The next day, Yao Ji sent a letter out of the palace. The letter written to her brother Yao Fang was sent by the eunuch to Qingshou Temple, outside the Taiping Gate at the northeast gate of the inner city; It's just because Yao Fang still lives in that temple now.

He lived in the temple for so long, but he did not shave his ordination and did not make any contribution to Qingshou Temple.

At first, the monks were in awe of Yao Fang because of his status as an imperial relative. But the new presiding monk Qinghui asked Yao Fang to save Qingyuan, and he gradually discovered that Yao Fang seemed to have been abandoned by the emperor; The attitude of the monks became more and more disrespectful.

Coupled with the fact that Yao Fang had lived for nearly a year, the monks finally began to get impatient with him. It's just for the sake of his background, and he provides food.

Yao Fang also had no money, and at this time she was already like a beggar, and she was very depressed every day. The Yao family is very wealthy, Yao Fengji has the position of marquis, the governor of the five armies, and Yao Jigui is the imperial concubine; But Yao Fang is different, after he was removed from all official positions in Jinyiwei, he had no income, and he did not go home to get money. Over time, he became like this.

The eunuch who delivered the letter shook his head and sighed when he saw him in a messy and messy fasting room.

Yao Fang recognized it at a glance that it was her sister's handwriting. Because Yao Ji's handwriting is very beautiful, very good-looking, and easy to recognize.

The words of the younger sister in the letter were not very polite, as if she had become a sister in reverse, and she was quite resentful.

The younger sister wrote in the letter that the eldest brother used to do things for Daoyan, and he was ruthless and mercenary. Later, he was appreciated by the saint, but he was pampered and arrogant and reckless, and acted recklessly for a woman, which made the saint very disappointed.

Yao Fang didn't feel much when she saw the scolding at first. But when he saw that his sister said that the Holy One was very disappointed in him, he began to feel uncomfortable.

Emperor Zhu Gaoxu was very affectionate to Yao Fang, Yao Fang understood it in his heart, and he also remembered kindness. Yao Fang also admires Zhu Gaoxu's personality and ability very much, and often wants to be recognized and appreciated by Zhu Gaoxu; Zhu Gaoxu's attitude is very important for Yao Fang to re-understand herself after years of deception.

Therefore, Yao Fang did feel some kind of complicated family affection for this emperor, who was considered a relative. However, male relatives like fathers and brothers sometimes overshadow their feelings with rules and authority; This is very different from the warmth of a mother or a sister.

Yao Fang didn't see his father when he was a child, and although his father and son were reunited later, he cared more about the loyal Zhu Gaoxu. He remembered Zhu Gaoxu's ignorance and forgetfulness of him in the past year, as well as the disappointment mentioned by his sister; Yao Fang's heart suddenly felt unspeakable pain......

He continued to read the contents of the letter. Yao Ji has been complaining and scolding him in front, but after all, she is her own sister, and her scolding is not malicious; As a result, the content of the side is to plan for Yao Fang and try to find a way.

Yao Ji thinks that Yao Fang should go home first, find a matchmaker to propose marriage to the Qin family, and marry the Qin family's lady back to the Yao family. Because whether it is a Ming monarch or a common person, morality is very important.

In this way, it can coincide with the reason explained by Gao Xianning, the secretary of Dali Temple, that is, because Yao Fang did that kind of thing at someone else's wedding out of admiration and kindness; Snatching relatives is indeed unlawful and out of line, but it is easier for people to understand. As long as Yao Fang marries the Qin family, it can prove such a motive for snatching relatives, because the marriage is responsible for the innocence of the Qin family, Yao Fang can get the sympathy and forgiveness of the world.

After Yao Ji thought of a way for her brother morally, she found a way for him: to go to the merchant Shen Xu's house to get an errand.

At the beginning of last year, the emperor tried to exempt Yao Fang from the death penalty, but it was difficult for Yao Fang to become an official again. Although Shen Xu was a businessman, he had a close relationship with the Holy Lord, and he might be involved in some national affairs. If Yao Fang does something first in the businessman Shen family, it is very likely that he will be noticed by the saint and regain the trust of the saint.

Yao Ji also elaborated on some reasons. The Shen family funded the crime army during the "Battle of Crime", and made a lot of contributions, but when the Shen family wanted to get involved in the salt merchant business, they were stopped by the saint. Shengshang also handed over the business of water transportation and military supplies during the Northern Expedition to the Shen family; And let the craftsmen of Longjiang Shipyard help the Shen family build maritime merchant ships.

Based on Yao Ji's understanding of Zhu Gaoxu, it seems that he is planning a long-term military event, and the Shen family merchants are also in the deployment. If the eldest brother Yao Fang wants to return to the court and serve the saint, he will take the path of the merchant and find another way.

In the letter, his sister told him to regain his strength and not to lose his ambition.

Yao Fang sat for a long time in the chaotic room, reading her sister's letter several times. In the afternoon he finally left the room.

Today, the sun was shining, and when Yao Fang walked out of the room, she felt that the sun was very dazzling.

Just as he felt when he walked out of prison last year, he began to feel uncomfortable with the outside world. His movements were still a little sluggish, perhaps those monks were right: Yao Fang's hair had not been shaved, but his heart had already been shaved.

There was a monk under the eaves not far away, looking at Yao Fang who walked to the gate with surprise. The monk's eyes were a little contemptuous, and he seemed to be relieved. Thinking about it, even if Yao Fang has an excellent family background, he is easy to be looked down upon by others for his mud.

