Things in Suzhou are more complicated than they thought.
That afternoon, Zeng Hu put on the county magistrate's black gauze hat, and Jin Guang and others cooperated very well with delegating power without any slights.
After taking over the yamen, Xiao Yu, Zeng Hu, Fan Cheng and others stayed up for two days, and re-examined the expense account books of the counties in Suzhou, as well as the case files of the previous county magistrates and masters.
Zeng Hu was originally the treasurer of the Ministry of Accounts. He managed money for half his life. After reading these account books, he couldn't help shaking his head and said, "No wonder Jin Guangken dares to hand over the account books like this, they have already made preparations. , Right now those who know the truth must have been silenced, from the book and the case file, there is indeed nothing wrong."
Fan Chengdao: "My subordinates thought that this was a case of murdering a court official, but now it seems that it is as expected by His Highness, and it is not that simple."
Zeng Hu said again; "Even the account book with the official seal is like this. Presumably the clerk and the sergeant have also been bribed. This... The clue is broken, how should we check next?"
"The Jin family can keep the account books so clean, someone must be helping him." Xiao Yu turned the wrench in his hand, turned his head to Fan Cheng and said, "Go and call the beggars on the roadside and ask them for news about Suzhou, food, clothing, housing and transportation. , in all aspects, as long as it is not repeated, you can say anything, twenty pennies for a message, if it is useful, you will directly give the money."
Fan Cheng's eyes lit up.
Jin Guang can bribe the servants, but he can't bribe the beggars running around.
He immediately said: "My subordinates understand."
Xiao Yu said again: "Before going, surround the Jin family first. You don't have to discuss the rules with them, just say that this king let it go."
This is the prince investigating the case. He has soldiers in his hands and money in his pockets. When necessary, he doesn't even need to tell the truth.
After getting the news the next day, Fan Cheng couldn't help taking a breath.
Their trip was originally to deal with the repatriation of land, but it was impossible to imagine that such a big corruption case would be involved.
The one who guarded the Jin family turned out to be the prefect of Suzhou Prefecture, Cui Changzhi.
"No wonder Jin Guang acted so wildly. It turned out that there was a fourth-rank magistrate guarding it." Fan Cheng organized the confession into a book and presented it to Xiao Yu: "The reason their account book is so clean is because of this casino on the Qinhuai River."
Corruption and perversion of the law have always been banned repeatedly throughout the dynasties. No matter how strict the court's investigation is, these corrupt officials can always come up with new methods.
Those who use the reselling of calligraphy, paintings and antiques to get money into their pockets are already amazing. I didn't expect to see people who use casinos to sell officials to make money today.
Xiao Yu looked at the booklet in his hand, and his expression became more and more solemn.
Xiao Yu not only did not avoid Su Ling, but also informed her of the ins and outs of the trip to Suzhou.
He handed her the official booklet and the confession, and said, "Let's take a look, Princess."
Su Ling took the booklet and turned it over, her eyes widening.
This is also the first time that the seller has sold it at a clearly marked price.
Bapin county chief is four hundred taels.
The county magistrate of the seventh grade is one thousand five hundred taels.
The six-rank master is three thousand two hundred taels.
Knowing from the five grades is six thousand taels.
There are nine thousand six hundred taels in the fifth grade.
The fourth grade prefect is 18,000 taels.
Xiao Yu said coldly: "Princess, do you know how much the imperial court's income is in a year?"
Su Ling shook her head and said, "I don't know what my concubine is."
Xiao Yu smiled and said, "It's less than fifty million taels."
Su Ling nodded and looked at the booklet in her hand, frowning slightly.
"Although the booklet only lists local officials, but I have heard that as long as you are willing to spend money, you can also buy Beijing officials." Xiao Yu took off his cloak, sat on the couch, and held her hand very naturally, "He Cui Changzhi I'm just a fourth-rank prefect, where can I get the ability to sell the capital's official."
Hearing this, Su Ling immediately understood.
Cui Changzhi had no such ability, but the Four Great Masters, King Cheng and King Yan did.
Su Ling looked at him and said, "Your Highness is going to check from the beginning?"
Xiao Yu let go of her hand, slid to the soft waist, pinched it, patted it again, and said, "Sleep first, we will go to Qinhuai River tomorrow."
Su Ling was stiffened by his actions, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Recently, this person slept with her every night.
He either grabbed her hand or pinched her waist, which was obviously intentional, but the seriousness of his face made her seem more thoughtful.
One light is out, one light is left.
Just after the Hai Shi, there was a coquettish anger from the bed: "You are pressing my hair."
The man chuckled, "Then come here."
—
By the Qinhuai River, the light boats are connected end to end.
That first boat was a casino dedicated to selling officials.
The shofar lamp hanging under the eaves of the painting boat is shaped like a bead, and the lights are dazzling, reflecting on the water, like a star falling into a river.
Xiao Yu didn't wear official robes, he wore a black cloak, and dragged Su Ling into the casino.
The painting boat was full of friends, and there were sounds of dice rolling everywhere.
When the shopkeeper saw the raw face, he couldn't help but smile: "The guest officer is here today..."
Xiao Yu handed him a piece of silver, "For a wing room."
When the shopkeeper saw that his whole body was extravagant and the girl beside him was rare and beautiful, he politely said: "The wing room, that's 8,000 taels."
Xiao Yu said: "You lead the way."
The two of them sat on the same side, and after a while, a man in Tsing Yi walked in with a smile on his face with a Zhuang He.
Zhuang He knelt down beside the couch and said, "The guest officer is playing dice or cards today?"
Xiao Yu said: "Dice."
Zhuang He raised his hand and shook it, the sound of clattering was very harsh.
"Big or small?"
