Minister

150 [Jiankang Nine Years]

Maybe it was due to the exhaustion of running around for several months, this little girl from Lian'er fell asleep before she even had time to eat.Wei Chi saw Zhu'er busy with her, and his heart was also in a mess.Liu Ma is a straight-hearted person, she keeps complaining that "little beggar" is dirty and ugly, Zhu'er is usually obedient, but now she is a little impatient because of the noise.

After dinner, Wei Chi was sitting alone in the study reading a book, Zhu Er came over to add lamp oil: "Master..."

"Ok?"

"That little girl is so pitiful, let's not drive her away?"

Wei Chi closed the book: "Who told you to drive her away?"

Zhu'er lowered her head: "Master, what is her origin...? Although the maidservant is young, she also grew up as a servant in the palace. Some things can be guessed."

"It's best not to guess when you can guess how many points."

"The servant is the servant of Wei Mansion. If the master has something to do, can the servant hide?"

"..." Wei Chi was speechless for a moment.

"Master couldn't save the servant's family at that time, and the servant complained about the master..." Zhu'er wiped her tears: "If the younger sister of the servant is still alive, she is as old as her, right? The servant just begs the master, don't drive her away." , find a way for her to survive?"

"What I'm afraid of is that I don't have that great ability." Wei Chi was a little angry: "There are so many things, it's one thing to think about it, one thing to do it, and another thing to talk about it."

"..."

Seeing Zhu'er salute respectfully, Wei Chi withdrew.I couldn't help feeling angry and irritable, so I simply threw the book away, grabbed a piece of clothing, and wanted to go out to relax.

Just as he walked to the door of the study, he realized that he would have to bother to explain when he was going out so late... Forget it... Wei Chi put down his hand on the door knocker, turned around and walked towards the back door.

Although the alleyway between Wei's house and Feng's house is not wide, it is empty.The walls of the two houses are the same height, both covered with official tiles, dark and cold.Wei Chi wiped the ashes and sat on the threshold of his house.The stars in the sky are very bright, twinkling and converging into a big river, looking at these eternal or momentary bright spots, Wei Chi can't help but think of Nuan Yuan.The former glory has now become a barren forbidden land, and the news of King Yan is only that he is alive or dead.Wei Chi sighed, remembering what King Yan once said when he gave Pearl to him: This girl is smart and stable, as long as you don't treat her badly, she will be loyal to you.

Wei Chi thought he hadn't treated her badly, but she thought he had treated her badly after all.Maybe it was because she trusted herself too much. She stubbornly believed that she did not save her family because of cowardice or selfishness. After this resentment, she forgave herself helplessly... Today, after seeing the tragic situation of that girl, she finally returned. Can't help it.

Wei Chi recalled over and over again the words Lian Er said that made her shudder: encroaching on land, selling people, killing people, collusion between officials and businessmen.

There was something flickering in the girl's eyes, which made Wei Chi seem familiar, not like Zhu'er, but like himself.

After nearly half a year of trekking, how much bitterness in the world has she experienced?But did not give up.Doesn't it look like my childhood self?He stiffened his neck and argued with the unscrupulous villagers, trying to keep his master's property.

This hatred and obsession has nothing to do with age or identity. People who don't know it can't estimate how much power it contains.

When he saw Xiao Er mercilessly humiliating her, Wei Chi felt his heart throbbing, which had not been disturbed for a long time, and it was better to sympathize with himself than with her.

Wei Chi's heart was shaken at first, but almost at the same time, the name Yu Mian made her feel at a loss.

If you want to help yourself, or find someone else, that's better, but it happens to be Yu Mian!

Wei Chi recalled that when he just went to Beijing to rush for the exam, he heard many students talk about him. At that time, he wondered, how can there be such a straightforward and lovely person in this world!Later, when Wang Yunyi took him to see him, although it was only a few words, he suddenly believed that there really was such a person in this world.

At least in the eyes of outsiders, Wei Chi and Wang Yunyi can be regarded as the friendship of the same faction, and the people in the military department know Wang Yunyi's preference for Wei Chi. Even if Wei Chi lost his head to protect Wang Yunyi that time, it was an act of gratitude, and it was a matter of course.But what about Yu Mian?When the official was afraid of the power of the Wang family, he dared to bluntly ask the Wang family's army to withdraw. This enmity was settled long ago, but after that, he helped Wang Yunyi to negotiate a peace without any complaints.Wang Yunyi, an old fox, has been cunning all his life, even his own son can doubt it, but he is willing to believe that Yu Mian is really 'for the state affairs', not only won't step on him when negotiating peace, but will go all out.

Wei Chi also considers himself a person who 'serves state affairs', but he never dares to say that he does everything for state affairs, nor does he dare to say that he has the courage to live honestly.Before meeting Yu Mian, she didn't even believe that such a person existed in this world.

