Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 45

Chen Tingjing went out of the Meridian Gate and went home in a sedan chair. An old man stopped the sedan chair and filed a complaint.Liu Jing stepped forward and asked: "Old man, in the imperial city, at the foot of the emperor, if you have a grievance and want to sue, you can go to Shun Tianfu. Why do you stop the sedan chair in the street?"

The old man said: "The old man sued Shuntian Mansion just because his house was taken over by someone. He was imprisoned for 19 years and was only released a few days ago. How dare he go to Shuntian Mansion again to sue?"

Chen Tingjing opened the sedan chair curtain, looked at the old man, and said: "Your house has been occupied, and the complaint was shut down by Shuntian Mansion. How can there be such a strange thing?"

The old man said: "My family used to live in Shimo'er Hutong. The house was seized by a rogue named Yu Ziyi and sold to Gao Shiqi, a senior official in the court. Every time I went to Shuntian Mansion to file a complaint, I was beaten out by the government officials. I couldn't swallow this breath, so I just slept outside the Yamen of Shuntian Mansion, and they arrested me, and I was locked up for 19 years!"

Chen Tingjing thought to himself what a coincidence!It was the winter month of the 18th year of Shunzhi. At that time, smallpox was raging in the capital. One day he was riding a horse to the yamen early one day, and suddenly a man emerged from the alley.The man startled the horse and fell to the ground with blood all over his face.Chen Tingjing was terrified, thinking he had hurt someone.But the man knelt down and pleaded guilty, saying that he had startled his lord's horse, that someone else had injured him, and that someone had taken his house by force and sold it to an official surnamed Gao.Chen Tingjing thought of this, and looked again, it was the person he met more than 20 years ago, but he was already old.

Chen Tingjing was thinking about this past incident, and many people gathered around to watch the excitement on the street, so he was a little embarrassed and asked, "Old man, do you have a good example?"

Ma Ming lowered his voice and said, "Master, Mr. Gao is involved in this matter, so you can't take care of it!"

Chen Tingjing also whispered: "So many people are looking at me, how can I pretend to be deaf and dumb?"

The old man handed over the testimonial: "Caomin thank you Master Qingtian!"

When Chen Tingjing returned home, he couldn't help sighing, and Yueyuan asked him if he had encountered any difficulties.Chen Tingjing said: "Yueyuan, do you still remember what I said in the winter of Emperor Shunzhi's death? A family's house was seized and sold to Gao Shiqi."

Yueyuan said, "Remember, what's wrong?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Oh, what a predestined relationship between me and that old man! The old man's name is Zhu Qi. He was imprisoned by Shuntian Mansion for 19 years because of his complaint. Now, kneel down in front of my sedan chair."

Yueyuan asked: "Do you want to take care of it?"

Chen Tingjing said: "This is not my job. But how can I turn a blind eye to Zhu Qi kneeling in front of my sedan chair surrounded by so many people? But this is really difficult!"

Yueyuan said: "This case couldn't be more clear, there is no problem? I said you should take care of it!"

Chen Tingjing sighed: "The case itself is simple, but there are too many people involved. Not only Gao Shiqi, but also several governors of Shuntian Mansion. Xiang Bingdao, the governor of Shuntian Mansion more than ten years ago, is now a scholar of Wenhua Palace , Minister of the Ministry of Punishment!"

When Chen Tingjing said this, Yueyuan also became anxious: "What should I do?"

Chen Tingjing said: "I guess even the emperor would not be willing to investigate a few ministers for an ordinary old man."

Yueyuan lost her opinion and said: "I am a woman after all, you should make up your own mind. I just think that the obvious thing is to let the bad guys be arrogant, and you are too useless as an official." Chen Tingjing sighed, very ashamed .He also knew that during the smallpox outbreak, the Bannermen seized many common people's houses, and there was no way to settle this old debt.

