Chapter 690: Affectionate Feelings at the Meal

Love Shenjing, Chengdong, Zhen Family Villa.

Yao Shouan saw that Liu Baozheng's wife had already stated her identity, yet those officials still didn't show mercy, slapping her until her mouth and face were full of blood.

Now that she had fallen to the ground, her shape was extremely embarrassed, her cheeks swollen, not only unable to speak, but not even daring to cry out.

In the Zhen family's great courtyard, Liu Baozheng's wife was the First Mistress's confidante, shrewd and capable, good at speaking, and was a formidable woman.

Even if she was just an old slave of the Zhen family, Yao Shouan usually respected her three points. Now, just because she said two words of self-elevation, she was beaten like a dead dog by the officials.

It turned out that the Love Shenjing's officials were so arrogant, not even giving face to the Prince's Prefecture. Yao Shouan thought of these things, his face turned gray with fright, and his legs couldn't help but tremble.

That catcher sneered, "The Jin Ling Zhen family is involved in the private manufacture of firearms. Ten days ago, the Emperor issued an imperial decree to dismiss Zhen Yingjia from office for investigation."

"This cheap woman still dares to take him out to show off. Do you think this is Jin Ling? Under the feet of the Son of Heaven, deceiving officials, I think you are looking for death!"

Yao Shouan heard this and was shocked. Because when they left Jin Ling, the imperial decree had not yet been issued, and he didn't know that Zhen Yingjia had been dismissed from office for investigation.

Only then did he understand why Liu Baozheng's wife stated her identity, and these officials were so unwelcoming……

Yao Shouan hurriedly said, "We left Jin Ling half a month ago and really didn't know that our master had also been dismissed from office."

"But we are indeed good people, entering the capital to handle matters for the master, absolutely no misconduct. Please, official, look at the face of the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture and give us more consideration."

"This woman offended the officials with her words, it was her fault, we are willing to accept punishment. I am willing to offer a box of wealth as an apology, please accept it, official."

That catcher heard Yao Shouan say he wanted to offer a box of wealth, and his eyes shone. Each box here was worth at least ten or twenty thousand taels. This was a fortune!

Liu Binfang heard this, but remained calm, and asked, "Could it be that these boxes are to be sent to the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture?"

Yao Shouan heard this and was slightly stunned. Before leaving the capital, Zhen Yingjia and his wife had instructed that the matter of hiding silver should not easily implicate the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture.

But now that the Jia family's path was cut off, and the Zhen'an Prefecture officials had forced their way to the door, it was a moment of urgency.

In this huge Love Shenjing, the only life-saving straw for Yao Shouan was the Second Young Lady of the First Branch, the Princess of Beijijing.

Even if he still had scruples about implicating the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture, he couldn't care less at this moment, otherwise, these thirteen boxes of private wealth wouldn't be able to keep even one……

He stammered, "These things…… are indeed family gifts from my mistress to the Second Young Lady."

Liu Binfang could not help but smile and said, "Your mistress truly dotes on her daughter; she is indeed generous and open-handed. If that is the case, this matter will be difficult to handle."

"Xu Catcher, take everyone and the boxes here into custody. This official will write a document after returning to the yamen and immediately transfer them to the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

……

As soon as this was said, not only did it scare away Yao Shouan's three souls and seven spirits, but even Catcher Xu was full of confusion.

He said, "Official, this is a tip we received in Zhen'an Prefecture. The Zhen family is already a broken family, yet they dare to secretly transport so much gold and silver into the Love Shenjing."

"This is absolutely a major case. These two people in charge, no matter how you look at them, are straw bags. As long as you use some torture, they will all confess clearly."

"This matter falling into our hands is a great opportunity. Besides, these thirteen boxes of things……, such merit is just given to the Embroidered Uniform Guard for nothing?"

That Catcher Xu's voice lowered, but his greed was already evident. After all, these thirteen boxes of gold and silver, intercepting a few boxes to hand over, was a very common thing in officialdom. Doing it without leaving traces was not too difficult.

