On the second day of April, the trial of Shanxi's deficit and fraud in the field was concluded. Because there are a lot of people involved in large and small cases, for fear of causing a shock in the officialdom, Li Wei and Tu Lichen have discussed it, and they will not worship the chapter for the time being, but only classify the circumstances of each case into a secret fold, and the yellow box will be handed into the Yangxin Palace, and the Ming edict will be issued after Yongzheng personally cuts it. The two of them first went to meet Yun Xi outside Chaoyang Gate, Yun Xi was busy with Enke Chun's list, and met Li Fu and the curtain officials of each room, only stood and said a few words, and said: "After a while, I will agree with the Fourteenth Master to be selected for the list of show girls, and I will have to spare time to go in and ask for peace later." These days, you have come to report the case every day, and I know the plot, and I will not meet the emperor with you if there is no inappropriate place to go, and the emperor will summon me - you go in first. The two had to agree to quit and hand over the sign at Donghua Gate. After a while, the eunuch came out to deliver the decree, "Li Wei and Tu Lichen face the saint in the heart of the temple!" ”

Outside the hanging flower gate of the Heart Cultivation Palace, there was already a eunuch Xing Nian. Hearing that Yongzheng was having breakfast, the two of them were busy again. Xing Nian said with a smile: "The two of you are both guards, your own people. The emperor ordered not to have so many courtesies, and the emperor spoke while eating. The two men hurriedly bowed and agreed, "Yes." "When Xing Nian came in, he saw Yongzheng sitting cross-legged on the kang of the East Warm Pavilion, with the imperial meal in front of him. Li Wei has been a foreign official for many years, and Yongzheng is the first time the emperor met at dinner. Because I saw that there was a plate of roasted bean tendons, a plate of celery fried tenderloin, a plate of steamed vegetarian meatballs, and a plate of fried bean sprouts, the rice was just a bowl of brown rice, and it was already crippled. Li Wei saluted and said with a smile: "The slave thinks that the master is already the emperor, that is, thrifty, and the imperial food slave of the first emperor has already received it." The emperor is in the ninety-five, the king is in the world, and tens of thousands of Chen Han intermittently raise dragon bodies, so he doesn't talk about the royal scale system, and his own golden body is important - now foreign officials, not to mention such a big official as a slave, is a state and county official, and the dinner will not be so cold. ”

"I am rich and noble as the Son of Heaven, what can't I ask for? Why can't you eat? It is easy to go from thrift to luxury, and it is difficult to return from luxury to thrift! Yongzheng chewed the rice slowly, poured the remaining bean sprouts and soup into the bowl, ordered someone to wash the boiling water and eat it cleanly, pointed to the plate of celery tenderloin that had not been touched by chopsticks, and ordered: "This dish is hot for lunch, and I will use it again—don't talk about it, talk about your messenger." ”

Tu Lichen glanced at Li Wei, and when he saw Li Wei nodding, he was busy opening a long book of chapters, he had already found Yongzheng's spleen and stomach, and he didn't read the original text, but only picked up the important ones one by one, and said that there was half a meal, and finally gave a rough idea of the trial situation of the two cases.

Yongzheng sat cross-legged and listened silently, until Tu Lichen sighed softly, kicked his boots and got off the kang, pacing just bowed his head and pondered. Li Wei and Tu Lichen knelt on the ground and looked at Yongzheng intently. After a long time, Li Weifang asked, "Master, these two cases implicate one hundred and eighty-three officials. The ministry discussed the punishment, Nuo Min, Zhang Tinglu and the following nineteen members were all shown to the public, and the slaves thought that the country had a system of discussing relatives and nobles, Nuo Min was the royal family, and Zhang Tinglu was the Viscount of Enxie, such a killing, a sensation in the world, it seemed to be a little heavier......" Yongzheng's face was ugly, his eyebrows frowned slightly, and he said slowly: "The prince is guilty of the same crime as the common people. As long as they should be killed, it is 1,800 officials, and I have no mercy! It's just that according to me, the case of Kechang has not yet been understood, and if the case is closed like this, some people will be dissatisfied, and some people will laugh secretly in their stomachs. ”

