Chapter 244

In the spacious compartment, Xue Tingshan draped a black crane cloak and sat cross-legged on the blue carpet.

There is a gilt smoker cage in one corner of the carriage, and the best silver charcoal is burned inside, making the whole carriage warm.

He held on to the car curtain with one hand, his wide black sleeves drooped down, with a smile in his eyes, and a hint of doubt: "Who are you?"

Amber lowered his eyes halfway: "Your Excellency should have seen this old man in Dinghai City..."

"If you talk about Ding Haicheng, I will meet many people. I don't know you. If you have nothing to do, back away and don't block my way." Xue Tingxiang interrupted him.

"grown ups……"

"Have you heard that? Leave quickly. My lord is the official of the imperial court. If you are abrupt again, I will send you to the Wucheng Bingma Division."

"Master Xue, the old man is a servant of the Wu family, and he once accompanied the girl to meet the lord." As a last resort, Amber didn't care about pretending to be sophisticated, so he could only report his family in a hurry.

"The Wu family, but the old Wu family of Wu Ge? What's the matter with you?" Xue Tingxiang's eyes fell on him again.

"It's not convenient to talk here, I wonder if my lord can find a place to talk with the old man alone." Amber said.

He expected that Xue Tingxiang would not agree easily, but unexpectedly, the other party casually raised his hand and pointed to a teahouse not far away, saying: "That's where it is."

The two entered the teahouse one after another and chose a private room to sit down.

Xue Tingxiang took a sip of the fragrant tea and said, "If you have something to do, just tell me. I don't have much time to spend with you."

"My lord, it's because of my master's business."

"If you're here to intercede for Mr. Wu Ge, you'd better not open your mouth. Firstly, we don't know each other well, and secondly, this case is not under the jurisdiction of this official."

"The old man wants to ask your lord for something, and I hope your lord can help my girl."

Xue Tingxiang looked at him with raised eyebrows, and suddenly laughed, full of sarcasm and ridicule: "You Wu family members are really ridiculous, that's how you usually ask for help?"

He ignored Amber's ugly face, and his face turned cold: "I made it very clear before, firstly, we are not familiar with each other, and secondly, this case is not under the authority's trial now. To put it bluntly, your Wu family has a relationship with me. Resentment, why should I help your Wu family."

"Master Xue..."

Xue Tingxiang twitched the corners of his mouth: "You Wu family, don't you forget what you did?"

"Master Xue..."

He stood up and put on his hood: "I've finished my tea, and I've finished what I need to say. I think Steward Wu is a smart man, so don't take it upon yourself."

It has brought shame on itself!

If there were other ways, Amber would not come to Xue Tingxiang, but there was no other way.

After Amber left that day, he went to Wu's house.

But the Wu family is now under strict guard by people from Jinyiwei, who are not allowed to enter or leave. Amber looked at it from a distance for a long time, and had no choice but to turn around and leave.

However, after staying away from the capital for the past few years, he is no longer the same as before. He tried to find out some inside information from the disciples of Mr. Wu Ge, but no one dared to see him.

In the past few days, when he heard that the power of interrogation was transferred to Jin Yiwei, Amber knew that the Wu family was completely finished this time.

The Wu family can be finished, but the girl can't be finished, especially when he went to the Tao's house early this morning, just in time to meet the widow Tao who made Tao Yi divorce Wu Wanqiong.

He was furious, and even quarreled with Widow Tao, but he was no match for that old shrew.

In desperation, he finally decided to implement the previous idea.

It's a pity that it was self-defeating, because he couldn't really bow his head for a while, he actually offended Xue Tingxiang.

As soon as Xue Tingxiang walked to the door, he heard a plop, and turned his head to look, but it was Amber who knelt down.

"If the younger one's previous attitude made Mr. Xue unhappy, please don't tell the younger one. The younger one is sincerely begging Mr. Xue. The younger one knows that the past is unbearable, so please Mr. Xue don't remember the villain. However, don’t be familiar with the little ones.”

Xue Tingxiang looked at him with dark eyes.

As if seeing that the other party was a little shaken, Amber said: "My master has always acted cautiously. Even with his disciples, he rarely communicated with letters. Occasionally, letters were written by others. You judge Xiang Rong, and you basically judge him. Nothing, even if he himself pleaded guilty, there is no evidence to prove that it was my lord who instigated it. And my lord was the elder of the two dynasties, and was highly valued by the Tai/zu. If you don’t care about him at all, at most you’ll be dismissed from office to serve the people.”

