I, Jiajing, successfully cultivated immortality

Chapter 793 The end of Xu Jie
In the evening, the Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

At this time, Jiajing was sitting cross-legged on the futon, his eyes seemed to be closed.

The blue-grey Taoist robe on his body moved automatically without wind, making a hunting sound, and then a burst of purple mana rose up and enveloped Jiajing.

Jiajing's own aura also became unpredictable during this process.

Perhaps sensing the fluctuations in mana, the spirit gathering array covering the entire Qianqing Palace automatically operated, and the spiritual energy within a hundred miles radius was gathered into the Qianqing Palace at an unimaginable speed.

With Jiajing's exhalation and inhalation, the spiritual energy gathered in Qianqing Palace was quickly absorbed by him.

After that, Jiajing saw a flash of light in his eyes and opened his eyes suddenly.

Just now, he sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough.

This is a feeling that cannot be described in words. Jiajing only feels that his thoughts are clear, his mind is clear, and an indescribable feeling of comfort comes from his limbs and bones.

At this time, Jiajing seems to be favored by heaven and favored by fate. No matter what he wants, he can do it.

After taking a deep breath, Jiajing exited the cultivation state and slowly stood up from the futon. He knew that he would soon be able to break through the foundation building stage.

……

Soon after, Lu Fang was seen entering Qianqing Palace with hurried steps.

After arriving at Jiajing's side, Lu Fang did not hesitate at all. She immediately lowered her head and bowed to Jiajing.

"His Majesty!"

"Ah."

After Jiajing responded, he looked away from Lu Fang, raised his eyebrows, and asked: "Lu Fang, you are so anxious, do you have something to report to me?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, here is the urgent message sent from Hai Rui from eight hundred miles away. Please take a look at it, Your Majesty!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, he carefully took out a memorial and several letters from his sleeve and respectfully handed them to Jiajing.

After taking the memorial and letters from Lu Fang, Jiajing did not open them in a hurry. Instead, he glanced at Lu Fang and asked.

"By the way, Lu Fang, it's been nearly a month since Hai Rui went to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, if we count from the day Lord Hai set out, it has been twenty-six days."

Lu Fang heard what Jiajing said and after thinking about it for a moment, she responded.

"Ah."

After that, Jiajing was seen sitting on the dragon chair, opened the memorial, and read the contents above with special concentration.

"Thanks to His Majesty's kindness, I have allowed this minister to rush to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case as an imperial envoy."

"Wei Chen didn't dare to relax for a moment after arriving at Songjiang Mansion. Now, he has finally fulfilled his mission. Wei Chen has found out the facts of the case at Songjiang Mansion's Qianhu Office."

"In recent years, the Xu family of Songjiang Prefecture has relied on Mr. Xu Ge's power in the court to annex land wantonly, causing public resentment."

"Even the military fields of the garrison are in the name of the Xu family. The cause of the matter is that the Xu family, through Wang Jian, the prefect of Songjiang, asked Li Qishang, a member of the garrison, to pay 300,000 taels as usual. silver."

"But because he was short of money, he planned to collect the three hundred thousand taels of silver by harvesting raw silk in advance and deducting the soldiers' military pay."

"In the process, the officers pressed the soldiers too hard, causing resentment to break out and trigger the riot."

"In addition, Wei Chen also found out that before the imperial court officially lifted the sea ban, there was an inseparable connection between the Xu family and the smuggling families along the southeast coast."

"The crimes committed by the Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture are simply too numerous to list. According to the investigation, on March 15th, the 26th year of Jiajing..."

After that, there were various crimes committed by the Xu family of Songjiang Prefecture.

Because this paragraph took up too long, Jiajing lost his patience and simply skipped this paragraph and turned directly to the back, where it read.

"Your Majesty, before this, Wei Chen has sent people to search the Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture."

"Among them, there are 136,925,300 taels of silver, and the land owned by the Xu family totals 293,580 acres. In addition, similar to house deeds, There are countless mansions and various antiques and curios.”

"Weichen also found 620,000 pieces of silk from the Xu family's warehouse. According to current prices, it is worth about five million taels of silver. In addition, Weichen also found 620,000 pieces of silk from the room of Xu Fan, the eldest son of Xu Ge. , and found the letters between him and Mr. Xu Ge..."

After reading all the contents in the memorial, Jiajing put it aside with a gloomy look on his face.

Although Jiajing had been mentally prepared before this, he never expected that he would be able to confiscate 130 million taels of silver and nearly 300,000 acres of land from the Xu family!

The Xu family's warehouse has more silk than even the Weaving Bureau. You must know that the silk stored in the Weaving Bureau's warehouse last year was only 420,000 pieces.

