But all the people in the south, Liu Jin didn't have the slightest good impression. In the past, he had a good relationship with Xu Xun, so he turned a blind eye to Xu Xun who was actually from Jinling, but now that he and Xu Xun have almost completely fallen out, he naturally hates people from the Jiangnan area to the extreme. So, for Qian Ning's mention of Jiangxi scholars' vain discussion of the government, he frowned for a while, and in his mind he actually remembered Jiao Fang's somewhat ridiculous proposal, and when he heard that King Ning actually said that he wanted to see him, he was immediately overjoyed.

You must know that Emperor Xiaozong's younger brothers have all been vassal early, and the current emperor has no brothers, so since he gained power, he has been majestic enough in front of the ministers of civil and military affairs, but he has not had a chance to be majestic in front of these relatives. As a result, he was in a good mood and almost forgot that he had once given up the idea of giving up King Ning, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Then what about the charges that Yang Shen impeached King Ning for that little bullet before? The palace doubled the years of Zhuang Tian, exchanged glazed tiles to apportion fees to the locality, forcibly seized the official land and people's property, and killed and imprisoned innocent people. ”

"Didn't Yang Tinghe already go to Nanjing?" Qian Ning said with a smile on his face, then glanced at Zhang Cai again, and then said flatteringly, "It's not thanks to Lord Zhang, this annoying Yang Tinghe is no longer in the imperial court." What's more, His Royal Highness King Ning sent the previous henchman to Beijing, willing to offer another 20,000 taels of silver and 1,000 taels of gold to his father-in-law, just asking his father-in-law to say a few good words for him. ”

At the beginning, King Ning gave gifts to Liu Jin, just when Liu Jian, Xie Qian and others had just stepped down, and Liu Jin tasted the sweetness of power for the first time, but now he is in charge of the ceremonial supervisor, and no one in the palace dares to oppose him, and although there is such a political enemy as Xu Xun in the court, you can see how many people are trying to be courteous, so he doesn't pay much attention to this large amount of money now. Since Qian Ning said so, he also raised his chin lightly and said, "Since this is the case, then you bring someone back, and our family will see him, and then talk about other things." ”

"Yes, my father-in-law is wise."

Qian Ning saw that Liu Jin's attitude was not as enthusiastic as he imagined, and he suddenly muttered in his heart. However, he didn't just come to match today, so he diligently persuaded Liu Jin to have a glass of wine, so he took out something from his arms and presented it with both hands respectfully, because he said: "Because of the support of Gonggong Liu, I was able to go to Jiangnan for a trip." Don't hide it from my father-in-law, since my humble adoptive father retired from the post of Nanjing garrison eunuch, he has never been to Jiangnan again, and now he has returned to his hometown, all of which are the blessings of his father-in-law. There is nothing else to be honored for, this is a house that the adoptive father bought in Nanjing before the repossession, and the lowly office is afraid that there is no time to live, so he will dedicate it to his father-in-law. ”

Qian Ning is the adopted son of Qian Neng, the former Nanjing garrison eunuch, and Liu Jin naturally knows it. However, Qian Neng has his own nephew, and Qian Ning is not the only adopted son, so Qian Ning did not get much of the Qian family's property back then, and now how this house came to be can be imagined, and Liu Jin doesn't care. However, Qian Ning gave this house to himself, and the real meaning of this refuge is obvious. Although he already had Zhang Cai, he was still very satisfied and immediately laughed.

"Since you have such a heart, if our family has your love, won't it look down on you? By the way, you just returned to Beijing? ”

"Yes, I just returned to Beijing from my humble position, and after I went to the internal factory of the Salary Saving Division, I immediately rushed over when I learned that the justice was in a private house." …,

This means that Qian Ning has never been to the Xu family!

Liu Jin attaches more importance to this, and his mood is naturally better for a while. He even personally took the pot and poured a full cup and pushed it to Qian Ning, seeing that he was flattered, he immediately thanked him and then tilted his neck to drink, he nodded with satisfaction and said: "Qian Ning, you are a talent, just look at the atmosphere of the inner factory in your hands, our family will praise you very much, so since you are back, this east factory will naturally be handed over to you." As long as you are single-minded in the future, our family will not treat you badly.

"Yes, the humble position must live up to the cultivation of my father-in-law." Speaking of this, Qian Ning quietly glanced at Zhang Cai, who was pouring himself a drink and enjoying himself, and immediately said with a smile, "It's just that after all, the humble position was picked up by Pingbei Hou, and this time when I go back to Beijing, I should also visit the house." ”

"Go ahead." Liu Jin waved his hand generously, but said with a pun, "It's just that you have to be careful what you say." ”

"Yes, yes, it's cheap."

