The Little First Grand Secretary in My House

==Chapter 244==

In the spacious carriage, Xue Tingyan wore a black crane cloak around her shoulders and sat cross-legged on the green carpet.

There was a gilt smoker cage in the corner of the carriage, burning fine silver charcoal inside, making the whole carriage warm.

He held the car curtain with one hand, his wide dark sleeves hanging down, with a smile in his eyes and a hint of question: Who are you?

Amber lowered his eyes and said, Sir, you must have met me before, in Dinghai City...

If it's Ding Haicheng, I've seen a lot of people. I don't know you. If nothing happens, just step away and don't block my way. Xue Tingyan interrupted him.

grown ups……

Did you hear me? If you don't want to leave quickly, my lord is an official of the imperial court. If you are rude again, I will send you to the Five Cities Military and Horse Division.

Master Xue, I am a servant of the Wu family. I once accompanied the girl to meet you. As a last resort, Amber could not pretend to be sophisticated, so he could only tell himself his family status in a hurry.

Wu family, but the Wu family of Wu Ge's elder? What's the matter with you? Xue Tingyan's eyes fell on him again.

It's not convenient to talk here. I wonder if you can find a place to talk with me alone, Amber said.

He expected that Xue Tingyan would not agree easily, but the other party casually raised his hand and pointed to a teahouse not far away, saying: Let's go to that place.

The two of them entered the teahouse one after another and chose a private room to sit down.

Xue Tingyan took a sip of the fragrant tea and said, If you have anything to do, just tell me. I don't have much time to spend with you.

Sir, it's because of my master's affairs.

If you are here to intercede on behalf of Mr. Wu Ge, it is better not to talk expensively. Firstly, we are not familiar with each other, and secondly, this case is not under my jurisdiction now.

I have something to ask you, sir. I hope you can help my girl.

Xue Tingyan looked at him with raised eyebrows, and suddenly laughed, full of sarcasm and ridicule: You Wu family people are really ridiculous. Is this how you usually ask for help?

He ignored Amber's somewhat ugly look, and his face became cold: I made it very clear before, firstly, we are not familiar with each other, and secondly, this case is not under our jurisdiction. To put it more plainly, your Wu family has something to do with me. Grudges, why should I help you Wu family people?

Master Xue...

Xue Tingyan twitched the corner of his mouth: You Wu family members have forgotten what you have done, right?

Master Xue...

He stood up and pulled up his hood: I've finished drinking my tea, and I've finished what I need to say. Butler Wu must be a smart man, so don't humiliate yourself.

You have already brought shame upon yourself!

If there was any other way, Amber would not come to Xue Tingyan, but there was no way.

After Amber left that day, he went to Wu's house.

But the Wu family was now tightly guarded by the Jinyi Guards, who were not allowed in or out. Amber stared at it from a distance for a long time, so he could only turn around and leave.

After being away from the capital for the past few years, he was no longer the same as before. He tried to find out the inside story from Mr. Wu Ge's disciples, but no one dared to see him.

In the past few days, he heard that the interrogation rights were transferred to Jin Yiwei, and Amber knew that the Wu family was completely finished this time.

The Wu family can be finished, but the girl cannot be finished, especially when he went to Tao's house early this morning, and happened to meet Widow Tao making a fuss about Wu Wanqiong being divorced by Tao Yi.

He was furious and even quarreled with Widow Tao, but she was no match for the old shrew.

In desperation, he finally decided to implement his previous idea.

Unfortunately, it was self-defeating. Because he could not really bow his head for a while, he actually angered Xue Tingyan.

As soon as Xue Tingyan walked to the door, she heard a thump. She turned around and saw that Amber was kneeling down.

If my previous attitude made Mr. Xue unhappy, please don't tell me. I'm here to ask Mr. Xue sincerely. I know that the past is too painful to look back on, so please don't forget me, Mr. Xue. However, don’t get along with the younger ones.”

Xue Tingyan looked at him with dark eyes.

Seeming to see that the other party was a little shaken, Amber said: My master has always been cautious. Even with his disciples, he rarely exchanged letters. If he did, he would always find others to write for him. When you review Xiang Kui, you must review it at all. Nothing, even if he himself confessed, there is no evidence to prove that it was my master who instigated it. And my master is a veteran of two dynasties and is highly valued by Tai/Ancestor. There is no real evidence and only the empty talk of a few people. It is impossible to move at all. If we don't get anything from him, the most we can do is to dismiss him from office and serve the people.

