Ch. 57 - After Receiving the Imperial Edict, there was a Deep Resentment, Sighing at the Evil Force of Officialdom
The Famous Detective of the Red MansionThis chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
This chapter is broken. Please report this on discord.
Although the misunderstanding has been resolved, Cheng Rixing didn’t know Daiyu's preferences. Even those Young Masters and Ladies in Jia Mansion might not know Lin Daiyu's hobbies other than reading and writing.
But it wasn’t appropriate to give a four-stationery treasure from the Chinese study for a little girl's birthday, wasn't it?
Besides, the four treasures of study used in the Rongguo Mansion were already the best that were chosen from thousands of choices, what he might buy outside might not be comparable.
Finally, Sun Shaozong together with Ruan Rong simply took out more than 200 silver taels, welded 99 gold leaves, and penetrated half a meter of gold wire into a tree branch, with the meaning of “Longevity.”
Although it seemed tacky to send gold directly, this thing couldn’t only be used for festivity but also for emergencies or rewarding people in ordinary times. It was the most sustainable gift.
Since he had made up his mind, the specifics would naturally be left to his steward to make arrangements. Sun Shaozong also became a person who would dump responsibility on others and only spent time in the government office every day.
Just like that, about three or four days passed.
This morning, Sun Shaozong was reviewing a case in which a brother fought for property and killed his nephew by mistake. He heard that there was a riot outside. He then saw Zhou Da rushing in and shouting happily, "Master, there are several emissaries outside, probably to call you into the Palace to meet the Emperor!"
Jia Yucun had said it right!
Sun Shaozong put down the file and stretched himself first. He then hurried to the lobby in front of him.
To tell the truth, he was not interested in the Emperor's summons. Kneeling around—was it fun?
However, Jia Yucun was different. He waited and waited all day. He didn’t know how much preparatory work he had done these days. He even drew the whole case-solving process together with various pieces of evidence into a vivid atlas that looked like a comic book.
Now he was as satisfied as he wished!
He was thinking about how to tease Jia Yucun after arriving at the lobby. But suddenly, he saw several people standing in the two-door corridor. The leader’s face was as heavy as water, and his beard trembled, but who else could it be if it wasn't Jia Yucun?
What's the matter?
Being puzzled, Sun Shaozong hurried forward and said with a smile, "Prefectural Magistrate, why haven’t you received the order in front? Who are you being angry with here?"
"Hmph!"
Unexpectedly, Jia Yucun saw that it was he who came forward and accosted, but he snorted coldly and brushed his sleeve, saying, "Why ask as if you don’t know the answer, Assistant Prefectural Magistrate?"
With that, without looking at Sun Shaozong, he led his entourage away.
Damn! What the heck is wrong with him?! Didn't they still adorably address each other as brothers earlier today? How can he change his face in the blink of an eye?!
Sun Shaozong was puzzled, and he saw two factotums walking around in the lobby in front of him. Seeing him from a distance, they hurried over.
Before they got close, they couldn't wait to shout, "Great joy, Master Sun, there is an order for you to enter the Palace immediately. I heard that even the Supreme Emperor is waiting to hear you talk about the case!"
Even the Supreme Emperor got involved? The noble people in the Palace are really idle… Wait!
Sun Shaozong thought of something, hurried to meet them, and asked, "Did the order summon others into the Palace beside me?"
The two factotums shook their heads and said, "You're the only one. There's no one else!"
Sure enough!
How much Jia Yucun saw this matter, Sun Shaozong, couldn’t be clearer!
Especially the “comic strip” made by him has been widely spread in the Central Judicial Office. The Imperial Edict has arrived, but only Sun Shaozong has been summoned. Where would Jia Yucun put his face?
No one could be happy about this, not to mention Jia Yucun, who was very utilitarian and thought highly of himself.
No wonder he has such an attitude!
Having figured out the cause and effect, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but scold the father and son of the Guangde Emperor in his heart. They should either summon them together or call none of them. What was the matter with summoning himself alone? Didn’t it mean to force Jia Yucun to turn against him?!
