Chapter 681

Jin Ling, Jubao Gate.

Early morning, the sky was dim, the east was not yet fully bright, and the city gate had just opened, but the carriages, horses, and pedestrians entering and leaving the city gate were already bustling.

The official road outside Jubao Gate connected to the main land route to the south, passing through major ports such as Changzhou, Huizhou, and Gusu.

Therefore, many merchants and travelers heading north and south would transfer through Jubao Gate, each rushing to their own final destination.

In ordinary times, although there were soldiers guarding the opening and closing of the thirteen city gates of Jin Ling, they did not inspect the pedestrians, carriages, and horses entering and leaving.

But the wind had been different these past few days, the atmosphere in the city was strange, and Embroidered Uniform Guards often appeared to patrol the city gates and main roads of Jin Ling.

As for the reason, there were many different opinions; some said that a large number of officials sent by the Three Judicial Offices in Love Shenjing were investigating a major case in the city.

Others said that the Jin Ling Tiren Academy President Zhen Zhen Yingjia had been dismissed from office by the current Emperor, and the Jin Ling officialdom was restless.

Since the major Guard Army case broke out in the city last year, Jin Ling city, which had been quiet for a long time, seemed to have become restless and uneasy once again.

At this time, the dozen or so soldiers of the Wucheng Military and Horse Division guarding the city gate were each holding guns and leaning on swords, standing or squatting, looking somewhat lazy and bored.

Among the soldiers in Jin Ling, the soldiers of the Wucheng Military and Horse Division probably belonged to the lowest level.

They were neither as fierce and elite as the Jin Ling Guard Army, nor as arrogant and domineering as the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

They were mostly commoners equipped with swords and guns and wearing military uniforms, doing miscellaneous chores such as guarding city gates, patrolling streets and alleys, and maintaining order in the market.

However, the soldiers guarding the city gate, who had been lazy just a moment ago, seemed to have seen something, and the next moment they all stood up straight and straightened the swords and guns in their hands.

Because not far away, a team of Embroidered Uniform Captains in bright clothing and armor was marching in formation toward the city gate.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard not only held power and acted arrogantly, but also had the responsibility of rectifying military discipline, so these soldiers guarding the city gate naturally had some scruples.

When this team of Embroidered Uniforms reached the city gate, the leader of the soldiers guarding the city gate hurriedly stepped forward to greet them: "Hundred-Household Liu, you are on duty earlier today, the sky isn't even fully bright yet."

Liu Hai had once struggled in the Water Supervision Office, suffered suppression and exclusion, and was a person who climbed up from the bottom, so he lacked the arrogance of ordinary Embroidered Uniform Guards and had a bit more steadiness.

Hearing the leader's words, he didn't put on airs, but just smiled faintly and said: "Duty calls, I cannot be negligent."

……

That year, Jia Cong investigated and solved the major Water Supervision Office case, and the Water Supervision Office Battalion Commander Zou Zou Huaiyi committed suicide, with more than half of the low-level officers in the Water Supervision Office implicated and convicted.

Because Liu Hai had doubts about the Longtan Port massacre, he was feared by Zou Zou Huaiyi, who excluded and transferred him out of the Water Supervision Office, sending him to guard the construction site of the Great Ci'en Temple.

This allowed Liu Hai to avoid the disaster of being convicted in the Water Supervision Office, and later he was transferred into the Embroidered Uniform Guard by his elder and old friend, the former Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Battalion Commander Ge Ge Zhi Cheng, and had a period of glory.

But with Ge Ge Zhi Cheng being dismissed by the court and the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Battalion Commander Wang Wang Zhangjiang taking over, Liu Hai, the confidant of the former chief, was naturally difficult for Wang Wang Zhangjiang to treat well.

Fortunately, when the Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated the firearm workshop outside Jin Ling city, they found that the Lady Rongguo Mansion's Jia She was involved in the matter from the confiscated cargo boxes.

Ge Ge Zhi Cheng sent his confidant Liu Hai to the capital thousands of miles away to secretly report the news to the Embroidered Uniform Guard Command Office, and Liu Hai thus got to know the Embroidered Uniform Guard Command Assistant He He Honghui.

He He Honghui was impressed by Liu Hai's solid capability and had inadvertently mentioned it a few times in front of others, and Wang Wang Zhangjiang also knew about this.

