[Red Mansions] The Road to Empress Dowager

Yang Huaigu smiled lightly and said: "But you still choose not to believe me because of others."

Tu Yuanyi said angrily: "You want me to trust you, how much I used to believe in you, but is what you have done worthy of my trust?"

Tu Yuanyi is not a ruthless emperor, otherwise he would not choose love, otherwise he would become a person who truly abandons love and renounces love.Therefore, although he had been looking forward to finding out about Yang Huaigu's problem, he felt sad again when it was realized. This is the old man he had always respected.

Yang Huaigu sighed for a long time, and said: "Power is empty, fame is empty, and profit is empty. My life should have ended long ago, but I have not been able to endure life and death for many years. That's why I am in this situation! Your Majesty, can you find out who I am?" , I am also very pleased."

Tu Yuanyi couldn't help feeling a little sour in his heart, and asked, "I thought you were just colluding with Fusheng Bank and Ping'an Prefecture Jiedushi, but the Dongying people are beyond my expectation. It seems that your conspiracy is bigger than mine. original imagination!"

Yang Huaigu was surprised, and finally looked up at Tu Yuanyi: "The emperor has discovered Fusheng Bank?"

Tu Yuanyi said: "If you want people not to know, you have to do nothing. Your layout is definitely not for the Yang family and the eldest prince. The Yang family was not born more than [-] years ago."

Yang Huaigu said: "It was beyond my expectation that she could become a queen. I was even more surprised that I would regret it, but when I regretted it, I was already in too deep. If the emperor doesn't keep an eye on my affairs, I will It will not hurt the emperor."

Tu Yuanyi sneered and said: "You carelessly disregard human life, corrupt the law, collude with foreign officials, collude with foreign countries, which one of these things will not hurt me?!"

Yang Yi said: "Your Majesty, my father is greedy, but before my father, was the Ministry of Internal Affairs better than it is now? The Ministry of Internal Affairs is a big hole, and no one can stand up to what's going on here. Fusheng Bank is pressing harder and harder. , my father also tried his best to deal with it perfunctorily. That Zhang Dehai was not killed by someone sent by my father, but by Dongying people on their own initiative. The matter has already happened, so what can father do?"

Tu Yuanyi shouted: "Sure enough! What's the secret behind Fusheng Bank?"

The emperor already has a plan for these things, and some clues can be found in the underground secret room of the Buddhist hall. He will definitely die, and it is useless to hide it.Since Jin Yiwei monitored and interrogated him day and night, he was careful, and he didn't even have a chance to destroy the things in the secret room.

Yang Huaigu sighed leisurely: "In the early years of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the imperial court... cleared up the Shanxi merchants who smuggled out of the customs. Some descendants of Shanxi merchants fled to Houjin and received courtesy. During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, these Shanxi merchants returned to the Central Plains , I also have some old acquaintances. Later, with their clever minds, they opened the bank account of Fusheng Bank, or started various businesses. Lord, they still smuggle goods to the outside of the customs. They do a big business and have contacts with Japan, the Zhou family, and North Korea. In order not to be like their ancestors who were powerless to resist being slaughtered, they invited some Japanese ronin warriors to protect them from the early days of the emperor. Pingan Prefecture Jiedu envoys are greedy for money, which can help solve the identity difficulties of many Dongying warriors and outsiders. Afterwards, all parties formed an alliance. The King of the Central Plains, the Zhou family occupying Fujian, Zhejiang and Taiwan were granted the title of 'King of Jinghai', and the later Jin Dynasty also acquiesced in Japan's occupation of Korea, while the meritorious Shanxi merchant families were granted the title of Duke of the State."

The people present, including Tu Yuanyi himself, couldn't help gasping: This is such a big deal!

