Great Qing Xiangguo

Chapter 101

Chen Tingjing said: "Oh, I guess it's the same. But the emperor clearly said everything should be kept simple, why didn't you listen to me?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "Although everyone knows that the emperor has a strict decree that extravagant reception is not allowed, no one dares to do it sloppily. What's more, there are people around the emperor who have secretly ordered that the next one must take care of the reception."

Chen Tingjing asked: "What does Xiangnian mean by that? Take it easy, is there nothing wrong with that?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "The Beifu also has friends in the governor's yamen. I heard from them that Ah Shan received a secret decree from the emperor, sternly condemning Ah Shan to build a palace for extravagance and waste. Ah Shan understands what the prince means, that he wants to make a big show."

After hearing this, Chen Tingjing hurriedly said: "The matter involving the crown prince is no small matter. Xiangnian, let's stop here. The matter is very important, so we can't talk about it any more."

Liu Xiangnian nodded, speechless and worried.Chen Tingjing said: "You oppose the construction of the Xinggong Palace. This is exactly what the emperor means. You don't have to worry about it. It is not necessary to build the Xinggong Palace."

Liu Xiangnian let out a sigh of relief, and seemed to be relieved.He recalled the matter of the oracle lecture hall again, and said, "There is no oracle lecture hall in the yamen of the prefect of Hangzhou. I originally thought that the prefecture and county are in the same city, so there is no need to build two lecture halls. And, but if he plays the emperor, Beifu really doesn't know what will happen."

Chen Tingjing said: "I really can't decide for you about the matter of the oracle lecture hall. It is said that all prefectures and counties have to build it. If you don't build it now, no one mentions it. If someone mentions it, it will be another matter! But if you want to It was too late to build it when the emperor came. I can only say, if the emperor finds out, try to speak for you."

Liu Xiangnian hesitated whether to tell about Prince Cheng's visit to Hangzhou, because Prince Cheng said that it was a private visit in a micro-service, and specially asked him not to mention it outside.Seeing that he seemed to have something to say, Chen Tingjing told Dashun to take refuge temporarily.Liu Xiangnian thought that there would be no trouble if he told Chen Tingjing about this matter, so he said in a low voice: "Chen Zhongtang, Prince Cheng has arrived in Hangzhou, and he called me to meet today. The prince said it was a secret visit, and he lives in the Shouning Hall , don’t let me speak outside.”

Chen Tingjing was secretly surprised again, his face changed greatly, thinking that the emperor wanted him to visit secretly along the road, why did he ask Prince Cheng to come out?Chen Tingjing knew that the emperor was very secretive, so he ordered: "Since Prince Cheng told you not to tell it outside, you shouldn't say it. I just pretend I don't know about it, and you can't tell outsiders about it."

Liu Xiangnian regretted bringing this matter up, and felt a little ashamed.It was getting late, he thanked Chen Tingjing and got up to leave.As soon as Liu Xiangnian walked to the door, Chen Tingjing asked again: "What did Prince Cheng say to you?"

Liu Xiangnian stopped in his tracks, turned around and said, "Prince Cheng didn't say anything, he only said that you, Liu Xiangnian, have a very good official reputation. I came to Hangzhou for a few days, and seeing is believing. He said that once when the emperor sat on the golden palace, he said When I met several upright officials, I only talked about you, Liu Xiangnian."

Chen Tingjing thought about it, and hurriedly asked: "Golden Luan Hall? Which palace is he talking about, or which hall?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "My lord only talks about the Golden Palace."

Chen Tingjing asked again: "How many people does the prince bring?"

Liu Xiangnian replied: "There must be twenty or thirty of them. There are some with eagles and some with dogs. Those dogs are very ferocious."

Chen Tingjing thought for a while, and then asked: "According to the rules, you should present a ceremony to honor the prince, have you sent it?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "I also know that I want to give it away, but now it's dredging rivers, building a palace, and building roads and bridges. The money I can get is less than ten thousand taels, so how can I make a move?"