Therefore, although Wang Wang Zhangjiang avoided Liu Hai, the confidant of his predecessor, he did not kill Liu Hai because of the face of his superiors in Love Shenjing.

He just excluded him from the core circle of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard, no longer letting him touch important official business, and only sent him to do errands and patrol the city.

Liu Hai had also experienced ups and downs in officialdom; his former superior who promoted him had fallen into trouble, and he understood that with a new superior taking over, he would definitely not have a good end.

This was just an officialdom convention, and it wasn't as if he hadn't had bad luck before. At least he could keep his official position now, and although he was depressed, he took it calmly afterwards.

……

Since the imperial decree was issued from Love Shenjing, the Jin Ling Tiren Academy President Zhen Zhen Yingjia was dismissed from office and investigated, and officials from the Three Judicial Offices went down to Jin Ling to review the old Zhen Zhen Shiwen case, the situation in Jin Ling city was turbulent.

The Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Battalion Commander's Office, according to convention, executed important official business in the city, and to prevent any accidents, stepped up patrols of the thirteen gates of Jin Ling.

A Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard Hundred-Household like Liu Hai who had lost power was naturally a suitable candidate for such errand-running tasks.

These days, he had been taking his men to patrol and wander around the various city gates of Jin Ling, and although it was a bit boring, it was also somewhat free.

Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard stepped up patrols of the various city gates, no one would worry that after Zhen Zhen Yingjia was dismissed from office, he would dare to abandon the city and flee.

Originally, he had only lost his official position; if he really did such a stupid thing, he would be convicted of treason, and the Zhen family's main branch would not be able to escape death.

So although Liu Hai patrolled the various city gates, it was just a routine matter, and he didn't worry about any situation.

……

The sky began to brighten, the inside and outside of the city gate became bustling, and the crowd entering and leaving gradually became dense.

Liu Hai took his men to patrol at the city gate, inspecting as usual, without any waves.

At this time, two carriages following each other gathered in the crowd leaving the city and were slowly heading toward the city gate.

A captain under Liu Hai, seeing the carriage approach, looked at it unintentionally and said: "Liu Tou, that carriage looks familiar. The person following the carriage is not the Zhen family steward Liu Linjiang Xian."

"A few days ago, when merchants went to the Zhen family shop to demand silver, Liu Tou took us to suppress the situation to avoid accidents. The person who came out to deal with the merchants at that time was this Liu Linjiang Xian."

"The Zhen family wouldn't want to seek death, would they? Could it be that they want to slip away at this time?"

Liu Hai's eyes brightened slightly, and he said: "You brat, you just love to make a fuss. The one who committed the crime is the Zhen family's main branch. Although Zhen Zhen Yingjia was dismissed from office, he hasn't been convicted yet."

"Liu Linjiang Xian is a steward of the second branch, and the Zhen family's second branch hasn't committed any crimes. What's so strange about them entering and leaving the city gate?"

"If the people of the Zhen family's main branch wanted to slip away, they wouldn't be so stupid as to leave the city in broad daylight."

"You guys keep an eye on the city gate, I'll go up and take a look."

……

Since the day Liu Linjiang Xian's wife returned to Gusu from Jin Ling, Zhen Zhen Fangqing knew that the main branch had already transferred gold and silver, and another crisis was about to arise.

Moreover, calculating the time, as long as the news of Chen Rong's arrest reached Love Shenjing, the imperial decree would be issued to Jin Ling within a few days, and the situation would become increasingly unpredictable.

She asked Liu Linjiang Xian's wife to return to Jin Ling and persuade her mother to leave Jin Ling as soon as possible, so as not to let things get out of control and let her widowed mother suffer an impact.

Liu Linjiang Xian's wife returned to Jin Ling, spending a day on the road, and returned to the Zhen mansion two days later.

After Old Madam Zhen's second daughter-in-law read her daughter's letter, she decided to leave Jin Ling temporarily and reported it to Old Madam Zhen.

Because the second daughter-in-law had the custom of returning to Huizhou to visit relatives every other year, Old Madam Zhen didn't take it to heart and naturally agreed immediately.

Just as the people of the second branch were preparing to pack their luggage, the imperial decree arrived in Jin Ling at this time, one or two days earlier than Zhen Zhen Fangqing expected.

