In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the prison of the third rank. The in-charge was already waiting there. When he saw the carriage, he quickly came forward and said,"Miss Lin is in trouble. My master originally said that he would personally come to welcome you, but because of the disaster relief, he sent food to the countryside, so he asked me to come and welcome you. Miss, do you want to go to the bedroom to rest and have some tea?”
Lin Ming said there was no need for that. He went straight to the prison to meet with the Zhang family's young master first, then get the paperwork. He asked again,"There are ten out of the three who went to the countryside, and they were all personally sent by your master?”
The official said," That's right. Once there's a disaster, the people will suffer. Master is worried that his subordinates won't be able to distribute it or that it's biased. He doesn't take the trouble to distribute it personally.”
Lin Ming smiled and said," You're upright and straightforward. You're also aware of the people's illness. I've long heard of your lord's official name. Although I can't see him today, I'm even more grateful that what he said is true."”
The marquis smiled and said that he didn't dare. He politely let Lin Ming into the cell and instructed the jailer to open the door for tea. He said,"My lord has long instructed that although Young Lady is young, she is still a marquis and has made extraordinary contributions. She is more than a hundred times stronger than us men." My master even joked that Miss could achieve such a feat without any achievements. If she could enter the court, even if she was a small official, she would definitely be a pillar of the court in the future.”
"Is that so?" Lin Ming smiled. When they arrived at the place, the official pointed to a bright and clean prison cell. When he finished speaking, he asked the jailer to open Zhang Xiangrui's prison cell and asked him to have a slow chat. He would only wait for the document to be brought over and the person would be released after the settlement. After saying that, he led the jailer out.
Zhang Xiangqi knew that someone was protecting him, but he kept his back to the prison gate and pretended not to know. Lin Ming sat on the jailer's stool and drank a cup of tea. In the end, he did not lower himself to the same level as Zhang Xiangqi and smiled."Big Brother Zhang is so comfortable here. Is that Shaoxing flower carving in the pot?”
Zhang Xiangqi turned his head and saw Lin Ming dressed like a scholar in a green robe. He scoffed and said,""A flower sculpture is a flower sculpture, but a roast chicken is not a roast goose. The meat is very coarse and not palatable.”
Lin Ming didn't know how he had offended him, so he didn't say anything else. He said,""Big Brother Zhang has been here for a long time. Madam is very concerned and asked me to come here to escort you back. I have already settled the matter here.”
"I'm a Tang son, why would I need a woman to protect me?" Zhang Xiangqi said.! I know that you are Duke Lin Ruhai's niece. My father clung to Duke Lin's power and acknowledged you as his goddaughter. You are also my sister. I, Zhang Xiangqi, actually relied on my sister's power to escape from prison? You don't have to say anything else. Go back and I'll stay in prison for as long as I want. You don't have to come and protect me.”
When Zhang Dazhi heard this, he couldn't hold back his anger and scolded,""You motherf * cker, you don't know what's good for you. Do you know how busy Miss is? She's been running around all day to raise money and food for the country. She's been writing documents day and night. She wasted this day to personally bail you out. If you don't listen to me and come out, I, Zhang Dazhi, won't let you off!”
The Zhang family only said that the old master was dead and they wouldn't let him go to prison. Zhang Xiangqi himself didn't want to come out either. Lin Ming really didn't expect that Zhang Dazhi would scold him first.
Lin Ming thought for a moment and said," It's right for Brother Zhang to not rely on his power to escape punishment. Dazhi, go and get the officials to investigate Brother Zhang's crimes. If it's over, it's fine. If there are still some crimes that can't be punished, ask them to go through the escort procedures and send him to Yangzhou as a prison sentence. This way, Brother Zhang's integrity will be preserved. Secondly, Brother Zhang will be in prison nearby, and Madam can visit him from time to time. It's like killing two birds with one stone."”
Zhang Xiangqi was a person who cared a lot about his face. If he was sent to his hometown in Yangzhou to go to jail, how could he avoid his brothers and friends visiting him? When he heard that he was going to be escorted to Yangzhou to go to jail, Zhang Xiangqi was not willing to comply. He only said that he was not willing to go back to Yangzhou to go to jail.
