be stamped with the seals of the workshop and the government. Military grain brokers would never dare to forge it privately. This is a serious crime that will lead to the confiscation of property and extermination of the clan. And it cannot be forged.

Ordinary people have never seen it, let alone forged it. If another secret fan appeared, it must be a problem with the Grain Bureau or even the Ministry of Revenue or the Canal Transport Office. It is conceivable how many people are involved. "Zhuang Qing said.

"That makes sense." Jia Cong nodded slowly, looked at Xue Pan and Yang Shenshi, and said, "You two go back first and don't talk nonsense."

Yang Shen said hurriedly: "Don't worry, Your Majesty, I know the seriousness of the matter and dare not say anything more."

"You have done a good job in reporting the incident. Come, send Mr. Xue and this woman back home, and tell Madam Xue that there are reasons for this incident and there is no need to blame them." Jia Cong said.

"Yes." Wangcai came up and answered, then directed several servants to carry the two men away.

"Brother Cong, you have to credit me for this achievement! I can be considered to have sacrificed my life for my country." Xue Pan shouted.

Jia Cong laughed and scolded, "You bastard, go and tell your wife about your achievements."

Xue Pan shuddered, smiled awkwardly and shut up.

Jia Cong pondered for a while, then suddenly slapped the armrest and said, "This case involves the national economy and people's livelihood, so we must investigate it thoroughly!"

"Yes, I will obey your order." Zhuang Qing bowed.

"Come with me to the dock tomorrow to meet that 'Tian Zi Yi'. As the saying goes, different trades are like different mountains. He must know more tricks." Jia Cong said.

"Your Majesty is wise." Zhuang Qing said hurriedly: "I also think that 'Emperor One' is a good breakthrough point." (End of this chapter)