After a few days, Chen Tingjing went to the Imperial Academy first, and arrived at the South Study Room at noon.Zhang Ying and Gao Shiqi arrived early and greeted each other politely.When Chen Tingjing saw Gao Shiqi today, he found it very unpleasant, as if his nose and eyes were out of place.Gao Shiqi leaned over and whispered, "Master Chen, Shiqi has something to say to you in private."

Chen Tingjing was puzzled, so he asked, "What's the matter?"

Chen Tingjing followed Gao Shiqi to the back of the screen.Gao Shiqi said in a low voice: "Master Chen, Lingdi Tingtong gave me 1000 taels of silver last night, what can I do with this!"

After Gao Shiqi finished speaking, he took out a bank note.Chen Tingjing's face was shocked, and he was extremely embarrassed: "This Tingtong!"

Gao Shiqi said in a low voice: "Master Chen, don't be angry. Tingtong was confused by the bad habits of the officialdom. He thought that he had to collect money if he was an official. I promoted him to the sixth rank, and I did speak in front of Lord Ming, and also the emperor. I’ve said it before. But I’m promoting people on the basis of merit, and I’m not selfish. In the final analysis, this is all the grace of the emperor.”

Chen Tingjing said: "Shiqi, Ting Tong bribed the court officials, this is a serious crime."

Gao Shiqi laughed and said, "If the emperor finds out, Ting Tong's future will be ruined! You'd better take the bank note back and give it back to him."

Chen Tingjing thought that if Gao Shiqi didn't want money, why did he accept it first and now come to talk to me again?He didn't understand the whole story, so he said: "If Ting Tong is a scumbag, the greater his future, the greater the harm to the court in the future."

Gao Shiqi said anxiously: "You can't say that. Tingtong is still young, you can just go back and talk about him. You take the bank note."

Chen Tingjing really didn't know what was going on with the banknote, so he just waved his hand and said, "Tingjing must never accept this banknote, Shiqi should just deal with business!"

Gao Shiqi almost earnestly said: "Ting Jing, don't be so brainy! The people in the court are complicated and changeable, only you and I are always old friends, and we have to take care of each other in everything. I treat Ting Tong like a brother, and we But I can't bear to expose his matter to the emperor!"

Chen Tingjing still refused to accept the bank note, and said: "Shiqi, I, Chen Tingjing, have received the grace of two generations of emperors, but I know how to serve the court, and I have absolutely no selfish intentions. Please tell the emperor truthfully about the affairs of the court!"

Gao Shiqi sighed helplessly: "Since this is the case, I will report the truth to the emperor, Mr. Chen, please don't blame me!"

Chen Tingjing let out a long sigh and said, "My younger brother is not up to his expectations, so what is there to blame?"

Chen Tingjing stayed in the south study room today, a little distracted.Is there such a coincidence in the world?Yesterday he accepted Zhu Qi's case, which involved Gao Shiqi; today, there was the matter of Tingtong giving Gao Shiqi a bank note.Tingtong's family is not well-off, so how can he give away so much money?

At night, Chen Tingjing called his younger brother, and after asking, he really gave Gao Shiqi money.Chen Tingjing got angry and scolded loudly: "With your salary, how can you give away so much money? You are not filial if you give away family money! My father is almost 60 years old, and he is still working hard for business! His old man's money But hard-earned money!"

Chen Tingtong snorted and said, "I didn't take a penny from the family!"

Chen Tingjing was even more surprised: "That's weird. Could it be that you got this money from greed? That's even more crime!"

Chen Tingtong said: "I'm not greedy either!"

Chen Tingjing was very anxious and asked, "Did your silver fall from the sky? Tell me quickly, what's going on!"

Chen Tingtong didn't answer, but said: "You only care about your own career, and you never care about brotherhood. I rely on myself to play in the officialdom, what can you say?"

Chen Tingjing was so angry that his eyes were about to spurt blood, and he could hardly speak.He calmed down for a long time, then slowed down his tone and said: "You are so confused! Why did Gao Shiqi return the bank note to me? If he doesn't accept your money, he will have it? Not only does he want to harm you, but he also wants to harm me!"