Yao Fang went to the vicinity of the Imperial City first, and he didn't have a good way home, but somehow he came here.

He passed by Hongwu Gate, and now he looked so embarrassed that he couldn't be allowed to enter the city gate, so he walked straight over. On the southeast side of Hongwu Gate, Yao Fang saw Xia Yuanji, the head of the household; Xia Yuanji was standing next to a carriage, looking at a place with strange eyes.

Xia Yuanji obviously didn't recognize Yao Fang, who was in disarray, and he was looking at the other side very attentively.

Yao Fang followed Xia Yuanji's eyes curiously, and saw a gate opposite, and some officials were busy up and down the ladder, nailing a plaque to the top of the gate. Yao Fang looked at it, it was not the handwriting of the saint: Fake Courtyard.

There are two yamen next to that gate, and if you move your eyes to the west, you can see the wall of the North Office of the Imperial Division and the South Office of the Imperial Division. Therefore, this newly opened "fake house" may belong to the government office of the Imperial Division.

After a while, a few people came out from the North Department of the Imperial Division, and the current one was someone Yao Fang knew: Hou Hai.

Hou Hai walked across the street, and said to Xia Yuanji: "Xiaguan to see Xia Butang, why don't you send someone in to report it?" Hou Hai said and glanced at Yao Fang.

Xia Yuanji replied: "The official was just passing by, and when he saw that the newly hung plaque was a holy inscription, he looked at it for a while, and it was inconvenient to disturb the Hou Zuo envoy." ”

Yao Fang listened and looked around, how to "pass by" in the southeast corner of the imperial city? The inner city walls can be seen in the south and east, and people will not come in this direction unless they make a special trip to the government office here. Xia Yuanji must have made a special trip to see it.

Hou Hai said with a smile: "You are interested in that place, you can get the right envoy to receive it." That's where the Southern Department is, it's not 'open' yet, and some preparations are being made. ”

"No, no." Xia Yuanji Road.

Hou Hai suppressed his smile, stroked his goatee, and groaned as if he were a matter: "Those who fake horses are not profitable, but will lead to thousands of miles; Those who fake boats are not able to water, and the rivers are not different, and the gentleman is not different, and he is good at fake things......"

Xia Yuanji said: "Do you want to open a private school and persuade people to go to school?" ”

Hou Hai shook his head and said: "Xia Butang has far-reaching knowledge, but as far as the lower officials know, the name of this 'Fake Courtyard' is only literal. What does the Imperial Sinan Department do? It seems that the counterfeit house is a place to store and edit some books, and it is all about craftsmanship. There are petty officials transferred from the Sixth Ministry, as well as people from the Hanlin Academy, and people transferred from the Iron Works......"

At this moment, Hou Hai apologized and walked straight to Yao Fang's side. A little closer, Hou Hai suddenly said in surprise: "Isn't this General Yao?" I said how to look familiar! ”

Yao Fang hugged his fists and said: "I don't dare to be, and now I am a commoner." ”

Hou Hai smiled: "It's easy to say, it's easy to say." ”

Yao Fang walked towards Xia Yuanji again, hugged his fists and said, "The grass people visit Xia Butang." ”

Xia Yuanji casually arched his hand and glared, "Why do you look like this?" The old man didn't recognize it! ”

Yao Fang shook her head and said, "It's a long story. ”

This Xia Yuanji is a civil official, and he has seen Yao Fang as early as the Jianwen Dynasty, but the two are not familiar with each other, and it is normal for him not to recognize Yao Fang. On the contrary, Hou Hai was originally a close minister of the Han Palace, and he had a lot of dealings with Yao Fang.

After a few words of greeting, Xia Yuanji and Yao Fang had nothing to say. He is a scholar, and he really has nothing to talk about with people like Yao Fang, and he can talk about it, just for the sake of the face of the virtuous concubine and the marquis Yao Fengji.

Xia Yuanji quickly turned to face Hou Hai. Hou Haidao: "The 'Fake Courtyard' is a small yamen, from the Imperial Guard Division to the Southern Bureau, to the Fake Courtyard, the grade is not high, why does Xia Butang care so much?" ”

Xia Yuanji said unceremoniously: "The grade is not high, but it is a gold cave." ”

Hou Hai said with a smile: "The saint can say that the 'Spring Cold' produced by the Southern Agency is worth spending another two million yuan!" What's more, it's also a three-grade yamen. ”

Xia Yuanji shook his head and was silent.

Yao Fang understood what Xia Yuanji meant, and he also understood some of the facts of the government, after all, he was a military attache for many years. The yamen with the largest expense in Beijing is nothing more than the six departments, but the six departments have their own ways to make money, and they do not completely rely on the household department to manage the money and grain. And this guardian should have no income, relying entirely on appropriations.

The three of them stood together and talked for a while, and Yao Fang could barely interject. He is a martial artist, and now he has stepped down from his official position as Jinyiwei, and it is inevitable that he will be increasingly alienated by the bureaucrats.

After a while, Xia Yuanji said goodbye, and Yao Fang also said goodbye to Hou Hai and went their separate ways.

Yao Fang walked, couldn't help but turn around, and glanced at the newly established fake courtyard again; Even ministers at the level of Shangshu also made a special trip to watch, which shows that the involvement is not so simple, and it may have reached the level of national politics. Yao Fang felt that after taking power now, something seemed to be slowly and gradually changing.