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Chapter 41 The 38th Maodian Gambling Baylor Was Beaten Tomb Of The Emperor To Take Pictures Of The Empress Dowager To Show Her Kindness

When Hu Biren was about to be beheaded, why was there such an unexpected savior?Speaking of it, he should not die.People have a skill, and when the time comes, they can turn disaster into blessing.It turns out that the Empress Dowager Longyu likes painting very much, and she can draw a few strokes herself, but the painting is not very good.Since she became the Empress Dowager, she has no leisure, so she often collects painting pages for copying, so the errands in Ruyi Museum are much busier than before.All the paintings that were handed in were submitted within a limited time, and they were all of ancient beauty, and Hu Bi always accepted the job.Four painting pages were handed in ten days ago, and the four imperially determined topics were Daiyu Playing the Qin, Baochai Catching Butterflies, Xiangyun Lying on the Stone, Baoqin and Fur, and the submission was limited to ten days.Because of this errand, Long Zichun had invited Biren to dinner two or three times, and begged him not to miss it.Although Bi Ren agreed, how can he concentrate on painting when he is full of revolutions?The day of Dujuan's treat was almost over, and he had only finished two pages. Zichun was very anxious, so he said that he would go back to the Ruyi Pavilion to catch up with the painting, and he tried his best to persuade him to agree.In Zichun's mind, no matter what, these four pages of paintings must be driven out so that they can make an appointment.Whether they are revolutionary or not is all Shen Ziting's one-sided statement, and it is not credible.If the album could not be painted, and the Empress Dowager lost her temper, the rice bowl would be broken, so it is important to urge him to paint first.Until the time of breaking up, I still reminded me to draw it tomorrow.Biren agreed repeatedly, but after Zichun left, he and Du Juan cared about each other's plans and planted bombs, so how could they care about the album pages?After a whole night of chaos, they ran out of the city early the next morning and were arrested by the admiral's yamen. There were still only two pages of these four pages, and they could not be submitted.At this time, Long Zichun was afraid of the bomb, and he was responsible for being negligent, so he left the painting job as well.

Who knows that Hu Bi's life should not be cut off.It was the morning when he was beheaded. Empress Dowager Longyu suddenly remembered these four pages of drawings, and said to Zhang Delu: "The four pages of drawings I handed in ten days ago were due the day before yesterday. Did they submit them? Is it?" Zhang Delu hurriedly replied: "I haven't submitted it yet." The queen mother said: "What are you slaves doing? When the time limit is up, you don't rush! Is this a trivial matter waiting for me to pass the decree? Seeing that the Empress Dowager was angry, Zhang Delu played in fear, "Don't be angry, Lafayette, and listen to the slaves carefully. This drawing is not because Ruyi Museum dared to resist the order. The bomb case and the painters were also arrested, so they couldn’t hand in the papers and had to ask the Buddha for forgiveness.” The Queen Mother asked in amazement: “Why is there a bomb in the imperial city? Why don't I know?" Zhang Delu said: "I'm afraid the princes and ministers of the family were shocked by the compassionate saint, so they didn't dare to play back." The queen mother was displeased: "It's unreasonable! If you don't make an explicit request for such an important matter, they will leave Dispose of it without authorization. In the future, there may be bombs in the palace of the emperor and me. Could it be that we can’t speak at that time! Go and pass the decree and call Zaifeng and Zhuang Zhishan to come up. I have something to ask them.” Zhang Delu In response, he immediately went to summon Zai and Zhuang.The two hurriedly went to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility to greet the Empress Dowager, and the Empress Dowager asked about the bomb, and the two explained in detail.The queen mother said: "As far as I think, the man surnamed Hu is working in the Ruyi Pavilion, and he will never go to revolution again. I'm afraid there will be no grievances here. Why did you kill him first? This is a bit reckless. According to my opinion , or put him in prison first, and then interrogate him in detail." The regent said: "The empress dowager's decree is very serious, and the ministers should have obeyed it, but it has been sent out this morning, and the Ministry of Justice will be sent to carry it out. Execution, how can we redeem it at this time? You have to ask the Empress Dowager Shenghuai for forgiveness. If you encounter such a case in the future, you should be extra careful." The queen mother thought for a while and asked: "At this time, the execution has already been executed. " Zhuang Zhongtang said: "It's only at noon at this time, I'm afraid it may not be raised by the Ministry of Justice. The cases that have always been executed are always executed in the afternoon." The queen mother said: "It should not be murder today. Xiaoqin The empress dowager will be enshrining the Anshan Mausoleum in a few days, and the lamas of the Lama Temple are reading scriptures at this time. You, as ministers, should also show respect to the empress dowager, how can you behead criminals at this time?" The regent listened Frightened by these words, he quickly knelt down and kowtowed, and said: "The empress dowager's holy will is brilliant, beyond the reach of the ministers. Please forgive the criminal, and the ministers are willing to obey." The empress dowager then ordered Zhang Delu to take the ink brush, He wrote a decree, which is: "The Empress Dowager Xiaoqin is about to be in peace, and all criminals on death row will be temporarily suspended. The Ministry knows. Qin here." After finishing writing, hand it over to Zhang Delu.He also ordered: "ride a fast horse and rush to the Ministry of Law, and tell the officials of the Ministry to obey. Go and come quickly." Zhang Delu gave a command and flew away.Here the Empress Dowager asked a few more words about Empress Dowager Xiaoqin's note on Feng'an, did she ever prepare for it?The two men's replays were all ready, the Empress Dowager nodded, and ordered: "Retire. If there are important matters in the future, you must come to the announcement first, and you must not make up your own mind." The two agreed, and then slowly retreated .

