Chapter 496 497 [Upgraded to three levels in a row]
With the arrival of the Fourteenth Prince, the case in Yancheng has basically come to light.
Xiang Nan immediately went to court to pronounce the sentence. Yancheng magistrate Liu Changfu, county magistrate Fan Datong, master Xu Bin, county magistrate Zhu Boping and many officials had embezzled and misappropriated disaster relief grain. They were guilty of heinous crimes and should be executed according to the law!
The verdict was pronounced and the whole city rejoiced.
When the execution was carried out, people from dozens of miles around came to watch. When the heads of these corrupt officials were chopped off one by one, the people in the audience let out an earth-shattering roar.
“Master Ji is truly an upright official!”, “Master Ji is simply the reincarnation of Bao Gong!”, “Ji Qingtian! Mr. Qingtian!” the people cheered, all grateful to Xiang Nan.
?But Xiang Nan actually felt guilty. The real culprits of this case, He Shen, Fu Kang''an, White Snake, the Fourteenth Prince, etc., are still in prison.
?He wanted to deal with it, but the emperor refused to speak, leaving him unable to do anything.
“Ji Aiqing, in your opinion, how should He Shen, Fukang’an and White Snake be dealt with?” Qianlong asked.
“Your Majesty, if I follow my true thoughts, the three of them should be executed and deserve to die.” Xiang Nan cupped his hands and said.
"Ji Aiqing is a scholar, so what he thinks is inevitably more straightforward." Qianlong waved his hand, "Heshen is the chief auxiliary of the military aircraft, and Fukang''an is a fierce general. It is easy to kill them all, but the military aircraft department should Who should be in charge? Who should lead the 100,000 troops on the border? Ji Aiqing, do you have a suitable candidate?
No matter what you say, White Snake is still my biological mother. Once word spreads that the emperor killed his biological mother, where will my face and the court''s face be? "
"Yes, the emperor is right, I think it is simple." Xiang Nan nodded. He knew that the emperor did not want to kill them.
??If it were Ji Xiaolan, he would definitely make the same mistake. But Xiang Nan knew in his heart what kind of character Qianlong was. It is impossible for him to kill Heshen, Fukangan, and White Snake. In this case, he should not get into trouble with the emperor.
"However, the emperor does not punish them at all, which can easily lead to their arrogance." Xiang Nan bowed and said, "I suggest that Heshen and Fukang''an be punished by confiscation of their corruption and bribery over the years, and they should be demoted to three levels and retained as punishment."
“Well, this is a very good performance, it’s accurate.” Qianlong nodded.
He cannot live without Heshen and Fukangan. But what the two of them did in Yancheng really chilled him.
??So he was fined and confiscated, demoted and retained, and given small punishments and big warnings, so that he could be relieved.
"As for how to deal with the White Snake, it involves the royal family. I dare not say anything nonsense, so I can ask the emperor to make a decisive decision." Xiang Nan said again.
"The White Snake is imprisoned in Yancheng and is guarded by local officials." Qianlong thought for a while and said.
Xiang Nan nodded, "Your Majesty is merciful!"
…
"Well, those who deserve punishment will be punished, and those who deserve rewards will be rewarded." Qianlong said again, "Ji Aiqing made meritorious service in investigating the Yancheng case and was promoted to the rank of bachelor of the Hanlin Academy."
"Long live thanks." Xiang Nan kowtowed, "Your Majesty, Huang Keming, Mo Chou, Du Xiaoyue and others helped me a lot this time in investigating the Yancheng case. I hope the Emperor will also reward them."
“Well, Huang Keming is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, has an upright character, is smart and capable, and has made great achievements in disaster relief. I have specially decreed to confer on him the title of seventh-rank...sixth-rank...fifth-rank magistrate of the state. If there is any shortage, he will be filled first.
?Girl Mochou is affectionate and righteous, and has done great work in disaster relief. I specially decree to marry Huang Keming and ennoble Yiren. Du Xiaoyue''s outstanding achievements were rewarded with a thousand taels of silver. I remember that she was pretty good at opera and singing, so she came to Nanfu to be a tutor. "
"I kowtow to express my gratitude to the emperor on behalf of the three of them." Xiang Nan kowtowed again.
