Chapter 295

Qian Qing Gong West Warm Pavilion,

Facing Jia Jing's earnest words, Jing Sheng Di pondered for a moment, then made a decision and said:

"Zi Jie's loyalty to the state, I truly know!"

"However, you are my right-hand minister; I think it unnecessary to make things difficult for you over these two! Moreover, upon your triumphant return, it is not suitable for relatives to see blood."

"I think we can make a slight adjustment within the court's legal framework! Considering that these two have not committed the Ten Heinous Crimes."

"Thus, using their titles to offset the crime, I change the sentence: Jia Zhen and his son are to be exiled to Qiongzhou, conscripted into the military, and never to be employed again!"

The places of exile in the Da Han Empire are mainly concentrated in the remote southern regions, that is, the so-called Lingnan.

Such as Qiongzhou, the Yun-Guang Dragon Field, and parts of Liangguang; these places are regarded as miasmatic lands at this time, with harsh environment and blocked transportation.

Among them, Qiongzhou administers Ya Prefecture, Dan Prefecture, Wan Prefecture, and ten counties; it is one of the most famous places of exile in the Da Han Empire.

Because it is surrounded by sea on all sides, prisoners find it hard to escape, and the climate is hot and humid, with many mosquitoes and malarial vapors, making survival difficult.

The Song Dynasty literary giant Su Dongpo was once demoted here, leaving the verse: "I would eat three hundred lychees a day, glad to remain a Lingnan man."

Of course, if Su Shi had not received repeated assistance from friends and relatives at court, he certainly would not have had such a relaxed state of mind!

Upon hearing Jing Sheng Di's words, Jia Jing could not help but sigh inwardly:

"Indeed, even what we eat and drink is decreed by heaven! I never imagined that Jia Zhen, because of my own doing, would be condemned to a grave crime by the civil officials' collective anger, yet again, because of my own doing, be pardoned by Jing Sheng Di and spared his life!"

Cause and effect cycle, going around, this punishment's outcome actually returns to the point of impartiality.

Regarding this, Jia Jing said no more.

His original aim was merely to remove Jia Zhen, this unstable tumor of the Jia Family; exile or death both achieve the goal, and both are acceptable to him!

Moreover, exile is no better than death, let alone having to serve in the military.

If no one looks after them, Jia Zhen and his son's future days can only be described as miserable and desolate.

After Jing Sheng Di sat upright at the imperial desk, he turned his calm gaze toward Jia Jing and continued:

"After Ning Guo Fu is stripped of its title, it becomes an official residence; left empty, it is still empty. I think it better to first grant it to you as a separate manor."

"Coincidentally, the construction of your Jing Guo Gong Fu by the Ministry of Works is still in planning; it will likely be difficult to finish in a short time."

"As a high-ranking minister of the court with great responsibilities, if you remain cramped in a small courtyard of Rong Guo Fu, that would be improper!"

"As for the title of Ning Guo Fu, although it has been used to offset the crime, it does not mean there will be no chance to inherit it again in the future!"

"If descendants of the Ning and Rong dukes prove outstanding and render service to the state, you may later petition me, and I will consider regranting the title!"

Jing Sheng Di's decision can be said to be painstakingly considered, taking every aspect into account for Jia Jing.

He neither executed Jia Zhen nor left Ning Guo Fu's title without leeway.

The so-called later discretionary regrant actually means avoiding the current limelight.

Moreover, because the Jing Guo Gong Fu has not yet been completed, Jing Sheng Di actually bestowed Ning Guo Fu upon him as a separate manor.

Know that Ning Guo Fu is an imperial ducal mansion built by decree at the founding of the Da Han Empire, its vast grounds being among the few in the entire Shenjing City.

In fact, upon reckoning, the Ning Guo Fu mansion is actually more luxurious and grandiose than the Rong Guo Fu mansion.

After all, back then, the Duke of Ning was the elder brother of the Duke of Rong.