Tu Yuanyi couldn't help but get chills down his spine. He always felt that his descendants were unworthy and lost his country. It turned out that this undercurrent had existed as early as Zhenzong's time, and it was flourishing during Gaozong's reign. Jiang Shan was only dying, and when it came to the enjoyment-seeking and self-willed monarch of his previous son, he couldn't stand this undercurrent at all.

Tu Yuanyi said: "What about you? What kind of king are you making?"

Yang Huaigu hooked the corners of his lips in disdain, shook his head slightly, and said: "When I was in Ping'an Prefecture, the old owner of Fusheng Bank saved my life. I don't know why I live. The club gave me a goal."

Tu Yuanyi said: "The grace of saving your life can make you have no king, no country, and people in your heart to submit to foreign tribes?"

Yang Huaigu sneered and said, "What have you given me, the king, the country, and the people? I'm just a servant of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I don't understand the principles of the family, the country, and the world. When I was desperate, it was Mr. Cao who kept me alive." The reason.” Cao Lao was the old owner of Fusheng Bank, and he has passed away now.

Tu Yuanyi wondered, "Why don't you have a reason to live?"

Yang Huaigu didn't answer, but suddenly took a look at Tu Yuanyi and said, "The emperor has already spread the eagle's wings. I'm really happy. That's good. I don't have to be in a dilemma anymore. The Buddha will understand my sins." Mine is just that once I enter the sea of ​​suffering in this life, there is no shore to turn back."

Yang Yi cried, "Father, no, no, don't leave me behind!"

Yang Huaigu glanced at his son and said, "Yi'er, I'm the one who's sorry for you, you shouldn't be my son!"

Yang Yi cried: "I am happy to be your son! I will always be your son! Father, don't abandon me!"

Yang Huaigu sat cross-legged, clasped his hands together, and slowly recited the Diamond Sutra: "At that time, Subhuti heard and said it was a sutra, and he understood the meaning deeply. Weeping and weeping, he said to the Buddha: 'I hope there is a World Honored One, the Buddha said so profoundly. The classics. I have acquired wisdom from the past, but I have never heard such a sutra. World Honored One, if there are people who can hear this sutra again, with pure faith, they will be born with the truth...'"

When he heard Yang Huaigu's special clear and peaceful voice chanting sutras, Tu Yuanyi couldn't help but think of the past life. He also believed in Buddhism in the previous life, which was somewhat influenced by Yang Huaigu.

Weng and his son-in-law used to chant scriptures together, and this section of "Diamond Sutra" was taught by Yang Huaigu.When he lost his temper, Yang Huaigu recited scriptures for him to calm him down, and told him the word "forbearance".

He also heard Yang Huaigu continue to recite: "'World Honored One, I have heard such a scripture, believe it, understand it, accept it, and uphold it. It is not difficult. If in the next life, five hundred years old, there will be sentient beings who will hear the scripture, believe it, understand it, accept it, and uphold it. Human beings are the first rare existence. Why? This person has no appearance of self, no appearance of human beings, no appearance of sentient beings, no appearance of lifespan...'"

Tu Yuanyi also burst into tears unknowingly, but he hadn't realized that he was also a king's disgrace.

He also heard Yang Huaigu continue to recite: "The Buddha told Subhuti: 'So it is, so it is! If there are people who hear this scripture and don't be surprised, not frightened, and not afraid, you should know that this person is very rare... just like I used to be Geli The king cut off the body. At that time, I had no notion of self, no notion of human beings, no notion of sentient beings, and no notion of longevity. Why? When I was dismembered step by step in the past, if there were notions of self, notion of people, notion of sentient beings, and notion of longevity Appearance, should generate anger...Bodhisattvas must leave all appearances.'”

This scripture says that everything in the world is illusory, and I have absolutely no concern for my own body or life. Not a trace of resentment.

Tu Yuanyi was shocked when he heard this, and he couldn't help being moved when he heard him chanting the scriptures, and said, "Don't!"

But seeing a trace of black blood dripping from the corner of Yang Huaigu's mouth, he smiled when he looked at Tu Yuanyi, and he said angrily, "Your Majesty, I feel relieved when I grow up."

