On the first day of August, Huayang stayed in the palace for a day as usual, accompanied his mother to listen to opera, and in the evening listened to his younger brother talk about the progress of new policies in various places.
The most difficult time of the New Deal has passed. The gentry and scholars from all over the country may continue to criticize my brother and the court, but after the court sent troops to suppress them several times, no gentry was willing to be the first to take action. The officials and gentry did not make trouble, and the powerful did not dare to cause trouble. The princes who had promised in person in front of the emperor to cooperate with the New Deal had no excuse to procrastinate.
Emperor Yuanyou seemed to have been a farmer, sowing the seeds of the new policy in the spring, and then began to take care of and worry about it. Now the crops have grown and are ready for harvest.
"Sister, you also contributed to the success of the new policy."
Emperor Yuanyou looked at his sister with bright eyes.
Huayang laughed and was surprised: "What did I do?"
Emperor Yuanyou whispered, "If you hadn't encouraged me, I wouldn't have gone against my mother."
Huayang quickly made a "hush" gesture with his fingers and scolded his brother, "This is all your own idea. Don't involve me."
Emperor Yuanyou no longer mentioned the past and said with a smile: "When there is more money in the treasury, I will give my sister a generous gift."
Huayang: "I won't accept rewards without merit, and I can't afford expensive gifts. I'll be happy if you give me some rouge, powder, silk and satin during festivals, and I won't have to worry about being criticized by the censors."
Emperor Yuanyou: "This is easy. Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. I will ask someone to prepare one for my sister."
The next morning, Huayang left the palace and came to Chen's house.
The two sons had been sent out to serve as officials for more than half a year. There were some more silver strands in Sun's thick hair. Perhaps she knew that the new policy had worked. Recently, Sun had been eating well and sleeping well, and her complexion was very good. Yu Xiu and Luo Yuyan were very filial to her, and her grandchildren were becoming more and more sensible. Sun really didn't need to worry too much.
They had lunch together at noon. At dusk, Huayang came from Siyi Hall to Chunhe Hall. While chatting with his mother-in-law, he mentioned his father-in-law: "Is father still coming home so late now?"
Sun: "Yeah, I don't know what he is busy with every day. It seems that the five ministers in the cabinet cannot exist without him."
Huayang: "Those who are capable should do more work. Father, you have worked hard, and it benefits the court and the people."
Sun: "The eldest princess is always so good at praising people. You came here so early, do you want to play chess with the old man again?"
If that was the case, she would immediately send someone to the cabinet to call the old man back.
In the past, the old man would come home early to entertain his daughter-in-law, and the family would have dinner together in the evening. But this year, the old man was so busy that even the eldest princess didn't take him seriously and he didn't return home until dark.
Huayang smiled and said, "No, it's just that I haven't seen my father for a long time and I miss him a little."
Sun touched her chest and said, "If I could hear the princess' words in person, I would be so grateful that I would burst into tears. Not to mention the prince consort, even his third brother has never coaxed me like this."
Huayang discovered that his mother-in-law was quite good at making people laugh.
But she really wanted to see her father-in-law. At this time in her previous life, her father-in-law was bedridden and would pass away in a few days. Everything has changed in this life. The old man is also strong and healthy, but Huayang still wants to see it with her own eyes.
It was not known whether the cabinet was not so busy today or Chen Tingjian also remembered to entertain the eldest princess' daughter-in-law. Chen Tingjian came back early tonight. Chen Jingzong dismounted and strode to Chunhe Hall, where he saw the eldest princess and the old man sitting side by side in the main seat, laughing and chatting about something. The mother, two sisters-in-law, and children gathered together, chatting about family matters with laughter.
Seeing him looking at him with that jealous look again, Huayang glared at him unnoticedly.
Chen Jingzong leaned over to her chair, looked at his mother and said, "Mom, I'm hungry. Let's eat."
Sun: "You are the only one who is anxious. Dalang and the others haven't complained of being hungry."
Chen Jingzong: "They have a snack in the afternoon. Do I have any?"
Sun was too lazy to argue with him and asked the eldest princess's daughter-in-law, "Then shall we serve the meal now?"
Huayang smiled and nodded. She and her father-in-law were just chatting casually and there was nothing important.
Huayang and Chen Jingzong were sitting at the same table. When they were almost done eating, Chen Jingzong leaned towards her and whispered, "Later, you will help mother cut flowers and I will play chess with the old man."
Huayang nodded and didn't ask any more questions.
After the meal, Huayang just said that he wanted to spend more time with his mother-in-law, so the couple naturally stayed.
Chen Jingzong didn't really play chess with the old man. After the curtain in the main room was drawn, the father and son went to the inner room.
Sun murmured quietly: "It's so mysterious, what could they be talking about?"
Huayang: "After all, they are father and son, maybe they want to have a heart-to-heart talk."
Sun burst into laughter.
The father and son in the inner room:…
After a short silence, Chen Jingzong continued, "The rabbit from the south has arrived and is temporarily placed in my eldest brother's villa. I went to see him and he is a sensible man and will not change his confession."