The imperial envoy read the imperial decree at the Zhen mansion: Zhen Zhen Yingjia was difficult to shirk responsibility because of his son's crime, and was ordered to be dismissed from office and investigated that day.

The imperial will was issued, and the Zhen family was like a bolt from the blue, and the whole family was in a mess.

At this juncture, if the second daughter-in-law returned to her hometown to visit relatives, it would not be reasonable and would be suspected by others, so the matter could only be delayed.

Liu Linjiang Xian was worried that after the imperial decree was issued, the Zhen family's situation would worsen, and if time dragged on, even the second branch would not be able to leave the city.

So a few days after the imperial decree was issued, when the Zhen mansion's crowd's emotions calmed down a little, he persuaded the second daughter-in-law to bring up the matter of visiting relatives again.

Because this matter had been mentioned to the Old Madam before, bringing up the old matter did not attract attention. Besides, the Old Madam was worried about the main branch's affairs.

The second daughter-in-law was just a widow; whether she was at home or not did not affect the overall situation at all.

Now that the house was in a mess inside and out, letting her go back to her mother's house to settle down for a few days was not a bad thing.

The second daughter-in-law got permission and set off early this morning, which made Liu Linjiang Xian breathe a sigh of relief.

Because the speed of the imperial decree from Love Shenjing had exceeded his and Zhen Zhen Fangqing's expectations, it was equally difficult to predict when the next imperial decree would arrive.

Jin Ling had become a dangerous place, and taking advantage of the fact that the Zhen family's situation had not completely worsened, letting the second daughter-in-law escape as soon as possible was the best policy.

……

These days, there were Embroidered Uniform Guards patrolling and inspecting at each city gate, and Liu Linjiang Xian had long known about this.

But now the Zhen family had not been finally convicted, and the second branch, because of Zhen Zhen Fangqing, was not in a state of guilt. If they were secretly sent out of the city and failed, it would be counterproductive.

Using the second daughter-in-law's visit to relatives as an excuse to leave the city under normal circumstances was a safe method, and Zhen Zhen Fangqing had specifically instructed it.

Moreover, when Jia Cong temporarily set up a government office in the Ministry of Works in Jin Ling, Liu Linjiang Xian had once sent him a letter, and thus knew that Liu Hai and Jia Cong were old friends……

This time he chose to leave the city through Jubao Gate, and he was particularly careful. The Embroidered Uniform Guards patrolling at Jubao Gate these days were exactly Liu Hai and his men.

When the carriage approached the city gate, Liu Linjiang Xian saw that the Embroidered Uniform Guard who came up to question them was not another ordinary captain, but Hundred-Household Liu Hai.

This subtle move had an unspoken understanding beyond words, which only those who were well-versed in human relationships could understand. Liu Linjiang Xian felt a slight relief in his heart.

Liu Hai had no smile on his face and asked calmly: "Isn't this Steward Liu? Where are you going so early in the morning?"

Liu Linjiang Xian hurriedly accompanied him with a smile: "So it's Hundred-Household Liu. My second daughter-in-law received a letter from Huizhou saying that the Old Madam at home is not in good health, so she is rushing to her mother's house to visit relatives."

"The Old Madam in Huizhou is almost seventy years old. At this age, being in poor health is a dangerous matter. Our second daughter-in-law is anxious, so she set off early in the morning."

Liu Hai nodded and asked: "I heard that your third young lady received the grace of the Retired Emperor and has been mourning for the Old Imperial Consort at the Imperial Mausoleum for half a year."

"Calculating the time, the period of great mourning has passed. Now that the Zhen family is in an eventful autumn, the third young lady is a leader of the Zhen family, I'm afraid she will be in a hurry to return."

Liu Linjiang Xian smiled: "Hundred-Household Liu has very well-informed news. The third young lady did mourn at the Imperial Mausoleum for half a year. Now the time limit has arrived, and she has already sent a letter home, so she should be on her way back."

"The third young lady once mentioned in her spare time that Hundred-Household Liu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the Count of Lord Weiyuan were old friends, so he is a friend of our Zhen family's second branch, and told us not to be slow in our daily treatment."

"A few days ago, the Zhen family shop was besieged and harassed by merchants, thanks to Hundred-Household Liu leading the Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers to protect it, the Zhen family's second branch is extremely grateful."

"I have been busy inside and out these past few days, and I have lost my etiquette. When the third young lady returns to Jin Ling, she will definitely ask me to express her gratitude."

