Chapter 543 544【Absolutely not allowed】


    "Hong Yushi, I misjudged you before, and I am really ashamed. But instead of hating me, you continued to fight against the treacherous ministers, and almost died at the hands of corrupt officials.


    You have sacrificed your life for the sake of the country and the people, and I really should commend you. "After sending off Shang Rong and Xiang Nan, Qianlong looked at Hong Derui and Hong Xia and said, "I especially want to thank you for training such a good daughter. She is beautiful and smart, brave and resourceful, and she can play the pipa well. . In my opinion, how about staying at Shengping Department as an instructor? "


    "Your Majesty, I am used to living a life of idle clouds and wild cranes, and I am afraid that it will be difficult for me to take on a heavy responsibility." Hong Derui said, "I am not in good health, and I want to retire and return to my hometown."


    It is certainly a happy thing that he brought down Shang Rong this time and successfully rehabilitated him. But his wife died of illness, the family was almost destroyed, and everything was different from before.


    Furthermore, he could also see Qianlong''s ignorance and greed.


    ??Shang Rong was certainly guilty of repairing the garden this time, but Qianlong was the chief culprit. Regardless of the life and death of the people, he insisted on building gardens, which cost more than six million taels. He was extravagant and wasteful, which was really not the behavior of a wise king.


    Hence, he was quite disheartened and lost confidence in officialdom. I am ready to retire, return to the countryside, and spend the rest of my life.


    Qianlong was stunned, and seeing that his attitude was quite firm, he had no choice but to nod.


    "Well, in that case, I won''t force it." He smiled, "Hong Derui is allowed to resign and return home, and he will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver and a full salary."


    “Long live thanks.” Hong Derui kowtowed.


    …


    “Xiaoyue, you were the one who teased me at the inn that day, right?” Qianlong looked at Du Xiaoyue again.


    "Xiaoyue will die." Du Xiaoyue stuck out her tongue and knelt down.


    "That''s enough, I don''t blame you." Qianlong smiled and said, "You have done a good job in saving Hong Yushi''s family, and I will give you an extra reward. Whatever you want, I will grant you."


    "Thank you, Your Majesty." Du Xiaoyue said happily after hearing this.


    …


    "I, Aiqing and Ji Aiqing, went out to do business this time. Thanks to your company, I have seen a lot and understood a lot in my heart. I should have praised you." Qianlong said again, "But as for you two, one is relying on his talent. To be wise, be smart in everything you do, regardless of food, clothing, housing or transportation.


    One is mediocre and slow in everything, which not only makes me helpless, but also causes me to suffer a lot. Do you both know your guilt? "


    "I know my crime!" "I know my crime!" Xiang Nan and He Shen plead guilty together.


    "Okay, you two will be dismissed from your posts on the spot. Quyang County will prepare two prison cars and **** them back to Beijing early tomorrow morning to wait for their release." Qianlong said again, "On the way back, you two should reflect on it."


    “Thank you, Lord, for your kindness.” He Shen and Xiang Nan both said with bitter faces.


    …


    Turning around, Qianlong returned to Beijing majestically, escorted by ceremonial guards.


    Xiang Nan and He Shen wore prison uniforms, were put into prison cars and rushed to the capital.


    “Old Ji, I told you, if you hadn’t been so clever, would we have been locked up in this prison car?” He Shen complained.


    "Okay, shut up! Shang Rong didn''t turn you in, so it''s an advantage for you. Don''t think that I don''t know that Shang Rong was greedy for money when repairing the garden, but you also got a lot of it." Nan glared at him and said, "You sit in the prison car, you deserve it. I saved Hong Yushi''s family, and let the emperor see all kinds of things in the world. I have contributed to the country."


    ??Now that I am riding in the prison car with you, I still feel that it is unfair. You still have the nerve to complain to me, bah! Don’t be shy! "


    "Lao Ji, you..." He Shen was scolded by Xiang Nan and was immediately speechless.


    Just as the prison van was getting ready to go on the road, Du Xiaoyue led Hong Xia, Hong Derui and her daughter over.


