Chapter 1092
Who is Fueling the Tide?
Chapter 1092 Who is Fueling the Tide?
On the bluestone road,
The convoy moved slowly.
Heading towards the East City Water Bridge,
The four people inside the carriage had different expressions: one was scrutinizing Luo Yunhou, another showed surprise in Xu Changwen and his companion's eyes, and the third was fear in Jia Yucun's eyes. And so, the carriage fell silent.
Zhang Jinyu reached out and took the silver notes from Jia Yucun's hands. Each note was worth ten thousand taels of silver, and they were all general drafts from the Sihai Money House—extremely rare.
"Alright, then don't say I didn't give you a chance. You go ahead and say it, start with the first one!"
"Yes, it is Lord Marquis Zhen Shiyin. He is indeed my benefactor. When I was taking the imperial examination, I met him at a temple. He generously gave me money to help me. After I passed the examination, I went through several transfers and finally returned to Jinling City. When I learned that my benefactor's beloved daughter was missing, I did send people to look for her, but to no avail."
At this point, Jia Yucun, his face filled with shame, fell into reminiscence and continued;
"It wasn't until later, when the Xue family case came up, that I learned the truth. But by then, Zhen Shiyin's family had fallen on hard times, and he was living with his father-in-law, suffering all sorts of grievances. So, I couldn't bear it and concealed the matter. It was better for Xiangling to go to the Xue family than to go home. Besides, the reason for the judgment was to repay part of the favor the Jia family had shown him. In the end, I used my connections to get Zhen Shiyin's father-in-law's family to return the Zhen family's wealth and settle down in a lane on North Street in Jinling. They also had ten acres of fertile land to live on. If Your Excellency doesn't believe me, you are welcome to investigate."
Zhang Jinyu hadn't even finished asking about these two matters before Jia Yucun revealed them all himself. Whether anything has changed is unknown, but his wit and perceptiveness are something most people don't possess.
"Very well, I will send someone to investigate these matters. If accepting Shi Fei is truly the best course of action, you may enter the Marquis's residence. If not, I will expel him from the family."
Zhang Jinyu thought of the Xue family and the Jia family; it was rare to find someone who could so aptly reconcile these favors. Jia Yucun was still useful, and the Prefect of Jinling in Jiangnan was a great asset. If handled well, Jiangnan would surely secure a place beyond the Great Wall.
"Your Excellency is wise; if I were lying, may I be struck by lightning!"
He kowtowed again, deeply.
"Alright, sit down. You can stay in Xu Dong's courtyard for a few days and make the most of your time. Think about what else needs to be done at the government office, and we'll talk about it after the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet. Oh, and all the officials in the capital who haven't been convicted should write congratulatory letters. Don't forget that."
His gaze swept over the three of them, and he gave them instructions.
"Yes, Your Excellency, I will keep that in mind."
The three quickly clasped their hands in response. They wondered what the Emperor Emeritus's birthday banquet would be like. Only Xu Changwen's eyes flashed with a resolute glint, unseen by anyone.
Just wait, the frame slowly moved forward.
"My lord, we've reached the water bridge."
"Alright, I'll go down now. Ningbian, prepare a banquet at Changwen's house."
"Yes, Lord Marquis."
The wind in the capital
Although small, the gentle breeze blows continuously.
Officials were discussing it, and so were the common people. As many officials returned to their residences, rumors began to circulate, and with the help of certain individuals, a storm was brewing throughout the capital.
Teahouses and taverns are always filled with these people, especially around noon when the scorching sun bakes the cobblestone streets, and the rising heat, carrying dust, makes the entire capital feel like a steamer. As July approaches, the stalls on both sides of the street have all closed up shop.
The most bustling place in Dongcheng District is undoubtedly Zuixianlou. At this moment, the carved windows on the second floor are wide open, but it is difficult to let in much cool breeze.
Eight-immortal tables were arranged in a staggered pattern, wine flags fluttered between the Liang-Zhu legends, and the hall was bustling with noise. The storyteller, Chen Moyu, sat alone on a high platform, sipping tea. At this moment, a waiter from the back room came over, bowed his head, and said a few words.
"Mr. Chen, a gentleman just came by and asked me to deliver a note and a hundred taels of silver to you. He said he'll be telling a story about a case from the Ministry of Justice today."
Then he handed over a slip of paper. Chen Moyu was somewhat surprised; why was he being asked to handle matters of the government?