This is talking about another matter, which is directly related to the official records of Li Wei and Tu Lichen, the two judges, and thin beads of sweat suddenly appeared on their heads. Yongzheng glanced at the two of them and said slowly: "Don't be afraid, you have difficulties and it is inconvenient to say." Among the details, although I am not in Dali Temple, I probably can't hide it. The test questions were prepared by me, and they were sealed in the gold cabinet by my own hands, and Zhang Tinglu and Yang Ming were also dismantled on the spot. So – where did the test questions come from? Which one was the first to peek at the test questions? Lady-in-waiting? Eunuch? Prince? Elder brother? These questions, Li Wei and Tu Lichen repeatedly discussed as soon as they were ordered to undergo trial, and they were exactly what they hoped that Yongzheng gourd would cover up. No, Yongzheng pointed it out as soon as he opened his mouth, and there was no room for concealment and evasion. Li Wei kowtowed his head three times on the ground, licked his lips and muttered, "The minds of the minions cannot escape the holy sword. But the following matter has shocked the government and the opposition, and the minions have already found it difficult to take measures. The affairs in the palace are related to the reputation of the heavenly family, and it is absolutely not suitable to shake. According to the small insight of the slave, Zhang Tingyu said that he was sick, which had the meaning of avoiding suspicion, and most of it was for the words of Long Live Fang Cai, in order to avoid disaster from afar......"

"You're right." Yongzheng took a long breath, looked out the window and said, "It is because Tu Lichen is my confidant, and you were pulled out of the fire pit by me, so I said these words." Don't talk about the affairs in the palace, even if I handle it myself, I feel that it is quite tricky. You must know that Nian Qianyao is still fighting in the west, and donations must be collected by officials, and military salaries must be supervised by various provinces. Some people in the court are staring at him and hoping that he will be defeated, and that the court will be in chaos...... So I can't fall for this anyway, let alone the brothers, fathers and sons tossing and making housework! But if I don't say these words, and no one dares to say them, it seems that I can't even see through this layer, and I will be the Prince of Yong for forty years in vain! ”

It turned out that the emperor complained, just to vent his heart and tell himself! The two of them couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief at the same time. Tu Lichen kowtowed and said: "In this case, please send an edict to the saint as soon as possible and deal with it decisively, the affairs in the palace are ambiguous, and Xu Tu will clean it up." ”

"It's not a good thing to kill too many people after all," Yongzheng spit out the depression in his heart, his complexion looked better, and nodded, "Headed by, like Nuo Min and Zhang Tinglu, they ignore the laws and discipline of the imperial court and ruin my reputation. Zhang Tinglu is a little viscount, and he is not 'expensive'. 'Punishment can't be a doctor', they themselves have to match the word 'doctor'! Seeing money, seeing fame and fortune, the princes of heaven and earth have all left behind, such a bastard must be killed, and he must be serious! Yongzheng couldn't kill because he wanted to stabilize the situation, but he was picky and poisonous by nature, and he had no choice but to spare him, and a wave of resentment rushed to Nuo Min and Zhang Tinglu. His face was pale, he gritted his fine white teeth, smiled coldly, and said, "I mean, Nuo Min and Zhang Tinglu are scheduled to be cut in half, what do you think?" ”

