dhibooks Chapter 5: The Three Princes
Chapter 5: The Three Princes
Chapter 5: The Fifth Prince
At first, Zhang Jiu didn't notice it until Zhang Jiu went to bed at night and found out that his back was hurting. He lay down on the bed and slept all night. The next day Jiang Ning saw the bruise on Zhang Jiu's back and his face was gloomy all day long.
Later they learned that the person who pushed Zhang Jiu was Zhou Yu, the only son of Zhou Zezheng, the Minister of the Ministry of Officials in the court. So arrogant, besides, Zhou Yu's mother is still the younger sister of the current emperor.
Jiang Ning is not a brainless person. After calming down, he knew that he had to swallow the breath held in his chest. If he really went to trouble Zhou Yu, let alone himself, even his father would be implicated in the end. For the sake of one breath, he still can't be desperate.
If it was anger at the beginning, then Jiang Ning is deeply frustrated now, a feeling of powerlessness and helplessness has been lingering in his heart, and he is so depressed that he can hardly breathe.
Compared with him, Zhang Jiu has not been affected much. This kind of bullying is not uncommon, and he has long been used to it.Jiang Ning will be like this because Jiang Ning has always lived a smooth life and cannot adapt to this gap for a while.
"Xiao Jiu, do you think that I have become stronger and you will no longer be able to overwhelm us?" When the name Xiao Jiu appeared, it meant that Jiang Ning was in a very serious state.Seeing Jiang Ning looking at Zhang Jiu very seriously, the weak will be oppressed in this world. This is the conclusion Jiang Ning has come to these days, so the belief in becoming stronger suddenly arises.
"It's good to be strong." Zhang Jiu put down the book in his hand, and pointed out the cruel reality for Jiang Ning, a mountain they would never be able to overcome. "But no matter how strong you are, can you surpass the imperial power?"
Jiang Ning was instantly defeated. Yes, no matter how powerful he was, he could only bow his head in the face of the imperial power, unless he could become the emperor or be able to check and balance with the imperial power, but he knew that this was impossible without Zhang Jiu hitting him.
"Xiao Ning" Zhang Jiu patted him, "There is no need to worry about this matter, we will go to Xiangzhou after the exam, it is our world, and you can be your bully again."
Jiang Ning shook his head, "Xiao Jiu, do you think the people I bullied in the past also feel the way I do now? They must hate me, right?"
"You only know how to think about it now." Zhang Jiu laughed. In fact, people in Jiangning are quite nice. Most of the people he bullied were the children of officials. Some of them should be bullied severely in Zhang Jiu's opinion. "But it's not enough to hate you. There are many people who will choose to accept the injustice of fate. Maybe one day you won't bully them and they won't be used to it?"
"Is this what you said looking for abuse?" Jiang Ning finally laughed.
Zhang Jiu nodded, "That's right."
"Okay, Lord Jiu has been holding back in the house for several days, let's go out to bask in the sun, or we'll all be moldy." Jiang Ning stood up and stretched, feeling excited to go out after the rain.
As soon as they went out, they knew that a major event had happened during the past few days of staying behind closed doors. The imperial court thoroughly investigated the corruption case of Hanjiang Province. At the beginning, there was no news about this matter, and it was completely carried out in secret. In the past few days It was only put on the stage and shocked the ruling and opposition parties as soon as it came out.
The case was investigated by the second prince. It is said that before this, the second prince collected a lot of evidence in the Hanjiang Province in Weifu. The evidence is enough to put the officials of the Hanjiang Province into prison, and the emperor was even more incomparable after seeing this. Outraged, he immediately ordered these officials to be detained and brought to justice, because there are so many officials involved in this corruption case, and the amount of corruption is shockingly large.
"Master Jiu, what do you think about this matter?"
"I don't have any opinion" Corruption and bribery is inevitable in every dynasty at any time, but this time the matter was a little bigger and it was found out. Who knows how many people have not been found out in the whole of Daqin. If it can be counted That's the real shock.
"How can you not have any opinions? Haven't you heard the saying 'every man is responsible for the rise and fall of a country'? Anyway, you are also a man of insight, why don't you care about major national affairs?" Jiang Ning was dissatisfied with Zhang Jiu's calm, he found that Zhang Jiu has become indifferent since he came to the capital. Could it be true that "oranges born in Huainan are oranges, and oranges born in Huaibei are oranges"?
"Let me make two points first. First, this matter has not risen to the height of the rise and fall of a country; second, I am not a man of insight. I am just a small and ordinary citizen. What I have to do is to be alone. It’s better for meat eaters to plan things like this to benefit the world. We only need to use our ears in this matter, and there is no need to participate in it.”
The enthusiasm was extinguished in an instant, Jiang Ning looked at Zhang Jiu dully, and it took a while to realize, "Xiao Jiu, I found that you have changed a lot since you came to the capital, you are not like this in Xiangzhou."
