The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

In Kunning Palace, Xue Baochai, Jia Yingchun, Amber and Xiangling all came and were talking to Lin Daiyu.

At this moment, the little fat man's voice came from outside the warm room: "The emperor has arrived!"

Before he finished his words, Li Hu rushed in like a gust of wind.

Lin Daiyu, who was sitting on the couch, stood up, while Xue Baochai, Jia Yingchun, Amber and Xiangling knelt down.

Seeing Li Hu looking at her with a silly smile, Lin Daiyu rolled her eyes and said to the four people, "You all go back."

Xue Baochai, Jia Yingchun, Amber and Xiangling answered: "Yes." Then they left with different moods.

Seeing that Li Hu was still grinning foolishly, Lin Daiyu glared at him in reproach: "You're still laughing, your saliva is about to flow out!" Then she went to make tea.

"Stand still, don't move." Li Hu came back to his senses and quickly stopped her.

"What's wrong?" Lin Daiyu looked at him in confusion.

Li Hu hurriedly stepped forward and helped her sit down, saying, "You are pregnant now, you can't get tired."

Lin Daiyu laughed and said, "Look how nervous you are. You've only been pregnant for a month or two. Besides, it's just making a cup of tea. How can you make me so tired?"

"Bah, bah, bah"

Li Hu grabbed Lin Daiyu's hand and patted it, "Don't talk nonsense about life and death! It's because it's been less than two months and it's unstable, so you have to be more careful. You have to stay happy, don't get overly excited, and don't overwork. Also, you have to improve your nutrition and get enough rest."

Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and smiled: "Then don't make me angry again in the future."

"Don't provoke, don't provoke."

Li Hu suddenly realized, "Don't slander me, when did I make you angry?!"

Lin Daiyu did not say anything, but just pouted her little mouth, as if she could hang a large oil bottle on it, and just looked at Li Hu.

Li Hu laughed angrily: "You, I'm in your hands for the rest of my life. Okay, okay, I promise not to make you angry again. Okay?"

After hearing what Li Hu said, Lin Daiyu raised her head proudly, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a sweet smile.

Li Hu nodded at her with a smile, sat down beside her, then carefully reached out his hand, touched her abdomen, and said with a smile: "That's great!"

Lin Daiyu: "Li Yuanzheng said that you don't have to worry too much. Just do what you need to do. Walk around more and don't sit or lie down for a long time."

Li Hu immediately responded: "We must listen to what Li Yuanzheng says."

Lin Daiyu said, "Hmm," and asked, "How is the Military Equipment Bureau doing?"

After briefly explaining the matter, Li Hu suddenly remembered: "Oh, by the way, have you written a letter to our father?"

Lin Daiyu shook her head slightly.

"I'll write a letter to my father right now to make him happy!"

Li Hu stood up and said, "Not only our father, but also the soldiers on the front line should be informed of this happy event."

The royal family has no private affairs, everything they do concerns the whole world.

The queen was pregnant, which meant that the Tang Dynasty had an heir, especially for the soldiers on the front line, which meant that their loyalty to Li Hu had a future.

Seeing Lin Daiyu lower her head, Li Hu asked anxiously: "What's wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

Lin Daiyu lowered her head slightly: "What if it's a daughter?"

Li Hu felt relieved when he heard this, and sat down next to Lin Daiyu again, and took her into his arms, saying with a smile: "Whether it is a boy or a girl, I like it. We are still young and have plenty of time. Let's try to have two babies in three years. Well, let's have ten or eight of them."

Lin Daiyu was embarrassed, and she slapped Li Hu with a sneer: "Ten or eight, what do you think I am? I am disgusting!"

Li Hu smiled and said, "Today the weather is nice and there is no wind. I will accompany you to the Imperial Garden. It won't be far. We can just take a stroll and come back soon."

"Your Majesty." The fat man's voice suddenly came from outside the warm room.

Li Hu: "What's the matter?"

The little fat man was silent for a moment, then replied, "In reply to the emperor, there was news from Taihe Tower that Concubine Xian's brother, the Patrol Censor, happened to be passing by the door."

Li Hu frowned: "Where is Xue Pan?"

Little Fatty: "There are too many people at the scene, the patrolling censor can only send them to the Dali Temple."

Li Hu snorted, "You stir up trouble as soon as you come back."

Lin Daiyu had already sat up and smoothed Li Hu's frown with her hand, saying, "This matter can't be blamed entirely on Xue Pan, it's Xia San."

Li Hu raised his hand and said, "It's useless to say these things. Xia San is dead, and the murderer is a royal relative. The most simple emotion of the common people is to sympathize with the weak. Besides, Xia San's death is indeed related to Xue Pan."

Lin Daiyu was silent for a moment: "What should we do? We can't really let Xue Pan pay with his life, right?"

There were footsteps outside the warm room again, and then the fat man reported: "Your Majesty, the Dali Temple has sent the case file."

Li Hu stood up and walked back and forth in the warm room with his hands behind his back.

