The Legend of Rebirth of the Demon Empress

Chapter 43
This jade pendant can only be bought for 1000 taels, and Linlang Pavilion relied on its own reputation to offer a reserve price of 2000 taels.Just now Cao Lang paid out 5000 taels in one breath, which made everyone present dumbfounded. Now Li Zongyan directly increased it to 7000 taels.

Strange to say, there were many children from aristocratic families present, and there were even literati from various high-ranking families. Not to mention "knowing all the people on the road in the capital", at least people with a little background in Beijing can be called by name, but No one knows the origin of these two people.

Cao Lang seemed to have encountered a tempting delicacy, and his eyes glowed with excitement. He squinted at Li Zongyan and said, "Interesting, indeed interesting! Does Prince Zongyan insist on arguing with me? If I Adding up to 8000 taels, is it possible that you still have to pay 1 taels to buy this jade pendant?"

Looking at Cao Lang's eyes that seemed to be smiling but not smiling, Li Zongyan faintly felt that things were not so simple, but since he was determined to make a name for himself in the capital, he would naturally have to face criticism, and said immediately: "Wealth and honor are what people want. Often listen to Said, the Zanying family is full of gold and jade, this Dayan's rich and noble jade, you can get it, why can't I get it?"

Cao Lang took a step forward and whispered in Li Zongyan's ear: "Prince Zongyan, you are a prince of Changli, but you never forget this jade pendant of unknown origin, and you even bid ten thousand taels. Tell me, if it is passed on to the Holy One There, what are you supposed to do?"

As he said, his voice became more and more cold, "Do you want to be Liu He, the king of Changyi, or Huo Guang, an extremely human minister?"

These few words of Cao Lang are very derogatory. Whether it is Liu He or Huo Guang's status, they are not what Chang Li Nengxiao thinks about, let alone an unfavored prince like him can be compared. If it reaches the emperor's ears, It is not certain what kind of suspicion the emperor will have.

Since the founding of Dayan, Changli, which is located in the northeast of Dayan, has always been a vassal state of Dayan, paying tribute to Dayan every year in exchange for Dayan's protection.

For nearly a hundred years, under the protection of Dayan, Changli's soldiers were not prosperous, and the people were happy, so Changli, from the king to the common people, was proud of Dayan's vassal state.

But once Dayan offended, at least he would face the pressure of soldiers, and at the worst, he might destroy the country. Thinking about the consequences, Li Zongyan suddenly shuddered.

Li Zongyan's face was blushing, and after a quick turn of his mind, he made up his mind. He took a step back, changed into a happy expression, and said loudly: "The left and right are just a jade pendant, and it is of little value to me. Mr. Cao Since I have taken a fancy to this jade pendant, then I won't want to plunder the beauty of others, my son, please do it yourself."

This sound was full of air, and the people outside the door could hear it clearly. Cao Lang said with a smile: "Prince Zongyan is so bold, Cao is a little impressed. Cao accepts your love today, and will respect you someday. A glass."

Although he was smiling, his face was still stern. The shopkeeper was very sensible. Seeing that he was looking at the jade pendant in his hand, he didn't ask if anyone raised the price. He held the jade pendant in front of Cao Lang and said: " Young master, this is your jade pendant."

Cao Lang took the jade pendant, put his hands behind his back, raised his head and closed his eyes, and stopped talking.

An attendant by his side took out a few banknotes from his pocket and handed them to the shopkeeper. Before the shopkeeper had counted the banknotes, Cao Lang suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of hatred flashed in his eyes, but he still used him. The cold voice said: "Do it!"

As soon as the words fell, more than a dozen men stood up in the lobby, and these men shouted in unison: "Dongchang handles the case, anyone who has nothing to do with it, just sit down and don't move!"

Immediately afterwards, there was a sound of chaotic footsteps outside the door, and a dozen Dongchang fanzi in brown shirts and pointed hats appeared out of nowhere and surrounded Linlang Pavilion.

There was a commotion inside and outside Linlang Pavilion, a man dressed in a hundred families hurried in from the door, saluted Cao Lang respectfully, and said, "My lord, this Linlang Pavilion has been surrounded, please show me."

Cao Lang opened his eyes, pointed at the people dressed as scholars among the seats and said, "It's those people, you should arrest them and bring them back to justice."

The hundred households understood that there were many code words in the East Factory, and the meaning of this "good interrogation" was that they could properly teach the other party some lessons, but they should not kill anyone.Immediately, seven or eight fans were called in, and according to Cao Lang's instructions, they went to the banquet to arrest people.

Those scholars didn't know what crime they had committed, so they were shackled and chained, and they screamed for being wronged.

Cao Lang casually brushed his shoulders, and said with a sneer, "You are all students of Longshan Academy in Shannan, right? On the first day of April, what did you discuss in Han Sichang's mansion? Do you really think that the imperial court knows nothing? Dare to join forces in private, disturb the law and discipline, and be wronged? Go to Fusizhao Prison in Dongchang Town and talk about it!"

Accompanied by bursts of shrill shouts, those scholars were escorted out, and the others in the hall did not dare to make a sound, and all looked at each other in blank dismay.

The shopkeeper heard that Cao Lang turned out to be the leader of this team of Dongchang Fanzi, and remembering the money he had just received, his head was covered with cold sweat. When I arrived, I just offended my lord, and if my lord likes the jade pendant, I would treat it as a small tribute to you, and I would never dare to accept money."

Cao Lang snorted, and said in a gloomy voice: "Master Hu, our East Factory has always followed the law. Do you want me to bend the law for personal gain?"

