turmoil

"Since the reign of the first emperor, the state treasury has been a messy account of revenue and expenditure. The aristocratic family treats the state treasury as their own treasury, and they can exchange money for any reason," Xu Qian said. With people revaluing the people's land and being registered in the Yellow Book, the oil and water of the aristocratic family have been squeezed again and again, so they can only come from other sources."

Liu Yanzhao's face sank like water, and he didn't say a word.

"In recent years, the four realms of Great Yin have been peaceful, and the aristocratic family has focused on the food and salaries allocated to the garrisons in various places," Han Xun took over, "Switch out the best grain, transport it to Liaodong and other places, and put it on the signboard of civilian food. Selling at a high price is a common trick. It's just that I didn't expect the timing to be so coincidental, just in time for Beile's massive invasion..."

Liu Yanzhao couldn't bear it anymore, and smiled angrily: "Where is it a coincidence? It is clear that someone in the court stretched his hand too far and colluded with the northern Xinjiang barbarians, intending to plot against me!"

This is the charge of "conspiracy and rebellion", and copying and beheading the whole family is light. Han Xun didn't dare to say anything, so he changed the subject: "The household department is certainly involved in the exchange of military rations, but it was transported from central Beijing to the northwest. There are many barriers, if there is no caring person to respond, I am afraid it will not be possible... As far as I know, the person who escorted the army rations this time is the emperor's servant named Chao Xing?"

Liu Yanzhao's eyebrows twitched slightly: "Chao Xing was frightened in the northwest, and after returning to Beijing, he became a little crazy. I ordered a few doctors to see him, but he didn't recover."

Han Xun and Xu Qian looked at each other, and the tacit surprise passed quietly.Guo Chen had an upright temper and couldn't help but said: "An accident happened to the Northwest Army's rations, and the servants in the palace went crazy. Is this really crazy, or was it murdered?"

This is what Guo Qiandu Yushi dared to say. Han Xun and Xu Qian watched their noses and noses, and they had the right to regard themselves as two human stakes.On the other hand, Liu Yanzhao's face was gloomy, and after a long time, he said in a gloomy voice: "Okay... what a great skill! Even the servants beside me dare to attack, it's really amazing ability!"

Han Xun understands why Liu Yanzhao is angry, it's all for others, Chao Xing is the emperor's close servant and inner palace official, the mastermind behind this scene dares to hit the middle official's head now, won't it be able to influence the emperor's life in the future?

It's no wonder that Emperor Xinglong's face changed in a rare way, and he grabbed the teacup with trembling fingers: "Chao Xing can't ask anything, what about Xing Cheng? What did he say?"

Han Xun: "Xing Cheng refuses to admit that he was instigated by others, but only takes responsibility."

Emperor Xinglong's chest heaved, he suddenly grabbed the tea bowl and smashed it on the ground: "One-handed responsibility? Can he afford it!"

Tea and broken porcelain splashed everywhere, and a group of important officials did not dare to neglect, they knelt down on the ground in haste, and said: "Your Majesty, calm down!"

Liu Yanzhao's chest was full of monstrous anger, which could not be extinguished easily: "What is Jin Yiwei doing? How long has the trial been going on, and he still hasn't got a clue? Xing Cheng is a mediocre man, he definitely doesn't have such courage, there must be someone behind him - Han Xun , you lead Jinyiwei and Youyunwei, don't you have any clues?"

Han Xun lowered his eyes for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty, I searched Xing Cheng's official residence in Beijing, but found nothing. However... I asked from the steward of Xing's house that Xing Cheng still has another courtyard in the suburbs of Beijing. You Yunwei turned upside down and found a ledger in the dark compartment behind the rockery in the garden."

Liu Yanzhao stood up, and took two steps forward in shock and anger: "Where's the account book? Show me it!"