After getting acquainted with Yu Mian, Wei Chi inadvertently put him in an independent circle, unwilling to have any bad things involved with him.

Thinking of this, Wei Chi couldn't help being very depressed - he is currently working in the Ministry of Rites, so he really doesn't help this matter at all.Recently, Yu Mian was transferred back to the capital to be the left servant of the Ministry of Punishment, what he wanted was peace and security.That's great, not to mention the impeachment, it also involves Jiangnan Weaving, Jiangnan Governor's Office, Xinzheng, and the emperor.Although Li Pan's new policies are good, people with a discerning eye know that the implementation of these policies is different after they arrive in the south of the Yangtze River.What the emperor wants is immediate results, and even if he has calculated one or two points for the rest, he will pretend not to know.If this matter becomes too big and the emperor can't control it, he will definitely treat Li Pan the same way he treated Wang Yunyi before.How many years did Wang Yunyi mess around before he knew the word "advance and retreat"?I'm afraid this Li Pan won't understand, right?When the emperor hides behind the scenes again, then Yu Mian will have to contend with the New Deal faction, Jiangnan, and Jiangnan Weaving alone.

Wei Chi thought about it, and then felt that Yu Mian might be able to do it, and he really could.But... I know that the emperor has not given up on Monan. He copied the King of Yan and then made a fortune. He really has not given up on Monan.Yu Mian can fight against those forces, but... can he fight against the imperial power?

Wei Chi looked at the stars above his head, exhausted.

"Who is it!?"

On weekdays, Mother Liu of Feng's Mansion only checked the door once, but because she was flustered today, she came to check the door a second time.

Wei Chi was taken aback by the old lady's scream: "What's wrong?"

This voice...isn't it the same voice during the day?Mother Liu's heart rose to her throat, and she took the lantern tremblingly to illuminate it.

After Wei Chi saw that it was a person, he was not afraid: "You are a servant of the Feng family? My surname is Wei."

He is a handsome young man, neatly dressed, and there is a faint majesty in his speech and demeanor.

"My surname is Wei, and I work in the same yamen as your lord." Seeing that the man was petrified, Wei Chi had no choice but to say it again.

Only now did Mother Liu come to her senses, and quickly knelt on the ground: "Your servant is rude."

Wei Chi's train of thought was interrupted, and he didn't pay too much attention: "It's okay." After speaking, he opened the door and went back to his yard.

In the past, I had heard that the adult next door was very young and as handsome as a woman, it seemed that he was right.Mama Liu got up from the ground and patted the ashes—could it be this young adult who was talking to Madam?It is true that I only heard about the account books that day... The capital city is not comparable to the countryside. Didn't many officials' wives come to visit their masters alone?

Thinking of this, Mother Liu felt relieved, and slapped her mouth again, picked up the lamp, and was going to go back to sleep peacefully, and explain to the master in the morning.

Unexpectedly, just after midnight, the housekeeper suddenly knocked on the door of Mama Liu's room, without saying a reason, and took her out as soon as Mama Liu got dressed.Before Liu's mother figured it out, she got into the car outside the door in a daze.

"Where are you going? What's the matter?" Mother Liu was taken aback.

The housekeeper pushed Mama Liu into the carriage: "Master said, let you go back to your hometown, I don't know anything else."

The next day, Qi Yuan didn't see Mama Liu coming in, so she asked about it. She heard that she was ill, so she didn't pay much attention.But after a few days, when she heard that she was still not well, the housekeeper sent her back to her hometown, and even sent someone to ask who would come over to do the job.Only then did Qi Yuan become suspicious, and when the housekeeper left, she approached Mei Yue and asked her carefully, and then remembered Liu's mother's strange behavior that day, she made a guess, and couldn't help but sneer.

"Ma'am, haven't you worn this trendy silk cloak yet? Why are you putting it away?" Mei Yue looked curiously at Qi Yuan folding the cloak she found not long ago.

"If you don't go out, just keep it."

"Mother Liu has returned to her hometown, who will come into our yard?" Mei Yue is quite concerned about this, because there are not many talkative people in this house.

"Who cares about her?" Qi Yuan said angrily, "We just need to take care of ourselves."

"Pearl next door told me just now that her lord has business to do today, so she won't pay the account book for now."

"..." Qi Yuan's hand arranging the cloak suddenly stopped on the undulating embroidery, and the bright colors seemed to flow out from the needles and threads: "You... let Zhu'er tell Master Wei, just say that I have There are too many things to do, I can't teach him anymore, those account books are old accounts from the past, he doesn't need to pay them back, keep it... when you want to read it, you can read it yourself."

Mei Yue had no choice but to go to the courtyard next door to answer the conversation. The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and Mei Yue also felt that she had become impetuous, and sometimes she wanted to get angry at every turn.The courtyard door next door knocked for a while before someone came to open it, Mei Yue pouted, "Sister Zhu'er."

