My father is Jiajing

Chapter 476 Fishing?

Cao Dewen was promoted by Xu Jie. He was a clean-minded person who joined Xu Jie when Xu Jie was the chief academic officer of the Imperial College because of their so-called common ideals.

Now Xu Jie was finally about to become the wife of the emperor, and he finally dared to recommend his people to the Emperor Jiajing for important positions in the court. So Cao Dewen was honorably chosen and recommended from an inconspicuous marginal official to the position of Tongzhengshi of the equally inconspicuous Tongzhengsi.

In this position, Cao Dewen can be said to be very conscientious. He has always carefully handled the memorials sent to the court by officials from the capital and local officials. He would actively put any memorial that was beneficial to the Qingliu at the top, and then send them to the cabinet or the Western Garden in categories.

Therefore, in this position, Cao Dewen also thinks he is very capable.

Now, looking at this report from the head of the Ministry of Works that Yan Shifan used ordinary large wood to impersonate the golden nanmu needed for the beams of the new Wanshou Palace, he was really stumped.

If he was from Yan's party, it would be easy to deal with. He would just secretly pass the contents of the memorial to Yan Shifan so that Yan Shifan could prepare a response plan first, and then he would put the memorial in the most inconspicuous place and send it up.

But now he is Xu Jie's man, and is "irreconcilable" with the Yan Party, the "evil party" that controls the government. How could he possibly leak the contents of this memorial to Yan Shifan in advance?
But now Yan Song is still the Prime Minister, and Yan Shifan also holds great power. What if the content of this memorial is exaggerated, and he is so foolish as to think he has made a contribution, and sends this memorial directly to the Western Garden or the Cabinet.

So what if this was not true evidence, but a memorial written by a frustrated and unhappy head of the Ministry of Works to vent his dissatisfaction and maliciously slander his superiors? Even if the emperor did not cause trouble for him, Yan Shifan would not let him go.

So for a moment, Cao Dewen was really in a dilemma. He really didn't know what to do.

Finally, after intense thinking, Cao Dewen finally made up his mind.

Cao Dewen gritted his teeth and stomped his feet, wanting to put the memorial under his desk. Then he waited until the end of his shift, changed into casual clothes, and left in a hurry.

After leaving the Tongzhengsi Yamen, Cao Dewen did not go home directly, but quietly made his way to the back door of Xu Jie's mansion and knocked on the door carefully.

The servants of the Xu residence heard the knocking at the door at this time and thought that the swill collectors had come. They said impatiently, "We've already told you that the swill in our residence can only be collected after the hour of Xu. What's the point of you coming here at this time?"

But the voice of the complaining servant was answered by another more urgent knock on the door.

At this moment, the complaining servant from the Xu residence also became alert, knowing that this person was definitely not the one who collected the swill. If this person was, his words just now would be enough to drive the person away. But now, not only did the person outside not leave, but the knocking on the door became more urgent.

Obviously, the person outside might be an important person who is either rich or noble, but it is not convenient for him to go through the main entrance to meet his master.

The Xu manor servant carefully opened the door a crack and asked cautiously, "Who are you? What do you want?"

Cao Dewen, who was outside the door, looked around like a thief, and then whispered, "I am the Minister of Public Administration, Cao Dewen, and I want to see you for something important."

When the servant heard that it was the Minister of Public Security, he was also shocked, but he still didn't dare to let him in. After all, the family rules of their Xu family were very strict. If someone violated the family rules, even though the elder was usually kind and amiable, he might dare to beat someone to death if he got ruthless.

So the servant immediately replied, "Sir, please wait a moment. I will go and report this to you."

After saying that, without waiting for Cao Dewen's response, he slammed the door shut and headed straight for the back house.

When he arrived at the backyard and saw that the light in Xu Jie's son Xu Fan's room was still on, he hurriedly ran to Xu Fan's room and whispered, "Master, are you resting? I am Xu Wu."

Xu Fan, who was helping his father revise and polish Qingci, heard the noise outside the door and was slightly displeased, but still asked calmly, "What's wrong?"

When Xu Wu heard Xu Fan's calm voice, his attitude became more respectful. "Sir, there is a man who claims to be the Minister of Public Affairs Cao Dewen who wants to see you. I dare not let him in. Please make the decision, sir."

When Xu Fan heard this, he immediately put the pen in his hand on the pen holder beside him and hurried out of the room. He looked at Xu Wu and asked, "Where is he?"

