Chapter 321: The Tragedy of Mei Hanlin
Mei Hanlin had no other choice but to run back and forth to the Ministry of Personnel to urge them to do something. But who were the people in the Ministry of Personnel? They were all masters of Tai Chi, pushing things back and forth, and each had their own excuses. In short, they could say: If it can't be done, just wait.
Although no one knew what was going on with Hanlin Mei, who didn't know that the Minister had pointed out his affairs? How could the officials of the Ministry of Personnel be so stupid as to offend their superiors for a Hanlin?
Apart from that, Mei Hanlin’s daily life wasn’t that good!
The house was often robbed, and thugs would come to cause trouble whenever they had the chance. Even the girls from brothels would come to the house every now and then, saying that the Mei father and son owed money for prostitution.
Mei Hanlin had no choice but to ask someone to report to the police. However, this place was under the jurisdiction of the Bingmasi and Jiangning County. The officials from Jiangning County came again and again, but they refused to arrest anyone. The officials said that the county magistrate, Mr. Guo, had ordered that the officials should treat the people with kindness and not force them. They should also abide by the law and rules when handling cases. If you have evidence, then you don't have to say anything. If you don't have evidence, you can't arrest anyone.
As for the Bingmasi, they do get things done. They are under the jurisdiction of Qian Huai, the Bingmasi commander in the city. In order to catch thieves, people from the Bingmasi carry out surprise attacks from time to time. They say that the thieves cannot be prepared and must be caught off guard.
You can imagine that, in the middle of the night, when you just fell asleep, hundreds of strong men with swords and guns broke into your house and searched everything inside and outside, even the concubine's bed, who could stand it? Mei Hanlin and his father also understood that the military commander was torturing them like this just as Jia Cong's naked revenge.
Therefore, no matter how many problems they had, they did not dare to ask the Military Department for help.
But there is a saying that goes, it is easier to invite a god than to send him away! We, the soldiers and horses, are here to protect the people in the city. You can't come if you want?
There was really no other way, so Mei Hanlin could only give Qian Huai some silver, and as a result, the number of people breaking into houses in the middle of the night decreased.
In addition, the Mei family's house was often damaged, and eight out of ten days someone would quietly release some "cute" small animals such as snakes and mice in the yard. In short, the Mei family was punished thirteen times.
He had also wanted to go to Ningguo Mansion to beg Jia Cong for mercy, but with his status, he had to be able to see Jia Cong first. He didn't need anyone else. The servants guarding the gate knew that the Mei family had broken off the engagement with their young lady, and their master didn't like the Mei family . He wanted to get in? Wishful thinking...
It is no exaggeration to say that in less than a year, Mei Dexing seemed to have aged ten years. All the old servants, old women, and concubines in the family had run away, leaving only the father and son of the Mei family to struggle through the house.
In the past, although this matter had been suppressed, it was because he had the Second Prince's connections, so he couldn't do anything too extreme. However, those who could get along in the officialdom were the best at reading the wind direction. Now that the Second Prince had been demoted and imprisoned as a commoner, Mei Hanlin, who had the Second Prince's connections, wanted to be sent out to be an official? Not to mention that he had conflicts with Jia Cong, even if he had no conflicts with Jia Cong, the Ministry of Personnel would never cause such trouble.
Therefore, Xin Ci just took out this document that had been hidden in the bottom of the box and reported it to Fang Yao, intending to put an end to the matter.
Fang Yao studied the document for a moment, and then said to himself, "Mei Dexing has a bad character, so our Ministry of Personnel naturally cannot recommend such a person to be an official, otherwise it will be a hardship for the people, right?"
After saying that, he wrote down the document and stamped it.
"Just reject it directly. Select someone else for the external position!" Fang Yao said to Xin Ci.
Xin Ci immediately took the document and left. After all, since the matter had been settled, she still needed to inform the Mei family so that they wouldn't have to wait any longer.
"Thank you, Master, for helping your disciple vent his anger!" Jia Cong said with a bow.
Fang Yao smiled and said, "Giving you a chance to vent your anger is one reason. However, Mei Dexing is also a man of few moral principles! Although I cannot guarantee a clean administration, I still want to do something for the people, so that I will not let down His Majesty's trust."
"This position was chosen by your majesty and the court, but it was also chosen by the people! Do your best and leave the rest to fate, that's all!"
Jia Cong said admiringly, "Master, your mind is so broad that I cannot even begin to match it!"
"You and I are from the same family, so why should we be polite? How could I not know that you were protecting your master in Jiangnan? It is said that master and apprentice are like father and son. Since you have entered my sect, I will definitely consider you and protect you! Whether you are a descendant of the Jia family or a champion marquis, it has no effect on this."
"Now you have walked out of your own path, and you are even able to protect your master and even me. However, even so, if you encounter any setbacks, your master and I will stand behind you without hesitation."
"Your path is different from mine, but this does not change our master-disciple relationship!"
"Someone told me before that your disciple is too domineering. Shouldn't you discipline him a little? I once said that my disciple has had a rough journey and must be a person who hates evil. Go ahead and walk your path boldly. Whether you need it or not, your master and I will protect you!"
Upon hearing this, Jia Cong bowed deeply. It was his luck to have such a master to inherit his legacy!
…
After Xin Ci got the documents, he thought for a moment and then left the yamen and went straight to the Mei family's house.
When they arrived at the house, they saw that the door was broken and there were a lot of messy things inside and outside. They knocked on the door, but no one answered for a long time, so Xin Ci could only push the door open and enter.
I walked all the way into the main hall and saw Mei Hanlin and his father.
"Lord Xin, has my decree for assignment arrived?" Upon seeing Xin Ci, Mei Hanlin's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up and he stood up directly.
Xin Ci waved her hand and said , "Master Mei misunderstood. Uh... the document has indeed come down. Please take a look at it yourself!"
As he said this, he handed the document to Mei Hanlin.
Mei Hanlin couldn't wait to open it, but when he saw the words on it, his whole body froze.
The document fell to the ground, and he also slumped down on the chair. He had spent all his family wealth to seek this opportunity, but now it was all in vain. However, it was not surprising. Originally, because it was the Second Prince's opportunity, the Ministry of Personnel just suppressed it. Now that the Second Prince has fallen, how could the Ministry of Personnel give him any face?
"Take care, Lord Mei!" Xin Ci said nothing more and just bowed and left.
Mei Dexing was stunned for a long time, and finally said to his son, "Hey, it's not easy to live in Shenjing! There is no place for us to stand here anymore, and it's time to go back."
Three days later, Mei Hanlin sold his house in Shenjing, bought a carriage, took his remaining belongings, and left Shenjing in a hurry...
