Even if you don’t even mention the capital, you don’t know how young the officials are. If the glazed tiles fall from any house under the emperor’s feet, they can hit an official. However, there are not so many third-grade officials that there are many pits, especially the position of the Minister of Justice.

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The imprisonment of the He family brothers has become a hot topic in Beijing.

Of course, what is also being hotly discussed is the Li family, who just broke off their engagement with the He family a few days ago.

Previously, the separation of the Li and He families had saved each other enough face. Except for those who heard about the generous dowry of the He family girls, the upper class did not care at all.

Nowadays, everyone wants to wish the Li family good luck, especially the senior officials who know the inside story of the secret trial of the Third Division.

Li Hao himself was quite lucky. At this time, in the study room outside the palace of the Vice Minister, Li Hao bowed and thanked the person opposite him with a grateful tone: "Thanks to Brother Meng Yang for helping me!"

The man opposite him immediately stepped aside and held each other's hands, "Shi Qi is just being polite!" Then he smiled and said, "Shi Qi shouldn't thank me either."

Li Hao was helped upright, and after hearing the words, he bent down again, "Of course, of course, Eunuch Liu's great kindness will be unforgettable. Brother Meng Yang should also thank you. Thank you Brother Meng Yang for the introduction..."

Opposite him, the man stroking his beard and smiling was none other than Jiao Fang, the left minister of the Ministry of Personnel.

Jiao Fang helped Li Hao to his seat again, and said with a smile: "You and I are from the same hometown, and we have known each other for many years. To be so polite is really embarrassing."

Jiao Fang and Li Wei were both from Henan. They were both originally from Henan and served as the first assistant to Liu Jian. Moreover, Jiao Fang had always been close to northerners and disliked southerners. She also relied on local friendship as a party. She had known each other for many years with brothers Li Jun and Li Jun.

They are quite close, but this time I came to help the Li family to spread my wings for Liu Jin.

When the late emperor was there, the big shots in the court were very dissatisfied with the current emperor who was still in the East Palace. However, the late emperor only had this prince, and he was the direct descendant of the main palace. His position was unshakable, and he finally became the great treasure.

The important ministers could only try to change the little emperor, so that he would not indulge in fun, so that he could... govern the world according to the cabinet's wishes.

But the little emperor himself is not a person with a stable temperament, and the internal officials around him are not easy to get along with. When it comes to the division of power, no one wants to get an extra piece of the pie.

When it comes to the influence on the young emperor, who can surpass the internal officials who accompany the emperor every day.

Jiao Fang is the best at maneuvering, and now he is the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It seems that he is only one step away from being a minister. However, this step has to be taken over the heads of many people. In the capital where there are many talents and complex relationships, taking this step is extremely difficult.

Disaster!

However, the fight between civil servants and internal officials gave him an opportunity. On the surface, he still sided with Liu Jian and the civil servants, but secretly he had quietly contacted Liu Jin and became his disciple.

At this time, Liu Jin almost had the Supervisor of Ceremonies in his hands and needed to find allies in the court.

The one Liu Jin valued most was Wang Hua. Wang Hua was the disciple of Emperor Hongzhi and was naturally close to the late emperor and Jin Shang. The late emperor wanted Wang Hua to join the cabinet many times, but he was rejected by Liu Jian, Xie Qian and Li Dongyang.

Damn. When Liu Jin thought about it, Wang Hua must have hated the three of them to the core.

Liu Jin now wants to challenge the cabinet, and Wang Hua is undoubtedly the best candidate because he has enough qualifications to join the cabinet and has enemies with three people in the cabinet.

Moreover, Wang Hua's son Wang Shouren has both abilities and a holy heart. How could Liu Jin not hope to take him and his son into his own pocket?

Liu Jin came out of the inner school and had a close relationship with Wang Hua. I originally thought that if he sent someone to talk to him and promised to recommend him to the cabinet, he would definitely agree.

Although she didn't want Wang Hua, she refused without any pretense, which made Liu Jin quite angry.

At this time, Jiao Fang bumped into him. After all, he was also a minister, and he was in the official department, so he was very useful. Liu Jin felt more comfortable and hinted that Jiao Fang would help him recruit "talents".

