General's Mansion
Yang Haiyan read Qin Fang's letter and knew that he was safe. She finally put her worries at ease. "Second brother, Qin Fang is in the capital. Thank you for taking care of him." Otherwise, it would take some effort to enter the city gate. But it can be seen that Qin Fang had thought of Du Xingran before he left.
Du Xingran said indifferently: "What's the big deal? We are all family. It's only right to help each other. Second sister, then you get ready. I will be back tomorrow." There was no male owner in the house. Even though he and Yang Haiyan were nominally sworn brothers and sisters, it was not easy for them to spend much time together.
Yang Haiyan said, "Second brother, you have just arrived in Yunxiang County. Why don't you stay for a few more days? I'll let my younger brother take you around. You can tell the emperor about the situation in Yunxiang County later, so that the emperor will know that your trip these few days has not been in vain."
Du Xingran immediately understood what she meant and said gratefully, "Second sister is still thoughtful." Isn't it the people's sentiments that the emperor likes to hear the most? Speaking of this, Du Xingran shamelessly mentioned the toothpaste and toothbrush, "Second sister, according to Qin brother, the toothbrush and toothpaste are particularly easy to use. I wonder if you can give me one... two pairs?" He was also shameless. Although it was embarrassing to ask for two pairs, he couldn't have them himself. My wife didn't have them, right? In fact, two pairs were not enough. There were still grandparents, stepmother and aunt at home.
Yang Haiyan chuckled. She had a very good impression of the second son of the Du family. He was a carefree person. He was very enthusiastic and lively. "Two pairs are not enough. Let's equip each elder in the mansion with one pair. But it will take some time." There was not enough time to make either toothpaste or toothbrush. However, since Qin Fang was fine, it didn't matter if Du Xingran returned to Beijing a few days later.
Du Xingran was overjoyed when she heard it: "Thank you, second sister." Between them, Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan were called separately. Qin Fang was Du Ke's student, so Du Xingran called him Brother Qin, referring to the relationship with Du Ke. Yang Haiyan was Mrs. Du's adopted daughter at this time, so according to the relationship with Mrs. Du, she was called Second Sister.
Yang Haiyan said, "Second brother, you are too polite. By the way, second brother, I also want to trouble you with something."
Du Xingran asked, "What is it? As long as I can do it, I will definitely do it."
Seeing him say this, Yang Haiyan asked directly, "Second brother, have you seen the emperor? I want a painting of the emperor here."
"This..." This matter stumped Du Xingran, "Sister, I have seen the emperor, but I can't paint."
Yang Haiyan said, "This is not difficult, it's good enough for second brother to have seen it."
How to do it?
Soon, Du Xingran found out the next day.
After breakfast the next day, Yang Haiyan summoned all the famous painters in Yunxiang County and gathered at the General's Mansion. Then, according to Du Xingran's description, they painted portraits.
An hour later, the portraits of those painters were finished, a total of ten.
Yang Haiyan took the ten portraits and asked Du Xingran: "Second brother, which of these ten portraits is the most like?"
Du Xingran looked at them and to be honest, none of them could depict the emperor's demeanor, but he still chose the one he thought was the best among the ten: "Let's take this one, but it's still not quite like the emperor. For example, the eyes and the mouth..."
Yang Haiyan said: "Well, if there is anything that needs to be changed, second brother, talk to the painter and change it until you think it's okay."
Du Xingran said: "Okay."
This change took a whole day. After a day, the painter was so tired that he was paralyzed, and finally changed a portrait that Du Xingran thought was pretty good.
The next day after getting the portrait, Yang Haiyan went to the woodworking workshop and asked the carving master to carve the emperor's face according to the portrait.
Master carving is not something that can be done in a short time, so Yang Haiyan went back to the General's Mansion. When he arrived at the gate of the General's Mansion, he saw a carriage parked there. The people in the carriage did not go in. When they saw Yang Haiyan coming, they got off the carriage and said, "I am here to see you, Mr. Xiang." The person who came was Cheng County Magistrate of Laiwang County.
This was not the first time that Cheng County Magistrate came. The last time he came, Yang Haiyan said Qin Fang was not there, and he left without saying much. This was his second time.
Yang Haiyan said politely, "Sir Cheng, there is no need to be so polite. I wonder why you came to the general's mansion?"
County Magistrate Cheng said, "It's about the case of your lady Fan's son-in-law injuring someone. Lady Fan's son-in-law said that he was doing it under the order of General Qin, so General Qin has to give an explanation for this matter."
Yang Haiyan chuckled, "Sir Cheng, a seventh-rank county magistrate, still says such funny things. Since when did my husband, a fifth-rank general, give you an explanation just because of a word from a servant's son-in-law? Could it be that the results of this examination, Sir Cheng, are also inflated? Otherwise, you should know that without sufficient evidence, you cannot ask your superiors to give you an explanation."
County Magistrate Cheng: "You..." He didn't expect that a woman would be so difficult to deal with. "Then I want to visit General Qin for something, please give me some convenience."
