Chapter 421

Jin Ling, Mingze Lane.

After listening to Zou Min'er, Jia Cong looked at the official file in his hand, his thoughts surging for a time.

He first met Du Hengxin two years ago at the groundbreaking ceremony of Daci'en Temple.

The last time he saw him was when the improved Red-Clad Cannon was escorted into the Regional Military Commissioner's arsenal.

Although he had been to Jin Ling twice and had some contact with various officials in Jin Ling, he only had two meetings with this head of the Jin Ling Regional Military Commissioner's Office.

This first military official of the Guard Army in the Southern Metropolitan Area gave him a very good impression: gentle and composed, with a broad and thick bearing, without the domineering atmosphere common in military officials, and with the warm and benevolent demeanor of a superior.

Compared to Zhang Kangnian, who had been his deputy and was cold, deep-scheming, and unsmiling, Du Hengxin's demeanor made Jia Cong feel much more pleasing to the eye.

But it was precisely such a person who hid such a fragmented and strange background. It was truly impossible to judge a person by their appearance.

Jia Cong opened Du Hengxin's official file and read it carefully.

It had been annotated with many words by Zou Min'er, making the whole information more complete, which showed that she had put effort into this file back then.

Zou Min'er said, "This official file was collected and accumulated over the years by the personnel of the Jin Ling Central Vehicle Office. I separately retrieved it from their hands afterwards.

It says that fifteen years ago, the current Emperor was still the Prince of Qi in the residence, and by the order of the Retired Emperor, he sat in Jin Ling to communicate with the wealthy merchants of Jiangnan and raise money and grain for disaster relief.

When the Prince of Qi finished the Jin Ling affairs and returned to the Love Shenjing, he suddenly mobilized a small flag officer of the Jin Ling Guard at that time to follow him back to the capital. This person was Du Hengxin.

Du Hengxin only stayed in the Love Shenjing for less than half a year, which was the time after the current Emperor ascended the throne, and he was suddenly transferred back to the Jin Ling Guard. The reason is unknown.

However, in that short half-year, he was promoted two levels from a small flag officer to a hundred-household officer.

In the following ten years, he did not show his face in the Jin Jin Ling Weijun, but he was steady and step-by-step promoted, which was extremely difficult for someone without a background.

Five years ago, he was finally promoted to the high position of Assistant Regional Military Commissioner of Jin Ling, and three years ago, he was promoted to the Commander of the Jin Ling Regional Military Commissioner's Office, becoming the first person in the Southern Metropolitan Guard Army."

Jia Cong looked at Du Hengxin's official file, and his heart was also greatly shocked.

A small flag officer of the Jin Ling Guard, an inconspicuous Grade 7 military official, turned the tables and became a Grade 2 frontier official in just over ten years, which was truly eye-catching.

Zou Min'er saw Jia Cong's expression was deep and suspicious, and he didn't make a sound, as if he was thinking about something, so she asked, "Do you feel something is unusual?"

Jia Cong said thoughtfully, "The promotion of officials in the Great Zhou, both civil and military, has great implications.

Even if civil officials come from humble backgrounds, as long as they can win the top spot in the imperial examination and pass the jinshi examination, and then accumulate decades of merit, it is not strange for them to enter the cabinet and govern.

But if you stop at the imperial examination and don't have the status of a jinshi, you will only stop at Grade 5 for the rest of your life. For example, I am only a Provincial Graduate Wu, so I reached the end at Grade 5.

But the military official path is very different from the civil official promotion. Those who can climb to the high position of Grade 3 military official and above are all children of noble families.

For those from humble backgrounds or those whose background is not obvious, wanting to be promoted to a Grade 3 military position is rare, and in short, it is an extremely difficult thing.

The Jin Ling Du family that Du Hengxin came from was raided and exterminated for colluding with the Hidden Sect. This is the biggest stain on him, even lower than those from ordinary humble backgrounds.

Moreover, the imperial court has always treated the Hidden Sect like a flood or a beast, preferring to kill the wrong ones rather than let one go. How could someone like Du Hengxin climb to the high position of a Grade 2 military official?"

Zou Min'er was born into a Grade 4 military official family, so she naturally understood the hidden rules of the military official career path, and what Jia Cong said was exactly the current situation in the officialdom.

She suddenly realized and said, "With such an unfavorable family background, being able to be promoted to a Grade 2 military official, unless there is an extremely powerful noble person supporting him from behind."

Jia Cong smiled slightly and said, "You are right. Is there any noble person in this world more powerful than the current Emperor?

Du Hengxin's official file says that the current Emperor, who was then the Prince of Qi in the residence, finished the Jin Ling affairs and returned to the Love Shenjing.

Among all the officials in Jin Ling, it seems that only the Grade 7 small flag officer Du Hengxin could catch the Emperor's eye, and he brought him from Jin Ling back to the Love Shenjing, and then promoted him two levels and transferred him back to Jin Ling.

This laid the foundation for Du Hengxin's rise in the officialdom.

Calculating from the time, it was precisely after the Emperor had the Du family convicted and exterminated in Jin Ling that he brought Du Hengxin back to the Love Shenjing.

