Detective in the Red Chamber

squeak~

Not long after, I saw Xiuju push the door in, and said with a smile, "My wife must have been woken up by the sound of firecrackers, right? I heard that the nephew and young master of Dongkuayuan became a Jinshi, and the messenger who announced the good news came to the door early in the morning gone."

Jia Yingchun also heard about this matter from Sun Shaozong yesterday, but it had nothing to do with her, so she didn't pay much attention to it, and just asked Xiuju to help her change clothes and freshen up.

Facing the mirror, he was arranging his headdress, when he heard the chess player outside say in surprise, "It's bustling outside, why did Aunt Ruan come to our courtyard? But you have something to do with our wife?"

Ruan Rong is here?

Jia Yingchun was a little flustered, as if she had become a thief and was being found by the sufferer.

"Ma'am, don't panic."

Xiuju looked indifferent, reached out and inserted the hairpin for her, and said with a smile, "Don't say she doesn't know anything, even if she really knows, how can she be a concubine?"

"Don't talk nonsense, be careful not... don't let it out."

Jia Yingchun scolded her uneasily, stroked her newly swollen breasts, and stabilized her lively heart, then lifted her skirt, and Tingting greeted her out gracefully.

Ruan Rong had already sat down, holding a teacup and talking with Siqi.

Seeing Jia Yingchun coming out, she quickly got up again and said with a smile, "I heard that the eldest lady caught a cold two days ago, and I didn't dare to visit the house because I was breastfeeding the child. Now I see that her complexion is even more ruddy than before. I think it's all right now?"

Although she knew that she was just a compliment, Jia Yingchun couldn't help feeling a little ashamed when thinking of the reason for her rosy complexion, and she naturally lost confidence when speaking.

Fortunately, she is usually dull and reticent in Japan, so Ruan Rong didn't see any flaws.

After the two guests and hosts were seated, Ruan Rong laughed again, "Actually, I came to see the eldest lady because I have something to discuss with you——At the beginning, the seventh young master took a fancy to the new maid that the uncle bought, so the second master made the decision and promised to give it to you." He said that he would send people to his house when he was admitted to Jinshi."

"Now that the rankings are released in the palace examination, the No. 40 No. [-] of the Seventh Young Master High School, do you think..."

When Sun Shaozong made this promise, his marriage with Jia Yingchun had not yet been finalized, so he made the decision casually - but now that Yingchun has passed the door, the maid who is going to be sent out of the big room naturally wants her, the mistress, to nod Only then.

Upon hearing that this was the case, Yingchun breathed a sigh of relief, and hurriedly said, "Since the second master has already made the decision, and the master has no objection, sister just..."

"Aunt Ruan."

Si Qi suddenly rushed to say, "Our wife just found out about this, so we have to discuss it with that maid, right? Besides, since it's the maid in our room, it's only right for our wife to call Master Biao to protect the matchmaker. How dare you work hard on Aunt Ruan?"

Her words were not completely unreasonable, but her tone was a little aggressive.

That is to say, after giving birth to her son, Ruan Rong's temperament became much more lenient, otherwise she might have been annoyed long ago.

Now Ruan Rong was just a little bit more unhappy, and leaned towards Jia Yingchun and said, "I heard Miss Siqi say that, it's true that I didn't think carefully enough, so it's going to be too much work for my wife to come forward - I still have some miscellaneous things If it needs to be dealt with, don’t bother the eldest lady.”

Said, turned and left.

"Sister, sister stay behind!"

Jia Yingchun became anxious immediately, hurriedly caught up with Ruan Rong, and said earnestly, "Don't listen to Siqi's nonsense, you should handle this matter. I'm new here, I really don't know where to start."

Seeing the hesitant expression on Ruan Rong's face, she simply gritted her teeth, imitating Baoyu's usual behavior, and put her body against her and said coquettishly, "My dear sister, can I beg you?"

Seeing her sincerity, Ruan Rong agreed again, and went back to arrange the maid's dowry without mentioning it.