Chen Tingjian looked at his son and asked, "Do you think one sparrow and one rabbit are enough?"
Chen Jingzong: "It is enough to arouse suspicion in the palace, and it will be difficult to convict."
Almost three years have passed. As long as Qi Jin insists that he was framed and that Sun Fu and Li Xin accepted benefits from the Chen family or were coerced, they will not be able to produce any hard evidence. Even if they call Ling Rucheng, Qi Jin can say that Ling Rucheng was bribed by them as well. Even if they follow the clues provided by Li Xin and dig up the skeleton of the scout in Wudou Mountain, Qi Jin can also say that they had anticipated this day and set up the trap in advance.
Chen Tingjian: "So what are you going to do?"
Chen Jingzong: "Let's test the emperor's intention first. If he wants to investigate, I have my own countermeasures."
Chen Tingjian: "What if the emperor doesn't want to pursue the matter?"
Chen Jingzong: "Then you should reflect on yourself. How could you have raised such a foolish emperor who protected treacherous ministers after working so hard for more than ten years?"
Chen Tingjian: …
Chen Jingzong: "Anything else?"
Chen Tingjian: "Don't be impulsive."
After all, the Empress Dowager is the Emperor's biological mother, and it is natural for the Emperor to want to conceal the truth. They have to give Emperor Yuanyou time to make his own real choice.
Chen Jingzong didn't say anything, went back to the main room, called Huayang and left.
"What did you talk to your father about?"
Siyitang, after lying on the bed, Huayang asked curiously.
Chen Jingzong hugged her and explained, "It's still about the incident on the rainy night last time."
Huayang: "Are you done?"
Chen Jingzong: "Soon."
Huayang tactfully stopped asking any more questions.
.
In late August, Qi Jin heard a piece of news that a wounded soldier named Sun Fu, who was retreating from the Jinwu vanguard, caught his wife Xu committing adultery at night and divorced her.
If something like this happened, not only would Sun Fu lose face, but who among the Jinwu Vanguard could tolerate it
It would be fine if Qi Jin didn’t know, but since he knew, there was no reason for him not to visit.
At dusk, Qi Jin sent his long-time attendant to the Marquis's residence to inform his family that they did not need to wait for him for dinner, and he rode to the Sun family on horseback.
Without Xu, the Sun family was now even more deserted. The hired maid was concentrating on taking care of the two frightened children. She led Qi Jin to the outside of Sun Fu's room, and after confirming that the honorable prince of the marquisate and the commander did not need tea, the maid took Sun Fu's two sons into the side room.
Qi Jin pushed open the door and saw that the east room was dark. Sun Fu was lying on the bed in the north, seeming to be sleeping, but also dead.
Qi Jin walked over and stood in front of the bed.
Sun Fu moved slightly, turned his back to him and said, "My lord? I'm fine, please go back early."
In Qi Jin's memory, Sun Fu was a capable young man with a good appearance. But now he has become a half-human, half-ghost appearance, and Qi Jin feels a little sympathetic for him.
He sat down, held Sun Fu's wrist and said, "A man should have no trouble finding a wife. Don't worry, I will find you a gentle and virtuous wife."
Sun Fu smiled bitterly: "I appreciate your kindness, but I have given up and don't want to delay others."
His subordinates were disheartened, so Qi Jin certainly had to comfort them.
He said a lot of things, and Sun Fu was gradually moved and burst into tears out of grievance.
Qi Jin comforted Sun Fu again, and when he calmed down, Qi Jin asked him what kind of woman he liked.
Sun Fu: "An ugly one with a kind heart, preferably one with more strength so that he can help me."
Qi Jin sighed. It didn't matter if she was ugly, since Sun Fu couldn't see her anyway. If he married a pretty woman, she would easily be coveted by other men.
After finally comforting his former subordinate, Qi Jin stood up. Unexpectedly, the world suddenly spun around him. He staggered a few steps and held onto the bed frame to avoid falling.
Qi Jin looked at Sun Fu in disbelief, then quickly scanned the room, and finally found a thin bamboo tube sticking out from under the wardrobe against the west wall.
Qi Jin bit his tongue, but this brief moment of clarity only lasted long enough for him to see a short, thin, masked man push open the closet and walk out.
.
It was late at night and everyone was asleep. In the distance, one could hear a few faint barking sounds, as if they were dogs raised by a village family, barking when someone passed by the door.
Qi Jin was awakened by the intermittent barking of the dog.
As soon as I tried to raise my head, I felt a dull pain in the back of my neck and my head felt heavy.
Qi Jin stared at the ground in front of him, which was covered with countless dust and had several clear footprints. His memory slowly came back to him, and he remembered that he had been ambushed at Sun Fu's house. Now he was tied up all over, with a cloth tied around his mouth, so he couldn't make any sound.
Qi Jin did not make any futile struggle, but examined the room where he was imprisoned inch by inch.
The windows were broken, the tables and chairs were in tatters, and considering the barking of dogs in the distance, I guessed it was an abandoned house in a village outside the city.
I don't know how long it took before I heard footsteps outside.