"Very well, I'll take a look. I understand the matter. Where is that gentleman?"
"After giving them the gifts, the man left, even giving me five taels of silver for running the errand. What a kind person!"
The waiter looked pleased, but it seemed he wouldn't get any information out of him. He waved him away, thankfully no one saw what was happening.
While drinking tea, Chen Moyu unfolded the note in his hand and looked at it with some surprise. Then, he folded up the note and the silver note and stuffed them into his sleeve. This news from the Ministry of Justice was indeed a big case, but why was it being spread? Moreover, that Eunuch Yang had gone mad!
He tidied his desk, hesitated for a moment, then raised his voice to appraise it. He grabbed Jingmutang, slammed it down, and immediately drew everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentlemen, today we will not discuss the matter of Prince Bei Jing, nor the bloody battle between Marquis Luo Yun and the Taiping Cult. Instead, we will talk about the major case being interrogated by the Ministry of Justice in the capital today. Hey!"
Chen Moyu, dressed in a dark blue robe and holding a folding fan, had bright, piercing eyes. He deliberately drew out his words, whetting everyone's appetite.
The audience was already full of diners, gathered in twos and threes, whispering among themselves, and someone shouted loudly;
"What major case is it, Mr. Chen? Tell me quickly, don't keep me in suspense,"
"Exactly, exactly! You only come when I've already eaten half the meal; I have no appetite at all!"
"Absolutely right. The heat is making everyone irritable, and we need to hear something new to relieve our boredom. What case is it?"
After a burst of noise, Chen Moyu nodded slightly, and his folding fan unfolded again with a "whoosh," revealing the four powerful characters he had just written: "Iron Pen Like a Knife."
"Gentlemen, are you aware that two more strange cases have emerged in Jiangnan? This land of plenty, a region known for its abundant resources and fertile soil, is rife with undercurrents. What were originally ordinary tax disputes have unexpectedly implicated many high-ranking officials in Jiangnan. Now, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Censorate are conducting a joint trial, with Minister Song of the Ministry of Justice personally presiding over the proceedings. This is quite a large-scale operation."
The voice just fell,
Several shopkeepers by the window started talking amongst themselves. The fat man in the lead, fanning himself vigorously and wiping the sweat from his brow with his sleeve, said...
"A joint trial by the three judicial departments was only held once before, during the interrogation of the Ningguo Mansion. That's quite a spectacle. I wonder what big case is going on in Jiangnan."
"In my opinion, it's all about unequal distribution of spoils. In Jiangnan, every drop of water is enough to make people incredibly wealthy. Some people took too much, which angered the imperial court."
A somewhat thin businessman standing nearby smiled and said, "How could an official not take bribes?"
But their conversation was interrupted by a man dressed in coarse cloth shorts at the next table.
"No, it's not that I took too little; it's that I was involved in something very serious. The dike breach and flooding in Jiangnan, and the jade mine case in Jiangbei—we've already reported these to the imperial court."
Seeing everyone's high spirits, Chen Moyu clapped his hands again with the Jingmutang.
"Gentlemen, please don't be impatient. The more puzzling part is yet to come. Do you know how this court hearing went? Several princes were present in the entire court, and the officials were arguing heatedly, especially one county magistrate who personally accused his superior and confronted Lord Song in court. In the end, they only held a hearing but didn't deliver a verdict. The intricacies of this are quite profound."
"No way, only a trial without a verdict? What kind of logic is that?"
A scholar dressed as a book, his face flushed with righteous indignation, stood up and said;
“I have read history books. Throughout history, there has never been a case that was tried but not judged. There must be some shady dealings involved. Old man, what kind of case in Jiangnan could lead to this?” “That’s right, old man. After all this talk, you haven’t mentioned any case.”
These words caused an uproar in the restaurant. Everyone speculated, while those with inside information remained silent, their expressions wary.
Chen Moyu nodded, clasped his hands in a salute to the people around him, and said;
"This case is the one that was reported a few days ago, a 600-li urgent dispatch from Jiangnan, concerning the major case of the breach of the dike and flooding of farmland in Jinling City, and the case of the unsealing of the jade mines of the previous dynasty in five counties in Jiangbei. The two cases were tried together. This matter was exposed by Xu Changwen, the magistrate of Chunyang County in Jinling, who was also a scholar from Hanyuan Hall in this special imperial examination. He single-handedly sued his superiors, how tragic! But it involved the Jiangnan Textile Bureau and the Imperial Household Department. The person in charge of this matter, the Director of the Imperial Household Department, Eunuch Yang, went mad on the way back to the capital!"