Lin Ming smiled." This is a punishment. How and how much is to be punished? Where is the punishment? It's not up to the criminal whether he wants to or not. Don't you think so, Big Brother Zhang?"”
Zhang Xiangqi couldn't refute her. He only said that he wouldn't lower himself to the girl's level. Anyway, he was definitely unwilling to escort her back. Fortunately, the official came and said that he had checked the book. Young Master Zhang's punishment was just full. He asked Zhang Xiangqi to press his fingerprint as proof of completion, so he let him go.
Zhang Xiangqi knew that if he insisted on serving his sentence in prison, he would have to let his powerful sister escort him back to prison. Therefore, he also took advantage of the situation and changed into a prison uniform.
After leaving the prison, Zhang Xiangqi stretched and said,"Let's part ways here today."
Lin Ming got on the carriage and stuck his head out.""Brother Zhang, do you think my carriage is too slow? If that's the case, wait until I change horses.”
Zhang Xiangqi smiled and said," You're just a girl. How can you ride a fast horse? Besides, I'm not going back to Yangzhou. I came out of school and learned all my skills in vain. I have to have a place to display them. If I go back, my parents will definitely ask me to take over the water transport business. I don't like to haggle over silver transactions, nor do I like to be an official and scheme against each other. It just so happens that the border has been in chaos these few years. Men have shed their blood on the battlefield and earned their reputation. I want to join the army at the border.”As he spoke, he hit his horse and ran, shouting,"Don't worry, I'll write a letter back.”The horse's hooves were like flying, raising dust for more than ten miles. In a moment, he had disappeared.
"Miss, do you want me to go after them?" Zhang Dazhi asked.”
"There's no need to chase after them." Lin Ming smiled. Not only was this Young Master Zhang ambitious, but he also seemed to be very strong. He had just been imprisoned, so he definitely didn't want to return to Yangzhou with such a reputation. If he went to the border this time and earned some fame, he would naturally return home in glory.”
"Then wouldn't we return empty-handed this time and not get any benefits?" Zhang Dazhi said.”
"Have you forgotten about the money and grain donated by the Zhang family?" Lin Ming shook his head. We've already accepted the benefits. But as for Madam, sigh. Go back."
Lin Ming and the rest returned to the third place. Unexpectedly, the gatekeeper came up to them as soon as they arrived at the official residence. He said that Mr. Zhao was waiting for Miss Lin anxiously and said that he had something important to discuss. When he asked what was the matter, he only said that Mr. Zhao was anxious after receiving a letter. After receiving another letter, he was not anxious anymore. His expression was not good and he asked Miss Lin to hurry and take a look.
Lin Ming quickly went to the study room. Zhao Fusheng was in the study room, his face as pale as wax. When he saw Lin Ming pass him two letters, he didn't say a word.
Lin Ming took a look. One was from the Jia family and the other was from the Lin family. Lin Ming's heart sank. He opened the letter from the Lin Manor. He had only read half of it when it felt like his heart was racing. This letter was not from Ru Hai, but from Butler Lin.
" Master Lin is dead," Zhao Fusheng said sorrowfully." The heavens aren't kind enough to bless a good minister!"”
Lin Ming suppressed the grief in his heart and opened the letter from the Jia family. The previous letter was a reminder, but this letter was indeed a reminder.
"Have you read the letter from the Jia family?" Lin Mingqiang asked.”
" Yes." Zhao Fusheng nodded and said," Although I haven't seen it, I can imagine it." Last month, I discussed with Duke Lin and asked a few of my colleagues to submit a letter of merit for you. At that time, Duke Lin was worried. He said that there had never been a precedent for a daughter to be an official in our dynasty. The court, especially the Emperor, would not treat you as someone who could be rewarded in the short term. Those who can reward you with shade are only the Lin and Jia residences. I've been paying attention to them all the time. I think the red-headed letter from the Jia residence must have received the reward.”
Lin Ming nodded." The eldest daughter of the Jia family has been conferred the title of Fengzao Palace's Minister and Consort Xiande.”
