[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Su Fu'er took out a precious warm jade lock tied with a red string from her bosom, and placed it next to the little baby. Mrs. Xing and Li looked at it and said, "Why do you have to spend money again? How old is my brother? It takes three hours to wash it." You have given him your promise."

Su Fu'er laughed and said: "Now I'm just such a younger brother, I love him so much at first sight, but the full moon wine is not in Beijing! It's me and his brother-in-law who can't help him."

Xing Li said: "You can tell jokes. It is the honor of the whole family to be able to go on tour with the saint and the empress. It is more important than a full moon wine for my brother. Your father and I are now thinking about Qian'er's future. It would be the best if you gave Qianer a brother this year."

This family is prosperous only if there are men who stand up to the door. Xing Li now knows that relying on Xing Zhong's talent alone to be a house weaver is very good.Fortunately, there are helpers and contacts everywhere in the Xing family, so Zhizhi can stand up, otherwise, even if the daughter is favored, it will not be the case.

Su Fu'er couldn't help covering her lower abdomen, her face couldn't help feeling a little ashamed, Mrs. Xing and Li came from here, seeing her expression, she said in surprise: "Could it be that you're pregnant?"

Su Fu'er has been married for five months after all, after all, there are very few people like Xing Xiuyan who entered the palace for a year and a half without conceiving.

Su Fuer said: "I'm not sure either, last month...the laundry was not changed, this month it was the first two days as well."

"Hasn't the doctor seen it?"

"My husband is not here, I wanted to wait for my husband to come back and see."

"Oh, you are so confused, how can you wait for this matter?" He dragged her out of the inner bedroom, called Yun Momo, and asked her to send a servant to invite Li Taiyi, who is very good at gynecology.Mrs. Xing Li had been recuperating her body before she gave birth and had daily consultations. Now that she is the first-class Mrs. Anguo, she can naturally invite this busy doctor Li.

Before lunch, Imperial Physician Li came and took Su Fu'er's pulse. After taking it for a while, he smiled and congratulated her.

"The county lord is almost three months pregnant."

Mrs. Xing Li, Su Fu'er, and the maids and nurses in the room were happy when they heard that, Su Fu'er was still a little embarrassed.

Su Fuer said: "I used to watch my mother throw up what she ate when she was pregnant with my younger brother, and I didn't have this symptom." Apart from the reason that Tan Qian was not in the capital, she was also afraid of being happy because of this, so she didn't say anything before.

Doctor Li said: "Not every wife will vomit when she is pregnant."

Mrs. Xing Li smiled and said: "You are so confused, it took almost three months before you realized that you have it. Fortunately, the Lord Buddha blesses you to be safe all the time."

Su Fu'er clutched her lower abdomen, thinking to herself that it was not the time when her younger brother was born in the past three months, could it be that time?

Mrs. Xingli changed her mind and said: "Now Qian'er has not come back yet. You should live in your mother's house first, and he will come to pick you up after returning to Beijing. Both you and Aunt Chen are experienced people. This Yun Yun , Mother Li takes care of my food and daily life very well. Although Mother Jiang and Mother Feng are delicate, they have never given birth, so I am even more worried about those maids."

Su Fu'er didn't refuse, and stayed again. The Xing family was indeed much more lively. Although she was proficient in Buddhism, she liked to have someone by her side after marriage.While she was giving birth here, she walked around the garden every day, and sat and chatted with Mrs. Xing and Li, or Shi Hui and Daiyu were going to get married within half a month. Naturally, there were some common affairs and human relations, and the mother and daughter also had a discussion .

……

Talking about both sides, Ouyang Lei and Chunyu Bai, the second heroes, naturally lived in the home of the local tyrant Xiaohou when they came to Beijing, as well as the sharp brother Zhang Zhi who once blocked the way and called for injustice.

