The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 27: Moving in with the Jinyiwei Baihu

The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty. 《成化十四年》Chengnian Shisi Nian
The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty, Chapter 27: Moving in with the Jinyiwei Baihu

Sui Zhou's residence is a small house, which is a bit crowded if you have a big family, but if Sui Zhou lives alone, it is too spacious, and it is not too much if he adds a Tang Fan. Three main rooms and three compartments. Except for one main room where Sui Zhou himself lives. One compartment is used for additional storage of clutter. The other two main rooms and compartments were left to Tang Fan to choose.


Note: No rent is charged.

Tang Fan didn't want to live for nothing, but Sui Zhou didn't need it, so even if Tang Fan didn't come, he would still be living alone in such a big house like this one.

General Sui Baihu said that Tang Da-ren didn't insist on charging him, but said as long as he was free, he would bring some rice, noodles and other ingredients to the house, which was tantamount to paying for the food, and Sui Zhou didn't have any problem with this.

Tang Fan chose one of the rooms as his own, not because he was too shy to live in the main room, but because the room faced east, opened to the courtyard, and had a good view of the light, so he could plant flowers and plants in the courtyard and under the colonnade when he was free.

When he found a day to rest, he moved his things here.

Li Lin didn't expect that he not only wouldn't be able to handle Tang Fan, and he found a new place so quickly.

The matter of A-Dong was also settled quickly, Tang Fan could not show up, but Sui Zhou did not have any scruples.

He didn't even have to show his face, the Northern Administrative Court just went to the Li Family and said that Li Man's case was still pending, and he wanted to bring all the men for questioning, and dragged A-Chun, A-Dong, A-Qiu and other servants away. Releasing them back and going for them again. Releasing them back and going for them again. So many times on the whole. The Li Family just couldn't take it anymore. Lao Li pulled the Jinyiwei and begged them to lessen the movement to the Li Family. Surreptitiously stuffed them with silver. Neither did the people at the Northern Administrative Court agree to stop. In the end, the Li Family had to offer the deed of sale with both hands. It's not just A-Dong's but A-Chun's too.

Zhang-shi was gone, and A-Chun was no longer willing to stay in the Li Family. Her greatest wish was to regain her freedom and get married. Before Li Lin wanted her to be a concubine. She didn't want to be a concubine and couldn't help it. Tang Fan good people did it for her in the end. Now that he has decided to rescue A-Dong. He'll take A-Chun along with him. A-Qiu is willing to stay in the Li Family, so he let her go.

In three days, everything was done properly, making Tang Fan wonder how efficient the Northern Administrative Court really is, and how capable it is, no wonder everyone heard the words of the Jinyiwei.

A-Dong had been sold into the Li Family since she was young, and after she left the Li Family, she had to come to Tang Fan, and had nowhere else to go.

However, Tang Fan didn't take A-Dong's deed of sale, but burned the deed in front of her, and promised her that he would take her as his righteous sister and keep her until the age of fifteen, and if she wanted to get married after fifteen, Tang Fan would gather a dowry and find her a good family.

A-Dong was willing to accept this, so she changed her name from Tang Fan to elder brother.

Originally, there was no surname for her because he was bought. Henceforth there will be an additional surname in front of the first name as well. So A-Dong without surname became -Tang Dong.

The family originally housed two large men who came and went early and late on town days. Household chores can usually only be done by hiring short term workers. Even if Sui Zhou can cook, is it possible to do it every day? A-Dong came after. Short term workers didn't have to be hired either. The meal was also cooked by her and she took the initiative to take on household chores. She was young and somewhat gluttony and fun to be around. It's a good job. Two days though. Inside and out, it's all new. It's a lot of flowers and plants. Sui Zhou and Tang Fan both expressed great satisfaction.

Tang Da-ren is now living a happy life without having to worry about cleaning and cooking.




The whereabouts of Chen-shi, a woman who was probably related to the White Lotus Society, were still being traced, but Pan Da-ren was all kinds of anxious.

But, although white jade horse's whereabouts are known, Wang Zhi also poses a problem for Pan Bin.

The white jade horse was obviously at Shang Ming's place, but Wang Zhi did not say it was his own item which was stolen, but could Pan Bin tell the truth to Wang Zhi? If Wang Zhi said, "Shang Ming's white jade carving horse is not mine, but mine is exactly like his", how can Pan Bin give him another one?

