When Dou Kui heard the footsteps behind him, he turned around and saw Qi Ning. He immediately put on a smile and greeted him, cupping his hands and saying, "Master Marquis, you are still checking the family property. There are many rare and rare treasures in the Huainan Prince's Palace. They are scattered everywhere. It will take a while." We can't find them all yet. Tomorrow is the emperor's wedding, so we must finish this errand today."
Qi Ning nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work, everyone." He walked over slowly, but Dou Kui waved to the side from behind, and two people came over. When he saw Qi Ning walking to a big box, Dou Kui immediately Have someone open the box.
The box was opened, and it was neatly filled with all kinds of calligraphy and paintings.
Qi Ning was curious, so he reached out and took out one, slowly opened it, and saw a landscape painting. Dou Kui said beside him: "Master Hou has a good eye. This is Zheng Chunqiu's Pingshan Falling Shadow Painting. It can be said to be valuable." Liancheng." At this time, an official from the Ministry of Revenue came over, took a look at the painting, raised his pen, and checked off an item on the list.
Qi Ning handed the painting to Dou Kui, and Dou Kui handed it to the person next to him. The person carefully rolled up the painting and put it aside.
Qi Ning took out several more paintings in succession. He had no research on calligraphy and painting, but he could also see that these paintings were indeed valuable. Every time he took out a painting, the official holding a list next to him checked off an item. , Qi Ning saw it in his eyes and frowned: "Master Dou, is this...?"
Dou Kui waved his hand and the people on both sides stepped back. Dou Kui then approached Qin Ning and said in his ear: "Master Marquis, the Emperor ordered you to preside over the property search, and naturally he also wanted to give Master Hou a chance. There are so many rare and exotic treasures in this palace, Hou. If I like something, I just need to touch it or wink, and I will arrange it when I get back and keep it safe."
Qi Ning understood the meaning immediately and frowned: "Isn't this... inappropriate?"
Dou Kui looked around, raised his hand and said, "Master Marquis, please come in and have a cup of tea."
Qi Ning knew what he meant and entered the middle hall with his hands behind his back. Dou Kui followed him into the room and closed the door behind him. When he saw that Qi Ning had already sat down, he came forward, bowed and stood beside Qi Ning and said, "Master Hou This is my first time to conduct a house search, and I may not understand the rules inside. In fact, anyone who can accept the imperial decree to conduct a house search is the emperor's enhao...!" After a pause, he lowered his voice and said: "Forgive me for speaking frankly, that is also the emperor. Sending you the opportunity to make a fortune.”
Qi Ning said "Oh", and Dou Kui continued: "As long as you don't do something too shady, you can almost explain it to the court and no one will pursue it. The King of Huainan is grateful to the court for his kindness, and he gets a large number of rewards from the court every year. , and there are people below who are filial, and even the king of Huainan's fiefdom, it is not an exaggeration to say that there is a lot of money every day, the official made a rough estimate, and all the wealth and silk in the palace should be no less than three to four million taels. "
Qining was surprised: "So many?"
Dou Kui nodded slightly and said: "Xia Guan has also been with King Huainan for many years. He is very good at making money. He is indeed very skillful. What the Marquis doesn't know is that King Huainan liked antiques, calligraphy and paintings when he was young. At that time, he was in the court. He also had no real power and had nothing to do, so he focused on antiques, calligraphy and paintings. Whenever he heard that there was a valuable antique or calligraphy and painting somewhere, he would get it no matter what. To be honest, many people died unjustly for this reason. .”
Qi Ning frowned, and Dou Kui sighed softly before continuing: "Emperor Taizong and the previous emperor thought that he was the blood of Emperor Taizu, so as long as he did not get involved in court matters, they would turn a blind eye to other matters. Close one eye." He lowered his voice and said, "I know the secret of this palace, please come with me later to have a look."
"Where is it?"
Dou Kui smiled slightly and did not explain. He raised his hand and said, "Master Marquis, please!" He walked towards the back door. Qi Ning hesitated and followed behind. Dou Kui led the way. They walked for a long time, making nine turns and eighteen turns. , and then they arrived outside a courtyard. No soldiers had found it yet. Dou Kui opened the courtyard door, and Qi Ning followed him in.
The courtyard looked very simple, and there was a scent of sandalwood in the air. Qining vaguely understood something. Dou Kui had already led Qining to the door of a house, but the door was locked with iron. Locked, Dou Kui frowned, Qi Ning did not hesitate, took the cold blade, stepped forward and cut it open immediately.
Dou Kui was startled for a moment, then gave a thumbs up and said: "Good baby, good baby." Then he pushed the door open, and a stronger scent of sandalwood wafted out from inside. Dou Kui had already said: "Hou Sir, this is the Buddhist hall of the royal palace. As far as I know, King Huainan often stays in the Buddhist hall on weekdays. No one in the royal palace is allowed to go near this Buddhist hall."
"Oh?" Qining looked around. Compared with the splendor of other places in Huainan Palace, this Buddhist hall is simple and plain. Except for the Buddhist niche on the table and a small golden Buddha inside, there is not much around. Miscellaneous: "Master Dou brought me to this Buddhist hall, I don't know why?"