Chen Tingjing said: "Xiangnian, although presenting ceremonies is a bad rule, but people can't help themselves in the officialdom. It's fine if the prince doesn't look for you anymore. If you send someone to look for you, you go to my place first, and I will replace you. Figure out a way."

Liu Xiangnian thanked him and left the inn.It was late at night, and Liu Xiangnian rode slowly down the street, feeling his wet shoulders and a slight chill.

Liu Xiangnian thought that during the emperor's southern tour, there would be two groups of secret imperial envoys, and God knows what would happen to the emperor.He was disrespectful to Ashan Ginseng, but he was not afraid in his heart, he handled everything according to the emperor's instructions.It's just that Hangzhou doesn't have an oracle lecture hall, if the emperor finds out about it, he might be guilty of it.Thinking about this, Liu Xiangnian couldn't sleep well.On the second day, he got up early, took a sedan chair and wandered around the city of Hangzhou, trying to find a ready-made house as a lecture hall.I went around Hangzhou city several times, but couldn't find a suitable place.

It was getting dark by the looks of it.The houses in the city are all owned and owned, so where are the ready-made vacant ones?The attendant laughed and said, "I'm afraid the only empty houses in Hangzhou are brothels!"

I never thought that Liu Xiangnian's eyes would light up, and he would be carried to Qinghefang by someone.The attendants were anxious and asked the master what happened.Liu Xiangnian just said, don't worry about it, just go to Qinghefang.

When I arrived at Qinghefang, I saw few lanterns on the street, and many shops were darkened.Seeing the lights hanging in front of Mantangchun Building from a distance, Liu Xiangnian remembered that Chen Zhongtang had mentioned this brothel, so he knocked on the door.Li Sanniang scolded inside: "It's so late, who is it? There's no girl in here, I'll beat you to death!"

When he opened the door, he saw that he was wearing an official uniform. He opened his mouth in fright for a long time before he could speak: "Ah, why are you from the yamen again? You have taken away everyone you wanted, what more do you want?"

Liu Xiangnian entered the house without answering, but looked around the house from left to right.

Li Sanniang said again: "The top oiran was taken away by your yamen, and the ones that look a little bit have also been taken to the yamen. I don't know when they will come back! The rest of them have no business. I will let them go home and wait." Let’s go. The yamen wants a girl. If there is a first time, maybe there will be no second or third time. Who would dare to do this kind of business? I don’t want to do it.”

Liu Xiangnian turned around and asked, "You really don't want to do it?"

Li Sanniang said, "I really don't want to do it."

Liu Xiangnian said: "If you really don't do it, the magistrate's office will take down your real estate."

Li Sanniang's eyes were so wide that she was about to drop, she said: "What a strange thing! It's very new for the Yamen to ask for prostitutes, even brothels? Are you kidding me?"

There was no trace of a smile on Liu Xiangnian's face, he just said: "Who is joking with you? Tomorrow I will call someone over to negotiate the price with you, and the money will not be lost to you."

Li Sanniang was talking nonsense, but she didn't know that the yamen really wanted to sell her brothel.She knew that dealing with the yamen was fruitless, so she refused to do this business to the death.

Liu Xiangnian couldn't help saying, and dropped a sentence: "You are not allowed to go back on what you said, and someone from the yamen will come to settle the score tomorrow morning!"

Back at the magistrate's yamen, the concierge was talking in such a hurry that his tongue was tied up, and it took him a long time to say that the two men who were fighting with eagles and dogs came again yesterday, scolding you for not understanding the rules, and asking you to go see some prince quickly.The concierge said that he had sent people all over the street to look for the master, and he missed going to Qinghefang.

Liu Xiangnian galloped to Yanyu Building, Chen Tingjing saw him in a hurry, guessed what was going on, and asked, "Prince Cheng called you again?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "Chen Zhongtang, you must have expected it, and you really called me again."

