These few days, Lin Ruhai was swift and decisive in order to clarify the drawbacks of the salt policy. For a time, regardless of whether it was officials or merchants in Yangzhou, the atmosphere was the same.
Before dawn, Lin Ruhai had already washed up and was about to go out.
Jia Min had just rushed over from the Peach Blossom Spring Pavilion and could not help but call out," Master, please wait!”
When Lin Ruhai saw that it was Jia Min, a smile blossomed on his thin face." Madam, you've been fasting hard. How are you?”He helped her into the inner hall.
Lin Ruhai and the other concubines quickly went forward to greet him. Jia Min asked them to leave first." I have something to say to Master."”He held a prayer bead in his hand.
Lin Ruhai smiled and waved them away." What does Madam have to tell me today?"”
Jia Min thought for a moment before sighing." Old Master, your health has always been poor. You've been getting up early and staying up late for days. You won't be able to take it."”
"It's fine." Lin Ruhai smiled. Now that Yangzhou had been reorganized by Prince Zhongshun, the cancer had been removed. There were only a few places that needed to be eliminated. I'll be fine after this period of work."
Jia Min's heart ached." Then you shouldn't do everything yourself. Yesterday, Aunt Mei secretly told me that you were so tired that you vomited blood. Why did you hide it from me?"”
Lin Ruhai was stunned. He smiled and shook his head."You guys are too nervous. I'm much better after taking medicine. Furen doesn't know that the people below have been following the old rules for a long time. If I don't keep an eye on them today, they will definitely cause trouble. At this critical moment, I would rather work harder and do my best to repay the emperor's kindness.”
Jia Min was dejected." Old Master, I know that I can't persuade you, but even if you don't think about us. You should also think about Yu 'Er. If anything happens to you, what will we do?”She could not help but shed tears.
Lin Ruhai first sighed before saying gently,"I'm not trying to be brave for my husband. Yangzhou seemed to be calm and peaceful, but in fact, undercurrents were surging. Those officials, merchants, and illegal salt dealers who had lost their power and interests were all eyeing me covetously. They wanted to find my fault and think of ways to stir up trouble. I don't have to worry about my safety alone, but I'm afraid that the situation that I've worked so hard to obtain will be destroyed because of me. If that's the case, my sin will be unforgivable.”
"Since it's so dangerous, let's not be officials anymore. Let's return to Gusu!" Jia Min said anxiously. Although they were poor, they did not have to worry every day. Wouldn't it be a thousand times better for them to live in harmony and enjoy the forest and spring?”
Lin Ruhai's face revealed a yearning expression," That's also my wish! When this place is more stable, I will implement the new law. When the new law is implemented, I will resign from the emperor and bring you and Yu 'er back to Gusu.”
"Master!" Jia Min still wanted to persuade him.
"Furen, why are you suddenly talking about this today?" Lin Ruhai said with a smile. Who's gossiping over there?"
Jia Min turned her head, a hint of panic flashing past her eyes. She then said,"It's the princess consort, relaying his highness 'words.”
"Oh?" "What did His Highness say?" Lin Ruhai asked solemnly.”
Jia Min stepped forward and tidied Lin Ruhai's clothes." His Highness said that sickness comes like a falling mountain, and sickness goes like spinning silk. How difficult it is to sweep away the maladministration in one day! Not everyone is a saint like you. Slow down and be broad-minded is the long-term way. Otherwise, how can the resentment between the upper and lower levels last long?”
Lin Ruhai lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said with a smile,"These words were what Furen wanted to tell your husband, right? Although Prince Zhongshun had said something similar, it was not as sincere as his wife.”
Jia Min blushed." Old Master, I'm really afraid. You are bold and decisive outside, but I am already frightened when I hear it at home. There are many who want to kill you! Even the loyal and obedient king hasn't gone out of the yamen for a while, why do you need to?”
Lin Ruhai lifted Jia Min's hair." How can I not know what Madam said? It was because of this that I had to straighten out the salt policy when King Zhongshun was in charge of Yangzhou. It would be fine in the future.”
"Then go beg Prince Zhongshun to stay for a few more days, or ask him to send someone to help you?" Jia Min said anxiously.”