Yang Haiyan said, "He went to Beast Mountain, Lord Cheng can go find him by himself. As for the General's Mansion... My husband is not here, and I, a woman, will not keep guests." Then she walked into the mansion, "Uncle Hong, close the door. If there are unrelated people who want to come in, just charge them with privately breaking into the General's Mansion and stealing secrets from the General's Mansion and arrest them. I remember that the last time Chief Steward Chi came, he came with the emperor's secret order, but I don't know if he broke into the mansion for this."
Uncle Hong: "Yes, don't worry, Lord."
County Magistrate Cheng was really angry. This Bingyun County Lord was too difficult to deal with, but he couldn't force it. First of all, Bingyun County Lord was of a higher rank than him. Secondly, this was Yunxiang County, with a thousand soldiers here, how could he dare to be so arrogant?
County Magistrate Cheng thought about it and decided to go with the third step of the plan. According to the above plan, what happened here should be reported.
Speaking of which, Qin Fang has been living in a side hall of the imperial palace these days, but because he did not show up, no one knew of his existence. Besides, not everyone has the courage to inquire about the emperor's bedroom, and not everyone can find out the situation.
The emperor said that he wanted to watch a play with Qin Fang, but it has been a few days and the play has not started yet. Qin Fang wanted to go home. Although he asked Du Xingran to send a letter home, Yanyan cried when he left home, so Qin Fang wanted to go back by himself.
But Qin Fang also knew that he could not go back.
On this day, the emperor attended the morning court as usual.
Chief Steward Chi: "If you have something to report, please step up. If not, please leave the court."
At this time, a minister stepped out: "Your Majesty, I have something to report. I heard that Qin Fang, the garrison commander of Yunxiang County, tolerated his servant son-in-law to abuse his power and even beat him severely."
"Your Majesty, I also have something to report. I heard that the servant son-in-law of Qin Fang, the garrison commander of Yunxiang County, used his relationship with Qin Fang to threaten the Laiwang County imperial grain agent Jin family to give up their agency status."
"Your Majesty, this imperial grain agent matter is of great importance. Qin Fang is deeply valued by your Majesty, but he tolerates a servant like this. It is really..."
"That's right. The imperial grain agent represents the face of the imperial grain. How can a servant of Qin Fang's family interfere?"
"Your Majesty, I have also heard about the servant-in-law of Qin Fang's family. County Magistrate Cheng went to the General's Mansion to find Qin Fang about this matter, but Qin Fang refused to see him and said that County Magistrate Cheng was only a seventh-rank official and could not handle his fifth-rank official."
"Your Majesty..."
Suddenly, there were more impeachments against Qin Fang.
Of course, there were also people who defended Qin Fang, such as the ministers who had a good relationship with Du Ke.
"Laiwang County is far away from the capital. It is not easy for you to hear these things."
"Yes, it is a coincidence. I received a letter from Brother Du a few days ago. I know that Brother Du is in Hedong Prefecture. I believe that the information that can be received in the capital can also be received in Hedong Prefecture, right? In this case, with Brother Du's character, he will naturally not let Qin Fang do whatever he wants."
"Yes, yes, why don't you let Brother Du investigate this matter?"
Let Du Ke investigate? Can Qin Fang be dismissed from office? So the people of the Royal Concubine's faction were naturally unwilling. Someone immediately said, "Lord Du is no longer in Hedong Mansion."
"That's right. Even if Lord Du was still in Hedong Mansion, given the relationship between Lord Du and Qin Fang, I'm afraid it would not be appropriate for him to investigate this matter."
"Lord Du is responsible for such an important matter as the imperial grain plan. How can we bother him with other things?"
"That's right, Lord Du..."
For a while, people in the court were talking about it.
Normally, such a small matter would not appear in the court, especially in the morning court. However, the person involved in this matter is not ordinary. He is Du Ke's student.
Everyone argued for a long time, but the emperor did not speak, so everyone stopped and looked at the emperor.
"Your Majesty, what do you think?"
The emperor raised his eyebrows: "I think? Why not ask the person involved about this matter. Come on, let Qin Fang, the garrison commander of Yunxiang County, come to see the emperor."
As the emperor finished speaking, the ministers were stunned. Qin Fang went to Beijing?
"Let Qin Fang, the garrison commander of Yunxiang County, come to see the emperor."
Qin Fang went to the throne.
It must be said that Qin Fang's figure is one of the tallest in the entire throne. He had a stern face and walked in with steady steps. Unlike the countryman who entered the palace a few days ago, Qin Fang was no longer afraid of the emperor after getting along with the emperor for a few days. What's more, this time the emperor invited him to watch a play, so he was even less nervous.
Before meeting Qin Fang, many people were curious about Qin Fang. Of course, they were curious about the identity of Du Ke's student. But when they saw Qin Fang, they were a little disappointed, because they couldn't see anything special about him, except that he was tall.
"I am Qin Fang, your humble servant, and I am here to greet the emperor."
The emperor nodded, "No need to be polite." Then he said to the other ministers, "Weren't you very interested in the discussion just now? Now the main person is here, you can ask him."
Qin Fang stood up and looked at the ministers next to him, "I wonder what you ministers want to ask me? I will tell you everything I know."
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