Uncle Lai in the Red Chamber

Chapter 223 Proofing
Rongfu, small courtyard in the northeast corner.

Early in the morning, the servants in the courtyard got busy and packed up a dozen large boxes.

Aunt Xue and Baochai were giving Xue Pan a lot of advice in the house.

"Son! Your sister gave you the sales prices of various stores. Don't lose it. When you get to the south, go to your second uncle first and ask him to accompany you to do it, so that he can help you with the business."

Baochai also warned: "Brother, try not to look for people outside, so as not to be deceived. If the shopkeepers and ministers of the shops at home can afford the money, even if it is slightly inferior, we will give priority to selling to them."

"Okay! Okay! Can my son handle this little thing?"

Xue Pan said impatiently: "What did I say at the beginning? You didn't believe me, and you still suspected that it was Brother Lai who caused the trouble. At that time, he was busy marrying the second girl in the house, so how could he think about his younger sister? . If you go by what I say, you should make the mistake and promise your sister to Brother Lai. With his ability, why do we need to work hard on these things? Even for the shares, there is no need to go around like a thief like now. "

"Evil! Just calm down! In this marriage, family status is the first priority. You said he wanted to marry the second girl, but in the end, he didn't get married?"

"Brother Zhen also said that it was because the elder had no foresight. He also wanted to promise the fourth girl to Brother Lai, but Brother Lai didn't agree."

"What do you know? I heard from your aunt that Dongfu owes a debt to the court and is short of money. Otherwise, he would still have to borrow money from our family? Is he planning to sell his sister? You Do you want to sell your sister too?"

Xue Pan was lectured by Aunt Xue and said angrily: "What about Brother Feng? I already made an agreement with you, but you changed your mind again, which makes me embarrassed to see others."

Aunt Xue scolded: "Brother Feng and Brother Li, don't mention this again in the future!"

Xue Pan snorted coldly and said: "Earlier you told me that my sister's gold must be matched with jade. When you saw that Baoyu had such trouble, you became interested. You don't look down on this, you don't look down on that, I put a precious jade on the tip of my heart.

He was beaten for being a troublemaker outside. You didn't say anything wrong about him, but you blamed me. I've met Qi Guan many times, and I didn't say a word of affection to him. How could I know that this was the first time I met him? , just gave him the sweat towel? "

He was always the one being educated by his mother and sister at home, and it was rare for him to be right about one thing. In addition, Baoyu was beaten, Baochai overheard the gossip from Xiren, and she had to give him a few words when he came back, "Where is Xue Pan?" Having endured such grievances, he was already unconvinced, and now he is getting more and more excited.

After saying this, Baochai was stunned. She pulled Aunt Xue and cried, "Mom, listen, what did my brother say?"

Aunt Xue said anxiously: "You are seeking death! You still mention this! This is not why I beat him."

When Xue Pan saw his sister crying, he knew that he had made a mistake by speaking unscrupulously, so he got angry and went outside to pack his bags.

…………

After two days, Lai Shangrong learned that Xue Pan was going south, so he started to prepare to submit the secret document to the emperor.

He didn't report it right away. He grabbed it with both hands and had to be tough with both hands. Although Jia Zhen and his son wanted to teach him a lesson, they couldn't delay the Xue family's plan.

If this happened in the Rong Mansion, he would not make it public. In ancient times, close relatives were very important. Although the Lai family and the Rong Mansion were not related, it was true that it came from the Rong Mansion, so he would inevitably be labeled a white-eyed wolf.

As for the Ning Mansion, that was a different matter, and he had no intention of announcing it widely and would only report it to the emperor in secret.

The matter involves nobles, and the emperor cannot listen to his family's words. There must be time for verification. Lai Shangrong estimates that the verification and disposal will take about a month anyway.

By then the Xue family will get the news and send people south, but it is estimated that they may not be able to make it in time.

Of course, it was impossible for him to perform for Jia Zhen alone. It happened that he had produced a batch of steel the day before yesterday. Although Lai Shangrong was not very satisfied, the barrels produced were indeed much improved than before.

A job well done is not as good as a report well done.

Lai Shangrong returned to the Yamen and wrote furiously, giving a vivid report on how he braved the summer heat and the high temperature in the smelting factory, shared the joys and sorrows with the workers, overcame various difficulties, and achieved some achievements.Finally, the illegal activities of Jia Zhen and his son were elaborated to highlight the difference between himself and the blood-sucking nobles.

Although he was not a censor in his position and planned his political affairs, he still couldn't stand alone after hearing about such things that harmed the court and preyed on the people.

This memorial will be forwarded to the emperor.

Emperor Zhenglong, who was beaming with joy in the first half, suddenly became furious, slammed the table and shouted: "You bastard!"

Xia Shouzhong, who was accompanying him at the side, said tremblingly: "Your Majesty, calm down!"

"Xuan Qining comes to see you!"

"Yes!"

After a while, Qining entered the imperial study room.

Emperor Zhenglong threw the memorial to the ground and said in a deep voice: "In the most benevolent place in the capital, there is such a thing that is exploiting the common people. There is no news about it at the Metropolitan Procuratorate and the Yushitai. You should send someone to investigate immediately."

In fact, this kind of thing is not uncommon for the noble class, but the emperor had a very bad impression of the Jia family, especially the Ningguo Mansion.

Regarding the corruption case of the Ministry of Construction, he learned from Qi Ning that Jia Jing was a Jinshi but did not enter the court as an official, and he was already very disgusted.

In ancient times, only about a hundred people were selected for the imperial examination every three years. It can be said that every Jinshi must be entrusted with important tasks.

Moreover, the privileges such as salary, tax exemption quota, free accommodation in the inn, etc. can be said to be very generous.

Taking all the benefits from the imperial court, it was just a matter of not repaying the imperial court. He even reached out to the imperial yamen to get money. Now, coupled with the crime of loan sharking and forcing good people into prostitution, it can be said that it is full of bad attributes.

In addition, the corruption case in the Camp and Maintenance Department has not been severely punished, and the emperor is suffering from no chance to scare the monkeys. Jia Zhen can be said to have hit the muzzle of the gun.

"The minister obeys the order!"

Qi Ning was secretly happy after reading the memorial.

In fact, the powers of the Jinyiwei and the Metropolitan Procuratorate overlapped. They both had the authority to supervise hundreds of officials, but one was on the surface, and the other was directly under the emperor.

Now the emperor is reprimanding the Metropolitan Procuratorate. As long as the case is investigated clearly, Jin Yiwei's voice will definitely increase in the future, and the emperor will rely more on Jin Yiwei.

Emperor Zhenglong said slowly: "These people take the grace of the Supreme Emperor and me for granted. They really think that I can't deal with them."

"Your Majesty is kind!" Xia Shouzhong and Qi Ning said immediately.

"If all the civil and military officials in the dynasty can be like Lai Aiqing, why worry about our Great Xia not being prosperous!"

Emperor Zhenglong paused and said: "Qin Zhong's contribution this time is not small. Let's arrange for the father and son to meet for the last time! Also give a warning to those who stretched out their hands randomly and let them see how Qin Ye confessed his crime. !”

"Yes! Your Majesty!"

…………

(End of this chapter)