"Beheading" is the second most tragic punishment after Ling Chi. According to the usual routine of the ministry's decision, the decision has been severed, counting on "grace from the top", and giving the emperor the favor of commutation of sentence, not admitting that Yongzheng is adding another grade, which even Li Wei and Tu Lichen have no face. But Yongzheng's words were like a mountain, and there was no room for disobedience, so the two had to kowtow again and again, and a chill appeared in their hearts. But I heard Yongzheng say again: "I know very well that these two people have always sold their reputations. Speaking of which, the popularity in the officialdom is very good, and today's bastard rules, when this kind of thing happens, relatives, friends, protégés and former officials will inevitably give them farewell, sacrifice a sacrifice to the execution ground, and collect the corpse - very good, whoever wants to do this, I will not stop it. However, you have sent an order to all the yamen of the Beijing division and the Shuntian Mansion, and all the officials above the fourth rank will go to the West Market to 'watch', and everyone will send these two ink officials to see them off! The two of them listened to Yongzheng gritting his teeth, talking murderously, and he was about to get rid of all the officials to go to the West Market to watch the scene, and they both felt that it was too shameful for the officials. Li Wei kowtowed, and was about to say a few words of advice, when Yongzheng saw the little eunuch Gao Wuyong coming in, and asked, "What's the matter?" Gao Wuyong hurriedly smiled and replied: "Fang Bao handed over the sign in Xihuamen, please see Long Live Lord!" ”

"Fang Linggao is here? When did you arrive in Beijing? Yongzheng's brows stretched for a moment, and then wrinkled again, "Since I have passed, all civil and military officials have called Linggao 'Mr.'!" The first emperor is still called Mr. in the world without a name - go, first settle Mr. in the military aircraft department, tell him, and I will personally pick him up later. When Gao Wuyong and "Nuo Nuo" withdrew repeatedly, Yongzheng continued: "Li Wei, don't say it, I know what you want to say." Killing corrupt officials is only of little effect to the people. The killer has to call the official to see it, so that he can know what is going on with Wang Fa. Seeing that their muscles and bones are crisp, their hearts are frightened, their dreams are restless, and they do errands again, and when they stare at the silver with black eyes, they know how to weigh it, and they want to retreat and leave a way back—let me tell you, seeing this blood is more useful than reading a hundred Analects and Mencius! ”

Li Wei had no choice but to kowtow and say, "Long live Shengming!" Slaughtering chickens is just for monkeys to see! It seems more deterrent to ask whether the other officials who should be executed should be executed together. There is also how to deal with the officials of Shanxi Tong Province, please ask the holy judge, and the slaves can be implemented when they go back. Yongzheng pondered for a long time and said: "You go back and discuss it again, according to your original thoughts, just take care of the vote, and submit it to me and then consider it - that's it, you kneel down!" After the two of them quit and withdrew, Yongzheng took out the gold watch in his arms and looked at it, it was the end of the afternoon and the beginning of the card, and after a little thought, he ordered to change his clothes - change into a blue cotton gauze robe, put a Shi Qingjiang silk jacket on the outside, carefully tied a gold-inlaid ancient money thread link around his waist, pedaled green satin cool soap boots, wore a crown of velvet grass thread, and turned around and instructed Xing Nian: "Let's go." ”

At that time, in April Mengxia, the sky was getting hotter, and the white light was sprinkled on the Forbidden City with a hot atmosphere, which was no longer as warm and warm as some time ago. In the forbidden city, because of the prevention of thieves and thieves, the trees are not planted, and the sun shines on the yellow tile red wall, the copper turtle and the bronze crane, and the furnace Ding Dan is on His Majesty, and the radiance is rippling, and a piece of gold and brilliance. Yongzheng regretted wearing too thick clothes before he left the hanging flower gate of the Heart Palace, and he felt a slight sweat and dampness on his back. However, he was a very slender person, and he refused to give up, so he only ordered someone to take a bamboo fan of the Xiangfei Concubine with him and paced out, but when he saw that Li Dequan, the eunuch of the six palaces, was already at the gate of the palace, he stopped and asked: "You are not waiting in the palace of the Queen Mother, what is the matter here?" ”

"Back to the master." Li Dequan was already a sixty-year-old man with white eyebrows, his spirit was still strong, he was busy beating Qian'er, got up and said with a smile, "There are a total of 270 show girls selected by the Internal Affairs Office, and they came in early in the morning, and they all waited in front of Kunning Palace. The Buddha called the slave to come and see, when will the long live master pass? Yongzheng snorted indifferently and said, "What's the matter?" Baba is running to play! I still have to meet people to do things, so I'll talk about it later! Li Dequan hurriedly said: "How many minions dare to disturb the affairs of the Long Live Lord?" It was already hot, and the children had not eaten, and they fainted on their knees. The old Zhao of the Internal Affairs Office gave the Buddha a gift and came to see the master by the decree of Yi. ”

Yongzheng had already moved, listened to "Fengyi's order", was busy and stopped, thought for a while and asked, "Has the Queen Mother chosen?" ”

"Back to the master's words, the Buddha said that the people around her did everything she could, so she didn't choose it."

