Chapter 293 Developing Allies
When spring came and flowers bloomed, a major event occurred in Jinzhou Prefecture.
First, Hu Wei was found by Zhao Qiaonian, the newly appointed official, to have embezzled and accepted bribes during his tenure, and had failed to perform his duties and had a case of shielding others. All his benefits were canceled after his death. Not only was he disgraced, but Hu Wei was also the first person to be completely abandoned by the Xu family. This had to make everyone more vigilant.
Even though this person is dead, the things he did during his lifetime may still be dug up.
It can be said that Hu Wei's incident frightened all the officials in Jinzhou Prefecture, especially the old members of the Xu family's government team.
It is said that death is the greatest thing that can be achieved by burying the dead. These are all things of the past. And if you really think about it, the things Hu Wei did were not so outrageous that they could be condemned by both humans and gods. But no matter how big or small the mistakes were, they were all pinned on a dead man. They could not figure out what Xu Zhenying was thinking.
Many people felt disheartened, and many others became even more fearful.
However, ordinary people have no right to interfere in the affairs of these high-ranking officials. They still have to eat, drink, and make money.
It can be said that the downfall of Hu Wei did not make the common people as excited as the marriage of Miss Xu Qi.
This is the city lord’s cousin.
Although Miss Xu Qi was in poor health and rarely appeared in public, she spent most of her time recuperating at home. There were also rumors that the two sisters were not in harmony, but everyone just laughed it off.
Disharmony?
If they are not in harmony, will His Highness personally officiate her wedding?
What a great honor this is!
Therefore, the day of Xu Lezhi's wedding caused a sensation in almost half of Jinzhou Prefecture. No matter whether they were men or women, young or old, businessmen or officials, almost all of them were proud to be able to get a glass of wedding wine from the Xu family.
The threshold of the second branch of the Xu family was almost broken, and the carriages were blocking the way from a distance.
Not to mention, almost everyone in the Xu family has returned.
Including Xu Yinxi in Qianzhou Prefecture.
Xu Huijia, who was still in the west, paid a lot of dowry out of her own pocket even though she didn't come back.
Xu Lezhi's wedding was a grand affair, attracting the envy of countless people.
Not to mention Xu Lezhi's ideal son-in-law, who is only twenty years old this year, but is already a general stationed in Jinzhou Prefecture and has a bright future.
Unlike the hustle and bustle outside, there were bursts of crying sounds in Xu Lezhi's boudoir.
Xu Lezhi had only half of her makeup on when she couldn't help but shed tears in front of the mirror, her tears looking like pear blossoms in the rain.
Xu Yinxi could only dismiss the people who came to help and comfort her alone in the room.
By the end of her tears, Xu Yinxi was also upset and said, "What's the point of crying now? Will Fang Xun come to see you if you cry? I've told you so many times that Fang Xun doesn't like you, so why are you being so sentimental? Today, they threw away the gifts and didn't even come to drink a glass of wedding wine. The Fang family is still blaming you for being so persistent! If it weren't for His Highness's face, I'm afraid the two families would have become enemies long ago!"
"I'm not crying!" Xu Lezhi had been locked in the room for over a year, and her body had become thinner and her face paler. Her makeup was smudged, and she looked so pitiful. "I'm... I'm scared!"
"What are you afraid of?"
"Sister, I've only seen Zhou Bo once from afar! I don't even know him! He looks so fierce—" For some reason, Xu Lezhi became more and more frightened as he spoke, and seemed a little confused. "He must have been sent by Xu Zhenying! I knew she wouldn't let me go!"
Xu Lezhi immediately grabbed her shoulders and said word by word, "Xu Lezhi, calm down! His Highness is so busy with all sorts of affairs, how can he have time to care about your marriage?!"
"Don't try to lie to me. I know you all look down on me and think I'm good for nothing! But why would Zhou Bo like me? What's his motive? He's after his career, his future. He wants to use me to lean on the Xu family! He doesn't like me at all! I, Xu Lezhi, can't stand such a calculating man!"
Her crying turned into pleading, "Sister, you are now the Lord of Qianzhou, in a high position of power. Could you please go and talk to His Highness and tell him that I don't want this marriage, that Zhou Bo has other intentions, and that if I marry him, I will only suffer!"
Xu Yinxi pulled her hand away indifferently.