As soon as Yang Huaigu's words fell, he fell down and died instantly.Yang Yi rushed forward, hugged Yang Huaigu and howled and cried loudly: "Father! Daddy!"

Tu Yuanyi couldn't help mourning, but he finally remembered that he was the emperor, and the other party was guilty of corruption, perverting the law, fornicating foreign officials, and colluding with foreign enemies.

Tu Yuanyi got up, looked at Yang Yi holding Yang Huaigu's body, and said, "Zhao Gui, someone from the Ministry of Punishment has come to arrest the members of the Yang family and prepare for the interrogation of the three divisions. And... don't insult women and children."

Speaking of leaving with a flick of his sleeves, Zhao Gui naturally conveyed the emperor's will without going into details.

More than 200 million taels of banknotes from the Fusheng Bank and another set of ledgers from the Ministry of Internal Affairs were collected from the underground secret room of the Yang family.It's not that corrupt officials and criminals are stupid enough to keep these things, but that there are so many and complicated things in their hands and it takes a long time to sort them out.In addition to these ledgers, there is also a book of Yang Huaigu's records of the people in the Fusheng Bank Group.These are all favorable evidences for clearing the foreign enemy's spy system and colluding with foreign enemy officials.

On the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, during the Great Court Meeting, Tu Yuanyi pointed out that Yang's family was copied, and that local yamen cooperated with Jinyiwei and Dongchang to arrest the Houjin spy group of Fusheng Bank.

In addition, Prince Ling Rong, Prince Ying and Jin Hao, the prince's son of Xining County, advocated that the three cobblers should be responsible for checking and counting the assets of Fusheng Bank and collecting them into the national treasury.But because Prince Fu was in charge of building the school, he just wanted to dismantle himself into three people, so he couldn't leave.

On the afternoon of the eighteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, Xing Xiuyan heard that Yang Huaigu personally admitted to this shocking conspiracy, and she couldn't help being stunned.

This Dazhou is the fat in the eyes of so many groups, but the internal vested interests are only blindly dreaming of life and death. For example, the Jia Mansion is a typical example. How can Dazhou not perish?

Xing Xiu couldn't speak out what was in his heart, Tu Yuanyi's expression was concentrating, and he said: "The royal clan should bear the heavy responsibility of the family, the country, and the world, but all of them have become wine bags and rice bags. I will never allow them to occupy high positions again. !"

Xing Xiuyan feels that her family has been named, and Xing Zhong's talent is probably only to be a county magistrate.Xing Xiuyan couldn't help but also felt guilty. If she became a queen, would she also be "in a high position".

Tu Yuanyi also said: "I must run a new type of aristocratic school well to cultivate the feelings of family and country in the younger generation, and surpass Xiuxiu's "Eton College" in England and other aristocratic schools."

When he was working as Ah Piao, he was very curious about the country when he saw the strong boats and guns in England. Xing Xiuyan mentioned education when he introduced it.

Seeing that she didn't answer, Tu Yuanyi sat beside her, held her hand, and asked, "What are you thinking?"

Xing Xiuyan felt guilty that her natal family "had a high position", so she shook her head, and Tu Yuanyi laughed, "You want to be a queen, don't you?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "The concubine...is also afraid of being in a high position..."

Tu Yuanyi wrapped her hands with his palms, rubbed them a few times, and said with a smile: "Xiuxiu is a lucky star, without Xiuxiu, how could I have met Zhang Zhi to expose this heavenly conspiracy? Xiu first deduced that Xiuxiu's mind is much better than those of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, and she sees problems from a much wider perspective."

Xing Xiuyan said: "I am also a blind cat who meets a dead mouse."

Tu Yuanyi smiled and said, "Then why can't other blind cats touch it?"

"Do you really think I'm a blind cat?"

"When you are humble, I have to insist on praising you, right?"

