I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 144 They stole my money, and I should thank them? ( words)

With Yan Maoqing's face, Lin Shisan immediately agreed to the salt merchant Zhang Yuhao: "Okay. I will leave the task of finding a husband for Mei Shuang to you."

It is said that Jiangnan salt merchants are rich enough to rival a country and have great powers. It would be easy for them to find a male cat of the same species and appearance as Mei Shuang.

However, Lin Shisan would not accept bribes from merchants. He would have to pay them back 100,000 or 1 million taels in the future if he accepted 10,000 taels from them.

Lin Shisan said: "Please take the silver and the pure gold cat bath back. Mr. Yan is like a father to me."

"My father's friend asked me to do something trivial, how could I accept money?"

Salt merchant leaders like Zhang Yuhao are as well-informed as the Embroidered Uniform Guards.

Before he came to Beijing, he had already found out that Lin Chuanfeng, who was very popular in Xiyuan, was very shameless. He would recognize anyone of the same age as his brother, and anyone older than him as his father.

This guy can be called a crazy father-recognizing man.

Lin Shisan kept saying "Zongyan is my father", Zhang Yuhao thought to himself: He is really a shameless person with a thicker skin than the wall of Deshengmen. When did Zongyan give birth to a son as old as you?
Then I thought: Only such a shameless person can get along in the court. No wonder he can rise to the top so quickly.

Zhang Yuhao said, "Lin Chuanfeng, this is just a small gift to show your respect. Please accept it."

Lin Shisan said firmly: "I won't accept any money! If I ask for money to help Yan's friend, would I still be a human being?"

"I'll teach you a trick. Donate this golden cat bathtub to the Cat House in Xiyuan. It will be a token of filial piety from the Jiangnan salt merchant to the emperor."

Zhang Yuhao's eyes lit up: "Dedicated to Xiyuan?"

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Yes. You are in charge of the Royal Cat's recruitment of a son-in-law in order to gain favor with the Emperor."

"Since you want to please, why not please the whole thing and directly present a golden cat bathtub to the palace?"

"Hey, what a filial piety! The emperor will be delighted to see it. Will he look up to you Jiangnan salt merchants from now on?"

Zhang Yuhao nodded in agreement and insisted on giving the 10,000 taels of silver to Lin Shisan.

Lin Shisan frowned: "If I accept your money, how can I behave in front of Mr. Yan in the future? If you really want to give this money, give it to Mr. Yan!"

"Oh, by the way, I'll give you the picture of the eyebrow cream, and you can find a son-in-law according to the picture."

At this point, Zhang Yuhao had no choice but to put away the banknote and express his gratitude profusely.

Since ancient times, money can make things happen!

Salt merchants in Jiangnan had plenty of money. Once, Yan Maoqing casually mentioned that a beloved concubine of his had died of an acute illness ten years ago.

The Jiangnan salt merchant asked Yan Maoqing to describe in detail the appearance of the deceased concubine.

Within three days, the salt merchant gave Yan Maoqing a woman who looked exactly like Yan Maoqing's deceased concubine.

If they can find an identical woman, how can they find a cat?

Two days later, at Lin’s residence.

Lin Shisan came home after finishing his mission and coaxed Wang Xiaochuan and Huer to pick up the sheep's crutch.

Wang Xiaochuan was indeed the granddaughter of the dog rider, her fingers were very flexible. In less than a moment, Lin Shisan owed her "10,000 taels of gold".

At this moment, Zhang Yuhao came again. The follower behind him was holding a bamboo cage covered with a red cloth.

Lin Shisan stood up and said, "Chairman Zhang."

Zhang Yuhao also knew how to bow his head, and he kowtowed to Lin Shisan as soon as he came up: "Greetings, Lin Chuanfeng."

Lin Shisan hurriedly said, "Please stand up quickly."

Zhang Yuhao stood up and said straight to the point: "I have found the perfect husband for the Royal Cat."

After saying this, he lifted the red cloth on the bamboo cage. Inside was a light blue male cat with snow-white eyebrows.

It looks almost exactly like eyebrow cream.

Lin Shisan was extremely surprised. After a moment, he joked, "This? Did you steal the eyebrow cream from the cat's room?"

Zhang Yuhao laughed and said, "How can I be so brave?"

