Ming Jiajing: Starting from Immortality

Chapter 72: Recorded, the roundup begins! (Please read on)

Eight bright Xue Er lanterns were hung on both sides of the main entrance of the Hangzhou government office.

Ma Ningyuan, the prefect of Hangzhou Prefecture, was waiting outside the door, craning his neck to look anxiously.

Suddenly, a car bell rang in the distance. He perked up and raised his hand and shouted, "Light the lights!"

The yamen runners around hurriedly lit the fuse and put it into the lamp. Soon, eight emerald green halos lit up, reflecting four vermilion lacquered doorposts and a plaque with the words "Hangzhou Government Office".

The lamp is covered with a very thin bamboo skin, and the candlelight is elegant and restrained, just like the words of Zigong praising the Master in "The Analects of Confucius: Learning" as "gentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest", so it is named "Learn Lamp".

Ma Ningyuan was a juren, and had been selected as a tribute student for several years, but he was always ridiculed behind his back for his humble background and shallow knowledge.

Ma Ningyuan's background and education have always been a pain in his heart. It is difficult to change them, so he can only work hard on the surface.

Just to make the bamboo skin translucent, the craftsmen must select new young bamboo and carefully peel off the skin, making sure it is neither thick nor broken. It is unknown how much effort is spent on one lamp, and how much its value is.

A double-axled horse-drawn carriage and a prison van slowly arrived in front of the Hangzhou government office.

Ma Ningyuan was willing to save face and hurried down the stairs to greet him.

Hai Rui, dressed in official uniform, stepped out, followed by Xu Wei, dressed in plain clothes and acting as a legal advisor, who followed behind.

Seeing the two of them dressed like this, Ma Ningyuan felt a sudden panic in his heart.

"Sorry for the trouble. The prisoner cannot walk for long and has been delayed for many days," Hai Rui explained.

It was more than 300 miles from Chun'an to Hangzhou Prefecture. It took a day to invite Hai Rui to bring the prisoner Shen Yishi to Hangzhou to discuss the land acquisition documents. Hai Rui delayed the visit for three days by asking Li Shizhen to treat Shen Yishi because he was seriously ill. They then walked for another seven days on the road. It was a full eleven days since the beauty trap was set up.

This speed is slower than the average march of a large army. Fortunately, Shen Yishi, who is covered in wounds, can be used as an excuse.

"That's fine! That's fine! Coming from Chun'an must be tiring enough. Leave Shen Yishi to the officers. I have prepared the banquet. County Magistrate Hai, please come in!" Ma Ningyuan was smiling and was about to welcome him in.

Ma Ningyuan was prepared in advance for Hai Rui to refuse to persuade him again, but he did not expect Hai Rui to go up the stairs and go in.

Ma Ningyuan felt it was strange and did not move. Instead, Xu Wei acted as if he was home and took the lead, saying, "Ma Magistrate, let's go."

"Walk."

Ma Ningyuan forced a smile and ordered the yamen runners to open the middle gate to welcome Hai Rui and Xu Wei into the mansion.

All courts in the world are the same, there is nothing to say about it. But when you move to the back hall where the prefect and his family live, it seems like a completely different world.

The court hall is plain in appearance, but the back hall is extremely luxurious. After entering the courtyard, there are several grand halls in succession, with multiple corridors and corridors.

The wooden structures are all made of nanmu, painted gold and then covered with red and chalk carvings.

The vermilion is made by grinding cinnabar, and the ink is made by applying Hui ink powder.

The ground between the halls is a series of sloping slopes.

If someone looks down from the sky, they will find that the terrain of the entire Hangzhou government office back hall gradually sinks from the periphery to the middle, forming an inner house basin.

The basin is full of flower beds filled with lush exotic flowers and plants. From time to time, you can see rare varieties such as Langzhong's Buddha mulberry, Siamese red hydrangea, and South China Sea balalaika.

Hangzhou Prefecture is indeed the window to the world during the Ming Dynasty.

Due to the climate, these famous varieties often wither in one season, which makes them look even more extravagant.

It was mid-April, the time when pomegranates were just beginning to bloom and jasmines were in full bloom. There were also melons hanging down from the trellises, interspersed with tall hollyhocks and sparkling hibiscus, cleverly concealing the sunken terrain.

As people go deeper and deeper into the basin, they are immersed in the fragrance and forget about the world.

Such a design should have a name, namely: "Lying the Flowers and Hidden in the Pool".

Ma Ningyuan led Hai Rui and Xu Wei to the bottom of the Huazang Pond, where there was only a spacious bamboo pavilion.

