The First Gongsheng of Ming Dynasty

Yongkang was naturally embarrassed after his true colors were exposed by Zhang Zhou.

But she seemed to have gotten used to being in front of Zhang Zhou. If it were someone else, no one could make her suffer a loss, and she would not be willing to suffer a loss. But who could blame the man in front of her, who could even control her own royal brother?

What's more, her husband obtained the title of marquis with the help of Zhang Zhou, and it has only been more than a year... Thinking of this, no matter how unwilling she was, she had to hold it in for now.

After all, there are things to ask for.

"Sir Zhang, you are not giving me face. I am the eldest princess after all. His Majesty asked me to ask you, so I asked you. She is just an ordinary woman. If you do her a favor, she will return the favor. How great is that?" Yongkang began to play the emotional card.

Zhang Zhou said: "There is no room for negotiation. Once I open the door, others will think that there is room for compromise and will come to me to beg for mercy."

Yongkang said anxiously: "I will never tell anyone."

"Haha." Zhang Zhou smiled and didn't answer.

Yongkang was so angry that he stamped his feet and said, "Then tell me, what exactly does it take to get her out? She is a lady from a famous family, and it is not her who is convicted, but her husband's father-in-law. It is said that her husband is just implicated in the case. Logically, he can be bribed with some money. In the past, guilty officials had their families confiscated and were granted to be released. As long as the connections are in place, the person can be brought out."

"Really?" Zhang Zhou continued to pretend to be confused.

According to the rules of the Ming Dynasty, the family members of officials who were convicted did not necessarily have to be sent to the Jiaofangsi. The emperor would also grant fiefs to ministers, especially those who had made contributions.

For example, Jiao Fang had a concubine. After the native officials of Guangxi were conquered, his family was awarded to his house. This is all recorded in history.

As for the families of some convicted officials, the emperor would directly grant them fiefs to ministers, and the woman herself could be redeemed if her family members were willing to spend money to bribe them or if they had some connections. Of course, the price was not necessarily just a little money, there were always some ways, and some could even bring their young children back to their parents' home.

It all depends on the activities of the family behind it.

Yongkang said: "If you think their corruption and abuse of power are unacceptable, her family will give her thousands of taels of silver as an apology. And she is the only one... They are all miserable people, why do you have to make things difficult for them?"

Zhang Zhou asked, "The princess is so concerned, did she receive any benefits?"

Yongkang frowned and said, "Do you think I would run around for a few taels of silver, looking for my brother and begging you? It's just that we have some friendship, and I can't bear to see her wandering."

After hearing this, Zhang Zhou realized that she was Yongkang’s “best friend”.

Now Yongkang is probably caring so much about the future of her good sister and some "benefits" that are unknown to outsiders.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "What benefits will I get?"

“I knew it…” Yong Kang saw that Zhang Zhou seemed to be negotiable, so he rolled his eyes at Zhang Zhou and said, “To be honest, that girl is quite pretty, but that’s why I’m worried that she won’t be able to endure the hardships in the future. You know, once someone is convicted and becomes a criminal, then it’s okay for an ordinary girl to be ordinary, but this young and pretty girl won’t have a good life in the future… Alas!”

Zhang Zhou said, "Your Highness, you sound as if you understand the hardship involved."

Yongkang rolled his eyes at Zhang Zhou and said, "Put yourself in their shoes. We are both miserable people. We thought we were married to a good family, a young and talented man, and a family of officials. We thought we would be able to pass the imperial examinations and become a juren or even a jinshi in the future. But this person is in the officialdom and often has no control over his own affairs."

Zhang Zhou said: "Is corruption and abuse of power also considered as having no choice?"

"Is that something a woman can decide?" Yongkang said, "I'm not talking about her husband's family. They deserve it, but don't harm them."

"Oh. Haha." Zhang Zhou continued to laugh.

"You are the one in a higher position, so you don't know the helplessness of those below you. But you also have to be on guard, Lord Zhang. I'm not trying to scare you, but you are also being watched by so many people in the court. As the saying goes, flowers do not last forever. Are you sure that there won't be any deviations on your side in the future?" Yong Kang seemed to be trying to get back his face and actually wanted to "scare" Zhang Zhou.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "I have a clear conscience, why would I worry about that?"

Yongkang said, "Then you can make a condition. As long as you bring the person out, the money and other things are easy to talk about. If you are attracted by her beauty, then if you hand her over, her family will find a young woman from Jiangnan for you and send her to your house or to another house. In the end... you won't suffer any loss."