Besides, when Zhang Delu came down, he asked for a fast horse from the guard, and called a first-class guard. The two rode on the horse and ran to the Yamen of the Ministry of Justice like arrows.When he arrived at the door, Zhang Delu felt anxious when he saw that the errand had been proposed, so he shouted loudly: "Keep people under the sword! There is an order from the empress dowager, all the officials of the hall are here to receive the order!" He ran into the back hall.At this moment, Ting Jie retreated from the hall and was eating snacks in his office room, when he suddenly saw the long class running in, he replied in a panic: "The order has arrived, please accept the order." Ting Jie stood up in fright, Holding the official hat on his head, he ran out in two steps.Just in time for Zhang Delu to lead the guards, he had come to the back hall, got off his horse, and when he saw Ting Jie, he shouted loudly to accept the order.Ting Jie quickly knelt down and said in his mouth: "Ting Jie, the minister of the Ministry of Justice, kneel to accept the imperial edict." Zhang Delu shouted again, and hurried to set up the incense table and wait for the reading.Ting Jie hurriedly stood up, and ordered the head class to set up the incense table quickly.At this time Xiyu also turned back and knelt down behind Tingjie.Zhang Renfu, the servant on the right, also arrived and knelt down in a row with Xiyu.Everyone was sweating in their hearts, not knowing what the decree was talking about.I only heard Zhang Delu chanting loudly: "Empress Dowager Longyu's decree is now in the period when Empress Dowager Xiaoqin will be enshrined. All death row criminals will be suspended from execution. The ministry knows this, so please do so." The three hall officials heard this and hurriedly Meet, thank the prisoner for his kindness, just stood up, and enshrined the will on the incense table.Zhang Delu then ordered: "Today, Lafayette knew about the execution of a man surnamed Hu. He was very displeased. Immediately called up the regent Prince Tong Zhuang Zhongtang, gave him a warning, and sent our family to deliver an order to stop the death penalty. Empress Dowager Xiaoqin will enshrine Anshan Mausoleum in a few days, and during this enshrinement period, you don't need to carry out any executions." The three agreed repeatedly, and Zhang Delu just left.

Here, Ting Jie said to Xi and Zhang: "Brothers have expected that this matter is not appropriate. With such a revolutionary repeat offender, the admiral's yamen will send us to execute the death penalty after a quick question. Lafayette doesn't think so, even the prince has been warned, let's send that Hu man to prison." It's ridiculous that a group of guards on duty, servants, executioners, etc., have been busy for a long time, but they still frame Biren back to prison.The tie was loosened for him, and everyone congratulated him again.At this time, Bi Ren was confused, and he didn't know what was going on.When he was breathing hard, he asked the jailer, "Didn't you behead me? Why did you let me back? What's the matter?" Lord Buddha, I have sent you a decree to pardon you, so please hurry up and look at the palace to thank you." The fellow sinners were all overjoyed when they heard this, saying that Bi people will definitely be a high-ranking official in the future. Cheng Xiang, you have just encountered this unexpected pardon, you should thank the Empress Dowager for not beheading her.Biren laughed and said: "This is not a kind of grace. I think that since I, Hu Biren, have joined the Revolutionary Party, I have put my life and death aside. She let me come back, and I will die a few days later. What is there to be grateful for?" Everyone Hearing what he said, he didn't take it seriously at all, saying that the revolutionary party had taken the ecstasy drug of the foreign devils, and they would never understand it again in this life, so let's ignore him.

Not to mention that Hu Biren was escorted back to the prison, but also that the eunuch Zhang Delu came out of the Ministry of Justice and still rode back to the Forbidden City to return to the Queen Mother Longyu.The queen mother was very happy when she heard that Hu Biren was not dead, and immediately ordered the minister of the king of military affairs to prepare to summon him.When everyone arrived, the Empress Dowager ordered: "Now there is only half a month left before the Empress Dowager Xiaoqin's Annunciation Ceremony. This time the Annunciation Ceremony is unusual. Not only the ministries in central Beijing must prepare carefully, but also the governor of Zhili You have to be extra careful. All the arrangements along the road must be very careful, neither disturbing the people nor damaging the dignity. You must send a senior official to inform him about this matter, so don’t wait until the arrival date to miss the important event.” All military planes Busy kowtow to ask for instructions, which one should I send?The empress dowager thought about it for a while, and said that a shrewd and capable young man should always be sent to this matter, not an old, stupid and perfunctory person.The regent hurriedly said: "The empress dowager's edict is very good. No one who wants to be appointed to this post is Li Guoying, the hereditary first-class Marquis of the Han Army in the inlaid white flag. He will go to Tianjin to help Zhili Governor Ruifang handle the mausoleum mission, and he will be able to do it happily." The Empress Dowager nodded and said: "You think this person is very good, so let him go." A decree: "Send Li Guoying to help the Tongrui side handle the mausoleum affairs, and drive to Tianjin today. Here you are." It turns out that Li Guoying is only in his twenties, a son of a family, who specializes in cockfighting and lackeys, and is a romantic and suave character.Moreover, he was born with a handsome appearance and quick speech, worthy of a handsome young man in a troubled world.Just because he thinks he has a high status, he can't help being a little arrogant.This time, I accidentally got this unexpected good job, so I asked the trainer to go out of Beijing and go to Tianjin to find the Swiss prescription.He thought to himself: I am an imperial envoy, and since I have sent a telegram, when the bus arrives at the station, the Swiss side will of course come to pick it up in person.Unexpectedly, when I arrived at the new station, I took a look at the platform, but there was a group of officials preparing to pick up people. When I got closer to look closely, there was no Ruifang inside.The long class accompanying the imperial envoy took the manuscript and showed it to Li Guoying. There were only Jinhe Road, Customs Road, Tianjin Prefecture, Tianjin County, Changlu Salt Transport Envoy, and other alternate government roads, but there were no posts from the Swiss side.When Guoying saw it, he was very upset, so he had to say hello, and all the officials jumped into the car, first greeted Guoying, and then greeted Guoying.Among them, only Wang Gao, the envoy of salt transportation, was Li Wenzhong's old subordinate and had a world friendship with Guoying, so Guoying greeted him first, and called him old man Wang, how has he been?Wang Gao hurriedly bowed and replied: "Master Hou, don't call him that, I don't dare to take the job. Thanks to the blessing of Lord Hou, the job is still strong in the past few years. I don't know where Master Hou will live this time? It’s not too cramped, so you can live in the Transportation Department.” Guoying said, “Don’t bother me, old man, Xian Wenzhong’s ancestral hall is very close, so I’ll live there.” Then he got out of the car and met Wang Gao In a carriage, he went straight to Li Gong Temple, and all the officials escorted him there.The family members who watched the ancestral hall had already received the letter and cleaned up the houses very cleanly.When Guoying arrived, he first went to the main hall to see Naizu's portrait, then went to the back room to rest, and met all the officials.Guoying said unhappily: "Everyone can go ahead, brother, I will go to pay homage to Zhijun. Zhijun is a person of status, of course he is not willing to condescend to come here. Please introduce me for me." In it, there is Li Jianqing, the copywriter of the supervisory office, who bowed back and said: "Zhijun is going to pick up Lord Hou in person, because he has caught a cold because he has been busy with the mausoleum mission for several days, so I must ask Lord Hou to forgive me. Guoying sneered and said, "How dare I come to pick him up in person? But if I ask my brother to worship him, if he refuses to eat, then I will be very grateful!" What, I have to say goodbye.