Xue Tingxiang's eyes became interested, he returned to the table and sat down, looked at Amber: "If I'm not mistaken, you are the steward of the Wu family, and you are deeply trusted by Wu Ge, just because you caused a disaster before. , was neglected. What? You are resentful for being neglected, so you want to take revenge on the master?"

Amber's face darkened in embarrassment: "Master Xue can say anything, but the younger one came here today just to make a deal with Master Xue. As long as the adult can keep my girl safe, the younger one will offer something. Things are enough to make adults wish for things come true.”

Xue Tingxiang laughed inexplicably, and his eyes were full of indifference: "You want to protect Wu Wanqiong? My wife was attacked by pirates that day, and you and Wu Wanqiong got it out of it, right? Why do you think I will protect an enemy?"

"Don't you want Wu Ge to die of old age?" Amber asked anxiously.

"It doesn't matter if I think about it or not, what does it have to do with you?" Xue Tingxiang stood up and looked at him coldly, "The tree falls and the monkeys scatter. I don't care about a person who is destined to end badly." .”

Amber was silent for a while, and said: "The girl is just a woman, and she is not doing well now. If Mr. Xue has any complaints in his heart, he can directly pour it on the little one. What happened that day is also from my hands, and it has nothing to do with the girl. Great relationship."

"I actually can't figure it out. People in the world have the instinct to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. You are good. You take all the crimes on yourself. It is rare for a slave to do something like you. Could it be that Wu Wanqiong is actually yours?" Daughter, that's why you take care of her so hard?"

Amber's face froze for a moment: "Master Xue is a scholar, knowledgeable and reasonable, it's better not to guess rashly, it will make you lose your demeanor and tolerance."

"I was born in the countryside, so I don't have any bearing, but I'm very curious about this matter." Xue Tingxiang smiled, and glanced at him: "I'm not afraid to tell you, I'm small-minded and love to hold grudges, but I don't What habit of not fussing with women, if Butler Wu has no reason to convince me, then please redeem me, I can't agree."

After a suffocating silence, Amber said: "The girl is actually born of my wife and my little one."

Xue Tingxiang's eyes lit up immediately, it had nothing to do with anything else, but it was beyond his imagination.

In fact, he has been speculating about it based on the memory of that dream, but he never expected such a bloody thing to happen.

"... Madam was not favored by the master because of her weak body, and there were many aunts in the back house of the master, Madam was always depressed... Later..."

In fact, no matter how you cover it up, you can't hide that Amber is a despicable person.

He paid attention to Mrs. Wu because he hated Mr. Wu Ge, and even some accidents that happened afterwards were actually deliberately arranged by him, out of a dirty mentality that could not be shown to others.

The biggest insult to a man is nothing more than his wife being prostituted. He approached with such thoughts, but accidentally fell into it. Especially after Mrs. Wu accidentally found out that it was not Wu Ge Lao but Wu An that night, she was so angry that she collapsed even faster, and finally passed away.

All of this has become a disease in Amber's heart, a disease that cannot be cured.

In fact, he died a long time ago on the day when Mrs. Wu was gone, and the reason why he survived was nothing more than because of Wu Wanqiong.

"Then Wu Ge has been childless for many years, and it is also because of you?" Xue Tingxiang had suspected this matter a long time ago, and he had doubts in that dream, but at that time he hated Wu Ge deeply, so naturally he didn't Will take care of it.

Amber froze for a moment, then nodded: "The little one is a servant, and the wife is just a girl. A child without a mother has no shelter. If the father doesn't care, life will be extremely difficult." So he borrowed With Wu Ge's trust, he has been drugging his tea or meals, so Wu Ge has nothing to do for many years.

"Originally, this official would not agree to you, but the story you told made me feel good. I would like to hear your so-called method to put Mr. Wu Ge to death."

*

Xiang Yu recruited.

Du Jipeng came to Xue Tingxiang immediately.

As Xue Tingxiang thought before, although Xiang Yu could come out and identify Wu Ge Lao, but there is no direct evidence to prove that Wu Ge Lao was instigated.

Xue Tingxiang whispered something to Du Jipeng, and Du Jipeng immediately took people to the Wu residence.

In fact, the Wu Mansion had been taken inside and out many times as early as when Mr. Wu Ge was taken into custody. Now, except for some servants, women and children, there is no one who can manage the house.

Aunt Feng is a woman after all, she has long been frightened by the wolf-like Jin Yiwei. Everyone in the mansion was in panic, for fear that one day the imperial decree would be issued, and they would be beheaded or sold.