For these catchers and yamen runners, a salary of a few dozen taels a year made the temptation of these dozen boxes of gold and silver hard to resist.

Liu Binfang heard Catcher Xu's words, but his face was expressionless.

He said leisurely, "Silver is a good thing, who doesn't like it? But some silver, if touched, will kill people."

Catcher Xu heard this and didn't believe it, saying, "Official, I heard that the Three Judicial Offices are reviewing the case in Jin Ling, and now it has been confirmed that the Zhen family matter is true."

"Yesterday, the imperial decree was issued in the palace to convict them. Although I don't know the content of the imperial decree, according to previous similar experiences, the Zhen family probably won't escape the crime of raiding the house."

"A broken noble family, just a drowning dog, wouldn't it be as serious as the official said?"

Liu Binfang said, "You think things too lightly. The Zhen family case is handled by the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Wang Zhangjiang, the thousand-household of the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard, is a person at the tip of the human pyramid."

"The Jin Ling Zhen family is already a family of criminals. If I were him, I wouldn't let the Zhen family transport more than a dozen boxes of gold and silver out of Jin Ling city under my nose."

"This Wang official is meticulous and capable, only higher than us, never more careless than us. Letting a long line catch a big fish is a matter of convenience."

"If I guessed correctly, the type and quantity of things in the boxes have probably been registered in the Embroidered Uniform Guard's secret accounts."

"Things are not afraid of ten thousand, just afraid of the unexpected. This person actually wants to send a box of things to us, this is not a good thing."

"As long as a piece of silver is missing from the box, our lives and futures might all be thrown in."

"At that time, losing an official position is a small matter; whether we live or die will be up to others."

"Someone giving our Zhen'an Prefecture a tip is giving us an opportunity. If we have an ugly way of eating and finally have an accident, then it will become a joke."

Catcher Xu heard this and felt cold in his heart. Thinking carefully about Liu Binfang's words, it was indeed extremely reasonable, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

He said, "The official is still thoughtful. I am a rough person, almost ruining the matter."

……

Liu Binfang said, "This is just one layer. The matron just spoke nonsense, and this person said the boxes were to be sent to the Princess of Beijijing."

"A broken family of criminals, secretly transporting more than a dozen boxes of gold and silver into the Love Shenjing, and also implicating the Prince's Prefecture—this matter is very ugly."

"Our Zhen'an Prefecture is a civil and criminal yamen, without such a foundation, we can't wear such a big hat."

"Throwing this hot potato to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to handle, they will definitely like it, and we will also owe a favor."

"As long as the people and things are handed over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard intact, Zhen'an Prefecture will retreat completely, and we will not lack a share of the merit."

That Catcher Xu was just a rough person, without Liu Binfang's meticulous and fierce mind. Hearing the other party's words, he felt enlightened.

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: this scholar's mind is truly shrewd and fierce, how did he figure it out?

No wonder the previous prefecture governor was convicted and beheaded, and Liu Binfang, as a trusted subordinate, not only had no trouble but had been promoted in the past two years……

……

Yao Shouan heard that they were to be transferred to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and was almost paralyzed with fright.

The Zhen family's old case was bitten by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, which caused the family's decline. The Zhen family feared the Embroidered Uniform Guard like a tiger.

Hearing that they were to be transferred to the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Yao Shouan knelt on the ground with a thud, begging Liu Binfang incessantly, and even spoke a pile of words without choosing his words.

Liu Baozheng's wife was beaten by Catcher Xu until her mouth was crooked and her tongue was broken. Even if she couldn't speak, she still murmured, her face full of fear.

Liu Binfang frowned and said, "Block their mouths. Let them go to the Embroidered Uniform Guard's Zhao Prison to talk. We hear too much and it causes trouble."

Catcher Xu kicked the chattering Yao Shouan to the ground, personally tied his hands, didn't know where he found an old rag, and blocked his mouth tightly.

He also had someone do the same to Liu Baozheng's wife. Poor thing, she was also a decent slave in the Zhen family, even in front of Wang Xifeng and others, she could talk freely.

