In the evening, the Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

At this time, Jiajing was sitting cross-legged on the futon, his eyes seemed to be closed.

The blue-gray Taoist robe on his body was windless, and there was a hunting sound, followed by a purple mana rising up, enveloping Jiajing.

And Jiajing's own breath has also become unpredictable in the process.

Perhaps sensing the fluctuation of mana, the spirit gathering array that covered the entire Qianqing Palace automatically operated, and the aura within a radius of a hundred miles was gathered to the Qianqing Palace at an unimaginable speed.

With Jiajing's vomit and acceptance, the aura that was gathered in the Qianqing Palace was quickly absorbed by it.

After this, I saw a gleam in Jiajing's eyes, and he opened his eyes suddenly.

Just now, he sensed an opportunity for a breakthrough.

This is a feeling that cannot be described in words, Jiajing only feels that his thoughts are clear, his mind is clear, and there is an indescribable feeling of comfort coming from his limbs.

At this time, Jiajing seems to be favored by the way of heaven and is favored by luck, no matter what he wants, then he can do it.

After taking a deep breath, Jiajing withdrew from his cultivation state and slowly got up from the futon, knowing that he would soon be able to break through the foundation building period.

……

Not long after, I saw Lu Fang walking in a hurry and entering the Qianqing Palace.

After coming to Jiajing's side, Lu Fang did not hesitate at all, immediately lowered his head, and bowed to Jiajing.

"Your Majesty!"

"Hmm."

After Jiajing answered, he withdrew his gaze from Lu Fang's body, raised his eyebrows, and asked, "Lu Fang, you are in such a hurry, do you have something to report to me?" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty, here is the news sent by Hai Rui 800 miles urgently, please take a look at it!"

After Lu Fang finished speaking, he carefully took out a note from his sleeve and a few letters, and respectfully handed them to Jiajing.

After receiving the song and the letter from Lu Fang's hand, Jiajing did not rush to open it, but glanced at Lu Fang and asked.

"By the way, Lu Fang, it's been nearly a month since Hai Rui went to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, if you count from the day of Lord Hai's departure, it has been twenty-six days so far."

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, he responded after thinking for a while.

"Hmm."

After that, I saw Jiajing sitting on the dragon chair, opening the music and browsing the content with great concentration.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's love, let Weichen, as the imperial court's envoy, rush to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case."

"After Weichen rushed to Songjiang Mansion, he didn't dare to relax for a moment, and now, he is finally fortunate not to be dishonored, and the case of Songjiang Mansion guarding the Thousand Households, Wechen has found out about it."

"In recent years, the Xu family in Songjiang Mansion has wantonly annexed land by relying on the power of Xu Ge Lao in the court, which has caused public resentment to boil."

"Even the military field of the guard is in the name of the Xu family, and the reason for the incident is that the people of the Xu family, through Wang Jian, the prefect of Songjiang, asked Li Qishang, a thousand households guarding the palace, to pay 300,000 taels of silver according to the custom."

"But because he was shy in his pocket, he planned to make up enough for the 300,000 taels of silver by harvesting raw silk in advance and deducting the soldiers' salaries."

"In the process, the officers oppressed the soldiers too much, which led to the outbreak of resentment, which led to the riot."

"In addition, Weichen also found out that before the imperial court officially lifted the sea ban, there was an inseparable connection between the Xu family and the smuggling families in the southeast coastal area."

"The crimes committed by the Xu family in Songjiang Mansion are simply too many to mention, according to investigation, the 15th day of March 26 in Jiajing ......"

After that, it was the Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture who committed various crimes.

Because this paragraph occupies too long space, Jiajing has lost patience, so he simply skipped this paragraph and turned directly to the back, and it was written.

"Your Majesty, before this, Weichen had already sent someone to raid the Xu family in Songjiang Mansion."

"Among them, 136,925,300 taels of silver, and the land occupied by the Xu family totals 293,580 mu.

"Wechen also found 620,000 pieces of silk from the Xu family's treasury, which is estimated at the current price to be worth about five million taels of silver, and in addition, Wechen also found the correspondence between him and Xu Ge from the room of Xu Ge's eldest son, Xu Fan......"

After reading all the contents of the recital, I saw Jiajing put it aside, and his face was full of gloom.

Although Jiajing had been mentally prepared before this, he never thought that he would be able to confiscate 130 million taels of silver and nearly 300,000 mu of land from the Xu family!

There is even more silk in the warehouse of the Xu family than in the Weaving Bureau, and you must know that the silk stored in the warehouse of the Weaving Bureau last year was only 420,000 horses.

The words "local haoqiang" can no longer be used to describe the wealth of the Xu family.

Then, Jiajing suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in his heart, picked up a letter from the bookcase in front of him, opened it, and browsed the contents on it.

