met free Chapter 531 1 This world must be too crazy!
Chapter 531 1 This world must be too crazy!
No matter how glamorous they appear on the surface, the so-called Confucian households cannot hide their greedy nature as landlords and wealthy men.
The saying "Even if you poop out a bean, you have to rinse it before eating it" is a joke, but it also illustrates how greedy and stingy these landlords and rich people really were.
Hu Yuanwai's ancestors were just convicted officials who were killed for their crimes. They were not a prominent family that had been passed down through generations. So why would his family hire some day laborers to help with the work every year?
Of course, if it were during the Hu Yuan period, it would be understandable to hire people to do the work every year. After all, during the Hu Yuan period, the officials even contracted out the tax collection. Who would care how many landlords the landlords had annexed?
Since no one is in charge, the family has a lot of land, and they can't manage to cultivate it all by themselves, so it's normal to hire people to help.
The problem is that with the implementation of the progressive tax system, a considerable number of landlords and wealthy people have begun to give up their land.
After all, the more land a country owns, the more taxes it has to pay.
Could this wealthy man, Hu, be an exception?
If not, then he hired day laborers to help with farming in order to accumulate merit and do good deeds.
Furthermore, normally, landlords would only hire day laborers during the busy farming season. Before the Ming Dynasty fully implemented land distribution, some landless people would even go out to find day laborers during the busy farming season, which gave rise to the profession of "wheat harvester".
The problem is that Chen Da started working as a day laborer at Hu Yuanwai's house at the beginning of September—by then, the busy farming season was already over. What kind of work was he doing at Hu Yuanwai's house? Was he clearing land?
Yang Shaofeng chuckled, then turned his gaze to Huo Lingyue, the prefect of Laizhou who had just arrived.
As soon as Huo Lingyue entered the main hall of Yexian County Government Office, he was startled by the bizarre scene before him.
Yang the Madman, notorious in officialdom, sat behind the main seat in the county government office, while the reigning emperor sat in the assistant chair below the desk.
Huo Lingyue had no time to think and hurriedly bowed to Emperor Zhu, saying, "Your subject, Huo Lingyue, the prefect of Laizhou, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be in good health."
Emperor Zhu nodded with a forced smile and replied, "I am well."
Huo Lingyue then bowed to Yang Shaofeng, saying, "This humble official, Huo Lingyue, Prefect of Laizhou, pays respects to the Imperial Son-in-Law."
Yang Shaofeng nodded with a forced smile and replied, "Greetings, Prefect Huo."
After returning the greeting, Yang Shaofeng pointed to the chair opposite Emperor Zhu and said, "Prefect Huo, please sit down."
Huo Lingyue was startled again and quickly waved his hand, saying, "How can a subject sit before His Majesty? I will stand, I will stand."
Eh?
Is this dog so ignorant of etiquette that it doesn't know the proper manners of the Yin-Yang Master?
Just as Yang Shaofeng was pondering this, Emperor Zhu frowned slightly and said in a deep voice, "Since you are unwilling to do it, then stand up and answer."
What dares to sow discord right in front of us?
Huo Lingyue was startled. He chuckled awkwardly and stood obediently to the side. He then cupped his hands to Yang Shaofeng and asked, "May I ask, Your Highness, why do you have someone summon me?"
Yang Shaofeng chuckled and said, "Actually, it's nothing much. I just wanted to ask Prefect Huo if he has any relation to Hu Dechang from Yexian. If so, what kind of relation is it?"
Huo Lingyue was startled again and replied, "Your Highness, I have taken Hu Dechang's daughter as a concubine. If we're talking about marriage, we are indeed somewhat related."
These are all things that are out in the open; you can easily find out by sending someone to inquire. There's no point in hiding them.
But what about that old geezer Hu Dechang? Could it be that he provoked Yang the Madman?
Huo Lingyue glanced at Emperor Zhu discreetly, then cautiously glanced at Yang Shaofeng.
Fortunately, fortunately, she only took Hu Dechang's daughter as a concubine.
Strictly speaking, taking a concubine is similar to buying a commodity.
If you really want to talk about being related by marriage, you might be a little bit related, but that's all it is, and it's not the same as getting married at all.
If it really was that old bastard Hu Dechang who provoked Yang Dianfeng, then I'd better find a way to clear myself of any responsibility.
Just as Huo Lingyue was lost in thought, Yang Shaofeng said "Oh," and continued to ask, "I wonder how much Prefect Huo interacts with that Hu Dechang? How much do you know about him?"
Huo Lingyue shook his head slightly and replied, "I only took his daughter as a concubine. I don't have any contact with him usually, let alone know him or not."
Yang Shaofeng nodded and said with a smile, "Then I'll trouble Prefect Huo to wait a little longer. I've already sent someone to invite Hu Dechang over for questioning."
As Yang Shaofeng finished speaking, Huo Lingyue was completely stunned.
No.
You, a dignified prince consort, the prefect of Dengzhou Prefecture, the magistrate of Ningyang County under the direct jurisdiction of the Central Secretariat, and the vice minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, how dare you go against a country bumpkin?
Furthermore, it's one thing for Yang Dianfeng to act erratically, but you, a respectable person, also go along with his madness.
If I'm not still half asleep, then this world must be insane!
Just as Huo Lingyue was secretly complaining, the guards from the Imperial Son-in-Law's Mansion who had been sent to Hu Yuanwai's house returned to the county government. Hu Yuanwai was brought back along with several of his stewards, servants, and even neighbors.
The guards of the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence bowed directly to Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng and said, "Your Majesty, Imperial Son-in-Law, Chen Da did indeed go to the Hu family to do odd jobs. On the morning of the seventh day of the tenth month of the fourth year of Hongwu, a neighbor of the Hu family saw Chen Da enter the Hu family's gate."
"On the eighth day of the tenth month, someone saw Wang go to the Hu family to look for someone, but she was beaten out by the Hu family with sticks."
"We have brought back Hu Dechang, his steward, servants, guards, and neighbors. Please, Your Highness, decide their fate."
As the words of the guards from the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence fell, a look of envy immediately appeared on Emperor Zhu's face.
Are these still those bloodthirsty bastards who only know how to fight and kill?
They're all so incredibly shrewd!
If we had known they were so capable, we would have put them in the inspection department, and it would have saved us so much trouble!
Xia Yu is such a good-for-nothing!
Just as Emperor Zhu was pondering how to get rid of some of the Imperial Son-in-Law's personal guards from Yang Shaofeng, Yang Shaofeng was already smiling and looking at Master Hu.
"Because her son Chen Da went to work at your house and then disappeared without a trace, Wang filed a complaint with the yamen."
"Hu Dechang, what do you have to say?"
Say?
Hu Dechang was speechless at that moment.
When Hu Dechang first entered the hall, he had already heard the guards of the Imperial Son-in-Law's residence address Emperor Zhu and Yang Shaofeng.
His Majesty.
Prince Consort.
Just those two titles were enough to terrify Hu Dechang so much that he collapsed to the ground, his clothes soaked through.
Hu Dechang's head felt like it had been hammered; he didn't even hear Yang Shaofeng's question clearly.
Yang Shaofeng didn't take it seriously, but then turned his gaze to Hu Dechang's butler: "Do you know anything about Chen Da's matter?"