Naturally, Jiao Fang first chose people from his fellow villagers. Brother Li Chu was of high official rank and capable, and his sons were all up to par, so they had long been in Jiao Fang's sight.

Jiao Fang originally hated southerners. He Dongsheng was both a southerner and a native of Li Dongyang. Li Kai could marry him, which made Jiao Fang very unhappy.

This time, Liu Jin happened to get the news from the palace. Jiao Fang sold a huge favor to Li Hao, subdued him, and ruined Li He's marriage. She was quite proud of it.

"How is Sanlang doing now? This time he was wronged." Jiao Fang asked with regret on her face. Li Yanqing was indeed a good young man, but it was a pity that the Jiao family did not have a girl of the right age.

Li Hao said: "I'm not too aggrieved. I just have to wait until the case is settled before I go out. There are still two years left for the left and right examination, so it doesn't matter."

When it came to his son, Li Hao spoke freely, but he couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He was partial to his youngest son, but he was not completely indifferent to his eldest son. He had chosen thousands of choices to find a bride, but how could he have expected that he would encounter something like this.

I also had some regrets. When the three sons of the Shen family were involved in the Japanese invasion case, my brother Li Jun was invited to co-trial the case as a scholar. Afterwards, my brother wrote a letter saying that He Nansheng was evil and that the He family was not good. In the letter, he bluntly stated that they would not be able to get along with each other.

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But Li Hao also had his own considerations. He chose the He family because the He family was the elder Li Ge's family.

Although Mr. Liu Ge is the chief minister, he is already in his seventies, and he still talks about becoming an official from time to time. If Mr. Liu Ge becomes an official, new people who join the cabinet will always have to promote their own people. People like them who have no foundation will be transferred.

The possibility is extremely high.

Although Li Hao did not think about changing the family immediately, it would be good to leave an extra escape route.

With his official position, Li Hao had no access to the actual facts of the Japanese Tong case. He only felt that in this case, the He family may have framed the Shen family. However, since the He family has a rich fortune, this Japanese Tong case should not be a problem, at worst.

It's just that He Dongsheng's younger brother was executed, and He Dongsheng's official reputation was somewhat damaged.

He thought about it, Mr. Li Ge had already lost one of his disciples, Zhao Xianzhong, in this case. He couldn't let He Dongsheng, a third-rank minister, be killed again. Even for the sake of face, Mr. Li Ge had to keep him alive.

Therefore, after the prisoners involved in the Tongwa case were escorted to the capital, Li Hao had no intention of breaking with the He family.

Until Jiao Fang came to him and revealed to him some news he knew from the palace, and also told him that He Dongsheng had defected to Qiu Ju, and that Liu Jin was incompatible with Qiu Ju.

Youdao is not afraid that good things will not happen, but that there will be no good people. If Liu Jin twists her mouth and blows the wind on the He family's case, the He family may have no chance of winning.

Years ago, Li Hao was somewhat on the sidelines, but after the year, news came again from the palace. Wang Shouren had returned with conclusive evidence.

Li Yan immediately went to break off the engagement. It was true that Li Yanqing occasionally felt cold in winter, but it was not that serious. When Mrs. He came, he was just putting on a show. The doctor brought by the He family had a thick wad of silver notes from the Li family in his sleeve.

How could it be revealed?

Fortunately, it was still in time. If the He family was caught by the Jin Yiwei, they would have to bear infamy if they tried to break off the engagement.

It's a pity that my son will have to stay at home for more than half a year. Let's wait until the He family matter calms down before going to the academy to avoid any quarrel. We also need to hire a wise teacher to avoid delaying his studies.

Li Hao was thinking about his son's affairs, and he heard Jiao Fang say: "...The spring thaw will begin soon. Eunuch Liu means that you, Shi Qi, will be responsible for the project in Xiyuan."

Li Hao came back to his senses and couldn't help but let out a soft "ah".

Because he is good at water conservancy, he is responsible for various dam repair projects every spring and autumn floods. He is capable of doing it well, but such a large project is not the responsibility of one person. It requires a concerted effort and sufficient money.

Nowadays, the national treasury is very poor, and many projects are waiting for money. How much money can be allocated to build dams?