On November 23, Zhang Zhijiu went to Yinna, Jingzhao Prefecture, to beat drums and complain, and sued Zhou Tianfu, the Minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Minister of Internal Affairs, for embezzlement and embezzlement of royal property, framing innocent people, and murder.

The Xiao family still had ten days to go before marrying their clan wife, and everything was almost ready half a year ago when they got married, but Lin Ruhai refused to marry a daughter as soon as possible, so he was not too busy.They asked the housekeeper to clean and clean the magnificent mansion in Kyoto, and wiped and wiped the utensils regulated by the Marquis. They were free, so they accompanied Zhang Zhi to Jingzhao Mansion.

Jingzhaofu Yin is equivalent to the modern mayor of Beijing and the president of the Municipal People's Court, but in this dynasty, he has a higher official rank than other prefects, and is a senior official of the third rank.

Like the governor of Kaifeng in the Northern Song Dynasty, many people from all over the country came here to complain about grievances, and there were not a few people who sued officials.Although Zhou Tianfu is also a real-time official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs from the fourth rank now, but the third-rank official in the outer dynasty did not find it too strange.What's more, he was accompanied by Xiao Hou to prove his identity as the son of Zhang Dehai, the former director of Shuofang of the Siyuan, and two Jin Yiwei presented some auxiliary evidence of corruption.Zhao Dun, the governor of Jingzhao Mansion, is also a fine man, knowing that the case has already been heard by the heavens, so he naturally took over this unjust case like a master of Qingtian.

Zhao Dun immediately ordered someone to pass on Zhou Tianfu, and the trial started again in the afternoon.Zhou Tianfu naturally denied it when he came to court, but he could deny the murder. After all, he couldn't have done it himself, but the embezzlement of royal property and the framing of the embezzlement could not be pushed away based on solid evidence.Back then, Zhang Dehai’s records on the expenses of the racecourse, Zhou Tianfu’s smuggled horses and falsely reported horses were clear. It is not something that outsiders can forge.

Zhou Tianfu didn't move for a while, even if he used torture, he still kept his mouth stubborn, but when he saw the two guards in Jinyi, his body shook like a sieve.Standing behind the Jinyiwei is the emperor. The Jinyiwei of this dynasty has learned from the lessons of the previous Ming Dynasty. They have no judicial power, and generally cannot kill innocent people indiscriminately. However, the power to pursue and suppress smuggling is the same. Otherwise, how can it have a deterrent effect on officials?

Zhou Tianfu had a mental breakdown and confessed to the crime, but he did not admit to the killing and silence, and claimed that it had nothing to do with his family.

Jing Zhaoyin Zhao Dun immediately took his painting into custody, intending to put him in a cell and report the case to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for review.But Zhang Zhi once again sued Yang Huaigu, Mu Engong, the patriarch of the dynasty, for being loyal outside and traitor inside. His father, Zhang Dehai, found out about the malpractice in the Siyuan before his death, and wrote a letter to Yang Huaigu to expose it.But then it led to the disaster of being framed and killed.

Zhao Dun was startled and said, "Zhang Zhi, do you know what you're talking about?"

Xiaohou saw Zhou Tianfu, who was kneeling on the ground, glanced at Zhang Zhi. The glance was very complicated, which made people feel indescribable.

Zhang Zhi knelt in the hall, and said: "The anti-corruption storm in the Ministry of Internal Affairs was initiated by Yang Huaigu, and it was more than a month after my father wrote to Yang Huaigu."

Zhao Dundao: "But is it possible that Lord Mu Engong Yang didn't receive the letter?"

Zhang Zhidao: "My father secretly entrusted Shentu Hong, a hero from the Shuofang border city, to deliver letters to the capital. Shentu Hong is a bodyguard who has traveled between the border town and the capital all year round. He is skilled in martial arts and is very familiar with the checkpoints on the road. Missing."

Knowing the seriousness of the matter, Zhao Dun said, "Even if the bodyguard you said disappeared is not enough to prove that it has anything to do with Mu Engong."

