Chapter 54: Autumn Gossip

The emperor was in a bad mood and had no appetite for lunch. He leaned lazily on the soft seat and picked up a memorial to look at it. The memorial was on Hu Linyi, Tianjin Prefecture, and the content said, "Britain and France proposed to build churches in Tianjin, broadcast the gospel of God, and advised others to do good." "I dare not take the liberty, so I asked for the order to seize the order."

In the first year of Xianfeng, the Qing Dynasty demolished the church not far from Xiyuan before the French entered the city, which caused a lot of trouble. However, the emperor was very determined to take this matter, and the British mediated it. The legal person could only be secretly angry and found a place in the north city of Beijing to build another one.

After the church was completed, French priests swayed in the city, preached and introduced people to the church, saying that after entering the church, God would bless them and everything would be fine. Moreover, in the Treaty of Jiangning signed with the United Kingdom, there was a statement that once they entered the church, even if there were suspicious signs, the local people would not be able to question them. Over time, they found a good advantage for those bad people, joined the church, and relied on the power of foreigners to oppress the village. At the same time, the Sino-French treaty stipulated that local officials "indiscriminately" the people's teachings and the people must be punished. Therefore, when encountering "lecture plans", the people always gain the upper hand. The common enemies of the people have already shown signs.

While looking at it, the emperor sat up, picked up the pen, wanted to comment on the memorial, and then changed his mind temporarily: "I will give you another order in the future. I will give you this."

"Long live your meal, you didn't have lunch at noon. Why would you be better for your servant to serve you in?"

The emperor had no appetite, so he was reluctant to refute his kindness and nodded: "Well, you go."

"Zhe." Liu Fu agreed and directed the eunuch to present a hot white hand towel. Liu Fu knew that he was fond of sweets, so he brought a large fruit box with vermilion lacquer inlayed snails and knelt next to the imperial throne. The lid was opened, and inside were golden dates, osmanthus lotus, lychees, apricot pears, melons, and other candied fruits. The emperor used a golden fork to raise a piece of pear, put it in his mouth, leaned against the imperial throne and chewed slowly, and felt much more comfortable.

"Chief Zhen, go to the East Warehouse to serve."

After using a little candied fruit, the emperor arrived at the Donghunting Pavilion. Emperor Zhen’s concubine Niu Hulu smiled and said, “I’m so proud to see the emperor.”

"You are here? Let's sit down. Come to me." The couple sat on the soft couch, and the emperor held her hand: "Is it cold today?"

"I have a strong body and don't feel cold."

"Where is the child? Are the child okay?"

When her husband mentioned her daughter, Niu Hulu smiled sweetly: "The eldest princess is also very good. She doesn't cry or make a fuss every day. When she woke up, she just hummed a few times. The nannies all said that the eldest princess is the most obedient child they have ever seen."

"This is quite like mine." After saying a few gossips, the emperor suddenly remembered: "Oh, let her and her brother, get a shot of cowpox. I'll let them arrange it tomorrow, and this matter cannot be delayed for a long time."

When he heard Concubine Jin come back from Prince Gong's Mansion and say that when the eldest prince gave the British an injection, Niu Hulu felt unbearable. This time it was her daughter's turn, how could she not worry about being a mother? "Your Majesty, do you also need an injection?"

"I want it." The emperor smiled with clarity: "Xiu'er, you don't have to worry. The child can only suffer for a moment, but he can keep his life safe. Moreover, he will not worry about the smallpox falling into a pit of numbness in the future. Think about it, a cute girl with a pit of numbness on her face, even if she is my daughter, I'm afraid it's hard to get married, right?"

Niu Hulu laughed at him: "Where are you talking about your daughter like that?"

The two of them were talking and laughing softly, and without realizing that time passed quickly, Liu Fu brought the tray with red lacquer and brought the bird's nest and ginseng soup in the tray: "Long live, let's get some ginseng soup?"

Niu Hulu didn't know that the emperor didn't use lunch, so he thought it was strange, "What kind of ginseng soup is added at this time? The emperor is not replenished, didn't you tell me?"

"Master, I'm not a slave who doesn't remember it, but, Long live the meal today, I'm afraid..."

"Your Majesty, you don't have food? But you feel uncomfortable?"

"My body is very good, but I feel very tired." He patted Niu Hulu's hand comfortably, picked up the ginseng soup and drank it all, "You guys go down."

