Guo Bing's face turned pale, Lin Jue's words sounded quite pleasant. He didn't know that this was not Lin Jue's humility. Although these two pairs of ginseng were precious, they were really not worth much. They were only worth a few hundred taels of silver at most.
.Because the place of origin is not Changbai Mountain at all, but Funiu Mountain. It was the loot seized from the warehouse of a certain cottage when Liang Qi led his men to sweep through Funiu Mountain. Liang Qi dedicated it to Lin Jue, because these two pairs of ginseng are quite rare. Ginseng
Although it is ginseng, it is not small in size. It is also old, although it is not a hundred years, it may be twenty or thirty years old. However, there is a world of difference between Changbai Mountain wild ginseng and Funiu Mountain wild ginseng in terms of medicinal value and nourishing value.
There is too much difference. How could Guo Bing have thought that Lin Jue would pass off the good stuff and fool his father-in-law?
Guo Caiwei saw that his father-in-law and his son-in-law were talking freely, so she no longer had to worry, so she saluted and said, "Dad, please talk to your husband while your daughter goes to see her mother. We haven't seen her for a long time. I miss her so much."
Guo Bing pretended to be angry and said: "You miss your mother, but you don't miss me? It's in vain that I have loved you for so many years."
Guo Caiwei said coquettishly: "Dad, how can my daughter not miss you? My daughter thinks about you every day."
Guo Bing said: "Tch, don't fool me, go quickly. Your mother is learning how to grow vegetables in the back garden, and she was talking about you yesterday, so go ahead."
Guo Caiwei agreed with a smile, said hello to Lin Jue, and left accompanied by the maid.
"Sit down and talk." Guo Bing pointed to the chair next to him.
"Thank you, father-in-law." Lin Jue saluted respectfully and sat down on the chair. The servant came up to make tea and was dismissed.
"Lin Jue, there have been a lot of things about you recently. Fang Dunru is quite ruthless. You respect him so much, but he drives you out of the door? This person really doesn't recognize his emotions when doing things." Guo Bing
He spoke in a deep voice.
Lin Jue knew that he would be scolded after meeting Guo Bing, so he immediately said: "Father-in-law, Mr. Fang is kind to me. I would rather he treat me like this, but I can't talk about him behind his back. The reason why Mr. Fang did this is
I just violated his taboo. I can't blame him completely."
Guo Bing said angrily: "What? Are you still speaking for him at this time? You are really stupid. Does this person have the slightest regard for your master-disciple relationship? He is expelled when he says he is expelled. Doesn't he know this?
Did it have much impact on you? It made you the laughing stock of the world."
Lin Jue smiled and said: "Father-in-law, my son-in-law doesn't care about reputation. I don't think it has any influence."
Guo Bing scolded: "It has no impact? Are you going to be a storyteller in Chongzheng Palace again? Does that count as an official? I guess you will spend your whole life in that official position. Don't you feel ashamed?
But I, Prince Liang, find it embarrassing. You are my son-in-law, and holding such an official position is a disgrace to us. I have already written to Kuner, asking him to quickly find some connections for you, so that you can get a decent official position.
. If it really doesn’t work, you can only show off my old face. You can afford to embarrass everyone, but I cannot afford to embarrass you."
Lin Jue scratched his head speechlessly. It seemed that Guo Bing still didn't know that he had done something to appoint a criminal officer in Kaifeng Prefecture, so he smiled and said: "Father-in-law, don't worry about it. I have now served in the Kaifeng Prefecture's Criminal Officer Division and have left the original public house."
Already."
"Oh? You have served in the Kaifeng Prefecture's Punishment Division? What do you do? Judge or custody?" Guo Bing said in surprise.
"Currently, he is promoted to the position of chief criminal officer." Lin Jue said.
"Oh? Becoming a chief officer? Are you serious? Don't lie to me." Guo Bing said in surprise.
Lin Jue smiled and said: "How dare you lie? The emperor personally ordered the appointment, and he was appointed in early March."
Guo Bing laughed heartily and said happily: "Okay, okay. Although being appointed as a punishment officer is not a lucrative position, it is much better than the official position of storyteller in Chongzheng Palace. Did the emperor personally give the order? Well, it is a good thing that he has not forgotten it.
You are my son-in-law in Prince Liang’s palace.”