Zhang Zhi recalled that Jin Yiwei had also told his father's death file, and said: "My lord, my father died on the fifth night of the sixth month of the second year of Qianyuan. But the date of the case of my father's 'suicide in fear of crime' written by the Ministry of Internal Affairs is June. Twelve, and the inspectors Zhang Xiao and Wang Qing from the Ministry of Internal Affairs came here under the order of Mu Engong, and they handled the case in their own hands. There are two doubts, how can it be said that there is nothing wrong with the case between Mu Engong and my father? suspicion?"

The anti-corruption of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is different from that of the previous dynasty. This is actually tantamount to the royal housework, so it is rectified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs itself, and the inspectors are sent by the minister-in-chief.

Zhao Dun was a little panicked at this moment, Zhang Zhi had a clear mind, and Jin Yiwei had to read the files.Mu Engong has always been trusted by saints, Jin Yiwei dared to do this at this time, is this a saint who wants to attack Mu Engong?

Zhao Dun looked at Xiao Hou who was sitting aside to listen to the trial, and remembered his identity, the in-laws of Lin Ruhai, a scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion, and Lin Ruhai was the adoptive father of Concubine Chen.

The target of this case may not be Zhou Tianfu, this is probably not just an old scandal of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but also involves a harem struggle.

Zhao Dun looked at Zhou Tianfu kneeling on the ground, and asked him about the date of Zhang Dehai's death. Zhou Tianfu said tremblingly, "I don't know anything. Someone came to investigate after Zhang Dehai died. I arranged to return some money." If they don’t have any money, they have made a contribution to eradicating corruption. It’s convenient for everyone to close the case like this.”

Zhao Dun thought for a moment, then postponed the matter for retrial, and sent Zhou Tianfu to the prison of Jingzhao Mansion first, and reported it to the Ministry of Punishment and Dali Temple for review after the files were sorted out.Zhou Tianfu is also a fourth-rank official of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Without a review, he has no right to order the house to be ransacked.

Zhao Dungong invited Xiao Hou into the flower hall of the inner hall to serve tea and talk, Xiao Hou didn't politely refuse, and he and the second hero brought bitter advice together.

In the flower hall where guests and hosts were seated, Zhao Duncai said politely first, "I really don't know that Mu Engong is involved in this case, and I only have the right to summon Mu Engong for questioning. He is a relative of the emperor, so he is involved in the murder case." , and can only be handed over to the third division for personal trial."

Xiaohou said: "After Zhou Tianfu's case was convicted, there is enough evidence to bring Mu Engong to trial."

Zhao Dun thought to himself that he was just the beginning. Sure enough, they were going to deal with Mu Engong. Zhao Dun said: "Master, please forgive me. Zhou Tianfu didn't confess to the murder, and today he didn't bite Mu Engong, but The two officials who inspected the case back then were not in the capital, I'm afraid..."

The two officials who inspected the case have been sent to Guangdong to manage the tribute matters of Guangdong, Guangxi and overseas vassal states.When Jin Yiwei saw the dossier, he sent people to Guangdong and Guangxi to get them. There were also Jin Yiwei anti-smuggling yamen in Guangdong and Guangxi with their own assistants.But the two places are really far away, so far no news has come back.

Xiao Hou said: "This Marquis doesn't believe in such a coincidence. Zhang Dehai died shortly after writing to him, but Zhou Tianfu passed the test of eliminating corruption so smoothly and was even promoted."

Zhao Dundao: "But if Mu Engong gets away from this matter, then Zhang Zhiyimin will falsely accuse the current head of state, which will be a serious crime."

Zhang Zhidao: "My lord, no matter what, I will give it a try, even if I am willing to cut myself to pieces, I will have no complaints!"

Although Zhao Dun didn't want to get involved in the harem battle, he would judge the situation. If the emperor wanted to attack Mu Engong, he would not leave any room for him because of his status.