"what!"
Second floor,
With a soft gasp, Bai Shuiyue abruptly turned her gaze downwards. She knew this storyteller was bold, but she hadn't expected him to be this audacious—daring to discuss matters of the imperial court!
"Master, should we go down and get rid of this man? I don't know how he found out about these things,"
Right Protector Ying Xiancai had just returned from outside and hadn't even sat down when he overheard the storyteller below daring to discuss this matter. His face tightened; the affairs of the yamen weren't over yet, and news of them had already spread. If the Imperial City Guards were to take notice, it would be troublesome.
"No rush. A waiter from the restaurant just delivered something to him. I sent someone to question him, and they should have some information. As for the Ministry of Justice, send someone to investigate and see if it's true. A mere county magistrate has probably stirred up quite a hornet's nest."
Others might not be able to tell, but how could she, the dignified leader of the White Lotus Sect, not? No matter how big the case, if it didn't involve the palace, it was a small matter. But since the Textile Bureau and the Imperial Household Department were involved, it was no small matter. She wondered if she could tamper with the noodles.
"Master, our people have already investigated this matter. It is true, and even more intense than he described. I heard that in court, Magistrate Xu risked his life to angrily rebuke the presiding judge, Minister of Justice Song Zhen. Several princes and Marquis Luoyun were also at loggerheads. Furthermore, people from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs were also present. Outside, I don't know who is spreading the rumors, but the news has already spread throughout the capital. It is a matter of urgent importance, requiring an urgent dispatch from Jiangnan. Unfortunately, at that time we were unable to move in Xihe County."
Right Protector Ying Xiancai felt a pang of heartache. If he had known this would happen, when he captured Runan, he might have been able to send troops into Jiangnan and wreak havoc on the region.
At this point, Bai Shuiyue's eyes also became somewhat gloomy. The floods in Jiangnan presented a golden opportunity, but the Grand Canal was blocked by the Prince of Dongping, making it impossible to cross.
"Even if we thought of it, we couldn't get there. The Eastern Prince's troops are all along the Suzhou-Tang County line, and there are also Imperial Guard ships on the Grand Canal. Even birds can't fly over there. Let's not worry about these things anymore. The opportunity has passed. Now let's look ahead. Since someone is stirring things up behind the scenes, this case isn't just happening in our area. So let's talk about it."
Bai Shuiyue pinched a cloud cake and put it in her mouth; it still tasted the same.
"Master, I'm not afraid to say it, but in three days it will be that old scoundrel's birthday. He says it's a day of universal celebration. What do you think we should do about this?"
A sinister smile flashed across Ying Xiancai's lips. That old, immortal emperor had finally made a fuss. Bai Shuiyue's eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she smiled.
"Oh dear, since that person is still alive, and the birthday banquet was so grand, we should at least prepare some small gifts. Besides, after all the efforts of the Taiping Sect have gone to waste, shouldn't we at least show our appreciation? If we're not mistaken, that Sect Leader Chu should be coming to the capital. Let's find a way to meet them."
Nowadays, officials with connections in various regions have been returning to the capital one after another. If it's difficult to make a move within the capital, there are plenty of other places outside the capital.
"Don't worry, Master. We've roughly located the Taiping Sect in the southern part of the city. I'll go there personally later. I just don't know how you plan to present this congratulatory gift?"
The capital city now,
The military police, along with personnel from the Shuntian Prefecture and the Imperial City Guard, patrol day and night. The situation is extremely tense. If they were to launch a larger operation, they would need a considerable number of men, and naturally, the commotion would be significant. Therefore, any action would require careful planning.
"This matter needs to be reconsidered. The situation in the capital is too tense. Although it would be easier to act outside the capital, it would be too quiet within the capital."
Bai Shuiyue was also undecided. Assassination and poisoning would be too damaging to the court. It seemed she still needed to find that person to come up with a solution.
"There's no rush. We'll discuss it once we find that person. But you need to be prepared with the people we've arranged. I heard that Chu Minjun has started following Marquis Luoyun."
His eyes flickered; he hadn't expected that even one of his own men could betray the sect. A cold, ruthless glint flashed across Right Protector Ying Xiancai's face.
"Reporting back to the master, Lu Chuanjiang and his men have become garrison generals in southern Beijing. Chu Minjun and the others are still at the western suburbs dock. Young Master, you've already transported them all to the border. If the leader is interested, their heads will be sent immediately."