Xiao Yu looked at the man in Tsing Yi opposite and did not speak.
The man in Tsing Yi said, "Big."
Xiao Yu replied, "Small."
The man in Tsing Yi raised his brows slightly, thinking to himself: This is indeed a man who understands the rules.
The second and third rounds were the same, each time the man in Tsing Yi spoke first, and Xiao Yu answered the opposite.
After a few rounds, they lost nearly ten thousand taels.
The man in Tsing Yi laughed and said, "It's 10,000 taels, and the adults are still playing?"
Look, this is called an adult.
Xiao Yu said lightly: "Go ahead, I want to take my wife to the capital."
In half an hour, Xiao Yu lost 60,000 taels.
A full sixty thousand taels.
The man in Tsing Yi gradually put down his guard and said directly: "Why did you come here?"
Xiao Yu said: "I will try and fail."
"Do you know how to test?" The man in Tsing Yi shook his head, laughed a few times, and said, "Don't hide my son, I was Ya Yuan in the township test back then, not to mention that he was only eight buckets tall and learned five cars, so he had to go home and show his mother the first prize. It shouldn't be difficult to be a jinshi, so you might as well guess, what happened next?"
Xiao Yu said, "Failed too?"
The man in Tsing Yi sneered and said: "The court does not consider the grace of Tejian, nor the suffering of the poor (1), the examiner openly accepts bribes, but there is no way to report it. To be at the top of the list, to be at the top of the list, and the poor students to leave the capital alone, if the young master can pass the test, then he is a ghost."
"However, those have nothing to do with the young master. Today, the sale has been completed. The young master can wait for two days to come over and select officials. At this price, except for the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Rites, you can't choose it. If you are below the fourth rank, you can choose it. ."
Su Ling's hands tightened.
She knew very well that with such words, Xiao Yu's life would be light if he killed him.
After all, the man in Tsing Yi got up and poured a glass of wine for Xiao Yu and toasted him, "The ambition in my heart is long gone, and I wish you a bright future ahead."
Xiao Yu clinked glasses with him and said, "Thank you."
"Then I will step back, and the two of you will have your own way."
As soon as the man in Tsing Yi and Zhuang He who was shaking the dice left, Su Ling looked up at him and hesitated.
Xiao Yu lowered his eyes and laughed and said in a low voice, "Although they are all arrogant words, but in fact, not a single word is wrong, A Ling, it is not a trivial matter for a high-ranking official to sell an official. Not being able to use merit is tantamount to self-destructing the foundation.”
"Students from poor families have been studying hard for more than ten years, but they are not allowed to enter the office because of their background. Is there still justice in the world?"
Su Ling looked at Xiao Yu's unwavering gaze, and suddenly understood why he wanted to take her out of Beijing.
At this moment, she inexplicably believed that even if the person in front of her had all kinds of bad intentions, if he got that position, he would definitely be a wise man.
Su Ling looked at him and suddenly smiled: "I just played dice, do you lose if you choose the opposite?"
Xiao Yu made a "hmm" sound.
Su Ling said again: "Then how did he guess the size?"
"If he doesn't have the ability to listen, he won't be able to survive in this casino."
"Listen to the sound?" Su Ling had never heard of such a bizarre thing. She blinked her eyes and said, "Then do you know how?"
Xiao Yu made another "hmm".
Su Ling leaned forward and whispered, "When did Your Highness learn it? Don't let me fool you..."
Xiao Yu smiled suddenly, but the title caught her ear, and said solemnly: "The princess doesn't want me to go back to the mansion, I learned it when I was wandering outside."
These words were a little frivolous, Su Ling's ears reddened and she glared at him.
The painting boat swayed slightly, Xiao Yu approached her with two dice in his hands, and said, "A Ling, bet with me once."
Her voice couldn't help becoming sweet, "What are you betting on?"
"If you win, I will answer any request from you."
Su Ling looked at him defensively, "What about losing?"
Xiao Yu said directly: "You will not lose."
Su Ling hesitated for a while, then nodded, "Okay."
But he said in his heart: If it's a big deal, it's a shame. Anyway, people in this world say that only women and villains are difficult to raise.
There was a smile on the corner of Xiao Yu's mouth, he shook it twice, and said, "I choose the big one."
Su Ling glanced at him suspiciously, and said tentatively, "Then I... choose the small one."
Xiao Yu raised his hand, it was indeed small.
Su Ling raised the corner of her lower lip subconsciously, looked at him and said, "You can really say anything?"
Xiao Yu nodded.
Su Ling's heart was pounding.
The opportunity is hard to find, and she must seize it.
So, she was not afraid of the bad scenery, and said frankly: "In the future, you must not force my father and my brother to do things for you."
This sentence is as he expected.
Xiao Yu looked at those glittering eyes and said solemnly, "I promise, will you continue?"
With such good things, of course Su Ling is willing, she nodded.
Sure enough, she won again.
Su Ling coughed lightly: "After returning to Beijing, can you try not to go to Fireworks Liuxiang?"
Because Xiao Yu often doesn't go back to the house, and lingers in the land of Fengyue, she is less bothered by gossip.
Xiao Yu chuckled softly, "If you don't have official business, you will return to the residence every day."
He thought to himself: It’s okay, you still know that you care.
"Continue?" the man said.
The greedy girl still nodded.
Xiao Yu continued to shake, but stopped for a moment, his Adam's apple moved slightly, and he spat out a single word, "Big."
Su Ling said immediately: "Small."
But this time, it was not as Su Ling intended.
She looked at him vigilantly and whispered, "Didn't you say that I won't lose?"
"You can't be greedy..." Xiao Yu's voice was low, he wrapped his warm palms around her waist, kissed her lips directly, and said after a while, "A Ling, I want a child."