Zhou Tianfu's case was submitted to the Ministry of Criminal Justice and Dali Temple for review without any delay, and the review efficiency of the two departments was also very high. Zhou Tianfu's home.

On November [-]th, Zhang Zhi sued Mu Engong's case based on Zhou Tianfu's conclusion. Tu Yuanyi ordered the three divisions to interrogate, and sent Jin Yiwei to Mu Engong's mansion to arrest him.

Mu Engong Mansion, Ronghua Hall.

Mu Engong's wife, Mrs. Dong, looked at Yang Huaigu sitting in the hall, feeling uneasy. The eldest son Yang Yi, like his father, was dressed in official robes and was meticulous.

It wasn't until Jin Yiwei's people searched the two boxes of materials from the study room that a commander of Jin Yiwei said to Yang Huaigu, "Master Guo, Uncle Guo, please."

A smile appeared on Yang Huaigu's face, he got up, and strode out. He had a clear and clear aura all over him, as if he had an aura of grandeur.

During the joint interrogation of the three divisions, Yang Huaigu categorically denied that he had ever received a letter from Zhang Dehai and Shen Tuhong.The minister of the Ministry of Justice who presided over the trial asked: "Then four years ago, why did you suddenly send people to Shuofang to clean up the corruption case of the Ministry of Internal Affairs?"

Yang Huaigu said: "On May 23, the second year of Qianyuan, I was summoned by the emperor. The emperor personally inquired about some ills of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The sage is just doing business, so what does it have to do with Zhang Dehai's letter?"

No one can lie about matters involving the emperor. Yang Huaigu said so, and the officials of the third department have nothing to say.And Tu Yuanyi and Yang Huaigu took the initiative to bring up the matter of corruption in advance, which is also the reason of rebirth, otherwise he did not take the initiative to mention it in the previous life, and Yang Huaigu also set off the matter of purge afterward.

But Tu Yuanyi from the previous life was still focusing on the front and back palaces at this time, fighting wits and courage with others, and there were always things that didn't go his way, and suddenly found that the father of his original wife, his old husband, was poor and crazy without him saying anything. After getting rid of corruption, he got back a lot of money to use. How can anyone not be moved by his thoughtfulness and loyalty?

The Secretary of the Ministry of Justice asked: "It was also in the second year of Qianyuan, the two housekeepers in your house were changed, but why?"

Yang Huaigu said: "The chief steward, Yang Xiao, is old. I let him go back to enjoy his old age. The second steward, Yang De, was involved in the crime of corruption in the internal affairs of my house. I kicked him out of the house. This is a family matter in my house and has something to do with this case. What's the matter?"

Minister of the Ministry of Justice said: "The two families are not in the capital at this time, but where did they go?"

Yang Yi sneered and said, "How do we care where the servants of the two rooms go? I don't know if Lord Shangshu knows what the servants in the house do every day and where they go?"

The Secretary of the Ministry of Punishments couldn't help being dumbfounded. After a long time, Jin Yiwei only found out that the butlers of Mu Engong's mansion had changed, and they couldn't find out where the two of them had gone, and the servants of the mansion had also changed in recent years. Not a lot.If Shen Tuhong went to the Mu Engong Mansion to ask for an audience, he would have to go through the concierge. Someone in the Guogong Mansion must have seen him, but they changed all the furniture, and the other servants who had seen him were sold or kicked out, or even killed. , then no one can prove that Yang Huaigu has seen Shen Tuhong, and naturally he cannot prove that he has received Zhang Dehai's letter.

It was also when Tu Yuanyi knew this situation when he asked Jin Yiwei that he knew how decisive this old father-in-law respected in his previous life was.