Jin Yiwei came to the door again, causing them a wave of fear, but Jin Yiwei didn't stay for long, took his things and left.

The things are hidden in a rockery in Wu Wanqiong's courtyard. It is Amber who has followed Mr. Wu Gel for many years and recorded the things done by his hands.

As for who and what happened on a certain day and a certain month, of course, there are also a few letters that should be destroyed but were hidden by Amber.

With these things, it is enough for Wu Ge to die of old age countless times.

After the things were handed in, the government and the public were shocked.

However, this thing was not publicized by Emperor Jiacheng. It was only publicized how Wu Ge Lao ordered Xiang Yu to dig the embankment of the river in Yucheng County, how he conspired to return to the court, and the Wu family smuggled along the coast. information.

This information alone is enough to shock people.

The eighteen years of Jiacheng was destined to be a precarious year, and the end of the eighteen years of Jiacheng also ended with bloody killings.

Wu Gelao and Xiang Yu and other officials involved in the case were all sentenced to beheaded and their family property confiscated. Other officials involved in relatively minor cases were dismissed from office as civilians, or exiled into the army.

On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, the vegetable market was overcrowded, and they all came to see the beheading.

With an order, the knife fell to the head, which also created the practice that since the establishment of the Dachang Dynasty, high-ranking officials are still civil servants who do not deserve to die.

Since it's a whole family of copying and beheading, even young and old will not let it go.

Sure enough, Tao Yitong divorced Wu Wanqiong before the emperor ordered him to come down, and even took the initiative to send him to Jinyiwei. Not to mention how his behavior was ridiculed by others, since Wu Wanqiong has been divorced, she is no longer the wife of the Tao family, but a daughter of the Wu family.

She was also in the ranks of being copied and beheaded this time, but no one knew that she had already been replaced.

Just when the vegetable market was overcrowded, a green curtained car quietly drove out of the capital.

Their direction may be Jiangxi, maybe Jiangnan, but who knows? Destined not to cause any waves.

*

The 19th year of Jiacheng is destined to be a year full of new atmosphere.

With Henan and other places, as well as the faction of Wu faction in the middle of the court falling, many positions were naturally vacated. Emperor Jiacheng promoted many officials, and there was a new atmosphere in the court.

And because Emperor Jiacheng was holding the booklet copied from the Wu family, no one knew what was written in it or what else it contained. Therefore, all officials who had contacts with the Wu family in the past are in danger.

When everything was at a standstill, Emperor Jiacheng naturally had the power in his hands, and the whole court was like his arms and fingers, and it was indescribably smooth.

Taking this opportunity, the cabinet has also changed.

With Elder Wu Ge being copied and beheaded by everyone, Elder Xu Ge, who was in the position of chief assistant, was finally able to retire.

In fact, at his age, he should have retired a long time ago, especially in the past two years because he has been forgetful, and the number of times he entered the palace and came to the cabinet can be counted on the fingers.

The reason why Emperor Jiacheng didn't allow him to retire was just to occupy the position of chief assistant.

There were originally eight people in the cabinet, but now two people have gone down, and they are still the positions of first and second assistants. On the surface, everyone is no different from ordinary people, but in fact they are already ready to move.

Emperor Jiacheng's arrangement completely dispelled this eagerness to move.

He proposed Ye Ju, the former inspector of Zhejiang Province, and Lin Miao, the left servant of the Ministry of rites, to join the cabinet, and Tan Liang and Tan Ge Lao as the chief assistant.

After the order was issued, there was an uproar in the court, but it was not surprising that Emperor Jiacheng would do this.

How could such an autocratic emperor give up the position of head and assistant to talented people. Of course, it doesn't mean that Tan Liang has no talent, but Tan Liang is only a few years younger than Xu Ge, and he is still in his seventies now. What he can do at this age is just occupying a position.

In fact, there are already signs of Emperor Jiacheng's various arrangements. Ye Ju is a person of Emperor Jiacheng and a capable minister. Because of insufficient qualifications, he was first released to preside over rural examinations in various places to accumulate contacts for him, and then he was placed in Zhejiang, which is a crucial place. .

Now that the gold plating is back, it is time to join the cabinet.

It was Lin Miao's entry into the cabinet that made many people in the court a little confused.

Because this person has always been unknown, even after entering the Imperial Academy, he was promoted to be a member of Zhongshusheren, and later promoted to a bachelor of servants, and then became the right servant of the Ministry of Rites.

This is indeed the route for the courtiers to enter the cabinet, but there are not no courtiers who are superior to him in the court, so why is it his turn.

