Xia Xun's return trip was very different from when he arrived. The ceremonial guards were all silent and no fanfare was made. He did not know where to meet the local officials. Sometimes he had to take a detour. The reason was simple: to let his two precious daughters have fun.【】
The two sweethearts who have never left the island feel fresh everywhere they look. Naturally, they want to see any scenery along the way. Besides, Xia Xun is a relatively undisciplined person.
Damn it, he himself finds it troublesome.
However, no matter how slow he walked, he would eventually reach the capital. When he reached the vicinity of the capital, he could no longer hide his whereabouts. There was still a hundred and eighty miles away from the capital, so Xia Xun stopped and asked people to put up the guard of honor again.
I went to Beijing to report the news. When I heard that Xia Xun was back, officials who could spare the time would naturally welcome him.
Xia Xun took this opportunity and took everyone to the house lent to him by Wang's consort. Everyone knew that the house was borrowed from Wang's consort, so they were not afraid of someone spreading rumors and accusing him of a black case.
The house of Prince Consort Wang is actually quite elegant, but after Xia Xun borrowed it, he didn't use more than a small room, and he never visited other places. No matter how nice or big the house is, it's deserted and alone, so what's there to do?
, but this time it was different. All the family members and relatives came back and settled down separately. Only then did Xia Xun have the opportunity to see the whole picture of this elegant courtyard.
This house is not the main residence of the king's consort, so it does not have a more serious and formal front yard, but a complete Jiangnan garden scenery. As soon as you enter the courtyard, you will see a small pavilion, pond, rockery, vines, and various landscape arrangements. The house
The buildings are also very interesting.
The entire house is still divided into two parts, the front and the back. Each part is divided into smaller spaces according to the functions of different buildings, using bamboos, curved corridors, and pools. It not only provides privacy, but also because the next door is very close.
Natural, without the feeling of clear barriers between courtyards.
The whole family was obviously very satisfied with the new house. Xia Xun couldn't give any advice on the specific house arrangements, because it was his first time to walk through the entire house, so he had to wait until he settled in. He hurriedly put down his luggage, washed up and changed.
In addition to clothes and rewards, guests must also be entertained.
This big family has just moved in, and there are not that many cooks in the house. The food and wine are all temporarily ordered from the restaurant, and there are a few tables in the front yard and the back yard.
Most of these officials came with their female dependents. Today we welcomed Duke Fu and his family members. They came with their female dependents. It seems that the officials brought their families with them to show that they have a closer relationship with each other. However, it is not accurate to say that they are officials, because Xia
When Xun entered the city, the court meeting was in the middle of the process, and the officials could not get out. Most of the people who came to greet him were not officials in office, but princes, princes and relatives.
For example, Wang Ning brought Princess Huaiqing, Mei Yin brought Princess Ningguo, and Li Jinglong brought his wife, Mrs. Wang. Li Jinglong’s favorite was undoubtedly his concubine Yi Zhuo, who probably had always been so fond of Xie Yufei who wanted but couldn’t get it.
Let’s give it some plot, but when I saw Xie Xie just now, his face was serious, but he didn’t look like the lustful face he used to have.
However, he definitely couldn't bring a concubine to this occasion. It would be a great disrespect for Xia Xun's family, so either he didn't bring a concubine, or the wife of the wife must come forward to bring a family. Dingguo Gong Xu Jingchang also came,
Not only did he bring his wife with him, but his little aunt Xu Ming'er also came.
Xu Ming'er also brought gifts, but unlike the family members of other officials, all the gifts were women's jewelry, silk, rouge and gouache. She herself was still a young girl who had not yet left the government, and even she had very few gifts. These things can be used on special occasions. It is most appropriate for these things to be given by Xu Jingchang's wife. She brought toys, toys for children.
It is true as she said, small animals and children like to be close to her. Before she came up with these gifts that are most popular with children, Si Xun and Si Yang clearly showed a different attitude towards her from others. In terms of attitude, those ladies were all decked out in jewels, and they were all smiles when they met Xia Xun's two precious daughters. They couldn't help but give a few compliments, pinch their cheeks, etc. The two little girls were somewhat resistant to this kind of appreciation and closeness, but As soon as they saw Xu Ming'er, they naturally liked to get close to her. Once Xu Ming'er's gift was brought out, they became even more intimate.
"Sister, sister, sister Ming'er..."
"Aunt Ming, Aunt Ming..."
Si Yang called her sister, but Si Xun called her aunt. The two little girls became Xu Ming'er's followers and kept pestering her.
After seeing Ming'er's astonishing affinity, Xia Xun came to a conclusion: "Tsk tsk, it's really not a lie. In modern times, Princess Ming'er must be a very competent nursery aunt or pet hospital nurse!"
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After the banquet ended in the evening, after the adults and their families were sent out of the house, the hustle and bustle of the house suddenly turned quiet. Thanks, Zi Qi and Su Ying took the whole family to see the whole yard again. Everyone's residence was assigned, but Xia Xun did not go back to the back house, but went directly to the study.