Chen Tingjing said: "Xiangnian, tell me what Prince Richeng said that day, word by word."

Liu Xiangnian didn't understand Chen Tingjing's intentions, so he repeated what Prince Cheng said and his answers.After hearing this, Chen Tingjing suddenly said, "This Prince Cheng is a fake!"

Liu Xiangnian opened his mouth for a long time as if he had heard a thunderstorm, and said, "Fake?"

It turned out that Chen Tingjing heard Liu Xiangnian said yesterday that Prince Cheng was suspicious of what Huang Ama was doing in the Golden Palace.How can anyone in the palace talk about the Golden Luang Palace?That is the saying on the stage of folk theater.I also thought that the custom of the eagle should be outside the pass, and there is no reason for anyone to release eagles in the south of the Yangtze River.Chen Tingjing talked to his elder brothers in the study room in the early years, and he knew them all.Speaking of Chen Tingjing and Prince Cheng, there is a good story. In the autumn month of 25, one day Chen Tingjing was busy with official business in Zhishe, the cabinet, and was playing chess with others under the window. The emperor brought the third elder brother to come.Just as Chen Tingjing was about to get up to pay his respects, the emperor smiled and said, "It's rare for you to be free, so let's continue the game." At that time, the third elder brother was only twelve or thirteen years old, and he had already been named Baylor.The emperor sat down to watch the chess, and praised Chen Tingjing's skill in chess.But the third elder brother said: "Huang Ama, I want to learn chess from the master!" The master the third elder brother said was Chen Tingjing.The emperor readily agreed that whenever Chen Tingjing finished his lecture in the upper study, the third elder brother could play against Chen Tingjing for an hour.Since then, San Age has been learning chess from Chen Tingjing for two years.

Although Chen Tingjing guessed that the Prince Cheng in Hangzhou was a fake, but the matter was important after all, if he made a mistake, he would not be offended, and asked again: "Xiangnian, how old is this Prince Cheng you saw? Did he ever have a beard? ?”

Liu Xiangnian said: "How dare I look him in the eye? People like Prince Cheng can't tell their age, probably around 20 years old."

Chen Tingjing said: "Prince Cheng is the same age as Quanzi Zhuanglu, and his false age should be 34." Chen Tingjing thought for a while, and suddenly had an idea in his mind, "Xiangnian, you go to see him quickly, I just want Chen Tingjing to invite you to play chess. , the people below didn’t find you, let’s see what he says. No matter how he scolds you, just apologize and come back and tell me.”

Liu Xiangnian got a plan and hurried to the Shouning Pavilion.As usual, there were four people standing at the door, and when they saw Liu Xiangnian, they cursed in a low voice: "I don't know good and bad things!"

Liu Xiangnian apologized with a smiling face, bowed his head and went in.It was that person who stopped him yesterday and scolded: "Prince Cheng's private visit, I didn't want to see you, but I saw you because the emperor kept talking about you in the Golden Palace. You don't understand the rules at all. "

Liu Xiangnian said with a smile: "The Beifu came here to plead guilty to the prince!"

The man turned his face sideways, looked Liu Xiangnian up and down, and said, "My lord will never see you again! Get lost!"

Liu Xiangnian said: "My lord, at least let me meet Prince Cheng. The lord finally arrived in Hangzhou, so I naturally want to show respect. There are golden beauties everywhere in Hangzhou. The Beifu wants to know what the lord wants."

The man squinted at Liu Xiangnian, and said, "You are so rare when you are a prince? Go in!"

Liu Xiangnian followed the man, turned around and walked into a big room.The candles inside were shining like daylight, Prince Cheng sat on a chair, and behind him stood two people who looked like court ladies and played fans.Liu Xiangnian knelt down and said: "I apologize to the prince! Chen Tingjing invited the minister to play chess, but the people below did not find me."

