[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

When Jia Huan saw Jia Lian, he came up a few steps to meet him, and said with a smile, "I heard that the second brother Lian has been promoted again. I just came down from the Yamen. I'm a step late to congratulate the second brother Lian."

The eldest son of the Jia family, Jia Lian, received the decree. Jia Huan, the concubine of the second house, was still in the yamen, so he didn't come back temporarily. He just heard that, so naturally he should come to congratulate him.

Jia Lian said with a smile, "You and I don't have to see each other like this. Brother Huan is also very busy these days. Is there so much going on before the end of the year in the Imperial Academy?"

Jia Huan said with a smile: "Second brother Lian doesn't know something. The old sage will preside over the repair of a grand ceremony and send a message to ask the Imperial Academy to come up with a charter first. The old Hanlins in the courtyard are like chicken blood. This charter You always have to think about it.”

Jia Lian said with a smile: "Brother Huan is indeed a scholar. This is like building the Royal Academy with Prince Fu. Let it be passed down through the ages." After being an official for a long time, Jia Lian still has this knowledge.

Jia Huan said: "It is passed down through the ages, and that is also the matter of the old sage. I am a small editor, where can I get my turn?"

Jia Lian comforted: "Brother Huan is still young, so don't be arrogant." No matter how smart Jia Huan is, he is not even tall enough, but at the age of 14, who dares to entrust him with the burden.Therefore, he has been an official for more than half a year, but he still cannot be reused.

Jia Huan nodded, and also knew that Jia Lian must be busy now, so she didn't want to disturb her, so she took out a pair of exquisite leather boots that Tanchun made for Jia Lian, and said, "It's the material that Shuofang brought back, my sister made me a pair of boots." I also made a pair for Lian's second brother, which is just in time for traveling far away in the twelfth lunar month."

"But it's more beautiful than sister Yingchun. It's worthy of being the third sister." Jia Tanchun's shoemaking skills are nothing to say, but they are ranked first among the twelve beauties in Jinling.

Jia Huan said with a smile: "fortunately, the second sister is out of the house, otherwise she would not be angry if she heard this."

Jia Lian chuckled, and said suddenly: "Speaking of which, my younger sisters are all married, and it's time for Tan Yatou to go out. Cousin Hui is two months younger than her."

He and Jia Huan cooperated well no matter whether they were copying the slaves' homes or going to work in Shuofang, but he really didn't want to talk too much about his second uncle and second aunt.However, in the clan society, it is not a joke to write two Jia characters in one stroke.Unless people are expelled from the clan, they cannot be completely thrown away after the family is separated, otherwise there will not be so many clansmen attached to Rongfu.But getting rid of the family is not so easy, not to mention what outsiders will say about the coolness of the big house, there is an old lady in Jia's mansion, it is impossible to even separate the family, let alone get rid of the family.

Jia Lian saw that her younger sisters were all married well, and couldn't help but think of Jia Tanchun, who was "old" and had nowhere to go.

Jia Huan said: "Now that my wife is seriously ill, how can my aunt go out to socialize? After all, I am a man and I am young, so it is not easy to be my sister's boss."

Jia Lian also couldn't help sighing, this younger sister is really outstanding, but her parents have a bad reputation, which also has something to do with their big family.

It was an open secret of the upper class in Kyoto that Jia Zheng didn't like the emperor and princes, otherwise the pursuit of the debt would not be the same as embezzling Erfang's family wealth in disguise.Jia Huan wanted to find a brother-in-law who could help him in his career, but [-]% of his colleagues were already married and had children, and he couldn't find a really outstanding one.And those really outstanding people, such as those married by Lin, Su, Shi and Ying, would never think of Jia Zheng and Mrs. Wang.Even if the Qing noble scholars think of Jia Huan as a young genius, due to the consideration of family tradition and relatives, they will not want to be in-laws with the "hypocritical" who occupies the magpie's nest or Mrs. Wang who hollowed out the brother-in-law's house.

Jia Huan went back to the East Courtyard, and Jia Lian went back to the house. Wang Xifeng also ordered the maids to pack up the boxes and cages. Jia Lian was dumbfounded when he saw it: "Second Grandma Lian is moving! There is no need for such things."

Wang Xifeng explained that clothes and supplies are very important, and even brought all kinds of medicine, in case of a cold on the way, it is not easy to go out.

Jia Lian still let it go, saying that this time when going out, most people would be easy going, so Wang Xifeng had no choice but to order the maids to tidy up.

Ping'er was careful, and said with a smile: "Grandma, leave this matter to me, the second master will go out again tomorrow, you and the second master will sit down first."

