The two most basic moral codes in ancient China are "filial piety" and "loyalty". These two words are deeply embedded in the DNA of Chinese ideology and morality, and even Zhou Xiuying, the (former) White Lotus saint who believes in the so-called "Manichaean" belief in foreigners, attaches great importance to this.

Therefore, Zhou Xiuying also admired Wu Sangui, who was still "loyal and filial", so she agreed: "Okay, this is not a big deal, although the White Lotus Sect is gone, but my face is still there, as long as I talk to Li Hong'e, she will not refuse." ”

Zhou Xiuying's words changed and said: "By the way, outside Wenzhou that day, I heard Gongzi say that there was a big thing to do in Beijing, could it be to help Wu Sangui find Chen Yuanyuan?" ”

Ji Qingwen smiled "hehe" and said, "I'm not so bored, I traveled all the way from Jiangnan to Jingshi to find a girl for Wu Sangui." This is just a side quest, and the main quest is to save Yuan Chonghuan so that he will not be killed by the emperor. ”

Zhou Xiuying said thoughtfully: "Yuan Chonghuan...... I've heard a little about this matter, and it is said that he provoked the wrath of the saint, I'm afraid the emperor won't spare him easily! ”

Ji Qingwen said a little proudly: "Miss Xiuying, this is underestimating me." I have already pleaded for mercy in front of the emperor several times, and even on the side of the three ministers of the cabinet, I have already taken care of it. It seems that Yuan Chonghuan's fate has been saved. ”

Ji Qingwen was playing a guaranteed ticket, but he heard a hurried knock outside the door, and only heard someone say: "Young master, young master, the people in the palace have passed you into the palace!" ”

It is the voice of Ji Qingwen's personal servant Xiao Duozi.

Ji Qingwen was talking to Zhou Xiuying hotly, and suddenly heard Xiao Duozi come to make trouble, and his mood suddenly became a little uncomfortable, and said: "Okay, what are you doing yelling, I know." ”

Zhou Xiuying was quite nervous, and said to Ji Qingwen: "Son, since the emperor wants to see you, you better hurry up." It is said that a companion is like a tiger, you have to be careful. ”

Ji Qingwen said with a smile: "What's all the fuss about, isn't it just an emperor, seeing him and not seeing the king of Hades, it's not a big deal, after entering Beijing, I have met the emperor more than a dozen times." ”

Zhou Xiuying exclaimed: "Mom, listening to the son's words, entering the palace to face the saint is like visiting the door." It's a pity that my father worked hard all his life and wanted to be an emperor, but he didn't expect that being an emperor was not great. ”

Ji Qingwen said: "In fact, the emperor is the number one drudgery in the world. You see, if my expectations are good, there must be such a big commotion in the 'Yuhua Pavilion', so the emperor is in a hurry to summon me. Our current emperor is an impatient, and he can't wait for a moment, even if he doesn't eat, he has to enter the palace immediately. ”

A thought of the dead

Xu Hongru and Zhou Xiuying were a little sad, and said quietly: "If my father could listen to my son's words one or two sentences, why did he fall to this point?" Okay, it's actually the emperor who summoned him, so the prince should go first. ”

Ji Qingwen got up and walked out of the door, and said to Zhou Xiuying: "Miss Xiuying, we haven't finished our words yet!" Wait here, don't say goodbye! ”

Seeing Zhou Xiuying nodded, Ji Qingwen relieved his heart, and then went out to receive the order, and although the eunuch and Jinyi Wei who passed the decree went all the way to the Forbidden City.

The emperor handled the Qianqing Palace, Ji Qingwen didn't know how many times he came, he went to the palace gate after three turns and two turns in the Forbidden City, and reluctantly knelt down, kowtowed, and reported his name, Emperor Chongzhen let Ji Qingwen enter the palace to speak.

Emperor Chongzhen had a blue face, and his mood didn't seem to be very happy, so he said straight to the point: "Ji Qingwen, you are a good dog to do things, but you are also an expert in causing trouble." Let me ask you, what happened to Shaanxi Lane today? ”

Ji Qingwen had long expected that Chongzhen would inquire about this matter, so he had already typed the manuscript on the way, and then picked up what he could say about the incident that happened in the "Yuhua Pavilion" and told Emperor Chongzhen what he could say.