Han Xun took out the account book and handed it to Yuezhao to forward to the emperor. Liu Yanzhao turned a few pages, his face turned livid, his hand holding the account book was tense and turned white, and he almost crushed the yellowed pages: "Jian Sihui... ...He is really my good patriarch! I rely on him so much and hand over the national treasury to him, but he repays me like this, it is simply abhorrent!"

Han Xun cautiously said: "Your Majesty, calm down! Minister Jian is the son of the emperor, and his favor is already at its peak. He may have selfish intentions, or he may be greedy for money and profit, but he will never collude with foreigners. Please learn from him!"

Liu Yanzhao said angrily: "He secretly exchanged the army rations, put our soldiers in the four regions in danger, attracted Beile to drive straight in, and almost handed over thousands of miles of fertile soil in Guanzhong to foreigners-the evidence is conclusive, how can we learn from it!"

Han Xun didn't dare to say any more, he gave Xu Qian a helpless wink, Xu Shilang considered his words, and said tactfully: "Your Majesty, calm down... Shangshu Jian is certainly guilty, but after all, he is the elder of the two dynasties and the head of the state of His Majesty." , if there are rumors of collusion with foreign races, it will not benefit His Majesty's holy name."

Liu Yanzhao narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes were abnormally cold.

Xu Qian glanced cautiously, and said again: "The empress has always been by your majesty's side all these years, and she has always been cautious. There is no credit but hard work. No matter how annoyed your majesty is, you have to think about the relationship between you and your majesty for many years."

Liu Yanzhao took a breath and waved his hands at him: "Get up first."

A group of important ministers got up one after another, only to hear Emperor Xinglong say coldly: "There is definitely more than one Jian's family involved in this matter, Han Xun, you should check carefully for me, and I will find out all of them!"

This is an errand to offend people, but Han Xun has no choice, because he is a knife in the hands of the emperor, if he can't cut people, there is no need to keep it.

Xu Qian was cautious, thought about it carefully, and felt that something was wrong: "Your Majesty, the embezzlement of public funds by aristocratic families is not a matter of a day or two, and there are not a few people involved. This is a serious illness, and it cannot be eradicated overnight. If it is too hasty, I'm afraid..."

Before the words were finished, Guo Chen said in disapproval: "Could it be that because too many people were involved, they didn't care about it? This is not ordinary food, it's life-saving food for soldiers on the frontier! They can attack the military food today. In the future, we will be able to let foreigners enter the customs!"

He paused, turned to Emperor Xinglong, and said eagerly: "Your Majesty, since the first year of Taiping, the aristocratic family emptied the treasury, and it was only after the Holy Majesty took the throne that he made great efforts to govern... If these moths are allowed to continue, This beam and pillar of Qinzheng Palace has not been eaten away yet!"

What he said was right, but he was a little anxious, Han Xun and Xu Qian looked at each other with helpless expressions.

Liu Yanzhao made up his mind to investigate to the end, but he couldn't hear anyone's words at all, so the matter was settled like this.Ordinarily, when the matter is over, the important ministers should also resign, but from Han Xun to Guo Chen, they hesitated to speak, hesitated and stammered, and did not move.

Liu Yanzhao frowned: "What else?"

At this time, the benefits of Guo Shangshu's uprightness were revealed. Those two had scruples and dared not pierce the window paper, but Guo Chen didn't have this scruple, and said bluntly: "The harem is His Majesty's family business. Originally, there was no room for ministers to comment, but Foreign ministers have never been allowed to set foot in the important place of the harem, this is the rule left by the ancestors..."

When Liu Yanzhao heard this, his expression darkened.

However, Guo Shangshu did not have the vision of Xu Qian and Han Xun, and said in a self-centered manner: "Now the emperor Xu foreign minister is staying in the Taiji Hall. Firstly, it is not in accordance with the etiquette, secondly, it will hinder His Majesty's holy name, and thirdly, there is suspicion of charming the saint... ..."

