Chapter 67 Playing with people's hearts and arranging
Li Jing's life is just a straight line.
Home, imperial prison, bird market.
The people around him also go back and forth.
Family, colleagues and subordinates, people in Bird City.
He had heard about Jiang Qingzhi.
The cousin of Emperor Jiajing fell into trouble in Suzhou. After arriving in the capital, he had an unpleasant quarrel with the commander-in-chief... Later, it was said that he had a tit-for-tat relationship with Prime Minister Yan and Prince Consort Cui.
That's it.
"You...you want to see Xia Yan!"
Li Jing blurted out in a flash.
"Correct."
"Don't even think about it!" Li Jing sneered, "You can trust me. If I shout, my reputation will be ruined."
The imperial prison was a place like that, yet Jiang Qingzhi actually wanted to sneak in quietly. If Emperor Jiajing found out, he would beat his cousin half to death.
Jiang Qingzhi produced the evidence.
"I spent fifty-nine strings of cash to buy a thrush in Daxing. Many people saw it at the time. But I sold it to you for only four strings of cash. Li Jing, do you think your face is worth fifty-five strings of cash?"
Li Jing's body shook, "You..."
Jiang Qingzhi held a cigarette in his mouth but didn't light it. "I've already met Xia Yan."
After saying that, Jiang Qingzhi turned and left.
When did he meet Xia Yan... Li Jing was stunned and his body shook violently.
He fell to his knees.
Outside the door, Sun Chonglou poked his head out and took a look, muttering, "You've fallen into my young master's trap, and you still want to jump out? Dream on!"
"Uncle, spare my life!"
Li Jing looked at Jiang Qingzhi looking back in despair.
"I heard that the Imperial Prison is quite interesting, and I just want to go in and take a look. Is it convenient?"
Jiang Qingzhi asked with a smile.
If he didn't agree, Jiang Qingzhi only needed to have someone expose the matter, and Li Jing would have no way to defend himself, and Lu Bing would be able to kill him with his own hands.
Thinking of the unfortunate guy whose entire family was enslaved, Li Jing lowered his head.
"convenient."
……
The two parties agreed to meet outside the imperial prison later, and Jiang Qingzhi left.
In the inner room, Li Jing's wife, Wang, came out with a pale face, waving her fists and beating him silently.
Li Jing held his head and was beaten.
After an unknown amount of time, Wang said angrily, "You said it all before. Lu Bing is extremely powerful. Together with Yan Song and Cui Yuan, he can do whatever he wants. Killing a few officials is like a piece of cake. But you... you are actually betraying your family. Aren't you afraid that Lu Bing will kill our whole family?"
"I...as a husband I have no choice but to agree."
"Go and turn yourself in."
"Lu Bing is good at suspicion and forbearance. Back then, he knelt in front of Xia Yan and cried bitterly, but then he and Yan Song and others put Xia Yan into the imperial prison. In his eyes, my husband is just an ant, and he can kill him with a single move..."
"You... don't admit it. Yes, we can deny it!" Wang's eyes lit up.
"Jiang Qingzhi only needs to have someone spread the news that he was in the imperial prison and met Xia Yan..."
"Where's the evidence?"
"That certificate...I bought a bird for my husband. That certificate...was written by myself. It is in Jiang Qingzhi's hand."
"Trade...what's wrong with trade?"
"That bird is worth sixty strings of cash." Li Jing's face was bleak.
"Who knows!" Wang was beaming with joy. "If we change the bird, who knows which one it is. When everyone sees it, it will just be an ordinary bird, right?"
Li Jing knelt there blankly, and Wang's heart slowly fell, "You..."
"That long Wilbur has a thorough understanding of people's hearts. He knows for sure that my husband loves birds as much as his life. After finding a bargain, he will definitely show off..."
"You went to show off?"
Li Jing nodded silently and covered his face with his hands.
"Who would sell you a bird for only four coins for sixty coins? Now everyone knows about it." Wang sat on the ground, "Oh my God, what's going on! That's Lu Bing!"