Xing Xiuyan couldn't help waving his small fists, he laughed loudly, embraced his wife and children, and said, "It's happening again..."

At this moment, Zhao Quan came to report that the empress, the eldest prince and the eldest princess were kneeling outside the Ganlu Hall, begging to see Tu Yuanyi.

Empress Yang was in the inner palace, so she didn't know much about Zhang Zhi's case, but she heard that her father and brother were invited to the court during the joint trial of the three divisions, but there was no proof that it was related to them.

But she also heard the news of Tu Yuanyi's decree to raid Yang's family today, and summoned her son and daughter who were in school to come to see the emperor, this husband who had never been to her palace after returning to Beijing.

Tu Yuanyi did not summon them in Ganlu Hall, but went to Liangyi Hall.

Tu Yuanyi saw that Yang was wearing a gorgeous empress-grade hairpin gown, while Tu Hui and Tu Xin were dressed like ordinary princes and princesses.

Tu Yuanyi watched them pay homage with complicated emotions, but the husband and wife relationship with Yang also needs to be settled.

Tu Yuanyi said indifferently: "Be flat!"

Yang begged: "As a queen, my concubine should be concerned about the safety of the Great Zhou Dynasty. I am afraid that I will offend the emperor if I ask to see the emperor today."

Tu Hui only knew that his grandfather's house was raided by his father's order, so he came from the East Fifth Institute after hearing Yang's summons, thinking he was pleading for the Yang family.But that's not the case when I heard what my mother said.

Tu Hui supported his mother and said, "Mother, if you have something to say, let's get up first."

Yang shook off her son's hand, and continued: "The emperor misunderstood that the villain framed him, and treated Zhongliang wrongly. The concubine, as the empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, risked her life to admonish... the Qing emperor's side!"

Tu Yuanyi looked at Shang Yang's resentful eyes that couldn't be loved, and he was very disgusted in his heart, and said coldly: "You'd better shut up for me, I'm doing it for your own good."

Yang said: "I'm afraid that the concubine will not be able to satisfy the sage. Even if the concubine dies, she must speak harshly for the sake of the Great Zhou Dynasty! The Xing family is the only one who favors the humiliation, and the concubine can bear it, but she colludes with the court outside and slanders inside, Constructing Zhongliang, invigorating unjust prisons, and shaking the foundation of the Da Zhou society, the ministers and concubines cannot tolerate her! If the ministers and concubines can be used to clear the emperor's side, the ministers and concubines will die without complaint!"

Tu Yuanyi looked at Yang's face that could not hide the hatred and madness in her eyes, and was so disgusted in his heart, he picked up a copy of the invitation book on the throne and smacked Yang's face.

What kind of skill was Tu Yuanyi? The melody hit Yang Shi's face and immediately swollen Yang Shi's face. Yang Shi howled, and Tu Hui and Tu Xin were shocked.

"Father, calm down! The queen mother is unintentional, and the mother queen is also worried about the father!"

Tu Yuanyi stepped down from the throne, looked down at Mrs. Yang, and said, "What kind of a person are you? I let you until now because of Yang Huaigu. Dirty crimes of violating the law, killing people and smothering all the crimes, he confessed before committing suicide in fear of crime. You have no brains to understand the facts, but you dare to come here and bite! What kind of loyal words are harsh, and you want to learn from Empress Sun, you deserve it?!"

The most heart-wrenching thing is when someone you love utters such words, Yang's pretense of dignity collapses, and he shouts frantically: "I don't believe it! My father is loyal to you. If you listen to that bitch's words, you will That bitch wants a concubine to make room for her and frame her father, your majesty, you are greedy for beauty, so don't you worry about Sheji?"

Tu Yuanyi was really disgusted, he raised his foot and kicked Yang Shi on the shoulder, Yang Shi fell to the ground, his hairpin fell to the ground, his hair was messy, and he looked at Tu Yuanyi resentfully.

