The daily life of the prime minister of the Qing Dynasty, thick black

Chapter 254
In a blink of an eye, it was already late autumn, and it was time for Zhang Tingyu to come back.

But looking at Li Wei, Gu Huaishu suddenly felt that it would be fine if Zhang Tingyu didn't come back.

"come in."

She finally smiled and asked Li Wei to come in and sit down.

Originally, the banquet on the table was prepared for Shen Chu, but now it is no longer needed, so I can invite Li Wei to sit down by the way.

Naturally, what Li Wei brought was not good news, but he didn't want to say it now.

From the look on Shen He's face when he left just now, Li Wei knew that Gu Huaixiu might have understood. Surprisingly, he didn't make jokes, and he didn't make Gu Huaixiu happy with witty words. This meal was very quiet.

Neither Gu Huaixiu nor himself thought that such a day would come.

But Li Wei didn't feel guilty, he thought of Shen Qi whom he had seen before, Shen Qu who he had just seen, and Gu Huaishu now.

When putting down the ivory chopsticks, Gu Huai sleeved someone to bring tea, and said: "If you're not busy, let's sit and talk in the garden."

Brother Ai and Brother Lin have already finished school, but Qing Dai knew that Gu Huaishu was not in a good mood, so naturally she didn't ask him to come, and now the dining room is quiet.

"I came back this time on a big errand. I'm afraid I'll have to wait for the emperor's edict in Beijing before leaving. I'm not in a hurry."

With that said, Li Wei saw Gu Huaishu get up, and hurried up to help her.

She didn't push it away, and walked out together with Li Wei. Autumn was getting colder, but the chrysanthemums and dragon's claw chrysanthemums in the garden were in bloom, and the red leaves of Fragrant Hills that were transplanted were also stained with frost red. A miserable splendor.

After this autumn, it is winter.

"You came back with the second master?"

Gu Huaishu finally asked, she seemed to be asking about something trivial.

Li Wei nodded: "I met the second master on Henan Road, but the second master was a few days behind, and there was still a case to be investigated when he was in Tongzhou. I heard that this time the second master is so majestic, he used the sword given by the emperor to kill The heads of three people were killed, and Mr. Wu was also there back then, serving as the teacher of Henan Governor Tian Wenjing. It's just because the current case of dismissing the examination has a lot of inside information, and it can't be handled well in a while..."

As for the inside story, Li Wei didn't say anything.

Gu Huaishu had her own speculation before, and she also knew that Li Wei was working for the emperor, and she didn't hear any news about it, so she knew that no one wanted her to know about it.

After all, Shen Chao was powerful, and his subordinates did not know how many officials they had won over.

At the beginning Zhang Tingyu and Shen Chao had a big feud, it was not the same as it is now, and they couldn't even face it, Shen Chao wanted to reverse the case on the one hand, and to solve all kinds of broken things in Yangzhou on the other hand, he also wanted to To suppress Zhang Tingyu, so I really relied on the fourth master.

But think about it, if he hadn't taken care of the account books that Huaishu handed to Yinzhen, the possibility of Shen Chao's contact with Yinzhen was very small.

She was inside, but she was just a messenger.

Yinzhen and Shen are both ill, each takes what he needs.

She originally thought it was her fault, but even without her in there, Yinzhen would find out about Shen Qi sooner or later, as long as Li Wei is there...

This matter cannot be avoided anyway.

Thinking about it, she actually became bearish and let nature take its course.

Each has its own merits and demerits...

"As for Lord Shen's matter, Li Wei asked himself if he was wrong in righteousness."

Li Wei suddenly stopped and said something, he looked at his godmother, said this, but remembered the time when he was kneeling outside the Shen Garden, when the wind and rain did not go away.

He also only said that he has never been wrong in "righteousness". As for whether he has no guilt in his heart, it all depends on himself.

Gu Huaishu has always known that there are too many things beyond her control.

"If you feel that you are not wrong, then do it your way."

To Li Wei's surprise, Gu Huaishu actually said such a sentence.

His Adam's apple moved up and down, and his lips parted slightly, but the words still didn't come out.

I have thought about countless situations that I might face, but there is no such thing as this one.

