Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 124 Do you want to stay in the imperial prison for a few days?

"Cui Wensheng. Put down your pen first, then open the first drawer on the right. See what's inside." Zhu Changluo returned to the imperial desk and sat down.

"I obey your order." Cui Wensheng could probably guess what was in the drawer, but when he saw the official seal again, his heart skipped a beat.

"You are still in charge of the seal of the East Factory." As soon as Zhu Changluo finished speaking, Cui Wensheng came to the imperial desk holding the official seal and knelt down.

"I bow to thank the emperor for his grace." Cui Wensheng kowtowed and shouted.

"Think carefully about what you should and shouldn't do. If Wei Zhongxian gets hold of something against you again, don't blame me for being ruthless and only caring about official matters." Zhu Changluo deliberately said to Wei Zhongxian.

"I have completely changed my ways and will behave myself properly and be careful in what I do. I will never do anything like a beast again." Cui Wensheng kowtowed again.

"Okay." Zhu Changluo nodded and pointed to an unlocked box on the imperial desk. "Open this box and take out the things inside."

"I obey your order." Cui Wensheng carefully placed the official seal back on the second writing desk, then trotted over to the imperial desk.

"This is the roster drawn up by the Western Depot's Inspection Bureau. Take a look. Wei Zhongxian has been begging me to keep this job for him, which makes sense." Zhu Changluo tapped the table with his right hand. "However, the East Depot's re-establishment requires some achievements to maintain order, so I transferred this case from the Western Depot. You must do your best, Wei Zhongxian is watching you."

"I won't bother with that." Cui Wensheng's disgust towards Wei Zhongxian deepened a little bit.

"The staffing has been prepared for you. You will return to the yamen tomorrow to take over." Zhu Changluo smiled slightly. "The vacancies for the thousand-household rank are still available, but the vacancies for the hundred-household rank and below have been filled on a temporary basis. After all, expansion and training require leadership. As for whether you can be retained, you will evaluate it yourself."

As Cui Wensheng listened to the announcement, he flipped through the list in his hand. The more he looked, the more frightened he became, because he had had various interactions, big or small, with many of the people on it.

"Once you're familiar with your new office, follow the map. I know you have somewhat ambiguous relationships with many of the people on the list, but if you let them go, the Western Depot will certainly not let you go." Zhu Changluo's face was still smiling, but Cui Wensheng could only sense a sinister chill in it. "I won't go into details. In short, arrest them, interrogate them, sentence them, and confiscate their property. Do it well." Zhu Changluo waved his hand, signaling Cui Wensheng to leave.

"I'll take my leave." Cui Wensheng, holding the official seal and the list, backed out of the Southern Study facing the imperial desk.

"Some people's hands are overreaching." Just as Cui Wensheng was about to cross the threshold, a bloody echo rang out from the huge south study.

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Dashiyongfang was located right next to the Jinyiwei Commandery, so most prominent Jinyiwei would settle there. However, Lu Wenzhao, recently promoted to centurion, was clearly not a prominent figure. Therefore, he had to settle for the next best thing and purchased a small, practical house in Fucaifang, just next to Dashiyongfang.

Lu Wenzhao's small house was close to the inner city's west wall, practically touching the base of the wall. This was obviously not a good thing, as patrolling soldiers could see what was going on in the courtyard without even looking out. However, it also made it convenient for him to observe his own home at this special time today.

After making sure Hai Rou had brought her only maidservant into the kitchen to prepare dinner, Lu Wenzhao quietly climbed over the wall and sneaked into his home.

Lu Wenzhao sneaked into the bedroom like a thief, found a casual outfit, and quickly changed out of his official uniform. After doing all this, he breathed a sigh of relief. Just as Lu Wenzhao left the bedroom and returned to the wall, preparing to leave by the same route, a familiar and gentle voice called out to him.

"Husband, you're back." Hai Rou stood at the door of the kitchen, smiling and calling softly to Lu Wenzhao's back.

"Hahahaha." Lu Wenzhao's hairs on his back stood up instantly. He turned around and laughed awkwardly a few times. "I'm back."

"Husband, I am the daughter of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. I can still hear this little noise." Hai Rou was still smiling, but Lu Wenzhao saw some danger in this sweet smile.

"I still have something to do. I have to go out again, so you don't have to wait for me for dinner tonight." Lu Wenzhao tried to get away with it.

"Are you planning to go to Huanghuafang for a drink?" Hai Rou walked up to Lu Wenzhao and helped him straighten his wrinkled collar. "You're so clumsy that you can't even change your clothes properly."

"I..." Lu Wenzhao was stunned. He was stunned for a long time, and finally admitted in a rhetorical tone: "How did you know?"

