The Second Master of the Red Chamber

Emperor Ningkang's voice changed so quickly that Jia Lian didn't quite react.

It wasn't until the eunuch in charge was ordered to go down to prepare to draft the imperial decree that Jia Lian reacted from the surprise and immediately replaced Daiyu to thank the emperor for his kindness.

It's different from Gaoming, an identity that can only be obtained by attaching to men.

Xiangjun is also a very honorable status for women, or it is called "Dame title".

However, women's titles cannot be hereditary at all. Over time, everyone also defaults to it as a symbol of personal status.

The reason why it is said to be noble is naturally because such status is extremely rare.It can even be said that, except for the noble daughters of the clan, every woman who has a special status is blessed!
Aside from internal and external wives, the status of the most noble women in the world can be roughly divided into these categories from top to bottom.

The eldest princess, the princess, the princess, the county princess...

These are first-rank and even above, and it is also a status that is basically impossible for others except royal women.

The suffix of these identities is "master", which clearly means that they are masters.

The second class is the title of "Jun", which is a title often used for rewards in ancient times, and it is a minister.

County Lord, County Lord, Township Lord.

From top to bottom, they are the second grade, the third grade, and the fourth grade.

Even though Xiangjun is only the fourth rank of the lowest level, but this is independent of men, women's own nobility!

Each of them is a rare existence for women except the clan.Even among the women of the clan, not everyone can get the title of "Jun".

Those noble daughters of the clan who do not have titles are collectively referred to as "zong daughters" and can only rely on the identities of their parents and elder brothers.

Perhaps in the eyes of those people, getting a title, even the lowest "Xiangjun", would be a dream.

After all, Lin Ruhai is only a civil servant, and he has not reached the top yet, he is only the second rank.

With the official position of the second rank, it is just right to confer on his daughter a township monarch of the fourth rank, which not only shows the emperor's favor, but also does not make people too jealous.

This is Emperor Ningkang, a very good monarch with a city in his chest and a good scale of rewards and punishments.

Seeing Jia Lian's grateful expression for bathing in the emperor's favor, Emperor Ningkang snorted softly, and from Jia Lian's reaction, he knew that he probably liked the daughter of the Lin family very much.

He likes such courtiers, and he can control them only if he knows what he likes.He doesn't like courtiers who are too deep in the city.

"Don't gossip. How much do you know about the Jiangnan Salt Administration?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I have also heard about it."

"Hmph, Lin Ruhai made a petition on his deathbed and recommended you to me as an imperial inspector to go to the south of the Yangtze River to investigate the salt administration and investigate An Siyuan's death. Are you willing?"

Jia Lian immediately knelt down and said, "If you can serve the imperial court and be loyal to His Majesty, I will do my part, and I am willing to wait for Your Majesty to order!"

"Very good, since that's the case, I will appoint you as the inspector imperial envoy, and within three months, I will investigate this case... Well, do you have doubts?"

While Emperor Ningkang was speaking, seeing Jia Lian frowning, he asked in displeasure.

"No, I just feel that it's only three months. Wouldn't the time be a bit shorter? Besides, although I'm stupid, I also know that this kind of case related to the salt administration is the most complicated one, and I'm a rough person. , for a short time, I'm afraid I can't figure it out..."

"What are you afraid of? Didn't I ask you to go down to take charge of the salt government, three months is not enough?
As for what is so complicated... How many officials are there in the entire Yangzhou Mansion, above rank five?You are a dignified Marquis of Zhenyuan, are you still afraid of those local snakes? "

Emperor Ningkang said, deliberately showing a little disappointment.In fact, of course he knew that the salt administration involved a lot. After all, the salt administration was a behemoth that contributed 2000 million taels of silver to the treasury every year!
Of course, this year, due to a major accident in the most important Jiangnan Salt Administration, this number has not been reached.

If not, he wouldn't have carefully selected the imperial envoys to supervise and inspect, and he couldn't make a decision for a long time. In the end, he still felt that Lin Ruhai's suggestion was good.

Lin Ruhai said that he knew about the salt administration, and his help was a secondary reason.Jia Lian, a new general, has the spirit of daring to fight and fight, which is what he values ​​most.Moreover, Jia Lian was born in the Duke's Mansion, so obviously he has nothing to do with the parties involved in this matter, and he is indeed suitable to help him with this matter.

Jia Lian couldn't bear the stimulation of Emperor Ningkang, his face turned ferocious, and he said loudly: "Since your Majesty said so, I will naturally not be afraid of those so-called local snakes. But as the saying goes, the king of hell is easy to provoke, but the little devil is hard to deal with.

