Chapter 658, Testing
Provincial government, Yuan family.
Madam Yuan helped Governor Yuan take off his official uniform. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "I heard that the Yan family has a close relationship with the one in Prince Heping's palace. If Master arrests Governor Yan like this, won't this offend that person?"
Governor Yuan said nonchalantly, "Xiao Yeyang's status is quite high in the eyes of local officials, but our Yuan family has the support of Consort De, the Fifth Prince, and the Second Princess. Should we be wary of him?"
Madam Yuan: "You can't say that. He's a member of the royal family after all. We shouldn't make things too awkward."
Governor Yuan snorted coldly, "I arrested Yan Zhigao according to the rules. He lost the military rations, and even if he reported it to the emperor, I wouldn't be afraid."
Governor Yuan was not one to listen to advice. Seeing that Mrs. Yuan seemed to want to say something, he suddenly became a little impatient.
"Alright, Xiao Yeyang has been away from the capital for many years. Whether it's Prince Heping or the Emperor, their relationship is not that close. Don't worry about it."
Then he sneered.
"Even before Prince Ping made Ma his wife, Xiao Yeyang didn't dare to return to the capital to make a scene. He's a coward. Even a member of the royal family wouldn't be afraid of such a person."
"Isn't he on good terms with the Yan family? I've been holding Yan Zhigao captive for a whole day, but he hasn't even shown up, and he hasn't sent anyone to inquire. This means he's either afraid of the Yuan family, or he's not as close to the Yan family as the rumors say."
"Well, I'm exhausted from collecting military rations these days. I'm going to Aunt Shui's tonight to relax."
After saying this, he strode away without waiting for Mrs. Yuan's reaction.
Looking at her husband walking away, Mrs. Yuan frowned.
At this time, Yuan Zhilei came to the main courtyard and saw her mother sitting alone in a daze. She walked over and asked, "Mother, did Father go to Aunt Shui again?"
Madam Yuan asked her daughter to sit down and did not talk much about the concubines in the mansion. She had long been indifferent to them over the years. The master was a lustful person, and Concubine Shui had just been sent here by Councillor Jiang a few months ago, so she was still new.
"Are you here for something?"
Yuan Zhilei frowned. Although her mother didn't answer, she already knew the answer. However, as a daughter, she didn't want to talk too much about what happened in her father's room, so she opened her mouth and explained the purpose of her visit: "Mother, I heard from the servants that the eldest son of the Yan family has asked to see you several times, but you have always turned him away. Isn't this too much?"
"Although Prefect Yan lost the military rations, his guilt still needs to be determined by the Emperor. Moreover, Prefect Yan has a good reputation among the people of Zhongzhou. My father is being so ruthless now, I am afraid it will cause criticism."
"I really don't understand why my father would do this."
Madam Yuan sighed, "Your father is just like that. When our family held a welcoming banquet in February, all the officials from Zhongzhou came, except for Prefect Yan. Your father felt that he had looked down upon the Yuan family, and now that he has the chance, he's determined to vent his anger."
"Furthermore, the Yan family and Xiao Yeyang are close friends. When the Fifth Prince was young, Xiao Yeyang bullied him a lot in the palace. Once, he beat him so hard that he was bedridden for over half a month. Your father still remembers this incident."
"Xiao Yeyang is the son of Prince Ping. Your father can't deal with him directly, but the Yan family has no scruples."
"Also, Councillor Jiang came to your father a few days ago and mentioned that Prefect Yan had discovered a high-yield food called potatoes. This was a great achievement that benefited the country and the people, so your father became interested."
"As you know, ever since the Emperor was seriously injured during the ancestral worship, the several princes who have entered the court have been fighting fiercely. Your father wanted to offer the potatoes to the Fifth Prince to increase his prestige among the people."
The more Yuan Zhilei listened, the tighter her brows furrowed. "Mother, Minister Jiang told Father about the potatoes. He clearly had ulterior motives. Over the years, although our family and the Jiang family have kept their distance, the Jiang family has absolutely no reason to help our family. Especially now that the Empress is raising Concubine Ma's son, the Jiang family doesn't want to see another prince excel. Father, please don't be fooled by Minister Jiang."
Madam Yuan was also worried: "You and I can see the problem, but your father doesn't think it's wrong at all. Without the constraints of your grandparents, he has become even more unrestrained."
"When the family decided to send your father away, I was very worried, but family matters were decided by your grandparents, and there was nothing your mother could do about it."
Yuan Zhilei stood up with a jerk. "I think it was Concubine Shui who was gossiping in Father's ear. Father's behavior is a little inappropriate, but it's not out of line at all. Councillor Jiang sent Concubine Shui here with truly malicious intentions."
Madam Yuan signaled her daughter to calm down. "Alright, don't worry. Fortunately, the Yan family has no connections. They can be arrested, and the Emperor won't make things difficult for our family because of him."
"I've already written to inform your grandparents of what's going on here. I think it won't be long before your grandfather sends his staff over to assist your father."
Yuan Zhilei nodded: "I hope grandfather's staff will come soon."
Chiang family.
Jiang Canzheng squinted his eyes and listened to his subordinates' report. After his subordinates left, Mrs. Jiang walked over and asked, "What are you thinking about, Master?"
Jiang Canzheng: "I'm thinking about Xiao Yeyang."
Mrs. Jiang: “Hmm?”
Councillor Jiang said nothing, but squinted his eyes in thought.
This time he attacked the Yan family, one reason being to vent his daughter's anger. The eldest daughter of the Yan family even dared to seduce the man his daughter liked. She must be fed up with living.
The second reason was to test Xiao Yeyang.
His father and elder brother wrote to him several times asking him to test Xiao Yeyang, thinking that Xiao Yeyang might be the Lord Xiao, the deputy commander of the Jinling Guard specially appointed by the emperor. Unfortunately, he didn't find out anything the first few times.
In early July, the Eighth Prince failed to capture the city. It was said that it was because Lord Xiao took action and killed many of the Eighth Prince's men.
After receiving this news, he planned this grain seizure.
From the perspective of the Jiang family, he did not want the rebellion in the northern border to be quelled too quickly. If the eight kings were eliminated, the emperor's ruling power would become stronger and stronger.
Without any constraints, the emperor would definitely turn around and weaken the powerful Jiang family.
No one in the Jiang family wants to see this.
By seizing the 100,000 grains from Ningmen Mansion, we can not only deal with the Yan family, but also cause trouble for the emperor and make a small profit, killing three birds with one stone.
He should have been very satisfied with this result, but now that Xiao Yeyang did not show up, the joy in his heart suddenly diminished by half.
Mrs. Jiang misunderstood what Minister Jiang meant and sneered, saying, "It seems that Xiao Yeyang has a good relationship with the Yan family. Wanying even saw him and the eldest daughter of the Yan family walking together in a very intimate manner. Now that Yan Zhigao is in trouble, he has ignored it. It is obvious that he does not really care about the Yan family."
Councillor Jiang shook his head. "We haven't seen Xiao Yeyang in months. Is he still in Zhongzhou? Over in the Northern Frontier, that mysterious Lord Xiao has reappeared."
Madam Jiang was stunned for a moment, then she thought of something and widened her eyes: "Master, are you saying that Xiao Yeyang is the Master Xiao?"
Councillor Jiang heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Nine out of ten times." Then he strode to the study.
He wanted to tell his father the result of this temptation.
(End of this chapter)
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