Just after the first month of the year, Ji Rongheng and Li Ce quickly investigated the disappearance of the Mu family's land in Dangyang City through their thunderous operations.
A huge amount of 2.3 million taels of silver was seized from the secret treasury of the Mu Mansion. Gold and various treasures were equivalent to about 700,000 taels of silver. 230,000 acres of military reclamation land was concealed. The population and age were concealed by merging household registrations.
They occupied nearly one million acres of civilian land, reducing about 100,000 people in Dangyang County to members of the Mu family.
Excluding the prefect Sun You, Sun Li and his son, the county officials involved in this case numbered more than fifty in each county, from the county magistrate to the county magistrate and down to the grain officials.
Dangyang City, the capital of Tanzhou, once again became the focus of attention across the state overnight.
The news reached the state capital, making Ji Huaizhang furious.
On this day, he took the case report sent by Ji Rongheng and looked at Sun You. The charges against Sun Li and his son were more than ten pages long.
Blinded.
There was nowhere to vent the anger in his heart. Looking at the house full of exotic flowers and plants and the noisy pets, he seemed to have lost the elegance of admiration. When he walked up, he would be punched and kicked.
Not long after, the house was full of mess, and he almost cursed Sun Youzu.
Hearing the news in the courtyard, Sun Xiaoniang, accompanied by Ji Wanying and her maid, hurried over.
Seeing that graceful figure appearing in front of him, her every frown and smile exuding a charming flavor, Ji Huaizhang's hatred immediately disappeared.
"I am guilty. My brother and nephew have failed my master. I have committed sins recklessly these years. I have no face to face my master again. I just want to die to repay my master and my mistress for my kindness over the years."
Mrs. Sun knelt down sincerely, and when she raised her eyes, Luo Shang was filled with tears.
Although he has passed thirty years, his tight waist and beautiful face are still charming, coupled with this pitiful expression, people can't help but feel pity at first sight.
"I can't blame you for this."
Seeing her crying like pear blossoms and rain, Ji Huaizhang's heart almost melted. He hurriedly stepped forward to help her up, and said with the utmost tenderness and concern: "Tang'er, no matter what happens, I will never wrong you, and I will never wrong you.
I won’t be angry with you because of your brother.”
Sun Haitang lay in his arms and cried bitterly: "My mother died young, and my father entrusted me with his brother before his death. I was so pity by my mother-in-law that I have indulged him so much in recent years, for fear that he would be wronged and harmed."
It was all my fault that he ended up in this situation. Now he and his nephew cannot escape the blame. I am extremely grieved. I don’t want to embarrass my master, nor can I bear the pain of separation. I beg you to grant me a death.
In order to protect the lord's clear name and uphold the laws of the court."
"What are you talking about? How can I bear to let you die?"
Ji Huaizhang felt even more distressed: "Besides, our Wentong has just turned ten, and Wenhua has not yet reached hairpins. How can we lose our own mother?"
"But now there are rumors in the city that Your Majesty will embarrass the Lord. I even heard some rumors that Your Majesty is deploying troops and generals. I don't want to implicate the Lord because of my brother's affairs."
Sun Haitang still cried and said: "Only by killing my entire Sun family can I show my lord's determination to be loyal to the Lord and fulfill my lord's wishes and the Ji family."
"Don't talk nonsense."
Ji Huaizhang was a little suffocated, with mixed feelings in his heart.
His little mother was also a noble girl, but because of her family's decline, she was devoted to him and followed him for more than ten years without any status or status. How could he bear to make her sad and cry again.
Suddenly, he began to feel protective of Sun You, Sun Li and his son.
Looking back carefully, although I have not made much achievements in my tenure over the years, I have been involved in dealing with the court between King Qinghe and the noble family. I have no merit but hard work. Now the new emperor is going to make things difficult for the Ji family because of some rumors.
It's chilling to think about having a sword against oneself.
Looking meaningfully at Ji Wanying, who was sitting upright and calm, Ji Huaizhang learned from the pain and said resolutely: "Wanying, just stay at home and spend more time with your Aunt Sun. I will go to the hotel to see you."
Brother Heng, there is no need for you to return to Dangyang City in the coming days."
After receiving Ji Huaizhang's advice, Ji Wanying replied obediently: "Uncle, don't worry, I will take good care of Aunt Sun."
Watching Ji Huaizhang leave in a hurry, Sun Haitang's face suddenly changed. He wiped away the tears on his face, looked at the mess on the ground, and scolded the servants dissatisfied: "Hurry up and clean up the house."
"Uncle, too. Why do you want to vent your anger on these flowers and plants if you have nothing to do?"