The content of the letter is very similar to what Hai Rui said, and it is indeed a letter exchanged between Xu Jie and his eldest son Xu Fan.

In the letter, Xu Fan reported the current situation of the Xu family to Xu Jie, and asked Xu Jie about how to deal with it.

It is worth mentioning that Xu Jie seemed to have a premonition in advance, and bluntly told his eldest son Xu Fan in the letter, asking him to advise the clansmen not to continue to annex land, and gradually shift the family's focus to sea trade.

"Now it seems that those people didn't listen to Xu Jie's advice!"

After Jiajing finished sighing, he put down the letter in his hand, and his face was full of mockery.

Seeing this situation, Lu Fang, who was waiting beside Jiajing, immediately plucked up the courage to step forward and asked cautiously, "Your Majesty...... Your Majesty, can it be the case of the Songjiang Mansion guarding the Thousand Households, and there is a result? ”

Jiajing didn't mean to solve Lu Fang's confusion, but handed out Hai Rui's letter and said slowly: "Take a look for yourself!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After responding, I saw Lu Fang respectfully take the song from Jiajing's hand and browse it word by word.

And in the process, Lu Fang's face changed and changed, and fine beads of sweat kept oozing from his forehead.

But at this time, Lu Fang didn't have time to take care of these, because the content in the song was too shocking.

When Lu Fang saw Hai Rui search for letters between father and son from Xu Jie's eldest son Xu Fan's room, the whole person fell into an ice cellar.

After this, Lu Fang seemed to have lost the strength of his whole body, and immediately knelt on the ground with a 'plop', and said tremblingly: "It's still ...... Please also ...... Your Majesty is angry! ”

At this time, due to too much fear, Lu Fang's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

In Lu Fang's opinion, these letters found in Xu Fan's room undoubtedly sentenced Xu Jie's death sentence!

Because this means that Xu Jie is actually aware of what the family behind him is doing.

It's just that he chose to turn a blind eye to this and turn a blind eye.

"Elder Xu Ge, you are confused, if there were no such correspondence, maybe there would be room for maneuver, but now ......"

Just as Lu Fang's thoughts were flying, I saw Jiajing gently rubbing the dragon head carved on the dragon chair with his hand, and said in a voice without a trace of emotion: "Lu Fang, you go in person and call Xu Jie!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard this, he immediately suppressed all the chaotic thoughts in his heart, leaned down, and said respectfully.

……

At the same time, Xu Jie's mansion in the capital.

Since the case of Songjiang Mansion guarding the Thousand Households, since the East Window incident, Xu Jie has been worried and panicked.

During this period, except for Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng who visited him from time to time, the people who had rushed to cling to him had disappeared.

At this time, in the study.

I saw Xu Jie take his eyes off the book in front of him, sighed helplessly, and said to himself silently: "Alas, it's been so long, why is there no definite news from Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng?" ”

"Didn't they pat their chests and promise me that this matter would pass soon, could it be that Hu Zongxian's face didn't work?"

Just as Xu Jie was still thinking about the possibility behind this, he only heard a slight knock outside the door, interrupting his thoughts.

Seeing that his thoughts were interrupted, Xu Jie couldn't help frowning, and ordered in a cold voice: "Come in!" ”

The voice fell, only to hear a 'squeak', the door of the room was pushed open, and the butler walked in tremblingly.

Recently, everyone in the mansion knows that Xu Jie is worried about the case in Songjiang Mansion, and no one dares to touch his moldy head at this time.

Seeing the housekeeper coming, Xu Jie glanced at him and asked impatiently, "Is there something wrong?" ”

"Old ...... Master, Grandpa Lu is here, and he is currently waiting in the hall! ”

When the housekeeper heard Xu Jie's words, he forcibly suppressed the panic in his heart, lowered his head, and reported respectfully.

"Well, I know, take the master and I'll go over!"

"Yes, sir!"

Then, under the guidance of the housekeeper, I saw Xu Jie walk out of the study and go straight to the hall where the guests were entertained.

When Xu Jie came to the hall, his heart suddenly sank, and at this time, Xu Jie only felt that something was wrong.

Because since he came in, Lu Fang has been standing, and there is no trace of the refreshments on the table next to him.

It seems that it is deliberately avoiding suspicion.

Coldly, such a thought suddenly flashed in Xu Jie's mind: "Could it be that it was the incident of Songjiang Mansion guarding the Thousand Households?" Or is the case implicated in the Xu family? ”

Thinking of this, Xu Jie's face couldn't help but change slightly, if this was the case, things would be in trouble.

