"Xiaoyu, have you … encountered any difficulties recently?"
After the court session ended, Jiang Pengji discussed trivial matters with the ministers. When everyone dispersed, she asked Xu Ke to stay for a private conversation.
Xu Ke looked puzzled. "I … have nothing important recently. Your Majesty suddenly asked about this … I'm confused …"
Jiang Pengji pointed at the few memorials piled on the desk and said to Xu Ke with a heavy expression, "These memorials are all against you."
At a rough glance, there were at least a dozen books. Xu Ke was a low-key official. Although he was one of the most important officials, he rarely caused trouble. The Imperial Censor couldn't find anything to use against him even if they wanted to — unlike Feng Zhen, who had an average of more than 20 books every month for the past year. If it wasn't for problems with his speech, then it was for his behavior. If it wasn't for the fact that he had too many problems with government affairs — Feng Zhen was covered in lice. Xu Ke had always been the Imperial Censor's forbidden area. They wouldn't be able to pick out any mistakes even if they stayed there for half a year.
The contents of the memorials were very uniform. They were roughly divided into two types.
One type said that Xu Ke didn't go home after work and wandered around. This was not the role model a good official should have.
One said that Xu Ke had a mistress outside even though he hadn't taken a concubine, which seriously damaged the positive image of the court in the new era. As the saying goes, cultivate one's moral character, govern one's family, govern one's country, and bring peace to the world. They felt that Xu Ke should be punished for having a mistress outside when he didn't even figure out his own affairs.
Jiang Pengji was dumbfounded.
She didn't know if it was because the political situation was too stable or because everyone had nothing better to do, but the Imperial Censors were gossiping like paparazzi.
Although it was their duty, Jiang Pengji felt helpless every time she saw trivial gossip piled up on her desk.
She gave the Imperial Censors a lot of power to speak and allowed them to participate in memorials to the emperor and the people. This was so that they could be the supervisory body of the court and constantly remind the emperor and the officials to pay attention to their words and morals. But as time went by, the style seemed to have changed.
Of course, this wasn't the point. The Imperial Censors' enthusiasm couldn't be dampened.
Jiang Pengji could only swallow ten thousand curses in her heart. The most important thing was that the person who was implicated was Xu Ke.
Considering the years of trust between the emperor and the minister, Jiang Pengji didn't publish it for the time being. She planned to find the person involved to understand the situation.
Not only was Xu Ke an important minister, but he was also an old minister. He had to maintain his dignity, and Jiang Pengji could not disregard his dignity just because of a trivial matter.
That was why the scene above happened.
Xu Ke looked at the pile of memorials and realized the severity of the situation.
Jiang Pengji said, "The Imperial Censor wouldn't make things up, but I didn't completely believe it. There must be a reason for this, so I came to ask you about it. "
Xu Ke sighed. "This is my fault. I didn't handle my family affairs well and let them taint Your Majesty's ears."
Jiang Pengji raised her eyebrows. Her eyes were filled with unfriendliness. "Did you really have an affair like what the memorials said? Did you come here to make trouble?"
"???"
Wait a minute —
It was as if they were not talking about the same thing.
Xu Ke asked, "What mistress?"
What did these Imperial Censors report to him?
Jiang Pengji briefly explained it, and Xu Ke was almost frightened by the Imperial Censor's logic.
"Xiaoyu, although Xunmei is no longer young, she is still your wife who has accompanied you for many years. She takes care of your aunt, takes care of your children, and takes care of everything in the mansion so that you don't have to worry about anything. She has given birth to your children. She didn't complain when you were away for so many years. Even if she doesn't have any merits, she has worked hard. If you really had an affair behind her back, wouldn't that make her lose face? "
Jiang Pengji seriously criticized and educated Xu Ke.
In the early days of the Jiang Dynasty, the marriage laws were also further divided and adjusted.
Men could have concubines as long as they met the requirements. Their ancestors had a powerful background, or they themselves were powerful, or their wives were infertile. Men could have a concubine when they were over 30 years old, but the requirements were still relatively stringent. Xu Ke had the right to have a concubine, but he didn't bring her home. Instead, he hid it, and in the end, the mistress and the mistress came to make trouble. This hurt Xunmei twice.
If word got out, not only would people say that Xu Ke was unscrupulous, but they would also say that Xunmei was not good at all and that her usual attitude was fake.
If it was light, people would gossip about her, and if it was heavy, her reputation would be ruined.
Xu Ke was not a muddle-headed person, but why did he make such a mistake on this matter?
"Your Majesty, this matter … I am also wronged. There is no mistress or mistress, there is nothing! "
There was a rather strange phenomenon. It was hard to say for the officials outside, but the officials in the capital were more restrained and didn't have many concubines in their backyards.
In the previous dynasty, it was common for an official to have three or four concubines, and there might be six or seven who had no status to warm their feet.
But now, firstly, the Emperor was a female. Secondly, the marriage laws were more mature and detailed about concubines, so there were fewer loopholes to exploit.