If so, even if Zhou Tianfu found out that he had given money to Yang Huaigu, it would be normal in the officialdom.During Gaozong's time, it was common to donate officials. Jia Lian donated to Tongzhi. In the original book, Jia Rong also donated to Long Jinwei through Dai Quan. When Tu Yuanyi ascended the throne, donating officials was gradually abolished.However, from the account books found by Zhou Tianfu's family, there was no trace of him giving money to Yang Huaigu.

However, Zhang Dehai's case was finally decided by Yang Huaigu. If he had received the letter before and still decided the case like this, instead of investigating what happened, he would be accused of corruption/blasphemy and commit suicide in fear of crime. His intention would be worthwhile. thought deeply.

Yang Huaigu stood in front of the hall, looked at the plaintiff Zhang Zhi, and said, "Just because your father wrote to me, you should sue me when he died. What's the reason? Your whole family died unexpectedly. I understand your feelings. But I have not received a letter from your father, nor have I seen any Shen Tuhong."

Zhang Zhi really never thought that Yang Huaigu was such a person, with clear eyes and a gentle manner, although he was not very handsome, he definitely made people feel that he was a good person.

Zhang Zhidao: "My father's case was settled in your hands, Zhou Tianfu was promoted, and my father bore all the crimes, how could you not know?"

Yang Huaigu said: "I was ordered by the sage to clean up corruption in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, so I appointed Zhang Xiao and Wang Qing to inspect the property of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Shuofang. The files they submitted about your father are witnesses and evidences. The dirt has been recovered/paid more than 2 taels. The facts are in front of me, and I am not a god, so how can I know that there are doubts?"

Zhang Zhi was left speechless by the questioning, and the third division had to adjourn for retrial.

The father and son of the Yang family returned to Mu En Gong's mansion, and at this time there were still Jin Yiwei guards around them.

Mu Engong's wife, Mrs. Dong, was waiting anxiously in the main hall. Seeing the Yang family's father and son coming back, she asked, "Is the matter over?"

Yang Huaigu smiled coldly and said, "It's over? I'm afraid this is just the beginning."

Dong said in shock: "My lord, you don't scare me. Doesn't the emperor trust you?"

Yang Huaigu was silent for a long time without answering this question, and went back to the study alone, only Yang Yi followed.

……

After the court meeting the next afternoon, Xing Xiuyan heard Tu Yuanyi tell the progress of the case, and couldn't help frowning. She thought that the corruption case was all about pulling out carrots and bringing out mud. simple thing.

Xing Xiuyan said, "Zhou Tianfu didn't admit that Yang Huaigu was his superior?"

Tu Yuanyi said: "I heard that torture was used, and it only involved going to Siyuan, and there was nothing going up. The Zhou family's searched books also couldn't find out that Zhou Tianfu was related to Yang Huaigu."

Xing Xiuyan said: "You are stupid, it is impossible to clearly write that it is for Yang Huaigu, is there any suspicious expenditure?"

Tu Yuanyi didn't care about her saying "You are stupid", and said: "I don't know that."

Xing Xiuyan asked again: "Then how much property was found in Zhou Tianfu's house?"

Tu Yuanyi said: "The thirteenth brother has counted, and it is estimated that there are more than 30 taels."

Xing Xiuyan sighed: "According to people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, how can they save these fortunes except for corruption? In the great Zhou Dynasty, [-]% of the officials are like this but they don't control it. How can the world be peaceful!"

Tu Yuanyi couldn't help being moved, but for thousands of years, no one can solve the problem of greed. Everyone has desires.

Xing Xiuyan thought that Zhou Tianfu was only sentenced to jail for corruption now, and he also denied that the case of exterminating the family had anything to do with him, and he even denied that it had anything to do with Yang Huaigu.

The case was pending without embarrassment, they stretched out their hands to Yang Huaigu, but they couldn't beat the snake to death, they were really upset, besides, if they didn't take down the Yang family, how could they abolish the Yang family by the way.Abandoning the Empress for no reason would be difficult to convince the world, and if she were to be crowned Empress at that time, she would easily be caught in a situation where everyone's words are shining gold and people's words are fearsome.

