Denghuaxiao

Chapter 71 Scandal

 The rain in Shengjing came quickly.

The osmanthus leaves in front of the window were beaten by the rain and fell to the ground. The rain curtains on the eaves were endless, and the sky and the earth seemed to be a vast expanse of white.

In Prince Wenjun's Mansion, Princess Wenjun Pei Yunshu stood at the door and hurriedly stood up to welcome the people outside.

The young man was wearing a scarlet brocade robe that was slightly wet from the rain. He came in from the yard. In the violent wind and rain, his clothes and shoes were flowing, but he didn't look at all embarrassed.

Pei Yunshu pulled her brother into the house and complained: "I came suddenly without saying a word. When Fangzi told me, I was shocked. It was raining so heavily outside, why didn't I take an umbrella..."

Pei Yunying smiled and stopped her words: "I passed by here on errands and came to see you."

By the way?

Pei Yunshu looked at the large boxes and small baskets delivered by his men, pursed his lips, and said nothing.

 The night when the lights are on is as thick as black ink, with only the sound of rustling rain covering the sky and the earth.

Fangzi, the maid, gave Pei Yunying a clean handkerchief. He wiped the rain marks on his body with the handkerchief. He saw a maid carrying medicine standing not far away, hesitating at the door. She raised her eyebrows slightly: "Are you still taking medicine?"

Pei Yunshu was stunned for a moment, shook his head and said, "I have already taken the anti-fetal medicine. It is the porridge that the king asked me to prepare in the small kitchen."

Pei Yunying nodded, her voice neither salty nor bland: "It's so late, it's not a good habit to have a midnight snack." After saying this, he glanced at the maid serving the medicine with a smile.

When the maid heard this, her face suddenly turned pale.

The prince Zhaoning will come to the county prince's mansion every once in a while. He says he is visiting his eldest sister, but in fact he is trying to support the disgraced eldest sister. Even the prince is afraid of him. Despite his friendly and easy-going appearance in front of his sister, the look he gave her just now, although he was smiling, had a very cold gaze, as if... he was being stared at by a wolf.

The maid shivered and did not dare to say anything. She quickly bowed to Pei Yunshu and left the courtyard.

After the maid's figure disappeared outside the courtyard, Pei Yunshu sighed: "Everyone in this county and prince's palace has been threatened by you. What on earth are you here to do?"

The young man turned around. The coldness on his face had all gone away. He sat down in front of Pei Yunshu, took the teacup in Fangzi's hand, lowered his head and took a sip. He said with a smile, "I told you I was passing by, so I came to see you."

Pei Yunshu looked at him, feeling slightly depressed.

She knows better than anyone what Pei Yunying came here to do.

The king of Wenjun loves the side concubine and has left his wife. Now that she is pregnant, she is even more of a thorn in the side of some people in this house. Although Pei Yunying was powerful, he couldn't stay with her all the time. He could only visit her every once in a while and give a subtle warning.

Although it is arrogant, the effect is quite good. The fetus will be carried safely until July, and in more than two months, the baby will be delivered smoothly.

Pei Yunshu lowered her eyes, put her hands on her bulging belly, and looked at her gently.

I hope there won’t be any trouble.

Pei Yunying seemed to see her worry and said: "Fangzi and Qiongying are both around. If you need anything, just ask them to do it. Don't worry."

Fangzi and Qiongying were sent in by Pei Yunying. It was not easy to send people to the prince's palace. It was not because they were afraid of Prince Wen, but because they were afraid of arousing the suspicion of the current emperor.

However, these two maids are now the most trusted people by Pei Yunshu in the prince's palace.

Pei Yunshu smiled: "I know, my yard is clean, it's okay to have them accompany me, but you..." She looked at Pei Yunying, her tone was a little worried, "I heard that Mr. Yan from the Privy Council gave you a hard time in the court a few days ago. , nothing happened?"

Jin Shang is well versed in the art of checks and balances, and the Privy Council and the Palace Chief have never dealt with him. Yan Xu, the commander of the Privy Council, is narrow-minded and mean-spirited. He has repeatedly tried to trip up Pei Yunying in the court and play dirty tricks.