…
Xiang Nan then personally announced the good news and told Huang Keming, Mochou, Du Xiaoyue and others about the good news.
After receiving the order, they were all very happy.
“Brother Huang, that’s great. The emperor granted you a marriage. You are so lucky.” Du Xiaoyue said happily.
"Huang Keming, I hope you will fulfill your duties from now on, continue to contribute to the country and benefit the people!" Xiang Nan also encouraged.
“Yes, Mr. Ji, Huang will definitely remember your teachings.” Huang Keming quickly raised his hands.
“Mr. Ji, what does that Nanfu instructor do?” Du Xiaoyue asked curiously. Xiang Nan immediately explained to her.
??Nanfu is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and is responsible for music and drama in the palace. Among them are artists collected from the people, wives and daughters of prisoners, eunuchs from the inner court, etc.
"Then if I go to teach, wouldn''t I go to the capital?" Du Xiaoyue said in surprise.
"Yes." Xiang Nan nodded, "Why, Miss Xiaoyue doesn''t want to go to the capital?"
"Well, if I go to the capital, I have to be separated from Brother Huang and Sister A." Du Xiaoyue nodded and said, "Besides, I don''t know anyone in the capital, and I don''t have any friends there, so why not go there?" Stay in Yunzhou and be happy.”
“Miss Xiaoyue, who said you don’t have any friends in the capital? I am your friend.” Xiang Nan said with a smile.
"Really?! Mr. Ji, do you consider me a friend?" Du Xiaoyue was overjoyed when she heard this.
Xiang Nan was a great talent and an upright official, and he was her idol. She really didn''t expect Xiang Nan to treat her as a friend.
"That''s natural. Miss Xiaoyue is very warm-hearted and fights injustices, which makes Ji admire you very much." Xiang Nan smiled and said, "Moreover, you are smart, smart and smart, which also makes Ji admire you very much."
"I can''t be as good as you said." Du Xiaoyue said modestly, but she was actually very happy.
? Huang Keming and Mo Chou looked at each other and showed understanding smiles when they saw Xiang Nan say this.
…
That night, Mochou called Du Xiaoyue into the room.
“Xiaoyue, what do you think of Mr. Ji?” she asked with a smile.
"Mr. Ji is a good man! He is smart and honest. It would be great if all officials in the world were like him." Du Xiaoyue nodded.
"Then are you willing to stay with him, take care of him, and accompany him?" Mochou asked again.
Du Xiaoyue was stunned, "What do you mean..."
?Mochou smiled and nodded.
Du Xiaoyue blushed and waved her hands quickly and said, "No. Mr. Ji is so knowledgeable and has such a high official position, how could he fall in love with a little girl like me?"
"Didn''t you hear what Mr. Ji said today?" Mochou said with a smile, "Mr. Ji said that he admires you very much, which means that he is interested in you."
?Du Xiaoyue was embarrassed for a while, "But I don''t even know a few Chinese characters. How can I be qualified to serve you, sir?"
"Xiaoyue, don''t belittle yourself." Mochou persuaded with a smile, "In my opinion, Mr. Ji is not that shallow person. Just stay with him and take care of him."
“Yes, I understand, sister.” Du Xiaoyue nodded.
…
The emperor turned around and returned to the capital.
Xiang Nan, Du Xiaoyue, He Shen and Fukang''an returned to Beijing with Luan Jia.
The fourteenth prince and the fourth girl were secretly escorted to the capital in a prison car. As for the White Snake, she was imprisoned in the White House and guarded by local officials.
As for the officials in Yunzhou, Taizhou, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs who were involved in embezzlement of disaster relief grains, as well as those related to the Fourteenth Prince and the White Snake, they were subsequently handed over to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for discussion.
Or beheading, or banishment, or exile, or ransacked homes, or confiscated, or demoted... thousands of people were implicated, which changed the atmosphere of the officialdom.
(End of this chapter)