Most of the concubines in the backyards of the officials in the capital were there before the founding of the country. After the founding of the country, the number of concubines declined sharply.
For senior and important officials like Xu Ke, who had qualifications and lived in the heart of the Emperor, most of them only had one wife in their backyards.
Of course, there was no lack of those who got rid of their old wives when they were in power.
As a result, the old wife went to the imperial censor and the ex-husband was fired.
When Han Yu, the crazy man, revised the marriage laws, he emphasized one rule — those who were first lowly and then noble, were not allowed to marry.
What did that mean?
It meant that if a man was a poor man before he married his wife, he was not allowed to divorce his wife after he became rich, unless his wife committed a serious crime. Of course, when he revised the marriage laws for the third time, Han Yu added a few more words — those who were first lowly and then noble, were not allowed to marry.
The reason for the revision was that there were scumbags among the female officials, and their husbands were too weak.
Han Yu thought that the husband and wife should unite on this kind of issue. It was everyone's responsibility to protect the weak.
Anyway, according to the newly revised marriage laws, Xu Ke's behavior was against the law. Not only would he be fined, but he would also be demoted and forced to reflect on his mistakes.
Jiang Pengji didn't fully believe what he said.
Private friendship was private friendship. As a friend, Jiang Pengji naturally believed Xu Ke.
But as an emperor, she treated her officials fairly and would not be partial to Xu Ke or the imperial censor.
"Go ahead."
Xu Ke started to talk and poured out his grievances.
Did those meddlesome imperial censors think that he was willing to get off work and not go home?
He was forced to not go home.
It was said that the mistress in the mansion was not a mistress, and the mistress was not a mistress.
"Then who is she?"
Xu Ke said, "She is the daughter of my aunt's widowed sister's eldest daughter. In terms of seniority, she is my distant niece."
Jiang Pengji said, "A cousin is a three-thousand-mile relationship."
Xu Ke felt a little wronged after hearing her complaints.
It was stressful for an official to have such a vexing emperor.
"How did your distant niece become your mistress?"
Xu Ke sighed. "The old lady in the mansion is old and likes to stay with the younger generation. She is soft-hearted and kind. She couldn't help but help when she saw this relative was living a miserable life. The old lady is kind-hearted, but I didn't expect her to be so ambitious … I guess she was blinded by the prosperity of the capital and had thoughts that she shouldn't have. Anyway, I can't drive her away for fear that she will make a fuss in front of the old lady. The old lady has been spoiled for so many years that she doesn't care about other people's business. I don't want to put her in a difficult position. So, I have to move out for a few days. "
Xu Ke's mother passed away when he was young. The only female elder who was close to him was his aunt.
His aunt was also unfortunate. She lost her husband when she was young and had no children. She devoted her motherly love to Xu Ke and treated him like her own child.
His aunt was the old lady with the highest status in the mansion. Xu Ke had always treated her like a filial son.
After so many years, even if they weren't mother and son, they were more like mother and son.
The old lady was old and didn't know how many more days she could enjoy in her later years. Seeing that the old lady had a poor relative, she wanted to help them. Xu Ke naturally agreed and discussed with Xunmei to bring them over. Speaking of which, his aunt's niece also had a hard life. She lost her husband when she was young and struggled to survive with her daughter alone. Her daughter also had a hard life. She married a gangster and her husband was beaten to death by debt collectors.
His aunt's niece was very insecure about everything she had.
She always felt that her current wealth and glory were all because of Xu Ke's aunt.
Once the old lady passed away, she, her daughter, and her young granddaughter would definitely be driven away.
Thus, she had a crooked idea. She heard that the mistress of the mansion, Xunmei, was a maidservant and looked down on her.
Even a maidservant could become the wife of the current Minister of Revenue. It shouldn't be a problem for his daughter to be a concubine, right?
After Xu Ke got off work, he often saw his niece, who was extremely beautiful, casting flirtatious glances at him, both overtly and covertly.
As a smart person, Xu Ke understood.
She wanted to seduce him.
"I'll hide outside for two days. Ask the old lady what's going on. If she still doesn't understand, send her out."
This was what Xu Ke discussed with his wife.
Xunmei said, "You're not accepting them?"
Xu Ke said, "Why should I accept them? It's not as simple as adding a pair of chopsticks to the house. The more people there are, the more trouble there will be. I'm already worried about the mother and daughter. If I accept them, won't the mansion be peaceful? If my children find out, how can I, as an old father, feel? "
For an ordinary man, taking in a concubine was like raising a pet and adding a pair of chopsticks. However, it wasn't that simple to carry it out. For example, one of the assistant ministers of the Ministry of Personnel had a falling out with his wife. In a fit of anger, the wife said that she only cared about the food, drinks, housing, and transportation of the family, and didn't care about the concubines or foot warmers. She said that the husband should take care of the concubines or foot warmers. It was because the assistant minister didn't understand women and his wife's son was wronged that she exploded. The unlucky man was angered by his wife's words and said that his wife didn't need to care about the concubines or foot warmers.
Emmm …
Then, the matter was exposed by the imperial censor.
