Jiaochu

Chapter 129 New Year’s Eve Palace Banquet ([-])

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Ye Lingxi speculated that the little eunuch who delivered the message was mostly doing inconspicuous errands, such as cleaning and other menial tasks. On weekdays, he would not attract anyone's attention and no one would pay attention to him. Even if he met someone in person, he would not have to worry about his identity being discovered.

In the evening, Wu'er seemed a little discouraged when he came back, and Ye Lingxi knew the result without asking.The next day, Ye Lingxi gave Wu'er another day off and told her several locations, but she still found nothing.On the third day, Ye Lingxi still gave Wu'er a day off and asked her to go to the places mentioned the day before. This time, Wu'er came back without waiting for the sun to set, her eyes shining with excitement. , couldn’t wait to tell Ye Lingxi all the news he had learned.

"Princess, I saw the little eunuch near the Plum Garden. He works as an errand in the Plum Garden. His name is Xiao Qianzi."

"Well done, he didn't notice you?"

"Princess, don't worry, I'm hiding well. He didn't see me."

Wu'er received another silver ingot as a reward and left happily.

The plum blossoms in the plum garden are blooming just right, and the plum blossoms are blooming on the branches. From a distance, they look like bright butterflies resting on the branches. The waxy yellow stamens are glowing with stars and cold light, which is the melting snow. There were still a few drops of water left, fresh and translucent, and wisps of cold fragrance floated out of the garden. The fragrance was very light and seemed to be absent.

Xiao Qianzi was pruning the branches of the plum tree, humming like he was singing, "Seeing him building a red building, watching him entertaining guests, seeing his building collapse." He seemed to be amused when he hummed this. He laughed out loud. The next moment he heard applause from behind, which startled him. He looked back and immediately knelt down to salute.

"I didn't know that the princess was coming, but I was a little far away to greet her. Please forgive me, princess."

After Ye Lingxi asked him to get up, he looked at the person in front of him and asked, "Have you seen me?"

"Princess, you are a celebrity in front of the Emperor. Who in the palace doesn't know the princess? My servant has occasionally seen the princess from a distance. I wanted to go over to say hello but was afraid that my low status would offend the princess and make people laugh." Xiao Qianzi said lowly. He replied with an eyebrow.

Ye Lingxi asked again: "What was that you sang just now?"

"It's a play. Before I entered the palace, I worked as an oddball in a theater troupe, and I also memorized some of the play. I thought the lines I just sung were interesting, but I couldn't tell what they meant." Xiao Qianzi replied.

"I thought it was interesting, so I wanted to ask you." Ye Lingxi changed the subject, "Who asked you to send the letter?"

For this sudden question, Xiao Qianzi seemed caught off guard, with a nervous look on his face, his eyes rolled around, and an attentive smile appeared on his face, "I have never sent any letters, let alone seen them. The princess is afraid that she made a mistake. ”

"Say your name, and I'll give you a reward." Ye Lingxi said simply, not wanting to guess with the other party here.

Xiao Qianzi rolled his eyes and said in a pleading tone: "Princess, I really haven't seen any letters. I beg the princess to be kind and let me go. I am just a pruner of plum trees in the plum garden, with a low status." , even if I freeze to death and starve to death tomorrow, no one will care, the reward given by the princess will probably be useless."

"Where do you want to work?" Ye Lingxi asked bluntly.

Xiao Qianzi looked worried. Hearing Ye Lingxi click his tongue impatiently, he said, "I heard that His Highness treats the people in the palace very well."

"No." Ye Lingxi interrupted, "Think again."

Xiao Qianzi rolled his eyes again and said, "I heard that there is still a shortage of someone to take care of the flowers and trees in Mingyue Garden. I also have some experience." "The reward I gave you is enough for the steward to transfer you there." Ye Ye. Lingxi said.

Xiao Qianzi said flatteringly: "Princess's sincere words, naturally I can trust the princess. When I go to Mingyue Garden, I will come to express my gratitude to the princess in person."

The next day, Ye Lingxi asked Lingdang to give a reward to Xiao Qianzi.After waiting for another two days, Xiao Qianzi came to Ye Lingxi with a glowing face to thank her, and whispered his name to her. Ye Lingxi asked how he recognized the other person, and Xiao Qianzi replied, "I pay attention to each of my masters on weekdays. The servant's memory is not bad for people around the empress. Almost anyone who has seen her once or twice can remember that the servant was taking care of the plum blossoms in the plum garden that night. When no one came, he sneaked out. On the way, someone happened to be When this aunt saw her, she asked her servant to help her run an errand."

After Xiao Qianzi left, Ye Lingxi thought quietly for about half a quarter of an hour. Before taking the next step, she wanted to leave the palace to confirm one thing, and then went to Ganquan Palace.

"You want to leave the palace?"

Seeing Ye Lingxi nodding seriously, Ye Xingye couldn't help but feel a little puzzled.

"today?"

"Just these two days."

"I asked Xiaoluzi to ask if Hu Yuhan's uncle is on duty these two days. It's not good for you to go out alone, so I'd better go with you to prevent anyone from bullying you."

"..., Third Brother, you should want to go out to the palace on your own."

"I'm here to protect you from bad guys kidnapping you."

"Yeah, whatever the third brother said is right."

"..."

About half an hour later, Xiaoluzi came back and said that Mr. Zheng was not on duty today and would have to wait for two more days.

In the past two days, Ye Lingxi heard that the Danyang County Sheriff had been escorted back to the capital, and he felt a little comfort for Cui'er. However, the deceased was gone. He only hoped that she and her family could rest in peace under Jiuquan.

The Danyang County Sheriff was imprisoned in the prison of the Ministry of Punishment, and also the chief bookkeeper, scribes and others in his house were also imprisoned.

Ye Lanchen asked Prime Minister Zhou and Su Shangshu to preside over the trial. In front of the irrefutable account books, Danyang County Sheriff's cries of injustice seemed weak. What made Ye Lanchen even more angry was that Danyang County Sheriff also took advantage of the government's payment. There were numerous crimes, big and small, such as taking away money for disaster relief, occupying people's farmland, and indulging their children to do evil. Those clan members who were corrupt and violated the law were all imprisoned in accordance with the law.

After disposing of a group of people, Ye Lanchen considered who should take over the post of county governor. Danyang was considered a prosperous place within the boundaries of Yangzhou. Yangzhou was the granary of the entire Dahui, and Danyang accounted for three thirds of the food that was handed over to the court every year. one part.The governor of Yangzhou recommended two candidates in his letter to Ye Lanchen. One was the magistrate of Songyang County. This person was honest and dedicated to the public affairs and was highly praised among the local people. The other was a well-known hermit in Yangzhou. Ren Zeng was a Jinshi in high school. He was first sent to Qingzhou as a county magistrate, and later transferred to Yangzhou. After serving as an official for a few years, he handed in his resignation, bought a bamboo forest and became a hermit. Although he was an official, His political achievements were mediocre, but he was well loved by the people, who praised him for being a god in solving cases and being selfless.

Ye Lanchen summoned Prime Minister Zhou and Su Shangshu alone to discuss several times, and waited until the Lantern Festival before issuing the appointment.

(End of this chapter)