Here Guoying had dinner, called a carriage, and went to the court all the way.After entering the courtyard gate, he ordered the driver to keep pulling towards Li.The guards rushed over and stopped them, saying who are you and why did you force your way in?The head squad said: "This is Lord Li, do you dare to stop him?" The guards heard that it was Lord Hou, and quickly raised their guns to salute, opened the gate again, and let the carriage in.The Wu Xunbu of the second sect rushed up to meet him, the leader class took out the post and handed it to him, and saw that it said "My nephew Li Guoying pays homage to him".Why do you think Guoying calls herself Ru nephew?It turned out that Guoying's father was in Japan and also worked in the Ministry of Industry. He was in the same department as Ruifang. They were brothers of Baimeng, so Guoying called himself a nephew.This time, the Rui side refused to pick him up in person, and because of his status as an old uncle Meng, he saw that Guoying was just a child, so he was not worthy of picking him up in person, but he forgot that Guoying was here under the imperial order. What's more, Guoying is proud, so how can he take this Uncle Meng seriously.When Wu Xun saw that it was Lord Li Hou, he hurriedly greeted him and said that he would please wait a little longer, and then he would go back.After finishing speaking, he turned his head and ran in with the post.After a while, he came out and said loudly: "Please sit in the flower hall of Lord Hou." Guoying got out of the car, followed him to the flower hall, and Ruifang came out early to welcome him.When Guoying entered the room, Ruifang first greeted him with the Holy Ann of the Two Palaces, and then sat down with the ceremony.Rui Fang said with a smile: "My nephew has had a hard time this trip. Uncle Yu was supposed to pick you up at the station in person, but he couldn't go out because of a bit of wind and cold. Please forgive me." Guoying said: "Old man Uncle Meng, what is this talking about? Who is my nephew, how dare I ask Uncle Meng to pick me up. Besides, we are a good family for many generations, so we don't need those superficial words. But my nephew came this time because of the Empress Dowager Yizhi, because the Empress Dowager Xiaoqin's appointment is imminent, and I am afraid that all the rituals will not be done in time, so I sent my nephew to help Uncle Mengmeng take care of everything. If Uncle Meng has any assignments, my nephew will obey it." Rui Fang laughed. : "The Empress Dowager is too tired for the Sacred Heart. Uncle Yu can't do other things. When it comes to this kind of errand, I have been in the Ministry of Industry for 20 years, and I have never encountered Huang Baichao. Could it be that I have done straight work at this time?" Governor Li, can you forget it? As far as I think, the old nephew's visit this time is really redundant. It's at the top, but it's just to adjust you. Uncle Yu will find a way for you to raise 3,500 yuan for ice coal Zhijing, you don’t have to ask about everything, and you’ll be able to sell the business when you return to Beijing.” On the Swiss side, this set of words is clearly because they are afraid that Guoying will infringe on many things and share their own money, so they want to block him back. , so as not to make trouble when you are on business.Who knows what a shrewd person Guoying is, is there any reason he can't understand?Immediately sneered and replied: "Uncle Meng's talent and experience, it is true that he has more than enough to do this job. But this time my nephew came here on order, and the order is to ask me to help with the work, not to ask me to help share the money. My nephew had no choice but to accept Uncle Meng's kindness. However, even though my nephew does not have to do it personally, he has the right to intervene in all matters related to mausoleum missions. This is the will. However, the court of the Ming Dynasty canceled the assigned errand, and my nephew will return to Beijing immediately; if I can’t do this, I plan to ask me to be perfunctory, and my nephew will never dare to accept this kind of errand in name only.” Rui Fang also dreamed I never dreamed that Guoying would dare to contradict him, and she couldn't help but get angry immediately, sneered twice and said: "Okay, since you have come as an imperial order, isn't it easy to handle this matter? I set up a mausoleum supervision office, and sent a total of three Taoists. The prime minister is responsible, and the agency is located in Liujiadian, Beiguan, Tongzhou. Please go there to supervise them. There is still half a month before Feng'an. It will take a week before we can see His Majesty Jin Jing. You go ahead and don't wait for me." Guoying was not polite, saying that since this is the case, my nephew will return to Beijing today and wait quietly in Tongzhou.After that, he stood up and said goodbye.Rui Fang only sent him outside the door, turned his head and went in after saying no.Guoying came out alone angrily, and muttered cursing: "You shameless bastard, what kind of airs are you putting on, this time I want you to try Lord Hou's tricks!" , Sure enough, he rushed back to Beijing.The next day, take an early train to Tongzhou, and go all the way to Liujiadian outside the North Gate.

It turns out that this Liu's store, nicknamed Penglan store, is a well-known big store specializing in Lingchai.On normal days, he doesn't live in this shop with any customers, that is, when the mausoleum is held in February and August every year, the ministers of the king who are on business trips all live in his shop.If there is a big white job, his shop can accommodate thousands of people.To prepare a meal, it takes a hundred or so pigs; to clean a kitchen, it takes three hundred or so people;This time, after the errand errand is finished, there is still one hundred thousand silver left over to go out for entertainment.The shop owner's surname is Liu and his name is Ziping. The business has been in business for more than 30 years, and it was started by his father.His father's name was Liu Duocai, a bannerman of the Han army, who was so poor that he had no food to eat in Beijing. The husband and wife brought their seven or eight-year-old son to Beiguan, Tongzhou to beg for food.At that time, when Tongzhou was prosperous, it was very difficult to make a living.Liu Duocai, a family of three, sheltered in a ruined temple, and worked as a coolie on the river dam during the day, earning a few hundred dollars to make ends meet.His wife, Xiang Shi, is very virtuous, she washes clothes for others, and helps him survive this poor life.Poor Duocai was originally a banner man, he was used to idleness, and he didn't have much strength. He really couldn't do all the tiresome tasks of carrying grain and rice.Later, someone saw that he was good, so he recommended him to a shop as a boy.This store is in Beiguan, called Tianhe Store.The owner of the store is also surnamed Liu. The couple has no children, and there are only more than 20 broken-down houses, where a few guests live and eat.Sometimes when encountering mausoleum servants, they rush to do some business, but coachmen, bearers, grooms and other decent people don't come to his shop.At that time, the mausoleum ministers also paid attention to setting up tents. From the emperor to all the civil and military officials, they all rested in the tents; all the guards who escorted them were stationed outside the tents.This year, he was rushing to Tongzhi Emperor's Baichai to Dongling to Feng'an, passing through Tongzhou.Liu Duo deserved his fortune.At that time, it was the old King Gong who was the king of military affairs and politics. He had a son named Zaicheng, who was called Chengbeile by Beijingers.This Lord Baylor is a running dog for cockfighting, asking Liu to find flowers, and doing everything.And there is a hobby, especially love to bet on boxes.Relying on his father's influence, he ran rampant in the streets of Beijing. When he went out, he had to lead a group of thugs, and he would fight if he said it was overturned.When the merchants in Ninetowns mentioned Chengbeile, they all frowned.This time, the emperor of Tongzhi appointed him as the former minister.He was overjoyed when he got this errand, thinking that this time he was going out of Beijing by order, and he could go to other counties to show off.