The study room is quietly and elegantly decorated, with an antique feel. There is a bookshelf on one wall, and calligraphy and paintings by famous people on the other. At the end is a table with curly ears and Eight Immortals. On the table, in addition to the four treasures of the room, a jade ruler, a porcelain tube for rice paper, and an incense stick The stove, the faint scent of bookish ink and the faint scent of sandalwood, interweave into a charming smell.
There was a person waiting quietly in the study. There was no light in the room. The person was sitting in the darkness, with his hands flat on his knees, quietly and motionless. As soon as Xia Xun came in, he stood up suddenly. Called: "My lord!"
Xia Xun nodded, walked over and lit the lamp, and the soft light suddenly filled the room. Xia Xun sat down at the desk and looked at the man standing opposite. This man was wearing an ordinary round-neck robe with narrow sleeves on the right side, and his head Wearing a purple scarf, he is tall, in his early twenties, and handsome.
He is Zuo Dan, a Qianlong person. Qianlong people also have a public identity in Jinling as a cover. This is necessary. However, there are many kinds of public identities. Zuo Dan’s public identity also belongs to the underground world. Because he runs a casino. There is always an underground world in any city, just like light and darkness always complement each other.
"Have you found out?" Xia Xun asked quietly.
"Yes! The person who gave Duan Mi's family advice and asked them to come and ask for help from the Duke was General Secretary You Tongzheng Zhang Antai."
"Zhang Antai? I don't know this person."
Zuo Dan was very well prepared, and he even brought this person's portrait, but after unfolding it, Xia Xun still had no impression. However, he did know the General Affairs Department.
The General Affairs Department is an agency that receives and examines internal and external memorials and complaints from the subjects. It is responsible for receiving the emperor's orders, understanding the situation, investigating and cooperating with the public, reporting the feudal opinions of the subjects in the four directions, filing complaints and military information, disasters and other matters. The world has its own way.
The General Affairs Department has a general affairs envoy, who is responsible for accepting internal and external regulations and filing reports and refutations. He is an official of the third rank. There is also a general affairs envoy on the left and right, who is a fourth-rank official. He is responsible for accepting internal and external regulations and sealing complaints from subjects. If we talk about the Cabinet University
The scholar is the emperor's assistant, and the general secretary is the emperor's secretary.
Xia Xun thought for a while and said, "Tell me the details about this person."
Zuo Dan responded calmly and replied: "Zhang Antai is forty-six years old this year. He was awarded the title of Jinshi in the 18th year of Hongwu. He was awarded the title of Editor and Editor of the Hanlin Academy. Later he was promoted to Editor and Editor. When he came back, he did the Tongzhengli experience.
Councilor, Lei Guan was promoted to Youtong Zheng. After careful investigation by my subordinates, I found that he and Duan Yushi are of the same year and have a relatively close relationship."
Xia Xun pondered. From this person's political experience, he has always been a Beijing official and has no relationship with him. Maybe Ming'er and himself are too sensitive? This person just accidentally knew where he lived, so he pointed out his old friend.
Does your family ask you for help?
After all, Chen Ying and Ji Gang were very evil at that time. At that time, when everyone was in danger, if they could find a capable person to control the situation, they would not only help their friends, but their own situation would also be safer. As long as he
If it wasn't for a more dangerous purpose, Xia Xun wouldn't be reluctant to do so.
Xia Xun asked: "That's all? How did he know that Wang's consort lent me the house? Although this is not a secret, I didn't say that Wang's consort lent me the house because of the relationship between us.
There is no point in showing off our friendship."
Zuo Dan said: "This matter cannot be verified by the humble official. Perhaps only he himself knows about it. Even the king's consort, I am afraid he will not remember mentioning it to anyone accidentally. However... when the Duke was not in Beijing, Mu En once asked
Head Dai told us something..."
"Um?"
Zuo Dan said: "Mu En is now appointed by the emperor as the steward of the inner study. He is in charge of the memorials submitted to the palace by the General Secretary. There is an unshakable rule between the General Secretary and the inner study. They usually send out the memorials they want to do most.
Put it on the top, whether it is someone entering the palace or leaving the palace, it will be clear to both parties. Because the General Affairs Department has requests from the inner study, and the inner study also has requests from the General Administration Secretary, it is usually convenient for the other party.
When the emperor approves memorials, the earlier they arrive, the easier it is to attract attention. And the memorials approved by the emperor that need to be processed will not always be marked with the serial number of 1, 2, 3, 4, so the General Administration Department will handle which one first, and then
No matter what you do, sometimes it is possible to wait for a few days before sending it out. This period of time is enough for some people to make some preparations."
Xia Xun smiled and hummed softly. He understood this matter. In fact, this was the reason why some people went out of their way to curry favor with the leader’s secretary. Some things could be done or not, and things that could be done first or later, they ignored.
By using small tricks, you can make the leaders notice or not notice. If you don't answer them correctly, then you can sigh that the king of hell is easy to meet, but the devil is difficult to deal with.
Zuo Dan said: "A few days ago, many censors in the Metropolitan Procuratorate impeached the officials who had oppressed their colleagues, blackmailed and accepted bribes. There were many similar memorials. Duke... you were also impeached by the officials for staying in the prince's consort's house.
, saying he was accepting bribes. When the memorial to impeach the Duke was brought from the General Affairs Department, it was placed at the top!"