Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 83: Fraud Case Closed, Mission Completed

Shortly after Master Lou left the palace, Sheng Changbai arrived at the Golden Palace.

As the saying goes, true gold fears no fire. Sheng Changbai's talent and knowledge are not in vain.

In the Golden Palace, Sheng Changbai answered three questions in a row with his quick wit, quoting from classics, and clear logic.

After answering the three questions, Emperor Yongping on the throne twirled his beard and said with a smile.

"Good, very good. You are all well-read people. Sheng Changbai just answered three questions in a row. I think you all know his talent."

"My Lords, tell me, is it necessary for such a talented student to seek fame and fortune by cheating?"

Right Prime Minister Xiao Qinyan then bowed and said.

"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened. As the saying goes, a person with a wealth of knowledge is naturally elegant."

"Although Sheng Changbai is only a scholar, he is not only erudite but also well-mannered and well-mannered in this golden palace."

"If students like this were stripped of their academic titles due to unfounded charges, it would be a real loss to our Great Zhou."

"I petition Your Majesty to preserve Sheng Changbai's honors and to have his results in this imperial examination stand."

"I second the motion. I second the motion."

As Xiao Qinyan took the lead in expressing his opinion, all the civil and military officials also echoed him.

There was no way, Jia Jue was looking around the court at the moment.

The pressure released by the Champion Hou was simply too great.

At this moment in the court, Jia Jue might not remember who agreed with the proposal, but he would definitely remember who did not agree.

Civil and military officials also realized that for a long time, Marquis of Guanjun Jia Jue was definitely one of the top figures in the court and was unshakable.

Tutor Lou holds the highest official rank and is a leader of the clean class. Logically speaking, he can be considered a big shot in the court.

However, not only did he not gain any advantage in front of the Marquis of Guanjun, but his son died first, and now he is in crisis in his political career.

Even if he could manage to escape the impeachment, he would be skinned alive if he didn't die.

There's no loss in doing a favor for Sheng Changbai at this time.

But if I keep silent and get spotted by the Champion Marquis, I will be in big trouble.

Sitting on the throne, Emperor Yongping looked around at his ministers and said.

"Since all the ministers agree on this, the case of imperial examination cheating can be closed."

"Left Prime Minister Ke Zheng, as the chief examiner of this imperial examination, failed to supervise properly, resulting in cheating. He will be fined three years' salary and dismissed from his position as Prime Minister, but will remain in the cabinet."

"Wang Wenzheng, the mastermind behind the imperial examination case, is guilty of heinous crimes and his entire clan shall be exterminated."

"The entire family of Confucian scholar Sun Yuan, who was involved in the imperial examination case, was executed."

"All candidates who participated in the cheating will be stripped of their titles and will never be allowed to take the exam again."

"Sheng Changbai, the candidate, has nothing to do with the imperial examination cheating case. He has returned home to recuperate and await the results announcement."

Sheng Changbai was overjoyed after hearing this, and immediately bowed and said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Emperor Yongping waved his hand and said with a smile.

"Okay, get up. You are innocent to begin with, so naturally you should be cleared of all charges."

"Today's business is concluded. All ministers have returned to their respective duties. Please disperse."

"Retreat."

Following Xia Shouzhong's voice, all the civil and military officials saluted and spoke.

"Farewell to Your Majesty."

After Emperor Yongping left, civil and military officials left the Hall of Supreme Harmony one after another.

Not long after, in the Qianqing Palace, Emperor Yongping was chatting with Jia Jue.

Emperor Yongping said with a chuckle.

"I have forgiven your brother-in-law. If you don't understand the secret of this jade hairpin, I will punish you for deceiving the emperor."

After hearing this, Jia Jue bowed and said.

"How dare I deceive Your Majesty? Your Majesty has really set me off for a long time."

"Your Majesty, do you think there's something wrong with the maritime tariffs and want to send me to investigate?"

Emperor Yongping said with a calm smile.

"You're a smart kid."

"Tell me, how did you guess that?"

Jia Jue then told the story in detail.

That day in the Marquis's Mansion, Jia Jue and his wives and concubines talked about the jade hairpin.

Wang Xifeng's words made Jia Jue curious about the coral on the jade hairpin.

Afterwards, Jia Jue sent people to the jeweler in Shendu to secretly investigate the matter of red coral.

After some investigation, Jia Jue had an understanding of overseas red coral.

It turns out that five years ago, the price of overseas red coral was very high. A red coral the size of a fingertip inlaid on this jade hairpin would cost thirty to fifty taels of silver.

However, in the past two or three years, the price of red coral has dropped by 40%.

Normally, overseas merchant ships selling red coral would be supervised by the Maritime Customs. For luxury goods like red coral, the Maritime Customs would impose heavy taxes and collect customs duties based on the value of the goods.