Gu Huaixiu only said: "I used to think that if you have a thick face and a dark heart, you can achieve things if you are thick and dark in a troubled world, and you can achieve things if you are neither thick nor dark. No matter how thick and dark it is, it is also vicious, and it can't compare to this God."

With an open-minded tone in her tone, she only asked Li Wei to come and play chess with her.

Li Wei played chess, but said something he hadn't said before.

Shen Qu didn't know Shen Qi's whereabouts, but now Shen Qi has been secretly transferred to the prison, "I have already ordered the people below to send news to the Wanqing Guild Hall, so you don't have to look for Mr. As you said, Li Wei may not regret it, but I think it is right to do so. I have been with Master Shen for so many years, and I know the things about Master Shen best... He treats me as his right-hand man, but I use what he gave Knife, take his life..."

"You don't have to think about it so much." Gu Huai put down his sleeves and smiled lightly, "He may not have thought that there is such a smart person as Shen Qi today... I just think that he is not the kind of person who is willing to arrest without a fight. Back then when you were Under his command, he donated a member of the military department, Wailang, and even went to work with Fourth Master first, so he didn't treat you as an ordinary pawn. Think about it, what else is he lacking in this life? You... I'm only afraid of you, Can't finish this."

"...You really know him too."

Li Wei thought about it carefully, and seemed to understand a lot.

Shen Chao was able to cultivate Li Wei, [-]% because of Gu Huaishu, [-]% because of Li Wei's own talents, and [-]% because of Shen's family's unjust case.

The higher Li Wei's official position, the greater the possibility of Shen Qi not being able to catch him, and the greater the possibility of overturning the case.

People with mental illness think differently from others.

For many years, Shen Chao had tried behind the scenes many times, but he failed to overturn the case during the Kangxi Dynasty, and it seemed that there was no one here in Yongzheng.And Shen Qi, can't wait anymore?
It was expected that Yinzhen would kill him; it was also expected that he would use Li Wei, his former confidant.

All of this was expected, but it was hard for Gu Huaishu to feel comfortable.

After playing chess, Li Wei was killed by Gu Huaishu as usual.

He is not good at chess, Gu Huaixiu often said, but he didn't force it, after all, this kid doesn't even know a few big characters, but now he is getting more and more sophisticated in handling things.

"A while ago, I heard that Jiangnan also had an examination case. There are many people involved, right?"

This time I went to Beijing to deal with this matter, so Li Wei said: "This matter is just a few ignorant disturbances, but the emperor said that he will cancel the provincial examination directly. Isn't this nonsense? I think this is not good. This time I am going to talk to the emperor, how many people will be delayed if this is not the case with scholars?"

Although he didn't know a few words, he knew quite a few talented people. He was a rough man, but he respected scholars very much.

"You dare to challenge the emperor now, so you really don't have to worry about the head on your neck."

Gu Huaishu packed the last few chess pieces into the chess box, and then gave up.

It was not early, and Li Wei thought that it was time for the Ministry of Punishment to come to an end, so he said goodbye to Gu Huaishu.

After sending Li Wei away, Gu Huaishu seemed to have been drained of all his strength.

She knew that Zhang Tingyu already thought she didn't have that son, because Shen Qu had already been raised by Shen Yang and became someone else's son.But Zhang Tingyu missed it once, and it cannot be undone. He has always been a persevering and decisive character, and he will not force things to stay when he knows it is impossible.

Therefore, he is always two points more cruel than her, and he is very rational when it comes to Shen He.

For example, now he can treat his own flesh and blood like a stranger, how should he deal with Shen Chao or how to deal with Shen Chao.

It never occurred to him that what Shen Qi said in the past would all come true.

Zhang Tingyu arrived in the capital at noon three days later. He had stayed in Tongzhou for a long time before, and he didn't know where he was dealing with.

It's just that when he returned to the capital, the first place he went was not Zhang's mansion, but Beijing.

Shen Chiu is a giant businessman, and now that one person falls down, to the Jiangnan side, it is no different from the fall of a huge mountain, I don't know how much shock it will cause.

Li Wei was busy here, and things in the south of the Yangtze River had to be dealt with steadily. Fortunately, there was a sinking on the surface, but things under the salt merchants were much more troublesome.