He said to Niu Hulu, "When the old man was alive, military and national affairs were stacked up, which made him never rest. Later, a man named Cao Zhenyong gave an idea. He did not deal with the memorials on weekdays, but only found some scattered mistakes and omissions, and criticized them. The words were unclear, the ink color was uneven, and the content was neat, but only looked at the smooth literals."

Niuhulu knew that there were many jokes in the emperor's belly, and thought that the emperor was telling stories to him again. He listened quietly with a smile, "After that, the governors and governors of various provinces and the six ministries of the court all knew his preferences. Finally, they came up with a solution for these people, which was to seek restraint in the memorials, not dared to indulge in the comments, and they did not dare to report disasters. They have been poisoned to this day, and they all said that it was Cao Zhenyong's hidden crime!"

The emperor picked up a hot towel and wiped his hands, and continued, "I thought about punishing Cao Zhenyong heavily. Over the past few years, I also found that although Cao Zhenyong had no contribution to state affairs, he was always very filial to the old man Huangkao, and no one could refute it." He said: "Because of this, I just ordered the provinces to submit a memorial to change the rules of those bastards back then, and only told the truth, and didn't want to... hey!"

"What's wrong?"

"I only now know that what Cao Zhenyong did is essential!" The emperor sighed again. He said, "Those who have never been an emperor think this is a good job. If you really get it, you will know that it is the first chore in the world! When big and small things accumulate every day, I have to make a decision. Emperor Gaozong once said that if you don't serve one person in the world, you should serve one person in the world. I have really tasted this kind of taste."

The Qing Dynasty had a ancestral teaching, and the inner court could not interfere in politics. Niu Hulu could only listen to the emperor's complaints and dare not discuss it. Seeing that he had said almost everything, he answered timidly: "If the emperor is tired, why should he take a rest?"

"Do you think I don't want to? The last time Sai Shanga and others handed over the signs for Zhao Shuangshan and Diao Qingyuan, they gave me a rest?"

These words were full of resentment, and Niu Hulu was even more afraid to speak, and there was peace in the warm pavilion. Niu Hulu picked up a knife with an ivory handle, took an apple, and peeled the fruit skin: "Your Majesty, eat an apple."

"I can only say a few words to you in the harem, but don't say these words to others."

"Yes. Slaves must never tell anyone a word to outsiders."

Liufu lifted the curtain and entered, "Emperor, Lord Zhao, Lord A, Lord Su, have come in with the sign."

"Did you see?" The emperor threw half-very half-easy apple into the spittoon, "I don't even let an apple be eaten."

"Emperor, since there is state affairs, Rong Nucai will take his leave first."

"No need. Just here. They came for Zhao Shuangshan's affairs and it won't be delayed for a long time." After saying that, he ordered: "Transfer it."

Zhao Guang led the way, Ale Jinga and Sushun came into the warm pavilion. They did not expect that Emperor Zhen was also sitting, saluted the two masters, knelt on the smooth bluestone floor as smooth as a mirror, and Zhao Guangchen reported, "... Please see me today, in order to handle the orders of Zhao Shuangshan, Diao Qingyuan, Changhong and others on the fortifications, and to do something greedy fortifications."

"How did the Ministry of Justice discuss it?"

"Yes. I and others agreed that Zhao Shuangshan, as an official of the Internal Affairs Office, accepted bribes from Zhang Lijian, the shopkeeper of Zhang Jihuang Wood Factory, and distributed the wood funds required for the overhaul of the Rehe Palace. Knowing that there were major drawbacks, they still allocated them as much as possible. The officer even made a profit of 65,000 taels of silver from it. According to the law of "planning transportation and using fraud to fish for profit", the Ministry of Justice planned to dismiss the officer and punish the officer for dismissal from his official position and recover the bribe."

"Is that Diao Qingyuan the same example?"

"yes."

"No, it's light." The emperor shook his head without thinking: "As officials of the court, Zhao Shuangshan and others accepted bribes on the project, without mentioning the final result of the project. It's just that this money from the public is filling his own pockets, regardless of the laws of the court, and they don't know that the cost of the court is all the common people's fat. Think about it, what will the people think and evaluate like this without human heart and ability in the temple?"