"What about the princes? Didn't I say that the third, fifth, eighth, tenth, thirteenth, and seventeenth masters are all short of envoys in the mansion, and some have been in the mansion for many years, so it's time to go out, and ask them to choose twenty each—and the second master, who is imprisoned in Xian'an Palace, should give him a few. ”

Hearing Yongzheng's words, Li Dequan couldn't help but be stunned: If you don't choose the emperor first, who else dares to take the lead? Thinking about it, he pondered and said: "The slave just came over, the tenth master, the thirteenth master, the fourteenth master, and the seventeenth master are all in it to ask the Buddha to be safe." Since the master has this will, the slave will pass it on to the princes, please choose the princes first. He was rambling and going on, but Yongzheng had already waved his hand.

Fang Bao was already waiting at the military aircraft on the west side of Yongxiang in the Longzong Gate. This is an old man of fifty-five or sixteen years old, with a long and shriveled face, two locks of mouse mustache, a washed white blue cloth shirt on his thin body, looking wide and big, only a pair of small eyes shining with a thief's bright light, revealing shrewdness and strength - based on his appearance alone, no one would have thought that he is the world-shaking leader of the Tongcheng faction in the literary world, the current Confucian who has written the same body, and the cloth clothes entered the study as the "prime minister of green shirts", and the counselor Kangxi in his later years was the cardinal important affairs of "calling Mr. but not name" Fang Wangxi! He has been returning the gold to the mountain for two years since the 60th year of Kangxi, and he has been desperate to go to the sea, and has built villas in Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou, and is determined to stay away from the hustle and bustle, and to spend his old age leisurely between the mountains and rivers. Unexpectedly, the new monarch ascended to the pole, and the first secret edict was to summon him back to Beijing and re-enter the study to participate in the important affairs of the military state. The secret edict was issued, and the governors of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang provinces, and the governors of Liangjiang all rushed to the Fangfu in Tongcheng, saying that it was a visit, but in fact, they were sitting on the ground and urging them to go, so that this old celebrity did not dare to resign, and he couldn't resign, so he delayed for several months, and had no choice but to board the car and go north, and re-enter the nest of right and wrong in Beijing. Fang Bao entered the study in the Xi Dynasty because he was clothed, and his main duty was to consult secrets, prepare the emperor's consultation strategy, and no officials were seen regardless of ministry affairs, so although the sound shook the government and the opposition, except for a few people who were familiar with Ma Qi Zhang Tingyu and the king's elder brother, most of the Beijing officials were "only known by his name, but not met him", so he was introduced into the military aircraft department by the eunuch Gao Wuyong, and a group of officials waiting to be summoned here only looked at his outfit in surprise, and couldn't understand how such a dirty and dirty old man actually came here.