That is to say, if a red coral gem the size of a fingertip is worth ten taels of silver overseas, the Maritime Customs will have to collect another ten taels of silver in customs duties.

In addition to the profits from overseas merchant ships, the price of red coral is naturally high.

However, the price of red coral has dropped so much now, there must be something strange about it.

Jia Jue continued.

"After the example of red coral, I drew inferences from it and looked for other treasures that needed to be transported by overseas merchant ships."

"As a result, I found that the prices of these treasures have basically dropped by 30% to 40%."

"So I've come to the conclusion that there must be something wrong with the supervision of the Maritime Customs."

"A large number of overseas merchant ships bypassed the supervision of the Maritime Customs and smuggled goods to the port."

"Because they avoided paying high tariffs, the prices of these treasures naturally dropped a lot. But for those overseas merchant ships, even though the price dropped, it was still much better than paying huge tariffs."

"Because the price is lower, it can also expand sales, killing two birds with one stone."

"If my guess is correct, the customs revenue of the Maritime Customs Office must have dropped significantly in recent years."

Emperor Yongping nodded slightly, then took out a memorial and said.

"Come and see, this is the comparison made by the Maritime Customs."

"Five years ago, the annual customs revenue reached eight or nine million taels."

"However, since I ascended the throne, this number has been declining sharply year after year."

"Last year, the customs duty was only two million taels. It's ridiculous."

"I have sent the Ministry of Revenue and the Maritime Customs to investigate three times, and they have always said that it is because of the high tariffs that overseas merchant ships are unprofitable, so they have stopped trading with our Great Zhou."

"They really think I'm some kind of milk emperor who was born in the deep palace and raised by women."

"How dare you use such nonsense to deceive me?"

"If it is true that overseas merchant ships do not have exchanges with the Great Zhou, where do all these overseas goods come from?"

"It's clear that they are colluding with each other, opening checkpoints privately, allowing overseas merchant ships to evade the supervision of the Maritime Customs and enter the Great Zhou for trade, thereby making huge profits."

"Boy, how about it, do you want to sharpen the blade again this time?"

Jia Jue said after bowing.

"I am willing to obey your majesty's orders."

Emperor Yongping nodded slightly and said.

"Very good. The affairs of the Maritime Customs are complicated, and the Divine Capital must have their backers."

"If we investigate this matter openly, I'm afraid we won't find anything."

"So this time, I intend to send you south, under the guise of inspecting the Jiangnan navy, to secretly investigate the major customs case." "The Jinyiwei also has a branch in Jiangnan, which you will control."

"In addition, I grant you the authority to act at your discretion. With a military token, the entire Jiangnan army is at your disposal."

"Get ready and leave Beijing for the south in seven days."

Jia Jue nodded slightly and said.

"I obey your Majesty's orders."

After a brief thought, Emperor Yongping continued.

"By the way, there's one more thing."

Jia Jue said immediately.

"Please give your Majesty's orders."

Emperor Yongping looked at Jia Jue and said.

"Besides the customs issue, I have another errand for you."

"You must also know about Prince Yin."

Jia Jue nodded and said.

"I have heard that Crown Prince Yin is a violent man who has cut himself off from the ancestral temple and the country."

"Your Majesty and Prince Zhongshun will eliminate Crown Prince Yin for the sake of the eternal unification of the Great Zhou."

Emperor Yongping said with a self-deprecating smile.

"There's no need to be so euphemistic. I ascended the throne through a coup. No matter how much you try to beautify it, it can't change this fact."

"The pen of history is as sharp as a knife. The historian will never record that I am the heir. I know this very well."

"I and the Crown Prince Yin were at loggerheads. If he ascended the throne, I and Prince Zhongshun's entire family would be the ones to perish."

"After Prince Yin was executed, his followers either died or fled, and have disappeared for many years."

"Half a year ago, the Imperial Guard tracked down one of Prince Yin's followers."

"According to this accomplice, there was a painting of a night banquet in Prince Yin's mansion. It contains some secrets that may be related to me."

"According to the Jinyiwei, this painting of the night banquet is currently in the hands of Yang Zhiyuan, the Liangzhe Transportation Magistrate."

"When you arrive in Jiangnan, whether by plunder, robbery, or stealing, obtain this painting and treasure it. When your mission is complete, return it to me."

Jia Jue said after bowing.

"I understand, Your Majesty, please rest assured."

After explaining the task, Emperor Yongping kept Jia Jue in the palace to have lunch together, and then let Jia Jue leave the palace.

Two quarters of an hour later, in the backyard of the Marquis of Guanjun's mansion, Jia Jue's wives and concubines, including his eldest aunt Sheng Hualan, were playing mahjong together.

