Chapter 42: Cui Yuan, the old sly guy, blocks the door
"Congratulations, Chief Wilbur."
"Congratulations, Uncle!"
After receiving the imperial edict, Jiang Qingzhi went to the palace to express his gratitude according to the rules.
When passing by the six ministries, many officials congratulated him with smiles.
This upstart survived the disaster.
In the eyes of everyone, Jiang Qingzhi is extremely lucky.
But who knew that he had just had an ambiguous test with Emperor Jiajing across the air.
"Congratulations, uncle!"
The two brothers Prince Yu and Prince Jing appeared together. Prince Jing smiled very warmly and called his cousin uncle all the time. He said that he would go to the Jiang family to ask his cousin for advice. If his cousin uncle did not allow, he would sleep on the floor at Jiang's house.
Haha! Prince Yu smiled and said, "I have a room in my cousin's house."
You are such a mean old man... King Jing: "..."
"Hey! How can this cat be brought in?" Zhu Zaigui saw Duoduo.
Duoduo climbed up from behind Jiang Qingzhi, looking at him disdainfully.
"I can't drive them away." Jiang Qingzhi was also helpless.
The clingy cat was a headache, but Emperor Jiajing clearly enjoyed it.
He stroked Shuangmei's back. When Jiang Qingzhi came in, Shuangmei's back suddenly arched and she stared at Duoduo who was squatting on Jiang Qingzhi's shoulders with her sharp eyes.
"Meow!"
A fierce aura burst out.
Emperor Jiajing laughed and asked, "Why, you like cats too?"
"I didn't like it before, but after I picked up this cat, I found it quite cute." Jiang Qingzhi told the truth.
"Hahahaha!"
Emperor Jiajing couldn't help but laugh with joy. It was well known that he liked cats, but most of the people and ministers in the palace were flatterers. None of them had a sincere lover like Jiang Qingzhi.
The two discussed the fun of cats. Emperor Jiajing let go of his brows and didn't notice that the cat quietly came to Jiang Qingzhi's side and pounced on him.
Emperor Jiajing looked doting.
Jiang Qingzhi was also waiting to see Duoduo's fighting ability.
After all, the Jiang family doesn't keep idle people. No, idle cats.
"Meow!"
With a shrill cry, Shuangmei fell to the ground in despair. The orange cat on Jiang Qingzhi's shoulder raised its paw, and its little appearance...
It was actually disdain.
"This cat is very wild," Emperor Jiajing said, covering up when he saw that his pet's provocation had failed.
The big orange is the most important... Jiang Qingzhi laughed and comforted Duoduo who was about to chase.
"Your Majesty, Jinyiwei Commander Lu and Prince Consort Cui Yuan request to see you."
Jiang Qingzhi took his leave, and Emperor Jiajing shook his head, "Qingzhi, stay."
After the test of the title, Jiang Qingzhi felt that Emperor Jiajing's attitude towards him became more easy-going.
Frost Eyebrow returned to her master's arms and bared her teeth at Duoduo.
Duoduo lay lazily on Jiang Qingzhi's shoulder, and the M pattern between his eyebrows became deeper.
Lu Bing and Cui Yuan came.
"Chang Wei Bo is here too!" Cui Yuan smiled, and there was no sign that he had any conflicts with Jiang Qingzhi.
Jiang Qingzhi ignored him.
Lu Bing reported, "Your Majesty, the head of the Ministry of Works, Wang Xintian, was killed."
"Who killed it?" Emperor Jiajing narrowed his eyes and stroked the cat in his arms.
"Chen Ji, a captain of the Tiger Guard Left Guard."
"Just take it down... Yeah! But it's inappropriate?"
"Yes." Lu Bing said with some embarrassment: "The soldiers under Chen Ji's command are making trouble, and the generals in the army are worried about mutiny..."
This is the capital city. If the Huben Zuowei mutinied, Emperor Jiajing would be terrified.
"I think it should be suppressed."
Cui Yuan's eyes were filled with ruthlessness, "Kill one to warn the rest."
After Emperor Chengzu Zhu Di, the status of the Ming army continued to decline.
Although it has not yet reached the point of the former Song Dynasty where soldiers were treated as animals, it is almost there.