Zhang Zhou picked up another peach and continued to eat it, saying, "Let's talk about it later."

"you……"

Yongkang saw that Zhang Zhou had no intention of making any promises to her, but she had also learned her lesson. Since you didn't agree but didn't say no, she would just assume that you agreed.

"Then I'll wait for good news from Lord Zhang and hand the person out intact." Yongkang stood up and walked to Zhang Zhou personally, even bending down to pour tea for Zhang Zhou. Her hospitality and thoughtfulness made Zhang Zhou feel that this woman was serious.

I really spent a lot of money just for a best friend with whom I don’t even know how close we are.

……

……

After Yongkang's reminder, Zhang Zhou actually became somewhat interested in the woman.

He also wanted to know what kind of woman could make a proud woman like Yongkang beg him humbly and even continue to show her affection to him.

However, it was not dark yet, and some things seemed inconvenient to complete. There were still many people trying to visit him, and most of them were directly turned away. Some people even dared not to visit him, but there were always some who were "brave", such as the people from Duke Cheng's Mansion.

Their purpose is actually the same, they are all working for this big case in the capital. It seems that everyone knows that the easiest way is to go directly through Zhang Zhou's relationship.

The person who came to see Zhang Zhou this time was no longer a woman from the Chengguo Mansion, but Zhu Feng's brother Zhu Lin.

Zhu Lin did not carry any gifts to meet him, and even went empty-handed. He watched the show in the theater and waited for two hours. Finally, Liu Gui came to inform him that they could meet at the observation deck in the backyard. He then quickly got up and went to the backyard.

On the observation deck.

Zhang Zhou was eating some chilled fruits. In that era, the process of making ice with saltpeter had been very sophisticated. Even ordinary people could buy ice in the hot summer, not to mention the wealthy and even officials like Zhang Zhou.

Zhu Lin came up, sweating all over, probably because it was too hot in the theater.

Zhang Zhou said, "Mr. Zhu, please have some tea."

"I dare not." After all, Zhu Lin did not have as deep a friendship with Zhang Zhou as his younger brother. He walked over carefully and knelt down to salute Zhang Zhou, just like his father did.

"Get up, let's sit down and talk. We are not outsiders. If you have nothing else to do, just wait outside. I have something to talk to him about." Zhang Zhou left Zhu Lin alone.

Then Zhu Lin explained his purpose: "My father has made a great contribution in the northwest, but there is no news from my brother. The grassland war is still going on, but there has been no news in recent days. According to the wishes of the lady at home, if you are willing to honor me, you can come to her house at any time." "You want me to go again? Your father and brother are not at home, why should I go?" Zhang Zhou seemed a little unhappy, "Also, your grandmother's arrangements are always like the Hongmen Banquet. I will feel pressured when I go. If you have anything to say, it's best to say it here directly. There is no point in hiding it."

Zhu Lin said, "To be honest, Madam Tai really hopes that the Nanjing case will not be expanded, especially when it involves my father. My father has made some mistakes, and he is willing to hand over all the money he has obtained through corruption and abuse of power, and even bribes, to be used as military expenses."

"Can I ask how much it is?" Zhang Zhou asked with a smile.

Zhu Lin seemed very embarrassed and said: "My father is not in Beijing at the moment, so I can't find out too much for the time being, but at least 60,000 to 70,000 taels of silver can be taken out."

Zhang Zhou thought, if someone embezzled 60,000 or 70,000 taels of silver and committed illegal acts, their ancestral graves would be dug up, but your family can just return the stolen money and there will be no problem at all?
The face is really big.

But then again, considering that your Chengguo Mansion has been bullying the government and even the Nanjing garrison for the past few decades, and yet you only got 60,000 or 70,000 taels of silver, who would believe it?

Considering the capital that Zhu Zhijie used to do his business, it was probably more than this, right?
Zhu Lin said: "We will plead guilty on behalf of my father."

"Don't ask me for forgiveness." Zhang Zhou said, "If you want to ask, ask His Majesty and see if His Majesty can let this matter go. It's rare for someone like you to confess on your own initiative. It's like some people who may have done more evil than you, but until now, we haven't heard any news of them coming out to confess."

"You mean..." Zhu Lin seemed to realize who Zhang Zhou was talking about. It must be Duke of England Zhang Mao.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "It's just a casual remark. Don't point fingers at anyone and don't take it too seriously."

"Yes, yes." Zhu Lin looked embarrassed.

As a result, there seems to be more sweat on my head.