Zhao Fusheng wiped the tears from his eyes and said,"" Female officials are conferred the title of consort. Since the Emperor has bestowed the title, our contributions to the disaster relief will be wiped out by half. Furthermore, Master Lin has passed away at this time. In the future…"
"In the future, no one will ask for a title for me. Even if I have made great contributions, I'm afraid the Emperor will not have the thought of giving me a title.”
"That's right," said Zhao Fusheng. This is also a problem that I and Duke Lin have been worried about. If you want to be an official, this is your Dragon Gate. If you jump over it, you will be a female official whose name will be left in history. If you can't jump over it, you will always be a weak girl whose name will not exist in the world.”
How could Lin Ming not know the key to this? When she first accepted the task of persuading the water transport, she took the cloak from Ru Hai. Seeing that Ru Hai was so sick, she had already made plans for the worst. Now, the situation was just useless, but it was not the worst. Although she was sad about her uncle's death, she was not disappointed that she did not get a title.
Zhao Fusheng was no longer young, and he had an old enemy in the court. He was determined to fight for his life. Ruhai's death was painful, and his failure to complete his mission was painful. The impact of these two letters was even greater for Zhao Fusheng. It was as if he had no strength left to support himself as he lay in his chair.
Lin Ming folded the letter and said," We can't leave Uncle alone. I have to rush back immediately. I'll have to trouble Mr. Zhao with the disaster relief."”
? Zhao Fusheng waved his hand and said," Go, go. It's what you should do."”
Lin Ming turned around and walked away. After taking five or six steps, he suddenly bowed again. Seeing this, Zhao Fusheng stood up and bowed to her,""Please send Duke Lin off on my behalf. I can't get away from this place. I'm afraid you'll have to go back to the capital after you're done with Master Lin's funeral. After this farewell, we won't be able to see each other again. You're the daughter of Takamoto. I was the one who persuaded you to come out and show your face. Now that things haven't worked out, I've harmed you instead. I..."
Lin Ming bowed again and said,""If I want to enter, no one can stop me. If I want to stay, no one can persuade me. All of this is what Lin Ming wants. "Also, please take care of yourself, sir. For example, disaster relief. If I'm not here, there's always you."”Lin Mingyan did not stay any longer and left.
Lin Ming had changed into plain clothes and wore a black brocade cloak as he returned by the big ship. Along the way, he saw commoners welcoming and sending him off by the shore. Zhang Daqi and Zhang Dazhi followed Lin Ming and pointed to the commoners on both sides of the river. Lin Ming said,"Uncle has been working for the safety of the people all his life. He misses the people who have suffered the most. Today, the people have escaped from the disaster.”
When they arrived in Suzhou, they quickly arrived at Father Lin's residence. White lanterns and white silk had already been hung in the residence. Butler Lin came up to them and cried,"Second Young Lady, why did you come back three to five days early? Old Master misses you every day, but he didn't even get to see you for the last time.”
Lin Ming's eyes reddened, but he held it in. He helped the old butler up and asked,""Is Daiyu back?"
The old butler wiped his eyes and shook his head."I haven't sent a letter yet. Master had instructed before his death that Second Young Lady must return first before sending a letter to the capital.”As she spoke, she started to cry," Although I don't know what Master is thinking, but seeing that Master is always thinking about Young Lady, I wanted to find an excuse to send a letter to bring Young Lady back to see her, but Master actually didn't allow it…" The old master had no children and only had one biological daughter, Miss. He didn't want to see her again when the coffin was closed.”
Lin Ming wiped his tears and comforted Butler Lin. He then went to the hall to pay his respects. After paying his respects, he wrote a letter to Zhang Daqi and Zhang Dazhi to send them to the capital. He also instructed them to escort Miss Lin back. He also gathered a few internal and external stewards to prepare various things and to distribute obituaries and receive favors.
Although Lin Ruhai was a high official of the salt administration, there was war and disaster at the moment. Lin Ming privately decided to keep his funeral simple. He handed everything over to a few butlers and dressed as a man himself, barely acting as the son of Ruhai to receive guests and pay respects.
In these three days, although many officials recognized Lin Ming and knew that she had been busy with disaster relief for a long time and sympathized with her, etiquette could not be abandoned. Lin Ming had already knelt countless times, and his knees were swollen. He needed the support of his two aunts to sit up and down.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。