The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

The court had a strict mourning system, and officials had to ask for leave and return to their hometowns to attend the funeral when their wives died. However, as a provincial governor, he was in charge of the administrative, financial and civil affairs of a province, so he could not just leave. He had to hand over all the official affairs he had handled during his tenure to the temporary acting official.

Jia Zheng hurried all the way, working day and night, and finally arrived home the day before Lady Wang's funeral. He could not go home directly, but had to report to the Emperor Wushang first to report on Henan's government affairs.

After seeing Jia Zheng off, the eunuch returned to the Baohe Hall and saw the Supreme Emperor standing in front of the window in a trance. He picked up the tea bowl on the imperial table and walked over, saying softly, "Supreme Emperor, Supreme Emperor, have a sip of tea."

The Supreme Emperor came back to his senses and said, "Hmm." Without turning around or taking the cup of tea, he suddenly asked, "Who do you think this Jia Zheng is?"

The eunuch holding the seal paused, thought for a moment, and replied, "He is a pedantic and honest man."

The Supreme Emperor: "It's good to be pedantic. Pedantic people abide by the rules, have no bad intentions, and are reliable." At this point, he suddenly remembered, "How is the investigation going?"

The eunuch in charge of the seal said: "I was just about to report this to the Supreme Emperor. There is nothing suspicious about it."

Supreme Emperor: "Have you checked everything?"

The eunuch in charge of the seal said: "We have checked everything that needs to be checked. All that is left is the autopsy."

The Supreme Emperor raised his hand and said, "Then do an autopsy!"

"Autopsy?!" The eunuch in charge of the seal became anxious upon hearing this. "Such a big commotion will definitely not be hidden from the Jia family."

The Supreme Emperor interrupted him: "An open and aboveboard test."

An open autopsy?
The eunuch in charge of the seal almost jumped up: "The Jia family will not agree! Not to mention that the dead are the most important, Wang is the head of the second branch of the Rongguo Mansion. She must be stripped naked in public and her stomach must be cut open."

The Supreme Emperor turned around and glared at him: "Who told you that you have to dissect the body for an autopsy?!"

The eunuch in charge of the seal: "No need to cut open the stomach?"

Supreme Emperor: "There are many ways to perform an autopsy. I have asked Doctor Wang. Wang only caught a cold last time and her vitality was not damaged at all. Although the cold this time is a bit serious, she shouldn't have died suddenly. She didn't even have time to take the 'Single Ginseng Soup' that could save her life. Whether she was poisoned or not, we can just use a silver needle to test it and we will know for sure."

After a pause, he said, "He is too impatient. If he had waited a few more months, or half a year, I would not have become suspicious."

The eunuch in charge was slightly startled. What did that mean? Who was too impatient?

The Supreme Emperor looked at him and said, "Spread a rumor."

Eunuch holding the seal: "Rumor, rumor"

The Supreme Emperor was silent for a moment and said, "Let me tell you one thing. Jia Zhen's death is related to two people. Wang and the fourth brother. Wang betrayed Qin and Ningguo Mansion, and the fourth brother spread the rumor of 'stealing ashes', and these two people are dead."

This was shocking news, and the eunuch in charge of the seal widened his eyes.

The Supreme Emperor was silent for a moment, then continued, "I suspect that both of these things are related to Jia Jing."

The eunuch in charge swallowed subconsciously: "How dare he?!"

With a snort, the Supreme Emperor said: "The Taoist priest is very brave!"

The eunuch in charge of the seal understood: "I will arrange it right away and tell them that Wang was poisoned to death by Jia Jing of Ningguo Mansion."

The Supreme Emperor: "And let's spread the news that Wang betrayed Qin and Ningguo Mansion."

The eunuch in charge of the seal: "Will Jia Jing be able to guess this?"

The Supreme Emperor sneered: "I just want to alert the enemy!"

After a pause, he said, "After the news spreads, let Jia Yuanchun take people to perform an autopsy."

The eunuch in charge of the seal hesitated for a moment, "The Queen Mother's temper..."

"It's not her turn to do this!"

