vrcanaries Chapter 169 Uncle Gu is at ease, Uncle Gu is not at ease
Chapter 169 Uncle Gu is at ease, Uncle Gu is not at ease
[The previous chapter is now complete, my darlings, you can go back and read it now, mwah!]
After Zheng Hao left the Imperial Study, an official entered the Imperial Study some time later.
Upon seeing Emperor Jian'an, he knelt down without hesitation and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
"I love your life."
The Imperial Censor stood up, and then Emperor Jian'an said to Eunuch Wang, "Take the account book to Minister Yu for him to see."
Eunuch Wang carried the account book away, and the Imperial Censor took the book from him, slightly raising his head to look at Emperor Jian'an with a puzzled expression: "Your Majesty, what is this...?"
Emperor Jian'an raised his eyes and gestured, "You take a look first."
Upon hearing this, the Imperial Censor stopped asking questions, lowered his head, and began to examine the account book. As he looked at it, his expression gradually changed, and as he read further, his expression became increasingly grim.
After reviewing the entire account book, the Imperial Censor looked up and said cautiously, "Your Majesty..."
"If it weren't for the Qingzhou Prefecture tax case that made me wary and ordered someone to investigate the tax accounts of various prefectures in the Ministry of Revenue, I wouldn't have known that over the past ten years, officials in the court and local officials had colluded to embezzle nearly 15 million taels of tax silver. Bribes under the names of Bingjing and Zhongtanjing were no longer enough for them. They dared to reach for the tax silver and kept me in the dark for ten years."
"This is truly an eye-opener for me. Even during the last reign of the previous dynasty, when officials were corrupt, they never went this far."
"Your Majesty!" the Imperial Censor called out.
Emperor Jian'an's words, comparing his own court to that of the last emperor of the previous dynasty, were truly ominous.
Emperor Jian'an was unwilling to be compared to the last emperor of the previous dynasty. He asked the Grand Censor, "What is your plan for dealing with this matter, my dear minister?"
The Imperial Censor was Emperor Jian'an's confidant, having followed him from an unknown prince to his current position. During this time, many people betrayed him, but the Imperial Censor remained steadfastly on Emperor Jian'an's side. When Emperor Jian'an was still a prince, the Imperial Censor even shielded him from assassination attempts. Emperor Jian'an kept many things from the Crown Prince, but he trusted the Imperial Censor completely.
The Imperial Censor carefully considered his words and replied, "Your Majesty, this matter requires careful consideration."
Emperor Jian'an nodded slightly and said, "I understand."
"I was able to tolerate the Qingzhou Prefecture tax case and let it go lightly, but I didn't know that a single move could affect the whole situation. Now, the Red-Clad Army in the south is growing stronger and the Northern Barbarians in the north are stirring up trouble. With unrest both inside and outside the country, I do not want to cause any more trouble."
The Imperial Censor breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Your Majesty is wise."
Emperor Jian'an: "But I will definitely investigate the matter of the Zhenhong Army embezzling military funds thoroughly."
"I wish to select an official from the court to serve as a military supervisor and go south to thoroughly investigate the embezzlement of military funds by the Zhenhong Army. This person must have very little contact with court officials and be impartial and incorruptible. Who do you think should be sent, my esteemed minister?"
Emperor Jian'an asked.
The Imperial Censor pondered for a moment and then said, "I have a candidate, but I fear Your Majesty may feel that this person is not capable of shouldering this important responsibility."
Emperor Jian'an asked, "Who is it?"
The Imperial Censor replied, "This man is the newly appointed top scholar, Zheng, a compiler in the Hanlin Academy."
"From the case of tax silver in Qingzhou Prefecture, we can see that Lord Zheng is dedicated to public service and fearless of powerful figures. If other officials were sent to the south, they might collude with the court officials or alert the enemy. Lord Zheng is new to officialdom and the generals of the Zhenhong Army are not familiar with him. It would be best for him to go to the Zhenhong Army as a supervisor."
Emperor Jian'an originally considered sending Zheng Hao to suppress the Red Army, but the man was too young and might not be up to the task.
The words of the Imperial Censor kept repeating in his mind. Emperor Jian'an said, "I will think about it again."
After leaving Gu An's academy, Gu Lin took a detour to Zhenyu Tower, where he and Xiao Cui entertained the noble couple for the afternoon. It wasn't until Zhenyu Tower was about to close that Gu Lin leisurely returned to his residence.
As soon as Gu Lin entered the courtyard, happy Zhu, who was waiting for his return, stepped forward and asked, "Husband, what would you like to eat for dinner?"
After several days and a busy afternoon, Gu Lin finally felt hungry. He said, "Anything that isn't bland is fine."
Xi Zhu paused for a moment. Other hosts would instruct that there should be no greasy meat and only light dishes, but her husband did the opposite.
That was what she was thinking, but Xizhu quickly gave the order, and instead of letting the kitchen staff serve whatever they wanted as Gu Lin had suggested, she had them serve the meat and vegetables that the young men usually liked.
The kitchen always kept the two masters' favorite foods on hand, so the person Xizhu sent to the kitchen quickly returned with the food box.