At first, Pan Bin suspected that Wang Zhi was deliberately trying to screw himself, but then he inquired about it and found out that it was completely different.

After Wang Zhi came out to run the Western Depot, his relationship with the Noble Consort Wan became estranged, and the Noble Consort Wan stopped helping him to put in good words before the Emperor, and the effect of the pillow wind was being lost and he was being crushed by Shang Ming.

Pan Bin helped Wang Zhi to find the white jade's horse, and when the news reached Shang Ming, it would definitely make him angry: What do you mean, this is clearly mine. You must mean you lost it and then you mean I stole it?

Wang Zhi after all is less than twenty years old, young, not as mature as those eunuchs in the palace who have endured decades, would come up with this idea to annoy Shang Ming is not surprising.

The two eunuchs fought for favor, which originally had nothing to do with the Shuntian Prefecture, but Wang Zhi made such a scene, and also dragged Pan Bin into the water, Shang Ming was annoyed by Wang Zhi at the same time, will certainly put his hate on Pan Bin.

Thinking about it, Pan Bin was as bitter as if he had eaten a piece of yellow cabbage in the cold winter.

He was feeling very miserable: Who did I mess with? I finally made it to the Third Rank after hard work, but the mountain on my head is so big that people can't be bothered to sit on it.

It's too late to make these complaints, the best way is not to offend anyone, expose this matter, two freaking eunuchs fight as much as they like, its best not to get involved in the Shuntian Prefecture.

But is it so easy to find the best of both worlds?

Pan Bin thought about it for a while and couldn't think of any good way.

Tell Wang Zhi, "I can't find your white jade carved horse"?

Of course not, Wang Zhi could have done more than enough to impeach Pan Bin with his incompetence.

Tell Wang Zhi, "Your White jade carving horse is at Shang Ming's house"?

No, that would be an offence to Shang Ming.

Tell Wang Zhi, "Don't fvck with me. If you don't like Shang Ming. Just go straight to him. Why do you have to make it difficult for me, the Shuntian Prefecture Governor?”

Even less so. It's not that straightforward on the official arena. At that time, Wang Zhi pushed something complicated that was already too complicated at first. Pan Bin was also clueless.

Pan Bin's hair was almost white, and he remembered his same teacher junior brother.

The last time Tang Fan went to a banquet with him, Wang Zhi seemed to have a good impression of him, so he might have some ideas.

Pan Bin brings Tang Fan here and says, "Runqing, with your senior brother in the Shuntian Prefecture, I can take better care of you. If I'm exiled and relegated, you'll have to take better care of yourself if you don’t want to be replaced.”

Tang Fan laughed bitterly, he knew that Pan Bin was trying to gain sympathy by retreating, and he didn't talk nonsense: "Brother, if you need anything, just give me a command!

Pan Bin said: "It's no big deal, it's the fact that Wang Zhi has made it clear that he wants to make things difficult on purpose, and it's not appropriate for me to reply, it's just a big deal to offend him.”

Tang Fan mused for a moment, "Actually, it's not like there's no way out, it depends on whether senior brother has the guts to say so."

Pan Bin was overjoyed: "Good brother, I know you're resourceful, if you have any ideas, come and tell me!”

..............

One day later, the same Xianyun restaurant, the same private room, Wang Zhi was sitting on the seat, looking at Pan Bin with a smile on his face: “Pan Da-ren asked me to come here, I think he must have found the whereabouts of the white jade's horse..."

Pan Bin cursed the annoying eunuch, the flop d!ck bxtch, hundreds of times in his heart, still smilingly said: "I'm not hiding it from Eunuch Wang, the white jade carving horse is not found yet.”

Wang Zhi raised his eyebrows: “Then why did you call me here? Pan Da-ren, you can't fool me on purpose!"

Pan Bin said: "Eunuch Wang you are being a little more restless. Listen to this humble servant. I heard about it. The Eastern Depot is in the thick of things. There is actually an alabaster steed there too. The look is very similar to what Eunuch Wang was looking for. But I know. He was very fond of the white jade steed. I'm sure he won't cut it. As for Eunuch Wang. The white jade steed is still a close second. You have a bigger crisis on your hands getting it."

Wang Zhi laughed: "Pan Da-ren is just trying to get away with it?"