Wang Xifeng said a word, but when he saw Jia Lian carrying the two children from the nurse's hand to the kang, he went to the Xiao family to talk.

Jia Lian asked, "Have you prepared all the rituals for the New Year's Eve?"

Wang Xifeng sighed: "I started preparing before the second master came back, and now I have prepared it in a month or so."

Jia Lian said with a smile: "Nowadays there are many relatives and friends, and the ceremony costs a lot. Second Mistress Lian, don't put all the dowry on it."

Wang Xifeng said with a smile: "It's not like our family can only go out and not come in. Now there are quite a few people who come to our house to give filial piety."

Jia Lian said: "Don't accept everything, it's troublesome for some people to accept."

Wang Xifeng smiled and said: "Second Master told me that I have learned a lot from Third Aunt, so don't worry, Second Master."

Jia Lian suddenly mentioned that Tanchun was getting older, and Wang Xifeng said, "Let's not talk about the third sister in the second room. The fourth sister in the East Mansion is still raised in the wife's yard. Since the second sister got married, she has been alone with the wife." The wife Wang Xifeng was talking about at this time was naturally Mrs. Xing. Mrs. Xing also likes to go out now. This official wife always takes her daughter with her when she goes out. Now she does not have Yingchun by her side, so she has to take Xichun with her.Although Xichun has a withdrawn personality, she has a good relationship with her sisters. Mrs. Xing often goes to the Xing family, Shi family, Lin family, Feng family, and Wei family when she goes out. Xichun naturally wants to play with her sisters.

Jia Lian asked: "Brother Zhen, what are they thinking? Are you still looking for someone for the fourth younger sister? The fourth younger sister will be fifteen after the new year."

Wang Xifeng said: "How do I know this? For the fourth sister herself, she doesn't even want to step into the East Mansion. Now the wife will take her out, and the married sisters often send invitations to her and the third. younger sister."

Jia Lian sighed: "It doesn't disappoint the friendship we grew up with. If Lian's second grandmother is free, ask the younger sisters what they think. It would be great if she can find a good family to be a daughter-in-law, and there will be a place for the rest of her life."

Wang Xifeng said angrily: "Where am I free? Second Master, do you see where I am free?"

The loophole in Jia Lian's sentence was caught, and Wang Xifeng couldn't help but feel agitated when he turned around and laughed.He was busy with work, and it was too late when he came home. He often fell asleep after washing, and hadn't been close for many days.

Jia Lian smiled and coaxed the child to follow the nanny back to her own room to sleep, and then came to get close to Wang Xifeng, and said with a smile: "I know that the second grandma Lian has worked hard, so I don't want to come and take care of the second grandma Lian in person."

Wang Xifeng cast a wink at Jia Lian, half of her body was so brittle, she hugged her and fell down on the kang.

……

The next day, Xiao Jingyun, Jia Lian and his party left the capital in a hurry.The people from Jinyiwei first took control of the head office of Fusheng Bank in Kyoto, and took the account books of its big shopkeeper and others and the head office, and asked the Ministry of Punishment to investigate in detail.

However, the owner of Fusheng Bank is from Pingan Prefecture, and is not in the capital at this time. One of the tasks of Xiao Jingyun and others in the past was to investigate the family background of the owner of Fusheng Bank.

On the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhou Tianfu heard that Fusheng had gone to the bank and tried to commit suicide in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment. Fortunately, he was a key criminal and was closely guarded, so he was rescued by the prison boss.

Xiao Kai was well-informed, and went to visit Zhou Tianfu in the prison under the special care of the Criminal Ministry the next day. He was naturally not Zhou Tianfu's friend who cared so much about him.His curiosity is too strong, his family has already participated in this case, and his son went to Ping'an Prefecture for business during the Chinese New Year because of this related nest case. He really wanted to know what was the secret behind it.

Xiao Kai looked at Zhou Tianfu who was lying crookedly on the bed, and Zhou Tianfu saw that he turned sideways.

Xiao Kai said: "You have endured so many tortures, so it turns out that you are not afraid of death at all, otherwise why would you choose to hang yourself with a belt. In fact, there are many ways to seek death, such as hitting the wall so hard that your brains will burst and your face will be completely changed. "

Zhou Tianfu trembled, and Xiao Kai said again: "Since the Fusheng Bank has been found out, I believe everything will become clear. If you don't reveal the behind-the-scenes things now, you won't need to in the future. You will blow your brains apart and die." Die. The imperial court has the ability to find out everything, but everyone will be unforgivably guilty when the time comes, and the nine clans will be punished."

Zhou Tianfu trembled slightly, and Xiao Kai said again: "If you are only corrupt and not involved in other things, but you are a witness of taint, you can at least save your life."