Now, not only was her face lost, her life and death were uncertain, and the dirty thing stuffed in her mouth almost suffocated her, nauseating but unable to vomit……

Liu Binfang watched the Zhen family members all being taken out of the villa, and the yamen runners prepared carriages to transport the dozen or so boxes away.

At this time, he suddenly thought, wouldn't that person have even predicted this step of the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture in advance……

But he remembered the past. At that age, he was already so dense and ruthless, and now he was even better than before, which was not strange.

……

Count's Prefecture, Seeing Tan Chun's Courtyard.

Jia Cong was walking into the main room and saw Cuimo bringing out hot water. Seeing him, she smiled, "Cong Sanye is here. The Young Lady is changing clothes, please wait a moment."

Jia Cong knew that Seeing Tan Chun had injured her hands, and Zhang Youshi had instructed that within ten days, her hands were not allowed to move. These days, dressing and bathing were all served by maids.

He just waited for a while, and Shi Shu came out to invite him in.

Jia Cong entered the inner room and saw Seeing Tan Chun sitting on the edge of the bed, her complexion much better than the day before, with a slight flush on her cheeks.

Jia Cong entered the inner chamber and saw Tan Chun sitting by the bed; her complexion was much better than the day before, and there was already a faint rosy flush on her cheeks.

Jia Cong saw her hands that had just changed ointment and gauze, half of which were covered in her sleeves, and at first glance, she didn't look like someone with injured hands.

The room still had the warm, sweet scent of a girl's body after bathing, which was refreshing and intoxicating……

Seeing Tan Chun smiled and said, "Sorry to trouble Third Brother for worrying, coming to see me every day, even several times a day."

Jia Cong said, "Third Sister has been pampered and spoiled since childhood, never having suffered such bitterness, so I naturally have to come and see more."

"Are the injuries on your hands better? Is there still pain now?"

Jia Cong said, reaching into Seeing Tan Chun's sleeve, holding her bandaged hands in his, and carefully gripping them. Seeing Tan Chun couldn't help but blush slightly.

Jia Cong said, "The swelling has gone down compared to the day before, Dr. Zhang's ointment is truly a good thing."

Seeing Tan Chun said, "Third Brother, you don't know, the first day I applied this ointment, it was truly painful, like many small knives scratching on my hands."

"I didn't sleep all night because of the pain, and only fell into a confused sleep in the second half of the night, but when I got up the second day, the pain on my hands was gone, and it felt much more comfortable."

"Dr. Zhang's ointment is indeed somewhat effective."

Jia Cong heard this, slightly stunned, feeling that Seeing Tan Chun's description of the ointment's properties made him feel somewhat familiar……

He said, "I suppose good healing ointments should be like this. When the medicine takes effect at the beginning of application, the pain naturally dissipates after the blood vessels and bruises are cleared."

At this time, Cuimo brought a tray over, which had a porridge bowl, steaming, fragrant, and beside it was a small dish of eggplant.

Because Seeing Tan Chun injured her hands and couldn't move them herself, she had to be fed by maids these days.

To facilitate eating, the top-grade rice was boiled into thin porridge, added with chopped chicken, vegetables, and bone soup, and served with a small dish of eggplant, which was quite sweet.

Jia Cong realized that he had come at the right time, just approaching lunchtime, and happened to catch Seeing Tan Chun's mealtime.

Seeing Tan Chun said, "Cuimo, put the things aside, I have something to talk to Third Brother about."

Jia Cong smiled, "That's not necessary. Let Cuimo serve you lunch, I will just accompany you. Now that you are recuperating, you can't let my sister go hungry."

Seeing Tan Chun heard this and didn't mind. The siblings had been close since childhood, so naturally, they didn't need to be polite.

Cuimo brought the porridge bowl and fed a few mouthfuls, while Jia Cong just talked about some idle things on the side.

Seeing Tan Chun said, "Third Brother, don't go back to your own courtyard to eat, eat here for convenience. I have been eating quite deliciously these days."

"Second Sister had the inner courtyard kitchen make quite a lot, and daily Shi Shu and Cuimo follow along to eat. I will have them take some for Third Brother to taste together."