"Didn't you just say that Her Highness wanted to harm you? If she wants to harm you, what's the point of begging her?"
Xu Lezhi was speechless for a moment.
"Le Zhi, I asked you to attend a training class before, but you looked down on it and refused to learn. Now, everyone in the second branch, even the youngest Xu Huizheng, has already reached the intermediate level, not to mention Xu Minglu who has passed the civil service exam. Since you know you're stupid, you should have found another way out earlier."
Looking at the cold Xu Yinxi in front of him, Xu Lezhi opened his mouth wide, and was so shocked that he couldn't speak for a long time.
"How is General Zhou unworthy of you? You despise him for having ulterior motives, and he thinks you're just stupid. Why are you overthinking so much? It's nothing more than a political marriage. Don't you have any leverage? Or are you hoping to marry a perfect husband who meets all your expectations? You'd better wake up. Such a thing would never happen in Bianjing City, let alone in Jinzhou Prefecture!"
Xu Lezhi's tears trembled when Xu Yinxi yelled at him, and he could only grit his teeth.
The little girl seemed to know that no one in this room cared about her life or death, or whether she was happy or satisfied with the marriage.
She was like a hot potato, and now she couldn't wait to be thrown from the Xu family to the Zhou family.
But what about the Zhou family?
She was faced with a completely unfamiliar husband and a mother-in-law she had never met, not to mention that the future of the Zhou family depended on Xu Zhenying alone.
In other words, from now on, Xu Lezhi will have to rely on her for the rest of her life.
She doesn't want to.
But what can I do if I don’t want to?
My mother happily agreed to the marriage. No one in the family felt it was inappropriate, and everyone was even faintly excited.
Seeing Xu Lezhi staggering, he seemed to have suffered a great blow.
Looking back over the past two years, Xu Lezhi first experienced the sudden death of her father and was then locked up at home. Xu Yinxi couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
After all, Xu Lezhi only refused to admit defeat in words, but he did not take any action that would actually cause any real harm.
Helpless, Xu Yinxi had to adjust her mentality. She held Xu Lezhi's hand and repeatedly warned him, "Second sister, I know you still don't accept His Highness in your heart, but now His Highness is worlds apart from us. She is only one step away from ascending to the throne. Not only you, but millions of people in Jinzhou Prefecture have to rely on her for their survival. If you still can't figure this out and are still stubborn, then you will be as miserable as you are now for the rest of your life."
Xu Lezhi wiped her tears, her shoulders twitching, and her makeup was completely ruined by her crying.
"It's better to think positively. Zhou Bo may have other intentions, but if you marry in Bianjing, won't the husband you find have any intentions towards you? Doesn't the man's family look at the woman's status? Isn't it because they hope that her family can help them? How many couples in this world can truly love each other? After all, Zhou Bo is a man of noble bearing and handsome. Since he marries you and has intentions for our family, he won't dare treat you badly! Besides, I have met the wife of the Zhou family. Although she has a temper, she is also a polite person. If you marry him, as long as I, Xu Yinxi, am still in the court, they will have to look at your face every day. What are you afraid of?!"
Xu Lezhi seemed to be moved by her words, and his emotions gradually calmed down.
"You have a husband with a promising future, and your family is your greatest asset. After you marry him, who in the Zhou family can control you? As long as you don't commit murder or arson, as long as you don't collaborate with the enemy and betray your country, won't you live a life of wealth and glory for the rest of your life? A day of joy is a day of fear, so why bother yourself with unhappiness?"
"Sister, I'm just afraid of His Highness... I'm afraid she still holds a grudge against me from the past, and I'm afraid she'll make things difficult for me..."
Xu Yinxi sighed and patted her shoulder. Now she knew she was scared, but at least there was still hope.
"Don't worry about it. Her Highness is so busy with her affairs and meets so many people every day. She's probably forgotten what happened between you and her. Otherwise, why would she be the officiant of your wedding? And you're related to Her Highness by blood, after all. As long as you don't interfere with her plans, she won't do anything to you about such a trivial matter as a sisterly quarrel."
Xu Lezhi opened his hazy eyes and asked, "Really?"
"Of course it's true."
After getting Xu Yinxi's assurance, Xu Lezhi's expression eased a little.
Xu Yinxi then asked someone to come and dress up Xu Lezhi. When everyone saw Xu Lezhi's red eyes, they thought she was happy to get married. Some people even tried to persuade her, needless to say.