The words "local power" can no longer be used to describe the Xu family's wealth.

Afterwards, Jiajing suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in his heart, picked up a letter at random from the desk in front of him, opened it, and browsed the contents.

The content of the letter is very similar to what Hai Rui said. It is indeed a letter exchanged between Xu Jie and his eldest son Xu Fan.

In the letter, Xu Fan reported the current situation of the Xu family to Xu Jie in detail, and asked Xu Jie for countermeasures.

It is worth mentioning that Xu Jie seemed to have a premonition of something in advance. He bluntly told his eldest son Xu Fan in the letter, asking him to advise his tribe not to continue to annex land and to gradually shift the family's focus to maritime trade.

"Now it seems that those people did not follow Xu Jie's advice!"

After Jiajing finished his emotion, he put down the letter in his hand with a look of ridicule on his face.

When Lu Fang, who was waiting beside Jiajing, saw this situation, he immediately plucked up the courage to step forward and asked cautiously: "Your Majesty... Your Majesty, is it possible that the case at the Songjiang Prefecture's Qianhu Office has been resolved?"

Jiajing had no intention of helping Lü Fang resolve his doubts. Instead, he handed over Hai Rui's memorial and said slowly, "Take a look for yourself!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After answering, Lu Fang respectfully took the memorial from Jiajing's hand and read it word by word.

During this process, Lu Fang's expression changed again and again, and beads of sweat continued to leak out from his forehead.

But at this time, Lu Fang had no time to take care of this, because the content in the memorial was too shocking.

When Lu Fang saw that Hai Rui had found the letters between father and son from the room of Xu Jie's eldest son, Xu Fan, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

After that, Lu Fang seemed to have lost all her strength, and immediately knelt down on the ground with a thump, trembling and said: "Please... please... your Majesty, please calm down!"

At this time, due to too much fear, Lu Fang's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

In Lu Fang's view, these letters found from Xu Fan's room undoubtedly sentenced Xu Jie to death!

Because this means that Xu Jie is actually aware of what his family is doing behind his back.

However, he chose to turn a blind eye to it and turn a blind eye.

"Mr. Xu Ge, you are confused. If there hadn't been these letters, there might have been room for maneuver, but now..."

Just as Lu Fang's thoughts were racing, Jiajing was seen gently stroking the dragon head carved on the dragon chair with his hand, and said in a voice without a trace of emotion: "Lü Fang, go there yourself and call Xu Jie over. !”

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard this, she immediately suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in her heart, leaned down and said respectfully.

……

At the same time, Xu Jie's mansion in the capital.

Ever since the Dongchuang Incident occurred in the Songjiang Mansion Guarding Qianhu Office, Xu Jie had been worried and panicked all day long.

During this period, except for Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng who visited him from time to time, those who had been rushing to cling to him had disappeared.

At this time, in the study room.

Xu Jie looked away from the book in front of him, sighed helplessly, and said silently to himself: "Oh, it's been so long, why is there still no definite news from Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng? "

"Didn't they promise me that this matter would be over soon? Is it possible that Hu Zongxian's face doesn't work?"

While Xu Jie was still thinking about the possibility behind this, he heard a slight knock on the door, interrupting his thoughts.

Seeing that his thoughts were interrupted, Xu Jie couldn't help frowning and ordered in a cold voice: "Come in!"

After the words fell, there was only a "squeak" sound, the door of the room was pushed open, and the housekeeper walked in tremblingly.

Recently, everyone in the mansion knew that Xu Jie was worried about the case in Songjiang Mansion, and no one dared to touch him at this time.

When Xu Jie saw the housekeeper arriving, he glanced at him and asked impatiently: "What's the matter?"

"Old... Master, Eunuch Lu is here. He is waiting in the hall right now!"

When the housekeeper heard Xu Jie's words, he suppressed the panic in his heart, lowered his head, and reported the report respectfully.

"Well, I understand, take me there with you!"

"Yes, sir!"

Then, under the guidance of the housekeeper, Xu Jie walked out of the study and went straight to the hall for entertaining guests.

When Xu Jie came to the hall, his heart suddenly sank. At this time, Xu Jie felt that something was wrong.

Because Lu Fang had been standing since he came in, and the refreshments on the table beside him had not been touched.

It seemed that he was deliberately avoiding suspicion.

Suddenly, a thought suddenly flashed through Xu Jie's mind: "Could it be that the incident at the Songjiang Prefecture's Qianhu Office happened? Or is the case involving the Xu family?"

Thinking of this, Xu Jie couldn't help but change his face slightly. If this was really the case, things would be in trouble.

