Chapter 225 Another Drink

There was a howling cold wind outside, but it was very quiet inside the house.

A blazing charcoal fire was already burning in several large copper basins.

Li Hu did not leave and was sitting in a guest chair in Rongqing Hall drinking tea.

Jia Jing also came back and was sitting on a chair, whispering something to Baoling Hou Shi Nai.

Shi Nai came to report the news.

Li Hu once again witnessed the bloody plot of Rongguo Mansion, where one party takes the stage after the other, and also witnessed the intrigue within Rongguo Mansion. Just as Jia Tanchun said in the original novel: “Everyone is like a black-eyed chicken, wishing you could eat me and I could eat you!”

It’s really a good show!
Li Hu looked at the door to the inner room, then at Jia She kneeling outside the threshold and Jia Lian tied up and kneeling behind him, and shook his head. The first wife was unlucky enough. Jia Yuanchun was fine, and even Mrs. Wang got away easily under the emperor’s protection. But they were unlucky. Wang Xifeng had a miscarriage and heavy bleeding, and lost half her life; Jia Lian was also in big trouble now.

If Grandmother Jia doesn’t wake up, this kid will be in trouble. He will be labeled as “making his grandmother angry to death”. Not only will he lose his official hat, but even Jia She’s title will not be his.

The Dashun Dynasty ruled the country with filial piety, and the law punished crimes of filial impiety very harshly. Those guilty of serious crimes would be sentenced to “beheading” or “abandonment in public.” “Filial piety” had penetrated into every area of ​​social life and had a very great impact.

Thinking of this, Li Hu looked at Jia Rong, Jia Yun, Jia Baoyu, Jia Huan, Jia Cong and Jia Lan who were kneeling behind them father and son. These unfortunate children were even more unfortunate. Jia She knelt, and they could not stand there and watch the fun, but had to kneel down as well.

Shi Nai said a few words to Jia Jing, then turned his gaze to Li Hu: “Loyal and Brave Lord!”

Li Hu looked at him: “What’s the matter?”

Shi Nai: “I heard that Kong Qingxiang is your man?”

Li Hu put down the tea bowl and said seriously: “Don’t joke like that! The Jinyiwei are the emperor’s men and only obey the emperor.”

Jia Jing nodded slightly and said, “That’s right.”

Shi Nai nodded awkwardly, took a sip of tea, and then spoke: “This kid really thinks he is the judge. He dares to accept any petition from anyone. You also know that the military department has many spies. This kid is investigating the second prince.”

Li Hu was shocked: “Is this true?!”

Jia Jing was also a little surprised.

Shi Nai nodded and went on, “This kid is really good at causing trouble. He has only been in Beijing for four or five days, but he has provoked everyone, both those who can and those who cannot be provoked! The upright people hate him for smearing Confucius and for his self-degradation. The powerful officials dislike him for meddling in other people’s affairs, and now he is trying to touch the tiger’s butt again.” At this point, he shook his head.

At this moment, Lin Zhixiao’s wife walked in with an envelope and bowed to Jia Jing: “Grandpa, this is a letter from the uncle of Xinglong Street. He said that it is of great importance, so please open it immediately.” Then she handed the letter to Jia Jing.

Jia Jing took the letter, tore it open and read it. His face suddenly became serious.

Li Hu: “What’s wrong?”

Jia Jing: “Cun Zhou was impeached by the Shandong Supervisory Censor! He is unfamiliar with administration and was deceived by his subordinates into drafting an imperial decree to remove him from his post as Shandong education commissioner and order him to return to Beijing immediately.” Having said that, he handed the letter to Li Hu.

After reading the letter, Li Hu handed it to Shi Nai.

Jia Jing sighed deeply.

Li Hu: “You don’t have to be like this. This may be a good thing.”

After reading the letter, Shi Nai handed it back to Jia Jing, saying, “Lord Zhongyong is right. Cun Zhou is not familiar with government affairs, so it is better for him to return to the capital.”

Jia Jing smiled bitterly: “Maybe.”

At this time, Dr. Li came out carrying a medical bag.

The three of them stood up at the same time:
“How about it?”

“Are you awake?”

Li Yuanzheng replied, “It’s caused by anger. It’s a common disease in older people. Take a few doses of medicine and recuperate, and it will be fine.”

Jia Jing said, “Li Yuanzheng has taken so much trouble.” He then said to Jia Rong, “Rong’er, please ask Li Yuanzheng to go out for tea.”

Jia Rong hurried over and asked Li Yuanzheng to go to the outer study to write a prescription.

At this moment, there was a sound of sniffing and swallowing tears coming from inside.