The officials of the court also witnessed the miserable days of the assistant minister working during the day and taking care of the concubines' food, clothing, housing, and transportation at night.
It was also this wife who started it. The other wives followed suit after seeing the effect.
It was their duty to take care of their parents-in-law, raise their children, and take care of the household. However, the concubines were the husband's assets and were considered extra work. The wife took care of the concubines and the concubines' children. Even if it wasn't meritorious, it was hard work. The wife should be given an extra salary.
If she couldn't afford it, she would take care of it herself.
However, this evil trend was recognized and supported by the Emperor.
The officials of the court were speechless.
They cursed the assistant minister ten thousand times in their hearts!
Xu Ke didn't have the intention to take in a concubine. He looked down on the daughter of his aunt's younger sister.
If it wasn't for the old lady, Xu Ke would have chased them away.
He didn't expect the imperial censor to expose him while he was hiding. This matter was more serious.
Jiang Pengji rested her chin on her hand and said, "If this is true, the imperial censor will have to rectify it."
The imperial censor wasn't a paparazzi. The content of the report should be detailed and true. He shouldn't make up gossip, distort the truth, and increase her workload. As for Xu Ke, it was better to let him go back and deal with the mess at home. It wasn't good to have such a scandal at his age.
Xu Ke could only go home with a bitter face.
After a few days, the house was quiet.
Of course, it wasn't Xu Ke who settled it, nor was it Xun Mei. It was the old lady who took the initiative to let the relatives leave.
She gave them money and sent them away.
The old lady said, "I thought it would be good to take care of the relatives. It would be fun to be a family, but I can't let it affect your business."
Xu Ke was speechless.
Xun Mei asked, "How did you know about this?"
"I heard it when I went out to play cards with a few old sisters! You and your wife are the same. This matter concerns Jin 'er's future. Why hide it from me? I'm old, and I'm sensitive, but I can tell right from wrong. I'm embarrassed by my old sisters' words … "
The old lady felt wronged. Xun Mei and Xu Ke could only lower their heads and admit their mistakes.
The storm passed just like that.
Xu Ke was ordered to write a memorial to reflect on himself. The imperial censor who submitted the memorial was also pulled away by the Emperor to criticize and educate him.
At this time, Feng Yi, who had traveled around for many years and made many achievements, returned to the capital.
Feng Zhen happily went to the Emperor to find out what was going on.
By relying on her outstanding achievements in the impoverished counties that she had been sent out for nearly ten years, Feng Yi was able to obtain a high official position in the capital.
In the end …
"Censor … Censor? Why did he become an imperial censor? "
Jiang Pengji said, "He admonishes the Emperor and supervises the officials. What's wrong with being an imperial censor?"
The imperial censors of the Jiang dynasty could not only stay in the capital to keep an eye on the officials, but they could also be sent out to supervise various places.
Feng Zhen was speechless.
As someone who was dissed by the imperial censor every day, wasn't it troublesome for the eldest son of the legal wife to become an imperial censor?
If his son did not do well, he would lose face.
If his son climbed to the top of the imperial censor, he would be even more annoyed.
It was troublesome no matter what.
"Why can't my eldest son get over it?"
Jiang Pengji pouted. "Look at the province that Feng Yi is in charge of inspecting …"
Feng Zhen felt even more annoyed.
That was the place where his daughter-in-law was appointed …
Or perhaps Feng Yi, this unfilial son, ran to become an imperial censor just to form a couple with his wife?
He cared about his wife and ignored his father.
If outsiders knew that Feng Zhen's eldest son became an imperial censor, how could he mingle in front of the officials?
"I definitely don't agree to this! I definitely don't agree! "
Feng Zhen pulled his son over to give him a serious lecture as soon as he returned home.
Feng Yi did not move and secretly gave his younger brother, Feng You, a look.
Feng You understood and took advantage of his father's rage to sneak out to get help.
The moment his mother made a move, it was clear whether she was real or not. This time, it was Feng Zhen's turn to be lectured.
"What's wrong with being an imperial censor? Is it a disgrace to the Feng family? "
Although the rank of an imperial censor was not high, not everyone could become one. The requirements were stricter than ordinary officials. Not only did one have to "forget personal interests and country", but one also had to be "upright, straightforward, and daring to speak his mind." They had to be knowledgeable, be familiar with government affairs, and be knowledgeable about the past and present. Feng Yi was able to become an imperial censor at such a young age, so he had a solid foundation … His only regret was that he offended too many people.
If Feng Yi could become an imperial censor, it would mean that the emperor had high recognition of his abilities and knowledge.
Feng Zhen was an old man. The older he got, the more confused he became.
Feng Yi silently followed his younger brother out of the door.
It was inconvenient for the son to be present when his father was being lectured by his wife. After all, his father was very prideful.
"Are you close to His Highness Yan?"
His younger brother nodded.
"It's a blessing to be valued by His Highness. Don't let your guard down."
Feng Yi caressed her brother's head.
My little brother is getting cuter and cuter. ▽?? *)
Feng Yi nodded and smiled innocently.
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