But when Ruan Rong left, Siqi couldn't help questioning, "What is Madam thinking? Now that you have served as the second master, you should take the opportunity to share some rights, but why..."

Jia Yingchun shook her head and said, "That's pretty good, and I don't want to argue with anyone."

After a pause, she blushed again and said, "What's more, she and the second master are no different than others. If you hate the second master because of this, but... how can it happen?"

Just looking at her frightened and extremely ashamed appearance, one can tell that the second reason is the most important.

"Second Master, Second Master, it's only been two days, and you're just talking about Second Master—forget it, I don't bother to meddle in these trivial matters!"

Siqi stamped his feet depressedly, and left the living room angrily.

After all, she had a criminal record before, and Jia Yingchun was afraid that she would do something else, so she called Xiuju to persuade her.

Unexpectedly, as soon as Xiuju was called out here, Siqi came back from the outside again, urging anxiously, "Xiuju, hurry up and take apart the jewelry that you got when you got married, and give it to your wife in two or three pieces! "

Both Yingchun and Xiuju, master and servant, were puzzled, but she stomped her feet again and said, "Hurry up! Second Grandma Lian came to our house to visit, and since Guining was already in the limelight that day, she couldn't be underestimated at home." Let us!"

It turned out that Wang Xifeng had arrived.

Although Jia Yingchun was a little reluctant, but Siqi and Xiuju were very active, so she had to hurriedly put on some jewelry and makeup.

After the person in the mirror became even brighter, Siqi went out to say hello and asked to invite Wang Xifeng to the backyard to talk.

However, the three masters and servants waited at the door for a while, and then saw a coquettish and tall figure approaching, and from a long distance away, he smiled coquettishly like a silver bell, "There are two calls of good news in your house early in the morning. , but I didn’t expect that a villain like me would also come to the door, right?”

When he got closer, he looked Jia Yingchun up and down again, and praised loudly, "Yo~ I haven't seen you for a few days, and my sister is getting more and more picky, especially with her moist face, she seems to be a bride again. of."

Although she knew she was joking, Jia Yingchun still felt a little guilty, and replied with a sneer, "My sister-in-law is making fun of me again, come in and talk."

Then Wang Xifeng and Ping'er master and servant were introduced into the courtyard.

Seeing that although the layout is not as exquisite as his own, but it is wider than his own courtyard, Wang Xifeng, who wants to be top-notch in everything, feels a little sour in his heart.

Originally, according to her temperament, she had to buy a few tongues and show off her prestige, but thinking of her reason for coming this time, she resisted it.

After entering the inner room where the guests and hosts were seated, Wang Xifeng commanded outrageously, "Ping'er, go out with Siqi and Xiuju to talk about yourselves, and I'll call you in if you have something to do."

Hearing this, it meant that there was something private to say, so the three maids could only retreat obediently.

As soon as they left, Wang Xifeng simply stepped forward, embraced Yingchun's fragrant shoulders, and said with a smile, "I just said that I was a villain, but I didn't lie. All the sisters were there that day, and I didn't get it." Kungfu is alone with you, today is an opportunity to interrogate you!"

As she spoke, she pinched Yingchun's ruddy face again, and asked half-truthfully, "Tell me, when are you going to use the dowry I gave you?"

Chapter 295 Prison Litigation Review

However, when the entire Sun family was in a hurry, Sun Shaozong was also not idle in the Criminal Division.

It's almost April, and the mid-year "prison litigation review" is coming as scheduled. Last year, the former Liu Zhizhong was in charge of this matter, and this year it is naturally Sun Shaozong's turn.

In fact, when he came to the government office yesterday, he was going to take a look around, but he was delayed by Ma Yingjue's case - now he is 28, how can he not check the gaps and make up for the gaps?

So he went to the criminal name department early, summoned Lin Delu and the officials of each house, and launched a surprise inspection.

Fortunately, according to the results of the inspection, the official affairs of the criminal departments are not bad - in fact, this is also thanks to Wei Ruolan's blessing, this guy was holding the "Rectification Program" as a swordsman, and the following People are panicking, how dare they make a mistake?