You also said just now that the current Emperor was in Jin Ling to raise disaster relief grain for Jiangnan, and someone suddenly informed the Emperor, which triggered the raid and extermination of the Du family."

Zou Min'er understood what Jia Cong meant and said with fear, "You mean the person who informed back then was Du Hengxin? How could it be him!

Du Hengchang was his collateral brother. If it was really him who informed, wouldn't he be pushing his own clan to a dead end? That person is truly too ruthless."

Jia Cong sneered, "Otherwise, how can you explain that Du Hengxin, as a descendant of the Du family, could be unscathed and escape unscathed when the Du family was raided and exterminated?

He was even appreciated by the Emperor, transferred to the capital, and promoted two levels. So the person who informed on the Du family back then was mostly this person."

Zou Min'er felt a chill in her heart. Tragedies of disaster starting from within the walls are not uncommon, but hearing it happen to someone around her is still shocking.

……

Jia Cong thought about his own encounter with the false accusation case in the courtyard examination, which was when he started to have contact with Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao. Every imperial response was not an easy matter.

This Son of Heaven was deep-scheming, extremely intelligent, deep-scheming and suspicious, and did not follow common methods in handling affairs. He was an extremely powerful figure.

For someone like Du Hengxin to be ruthless and kill his own relatives for his own rise, this kind of ruthless person might just suit the Emperor's taste and be suitable as a sharp blade for his schemes.

It was just that he would only mutter this in his heart and would never say it to outsiders.

Zou Min'er said, "We have been in Jin Ling for quite some time. The Central Vehicle Office collects the movements and words of officials daily. Why have I never heard any official mention such a shocking old event in Jin Ling?"

Jia Cong replied, "In fact, it is not strange for such a situation to occur. The Great Zhou uses a flow official system. Officials have a major examination every three years, or are promoted, transferred, or demoted.

In short, officials serving in one place usually do not exceed three years, and those exceeding five years are extremely rare.

And in the Guard Army, the replacement of personnel is even more frequent. Every year, there are military officials and soldiers who return to their fields due to old age.

The Du family incident happened fifteen years ago. Too much time has passed. The civil and military officials in the Jin Ling officialdom have long since changed several batches, and the spread of old events is already difficult to find.

It is extremely rare for someone like Du Hengxin to be immersed in the Jin Jin Ling Weijun for more than ten years.

Moreover, you also said that the officials who handled the Du family's rebellion case back then didn't end well.

This matter is also related to the change of the imperial heir. The matter is of great importance, and the imperial court will certainly downplay and cover it up so as not to disturb the public.

Even if there are old people in Jin Ling who know the truth, most of them are in their twilight years. Du Hengxin is in a high position, so they dare not publicize the matter even more.

So no one among the officials mentioned or discussed this matter, and the Central Vehicle Office monitored the situation without seeing any traces, which is all reasonable.

If it weren't for the Central Vehicle Office having Du Hengxin's official file, and you inquiring about secret news from that old clerk in Liuhe, and the two being verified, it would be impossible to know this secret matter of Du Hengxin.

Very few people will get to the bottom of things like us, cite evidence from all sides, and explore the roots."

……

Zou Min'er said again, "Du Hengxin's heart is sinister, and he holds a high position in the Guard Army. Zhou Zhengyang and my father were his subordinates. Is the Water Supervision Office case back then also related to him?"

Jia Cong replied, "It's not that there is no such possibility. After all, he is the head of the Southern Metropolitan Guard Army, holds high power, and doing things is probably much easier than for ordinary people.

But the Du family incident back then can only prove that this person is a ruthless person, but it cannot prove that he is related to the Water Supervision Office case, at least there is no relevant evidence for now.

By comparison, the suspicion of his deputy Zhang Kangnian is even greater.

Originally at the Zou family birthday banquet, if it weren't for Zhang Kangnian's sudden verbal guidance, perhaps my father wouldn't have committed suicide on the spot, and many inside stories of the Water Supervision Office case wouldn't have been buried."

Zou Min'er felt as if she had been pricked by a needle when she heard him mention the old events, and her face turned pale instantly.

Jia Cong knew her thoughts and reached out to tuck in the quilt on her body, sighing, "After Zhou Zhengyang's incident, originally the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital had the suspicion of failing to supervise.

But Zhang Kangnian seemed to know the mystery early on, and through mediation, he let the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital grasp the initiative in this matter, and had many brilliant moves, which made the Jin Ling Regional Military Commissioner's Office look inferior.

He even established prestige in the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital through this matter and gathered all power.

No matter from which angle you look at it, he gained a lot in these two matters.

For all secret crimes, there is a common principle: whoever gains the most has the greatest suspicion."

Zou Min'er saw him doing this intimate act of tucking in the quilt, which seemed to be purely natural and full of intimacy, and the pain in her heart didn't know why it lightened by three points.

She muttered to herself, "Whoever gains the most has the greatest suspicion...."

She found Jia Cong's words novel. Although they were a bit strange, after thinking about it carefully, they made great sense. She didn't know how he had pondered these strange ideas.