Chen Tingtong sneered and said, "Master Gao wants to be a favor with you, but you don't buy his account."

Chen Tingjing was confused and asked, "What kind of favor do I have with him?"

Chen Tingtong said: "I only heard today that you have accepted a lawsuit involving Mr. Gao. I admit that I was fooled, but it's all because of you!"

Chen Tingjing was so startled that his ears were ringing, he fell down on the chair.Sure enough, he guessed it in the South Study Room, but he received the certificate on the street, how did Gao Shiqi know?Chen Tingjing has been busy these two days, so he hasn't had time to ask about this matter.

Chen Tingjing lowered his head and pondered for a long time, and asked, "Tingtong, tell me, where exactly did you get your money?"

Chen Tingtong said: "Gao Shiqi has a fellow from Qiantang..."

Before Chen Tingtong finished speaking, Chen Tingjing knew who that person was, and asked, "Is it called Yu Ziyi?"

Chen Tingtong said: "It was Yu Ziyi. He found me and said that last time I was promoted to the sixth rank, Mr. Gao had spoken for me and wanted me to repay you. I said I didn't understand the rules here. Yu Ziyi said it straight , Let me give Gao Shiqi 1000 taels of silver. I can't afford so much silver, and Yu Ziyi is also righteous, so he lent me the silver."

Chen Ting looked up at his head, shook his head vigorously, and said after a long time: "Tingtong, you are so stupid! This Yu Ziyi is a dog raised by Gao Shiqi! You are still grateful to him for their partnership to harm you!"

Chen Tingtong said: "I don't think Mr. Gao is the kind of person you said at all!"

Chen Tingjing said: "You are really obsessed! I finally understand that Gao Shiqi set up a trap just to make a deal with me! He is afraid that I will check his house!"

Chen Tingjing told his younger brother about the origin of Gao Shiqi's house in detail, but he didn't understand how the news of Zhu Qi's complaint had reached his ears so quickly.Chen Tingtong also regretted it now, and was very scared, saying: "He is going to drive me into a hurry, so I will sue Gao Shiqi for bribes!"

Chen Tingjing shook his head and said: "Gao Shiqi is not afraid of you suing him! The emperor trusted him in the first place, and he handed over the silver, what are you suing him for? Tingtong, it's useless for you to be anxious at the moment, just do your job well." Bar."

Chen Tingtong couldn't be more relieved, and said straightly: "Gao Shiqi really brought the matter to the emperor, isn't it over for me? Brother, just leave this lawsuit alone."

Chen Tingjing said bitterly: "I knew this earlier, so why bother!"

Chen Tingtong had nothing to say, and sat there dejected.Chen Tingjing also hesitated, really wanted to let go of this lawsuit, otherwise Tingtong might be in trouble.But Gao Shiqi is really hateful, if he succeeds this time, I don't know how much he will deceive others in the future.Chen Tingjing thought about it, and finally had an idea in his heart, and decided to take this lawsuit to the end.

On the second day, Chen Tingjing ordered Liu Jing and Ma Ming to investigate the Qiantang businessman Yu Ziyi to see how he took over his house.Within a few days, the two spoke back.It turned out that Zhu Qi's family was also a big family in the Ming Dynasty, with several big houses.But the descendants are unworthy, and they began to show signs of failure as early as the Chongzhen period.Originally, Zhu Qi had a son named Zhu Dafu who didn't do anything but prostitute and gamble freely, and then he handed over to a rogue named Yu Ziyi.That poppi just instigated Zhu Dafu to spend money, and spent all the houses left by his ancestors, leaving only the house in Shimo'er Hutong.Yu Ziyi set a trap again, lending usury to Zhu Dafu.In the 18th year of Shunzhi, Zhu Dafu suddenly disappeared. Yu Ziyi approached Zhu Qi and took out his son's 6000 taels of silver.Zhu Qi was kicked out of the house by Yu Ziyi before he could pay the money.After changing hands, Zhu's house was sold to Gao Shiqi.But Zhu Dafu was never seen again, and the neighbors said he must have been hurt by Yu Ziyi.