Xu Wu said: "At the back door."

Xu Fan said: "Take me there."

Xu Wu quickly led Xu Fan towards the back door. After arriving at the back door, Xu Fan winked at Xu Wu and asked him to open the back door.

Xu Wu did not dare to neglect it and opened the door immediately. Cao Dewen, who was already waiting anxiously at the door, immediately asked anxiously, "Does the Lord want to see me?"

Xu Wu didn't dare to speak, and quickly stepped aside. Xu Fan looked at the anxious Cao Dewen and asked, "Brother Zhengxian, what's the important matter?"

When Cao Dewen heard Xu Fan's voice, he also became excited. "Brother Yunyan, I have something important to ask you to see the old man. I wonder if he has rested?"

Xu Fan looked at Cao Dewen who looked anxious, and understood that Cao Dewen must have something important to tell him, otherwise he would not have risked asking for a meeting through the back door.

Xu Fan said, "Brother Zhengxian, please come in and talk first. I will take you to see father later to see if he has rested."

Cao Dewen said excitedly: "Thank you, brother Xu Fan."

After saying that, Cao Dewen hurriedly squeezed in through the crack of the back door. Xu Wu also immediately stuck his head out to look around the alley at the back door, and then closed the door tightly.

Cao Dewen followed closely behind Xu Fan, and Xu Fan asked again: "What happened? Why did Brother Zhengxian panic?"

Cao Dewen sighed, "Brother Yunyan, this matter is of great importance. I don't know where to start. I will tell you everything when I meet with the elder."

Faced with Cao Dewen's attitude, Xu Fan did not ask any more questions deliberately. After all, some things should not be said so easily, otherwise if something really went wrong, it would be quite troublesome.

So Xu Fan had no intention of blaming Cao Dewen, but instead took Cao Dewen to the yard where Xu Jie was at a faster pace.

After arriving here, Xu Fan bowed respectfully outside the door and asked, "Is father resting?"

Xu Jie, who was inside the room, heard Xu Fan's voice and responded, "What's wrong, Fan'er?"

Xu Fan said, "Father, Envoy Cao Tong is here. He wants to see you for something important."

After hearing what Xu Fan said, Xu Jie, who was in the room, became serious from his originally calm expression. "Come in."

Xu Fan said yes, and Cao Dewen quickly said "Thank you, Lord". Then Xu Fan and Cao Dewen went into Xu Jie's room together.

At this moment, Xu Jie was also tying the robe he had just put on. He looked at Xu Fan and then at Cao Dewen.

Xu Jie asked, "What happened, Zhengxian?"

Cao Dewen bowed respectfully to Xu Jie, and then said, "Sir, this is the case. Today, while I was on duty, I received a memorial accusing Yan Shifan. I dare not make a decision on my own, so I came to ask you for your guidance."

When Xu Jie heard about this, he said indifferently: "You can handle this matter yourself. There are too many reports of accusations like this. Even I and several other cabinet members have been impeached frequently, but what can we do?"

"Moreover, Yan Shifan's behavior is erratic, and there are countless people who want to impeach and report him, but who can do anything to him after all these years? You have just become the Minister of Public Administration, so you must learn to stay calm and don't be confused by these small problems."

Cao Dewen said, "What the elder said is that I lack concentration. But today's memorial is different. It was a director of the Ministry of Works who reported Yan Shifan. He said in the memorial that the beams used by Yan Shifan for the new Longevity Palace built for Your Majesty were ordinary trees pretending to be golden nanmu."

"what?!"

Xu Jie, who was originally calm, suddenly became shocked and his eyes widened, "What did you say?!"

Cao Dewen hurriedly repeated, "Today, while I was on duty, I received a memorial from the head of the Ministry of Works accusing Yan Shifan of using ordinary giant trees to impersonate golden nanmu as the beams of your majesty's new palace. Your Excellency, what do you think I should do with this memorial?"

Xu Jie listened to Cao Dewen's words again, and his shock was not diminished at all. He never expected that it would be such a report. This involved the emperor's major affairs. Moreover, Emperor Jiajing specially rewarded Yan Shifan for his contribution to the palace repair.

Now Emperor Jiajing is still ordering the Imperial Observatory and the Chaotian Temple to calculate an auspicious day for him to move, and he is also asking all officials to write congratulatory messages to celebrate his move to the new palace.