Has it changed?Zhang Jiu asked himself that he just didn't like the capital, especially when he found out that they might be involved in the struggle in the capital, "Xiao Ning, I just want to wait quietly until the exam is over and go back to Xiangzhou, Xiangzhou is ours." home, this place is too foreign to me”
Jiang Ning was silent for a while and smiled, "That's right, Xiangzhou is naturally the best. But Master Jiu, you said that my father has never thought of using power for personal gain? Anyway, he is also the local emperor of Xiangzhou. Look at what my family is doing In life, compared with your family, it's like a cloud and mud. Look at the magistrate of Hanjiang, I don't ask him to be greedy too much, even if he has half of your family's money."
Zhang Jiu was speechless about Jiang Ning's Martian thinking. This time, the court's severe punishment for the corruption case is clearly intended to serve as an example to others. I am afraid that all officials will be chilled and careful in the next period of time. This tastes good, and I want to Let his father embezzle in the limelight, "Yeah, it's good to be rich, even if you go to the guillotine, you're willing to do it, right?"
"Master Jiu, I'm just imagining the impossible, so don't remind me of the cruel reality."
"Well, you can continue to fantasize, and I won't bother you anymore." Zhang Jiu walked out, and as soon as he went out, he met Chen Zhuo, the only acquaintance in the capital.
"Brother Puhua is going out?" Chen Zhuo looked behind Zhang Jiu and saw Jiang Ning walking towards them.
"Brother Yuan Liang is busy?" Chen Zhuo's expression showed that he still had something to say.
"It's nothing serious. It's just that a friend of mine wants to meet the two of you. Let me introduce you. Do you have time?"
Want to meet them?Is it just a simple acquaintance?Zhang Jiu really wanted to refuse, but after hesitating for a moment, he still agreed. Sometimes refusing would be tantamount to offending, "Brother Yuan Liang's friend must be a dragon among men, and it's considered a high ranking to get to know us. I wonder when we will meet?"
"If you two are fine, let's do it now, I have reserved a seat at Huaxia Restaurant"
Is it sure they will go?Zhang Jiu sighed, indeed they would not refuse, but could they not go to Huaxia Restaurant, he didn't want to eat there at all.
However, the dishes they ordered this time were quite to Zhang Jiu’s liking. Zhang Jiu glanced around and sat down in Chen Zhuo’s greeting after making sure he wasn’t hungry. There was already one person on the table. Treat him with a respectful attitude Zhang Jiu guessed his identity, it should be the fifth prince - Qin Shu.
"Brother Puhua, Brother Chenhao, this is the person who wants to know you, you can call him..." Chen Zhuo paused after the introduction.
"Yizhi, you can just call me Yizhi." Qin Shu took the words, Yizhi was his word, which also indirectly told Jiang Ning his identity, but whether Jiang Ning would have heard of it is another matter.
And even if Jiang Ning knew it, he planned to pretend not to know, and greeted happily, "It turns out that it is Brother Yi. I have admired him for a long time. I think Brother Yi is a little longer than us, so we can just call us by our names."
Qin Shu and Chen Zhuo looked at each other, wondering if Jiang Ning knew his identity, if he knew that he would not be able to act so calmly, maybe he didn't know, "It's better to obey than to be respectful, Chen Hao's temper is really straightforward , quite to my liking, I’m committed to you as a friend.”
"It is my honor to make friends in the capital. If I tell my father when I get home, he will be very happy. Come and let me toast you." Jiang Ning raised his glass.
"I heard from Chen Zhuo that Lingtang is the magistrate of Xiangzhou." Qin Shu asked when Jiang Ning mentioned Jiang Jian.
"Well, when you go to Xiangzhou, you must come to me. I will take you to the most interesting places in Xiangzhou." Jiang Ning patted his chest and said, "Let me tell you, although Xiangzhou cannot be compared with the capital, but There are many interesting places, if you go there, you won’t want to come back”
"I have also heard a lot about Xiangzhou. I heard that Lingtang has a very high reputation in Xiangzhou. He has done a lot of things that are praised by the people. Even the emperor has praised him many times. He is a good official who loves the people like a son. I have admired him for a long time as a role model for all officials, and I wonder if I will be able to meet him once."
"Brother Yi, let's not mention the old man in my family. He is just a dull and old-fashioned antique. Every day he has a sullen face, as if everyone owes him money. It's disappointing to think about it. I have suffered a lot at home. His scolding, now that he is finally out of the sea of suffering, don't mention him." Jiang Ning smiled wryly.
"Xiao Ning, how can you say that about Mr. Jiang? He is your father" Zhang Jiu yelled while holding back a smile.
"I'm just telling the truth." Jiang Ning murmured in dissatisfaction, and then said to Qin Shu, "Brother Yi, come and drink with us, and we won't mention those spoilers today."
"Okay, just as Yi Chenhao said, if we don't mention the spoilers, we won't go home until we're drunk." Qin Shu laughed, it seemed that he really liked Jiang Ning, and started to drink with him.