Yu Ziyi's livelihood is full of unreasonable things.In the 18th year of Shunzhi, smallpox broke out in the capital, and Yu Ziyi colluded with the government to pick out those weak and easy to bully, and forcibly occupy other people's houses.Those houses were originally owned by officials, and Yu Ziyi managed the people in the yamen, so he bought them very cheaply.The neighbors said that Yu Ziyi was so bold that he relied on someone in the palace.After hearing this, Chen Tingjing understood that there was someone in Yu Ziyi's palace that the neighbor said, and that person was Gao Shiqi.

At night, Gao Shiqi invited Yu Ziyi and Kuang Xiaomao to come to his house to discuss countermeasures.It turned out that Zhu Qi stopped Chen Tingjing's sedan chair on the road that day, and Yu Ziyi and Kuang Xiaomao happened to see it nearby.It was also a coincidence that usually Yu Ziyi and Kuang Xiaomao would not come to pick up Gao Shiqi outside the Meridian Gate, but there was a business that was urgent to reply that day, so they hurried to the Meridian Gate.Yu Ziyi recognized Zhu Qi, and also Chen Tingjing's bearer.He waited for Gao Shiqi to leave the Meridian Gate, and he talked about it first.Gao Shiqi was not afraid of Zhu Qi suing, but Chen Tingjing was afraid that something bad would happen if he accepted the complaint.He set up a trap for Chen Tingtong to borrow money to give gifts, but it seemed that Chen Tingjing would not fall for it easily.

Gao Shiqi confessed to Yu Ziyi: "Ziyi, I asked you to transfer all the real estate, shops and other businesses under your name to Kuang Xiaomao's name, have you done it?"

Yu Ziyi was worried after all, afraid that Gao Shiqi had other plans, so he said: "The account is settled, it's just Mr. Gao, is this appropriate?"

Gao Shiqi laughed, and said, "I know you're worried that I'll eat your money."

Yu Ziyi hurriedly lowered his head and said, "How dare you think so? I can make my business bigger, thanks to you, Mr. Gao!"

Gao Shiqi said: "The old man has already told you that the money is yours, after all, it is yours, and you can't escape. When the lawsuit comes, you go away and let old man Zhu sue! As long as you return to your hometown in Qiantang, everything will be fine. Yes. The government only recognizes the contract, and it’s over in a hurry.”

After exhorting Yu Ziyi, Gao Shiqi said to Kuang Xiaomao again: "When the time comes, you must insist that you are the boss!"

Kuang Xiaomao kept nodding: "The little ones will obey Mr. Gao's orders!"

Gao Shiqi glanced at Kuang Xiaomao and said, "Okay! You go out first, I have something to say to Ziyi."

Kuang Xiaomao quickly got up and backed out.Gao Shiqi didn't speak immediately, but drank his tea slowly.Yu Ziyi didn't know what important matter Gao Shiqi was going to say, his heart was pounding.After a long time, Gao Shiqi carefully looked outside, and then whispered: "Ziyi, when Chen Tingjing really reveals the matter, I will do as you say!"

Yu Ziyi said: "I understand, kill Zhu Qi. According to me, go and kill him now!"

Gao Shiqi shook his head and said, "No, no, no, we're only here to make money. If we can kill people, we won't do them. Remember, don't get blood on your hands unless it's absolutely necessary!"

Yu Ziyi said: "I remember it, little one."

Gao Shiqi signaled Yu Ziyi to lean over: "Remember, if you want to kill Zhu Qi, you have to let Kuang Xiaomao do it!"

Yu Ziyi nodded vigorously, thanking him non-stop.He was grateful to Gao Shiqi for not assigning such unscrupulous tasks to himself.

At this time, Gao Daman suddenly heard a report from outside: "Master, Chen Tingjing, Mr. Chen is here."

(End of this chapter)