Fortunately, Li Wei himself has a lot to do with this, and gradually figured out a clue.

Only at this time, these people who were so busy looking at the man sitting in the prison drinking tea leisurely, felt a little bit of cold sweat dripping down.

It can be said that the business under the Shen family is very complicated, and on the surface Shen's business is so clean that it can be drained, but the salt matter is very involved.

It was more than 30 years since the reign of Emperor Kangxi when the word "salt" began to be attached to Shen Chao. Now it has passed, there are countless battles in the middle, and he has experienced many big salt merchants. Some families have begun to decline, and some have voted for Shen Chao. , began to flourish again.

How many salt areas, how many principals, how many connectors to deal with, and some special salt transportation channels...

Shen Chao stretched out his hands very long and his heart was big, but he was the kindest among all the salt merchants.

Because he knows that every businessman wants to make a profit, Shen Chao adopts the strategy of "small profits but quick turnover". Everyone invests in his name, and he is given a certain amount of dividends every month. When something goes wrong.In this way, things in the Salt Gang immediately became orderly.

It's just that when Shen Chao is in good order, if there is a risk of accidents in Shen Chao, then the originally ambitious people will naturally start to change their minds.

Millions of money flow in and out every month, who doesn't say that Shen Qi is the richest man in the south of the Yangtze River?
Those who are still not moved after seeing so much money are basically dead people.

Businessmen value profits, and as soon as the news of Shen Chao's accident spreads, the situation will immediately expand, and what Li Wei and others have to do is to deal with the matter after Shen Chao's departure.

Now, no one thought he would survive.

Seeing the end of autumn, Shen Chao's case gradually came to an end.

Zhang Tingyu, Li Wei and others supervised the matter and kept files ready for Yinzhen to check.

The whole case was handled by Shangda Tianting and Yinzhen single-handedly from beginning to end.

Even if the people below wanted to save Shen Chao, they couldn't do anything at all.

If the merit is high, the master will die; if the wealth can rival the country, he will die.

On the third day of September, it got dark very early.

When Zhang Tingyu came back from the palace, there were people on duty at the Ministry of Criminal Justice every day, and he did not dare to relax. Seeing Zhang Tingyu coming at this time, Gao Qipei, the right servant of the Ministry of Criminal Justice, who was still packing up the files, wiped the cold sweat from his head: "Scholar Zhang yes?"

Naturally, he just came back from the palace and did not bring any good news.

He said: "You go to your own."

Gao Qipei didn't dare to say much, but seeing Zhang Tingyu turn around and go to the prison where the death row criminals were detained, his heart was in a state of turmoil.

The case of Jiangnan private salt Shen Yang involved a huge number of people, which was unprecedented. Just the money that was handled in the accounts, it can be seen that there is no desire to keep it for oneself.There are also some rosters of officials that Shen Chong bribed and left behind, all of which gave Gao Qipei the illusion that the head on his neck was about to fall to the ground.

This case is too big, or the power of Shen Tie's abacus is too great.

As a person who participated in the review of this case, Gao Qipei began to worry about whether he would be killed, but now seeing that Zhang Dashi was no different from ordinary people, he felt that he was thinking too much. Left the Ministry of Punishment.

It was very dark in the prison.

Zhang Tingyu stepped in again, different from Nian Gengyao's treatment at the beginning of the year, Shen Qi is like a uncle here, not to mention confessing him, at least the cell is clean and the bed is also clean.

Set up a small table and sit next to it. On the table is this year's Monkey King Dahongpao. What you eat is the oily flower pastry specially made by the master of Yixiangzhai. The papers stacked on top of each other were all smoked with Zhulan incense.

When he was hungry, someone served him food, and when he was thirsty, someone served him water. Seeing that the guards guarding him outside were not happy, he could tell him loudly to get out and change.

Even if this person is in prison, he is different from ordinary people.

Shen Qi was looking at the pen and paper in front of him, bringing tea to drink, and when he looked up and saw Zhang Tingyu coming in, he laughed, "Meet you again, Li Wei hasn't dealt with the Sichuan matter yet, right? That kid , It’s too early to be an official, Mr. Shen, I have only learned half of my skills, and then left in a panic, not knowing how to praise me.”