Lin Jue smiled and said nothing. It sounded as if Guo Bing attributed this matter to him. He thought it was the emperor who appointed him to the official position because of his favor, but he did not know that this matter had nothing to do with him, Guo Bing.
.
"Being a criminal officer is actually a thankless job, but it also has some real power, and the official position is not low. If you work hard, you will have a good future if you do it well. In any case, it is better than that Chongzheng Palace
You are a good storyteller, let alone an official in the Ordinance Department. I would rather you work as a clerk than stay in the Ordinance Department. Now everyone is happy. Fang Dunru kicked you out, which saves me from worrying.
." Guo Bing said in a deep voice.
"My father-in-law is very caring about my son-in-law, and I can't thank him enough. My son-in-law will definitely serve well and be enterprising. Let Wei'er and I live a good life. My father-in-law doesn't have to worry. I can live in peace and peace of mind."
Enjoy it. Taking care of yourself is the most important thing." Lin Jue said with a smile.
"What you say is easy, can I feel at ease? What kind of reforms did the two lunatics Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru make? They made the sky angry and resentful, the people were boiling, and everyone was in trouble. It was nothing more than robbing the people. Now even people like us have to do it.
Searched. Some people came to ask me for help money from Prince Liang's Mansion. They asked for hundreds of thousands. It was as if I, Guo Bing, took the rice bowl given to him by Fang Dunru Yan Zhengsheng and received the favor from him and Fang Dunru. I'm afraid these two people are...
Forgot, this world belongs to my Guo family! The two of them are just ministers of my Guo family! Who gave them the courage to do this? This is simply unreasonable." Guo Bing was suddenly filled with righteous indignation and slapped the armrest of his chair angrily.
Lin Jue was surprised. He knew that the scope of the collection of aid money involved officials, gentry, wealthy families, and relatives of the emperor. But Lin Jue always believed that Mr. Yan and Mr. Fang should not be so naive. Maybe it was just written on paper, and the actual collection was
When I got up, it was just a formality. But now it sounds like that's not the case.
"Father-in-law, please calm down. Are you saying that they came to the palace to collect service money?" Lin Jue asked.
"Isn't that right? Kang Zizhen, the newly arrived magistrate of Hangzhou, came to my house and made a big call, asking me to understand his difficulties and give him a soft face. He said that the superiors were so tight. He asked me to hand over this
I gave him a small amount of money to set an example for the officials and gentry of Hangzhou. Even if I ordered him to kick him out, I would give him face. Who is he? I heard that Kang Zizhen was the prefect recommended by Yan Zhengsun. He was originally from Lingnan.
A small county magistrate. When the new law was promulgated and everyone opposed it, this person wrote a letter to Yan Zhengshen, boasting how good the new law was. Yan Zhengsheng was very happy and immediately transferred him to the capital. No, this is not a good thing.
He was sent to a big state like ours in Hangzhou to be the prefect. But these crooks have to be seriously appreciated by them. Tell me, can this reform thing still happen?" Guo Bing cursed angrily.
Lin Jue frowned. He knew that there were many speculators in the reform ranks, and there were also many such people in the Ordinance Department. But what he didn't expect was that these speculators were really used by Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru.
Under the heavy pressure of the reform, Yan Zhengsheng and Fang Dunru were indeed under great pressure, but they must not ignore the good and bad just because they were under great pressure.
Those who support the reform are all recruited into the reform ranks and given important official positions. If this continues, the purity of the reform ranks will be broken and the atmosphere will become chaotic, giving people opportunities to take advantage of them.
"I have already written a memorial to Beijing. These people have made the people complain in Hangzhou. People kneel in front of my house every day and cry out for injustice. What a bullshit new law. It is simply an evil law. I want the emperor to know what is going on down there and what they are doing.
What are the consequences of the so-called new law? In the past, I was worried about the relationship between you and Fang Dunru Yan Zhengsheng. You also served in the Ordinance Department. Now I have nothing to worry about. They are messing around, I
The king cannot tolerate them." Guo Bing said fiercely.
Lin Jue hurriedly said: "My father-in-law, it's not as serious as you said. It doesn't need to be so intense, right? Besides, some time ago, the court also debated the reform for many days, and the emperor finally made a decision.
The Recruitment Law was finally promulgated, and this was already the emperor's attitude. As far as I know, Lu Zhongtian also spoke out against this time, and Vice Prime Minister Wu Chunlai even impeached him on ten counts. The fuss was considered huge, but in the end
Still can't stop it. This shows that the emperor is determined. Why does my father-in-law need to wade into this muddy water? Just for these hundreds of thousands of taels of silver? I'm afraid it's not worth it."