A smile appeared on Liu Hai's face, and he said: "Steward Liu is too polite. I was just doing my duty and following routine."

"It's getting late now, I just asked a little. Steward Liu, please go ahead. As the saying goes, filial piety comes first, so as not to delay your second daughter-in-law's journey."

Liu Linjiang Xian smiled all over his face, took out a heavy money bag, and stuffed it into Liu Hai's hand without changing his expression.

He said: "Last time, I let the Embroidered Uniform Guard brothers guard the shop, and they were exposed to the hot sun all day without even a sip of water."

"I have been uneasy in my heart. When the third young lady comes back and knows about this, she will definitely blame me for being old and confused."

"These are tips for Hundred-Household Liu and the brothers to drink tea and wine, please don't dislike them."

Liu Hai smiled indifferently, beckoned behind him, and the captain who had just spoken hurriedly ran over and asked: "Liu Tou, what are your orders?"

He said: "Steward Liu said that you guys worked hard guarding the Zhen family shop last time, and he wants to treat you guys to wine, why don't you thank him."

The captain was stunned for a moment and hurriedly said: "Then thank you, Steward Liu."

After the Zhen family's second branch's carriage drove out of the city gate, the captain asked: "Liu Tou, just let them leave the city like this?"

Liu Hai glanced at him sideways and said: "You brat, you are just stubborn. Didn't I tell you that the one who committed the crime is the Zhen family's main branch, and the second branch is not in a state of guilt."

"The second branch's third young lady is someone who has been rewarded by the Retired Emperor. Even if Zhen Zhen Yingjia is convicted, who would dare to touch the widow and daughter of the second branch."

The captain was suddenly enlightened and said: "The Retired Emperor appreciates the third young lady of the Zhen family, that is amazing. No wonder Liu Tou gives them face."

Liu Hai said: "Do you know the Count of Lord Weiyuan, Jia Cong?"

The captain smiled: "How could I not know that? That is a great hero who pacified the Jurchens. He was granted a title at only ten years old. Even in plays, there isn't such a proud person."

"When we brothers chat and brag in our spare time, we all admire the Count of Lord Weiyuan very much."

Liu Hai smiled: "The third young lady of the Zhen family and the Count of Lord Weiyuan were granted a marriage by the palace. Although the marriage was shelved because of her father's mourning, this royal status is real."

"This third young lady is the woman of the Count of Lord Weiyuan who hasn't entered the door yet. Her mother wants to return to her hometown to fulfill filial piety, do you think you can stop her from going?"

The young captain shook his head like a rattle and said: "That is definitely not possible. Being able to provide convenience to the Count of Lord Weiyuan's woman is a very honorable thing."

"Liu Tou is still clear in his heart. Otherwise, we wouldn't know the roots and would definitely do stupid things. Doing things in Jin Ling city, having more human relationships means more paths, it's definitely the right thing."

A smile appeared on Liu Linjiang Xian's face. The people who patrolled the city with him today were all his confidants for many years.

When he was promoted to the Embroidered Uniform Guard by Ge Ge Zhi Cheng, he was regarded as a person to be relied upon.

He also took advantage of that pride to bring the small school who was his confidant when he served in the Water Supervision Office into the Embroidered Uniform Guard one after another, and they were still under his command today.

Liu Hai threw the money bag to the small school and said: "Distribute this silver to the brothers, and use the rest to set up two tables of top-grade banquets, and let everyone have a good drink after work."

"You and the brothers should explain that eating and drinking is eating and drinking, but keep your mouths shut, don't talk nonsense after drinking, it's not easy to get some human relationships and don't ruin them."

The small school smiled: "Liu Tou, don't worry, if we don't even have this sense of proportion, how can we have the face to follow you."

After the small school took the money bag and walked away, Liu Hai looked at the Zhen family's second branch carriage that had gone far away, his eyes thoughtful……

……

Love Shenjing, Ningrong Street, Count's Mansion.

In the afternoon, the sun was shining brightly, the air was scorched hot, the street was empty, and there were almost no passersby.

Even if a few passersby passed by, they all walked under the shadows of the eaves on both sides of the street to avoid the fierce summer heat.

At this time, the sound of urgent horse hooves rang out at the entrance of Ningrong Street, making the two passersby in the shadows by the street look back and gaze.

