Chapter 714: Leverage (Part 1)

Xu Lingyi was talking to the lady when he saw Jian Ge'er coming in. He smiled and said, "I was talking about you!"

Jian Ge'er was stunned, his heart pounding: "Talking about me? What am I talking about?" "Before the New Year, people are everywhere buying New Year's goods and returning home. After the New Year, people are everywhere going to Beijing to report on their work. There are people everywhere. When there are too many people, it is easy to cause trouble." Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "I think you should stay at home these days, firstly to accompany me and your mother, and secondly to practice the boxing that Master Pang taught you. He said it is most suitable for close combat."

His father's attitude was amiable and his smile was gentle and kind, but for some reason, his heart beat faster.

"Really?" He smiled at Xu Lingyi, and in his heart he kept reminding himself to smile naturally, as his father couldn't possibly know the truth so quickly.

Xu Lingyi smiled, turned around and talked to the lady-in-waiting about the audience in the palace: "The Empress will issue an imperial decree to exempt you from the audience in the next two days, and you can have a good rest on New Year's Day." The lady-in-waiting nodded with a smile.

Two days later, the imperial decree was indeed passed down from the palace, not only exempting the lady from the audience on New Year's Day, but also allowing Zheng'er to enter the palace.

Xu Lingyi assigned the best fighters in Yongping Marquis's Mansion to Jian Ge'er: "Go quickly and come back quickly! If you meet anyone, just pretend you didn't see them!"

Another suggestive statement.

Jian'er didn't dare to say much and just nodded.

Xu Lingyi laughed: "You are really honest today!"

Then, without waiting for Jiange'er's response, he stood up and walked out with a smile.

Jiang'er couldn't help but wipe his sweat, thinking that he would have to go into the palace soon, so he quickly calmed down and thought seriously about what to say when he returned to the palace.

Xu Lingyi leaned on the drunkard's chair in the study, waiting for Jian'er to come back.

As soon as Jian Ge'er came back, he went to see Xu Lingyi: "...The Grand Princess wants to see me. To discuss the matter of Cuju on the fourth day of the New Year."

"Didn't you say anything else?" Xu Lingyi looked at him with a smile.

"No." Qin Ge'er said hurriedly, "The eldest princess wanted to win the competition."

Xu Lingyi said "Oh" nonchalantly, and said, "Go and greet your mother and grandmother, they are worried about you!"

That's it!

Jiang'er had prepared a lot of questions but Xu Lingyi didn't ask a single question, which was like a punch hitting cotton.

He left the study feeling a little depressed and met Xu Siyu at the Chuihua Gate.

Xu Siyu greeted him with a smile: "Sixth brother, you're back? Did you have a good time in the palace?" It looked like they had met by chance.

Jin Ge'er perked up and said with a smile, "Very good!

Where did the second brother go?" As they talked, they walked back side by side.

"What's going on?" Xu Siyu whispered, "Did the princess agree to let Prince Yong help her choose a prince consort?"

This is what he cares about most.

"I agree." Jian Ge'er whispered, "Not only that. The eldest princess was so angry after hearing about the doctor's nephew that she decided to tell the Crown Prince about it. She also said that it would be better to let the Crown Prince help than to let Prince Yong help."

"What?" Xu Siyu said anxiously, "That won't do! Prince Yong intervened because he cares about his sister, but if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince intervenes, the Emperor will become suspicious and it will be suspected that he is trying to win over the court officials." As he spoke, he frowned and whispered, "It's all my fault for not telling you earlier. Who should I find to give His Royal Highness the Crown Prince a message now?"

"Don't worry, second brother." Jian Ge'er laughed when he saw it. "The eldest princess seems to be reckless, but she is also very smart when she uses her brain - she is not going to tell His Royal Highness the Crown Prince directly, she wants to tell the Crown Princess!"

Xu Siyu couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

Jian Ge'er smiled and said, "The eldest princess also said that if the Chen family just swallowed their anger, it would be fine. If the Chen family really wanted to file a complaint, she would ask the empress to intervene."

Only then did Xu Siyu feel relieved.

Even if it's unreasonable for the Empress to dote on her nephew from her mother's family, what can you do about it? After a few days, the Xu family started giving out red envelopes for the New Year and pasting bright red window decorations, and the festive atmosphere became stronger and stronger.

Xu Lingyi was visited by a man named Gu Yan, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, who claimed to be a classmate of Chen Bozhi, the "Governor-General of the Grand Canal".

Xu Lingyi was talking to several big shopkeepers at the time, and he didn't even raise his head when he heard this: "I'm not familiar with Chen Bozhi. If you want to ask him anything, just leave your name card."

Manager Bai hesitated for a moment, but finally said "yes" respectfully and returned to the flower hall where guests were received.

One of the big shopkeepers said tactfully: "We are in the rice warehouse in Dezhou, and we make a living by transporting grain. I have also had the honor of meeting this grain transport governor, and he is a very generous person."

Xu Lingyi's reply was very straightforward: "I don't know how many people say they are someone's so-and-so. Our Xu family has so much business. If I can meet everyone, I won't have to do anything!" As he said that, he looked at several shopkeepers with a smile, "If Chen Bozhi really has something to do, wouldn't he come to see me himself? It can be seen that this guy named Gu Yan is just borrowing money from Chen Bozhi. I hate this kind of person the most in my life, so I don't want to meet him!"

Somehow, word of this spread quickly.

Gu Yan was so angry that he lay in bed at home for several days.

Jianger, Xu Siyu and others were stunned, especially Xu Siyu. In his impression, his father was very considerate, even if Gu Yan was a beggar, he would not slap him in the face like this... No wonder his father already knew about the conflict between Jianger and Chen Ji... If that was the case, his father's behavior would inevitably make people feel that he was protecting a dog... It didn't seem like his father's way of doing things!