When Qian Ning resigned, Liu Jin casually put the deed on the table, Zhang Cai sat up straight and arched his hand, but he didn't mention that Qian Ning went to see Xu Xun, but said directly: "Father-in-law, how are you going to deal with King Ning's affairs?" ”

"Well...... this is not what it used to be, Liu Jin is no longer so interested in King Ning's gifts, but the money sent to the door is always reluctant to push it out, so he pondered for a moment and then said, "Since the previous incident was provoked by Yang Shen, it should have been done by Li Dongyang and Yang Tinghe, but now Yang Tinghe has gone to Nanjing, Lin Han is a scholar again, and Xu Xun has few people who can handle it, so he should not be chasing after him in this matter." As for Li Dongyang, it should also stop a little, so our family thinks that this matter and the mud should be able to pass smoothly. If someone really holds on tightly, we don't mind killing chickens and monkeys, give them a little color to see! ”

"My father-in-law's words are wrong!"

Seeing that Liu Jin changed color for a while, Zhang Cai said calmly: "Forgive me, father-in-law. Although King Ning is a close vassal of the family, where does this money come from? The production of the royal mansion and the huge expenses for the palace are already very little, and it is absolutely impossible to take out so much to give to the father-in-law. And it is impossible for King Ning to steal official money, so it is naturally obtained by exploiting the small people. If his father-in-law shielded him this time, then if he gave his father-in-law so much, he could take advantage of the situation to ease up and exploit more, and then the people complained, and others not only scolded him as King Ning, but more to accuse his father-in-law of not, isn't it because he is small and loses big? ”

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Cai noticed that Liu Jin was stunned at first, and even after pondering, he said sincerely: "Father-in-law, not only King Ning is such a reason, but also those officials who walk under your door. The 100,000 taels they received outside were only 10,000 taels for their father-in-law, and the father-in-law felt that they were very sincere, so he gave them a high position for a while, but it must be known that in the people, because they were able to promote or maintain that position because of their father-in-law's strength, then the 100,000 taels they bribed should all be counted on the father-in-law's head. They get big profits and get away with it, and father-in-law gets small profits but has to bear the danger of complaining, which one has more benefits and which ones have less benefits? Just ask your father-in-law to think twice.

Since Liu Jin gained power, there are almost no people who dare to point out his wrongs face to face - even if Gu Da and Zhang Yong and others can barely sit on an equal footing with him, everyone knows that Liu Jin has a temper that can't listen to his words, so no one will do such a thankless job; As for Xu Xun, he couldn't afford to do such an unfavorable act -- so today Liu Jin heard this advice that obviously touched his interests, and after the initial displeasure, his face gradually showed a deeply touched expression. …,

"It is worthy of Mr. Xilu, no one has ever dared to say this to our family!" Liu Jin calmed down, and then asked cordially and eagerly, "Does Mr. Xilu think that our family should pay attention to King Ning to set an example?" ”

"Of course not." Zhang Cai saw a relieved expression flashing on Liu Jin's face, so he said with a smile, "King Ning is a pro-vassal after all, not to mention that this matter is because Yang Shen raised it in public at the Pingbei Marquis's high promotion banquet, so this matter, and you might as well see what kind of attitude Pingbei Marquis has, and the father-in-law can adapt to the situation." As for the ones I just mentioned, my father-in-law might as well find a few notorious punishments among those officials who came to give gifts, and make an example of them, so that my father-in-law's reputation would be greatly benefited! ”

"Good, good!"

Liu Jin only felt that Zhang Cai could speak to his heart every time he spoke, and he was very excited for a while. And what moved him even more was that Zhang Cai actually arched his hand again, and said with a sincere face: "If the father-in-law rashly does not teach and is punished, I am afraid that the people who are attached to the father-in-law's door will be panicked, so after taking those targets, the father-in-law might as well say that it is my suggestion to punish corruption." If so, the notoriety will be mine, and my father-in-law will be safe! ”

"How can this work, how can there be such a reason!"

After instinctively objecting, Liu Jin immediately thought of the benefits of doing so. The notoriety of punishing corruption and bribery all belongs to Zhang Cai, and he has a reputation for admonishment and resoluteness, and maybe there are really capable people to vote for him. As for those who really have the heart to give gifts, they will not dismiss the idea because of one or two unlucky ones, which can be said to be counted in one fell swoop. So, he persuaded Zhang Cai a few more words, and when he saw that people insisted on refusing to retract the preface, he finally reluctantly accepted the proposal. While continuing to drink and feast, he was overjoyed in his heart.