She choked up and looked up, only to see Li Jing sneering, "Have you thought of a solution?"
"Lu Bing is extremely powerful, but do you know who that young man was?" Li Jing's brows showed more ruthlessness.
"Aren't you talking about Jiang Qingzhi? Who is Jiang Qingzhi?"
"Your Majesty's cousin."
"Is he more powerful than Lu Bing?"
Li Jing raised his eyes, "Lu Bing is only your brother, yet he has so much power in the government. But that young man is your Majesty's dear cousin..."
"If we can get on his good side..." Wang clapped her hands, "It's a blessing in disguise!"
Li Jing suddenly laughed.
"Hahahaha!"
On the roof, Dou Jialan was dressed in black.
He said softly, "Back then, I respected Lu Bing as if he were a god. But in front of Master Bo, his ability to manipulate people's hearts is far inferior to his!"
She put the dagger back in her arms.
Then disappeared into the night.
……
That night.
Li Jing appeared in the imperial prison again.
"Hey! Captain Li..."
The person on duty was surprised.
Li Jing said sternly, "The commander ordered that Xia Yan should be kept under guard for the next few days. I was worried about him at home, so I came to see him."
He made a round of inspection and saw many jailers chatting lazily, but he did not scold them.
Turning back, he ordered, "After Xia Yan's incident, take turns to have a holiday."
"Thank you, centurion!"
Li Jing smiled and said, "Go and have a rest. I'll watch over you."
After the person on duty left, Li Jing waved.
A man dressed in Jinyiwei clothes came in.
"Walk."
There were oil lamps hanging on both sides of the alley. The lamps were dying, and the people in the cells on both sides looked like ghosts. "It's unfair!"
A howl suddenly broke out from the cell on the left.
But no matter whether it was the prisoners or anyone else, it seemed as if they didn't hear it.
All the way to Xia Yan's cell.
Xia Yan sat on the straw mat in a daze. The light from the lantern turned around and he slowly looked up.
He stood up suddenly and said happily, "But is it your Majesty's messenger?"
He knew Li Jing, so he looked past Li Jing and saw that there was only one Jinyiwei following him, and he couldn't help but feel sad.
Li Jing said softly: "I'll be watching outside, you...be careful."
Xia Yan was startled, rushed over and grabbed the railing, looking carefully at the Jinyiwei who was walking towards him with his head down.
"You are……"
The Royal Guard looked up.
"You..." Xia Yan had a good memory and pointed at the Jinyiwei, "You are the young man outside Tongzhou City."
"After we parted in Tongzhou, I said we would meet again in Beijing." Jiang Qingzhi smiled, "I am Jiang Qingzhi."
"You are His Majesty's relative, come here..." Xia Yan said tentatively.
"I came here on my own initiative." Jiang Qingzhi had no time to exchange pleasantries with Xia Yan, "Yan Song and others are outside planning to kill Lord Xia."
"Your Majesty is wise, how could he be bewitched by them?" Xia Yan sneered.
"Your Majesty didn't intend to kill before, but today he said that Xia Yan deserves to die!" Seeing Xia Yan didn't believe it, Jiang Qingzhi asked, "Do you know why?"
Xia Yan sneered.
"Do you know why Zeng Xin died?"
"Framed by those bastards!" Xia Yan said.
"Do you know why Your Majesty agreed to the restoration at the beginning but later firmly opposed it?" Jiang Qingzhi had read about this history in later generations, and at this moment, facing the parties involved, he couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
"Young man, don't try to fool me." Xia Yan said calmly, "I have been the prime minister of the Ming Dynasty for many years, and I have seen all kinds of people."
"I've never seen anyone as confident as you!" Jiang Qingzhi pointed at Xia Yan. Just as Xia Yan was furious, he said, "How many people in the court were against the restoration of the system at the beginning? About 70% of them!"
Xia Yan thought about it and realized that there was.
