Chapter 888: Delicate Sorrow Shakes the Noble Household

Great Zhou Palace, Qanyang Palace, Rear Hall Warm Pavilion.

As soon as Guo Lin heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's words, he immediately understood the meaning; the Emperor said he heard him mention Xue Pan, but it was just a pretext in front of foreign ministers.

The reason the Emperor knew this person, Xue Pan, was because last year Jia She was involved in the private transport of firearms and also involved in the smuggling of salt and iron in the Nine Borders.

The Zhongche Office monitored the movements of the Rongguo Prefecture according to the usual practice, and the Emperor browsed the secret reports of the Zhongche Office every day.

Among them were matters related to the Rongguo Prefecture, and it also recorded the affairs of the Jin Ling Xue family, not only mentioning their residence in the Jia mansion but also mentioning the two Xue children.

That is why the Emperor knew about Xue Pan, but it was not easy to tell the Dali Temple Minister about this matter.

Even though the Zhongche Office monitoring the noble officials of the imperial court had long been an open secret inside and outside the wild, it was still not easy to speak out on the official side.

Guo Lin was Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's trusted aide, and hearing the Emperor suddenly ask about Xue Pan, he immediately understood.

He said, "Reporting to the Emperor, when the Emperor was free from government affairs last time, the slave did say some idle words, wanting to relieve the Emperor's boredom."

"The Xue family is a Jin Ling family and was once listed as one of the four major families of Jin Ling with the Rongguo Jia family; the family had been imperial merchants of the Imperial Household Department for generations, and the family assets were quite wealthy."

"The Xue family's main branch, Wang Shi, was born into the Jin Ling Wang family; the Wang family was listed as one of the four major families of Jin Ling with the Jia family and the Xue family."

"Xue Wang Shi and the wife of Jia Zheng of the Rongguo Prefecture, and the Jingying Military Governor Wang Ziteng, the three of them are siblings, and the three families are generations of marriage ties."

"Because of this kinship, Xue Wang Shi brought a pair of children to move to the Love Shenjing a few years ago and lived in the Lixiang Courtyard of the Rongguo Prefecture."

"After the second branch, Jia Zheng and his wife, moved away from the main mansion, the Xue Wang Shi family still lived in the Lixiang Courtyard of the Jia mansion, and the Xue and Jia families are quite close daily."

When Wei Guanyao heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's words, his heart felt slightly cold; as an old official of the imperial court, he had long known a heart disease of the Emperor.

In the early years, the Emperor ascended the throne with a strange opportunity, because it involved the Retired Emperor and Prince Wu.

The Four Kings and Eight Dukes all watched coldly, which made the Emperor feel cold when he first arrived.

Because the Emperor was wary of the deep-rooted power of the old nobility, he had been weakening and suppressing the Four Kings and Eight Dukes for more than ten years since his ascension.

How many idle nobles were holed up in the Five-Army Governor's Office; three years ago, the Emperor weakened the Ningguo Prefecture, rejected Prince Beijing's idea of seeking a military position, and last year downgraded the Rongguo title.

The thing the Emperor feared most was these old noble families connecting with each other, being of the same breath and branch, secretly forming power, and causing shade to the officialdom and imperial government.

The Jia, Xue, and Wang families were closely connected, and Xue Pan was involved in the major case of the military grain depot leak, touching the Emperor's most sensitive heartstrings; how could he not be moved?

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said, "In this way, Xue Pan and Jia Cong are also family friends, relatives of the same generation; they live in one mansion, are they also close?"

When Wei Guanyao heard this from Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao, his heart felt goosebumps; the major case of the military grain depot leak was of great importance and had already involved a military governor on the expedition against the Mongols.

Does it still have to involve Jia Cong, who leads an army alone? The Emperor's heart to suppress the old nobility is really so hot; doesn't he worry about affecting the war?

Guo Lin heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's words and immediately understood, not as worried as Wei Guanyao.

He said, "The Emperor's words are reasonable, but the Xue family's matter is different; that Xue Pan is a dissolute son, idling every day, not doing his proper job."

"Jia Cong is a talented person famous in the world, a dignified Hanlin academician; the two have completely different temperaments and aspirations; although they are in the same mansion, I am afraid they never have dealings."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao heard Guo Lin's words, and the line of his lips tightened, instantly relaxing.

Guo Lin was Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's trusted eunuch and the Director of the Zhongche Office; he had served the Emperor for many years, and the two had long had a deep tacit understanding.

Guo Lin's words sounded like speculation, but Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao knew clearly in his heart that every word Guo Lin said in front of the Emperor was obtained through secret investigation by the Zhongche Office.

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao said, "In my opinion, it should be like this; Jia Cong is mature for his age, has outstanding talent, and is full of brocade."

"How could he look at a dissolute person like Xue Pan? Naturally, he wouldn't associate with him."

"Wei Aiqing, according to your memorial, Chen Ruichang was able to get to know Duan Chunjiang because Xue Pan introduced them."

"Apart from this, did Xue Pan also participate in the leaking of military secrets!"

Wei Guanyao heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's question, and his heart felt cold; as long as he said one yes, I am afraid the whole Xue family would not survive.

The Emperor had some scruples about the Qi State Duke's mansion, but for a family of imperial merchants for generations, how could he have any concern?

If Xue Pan not only introduced them but also involved the actual leaking of military secrets, the Xue family's end would definitely be more tragic than the Jin Ling Zhen family.

The Emperor mostly wanted to execute the Xue family to comfort the tens of thousands of dead souls, but in fact, he was using the death of the Jin Ling Xue family to deter and beat the old nobility of the Four Kings and Eight Dukes.