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Deep in the palace.
It is summer now, the grass and trees are lush and green, the cicadas are chirping, and the heat is unbearable.
While the nobles were taking a nap, seven or eight people gathered quietly at an inconspicuous place near the wall.
Among them were eunuchs, palace maids, and even a powerful young eunuch whose previous godfather was Li Ping, the highest eunuch in the Zhou Dynasty.
Although Li Ping died, the young eunuch named Yang was not implicated at all. He continued to rise in status and became a favorite of a certain imperial concubine.
As soon as they met, they called each other by their surname plus "comrade".
Among them, the eunuch Li, who has a little reputation, is naturally the team leader.
Holding the book "Peach Blossom Spring" in their hands, they gathered together like believers, first recounting what had happened to them in the past month, and then talking about the letter from Jinzhou Prefecture.
That’s right, there is one most important reason why this group of people can get together.
That is, their families are all within the territory of Xu Zhenying's Jinzhou Prefecture.
A few months ago, someone claiming to be their family member sent them letters frequently. At first, they did not take it seriously. If the family was not so poor that they could not survive, who would send their children to the palace?
My parents, brothers and sisters are all blind and can't read or write, let alone write a letter.
But later, a eunuch named Luo, who was also the deputy leader of this comrade group, deciphered the characters and pictures from Jinzhou Prefecture from somewhere. It can be almost concluded that what was written in their letters were indeed letters from their families!
It is said that once you enter the palace, it is like entering a deep sea. The same is true for these eunuchs and palace maids. Once they leave home, they are like kites with broken strings, never to hear from their families again.
But now, they even know what their brothers and sisters are doing.
My family runs a business and has some savings. I also attended a training course in Jinzhou Prefecture. Now I can read, but I can't write well.
My younger sister worked hard and was admitted to medical school. Now she is a serious doctor and is expected to graduate in two or three years.
Some people said that the medicine in Jinzhou Prefecture is cheap, and my mother's rheumatism has been relieved.
Some people's brothers joined the army and followed the Queen of Jinzhou Prefecture to rebel. One or two taels of silver a month was enough to support the whole family!
Some people even wrote to ask if they could redeem themselves, saying that their family situation had improved and they hoped to take them out of the palace.
In order to decipher the affectionate words of their family members, they relied on the eunuch, studied hard and practiced diligently, and mastered the pinyin completely in two months.
Now, they can fully understand the letters from their family members.
If we were to say that the people in the entire Bian Jing who knew the movements of Jinzhou Prefecture best were the ones who gathered together for warmth in the deep palace, apart from the one or two hundred people brought by Xu Fenger and his companions.
The letters were delivered every month. They first read them quietly, and then they organized to read them together to enhance their friendship.
Someone took the letter, his eyebrows and eyes full of joy, and he wanted to keep the letter close to his chest and never take it off. "That's great, the pigs raised in the village are all sold this year, and each villager has received five taels of silver. Now my mother's eyes can be saved."
Someone sighed, "My family is moving west. If I ever have the chance to go back, I'm afraid I won't even recognize the road."
Someone laughed and said, "Even my grandma can write in pinyin!"
The man wiped his tears again and said, "Alas, grandma said that she sold me because our family was poor, and now she regrets it. Now that our house is built, she asked me when I will leave the palace."
"For people like us, once we enter the palace, it's a lifelong commitment. Unless we receive a great gift from heaven, we will die of old age in this place."
Eunuch Yang rolled up the letter and said slowly, "That's not certain. Who knows? The Queen might soon attack Bianjing. You know, just like in the book 'Peach Blossom Spring', there's no distinction between high and low in Jinzhou Prefecture. Even prostitutes and pimps can take the civil service exam. If they attack us, have you ever thought about our situation?"
Someone looked longingly and said, "I'm afraid the Queen will allow us to leave the palace?"
"But we don't have any special skills. What can we do if we are released?"
Eunuch Luo said, "Don't worry. In Jinzhou Prefecture, as long as you're willing to work hard, you won't starve. If all else fails, you can always go to the relief center to get food. In short, you won't starve to death!"
This group of people were carefully selected, all of whom had families in Jinzhou Prefecture. They came and went, and were gathered together by the eunuch Luo, who often instilled in them the ideas of freedom and equality. As a result, these nine people developed deep revolutionary feelings.