"Besides going to Huanghuafang Bensi Hutong to enjoy the Jiaofangsi's banquet, is there anything else that requires changing out of official uniform for casual clothes?" Hai Rou punched him in the chest. "My mother said Dad was like this when he was young. Now he doesn't avoid people anymore, and he always goes there with a swagger. Maybe my husband can even sit at the same table with him and listen to music."

"Does my father-in-law Taishan have this interest?" Lu Wenzhao had not expected that the old antique who always had a stern face and pretended to be a scholar would also go to the official brothel under the jurisdiction of the Jiaofangsi to drink and have fun.

"Otherwise, my husband, where do you think the concubines of the Hai family come from?" Hai Rou sighed. "My husband is now a centurion, it's only natural for him to take one or two concubines. If I stop him unreasonably, others will stab me in the back and say I'm a jealous woman." Hai Rou was very calm, because marriage has never been a matter of two people, but a matter of two families. With the power of her family and the status of her father, no matter how many concubines Lu Wenzhao takes, her status as the legitimate wife cannot be shaken. "My husband, I will remind you of one thing. If you want to find a concubine, you have to find one who is clean. Don't help others raise their son without thinking."

"What are you thinking?" Lu Wenzhao spread his hands and said in surrender, "I'm telling you the truth. Shen Lian, do you understand?"

"I know. Shen Xiaoqi is my husband's savior in Liaodong." Hai Rou nodded.

"He's got his eye on a prostitute from the Nuanxiang Pavilion. He wants to buy her freedom, but he doesn't have enough money. I thought I'd do him a favor." Lu Wenzhao lifted the corner of his shirt to reveal his badge. "I think the Jinyiwei should still have some face."

"Is that so?" Hai Rou curled her lips.

"Don't disbelieve me. Don't you know how much money I have in my pocket?" Lu Wenzhao took a step forward and gently hugged Hai Rou's slender waist.

"Who knows if you have hidden any private money?" Hai Rou blushed and snorted, agreeing with Lu Wenzhao's statement.

On the day the Imperial Court sent someone to deliver rice to Zhang's residence, Lu Jianxing and Shen Lian visited the Imperial Guard's archives. Documents preserved by the Imperial Guard revealed that Zhou Miaotong's father, Zhou Yanqing, was a native of Changzhou Prefecture in Southern Zhili. He passed the imperial examination in the 38th year of the Wanli reign and was a member of the same clan as Zhou Yanru, who won the imperial examination twice three years later. Zhou Yanru, currently serving as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy, was an open member of the Donglin Party.

"Tongzhi Tian is preparing to take action against the Donglin Party. Should we get involved?" As soon as Lu Wenzhao opened the door, he heard Shen Lian's voice.

"Want to make some money?" Lu Jianxing blew two puffs of hot air onto his hands.

"I'm short of money." Shen Lian shook his back, and the silver ingots clattered in his backpack, making a greedy sound. "I heard that the Donglin Party members are quite rich."

"Which official doesn't have money?" Lu Jianxing clasped his hands together and rubbed them vigorously.

"Not all of them are rich. Most of the officials in the capital are actually quite poor," Lu Wenzhao interrupted. "We, the Jinyiwei, have never been shortchanged by the inner court when it comes to getting paid, but the outer court often owes us."

"Your Excellency is right," Lu Jianxing nodded. To echo Lu Wenzhao, he added, "I heard Admiral Cui got into trouble because he used the salary allowance granted by His Majesty, which incurred public wrath." "Be careful with your words." Lu Wenzhao paid close attention to the movements of the higher-ups. He lowered his voice and said, "The position of Admiral of the East Depot has been vacant for a long time, and Admiral Cui is still alive and kicking after receiving fifty lashes. He wasn't detained, exiled, or even placed under house arrest. I think it's only a matter of time before he's reinstated. There might be some East Depot thugs on the streets, so we'd better be careful with our words."

After instructing Lu Jianxing, Lu Wenzhao turned to Shen Lian and said, "Don't worry about it. Tian Tongzhi didn't open the case to make money. The court meeting has been very chaotic recently. I don't know what the superiors think, but I don't think it will be very pleasant. But the head of the guards has been tormented enough and is cursing every day. If Tian Tongzhi can settle this matter through the Donglin Party case..." Lu Wenzhao's words stopped here.

Shen Lian nodded. His father died young, so he had been a Jinyiwei for a little longer than Lu Wenzhao. Naturally, he understood the hidden meaning behind the words.

"Sir, didn't you climb over the wall to get in? How did you come out through the door?"

"That's just so righteous!"

The three of them walked on the road, tacitly not talking about the affairs of the yamen.

Fucaifang and Huanghuafang were located on the west and east walls of the inner city, respectively, with a distance of more than ten miles between them. Even after walking for a while carrying more than twenty kilograms of luggage, Shen Lian's steps were still very brisk.

