Chapter 237: Find an object to suppress it [Thank you all for your support! Again

Last night,

when Xu Zaijing was kneeling in the ancestral hall,

Jinghai Marquis Huyan Feng was a guest at the Changxing Bo Fu family.

After leaving, Huyan Feng visited several Marquis Fus and Guogong Fus.

The gatekeeper managers of each family, upon hearing it was the Huyan family,

some said the master of the house had heatstroke and was inconvenient to receive guests, others said the master of the house had rested early and strictly forbade disturbance.

He ate plenty of closed-door refusals.

When Huyan Feng was riding his horse back to the Jinghai Hou Fu,

passing by the front gate of this Changxing Bo Fu family,

at this time, a mama happened to be getting off a carriage here, walking quickly to the gatehouse.

Huyan Feng pondered for a moment, dismounted, and sent his trusted servant to deliver a calling card.

The sound of the mama speaking came:

"... Feng... come... Daniangzi... hurry!"

Before the mama was invited into the courtyard, she looked back at Huyan Feng and the others behind her.

Subsequently, the gatekeeper accepted the calling card handed over by the servant, said nothing else, and hurriedly walked out.

"This small one has met the Marquis. You can come to our Fu family, truly... please come in quickly."

Huyan Feng nodded, sighing in his heart that this Fu family didn't fawn over the powerful and trample the weak, and walked into the Fu family's front gate with a smile.

Arriving at the front hall for receiving guests in the front courtyard, just after sitting down,

a maid served tea.

The weather was hot and the night was deep, and this Fu family's stove mouth also had fire left.

The Jinghai Marquis nodded approvingly at this, then asked the servant beside him:

"Do you know which family that mama just now was from?"

"Marquis, this small one doesn't know, but just now I heard her say she was here to seek an audience with the Fu family's Second Daniangzi."

Fu family backyard,

A visit from the maiden family at this hour

made Feng Ziyi, a girl from a branch of the Chengguo Gong Feng family, feel somewhat panicked. She put on her clothes and walked out with an anxious expression.

The Fu family's legitimate second son followed behind her:

"Wife, slow down."

Feng Ziyi arrived at the front hall,

saw the mama from her maiden family, and hurriedly asked: "Su Mama, what's wrong? Is something wrong at home?"

The Fu family's legitimate second son also came to her side, looking at this Su Mama as well.

"Aunt Second Daniangzi, nothing is wrong. It's just that the Sheng family relative in our Fu sent news."

Hearing it wasn't bad news, Feng Ziyi breathed a sigh of relief:

"Speak."

Su Mama didn't hesitate: "The relative said, the Jinghai Hou Fu and the Ruyang Hou Fu, these two families, should have less contact, better to avoid them!"

"Good, I know. Did the family say what the reason was?"

"None. However, just now when I entered the Fu, I did see visitors behind me. Perhaps they know."

"Good, Husband, you go and tell Father and Mother."

The Fu family's second son nodded and turned to walk out.

Su Mama also stood up and said: "Young Lady, I still have to notify our family's relatives, so I will take my leave first."

"Good, hurry and go. Someone, send her off."

At this time, the Fu family's eldest daughter-in-law also put on her clothes and came here, seeing Feng Ziyi: "Sister-in-law, is there anything you need me for?"

Su Mama bowed at the door. Seeing this scene, she also knew that her young lady's sister-in-law was quite good, and subsequently sighed with her head lowered and left quickly.

The Fu family's second son caught up with his father, Changxing Bo, in the courtyard.

The father and son were talking and had already arrived at the front courtyard.

Before entering the front hall for receiving guests, Changxing Bo stopped his footsteps.

"You say it's the Jinghai Marquis family? This..."

Subsequently, Changxing Bo lowered his voice somewhat helplessly: "This Jinghai Marquis is in the front hall."

Inside the front hall, Huyan Feng and his servant exchanged a glance. They had already heard the sound of footsteps, but they stopped nearby and didn't come in.

After a while,

a manager walked over:

"Marquis, the inner courtyard says, the weather is hot and it's hard to sleep, the Bo and the Lady have just fallen asleep, really can't bear to disturb... You should go back first."

Huyan Feng's expression became solemn. After saying goodbye, he returned to the Jinghai Hou Fu.

When entering the door, he asked:

"Have Hai Ge'er and the others returned?"

"Marquis, they have returned."