Fang Bao sat on stilts, eating tea with a calm expression, but his heart was tossing hard. He was arrested and imprisoned for the text case of "Nanshan Collection", was pardoned and lived in the rivers and lakes, and met Emperor Kangxi who toured the south. Emperor Kangxi's edict of tens of thousands of words was polished by him word by word. The second deposition of the crown prince Yinren was also planned by his counselor. Yun Zhen Yun Zhen Yun Kangxi's decision on the succession edict of the four elder brothers Yinzhen was also sealed by him and hidden behind the "Zhengda Guangming" plaque in the Qianqing Palace. The more secrets a person knows, the closer they are to death. Rao is Fang Bao tried his best to be obscure, he didn't make a mistake behind closed doors, he didn't see an official, he didn't think that Yongzheng would reach the pole, and the first one still thought of himself! This ruthless and grudge-minded emperor wants to repay his kindness, or does he want to use his own stone to smash Yun Xi, a political enemy? Fang Bao's hair swelled when he thought about it, and it was difficult to figure out for a while. A few officials not far away ignored his thoughts. A dao platform with yellow teeth spewed clouds and mist, and said with spittle: "Liu Molin is the same year as my hometown." I am a Jinshi in the fifty-second year of Kangxi, but his fate is not good, three games in a row, the first one is a strategy, he vented his stomach, said, 'Fame is small, life is big', and escaped from the examination room without authorization. The two articles, poems, and strategies were all made like flowers, and the first side of the paper overturned the oil lamp overnight, and the roll was stained like a fritter paper, so it had to be named Sun Shan; The third game was full of energy, to win the first three, and before entering the field to receive the letter, the old man died of illness! Well, report the worries, for three years. This time, I saw him come again and asked him if he was proud? He poured out his hands and said: It's over again! In the policies of others, it is written that 'the head of state, the humerus' is a sycophant - you look at the 'humerus' of the long live lord, some of them are the second generals, some are gods, and some are tortured by God...... Live like a fairy in the seventy-two caves, if you don't enter his hole, will he take you in? Huang Banya said and laughed, and sighed again: "It's a pity, Liu Molin is a living Dongfang Shuo, born at the wrong time, and has become a blunt talent in the autumn breeze!" ”

"Wei Jun," a young official in his thirties next to him interjected, "There is a definite number of fame, this is not accurate, long live the Lord is now going to break the door friends, Liu Molin's article is purely focused on Jun's grace, maybe it is right for the holy will!" Fang Bao looked down and thought about it, and then remembered that this "Wei Jun" surnamed Li, who had been an envoy to Huguang, was the most strong-spirited, but he didn't expect to be so talkative, so his appearance was not good. While thinking about it, Li Weijun sneered and said, "Hu Qiheng, are you really stupid or stupid?" The house official didn't recommend it, and he couldn't even see the paper for the main exam, where did the long-lived master know Liu Molin? Let's talk about being happy! Yesterday, I made an appointment with Liu Molin and Yin Jishan to swim in Xishan together, and came back to the Deer Park Tea Shop, guess who you met? ”

He shook his braid complacently, "Famous prostitute Su Shunqing!" Everyone was stunned. Su Shunqing is the number one goddess among the eight famous prostitutes in Beijing, she only sells her art and does not sell herself, she is unique in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she refuses to go to the palace meeting lightly, and it is rare to meet these three people. Hu Qiheng swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said with a smile: "Prince Jian's mansion, I have seen this girl, she is really beautiful and artistic-you are so blessed!" "There's a fart!" Li Weijun smiled and said, "I heard her sing a few songs." Liu Molin was drunk and asked, 'Do you know what we are here today?' As he spoke, he threw away a large ingot of silver. The girl also received the silver, squatted three Wanfu and said: "The three ministers came to the intention today, but they are looking for the word "forest" next to the tree, sitting on the side of the word "Lei", looking at the company of friends, riding a horse with the word "Biao" to wander; After getting off the boat, it is just a boat in front of the "Miao" word pool. Today, taking advantage of the good day of the word "crystal", the crowd came, so they had to drink some tea with the word "taste" and the word "wine" - if you want to think about the word "rape", you can't break it! Listen to her article! ”

Everyone couldn't help but laugh, some scolded, some praised, some joked, turning a grand court pivotal place into a song house wine shop. In the midst of the chaos, a shout came from outside: "The Holy Driver has arrived!" Everyone was stunned, Emperor Yongzheng had stepped into the room with a folding fan in his hand, and there was a chaotic sound of tables and chairs, which frightened everyone to get up together, and they forgot to salute. Fang Bao got up, knelt down calmly with the corner of his robe, and bowed to worship: "The minister Fang Bao is ordered to meet Long Yan, and knock on the emperor Long live Jin'an!" ”