He said in the words, but there was no anger on his face at all.

Zhang Tingyu said: "The matter in Sichuan is about to be settled. The most important part of your business is the Fushun artesian well. That one is a new gas well. It is the most profitable place in your current business."

"Snowflake salt, snowflake silver..."

Shen Chao's eyes suddenly became so clear and remote. He looked at Zhang Tingyu standing outside the prison door, and after a long time he asked casually: "It seems that my time is approaching..."

Up to now, Zhang Tingyu can't say anything.

It was only after he arrived in Henan and started to investigate the matter that he found out that Long Kedo still had contacts with Shen Chao.

Originally, the backer behind Shen Chao was Yinzhen. At that time, Yinzhen was still Prince Yong, not the emperor; but now that Prince Yong ascended the throne and suddenly became the emperor, then what Shen Chao was to Kangxi back then is like to Yongzheng now.

It's just a matter of time.

Shen Chao and Zhang Tingyu have always had enmity, but both of them are master actors.

Shen Chong had killed countless people, Zhang Tingyu saw him chopping up people's hands when he was on the cruise ship in Jiangning.

At that time, he was still a resounding iron abacus.

Later, the struggle within the Salt Gang became more and more intense, not to mention Luo Xuanwen, whom he had rescued from Shen Chao's hands, and even...

Dantu back then.

When Lord Kangxi was on his southern tour, the town of Dantu was sparsely populated because the salt lords were vying to occupy Dantu, and a fire broke out there. Zhang Wangxian's husband, Xu Qiao, died in that salt lord dispute. people.And the struggle between Dan and his disciples was the starting point for Shen Yang to control everything.

Luo Xuanwen also disappeared that time.

Counting the sins in this man's hands in detail, it really makes one's scalp tingle.

Zhang Tingyu's brother-in-law, a capable general who had been rescued, even took...

They were all related to Shen Qi.

Yugong, he is an official, he is a businessman; Yu privately, the two old grievances are deep, even if they talk perfunctorily on the face, it is only for the sake of Shen and Gu Huaixiu, but in fact there is little room for relaxation between the two.

If you don't touch it, you will be done, and you will see blood when you touch it.

It's just that Zhang Tingyu is not embarrassed when things have come to this point.

"The emperor has already issued an order. You have already told Li Wei to help you with the reversal of the case... I think, before you leave, you have already settled everything."

Zhang Tingyu slowly pulled out a dagger with an ivory handle and a silver scabbard from his sleeve, which looked passable. Looking down, he slightly curled his lips.

"Left and right, you are going to die. I respect you for fighting against me, Zhang Tingyu, for half of your life, and now..."

He passed the dagger to Shen Kang only through a cell door.

Shen Chao took it over, with a smile on his face: "Zhang Wangxian has been longing for me to die for a long time, even if your family Gu San spares me, she won't spare me, right? But now... you gave me such a powerful opponent, a The last decency? I will do it myself, I won’t get her hands dirty or her eyes dirty, just take a picture and rest assured.”

Zhang Xiang.

Zhang Tingyu laughed suddenly, he seemed to want to say something, but the oil lamp outside cast a few shadows and came from the corner.

Someone is coming, he can't stay here longer.

Those who came in without disturbing anyone were probably the same as Zhang Tingyu, or more capable than him.

Seeing that Shen Yang put away the dagger, he turned around and left from the other side.

In the prison, it was still so dark and damp, with an unspeakable smell of decay.

Shen Qi just sat inside quietly like this, touched the belly of the teapot, it was still a little hot, maybe an honored guest is coming?
As soon as I thought about it, the guards in front had already led people here.

"The fourth master is indeed here."

Shen Qi didn't need to look back, he knew who was standing outside.

Yinzhen was wearing a dark blue robe with dark patterns all over his body. Seeing Shen Chao's calm appearance, he laughed, "I guessed right, you Shen Chao lived a life of wealth, even going to jail is worse than that." Others are comfortable."

"Who is Li Wei who used to work under me?"

There was no trace of fear on Shen Kang's face, but Yin Zhen's face gradually turned cold.