Lin Ruhai shook his head." This is my duty. How can I trouble him?" Moreover, the pressure on him is not any lighter than the pressure on me. It's just that he didn't say it."
Jia Min thought for a moment." You mean the Divine Capital?”
Lin Ruhai helped Jia Min to sit down." Yangzhou has shaken the world this time. He is already in the middle of the vortex. Some matters might even involve the palace. At this moment, he would make many mistakes. I won't trouble him."
Jia Min had always been intelligent. With just a few words from Lin Ruhai, she had already deduced the danger." Old Master, you should bring a few more people with you when you go out. How can Lin Yong and the others, old and young, do that?”
Lin Ruhai smiled and said,"Madam, you can rest assured. I know." There were a few poems on the table that I came across by chance in my spare time. It could be considered as a pre-work with Madam. It was a pity that he was busy with work and had a strong craftsman aura. He was not as natural and carefree as Madam, who could be played with.”
Jia Min smiled and said," Poetry is just a small topic. Old Master is from a flower background. Your humble words are just giving way to me!"”
Lin Ruhai looked at Jia Min with rapt attention." Madam, please rest well at home. Don't worry about me." I'm leaving!"
"The earlier you go, the earlier you return, Master," Jia Min forced a smile.”
"That won't do. I have to make a trip to the canal outside the city today."”After saying a few words, he strode away.
Jia Min looked at his back. He was just as carefree as he was back then, but in the past few years, he had an indescribable resentment.
She walked back with a heavy heart, only to see Ning Jun, Ke Qing, and Dai Yu chatting and laughing along the way.
Daiyu didn't dare to laugh." Mother!" He stood obediently beside her.
"Aren't you going to study today?" Jia Min said lovingly.”
"Mother," Dai Yu said with a smile,"today, Master was sent out by my brother." Her daughter was studying alone in the house. Her brother had called her out, but her daughter was unwilling!”
"Do you think I don't know you?" Jia Min laughed. You don't need to take the imperial examination. A girl just needs to know a few books.”
Daiyu snuggled up to Jia Min." Mother, we were just talking about Yi 'an's Ci! There are several old poems in my mother's casket, which are similar in meaning. Big brother doesn't believe me!"
" That was a game from many years ago," Jia Min said." How could it be compared to Scholar Yi An?" You're also messing around!"
"So it really was Aunt's doing?" Ning Jun laughed. Younger Sister, why don't we compile Aunt's poems and articles into a collection and publish it under a name?”
"Mother, did Brother say that?"”
"These are all scribbles that don't conform to the rhythm of the palace and merchants, and the words don't convey the meaning. What a joke."
"Mother!" Daiyu begged.
Jia Min tapped her forehead." No!”
"How is it?" Dai Yu smiled at Ning Jun. I say, Mother won't allow it, right?"
Ning Jun sighed and shook his head." That's a pity!”
Jia Min said,"Yu 'er, you and wangfei go to the front. Mother and wangye have something to discuss."”
Seeing Jia Min's serious tone, Daiyu quickly said to Keqing,""Sister Qin, shall we go to the garden over there?”
Ke Qing smiled and went along.
Ning Jun walked side by side with Jia Min and said with a smile,"Have you taken the medicine I gave you? Why do you look worse?"
Jia Min turned to Ning Jun and said,"I beg Your Highness to save my master!"”As he spoke, he was about to bow down.
Ning Jun hurriedly held her." What are you doing? Your master is very good. What should I save?”
Jia Min was grabbed by him and could not bow down. She could only say,"I'm afraid that he'll offend too many people and someone will harm him!”
"Uncle has great ambitions and does things courageously." Ning Jun smiled. Do you think I'm someone who needs protection?"
Jia Min broke free from Ning Jun's hand and sighed softly,""I originally thought that I could calm down, but today, I couldn't help it.”Two streams of tears fell.
Ning Jun handed over a handkerchief, and Jia Min let him pass.
"What happened between you and uncle?"
Jia Min shook her head." It's nothing. It's all in the past." The image of her poor child flashed past her eyes.
Ning Jun looked at her sad face and kindly supported her." Since you're so worried, I'll ask Commander Ji to send a hundred soldiers to follow you on account of you and Sister Yu 'er.”