"What's the matter? Come in." Pearl didn't have the mood to talk to her either.

"Which one is this?" Mei Yue curiously saw that there was a new person next to her, who was thin and small, not like a big family.

"This is our master's new maid. Lian'er, this is from Mrs. Feng's next door. You can call her Sister Mei Yue."

Lian girl hurriedly saluted.

Mei Yuechang has never been an older sister before, so she was very happy: "Where are you from, where are you from?"

Wei Chi taught Lian Er specifically, but he only said that the traffickers bought it when she was too young to remember.Lian'er didn't dare to neglect, so she recited what Wei Chi said.Because the northern and southern dialects are too different, Mei Yue understood half of them at most.Half is half, I am a careless person, and I will not take it to heart if I understand it.Mei Yue replied, thinking it was still early, she embroidered with Zhu'er and got to know this new 'sister' well.

While Zhu'er was embroidering, she watched Mei Yue make Lian'er happy with gestures and gestures, and the resentment in her heart seemed to be relieved a little.

"Where did Mr. Wei go?" Mei Yue cared about Mr. Wei after she had had enough fun.

"How could I, a slave, know."

Seeing Zhu'er's expression was unhappy, Mei Yue stuck out her tongue at Lian'er, but didn't dare to ask any more questions.

The sun was hanging brightly in the sky, and Wei Chi was fidgeting in the small alley of the Ministry of Rites.It wasn't until evening that everyone went back before Wei Chi packed his things and stood up.

"My lord, do we want to go back?" Yiqing took the burden.

"...If you don't go back, come with me to the duty room of the Ministry of Punishment..." Wei Chi stood up with difficulty.

Yu Mian's wife died of illness a year ago, because of this, the emperor made a special case and transferred him back to the capital.Since then, Master Yu has always worked overtime in the Ministry of Criminal Justice.His two sons and daughters are already married, the daughter married to Nanjing, and the son is an official in Xiangxi. Mr. Yu has no concubine, nor does he intend to continue his career, but he is tired of working in his supposedly easy position.

Daqi's palace is one of the few places where there is no curfew. The most interesting thing about this dynasty is that the scale of the former dynasty is much larger than that of the harem.I don't know if it's the cabinet, but the senior officials of the six ministries and nine ministers are also on duty in the former court of this palace.The emperor's study room is not adjacent to the harem, but behind the cabinet's office, which prevents the concubine from coming to give pointers to the memorial, and also facilitates the meeting between the courtiers and the emperor.The reason why the emperor of Daqi is very tired is due to this pattern.

Wei Chi checked the number plate at the door, took a breath, and stepped into the magnificent door.

The Ministry of Punishment is not far from the gate of the palace, and it will arrive in a short walk.There are also people working overtime in other departments, and a few rooms are dotted with light, which is not too deserted. Wei Chi stands at the door hesitantly.When Wei Chi was in a dilemma, it was getting dark, because he was so absorbed in thinking about things that he didn't notice a group of people coming out of the opposite room.All the roads in the palace look straight ahead. Although they are not far apart, as long as you want to, you can always see each other clearly.

That group of people was very noisy, the leader was Li Pan, who seemed to be debating something with everyone.For some reason, Wei Chi became frightened, wondering if he should hide?Or pretend to go somewhere else.

"Master Wei?" Yu Mian had dinner and was about to go out for some activities, when he saw Wei Chi standing at the door.

"Ah!" Wei Chi took a step forward: "My lord Yu, I... this... hehe."

"Huh? Master Wei, are you looking for me?" Yu Mian thought it was funny, after all, the two of them didn't know each other well, and the errands they had to do were irrelevant.

"Yes!... Ah, no..." Wei Chi felt more and more uneasy when he heard the group of people getting closer: "Yes... sort of."

"Then please come in." Yu Mian said to his book office, "Go and serve tea to Mr. Wei."

After sitting in the study room of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, Wei Chi breathed a sigh of relief. After taking a sip of tea, he saw Yu Mian looking at him with a smile, and couldn't help but raise his breath of relief again.

"I haven't seen you for a while, Master Yu has lost weight." Wei Chi was in a dilemma.

Yu Mian twirled the tip of his beard: "I'm used to hard work, but I lost weight when I arrived in the capital."

Wei Chi scratched his head: "At the beginning of the year, the New Deal in Jiangnan, has Mr. Yu seen it?"

"I've seen it. It's good in principle. What's your opinion, Lord Wei?"

"It's true that the truth is good, but it's not as good as expected, but it's not as good as imagined if it's sent out by various ministries, and then the counties in the south of the Yangtze River will do it. Mr. Yu has been an official before, so he should understand better than me."

"Master Wei thinks that Master Li doesn't understand?"