Lin Shisan walked around the bamboo cage twice and exclaimed in amazement: "It's exactly like them. It's so similar."

He thought to himself: It is said that the salt merchants in the south of the Yangtze River have great powers. Ha, money can do anything!
Zhang Yuhao asked: "Is Lin Chuanfeng satisfied?"

Lin Shisan nodded: "It goes perfectly with eyebrow cream. I will notify the internal minister tomorrow and ask the Imperial Astronomical Observatory to choose an auspicious day for this marriage. When they consummate their marriage, I will personally watch"

Cat mating requires on-site supervision and correction by a "cat master". Lin Shisan is quite proficient in this.

Last year, the lion cat "Tu'er" was mating with a female cat, and Lin Shisan was the "cat master" standing by.

Zhang Yuhao smiled and said, "As long as Lin Chuanfeng is satisfied."

Lin Shisan said, "You have done a great job. Oh, by the way, I have handed the golden bathtub to the cat room."

After saying that, Lin Shisan took out a piece of paper with a red seal from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Yuhao: "This is a receipt issued to you by Xiyuan Cat Room."

Zhang Yuhao said repeatedly: "Thank you, Lin Chuanfeng."

Let’s talk about the courtyard of South City, where Wu Shilai, the Censor of the Criminal Department, lived.

He was inviting his two best friends, Zhang Chong and Dong Chuance, to drink.

Wu Shilai sighed, "Today's wine is my farewell wine. Xu Cifu has severed ties with me, and in a few days, the court will punish me."

"I think the lightest punishment would be dismissal from office. In more serious cases, he might be caned and exiled, or even die unjustly like Shen Liangong."

When he mentioned the three words "Xu Ci Fu", Wu Shilai gritted his teeth.

Zhang Chong consoled him: "Perhaps Master Xu has his own difficulties. He will not ignore you."

Dong Chuance said, "Alas. Who could have thought that Hu Zongxian and Luo Longwen of the Yan Party would have such bad luck after making such a great contribution when Brother Wu submitted his impeachment memorial?"

Wu Shilai sighed, "It's all because my father gave me a bad name, Wu Shilai! Naturally, I have bad luck in my life."

"I can no longer impeach Yang Shun, Lu Kai, and Lin Shisan, three members of Yan's party. Let's stop the previous agreement to jointly impeach Yan Song and his son."

"I can't let you two get in trouble."

The three of them had sad faces and drank some sad wine.

That night, in Yongshou Palace in Xiyuan.

Emperor Jiajing has been sulking these days about the Yan Party making a fortune in the salt business.

Later historical books gave a pertinent four-character evaluation of Emperor Jiajing: "Emperor Shizong was of a Bian nature." Bian literally means "manic."

Emperor Jiajing took pills all day long, and he lived in a depressing environment of fire and assassination since he ascended the throne. Naturally, he suffered from bipolar disorder and was moody.

In the main hall of Yongshou Palace.

Emperor Jiajing lifted the green gauze curtain. It was early summer in June, but he was wearing four Taoist robes, wrapped up like a dumpling.

Emperor Jiajing said, "Lü Fang, accompany me to the cat room to relax."

Lu Fang followed Emperor Jiajing to the cat room.

Tian Yi, the ambassador of the Cat Room, is bathing the royal cats.

The most noble "Yuesheng Langzhong" eyebrow cream was soaked in the golden bathtub. A palace maid was rubbing it with her delicate hands.

Mei Shuang had been resisting the maid's hand with its claws stretched out and teeth bared. But when it saw Emperor Jiajing coming, it immediately became a good boy, squinting its eyes and looking very happy.

When Emperor Jiajing saw Meishuang, he was in a good mood: "Little Meishuang is such a good cat."

The eyebrow cream "meowed" twice, as if to say: "Yes, yes, I am the best."

Emperor Jiajing noticed Mei Shuang's bathtub and asked, "Is this a copper bathtub plated with gold? It's very unique. Was it donated by the Ministry of Works or the military craftsmen of the Imperial Guard?"

Ambassador Tian Yi replied: "Your Majesty, this is pure gold."

Emperor Jiajing was stunned: "Pure gold?"

Tian Yi replied: "Your Majesty, it is 100% pure gold."

Emperor Jiajing frowned and asked, "How much gold does this cost?"