Then, Mrs. Xing walked to the threshold and whispered to Jia She, “Master, the old lady is calling you.” Then she helped him up.

Jia She hurried in, and then his crying was heard.

After a while, Yuanyang came out and helped Jia Lian in.

From inside came the sound of Jia Lian crying again, followed by the sound of slapping someone’s ears.

Li Hu shook his head. This family is full of acting geniuses, each one is better than the other!
After a while, Jia Rong came back with a prescription.

Jia Jing took a look and said, “Hurry up and boil the medicine.”

Jia Rong: “Yes.” He took the prescription and ran out like the wind.

Yuanyang came out again and said softly, “Grandpa, the old lady wants you to come in and talk.” The three of them went in together.
The wind died down and snowflakes began to float in the sky.

Li Hu accompanied Lin Daiyu out of Rongqing Hall, and whispered, “It is this word ‘filial piety’ that is weighing on the eldest wife, otherwise this matter today would not have been resolved peacefully.”

Lin Daiyu nodded.

Li Hu suddenly laughed.

Lin Daiyu glanced at him and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Hu suppressed his laughter and said, “This day was more exciting than listening to a book. Everyone is better at acting than the other, especially the old lady. If it weren’t for Dean Li feeling her pulse, I would have suspected that she was unconscious on purpose.”

“What are you talking about?” Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes at him unhappily.

As soon as I walked out of the courtyard, I heard footsteps coming from the hall.

In the wind and snow, Lin Zhixiao bowed and led a eunuch in red clothes and hurried over holding the imperial edict.

Li Hu recognized him at first sight and walked over.

The eunuch also saw Li Hu and nodded with a smile: “General Li.”

Li Hu looked at the imperial edict in his hand: “What’s wrong?”

The chief eunuch said: “Read it yourself.” Then he handed over the imperial edict.

Li Hu was stunned: “Is this in accordance with the rules?”

The eunuch smiled and said, “You will understand after you read it.”

Li Hu took the imperial edict with both hands and unfolded it. He was shocked and knew that something had changed. He looked at the eunuch and asked, “What’s going on?”

The chief eunuch took the imperial edict with both hands and replied, “Several more deaths have been discovered, and the situation outside is very serious. Your Majesty can only issue an edict to deprive Wang of her title of Consort.” After saying that, he continued walking towards Rongqing Hall.

Lin Daiyu came over and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Li Hu: “The second wife was deprived of her title of imperial consort.”

Lin Daiyu was startled: “Ah!”

Li Hu seemed to remember something: “Let’s go!” As he said that, he took Lin Daiyu and walked quickly towards the Chuihua Gate.

“what happened?”

“If you don’t leave now, you’ll be called back to watch the show.”

There has always been a saying in the officialdom that there are “poor Hanlin”, which means that the Hanlin Academy is a low-income government office where officials have no chance to make money. They mainly rely on salaries, writing fees and rewards from the emperor to support their families. However, not everyone can get rewards from the emperor.

Living in the capital was not easy, and the salary of Mei Hanlin was only enough to support his family. But he was an official, so he had to ride in a sedan chair when he went out, had to have attendants when he went to work, had to have servants to serve him when he got home, and had to attend social events when he interacted with officials.

Over the years, Mei Hanlin’s family has relied entirely on Mrs. Mei’s dowry and support from her parents’ family.

He had hoped to make some money from this transfer to the Grand Canal Administration, but in the end, it all went down the drain.

The matter of his son was brought up again. The Southern Pacification Office showed no mercy, and Mei Hanlin was unwilling to ask the Rongguo Mansion for help. He could only raise money and ask someone to go to the Imperial Household Department to ask for a favor and use the money to redeem his son.

The sedan chair was sold, the bearers were fired, and the horse for transportation was also sold. He was planning to find a pawnshop to mortgage the house these days.

The snow is falling heavily.

Walking into the alley, not far from the gate of his home, Mei Hanlin tightened his cloak and strode into the alley.

The news about Rongguo Mansion had spread, and he felt extremely relieved! God had finally punished Jia Lian!

At this time, a strong young man came over from the opposite side and stood in front of him.

Mei Hanlin was shocked: “What are you going to do?!”

The sturdy man said: “Our housekeeper wants to invite Mei Hanlin over to have a few words.”

Mei Hanlin: “Who is your housekeeper?”

The sturdy man: “Mei Hanlin still remembers the letter, right?”

Mei Hanlin: “Is it you?”

The sturdy man said: “The housekeeper said that if Mei Hanlin wants to save his son, just follow me.” After saying that, he walked straight forward.

Mei Hanlin watched his figure gradually disappearing in the snow, gritted his teeth, and followed him.

(End of this chapter)