Qinglian in the Red Chamber

In only ten days, the official ship of Yanzheng Yushi arrived at Tonghui Wharf safely.

Lin Ruhai had an errand, so he got off the boat at Tonghui Wharf first, rode a fast horse into the capital by dry road, and rushed to the palace to report to Lord Kangxi first.

As for the servants on the boat who returned to Beijing with Lin Ruhai, and the prisoners who were escorted back by the Yanzheng Yamen, such as Zhen Yingjia, they didn't disembark until they got off the boat at the water and land pier at Chaoyangmen.

Zhen Yingjia and the others naturally had someone from the Ministry of Punishments take them away, one by one, all with sad faces, as if mourning a concubine.

Naturally, the servants of the Lin family took Lin Ruhai's luggage and followed Lin Bo back to the old house of the Lin family.After sitting on the boat for more than ten days, it was hard to be able to step on the flat ground with both feet. Naturally, everyone was very happy along the way.

"Let's take a good rest today, master. I asked Lin Gui and Lin Xiang to wait outside the palace gate." Lin Bo said, the people who followed Lin Ruhai this time were all following him on a regular basis. Lin Ruhai's long-term follower when he went out, but he had been exhausted from traveling all the way for more than ten days, so it was proper to take a good rest for the night.

"I have to worry about the second housekeeper." Guangshan seemed to be the leader of these long followers, and he cupped his hands at Lin Bo before saying politely.

"Before I came, the chief steward gave me a letter and asked me to hand it over to the second steward when I arrived in the capital."

After finishing speaking, Guangshan took out the letter from his pocket and handed it to Lin Bo.

Lin Bo took it and put it into his arms, and said "Thank you" again.

"What can the butler say?" There was still some distance to Lin's mansion, Lin Bo opened the letter to read it, and simply asked Guangshan directly.

Guangshan chuckled and said, "The second housekeeper knows it. I'm a rough person, and I can't remember too many twists and turns. I just heard a few words from the big housekeeper. It seems to be about cleaning up the house. Repairing the garden, uh...the purchases, hehe...specifically. The second steward may have to read the letter from the chief steward before he can find out."

Lin Bo nodded, these matters are indeed the most important matters for the current government.

Lin Ruhai suddenly returned to Beijing early this time, and it wasn't just Yangzhou that was in a hurry, the capital was also in chaos for a while following the war.

Ever since Lin Bo got the letter that Lin Ruhai wanted to come back early, he accelerated the renovation of the old house.

Lim Bo is a quick-witted, quick-witted man.He thought to himself that when Lin Ruhai came back this time, Yangzhou had to deal with the shops, the extra servants, and the packing of furniture and luggage. He would not be able to deal with everything so quickly. .Jia Min is the head wife of the Lin family.This time I will stay in Yangzhou.Deal with those matters in Yangzhou Linfu.He will not come back with Lin Ruhai.If Jia Min doesn't come back, the eldest lady is a girl, so naturally she won't come back with the master alone.Since the head wife is not at home, Lin Ruhai doesn't necessarily want to live in the main house in the inner courtyard.This lonely one has no one to serve it.On the other hand, the foreign study room is very useful for Lin Ruhai to deal with official business and receive foreign guests.Moreover, the outer study has its own small bedroom, and it is enough for Lin Ruhai to live in the outer study before Jia Min comes back.So Lin Bo made the decision and arranged for people to repair the outer study first, but now the outer study was tidied inside and out before Lin Ruhai disembarked.

Lin Bo inquired about what to buy in the capital early in the morning.I am not afraid of anything.

As for repairing the garden, now is a good time to transplant flowers and trees, even if the housekeeper doesn't say anything, Lin Bo is also ready to arrange people to do it.It's just that the big garden is easy to manage now.Before I came to the capital, Jia Min asked someone to transfer to him the blueprint, just follow it.Only Yanziwu, which was originally intended for the young lady to live in, Lin Bo could not make up his mind about.

In fact, Jia Min prepared the blueprint of Swallow Pier and handed it over to Lin Bo.However, a few days ago, someone suddenly came to the house and found Lin Bo.The man's voice was very thin, and his face was white and beardless, Lin Bo felt his heart skip a beat when he saw it, guessing that the man's identity was the servant of the palace?The man claimed to be surnamed He, and he was from Jiubeile's residence.He took a garden drawing and handed it to himself, and said that artisans and gardeners had been arranged, and they could start work soon.