On the morning of the departure from Beijing, he rode a fast horse alone and ran down to Tongzhou along the imperial road.When he ran to the Tianhe store, he couldn't move, so he turned over and looked around, and saw a group of people around the store door, shouting "yah, yah, yah, yah, yah, it's the sound of betting money."Hearing this, he rushed over immediately like a fly seeing hot blood, and after a careful look, it was indeed a group of coolie chiefs betting there.He looked and saw a willow tree nearby, so he tied his horse to the tree, and then he got into the crowd and shouted, "Go in and rush in." Everyone looked up to see him, and saw that he was wearing a gray cotton robe and a green market cloth. He was in a white mandarin jacket, holding a whip in his hand, and everyone regarded him as a guest on the way, and said in unison: "Guests, please come quickly, the bet is full." Zaicheng hurriedly took out the bag , Stretching out his hand to feel it, there were only a few pieces of broken silver in it, but no copper coins, so he took out one piece, weighed it with his hand, and said it was worth one, two or five coins, and bet two.Just when he was about to bet on Ershang, Baoguan came to stop him and said, "We bet on copper coins, not silver." Zaicheng stared and said, "What are you talking about? You don't bet on silver, but I want to bet on silver!" One of them came out and said Yes, say we have money here, isn’t it the same if you exchange the silver for money and bet again?Zaicheng said yes, how much copper coins would you give me in exchange for one tael and five silver coins?The man took the silver and weighed it, saying it was not enough for one tael or five.If you want to change it, I can only give you one or two.Zai Cheng asked, "How much is one tael for?" The man said, "One tael for three hangs and two hundred dollars." Zai Cheng scolded: "Nonsense! We in Beijing have to exchange one liang of silver for fifteen or six slings. Why do you only For three hangs and two hundred?" The man laughed loudly and said: "I'm talking about making money, not big money. Three hangs and two hundred are also combined into sixteen hangs, don't you think it's too little?" Only then did Zaicheng understand , smiled and said: "Okay, I will change three hangs and two hundred according to you, count the money quickly, don't waste time." The man hurriedly collected three hangs and two hundred coins for him.Zai Cheng took it over, and bet the original string on Er Shang.When the treasure box was opened, the red heart pointed at San, and Zai Cheng's original string of money was taken away again.He was not willing to reconcile, so he took out another piece of silver from his bag, which was slightly larger than that one, and exchanged it for four coins. He still bet on two, and when it came out, it was still three.In a hurry, he turned the bag over, and there were two small pieces inside, less than one tael, and he only exchanged for two taels of money.He bet three this time, but it turned out to be two.At this time, Zai Cheng's eyes were all red, and he took off a jade wrench from his finger in a fit of anger, and said to the public: "I bought this wrench for 1,300 silver, but now it's only priced at 1,000 taels. I want to bet ten times Ding, one bet, you have cleared the account for me." Baoguan refused to agree, saying that we only bet on cash and not on things, so you can put it away quickly, no need to talk nonsense.Seeing that they refused to take it, Zaicheng became angry, and immediately showed his son's temper and cursed.When he scolded, he unknowingly made the public angry, and the public responded in unison.Zai Cheng was in a hurry, he swung his horse stick and beat the crowd indiscriminately.All the people shouted together: "Good boy, beat him after scolding. Come, come, let's destroy him!" Then they swarmed up and tore Zai Cheng's robe and mandarin jacket to pieces, and his horse stick was also taken away. , the jadeite wrench was also thrown on the ground, and someone snatched it away.Poor Zaicheng was originally a weak young man, how could this group of coolies like wolves and tigers be prevented from fighting him? .

At this time, Liu Duocai, the clerk of Tianhe Store, was startled. He ran out in two steps, separated from the crowd, and came to watch.When he saw the person lying on the ground, he was startled.Those who read the novel must think that Liu Duo knew Zai Cheng, but it is not the case.Because Duo is a bannerman of the Han army, and he understands all the rules of the royal family.As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw the belt around Zaicheng's waist, and knew that he must belong to the clan.Because the imperial clan in the Qing Dynasty wore a yellow belt around their waists, and this belt represented that he belonged to the heavenly school.If it is tied on the body, even the emperor cannot beat him.Therefore, if the clan filed a lawsuit, it had to be sent to the clan mansion. After being inquired by the clan official, the yellow belt on his body was first removed and hung high in the hall, and then he could be tortured.If this belt cannot be untied, if you want to use punishment on him, you will commit the crime of deceiving the emperor, so this belt has a lot to do with it.Liu Duocai saw that Zai Cheng was wearing a yellow belt, but the group of coolies surrounded him and beat him. He thought that these people didn't want to live, and I had to come out to save them, otherwise, they would be beaten to death, even our little ones. The Tianhe store can't afford it either.Thinking of this, he desperately pushed everyone away, and shouted loudly: "You really want to rebel! You will pay for your life if you kill someone! Hurry up and get out of the way, when the officers and soldiers arrive, none of you will be able to escape." Words reminded, they all dispersed with a coaxing sound, only Zai Cheng was left behind, his head was bruised and his face was swollen, how could he struggle.After a while, he rushed over to help him and said, "What's wrong with this lord? Go to the small shop and rest quickly." At this moment, Zai Cheng knew in his heart that the shop was here to save him, otherwise, he would be killed. They kill.Ouch, barely sitting up.Duocai called his son Liu An to help him, and the father and son exhausted their strength to lift Zaicheng up to the guest room.After a while, I brewed a bowl of sugar water and gave it to Zai Cheng to calm himself down.Then I asked him where he came from, and why did he fight with them?Zaicheng refused to say anything about betting on the bet at this time, and said to Duocai with a stern face: "This lord is Chengbeile, the former minister of Feng'an, the emperor of Daxing. I will check the imperial road by myself on a horse, and run to In front of your store, I saw a group of them yelling and shouting. It was the lord who kindly advised them not to make any noise on both sides of the royal road. You can't bear it when you come back. Who would have thought that this group of people would speak rudely of themselves. Swearing at people. The young master threatened them, and dared to push me to the ground and beat and kicked. If you hadn’t come out to save me, my life would have been ruined in their hands. Go and see, There is a green horse tied to a willow tree, a jade wrench in my hand, and a blue watch in my belt. Come on, give me one or two greetings, and I will ask him, is it right to allow bandits to beat relatives and nobles?" Duocai heard that it was Cheng Beile, and he took a deep breath, thinking that today's troubles are terrible. It's a big deal.Please greet me quickly, and say that the master should calm down first, and the younger one will look for him for him.He came out by himself and ordered his son to serve in the house.I searched outside the store, and there was no shadow of Ma Tong pulling his fingers and a blue watch.He thought to himself, if I went to look for the group of coolies at this time, tell them the truth, and tell them to return the things, they would definitely refuse, or they kidnapped the things and ran away, and I sold one of them.Don't make a fuss over a molehill, I invited the master of Tongzhou and asked him to see Lord Baylor. If there is any problem, I ask him to do it alone, which has nothing to do with me.Thinking of this, he followed the imperial road to find Zhizhou.