Since His Majesty has settled the case within three months, it is inevitable that the minister will have to cut through the mess quickly and make rough moves when the time comes to cause trouble, and His Majesty will have to protect the humble minister. "

Jia Lian's words made Emperor Ningkang look speechless.But he also imagined that Jia Lian's daring to raise doubts was a sign of serious consideration, so he believed that Jia Lian could handle this job well, because he waved his hands and said, "You don't need to say, I will also give you Shang Fang's sword. All state officials involved in the case are subject to your jurisdiction and dispatch.

When you meet someone who deserves to be killed, or someone who hinders you from doing things, you can just kill them, and I will bear all the consequences for you! "

What Jia Lian wanted was the last sentence, so he chuckled and kowtowed: "Since that's the case, I will definitely live up to your majesty's trust."

"Hmph, then go back and make some preparations. I will let the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of War arrange for the accompanying guards to set off in three days. Do you still have doubts?"

"The minister leads the order."

……

"Mr. Lin Xiang, what a nice title."

Coming out of Daming Palace, Jia Lian was about to return to Lin's house quickly to tell Daiyu the good news, when he saw a carriage covered with eight treasures slowly driving towards Daming Palace.

Jia Lian recognized that it was the prince's Luanjia, so he stood by the side of the road and bowed down to salute when the guard of honor passed by.

He didn't want the guard of honor but was called to stop, and then the curtain of the car opened, revealing the prince's smiling face.

"Why is the Marquis of Zhenyuan here?"

"I was summoned by His Majesty, and I just came out of the South Study Room."

"So that's how it is... I heard that Father intends to send Marquis Zhenyuan to Jiangnan to supervise the case of Yanzheng?"

Jia Lian's heart skipped a beat.Although it took a while to wait for Emperor Ningkang's decree to enshrine Daiyu, the crown prince received the news so quickly.If he said that the prince didn't care about this matter, he wouldn't believe it himself.

"Reporting to the prince, there is indeed such a thing."

Hearing this, the crown prince smiled even more, and asked casually, "Oh, I don't know what is Zhenyuanhou's opinion on this salt administration case?"

"I can't talk about opinions. I have just been entrusted by His Majesty to go to the south of the Yangtze River for inspection. After all the results, I will only dare to speak after investigation."

"The Marquis of Zhenyuan said the same thing."

The prince was smiling and seemed very close to Jia Lian.

Indeed.Since Jia Lian met the prince in the prince's other courtyard, because Jia Lian accidentally saved the queen mother, it was regarded as a great favor to the prince, so in the next few meetings, the prince has tried to win him over, intentionally or not.

Although he didn't care too much, but as the prince heir, he can be regarded as giving Jia Lian face.

It's just that even the prince didn't expect Jia Lian to rise so fast.After returning from Wala, everyone in the world can clearly see Ningkang Emperor's favor for Jia Lian.

Because of this, he couldn't help feeling slightly regretful that he didn't win over Jia Lian as early as possible.

With Jia Lian's current status, it might be difficult to subdue him in the future.

But he wasn't worried because he knew that compared to him, Jia Lian was less likely to vote for the third prince.

One thing is that the three princes have always been friends with Qingliu, so a lucky minister like Jia Lian must be out of place there.

Second, he heard from his servants that the few meetings between Jia Lian and the third prince didn't seem to be particularly pleasant.

That made him very happy.

He is the crown prince, as long as Jia Lian doesn't fall for the third prince, then he can be regarded as his courtier.

Of course he was not stingy with showing Jia Lian a good attitude.

"Marquis Zhenyuan has already done several important things for the imperial court at such a young age, and every one of them has been completed perfectly, so that the emperor and the ministers in the court all praised him very much.

After I heard about it, I also admire Zhenyuan Hou very much.

Coincidentally, I have been assisting my father in studying government affairs for a while, and I am also very concerned about the Jiangnan salt administration. I wonder if the Marquis of Zhenyuan has found out the results of his investigation, and he may pass on to me, so that I can better share his worries for your father? "

Jia Lian was surprised and astonished by the prince's smiling words.

He seems to be a little lost...

Originally, because the prince was kind to such waste as Prince Duan, and the people in the prince's mansion coveted him for two thousand silver, he didn't have a good impression of the prince.

Unexpectedly, this prince actually has such a city.

First of all, the prince's attitude of wooing him is clear, because the prince has changed his self-proclaimed "Ben Gong" to the more affectionate "I" without compromising.

Well, given how much he is trusted by Emperor Ningkang now, it is very understandable that the prince wants to befriend him.

The key is what the prince said later.

He said that he cared about the salt administration, and after he got the result, he also passed it on to him.

What does it mean to pass it on to him?If he finds out the results of his investigation and sends them back to the capital, the crown prince will naturally know.