Entering the inner courtyard, seeing the Huyan family members sitting in three piles,

one pile was Jinghai Marquis Xiao Bao Niangzi Daniangzi, the eldest branch's Little Xiao Bao Niangzi, and the person from the Ruyang Marquis family,

one pile was the third and fourth branches,

and the last was the fifth branch.

Seeing the Jinghai Marquis, Little Xiao Bao Niangzi said:

"I say, little branch, the Marquis is here, can you two speak now?"

The Jinghai Marquis asked with a solemn expression:

"What news is there?"

"Father, the Yongyi Marquis Lady said, there is a Northern Liao clan member pointing out that the Bao family descendants are selling Northern Liao surrendered soldiers from the Jin Kingdom by sea!"

The Jinghai Marquis's eldest son suddenly felt his hands and feet go soft, and couldn't even speak.

The Huyan family's third and fourth branches looked at each other in disbelief, then looked at the eldest branch group.

The Jinghai Marquis Lady said sternly with a panicked heart:

"Absurd! Absurd!"

The Jinghai Marquis didn't look at the Bao family and asked slowly:

"The Xu family is popular and useful, can they save them?"

Huyan Hai said: "Father... save whom?"

The Jinghai Marquis Lady said:

"Right, right! In the future, our family and the Xu family will be real relatives, so they should be able to save them! Naturally, save your uncle!"

"Shut up!"

The Jinghai Marquis scolded.

The Huyan family's third and fourth branches walked to the fifth branch's side one after another.

A sleepless night,

In the morning, looking at the Jinghai Marquis who was much older and seemed to be on the verge of death, he went to court.

Inside the hall,

only a trusted female official was standing by.

Watching Watching Rong Fei, whose belly was somewhat large, held a fan and looked at her younger sister sitting on the embroidery stool in front of her knees without speaking:

"Mother asked you to come, is it for me to beg the Emperor to send people to find Xian Ge'er again?"

Rong Feiyan nodded.

"Then why don't you say it?"

"I see the capital is so chaotic, I don't want to add trouble to Sister."

"And Brother has always been someone who doesn't treat himself badly. If he really couldn't hold on, he would report his identity himself, and no one should make things difficult for him."

Watching Watching Rong Fei fanned slowly:

"If only he were as smart as you, thinking of one thing and then another, he really deserves a beating! When is Kong Mama going to our house decided?"

Rong Feiyan said "Mm."

The hall was quiet for a while. Looking at her only younger sister:

"I, I spoke too harshly before..."

Hearing Watching Watching Rong Fei's words, Rong Feiyan said: "Sister was right."

"Do you know why the capital was so chaotic yesterday?"

Rong Feiyan shook her head slightly and looked at her sister.

Watching Watching Rong Fei said:

"Xu family Jing Ge'er went to Prince Yan's fief the day before yesterday, made a big scene yesterday, and then brought a Northern Liao clan member into the palace. Subsequently, the Emperor issued a decree to arrest the Bao family members and urgently summoned Prince Yan to the capital."

Rong Feiyan asked with a surprised expression: "Sister, how could he go to Prince Yan's fief? How could there be a Northern Liao clan member?"

Looking at her sister who suddenly perked up, Watching Watching Rong Fei said:

"Prince Yan's only son had his leg broken, his retainer had his teeth smashed, and Jing Ge'er was only hit with five boards. Will Prince Yan swallow his anger?"

"Sister, you mean he went to Prince Yan's fief to warn Prince Yan? Then how dare he! And how did he know where that Northern Liao clan member was?"

Watching Watching Rong Fei shook her head, thinking in her heart that this Jing Ge'er had something mysterious about him, otherwise how could she have received a gift after sending one.

Watching Watching Rong Fei said:

"It might be a coincidence. Prince Yan will arrive in Bianjing today, and the news sent back will definitely be more. Let's just watch."

"Then do you understand why Jing Ge'er is safe and sound after acting like this?"

Rong Feiyan nodded somewhat uncertainly.

Watching Watching Rong Fei said softly to her younger sister:

"Naturally, it's because Jing Ge'er's actions seem reckless, but to those with intentions, it looks like he is standing up for the Empress and the Imperial Prince..."

Thinking of herself and several other concubines who had miscarried before, Watching Watching Rong Fei continued:

"And even, he helped the Emperor."

Rong Feiyan asked in disbelief: "Sister, how could it be for the Emperor? The Emperor is the supreme ruler of the world..."