Fortunately, Zhizhou is directing everything on the imperial road at this time.The old man's surname is He, his name is Baitong, and he is a local.Because he is confused, call him nothing.At this time, he was directing the workers to splash water on the imperial road, and he came over after a few days and greeted him.Why don't you look at how talented you are, and don't look like a high-ranking person, so you immediately put on an official accent and shouted: "Who are you? You want to go to the Yamen for a lawsuit. I'm supervising the work, so I don't have time to meddle in other people's business." He replied: "The younger one is not a lawsuit, but is ordered by Lord Baylor to ask the elder to speak." He Butong was a little panicked when he heard the words of Lord Baylor, and hurriedly asked: "Which Baylor is it?" Lord?" Duocai said, "It's Prince Gong's crown prince, Cheng Bei Le." Why didn't Tong hear that it was Lord Cheng Le, who dared to be negligent, and hurriedly asked where he was now?Take me to see you quickly.Duocai smiled and said: "The old man will follow the younger one, so he will know." At this moment, why don't you think about riding a horse and sitting in a sedan chair, and walk on the steps, Suiduocai went straight to the sky and the shop.Duo Cai led him to the door of the guest room, and said in a low voice: "Master, wait a while, and wait for the younger one to go in and return." At this time, why don't you get the official post, and bowed and said yes.After coming in a long time ago, I saw Zai Cheng lying on the kang and humming. He went over and said, "What Mr. Hui said, Ma Tong and the blue watch never found any of them, only the magistrate of Tongzhou." Zaicheng listened, He said angrily: "Okay, you dare to grab my things! You asked Zhizhou to come in, and I have something to ask him." Duocai hurriedly opened the curtain and said loudly: "Master Baylor told you to come in." Why not go on tiptoe When he came in, he saw this Lord Baylor, with a bruised nose, a swollen face, disheveled hair, all torn clothes, and was covered in mud, so he was taken aback.Busy went over to pay deep respect, and stood aside, but didn't dare to ask what was going on.I saw Lord Baylor sneered twice, and then asked: "Are you the grand master of Tongzhou?" Why didn't he bow quickly and replied: "I dare not, the humble job is called He Baitong." Zaicheng said: "You are in Tongzhou. , How many robbers are there, how many bandits?" This question made him tongue-tied, and he replied: "The low-ranking...in the territory, there are no soil...bandits...bandits." Zai Cheng at this time Suddenly changed his face, and shouted loudly: "Hey! I let you, a dog official, indulge many robbers. On the day of the mausoleum ceremony, you openly dared to hurt the body of the noble, and robbed the noble's horse and clothes. The leader of the bandits! How dare you insist that there are no bandits in front of the lord. You can touch the neck yourself, and you can see how many heads are growing on it!" This set of words made Zhizhou feel cold sweat and communicated, and hurriedly greeted him Kowtow, repeatedly apologizing: "I just ask Lord Baylor to give you a clear instruction, and the humble official will go and punish people immediately." Zai Cheng said: "Do you still ask me to draw a confession in front of you? Well, you have to know the details, but Go down and ask the store clerk Liu Duocai, he will tell you naturally." Why don't you turn around quickly, look for Duocai, pay your respects first, don't take the identity of the elder, and call out with a smile on your face: "Liu Duocai Brother, what happened to Lord Baylor just now? Who was he bullied by? Please tell me, Brother Liu, so that I can find a way to vent his anger. The old prince knows, and I can't afford it anymore." Liu Duocai is a loyal man, seeing Zhizhou's pitifulness, he couldn't bear to joke with him anymore, so he explained everything just now to why it didn't make sense.He Butong immediately dispatched more than a dozen cadres to catch people and seize the stolen goods.Originally, this group of coolies were all recognized by the guards in each shift, and they were all captured in a short period of time. None of the horses, finger pullers and blue watches were lost.Why not rush to sell the job, beat these coolies hard in front of Zai Cheng, and put them all in jail.He took his own clothes and asked Lord Belle to change them at will.Zaicheng hurriedly washed and changed his clothes, why didn't he beg him again and again, don't tell the old prince, Zaicheng took advantage of the situation and knocked why not tong five thousand taels of silver, and rewarded Liu Duocai with two thousand.