After Xiao Kai finished speaking, he sighed and turned to leave. Zhou Tianfu turned his head to look at him, but Xiao Kai keenly realized that he was facing his face with a pair of big deep eyes.

Tu Yuanyi asked Chunyu Bai and Ouyang Lei to monitor and inquire about Mu Engong's mansion, and he had to keep everything private.Every family began to lie down on the kang on the [-]th day of the twelfth lunar month, but the second hero was not afraid of the severe cold, and visited Mu Engong's mansion at night.

Now there is no evidence that Mu Engong is related to Zhou Tianfu's case, Jin Weiyi is only temporarily under house arrest, and no house was searched.Although Jin Yiwei came to the mansion to take things to investigate, but found no valid evidence, but the second hero is experienced and cooperates tacitly.

They first touched the study room, which is usually regarded as the most important place, and searched everything from the wall to the floor tiles to the beams, but they didn't find any doubts, so they stepped out and went to the bedroom.

The second hero was able to get Prince Timur out of the guild hall without anyone noticing, so it was not difficult to get into Yang Huaigu's bedroom.

Erxia discovered that Yang Huaigu was actually separated from his wife.There was no such mess in Yang's residence, there were two concubines in the past, but both died of illness, and later they lived with their wives. After the age of 35, Yang Huaigu believed in Buddhism, had a pure heart and few desires, and rarely entered his wife's house.

The second hero couldn't see Yang Huaigu in Mrs. Mu Engong's yard, so he went to look for him in another living yard.There is also a Buddhist hall built in this courtyard, which is different from Mrs. Mu Engong's Buddhist hall.

Seeing that Yang Huaigu had fallen asleep, the two entered the Buddhist hall, because the Buddhist hall was the place where Yang Huaigu spent most of his time besides the study.

The two of them had rich experience in Jiang Hu, and tapped the floor with their swords, because this Buddhist hall is an independent house, if there is a secret room, it is naturally a basement.

Ouyang Lei shook his head, the two couldn't help feeling slightly discouraged, and were about to leave the Buddhist hall, but suddenly saw a statue of Manjusri Bodhisattva standing in the front hall, which was said to have been invited by Yang Huaigu from Wutai.

The two heroes looked at each other, and went forward to explore, but saw that this Bodhisattva was about the size of two people, living on a high lotus platform, as imposing as a mountain.

Chunyu Bai jumped onto the lotus platform, and found that the Bodhisattva statue was solid, Ouyang Lei reminded the base softly.Chunyu Bai said: "This thing is very heavy. I can't move it away silently by myself, for fear of disturbing others." Ouyang Lei had no choice but to help, and the two cooperated tacitly and used their internal strength to move the Buddha statue away. More than 800 catties.

Ouyang Lei took out a luminous pearl to illuminate, and saw that there was indeed a doorway under the lotus platform, the second hero was overjoyed, and finally his hard work paid off.

They pried open the thick marble partition, which was a deep entrance. Just as they were about to go down to investigate, suddenly there was a chirping sound, and a few iron lotus seeds flew through the door.Er Xia quickly turned over and jumped away, Er Xia hurriedly jumped out of the Buddhist hall, and saw a black shadow attacking them under the night.

The second hero's kung fu is so high that only Tu Yuanyi can subdue him, but he finds that the man in black moves fiercely and wields a long knife wide open and closed.

"People from Dongying!" Chunyu Bai exclaimed after three moves in the confrontation, and just as he spoke, another black-clothed warrior jumped out of the dark to join the battle.

The four of them fought in a melee. Although the second hero is a peerless master and is proficient in internal martial arts, he finds that the opponent's martial arts are tricky, and often makes a surprise attack when the Central Plains people are not thinking.

The two of them were in a hurry when they were dealing with it. After fighting for a quarter of an hour, it was really strange that no one from the Yang family came over.

After fighting dozens of moves, the two heroes gradually adapted to each other's martial arts style, calmed down, and brought out their martial arts skills. The two warriors were naturally not rivals, but they used ninjutsu to escape.

It was night at this time, which made the confusing nature of ninjutsu even more convenient.Chunyu Bai was concerned about the mission entrusted by the emperor, and no matter how ignorant they were in politics, they understood that after the fall of the Yang family, Imperial Concubine Chen would inevitably ascend to the throne.Whether it is the Xiao family or the second hero, they naturally hope that Concubine Chen will be the queen.

If the Second Hero was younger, even ten years old, he might still be competitive first, but at this moment, the overall situation is the most important thing. Under the protection of Ouyang Lei, Chunyu Bai took out the signal from his waist and released it, a red signal flare fly into the air.