Not to mention, even the ills accumulated over the years have all been made up for.

The only thing that made Sun Shaozong dissatisfied was the government prison under Zhou Da's control.

This guy probably knew that if he was promoted to the eighth-rank prison officer, he had already reached the pinnacle of his life, so he relaxed all of a sudden.

Usually, the affairs in this big prison are handed over to the official Bao Yongmeng and the minister Ni Er. He just spends his days drinking and drinking happily.

As for Ni Er and Bao Yongmeng, relying on their relationship with the Sun family and their superiors not restricting anything, they have indeed acted recklessly these days—it’s okay to deprive the prisoners of food, but in the women’s prison I set up a separate 'private room', with all kinds of makeup and clothes in it, just looking at it, I know it's not a serious way!

Sun Shaozong's face became gloomy after he made his rounds.

The three behind Zhou Da were all terrified. Seeing that Sun Shaozong pulled up a stool at the door of the cell and sat down, the three immediately knelt down on the ground.

Sun Shaozong didn't look at them seriously, but asked Lin Delu beside him, "Look at the torture instruments in this big prison, aren't they a bit old?"

"This……"

Lin Delu didn't know what he meant by that, and he didn't look carefully at the old and new torture tools, so he could only say ambiguously, "It seems that they have been neglected in maintenance, but the torture tools can be used as long as they can be used."

"Can it really work?"

Sun Shaozong frowned and said, "Why do I look like I can't use it anymore?"

As he said that, he didn't wait for Lin Delu to respond, so he raised his voice and said, "Zhou Siju, go and get a few pieces and have a look."

Zhou Da hurriedly got up, picked up the commonly used torture tools, took a few sets, and offered them with both hands carefully.

Sun Shaozong glanced at it and saw that it was a leather whip, a clamp stick, and a hot iron, so he nodded and said, "You three choose one each, show me a demonstration, and let me see whether these things are useful or not."

When Zhou Da heard this, his hands trembled, and the instrument of torture fell to the ground with a clatter.

That Bao Yongmeng was even more frightened, trembling like chaff, couldn't help raising his neck and said, "My lord, I've been here for less than a month, and I haven't done anything illegal!"

Although Ni Er is a corrupt person who breaks the law, he still has a bit of responsibility as a human being, and he also shouted with a straight chest, "That's right, these things are done by villains, and have nothing to do with Lao Bao and Mr. Zhou. If the master wants to Punishment, only punish the younger one!"

Sun Shaozong raised his foot and kicked him on his back, sneered and said, "Before doing things, why don't you think about whether you will implicate your colleagues and superiors, but now you are here to be a hero?! Well, well, I will fulfill you. These three things Demonstrate the instruments of torture one by one first, and then find a cell for yourself, and then lock it up for a year or so!"

As he spoke, he raised his voice again, "Zhou Da!"

"Humble...humble position!"

"As the jailer, you are not strict, and you have received twenty lashes yourself, and the lashes will see blood!"

"In addition, if he is released from prison in half a year, you will be fined for one year; if he is released in one year, you will be fined for half a year—let me see how much your loyalty is worth!"

With that said, Sun Shaozong turned his attention to Bao Yongmeng again, "Because you are new here and have never participated in it, let's first receive five lashes and a one-month fine."

The three of them didn't care whether they were submissive or not, but they didn't dare to argue in front of him, so they obediently agreed.

Sun Shaozong didn't bother to watch the bloody execution scene, leaving behind two supervisors, he took Lin Delu and others out of the prison.

When I got outside, I saw that the sky was approaching noon, but there was still some distance before the meal time, so Sun Shaozong called Lin Delu and asked, "Is there any place that hasn't been inspected right now?"

Lin Delu hurriedly said, "My lord, I have already turned around everywhere in the mansion—but according to the rules of previous years, the two counties of Daxing and Wanping may have to go there once."

This is obviously a bit far.

Sun Shaozong immediately gave up the idea of ​​continuing the inspection, called the house officials to give a few words of encouragement, and ordered them not to slack off, and to be ready for inspection by the Ministry of Punishment at any time, and then announced the dissolution on the spot.