But soon, Xu Jie adjusted his mood, leaned down, bowed to Lu Fang and said, "I have met Eunuch Lu!"

When Lu Fang heard Xu Jie's words, she just nodded and responded in a subtle way: "Yes, Mr. Xu Ge!"

Then, perhaps to verify his conjecture, Xu Jie organized the words in his mind and asked: "Eunuch Lu came from the palace and was tired all the way. Why don't you sit down and rest for a while?"

When Lu Fang heard Xu Jie's words, the expression on her face did not change much, and she explained: "We are just busy with business, and our family has to go back to your majesty later!" "Mr. Xu Ge, your majesty wants you to come immediately. Come over there!”

Perhaps even Lu Fang himself didn't notice that when he said this, there was a hint of pity in his eyes.

Although it was only a moment, Xu Jie still keenly caught the change in Lu Fang's eyes. Thinking about everything recently, the answer was already obvious.

Then, Xu Jie came back to his senses, laughed miserably, looked in the direction of Lu Fang, and confirmed to her: "Eunuch Lu, tell me the truth, did something happen to the Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture?"

Facing Xu Jie's question, Lu Fang had no intention of speaking at this time and just remained silent.

When Xu Jie saw this, a look of gratitude appeared on his face, he bowed his hands to Lu Fang and said respectfully: "Thank you so much, Eunuch Lu!"

Lu Fang took in the expression on Xu Jie's face, and after sighing softly, he said slowly: "Let's go, Mr. Xu Ge, come with our family to meet His Majesty!"

"Well, let's go."

After answering, a look of relief appeared on Xu Jie's face, and he followed Lu Fang's footsteps and walked out of the hall resolutely.

Before getting on the sedan, Xu Jie stopped and looked back. He knew that he would never come back here again.

……

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

After leading Xu Jie to the Qianqing Palace, Lu Fang lowered her head, turned her gaze to Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, and reported respectfully.

"Your Majesty, Xu Ge is old!"

"Ah."

Afterwards, Lu Fang came to stand next to Jiajing, like a sculpture.

When Xu Jie, who was behind Lu Fang, saw this, he immediately knelt on the ground with a thump and said in a deep voice: "I bow to your majesty, long live my emperor!"

Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, saw this situation and did not speak immediately. Instead, after looking Xu Jie up and down, he nodded and said slowly: "Well, get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After getting Jiajing's permission, Xu Jie just stood up slowly from the ground.

After Xu Jie got up from the ground, the monarch and his ministers looked at each other in silence. No one had the intention to speak. The atmosphere in Qianqing Palace also became visibly stagnant.

Time passed by slowly. I don't know how long it had passed. Jiajing looked away from Xu Jie and asked.

"You know why I called you here this time, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."

When Jiajing finished speaking, Xu Jie's face was full of guilt, he lowered his head and responded respectfully.

"Lu Fang, show the memorial to Mr. Xu Ge!"

"As you command, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, she didn't dare to be negligent at all. She immediately stepped forward to pick up Hai Rui's memorial from the desk at the side and came to Xu Jie.

"Mr. Xu Ge!"

"Ah."

After Xu Jie responded, he took the memorial from Lu Fang's hand.

Then, Jiajing's slightly tired voice was heard: "Take a good look, this is the family you have worked so hard to maintain, and see what bastard things they have done in private!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Xu Jie responded, he opened the memorial and read the contents word for word.

"Thanks to your Majesty's kindness, I have sent you to Songjiang Prefecture as an imperial envoy to investigate the case... The crimes committed by the Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture are too numerous to describe. According to the investigation, on March 15th, the 26th year of Jiajing..."

It took Xu Jie a long time to browse through the contents of the memorial.

At this time, Xu Jie seemed to have aged ten years suddenly, and even the hand holding the memorial began to tremble uncontrollably.

Every case recorded above represents countless lives, and the culprit behind it all is himself.

It was precisely because he turned a blind eye to the various actions of his family that he turned a blind eye, which led to such a disaster.

He allowed the family behind him to annex land wantonly, causing harm to the village and causing complaints among the people.

How is this kind of me different from Yan Song, who formed a clique for personal gain and was just a dog-eat-dog?
Thinking of this, Xu Jie closed his eyes in pain, and the look of shame on his face became even worse.

Then, Xu Jie was seen kneeling on the ground, begging Jiajing sincerely.

"Your Majesty, I have indulged my family, brought harm to the village, caused the soldiers to riot, and brought disgrace to the court. I really deserve death. I beg your Majesty to punish the Ii officials in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty and give me a canonical punishment!"

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he kowtowed to the ground three times with unusual solemnity.