While he was thinking about it, Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian came to visit. Xu Siyu was very surprised and welcomed them to his study.

Xu Sijian walked to the door of the study and saw the ginkgo tree he had planted when he was a child. He stopped to look at it for a while before going into the house.

Xu Siqin and Xu Siyu have already started talking.

"I heard from Jian that people in the Wucheng Bingmasi are saying that Jian has paralyzed the son of the Grand Canal Governor Chen Bozhi." He looked a little anxious, "How could such a rumor spread? Is there any misunderstanding? The Grand Canal Governor is the emperor's favorite. A few days ago, he favored his only son to be the deputy commander!" "Yes!" Xu Sijian, who had just stepped into the study, said in a deep voice without waiting for Xu Sizhen to speak, "This matter is spread with details. I think I should mention it to my fourth uncle."

There are some things that no one can say.

Xu Siyu smiled bitterly in his heart, but said in surprise: "Two days ago, my sixth brother had a fight with a scoundrel from outside the city and saved a father and daughter who were singing for money. Could it be that the scoundrel was Chen Bozhi's son?"

"Ah! There is such a thing!" Xu Sijian was excited when he heard it, and shouted to the maid, "Go and invite the Sixth Young Master to come and tell him that we have something to ask him." Xu Siqin looked at him and shook his head: "When will you get rid of this habit of meddling in other people's affairs when you are happy?"

"Isn't this at my second brother's house?" Xu Sijian said with a smile, "I'm very well behaved outside."

After everyone had been chatting and laughing for a while, Zhenger came and asked about the situation at that time. Xu Siyu described it vividly. Seeing that it was getting late, he went to greet the lady, Shiyi Niang, and Wu Madam. The brothers had lunch at Zhenger's place. Xu Siqin and Xu Sijian went home. Zhenger talked with Xu Siyu for almost an hour before returning to his room. A few days later, the news that the son of the governor of the grain transport and the newly appointed deputy commander molested a singer on the street and was beaten by the sixth son of Yongping Marquis and the newly appointed Xiaoling guard began to spread. Even Yu Yiqing was startled and ran to ask what happened?

"I don't know what's going on!" Xu Lingyi met Yu Yiqing in the small study, "No one from the Chen family came to talk to me.

I think it's probably just a rumor. Even if it's true, how can we, as elders, interfere in the affairs of the younger generation!" Then he smiled and said, "You've worked hard in the past few years in charge of the rivers in the south of the Yangtze River. It's a rare opportunity for us to get together. I'll let Shiyi Niang prepare a table of wine and we can chat while drinking. Let's not worry about these groundless things."

Yu Yiqing thought that since he became the Minister of Works, he and Xu Lingyi rarely got together to drink and chat. He smiled and agreed, and drank a lot of wine. When he went back, he was carried to the carriage by a servant.

As soon as he took one step forward, Ji came over.

"I heard that someone from the Censorate wrote a memorial to impeach the Marquis, saying that the Marquis was a bad father and that his youngest son, Xu Sijian, was being tyrannical in Beijing and even dared to beat up the new Duzhi Assistant appointed by the Emperor. He was so bold and arrogant that the Emperor asked the Emperor to punish the Marquis and Xu Sijian."

Xu Siyu's expression changed slightly.

He knew that this was no longer something he could handle.

Xu Siyu took Fang Yi to see Xu Lingyi.

"...Things won't be clear until they are explained." After thanking Fang Yi, Xu Lingyi smiled and said, "It will always be beneficial to explain it."

From the tone of his voice, he seems to be ready to show off to the emperor!

Fang Yi felt relieved and chatted with Xu Lingyi for a while before leaving.

Within a few days, more and more memorials were sent to impeach Xu Lingyi and Jiange'er, but Xu Lingyi did not respond at all. Fang Yi was secretly worried and asked Xu Siyu, "Do you know what the Marquis is planning?"

Xu Siyu shook his head: "I wanted to talk to my father several times, but he interrupted me every time." He was also a little distressed, "I don't know how my father arranged it."

In that case, it’s hard to ask.

Fang Yi had no choice but to return home and watch how the situation developed.

Some people said that the emperor was furious and wanted to take away Xu Lingyi's certificate; others said that the emperor said that the New Year was coming soon and that if there was anything, they would talk about it after the New Year; others said that the emperor wanted to punish Xu Lingyi and his son, but the generals in the army wrote to plead for Xu Lingyi, and the emperor was very embarrassed and decided not to pursue the matter... The news finally reached Shiyi Niang's ears. "Did Jian'er really beat someone up?" She asked Xu Lingyi suspiciously, "Or is there someone who wants to frame the Marquis?"

"Chen Bozhi is at least a third-rank official in the court and a favorite of the emperor. If our brother Qin really beat someone up, he would come to our house to ask for an explanation!" Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "As for accusing me of being unjust? There is no evidence yet. We need to investigate carefully to find out."

Eleventh Lady was worried: "Should I go to the palace to test the Queen's mood?"

"No need!" Xu Lingyi said with a smile, "Entering the palace at this time would be a sign of concealing the truth. Let's just celebrate our New Year well. I have my own arrangements for this matter. You don't have to worry about it." He smiled and held her face, stroking the corner of her eye with his thumb, "Didn't you say yesterday that women tend to age easily when they worry? Look, you have fine wrinkles at the corners of your face." "Really!" Eleventh Lady immediately found a target mirror and went outside to look under the eaves.

In the sunlight, I can't see anything!

She knew that Xu Lingyi was teasing her again.

I couldn't help laughing.

The depression just now disappeared.

Extra update for the 7th of the month of supplementary children!

pS; Sprinkle flowers, sprinkle flowers, finally pay off the old debt...(*^__^*)...