Looking at the four meat dishes on the table, Gu Lin, who had been running around all day, nodded in satisfaction, then picked up his chopsticks and began to eat heartily.
The braised beef brisket with radish was tender and flavorful, the roasted lamb leg was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, the crystal pork jelly melted in your mouth, and the crab stuffed orange was perfectly balanced between sweet and sour. Gu Lin was extremely happy with the food. Since arriving in the capital, what satisfied him most was that the dishes were even better than before.
Suddenly, as Gu Lin was eating the crab-stuffed orange, he caught a glimpse of happy Zhu, who was standing next to him, giving a slight curtsy.
Gu Lin looked up and saw a young man in a scarlet official robe walk into the room and come to stand in front of him in a few steps.
"Uncle Gu."
Ignoring him, Gu Lin continued eating.
Zheng Hao sat down opposite him, without instructing happy Zhu and the others to add more bowls and chopsticks for him, and simply watched the young man eat.
Feeling stared at like that, Gu Lin couldn't eat. He slammed down his chopsticks, but mindful of the servants in the room, he said curtly, "You've already eaten outside?"
Zheng Hao shook his head slightly: "I was thinking of coming back to have dinner with Uncle Gu."
"Then why are you sitting here? Do you want me to add more chopsticks and bowls for you?" Gu Lin asked back.
Zheng Haowei glanced at him slightly and said, "I'm afraid Uncle Gu won't want to have a meal with me."
In the past, seeing the young man's slightly bowed head, Gu Lin might have reflected on where he had gone wrong. But now, Gu Lin sneered inwardly. If he was really worried that he wouldn't want to eat with him, he should have stayed in the front yard instead of coming over as soon as he got off duty.
Gu Lin said, "Yes, can you go back? Just let me have a proper meal, okay?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man paused and looked up at him. Gu Lin looked back at him with some impatience, but saw that the young man's dark eyes were slightly red.
Gu Lin made a move.
Zheng Hao spoke, his voice a bit hoarse compared to before: "Uncle Gu, do you hate me now?"
Yes, Gu Lin wanted to answer that way, but seeing the young man's slightly red eyes, those seemingly pitiful yet terrifying black eyes, Gu Lin swallowed the words back. It's better not to provoke this little madman, lest he find another excuse to lock him up.
Ignoring the slight discomfort that flashed through Gu Lin's heart when he saw the young man's envious eyes, Gu Lin replied, "You're overthinking it."
However, Zheng Hao was clearly dissatisfied with his answer, stubbornly staring at him with his reddened eyes.
"That brat is pushing his luck," Gu Lin cursed inwardly, but looking into the other's increasingly deep eyes, Gu Lin felt a chill run down his spine and added, "I don't dislike you."
Fearing that the other party would continue to press their advantage, Gu Lin quickly turned to happy Zhu and said, "Bring another set of bowls and chopsticks."
happy Zhu replied, "Yes," and then took out a bowl and chopsticks from the food box and placed them in front of Zheng Hao.
After being interrupted by the young man, the youth sat down and stopped causing trouble. Gu Lin said, "Eat."
"Uncle Gu will eat too."
Zheng Hao picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and then the two of them ate together harmoniously, as if they had returned to the time before they had a falling out. But this was only on the surface. In the past, the two of them would have been chatting while eating, and they would never have been completely silent.
Strangely, the young man was also unusually quiet. At first, Gu Lin was a little puzzled, but while eating, he quickly put the other person out of his mind.
After the meal was finished and the food on the table in front of them was cleared away, Zheng Hao asked Da Zhuo to bring a sandalwood box with a deep color and smooth texture.
Taking the sandalwood box from Da Zhuo, Zheng Hao opened it towards the young man, revealing a ruby inside that resembled pigeon blood. He said, "Uncle Gu, this is a gem bestowed by His Majesty. Please take a look and see if you like it."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin, who was drinking tea, couldn't help but turn his gaze to the sandalwood box that Zheng Hao was holding. Inside the box were two fist-sized rubies with smooth, neat cuts and sharp edges.
A hint of surprise crossed Gu Lin's face, not because of the size of the gemstone, but because of its brilliance.
Unlike modern times, the craftsmanship of cutting and polishing gemstones in the Qianlong period was not sophisticated. Many gemstones, no matter how beautiful they were inside, had a dull surface, unlike the sparkling gemstones of today. The two rubies bestowed by Emperor Jian'an were exactly the opposite.
Even though Gu Lin wasn't an expert in this field, he could tell that the two gems in front of him were no ordinary items.
Was Emperor Jian'an really that generous to his subordinates?
A thoughtful look flashed across Gu Lin's eyes.
Seeing Uncle Gu staring at the gem in his hand for a long time without moving, Zheng Hao knew that he had done the right thing by presenting the gem to the other party.
He placed the box, along with the ruby, in front of Gu Lin and said, "Uncle Gu, keep it to play with or make it into jewelry."
Gu Lin was taken aback, then frowned and said, "No need, this is valuable, you can take it back."
Even if it were before, let alone now, Gu Lin would not have accepted such a valuable item from the other party.