Hearing this, Jiajing glanced over Xu Jie's body and asked coldly: "Do you know what the consequences will be if you punish someone according to the laws of the Ming Dynasty?"

When Jiajing finished speaking, Xu Jie lowered his head and answered without thinking.

"Your Majesty, I have already committed an unforgivable crime. I can only use my life to comfort the spirits of those who died!"

When Xu Jie said this, he paused, his face was full of mockery, and he said to himself.

"For these behaviors within the family, Wei Chen also strictly prohibited them at first, but later, as time went by, and because the family often sent people to persuade, Wei Chen gave up and turned a blind eye to those things in the family. Close one eye."

"Your Majesty, to be honest, the elders in the clan have watched Wei Chen grow up. When he was a child, Wei Chen accidentally fell into a dry well. If the clan members had not discovered it in time, I am afraid that Wei Chen would have died in the dry well. There would never have been a day like this.”

"It was precisely because Wei Chen was lucky and turned a blind eye to him that he made such an irreparable mistake. Now, Wei Chen can only use his life to atone for his sin!"

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he bowed again.

After listening to Xu Jie's confession, Jiajing withdrew his gaze, waved his hand, and said: "Well, get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

When Jiajing's words fell, Xu Jie's face showed gratitude, he stood up from the ground and responded respectfully.

After that, Xu Jie seemed to suddenly remember something. A trace of worry flashed across his face. He looked in the direction of Jiajing and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the Yan Party has a large number of people. Wei Chen is so powerful." Once he leaves, it may become even more difficult to control, so please pay more attention to it, Your Majesty.”

At this point, Jiajing had no intention of hiding anything. After pondering for a moment, he immediately said, "Mr. Xu Ge, don't worry. Yan Song will be retiring from office soon, and the person who will succeed him as the chief minister of the cabinet is Gao Gong." ”

When Xu Jie heard this, his pupils suddenly shrank, and his face was full of disbelief.

Then, as if Xu Jie had figured out something, a look of enlightenment appeared on his face, he lowered his head and murmured to himself: "High Gong, that's it."

After finishing his emotion, Xu Jie lowered his head, looked in the direction of Jiajing, and said sincerely: "Your Majesty, you are wise!"

"Well, let's go, Mr. Xu Ge!"

"As ordered, Your Majesty, I will retire now!"

After Xu Jie bowed to Jiajing tremblingly, he walked towards the outside of Qianqing Palace without looking back.

When Xu Jie's back could no longer be seen clearly, Jiajing withdrew his gaze. Then, he turned around, looked at Lu Fang and said, "Go ahead and treat him well!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, she immediately looked stern and responded in a deep voice.

……

On the other side, the capital, Yan Mansion.

At this time, Yan Shifan was rushing to the study in a hurry.

Not long ago, he received news that Lu Fang personally went to Xu Jie's residence, and then the two of them went to the Forbidden City together.

After learning the news, Yan Shifan was overjoyed.

Because nearly a month had passed since Hai Rui, the imperial envoy, rushed to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case.

It took such a long time to find out the details of the case.

In Yan Shifan's view, the message behind Lu Fang's personal visit could not be more obvious, that is, the emperor planned to save the last dignity for Xu Jie, who was the second minister of the cabinet.

Because of this, Yan Shifan was so anxious. As soon as he got the news, he rushed to the study to inform Yan Song.

'Dong dong dong' was accompanied by a rapid knock on the door, and Yan Song's voice came from the study.

"Who?"

"Father, my child has something important to discuss with you!"

After Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's words, he suppressed the excitement in his heart and responded respectfully.

When the words fell, Yan Song's voice was heard from the study: "Well, come in!"

After receiving permission, Yan Shifan immediately opened the door and entered without any hesitation.

After entering the study, Yan Shifan subconsciously looked in the direction of Yan Song, leaned down, and said eagerly: "Father, I just got the news that Eunuch Lu personally went to Xu Jie's place!"

Hearing this, Yan Song suddenly stood up from his seat, his turbid eyes stared in the direction of Yan Shifan, and asked: "What did you say?"

Facing Yan Song's gaze, Yan Shifan organized the words in his mind before speaking out all his thoughts.

"Father, that's what I think. It's been almost a month since Hai Rui went to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case. With Hai Rui's talent, I'm afraid he has already figured out the whole story."

"And the reason why Your Majesty asked Eunuch Lu to visit in person is to preserve the last trace of dignity for Xu Jie!"

After listening to Yan Shifan's thoughts, the expression on Yan Song's face did not change much. He just nodded and responded in a subtle way: "Well, I understand, let's get down."

(End of this chapter)