Ji Wanying stared deeply at Sun Haitang: "This is his lifeblood. If he doesn't have these exotic flowers and plants to keep him company, how will he live in the future?"
These words immediately reminded Sun Haitang.
He controls the family affairs of the Ji Mansion, and can even intervene in the government affairs of the state government. He relies on the master's lifeblood. If he changes his ambition, he may not know what kind of life he will be able to live in the future.
So, he quickly ordered his servants: "Ask someone to buy some more. Birds and beasts from the Western Regions, exotic flowers and herbs from the Southern Border. As long as they are scarce flowers in Tanzhou City, no matter how much money you have, you can't be stingy."
Waiting for the servants to disperse, Ji Wanying asked with great interest: "My aunt wants to save the lives of my uncle and cousin from the Sun family. Now I can only hope to save my uncle and my cousin by fighting to the death. But when I look at my uncle, he doesn't seem to have such a hope."
I mean, if he still can't make up his mind, what should I do?"
"He won't, so I have a way."
Sun Haitang smiled sinisterly and said: "The Queen is in Dangyang City right now. As long as we manage to get rid of the Queen, my master will have no way out."
"In this case, if the imperial army presses on the territory, my uncle has no chance of winning."
Ji Wanying reminded: "According to the information I learned when my mother was alive, the strength of the Ji family in the three states of Qinghe is about 500,000. But now that the Mu family has fallen, the capital of Tanzhou has fallen into the hands of the imperial court.
Not only has the power of the Mu family collapsed, but the barrier of Tanzhou has also been lost. If my aunt harms the queen again, it will be tantamount to completely breaking up with the imperial court. My brother the emperor regards her as his life. Look, this trip to the west will not only make her
Da Sima accompanied him, and even secretly sent the Xiaoqi battalion to protect him. I don’t know how many forces are hidden behind this.”
Thinking of how easily the Mu family's power was destroyed by the Queen, Sun Haitang's heart surged with anger.
What made her even more frustrated was that the queen actually teased all the Tanzhou officials, saying that she was continuing her journey westward, but in fact she was hiding in Tanzhou City to search for evidence of crime. Her stupid brother and nephew stupidly took the bait.
"Sun Huai is a scumbag. He really succeeds more than he does. If he hadn't recommended this deal, how would my brother have ended up like this? I heard that the Queen graciously forgave him. I must cut this guy into pieces."
Only then can you relieve the hatred in your heart."
Sun Haitang was so angry that her teeth itched and she clenched her fists.
"Sun Huai is not important now. Auntie should think about how to help uncle make a decision."
Ji Wanying frowned and said: "Auntie knows very well that not all of the tribes raised by Qinghe Xungui are loyal to my uncle. Once the incident in Dangyang City spreads, I'm afraid more things will happen.
.”
"Wanying's words are reasonable. It should be accomplished as soon as possible while the honorable nobles can still control the affairs at hand."
Sun Haitang no longer dwelled on trivial matters and asked hurriedly: "What is Wan Ying's advice?"
"I have a sure way."
Ji Wanying sneered sinisterly: "In addition to her ulterior motives, my queen sister-in-law also showed off her Qihuang skills and treated people. The late emperor listened to her advice and stopped taking the elixir before passing away. Isn't my aunt sick now?
You can ask the queen's sister-in-law to come to the house to visit your aunt, who happens to be detained in the city.
The aunt's control of the queen is equivalent to her control of the emperor's brother. Letting the uncle move eastwards in the name of Qingjun will be unimpeded. With the queen in hand, not to mention protecting the uncle of the Sun family, even if the entire Ji family is given full power.
That’s also within reach.”
"This is a good idea, but I'm worried that the queen won't come to Tanzhou."
Although Sun Haitang agreed with her method, he felt that it was unlikely to be realized.
"Auntie is worrying too much."
Ji Wanying smiled warmly and said: "My aunt doesn't understand me, the Queen's sister-in-law. She prides herself on being extremely intelligent and also likes to meddle in other people's business. She wishes that everyone in the world would be grateful for her affection. If she is afraid of coming to Tanzhou early,
He persuaded the emperor's brother to send troops to conquer. Why bother to go through so many troubles? Although the imperial court said it had put down rebellions everywhere, in fact it was still suffering from internal and external troubles.
The emperor's brother is very happy with his achievements and likes to fight, but we women have similar thoughts. Even if she is a queen now, she still wants to live a peaceful life. Who wants to see the war continue unless it is absolutely necessary, so I conclude that she will definitely come.
.”
After receiving this detailed analysis, Sun Haitang immediately agreed to her suggestion: "Okay, then let's do this and invite you to the urn."