……

Jia Cong continued, "In the past, apart from searching for Zhou Zhengyang's whereabouts, our focus was on Zhang Kangnian. Your words are not unreasonable. We must pay more attention to Du Hengxin in the future.

It's just that searching for secrets is the specialty of your Central Vehicle Office. After you recover for a few more days and your injury stabilizes, I will help you contact the Central Vehicle Office's files in Jin Ling.

Let them pay attention to Du Hengxin's actions, or you can transfer a woman from the Central Vehicle Office to serve you...."

Zou Min'er looked at him deeply and said faintly, "I don't intend to let people from the Central Vehicle Office know that I am still alive."

Jia Cong was slightly stunned when he heard this.

Zou Min'er said, "You said that to protect me from being assassinated again, you had already announced to the outside world that I had died.

Moreover, Mr. Zhang used the gold needle miracle technique, so even the coroner of the Ying Tian Prefecture couldn't detect any flaws. Now everyone in Jin Ling has determined that I am dead.

I believe it won't be long before the news reaches the Music Office in the Love Shenjing, and both Qingniang and the Central Vehicle Office in the Love Shenjing will know.

I am just a musician in the Music Office, a daughter of a convicted official with heavy crimes. No one will care if someone like me dies....

This is the perfect opportunity. In the inner courtyard of Clear Sound Pavilion, Zou Min'er has already been assassinated and died. From now on, there is no such person in the world. Only by dying like this can it be truly clean."

Jia Cong heard the desolation in Zou Min'er's words, but more of it was the relief of shedding a heavy burden, and he couldn't help but feel a bit of heartache.

When Zou Min'er said that only by dying could it be truly clean, Jia Cong understood somewhat.

Zou Min'er continued, "My father bore crimes, and I was demoted to the Music Office by the imperial court. The imperial decree is strict, and I will be a lowly status in the Music Office for the rest of my life.

The Emperor's golden mouth and holy will are clear. Even if I enter the Central Vehicle Office, I will never be able to wash away my lowly status in the Music Office."

Zou Min'er burst into tears as she said this. The destruction of her family was already the most miserable blow to her.

For a girl from a noble family to be reduced to a lowly status in the Music Office and have to live by entertaining people with music was the deepest humiliation she couldn't get rid of.

Jia Cong reached out to wipe away her tears. Zou Min'er smiled slightly at him, "I have never done anything wrong in my life. I shouldn't have ended up like this. Now this is the best result."

Jia Cong smiled and said, "I didn't expect that the big lie I told at Clear Sound Pavilion would have such benefits. Since you have already thought so, then rest assured and recover from your wounds.

Xin Chun Hao has opened branches in various places in Jiangnan and has accumulated some connections and relationships.

In the future, wherever you want to go, I will try my best to help you arrange an identity. I will handle all the things you need so that you can live a stable life."

Zou Min'er's pretty face flushed, and she asked, "Why are you willing to help me?"

Jia Cong thought for a while. Originally he didn't want to say it, but in the end, he still said, "When I entered the Zou residence to arrest your father back then, it was because he committed a crime. Out of national law and public justice, I have a clear conscience.

But I didn't expect it to make you fall into this state. Just like you said, you have never done anything wrong. In the final analysis, I feel guilty toward you.

The way of heaven is impermanent, the world is full of disasters, and cause and effect circulate. How can everything be determined by people? Neither you nor I were wrong.

I will do my best to do what I can for you. Even if you hate me in your heart, that is only natural."

Jia Cong's words made Zou Min'er tremble all over. It seemed that every word hit her heart. The tears that had just been wiped dry flowed again and couldn't stop no matter what.

It seemed that there were full of grievances and injustices, and it seemed that there was an unspeakable relief and bitterness, mixed feelings, and difficult to express.

A sudden heavy rain fell outside the window, as if the world had been accumulating for a long time and finally had the opportunity to vent and pour out.

The rain was very rapid, and the tiles on the eaves were beaten by the raindrops, making a crackling sound. The scenery outside the window was blurred in the heavy rain.

Only after a while did the rapid rain sound slightly ease, but the rain was still heavy, and the drizzling rain curtain hung down like a silk curtain from the sky.

The bluestone slabs in the courtyard, the green moss on the stone steps, and the wild grass growing tenaciously in the stone cracks all appeared even fresher and greener under the washing of the rain, full of vitality like rebirth.

The transparent and moist water vapor poured into the room, making the air in the room cool and pleasant.

I don't know when, Jia Cong was already sitting on the head of the bed, Zou Min'er was leaning softly in his arms, the tear stains on her face were not dry, her pretty shoulders were gently held by Jia Cong, and her hands were wrapped around his waist.

Warmth, ice skin, soft embrace, lingering, silent affection.

I don't know how long this strange state lasted. The grievances and grudges hidden in the bottom of her heart, and the sharp pain cut by the sharp edges of the past, seemed to have faded far away at this moment.

The world is empty, the world is like dust. Even in the distant future, they are still people on different paths, but the mutual warmth and comfort of this moment is enough to walk the dark and cold road of the future. (End of chapter)