Beautiful step by step

Chapter 163

The peach blossom incense in the eight-treasure gilt incense burner was gradually exhausted, and the servants in the inner room were dismissed long before Wei Wei came in, and there was no one to continue the incense.The sweet fragrance of peach blossoms gradually recedes, mixed with the gradually rising winter air, making people feel comfortable and at the same time faintly feeling a sense of crisis.

Sitting under Wei's mother, Wei Wei listened to the old lady Feng.

"The chief assistant of the cabinet must be someone who is extremely talented and learned. At that time, Wei Xiang had rotated in the six ministries. Among the six ministries, the official ministries were in charge of the promotion of all the officials in the world, and they were the uncrowned kings; the household ministries were in charge of the world's lifeblood. The meaning. These two are the most noble, and ordinary people will start with these two when they seize power."

While talking about Feng Lao Taijun, he sighed in his heart, this is the disadvantage of military generals over civil servants.Many generals are old and rough, and only read a few books temporarily after they have made achievements in the army. How can such a person enter the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Households?It would be fine if there was always war in the imperial court, but once the peace subsides, it will be the time for the generals to fall.

"But Wei Xiang is different. Among the six departments, the department he stayed in the longest was the Ministry of Industry. When I first married, I heard from my in-laws that Wei Xiang believed that the Ministry of Industry ruled the world to attack cities, build bridges and roads, and build water conservancy projects. Improving farm tools, everything is really related to the well-being of the people in the world, so he is the most important among the six departments. And the biggest thing he did when he was in the Ministry of Industry was to select a site for the new Youzhou City."

In fact, no matter which part of the six parts is very important, Wei Xiang's views have a side that is rarely covered by the predecessors.It is true that no matter whether the officials are good or bad, the amount of taxation, the strictness of the criminal law, the strictness of etiquette, and the number of soldiers, these things are too far away from the lives of ordinary people.But the way to walk every day, the house to live in, and the farm tools to use in spring plowing are things that are closely related to all people in the world.

"Great-grandfather really had a unique perspective."

Following Yan Heng's address, Wei Wei's heart and eyes were full of admiration.

"Ah Mao was right about one point earlier. Youzhou City was designed by Wei Xiang, and the secret road was also designed by him. He does have blueprints in his hand."

Here comes the important point, Wei Wei straightened her body to make herself sit more upright.

"But the drawings are by no means the only one in his hands."

"Madam, do you know who else is there?"

Seeing her urgency, Old Madam Feng didn't give in, but directly answered: "He Guogong."

The name was so familiar, Wei Yao remembered it after thinking about it for a while.He Guogong, isn't he the youngest member of He Ge, who fought hard for reasons of corruption when he was on his west tour the year before last, so that Hugh made a deadly remonstrance as a condition, and in the end the threat failed but he was stripped of his position as chief assistant?At that time, his official hat of the first assistant was given to Uncle Wei by Emperor Qinglong to prove the emperor's support for Wei Xiang.

If one were to say who they offended the most when they exposed the Northwest Army's corruption that day, it must be He Guogong.

After listening to her explaining the cause and effect, the old matriarch Feng nodded: "It is indeed like what he did. Duke He's house made great efforts when Prime Minister Wei fell, and in the subsequent power division, he occupied the largest piece, which is the Ministry of Industry. It took 20 years for Youzhou City to be built. After the completion, the structure of the northwest frontier defense was completely changed, which triggered a series of chain reactions. Not to mention the ups and downs behind, He Guogong worked in the Ministry of Household Affairs before he entered the cabinet, and once built the city by hand. One thing. Maybe those little shrimps down there don’t know about the secret path, but he definitely knows it all.”

What else?Wei Wei felt that the cloud that had shrouded Zai Zai's heart for several months, and that the firecrackers hadn't even exploded during the Chinese New Year, would finally dissipate a lot.

"Is he the one who leaked the military plane?"

"No."

Chu Ying's determined voice came from the opposite side.

"After all, He Guogong used to be a court elder, how could he leave such an obvious handle."

The dark clouds that had just dissipated seemed to condense, and Wei Wei said optimistically: "Whether it is or not, at least it can be confirmed now that it is not only Ah Heng who has a map in his hand."

Hearing what she said, Chu Ying showed appreciation, and continued: "Although it is impossible to determine who is the culprit based on this, it can at least prove that the person who has the map of the secret path is not necessarily the person who leaked the secret."

Wei Wei continued with his words: "Since this is the case, Ah Heng can no longer be detained arbitrarily without proof."

"exactly."

Chu Ying nodded, and stood up from the chair: "It's not too late, I'm going to the prison of the Criminal Ministry."

Wei Wei also couldn't hold back the excitement in his heart, and also stood up: "It just so happens that I'm going with Master Hou."

"Okay, I'll send someone to prepare the horse, and Ah Mao will take the carriage?"

"No, I will ride there with Master Hou."

After finishing speaking, Wei Wei glanced at her tight sleeves, because of the bad tone on the invitation yesterday, she came to the Hou Mansion today to change into neat clothes, in case she accidentally fell or something, and the clothes were too cumbersome to drag herself down.The clothes are clean and neat, and they are completely suitable for riding.

"Okay, mother, Qingniang, let's talk first, and Ah Mao and I will go to the prison of the Ministry of Criminal Justice first."

It wasn't until Chu Ying mentioned the remaining two that Wei Wei remembered her current figure.Her heart was still urgent, but she was very embarrassed to see the noble old lady on the luxurious couch.