"What do you know? Just for these hundreds of thousands of taels of assistant silver? Will I care about such a small amount of money? What I care about is face, the majesty of our Guo family, and the rules. Do you understand? This so-called new law has been turned upside down.
Breaking the general rules and breaking the ancestral rules is what the king cares about. Yan Zhengshen and Fang Dunru read the books of sages in vain. Don't they understand that some things can be moved, but some things are absolutely untouchable. They think they are loyal ministers
, are doing things for the court, but they don't know that they are destroying the foundation of the court. Offending the scholar-bureaucrats and those who work for the court are creating chaos. To persecute the people too much is to take grain from the fire. People's minds change,
Everything is difficult to deal with. If the emperor doesn't understand, I understand. The emperor is confused now, but I am not. Others can keep silent, but I will say it no matter what, because my surname is Guo.
This king also has a share in the great Zhou world."
For the first time, Guo Bing said these words to Lin Jue without reservation. This shows that in Guo Bing's heart, he has complete trust in Lin Jue. He has no reason not to trust his own son-in-law, not to mention that he is a resourceful person.
.
Lin Jue was surprised that Guo Bing had such insight. Indeed, the most fundamental point of this reform is that he touched many things that should not be touched. For example, the power system of two governments and three divisions that has been formed for a long time, such as "working with the scholar-bureaucrats"
The governing philosophy of "Tianxia", such as the social class hierarchy that has been formed for a long time. For example, the policy that the country does not compete with the people for profits and hides wealth among the people. Under the leadership of Fang Dunru and Yan Zhengsu, these things are being developed one after another.
Being broken and trampled on will obviously trigger huge changes and even turmoil. This is the huge problem faced by the Zhou Dynasty today. It requires immediate change, but it cannot be done too hastily. Haste wastes time before speed, and fierce medicine and fire can lead to failure.
Who knows what it will bring.
"My father-in-law, what my son-in-law means is that your father-in-law can tell the emperor about these things, but you don't have to be too violent. After all, the emperor supports the reform, and you don't have to make the emperor dissatisfied. Although national affairs have their own share,
The responsibility lies with you, but you have to pay attention to the methods, right?" Lin Jue said softly, cupping his hands.
Guo Bing thought for a while and nodded: "That's right, I shouldn't come forward, otherwise I'm afraid I will end up not being a human being inside and outside. Now that Lu Zhongtian and the others have taken action, I won't join in the fun. But I can't stand idly by and watch such a fuss.
If we go down, sooner or later there will be chaos. I can't stay out of this."
Lin Jue nodded and said: "Father-in-law, on the way to the palace just now, my son-in-law has already seen the cruelty of the officials' persecution. The scene was as cruel as a bandit's bullying, and there was also my great Zhou Wen's benevolence and righteousness in governing the world.
Politically, such a scene may have to be seen by the Holy Lord in person before he can be moved. Even if my father-in-law is a minister, he still wants to warn the Holy Lord by narrating the experiences of the people. He cannot use his status as a prince to criticize, otherwise it will be counterproductive. "
Guo Bing frowned and said: "Well, I will think about it carefully. I don't want to cause the emperor's dissatisfaction. You are right. Maybe we should collect more evidence and make a book of all peoples or something and hand it to the emperor, better than me.
Persuasion is more useful."
Lin Jue breathed a sigh of relief and thought in his mind: "If it had been before, I would have stopped such a move. After all, I still support the reform. The court needs reform, but it is not a method of reform.
After seeing and hearing all this, perhaps this reform should really be stopped. Mr. Fang, Mr. Yan, don’t blame me. Maybe I really want to go against you."
…
The prince and his wife were naturally very happy when their son-in-law and daughter came back. Soon after, the little princess ordered Lin Jue to go to the inner house to meet the princess, and Guo Bing also came in. After the ceremony, the princess was very reasonable and expressed her gratitude to Lin Jue for his late arrival in Hangzhou.
I understand. After all, you are an official, so you can't do whatever you want. But there is one thing that makes the princess very unhappy.
"Lin Jue, you are the head of the Lin family. Your Lin family is really interesting. My Wei'er moved to your Lin family. This is to give your Lin family face. Not to mention your status, at least I, Wei'er, am pregnant with Liujia, so I have to take good care of her.