Especially for the commander of Jinyiwei to make Luo Yangxing, Ji Qingwen also deliberately said two more words: "This Luo Yangxing is full of food, and the enemy is currently talking about the division of labor, duties, system, and majesty with the ministers." I'm going to send someone to catch the Manchurian Tartars, and this guy actually obstructs it. Otherwise, why are these Tartars now missing? I was probably caught a long time ago, and now I have confessed. ”

"What a Luo Yang who doesn't know the importance of it! Naturally, I'll settle accounts with him. Chongzhen said viciously.

Ji Qingwen still knows a little bit about Emperor Chongzhen's personality and temper, and knows that Luo Yangxing has provoked Chongzhen's anger this time, so he must have no good fruit to eat, and his heart is suddenly happy.

But he wasn't happy for long, but he heard Chongzhen ask: "Ji Qingwen, you just said that you would send someone to arrest the Manchurian Tartars." Your men and horses are all over in Suzhou, who do you send in Beijing? ”

Ji Qingwen hurriedly explained: "It's not someone else, it's just some miners I brought in from Yiwu. ”

As he spoke, Ji Qingwen introduced the origins of these people, and added: "These people have been working as coolies in Jiangnan, and it is rare to relax and relax. Therefore, the minister thought of taking this opportunity to take them into Beijing to see the world, and escorted them to pay tribute to the emperor. ”

When Chongzhen heard this, he showed rare generosity: "Hmm." These people are the children of the Qi family's army, so they can be regarded as loyal and good. But you, Ji Qingwen, what are you doing in the brothel of the Qinglou? I can't control you in Jiangnan, but what kind of place is Jingshi, how can you be wild? you

You must know that incumbent officials have to eat a court rod when they sleep with prostitutes! ”

Ji Qingwen rolled his eyes, immediately panicked, and said: "Your Majesty, the minister didn't go to the Qinglou this time to be a traitor or do evil. It's for ...... In order to find money for the emperor! ”

"Looking for money? How do you say that? You make it clear. Chongzhen asked.

Ji Qingwen followed the conversation and said: "The emperor knows, my eldest wife was originally a woman from Jiangnan Qinglou, so the minister also knows a little bit about it." The emperor, those rich families and official families, spent money in the brothel of the Qinglou every day and night, and the prostitutes and bustards also earned a lot of silver. But the taxes collected by the imperial court every year were very small, and the silver fell into the pockets of these people. Therefore, the minister thought about whether he could squeeze out a few taels of silver from these fat powder money, which could be regarded as a subsidy for public use. ”

Chongzhen said: "Officials entering and leaving the brothel of Qinglou will hurt the country's body, if the court still wants these prostitutes to feed...... Hum! I can't afford to lose this person, I'd rather not want these pickled silver! And you, Ji Qingwen, don't go in and out of such places in the future. ”

Ji Qingwen nodded and agreed, but he was thinking in his heart: I'll keep a low profile in the capital, and when I return to Suzhou, the emperor is far away, which hair can you Chongzhen get from me?

But I heard Emperor Chongzhen say again: "It's all your fault, this dog, what are you doing in the Qinglou brothel?" But those Manchurian Tartars had to be arrested. ”

Ji Qingwen said: "Just leave this matter to Luo Yangxing." He is also the commander of the Jinyi Guard, if he can't even catch so many Tartars in such a square world in the capital, then he, the commander of the Jinyi Guard, will also come to an end......"

Chongzhen didn't answer, but asked again: "The Manchurian Tartars have always been cunning, why did they make trouble in the capital with great fanfare this time?" It doesn't seem like he came to spy on intelligence, and this thing is a little weird. Ji Qingwen, what do you think about this? ”

Ji Qingwen hurriedly slapped a sycophant and said: "If the emperor can't figure out something, how can the minister figure it out?" However, the minister had fought with them once today, and at least found out that among these Tartars, there was a younger brother named Dolgon, the enemy chieftain Taiji, and a man named Aobai who had been injured by the minister last year, and he was a close confidant of Huang Taiji's military general. These important people came to Jingshi, and there must have been a major conspiracy. ”

"What kind of conspiracy is that?" Chongzhen asked.

Ji Qingwen suddenly felt that this was a good opportunity, so he said, "Is this matter...... Your Majesty, Yuan Chonghuan, who has not yet made up his mind, is used to dealing with the Manchurians, and the Manchurians' intrigues and tricks will definitely not be able to hide from him, so it is better for me to ask Yuan Chonghuan, maybe he can guess the doorway. ”

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