Watching Watching Rong Fei sneered slightly and whispered:

"The Emperor has always had a reputation for benevolence! He loves his ministers and clan members! Whatever happens, he always thinks about whether he has any faults, fearing he might wrongly blame others..."

"Even without an heir, the Emperor has never groundlessly suspected the clan princes."

"The Imperial City Department ferreted out dead soldiers, but because there was no evidence, the Emperor... those villains saw through this, which is why they dared to act so recklessly!"

If the Empress hadn't cleaned up the Imperial Palace before,

whether Zhao Fang could have grown up, and whether her belly could have reached this month,

were all unknowns.

"Hmph, Jing Ge'er acting like this, his original intention was to let Prince Yan know he is not to be trifled with, and not to cause trouble again. But unfortunately, Prince Yan..."

Prince Yan's own backside wasn't clean, and he was stabbed in his vital point by Xu Zaijing's unintentional act.

At this time, the female official beside her saw the eunuch at the door in the distance and hurriedly walked over.

After listening to the eunuch, the female official walked back and said: "Your Highness, Prince Yan has already entered the city and has been locked in the Imperial Clan Court prison."

"Feiyan, go back and tell Mother, after these few days, I will naturally beg the Emperor."

"Yes, Sister."

Cangzhou Chai family,

family status is noble and elegant,

descendants have continued to this day,

since the founding of the Great Zhou, they have had many marriages with noble families, but the family descendants only engage in business, never joining the army or becoming officials,

and every time a Great Zhou Emperor ascended the throne, they would routinely send many rewards,

accumulated over several generations, they were also extremely wealthy.

The current Chai family head has two sons and one daughter.

The two sons are in Bianjing, and the daughter was protected by servants to go visit relatives in the East Road of Jingdong a few days ago.

Amidst the sound of cicadas,

suddenly a horse neighed,

and a carriage stopped urgently at the Chai family's front gate.

The Chai family gatekeeper hurriedly walked over to inquire, but before he could speak, he saw a middle-aged man with a pale face from the jolting being helped out of the carriage.

The gatekeeper said in surprise: "Manager Liu, why have you come?"

The middle-aged man had thought a lot on the way and didn't shout at the Chai Fu gate, but said urgently:

"Quick, go in and report, I have an urgent matter to report to the family head!"

"Yes, yes."

In less than half a quarter of an hour after the group entered, the entire Chai family was in a commotion.

Subsequently, the Chai family head led people on horseback just out of the front gate when he saw several knights stopping their horses at the front gate.

"Is this the Chai family head?"

"Who are you?"

"We are soldiers of the Cangzhou Imperial City Department. A letter from the capital stated clearly that your honorable family's family members have arrived in Bianjing, and a letter will be delivered in a few days, so please rest assured, Master."

The Chai family head's eyes were full of deliberation before saying:

"Thank you. I also ask the Yuhou to come in and drink some cooling drinks for the heat."

"Thank you for the Master's kindness, we have other urgent matters, farewell."

After the several Imperial City Department knights walked far away, someone said: "Boss, this Chai family is truly extravagant, even their family members arriving in the capital can move our Imperial City Department's carrier pigeons."

"Speak less!"

Golden Yangshan,

in the stronghold,

several Yanzhou Imperial City Department soldiers whose teeth had been knocked out were tied up tightly, sitting despairingly on the side.

Zhao Meifeng stood at the stronghold gate, yawned, and saw a group of people rushing from the capital.

The group was followed by Imperial Guards protecting them, all covered in dust.

Seeing everyone dismount, Zhao Meifeng hurriedly stepped forward and bowed:

"Imperial City Department, Zhao Meifeng has met the superiors."

"Met Chief Zhao, this official is Ministry of Justice Vice Director Duan Fenting..."

"Met Chief Zhao, this official is Ministry of War Warehouse Department Vice Director..."

"This official is Ministry of Works, Military Equipment Institute Director..."

"This official is Ministry of Works, Directorate for Palace Buildings Director..."

"Met Chief Zhao, we are all Kaifeng Prefecture coroner officials..."

Zhao Meifeng said: "Everyone, please come in!"

Except for those coroners from Kaifeng Prefecture, the others all frowned and covered their noses as they walked inside.

After entering the stronghold, Zhao Meifeng said: "Everyone, please feel free."