In fact, no matter how nervous this year is, next year's Shuntian Mansion's "Prison Litigation Review" will be in charge of the Zhili Procuratorate.

At that time, it is estimated that there will be no one who is not open-eyed, who dares to criticize Sun Shaozong - after all, the former inspector died in his hands!

Speaking of pacing the official steps, he went back to the criminal justice department in a leisurely manner. Sun Shaozong originally wanted to rest and have some tea, but when he entered the door, he saw two groups of servants honestly waiting in the living room.

One of them was sent by Zhao Zhongji to announce the good news; as for the other...

"Master Sun, the villain is from the residence of Uncle Xue on Zijin Street. My lord was just promoted to the Secretary of General Administration yesterday, so we set up a banquet tonight to celebrate, and please honor him."

The servant of the Xue family said, and offered a bronzing post with both hands.

Xue Pan's experience as the Secretary of General Administration?

Wang Shangshu's efficiency is really unbelievable!

In other words, this green hat is not for nothing...

He casually took the invitation and flipped through it. Seeing that Xue Pan's place to treat guests was fixed in the nearby Dingxiang Building, Sun Shaozong asked casually, "Where is Wei Tongpan, have you ever sent the invitation?"

"The villain has never sent any post to Mr. Wei!"

The servant apologized and said with a smile: "When we went out, our master specially explained that you are the only one in Shuntian Mansion, and no one else will be invited!"

Obviously, he was on Sun Shaozong's side and wanted to help push Wei Ruolan out.

"inappropriate."

However, Sun Shaozong shook his head, shook the bronzing post in his hand, and said, "It's fine if it's in a nearby place. Since it's a banquet at Dingxianglou, I was invited to drink but Wei Ruolan was missed. Isn't it tantamount to deliberately offending him? Your uncle has just stepped into the officialdom, why are you making trouble for yourself?"

As he said that, he said without doubt, "Go back and ask your uncle to write two more invitations, one for Wei Tongjue and one for Qiu Jianxiao—tell him, if he refuses to do so, I will invite you tonight." I won't join in the fun anymore."

The servant heard that he was thinking of his uncle in every sentence, and hurriedly thanked Dade for his answer, and hurried back to report Xue Pan not to mention it.

But he said that he had sent away the servants of the Xue family, so Sun Shaozong called his servants to the front and asked Yu Qian and Sun Chengtao about their rankings in the palace examination.

In fact, regardless of Yu Qian's ranking, just based on the policy of secretly demoting the Supreme Emperor, he is undoubtedly the bottom of the top three.

On the contrary, Sun Chengtao's ranking was a bit unexpected. He thought he would be at the bottom of the test, but he was determined to be a "same Jinshi, such as a wife", but he barely fell at the bottom of the second class.

Now, he's afraid that he'll have to rant for a while again.

"correct."

The servant had finished reporting, but suddenly remembered an irrelevant matter, so he casually mentioned, "When I was going out, I ran into a motorcade from the Rongguo Mansion. I heard that it was the Second Grandma Lian from the Rongguo Mansion. She came to visit our eldest wife." coming."

Wang Xifeng went to her home?

After a little thought, Sun Shaozong guessed that her trip must be for the 'timber business'.

It's a pity that yesterday I was too busy talking to Yingchun, but forgot to tell her about it, otherwise she could have agreed to it first, and the two brothers would sing the double reed, trying to bargain with Wang Xifeng.

Chapter 296

Xue Mansion on Zijin Street.

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old maid walked along the long corridor and came to the main room quietly, and then carefully put her ear on the edge of the window. Hearing the noisy noise inside, she knew that the couple inside were still torn apart. There is no time to enter the alley in the future.

So she hurriedly stepped forward to knock on the door and said, "Master, master! Laifu came back from Shuntian Mansion, and said that Sun Zhizhong had something to say, look..."

After hearing these shouts, the movement inside not only did not weaken, but became more and more intense.

But the maid was not in a hurry, she took half a step back and waited obediently outside the door.