Without saying more, just the vast Hui Fang Yuan garden in the northern part of Ning Guo Fu is its exclusive private garden.

Within it are structures such as Tian Xiang Lou, Ning Xi Xuan, and Deng Xian Ge; spring water is drawn from beneath the north corner wall, gathering to form a lake.

Pavilions, halls, towers, and chambers are all complete; it can be called a rare auspicious feng shui site in Shenjing City.

Yet now such a rare mansion is merely used as one of Jia Jing's separate villas,

and Jia Jing has become the sole minister in Shenjing City who privately occupies two ducal mansions.

Hmm? One cannot even say they are two ducal mansions, after all, the Jing Guo Gong Fu is being built according to the specifications of a princely estate, which will be somewhat grander than Ning Guo Fu.

Jia Jing's expression froze; he remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, your painstaking consideration for me, such deep favor! I dare not accept it!"

"However, since Your Majesty has granted Ning Guo Fu to me, I think the construction of Jing Guo Gong Fu could be postponed for now."

"Now the court's finances are depleted; if we undertake large-scale construction for me, I would feel uneasy! Besides, I alone have no need for two mansions!"

This is Jia Jing's inner thought; given his current power, status, and wealth, he indeed has little desire for more estates.

Jing Sheng Di sized up Jia Jing, then suddenly gave a light chuckle, his laugh tinged with some inexplicable meaning, and said:

"The Jing Guo Gong Fu must still be built; even if the court's finances are strained, there is no reason to slight meritorious officials!"

"As for my extra consideration for you, it is so that you may serve the court wholeheartedly more effectively; I also harbor my own private motives in this!"

Jing Sheng Di's latter remark is actually more of a jest.

Although Jia Jing has great merits, he has already been ennobled and rewarded, not slighted; why would he still need to expend such effort to be granted another manor!

There are not a few hardworking ministers in the court; who else would deserve Jing Sheng Di's such thorough consideration!

Jing Sheng Di did not linger on this topic, but shifted the conversation to bring up another matter:

"The Jin merchant case in the northwest, I have already had the Imperial City Secretariat investigate covertly; its connections are too extensive, the interests intertwined like tangled roots."

"Not only do capital civil and military officials are implicated, but also linked with the Jiangnan gentry and wealthy clans; this is a nest of collusion with the enemy and smuggling."

"I do not wish to startle the snake, so I ask you to temporarily hold back; Zi Jie, treat this matter as if you know nothing, and do not leak any word."

The northwest Jin merchant matter, Jia Jing had already submitted a memorial to Jing Sheng Di three months earlier.

Jing Sheng Di replied then, saying he had already ordered the Imperial City Secretariat to conduct a thorough investigation; unexpectedly, after several months of inquiry, he still had not fully grasped the vast interests network within.

But this is also normal,

the Eight Great Jin Merchant families not only engage in border smuggling and collusion with the enemy, but also have profit dealings with civil and military officials at court.

They present tribute to civil officials, provide smuggling routes for military officers, and each year offer considerable silver as tribute to the Retired Emperor.

Moreover, many of their offspring serve as officials or generals in the frontier garrisons, and they also ally with the Jiangnan and Liangguang gentry and wealthy merchants, mutually bolstering their influence.

Their interests' entanglement spreads throughout the Da Han court and countryside; for Jing Sheng Di to expect to thoroughly investigate the Eight Great Jin Merchant families in a short time is indeed no easy task.

Jia Jing originally in the northwest prepared to act against them, also out of necessity, wanting first to find a pretext to raid their nest and confiscate their family wealth to use as military provisions.

Then follow the leads to gather evidence and deeply investigate the court officials colluding in money and power with them.

After all, arresting first then investigating is certainly much easier than investigating first then arresting!

But now Jing Sheng Di possibly considers the matter too broad, wanting first to obtain solid evidence before raiding homes and arresting people, so as not to be criticized by everyone at court and in the countryside.