Xue Tingyan's eyes became very interested. He returned to the table and sat down, looking at Amber: If I'm not mistaken, you are the housekeeper of the Wu family and are deeply trusted by Mr. Wu Ge. It's just because you caused a trouble before. , you were left out. What? Are you resentful for being left out, so you want to take revenge on your master?

Amber's face darkened in embarrassment: Master Xue can say whatever he wants, and I came here today just to make a deal with Master Xue. As long as you can keep my girl safe, I will give you something. Things are enough to make all adults’ wishes come true.”

Xue Tingyan laughed inexplicably, his eyes full of coldness: You want to protect Wu Wanqiong? My wife was attacked by pirates that day. It was you and Wu Wanqiong who caused it, right? Why do you think I will protect an enemy?

Don't you want Wu Ge to die of old age? Amber asked anxiously.

Whether I think about it or not, what does it have to do with you? Xue Tingyan stood up and looked at him coldly, If the tree falls, the hozen will scatter. I will not take it seriously to a person who is destined to have a bad end. .”

Amber was silent for a moment and said: The girl is just a woman, and she is not living a good life now. If Mr. Xue has any grudges in his heart, just take it out on me. What happened that day was also my own, and I have nothing to do with the girl. Big relationship.”

I actually don't understand. People in the world have the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. It would be better for you to take all the blame on yourself. It is rare for a slave to reach a place like you. Could it be that Wu Wanqiong is actually yours? Daughter, that’s why you take care of her so wholeheartedly?”

Amber's face stiffened for a moment: Master Xue is a scholar, well-informed and sensible. It's better not to make rash guesses. This will make you lose your style and magnanimity.

I come from a rural background, so I don't have any magnanimity at all, but I am very curious about this matter. Xue Tingyan smiled and glanced at him: I'm not afraid to tell you, I am petty-minded and love to hold grudges, but I don't What is the habit of not arguing with women? If Butler Wu has no reason to convince me, then I will not be able to agree.

After a suffocating silence, Amber said: The girl is actually the child of the madam and the little boy.

Xue Tingyan's eyes lit up immediately. It had nothing to do with anything else, but this matter was beyond his imagination.

In fact, he had always made some guesses about this based on the memory in that dream, but he never expected that such a bloody thing would actually happen.

...My wife was not favored by the master because of her weak body, and the master's concubine had many aunts and wives, so my wife was depressed all the time... Later...

In fact, no matter how you cover it up, you can't hide that Amber is a despicable person.

He paid attention to Mrs. Wu because he hated Mr. Wu Ge. Even some of the things that happened later, which seemed like accidents, were actually deliberately arranged by him, out of a dirty mentality that could not be shown to others.

The greatest insult to a man is when his wife is raped. He approached with this intention, but accidentally fell in. Especially when Mrs. Wu unexpectedly learned that it was not Mr. Wu Ge that night, but Empress Wu An. She was so furious that she collapsed faster, and finally passed away.

All this has become a disease in Amber's heart, a disease that cannot be cured.

In fact, he died a long time ago when Mrs. Wu disappeared. The reason why he is still alive is only because of Wu Wanqiong.

Then Mr. Wu Ge has been childless for many years. Is it because of you? I'll take care of this.

Amber stiffened for a moment and nodded: The young one is just a servant, and the madam is just the same flesh and blood as a girl. A child without a mother has no protection. If the father doesn't care about it, life will be extremely difficult. So he borrowed the opportunity. Because of Wu Ge Lao's trust, he kept putting medicine in his tea or meals, so Wu Ge Lao had nothing to do for many years.

Originally, I would not agree to you, but the story you told makes me feel good. I am willing to listen to your so-called method of putting Mr. Wu Ge to death.

*

Xiang Lei made a move.

Du Jipeng came to Xue Tingyan immediately.

As Xue Tingyan thought before, although Xiang Lei could come out and identify himself as being instigated by Mr. Wu Ge, there is no direct evidence to prove that he was instigated by Mr. Wu Ge.

Xue Tingyan whispered to Du Jipeng, and Du Jipeng immediately took people to Wu Mansion.

In fact, the Wu Mansion had been taken into custody many times, both inside and out, when Mr. Wu Ge was taken into custody. Nowadays, except for some servants, women and children, there is no one in the house who can take charge of the household.

Aunt Feng was a woman after all, and she had long been frightened to death by the wolf-like and tiger-like Jin Yiwei. Everyone in the house was in panic, fearing that one day the imperial edict would come and he and others would either be beheaded or sold.