He was especially planning to seize power, taking advantage of this opportunity to take over Minister of the Department Liu’s power. Now, if he got into bad terms with Jia Yucun, let alone seizing power, it would be good enough to be able to protect himself behind closed doors!
Sun Shaozong went to the lobby in a depressed mood and saw several Imperial Guards surrounding a middle-aged eunuch, chatting with Governor Han.
"Shaozong, you're just in time!"
Seeing Sun Shaozong coming in from the outside, Han Anbang immediately came forward, affectionately grabbed Sun Shaozong's wrist, led him to the middle-aged eunuch, and said with a smile, "Eunuch Dai, this is the famous “Divine Judgement Assistant Prefectural Magistrate Sun” in our office, and the case of Vice President Ge was cracked by him alone!"
Damn!
Officialdom was like a drama. It all depended on acting!
If he took the black face of Jia Yucun earlier on and compared it with Han Anbang's enthusiasm at this time, who could see that Jia Yucun was Sun Shaozong's backer and Han Anbang was Sun Shaozong's biggest enemy?
If he was a real novice in officialdom, he must have thought that Han Anbang was trying to win over himself.
But how meticulous was Sun Shaozong's mind?
After thinking about it, he understood that the most crucial thing in Han Anbang's words was the words "Cracked the case alone.” This was clearly to completely erase the credit of Jia Yucun and further split the "Sun-Jia" alliance!
Those who could get into the red robe with their abilities were not easy characters!
Sun Shaozong thought, but his mouth was busy and modest, "You have over-praised, Governor. What can I do alone? It's all with the help of the Prefectural Magistrate..."
He didn’t want to be on bad terms with Jia Yucun, so he planned to make up for it.
But how was Han Anbang willing to let him show his merits to Jia Yucun?
He hurriedly interrupted Sun Shaozong and said loudly, "Assistant Prefectural Magistrate Sun, come and meet Eunuch Dai, the supervisor of the Ming Palace."
What a watertight move!
Sun Shaozong was helpless. When he was just about to meet Eunuch Dai, unexpectedly, the middle-aged eunuch waved his hand and said, "Don't have to be so polite. Technically, we're not outsiders. Don't you still have an official position as a Lieutenant of the Imperial Guard? I happen to also be the Commander of the Imperial Guard, your immediate supervisor!"
Hearing this, Sun Shaozong hurriedly knelt and saluted, "Greetings, Commander!"
"Haha... He is really smart!"
Dai Quan saw that what he did was a military salute. He immediately smiled and pretended to be forthright, "If I have time to host a feast to invite the brothers of the Imperial Guards for a get-together, you can't refuse when it’s time."
Sun Shaozong naturally responded with a mouthful of courtesy words.
Dai Quan then ordered Sun Shaozong to kneel firmly in front of the incense table and read out the Imperial Edict in cadence. He then put on a smiling face again and said, "Come with me. The Emperor and the Supreme Emperor are waiting for you in the Palace."
Sun Shaozong hurriedly stood up and ordered someone to lead his mount to the front. He was then ready to enter the Palace with Dai Quan, but he saw two subordinate officials of the Prefectural Magistrate rushing to him in a hurry.
When they came near, he saw that the two officials held several scrolls and a book. It was the “comic strips” and other things prepared by Jia Yucun for the meeting with the Emperor these days.
He only listened to the official, who said, "Assistant Prefectural Magistrate Sun, Prefectural Magistrate Jia said that he was in a hurry just now because of official business, and he forgot to give these things to you. Please don't be offended."
Tch!
Jia Yucun didn’t give it away for free!
He was unexpectedly able to control his emotions so quickly. He not only sent someone to mediate the situation immediately but also intended to show some sense of existence with the help of these “comic strips”!
However…
According to Sun Shaozong's understanding of him, he should have delivered the things himself if he didn't still hold a grudge. It seemed that after this incident, they couldn’t be as close as before.