Chapter 532 Chapter 533【Rebuke directly】


    Although the emperor''s plan to build the garden was delayed for a time due to Xiang Nan''s efforts to obstruct it, the project was finally launched.


    He Shen somehow managed to persuade some Jiangnan salt merchants to jointly donate 5 million taels of silver for the emperor.


    So, a new garden was built in the western suburbs.


    The person responsible for the construction was Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili.


    Less than two months after the construction of the new garden started, news came out that during the construction of the garden, Shang Rong not only dug up people''s ancestral graves, causing widespread resentment among the people, but also used inferior goods to pass them off as good ones, thus embezzling money.


    ?Hong Derui, the imperial censor, submitted a memorial to Shang Rong. He found out that during the construction of the garden, he committed ten major crimes including stealing, passing off inferior goods, digging graves privately, and spending extravagantly.


    Qianlong sent officials from the Ministry of Punishment, Ministry of Household Affairs, and Ministry of Works to investigate. After investigation, officials from the three ministries reported that Hong Derui''s report was untrue and was purely a false accusation.


    Qianlong was furious. He not only dismissed Hong Derui from his post and demoted him to work in Quyang quarry, but also demoted his family members to be sold as official prostitutes and official slaves. It was really pitiful.


    Xiang Nan saw this and knew that Hong Derui was innocent and his daughter Hong Xia was even more pitiful, so he decided to try to rescue their father and daughter.


    …


    By chance, Hong Derui had just been convicted and a new garden had been built.


    Qianlong personally named the new garden Wanchun Garden and invited officials to play with him.


    Before Xiang Nan left, he told Du Xiaoyue, "Xiaoyue, if Mr. Xiang doesn''t come back at noon, go to the palace to beg the Queen Mother and tell him that Ji Xiaolan is going to be beheaded."


    “Sir, why do you say that?” Du Xiaoyue asked in surprise.


    Su Qinglian and Xiangyun were also shocked.


    "Hey, I''m going to take a risk today." Xiang Nan sighed and said, "The emperor built the Wanchun Garden, which cost nearly six million taels of silver, accounting for one-sixth of the national treasury''s annual revenue. It can buy four million taels of rice. To provide for 2.5 million people for a year.


    ?Such extravagance and waste are really the shame of the Qing Dynasty and the suffering of the people. Although I tried my best to dissuade him, the emperor didn''t listen at all. So I''m going to take a risk today and make the emperor admit that he was wrong. "


    “Sir, are you going to offend Yan Zhijian?” Xiangyun said in shock.


    Xiang Nan nodded.


    “Sir, you have sacrificed your life for justice for the country and the people, and I admire you.” Su Qinglian said with admiration, “If the emperor really hangs his loyal ministers, Qinglian is willing to accompany you.”


    "Hey, it doesn''t have to be like this. The most I can do is be frightened. The emperor is not willing to kill me." Xiang Nan waved his hand, "I tell you in advance to reassure you so that you don''t get scared. Okay, I''m leaving. Xiaoyue remembers my words."


    “Yeah.” Du Xiaoyue nodded.


    …


    Xiang Nan then went to Wanchun Garden with Qianlong and the Manchu civil and military officials.


    "My dear friends, today the sky is bright and clear, the wind is gentle, the flowers and willows are accompanying each other, and the green water is rippling. My mood can only be described in two words - happy!" Qianlong looked at this beautifully carved, magnificent and ingenious garden and said with a satisfied smile. .


    “The emperor is absolutely right. I accompany the emperor in the palace every day and is busy with state affairs. Today I had the honor to accompany the emperor to visit this garden, and I immediately felt relaxed and happy.


    Just when he didn''t know how to describe this feeling, the emperor said it clearly. He was so happy and happy! Heshen immediately greeted him and said, "Your Majesty, as the emperor is pleased, we have some poems that we are about to present to the emperor to congratulate the prosperity of our family and country, the beauty of the garden, and the wisdom of your majesty." "


    “Okay, okay, I’m also trying to appreciate your Aiqing’s literary talents.” Qianlong smiled and said, “In that case, let’s make a poem with Aiqing.”