Jin Yiwei's visit again aroused fear in them, but Jin Yiwei didn't stay too long, took his things and left.

The thing was hidden in a rockery in Wu Wanqiong's yard. Amber had followed Mr. Wu Ge for many years and recorded what he had done.

The exact date, month, person, and event, and of course a few letters that should have been destroyed, but were hidden by Amber.

These things are enough for Wu Ge to die countless times.

After the things were handed over, the government and the public were shocked.

However, this was not disclosed by Emperor Jiacheng. He only disclosed how Mr. Wu Ge ordered Xiang Lei to dig the embankment of the river in Yucheng County, how he conspired to return to the court, and the Wu family's smuggling along the coast. information.

This information alone is enough to shock people.

The eighteenth year of Jiacheng was destined to be a turbulent year, and the end of the eighteenth year of Jiacheng also ended with bloody killings.

Officials involved in the case, including Wu Ge Lao and Xiang Lei, were all sentenced to be executed and their property confiscated. Other officials involved in less serious cases were dismissed from office or exiled to the army.

On the twentieth day of the twelfth lunar month, the vegetable market was crowded with people, all coming to see the beheading.

With an order, the sword fell and cut off the head, which also created the practice that since the founding of the Dachang Dynasty, high-ranking officials or civilian officials would not be punished with death.

Since the whole family is to be executed, no one, no matter young or old, will be spared.

As expected, Tao Yitong divorced Wu Wanqiong before the emperor's order came down, and even took the initiative to send him to Jin Yiwei. Not to mention how his behavior was ridiculed by others, now that Wu Wanqiong has been divorced, she is no longer the wife of the Tao family, but the daughter of the Wu family.

She was also among those being executed this time, but no one knew she had been replaced.

Just when Caishikou was crowded with people, a green-draped car quietly drove out of the capital.

Their direction may be Jiangxi or Jiangnan, but who knows? It is destined not to cause any trouble.

*

The 19th year of Jiacheng is destined to be a year full of new atmosphere.

As people from Henan and other places, as well as the Wu faction in the DPRK, were dismissed one after another, many positions were naturally left vacant. Emperor Jiacheng promoted many officials, creating a new atmosphere in the court.

And because Emperor Jiacheng was holding the book copied from the Wu family, no one knew what was written in it and what else was there. Therefore, officials who have had contact with the Wu clan in the past are all in danger.

When everything was calm, Emperor Jiacheng naturally took control of the court, and everyone in the court acted like an arm and a finger, and it was indescribably smooth.

Taking this opportunity, there were also changes in the cabinet.

As Mr. Wu Ge was executed by everyone in his family, Mr. Xu Ge, who held the position of chief assistant, could finally retire with success.

In fact, given his age, he should have retired a long time ago, especially in the past two years or so, he has been forgetful and has only been in the palace and cabinet a handful of times.

The reason why Emperor Jiacheng did not allow him to grow old was just to occupy the position of chief minister.

The cabinet originally had eight people, but now two people are gone, and they still occupy the positions of first and second assistant. On the surface, everyone is no different from ordinary people, but in fact, they are already ready to take action.

Emperor Jiacheng's arrangement completely dispelled this impatience.

He proposed Ye Ju, the former inspector of Zhejiang Province, and Lin Miao, the left minister of the Ministry of Rites, to join the cabinet, and also proposed Tan Liang, Tan Ge Lao, as the first assistant.

After the order was issued, there was an uproar in the court, but it was not surprising that Emperor Jiacheng would do this.

How could such an arbitrary and independent emperor give up his position as chief minister to a talented person? Of course, that's not to say that Tan Liang has no talent, but Tan Liang is only a few years younger than Mr. Xu Ge, and he is now in his seventies. What he can do at this age is just to occupy a position.

In fact, there are already signs of Emperor Jiacheng's various arrangements. Ye Ju is a member of Emperor Jiacheng and a capable minister. Because she is not qualified enough, she was first released to preside over provincial examinations in various places to accumulate connections for him, and then placed Zhejiang, a crucial place. .

Now that the gold plating is back, it's time to join the cabinet.

However, Lin Miao's entry into the cabinet made many people in the court confused.

Because this person has always been unknown, although after entering the Hanlin Academy, he was promoted to be a member of the Zhongshushe, and then promoted to a bachelor of ministers, and then became the right minister of the Ministry of Rites.

This is indeed the route for courtiers to enter the cabinet, but there are not many courtiers in the court who are more outstanding than him, so why did it happen to be his turn.