Liu Yanzhao couldn't bear it anymore, and shouted: "Presumptuous!"

Han Xun and Xu Qian hurriedly knelt down, Guo Chenwu said righteously: "It is true that the ministers all know who lives in the Taiji Hall, and they also trust the character of this lord, but they know that they can't stop the rumors... ...You put him in such a position, you have humiliated him, and you have also hindered the reputation of the emperor, and you still hope that the emperor..."

Before he could finish speaking, Liu Yanzhao recalled what happened last night, and the anger he suppressed earlier surged into his heart, he smashed the tea bowl suddenly, and shouted angrily, "Get out...get out of here!"

The turmoil in the Palace of Qinzheng could not be hidden from Zhang Jingche's eyes and ears. At that time, he translated the ciphertext sent by You Yunwei according to the numbers in the scriptures, and he was able to separate his mind and gossip with You Yunwei: "It's okay, it's just that I closed my eyes and listened to it for a long time, and suddenly I heard the admonition, and my heart was poked... just get used to it."

You Yunwei: "..."

Is this kind of thing something you can get used to?

Zhang Jingche was not interested in Liu Yanzhao's emotional changes, and the chatbook in his hand corresponded to Cai Yun's promotion history over the years.According to the records in the file, Cai Yun was born in a humble family, and was promoted to an official and an official in the court by virtue of his talents and disciplines. However, he was repeatedly suppressed because of his poor family and his inability to bribe superior officials.If the new emperor hadn't ascended the throne and focused on promoting talents from poor families, I'm afraid there would be no day for success until now.

"Judging from this resume alone, Cai Yun and Uncle Zhongyong have nothing to do with each other," Zhang Jingche pondered, "What does Han Xun say? Does Uncle Zhongyong have a daughter in his family?"

You Yunwei cautiously said: "There is indeed one. Mrs. Zhongyong had a son and a daughter. When the case happened, the youngest son was not yet ten years old. He was dispatched to the frontier to serve as an army. It is said that he died on the way. The daughter is only eleven or twelve years old. She escaped with her life, but did not enter the Jiaofang Division as an official prostitute. The subordinates have inquired carefully and said that this Miss Duan was humiliated in the Jiaofang Division and passed away within a few months."

It is really embarrassing that Man Zhongliang ended up like this.Zhang Jingche pondered for a moment, then analyzed: "Ms. Duan's family passed away, and Cai Yun adopted Concubine Xian on her back foot. The timing is too coincidental. If Miss Duan's family is still alive, she happens to be around the same age as Concubine Xian... so many coincidences Together, if it is said that there is no deliberate intention, I don't believe it."

You Yunwei hesitated and said: "But the master just said clearly that Cai Yun and Uncle Zhongyong have no intersection?"

Zhang Jingche thought for a while, and took out an article from the story book. On it, some handwriting was written with a bamboo stick dipped in tea, so faint that it was almost impossible to read.Those are not the common Chinese characters of the Central Plains, but the Hu language passed down from the Western Regions. At first glance, they look like undulating totems, and it is not easy to recognize them as characters.

"Cai Yun is from Liaodong. Uncle Zhongyong happened to be stationed in Liaodong for four years," Zhang Jingche said in a deep voice. It is said that Zhongyong Bo rescued many people who were taken away by the bandits when he leveled the bandit's lair, could it be that Mr. Cai is one of them?"

He looked up suddenly, showing a thoughtful look.

You Yunwei was a little confused: "Even if this Cai Yun met Uncle Zhongyong and rescued Miss Duan's family because of his kindness back then, it wouldn't explain anything, right? He is just a small boss, with no wealth, no military power, and no military power. What can be done?"

"That's right," Zhang Jingche covered the scroll, "He sent the concubine Xian to the palace, and he tried his best to win the favor. What exactly is he trying to do?"