When the young mausoleum arrived, the stewards of Prince Gong's mansion were looking for the young prince, and finally found the Tianhe shop, and finally found his master.Zaicheng concealed what happened just now, and only said that he was investigating the Yulu. He got off his horse and was startled. He ran all the way to the Tianhe store, fell off the horse, and injured his body.Thanks to the store clerk Liu Duo, he rescued him and brought him to the store. He cooked soup and waited for him. After resting for half a day, he felt better.The housekeeper thought it was the truth, and went back to understand Prince Gong.The old prince only had this son in front of his knees. He loved him like a pearl in his palm. He hadn't seen him for half a day. He didn't know where he had gone. He drove to Tongzhou with him and sent people along the way to inquire.After finally getting the news, the housekeeper rushed to the tent to report it in detail.When Prince Gong heard this, he was both surprised and happy. What surprised him was that his son was in such an accidental danger; he was happy that he was lucky enough to meet a good man who rescued him, and he was not seriously injured.He hurriedly ordered the housekeeper and minister: "You go and serve the young master, and you will rest in the store temporarily, and you don't have to drive to Dongling. Before I invite the minister, wait for me to send another person. You also want to pass on my words and tell the person surnamed Liu De: He rescued the young prince this time, and I am really grateful to him in my heart. Now that I have the imperial order, I can't go to thank him, and when the mausoleum envoy returns, I will go to the store to see him." The housekeeper took the order went.Sure enough, when Prince Gong came back from Dongling, he actually sat in a sedan chair and went to pay homage to Liu Duocai at Tianhedian.Duocai is really lucky at this time, seeing the old prince, everything fits well.Knowing that he was a banner man, Prince Gong cherished him even more, and asked him who was in his family and how he was doing now?It's not long before I tell you how difficult it is.Prince Gong then asked him what he was capable of, did he want to be an official or do business?After a while, I said that lowly people don't have much ability, and they don't dare to think about being an official. They just want to do a little business to make ends meet.Prince Gong asked him what kind of business he wanted to do, and he asked himself for a long time, the others were all laymen, only in the field of opening a shop, and he still had five or six years of experience, so he replied that he wanted to open an inn.King Gong said: "This business is also good. But if you want to open a store, you must open a large one. Your store occupies a very good location. In the future, the emperor's house will have a mausoleum, and this is the only way to go. If you can open a big store , We come and go, and we can have a resting place, which is the best thing. But how much will it cost if you take the overall calculation into account?" Duocai replied: "My lord, Shengming, there is no certain limit to this kind of business. ? A store can be opened with 300,000 or 200,000, a store with 100,000 or 80,000, or even 18,000. Otherwise, with the scale of our store, 12,000 is enough Anyway, the villain doesn’t have any money, and it all depends on the grace of the prince.” Gong Wang thought about it and said: “How about this, I will be the leader of a shareholder, and