    "In this case, this servant will not be humble." He Shen smiled, then glanced at Xiang Nan, "Scholar Ji, you are the most talented person in the world, why don''t you come first?"


    "Master He, I''m just thinking of something to say. I''ll have it after smoking this cigarette." Xiang Nan smiled and said, "You come first, you come first."


    He Shen nodded and then nodded to several ministers. There are those who were second in the rankings, those who were the top three, those who were in the Hanlin Academy, and those who are not good at writing...


    In Xiang Nan''s opinion, most of the poems he wrote were sour and disgusting.


    Seeing that everyone had written poems, He Shen invited Xiang Nan to do it again.


    “Please sir, I still have two puffs left on my cigarette.” Xiang Nan said with a smile.


    He Shen curled his lips and said, "Your Majesty, for today''s events, I specially wrote a poem about Chu and dedicated it to Your Majesty."


    “Oh, read it quickly and listen to it.” Qianlong said with a smile.


    "Yes." Heshen took a breath and recited energetically, "Sigh, there are beautiful gardens floating in the Western Mountains! Wandering around Langui, the green water is whirling. The wind is so graceful, Birds rest and fish rest. This family and country are prosperous and their fame spreads far and wide..."


    …


    Xiang Nan really got goosebumps all over his body when he heard his artificial chanting.


    "Ah~hahahaha~" He then covered his face and howled, which temporarily disturbed He Shen''s poetry.


    “Ji Xiaolan, are you crying or laughing?” Qianlong asked doubtfully.


    "Mr. Ji, the emperor is asking you a question!" Heshen said unhappily. He was reaching the climax of his chant, but Xiang Nan got it all mixed up. It was really a mess.


    "Your Majesty, on such a happy day, there is no reason to cry! I am so happy, so happy." Xiang Nan wiped his tears and said, "Aren''t there words in the book about crying with joy and sadness from extreme joy?"


    "Definitely, it''s unbelievable. I really can''t see you crying with joy." Qianlong waved his hand and said, "Okay, have you finished your poem?"


    "I''ll report it to your Majesty, I''m ready." Xiang Nan stood up and said.


    “Then read and listen.” Qianlong said immediately.


    Xiang Nan nodded and took out an Allegro from his pocket, "Please give me your permission to use bamboo accompaniment."


    “That’s right.” Qianlong nodded.


    Xiang Nan then started to play Allegro, crackling and lively, "Wanchun Garden in the western suburbs is beside the water. There are mountains, water and towers. A tower has eight pillars, one pillar at a time."


    ?From afar, there are thousands of willow trees on the hillside, and one willow costs 100,000 yuan. A lake was dug on the side of the water, and a gold boat floated on the lake. The rockery was originally made of silver, and the peonies cost emeralds. This place was originally a grave for ancestors, and the lonely ghosts have lost their homes..."


    In the queue, Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili who was responsible for supervising the construction of Wanchun Garden, was so frightened that he was sweating coldly and his calves were shaking when he heard Xiang Nan''s words.


    Qianlong originally thought it was quite interesting, but the more he listened, the more he felt something was wrong.


    ?The willow tree cost one hundred thousand yuan, the dragon boat cost one gold yuan, and the peony cost one jade yuan. The most terrible thing is that even the ghosts and ghosts have appeared in the graveyard.


    "Shut up!" Qianlong quickly stopped, "Ji Xiaolan, you always do these disgusting things to me when I am happiest."


    “I will die!” Xiang Nan kowtowed hurriedly.


    "Humph, it''s a big disgrace to the scenery and a huge disappointment! Get up and go back to the palace!" Qianlong said angrily.


    ?Today he came here in good spirits, but came back in despair. He was very disappointed!


    All civil and military officials also quickly followed.


    "Ji Xiaolan, you can do it, you can count the treasures." He Shen sneered, "Okay, maybe you will really need it someday."


    (End of this chapter)