The Lin family has strict rules and regulations, and Lin Bo is also cautious.Holding the blueprint, he listened to what the man surnamed He said for a long time, but he didn't nod his head in agreement. He only said that he should ask the owner of the family first.The man surnamed He didn't make things difficult for Lin Bo, he didn't say anything with a good temper, just smiled and left with his hands, but he left behind the garden drawing.As a result, Limbo was in a difficult situation. He touched his brain until it was shiny, but he couldn't come up with any good ideas.

There was no clear decree in Kangxi's verbal order to marry Ninth Brother and Lin Daiyu, so Lin He and Jia Min didn't let others know about it.Naturally, Lin Bo didn't know either.

Limbo is feeling uneasy now.

Could this Ninth Master be trying to win over his master?But, the one who helped design and renovate the garden, has no one said that they use this to win people over?It's not about real money, high-ranking officials and generous salary...

Could it be that someone pretended to be someone from Jiuye's mansion, and was planning to frame her for something...?

Because of this matter, Lin Bo, who had always slept soundly, was disturbed and suffered from insomnia for a long time.

This matter, let the master decide.I really don't have that brain...

Lin Bo took Guangshan and the others back to the old house of the Lin family, and sent someone to inform Lin Han at Jia's Mansion on Rongning Street.

This Lin Ruhai has already returned to Beijing, so Lin Han, as his son, naturally had no choice but to go back to live in his own home.

In Qianqing Palace, Kangxi was talking with Lin Ruhai.

"... This time, there are all the witnesses and material evidence, and the evidence is conclusive. The Zhen family in Jinling is indeed the mastermind of salt tax corruption in the south of the Yangtze River. Zhen Yingjia and his father have been sitting in the Jinling Provincial Tirenyuan for two generations. There are quite a few people who only know the Zhen family but not the royal family. Zhen Yingjia's embezzlement of ink, salt, tax and silver has not been told to many people, only a few of his confidantes know. The previous generation of Patriarch of the Xue family of the Jinling imperial merchant was one of them, but later After being abandoned by Zhen Yingjia, he ended it himself." Lin Ruhai said calmly.

"Hmm. The Zhen clan really failed Empress Dowager Xiaokangzhang and I trust them, and now it makes them look like the local emperors of Jinling City." Damn slave!Lord Kangxi sneered coldly, feeling really intimidated by this kind of slave who betrayed his master.Moreover, Zhen was the confidant of Kangxi's biological mother, Empress Xiaokangzhang. Since Kangxi succeeded to the throne, he has relied heavily on favors, and even ordered Zhen Yingjia to succeed his father as the president of the Jinling Provincial Institute of Physical Education.It's a pity that now, Zhen Yingjia has failed Kangxi's trust by doing such things as withholding tax money.It was really a slap in the face of Lao Kang, which made Lao Kang secretly hate him.

"Ruhai did a good job this time." Finally, Kangxi praised his confidant Lin Ruhai.After all, this Lin Ruhai is an elite of the Eight Banners, he is definitely not like that screwdriver slave who has shallow eyes and has never seen silver.Lin Ruhai worked as a censor for the salt government for eight years in that rich place in the south of the Yangtze River, but he is a rare clean person.Thinking of this, Kangxi couldn't help but miss his companion, Lin Ruhai's father who died to save him, and he couldn't help relying on the Lin family, so he felt that those who were born under the banner were unbearable. Useful, hard to trust.

"The rest of the matter. Let's leave it to the Criminal Department. Right now is the time for the imperial court to use troops. It is really inappropriate to make any big moves in the south of the Yangtze River. Ask the people from the Criminal Department to deal with Zhen Yingjia as soon as possible. It can also be regarded as stabilizing the hearts of the people in the Jiangnan area. Sigh -"

"You have guarded me in Jiangnan for so many years, and I know the hardships and dangers involved."

Lin Ruhai bowed and said, "Sharing the master's worries. It's a slave's job."

Lord Kangxi helped Lin Ruhai himself, and said: "You have made meritorious service in the court, it should be your credit, you just have to live with it. That's enough, let's not talk about these disturbing things."

As he said that, Kangxi brought Lin Ruhai into the East Nuan Pavilion, offering him a seat and tea.The two monarchs and ministers tasted tea for a while, and talked about the tea ceremony for a while.

"I'm afraid Ruhai will hear some rumors about Lao Jiu after he returns to Beijing." Master Kangxi said quietly, "That child is a good one. Don't doubt the character of that child just because of those rumors."

"After all, I treated the child badly."

Lin Ruhai quickly knelt down, straight in fear.

"Get up now." Kangxi gave another false support, and said, "You are my humerus minister. I rely on you very much. Your little Gege is also my future daughter-in-law appointed by me, and she is going to be married For Lao Jiu. I always want you to know what Lao Jiu looks like. It’s not good for you to think that I just married your little Gege.”