The Jinyiwei who was watching at night saw it, and released a signal flare, which soon spread to the headquarters of Jinyiwei, and even the spies from the East Factory saw it.

The commander of Jin Yiwei and Zhao Gui from Dongchang heard the report from his subordinates, and hurriedly brought people over in person, while Jin Yiwei, who was already on duty for surveillance, broke into Mu Engong's mansion directly.

……

Tu Yuanyi was a diligent emperor. Originally, when Gaozong was in power, he closed his pen after Laba, and he did not go to court early, but after he ascended the throne, at least the fifteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, or even the twenty-first day of the twelfth lunar month.

Originally, he got up today to hold the last court meeting of this year, but he heard Wang Fulai report that Mu Engong's mansion had been discovered.

Wang Fu is from Dongchang, Zhao Gui led people to compete with Jin Yiwei, and always wanted to keep the person who reported to the emperor.

Although Tu Yuanyi expected that this matter would not be simple, he still felt complicated when he heard that Yang Huaigu had a problem.

"What did you find?"

Wang Fu bowed and said: "According to the news from ahead, Hero Chunyu and Hero Ouyang visited Mu Engong's mansion at night and found a secret room in his Buddhist hall. Before they could go down, they were stopped by the masters of Japan."

Tu Yuanyifeng's eyes widened, and he shouted, "An expert from Japan? Can you catch him?"

Speaking of Dongying, it is really a mix of new and old hatred, and entanglement in every possible way.In the early Ming Dynasty, disturbing the coast of China was nothing more than a disaster for the people. In this dynasty, Zhenzong did not stop at the beginning, and he had a lot of contacts with the Zhou family in Taiwan. However, in later generations, the battle with Hou Jinhai hurt the vitality of China. Yuanyi hated Houjin, but he also hated Japan.

Tu Yuanyi thought to himself: Is it possible that Pingan Prefecture was not colluding with officials and bandits as he knew, killing good men and taking meritorious service, and embezzling military pay?When the matter was reported back then, he ordered a thorough investigation, and later the Jiedushi of Ping'an Prefecture committed suicide.

Tu Yuanyi was terrified as he thought about it carefully, with cold sweat on his back, at this moment Qingxuan came to report: "Your Majesty, the imperial concubine has woken up and found that the Emperor is not here, and...then..."

Qingxuan was too embarrassed to say it, the imperial concubine might have turned back to three years old.

Tu Yuanyi had no choice but to go back to the sleeping hall first, and saw Xing Xiuyan walking back and forth restlessly in the sleeping hall.Tu Yuanyi suddenly got the news that he hadn't put on the emperor's crown at this time, so there was no need to hold back.

"Xiuxiu, what are you doing when you get up? And you haven't put on your clothes yet, what should you do if you catch cold?"

Tu Yuanyi picked him up and put him back on the dragon bed, Xing Xiuyan said: "Qilang, I can't sleep."

Tu Yuanyi asked, "Why can't you sleep?"

Xing Xiuyan rubbed her stomach and said, "I dreamed that the child was gone... I didn't really want to have a baby, but in the dream the child was gone, I was so sad. I don't know why I am so sad."

Tu Yuanyi said: "Dreams are all reversed. Don't worry, I will protect you. And you little fool, this is our child. Of course you care, why don't you ask why? You love him , is a mother's instinct."

Xing Xiuyan added: "But I've never been a mother before. I don't know how to be a mother. If I can't do it well, the baby will dislike me."

Tu Yuanyi said: "He dares! A son doesn't think his mother is ugly, a dog doesn't think his family is poor, filial piety is beyond heaven! No matter what, he has to be filial to you."

Xing Xiuyan asked gloomily, "Am I ugly?"

Tu Yuanyi: "No, Xiuxiu is the most beautiful..."

Xing Xiuyan shouted: "You have no conscience, I have become a yellow-faced woman with a big belly, and you think I am ugly! Do you think that there are a group of tender concubines in the harem who have not been favored yet, and your heart is itching ? Guarding me, a big-bellied and yellow-faced woman, I have wronged you, right?"

Tu Yuanyi smiled bitterly: "It's really wronged, Xiuxiu, stop thinking about it."

Xing Xiuyan burst into tears: "It is said that infatuated women are ungrateful. When a woman is pregnant, her husband has the highest rate of cheating. Huh... why are we women so miserable... huh... baby, your father doesn't want our mother and daughter anymore! He wants to find a mistress went!"

Tu Yuanyi got up and left together, and she also felt it. She became nervous and anxious when she was lying on the bed alone.As soon as she became pregnant, she seemed to be a completely different person. She was originally thinking of a man and woman, but now she is thinking of a pregnant woman who is difficult to wait for.