The Supreme Emperor snorted coldly, "Tell her that if she doesn't do as I say, I will give the little emperor to someone else to raise." He paused and said, "Tell her well that she certainly doesn't want Wang to die in vain. Also, tell her not to worry. Even if there is any problem, I will let her handle it. Let Jia Zheng replace Jia Jing's Grand Secretary."

The eunuch in charge of the seal said: "The court has a rule that only those who have passed the imperial examinations on the first and second lists can enter the Hanlin Academy, and only those who have passed the Hanlin Academy can enter the cabinet."

The Supreme Emperor glanced at him.

The eunuch in charge of the seal realized that this promise was a lie to keep Jia Yuanchun stable.

At this moment, the eunuch on duty hurried in with a piece of urgent mail with chicken feathers stuck on it: "From Shengjing City!"

The Supreme Emperor took the urgent letter, tore open the seal and read it, then he hummed and his face suddenly became serious.

As he watched, the Supreme Emperor sneered, "Heaven-granted Emperor? Granted by heaven? Is he worthy of it?!"

After reading it, the Supreme Emperor closed the urgent letter and walked back and forth quickly.

The eunuch in charge of the seal and the chief eunuch on duty looked at each other, and their eyes quietly followed the footsteps of the Supreme Emperor.

The Supreme Emperor walked to the window and suddenly stopped: "Go, bring that Heshen here."

The eunuch on duty said: "Yes."

"Don't let others know." The Supreme Emperor added.

Looking at Aunt Zhao acting beside Jia Zheng, Li Hu smiled secretly. The court also had a rule that when the wife died, one had to mourn for a year. During this year, he could not sleep with other concubines, let alone take a new lover. Otherwise, it would be regarded as disrespectful to the deceased wife, and he would be impeached by the officials!

Wang Ziteng did not come back. Military officers were different from civil officials, especially those stationed at the border. They were responsible for the safety of the country. Since ancient times, there has been a practice of taking away their loved ones. Even if their parents or grandparents died, they were not allowed to return home to attend the funeral, let alone a sister.

Of course, there are exceptions to everything, and the exceptions are in the hands of the emperor. As long as he gives an order, exceptions can be made for everything!
Laws and rules are worthless in front of the emperor. They are all bullshit! No wonder there is no man who doesn't want to be an emperor!

Thinking about this, Li Hu picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, put it down, leaned back, closed his eyes, and thought: Teachers have taught us since childhood that students who don't want to make progress are not good students. Listen to the teacher and be a good student!

After sending Aunt Zhao and the others away, Jia Zheng walked over to sit next to Li Hu and said softly, "According to the Emperor, I will be transferred to Beijing to take up a post soon."

Li Hu opened his eyes.

Jia Zheng: "I don't want to go to the capital. Not only do I have to deal with all the social conventions, but I also have to deal with intrigues all day long. Every word I say has a hidden meaning. It's tiring!"

Li Hu raised his eyebrows. Did he realize something?

Jia Zheng glanced out the window and said to Li Hu, "I'm going to ask you something and you must tell me the truth."

Li Hu looked at him without answering.

Jia Zheng lowered his voice and asked, "How did Emperor Tianyou die?"

Li Hu was shocked when he heard this. This old guy is not stupid!

Jia Zheng leaned forward and lowered his voice: "I heard some rumors in Henan that Emperor Tianyou was poisoned by the retired emperor, and that Emperor Tianyou was precocious and difficult to control. There was also the song "Little Sun the Butcher" sung by the second assistant before his death, the heavy snow, and the spring thunder that hit the Daming Palace. Rumors are everywhere, but no one dares to report it to the court."

Li Hu was stunned at first, then he immediately realized that it must be Zhang Cheng who was causing trouble!
At this moment, Zhou Rui hurried in: "Master, Master Xue and Master Wang Renbiao are fighting!"

Jia Zheng frowned: "What's going on?"

Zhou Rui: "I heard from Master Huan San that Master Wang Renbiao said some nonsense and angered Master Xue."

Jia Zheng: "What?"

Zhou Rui paused and said, "Praise Miss Xia."

Jia Zheng's face darkened: "Damn you little bastard!" Then he stood up and walked out. (End of this chapter)