"In a hurry, I was rude in front of the old lady."

While annoyed by her, he smiled slightly, but the old lady over there smiled indifferently.

"I can't blame Ah Mao for this matter. It's because Lord Hou followed my impetuosity. Whenever I think about it, it happens."

When she was young, Mrs. Feng also followed the old Hou Ye through the military career. Although she has been locked in the capital for these years and her temper has become more stable under the pampering, but in essence she still likes this kind of straightforwardness.

"Speaking of which, Ah Mao also grew up by my side. Even though she forgot some things, her temperament has not changed at all, and she is still so lovable. It is not too late, you go quickly. As for my old lady, I have Qing Niang to accompany me. That's fine, the two of us are waiting for your good news in the mansion."

It's been a long time since I spoke like this, and the old lady Feng felt a sense of relief after saying this.She suddenly discovered that there was nothing wrong with accepting her son and Qingniang, at least it would make her live a happier life.

"Go, Ah Mao will use my horse."

The old lady's horse...that must be so old.Wei Wei originally thought that she would see an old horse with dull hair, but it was not until the servants pulled it out that she realized that it was an extremely beautiful horse.The whole body is white and smooth, and the beautifully shaped four hooves look full of strength.

The Northwest is rich in fine horses, especially in A Tong's carriage and horse shop.The relationship with them became close, and in order to help Ding Youde chase his wife, the two of them went out to play together in the past two years, and even brought her to see many good horses.After seeing it a lot, now she can tell at a glance that this horse is definitely a good horse.

"A good horse for thousands of miles."

Chu Ying, who got on the horse, heard her sigh, nodded and said: "That horse is indeed a crossbreeding of two thousand-mile horses. I think Ah Mao is also a horse lover. Time is running out, why don't you and I race horses?"

race?Wei Wei clutched her stomach.With Chu Ying being so forthright, she would have agreed to it in the past, but not now.

Chuying who was on the horse was very gentlemanly. Seeing her like this, before she could refuse, she had already said, "Look, I forgot, this is the capital city, and I was caught by the yamen servants in Yingtianfu for horse racing in broad daylight. I took the opportunity to make a fuss. Big bad."

"Thank you, Master Hou, for your compassion."

Wei Wei also turned on the horse, stepped on the stirrup with one foot, grabbed the saddle and jumped up a little, then stepped over the horse steadily and sat on it.Her movements are smooth and smooth, and because of her slender figure, she has a bit of beauty that men don't have.Looking at the almost identical face, Chu Ying imagined how beautiful it would be when Mu Qing got on the horse like this, her heart became hot, and her desire to help became more sincere.

"Follow."

After patting the horse's butt, Chu Ying galloped forward.A gust of cold wind blows away the heat in his heart.Now that mother has agreed, he and Mu Qing are unmarried and the other is unmarried, all resistance is gone, and the only thing left is purely emotional issues.For this one little problem, he has enough patience and determination.

Following Chu Ying, wrapped in a cloak, Wei Wei rode his horse through the mansions of princes and princes, almost bypassing most of the east city, and finally came to the gathering place of the six yamen.This side is very close to the imperial city, and through the clear winter air, one can see the golden glazed tiles on the Meridian Gate Tower.

Following the front and slowing down, the two finally stopped in front of the Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment.The gate of the yamen of the Ministry of Punishment is about the same height as the Zhenbeihou's Mansion, except that the lower threshold is missing.Because of the lack of cushioning, the pair of stone lions with bloody mouths and fangs on both sides of the main entrance looked particularly ferocious.

Getting off the horse, Wei Wei followed behind Chu Ying in an orderly manner.The handle of the Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment was strict, and before the two of them reached the door, two servants had already stepped forward, blocking their way with crossed spears in their hands.

Chu Ying took out a waist badge from her pocket, and it shone brighter than any waist badge Wei Wei had seen before. The yamen servant put away his spear and knelt down on one knee.

"See Zhenbeihou."

Chu Ying didn't call out, but directly explained the purpose of coming: "My son-in-law was imprisoned innocently by you. Today, Benhou came to take him back. You will lead the way."

The two yamen servants were in a fog, when did they imprison the son-in-law of the Marquis of Zhenbei?Even so, the official level crushes people to death.One of the two went in to communicate, and the other stood up and led them into the Ministry of Punishment.

The Yamen of the Ministry of Punishment was built in accordance with its name. There are two rows of locust trees planted against the wall in the backyard. The locust trees are quite old, and their trunks are very thick.In winter, the leaves have all fallen, revealing the bare branches inside, which resembles Medusa, the snake emperor in Greek mythology; under the locust tree are two stone-paved guides, which are different from the light-colored cobblestones of ordinary rich families. The stones used here are of the same color It was black, and the whole courtyard was solemn and depressing.

Cautiously following behind, he crossed the courtyard and entered the corridor. An official wearing a blue official robe and black gauze hat came around the corner.Wei Wei recognized him, this was the person who went to Wei's courtyard to take away Yan Heng yesterday.

The officer on the opposite side obviously recognized her, and after bowing slightly, he looked at Chu Ying: "Your Majesty is such a rare visitor, I don't know when Master Yan will become your son-in-law."

Wei Wei blushed for a while, standing in front of her, Chu Ying took it for granted.

"Ah Mao is Lian's elder brother and younger sister, so naturally she is also my daughter, and even her husband and son-in-law are also my son-in-law. Do you think this makes sense?"

(End of this chapter)