Zheng Hao said, "Actually, I sent this gift because I wanted to ask Uncle Gu for a favor."
help?
Zheng Hao's request drew a sidelong glance from Gu Lin.
You should know that since the young man became sensible, he has rarely asked him for help.
He neither agreed nor refused, but looked at the young man, signaling him to continue.
Zheng Hao said, "I would like to ask Uncle Gu to help me open a few shops."
"I partnered with Niu Qiang to establish a security escort agency, employing dozens of people. In addition, we hired some guards to protect our residence. Furthermore, there are many places in the officialdom where we need to deal with people. If we continue to rely solely on the government's salary, we will definitely not be able to sustain ourselves. Therefore, I would like to ask Uncle Gu to help me open a few shops to maintain our livelihood and social interactions in the capital."
Zheng Hao said, "If Uncle Gu agrees, I will provide all the capital, and I will give half of the profits to Uncle Gu as dividends."
Gu Lin's lips moved slightly, and Zheng Hao thought that the other party was going to refuse, but Gu Lin said: "I remember that according to the laws of the Great Qian Dynasty, officials are not allowed to engage in business."
Given Zheng Hao's cautious nature, it's unlikely he would knowingly commit such a violation.
Zheng Hao nodded slightly and said, "That's why Uncle Gu needs to put in so much effort. The laws of the Great Qian Dynasty only stipulate that officials' wives and brothers cannot engage in business. There are no requirements for other relatives of officials. I will register the shop under Uncle Gu's name and will also send people to assist Uncle Gu in handling the shop's affairs so that Uncle Gu won't have to worry too much."
Gu Lin frowned, reluctant to agree. His relationship with Zheng Hao was already complicated and hadn't been resolved yet, so what kind of relationship would it be to help him manage the shop?
Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly and said, "Now I have become a thorn in the side of many officials in the court. If Uncle Gu is unwilling to help me, I can't find anyone else."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin immediately noticed the first half of the other person's sentence, and his expression turned slightly serious: "What happened to you at the Ministry of Revenue?"
Investigating the accounts of the Red Army in various prefectures and even towns was something that could offend most of the imperial court, so Zheng Hao naturally wouldn't reveal it to make Gu Lin worry.
He said to Gu Lin, "After the Qingzhou Prefecture tax silver case, His Majesty ordered me to temporarily serve as the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. This action blocked the promotion path of many people. Some officials then submitted memorials impeaching me for being eager for quick success and instant benefits and for being too ambitious. They suggested to His Majesty that I be transferred back to the Hanlin Academy to concentrate on compiling books."
Upon hearing this, Gu Lin felt a surge of anger.
Those officials are just jealous and want to bring Zheng Hao down!
Putting aside past grievances, Gu Lin said to Zheng Hao, "It's clear that everyone relies on their own abilities. You risked offending the powerful backer of the Prefect of Qingzhou by impeaching him, which allowed you to temporarily take over as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. If they were dissatisfied with you, why don't they have the courage to impeach local prefects?"
"They're just bullying you because you don't have anyone backing you up!"
Although he had a conflict with Zheng Hao, Gu Lin still considered them family. He felt that if others bullied Zheng Hao, it was the same as bullying him.
Seeing the young man's change from his usual cold and sarcastic tone, and the burning flame in his light-colored eyes because of him, Zheng Hao's Adam's apple bobbed, unable to hide his emotions.
Zheng Hao comforted him, saying, "I work for His Majesty. As long as I do things well, their envy will be of no use."
However, Gu Lin was not so naive. It was true that Zheng Hao worked for Emperor Jian'an, but Zheng Hao had no one to rely on. Did he really have to offend all the court officials and stand on Emperor Jian'an's side?
If Emperor Jian'an were a powerful emperor, Gu Lin wouldn't have stopped Zheng Hao from doing this. But Emperor Jian'an and the aristocratic families were in a mess, and even knowing he would get tainted, he had no choice but to move forward...
The more this is the case, the more careful Zheng Hao must be in his official duties. He absolutely cannot skimp on bribes or favors in official circles, as he and Gu Lin share a relationship of mutual benefit and mutual loss.
If Zheng Hao gets into trouble, he won't have a good ending either.
Gu Lin said to Zheng Hao, "I'll help you with business."
Gu Lin twitched his fingers slightly and looked at Zheng Hao, instructing him, "You should also be careful. Don't do whatever others say. Always leave room for maneuver so you can meet again in the future."
Because of the servants inside, Gu Lin didn't say it explicitly, but Zheng Hao understood what he meant.
Zheng Hao said, "Uncle Gu, don't worry."
To serve Emperor Jian'an, one must be ruthless in the early stages to gain his trust and gradually gain his authority. Once he rises to power, he will follow Uncle Gu's advice and leave him a way out whenever possible.
Gu Lin was worried. In the original story, after returning to the capital, the emperor and the powerful families who wanted to seize his military power directly caused the two sides to fight like dogs. In the end, he dealt a fatal blow to the emperor and the powerful families. The royal family and the powerful families suffered heavy casualties, almost repeating the Huang Chao massacre of the powerful families.