Eunuch Luo looked around, then said solemnly, "Comrades, we have a mission this time!"
Everyone looked at him with a little nervousness and excitement.
From the moment they joined this sect, they vaguely sensed the presence of a mysterious force in the city of Bianjing.
This force should come from the queen of Jinzhou Prefecture.
A rising star in the southwest who is rumored to own eight prefectures.
The young traitor who was regarded as a thorn in the side of the imperial court.
They also knew clearly that the other party came prepared and used their families to force them to submit.
However, as those heartfelt letters from home were delivered to them through the deep palace backyard, they seemed to be able to see the voices and smiles of their parents at home.
Apart from delivering letters, the higher-ups almost never asked them to do anything.
Gradually, they were moved by the prosperous paradise in the letter.
They all had the same question in their minds: Has things really gotten better at home?
As their situation at home improved, they missed home even more.
It would be nice if I could go back and take a look.
But in the Zhou Dynasty, such a thing would not happen unless the emperor issued a general amnesty or the master bestowed a great gift, but even so, it would take decades.
When I think about how many more years I have to endure, that book...convenience becomes even more pressing.
If only the queen had called earlier.
There are always people who think this way.
If they had called earlier, they would have been reunited with their families.
It was with this little bit of vain hope that they formed this group.
Now, the mission has finally arrived.
"This time, the higher-ups want us to recruit more comrades and pass on more of our ideas."
Eunuch Luo's voice was a little hoarse, but his eyes were flashing with a dark fire.
"The comrades we recruit this time must have enough influence to help us pass on information, gather intelligence, and even understand the thoughts of all the emperors!"
Everyone was silent.
This is a difficult task.
They were just like ants in the deep palace. A few of them gathered together to talk about their homesickness, and even occasionally mentioned the legendary traitor. That was the limit.
Now they are required to risk their lives to spread the ideas of Jinzhou Prefecture?
That's too dangerous.
Eunuch Luo continued, "I know this mission is difficult, and our superiors have also said that we must protect ourselves. The mission is secondary."
These words made everyone look guilty.
They don't know who this so-called boss is.
But they only knew that the superiors had given them many benefits, not only these family letters, but also clothes, loose change, jewelry and other things that could make their life in the deep palace more comfortable.
This thing...you always have to exchange it with something valuable from yourself.
But no one expected that the first task was to ask them to develop downlines.
Eunuch Yang, on the other hand, had no expression on his face, and looked as if he was listening attentively.
"We need to win over more comrades in the palace. This time, we must carefully develop downlines, preferably those of noble status, such as concubines."
Someone immediately said fearfully, "If people find out we're spreading anti-treason stuff, we'll lose our heads!"
"So we have to be careful about this matter. We have to choose someone who is not that dangerous."
"That's right." Eunuch Yang finally spoke. "It would be best if it were an unfavored concubine who prides herself on her talent. Such concubines are surely self-admiring and wish they could become men and achieve great things. If we simply take the matter of Jinzhou Prefecture's women serving as officials lightly, perhaps we can achieve twice the result with half the effort."
Eunuch Luo asked, "Could it be that someone has already been chosen as the team leader?"
Eunuch Yang smiled but said nothing.
Eunuch Luo naturally understood what he was suggesting, and he said to the other believers, "Don't let anyone else leak the news for now. The palace is full of dangers, and the retired emperor hates His Royal Highness Prince Zhao with a deep hatred. We must act with extreme caution. The people above said that first, we must be safe, and second, we must slowly develop our position within the palace. If we ever conquer Bianjing, that will be the day we reunite with our parents and relatives!"
Everyone dispersed for a while and went back to their duties.
Only Eunuch Yang strolled back to Frost Moon Pavilion. As soon as he entered the gate, a palace maid came to inform him, "Eunuch Yang, the Empress was looking for you just now. She was angry that you took so long to get some fruit. You must be careful when serving her later."
Eunuch Yang gave the palace maid a piece of fruit, smiled and said, "I understand," then stepped over the threshold and walked in.
As soon as he walked in, he habitually hunched his body, hitting himself as he walked: "Oh, my lady, blame this servant! This servant went out and listened to someone reading a storybook. I was bewitched by it and wasted time. I really deserve a beating!"
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