Yuezhao walked into the Jiuhua Palace with a brocade gift box in his hand. As soon as he entered the door, the maid of honor next to Concubine Xian had already come out, and said with a smile: "What wind brought Father-in-law Yuezhao here? You are a busy person, come in and have a drink." Tea."

Yuezhao is Liu Yanzhao's only servant, and everyone in the harem scrambles to curry favor, even the idle concubines dare not offend easily.Yuezhao was very cautious, no matter how favored she was, she did not dare to show her frivolity, and she never leaked water in her words and deeds: "Our family obeyed the emperor's order, and came to send some playthings to Empress Xian. Empress Xian worked hard in serving the holy car last night, and now I can give you a gift. Got up?"

Concubine Xian actually didn't fall asleep, since she returned to Jiuhua Palace, she was sitting in front of the dressing table, staring at herself in the mirror.That is not a common bronze mirror, but a glazed mirror imported from the West. I don't know how it was made.Even among the harem, only the Empress Dowager's Palace of Compassion and Concubine Xian's Jiuhua Palace were rewarded, which shows that Concubine Xian is quite favored.

Yuezhao stood at the gate of the hall and waited for a while, then said calmly: "The favor of the Tian family is like the reflection in the mirror, no matter how long you look at it, no matter how much you miss it, it will be fleeting, why bother?"

Concubine Xian was startled, looked back and saw that no one was paying attention, and then breathed a sigh of relief: "Why are you here? The foster father said that there is no other place in the palace, and told us to meet in private less often, you forgot ?"

Yuezhao said indifferently: "I came here on the orders of the sage, it doesn't hurt to be seen by others... But my lady, since I remember Master Cai's teachings, why did I forget the most important sentence?"

Concubine Xian's face changed suddenly, and she forbeared for a moment and said: "I will keep the teachings of my foster father in my heart, and I dare not forget them for a moment."

Yuezhao sneered and said: "Then who did you show such a demeanor just now? Didn't you forget that the destruction of your family and my family is thanks to whom!"

Concubine Xian endured and endured, but she was still unconvinced and said: "I haven't forgotten! But...that was all the sins committed by the late emperor, and has nothing to do with the current emperor! There is an injustice and a debtor, so even if we want to settle the score, we shouldn't find fault. people!"

Yuezhao snorted: "It's just a chicken of the same feather, just as mean and ungrateful and hypocritical!"

The two looked at each other across the huge hall, and after careful identification, it was found that although the two men and women were different, the outlines of their mouths and noses were somewhat similar.Although she is the No. 1 servant in the palace, Yuezhao is not very old, and even looks a little pale and thin like a young man.But his eyes were frighteningly cold, almost a sense of vicissitudes of old age.

Concubine Xian bit her lip, a little unwilling, but speechless.Yuezhao held the brocade embroidery box on the table, lowered her eyelids and said, "Lord Cai is a person who values ​​affection. He raised you all these years and sent you to the palace again. It is nothing more than looking forward to pampering you today, and seeing that you On the face of the old Zhongyong Boman's family, he made up for the grievances—but he didn't know that as early as many years ago, someone brought the evidence of Zhongyong Bohan's wrongful death back to Beijing. 'Overall situation', suppress the evidence, and let Zhongyong Boman's family be wronged by Jiuquan..."

Concubine Xian opened her eyes wide in shock, showing a flustered pitiful look: "No, it's impossible, the emperor won't..."

"The current emperor is the most hypocritical, just look at how he treated the former Jinyiwei commander." Yue Zhao said without any emotional ups and downs, "You were raised by Mr. Cai like a treasure, and you don't understand the hearts of these ghosts. I don't blame you." I don't blame you for pampering you and enjoying your glory and wealth. What I want to do has nothing to do with you. From now on, you should never know me, and don't care about my life or death."

He turned around and walked out. The moment he turned around, Concubine Xian suddenly felt unspeakable panic and stood up involuntarily: "You...where are you going?"

Yuezhao didn't say a word, and walked out of the hall without looking back.