When they saw Jia Jue coming to the side hall, the girls were about to get up when Jia Jue smiled and said.

"We're playing mahjong, what are you doing getting up? Let me tell you, if you lose, I won't pay for you."

Hearing this, the women all laughed.

Zhang Guifen said with a smile.

"Husband, from what you said, it seems as if we sisters are determined to blackmail you."

"It's not right to sit here now that my husband has come."

Jia Jue said with a chuckle.

"There are no regular etiquettes in a family, so why would there be so many things to pay attention to?"

"So, who wins?"

Zhang Guifen looked at Wang Xifeng and Sheng Hualan and said.

"Yes, Xifeng and Sister Hualan won, but Minglan and I lost miserably."

Sheng Hualan smiled and said after hearing this.

"Look, each of us probably only won a few taels of silver, but you two lost a lot."

"I lost twenty taels yesterday, but I didn't complain."

Seeing this, Jia Jue smiled and said.

"Haha, it's just for fun. Winning or losing is normal. After all, we lost to our own family, so it's no big deal."

"Okay, let's take a break after this fight. I packed some cakes for you from the palace. They are all freshly made by the royal chef. You can all try them."

Sheng Hualan was surprised when she heard this. Wow, you can even take away food after eating in the palace? Her brother-in-law is treating the imperial kitchen as a canteen. This is the status of the most favored minister of the dynasty.

Looking at Sheng Minglan, Zhang Guifen and Wang Xifeng, they all looked as if they were used to it. It was obvious that they had eaten a lot of the imperial meals that Jia Jue packed back before.

After the girls finished playing mahjong, they started to eat cakes in a lively atmosphere.

Zhang Guifen took a piece of osmanthus cake and just took a bite, her expression suddenly changed, and then she quickly got up and left the side hall.

Seeing this, several people were a little surprised, and Sheng Minglan said in confusion.

"What's going on? This sweet-scented osmanthus cake is delicious. There's nothing wrong with it. What's wrong with you, sister?"

Jia Jue also picked up the osmanthus cake and tasted it, but found nothing unusual.

After a while, Zhang Guifen returned to the side hall and said with some embarrassment on her face.

"I don't know what's wrong with me these past few days. I've been feeling nauseous from time to time, and it was the same just now."

"I'm sorry to bother you."

After hearing this, Jia Jue looked at Zhang Guifen with concern and said.

"Fen'er, come here, let me take your pulse."

Zhang Guifen nodded obediently and then stretched out her hand.

After Jia Jue placed his hand on Zhang Guifen's wrist, he began to diagnose carefully.

After confirming the pulse, Jia Jue couldn't help but show a hint of joy on his face, and everyone was a little puzzled when they saw this.

Zhang Guifen said a little at a loss.

"Husband, you, what's wrong with you? Why are you laughing? What's wrong with me?"

Jia Jue said with great joy.

"Your pulse is smooth and round when you press it, like pressing a ball. This is a typical slippery pulse. Do you understand slippery pulse?"

Zhang Guifen knew nothing about medicine and looked confused. Sheng Minglan and Wang Xifeng also didn't understand what Jia Jue meant.

Only Sheng Hualan hesitated for a moment and then spoke.

"If I remember correctly, a slippery pulse is also called a happy pulse. This means that Madam is pregnant, right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Guifen became excited instantly, and then she looked at Jia Jue expectantly and said.

"Husband, I, I am pregnant."

Jia Jue nodded and said happily.

"That's right, Fern, you are pregnant."

"Feng'er, go and give all the servants in the mansion a month's gift of money today, so that they can also share in the joy of the Marquis's mansion."

"Okay, husband, I'll arrange it right away."

After Wang Xifeng finished speaking, she happily went to make arrangements.

She had long been looking forward to Sheng Minglan and Zhang Guifen getting pregnant and giving birth as soon as possible.

In ancient times, there was a distinction between the upper and lower classes. If the wife had no children, concubines like Wang Xifeng were not allowed to have children. Otherwise, if the eldest son was not the legitimate son, it would be a matter of ridicule.

Although Jia Jue did not deliberately emphasize these things, Wang Xifeng was very clear that if she became pregnant and gave birth before Sheng Minglan and Zhang Guifen, her two sisters would inevitably have opinions about her.

If this causes a conflict, Wang Xifeng will be the one who suffers.

So every time after having sex with Jia Jue, Wang Xifeng would take contraceptive soup to avoid causing unnecessary trouble.

But as long as one of Zhang Guifen and Sheng Minglan gives birth to a child for Jia Jue, Wang Xifeng will be liberated and can have a child of her own with Jia Jue.

(End of this chapter)