Tian Yi replied: "It costs eight hundred taels of gold."

Emperor Jiajing was a miser. No matter how much he loved eyebrow cream, he would never spend eight hundred taels of gold to make a small bathtub for a cat.

He turned to look at Lü Fang, who was in charge of the Neichengyunku, the emperor's private treasury.

Lu Fang said: "The internal transport warehouse did not have this expenditure."

Tian Yi said, "Your Majesty, this item was brought into the Western Garden by Lin Chuanfeng. He said it was a gift from a salt merchant from Jiangnan."

"He also said that the Jiangnan salt merchants are trying their best to find a son-in-law for Mei Shuang."

After hearing this, Emperor Jiajing was silent for a long time. Suddenly, he let out a dragon roar: "You are deceiving the heavens!" Lu Fang and the eunuchs knelt down immediately.

Emperor Jiajing angrily said: "That group of salt merchants colluded with Yan Maoqing and put my money into their pockets."

"And now they are using my money to do favors? Eight hundred taels of gold, oh, what a generous sum!"

"These eight hundred taels of gold should have been in my internal storage! They stole it, and you want me to thank them?"

Lu Fang repeatedly said, "Your Majesty, please calm down."

However, the anger of Emperor Jiajing was like a dark cloud covering the sky: "Lin Shisan is trying to help the salt merchants by offering fake favors? Isn't it enough that a group of local governors and the inner court of Beijing have been bribed by the salt merchants?"

"Even my messenger has been bribed by them?"

"Ah! Collusion between inside and outside! Working together as a wretch!"

Beads of sweat appeared on Lu Fang's head. He knew that Emperor Jiajing was suffering from manic depression again.

He had served Emperor Jiajing for many years and knew his temper well. When Emperor Jiajing got sick, no one could persuade him.

Lin Shisan might be in danger of losing his head!

Emperor Jiajing cursed: "Yan Maoqing, you are a scoundrel! You are a dog salt merchant, hurting the country! Lin Shisanxiao doesn't know that he has only one master!"

"His master is me, not Yan Song!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

At this moment, the considerate eyebrow cream jumped out of the golden bathtub. All wet, it ran to the feet of Emperor Jiajing and rubbed his ankles with its little head.

When treating bipolar patients, psychiatrists often recommend that they keep a cat or dog. This makes sense.

Cute cats and dogs can heal people's hearts and calm their moods.

Emperor Jiajing touched Mei Shuang's little head lovingly.

Mei Shuang stretched out her little claws, with all five claws spread out like a mangosteen.

Emperor Jiajing held the cat's paw. His anger subsided by half.

He turned to look at Lu Fang and said, "Let Lin Shisan come back to the palace."

Lu Fang said quickly: "I will send someone to pass on your order right away."

Lin Zhai.

The moon was already above the treetops. Yun'er was pregnant, so naturally she would no longer sleep with Lin Shisan.

Biyun finally got a strong bull that devoted itself to cultivating her land.

The couple were practicing the Eighteen-Movement Springing Kick on the walnut bed.

Chun Ge'er, a servant in the mansion, shouted from the bedroom window: "Master, someone is coming from the palace."

Lin Shisan and Biyun were greatly disappointed.

Biyun got off the strong bull body and said: "Hurry up and put on your clothes."

Lin Shisan complained, "What time is it now? What happened in the palace?"

Biyun said, "Maybe one of the pets is lost again. I asked you to go find it."

Lin Shisan put on his Feiyu suit and came to the living room.

In the living room, Uncle Zhang was drinking tea with Chen Ju.

Lin Shisan asked Chen Ju: "Is there a pet missing in the palace?"

Chen Ju stood up and said, "It's not that the pet is lost. I just know that the emperor was furious in the cat room. He told you to get out of here and go back to the palace."

Lin Shisan was stunned. "The cat room? The royal cats are all well served. Why is the emperor so angry?"

Zhang Bo said: "No matter what the emperor is angry about, you should go to the palace quickly. Remember to kowtow frequently."

Lin Shisan nodded and followed Chen Ju on horseback to the West Garden.

Inside the main hall of Yongshou Palace.

Emperor Jiajing was holding Meishuang in his arms and stroking its little head.

Lu Fang said, "Your Majesty, Lin Shisan is waiting for your order outside the palace."