Only those few people understand that this person was able to join the cabinet mainly because he had two good students.

Chen Jian is obviously the successor of Mr. Xu Ge, but his qualifications and age are not enough. For the time being, he is still serving as a bachelor in the Hanlin Academy and teaching several princes to study.

It is a noble job, and after enough years, it is conceivable that he will join the cabinet.

A Xue Tingyan. Although the teacher and student have stopped interacting with each other since entering the imperial court, this lack of interaction is obviously just for show, who knows what's going on underneath.

In terms of title, these two people are master and disciple.

This Xue Tingyan was extraordinary. Zhejiang was liberated from the chaos, but within ten years, he was in the high position of the first rank. After returning to Beijing this time, he was named the Prince's Young Master. He went to Henan to provide disaster relief and directly brought down the entire Wu clan. Among all the civil and military officials in the DPRK, I am afraid no one else has such skill.

Such a pillar of the country, coupled with the aura of his sixth rank, will make him a confirmed cabinet minister in the future and a figure who will leave his name in history.

Therefore, it is conceivable that Lin Miao will join the cabinet.

No matter what the people below speculate, in short, the court has experienced a new reshuffle. After the reshuffle, no one knows what the situation will be like in the court.

On this occasion, Xue Tingyan also had a real vacancy and was appointed as the Right Minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs.

His qualifications and even his merits are enough.

But a thirty-year-old household official? It can be regarded as a new example.

Xue Tingyan once again made a splash, all of which will not be listed in detail.

*

For Zhao'er, it doesn't seem to make any difference whether a man gets promoted or not.

She now faces a problem, that is, moving.

Moving may seem inconspicuous, but in fact there are too many things to take care of inside and out. In addition, Xue Tingyan is facing a pregnancy and is about to give birth, and Xue Tingyan has been promoted, so he always has to set up a bar.

These are all matters, and they all fall on her head alone.

After working hard for more than half a month, these things were finally finished, and the whole family moved to Xue's house near Donghua Gate.

After all, it is Yuci's house, how could it be wrong?

It seems to only have three entrances, but because it has a large garden, it is not smaller than those houses with five entrances. Before it was handed over, they were all newly renovated, brand new and beautifully decorated, which makes people feel comfortable just looking at them.

The most important thing is the location.

Now Xue Tingyan has a real shortage and has to go to court every day. If it were the same place where I lived before, I would probably have to get up at the third watch. Now I get up at the fifth watch and go to court at Mao hour, so there is no need to worry about being late.

The morning light was dawning outside, and Xue Tingyan was still lying on the couch.

Can't you get up? If you don't get up late, it's time to be recorded by the censor who supervises the court ceremony. It would be so embarrassing.

Zhao'er is very tired.

Raising a man is no different from raising a child. On weekdays, he is very serious, but when he is not serious, he is more tiring than a stupid kid.

It's not like she wants to go to court and makes herself more tired than him. She has to wake up on time every day and then ask this living ancestor to get up and go to court.

In fact, after such a long time, Xue Tingyan was not too late, but Zhao'er attributed this to her hard work, so she naturally felt that she had a heavy responsibility.

Xue Tingyan rubbed his face on her chest, eyes still closed: Sleep a little longer, I didn't sleep until midnight last night.

You also know that you didn't go to bed until midnight. Who told you to be so late yesterday? Zhao'er was angry and resentful when he mentioned this. He rubbed his waist and pushed him away.

He just rolled on the quilt and continued to sleep, without any awareness of being a father, a husband, or a courtier.

Zhao'er put on his clothes and looked back helplessly at the man in the mattress.

She raised her voice and asked the girls to prepare water. When the kettle and handkerchiefs were brought in, she waved them away, twisted the handkerchief, and came over to wipe Xue Tingyan's face and body.

Wipe hard and without complaint.

After wiping, he took out his middle coat and gave it to him to wear.

This guy didn't feel guilty at all. He had his eyes closed, but he still knew when to lift his legs and hands. After finally putting it on, Zhao'er was very tired and slapped him on the waist and hip.

Get up quickly, or I'll call Ning Ning later and make you embarrassed to be a father. With that, Zhao'er turned his back and went to wash up.

By the time she finished washing, the man had already gotten up, yawning profusely and looking like he hadn't woken up yet.

What have you been doing these days? I always feel like you are very tired. Your Majesty asked you to work as a coolie?

Zhao'er was just a joke, but she actually hit the mark.

Xue Tingyan was dragged into working as a coolie.