Pan Bin shook his head: "No. Eunuch Wang is now trusted by His Majesty, and he is in charge of the Western Depot. I heard that Eunuch Wang's success in gaining His Majesty's attention is due to the recommendation of the Noble Consort Wan, but now that you are in control of the Western Depot and are involved in foreign affairs, the Noble Consort Wan is a woman of the court, so it is difficult for you since she can’t be there for you, so it is difficult for her to help you. And on His Majesty's side. Shang Ming is the one who has been with him for many years after all than you. His Majesty was still going to be closer with Shang Ming. If Shang Ming slanders you anymore in front of His Majesty, you will be at a disadvantage."

Wang Zhi's heart was moved, and Pan Bin's words hit the nail on the head.

Why did he want to seize power so badly, and why did he want to expand his power and confront Shang Ming after the establishment of the Western Depot? It was because he knew that he was not as favored as Shang Ming, so he had to consolidate his position in the emperor's mind by making more achievements, and the Noble Consort Wan was a harem woman after all. She can't help him always. Only Wang Zhi can make the effort himself.




How to do that? Wang Zhi couldn't think of any other way, the territory of the capital was already divided between the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei, so he could only snatch food from their mouths and compete with Shang Ming for favor.

But in any case, the Western Depot had only been established for two years and could not compare with the Eastern Depot and the Jinyiwei, an old secret service with a long history, and the emperor had established the Western Depot on a whim. So Wang Zhi had to act more aggressive and take more credit. Only then can he completely consolidate his position. Earn the trust of the Emperor. And so on to go to the top of your life. Standing still.

With the increasing pressure of competition. Everyone in the capital is doing their best to win favor. A thousand ones. Eunuch Wang's pressure was also growing with each passing day.

Wang Zhi looked at Pan Bin: "So what should I do according to Pan Da-ren's view?"

Pan Bin wasn't too busy to talk, but dipped his finger in the glass of wine and wrote four words on the mahogany table:

"Military Merits East Palace.

Wang Zhi, among many powerful officials, was a man of great character.

He was not an impulsive person, who could offend anyone, who could not offend anyone, he was clear and knew how to win the emperor's favor, but because of his youth and his love to show off, he would think of asking Pan Bin to get white jade carving horse for him to annoy Shang Ming, which also made him easy to make enemies. Like right now. Pan Bin didn't dare to think of saying it, but in his heart has scolded him hundreds of times.

Besides, Wang Zhi also liked to get involved in the military, although he might not be proficient, but the thought of being able to ride the frontier like the famous generals who have left their mark on history, Eunuch Wang felt his blood was hot, as if he never lacked any parts.

So, Pan Bin's "military merit" is very understandable, and it's exactly what he wanted.

Wang Zhi was finally interested in this topic.

But the last two words were a bit strange.

Wang Zhi asked: "What is the meaning of "East Palace"?"

Pan Bin said, "Even my ministers does not dare to discuss the matter of the inner palace, but I have heard that the Prince of the Eastern Palace is very studious and diligent, and all the ministers say that he has the appearance of a bright ruler.”

In these days, it's common to say half the words and hide half the words, not to make what you say clear, to let others guess on purpose, to push off the meaning if anything happens, to pretend to be pushy and to show the art of vague words.

Wang Zhi puzzled over the meaning of Pan Bin's words, as if he was asking him to support the Prince.

Because now the world knows, the Noble Consort Wan and the Prince do not get along, the place is not in his favor, and she even intend to urge the Emperor to abolish the Prince.

But Wang Zhi himself was promoted by the Noble Consort Wan, to let him support the Crown Prince, the Noble Consort Wan will be angry, his the Western Depot? Won’t it be the end of it?

So he shook his head, thinking that Pan Bin had come up with a bad idea, and mocked Pan Bin: “Pan Da-ren is the Shuntian Prefecture Governor, just take care of one acre and three parts of the land, and don't tell me what to do if you don't know anything about the court!"

Pan Bin sighed: “Eunuch Wang has misunderstood, I have to let Eunuch Wang stop there. There is a long-lasting emperor, but is there a long-lasting princess? Eunuch Wang should think of the future as well as the present. If there is a chance to make a good fortune, there may be one more way out in the future. The only way out is to make the right move!"