Suddenly.

The piano sounded.

Xu Wei's eyes suddenly showed a look of surprise.

"Guangling San"!
Listening to the sound of the five strings, it is actually played by everyone.

Ma Ningyuan saw that Xu Wei was interested, but not Hai Rui, so he took the initiative to ask, "County Magistrate Hai, how about listening to the music?"

"Hai has been poor since childhood, and it was difficult for him to get dried fruits every day. He has never heard the sound of stringed instruments." Hai Rui said indifferently. Ma Ningyuan was startled and explained: "Hai Magistrate, this is Guangling San!"

"Ji Kang died because he refused to go along with the corrupt crowd. Who would have thought that his favorite Guangling San would now be reduced to a tool for flattery and be played with by others! If Ji Gong knew about this in his afterlife, he would be so heartbroken." Hai Rui added.

Ma Ningyuan noticed something was wrong, stopped playing the piano, and asked the woman in the bamboo pavilion to come out.

As soon as the door opened, Xu Wei was attracted by the beautiful woman at a glance. The woman's drooping brows and slightly closed lips were like a piece of music in "Guangling San", and his heart was so touched that he had nowhere to put it.

"County Magistrate Hai, her name is Yunniang, and she is my niece. Her elder brother and sister-in-law passed away when she was young, so I had to bring her up to live with me and teach her music. But I didn't want to let her get too romantic, and she was reluctant to get married. I couldn't let her down easily, and now she is twenty years old, and she has become a thorn in my side." Ma Ningyuan talked about Yunniang.

When you are outside, your identity is all based on what you say.

After flattering his superiors for so many years, Ma Ningyuan boasted that he understood the officials of the Ming Dynasty. He "pulled good people into trouble and persuaded prostitutes to become good women." The tragic life story he fabricated was the most useful.

Unfortunately, Ma Ningyuan had forgotten Hai Rui's resume. Hai Rui also saw through the trick at a glance, "Since she is a lady from a noble family, why do you let her show up in public and act like an actress? Magistrate Ma, is your niece really your biological daughter?"

Xu Wei's expression also changed.

After living in Jiangnan for many years, how could Yunniang, the most beautiful girl in Qinhuai, be so famous? Ma Ningyuan must have just adopted her as his niece.

Ma Ningyuan was anxious because he didn't play by the rules. He was about to explain the relationship, but Hai Rui didn't give him another chance: "It would cost a fortune to buy such an otaku. If Magistrate Ma could spare even a penny from it, the millions of soldiers and civilians in Hangzhou would be very lucky."

Ma Ningyuan turned off the engine.

At this time, Yunniang raised her head and met Hai Rui's eyes with indescribable charm, then lowered her eyes again.

Hai Rui became interested, but not in Yunniang, but in Yunniang's identity, "You are from the Weaving Bureau, why are you here serving Magistrate Ma?

Is this an order from Eunuch Yang in the Imperial Prison in the capital, or are you, a prostitute, having a private relationship with him?

The article is long, I will record it! "

As soon as these words came out.

Ma Ningyuan and Yunniang's faces turned pale immediately.

If they followed orders, it would be a collusion between local officials and eunuchs in the inner court.

If you go there secretly, it would be adultery!

Xu Wei took out a pen from somewhere and quickly recorded everything here.

……

Zheng Michang and He Maocai estimated the time.

"Is it almost done?" Zheng Michang's voice rang out.

If everything went well for Ma Ningyuan, Hai Rui would probably be making love with Yunniang at this moment. If Japanese pirates broke in at this time, they would kill Hai Rui in bed.

I think the imperial envoy who was ordered to visit a prostitute would be the first person in history.

The Japanese pirates at sea have already started to take action after obtaining the Ming Dynasty's coastal defense map. In the past few days, Hangzhou Prefecture has been the first to become turbulent.

"almost."

He Maocai's eyes showed murderous intent: "But in the Hangzhou government office, Ma Ningyuan, Shen Yishi, and even Xu Wei are all there."

"Then let the Japanese pirates kill them all. Ma Ningyuan is useless, Shen Yishi has gotten involved again, Xu Wei, it's bad luck for him!"

"it is good!"

He Maocai nodded and wanted to call his confidant to release the person, but there was no response.

Squeak.

The door opened.

Shen Yu, the captain of the Zhejiang Thousand Households Division of the Jinyiwei, and several Jinyiwei Tiqi were standing there.

Behind him, He Maocai's confidant fell in a pool of blood.

"It's over!"

(End of this chapter)