Lin Daiyu smiled bitterly. This Xue Pan was such a worry!
Li Hu walked to the door of the warm room and stopped. "Draft an imperial decree. Jia Yucun will be promoted to the position of Cabinet Scholar, and he will remain as the Minister of Rites. After receiving the imperial decree, he will work with the Dali Temple, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice to examine the case. The trial must be thorough and the conviction must be based on the law."

Lin Daiyu was shocked. There was nothing to try in this case. Xue Pan would most likely be exiled.

Little Fatty: "As you wish."

Li Hu: "Send the files of Xia's family and Wang Ren to Jia Yucun along with the case files."

Little Fatty: "Yes."

Lin Daiyu's eyes flashed, and she immediately understood Li Hu's intention.

Li Hu walked back to Lin Daiyu and said, "Let's go to the Imperial Garden."

Lin Daiyu stood up: "Over there, Baoyatou"

Li Hu smiled and said, "The Tang Dynasty is not the Shun Dynasty. Without my approval, no one dares to pass on any news to the harem." After that, he put his arm around her waist and walked out.

Dali Temple Main Hall

Jia Yucun sat at the large desk in the center, with officials from the Dali Temple, the Ministry of Justice, and the Censorate sitting on both sides.

The three of them looked at Jia Yucun, who was looking down at the files, with complicated expressions. The Cabinet Bachelor was a subordinate of the Cabinet Grand Secretary, and was mainly responsible for the cabinet's document processing, memorial review and other matters. Although his duties were relatively idle and he had little power, he was regarded as a necessary step to enter the cabinet and become a prime minister.

As people who had all worked in officialdom for decades, the three of them naturally understood Li Hu's intention, which was to use a bigger case to muddy the waters, divert the attention of the people, and finally let Xue Pan get away.

They didn't expect to encounter such a ridiculous thing, where a low-class villain actually played the Wang, Xue and Xia families around. Even storytellers and opera singers wouldn't dare to act like this.

Jia Yucun had already taken the credit, so they would not get involved in this mess. The three of them looked at each other, the Minister of Justice covered his mouth and yawned, the Chief Censor clenched his fist and pounded his back, and the Supreme Court Minister simply closed his eyes.

At this time, the Minister of Rites came in excitedly holding a case record and reported to Jia Yucun: "Minister, Xia San's wife has confessed!"

Jia Yucun raised his head and took the case record.

Minister of Rites: "This Xia San is not only guilty of ten crimes, but also guilty of a hundred crimes! Xia Jingui's mother also died at his hands."

The Minister of Justice, the Chief Censor, and the Supreme Court Minister instantly became alert and all looked at the Minister of Rites. The Minister of Rites continued, "Wang Ziteng's wife was not ill, but was poisoned by Xia San and Xia Jingui. They are waiting for Wang Ziteng's wife to die, and then they will swallow up the Wang family's property."

After a pause, he said, "That Xia San is so bold that he has set his sights on Wang Ziteng's daughter again!"

The Minister of Justice, the Chief Censor, and the Chief Justice of the Dali Temple looked at each other in surprise. This Xia San was truly so audacious!
Jia Yucun stood up and said, "Let's go to Wang's house!"

The three officials were shocked: "Go to Wang's house?"

Jia Yucun sorted out the case files and said, "We need to let the Wang family take the initiative to file a complaint. Only then can the case be justified and not damage the reputation of the royal family."

The Minister of Justice, the Chief Censor, and the Supreme Court Minister looked at each other and said, "If this matter gets out, I'm afraid the Wang family won't be able to face anyone."

Jia Yucun smiled and said, "The Wang family was almost eaten to the bone, and you still care about your face?" As he said that, he picked up the case files and walked out, saying, "Take Baochan with you."

"Yes." The Minister of Rites followed him out.

The Minister of Justice looked at the Chief Censor and the Supreme Court Justice and said, "Let's just watch the fun, ahem. Can you help Lord Jia persuade them?"

The three of them smiled at each other, then chased after him.

It was already dark, and the bright lights were lit again in Kunning Palace.

The imperial desk was piled with official documents. Li Hu raised his head from the pile and looked at Lin Daiyu, who was lying on the couch with her face up, holding a book and reading it.

Lin Daiyu seemed to have eyes behind her. She flipped through the book and said, "If I'm not reviewing official documents, what am I looking at?"

Li Hu: "If I keep watching, I'll feel like killing someone."

"What's wrong?" Lin Daiyu turned over and sat up, looking at Li Hu.

Li Hu picked up the memorial he had just approved and said, "The opening chapter of several thousand words is all nonsense. Only the last few hundred words are serious matters."

Lin Daiyu burst out laughing: "You don't understand?"

Li Hu glared at her and said, "Let's talk about serious matters."

"What's wrong?" Lin Daiyu put down the book in her hand and stood up.

Li Hu said sternly, "I am going to issue an edict that officials are not allowed to use pretentious formalities in their memorials. If you have something to say, just say it. If you have any opinions, just list them one by one. If anyone dares to write an opening of thousands or tens of thousands of words, he will have his butt beaten to a pulp!"