"Sir, please." Yongzheng stood solemnly and finished receiving the salute, bowed down and picked up Fang Bud with both hands, and said with a smile, "It's been more than two years?" I'm really thinking about you! You're fifty-six years old, aren't you? The body is full of strong bones and good complexion, I envy you very much? Li Weijun knew that this unattractive old man was actually Fang Bao, and when he woke up at this time, he was busy saluting Yongzheng. Yongzheng glanced around at everyone and smiled: "This is the Military Aircraft Department, as the name suggests, it is the pivotal place for handling military aircraft affairs. It's disrespectful for you to talk and laugh here, what kind of prostitutes are you talking about, what kind of system have you become? - Who made you here? ”

Everyone couldn't help but look at each other when they heard this, because Li Weijun was the biggest official here, so they kowtowed and said: "The ministers were commissioned by the Ministry of Officials and resigned before going to office. I don't know the rules of the military aircraft here, but I think it's just a few empty rooms, because I temporarily came in to rest and laugh and talk, and beg for forgiveness! Yongzheng then took a look at the "military aircraft department" he had set up, a few empty low rooms, except for a few tables and chairs, there was nothing long, not even a cabinet for archiving, and there was no guard outside the room, and the officials in the past could see the scene in the room from the window as soon as they stretched out their heads. He frowned imperceptibly, and said coldly, "I didn't say that your military aircraft department is not. The Song Dynasty died in Wen Tian and Wu Huan, and Yin Jian was not far away. Your name is Li Weijun, right? Hanlin, who has read a lot of books, doesn't know this? Officials should look like officials, they can't be unspeakable, and I decreed that officials all over the world should not watch dramas, that's what it means. You are here to talk about the red fans of Qinglou, and the words of prostitution and prostitution have all talked about this place, what is this? Didn't you say you wanted to 'resign'? Okay, that's it. Go back and think about these words, write a self-impeachment excerpt and read it - go! When everyone pinched a handful of sweat and retreated, Yongzheng called Gao Wuyong and said: "You pass the decree to the Internal Affairs Office, and plant an iron sign at this gate, no matter the princes and ministers, nobles and nobles, you are not allowed to peep or enter without following the order." Also, a group of people were transferred from the guards of the Qianqing Gate to guard here, and then the Ministry of Officials was sent to select six four-grade officials as the military aircraft Zhang Jing, who were on duty here day and night! ”

Yongzheng said a word, Gao Wuyong agreed, Nuo Nuo retreated, Yongzheng turned his face and smiled at Fang Bao: "I wanted to talk to Mr. here, but I didn't expect to be so frugal, let's go to the Palace of Nourishing the Heart - Xing Nian, you go to pass the meal, tell the cooks to stammer with their hearts - go back and go to the Queen Mother, and I will go over to ask Mr. Fang to say goodbye." Mr. Fang, let's go with my Luanyu! "Fang Bao is more and more flattered at the moment, where is he willing to go with the emperor? Hurriedly smiled and said: "The minister is a white cloth cloth, how dare he blaspheme the king of ten thousand times?" This is something that you would never dare to do. The minister walked with Luan, and he didn't fold the minister's yang life? ”

Yongzheng laughed and said: "Mr. is a great sect of Confucianism, a disciple of Confucius, do you still believe in these?" It's okay, I and my husband will go in together in the car! ”

"Yes, the minister should accompany the holy driver......

Fang Bao swallowed a mouthful of saliva and said helplessly. He didn't want to show off in this Forbidden City, but he didn't expect Yongzheng's measures to make it more conspicuous. Yongzheng's temperament was difficult to disobey, so he had to follow Yongzheng calmly. At this moment, there are hundreds of officials waiting to be summoned and enter the study on the heavenly street, and I heard that the emperor Lixian Corporal came to greet Fang Bao in person, who doesn't want to see the style? Seeing Yongzheng Fangbao walking together, talking while walking, they all knelt together, and sent their monarchs and ministers inside without mentioning it.