Wang Zhi didn't think so at first, but when he heard that, he thought a bit.

Pan Bin was right, although the Crown Prince might not be able to become the emperor in the future, but he was now well regarded by many people, and some people even said that he would be better than his father in the future, and he was still young. You have to plan for the future. If one can find an opportunity to sell a good future to the Prince. Maybe even those civil servants won't come after him in the future or look at him in a bad light.

Wang Zhi finally said: “Pan Da-ren has a heart, let's leave white jade's horse issue for now, I don't want to get it back even if it's lost."

Pan Bin was waiting for these words, so he felt relieved.

Wang Zhi looked at him smilingly: "With Pan Da-ren's personality, you don't seem to be a person who would give me such an idea. These words. Isn't that what your junior brother said?"

The annoying eunuch was right on the money!

Pan Bin laughed in embarrassment: "No such thing, no such thing!"

Wang Zhi lamented, "Your junior brother is really a talented man, although he is not a high ranking official, but he has good vision.

Pan Bin: "..."

I really thank your family for my brother!

.............

Pan Da-ren has finally solved his headache about the white jade carving horse, and was relieved.

This Tang Da-ren is having a good time living sharing a house.

He got a lot of seeds from outside and planted them in the yard, A-Dong took care of them, and some of them were already in good bloom when he bought them.

Tang Da-ren himself was not very good at cooking, but he found many recipes from outside, which is what he called teaching A-Dong to improve his cooking skills.

When he was taking a rest, Tang Da-ren began to read the recipe to A-Dong when he had nothing else to do: "Clean the plum and wash the plum, cook the white congee with snow water, and cook it with the English..."

A-Dong couldn't help but cover his ears and wail: "Brother, I didn’t go to school, what are you reading, I can't understand!"

Tang Da-ren was innocent: "It's not that hard to understand, is it? Come, let me teach you how to read first. It means to wash the plum, that is, when there are plum flowers in winter, when the petals fall, collect them, wash them, add snow water to the white congee and cook them..."




A-Dong: "But it's not winter, where are the winter plum blossoms?"

Tang Fan: "One thing can be used for all things, not only plum blossom, like acacia blossom, pear blossom can also be put into congee, and also have their own effect."

A-Dong blinked, "But what does plum porridge taste like, who in their right minds eat petals?"

Tang Fan: "... you're so uninteresting, okay, let's do the same, um... Here we go! This dish is called acacia leaf tossing, which is made by picking leaves from the height of the acacia tree, pounding the juice and adding it into noodles, rolling them into thin noodles, cooking them and soaking them in cold water to make cold noodles. The garlic is minced and vinegar is poured over it. Pour the sesame oil over it. By the way, there's a acacia tree behind our house, and it's summer, so why don't we try this next time?"

A-Dong drooled along, “This sounds like it's going to be delicious, and the acacia trees aren't very tall, so either I'll try it tomorrow!"

Tang Fan righteously said: "No, you are too young, what if you fall, what if you have a problem, I will pick it."

A-Dong: "Huh? Big brother, you can climb trees?"

Tang Fan: "Of course I was jumping up and down when I was a kid, too. What, you don't believe me?"

A-Dong looked him up and down and shook her head.

Tang Fan rolled up his sleeves and said, "I'll crawl up and show you now, it's still early, let's eat this for dinner.” when he said that he was pulling his sleeves!

A-Dong said: "But I've already put the rice in the pot, and you better not go, what if you fall down and get scolded by Brother Sui?"

Tang Fan: "It's okay, he's still reading the file in the study, it's not our business for a while."

After saying this, he turned around and saw the man standing behind him.

Tang Fan snorted: “Guangchuan brother, how come you're almost done?"

Sui Zhou nodded: "I heard Tang Da-ren is climbing a tree, so I came to watch."

Tang Fan scoffed: "What's so great about climbing a tree, I'm doing it so that people can eat something better, don't you want to eat it?"

Sui Zhou looked bland: "Who last said what to do in the tete-a-tete. I had to go get a rabbit. Follow the so-called ancient recipe and pound it for a while. The results were the meat was sour and astringent. I couldn’t even chew the thing.”

Tang Fan silently wiped a sweat: “That was an accident, I forgot to marinate it with wine first."

Sui Zhou: "So who volunteered to make bamboo shoots soup last time, and ended up boiling a pot of soup?"