Jia Min was overjoyed." Thank you, Your Highness!"
Ning Jun pretended to be unhappy." In the future, I'll just call you sister in private." It's so that you don't remember."
Jia Min frowned and was about to speak.
Ning Jun strode away." It's settled then. My decision cannot be changed!”
Jia Min was stunned for a long time. No one knew what she was thinking.
With Wang De's guidance, Jia Yucun indeed took out many things that should not be confiscated from the four families 'properties and handed them to Wang Changshi to look through. Therefore, the Yamen of the salt inspector vacated a few rooms to store property.
As for Ning Jun, he needed to think about what to do when he went to Jinling. At the same time, they were also waiting for the emperor's decree on Yangzhou.
The waiting time was always long.
However, Ning Jun did not receive the Emperor's imperial edict. Instead, he received Commander Ji's report.
Commander Ji ran in with a panicked expression." Your Highness, it's bad!”
Ning Jun quickly put away his notebook and said angrily,"Who told you to come in? Get lost!"
Commander Ji's liver trembled. He knew that he had violated a taboo and quickly retreated. He reported again,"Wangye, there's news from the canal.”
Ning Jun closed his eyes and rested for a while before calling him in." What's the matter?”
Commander Ji took a deep breath." Your Highness, the brother who was sent to protect Censor Lin has returned from Gan Tang Chao Pass. He said that Censor Lin was attacked!”
"Attacked?" "Isn't that place already peaceful?" Ning Jun frowned. Was it that salty aura? How is Censor Lin?"
"It's not a smuggler," Commander Ji replied. It was smuggled goods that were being transported to the Divine Capital, which Censor Lin found out.”
"He's the salt inspector, not the water transport governor. Why would he check the water transport ships?"”
Commander Ji explained," Your Highness, it is said that Censor Lin found out that at least 20 grain ships were carrying salt and other goods. That is why they were intercepted at Gan Tang."”
Ning Jun was not surprised by this." And then?”
"Censor Lin wanted to seize the ship, but the goods on it were from the Rong Mansion in the Divine Capital," Commander Ji said in one breath. However, Imperial Censor Lin did not give him any face. He said that if he let go of the Rong Mansion, he could not investigate anything else. At this moment, someone jumped out of the cabin and stabbed Censor Lin. This person was caught after that." He stepped forward." After interrogation, these people were hired by the Rong Mansion. Some of them have criminal records. Because he saw that Censor Lin wanted to arrest him, he took the risk.”
Ning Jun felt that this was too unreal. The people of Rong Mansion stabbed Lin Ruhai? What kind of joke was this?
"Where is Censor Lin now?"
Commander Ji said," Censor Lin's injuries are severe. It's inconvenient for him to move. He's only receiving treatment locally." However, I heard that his condition is very serious, and he might…
"Is this a premeditated plan or an accident?" Ning Jun asked solemnly.”
Commander Ji did not dare to answer.
Ning Jun immediately decided," Don't tell Madam Jia and the others about this. I'll go fetch Censor Lin back."”
Thus, he hurriedly left the yamen and only brought back the heavily injured and unconscious Lin Ruhai at night.
When Jia Min and Dai Yu received the news, they were stunned.
Lin Ruhai was already unconscious. The bloodstains on his chest were shocking, and his entire body was like charcoal. Jia Min and Daiyu cried bitterly, not knowing what to do. The few concubines and servant girls were in tears and refused to listen no matter how hard they tried to persuade them.
All the famous doctors in Yangzhou came to treat him, but it was useless. Jia Min, Dai Yu, and the others stayed close to him. Their eyes were swollen and their voices were hoarse. They could only cry around him. Looking at the three days, Lin Ruhai also felt that he was almost out of breath.
They had been too sad for days and did not drink a drop of water. Ning Jun had come to persuade them many times. He brought the porridge over and handed it to Jia Min. Jia Min shook her head and then handed it to Daiyu. Daiyu leaned into Ning Jun's arms." Brother, save my father!"”Then, he fainted.
"Yu 'Er?" Ning Jun quickly handed the porridge in his hand to Ke Qing and apologized to Jia Mindao. He then picked up Daiyu and placed her on the couch in the cubicle.
