Chapter 211 On the Bank of Slender West Lake, Among the Painted Boats
At this time, Jia Yun said to Lin Daiyu: "Aunt Jiang is indeed a good person. She is already middle-aged, and her natal family in Shenjing City is not a wealthy family. She has rarely interacted with her natal family for many years. She has devoted herself to serving your father and your family.
I'm taking care of you, but if you send her back to her parents' home, she will probably have a hard time in the future."
"So I plan to ask Aunt Jiang to go to Rong Mansion with Miss Lin. On the one hand, she can continue to take care of you, and on the other hand, she can be a steward wife in Rong Mansion, so that she can have a monthly income."
Jia Yun knew that Lin Daiyu lacked maternal love and was now an orphan. Aunt Jiang felt like a relative to Lin Daiyu. If Aunt Jiang could always accompany and take care of Lin Daiyu in the future, she could give Lin Daiyu some family affection and even maternal love.
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It's just that Jia Yun couldn't say this directly, otherwise the overly sentimental sister Lin would definitely cry again.
Lin Daiyu's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Is this really okay?"
Jia Yun smiled and said: "I will tell the old lady about this in person when I return to Shenjing City. I think not only will the old lady not refuse, but she also hopes that you have someone like Aunt Jiang to take care of you."
Lin Daiyu was moved and felt the warmth again. She couldn't help but stood up and gave a blessing gift to Jia Yun: "Thank you so much, Brother Yun!"
Jia Lian, who was sitting aside, felt strange in his heart. He felt that Jia Yun and Lin Daiyu in front of him seemed to have developed feelings for a man and a woman.
If Jia Yun hadn't already been engaged to Xue Baochai and was about to marry Xue Baochai this year, Jia Lian would have suspected that Jia Yun had fallen in love with Lin Daiyu and wanted to marry her. Otherwise, why would he care so much about Lin Daiyu!
Jia Lian felt really depressed when he thought that Lin Daiyu was about to own a wife worth thirty thousand taels of silver.
Thirty thousand taels of property, even in Jia Lian's opinion, was a large amount.
It is a pity that Jia Lian cannot secretly "take" part of such a fortune, or even put this property into the Duke of Rongguo Mansion, and he will not even be able to do so in the future...
There was no way, Jia Yun had already said that anyone who dared to take advantage of this property would not be spared lightly, and Jia Lian did not doubt Jia Yun's determination, nor did he doubt Jia Yun's ruthless methods.
Not to mention what happened before, just today, the Jinyi Mansion "interrogated" the servants of the concubine in the back room. Jia Lian went to take a look curiously and was frightened. It was really cruel!
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From the evening of that day to the morning of the next day, Zhao Xiuyuan did not rest for the whole night. He had been taking the Jinyi people to Lin Ruhai's concubine's family or home to make compensation.
This matter is not easy.
First, some of the concubines’ natal families were unwilling to pay compensation or were only willing to pay part of the compensation, so their homes were ransacked.
Secondly, the natal families or families of some of the concubines hid their property in advance because they were afraid of being affected by Lin Ruhai's suicide plea. However, it didn't matter. Under the "interrogation" of the Jinyi Mansion, almost all of the hidden property was found.
The next morning, when Zhao Xiuyuan appeared in front of Jia Yun, he brought property worth eight thousand taels of silver.
Since several of the concubines’ natal families were in Shenjing City, including the most corrupt old housekeeper, Jia Yun could not deal with these families until she returned to Shenjing City.
That night, Jia Yun had a good sleep.
That night, many officials and salt merchants in Yangzhou City were paying attention to the activities of the Jinyi Mansion. Although the Jinyi Mansion was only rectifying Lin Ruhai's concubines, the commotion was not small, making many officials and salt merchants a little nervous.
But they were just a little nervous. These officials and salt merchants didn't think Jia Yun dared to be so tyrannical with them.
The next morning, when Zhao Xiuyuan was reporting the situation to Jia Yun, Zou Jin came to the Qianhu Office of Jinyi Mansion and asked with concern: "Master Jia, this time you are investigating Master Lin's concubines. I don't know that these people are corrupt."
How much property?"
Jia Yun said calmly: "According to these people's accounts, they embezzled more than 20,000 taels of property in total."
Zou Jin asked again: "Have you asked them to compensate for all these properties?"
Jia Yun said: "Of course they should make compensation, but it is inevitable that some property was used by them. I estimate that the property that can be recovered in the end is only 20,000 taels of silver."
Zou Jin said: "Master Jia, will you report this matter to the emperor after you return to Beijing?"
Jia Yun said: "This matter involves Mr. Lin's family property, so naturally we have to report it to the emperor."