I will accept a share capital of 20,000 silver. I don’t know how to raise money from the princes and lords, it’s too much, but it’s about a hundred thousand silver, so it’s still easy to plan. You just go to Beijing with me and wait to get the money.” It took me a long time to listen to the prince’s order , It’s really flying out of the sky, I don’t feel like it, so I kowtow to thank you.That day old King Gong brought his son Zai Cheng to Beijing with Liu Duocai, and sure enough he raised 130,000 taels of silver for him, all of which was allocated to the big bank.Liu Duocai asked a few friends to help him in Beijing, and bought land to build a house when he returned to Tongzhou.He took out two thousand silver and gave it to the old owner of the Tianhe store. He turned the store upside down and bought more than 300 mu of land, all of which were on the left and right sides of the store and fenced off.将天和店改作人和店,盖了有三百间房子,从此这店便兴隆起来。好在恭王替募的股,性质同布施一般,决没有股东出来想着算账分钱。多才享了二十年的福,传给他儿子刘子平。这刘子平的为人,比他父亲尤其精明,不但开店赚钱,还交结北京的王府满汉大员,专管走人情,运动差缺,因此声名比刘多才在世时候,尤其大了。 这一次孝钦皇太后奉安山陵,他那刘家店中又做了好生意。在一月以前,直隶总督瑞方便派了三个候补道,在这店中组织了一座督办陵差处。除三个道台之外,大小委员还有七八十个,应差的夫役,足有二三百名,专管运筹布置沿站各项事宜。这三个道台,一个叫洪泽长,一个叫张金铭,一个万有镒,全是瑞方手下的红人,在通州坐办陵差,声势显赫,本城的大小官员,谁敢不来巴结!这一天李国英忽然到了,三人知道他是钦差,怎敢怠慢,忙叫开正门升炮迎接。这位侯爷下了车,大踏步昂然进来。三个道台迎着请了圣安,然后将侯爷让至客厅,行了庭参大礼。国英同三人寒暄了几句,便问到各样公事。张金铭很有口才,问一答十,应对如流,并无半些破绽。谈了一会儿,大家说,在店中已经替侯爷另预备了一所卧房,请侯爷到那边休息。国英随着他三人,另到一个院中,是一所四合瓦房:上房三间,两明一暗;下房三间,是会客厅;东西六间厢房,全是一明两暗;房子开间很大,光线也很足;所有桌椅家具,全是紫檀花梨之类,陈设也非常讲究,连茶盅盖碗俱都是康熙五彩;墙上挂的是董邦达的山水、刘石庵的对联,皆是真迹。国英见了,倒也十分满意。自己住了上房,两厢房一边住随员,一边住夫役,非常合宜。当日晚间,刘子平特备的燕菜席给侯爷接风。原来子平在北京时候,同国英也有来往,如今国英既住在他的店中,当然要格外照应。席间彼此畅谈,倒也十分投机。国英自己说:“本爵此次来,是奉太后懿旨,无论何事,不能敷衍迁就。从明天早晨,我要顺着御路先到蓟州走一道,实地考查一切布置是否合宜,省得临时大家担了不是。”三个道台同刘子平只得答应着说:“侯爷为国贤劳,职道们理应奉陪前往。”子平有个度支部郎中的衔,也自称部员,说:“侯爷到陵上去,部员也随着开一开眼界,并且沿路之上全有小店的连号,也好吩咐他们小心伺候。”国英听子平肯去,益发高兴。第二天自己只带了一个文案、一个长班、三个道员,刘子平也陪伴一同前往。 沿路之上,国英很是挑剔,不是御路修得不平,便是行宫打扫得不干净。洪、张、万三人,只有诺诺连声,哪里敢驳他一个字。及至到了蓟州,知州知道钦差来了,早预备好了行辕。此时三个道员全捏着一把汗,怕的是侯爷发脾气,大家对付不了,不定发生出什么麻烦来。张金铭在暗地里对那两个人说道:“这件事咱们得早打主意,这个小猴子虽然咬不动制台,要咬咱们三个人,可是一咬一准。别等他下口,先想法子将他的嘴堵住才好呢。”万有镒道:“大哥说的话很是,此时我们三人,不怕破费三万两万的,但求一个没事,比什么全强。”洪泽长道:“老弟这话慢着说,我们此时要拿出钱来运动他,他受了固然无的可说,倘然不受,硬翻脸说我们行贿,定然是办理陵差不实不尽。这个罪过,我们如何担当得起!你二位请想,我这话是不是呢?”张金铭道:“老前辈上几岁年纪,诚然虑得周到,但是晚生这运动方法,并不是直接向他说。我们这里现放着一个拉纤的,大可用着他了。”洪泽长点头笑道:“你说的是刘子平不是?”张金铭道:“不是他还有谁呢?子平同小侯爷,他们在北京原是花酒之交,无话不可说。莫若托他先试探一下子,如果有些口风,我们凑几个钱,但求息事宁人,也算不了什么。”洪、万二人全赞成他的话,立刻催他去寻子平。张金铭道:“这事也不是忙的,等夜间人静了,我慢慢去同子平商议。白天吃饭时侯,咱们大家轮流敬酒,将猴子灌醉了,他当然无力挑剔。容出工夫来,我好向子平通关节,这事便一点形迹也不露了。”二人说好好,就是这样,我们静候你的佳音。三个人仍然不动声色地敷衍李国英。国英在轿车上颠了大半天,本来身体疲乏了,再用京东的好烧酒一灌,当然支持不住,吃过饭他便到自己卧室休息去了。这里张金铭去寻刘子平谈话,子平笑道:“大公祖受了一天的累,还吃了侯爷不少的气,也该休息休息了,还有精神闲谈吗?”金铭道:“子翁说哪里话!我们做官的陪着上司出来,受累吃气,全是分所当然,很算不了一回事。倒是连累子翁,也陪着我们受辛苦,心中倒觉着老大不安。”子平道:“这也没有法子,谁叫治晚同侯爷有交情呢?有我在旁边,他就是发脾气,倒还有个人劝劝。要不然,你三位更摆脱不开了。”金铭道:“谁说不是呢!这位侯爷,不知是为什么这样不高兴。看神气,早晚我们三个人讨不出公道来。人家办陵差,升官发财;我们办陵差,赚一个身登白简,那才真倒霉呢!”子平听了这话,只是嘻嘻地笑,也不答言。金铭将座位挪一挪,凑至子平身旁,低声说道:“这件事非你刘子翁办不了。无论如何,请你看在我们三个人面上,在侯爷驾前,代为缓颊,就是多少花几个钱,我们三人一定承认,决不叫你子翁为难,这就是帮了我们的大忙了。”说罢又深深地请了一个安。子平还礼不迭,说:“大公祖何必闹这客气,治晚能为力的,当然为力。不过侯爷那种脾气,我也是没有把握,说好了固然是大家的福,倘然说不好,反倒给你三位招出麻烦来,那就更对不起了。”金铭道:“子翁过于小心。你同侯爷是至好的朋友,无论说什么,他决不能驳你的面子。请你千万不要推辞,用多少钱,小弟立时就可以照拨,决不迟延片刻。”子平沉吟了一会儿,说:“这样吧,你们拿出三万银子来,我替你们想一个移花接木、釜底抽薪的法子,决能保住你们的前程。你们可要守秘密,千万不要稍露形迹。就是瑞制军到了,你们也不要诉委屈。制军若问侯爷是否挑剔,你们只说侯爷对于各种布置俱都满意,并不曾有半分挑剔。制军听了你们的话,当然也就不再问了。你们当了这份好差事,一定可以循例升官。至于别人的事,却不要多嘴多舌。要是这样,我就可以替你们去说话,不然也只有敬谢不敏了。”金铭听子平答应了,真是喜出望外。区区三万金,在他们办陵差的人,看着很不算一回事。立刻从怀中取出大清银行的支簿来,当时便填了三万两,按好图章,扯下来双手奉与子平,深深请安道:“多承子翁成全。过事之后,我们三个人再另外酬谢。”子平接过来,揣在怀中,笑道:“彼此心照,你们三位自请安心办差。侯爷那一面,我已经有成算,决不至再为难了。天也不早,大公祖请休息去吧。”张金铭此时心中如一块石头落地,喜滋滋地别了子平,去见洪、万二人,诉说一切。作书的人,也不去管他。 