Tang Fan: "..."

A-Dong's head poked out from behind, betraying him without mercy: "It's Big Brother!"

Tang Da-ren, who could not lift his head, counted his priors and carried him away: "So you should eat, it's not appropriate for you to enter a place like the kitchen."

With one stroke, Tang Da-ren's title of "rice bucket" was crowned.

The expressionless Sui Zhou lectured him as he walked: "From now on, when A-Dong is cooking rice, you should not go in and disturb her."

Tang Da-ren knew that he was wrong, and he quickly learned: "Yes, yes, yes!"

Sui Zhou: “A-Dong can make whatever she does, don't try all the weird tricks to get A-Dong to try, if you want a new taste, you can eat out in a restaurant."

Tang Da-ren nodded his head: "Yes, yes, yes!"

Sui Zhou: "Also, you have to eat less at night, it's indulgent to eat snacks occasionally, you can't do that every day.”

"Yes yes yes!"

Tang Da-ren was helpless: I used to live like this when I was alone, but now I have a girl and a friend, but it's like I've got two mothers for myself.

After a while, Sui Zhou and I were under the same roof, and I found each other's lives to be simple and boring.

During their usual working hours, Sui Zhou and Tang Fan spent more or less the same amount of time out, and they came back at different times, but most of the time they could still have dinner together.

After dinner, they chatted for a while, then went to their rooms to read, and sometimes they played board games. But Sui Zhou is not very good at chess. Basically he lose every time and he was abused by Tang Fan.

More often than not, the Northern Administrative Court had endless work to do, endless files to read, endless criminals to catch, endless secrets to investigate, and was even busier than Tang Fan, who had to take care of things inside the palace and things outside it.

In Sui Zhou's position, it is not uncommon for him to stay up all night, but Sui Zhou is strict and solemn in nature, and he does not go out to eat, drink, and gamble like others. His life trajectory is even simpler than Tang Fan's. Not at all like a high school kid.

Tang Da-ren feels that as a friend, he is obliged to change Sui Zhou's boring life, so in his spare time, he will think of some ideas to enrich his friend's life.

For example, at this moment.

"Come on, brother, these are all the books I've kept for years. Read them when you have time, don't always get caught up in business, you'll die early. Tang Fan piled a pile of books on his desk and laughed and ranted.

Spent a lot of time with Tang Da-ren. Sui Zhou has also been able to appreciate the occasional indifference underneath his warm and elegant appearance. So he had to put his pen down. A little helplessly, he flipped through the book he'd brought. Then said: “The Book of the Overseas travels. A Flowery Word. The Warblers. Take Bible verses. King Wu, the King of war, told Ping-Yu. The Golden Jade Marriage. A fond memory. I've seen it all."

"You've seen it all?" Tang Fan was amazed. I can't tell by your face!

Sui Zhou said, "Some time ago, the White Lotus Society disciples borrowed books to speak their minds, spread rumors and compel people's hearts, so the Northern Administrative Court needs to thoroughly investigate the books on the market, so as to prevent people from using the books as a pretext to commit rebellion."

He turned to the bottom one and pulled it out: "What is this book of pearly blossoms?"

Tang Da-ren winced, embarrassed for a moment: "I wrote that."

Sui Zhou: "..."




The author has something to say: At the end of the book, I was totally crying by Tang Da-ren's performance...

In fact, A-Dong is very cute, don't think she's an eyesore, she won't be an eyesore either, so Tang Da-ren won't have to cook.

Although the family members can cook, they are not always free, the existence of A-Dong is necessary, otherwise Tang Da-ren will only have two dollars a month to spend every day.

Eunuch Wang, this man, as we have said before, he is not too bad, but we also do not set this novel into the cute cutey Depot of the world's greatest kung fu, think of him as too bullish, he is not yet 20 years old ah, from childhood he grew up in the deep palace, because of sudden success, plus the Noble Consort Wan recommended he got to become a powerful eunuch, but can you expect him to be as cunning as those old and cunning eunuchs ah? Impossible, so he has character and flaws.

And then, you all got it all wrong about the Li Family case.

Actually, there's a story ahead following it...

If you can't figure it out, you can wait until the end of the next chapter... and it'll all go back to the beginning.

So, buddies, see you tomorrow?















- The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty -



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