There is only one meaning, deliberately explaining.

Pass the results to him in advance...

Why pass the results to him in advance?It's nothing more than that he really cares about this matter, or he has some interests in it.

Get the news in advance so that he can make corresponding arrangements!
Moreover, he also took this opportunity to test Jia Lian's loyalty.If Jia Lian agrees to him, it will naturally show that from now on, Jia Lian will be his man...

Just a few simple words caused Jia Lian a big problem!Moreover, the prince has not given him any handle yet.

After all, it is very reasonable for a crown prince to care about government affairs. The crown prince didn't even tell him to send a message in advance.

It's true, most of them are not stupid to be able to take the position of prince.

Even if the prince is like this, the third prince who dares to challenge the prince must not be a kind person.

No wonder grandpa would deliberately tell him not to get involved in the prince dispute.

"The crown prince's words are serious. The humble minister is ordered by the emperor to work for the court. But if there is a result, he should report it to the court as soon as possible. Naturally, he will not hide it from the crown prince."

When the prince asked him with ambiguous words, Jia Lian pretended not to understand.

The prince stared at Jia Lian for a few moments, then suddenly raised his eyebrows and smiled: "So, Marquis Zhenyuan, do you disdain to be close to me?"

Although the words are light, the relationship is heavy.Even Jia Lian did not dare to ignore him at this moment.

The prince is the crown prince, what is the crown prince?In other words, whenever Emperor Ningkang dies, the crown prince is the legitimate lord of the world, and he needs to be completely loyal to him.

Therefore, for the prince, even if he does not take effect, he must not offend him.

At this time, the crown prince is equivalent to asking straight to the point: Are you unwilling to be loyal to Gu?

Jia Lian naturally didn't dare to deal with it casually.Yin arched his hands and said: "His Royal Highness, the crown prince, has learned a lot. If you eat the salary of the Great Wei, you will be the minister of the Great Wei.

Since he is a minister of Wei, he is a minister of His Majesty and a minister of the crown prince.

Therefore, I don't dare to forget Jun's kindness at all times, and I just want to do a good job for His Majesty with one heart and one mind.As for other matters, the humble minister is a rough person and dare not intervene at will. Ge Yinchen knows that everything I have is obtained from His Majesty, and he must not do anything to disappoint His Majesty.

In the same way, in the future when His Highness is in control of Kyushu, the minister will serve with the same loyalty and will never have any second thoughts.

I believe that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at that time will not hope that any courtiers in the court will wait for other people's orders
Sincerely, I hope the prince will learn from you. "

Although Jia Lian's words were tactful and even a bit circumstantial, the prince understood.

Jia Lian's meaning is very clear.

Although he is the crown prince, Emperor Ningkang is still sitting on the throne now.

Jia Lian's everything needs to be centered on Emperor Ningkang's will, and he cannot do anything that makes Emperor Ningkang suspicious of him.

Even afraid that he would be unhappy, he also meant that after a hundred years of Emperor Ningkang, he would serve him with the same attitude.

Hehehe, he understands the truth.Because most of the smart and capable people in the court also have this attitude, and they will not easily fall to him blatantly.

However, Jia Lian was the first to speak so clearly to him.

He couldn't help laughing.Sure enough, it was really not an easy person to gain the trust of his father so quickly. In the past, he was the one who underestimated him.

"Marquis Zhenyuan is right, but I don't know, if my ineffective third brother asks Marquis Zhenyuan like this in the future, will Marquis Zhenyuan still give such a firm answer?"

Jia Lian also laughed: "Although I don't study much, I also understand righteousness. I only know that I am loyal to the Supreme Emperor, my Majesty, and the prince, but I don't know that as a minister, there is a fourth person who needs to be loyal."

"Hahaha, Marquis Zhenyuan, it's really interesting, interesting..."

The prince took a deep look at Jia Lian, put down the curtain of the car, and ordered to drive.

Jia Lian stood where he was, watching the prince's luan drive away, and then secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

Accompanying you is like accompanying a tiger, the ancients never deceived me.

This is still just the prince, not the real emperor, but if he is serious, he can put such a lot of pressure on him.If he is like this, how can he talk about others?
He can persevere, not only because of his firm mind, but also because Emperor Ningkang himself is a smart and capable emperor.Only with this premise can he hold a firm decision to be loyal to Emperor Ningkang.

If it were a foolish and incompetent monarch who couldn't even protect those who were loyal to him, even if it was just for self-protection, the courtiers would probably find a way out for themselves.

Therefore, since ancient times, there have been so many periods of chaos in the court.There are so many people who know the danger, but still want to fight for the power of the dragon...

With a soft breath, Jia Lian turned and left the Forbidden City.