My father is Yongzheng, and I am Qianlong?

Chapter 235 Fourth Master's expression changes, he reprimands the Governor!

Hongli has not yet arrived in Jiangning.

The soldiers who first surrounded the Cao family were dispatched by Fan Shiyi, the Governor-General of Liangjiang.

Meanwhile, because Xu Yuanmeng, the acting Grand Secretary and Minister of Revenue, was dismissed, Chardan had already been promoted back to the capital to serve as the Manchu Minister of Revenue, and Fan Shiyi became the Governor-General of Liangjiang.

Fan Shiyi had already received the imperial edict in advance, and surrounded the Cao family of the Jiangning Textile Bureau, waiting for Hongli to come and confiscate their property.

When the old lady of the Cao family, Madam Li, and everyone else in the Cao family learned from Cao Shun that government soldiers had come to ransack their home, they all panicked.

Everyone was at a loss, some even fainted, prompting those around them to shout in panic.

Madam Li herself hugged Cao Xueqin and her granddaughters, weeping: "I never thought that my Cao family would still end up like this!"

By the time Hongli arrived in Jiangning, it wasn't just the Cao family who knew about it; the entire Jiangning region was aware of it.

"This humble servant, Fan Shiyi, the Governor-General of Liangjiang, under the Sixth Banner of the Bordered Yellow Banner Han Army, pays respects to Your Highness, Fourth Master!"

"This humble servant, He Tianpei, General of Jiangning, Third Captain of the Plain White Banner Han Army, greets Fourth Master!"

"Your subject, Li Wei, Governor of Jiangsu, greets Your Highness, Fourth Prince."

……

When Hongli arrived in Jiangning, the first people he met were a group of local officials from Jiangsu.

These local officials, led by Fan Shiyi, He Tianpei, and Li Wei, all appeared extremely cautious upon seeing Hongli, barely daring to breathe.

Because they all knew very well how noble the current fourth prince, Hongli, was, and that he was practically the future emperor.

However, due to the intense summer heat, Hongli did not intend to stay outside for long. After the local officials bowed, he immediately raised his folding fan and said, "Rise."

Jiangsu officials, including Fan Shiyi, He Tianpei, and Li Wei, then expressed their gratitude and rose to their feet.

Fan Shiyi's face lit up with a bright smile. He jogged up to Hongli, bowed, and said, "Fourth Master, I have already been ordered to send troops to surround the entire Weaving Bureau. We are just waiting for you to come and search it."

Hongli nodded and asked, "Has a slave rebellion occurred?"

When a tree falls, its monkeys scatter. When many prominent families had their property confiscated, servants would rebel and cause trouble, such as seeking revenge against their former masters or colluding with officials to abscond with the money.

Fan Shiyi replied, "There were a few servants who tried to break into the backyard to rob people and property, but the soldiers I sent have detained them in the back room, awaiting your decision, Fourth Master."

"well done!"

Hongli opened his folding fan and replied.

"Where are the artisans from the Weaving Bureau?"

Then, Hongli asked him about it.

Fan Shiyi thought for a moment and replied, "For the time being, they are all locked up in the various weaving workshops under the Weaving Bureau, awaiting your decision."

"Nonsense!"

Hongli's expression suddenly changed.

Fan Shiyi's face immediately turned pale, his legs went weak, and he knelt down in front of Hongli: "This servant begs Fourth Master for guidance!"

"The silk weaving should not stop; it's none of their business."

Hongli only imitated a classic character from a certain TV series and left behind this sentence.

"Whoo!"

He then boarded his specially made four-wheeled gilded carriage and instructed, "Go directly to the Jiangning Textile Bureau."

"We, your servants, respectfully see off Fourth Master!"

Fan Shiyi also stood up at this moment. He did not dare to complain that Hongli had reprimanded him as soon as he arrived. He only replied respectfully with these words. Then, together with the officials present, he bowed and watched the four-wheeled carriage that Hongli was riding in drive away in front of them.

However, when they saw the four-wheeled carriage that Hongli was riding in, the officials all looked surprised, thinking that the carriage that the Fourth Prince was riding in was different from others, and must be an exquisite item made in the palace.

Before long, Fan Shiyi and other local officials in Jiangsu spotted their old friend Cao Zhaoye in the prison cart again, and they became even more curious.

Cao Zhaoye turned his head to the other side, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

Fan Shiyi didn't think much of it and immediately sent people to the weaving workshop to release the detained craftsmen and let them continue working.

Because the Jiangning Textile Bureau once served as an imperial palace for Emperor Kangxi, it was built to be exceptionally grand and exquisite, and was not simply a private residence of the Cao family and a textile bureau.

Therefore, when Hongli arrived here, he was also amazed by the scale of the Weaving Bureau.

Based solely on the scale of the Imperial Textile Bureau, Hongli could guess that he would be able to seize a considerable amount of assets from the Cao family during this raid.

Sui Hede, the newly appointed Imperial Textile Commissioner of Jiangning, who had come with Hongli to assist in the search and seizure, was even more excited at this moment.

Because, in the future, the vast Jiangning Textile Bureau would become his territory, and Hongli would only be staying temporarily. However, Sui Hede also knew that the sooner he finished confiscating the Cao family's property, the sooner Hongli could return, and the sooner he could become the true new master of the Jiangning Textile Bureau.