Jiang Qingzhi did not wait for his answer and continued, "At that time, Your Majesty also agreed to restore the system and coordinated with the ministers. But not long after, the ministers changed their attitude and agreed to restore the system. What happened in between?"
Xia Yan recalled, "I suppressed..."
"His Majesty agreed to the restoration, but the ministers still refused to bow their heads. But you, Xia Yan, took action, and the ministers bowed their heads and obeyed. Who is the emperor of the Ming Dynasty?"
Xia Yan stood up suddenly, and felt thunder roaring in his ears.
"Whoever becomes the emperor will kill you!" Jiang Qingzhi's eyes were sharp. "And every time you write a memorial to defend yourself, you are reminding Your Majesty that Xia Yan deserves to die!"
"That's it, that's it..."
Xia Yan pinched himself hard, looked at Jiang Qingzhi in despair, and saluted.
"Thank you for your advice, otherwise I would still be a confused ghost in the underworld."
Xia Yan, the former Prime Minister, who was famous for his uprightness and unyielding character, was now showing his gratitude and paying great respects to a young man.
If this gets out, I wonder how many people will be shocked.
"Who said you were going to die?"
Xia Yan was stunned. "Your Majesty cares most about power. If I violate his taboo, how can I not die?"
Jiang Qingzhi sneered.
Xia Yan's heart trembled, "Could it be that I can escape this disaster?"
He stared at the boy intently.
The young man looked at him, "Mr. Xia, I need you to do something."
"What's the matter?"
"Bow to your majesty."
"You want me to confess my guilt?" Xia Yan's beard moved without wind.
This proud little old man!
Many people have tried to persuade Xia Yan over the years, but no one has succeeded.
Xia Yan always felt that he was extremely talented and that being able to serve Emperor Jiajing was a perfect match between an emperor and his subject.
Yes, you read that right. In Xia Yan's eyes, and even in the eyes of Yang Tinghe in his early years, the status of the emperor and the prime minister was equal. But Yang Tinghe went a step further and felt that Emperor Jiajing should bow to him.
Xia Yan's reputation for arrogance spread throughout the court and the country, so Yan Song and others were certain that he would not bow his head.
If you don’t bow your head, you will die!
Lian Fucheng felt that Jiang Qingzhi's risky move had less than a 30% chance of success.
It was because of Xia Yan’s pride.
"Yan Song, Lu Bing and others have been trying their best to encourage Your Majesty to put you to death."
Jiang Qingzhi's voice was very low, but Li Jing, who was hiding in the dark, heard it clearly. He smiled bitterly, "I wanted to cling to the uncle's thigh, but who knew that you actually wanted to persuade Xia Yan to bow his head and plead guilty. If I had known this, I would rather turn myself in. At least, my family can still survive for a while."
Li Jing regretted it so much that his intestines turned green.
Xia Yan sat back.
"Once you die, Yan Song will no longer have any power to restrain him. You once made him bow his head and bend his back like a lackey."
Xia Yan raised his head with an arrogant look.
"Lu Bing once knelt before you and cried bitterly, begging you to let him go."
Xia Yan smiled.
"Cui Yuan didn't dare to look you in the face..."
Xia Yan narrowed his eyes and recalled those glorious years.
"Now, you will die in their hands. When your head is hung in the West Market, what are those enemies who once bowed humbly to you doing?"
"Celebrate!" Jiang Qingzhi said softly, "Afterwards, they will vent their remaining hatred on your family. You can only watch them gloat over their hatred from above their grave."
He pointed at Xia Yan and said, "All this is just because you feel it is shameful to confess your guilt to His Majesty. Shameful... You think you are awesome, but in the eyes of your enemies, all this is just bullshit!"
Jiang Qingzhi turned around and walked towards the darkness.
On playing with people’s hearts!
Who am I afraid of!
He saw Li Jing with a grim look on his face.
Smile.
Xia Yan's voice came from behind.
"Can you save me?"
Jiang Qingzhi stopped.
Look back.
In the dim light, the boy nodded confidently.
"arrange!"
(End of this chapter)