Tu Yuanyi had no choice but to coax him. He gradually got used to it, and he almost started the topic again: "The second hero made a major discovery in Mu Engong's mansion last night, and I have to deal with it."

Sure enough, Xing Xiuyan stopped crying, wiped away tears, and asked, "What discovery?"

Tu Yuanyi just wanted to tell her what he had just learned, Xing Xiuyan said: "How could there be warriors from Japan? This is too ridiculous! Could it be that the Japanese had plans to invade the Central Plains at this time? They don't have this at all now Strength, besides, if you want to conquer the Central Plains, you must first conquer Korea, and they did it more than 200 years after Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the late Ming Dynasty."

Tu Yuanyi said: "But Xiuxiu, don't forget that Taiwan's Zhou family has a close relationship with Japan."

Xing Xiuyan said: "But Yang Huaigu's collusion with them is of any benefit to him? He is your father-in-law. At least his grandson was alive and well. If he handles his affairs carefully, even my son will not be able to get past Tu Hui."

Hearing her mention of Tu Hui, Tu Yuanyi's eyes flashed with a complicated look, and he didn't answer.

Tu Yuanyi said: "Xiuxiu, good boy, I have to deal with this matter first, so you can get a good night's sleep, okay?"

Xing Xiuyan tugged at the skirt of his clothes with his paws, and said, "I'll go with you."

Tu Yuanyi caressed her head, he could only coax this woman whom he had given filial piety to his mother, love to his daughter-in-law, and doting to his daughter.

"If you don't sleep, the baby will sleep too. You were uneasy just now. If you don't give the baby a good sleep, he will blame you for not being a good mother."

When Xing Xiuyan heard this, she had no choice but to lie down, and Tu Yuanyi kissed her before leaving.

……

The two warriors from Mu Engong's mansion were surrounded by Jinyiwei layer by layer, and even the five city soldiers and horse battalions sent troops to help surround them outside Jinyiwei, no matter how hard they could fly.

In the early morning, all the people in Yang's mansion were controlled, and the two Dongying warriors were captured by Chunyu Bai and Ouyang Lei.

They wanted to commit suicide on the spot, but they were broken by the second hero, and then acupuncture points were tapped.

Tu Yuanyi rushed to the scene in person at Chenshi, and the people from Jin Yiwei had already gone down to the underground secret room to check, and they were very busy.

Tu Yuanyi looked at the two warriors, it was hard to tell the difference between their appearance and that of the people from the Central Plains.Tu Yuanyi also heard from Xing Xiuyan that in fact, many Dongying people have the blood of Central Plains people, and China is Japan's teacher.

Tu Yuanyi asked, "Where's Yang Huaigu?"

The commander of Jin Yiwei said: "The minister has already been tied up, and he is in custody in the main hall. This subordinate will be escorted here."

Tu Yuanyi sneered and said, "No, it's time for me to meet this old man myself."

……

Yang Huaigu, Yang Yi and his son were guarded in the lobby, and Mrs. Mu Engong, Mrs. Yang Yi and their children were watched in the inner hall.

Jinyiwei and Dongchang were surrounded by three levels, Yang Huaigu looked like an old monk in meditation, but Yang Yi couldn't hide his panic.

Suddenly I heard a report from outside the door: "The emperor is here!"

Only then did Yang Huaigu open his eyes, straighten his robes elegantly and get up, Tu Yuanyi strode into the hall, he also kneeled respectfully and saluted as usual.

Tu Yuanyi took his seat first, looking at the old husband and brother-in-law kneeling in front of him, he couldn't help feeling mixed feelings.

Only at this time did he feel the sorrow of his previous life even more, and the people around him might not be able to find a real one.The old man with a trace of respect for his elders in his heart is a complete pretender.

Tu Yuanyi said: "Yang Huaigu, what do you have to say now?"

Yang Huaigu said indifferently: "The saint has grown up, and the old minister has been watching you. Until now, the king wants the minister to die, and the minister has to die."

Tu Yuanyi snorted coldly and said, "Could it be that I have wronged you? I have always favored you in my heart, but you have betrayed me so much!"

Yang Huaigu said: "It's not enough for the emperor to send Jin Yiwei to monitor day and night, and he also sent people to visit my house at night, why do you favor me?"

Tu Yuanyi said angrily: "Mr. Yang is unbearable to the world. I look at your face, make her queen, and make you the first-class Mu Engong. I can tolerate your greed for ink, but I can't tolerate you killing people to silence your mouth and colluding with foreign countries." !"