I saw a fast horse rushing into the entrance of Ningrong Street, the horse was covered in sweat and panting, seeming to have used all its strength to run.

But the rider on the horse was still not satisfied, the horse whip in his hand danced, making sharp explosions one after another.

Fortunately, there were no pedestrians in the middle of the street, which did not hinder the rider from galloping, and the horse rushed all the way to the Jia family's East Prefecture before the rider pulled the horse to a stop.

The galloping horse was suddenly tightened by the reins, and it hissed and stood up on its hind legs, startling the retainers at the corner gate.

The rider on the horse flew off the horse and dragged the horse into the corner gate.

He said in a hoarse voice: "This little one is from the Zhen family of Jin Ling, and was ordered by the third young lady of the Zhen family to come from Jiangnan."

"This little one is sending an urgent letter to the Count of Lord Weiyuan, which must be handed to the Count personally. It is a matter of great urgency, please report it as soon as possible."

Since Jia Cong established his mansion and settled down, he had become famous in the past two years, and there were countless people who came to visit with various thoughts, and the reasons for seeking an audience were even more varied.

These retainers guarding the gate had seen all kinds of people, and their own Count was a low-key person, so they would not see any strangers they didn't know.

So, any stranger who came to the door and wanted to see the Count of Lord Weiyuan would definitely not succeed if the retainers guarding the gate had their way.

This rider rushed through the street, looking intimidating, and also looked very unfamiliar. According to convention, the retainers would mostly drive him away.

But the visitor said he was from the Zhen family of Jin Ling and was sending an urgent letter to the third young lady of the Zhen family, so the retainers had to be cautious and dared not drive people away indiscriminately.

Everyone in the mansion knew that the third young lady of the Zhen family was originally going to be married to the Count. If it weren't for the change, this young lady would almost have become the mistress of the house.

Although the marriage between the two families did not happen, the relationship with the Count was extraordinary. Since she wanted to send a letter to the Count, the retainers guarding the gate dared not be negligent and hurriedly asked someone to pass a message to the steward.

The steward of the East Prefecture often walked between the two mansions, so he knew many people.

Seeing the rider, he recognized him a little and asked: "Little brother looks familiar, it seems you were there when the Zhen family came to the mansion to pay respects to the old master last time."

Hearing this, the man hurriedly said: "The steward really has a good memory, I am the third young lady's errand boy Wang Hai, who came to pay respects to the old master with Liu Linjiang Xian's wife last time."

Hearing him mention Liu Linjiang Xian's wife, the steward knew that the visitor was indeed from the Zhen family, and said: "The Count is currently in the government office, you can't see him now."

Wang Hai said: "I have a personal letter from the third young lady, and the matter is urgent, so I need to hand it to the Count immediately."

"Please ask the steward to send a message to the Count, asking the Count to return to the mansion to meet. If I delay the third young lady's major event, I really can't afford the blame."

Seeing Wang Hai's urgent expression, the steward knew that there must be a major event, and he dared not be careless in his heart.

Because the firearm workshop outside the city where Jia Cong worked was always heavily guarded, and there were a large number of imperial guards guarding the periphery.

The steward was worried that if he asked others to pass the message, they might not be able to deal with it smoothly, so he went to pass the message himself.

Otherwise, if he delayed the Count's and the third young lady's major event, that would be terrible.

Before leaving, the steward asked Wang Hai to wait in the side hall of the outer courtyard. Wang Hai refused, saying that he would wait at the corner gate and would see Jia Cong as soon as he returned to the mansion.

Seeing him so urgent and stubborn, the steward did not insist and asked the retainers to put a chair in the shade, letting him sit there and wait.

Wang Hai waited at the east corner gate for a long time, the noon sun had already shifted to the west, but he still didn't see the shadow of the steward and Jia Cong, and he couldn't help but feel anxious in his heart.

At this time, the sound of rumbling carriages came from the entrance of Ningrong Street, and he saw four carriages following each other, heading this way.

Wang Hai's heart moved, and he subconsciously avoided into the shadows of the corner gate, watching these carriages pass by the East Prefecture and head straight to the West Prefecture.

Just as the carriages passed by, the curtain of one of the carriages was lifted, revealing the face of a woman.

Seeing the woman's appearance, Wang Hai's face changed drastically…… (End of chapter)