Is that so? Why are you acting like a servant? You, the Lin family, are all in a big business, so why don't you have some rules?" The princess spoke slowly and logically, but there was an edge hidden in her words.
The little princess hurriedly said: "Oh, mother, who are you listening to? Are you treating me like a cow or a horse? Who is this? If I find out, I will tear his mouth apart."
Guo Bing looked at him and said angrily: "I told your mother, what? Are you going to tear my mouth apart?"
The little princess burst out laughing and said hurriedly: "Don't you dare, don't dare, dad, you are too good at talking nonsense, what have you said? The Lin family didn't send me."
"You said no, I have seen it with my own eyes. You and your people were gesticulating on the Lin family pier, and people in our house saw you riding a carriage in and out, wandering around the city. This is not
What does being summoned mean?" Guo Bing stared.
"Oh, that's all of my own free will. I'm the wife of the head of the Lin family. What's the point of helping with some household chores? Where are you all thinking? No one in the Lin family dares to order me around." The little princess smiled.
The princess looked at the little princess fondly and said angrily: "What can you do? You are the boss at home and don't care about anything. With such a big family, don't interfere and make a mess."
"That's right." Guo Bing interrupted without missing a chance.
"Humph, I don't want to do what you said. I have no chance to do it in the house. I do pretty well in the Lin family. Everyone praises me." The little princess said angrily.
"I don't believe it," the prince said with a smile. "Mother doesn't believe it either," the princess said with a smile.
Lin Jue hurriedly said: "It's true. My uncle told me when he came back. Caiwei is very neat in doing things, and everyone in my Lin family admires her. This time the ship went to sea, if it weren't for Wei'er's move, my Lin family would have been hit hard.
.Caiwei saved me from the Lin family boating company."
"Oh? Is there such a thing?" Guo Bing and the princess were both surprised.
At that moment, Lin Jue told Guo Caiwei about mobilizing the guards and the ship. Guo Caiwei gritted her teeth and waved her hands to Lin Jue not to say anything, but Lin Jue still said it.
"Oh, you are so bold. You dare to ask the palace guards to escort the Lin family? It's strange that I don't know. Are you hiding your feelings from me? Is this bastard He Chao just itchy? How dare you do this without telling me?
." Guo Bing said angrily.
"It has nothing to do with Deputy Commander He. I forced him. He couldn't do anything. If you want to blame me," Guo Caiwei said hurriedly.
The princess smiled and said: "Come on, I've done everything, why should I be punished? So I, Weier, am really far-sighted, which is really amazing. I don't dare to say that Weier has no ability anymore, I, Weier, have grown up."
"
Guo Caiwei proudly pointed at her belly and said, "Well, I'm going to be a mother, am I still a child?"
The princess nodded and laughed, Guo Bing stroked his beard and smiled bitterly, and Lin Jue smiled brightly.
The couple had a dinner at the palace. After the dinner, the princess was reluctant to leave Guo Caiwei and left, forcing the couple to go to the inner house to chat about home affairs. Guo Bing also participated, and they chatted for a while. When it came to Lin Jue's visit,
When Lin Jue was suddenly given the matter of being appointed as a punishment officer, Lin Jue suddenly remembered something and asked.
"Father-in-law, mother-in-law, and my son-in-law have something that I want to verify, but I don't know whether I should ask."
The princess smiled and said: "As a member of my family, if you have anything to say, you can just say it. If there is anything you shouldn't ask,"
Guo Bing also drank tea and looked like he was doing everything he could.
Lin Jue thought for a while and said: "My son-in-law would like to ask my father-in-law and mother-in-law if they know about a minister named Lu who served in the Ministry of Rites in the court ten years ago."
"Secretary Lu of the Ministry of Rites ten years ago? Why do you suddenly ask about this?" Guo Bing said in surprise.
"My son-in-law is just curious about this person, because I accidentally got some stories about this person. And... I am now serving as an official in the Criminal Division, and all the unsolved cases in the past ten or twenty years are in my hands and need to be solved. This
The case of Mr. Lu being murdered ten years ago, a fire broke out in his house, and his family was destroyed was one of them. It was so old that it was difficult to investigate, so I thought of it and wanted to ask my father-in-law." Lin Jue said with a smile.