Although some of them surrendered to the imperial court, as long as there are still members of the White Lotus Sect, those who betray the sect have nowhere to hide. Their personal guards have long since made contact with the sect's strongmen.
"What's the rush? These people might be very useful in the future. We should at least give our junior sister some face. These things can't be kept from her."
"This...is...the boss,"
Helpless, Ying Xiancai had no choice but to agree. Thinking of the Holy Maiden, he couldn't help but feel a headache. The various branch strongholds in the north were almost all under the Holy Maiden's control. Cooperation would be mutually beneficial, but the master in front of him was a difficult situation.
As they were talking,
Downstairs, the innkeeper had already come upstairs, sat at a table near the back, and personally served the cult leader fresh tea.
"So it was Master Yao. I've found out what you were asking about. That helper was greedy and helped a short man deliver a note and a hundred taels of silver to the storyteller, which led to what happened just now. But that gentleman was really generous; he gave five taels of silver just for delivering a message."
The words were spoken lightly, as if in casual conversation, but Bai Shuiyue narrowed her eyes and smiled.
"It seems someone is even more anxious than us. They even said that there's actually progress on the matter of the congratulatory gift!"
Rongguo Mansion
In front of the mansion gate,
Butler Lai eventually returned to his previous seat, at the same table and chair. However, on the other side of the table, an extra chair had been added—or rather, the chair that Butler Qian had sat in.
that's it,
The gatekeepers looked somewhat guilty. When Steward Qian was sitting there, they had fawned over him, believing the rumors circulating in the manor were true—that Steward Lai had committed a serious offense and would only serve in the inner courtyard, meaning the steward's position would be replaced.
Unexpectedly, Butler Lai, whose back injury hadn't even healed, was already sitting in this seat. Manager Qian, without uttering a sound, slunk away.
But that chair hadn't been removed yet, I wonder why.
"You lot, from today onwards, you'll be responsible for sweeping the road in front of the gate. You must keep it spotless, or else you'll be out of a job as gatekeeper."
After taking several sips of tea, Lai Da spoke again. The four servants at the door looked distressed and quickly nodded in agreement. It seemed that Steward Lai already knew everything.
"Yes, Steward Lai, the servants understand."
"Hmph, good that you know. You'd better keep in mind what you can and cannot say in the future. Since you guys seem to be quite honest, let's work for a month first and see how you perform."
Lai Da spoke in a lazy tone, deliberately making his voice heard so that even the people busy at the door could hear him. Lai Da wasn't one to kill, and upon hearing this, the four men were overjoyed. Forgetting all about saving face, they knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
"Thank you, Steward Xie. We servants will certainly do our job well."
Without waiting for Steward Lai to speak, the four of them turned and entered the courtyard, taking brooms to sweep the road. Seeing this, Lai Da nodded in satisfaction. These servants still needed to be properly disciplined. As for that Qian Hua, he was slippery and not easy to deal with.
Just as everyone was performing their duties in front of the mansion gate,
A carriage arrived from the west. Just as it reached the main gate, it stopped. Jia Lan, dressed in his official robes, hurriedly jumped down and headed towards the side gate of the mansion.
Lai Da looked up and saw this, and dared not remain seated any longer; he quickly got up and moved closer.
"Greetings to Lan, the scholarship recipient."
He performed the proper greetings, but Jia Lan was preoccupied and didn't care about such formalities, so he asked;
"Steward Lai, do you know where Uncle Bao is?"
"Uh, Young Master Lan, Second Master Bao is still in the courtyard. Shall I go and inform him?"
Lai Da didn't know what urgent matter Lan Ge'er had, but when asked, he couldn't lie. Besides, he had just called Lan Ge'er "Young Master" without any reason. After all, Lan Ge'er had been included in the family genealogy and was now the eldest son of the Ningguo Mansion. However, the Rongguo Mansion also called him that, which put him at a disadvantage. So he had to be clever and not offend anyone.
"Alright, go and tell Uncle Bao that starting tomorrow, the Imperial Academy will be studying the Analects, so he will be staying there for three days and will not be allowed to return home. Uncle Bao will need to bring his own bedding."
Jia Lan thought for a moment and then spoke up. After all, the Academic Commissioner had been angry for three days, which was probably why he came up with this plan. Reading the scriptures was just an excuse.
"Uh, Young Master Lan, isn't this too fast?"
(End of this chapter)