Only those Xu people understand that this person's entry into the cabinet is probably due to the admission of two good students.

A Chen Jian, obviously the successor of Mr. Xu Ge, but his qualifications and age are not enough, he is still serving as a bachelor in the Imperial Academy for the time being, teaching several princes to read.

It is an expensive job, and after a long time, it is conceivable to join the cabinet.

A Xue Tingxiang. Although the teacher and the student have not seen each other since entering the imperial court, but this kind of no contact is obviously just for show, who knows what's going on inside.

In terms of status, these two are masters and apprentices.

This Xue Tingxiang is terrible, Zhejiang Pingchao Kaifu, but in less than ten years, he sat on the high position of Cong Yipin. On this trip back to Beijing, he was awarded the title of Prince Shao Fu, and went to Henan to provide disaster relief, which directly pulled down all the Wu clan. There are hundreds of military officials in North Korea, Chinese and Chinese, but no one else has such skills.

Such a pillar of the country, coupled with its aura of six yuan and first rank, will be an ironclad cabinet minister in the future, and a person with a long history.

Therefore, it is conceivable that Lin Miao will join the cabinet.

No matter how the people below guessed, all in all, the court has undergone a new reshuffle. After the reshuffle, no one knows what will happen to the court.

On this occasion, Xue Tingxiang also had a real shortage and was appointed as the right servant of the household department.

His qualifications and even his merits are enough.

But the 30-year-old Hubu hall official? It is also a new example.

Xue Tingxiang once again made a big splash, all of which will not be listed in detail for the time being.

*

To Zhao'er, whether a man gets promoted or not doesn't seem to make any difference to her.

She is now facing a problem, that is moving.

The matter of moving house may seem inconspicuous, but in fact there are too many things to take care of inside and out. In addition, Xue Tingxiang is going to be promoted and has to set up a bar.

These are all matters, all on her head.

After being busy for more than half a month, these matters were finally settled, and the whole family moved to Xue's house near Donghuamen.

After all, it is the house given by the emperor, how could it be bad.

It seems that there are only three entrances, but because there is a big garden, it is not smaller than those houses with five entrances. Before the handover, they were all newly repaired, brand new, with carved beams and painted buildings, which makes people feel at ease.

The most important thing is the location.

Now Xue Tingxiang has a real shortage and has to go to court every day. If it was changed to the place where I lived before, it is estimated that I would get up at the third watch, but now it starts at the fifth watch, and I am not afraid of being late at all.

It was morning light outside, and Xue Tingxiang was still lying on the couch.

"Can't you get up? It's too late to get up, and it's time to be named by the censor who supervises Chaoyi, so it would be embarrassing."

Zhao'er was very tired.

Raising a man is no different from raising a child. He is very serious on weekdays, but when he is not serious, he is more tiring than a child.

It's not that she wants to go to court, making herself more tired than him, waking up on time every day, and then telling this living ancestor to get up and go to court.

In fact, Xue Tingxiang has not been too late after such a long time, but Zhao'er blamed it on her hard work, so she naturally feels a heavy responsibility.

Xue Tingxiang rubbed her face on her chest, eyes still closed: "Sleep a little longer, I didn't sleep until midnight last night."

"You also know that you didn't go to bed until midnight, who made you make trouble so late yesterday." Mentioning this, Zhao'er was angry and hated, and while rubbing his waist, he pushed him away.

He just rolled in the quilt and continued to fall asleep, without any awareness of being a father, a husband, or a courtier.

Zhao'er put on her clothes and looked back at the man in the mattress helplessly.

She raised her voice to tell the maids to prepare water, and when the kettles and handkerchiefs were brought in, she waved them back, twisted the handkerchief, and came over to wipe Xue Tingxiang's face and body.

Wipe hard.

After wiping, he took out his coat and put it on for him.

This guy didn't feel guilty at all, with his eyes closed, he still knew that he should raise his legs and hands, and he should raise his hands. After finishing it with great difficulty, Zhao'er was also very tired, so she slapped him on the waist and buttocks.

"Get up quickly, or I'll call Ning Ning later and make you ashamed to be a father." After saying that, Zhao'er turned his back and went to wash up.

By the time she finished washing, the man had already woken up, yawning like he was still asleep.

"What have you been doing these days? I always feel that you seem to be very tired. Your Majesty asked you to work as a coolie?"

Zhao'er was just a joke, but it actually hit her mark.

Xue Tingxiang was dragged to work as a coolie.