如今单说刘子平,次日早晨,一个人踱至李侯爷屋中。国英早已起床,盥漱已毕,一个人坐在临窗的一个小茶几旁,一手擎着茶杯,在那里看陵差的家具账目。见子平进来,忙起身让座,笑道:“大哥起得这般早?来吧,同我吃早点心。我已经传下话去,叫厨房预备一盘门丁、一盘三鲜烧卖,两碗小米豇豆稀饭。你来得正是时候,有福不在忙,咱们一边吃着点心,一边闲谈。你要想什么吃,也自管叫他们要去。”子平道:“这就好极了,不必再要,门丁是我最爱吃的东西。”正说着,长班已经把点心送上来,二人对坐在茶几旁,慢慢吃着。子平故意用话挑逗,说侯爷清晨起来就查核账目,真要算为国贤劳了。国英冷笑道:“什么叫贤劳,不过拿这本烂账解闷好了。你是做生意的人,账目同物价是最明白的,请看看这账,一把夜壶都要报销三两五钱银子。糊墙的色纸,报销四千八百多两,开一座纸张铺,也用不了这大本钱啊!”子平笑道:“侯爷还有不圣明的?本来这陵差就是发财的勾当,谁能不赚几个?侯爷看在瑞制军面上,睁眼合眼,宽容一些,也就过去了。”国英听了这些话,不觉陡然变色,哼了一声道:“你不提瑞制军,诸事我还能包涵一点;你要提瑞制军,一个铜板我也不能放松!”子平见激上国英的火来,假装出一种惶恐的神气来,说道:“职员实在不知侯爷同制军有什么不睦,信口胡云,叫侯爷生气,实在有罪得很。”国英道:“这也不干你的事。可恨瑞方这老贼,他拿本爵当小孩看待,我一定得想法子叫他知道知道,我姓李的眼皮里不夹他那制军!”子平道:“本来老瑞近年有些倚老卖老。当年在北京做穷司官,一千八百,我也没少借给他。如今做了总督,我荐个把人去,他不但不委,反倒把人家黑起来。我有一次到天津,特意去看望他,他公然不见。后来派人给我送了一桌席去,不过是天津二荤馆四吊钱一桌的席,我原封没动,仍旧给他送回。从此以后,始终不曾理过他。侯爷请想,这种人可恨不可恨!”国英听子平这样说,不觉也触动了自己的牢骚,便将此次在天津同瑞方顶撞的话,一五一十对子平学说了一遍。子平道:“这就不怨了,侯爷是得报复他,决不能饶他这口气。凡有可以为力的,职员必然帮着你做。”国英道:“大哥肯帮忙,那好极了。你先替我查查这本账,凡有冒滥的,全替我剔出来,我一定递折子参他。”子平笑道:“职员有一句谏言,不知侯爷肯听不肯听?”国英道:“果然说得有理,我怎么不听?”子平道:“侯爷可得要从大处着手,要仅仅指着查账参他,我敢保动不了他一根汗毛。朝廷给侯爷面子,也不过将这办差的三个候补道办一办,哪里就能挨到制军身上?倘然朝廷连办差的也不问,那时侯爷你更要气坏了。侯爷请想,我这话是不是呢?”一语提醒了国英,不觉点头道:“有理有理。依着你怎么样呢?”子平道:“依着职员,咱们要大大抓他一个过错,一下子就要将他打倒。至于零星琐碎的事,侯爷倒得装聋装哑,满不闻问。这样一做,他以为侯爷好说话,事事也就不防备了。然后我们从旁监察,伺隙而动,不怕他逃出我们的手去。”国英道:“你的话诚然有理。但是我们空费一场心血,抓不住他一点把柄,也是枉然啊!”子平笑道:“把柄有的是,但看你会抓不会抓吧。”国英听这话中有话,忙又凑近了一步,低声问道:“大哥你莫非得着什么消息吗?”子平道:“消息倒是有一点,不过临时他敢做不敢做,可就说不定了。瑞方的为人你总是知道的,他生平专好书帖字画,尤其欢喜照相。北京琉璃厂,他有两个最得意的朋友,一个是蕴古斋古玩书帖铺的老板孙会卿,一个是和合照相馆的老板黄佐文。他终年委托这两个人,替他搜罗字画,拍照相片。但是他所照的相片,并不是照人,是专照各处风景。今年二月,那个姓黄的还专专跑了一趟昌平州,拍照十三陵,费了半个月的工夫,方才照完。我新近在北京仿佛听见,他又调黄佐文到天津,说是有要紧的照相。你想这时候陵差还忙不清,哪有闲心去照相?我心里猜度他,必是调那个姓黄的一同到东陵来,好拍照各陵的风景。这件事他不做便罢,如果做的时候,你厉厉害害地参上他一本,只怕他吃不了还得兜着走呢!比你那打草惊蛇、专在委员身上下工夫,不强得多吗?”一句话提醒了国英,立时眉飞色舞,倏地立起身来,挑着大拇指啧啧地赞道:“大哥你真是智多星!活该小弟出气报仇,只有这一件也就足够用的了。常言说射人射马,擒贼擒王。我既有的抓他,那三个小军,又何必提到话下呢!”子平道:“这不完了!到底是侯爷圣明。我劝你此时倒要少敛锋芒,别叫前途生了畏惧之心,临时不做,这倒是最要紧的关键。不然空惹一肚子气,到临时反叫人家有备无患,那才不值得呢。”国英果然听信子平的话,从此以后,对待洪、张、万三个道员,非常客气,不但从前的事一概不挑剔了,就是眼前有什么工程采买的事,到侯爷面前请示,他也是无可不可的,任凭三个人去做。张金铭心里说,到底是金钱有灵,没想到三万银子,居然买得这个猴子非常驯顺,看起来银子可真是好东西啊! 他心里正盘算,忽见由通州派来一个专差,拿着一封信,是瑞制军亲笔写的,派他送至通州刘家店,面交三位道台同拆。金铭忙会同洪、万两人,在密室中将信拆了,见上面写着几句话,是李侯国英到通,务须格外招待,勿攫其锋。彼如挑剔,亦须忍受,莫致愤事,并将目前情形,详细报告,是为至要云云。三人看了,彼此点头会意。金铭道,咱们合写一封信,就说侯爷来通后,职道等谨慎伺应,颇能得其欢心。目前关于陵差各事,无不可以通融。既奉帅谕,尤当格外尽心。如此云云,岂不两面俱好,也显得我们能事前体贴他的意思。洪、万二人俱都赞成。当时即由金铭写信作复,仍交来人持回。瑞方见着这信,不觉笑道:“我原料到他是小孩子脾气,禁不得顶撞,也受不得奉承,如今果被这三人哄欢喜了。到我见面时候,再米汤他两句,也就完了,还是办咱们的正事要紧。佐文,你一切照相器具全都齐备了吗?如果短什么,在天津购买倒还方便,别等临时闹一个措手不及。”原来此时瑞方正同孙会卿、黄佐文在署中闲谈,接到张金铭报告信,所以他心中欢喜,对二人讲这一套话。又问黄佐文照相的事,佐文答道:“大帅自管放心,家具已经预备齐了,就是缺少一两件,早晚同大帅到京,到照相馆去取,也很便当的,无须另买。”瑞方摇头道:“你说错了,咱们不能一同到京,我也不敢带个照相的去办陵差,这个声气是担不起的。你得要多辛苦,明后天就从天津坐船到通州去。到了通州,再秘密地奔蓟州,只在皇陵左近寻一个小客栈住下。俟等陵差到了,我买通上下,把你也扮作一个差役的模样,混进御路去,随着大家走,抽冷子便拍照一两张。千万要谨慎小心,别明目张胆的,叫王大臣看出破绽来,那可不得了呢。”佐文伸了伸舌头道:“要是这样,我可不敢去了,倘然碰到钉子上,吃饭的家伙岂不要迁居大吉?”瑞方道:“你这人真无用,方才我不是对你说了吗?上下俱都买通,纵然临时有人盘问你,就推在我的身上,保管没事。不过小心一点就是了,何必畏首畏尾呢。”说着取过纸笔来,开了一百块钱的支条交给佐文说:“你到账房领出款来,该添置什么,赶快的去买,明天乘船便到通州去吧,不要只管耽误工夫了。”佐文连声答应,接过条子,自去办理一切。 又过了两天,瑞方专车进京,在军机处报过到,紧跟着递折子请安。摄政王召见,询问陵差各事,瑞方回奏,俱都预备好了,只侯梓宫启驾,奴才好随着照应一切。摄政王很奖励了他几句,瑞方益发高兴。这一天吉日良辰,孝钦皇太后的梓宫从北京启銮。隆裕皇太后带着宣统少帝,护送梓宫,一同到东陵去。沿路上千乘万骑,好不威武。到了蓟州行宫,先将梓宫停置好了,预备第二天清晨便到普陀峪奉安。李国英接过驾,皇太后又特特召见他,一面问他陵宫的布置如何?国英便乘势要求道:“奴才(按前清旧例,汉人封爵者亦称奴才)奉老佛爷懿旨,考查了半个月,已经知其大概。但是这工程既大且精,仓促回奏,怕不能详细,可否求佛爷派奴才为扈驾大臣,以便随时承旨面奏?奴才大胆妄言,罪该万死!”说罢连连磕头。皇太后笑道:“这有什么使不得的?我就派你做扈驾大臣,可要随时伺候,不许脱懒。”国英忙叩头谢恩。心里说:“瑞方瑞方!你这可逃不出我的手去了。”国英下来,第二天一早,他便换上御前护卫的衣服,随驾到普陀峪,行奉安礼。因为他是皇太后亲口封的,所以不离左右。梓宫到了陵地,太后率领妃嫔公主首先上祭。才行过礼,立起身来,国英抢进一步,跪在太后面前奏道:“请老佛爷向旁观看,那是何人敢来御道照相?”皇太后向左右一看,果见有一个穿青衣戴缨帽的人,离自己有十几步远,在那里支着照相架子,弯着腰正在拍照。太后不看犹可,看了不觉勃然大怒,向国英道:“你们快把他抓住,立时处死!”国英立起身来,便扑过去。若问此人性命如何,且看下回分解。
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