"Cuimo, go to the kitchen and get a portion for Third Brother."

Jia Cong smiled, "That is naturally good, I will bother Third Sister for a meal."

Cuimo quickly agreed, put down the porridge bowl, and left the room.

Jia Cong picked up the porridge bowl and smiled, "If I wait for Cuimo to come back, the hot porridge will be cold and tasteless. Let me serve Third Sister once."

Seeing Tan Chun heard this, her pretty face flushed red.

She said, "Third Brother, how can this be? How can I let a man like you do this kind of thing? It's too improper for people to see."

Seeing Tan Chun, a noble daughter of a noble family, had been educated since childhood: men are positive yang, women are auxiliary yin, which is a matter of heaven and earth.

Household chores, food, clothing, housing, and transportation are only for women to handle; there is no reason for a brother or head of the family to do it for her.

But she didn't know that in the eyes of this cousin brother of hers, he didn't take this to heart at all.

Jia Cong smiled, "In the inner house, no one saw it, what does it matter?"

"Third Sister suffered and suffered for the family's disaster, so it is only right and proper for me to serve you once……"

Seeing Tan Chun's pretty face was pink, and she was dizzy from his words, seemingly unable to produce any more resistance, and opened her cherry lips involuntarily, being fed by him.

With the first mouthful, there was the second. The embroidery room was filled with the fragrance of rice porridge, permeating a kind of unspeakable intimacy and warmth.

Seeing Tan Chun was somewhat dizzy, being fed by Jia Cong mouthful after mouthful, looking at his deep, autumn-pool-like bright eyes, filled with a gentle and doting smile.

Her heart was floating, somewhat unable to control herself, somewhat addicted to it, somewhat unable to extricate herself.

She felt that this bowl of ordinary porridge was the most delicious and sweet taste she had ever tasted in her life……

When Cuimo brought Jia Cong's meal from the kitchen, she found an empty porridge bowl on the bedside desk.

She couldn't help but feel somewhat strange in her heart. Didn't the Young Lady say she couldn't move her hands……

However, she was also a clever girl, knowing that Cong Sanye and the Young Lady were the closest and best since childhood, it was mostly because she went out, and Cong Sanye moved his hands himself……

She saw her Young Lady's blushing appearance and knew she hadn't guessed wrong, her corners of the mouth tightly pursed to hold back a smile.

She brought the tray to Jia Cong and smiled, "Cong Sanye, the kitchen has ready-made ones, I was worried it wouldn't be fragrant."

"I had them redo a portion, Cong Sanye, eat while it's hot."

……

Great Zhou Palace, Ganyang Palace.

The two square bronze ice mirrors beside the imperial desk emitted ethereal white cold air, bringing a pleasant coolness to the hall.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was still like in the past, entering Ganyang Hall after the morning court to review memorials, during which he summoned officials twice to discuss matters in the hall.

After lunch, he rested for a moment and began to review the piled-up memorials again.

In fact, most of these memorials had gone through the cabinet's ticket drafting, but Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao was a person with extremely strong opinions and would never follow the crowd.

Although the cabinet was composed of heavy ministers with deep knowledge and qualifications, most of the ticket drafting and remonstrances were well-founded and hit the point.

But for memorials requiring items, Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao would still carefully scrutinize the content of the memorials and would not rely too much on the cabinet's ticket drafting suggestions.

At this time, the eunuch on duty in Ganyang Hall, Yuan Jing, walked into the hall, paid respects, and reported: "Reporting to the Emperor, a report from outside the palace says that the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Kun is requesting an audience outside the Fengtian Gate."

"He says there is a sudden event in the Jin Ling Zhen family and wants to report it to the Emperor."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao heard about the sudden event in the Zhen family and couldn't help but focus slightly, saying, "Summon him to the hall for an audience."

After a short while, Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Xu Kun stepped into the hall. Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao waited for him to perform the rites of monarch and subject before asking, "What sudden event is there in the Zhen family?"

Xu Kun said, "Reporting to the Emperor, yesterday someone reported to Zhen'an Prefecture that there was a villa in the east of the city where a group of guests from the south had moved in, with four carriages."