"The slave dare not harbor resentment in his heart. Brother Jiu, I was lucky enough to meet this slave back then. Over the years, Brother Jiu has been by His Royal Highness's side, and he has been taught by His Royal Highness' words and deeds. His Royal Highness was raised by the Lord Long Live himself. Yes, in this way, what is the difference between Brother Nine and being taught by the Long Live Lord? How can there be anything wrong? The actions of His Royal Highness are obvious to all the servants, and it is absolutely impossible to tell a single one. No words. This all depends on the teaching of the Long Live Lord. The slave thinks that those rumors outside cannot be completely believed. The ancients said that it is a mediocrity not to be envied by others. The slave pondered, isn’t that the reason? ?"

If you say Brother Nine is not good, isn't it indirectly saying that Long Live Lord, you can't teach children.

Ouch, Lin Ruhai's faint flattery made Lord Kangxi's mood, which was gloomy because of Zhen Yingjia's incident, immediately improved a bit.

Isn't it true, how can there be anything wrong with the children I teach?Look at the prince, both civil and military, benevolent and filial.Since Lao Jiu followed the prince, his temperament is much cuter, not like the shady bird of prey when he was a child.

Look at those few who were taught by those harem women, they are more or less petty, even sowing dissension, talking right and wrong, using the ways of these women's families, and they have no filial piety at all. .

"Haha, what Ruhai said makes people feel comfortable."

"Everything the slave says is from the bottom of his heart."

In fact, Lao Kang was completely worried for nothing.

The gossip and rumors about Brother Jiu are not limited to Kyoto, they have already spread to Jiangnan.Lin Ruhai knew that these rumors were heard from Jia Min.In the circle of noble ladies that Jia Min interacts with, there are people who always like to gossip about these powerful people.Jia Min heard it once, and learned it for Lin Ruhai when she got home.

In fact, whether it is Lin Ruhai or Jia Min, they just listen to the rumors about Brother Nine and let it go.Who can take it seriously?This is not to be envied is mediocrity.If Brother Nine was really mediocre and useless, none of these rumors would have come out.If Brother Jiu was not really close to the prince and stood firmly behind the prince, no one would deliberately try to ruin the reputation of the prince.

What kind of obsessed with merchants, what kind of evildoers lean over, and what kind of male style with broken sleeves, they can really be said.

However, no matter what the outside world says, anyway, Lin Ruhai is not worried about Brother Jiu's character or anything.Lin Ruhai and Jia Min knew about Brother Nine's correspondence with his daughter and the princess all the year round.

While Lin Ruhai was turning his thoughts, he was distracted by Kangxi talking about Brother Jiu's difficulty and his own last resort.

"...Lao Jiu is capable. What's rare is that he knows his duty and is a good boy. It's a pity that I have to suppress him for the sake of the crown prince."

"...Lao Jiu is a broad-minded man. Ru Hai doesn't know about the first-grade building. It was created by Lao Jiu himself. The brothers of Lao Jiu, besides the crown prince, Lao Wu and Lao Shi, there are also a few younger ones, The rest are also worry-free. Lao Jiu doesn't care about anything. He has such an opportunity to earn money, so he doesn't hide it by himself. Instead, he brings those brothers with him. He also donated a lot of money to me. The internal library. Hehe..."

"...Your little Gege is still young now, I thought I would reward a few people to take care of him first. Alas, the imperial doctor said that after Lao Jiu fell into the water, his body was invaded by cold and cold, making his bones weak Very, I can't stand women, so I can only take good care of them, otherwise in the future... since he can't get more women, so in the past few years, even if I have the heart, I dare not point out a few more people to serve in his house..."

Lord Kangxi said a lot of good things about Brother Nine, but he was afraid that his confidants would also be burdened by those gossips, and felt that Brother Nine would not be sacred.

After listening to a lot of complaints from Lord Kangxi, Lin Ruhai expressed his stance in a timely manner: "Long Live Lord has a kind father's heart, Brother Nine must understand."

Afterwards, Kangxi cared a few words about Lin Ruhai's arrangement, and finally said: "...Lao Jiu also has intentions. If you come back in such a hurry, it will inevitably be difficult to deal with the mess in Yangzhou. With Lao Jiu's help, your family members It’s better to come back to Beijing as soon as possible. You can enjoy it with peace of mind.”

Lin Ruhai was puzzled at the moment, but only after Jia Min and his party returned to Beijing did they know the meaning of Kangxi's words.

In this way, Lin Ruhai was a little more satisfied with Brother Nine.