Subsequently, those coroners began to examine the corpses under the supervision of Ministry of Justice officials,

the Military Equipment Institute and Warehouse Department directors began to examine the weapons and armor,

and the Directorate for Palace Buildings began to examine the stronghold structure.

As these 'technical personnel' of the Great Zhou examined, the situation in all aspects was soon gathered into documents.

Half an hour later, in a room in the stronghold, the Directorate for Palace Buildings manager shouted: "Come quickly!"

Zhao Meifeng hurriedly walked over.

A moment later, Zhao Meifeng invited the Military Equipment Institute and Warehouse Department directors into that room.

Since it concerned a Great Zhou prince, the things that happened naturally couldn't just rely on the one-sided words of Xu Zaijing, Yelu Sun, and others.

Soon, the documents regarding the inspection results of the corpses, weapons, armor, and buildings at Golden Yangshan were sent to Bianjing as an emergency.

Also delivered were the seized correspondence from the Yanzhou Prince Fu.

These were all submitted to the Emperor.

At this time, court had already ended, and the important ministers of the Great Zhou were in the study.

The Emperor held the documents and letters in his hand and read them at a glance. After reading less than a third,

"*Bang! *"

The Emperor was so angry that he smashed the documents onto the imperial desk.

Subsequently, the Emperor waved his hand, and the Great Eunuch hurriedly picked up the documents and distributed them to the important ministers.

Xu Zaijing's behavior this time made Sun Shi extremely angry.

Although he had already knelt for a night,

Sun Shi still hadn't relented after dawn, and Xu Zaijing ate all three meals of breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the ancestral hall.

After quietly stretching his legs, Xu Zaijing continued to kneel.

*Sigh*,

He really only wanted to let people know he wasn't to be trifled with when he went to Prince Yan's fief, but he didn't expect that this scene would poke Prince Yan's vital point.

He really wasn't careful, it wasn't intentional.

North of Xiangzhou City.

Zhu Family Fort,

in the shade of the trees in the open space of the fort,

cheers came from time to time.

Rong family brother Rong Xian, who was provoked into throwing a wine pot at someone and indirectly triggered the turbulent situation in Bianjing, was currently wrestling with a youth much younger than him.

"*Pfft! *"

Rong Xian, covered in dust, had his back on the ground again. After being tackled by the youth, he simulated being stabbed several times...

"Xian Ge'er, you're 'dead' again."

Rong Xian's servant squatted on the side, laboriously pouring out a dozen copper coins from the purse on his waist and handing them to the winning youth.

"Young Master, we have no copper coins left."

Hearing this, the old man and other youths waiting on the side sighed in disappointment.

The winning Zhu family youth said on the side:

"Xian Ge'er, seeing that you are a straightforward person, listen to your younger brothers' advice: with your physique, joining the army really won't bring you any good fruit."

"You are too weak."

"You don't understand anything."

"You can't even beat my grandpa."

Rong Xian listened to the youth's words and looked at the Zhu family old man who had won against him in the shade of the tree. He lowered his head in discouragement.

At this time, on the dirt road beside the open space, several yamen runners from Xiangzhou City held a portrait, wiped the sweat from their foreheads,

glanced at the group covered in dust in the shade of the tree, and shouted:

"Greetings, have you seen this person in your fort?"

Saying this, they walked over.

Chai family.

Study,

Princess Pingning sat on a chair, talking carefully with the Chai Jin and Chai Bo brothers.

"Regarding Zhengzheng's matter, most of the thieves who knew the truth died at Golden Yangshan. The only one alive, who is currently in prison, is that Prince Yan's retainer, Qiu Jing."

The Chai brothers nodded.

Princess Pingning continued: "When that Qiu Jing was captured, he used Zhengzheng's identity as a bargaining chip to save his life, which is truly ridiculous!"

"In this way, the only ones who know the truth are the Xu family brother and his three personal attendants... The Gao family will keep their mouths shut for the sake of their own family's reputation."

"Cousin Aunt, then can we give the Xu family brother some..."

Princess Pingning said urgently:

"You all must give up this thought!!! The Xu family brother is very protective of his own. He knows the importance of the matter! Don't act recklessly, and turn a benefactor into an enemy for no reason."

The Chai brothers nodded with solemn expressions. They already knew the situation on Golden Yangshan from Chai Zhengzheng's own mouth.

The fact that this group of thieves could wipe out their Chai family guards already explained the strength of the Golden Yangshan thieves.