Qi Jin looked coldly at the door. There was no door curtain, only two rotten doors with wormholes. Someone pushed the door open and entered. Through the door that was not closed, Qi Jin saw half of the main room door and a corner of a dark courtyard overgrown with weeds. In the distance was the dark shadow of a wall.
He looked again at Chen Jingzong in front of him, and Sun Fu who was supported by a strange man with words engraved on his forehead.
Chen Jingzong put the two wine jars in his hands on the ground and said expressionlessly: "You two, first tell Lord Qi the whole story."
Sun Fu spoke first, saying that the night before the defeat of King Jing's rebels, he saw Qi Jin killing a scout and shooting an arrow at the rebel camp.
Li Xin went on to say that he was one of the soldiers on night watch who was supposed to carry the scout's body to see King Jing that night. He had seen the bloody words on the scout's clothes and had buried the scout with his own hands. If he was taken there now, he would be able to find the scout's burial place.
Qi Jin remained unmoved.
Chen Jingzong ordered: "Go to the yard and wait first."
Li Xin helped Sun Fu back off.
Before Sun Fu left, he turned toward Qi Jin and said sadly, "Sir, please don't blame me. You were the first to betray the entire Jinwu Vanguard."
Qi Jin seemed not to hear.
Chen Jingzong came over and untied the cloth on his face.
Qi Jin looked at him and sneered, "Do you think you can frame me by bribing these two people?"
Chen Jingzong: "Whether it is a frame-up or not, you know better than me. I suspected you as early as the moment I encountered the rebel ambush at Baihe Ridge. You deliberately led the Jinwu Vanguard to encounter the rebels, both to attract the other guards so that they would not rescue me, and to use the lives of thousands of Jinwu Vanguards to perform a self-torture trick to clear yourself of suspicion."
Qi Jin: "You must have your reasons if you want to frame me."
Chen Jingzong: "I just want you to die with a clear conscience. It's too troublesome to frame someone and ask someone else to judge."
After saying that, Chen Jingzong picked up a wine jug and started pouring the wine from beside Qi Jin to one side.
Qi Jin smelled a strong scent of tung oil!
His heart shrank: "You want to kill me?"
Chen Jingzong: "It's not me who killed you, it's Sun Fu. He has long held a grudge against you, but he didn't dare to expose you for the sake of his family. Now that Xu is having an affair, those two sons may not be his. He was provoked by my words and came to his senses. If you die, he will turn himself in to the government, which will not only expose your crime, but also free him."
Qi Jin: "Aren't you afraid that he won't be able to withstand the interrogation of the Royal Guards and will give you away?"
Chen Jingzong smiled, threw away the empty wine jar, and continued to pour tung oil in another jar: "I will tell him that those two sons are indeed his own flesh and blood. Then, do you think he will betray me?"
Qi Jin stared at Chen Jingzong as if he was meeting this person for the first time.
Chen Jingzong didn't look at him much. After spreading the tung oil, he picked up the only lantern in the room and retreated to the outside of the broken door.
At this time, Chen Jingzong looked at Qi Jin seriously and smiled: "I have tolerated you for three years, and it can finally end tonight."
Qi Jin: "How dare you! If you can find out about them, I will die. The Queen will be furious and order the Royal Guards to investigate thoroughly. The Royal Guards will naturally be able to find you through the clues!"
Chen Jingzong: "You still underestimate me."
As he spoke, he raised the lantern.
Seeing that he was about to let go, Qi Jin fell to the ground with all his might. When he looked up, the distinguished prince of the marquisate who once looked down on Chen Jingzong seemed to have disappeared, leaving only a cowardly man who wanted to survive.
Chen Jingzong seemed to be pleased by his embarrassment and lowered the lantern slightly.
Qi Jin's eyes were bloodshot and tears rolled down. She begged, "Chen Jingzong, there is no deep hatred between you and me. I just like Huayang too much and I am too jealous of you. That night, I was obsessed with you! After that battle, I was completely scared and regretted it. I never dared to have any thoughts about Huayang again, otherwise I would not have favored my concubine and had three sons! Chen Jingzong, now you have two witnesses in your hands, it is even more impossible for me to do anything. As long as you let me go, I will voluntarily transfer to the border and never appear in front of you again. How about it?"
Chen Jingzong was silent.
Qi Jin: "Think about it! Killing me will put you in danger, and you will be in a state of panic like me. Once you are discovered, you will become a criminal, and your family will be implicated and Huayang will be hurt. Is it worth it?"
Only by staying alive can there be hope of turning the situation around. Tonight he must give up Chen Jingzong's idea of burning him to death!
Under Qi Jin's pleading gaze, Chen Jingzong extinguished the lantern in his hand.
Qi Jin's expression did not change at all, but his heart was beating violently.
Just when he thought things had taken a turn for the better, footsteps suddenly sounded in the dark hall behind Chen Jingzong. Soon, Empress Dowager Qi and Emperor Yuanyou appeared in front of him at the same time, the former with a complicated look in her eyes and the latter with overwhelming rage.
Qi Jin: …
(End of this chapter)