When the shopkeeper heard Cao Lang call out his surname, he thought about investigating himself, fell to his knees with a "plop", slapped himself twice in the face, kowtowed repeatedly and begged, "It's the little one, don't you?" You can talk, you adults don’t count the faults of villains, let me spare this time.”

Cao Lang, however, seemed to have nothing to do, strolled up the stairs to the second floor, and said as he walked, "Master Hu, I was working in Dongchang just now, and I delayed your business. We will apologize to you. At this moment, Dongchang The business of the factory is over, you continue to talk about your business."

As soon as this sentence was finished, Cao Lang entered the VIP room, and everyone downstairs dared to discuss in a low voice.

Shopkeeper Hu narrowly escaped death, as if he had collapsed, knelt on the ground for a long while and dared not get up.

After the clerk helped him up, he glanced upstairs secretly, seeing that there was indeed no movement upstairs, and then said weakly: "Dear guests, please look at the next treasure."

With Cao Lang's commotion, Linlang Pavilion, which was originally very lively, suddenly became deserted. Because Cao Lang was still upstairs, people were afraid of offending Dongchang, so they dared not leave hastily.But with such a fierce god present, he didn't dare to do it again, and the next auction had to be hastily ended.

When Lin Zisu arrived home with the one hundred taels of silver note presented by the shopkeeper, it was not yet half past unitary hour. As soon as she entered the door, she happened to meet her father who had just left the Yamen.

Seeing her coming in from the gate, Lin Yuanzhi thought she had gone to Sun Duzhong's medicine shop again, and said displeasedly: "Eldest sister, I heard from your mother in the afternoon that your second uncle's family has arrived in the capital, and you won't help me." Why did your mother run out to play again?"

Lin Zisu told her whereabouts in the afternoon, and Lin Yuanzhi felt relieved when she heard that she had gone to Liang Wanyi's appointment, and asked casually, "I heard that the Linlang Pavilion is full of people, what do you think after going to see it?"

Lin Zisu told his father what he had seen and heard in the afternoon in detail. When he heard Cao Lang's name, Lin Yuanzhi's face changed instantly, and he asked anxiously, "Cao Lang? Why did he also go to Linlang Pavilion?"

"Father knows this person?"

Lin Zisu heard something strange in his father's voice, and asked, "What is the origin of this Cao Lang?"

Lin Yuanzhi looked around, saw no one was around, and said, "This is not a place to talk, let's go to the front and talk about it."

It was already time for dinner, but Lin Yuanzhi did not go to the main hall in the front yard, but took Lin Zisu to the study.

After entering the door, Lin Yuanzhi locked the door tightly. Seeing his father's solemnity, Lin Zisu asked suspiciously, "Father, what happened in the court recently?"

Lin Yuanzhi hesitated for a moment, then talked about the turmoil in the court in the past few days, and also mentioned Cao Lang's origin.

Ever since Han Sichang asked the eighth prince to be the crown prince in the early court on March 29, the courtiers in the cabinet had been arguing over the appointment of the crown prince.

After Han Sichang was dismissed from office, he gathered more than a dozen of his disciples and wrote a ten-thousand-word letter to the emperor. Not only did he quote the scriptures, but he also urged the emperor to appoint the eighth prince as the heir apparent, starting from the Dayan dynasties.

Contrary to his benevolent style in the past, the emperor searched Han Sichang's mansion in Beijing, and even recruited Han Sichang's disciples and old officials.

This storm, thunder and lightning, not only did not suppress the matter of Li Chu, the civil servants were so sad that they died, but they became more noisy.

In the past few days, all the affairs discussed at the court meeting were related to the establishment of the crown prince. Hundreds of officials had been arguing endlessly about whether to establish a prince or a chief. , awaiting cabinet approval.

Lin Yuanzhi said: "Then Cao Lang is Chen Lang, the original director of the construction department. He changed his surname to Cao because he recognized father-in-law Cao Shouli as his adoptive father. After the fire in Changning Palace, he went from the construction department to the director of ceremonies, and took over. Not only has Eunuch Cao relied heavily on the case of the Han family, it is said that even the emperor favors him."

It was him!

Thinking of Cao Lang whom she saw in Linlang Pavilion during the day, Lin Zisu felt a little doubt.

Although I don't know how Cao Lang came to power, but in the Linlang Pavilion today, I saw Cao Lang acting decisively and quite skillfully. Why have I never heard of such a character in the previous life?

Lin Yuanzhi then sighed, looked out the window fixedly, and said: "The ministers are vying for power and power, and the affairs of the court have been wrong again and again, but the eunuchs in the inner court are arrogant. If things go on like this, I am afraid that the dynasty will change."

Lin Zisu understood her father's worries. In the previous life, since Xie Yao succeeded to the throne, the government was in chaos.Internally, the cabinet and ceremonial inspectors were at odds with each other, courtiers formed cliques, externally there were invasions from Beidi and Southern Siam, plus rebels and rogues from all over the place, Dayan mountains and rivers were torn apart, and this was the reason for the subsequent coercion and chaos... …

The father and daughter were talking in the study when someone came to remind them that dinner was ready.

When the two arrived at the flower hall, they saw Lin Ziwan in her arms, and Lin Wenjing, surrounded by a large table of sumptuous food and wine. Lin Zisu wondered, "Second aunt and her family, why didn't they come over for dinner?"

Before Mrs. Bi could speak, Pearl, the girl next to her, answered, "Master, miss, you don't know. Madam arranged the second wife's family in Huaguangyuan and Biboxuan. The second lady despised the small courtyards and said Madame deliberately neglected her family, so she couldn't get angry and came to eat."

(End of this chapter)