This shows how high hopes Emperor Jiajing had for the new palace he was about to move into. Now, someone has reported that the beams of this new palace are not made of golden nanmu wood in accordance with ritual system and the emperor's specifications. Isn't this like poking a hole in the sky?

For a moment, Xu Jie stood there in a daze for a long time without saying a word.

Xu Fan, who was also waiting on the side, was also extremely shocked after hearing Cao Dewen's words, but he recovered a little faster than his father.

Xu Fan immediately said seriously: "Father, we should take action on this matter. Yan Shifan is deceiving the emperor, which is completely different from what he usually does. Once the emperor gets angry, he will definitely die!"

Xu Jie suddenly looked up at his anxious son and shouted angrily: "Shut up!"

Xu Fan was also frightened by Xu Jie's shout, and Cao Dewen was not much better.

Xu Jie said: "Did you see that the beam is not made of golden nanmu? What if it is? If this memorial is the bait thrown by Yan Shifan to trick us into taking the bait, do you know how serious the consequences will be?"

Xu Jie had a clear mind and quickly realized the key to the problem.

After hearing Xu Jie's words, Xu Fan and Cao Dewen couldn't help but break out in cold sweats.

Yes, what if this is just a bait and they fall for it?
So for a moment, both Xu Fan and Cao Dewen turned their gazes to Xu Jie again, praying for Xu Jie's next instructions and answers.

Xu Jie thought seriously for a while, then looked at Cao Dewen and said, "Put this memorial aside for a few days, and think of a way to verify what is going on with the beams of His Majesty's New Wanshou Palace, and then make some considerations."

Cao Dewen was stunned when he heard this. Could he enter Xiyuan?
And even if he could enter the West Garden, could he go to the newly built Wanshou Palace to check the beams on the roof?

This is simply impossible!

Cao Dewen's face fell instantly, and tears were about to come out. "Sir, I am incompetent. I can't verify the situation of the beams in Your Majesty's Wanshou Palace. Please give me some advice."

Xu Jie also looked at Cao Dewen. What ideas could he have? He couldn't even enter the Wanshou Palace now, so how could he have any ideas for Cao Dewen?

But Xu Jie couldn't disappoint Cao Dewen. What if he failed to appease Cao Dewen? Cao Dewen would go straight to Yan Shifan's house and use the contents of this memorial as a token of his surrender. Then wouldn't the Tongzhengsi, which Xu Jie had worked so hard to get, be lost again?
Therefore, Xu Jie had to use his brain and said, "Don't worry about this matter. Put this memorial on hold for a few days and wait for my instructions. During this period of time, don't mention this memorial to anyone, okay?"

When Cao Dewen heard Xu Jie's words, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. He was afraid that Xu Jie would sacrifice his rook to save his king and would simply abandon him as a pawn.

Now that he was asked to keep the memorial for a few days, it meant that Xu Jie was sincerely considering him, and Cao Dewen could not help but be moved by this kindness.

"Thank you, Sir. I will definitely follow your instructions."

Xu Jie hummed, "You go back first. Fan'er, go see Zhengxian off, tell him to have a good rest and stop worrying about this matter."

Xu Fan replied with a "yes", then he sent Cao Dewen, who was already feeling relieved, to the back door and quietly left.

After seeing Cao Dewen off, Xu Fan couldn't help but hurried back to Xu Jie's room.

Xu Fan asked, "What should I do, father?"

Xu Jie looked at his son and couldn't help but sigh, "I haven't thought about this matter yet. Let's calm Cao Dewen down first, and let me think about it carefully. This matter is very strange. The Ministry of Works can actually collect such memorials and send them to the Ministry of Public Security. It's really hard to understand."

Xu Fan asked, "Could it be that Zhao Wenhua did this on purpose?"

Xu Jie listened to his son's words and began to think about it, but he quickly denied it. "No, no, no, Zhao Wenhua is Yan Song's adopted son and a key figure around Yan Shifan. He couldn't have done this on purpose. If he did it on purpose, it must be a bait, and we must not be fooled. Go and check who the head of the Ministry of Works that Cao Dewen mentioned is? We have to study it carefully before we can make the next move."

Xu Fan bowed to Xu Jie and said, "Yes, son, I'll remember that."

Xu Jie couldn't help but feel relieved when he saw his son's steady performance. His son was much better than the arrogant and domineering Yan Shifan. With such a son, why would the Xu family worry about not being able to prosper for another generation?
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Asking for monthly ticket

(End of this chapter)