Pei Yunying played with the tea cup in his hand and chuckled when he heard this: "Where did you get this rumor? He is an old man, how can he make it difficult for me?"

Pei Yunshu sighed: "I'm afraid he will do something behind his back. After all, he resents his father and even took his anger out on you..."

The command of the Privy Council made Yan Xu hate Pei Yun deeply, and it was not just because they were both close guards of the emperor, and the two departments had a subtle check and balance relationship. It was also because Lord Yan Xuyan of the Privy Council had been declined marriage by Mrs. Zhaoning when she was young.

Yan Xu had a deep love for Pei Yunying's mother, but unexpectedly his beloved married someone else and eventually became the Duke Zhaoning's wife. Yan Xu's face was dull, and his love led to hatred, and he hated the whole family of Duke Zhaoning.

Now that Mrs. Zhaoning has passed away and the relationship between the Privy Council and the Palace Secretary is tense, Yan Xu naturally extends his hatred to Pei Yunying. I heard that many years ago, Pei Yunying originally planned to join the Privy Council, but in the end Yan Xu used his real power to interfere, so Pei Yunying had to join the Privy Council.

Thinking of these things, Pei Yunshu's face became more worried. Pei Yunying saw it, sighed, and closed the tea lid: "Sister, why do you always think about the bad and the good? Yan Xu has a deep love for my mother. I am my mother's son, and he sees me as if he were an old friend, and maybe he will help me because of his old friendship."

Pei Yunshu glared at him: "That was so many years ago. My mother was already married and had children. He still misses a married woman. You should read the story. How can there be such an infatuated man in the world?"

Pei Yunying glanced at the plate of green plums on the table, and suddenly recalled the sour atmosphere that lingered in the front office for a certain period of time. His eyebrows moved slightly, and then he twitched the corners of his lips: "That's not necessarily true, maybe in the world There are real men who fall in love with married women and are so obsessed with it that they can’t extricate themselves.”

"Stop talking nonsense!" Pei Yunshu said angrily. She was stunned for a moment and looked at Pei Yunying with some suspicion. "What do you mean by this? Are you also in love with a married woman?"

Pei Yunying: “…”

She seemed to have remembered something, and leaned closer to Pei Yunying, lowering her voice: "I went to watch the summer banquet a few days ago, and a lady told me that you seemed to have a sweetheart. I asked who it was, but she refused to tell me. She was mysterious. Secretly, I thought they were bluffing me."

She looked at Pei Yunying with stern eyes: "Ah Ying, tell your sister, did you make a mistake?"

Pei Yunying was silent.

He took a deep breath, looked at Pei Yunshu and smiled: "Do you believe this?"

"I believe it." Pei Yunshu answered frankly: "You have been attracted by girls since you were a child, but you have never really fallen in love with anyone in these years. You are perverse and courageous. If you really fall in love with a married woman, It's not impossible. You don't care what other people say. Not only do you not feel a trace of shame when you fall in love with her, but you also enjoy it. Tell me honestly, which lady do you like? "

Pei Yunying: “…”

 He said: "Nothing."

 “Really not?”

"No."

Pei Yunshu stared at him seriously for a while, and saw that he looked calm and didn't look like he was lying. Then he breathed a sigh of relief, sat back down in his seat, and murmured with some regret: "It turns out not..."

Pei Yunying was speechless for a moment and then said: "The front secretary of the palace is a little busy these days. I have to go out. Don't let the beautiful girl leave your side. If you have anything to do, go to the Palace Commander's Mansion to find Deputy Ambassador Xiao. He will help you." "

He put the tea cup on the table next to him, stood up, and Pei Yunshu asked, "Are you leaving?"

 He looked at the clock on the table: "It's getting late."

Pei Yunshu nodded and asked Qiong Ying to bring her an umbrella. Fangzi supported her and escorted Pei Yunying to the entrance of the courtyard.

 The rain is not as heavy as when it came just now, and the sky and the earth are as vast as smoke.

Pei Yun stood at the door, the lights under the eaves were dim, and in the drizzle, the young man stood tall and tall, with the boundless night behind him, like a red dust painting hanging at the door of Yuxian Tower.

He held the umbrella and was about to leave, but suddenly thought of something and turned back.

“By the way, who was that person who was talking nonsense to you at the Summer Watching Banquet?”