Prince Cheng asked, "Which Chen Tingjing are you talking about?"

Liu Xiangnian was secretly surprised, hesitated a little, and asked, "Which Chen Tingjing is the prince asking?"

Prince Cheng said: "I only know the name of Chen Tingjing, the scholar of Wenyuan Pavilion and Minister of the Ministry of Officials, and he is still in the study room to teach our brother. What is he doing in Hangzhou?"

Liu Xiangnian thought badly, the prince in front of him must be real, and said: "It is Chen Zhongtang, I only know that he is an imperial envoy, I don't know what he is doing in Hangzhou."

Prince Cheng asked, "Didn't you tell him that I was in Hangzhou?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "My lord, you are visiting privately in a micro-service, and you have asked me not to tell outsiders. How dare I say so."

Prince Cheng nodded and said, "It's fine if you don't say anything. I don't have much to say. I'm leaving tomorrow. Although your official voice is good, you must be careful. If you let me know what's wrong with you, I still have to Report to the emperor. You go back."

Liu Xiangnian kowtowed and withdrew.Walking to the door, the person who brought him in said: "Liu Xiangnian, you have to be smart. The prince led us out, and the journey will cost a lot. Don't you want the prince to open his mouth?"

Liu Xiangnian lowered his head and said, "The Beifu knows, the Beifu knows."

Liu Xiangnian left the Shouning Pavilion, ran to the Yanyu Tower quickly, and said, "Chen Zhongtang, this Prince Cheng is not a fake." Liu Xiangnian then learned what Prince Cheng said to Chen Tingjing.

Chen Tingjing was surprised: "So, is it really Prince Cheng?"

Liu Xiangnian said: "It's really Prince Cheng. I thought he was a fake, so I looked up. This man is indeed in his 30s, with a short beard and long beard, and a dignified appearance."

Chen Tingjing nodded and said, "That's really Prince Cheng. When the prince arrives in Hangzhou, it's also a rule for you to send some silver to honor him. Xiangnian, you have to give it."

Liu Xiangnian had a stubborn temper, and said: "It's a rule for a courtier to respect the prince. But Prince Cheng obviously changed his way to ask for money by himself. Thinking about it, I felt aggrieved and refused to give it away!"

Chen Tingjing smiled and said: "Xiangnian, you are being roundabout. Listen to me, give him as much as you can, and giving him three to five thousand taels of silver is also a wish."

Liu Xiangnian shook his head and sighed: "Okay, I'll listen to Mr. Zhongtang. It's too late today, so let's talk about sending it off tomorrow."

On the second day, Liu Xiangnian rushed to the Shouning Pavilion with the bank notes, but saw that Prince Cheng had left for half an hour.The store owner has been terrified for more than half a month. Outsiders are not allowed to enter the Shouning Pavilion, and people inside are not allowed to leave. The inn is almost becoming a Forbidden City.Liu Xiangnian asked: "Did they pay for the hotel?"

The store said: "How dare I ask for money? Keeping my head is the blessing of my ancestors!"

Liu Xiangnian thought that Prince Cheng was gone anyway, so he didn't bother to catch up and give the money.He was going back to the yamen, but he thought that Chen Zhongtang might be thinking about this matter, so he went to Yanyu Building.Hearing that Prince Cheng left Hangzhou in a hurry early in the morning, Chen Tingjing inevitably became suspicious again.But he didn't show his thoughts, he just said: "Xiangnian, since you didn't catch up, forget it." Liu Xiangnian left and left. Chen Tingjing thought for a long time, wrote a secret note, and ordered him to send it secretly.

In a few days, Chen Tingjing received a secret decree, and learned that Prince Na Cheng was really a villain impersonating him.The emperor praised Chen Tingjing for his vigilance, and told him that he had ordered General Na Hai of Zhejiang to arrest people secretly.

(End of this chapter)