Zou Jin begged for mercy: "The emperor ordered me to check Master Lin's property before, but he did not ask me to check the concubine's servants as well, so I did not check the concubine's servants."
"Now Mr. Jia has investigated the concubine's servants. These people have embezzled a lot of property. I'm afraid that when the emperor finds out, he will blame me for not doing things well before."
"When Mr. Jia reports this matter to the emperor, can you say a few words of kindness for me?"
Jia Yun smiled slightly: "Since Mr. Zou has spoken like this, I can't refuse. Don't worry, you are not responsible for this matter. I will say a few good words for you when I report back to the emperor. I think the emperor will not blame you for this."
Zou Jin cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Mr. Jia."
Jia Yun secretly thought to herself: There is no need to thank me. This time I also need your help in personal matters. I wish you could owe me a favor!
Naturally, Jia Yun had to report to Emperor Tianzhi for this investigation of Lin Ruhai's concubines, because Jia Yun knew that she had Emperor Tianzhi's spies around her, and the matter was handled by the Jinyi Mansion.
Jia Yun is not worried about this.
First of all, those concubines only stole more than 20,000 taels of property. In the end, only 20,000 taels of property could be recovered, which is still not much.
Secondly, the total value of all Lin Ruhai's corrupt property is less than ten thousand taels of silver.
Thirdly, Emperor Tianzhi even issued an imperial edict of forgiveness. How could he go back on his words just because he was checking out the extra property of his concubine’s servants?
Jia Yun believed that Emperor Tianzhi would not care much about this matter and would not affect Sister Lin's successful possession of a ladder worth thirty thousand taels of silver.
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Yesterday, Jia Yun only met five general salt merchants, and the remaining three general salt merchants were missing, including Li Danbai.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Today, Jia Yun once again came to meet the three general salt merchants one by one.
I met two of the general salt merchants in the morning.
The attitude of the two chief salt merchants was almost the same as that of the five chief salt merchants yesterday. They all complained in front of Jia Yun that they were not deliberately neglecting the donation and that they were really powerless...
So only the last general salt merchant, Li Danbai, was left.
Li Danbai's father was called Li Muqing. Li Muqing was originally a loose salt merchant. After Li Danbai inherited the family property, due to his strong ability and his friendship with an imperial bachelor and Lin Ruhai, he got the opportunity to be promoted to one of the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou.
However, now, due to the imperial bachelor's "begging for rest" and Lin Ruhai's suicide to plead guilty, Li Danbai's two most important backers are gone.
Li Danbai's position as chief salt merchant was in danger.
The reason why Li Danbai can continue to sit as the chief salt merchant during this period...
On the one hand, the donation made the position of Yangzhou's chief salt merchant appear to be in danger, and merchants who were able to compete for the chief salt merchant were afraid.
On the other hand, Li Danbai is a Huizhou businessman like Prime Minister Shen Yuanwen, and there is some friendship between the two. Shen Yuanwen temporarily protects Li Danbai.
However, Li Danbai knew that his current situation was dangerous.
If he doesn't find a strong backing as soon as possible, he will lose his position as chief salt merchant.
Moreover, if Emperor Tianzhi wanted to plead guilty for the donation and Lin Ruhai's suicide, it would be in danger for Li Danbai who did not have a strong backing to rectify the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou.
That's why Li Danbai arranged for Li Feixue to come to Beijing, hoping that Li Feixue could meet Emperor Tianzhi, be favored by Emperor Tianzhi, enter the harem, and become a concubine or even a noble concubine...
If Li Feixue could be favored by Emperor Tianzhi, and with Li Feixue interceding beside his pillow, Li Danbai felt that his dangerous situation could be solved.
However, Li Feixue's trip to the divine capital did not go smoothly, and Jia Yun refused to introduce her to Emperor Tianzhi.
Moreover, Jia Yun pointed out to Li Feixue that Li Danbai would be in danger, and asked Li Feixue to return to Yangzhou, saying that he would meet with Li Danbai in Yangzhou and whether he could save Li Danbai would be discussed after the two met...
In the past few days, Li Danbai and Li Feixue have been anxiously waiting for Jia Yun's arrival, hoping that Jia Yun can show Li Danbai a way out!
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In the afternoon, Jia Yun, escorted by a group of cavalry in brocade robes, arrived at Li Danbai's mansion.
Like the other seven chief salt merchants, Li's Mansion is also a luxurious garden-style mansion, and it is located on the bank of Slender West Lake!
Jia Yun's arrival was warmly welcomed by Li Danbai.
After some courtesy, Jia Yun asked Li Danbai to arrange a quiet place for the two of them to talk secretly.