But soon, Xu Jie adjusted his mood, leaned down, bowed to Lu Fang, and said, "I've seen Gonggong Lu!" ”

When Lu Fang heard Xu Jie's words, he just nodded, and replied imperceptibly: "Well, Xu Ge Lao!" ”

Subsequently, perhaps in order to verify his conjecture, Xu Jie organized the language in his mind and asked: "Gonggong Lu came from the palace and was tired all the way, why don't you sit down and rest for a while?" ”

When Lu Fang heard Xu Jie's words, the expression on his face did not change much, and he explained: "It's just that the affairs are busy, and our family will have to go to His Majesty for a while!" ”

"Elder Xu Ge, Your Majesty asked you to go over immediately!"

Maybe even Lu Fang himself didn't notice it, but when he said this, there was a trace of pity in his eyes.

Although it was only for a moment, Xu Jie still keenly captured the change in Lu Fang's eyes, and then thought of everything recently, and the answer was already coming out.

Then, I saw Xu Jie come back to his senses, laugh miserably, look in the direction where Lu Fang was, and confirm to him: "Father-in-law Lu, tell me the truth, is there something wrong with the Xu family in Songjiang Mansion?" ”

Faced with Xu Jie's question, Lu Fang at this time did not mean to speak, but remained silent.

Seeing this, a touch of gratitude appeared on Xu Jie's face, and he arched his hand to Lu Fang, and said respectfully: "Thank you Father-in-law Lu!" ”

Lu Fang took in the expression on Xu Jie's face, and after sighing lightly, he said unhurriedly: "Let's go, Elder Xu Ge, let's go with our family to meet Your Majesty!" ”

"Well, let's go."

After responding, a look of relief appeared on Xu Jie's face, and he followed Lu Fang's steps and resolutely walked out of the hall.

Before he was about to get into the sedan chair, Xu Jie stopped and glanced back, he knew that he would never be able to come back here.

……

Forbidden City, Qianqing Palace.

After leading Xu Jie to the Qianqing Palace, he saw Lu Fang lower his head, turned his gaze to Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair at the moment, and reported respectfully.

"Your Majesty, Xu Ge is old!"

"Hmm."

Afterwards, Lu Fang came to Jiajing's side and stood still, like a sculpture.

Seeing this, Xu Jie, who was behind Lu Fang, immediately knelt on the ground with a 'plop', and said in a deep voice: "Weichen knocks on Your Majesty, long live my emperor, long live, long live!" ”

Seeing this, Jiajing, who was sitting on the dragon chair, did not speak immediately, but after looking Xu Jie up and down, he nodded and said slowly: "Well, get up!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After getting Jiajing's consent, Xu Jiefang slowly got up from the ground.

After Xu Jie got up from the ground, the two monarchs and ministers looked at each other without saying anything, and no one had the intention of speaking, and the atmosphere in the Qianqing Palace also became visibly stagnant with the naked eye.

Time passed slowly, I don't know how long it was, I saw Jiajing withdraw his gaze from Xu Jie's body and asked.

"You know what happened when I called you over this time, right?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, Weichen understands."

When Jiajing's words fell, I saw Xu Jie's face full of guilt, lowered his head, and responded respectfully.

"Lu Fang, show it to Elder Xu Ge!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, he didn't dare to slack off in the slightest, and immediately stepped forward to pick up Hai Rui's music from the bookcase on the side, and came to Xu Jie's face.

"Elder Xu Ge!"

"Hmm."

After Xu Jie answered, he took the note from Lu Fang's hand.

Then, I only heard Jiajing's slightly tired voice sound: "Take a good look, this is the family you have worked hard to maintain, look at what bastards they have done in private!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

After Xu Jie responded, he opened the recital and skimmed through the above content word by word.

"Thanks to Your Majesty's kindness, let Weichen rush to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case as a messenger of the imperial court...... The charges committed by the Xu family in Songjiang Prefecture are simply too numerous to mention, and according to investigation, the 15th day of March in the 26th year of Jiajing ......"

It took Xu Jie a long time to finish reading the contents of the song.

At this time, Xu Jie, as if he had aged ten years all of a sudden, even the hand holding the music began to tremble uncontrollably.

Behind each of the cases recorded above are countless fresh lives, and the culprit of all this is himself.

It is precisely because of his own blindness to his family's various behaviors, and even turning a blind eye, that this will cause such a disaster.

He allowed the family behind him to arbitrarily annex the land, causing trouble to the township and causing the people to complain.

How is this kind of self different from Yan Song, who is a party and a selfish person?

Thinking of this, Xu Jie closed his eyes in pain, and the shame on his face was even worse.

Then, I saw Xu Jie kneeling on the ground, pleading with Jiajing with a sincere face.

"Your Majesty, Weichen connived at the family, brought disaster to the township, and caused the sergeants to riot, so that the court lost face, it is really a crime that deserves death, I implore Your Majesty to treat the crimes of Weichen in accordance with the laws of the Ming Dynasty, and punish them with canonical punishment!"

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he knocked his head to the ground three times solemnly.