Zhao Guang was sad. Since the new king ascended the throne, he advocated severe punishments and laws. Whether it was the handling of Chen Fuen, Mu Zhanga, Qi Junzao, etc., or the greed for Zhao Shuangshan and others, he was all showing his mean nature. This time, the Ministry of Justice was ordered to handle the matter. As the Minister of Justice, he was responsible for his responsibility. When drafting the crime, he had already aggravated the resolution, which caused some banner officials in the department to be dissatisfied. Unexpectedly, when he came to Junqian, he still thought that "the draft was lighter." Is it true that he really wanted to kill Zhao Shuangshan and others, and that he was satisfied? Seeing that the emperor looked ugly, he knew that it was not appropriate to defend himself, and he had no choice but to put himself in silence and wait for the heavenly face to clear.

As the Manchu Secretary, Alejinga came to the imperial court several times, and the Han Dynasty Secretary spoke. He could not get any opportunity to make suggestions. Seeing Zhao Guang's answer silently, he felt that his opportunity had come: "Your Majesty, I have something to say."

"Tell me."

"Yes." Ale Jinga climbed forward a few steps, "Emperor, the common people have any words, but they will not beat them if they are punished, but they will not punish them if they are beaten. Although Zhao Shuangshan and others have made mistakes, they are always diligent in official affairs. This time, the emperor issued an order to thoroughly investigate the work. The servant thought that this opportunity should be used to let them know the monarch's authority, and they will do their jobs in a clean and diligent manner in the future."

"Then according to you, as long as they are willing to pay back the greedy money, it will be over?"

"Yes. That's what the slave thinks."

The emperor was so upset that he looked back at Concubine Zhen: "Did you hear it? My Minister of Justice actually came up with such a clever plan for me? The officials violated the law and would be fine as long as they were willing to take out the money?" He slapped the table and scolded loudly. "You are confused! Do you think I am just angry that they have greedy for the imperial court's money?"

This thunderous anger scared Ale Jinga so much that he met again and again. The emperor sneered. Sushun and Zhao Guang hated him for talking too much, and the other thought deeply in his heart. However, the emperor was angry and did not dare to speak. "Zhao Shuangshan, what are Changhong and others? They are just servants of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and slaves! Such people rely on my north hunting and the palace renovation opportunity to accept bribes, not only greedy for money, but also defam my reputation. Ale Jinga, do you think such officials can be honest and diligent with what you said, knowing the monarch? That is, I am willing to let go. Can those court officials, those upright officials who are unwilling to fill their pockets with their public money, use their official money to fill their pockets? "

Ale Jinga is also a noble young man, and he was successful in his youth. He has been so humiliated like this? What made him feel particularly wronged is that he not only was scolded and could not speak back, but he also had to apologize and kowtow repeatedly, saying: "Don't calm down, the emperor calm down. Everything is a slave. Take care of the dragon body."

"Is Zhao Shuangshan a few people greedy for me? Maybe they can let go, but I can't tolerate such deception!" The emperor raised his hand and threw the note down: "Take back this note that has been charged with the above several people and re-written it."

"Yes, yes." Zhao Guang and the other two picked up the book in a mess, took a few steps back, and turned around and left the warm cabinet.

This was the first time that Concubine Zhen saw the emperor getting such a big temper. She was so scared that she looked at him without blinking until he turned his face and smiled at him. Fang Shi came to his senses: "Your Majesty, are you angry?"

"No. I'm not angry." The emperor sat on the side in a depressed manner, lowered his head and thought about his concerns. "I just want to hit Zhao Guang and the others. It's fine if Ale Jing'a, but Zhao Guang has been in charge of Qiu Cao for a long time and has a profound law. This time, I'm afraid that the case will be returned as it is."

"Master Zhao dares to do this?" Concubine Zhen said in disbelief, "You are the emperor."

"What's wrong with the emperor?" The emperor smiled mockingly, "The emperor cannot do whatever he wants. Especially the Ministry of Justice, unlike the nearby yamen, it is difficult for the officials of the headquarters to be the masters of the eight saints!"

Concubine Zhen heard it fun and interesting, and deliberately opened her holy mind, so she asked, "How do you call it the Eight Great Saints?"

So the emperor said a few words to her. The so-called eight saints refer to the four-session office of the General Office of the Autumn Trial Office, four promotions, and a total of eight people. These eight people were in charge of the Autumn Trial, called the Autumn Trial; and the criminals who were in charge of the Ministry of Justice were called the court trial. They were all top-notch talents selected from the various departments of the Ministry of Justice, proficient in laws and regulations, and were proud of their identities. No matter how many people were, the officials in the department were not as proud as them, so they were called the "Eight saints".

He said, "The most commendable thing for these eight people is the time when the prison is cut off, but the law is used as a basis. There is no regard for human kindness and face."
Chapter completed!