Jia Min wanted to stand up, but she felt dizzy. However, Qing supported her and comforted her,"Uncle Lin, you don't need to worry for now. The doctor said that you will be fine after a few days. You should also protect Yu 'Er's health. She won't eat it even if you don't.”
Hence, Jia Min ate a few mouthfuls and felt sad again." Master?”What made her even more heartbroken was that the person who stabbed her husband was actually from Rong Mansion?
How could she face this?
"Master?"
Lin Ruhai opened his eyes with difficulty.
Jia Min grabbed his hand in joy, tears welling up again." You're awake?”
Lin Ruhai's pale face squeezed out a smile." I didn't expect it to be like this."”He really didn't expect that Rong Mansion would recruit bandits and cause trouble.
"I think that the two brothers-in-law may not know about this, so you don't have to take it to heart!”
Jia Min tightly grabbed Lin Ruhai's hand, tears falling like rain.
Lin Ruhai coughed a few times. Jia Min hurriedly supported him." Master…"
"I can't take it anymore." Blood flowed out of the corner of Lin Ruhai's mouth, and his eyes were filled with tenderness and reluctance.
Jia Min was so sad that she couldn't speak.
"Where's Yu 'Er?" Lin Ruhai did not see Daiyu.
"Her brother advised her to rest just now," Ke Qing said hurriedly. I'll get her to come over now."
So Keqing wiped away her tears and came out to look for Daiyu.
In the cubicle, Ning Jun held Daiyu in his arms and fed her porridge spoonful by spoonful.”Yu 'Er, you're humiliating yourself like this. Not to mention uncle, even brother's heart aches when he sees you!”
Daiyu shook her head." I want to see Father!”He forced himself to stay.
Ning Jun supported her." Okay, okay, okay. As long as you eat this small bowl of porridge, I'll let you go. Yu 'Er, be good!”He brought the spoon to her lips.
Daiyu could only take small sips.
After eating half a bowl, Daiyu couldn't eat anymore and begged,""Brother, you want me to see father!”The tears on her face never dried.
At this moment, Ke Qing came in and supported Daiyu." Sister, Uncle Lin is awake."”
"Really?" Daiyu's eyes lit up. She wanted to go immediately, but she had no strength and could not stand up.
Ning Jun could only support her with Ke Qing." Let's go together!"”
In the room, Daiyu knelt in front of Lin Ruhai's bed." Father!”A single call exhausted all of her sorrow.
Lin Ruhai could no longer raise his hand. There was only a smile on his face. Listen to me." The voice was also intermittent.
"Father," cried Daiyu,"Yuer is listening."”
"I've already told your mother about the matters at home." You're the one I can't let go of the most." As he spoke, he looked at Ning Jun." Your Highness, can you take into account that I've done a little work and that we're relatives? After I die, can you take care of the orphans and widows?”
His eyes were sincere.
"Don't worry, Uncle. With me around, no one will dare to bully the mother and daughter."”
Lin Ruhai shook his head gently." Your Highness, I'll entrust Yu 'er to you. Can you take care of her and love her for me? Don't let her suffer at all?"”
Ning Jun was stunned." Uncle, this…"
Lin Ruhai looked at Daiyu lovingly." I beg Your Highness to promise me." This is the last thing I can do for them.”He coughed and spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Master!"
"Father!"
Jia Min and Dai Yu cried out involuntarily.
A dying man's words were kind. Lin Ruhai knew that he had offended too many people. If there was no one to protect him, he could not go to the Lin family or the Jia family.
"Don't worry!" "I will protect Yu 'Er for the rest of my life. I will take care of her and love her. I will not let her suffer at all."”
Lin Ruhai's face broke into a smile as he turned to Daiyu and said,"Yu 'Er, it's a pity that I can't watch you get married.”
"Daddy, Yu 'er only wants Daddy!”
Lin Ruhai let go of his worries and his eyes gradually became unfocused. He was still muttering,"If the salt law doesn't work, this subject will be ashamed of the emperor, how can I die? Why should I die?"
The softness in Ning Jun's heart was touched by him. He leaned over and said to him,"Don't worry, I'll definitely complete the salt method for you! I will definitely avenge you!"
Lin Ruhai smiled and said the last word,"Good!"
Then he died.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]