"It's not good to be impatient. Drink some tea and eat some fruit. It's too hot today, but it should be over in a few days." Zhang Zhou said, "In fact, there are some things that your family should do both. On the one hand, you should confess your mistakes to His Majesty and set an example for the people in the court. As long as your father and Zhijie have made contributions in the northwest, we can talk about making up for the mistakes."

"Oh?"

Zhu Lin seemed to have heard something.

Even Zhang Zhou knew that Zhu Lin only looked honest and simple-minded, but he was actually a vicious person at heart, a kind of fox who hides his true colors. If one thought he was just an ordinary kid from aristocratic family, they would be totally wrong.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "This example is very important. It determines who your majesty will attack first, or whether you can tell who is closest to you or not."

Zhu Lin asked, "You mean that if we confess our crimes and ask His Majesty to punish us, it will put pressure on some people?"

Zhang Zhou said: "You can understand it yourself. I didn't say too much. Besides, in this kind of matter, doesn't it all depend on your sincerity? If someone gets ahead of you, no matter how much His Majesty wants to protect you, I'm afraid it will be... hehe."

You should first make an example for yourself and confess your crimes so that the emperor can kill you like chickens, and then let all the monkeys in the mountains be scared and run around.

Of course, we won't really kill you, the chicken. After all, two of your family's backbones are still in the northwest. Whether it's the emperor or the ministers, they have to think about whether there will be a mutiny. At least they will wait for the outcome of the war in the northwest.

Once your father and your brother have made military achievements, they can be considered to have "made up for their mistakes", but other families are not so lucky.

In this way, the laws of the court can be demonstrated, and your family can have a turnaround, or even get out of it completely. How great is that?
Zhu Lin stood up, then knelt down with a plop, kowtowed and said, "I will remember your teachings, sir. I will go back and discuss with the Madam and confess my crimes. I will not disappoint your majesty. Even if I risk having my property confiscated, I will explain the facts to your majesty. Only in this way can I live up to the loyalty, filial piety, chastity and righteousness of my ancestors."

……

……

into the night.

Zhang Zhou is in his old house in the east of the city, where he is talking to Yang Peng.

Yang Peng explained the details of the investigation to Zhang Zhou in detail. Not long after, Wang Shi entered the hall and said respectfully, "Master, Master, the person is outside and has been sent to you. Should he be sent to the back house or here?"

Yang Peng quickly stood up and said with a smile, "I have something else to do at home, so I won't bother you anymore, sir."

As he said this, he gave Wang Shi a look, meaning well done.

You did things for Zhang Zhou, especially for your son-in-law, and sent women to your son-in-law without any complaints, and were even so respectful. You are truly teachable.

Zhang Zhou smiled and said, "I'll just take a look. It's the same everywhere."

The person was sent by Wang Shi, and Wang Mingshan was standing next to him, so Zhang Zhou still had to maintain some dignity.

But think about it, Wang Mingshan has never cared about such things. It's not that she is deliberately pretending, but such things are not engraved in her bones. Jealousy and evil-doing are things that have never existed in her life.

As for what her father was doing, she didn't care at all.

Having said that, Yang Peng was still tactful and took Wang Shi away.

Afterwards, the woman whose original surname was Song and who was mentioned by Yongkang and who had married into the house of Li Xing, a doctor in the Ministry of Revenue, and became the daughter-in-law, was brought to the main hall of Zhang Zhou's house by two maids and appeared in front of Zhang Zhou.

Although the woman had been carefully washed before coming, she looked very haggard because she had spent the past few days in a cell without seeing the sun. There were bruises on her hands, and it was obvious that she had been in shackles.

Judging from her appearance alone, she is the virtuous and reserved type. She is pretty, but definitely not stunningly beautiful.

She is not the type of girl who looks simple and pretty next door, but rather the type of lady from a noble family. If she suddenly stands in front of someone, she will give people the feeling of a good wife and mother.

"My humble servant greets you, sir." When the woman saw Zhang Zhou, she also knelt down and saluted.

Zhang Zhouyi waved his hand, and the old woman left.

Zhang Zhou said, "Get up and let me see."

Li Song stood up, looking trembling, probably thinking that the government had banished her directly to this mansion to be a slave. Of course, this was not wrong, because she was originally intended to be left to Zhang Zhou like those criminals and sent directly to Binhai City.

Zhang Zhou said, "Does Princess Yongkang know her?"

When the woman heard Yongkang's name, her eyes regained some luster, but she couldn't help shedding tears and said, "As a woman of crime, I dare not make friends with the princess." (End of this chapter)