"Guan Xia Banquet?" Pei Yunshu was stunned for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, she came back to her senses, bent her eyes, and said with a smile: "You said you told me that you have a sweetheart. In fact, I don't know her very well. She was a little strange when she came to talk to me." It’s Mrs. Dong from the palace of Taifu Temple.”

 …

 The night rain in Shengjing drenched the mansions of high-ranking officials and the residences of ordinary people at the entrance of the temple.

 In the court of punishment, the lights were brightly lit.

Fan Zhenglian, the detailed judge, was sitting at the table in the room. The desk lamp illuminated his face, reflecting the excess fat on his face like a layer of fat. His official uniform was a little tight, tightly stretched around his body, like a rope binding an animal, and it was about to burst in the next moment.

Normally, he would have already left for work at this time, but tonight he was delayed in leaving. Amid the sound of rain, the door was pushed open, and a man walked in from the outside. Most of his body was soaked by the rain, and he looked a little embarrassed.

 This is the record of the Criminal Court, Qichuan.

Qi Chuan handed a volume in his arms to Fan Zhenglian. The volume was stained with water. Fan Zhenglian picked up the volume with his little finger and shook the water on the volume.

Qi Chuan stood aside and said respectfully: "This is the roster for this autumn that is going to be sent to the Ministry of Rites. Please take a look at it."

Fan Zhenglian said "hmm" and slowly opened the booklet in his hand.

　　The first day of next month will be autumn. At this time every year, countless students rush to take exams. Everyone wants to climb up, but there are only so many places. There are many monks and few porridge, so naturally everyone should show their magical powers.

The so-called showing off one's magical powers is about who spends more money and who has more connections. It has nothing to do with talent or learning.

This booklet in hand is to be sent to the Ministry of Rites, for those who "show their magical powers" this year.

He is also someone who will definitely appear on the red paper in the winning list in a few months.

Fan Zhenglian took a sip of hot tea. On a cold rainy night, the hot tea dispelled some of the chill. He narrowed his eyes slightly and looked particularly comfortable.

 He looks down upon scholars.

　　What's so great about scholars? They think they are extremely smart and knowledgeable, and their eyes are about to grow to the top of their heads. Little do they know that in this world, the most indispensable thing is people who can read.

 Every year when the booklet is sent to the Ministry of Rites, and when the list is released in autumn, the happiest people are often not those who can read. Just like him back then, he was mediocre in talent and learning, and was not very outstanding in the academy. In the end, he was the one who did the most in his official career and had the smoothest career.

On the contrary, the man who was the most popular among the teachers in the academy and who was proficient in calligraphy, painting, and poetry is now doing nothing and is willing to submit to him, grinding ink and pen for him, working hard in rainy nights.

Fan Zhenglian glanced at Qi Chuan, who was standing respectfully aside, and his smile became even more comfortable.

 He flipped through the roster in his hand.

 The people on the roster have given him some money in advance. It is true that part of this part of the money was given to the Minister of Rites. Back then, he became a minister of the Ministry of Rites and asked Qi Chuan to take the exam for him, and he passed the exam smoothly. He went to Yuan'an County to work as a coolie for several years, and now he has returned to Shengjing. Together with the Minister of Rites, he personally participated in this business and became more and more comfortable in it.

 In officialdom, if you have money and connections, you won’t have to worry about getting things done.

Fan Zhenglian turned to the last page and his eyes suddenly stopped.

After a moment, he frowned, pointed to a line of names on the roster and asked Qi Chuan: "Who is this person? Why did he only send 800 taels?"

The amount of money required to bribe the examiner and the examiner of the Ministry of Etiquette is at least a thousand taels. Of course, this kind of thing cannot be bought even if you have money. People who can be on this list have some connections in their families. of.

Qi Chuan stepped forward and saw that the person being accused was named "Liu Zide".

Qichuan thought for a moment before replying: "Sir, this person's father is Liu Kun who runs a noodle shop on Queer Street. Liu Kun's eldest son Liu Zixian was on the list the year before last. This year it is his younger son who is sent."

Fan Zhenglian frowned even more: "I'm asking where this person is from?"