Emperor Jiajing said: "Let him come in."

Soon, Lin Shisan, feeling uneasy, came to the main hall and knelt down and kowtowed.

The Jiajing Emperor cursed, "Did you present the bathtub made of 800 taels of gold to the palace on behalf of the Jiangnan salt merchant?"

Lin Shisan replied: "Your Majesty, yes."

Emperor Jiajing asked: "How much benefit did you receive from them for doing them a favor?"

Lin Shisan knelt on the ground and kowtowed loudly: "Your Majesty, I have not accepted a single ounce of silver from the salt merchant. If this is a lie, I am willing to be executed along with my entire family for deceiving the emperor."

"Zhang Yuhao, the head of the Jiangnan Salt Merchants Association, did want to give me 10,000 taels of silver, but I refused."

Emperor Jiajing sneered, "Oh, ten thousand taels! They are so generous to bribe a mere sixth-rank official beside me!"

"How much silver did they have to give to Yan Maoqing and Yan Song?"

"It is said that Jiangnan salt merchants are the richest in the world, supporting hundreds of officials from the Yan Party. They are rich, but I have to be poor!"

Lü Fang scolded Lin Shisan from the side: "How could you be so foolish as to get involved with the Jiangnan salt merchants?"

Lin Shisan now deeply understands what Luo Longwen once said to him: "Since ancient times, serving the emperor is like serving a tiger."

He had no other choice but to kowtow repeatedly until his forehead bled.

In fact, Emperor Jiajing was not angry at Lin Shisan, but at the Yan Party.

Emperor Jiajing angrily asked, "Does the Yan family think that Hu Zongxian and Luo Longwen can do whatever they want just because they have wiped out Xu Hai?"

"Hu Zongxian is not only Yan Song's student, but also my Governor-General of Zhejiang!"

Lin Shisan felt that if he didn't use his eloquence skills, he might lose his head.

So Lin Shisan bravely shouted: "Your Majesty is wise! It was because Your Majesty had the foresight to identify talents and appointed Hu Zongxian as an exception that we were able to achieve the great victory of eliminating Xu Hai."

"Hu Zongxian is not Yan Song's man, but the emperor's man! What contribution did the Yan family make to the great victory in the southeast this time?"

These words touched the heart of Emperor Jiajing.

Emperor Jiajing stroked his eyebrow cream and said, "You are a reasonable person. But how could you be so confused as to get involved with the salt merchants?"

Lin Shisan was quick-witted and quickly explained, "General Lu asked me to pretend to be friendly with the Yan Party and be a chess piece that the emperor has planted in the Yan Party."

"The backers of the Jiangnan salt merchants are the Yan Party. I pretended to help the salt merchants in order to make friends with them and secretly investigate their evil deeds."

Emperor Jiajing was really frightened by Lin Shisan's words.

Emperor Jiajing said, "Oh. I have wronged you. Did you hand over the matter of finding a son-in-law for Mei Shuang to the salt merchant?"

Lin Shisan replied: "It is because I am confused."

Emperor Jiajing shook his head: "No, you are not confused. Come forward."

Lin Shisan knelt and moved to the front of the green gauze curtain.

Emperor Jiajing said, "Let me ask you. If on Mei Shuang's wedding day, her cat husband went crazy and tried to scratch the emperor with his cat claws, what crime would this cat husband be punished for?"

Lin Shisan replied: "The crime of assassinating the king and killing his chariot driver."

Emperor Jiajing asked again: "What about the person who presented the crazy cat? What crime did he commit?"

Lin Shisan replied: "The mastermind who assassinated the king is guilty of treason."

Emperor Jiajing nodded and said, "I am tired. Lu Fang, go out with your good nephew."

Lu Fang and Lin Shisan walked out of the Yongshou Palace.

Lu Fang said: "Fortunately, you have a quick mind and are very eloquent. Otherwise, you would not be able to keep your head today."

Lin Shisan wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "I really didn't expect that the golden bathtub would cause such a big disaster."

Lu Fang said, "You have already avoided the disaster. Just complete the task that the emperor has just assigned to you."

Lin Shisan was puzzled: "Did the emperor just give me an assignment?"

Lu Fang said: "Yes. This is what the Jinyiwei is best at. Frame-up!"

(End of this chapter)