As early as when Shen Chou joined his sect and became his sect, Yin Zhen planned to kill this man, but he unexpectedly allowed him to live until today.

So, "You can still live today, you still earned it."

"Ever since the family was copied and beheaded, Shen is a rootless weed. It is a blessing to live one more day, and I don't care when I die. People are born, but they are all for death. What is there to care about?" Shen Chao's words were unbelievably open-minded, "When you are emperors, you may not be as comfortable as me as a businessman. You are not as good as me in food and clothing. I can also command the officialdom and control the lifeline of money. …When you are poor, you are miserable, but when you are rich, you are happy. I have done what I have done. Now I can die so comfortably... If one day, Lord Long Live, you die, I am afraid that you may not be as chic as me."

His words undoubtedly touched Yinzhen's sore spot.

No one knows better than Yinzhen, how Lord Kangxi got there back then, how miserable his old age was as an emperor through the ages?

What's more, what an emperor through the ages...

To be disrespectful, Yinzhen seldom thinks that his Huang Ama has done something beautifully, and there are a lot of things to be scolded. Even the civil and military applause of the Manchu Dynasty is nothing but hypocrisy.

But even if Lord Kangxi is like this, he is already like this in his later years, and it's Yinzhen's turn, I'm afraid I don't know where the sadness is.

Eyes suddenly cold, Yin Zhen sneered: "The prisoner, the dying person, only this mouth can speak."

"Is Li Wei doing the work of Ziliujing for you?"

Shen Qi didn't bother to refute, and suddenly asked such a sentence.

Yinzhen said: "It is indeed done."

"You never thought that what I wrote to Li Wei might not be right?"

Shen Chao suddenly laughed, looking at Yinzhen like a fool, he never regarded anyone as his master, and those who make peace with benefits will also separate with benefits, like Luo Xuanwen, like Yinzhen, like Zhang Tingyu , like Li Wei...

He has seen too many intrigues, people are about to die, and he even put that kid Li Wei together to drag people to be buried with him, which is also very happy.

It's just that Yinzhen really didn't expect there to be a trap here, but he said in a blink of an eye: "A few days ago, Gu San felt that life was boring, so he simply went to Sichuan to play. This time, he went with Li Wei. Nothing will happen..."

At that moment, Shen Chao raised his eyes to look at Yinzhen.

Yinzhen's eyes were cold and his face was expressionless: "I just heard that Gu San also went, did I feel nervous, or did I almost mention the Ziliujing problem? If you don't tell me, I will immediately let Gu San go with Li Wei Sichuan."

lie.

Shen Chao naturally knew that what Yin Zhen said earlier was not true, why did Gu San go to Sichuan for nothing?
But even with such a clumsy lie, he was still confused by it.

Shen Qi was wrong about one thing. In his whole life, when he was comfortable, he was indeed comfortable. He had seen what he should have seen, he had seen what he shouldn't have seen, he had done what he should do, and he had done what he shouldn't have done. up.But the person who shouldn't be in love with is also in love with it.

All his life, he was not really comfortable.

Whether his heart is sweet or bitter, only the tip of his tongue can know.

"Anyway, you and I can be regarded as a master and servant. Since you left Li Wei to help you reverse the case after your death, then the Ziliujing incident must not be a troublesome matter." Yinzhen was surprisingly calm. After Shen Qi died, he copied a few more Needless to say, the salt merchant's house will be full of treasury immediately, "It's already autumn, and it will be guillotined in a few days, but what unfulfilled wish is there?"

On the one hand, he wanted to kill, but on the other hand, he said what he wanted.

Shen Qi smiled softly, his hair was frosty white, but he suddenly raised his hand to touch it, and his romantic appearance suddenly appeared.

"Even if there is, it won't come."

Yinzhen narrowed his eyes, and suddenly said: "There is a person here who wants to see you."

He only waved his hand lightly, and a slender figure appeared beside him, a person wrapped tightly in a cloak, with a somewhat thin figure.

The cloak trimmed with ferret fur fell like this, revealing the woman's face.

In the dark and humid prison, there is suddenly the sound of flowers blooming and snow falling, which is astonishing.

Subtle fragrance, floating.

(End of this chapter)