Emperor Jiajing narrowed his eyes and everyone waited respectfully.
"Qingzhi, what do you think?" asked Emperor Jiajing.
This bastard... Cui Yuan thought of the old blood he had spilled last time, and a fierce look flashed in his eyes.
If Jiang Qingzhi responded incorrectly, Cui Yuan vowed to make him regret it.
Jiang Qingzhi said: "I dare not make any rash comments."
"You are now the Lord of Wei, who dares to accuse you of making irresponsible remarks?" Emperor Jiajing said calmly, "Speak."
Jiang Qingzhi said: "I think it is inappropriate."
"Does Chang Wei Bo mean to ignore it or forgive the centurion who killed people?" Cui Yuan launched an attack.
This idiot... Jiang Qingzhi didn't even look at him, "Your Majesty, the Tiger Guards guard the capital. If you treat them unfairly, how can the soldiers be convinced?"
"Why should they submit?" Cui Yuan said murderously: "Those who refuse to submit will be exiled, or..." He put his fingers together like knives and swung them down with force.
This is the attitude of civil officials towards military officials, and it is perfectly correct and normal in the current court.
Jiang Qingzhi turned sideways to face Cui Yuan for the first time and asked word by word: "Does Prince Consort Cui understand battle formations?"
Cui Yuan shook his head.
"So, what do you pretend to be an expert on?"
Jiang Qingzhi said coldly.
Cui Yuan's old face instantly turned red, and he pointed at Jiang Qingzhi, "You little brat..."
"Do you think that His Majesty can confer the title of Changwei Bo on a young boy?" Jiang Qingzhi asked sinisterly.
"Your Majesty, I dare not." Cui Yuan quickly knelt down and stuck out his butt to apologize.
Cui Yuan's life could be described as smooth sailing as he married a princess, welcomed Prince Xing as emperor, and was favored by the emperor for decades.
But he was repeatedly rejected by Jiang Qingzhi.
Emperor Jiajing said calmly: "Qingzhi, continue."
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Cui Yuan, "Does Prince Consort Cui have any other good ideas?"
Cui Yuan almost bit off half of his old teeth, feeling secretly resentful.
Lu Bing said, "Your Majesty, there is a change in the army, so you must be cautious."
This is a panacea, but implicitly speaking, it implies that Huben Zuowei is unreliable.
This is to stand for Cui Yuan.
They are indeed in the same group.
Jiang Qingzhi said, "Your Majesty, at times like this, you must be more cautious. If you kill people without asking, what will the soldiers think? I ask you to investigate this matter thoroughly."
Emperor Jiajing nodded.
"Celebrate it."
"I am here." How much national fortune can he gain by going there? Jiang Qingzhi was secretly happy.
"Your Majesty, I am willing to go!" Cui Yuan volunteered.
Emperor Jiajing was nostalgic. It was Cui Yuan who went to welcome him back then, and he always remembered this friendship. Therefore, Cui Yuan remained in favor during the Jiajing reign.
"Cui Yuan."
Cui Yuan was overjoyed, "I am here."
"You two go and investigate this matter."
"Yes."
Walking out of the hall, Cui Yuan looked at Jiang Qingzhi and said coldly: "Chang Wei Bo is going to speak for the warriors? What a courage."
Who among the dignitaries and civil officials would speak for the military these days?
Cui Yuan is trying to frame someone.
Lu Bing secretly shook his head, wondering how could Jiang Qingzhi take the blame?
Jiang Qingzhi looked at him.
Cui Yuan smiled.
Jiang Qingzhi nodded.
"Yes."
Having said that, he strode forward.
As the status of Ming Dynasty's military men became lower and lower, its foreign war performance became increasingly poor.
The lesson of the former Song Dynasty is not far away, but this group of Sabi still jumped into this river called national destruction.
And you're so fucking complacent!
"Fuck you!" Jiang Qingzhi raised his middle finger without looking back.
Cui Yuan: “What horse?” Then he realized that Jiang Qingzhi was scolding him, and his face turned pale.
Lu Bing: “…”
The two turned back.
The eunuchs bowed their heads.
Someone said: "We didn't hear anything."
But someone murmured, "Long Wilbur is so courageous!"