Therefore, Sui Hede eagerly and excitedly bowed to Hongli and said, "Fourth Master, it's hot right now, please rest in the front hall. This servant is willing to take the order to search and confiscate the goods first, and I guarantee that I will search and confiscate this place thoroughly for you!"

Upon hearing this, Fu Peng glanced at Sui Hede with displeasure.

Hongli glared at Sui Hede: "What's the rush! You're not afraid of the heat, but aren't your subordinates also afraid of the heat? Besides, everyone in this mansion is now my bondservants. If anything goes wrong, it will be my loss. Let me come up with a proper plan for the confiscation first."

"Whoo!"

"This servant was too hasty; Your Highness is right to rebuke me."

"Please punish me, Fourth Master!"

Sui Hede hurriedly patted his sleeves and knelt down, sweat beading on his forehead.

"That's it!"

Hongli waved his hand, and then instructed Fu Peng:
"You sent troops to take over the defense of the Governor's Battalion at the Textile Bureau."

"Whoo!"

Fu Peng bowed and left.

Hongli then instructed his servants Wufu and Shuangding: "Wufu, take the guards from the mansion and stand guard in the shaded areas at the front gates of the private residence of the Imperial Textile Bureau. Shuangding, take the guards from the mansion and stand guard in the shaded areas at the back gate of the private residence of the Imperial Textile Bureau."

"Whoo!"

Hongli then entered the Cao residence with only Li Yu, Princess Jin, Li Zhenxia, ​​and Cao Zhaoye, who was wearing shackles, and went straight to the main hall of the Cao residence.

Simultaneously with comparison.

The guards of Prince Hongli's mansion also surged in like a tide, flowing along the eaves to the shady spots at each gate, causing the governor's yamen's garrison soldiers, who were temporarily guarding the shady spots at each gate, to withdraw one after another.

Looking at the armored soldiers and iron spears scattered all around, and Cao Zhaoye walking unsteadily in front of her, Li Zhenxia couldn't help but clench the handkerchief in her hand. She seemed to recall the day her home was ransacked, and her face began to turn pale.

What makes her feel fortunate is that she is now in the team responsible for confiscating property.

Hongli, accompanied by Li Yu, Jin Shi, and others, arrived at the main hall of the Cao family's textile manufacturing office—Xuanrui Hall. He then sat down on a grand master's chair to the left of a large rosewood carved dragon table in the center, waving a folding fan and glancing around.

He knew that "Xuanrui Hall" was a name bestowed by Emperor Kangxi, and that it was built by Emperor Kangxi for Cao Yin's mother, Madam Sun. The name of the hall on the plaque inside was also written by Emperor Kangxi himself.

Sitting here now, Hongli can imagine how illustrious and dazzling the Cao family once was, but now they have all become household slaves at his mercy.

"Li Yu, have Zhenxia lead you to the backyard to deliver a message: have everyone in the Cao family come here to pay their respects."

“Girl Jin led the female members of the household through the inner gate to the hall to kowtow, while Li Yu led the male members of the household through the ceremonial gate to kowtow outside the hall. The household servants kowtowed below the platform, with the men on the left and the women on the right.”

Anyone who causes trouble must be apprehended immediately!

"Whoo!"

After giving the order, Hongli took the tea from another maid and sipped it carefully. At the same time, Cao Zhaoye went outside the hall and knelt down.

Li Zhenxia was indeed very familiar with the backyard of the Imperial Textile Bureau, and soon led Li Yu to the main room of Old Madam Li.

At this moment, Madam Li and other members of the Cao family, regardless of gender, gathered together, chattering about many things filled with fear, worry, and accusations.

"Miss Li has arrived, along with an old man!"

But when Li Zhenxia brought Li Yu, an excited shout came from the main room.

At this point, Madam Li had someone help her kneel down.

Cao Shun and other male heads of the Cao family also knelt down.

Li Yuxian flung the curtain aside and strode in, flicking his whisk and raising his head, saying, "By order of Fourth Master, you are all to go to Xuanrui Hall immediately to pay your respects to the Master..."

So, after Li Yu said that, all these people headed towards Xuanrui Hall.

However, when Madam Li and the women of the household passed by Li Zhenxia, ​​they couldn't help but glance at her.

Cao Xueqin, who was thirteen years old by Chinese reckoning, stopped in front of her and suddenly asked, "How does Fourth Master treat you, my sister?"

Li Zhenxia ignored him and couldn't help but want to help Old Madam Li, but Li Yu coughed at this moment, and Old Madam Li hurriedly pushed her away, saying with an embarrassed smile, "This old servant dares not trouble you, young lady!"

Li Zhenxia was stunned for a moment, but then followed.

When Madam Li and the other members of the Cao family arrived at Hongli's place, they naturally saw Cao Zhaoye dressed in prison clothes and wearing shackles. Their faces were filled with fear, and they were very respectful when they performed the grand salute.

When Madam Li was summoned to Hongli's side, she knelt down and kowtowed in the most humble way, saying, "As a woman of the Cao family, I have failed to educate my children and grandchildren well, causing my ancestors to be disgraced and my master to suffer. I deserve to die a thousand deaths!"

(End of this chapter)