Li Danbai took Jia Yun into the back garden of the mansion. Not only that, but after arriving in the back garden, Li Danbai took Jia Yun onto a luxurious boat.
The back garden of this mansion is connected to Slender West Lake.
At this time, the painting boat was moored by the Slender West Lake and was not moving. Jia Yun and Li Danbai were sitting in the painting boat together, with Li Feixue standing next to them. Except for the three of them, there was no one else on the painting boat. Not even Yaqin was following. There were also people around the painting boat. There is no other figure.
This is Jia Yun’s request!
Jia Yun has long been planning today's secret meeting with Li Danbai. The content of this secret conversation will be very confidential and important. It is not only related to Li Danbai's future, but also to Jia Yun's own future!
One of the purposes of Jia Yun's previous visit to meet with the other seven general salt merchants was to prepare the ground for the current meeting with Li Danbai, so that the meeting would not seem strange and people would not suspect that he had any special relationship with Li Danbai.
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There was a table of fruit and fine wine in the boat, and Li Feixue seemed to be serving Jia Yun and Li Danbai as a maid, doing things like pouring wine for them.
At this time, Li Danbai respectfully asked Jia Yun: "I heard that Mr. Jia came to Yangzhou this time with the emperor's order to urge donations? Have you already found several general salt merchants to urge donations?"
Jia Yun smiled slightly: "Your information is quite good."
Li Danbai said respectfully: "Many people know about this matter. As one of the eight general salt merchants, how can I not hear about it?"
Jia Yun said: "I think you also know the result of my urging for donations?"
Li Danbai paused and said, "To be honest with you, I have heard about this matter. In fact, even if I hadn't heard about it, I would have guessed that the general salt merchants would not cooperate in urging donations."
Jia Yun asked: "Oh? I wonder why you are so sure about this matter?"
Li Danbai paused again and said, "Feixue told me that you are a very smart person. It would be better for me to be honest in front of you. Going round and round will make you unhappy."
"Besides, you also know that I need you to point out a way out for me now. Although today is the first time I meet you, in my heart, I already regard you as a close noble person. I need to be more honest in front of you.
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"So, next I will be honest with you, and I hope you will listen to the truth and not blame me."
Jia Yun sighed in her heart: He is a smart man!
Jia Yun said: "Today I come to see you, what I want is your honesty. If you are like the other general salt merchants, going around and covering up in front of me, then in my heart, you and the other general salt merchants will be honest."
The salt merchant is no different, do you understand this?"
It means that if you want to get special treatment from him and point out a way out, you must be honest in front of him.
Li Danbai nodded, and then said: "To be honest, sir, we eight chief salt merchants have already agreed on the donation. We can no longer pay the arrears."
Jia Yun asked: "Why are you willing to make the emperor dissatisfied for this money? Aren't you afraid of being punished by the emperor?"
Li Danbai immediately frankly stated three reasons, which were the same as Jia Yun knew.
Jia Yun is now asking questions knowingly, mainly because she wants to test whether Li Danbai is honest enough in front of him.
Li Danbai's frankness made him feel satisfied.
Li Danbai immediately said: "Your Excellency already knows my current dangerous situation. It stands to reason that my situation is already so dangerous. I really shouldn't continue to anger the current emperor for hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. What's more, this time my Excellency brought a reminder."
The emperor ordered me to cooperate with you in this matter."
"However, the other seven general salt merchants have not paid the arrears. It will be useless if I am the only one to pay. If I do this, I will also offend the other seven general salt merchants and incur their suppression. I cannot afford the consequences.
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Jia Yun nodded, suddenly looked at Li Feixue standing aside, smiled slightly and said: "When I was in Shenjing City before, I was fortunate enough to see Miss Feixue's stunning dance, which really amazed me. I don't know what I am doing today."
Is it still an honor to hear the girl play a piece of music by herself?"
Li Feixue smiled sweetly: "It's my honor that you are so elegant. In fact, even if you don't mention this matter in person, I will still prepare a song for you today. No, even the guqin is ready in this boat.
Yes, I will present a song to you now."
After saying that, Li Feixue immediately sat down beside the guqin.
Li Danbai and Li Feixue have carefully prepared for today's meeting with Jia Yun.
Li Feixue's slender jade fingers caught the antique guqin and immediately played a tune.
Jia Yun didn't know the name of this piece, but she could feel that Li Feixue played the guqin very well, even better than Yaqin.
It seems that Yaqin did not lie at first, and she learned her piano skills from Li Feixue.
At this time, Jia Yun was carefully enjoying Li Feixue's piano performance.
At this moment, Li Danbai was carefully observing Jia Yun who was admiring Li Feixue.
Not knowing what he thought of, Li Danbai sighed quietly in his heart: Alas, what a pity!