    “Sir~” Du Xiaoyue shouted crisply.


    "Xiaoyue~" Xiang Nan said happily when he saw her, "Miss Hong, Yushi Hong~"


    "Mr. Ji, our father and daughter have really troubled you this time." Hong Derui cupped his hands to Xiang Nan. Hong Xia also had tears in her eyes and blamed herself.


    "Hey, don''t say that. It''s just a prison car ride back to Beijing, there''s no implication at all." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "The emperor just wants to punish me with small punishments and severe punishments. He won''t cut off my head, so you don''t have to worry. "


    “Sir, you can still laugh.” Du Xiaoyue pouted.


    "It''s okay. Sir, he did a fortune telling for himself yesterday and it''s really okay." Xiang Nan said with a smile.


    "Mr. Ji''s magnanimity is something Hong admires." Hong Derui cupped his hands and said, "I can rest assured that I will leave my daughter Xia''er to you."


    “Ah?!” Xiang Nan was stunned, “Hong Yushi, what do you mean by that?”


    When Heshen heard this, he couldn''t help but pricked up his ears.


    "Sir, didn''t Miss Hong Xia promise you that she would be with you after the matter is completed?" Du Xiaoyue said with a smile, "Why, she has to fulfill her promise now, do you feel disgusted with it?"


    Xiang Nan glanced at Hong Xia. Seeing that although her face was full of shyness, she still looked at Xiang Nan bravely and did not dodge or hesitate, so she knew that she had made up her mind.


    "Hong Yushi, Miss Hong, this is absolutely impossible." Xiang Nan waved his hands and said, "To be honest, I have always intended to marry Miss Xiaoyue."


    When Du Xiaoyue heard this, she was stunned. In an instant, her face was flushed, she was ashamed and happy, and she almost fainted with joy.


    "Mr. Ji is indeed a trustworthy person. In fact, I can tell even if you don''t say it." Hong Derui nodded.


    Hang Nan was able to hand over the imperial fan to Du Xiaoyue. This was such a sign of trust and favor. If Xiang Nan didn''t care so much about Du Xiaoyue, he wouldn''t take the risk of beheading.


    But he could not say anything at all and keep Miss Hong Xia by his side.


    ?Hong Xia is beautiful and smart, and has both wealth and beauty. Even the emperor was attracted to her, which shows her charm.


    But Xiang Nan still confessed, which shows that he is really a kind and good man.


    "In this case, I would rather let Xia''er follow you." Hong Derui said again.


    "Hong Yushi, you..." Xiang Nan was a little confused.


    Logically speaking, a scholar like Hong Derui is not even afraid of corrupt officials, but should pay more attention to reputation and integrity. He will never allow his daughter to become a concubine.


    "Mr. Ji, you are not only the most gifted man in the world, but you are also full of genius. You also have a heart for the country and the people. You are a rare good man in the world. My Xia''er will not lose anything by following you.


    Would rather be the queen of a cow than the head of a chicken. Even if I am a concubine for you, it is better than being a wife for those mediocre and useless men. Moreover, I believe that Mr. Ji’s family style will not treat my daughter badly. "Hundry explained


    "Besides, Xia''er was demoted to an official prostitute after all. Although she kept her virginity, in the eyes of outsiders, her reputation has been compromised. There is no good choice for her future marriage."


    Xiang Nan nodded understandingly after hearing what he said.


    Indeed, these days have very strict requirements on women, especially our women.


    ?Just like the Jia family in "A Dream of Red Mansions", the young lady never leaves or steps out of the door, and is not even allowed to see relatives, male servants, etc., let alone other men.


    After all, Hong Xia had stayed in Chunmanlou, which in the eyes of Taoists was already out of character. So if Hong Xia wants to get married, I''m afraid it won''t be easy.


    "Since Yushi Hong believes in Ji so much, Ji is willing to take good care of Miss Hong." Xiang Nan nodded immediately.


    Hong Xia couldn''t help but blush on her face when she heard this.


    He Shen on the side saw this and couldn''t help but swallow his saliva with envy.


    (End of this chapter)