"These people carried more than a dozen boxes of unknown origin, their movements were strange, and they entered and exited the noble families of the Love Shenjing, their tracks quite suspicious."

"Zhen'an Prefecture Judge Liu Binfang led people to investigate and found that these people were from the Jin Ling Zhen family, having left Jin Ling half a month ago."

"They carried thirteen large boxes with them, filled with the private wealth of the Zhen family's First Branch."

"According to the person in charge, these thirteen boxes of wealth were family gifts from the Zhen family's First Mistress to the Princess of Beijijing."

"Because the matter involved a Prince, it was of great importance. Liu Binfang didn't dare to handle it alone, so he immediately wrote to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and transferred the criminals and property that day."

"The thirteen boxes were counted and converted to 173,450 taels, a huge amount."

"The people in charge of this matter are Yao Shouan, the brother-in-law of Zhen Yingjia, and Liu, the personal maid of Zhen Yingjia's wife."

"These two entered the Zhao Prison and initially tried to deny and shirk, and used the name of the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture to try to pray for mercy and shirk."

"After the Embroidered Uniform Guard's heavy torture, they finally confessed everything truthfully."

"They were ordered by Zhen Yingjia and his wife because they feared the court's punishment, the loss of family wealth, and the inability to continue their glory, so they secretly transported the First Branch's private wealth to the Love Shenjing and hid it in the door of a noble family."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao snorted coldly and said, "Zhen Yingjia is so bold! Having committed a crime, he doesn't know how to repent, wants to escape the law, associates with noble families, and hides gold and silver!"

He pondered slightly and asked in a cold voice, "They came to the capital to hide silver, which noble family were they prepared to hide it in?"

Xu Kun said, "Reporting to the Emperor, according to the two, they originally wanted to hide the thirteen boxes in the Jia family of the Love Shenjing."

"Because the Zhen and Jia families were both Jin Ling noble families, they had been in contact for generations, and the Count of Weiyuan, Jia Cong, and the Zhen family's Second Branch had a marriage proposal."

"So Zhen Yingjia relied on this and selected the Jia family as the place to hide the silver."

"However, after these two arrived in the capital, they first entered Rongguo Prefecture and the East Side Courtyard, and were refused by the Wang woman of Rongguo Prefecture and Jia Zheng's wife."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao heard that the Zhen family wanted to hide silver in the Jia family of the Love Shenjing, and his face turned gloomy instantly, but after hearing Xu Kun's subsequent words, his face eased somewhat.

He said, "Although Jia Cong is young, he is a shrewd person and knows the weight of things, not disappointing me."

Xu Kun continued, "The two failed to hide silver in the Jia family, so they prepared to take the path of the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture."

"Before the Zhen'an Prefecture investigation, they had already sent a door post to the Prince's Prefecture."

"Zhen'an Prefecture's Liu Binfang handled things quite meticulously. After he took away the criminals and silver boxes, he arranged for two yamen runners to guard the villa in plain clothes."

"Sure enough, they received a reply from the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture, which stated the time for visiting the door, and the Princess of Beijijing was going to entertain guests from an old family."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao sneered coldly, "Thirteen boxes, 170,000 taels of wealth, the amount is indeed not small, enough to move a Prince of a different surname."

"Guo Lin, send someone to ask Shui Rong for me: the Beijijing Prince's Prefecture has received imperial grace for generations. Among the old nobles who founded the country, only the Beijijing Prince's line still inherits the Prince's title."

"Is the title property held by the Prince's Prefecture, rewarded by previous kings, not enough for the Prince's Prefecture to chew on? Does he still feel it is not enough, and still covets the private hidden family silver of a criminal official!"

Guo Lin quickly responded, "This servant obeys the decree, and will arrange for someone to go to the Prince's Prefecture to ask."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao suddenly asked, "Xu Kun, who exactly reported this matter to Zhen'an Prefecture?" (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 691 =====

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao suddenly asked, "Xu Kun, who exactly reported this matter to the Zhen'an Prefecture?" (End of chapter)