HPDBC #190 - Want to take my spot?
#190 - Want to take my spot?
京师。
Imperial City.
A long line of Imperial Guards slowly entered the palace city, and a new shift began.
Liang Jin, clad in armor and holding a long spear, walked within the ranks of the Imperial Guards.
A commotion in the distance caught the attention of the Imperial Guards, who turned their heads to look.
It was coming from the direction of the Meridian Gate.
At that moment, groups of prisoners were being escorted to the execution ground and then beheaded.
Heads fell one by one, and blood splattered everywhere.
A shocking sight!
The Imperial Guards were not shocked by a few beheadings.
They were surprised for another reason.
Although ministers were often dragged out to the Meridian Gate for execution, like recently when a group of ministers were flogged outside the Meridian Gate, many were beaten to death or crippled.
However, since the founding of the Great Qian Dynasty, no one had ever been beheaded at the Meridian Gate!
The current emperor was setting a precedent.
And not everyone was qualified to be beheaded outside the Meridian Gate.
The prisoners beheaded at the Meridian Gate were usually involved in serious political crimes or treason, in short, high-ranking court officials.
Liang Jin frowned secretly.
It seemed that the court was becoming more and more unstable.
Especially since the thirtieth day of the Lunar New Year was only two days away.
Was the emperor executing them before the New Year because he didn't want to kill people during the holidays?
As for what crimes these officials had committed, that was not something ordinary soldiers should consider.
Liang Jin silently followed the main force into the palace, and then arrived at their respective posts.
Squad Leader Wang Quan began the assignment:
"The task from above has been assigned, we will still guard the old place, the Nanxun Hall!"
"Li Er and Wang Mao, you two guard the hall door."
"Lao Zhang and Xiao Zhao, you two guard the back door."
"Liang Jin, you still guard the intersection next to the corner tower."
It couldn't be said that he learned it perfectly, but it was basically exactly the same!
However, following the old rules, everyone didn't need an adaptation period.
This made Wang Quan relaxed, and his subordinates were also satisfied.
Just then.
Suddenly someone spoke:
"Squad Leader Wang, I want to change positions."
The speaker was actually Xue Feng.
Hearing that it was Xue Feng who spoke, Wang Quan immediately asked with concern:
"Xue Feng, where do you want to go? Just tell me."
Recently, Xue Feng had not only replaced the new beds, bedding, and clothes for everyone, but also took everyone to eat, drink, and have fun in the capital during rest.
He showed his strong financial resources, going to high-end places, and everything he ate, drank, used, and traveled was luxurious and expensive.
So Wang Quan would naturally fulfill his request.
Xue Feng turned his gaze and looked at Liang Jin:
"I want to go to Liang Jin's post."
Everyone was surprised to hear this.
Everyone knew that Liang Jin's position was the worst, with no benefits except for being quiet.
This young master actually wanted to run to Liang Jin's position?
But soon, everyone revealed a look of understanding.
Xue Feng's family background must be extraordinary, and he would definitely be transferred to a higher position in a few days.
And this kind of young master must not like to be with a group of rough soldiers, and from the first day he came, he had never concealed his disgust and rejection of the soldiers' rough habits.
So he also wanted to be a little quieter before being promoted and transferred.
Now, Wang Quan was a little embarrassed, he looked at Liang Jin and asked:
"Brother Liang, what do you think…"
After all, Liang Jin gave him the position of squad leader.
And Liang Jin now had Wu Huan covering him, so Wang Quan couldn't forcefully ask Liang Jin to transfer.
Liang Jin frowned slightly.
What was this Xue Feng doing?
Liang Jin's position was a treasure for him, and he really didn't want to give it up.
Just when Liang Jin was about to object.
Xue Feng had already spoken first:
"Squad Leader Wang doesn't need to be embarrassed, I can stand guard with Liang Jin."
Logically speaking, each post must have at least two people.
Liang Jin's position was remote and no one wanted to go, and the Imperial Guards were temporarily short of manpower after a series of turmoil, so Liang Jin was able to stand guard alone.
So Xue Feng's request was not a problem.
Wang Quan immediately agreed when he heard this:
"Okay, then Xue Feng, you go and stand guard with Liang Jin."
Of course, Liang Jin didn't want anyone to stand guard with him.
But this Xue Feng, as a noble young master, probably wouldn't stay at the grassroots level for a few days.
So Liang Jin didn't say anything more.
After the posts were assigned, everyone began to go to their respective posts to change shifts.
Liang Jin and Xue Feng guarded the intersection, both holding long spears, standing on both sides of the road.
Xue Feng didn't like to talk to rough soldiers.
Liang Jin didn't want to bother with Xue Feng either.
So the two of them stood guard all the time without communicating with each other.
A sound of footsteps came.
Someone was coming.
It was actually Zhao Bao.
Liang Jin hadn't seen Zhao Bao for a long time, and he didn't expect Zhao Bao to come today.
Zhao Bao walked over excitedly, but saw that there was a Xue Feng here besides Liang Jin.
This made Zhao Bao slightly stunned, and his footsteps quickly slowed down.
Liang Jin turned his head and glanced at Xue Feng.
Xue Feng looked at Liang Jin, then at Zhao Bao, and seemed to understand something.
He said:
"Don't worry, I didn't see anything."
Liang Jin nodded slightly to Xue Feng.