"Master Marquis, this is the treasure house of King Huainan." Dou Kui lowered his voice and said, "Xiaguan once drank with him, and there was no one else. He just said that Sima Lan was becoming more powerful and would become a scourge to the court sooner or later. At that time He was in a bad mood. After drinking a few more drinks, he got drunk." After a pause, he whispered: "After getting drunk, King Huainan accidentally said that he had a treasure hidden in the Buddhist hall, but he didn't say much. .Xiaoguan thought that since King Huainan said that, it was certainly not groundless, and Xiaguan vaguely knew that King Huainan held several priceless treasures in his hands. I have never seen it before, and such treasures will not be placed randomly, so...!"
Qin Ning understood and said, "So you think those treasures are hidden in the Buddhist hall?"
Dou Kui nodded and said, "This is exactly what the official thinks."
Qining thought to himself that Dou Kui really had the temperament of a wallflower. He had been following the Qi family since he was recommended by the Jinyi Qi family. Later, he fell out with the Qi family and immediately turned his attention to the Huainan king. Now that the Huainan king has fallen, he quickly turned to the Qi family. It is good to be humble to yourself.
But Qining also knows that such villains are still useful nowadays. Such people can only be used, but never trusted.
"Master Dou, even if the treasure is here, what can we do?" Qi Ning sighed softly: "Could it be that we still want to line our own pockets? If someone really pursues this matter...!"
"Don't worry, Lord Marquis, everything will be taken care of by the official." Dou Kui has been in the officialdom for many years and naturally understands that the best way to show loyalty is to do things that satisfy his superiors. Now that he is in a difficult situation, the only way out is to hold on tightly Jinyi hugs this thigh, so he looks extremely humble: "Not to mention that this is a traditional rule, even if something happens, the lower official will bear the responsibility."
Qi Ning shook his head and said: "Master Dou misunderstood, in fact, what I am most worried about is not that someone will hold accountable. Now that the national treasury is empty, it is the time to use money. If the Huainan Palace really embezzles a huge sum of money and incorporates it into the national treasury, then the court will be in a lot of trouble Things can be solved easily.”
"The Lord Marquis is loyal to the country, and the lower official is so impressed with him." Dou Kui said solemnly: "It's just that the lower official has something to say, I don't know whether to say it or not."
"It's okay to say what you have to say, Master Dou." Qi Ning said with a smile: "There are no outsiders here. If it comes from your mouth or enters my ears, no third person will know."
Dou Kui hesitated for a moment and then sighed: "Master Hou, after Sima Lan got rid of the Huainan King, he must gradually control the government. Whether it is military power or finance, Sima Lan cannot let go. I can still stay here today." Hu Bu, it’s just because you uphold justice, Lord Marquis, but that old thief Sima Lan will never let it go. If he doesn’t get Hu Bu, how can he sleep well.”
Qi Ning knew very well that Sima Lan was now assisting in the affairs of the government, and his power in the government was naturally unrivaled, but the biggest and most fatal shortcomings lay in these two areas.
When it comes to military power, at least he still controls the Black Knife Camp, but the Household Department has never been under the control of the Sima family.
If you want to truly cover the sky with one hand, if you cannot control the national finance, it can only be a fantasy.
When the late emperor was alive, Sima Lan naturally did not dare to show his intention to get involved in Hu Bu. After the death of the late emperor, Hu Bu became entangled with the King of Huainan, and Sima Lan had always been difficult to get rid of. But now that the King of Huainan has been eliminated, Sima Lan wants to get involved. Tobe is just a matter of time.
"Perhaps in a few days, the subordinate will be dismissed from office." Dou Kui sighed: "If you are lucky, you can still survive to go back to your hometown to work in the fields. If you are unlucky, you will not be able to save your head. By then Sima Lan We will inevitably place cronies in the Household Department, and the deposits in the Household Department are also under the control of Sima Lan. If we send all the properties seized by the palace this time to the Household Department, it will be in the hands of Sima Lan. "
Qi Ning frowned slightly, Dou Kui's words reminded him.
Although Qi Ning is not afraid of the Sima family, he is not sure whether he can prevent the Sima family from controlling the court. After all, Sima Lan is a veteran of three dynasties, and even the King of Huainan has been manipulated by him. Whether he can really Even he himself couldn't explain how to deal with that old fox.
If Sima Lan really takes over the household department, what Dou Kui said is true.
Dou Kui observed the words, saw them in his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Master Hou, the emperor is wise and wise, and I should say something that I shouldn't say. This time the emperor ordered that the master be in charge of confiscating the palace, which may have such a meaning. In it.”
Qi Ning nodded slightly, but still said calmly: "Since there are rules for confiscating houses, it will inevitably be bad if I break the rules. Master Dou, do whatever you want. Everything will be done according to your wishes."
Dou Kui smiled and said: "Don't worry, Lord Marquis, I will definitely handle this matter properly." He looked around and frowned and said, "I guess there must be a secret room in this Buddhist hall. If we find the mechanism, we should be able to do it." We have found the secret room where the treasure is hidden. Lord Marquis, I will look for you later." He started searching quietly in the Buddhist hall.
Qi Ning put his hands behind his back and scanned the Buddhist hall, but couldn't see anything too strange. Dou Kui walked around the Buddhist hall twice and found no signs in the room. Just when he was a little anxious, Qin Ning suddenly said : "Master Dou, look at what's so special about this golden Buddha."
Dou Kui came over in a hurry and his eyes fell on the golden Buddha.