"Look at Lin Jue, this is called being diligent in official duties. He is always thinking about official matters anytime and anywhere. Look at some officials who wish they could do nothing every day. They are in heaven and on earth." The princess said.
Guo Caiwei covered her mouth and smiled. The mother-in-law became more and more happy as she looked at her son-in-law. Sure enough, her mother-in-law had gone from being repulsive to Lin Jue to being very satisfied with her husband.
Guo Bing's brows suddenly frowned, and he stared at Lin Jue and said, "The case is in your hands? You don't want to investigate this case. I advise you not to investigate some cases indiscriminately, such as this one."
Lin Jue asked: "Why?"
Guo Bing waved his hand and said: "There are not so many reasons. If I tell you not to investigate, then don't investigate. You are right to listen to me."
Lin Jue thought for a while and said, "Is it because this Minister Lu is involved with Concubine Rong in the palace?"
Guo Bing was shocked, looked at Lin Jue in shock, and said coldly for a while: "What do you know? What are you searching randomly? Stop it right here, don't investigate anymore."
The princess and the little princess were both surprised. The princess was full of gossip and asked softly: "What's going on? What happened to Minister Lu and Concubine Rong? It's been so many years, can it still be uncovered?"
Lin Jue asked hurriedly: "Does your mother-in-law know about them?"
"Of course I know. Concubine Rong and I are good friends. We talked about everything in the beginning. She is the niece of the Queen Mother, and my family is also a wealthy family in the capital. Our two families are in constant contact, and we often see each other after we are teenagers.
Yes." The princess smiled.
Lin Jue was about to ask, but Guo Bing shouted from the side: "Madam, don't talk anymore. You are not allowed to talk about this matter, let's stop it."
Guo Caiwei shouted: "Why? Is there any outsider who can tell me anything?"
"What do you know? It's very relevant. Lin Jue still has to go investigate, let alone talk about it," Guo Bing scolded.
Lin Jue thought for a while and said: "I listen to my father-in-law, I don't intend to investigate this case in detail. But my father-in-law needs to tell me the inside story."
Guo Bing frowned and said, "If we don't check, then we don't need to know. It's not good for you."
Lin Jue frowned and said nothing, thinking: All I want to know is Lu Wu's identity, otherwise I wouldn't mind my own business. Lu Wu's identity has not yet been found out, and there are some things in it that are unclear. I just want to find out.
That’s all.
Guo Caiwei shook the princess's arm and said: "Mom, just tell us. Concubine Rong in the palace is very good to me. The last time I entered the palace, she asked me to say hello to my mother. But I don't know that he had some problems when he was young.
What a fun thing."
The princess looked at Guo Bing and said with a smile: "My lord, it's okay to talk to them."
Guo Bing scolded: "You are stupid, you involve a noble concubine in the palace, how can you pay if the news spreads?"
The princess said angrily: "It's just my daughter and son-in-law. They don't talk nonsense, so how could it spread? You are too careful. Your daughter and son-in-law still don't believe it?"
Guo Bing was speechless and said angrily: "You, you are really a woman. If I tell you not to say anything, then you are not allowed to say anything. Don't say any more. It's getting late. If you don't go back to the Lin family,
Then go to Wei'er's residence to rest. If you want to go back, you can leave."
The princess was very unhappy and angry with a stern face. But after being married for many years, she completely understood her man and was used to his domineeringness. As the Prince of Liang and the younger brother of the Holy Emperor, this man has always acted cautiously.
She was willing to leave no clues. Therefore, she understood his sometimes inexplicable rage and domineering.
The little princess was very disappointed. Every time this happened, the conversation ended on bad terms. Her father always made her and her mother unhappy, and a good conversation ended just like that.
"Father-in-law, actually I know even if you don't tell me. Ten years ago, the minister of the Ministry of Rites was named Lu Feiming. He... fell in love with Concubine Rong in the palace and almost talked about marriage, right?" Lin Jue
said in a deep voice.
"Ah? There is such a thing?" The little princess said in surprise: "I have to ask Concubine Rong next time I enter the palace if this is the case. That Minister Lu must be very handsome..."
"Shut up!" Guo Bing was so furious that Guo Caiwei turned pale with fright. Guo Bing shouted sharply at Lin Jue: "Lin Jue, you are too courageous. Why are you investigating these things? Do you want to die? Do you want to?" It doesn't matter whether you die or not, but don't implicate us, don't implicate me, Weier. How did you learn about it?"