"Master Li is from the south of the Yangtze River, and this is what makes his fortune. He should understand better than me."

Yu Mian raised his head and sighed to the book office next to him: "Go out and close the door, Mr. Wei, come in with me."

Wei Chi regretted it as soon as he said it, but at this moment he had no choice but to follow him in.

"Look," Yu Mian lit a lamp again: "Last year's major cases, as well as those that need to be marked by the emperor, are all here. There are a total of 320 cases, which is more than [-] cases less than the previous year. Jiangnan. As long as you are an individual, if you have worked in the Ministry of Criminal Justice for three years, you will not understand what this period means... Is this why Master Wei came to me today?"

"...I," Wei Chi's heart suddenly filled with sadness: "Actually, I thought about it, I will never know these things alone in the court, but if I say it, the New Deal will be hindered. , I don't know if such a dispute is meaningful. Maybe I do know about one person, but if I ruin the whole world for one person, I..."

"Master Wei, don't you think it's strange that so many officials in the Ministry of Punishment need you, who is on duty in the Ministry of Rites, to say this?" Yu Mian handed the lamp to Wei Chi: "Because it's too dark, So many people don't know who and what they will see after lighting the lamp, so no one dares to light this lamp. But if we don't know what is going on in this house in the end, there are really mice coming to steal it. food, so that the pillars were damaged, and finally the building collapsed, what should we do at this time?"

Yu Mian took back the lamp from Wei Chi's hand again: "This room is going to be lit after all, Mr. Wei, you are from the Ministry of Rites, and I should be the one who holds this lamp. What happened today, you Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you."

Wei Chi smiled wryly: "Master Yu, I told you many years ago that I am a person without a family, and I am not afraid of anything. If I was afraid of things, we would not know each other. What I am worried about is you, you are a straightforward and honest person. Man, when I think of you wanting to take care of me, I feel apprehensive."

"I'm almost a familyless man, too."

Wei Chi was taken aback.

"Master Wei, do you still remember the words we said when we met for the first time in a hurry? A gentleman seeks for the country. Although I am in the capital, I am always concerned about the New Deal in the south of the Yangtze River. Businessmen are ruthless. If the officials can't handle it The importance of this is to allow businessmen to control the current situation, which is going to cause big things. I have full authority to participate in the mutual market before. After the opening of the mutual market, the number of major cases in the north has almost doubled, and small things Just a few cups of growth. But because of these cases, the north is stable."

"It is also because of these cases that you, who should have entered Beijing a year earlier... If it weren't for this, your wife wouldn't have..."

"Yes, yes." Yu Mian sighed, "I'm sorry for her."

Wei Chi has never met Yu Mian's wife, but he only heard that because Yu Mian couldn't return to Beijing on time because of the events in the north, his wife left with resentment.After that, Yu Mian fell seriously ill, and the emperor kindly allowed him to return to Beijing to serve.Wei Chi didn't want this matter to involve him again, but if this matter didn't involve him, who else could it involve?

"Master Yu, if you have this lamp in your hand, can you clear the mud and protect yourself?"

"Li Pan is very talented, but he is too young, and the task given to him by the emperor is too heavy. If he wants to earn back the excess money, he must do many things that he should not do. I think the emperor probably knows these things, But I don’t know how big waves these situations will cause. The people are never afraid of suffering, but they can’t bear hardships and have to endure sadness. The people are never afraid of suffering, but they can’t suffer without being able to get justice. , that’s losing people’s hearts. If it happens one or twenty times, it’s losing a lot of people’s hearts. Which dynasty can afford to lose many people’s hearts? It’s not Li Pan’s fault, nor the emperor’s fault. On such a day, if Mr. Wei doesn’t speak to me, there will be a day when people will speak to me in person. I think I can afford it. If a minister is seeking for the country, he will eventually have to disobey the emperor for the sake of the people. It’s just that you can’t do it, and I’ve been an official for decades, so let me do it.”

"The common people only know to pity themselves, and they only know that you come to you honestly to complain about your grievances, but who ever thinks about your situation? Master Yu, I want to know if you can protect yourself."

Seeing that Wei Chi's face was flushed, Yu Mian couldn't help laughing: "Wei Chi, the people know how to take pity on me, they have never seen me and yet they believe in me, Wang Yunyi also believes in me, why don't you believe me like that And me?"

Wei Chi looked at the neat file on the case, hesitant to speak.

"I want to do something, for the sake of the people, but also for the country." Wei Chi paused: "If there is a need for me, Mr. Yu, please don't avoid me. At most, you will lose your head or demote your officials and go home. Master Yu doesn't care, and don't underestimate me."

Wei Chi took out a volume of complaint from his arms and put it on the case. The crumpled paper and poor handwriting were completely different from the other 320 files.

The 320th Complaint...will be released to the world.