Tu Yuanyi asked: "Then how to solve the problem of corruption in future generations?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "The future generations may not be suitable for the present. This problem is too big, and besides, I have never really been an official in future generations."

Xing Xiuyan thought to himself: In fact, the royal family is collecting wealth from all over the world, but how can the officials not collect money?Confucius put forward the ideal of "great harmony in the world" and the lie of "rule of three generations", but he didn't actually say how to realize it effectively.People are needed to realize it. You use morality and whether you have read sage books to judge and employ people. The rise and fall of dynasties for 2000 years is actually enough to show that this set cannot realize "one line for all generations".The development of history is not based on human will. Even Qin Shihuang couldn't do it, and it would be difficult for the Tu family.

However, this does not mean that she does not want to be a queen now.

Xing Xiuyan: "Let's talk about the case, is there really nothing the Third Division can do?"

Tu Yuanyi said: "It is natural for me to gradually take back the internal affairs power, but I cannot dispose of the Yang family at will."

Xing Xiuyan frowned, and said: "If he did it, it is impossible that there are no loopholes."

Tu Yuanyi said: "Now let's see Jin Yiwei bring those two people back from Guangdong for interrogation. I'm afraid they have..."

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "If they are killed, it will be another case, and a case must have a criminal. The more sophisticated people are actually the most resistant to loopholes, because he needs to act to fix a loophole, and that action It will tear new openings."

Tu Yuanyi said, "What if you can't find anyone?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "It is also a suspicion that no one can be found. The officials are sent out and have not arrived at their posts for a long time. How did things go? I vaguely remember that Guangdong still paid tribute last year. If officials have not arrived at their posts, there will always be a report. Why didn't you send new people down for so long? So, there are mistakes, we just haven't found the knot."

"Then according to Xiuxiu, where is the knot?"

"The biggest knot is of course Zhou Tianfu. He categorically denies any relationship with Yang Huaigu. Where is his interest? If Zhang Dehai was ordered by him, then Yang Huaigu is the mastermind; if Yang Huaigu is his superior If Yang Huaigu is still the mastermind of the corruption case, if he ever asked for silver, it would be better if Yang Huaigu is really honest, upright, honest, honest and kind. There is no need to use torture to deny it. There is no love for no reason in the world.” Xing Xiuyan thought to himself: How many corrupt officials in modern times have been arrested, and no one is involved at all. A noble person who sacrifices himself for the interests of others, but such a person must not be a corrupt official.

Tu Yuanyi also nodded in agreement, and said, "It is still possible to retrial Zhou Tianfu."

Xing Xiuyan said, "Can I see his files?"

Tu Yuanyi smiled and said: "I know that Xiuxiu is born smart, but don't you need to avoid suspicion? It is not very good if people think that you are using any means to bring down the Yang family because of your own ambition."

Xing Xiuyan said: "You only said that you want to see it, but who knows that I saw it?"

Tu Yuanyi raised his eyebrows: "Do you still have to cover for you?"

Xing Xiuyan rolled her eyes, and said, "Why can't it work? You don't have the ability to be my queen, so you allow me to go out of the palace at any time for private visits or to visit relatives."

Tu Yuanyi snorted, squinted his eyes, and said, "If you become a queen, will you just stay in the harem obediently and teach your husband and children?"

Xing Xiuyan smiled and said: "That's not necessarily the case, but there is a difference in the end. You treat me as a wife, I respect you as a husband, and you treat me as a concubine, I can't object on the surface, but in my heart I regard you as... 姘 / head."

Tu Yuanyi reached out and knocked on her forehead, scolding: "Look for the little bamboo strips!"

Xing Xiuyan can't help it either. She used to write Tanmei novels, but when she met him, she could only rely on her eloquence to tell the story, so she became a piece of paper in his mouth. She is obviously a cultural person, okay?