He paused, "The same goes for the court's official documents. Ordinary people simply cannot understand those so-called 'words of the saints'. From now on, all notices posted will be in plain language, plain language that ordinary people can understand!"

Lin Daiyu was silent for a moment, then said, "Local officials and clerks exploit and oppress the people because the people cannot understand official documents and legal provisions. It's time to change this." At this point, she bowed slightly, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Li Hu smiled complacently.

At this moment, the little fat man hurried in holding a memorial.

The little fat man said: "Your Majesty, this is the memorial from Cabinet Scholar Jia Yucun." Then he presented the memorial.

Li Hu took the exhibition and read a few lines. He nodded with satisfaction and said, "Jia Yucun is quite reliable in doing things." At this point, he was suddenly stunned and then laughed angrily.

Lin Daiyu was curious: "What's wrong?"

Li Hu shook the memorial and said, "According to Jia Yucun's opinion, Xue Pan has become a great hero who punishes evil and promotes good."

Lin Daiyu smiled and asked, "How do you plan to deal with Xue Pan?"

With a humph, Li Hu said: "Dismissed from office, exiled!"

Lin Daiyu advised: "It's OK to dismiss him from his nominal post in the Southern Pacification Office. After all, he is Bao's brother and Xue Ke's cousin."

Li Hu: "No. We must teach him a lesson this time! Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble he will cause in the future. Send him to the six towns of Yinshan to cultivate the land."

Lin Daiyu smiled bitterly, "He is Bao's biological brother after all. How can she live with dignity after doing this? Let's give him a lighter punishment this time."

Li Hu pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll listen to the Queen." Then he turned to the little fat man, "Go to Chuxiu Palace and tell Concubine Xian about this matter. This time I gave a lighter punishment because of the Queen's favor. Send Xue Pan to be exiled to Xue Ke."

Little Fatty: “Yes.” He answered and hurried out.

Lin Daiyu blinked her eyes several times and said, "Should I thank the emperor for his grace?"

Li Hu smiled and said, "In life, there must always be someone who plays the good guy." At this point, he rolled his eyes and said, "Hey, what do you say about me marrying Wang Ziteng's daughter to Xue Pan?"

Lin Daiyu was stunned for a moment. "Mrs. Wang Ziteng has always looked down on the Xue family, and she and the concubine can't stand each other. If they become relatives..."

Li Hu: “Isn’t it interesting?”

Lin Daiyu laughed and punched him: "You are so bad!"

Li Hu snorted and said, "Aren't the Xue family arrogant and want to marry someone of higher status? I will help them to be together, so that they won't cause any trouble in the future."

Lin Daiyu smiled. She understood Li Hu's intention. The Wang family was completely ruined and could not provide support to the Xue family, so Xue Baochai would not get any help from the Xue family. As for Xue Ke, he had no fame and was not a military general. The best result for him was to be the assistant minister of the six ministries, and he could not provide any help to Xue Baochai.

Besides, Xue Ke has a younger sister!
At this moment, the clock in the corner rang.

Li Hu took a look and said to Lin Daiyu, "It's getting late, let's rest."

Lin Daiyu smiled and said, "You should go to Baoyatou. You saved her brother, she will definitely do whatever you want. Ask her to change it for you tonight."

Li Hu's eyes widened: "What kind of tiger and wolf words are you talking about?"

"Hypocritical." Lin Daiyu curled her lips.

Li Hu: "Your uncle is about to sneeze again."

Lin Daiyu laughed angrily.

Li Hu picked up Lin Daiyu and walked towards the bedroom.

Two days passed in the blink of an eye, and what happened in these two days was enough for the people in the capital to brag about for the rest of their lives.

The case was full of ups and downs, and it made people sigh. The people of Beijing never thought that a murder case would involve so many shocking melons!

The road leading to Caishikou was crowded with people on both sides.

"I'm coming!"

The sound of heavy wheels was heard.

The crowd became agitated, and those at the back kept pushing forward. The officers and soldiers who were trying to maintain order held their spears horizontally and tried their best to hold back the surging crowd.

Lingchi was rare in itself, let alone lingchi of a female prisoner.

The crimes committed by Xia Jingui and Baochan were among the ten most serious crimes, namely "evil and rebellion" and "immorality", and they were sentenced to death by slow slicing according to the law.

According to the rules, Xia Jingui and Baochan were stripped naked and made to kneel on a flatbed prisoner car for an hour. They were then dragged onto a wooden donkey and paraded through the main streets of the city as a pre-execution parade. At 3:30 pm, the execution took place!

As for the child of Xia Jingui and Xia Sansheng, the grief-stricken Madam Wang Ziteng ordered her men to throw the child to death and into a mass grave outside the city.

At this time in the study, Li Hu put down the urgent mail in his hand, walked to the window and looked at the falling leaves outside. The Japanese were finally willing to leave Gyeonggi Province, and it was time for him to go to Liaodong. (End of this chapter)