"In a few days, when your parents arrive in Bianjing, we will hold a banquet at the Qi family, and I will invite the Bianjing nobles, so everyone will think that Zhengzheng came with her parents."

"Yes."

Returning to the Qi Guogong Fu from the Chai family,

in the bedroom, there were only the Qi Guogong couple.

Qi Yiqiu looked at Princess Pingning and whispered:

"Last night you hurriedly took Heng Ge'er to the palace, why didn't you take him to the Chai family today?"

"My maternal family has mountains of gold and silver, and I was tempted."

"But thinking carefully, the Chai family ultimately cannot provide too much help for Heng Ge'er's official career."

"If we only want Heng Ge'er to be a wealthy idler, why rely on Heng Ge'er to marry a wife!"

Qi Guogong nodded.

Princess Pingning continued:

"It's a pity that the Yongyi Hou Fu doesn't have a girl of Heng Ge'er's age, otherwise, it would be good to form a marriage with them."

"Madam is right."

Since the afternoon of the God's Birthday at Shenbao Temple when Xu Zaijing hit people,

six days had already passed.

Prince Yan had been in the capital for two days.

Outside the palace walls,

the Chai family residence was still as quiet as before.

Inside the palace walls,

the Great Eunuch bowed beside the Emperor and said:

"Your Majesty, Qiu Jing died in prison, and the thieves at Golden Yangshan were also too severely injured to reach Bianjing."

The Emperor nodded and said:

"Send someone to tell Pingning."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Is that Xu family kid still kneeling in their ancestral hall?"

"Returning to Your Majesty, he is still kneeling."

"Mm, tell the Empress about this matter."

"Yes."

There is no conclusion from the imperial court yet regarding Prince Yan,

but the Ruyang Hou Fu Bao family has already been surrounded by the Imperial Guard.

In the two days,

managers from the Fu, descendants of various branches, and Daniangzis were continuously arrested and sent to prison.

Without even using torture, just by scaring them, and relying on the correspondence seized from the Prince Yan Fu,

in less than half a day, the Bao family members spilled the beans and confessed everything:

At first, the loss of materials was indeed over forty percent, but later it got better.

However, the Bao family and the Huyan family's eldest branch saw that the imperial court didn't pursue the loss, so they reported it according to the initial loss.

For the materials transported over without cost, a portion was embezzled by the Bao family and the Huyan eldest branch, and a portion was bought by Prince Yan.

When returning from the Jin Kingdom, they could also secretly do a business of selling Northern Liao captives.

They made a fortune, while the Great Zhou imperial court lost a fortune.

With both human and material evidence, the evidence was conclusive.

The Ruyang Marquis Bao family, which only had the Jinghai Marquis family as a prominent relative,

had their titles stripped, their family property confiscated into the national treasury, and the whole family was exiled to the military.

Jinghai Hou Fu.

Marquis Huyan Feng and his wife had their titles and noble ranks stripped, and Huyan Feng's official position was removed completely.

The Huyan family's eldest branch, deeply involved in the case, had their position as Tiger Wing Navy Regional Military Commissioner removed, waiting for the case to be clarified before further action.

The Huyan family's third and fourth branches were demoted, had their salaries fined, and were kept for observation.

No news came out about the fifth branch's punishment.

For a time, Huyan Hai became the person with the highest official position in the Huyan family.

The Jinghai Marquis had his title stripped, and there was already some gap between his family status and the Yongyi Hou Fu.

However, there was no rumor of the two families' marriage changing.

At the beginning of the seventh month,

the Huyan family's fifth branch had a result: remove Huyan Hai from his position as Imperial Guard Tiger Wing Navy Regional Military Commissioner, and because he was proficient in the navy, transfer him to be the Deputy Regional Military Commissioner of the Dengzhou Navy.

The Qi Guogong Fu sent invitations to various nobles and officials, saying that Princess Pingning's maternal family, the Chai family, was coming to Bianjing, and invited the nobles to a banquet at the Qi Guogong Fu.

Imperial Palace,

The Emperor looked at Princess Pingning who was seeking an audience with a puzzled expression.

"Pingning, what did you say the Chai family young lady is asking for?"

"Father, she said she is asking for a helmet of our Great Zhou soldiers."

"What is she doing with that?"

"The child was frightened and can't sleep well, so she wants to find an object to suppress it."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 238 =====