Yang's jealousy is mad, she also knows that she will never be able to stand after the fall of Yang's family, so there is no need to forbear at this time.

Yang said in grief and indignation: "The beauty has already been cut off, these are just the emperor's excuses! Your majesty, do you think no one knows? You do everything possible to get that bitch into the palace, and the bitch is afraid that she will die before entering the palace." It’s not perfect! That bitch didn’t abide by the palace rules after entering the palace, promiscuously/disorderly/palace, mutilated concubines, with vicious methods, I’m afraid Daji will be reborn!”

Xing Zhong's official appointment was sudden, and before she entered the palace, Tu Yuanyi also sent people to send things to the south of the Yangtze River. Many people from Jinyiwei and Dongchang had seen her.Even if Empress Yang is not smart, she can deduce one or two things from these things.

It's blood spurting!Xiuxiu has been with him for a hundred years, and he can only look at her but not touch her. She was young in Jiangnan back then, and he was not so mad.And mutilating the concubine is even more absurd. If it wasn't for being forced into a hurry, with Xiuxiu's arrogance, how could it be true to the concubine?

Tu Yuanyi raised his foot and wanted to trample someone to death, but he hesitated, what would he do with a stupid woman, and anyway, this was his original spouse, how could he become a wimp who beat his wife man?

Tu Yuanyi said: "If Yang Huaigu didn't commit any crimes, it would mean that you once wanted the life of the noble concubine. If the noble concubine is safe, I will not let you go. The crime of the Yang family is unforgivable, and you are a married daughter. According to the law of the country, you should not be together Convicted, I originally wanted to allow you to have a place to live in the palace, but you are looking for death. You gave birth to Huier and Xiner, I saved your life, gave you two chances, and I will do my best to you! "

Yang howled: "How dare a sage say that benevolence and righteousness are exhausted? I have been a widow for so many years, and you say you have exhausted benevolence and righteousness!?"

Tu Yuanyi snorted coldly and said, "You are so unwilling to be a widow, do you think I will demote you to be an official/prostitute?"

Yang said: "Tu Yuanyi! I'm your wife! I'm the wife you are marrying! How can you bear to treat me like this?"

Tu Yuanyi also had resentment in his heart, and said, "I never thought of marrying you, and if the marriage hadn't been bestowed by my father, you wouldn't have become my original spouse."

Yang couldn't help laughing with tears in his eyes, and murmured: "Why? I don't accept it! Why am I so miserable? God, why are you doing this to me?"

Tu Xin crawled to Yang's side and shouted: "Mother, don't scare Xin'er..."

Tu Hui kowtowed and said: "Father, the empress mother is so concerned about Grandpa's family that she is insane, please don't blame her!"

But Yang looked at Tu Yuanyi and said: "A few days ago, someone came to eliminate the demon, and the emperor let that enchantress kill the celestial master. Isn't the emperor afraid of retribution? The country of Dazhou will be destroyed by you, who is greedy for beauty. In the hands of the faint king!"

Tu Yuanyi shouted: "Bitch, you are a rebel, and you dare to curse the Great Zhou Jiangshan! You used to keep saying that you were lifted out of Sheji just because I despised you, but you cursed Jiangshan Sheji instead, look at yourself, Are you worthy to be a queen? Jiangshan Sheji is just an excuse for you to frame the noble concubine!"

Yang roared: "I can't wait to smash that bitch to pieces! Why can't I take her life? She shamelessly robbed my husband! Why can't I take her life! God has no eyes, God has no eyes!"

Tu Yuanyi shouted: "Come here!"

At this time, Li Dequan, who was on duty, stepped forward and bowed, Tu Yuanyi said: "Drag this bitch down and cut off her tongue!"

"do not want!"

"do not want!"

"do not want!"

Tu Hui and Tu Xin shouted in unison, and there was another voice, but Xing Xiuyan came in from the gate of Liangyi Hall wearing a big cloak.