This Xue Feng was quite sensible.
Then Liang Jin took a few steps forward, pulled Zhao Bao to a remote place, avoided Xue Feng, and then asked:
"Brother Jin, why is someone standing guard here with you?"
"Looking at that guy's delicate skin and tender flesh, he doesn't look like someone who lacks money to buy a good position."
Liang Jin replied:
"He's probably here to gain experience at the grassroots level, don't pay attention to him."
Zhao Bao nodded.
Then he said excitedly:
"Brother Jin, you guys will be on vacation tomorrow, right?"
"I'll take you out of the palace to have a meal in the city, we've known each other for so many years and haven't had a good drink yet."
Liang Jin was slightly surprised to hear this.
Most eunuchs don't have the opportunity to leave the palace on weekdays.
Only a small number of eunuchs can leave when they are ordered to do errands.
Liang Jin seemed to understand:
"Zhao Bao, has the Consort Han favored you?"
Zhao Bao was serving the Consort, and if he wanted to leave the palace, it would be unless the Consort sent him to do errands.
And those who can be sent out of the palace by the Consort Han must be deeply trusted by the Consort Han.
Zhao Bao said triumphantly:
"Of course!"
"Now, not to mention leaving the palace, I can even leave the capital!"
Liang Jin was completely surprised this time.
Although there were few eunuchs who could leave the palace, there were still some things that various departments needed to handle outside the palace.
But even among the eunuchs who could leave the palace, most of them were not qualified to leave the capital.
Eunuchs who could leave the capital were extremely rare.
They were basically doing things for the emperor.
Zhao Bao served the Consort, and logically speaking, he didn't have the qualification to leave the capital.
However, the Consort Han was deeply loved by the emperor, so all her privileges were unmatched by other Consorts.
It seemed that Zhao Bao had probably become the confidant of the Consort Han.
"Okay, tomorrow we brothers will go and have a good drink!"
Liang Jin also readily agreed.
He was naturally happy for him that Zhao Bao was doing well.
Just as he was talking, someone else came.
It was actually Su Lian.
Su Lian walked over somewhat absentmindedly, and was surprised when she saw Liang Jin and Zhao Bao:
"Brother Bao, you're here too."
"The time when the three of us can gather together is getting less and less."
"I miss the old days so much…"
As Su Lian spoke, her eyes began to turn red.
Zhao Bao thought that Su Lian was nostalgic, and hurriedly comforted her softly.
Liang Jin had a bad feeling in his heart.
He immediately pulled Su Lian and Zhao Bao further away, made sure that their words would not be heard, and then asked:
"Su Lian, are they still bullying you?"
"Didn't the wooden puppet change their attitude towards you?"
Zhao Bao was confused when he heard this.
And Su Lian told her story.
It turned out.
Since the wooden puppet incident, the Consort Zhang had indeed become kinder to Su Lian, and didn't let other palace maids and eunuchs bully Su Lian anymore.
Su Lian had a good time because of this.
Unfortunately, the good times didn't last long, and the Consort Zhang was suddenly involved in a case.
The abbot of Dafosi Temple encroached on the people's fields and was reported to the Censorate.
But as a result of the investigation, it was somehow traced to the Consort Zhang.
It turned out that during that time, the Consort Zhang had close contact with the abbot of Dafosi Temple.
Even the abbot of Dafosi Temple confessed under torture that the Consort Zhang had bribed him to make lucky bags and confuse the time of making lucky bags.
Although the Consort Zhang was not implicated in the case of encroaching on the people's fields, she was still reprimanded by the Empress.
This made the Consort Zhang feel very bad.
With her personality, as long as she didn't have a good time, she wouldn't let all the servants have a good time.
This led to the servants who served the Consort Zhang often being subjected to difficulties and beatings during this time, and everyone lived in fear, fearing that they would provoke the Consort Zhang to be furious because of a small matter.
Su Lian had also suffered a lot of difficulties and accusations these days.
Taking advantage of the Consort Zhang ordering her to send dirty clothes to the Laundry Bureau today, she had the opportunity to run to Liang Jin to confide.
"Brother Jin, Brother Bao, the days of serving the master are not good at all."
"If I had known, I should have stayed in the Laundry Bureau and not left, at least it wouldn't be as difficult as it is now."
As Su Lian spoke, tears fell down in large drops.
She had changed a lot since she served the Consort.
No longer as innocent and lively as before, talking a lot.
Now Su Lian spoke less and less, and no longer dared to easily express her joys, sorrows, and sorrows, she only felt that she was about to become a wooden person.
Only when facing Liang Jin and Zhao Bao could she cry out happily.
Zhao Bao was shocked:
"Xiao Lian, you are actually… serving the Consort Zhang?!"
He was shocked, and his expression was full of complexity.
After that, Zhao Bao hesitated several times, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
Zhao Bao served the Consort Han.
And the Consort Zhang that Su Lian served was the thorn in the Consort Han's eye.
The two Consorts had been fighting openly and secretly for a long time, and the forces behind them were also incompatible.
As for the case of the abbot of Dafosi Temple, it was Zhao Bao who handled it alone, and it was precisely because of this case that he became the confidant of the Consort Han.
Zhao Bao never thought that his actions would harm Su Lian.
If he had known this, he would not have assisted in this case no matter what.
This made Zhao Bao not know how to say this thing for a while.