Chapter 532 533 [Official remonstrance]
Although under Xiang Nan's efforts to obstruct, the emperor's plan to build a garden was postponed for a while, but in the end the project was launched.
Heshen somehow encouraged some Jiangnan salt merchants to donate together, and raised five million taels of silver for the emperor.
So, a new garden was built in the western suburbs.
The person in charge of the construction was Shang Rong, Governor of Zhili.
Less than two months after the construction of the new garden, there was news that Shang Rong not only dug the ancestral graves of the people during the construction of the garden, which caused a lot of complaints from the people, but also shoddy it to embezzle money.
Censor Hong Derui submitted a memorial to Shen Shangrong. During the construction of the garden, he committed ten crimes including self-theft, shoddy, private grave digging, and extravagant spending.
Qianlong sent officials from the Ministry of Punishment, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of Industry to investigate. After investigation and visits, the officials of the three ministries reported that Hong Derui's performance was not true and was purely a false accusation.
Qianlong was furious, not only dismissed Hong Derui and demoted him to work in the Quyang quarry, but even his family members were demoted as official prostitutes and official slaves for sale, which is really pitiful.
Xiang Nan saw it and knew that Hong Derui was innocent, and his daughter Hong Xia was even more pitiful, so he decided to try to rescue their father and daughter.
…
Coincidentally, Hong Derui has just been convicted, and a new garden has also been built.
Qianlong personally named the new garden Wanchun Garden, and invited all the officials to play with him.
Before Xiang Nan left, he told Du Xiaoyue, "Xiaoyue, if the husband doesn't come back at noon, you can go to the palace to ask the Queen Mother, and say that Ji Xiaolan will be beheaded."
"Sir, why do you say that?" Du Xiaoyue asked in surprise.
Su Qinglian and Xiangyun were also taken aback.
"Hey, I'm going to take some risks today." Xiang Nan said with a sigh, "The emperor spent nearly six million taels of silver to build the Wanchun Garden, accounting for one-sixth of the national treasury's annual revenue, and can buy four million shi of rice. For 2.5 million people a year.
Such extravagance and waste are really a shame to the Qing Dynasty and a pain to the people. Although I tried my best to dissuade him, the emperor simply refused to listen. So I'm going to take a risk today and let the emperor admit that I was wrong. "
"Sir, you want to offend Yan Zhijian?" Xiang Yun said in shock.
Xiang Nan nodded.
"Sir, you sacrificed your life for righteousness for the country and the people. Qing Lian admires you." Su Qinglian said with a look of admiration, "If the emperor really strangles loyal ministers, Qing Lian is willing to accompany you, sir."
"Hey, there's no need to be like this. The most I can do is to be frightened. The emperor is not willing to kill me." Xiang Nan waved his hand and said, "I told you in advance to reassure you, so that you don't get scared at that time. Okay, I'm leaving. Xiaoyue remembers my words."
"Yes." Du Xiaoyue nodded.
…
Xiang Nan then went to Wanchun Garden with Qianlong and the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty.
"My dear friends, today the sky is bright and clear, the wind is breezy, the flowers and willows are accompanying each other, and the green water is rippling. My mood is just two words - happy!" Qianlong smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the magnificent and ingenious garden with carved beams and painted buildings. .
"The emperor is very right. The slave is busy with the emperor in the palace every day. Today, I am honored to come to this garden with the emperor, and I feel refreshed.
Just when he didn't know how to describe this feeling, the emperor just said it out, really happy, very happy! "He Shen immediately flattered and said, "Your Majesty, where we are so excited, we have some poems that are about to be presented to the Emperor to celebrate the prosperity of the family and the country, the beauty of the garden, and the wisdom of Your Majesty. "
"Okay, okay, I also want to appreciate the literary talents of you Aiqing." Qianlong laughed, "In that case, let's make a poem with Aiqing."
"Since this is the case, the slave will not be modest." He Shen smiled, and then glanced at Xiang Nan, "Scholar Ji, you are the most talented person in the world, why don't you come first?"
He Shen nodded, and then nodded to several ministers.
...
The poems written by Xiang Nan are mostly sour and disgusting.
Seeing that everyone made poems, He Shen invited Xiang Nan to do it again.
"My lord, please, I'm still two puffs short of this cigarette." Xiang Nan laughed.
He Shen curled his lips, "Your Majesty, for today's matter, I specially wrote a Song of Chu and dedicated it to the Emperor."
"Oh, read it quickly and listen to it." Qianlong laughed.
"Yes." He Shen took a breath and recited energetically, "My husband, there is a beautiful garden, floating on the west mountain! Wandering around Langui, the green water is whirling. The wind is so graceful, The birds stay and the fish rest. The prosperity of this family and the country spreads far and wide..."
…
Xiang Nan got goosebumps all over his body when he heard his contrived chanting.
"Ah~hahahaha~" He covered his face and howled dryly, which disturbed He Shen's poetic interest for a while.
"Ji Xiaolan, are you crying or laughing?" Qianlong asked suspiciously.
"Mr. Ji, the emperor asked you something!" He Shen said unhappily, he was singing to the climax, but it was all mixed up by Xiang Nan, what a mess.
"Your Majesty, on this day of celebration, there is no reason to cry! This minister is very happy, very happy." Xiang Nan wiped his tears and said, "Aren't there words in the books that weep with joy, and joy begets sorrow!"
"It's unbelievable. I really can't see you crying with joy." Qianlong waved his hand and said, "Okay, is your poem ready yet?"
"Report to the emperor, I'm done." Xiang Nan hurriedly got up and said.
"Then read it and listen to it." Qianlong said immediately.
Xiang Nan nodded, and took out an Allegro from his pocket, "Please allow me to accompany you with bamboo festivals."
"Sure." Qianlong nodded.
Xiang Nan immediately hit the allegro, crackling, quite lively, "Wanchun Garden by the water in the western suburbs, there are mountains, waters and towers. A tower has eight pillars, and one pillar is lifted up.
Looking at thousands of willows on the hillside from a distance, one willow costs 100,000 yuan. A lake is dug on the side facing the water, and there are golden boats floating on the lake. The rockery was originally made of silver, and the peony spent emerald money. This place was originally a grave of ancestors, and the lonely ghosts lost their homes..."
In the queue, Shang Rong, the governor of Zhili who was in charge of supervising the construction of Wanchun Garden, was so frightened that he was sweating coldly and his calves were shaking when he heard Xiang Nan's words.
Qianlong thought it was fun to listen to it at first, but the more he listened to it, the more he felt something was wrong.
The willow tree cost 100,000 yuan, the dragon boat cost a gold coin, and the peony cost an emerald coin. Worst of all, even the cemetery of lonely souls and wild ghosts has come out.
"Shut up!" Qianlong hurriedly stopped, "Ji Xiaolan, you always do things that turn me off when I'm happiest."
"My minister is dead!" Xiang Nan hurriedly kowtowed.
"Hmph, what a spoiler, what a disappointment! Get up and go back to the palace!" Qianlong immediately said angrily.
Today he came here in high spirits, but he came back disappointed, what a disappointment!
The civil and military officials also hurriedly followed.
"Ji Xiaolan, you can do it, you can count Laibao." He Shen sneered, "Okay, maybe you will really need it someday."
(end of this chapter)