When we arrived at Bensi Hutong, it was already dark, but the road was still lit up like day by countless candles.

"Except for the Forbidden City, this is probably the place in Beijing where people are most willing to light candles." As soon as he entered the alley of Bensi, Lu Jianxing smelled the scent of cosmetics lingering in the red-light district.

"I don't know how much silver I have to burn in a day." Lu Wenzhao is very utilitarian. In his opinion, money should be used to make progress. It is a waste to burn it in candles.

"The wool comes from the sheep." Lu Jianxing walked to Shen Lian's side and said in a joking tone: "The silver that was burned came from rich people."

"Brother, please don't mock me. I only have a little over 200 silver coins. How can I be considered a rich man?" Shen Lian took off the package on his back and held it in his arms. This was all his belongings.

"Where is Nuanxiang Pavilion?" The alleyway of our company was full of brothels. Lu Jianxing looked for a long time but couldn't see the Nuanxiang Pavilion.

"It's just a few steps away." Shen Lian pointed to the three-story building located in the center of the alley of our company.

"Look at the decor, no wonder it costs so much." Lu Wenzhao entered the Nuanxiang Pavilion before Shen Lian. Although the possibility was unlikely, he didn't want to actually run into Taishan Hai Zhentao in the red-light district.

The waiter ran to Lu Wenzhao in two or three steps.

"Sir, you look unfamiliar." He had a good memory and could tell at a glance whether a guest had been here before or not. "Would you like me to introduce you to a few girls?" The old man made an inviting gesture, directing Lu Wenzhao's gaze to the rack of name tags.

"Everyone's gone in, why are you still standing outside?" Lu Jianxing pushed Shen Lian's back. "Aren't you a regular customer?"

"I just came here to listen to some music." Shen Lian suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

"Isn't this Mr. Shen! Long time no see. Are you all here together? Please come in quickly." Mr. Gui smiled as brightly as a chrysanthemum and greeted them eagerly.

"This is a reward for you." Shen Lian pulled out a piece of silver from his belt and tossed it to Gui Gong. He had carefully cut this piece of silver, making it exactly two cents, perfect for a tip.

"Thank you, Master Shen." The chrysanthemum on the old man's face blossomed even brighter. Red-light districts have always been a den of money-squandering, but low-level errand runners like them don't really get much monthly salary, at most two taels of silver a month.

"Ask Aunt Xue to come out and talk." Shen Lian said straight to the point.

"What about Miss Miaotong?" The old man understood immediately.

"Where do you get so much nonsense from?" Shen Lian was a little impatient.

"Mr. Shen, please don't be suspicious. Please allow me to say a few more words." After receiving the tip from Shen Lian, the old man's tone of voice became much more respectful.

"Speak." Shen Lian nodded.

"During the days when you were not here, a young master named Yan frequently ordered Miss Miaotong's songs." The old man reminded.

"A juren taking the imperial examination?" Although the imperial court generally prohibited juren taking the imperial examination from visiting prostitutes in Beijing, this rule was almost only strictly enforced during the Hongwu period.

"Probably not." Turtle shook his head. "I heard that Young Master Yan has a prominent background, but how can a scholar from another place have such a prominent background?"

"Who cares about her background?" Lu Jianxing really didn't like the atmosphere of this place. "Go get that Aunt Xue my brother mentioned."

"Okay. Please wait."

After a while, the still charming Madam Xue came up to the three of them with light steps and bowed, saying, "My concubine greets the three young masters."

"Aunt Xue, I hope you are well." Shen Lian took down the wooden sign with "Zhou Miaotong" written on it.

"Mr. Shen, this little money isn't enough." Madam Xue, who saw through the package's contents at a glance, said, "And another young master offered a higher price." Madam Xue was lying. Young Master Yan couldn't possibly afford the thousands of taels of silver needed to redeem a prostitute. She simply wanted to use the name "Mr. Yan" to convince this young man to see the truth and stop causing trouble.

"I have a suggestion for you. You can be Miss Miaotong's first lover for just two hundred taels of silver." Madam Xue practically quoted the price by pinching the money in the package. "Of course, you can come back later. By then, the price will be much cheaper," Madam Xue said in a slightly provocative tone.

"We don't have enough money, but we still want to redeem him." Lu Wenzhao held down Shen Lian who was about to explode.

"Oh! What kind of rules are these?" Old Madam Xue snorted and chuckled. "Don't even think about causing trouble here. I still have some servants in Nuanxiang Pavilion."

"Just in time." Lu Wenzhao lifted the corner of his shirt, removed his badge, and waved it in front of Madam Xue. "The Imperial Guard suspects you're harboring bandits here." Lu Wenzhao lowered his voice, the threat clear as day. "Do you want to spend a few days in the Imperial Prison?"

(End of this chapter)