And once the embankment breaks, it will be a big deal, and he will have to follow it. This is really not a good thing.

If we can take charge of repairing the Xiyuan this year, we can save the trouble of water conservancy. This Xiyuan is a project that the emperor values ​​​​and it uses internal funds and has obedient and cheap victims to work on it. I don’t know how easy it is to save it.

How good it is to be in front of the emperor!

Li Hao was already very excited, "This... this... is really, thanks to Eunuch Liu, he thinks highly of..."

Seeing him like this, Jiao Fang was quite satisfied. She stroked her beautiful beard under her chin and said, "They are all doing things for the emperor. You also know that the emperor is very fond of Xiyuan. Eunuch Liu is also anxious about the emperor's needs and promotes talents.

You are talented enough to be responsible for this job, but you have to make this project beautiful and make the emperor happy."

Li Hao hurriedly expressed his determination, saying that he would build Xiyuan to the satisfaction of the emperor and Eunuch Liu.

Jiao Fang became more and more cheerful. She narrowed her eyes with a smile and said, seemingly unintentionally: "In this case, I should go to Nanjing and write a letter to Hengshi to make him happy too."

Hengshi is the name of Li Jun, Li Hao's brother. Li Hao understood the idea and hurriedly smiled and said: "It should, it should. Brother Meng Yang, don't worry..."

While he was talking, the housekeeper called Li Hao in an anxious voice that he tried his best to lower but could not hide.

Li Hao felt very rude and dissatisfied, but he couldn't let him do this, and he couldn't scold Jiao Fang in front of him, so he had to apologize in embarrassment, came out of the study, and stood in the corridor, with a dark face.

He scolded the butler who followed him.

The housekeeper made a sad face and said in a low voice: "The lady from the He family has come here in full imperial attire and begged to see the master and his wife... The wife really doesn't know what to do, please give me some advice."

Li Hao's face turned even darker, and he secretly cursed the old pious woman. His young Xuexian was no match for the mature and sophisticated old Mrs. He. It would be troublesome if he got entangled, but the Li family's previous gestures were...

In order to have a good reputation, by shutting out the He family now, the previous efforts would have been in vain.

And Jiao Fang is still here. If Mrs. He blocks the front door and refuses to leave, is she going to let Jiao Fang, a noble servant, go out by a side door?!

Li Hao endured his anger and squeezed out a sentence through his teeth: "Let Madam stay in the back house and don't show her face. Invite Mrs. He to the flower hall in front and say that Madam has gone to the temple to pray for Sanlang's illness. I have guests here.

I’ll go see her later.”

The housekeeper breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly took the order.

Li Hao complained in his heart that Jin Yiwei did not surround He Mansion for a few more days, but let the troublesome old Qian woman out. He stood in the corridor and took a deep breath to calm down, then returned to the study, smiled apologetically to Jiao Fang, and said briefly

Mrs. He came to the door.

Jiao Fang twirled her beard and smiled: "Southern people are very cunning, so be careful what you say." After saying that, he stood up and left.

Li Hao apologized quickly and stood up to see him off. Knowing that he hated southerners, he didn't say much, and he agreed in his heart. When discussing marriage for his son in the future, it would be better to choose someone from the north.

*

Jiuruju, Shen Mansion, Renshoufang

The He family brothers were sent to prison, and the Shen family did not relax. Shen Rui's uncle and nephew still paid close attention to every move of the He family.

The Jin Yiwei surrounded the He Mansion for two days, and successively captured two groups of staff and male servants before withdrawing.

Ordinary people would be afraid that they would be in chaos, but the He family was not in chaos at all. There were no servants stealing or escaping. The control in the house became more and more severe, and the insiders buried by the Shen family could hardly send out any news.

I heard that Mrs. He was frightened and fell ill, but it was Mrs. He who supported the He family with all her strength, stayed calm in times of crisis, and managed the family with thunder and lightning, which impressed the Shen family's uncles and nephews.

Although the insiders can't deliver any news, the outsiders are still watching.

Soon, the news came back that Mrs. He went to the home of Li Hao, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, in high-grade makeup.

Mrs. He was respectfully invited in, but after at least half an hour, she came out with a bad look on her face and boarded the car to go home.
To be continued...