This is really a national soldier who can't be exchanged for tens of millions of gold, Xu Xun's kid is really hairless, unreliable, and visionless!

When Qian Ning arrived at Xu's mansion, he only heard a burst of blowing. Somewhat puzzled, he saw a large number of people hugging a sedan chair parked at the door of Xu's house, and almost thought that he had seen it wrong. If it is a sedan chair entering the door, it is good to say, maybe it is Xing'an Hou Xu Liang who is willing to continue the string, but it is a sedan chair going out! Xu Xun has no brothers and sisters, who is this person who is married?

Thinking of this, he simply dismounted, went to the crowd around to watch the excitement, and casually grabbed an opening and asked, "Driver, what kind of happy event is this Xu family doing?" ”

"Oh, this is really a rare thing, Mrs. Pingbei Hou married a confidant girl who has been with her for many years, I heard that she almost married people as if she was a sister, and it is rare that Xing'an Hou or Pingbei Hou are all happy, so the pomp is so big. You haven't seen the dowry given the day before, a full thirty-two lifts, even the ordinary eunuchs don't marry their daughters so richly, the husband's family over there is really a great blessing! ”

The housewife of the ordinary princess and noble family promised the girl to the outsiders, and maybe some people would murmur in their hearts, suspecting that there was something unclear with the master's family, but although the Xu Mansion was called an upstart in the court, but among the people, because of the Jinling dream, coupled with Xu Liang's three words of non-continuation, people were talking about the bride's beauty and the husband's good fortune. When Xu Xun finally squeezed to the door of Xu's house, he was relieved to see that the sedan chair was not stopped at the gate, but at the east corner gate.

Even if it's almost a sister to marry, it can't really be the same as the daughter of the official eunuch, otherwise it will be too contrary to etiquette!

Since he caught up, even if it was just a girl, since the Xu family was willing to pay a dowry of thirty-two for this, Qian Ning was naturally willing to send a congratulatory gift, and immediately went to the West Corner Gate to report it. As soon as he signed up, the two porters looked at each other for a while, and immediately invited him in with a smile. As soon as he entered the door, Channing happened to see the bride coming out of the house surrounded by people with Xipa. And at the door of the main hall over there, Xu Xun was holding a young woman's arm, and Xu Liang was still standing on the side, thinking that the young woman must be Shen. …,

"What a happy event, why are you crying!" Xu Xun said as he reached out to wipe the tears on Shen Yue's face, and when he saw him biting his lip and pushing his hand away, he smiled and said, "The old husband and wife are still afraid that people will see them, and there are no outsiders!" I don't want to make Ruyi uncomfortable, isn't it that those who are officials are not invited, so our own house is lively? ”

"Who's to say no? What do you look at? Shen Yue angrily bumped Xu Xun's ribs with her elbow, and when she saw that she finally looked up, she said softly, "Didn't this Qian Ning go to Jiangxi, when did you come back?" ”

"It should be today, he's just in time." Xu Xun said and said to Xu Liang, "Dad, I'm going to see a guest, if there is anything else to do when I turn around, you and Yue'er will consider it." ”

When he got down the steps, Xu Xun saw Qian Ning walking forward quickly, he stretched out his hand and said with a smile: "When did you come back, you happened to bump into me here to do a happy event so quickly?" ”

"It's better to be in time than to be in time!" Qian Ning said and took out a pink purse with extremely detailed embroidery from his arms, and said with a smile, "This is some of the southern pearls that I got from the south of the Yangtze River this time, but those mothers-in-law in my family don't need these, Hou Ye might as well let someone string a few beads for Mrs. to wear, even to add two pieces of jewelry to today's bride, it should be my congratulatory gift." ”

Xu Xun took it casually, opened the purse and poured out a bead, just calmly looked at the color and purity in the daylight, and then smiled: "I'm not polite to you, so I'll accept it." It's all messy outside, and when you go to the study with me to talk, I just have something to say to you. ”

When he arrived in the study, without waiting for Qian Ning to say anything, Xu Xun asked bluntly: "Cao Xiong has just been transferred to Yansui Town, and now although the chief military officer of Guyuan has been transferred, I am not so relieved." Now that Guyuan's deputy commander is also vacant, if you want, I can recommend you to go, but you can control one side in a year and a half, what do you think? ”。 ）