Wei Guanyao had been in the officialdom for many years, understood the risks of the imperial court's entanglement, and knew the deep and dangerous calculations of Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao.

But he was born from a legitimate imperial examination, and in his bones, his adherence to the Tao was rigorous; relying on his own outstanding talent, he obtained the position of the first official of the Three Judicial Offices.

He, Liu Jingan, Li Jizong, and Guo Youchang were all the same kind of people; the Taoist integrity and official reputation were more important than life.

Even if Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's words seemed to have a vague inclination, Wei Guanyao would not flatter the superior and speak black and white.

He said in a condensed voice, "Reporting to the Emperor, according to Dali Temple's investigation, Xue Pan only introduced Duan Chunjiang and Chen Ruichang, but did not participate in the leaking of secrets."

"According to the laws of the Three Judicial Offices, Xue Pan is indeed an unintentional mistake, and there should be no intentional situation; if he is convicted according to the law, the Three Judicial Offices must weigh it."

Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's face sank, "He is an unintentional mistake, but he has caused a monstrous disaster; how can he be washed clean by the word unintentional!"

"Duan Chunjiang is a low-ranking grain merchant; if there were no introduction from Xue Pan, how could he get to know the grandson of the Duke, and how could he do such a heaven-piercing thing!"

"Sixty-five thousand dan of grain, forty thousand dead souls of soldiers and civilians, the face of the Great Zhou Dynasty; how can I explain it to the subjects of the world."

"Extraordinary situations must use extraordinary methods."

"Chen Ruichang is the main culprit, and his crime is unforgivable; Xue Pan is an unintentional mistake, but national law and human reason cannot tolerate it; he must be severely punished and not forgiven!"

"These wealthy households in the Jiangnan region like to form power with noble families, always having active minds and acting without scruples."

"First there was the Jin Ling Zhen family privately making firearms, and now there is the Jin Ling Xue family involved in leaking secrets; I am already tired of it."

"After Dali Temple arrests Xue Pan, strictly examine and investigate, confirm his crime, and if there are other situations, combine the two crimes, and never forgive!"

"Military and state secrets concern the country; the military grain depot leak must never be repeated; I want to use this case to warn the imperial court."

"But anyone involved in the crime, whether it is the legitimate line of a Duke or a relative of a noble family, will be severely punished without mercy, to see who dares to cross the thunder pool again!"

Wei Guanyao heard Emperor Emperor Jia Zhao's words, and his heart was like a mirror; the Emperor was not trying to use Xue Pan to attack and control Weiyuan Count Jia Cong.

Instead, he wanted to use the severe punishment of the military grain depot leak case to warn the old nobility and the connected families in the court.

Wei Guanyao noticed a detail; Guo Lin said that Jia Cong and Xue Pan had no dealings, and the Emperor's expression was obviously relaxed.

Although the Emperor was a person with deep calculations and heavy suspicion, his appreciation and esteem for this young head of the Jia family were truly extraordinary...

Love Shenjing, north of the city, Yongchun Street, Duan Family Grain Shop.

Zhou Ping was sitting in the shop with a follower, drinking tea slowly.

Duan Chunjiang smiled, "Last time the distinguished guest came to the door, I was not in the shop, thinking I missed a good deal, and I felt very regretful."

"I waited for the distinguished guest for a few days, but you didn't come to the door, and I was somewhat disappointed; I didn't expect you to come today; it is truly an unexpected joy."

"You want twenty dan of Bi Geng rice; I have business dealings with all the noble families in the Love Shenjing, and this is the first time I have seen such a big deal."

"I think your family must be a noble family; otherwise, where would such great wealth and style come from."

Duan Chunjiang flattered, his face full of smiles, and he was a round and smooth merchant inside and out.

He followed Anda Khan's secret order to open a grain shop in the Love Shenjing, and through Xue Pan, he got to know the noble families in the capital, so as to facilitate the investigation of military secrets.

The Chen Ruichang matter created a strange merit for him, letting him taste the benefits of getting to know the powerful.

From then on, he was even more eager for such things, and he didn't want to let go even if he saw a needle and inserted it.

Bi Geng rice is a good thing on the market, and it is difficult for ordinary wealthy families to enjoy it, but even for wealthy families, they dare not take Bi Geng rice as a staple food.

Ordinary wealthy families buy a few dan as daily nourishment; which family wants to buy ten dan at once is already a move of forcing wealth.

So Duan Chunjiang concluded that this buyer must come from one of the noble high families in the capital.

This kind of connection is very rare, and he naturally wanted to make friends intentionally.

Zhou Ping saw Duan Chunjiang's enthusiasm and the heat hidden in his eyes, roughly guessing his thoughts, and a sense of contempt and mockery arose in his heart.

Zhou Ping said unhurriedly, "I am telling you my mansion's name; you, a grain buyer, don't recognize it, and I am too lazy to tell you in detail."

"It's just that grain is something in the mouth, and it can't be sloppy; the price is not a problem, but the things must be the best and the most stable."

"My Old Master is sitting in the Imperial Clan Court; the one who came the day before yesterday was my Young Master, who is a first-class noble in the capital."

"The Young Master is going to serve in the Ministry of War in the auxiliary capital; he is used to eating Bi Geng rice from the north, so he wants to take ten dan of rice to the south."

"The other ten dan are left to honor the Old Master; otherwise, he wouldn't buy twenty dan at once, and even good things can't stand being eaten like this..." ===== CHAPTER 889 =====