The important officials also looked down on the eunuchs, which put them on the same front as the warriors who were regarded as slaves.
Lu Bing narrowed his eyes and watched Jiang Qingzhi's back as he walked away. He said softly, "Prince Consort, this boy is becoming more and more threatening to us. This time we are looking for an opportunity..."
A fierce look flashed in his eyes.
Cui Yuan nodded. "This is the capital, we are local residents, Jiang Qingzhi is all alone and has no foundation, I can kill him!"
Cui Yuan has been waiting for this opportunity for a long time.
"Be decisive." Lu Bing reminded him.
"I wish I could cut him into pieces." Cui Yuan's eyes narrowed and turned into a triangle.
Go to the Ministry of War first. The Ministry of War said that the Huben Zuowei had captured the centurion Chen Ji, and those soldiers who caused trouble were imprisoned and were waiting for the palace to decide their fate.
"This matter is..."
"Your Majesty ordered me to deal with this matter."
"And I, too!"
Cui Yuan appeared behind Jiang Qingzhi.
Then the two of them went to Huben Zuowei.
"The commander is ill."
Commander Yan Xu looked depressed as if his parents had died.
How could those civil servants let it go if one of their centurions killed the head of the Ministry of Works?
Commander Huang Sande hid himself and avoided everyone, but Yan Xu couldn't.
So he was pushed out to take the blame.
"Greetings, Uncle Chang Wei." Yan Xu glanced at the new uncle Jiang Qingzhi.
"Greetings, Marquis of Jingshan." Cui Yuan was not only the son-in-law of the emperor, but also had the title of Marquis of Jingshan, which meant he was extremely wealthy.
"Where is that person?" Cui Yuan just wanted to cut the Gordian knot.
"After capturing Chen Ji, I wanted to send him to the Imperial Guard, but they refused to take him. I sent him to the Ministry of War, but they said there was no prison..."
Yan Xu smiled bitterly, "Now he is detained in the camp."
Chen Ji was imprisoned in a row of rooms next to the horse stable where war horse saddles were stored.
The door opens.
The light from outside the door poured in. Chen Ji, who was short and strong with whip marks all over his body, looked up blankly and closed his eyes to adjust to the light.
"This man is Chen Ji." Yan Xu kicked Chen Ji, "You bastard, you made me suffer so much."
There were many saddles piled in the room, which emitted a foul smell. Cui Yuan frowned and took a step back.
"Why kill?"
Chen Ji spoke, his voice a little hoarse, "I have drunk too much."
Killing in passion?
Jiang Qingzhi looked at Chen Ji calmly.
"Drunk?" Cui Yuan sneered, "Do you know that if you kill someone, you must pay with your life? If there is any wrongdoing, you can speak it out. Lord Chang Wei is here, and I am here to clear your name."
These words were meant to be provocative.
"You're not done yet, are you?" Jiang Qingzhi suddenly cursed.
Cui Yuanyin smiled, "Why, Master Jiang, you are not happy to work for His Majesty?"
The old wall-dong is vicious... Jiang Qingzhi sneered, "Old dog!"
“Hahaha!” Cui Yuan laughed heartily, “Chen Ji is dead.”
Jiang Qingzhi ignored him and asked, "Let me ask you, do you have any concerns?"
Chen Ji shook his head, "Your subordinate, you deserve to die."
"There is death in this man's eyes, which shows that he knows he deserves the punishment." Cui Yuan pointed at his own eyes, "I have seen countless people in my life. If I am wrong, I will dig out these old eyes."
Jiang Qingzhi was thinking.
Cui Yuan said: "In that case, execute him!"
There is no need for any trial for this kind of thing... Murder is a life for death, especially since the person killed was a civil servant.
"Family members will be exiled." Jiang Qingzhi glanced at Chen Ji.
Chen Ji's eyes moved slightly, and then became dead silent.
"Let's put it aside for now." Jiang Qingzhi walked out of the room.
Contrary to expectations, Cui Yuan did not stick to his opinion.
But, more than an hour later, a group of people came to the gate of the Jiang family.
Leading the group was a woman, followed by several children.
Kneel down and burn paper money outside the Jiang family’s gate.
Then there was a burst of crying.
"Husband, you died so unjustly!"
"Daddy."
(End of this chapter)