Hearing this, Jiajing glanced over Xu Jie's body, and asked in a cold voice: "Do you know what the fate of punishing crimes according to the law of the Ming Dynasty is?" ”

When Jiajing's words fell, I saw Xu Jie lower his head and answer without thinking.

"Your Majesty, Weichen has long been an unforgivable sin, and he can only use his life to comfort the souls of those who have died!"

When Xu Jie said this, he paused, his face was full of mockery, and he said to himself.

"For these behaviors in the family, Wechen also strictly prohibited them at first, but later, with the passage of time, coupled with the fact that the clan often sent people to persuade him, Wechen also gave up and turned a blind eye to those things in the clan."

"Your Majesty, don't hide it, those elders in the clan all watched Weichen grow up, when he was a child, Weichen accidentally fell into a dry well, if it wasn't for the clansmen to find out in time, I'm afraid that Weichen would have died in the dry well a long time ago, and there would be no today."

"It is precisely because Weichen was lucky and turned a blind eye to it that he made such an irreparable mistake, and now, Weichen can only use this life to atone for his sins!"

After Xu Jie finished speaking, he said goodbye.

After listening to Xu Jie's confession, Jiajing withdrew his gaze, waved his hand, and commanded: "Well, get up!" ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

When Jiajing's words fell, I saw a look of gratitude on Xu Jie's face, got up from the ground, and responded respectfully.

After this, Xu Jie seemed to suddenly remember something, a trace of worry flashed on his face, he looked in the direction where Jiajing was, and said cautiously: "Your Majesty, the Yan Party is already a large number of people, and it may be even more difficult to control Weichen's departure, please pay more attention to Your Majesty." ”

So far, Jiajing has no intention of concealing it, and after pondering for a while, he followed up and said: "Elder Xu Ge doesn't have to worry, it won't be long before Yan Song will be a minister, and the person who will replace him as the first assistant of the cabinet is Gao Gong." ”

When Xu Jie heard this, his pupils suddenly contracted, and his face was full of disbelief.

Then, as if he had figured out something, a look of sudden realization appeared on his face, he lowered his head, and muttered to himself: "High arch, I see." ”

After finishing his emotion, I saw Xu Jie lower his head, looked in the direction where Jiajing was, and said sincerely: "Your Majesty Shengming!" ”

"Well, let's go, Elder Xu Ge!"

"Obey, Your Majesty, Weichen will retire!"

After Xu Jie bowed to Jiajing tremblingly, he walked towards the outside of the Qianqing Palace without looking back.

After he couldn't see Xu Jie's back clearly, Jiajing retracted his gaze, and then, he turned around, looked at Lu Fang on the side, and commanded: "Tell me to go down, treat it well!" ”

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

When Lu Fang heard Jiajing's words, his expression immediately turned grim and he replied in a deep voice.

……

On the other side, the capital, Yanfu.

At this time, Yan Shifan was rushing to the study in a hurry.

Not long ago, he got the news that Lu Fang personally went to Xu Jie's mansion, and then the two went to the Forbidden City together.

After learning the news, Yan Shifan was overjoyed.

Because nearly a month has passed since Hai Rui, the minister of the Imperial Mission, rushed to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case.

After such a long time, the facts of the case have been clarified.

In Yan Shifan's opinion, the message behind Lu Fang's personal visit this time could not be more obvious, that is, the emperor intends to reserve the last dignity for Xu Jie, who is the second assistant of the cabinet.

Because of this, Yan Shifan was so anxious, and as soon as he got the news, he couldn't wait to go to the study to inform Yan Song.

'Knock knock' was accompanied by a rapid knock on the door, and Yan Song's voice came from the study.

"Who?"

"Father, the child has something important to discuss with you!"

When Yan Shifan heard Yan Song's words, he forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and responded respectfully.

When the voice fell, I only heard Yan Song's voice from the study: "Well, come in!" ”

After getting permission, Yan Shifan did not hesitate at all, and immediately pushed the door in.

After entering the study, Yan Shifan subconsciously looked in the direction where Yan Song was, leaned down, and said eagerly: "Father, the child just got the news that Gonggong Lu went to Xu Jie's place in person!" ”

When Yan Song heard this, he suddenly got up from his seat, staring at the direction where Yan Shifan was with cloudy eyes, and asked, "What did you say?" ”

Facing Yan Song's gaze, Yan Shifan organized the language in his mind before he said all his thoughts.

"Father, that's what the child thinks, it's been almost a month since Hai Rui went to Songjiang Mansion to investigate the case, and with Hai Rui's talent, I'm afraid he has already found out the ins and outs of the matter."

"And the reason why Your Majesty let Gonggong Lu come to the door in person is to preserve the last trace of dignity for Xu Jie!"

After listening to Yan Shifan's thoughts, the expression on Yan Song's face did not change much, he just nodded, and responded imperceptibly: "Well, I know, let's go down." ”

(End of chapter)