 It is unusual for a noodle shop owner to have two sons who have access to the door. However, he has many affairs on weekdays. There are so many names on the Qiuwei roster. It is impossible to remember them all, and it is a bit blurry for a while.

Qi Chuan beside him reminded him in a low voice: "Sir, there was a robbery in the capital the year before last, and the robbers escaped. It was Liu Kun who reported the robbers' hiding place and then captured the prisoner." Seeing that Fan Zhenglian was still silent, Qi Chuan continued Said: "Back then, you posted arrest notices all over the city."

As soon as these words came out, Fan Zhenglian’s eyes lit up: “It turns out it’s him!”

He has not been in the position of chief judge for long. There have been no major incidents in Shengjing in the past few years, and there have only been a few arrests in the city. The year before last... wasn't it the incident at the Grand Master's Mansion?

Fan Zhenglian tugged at the two greasy beards on his chin, his eyes twinkling.

That young man named Lu didn't know the heights of heaven and earth. He was so stupid and arrogant that it almost made people laugh out loud. He overestimated his ability and wanted to seek justice with a letter. Little did he know that a **** despises his life. People like him are still in the eyes of the Taishi Palace. It's better to be like a dog, just kill it if you say it will.

As well as Liu Kun, it would have been safer to silence him altogether. However, although Fan Zhenglian was not good at learning, he still had some brains in the officialdom. He killed the young man and gave the Taishi Mansion some face, thus establishing a slight friendship with the Taishi Mansion, but that friendship was really weak. If something happens in the future, this meager favor with the Grand Master's Mansion may not be exchanged for anything.

So Fan Zhenglian kept Liu Kun as a bargaining chip in the future.

 In addition, Liu Kun was considered a Taoist and had a sweet mouth, so Fan Zhenglian gave him a chance when his eldest son Qiu Wei came to power the first year. He likes this kind of power to control the career of others. Furthermore, when these people become officials in the future, they will remember his affection and be cared for everywhere in the officialdom, and he will be more at ease.

Unexpectedly, this person would come again this year. Fan Zhenglian stared at Liu Zide's name on the roster with a gloomy look.

These untouchables are really greedy.

Qi Chuan noticed his displeasure and asked, "Sir, do you want to remove this person from the list?"

Fan Zhenglian did not speak, but tugged at the beard on his chin. After a moment, he said, "Go back to him and ask him to send you another eight hundred taels of silver."

　Eight hundred taels and eight hundred taels are equal to one thousand six hundred taels. Qichuan said: "I'm afraid Liu Kun won't be able to produce so much..."

"If you can't get it, don't come." Fan Zhenglian squinted and sneered twice, "One thousand six hundred taels to buy a title is already a good deal." He frowned slightly, "If I hadn't been kind-hearted and willing to give him a ladder, He will be a pariah living in the mud all his life."

Qi Chuan's expression changed slightly, but Fan Zhenglian didn't notice it.

"By the way," the man thought of something again, opened his eyes, picked up the hot tea on the table and took a sip, "Why didn't the female doctor who came to the house earlier come here recently?"

Two months ago, Zhao Feiyan invited a female doctor to come to her house to treat her. Fan Zhenglian bumped into her once. The female doctor had a plain face and was like a lily in the valley. She was soft and tender and screamed. People feel itchy. He immediately paid attention.

 It was just that the woman came not long ago, and Zhao Feiyan was present. Moreover, by the time he returned home from work, the female doctor had already gone back. He couldn't find any good opportunity, and he couldn't do it too obviously for others to see. After all, he was now "Fan Qingtian" with a breeze on his sleeves.

Qi Chuan replied: "I heard from my wife that the disease is completely cured, and Doctor Lu won't need to visit me again in the future."

"oh?"

 Fan Zhenglian squinted his eyes.

A beautiful woman with a humble background is like a beautiful wild flower that everyone wants to climb and break. As long as you buy a house and teach her about wealth and glory, she will willingly huddle in the cage and sing for her master every day.

 After all, untouchables are born to be scolded by others.

Fan Zhenglian put down the teacup in his hand and said, "After the autumn period, let her send me some medicine."

Qi Chuan lowered his head: "Yes."

Xiao Pei: Eat melon and eat it on your own head [sweat]

 (End of this chapter)