Tu Yuanyi was taken aback, and said, "What are you doing here?"

Xing Xiuyan said: "I also ask the emperor not to perform that torture."

Tu Yuanyi said: "Yang deserves what he deserved, so don't worry about it."

Xing Xiuyan said: "I don't want to care about it, but how can I not care about the sage's bad reputation? The world's views are so vulgar, they don't understand the righteousness of the country, they only know the inner house and the small road, and they don't see loyalty and treachery in the community. They only see two women fighting for a man in the back house. But if a man favors his concubine and destroys his wife, it will be a tragedy for the first wife. If your majesty has mercy on me, he will either not punish Yang, or he will curse the country. To show justice. Righteousness is righteousness, evil is evil, and righteousness is righteousness. On this, I act righteously and sit upright! It is a fact that I robbed a husband, but I did not harm the country and flatter the emperor, killing my wife. Stealing a husband It is a matter of fate and love, since it is a fact, there is no need to argue, if people in the world want to say it, I can bear it! But the two things must be separated, and later generations will comment on the merits and demerits. Worthy of heaven and earth, because the history of the wise can give me justice!"

In ancient high society, reputation was much more important than modern workplace.Especially for an ambitious woman like Xing Xiuyan, she wants to be a queen, and she doesn't want to be an ordinary queen. She has her political ambitions, and her reputation can sometimes be related to success or failure.Xing Xiuyan must guard against inevitability, and never allow anyone to take advantage of it.At this time, Tu Yuanyi was disgusted by Yang Shi and was furious, but the orders he gave, others would only remember her.Because in ancient times, it was women who made mistakes, such as the subjugation of a country, it was also because of women.

Tu Yuanyi had no choice but to say: "Xiuxiu, there has never been a trial of the concubine by the three divisions. The affairs of the palace cannot be handed over to the foreign court for trial."

Xing Xiuyan said: "The sage cut off Yang's tongue arbitrarily and spread it out in the world. Others don't care about Yang's fault, and they will only misrepresent that I killed my original wife and turned the truth around. The conscience of heaven and earth, is Yang's worthy to be my opponent? Biggest insult to me."

There is indeed something unpleasant in Xing Xiuyan's personality. She looks down on Yang Shi and never regards her as an opponent.Because the Yang family is not a low-level commoner, she has no extra sympathy.

Originally, she had a heart of pity and understanding for the same woman as Jia Baoyu, just like the Twelve Beauties of Jinling, but the Yang family once wanted her life, if Zhao Gui hadn't rushed to stop her, now she doesn't know where to go Ah Piao went.Others hate her for wanting her life, but she wants to pity and understand her. Xing Xiuyan asked herself that no matter how kind she is, she would not be able to do this.She only stopped it for her own benefit, and she had to look at the problem from a long-term perspective, and cutting her tongue was just a momentary pleasure.

Tu Yuanyi had no choice but to follow her and said, "Alright, let Yang Huaigu's case be settled, and I will give you another explanation..."

Just as she was talking, seeing their intimacy in their gestures, Mrs. Yang thought of her natal family and her widowhood, filled with resentment, and suddenly burst into Xing Xiuyan's stomach.No one knew about Xing Xiuyan's pregnancy in the harem for several days beforehand, so Yang naturally knew about it.

Tu Yuanyi was taken aback, he hurriedly scooped up Xing Xiuyan, but Yang was caught in the air, couldn't help crying and laughing.

Tu Yuanyi was very frightened and angry, and shouted: "Come here, put this bitch into the cold palace and put her under house arrest! No one is allowed to visit her!"

"Father! Don't!"

"Father, please, please spare the queen mother!"

Tu Yuanyi looked at the begging son and daughter on the ground, and said, "Send the eldest princess and the eldest prince to the Palace of Mercy, and let them be raised by the Empress Dowager Zhou temporarily."