Nightwatcher

Wang Shoufu bowed his hands to all the officials, followed the old eunuch into the palace, and walked all the way to the side hall of the imperial study.

The old eunuch ordered the eunuch to serve tea, and said respectfully: "Lord Chief Assistant, wait a moment."

After that, he left.

Wang Shoufu sat on the chair alone, waiting for half an hour.

He was not in a hurry, and waited silently, with scarlet robes, tall hats, and gray temples.

His expression was calm, with no signs of happiness or anger, but the occasional trance in his eyes made people realize that the old man's emotions were not as good as he seemed.

Finally, footsteps came.

Wang Shoufu's cloudy eyes lit up slightly, and he looked towards the door.

The old eunuch in a python robe came in alone with his fly whisk in his arms, and said regretfully, "Lord Chief Assistant, Your Majesty is very sad and out of place, so I won't see you."

The light in Wang Shoufu's eyes gradually dimmed.

The old eunuch sighed: "Your Majesty, he needs time to calm down. As you know, Duke Huai is his younger brother. His Majesty has had a deep relationship with Duke Huai since he was a child. Now he left unexpectedly."

Wang Shoufu nodded dumbly, cupped his hands, and left the side hall of the imperial study.

When walking down the steps, Wang Shoufu couldn't hold back, he came back to his senses, and bowed deeply towards the imperial study.

Then strode away without looking back.

Watching Wang Shoufu leave, the old eunuch let out a sigh of relief, he was a little afraid of Wang Zhenwen's eyes, which were full of disappointment.

He passed through the imperial study, entered the bedroom, bowed and said: "Your Majesty, Lord Shoufu has returned."

Emperor Yuan Jing said "hmm", without opening his eyes, closed his eyes to rest his mind, and asked: "Who are the people who gathered at the gate of the palace?"

The old eunuch said solemnly: "Everyone who should come has come."

Emperor Yuan Jing snorted coldly: "I knew that these dogs usually bite each other, and half of them are just playing. Hateful, hateful, they should be killed!"

After being angry for a while, he regained his composure and asked, "Has Yuan Xiong, the censor of Zuodu, come?"

The old eunuch thought for a while, then shook his head: "I don't seem to see it."

Emperor Yuan Jing closed his eyes again, and after a long silence, when the old eunuch thought the matter was over like this, he suddenly heard Emperor Yuan Jing say:

"Write down those who did not come today, and the same in the next few days."

"yes!"

At dusk, in the afterglow of golden red.

Xu Qi'an led the filly, and Xu New Year led his mount, walking slowly on the street.

Accompanying him were Zheng Xinghuai, the chief envoy, and Shentu Baili, a fifth-rank warrior.

"Master Zheng, do you live in the station?" Xu Qi'an's tone contained worry.

With Zheng Xinghuai's official position, he must live in a post station in the inner city, where the security conditions are very good, and there are Shentu Baili and other personal guards.

However, their current enemy is Emperor Yuan Jing, and there are some things that they have to guard against. Wufu with five grades of strength is really not enough to see in the capital.

"Brother, don't worry, the incident of King Zhenbei's massacre of the city has not only pushed His Majesty to the forefront, but also Mr. Zheng. Even His Majesty will not do unwise actions at this time, which will cause public anger. You need to know the general trend , can't be resisted."

Xu New Year said.

Zheng Buzheng looked at him in surprise, and there was a trace of approval on his bitter and bitter face, and said:

"Xu Yinluo, this cousin of yours has a bright eye, and what he said is very true. This attitude of not being shocked by honor or disgrace will surely have a bright future in the future."

Xu New Year smiled lightly.

No, he was just used to arrogance and pretentiousness. In fact, his inner endurance was average, and he often died in society.

Zheng Buzheng didn't know Xu Baipro's inner drama, and said rather reminiscently: "He reminds me of Wei Gong when he was young."

No, Lord Zheng, does Mr. Wei agree with what you said? Xu Qi'an twitched the corners of his mouth in a far-fetched arc, but finally remained silent.

Some things happen as soon as they happen, and if they are not dealt with for a day, they will be like a stick in the throat.

"You don't have to worry," Zheng Buzheng said, "You understand that a group of beaters came in from the station."

Duke Wei is already on guard. With him taking care of Mr. Zheng's safety, then I won't be worried. Xu Qi'an felt relieved.

"Farewell!"

Zheng Buzheng bowed his hands and took Shentu Baili away.

Xu Qi'an silently watched, Zheng Xinghuai's back was a little hunched in just ten days from Chuzhou to the capital, as if something was pressing on his shoulders, making him unable to straighten his back.

"Oh," he sighed inwardly, touched the curve of the filly's back, turned over and got on her hips.

Amid the sound of the horses "da da da", the two brothers walked slowly towards home.

"Master Zheng is a poor man. He was a Jinshi in the 19th year of Yuanjing. I heard from Liu Yushi that his father died early, and his widowed mother worked hard to raise him. It was hard for him to be sent to the Imperial College. His hard work exhausted his body, and he passed away before his son returned home in fine clothes."

While the little mare was walking slowly, Xu Qi'an said: "Then because of rigid compliance and ignorance of flexibility, he offended the former chief assistant and was sent to Chuzhou.

"He has been operating in Chuzhou for eighteen years, and he has stayed there for most of his life. As a result, he turned into dust overnight."

Xu Xinian was silent for a long time, suffocating in his heart, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

He exhausted his depression and said with emotion: "Eighteen years of wind and rain, half a lifetime of great achievements, talk and listen to the bones."

"Don't talk about that." As if to get rid of that gloomy mood, Xu Qi'an raised an unscrupulous smile:

"Farewell to the old days, how far have you got with Miss Wang's family? Have you taught me everything?"

Xu Niannian blushed and said in displeasure, "How vulgar is that word, I admit that I have a crush on Ms. Wang, she is knowledgeable, knowledgeable, elegant in conversation, and can talk about the past and the present with me.

"Except for Princess Huaiqing, I've never seen such a talented woman. It's strange to be attracted to her."

Brother, our brothers have the same taste, I also like talented women like Huaiqing, oh, besides that, I also like little idiots like Lin'an, snacks like Caiwei, heroines like Li Miaozhen, And a poor little guy like Zhong Li

"Actually, I've been hesitant." Xu Nian said helplessly, "Wang Zhenwen is Wei Yuan's political enemy, so he may not marry Miss Simu to me. And I haven't decided to marry her yet."

Xu Qi'an stopped talking glibly, and said in a deep thought: "We have discussed this issue more than once. There must be a separation between you and me.

"You take your sunny path, and I'll take my single-plank bridge. Heh, isn't Wei Gong just a single-plank bridge? I know your concerns. I'm afraid that Wang Zhenwen will force me to fight against me, right? About this point, elder brother wants to tell You have a way."

Xu Nian humbly asked for advice: "Brother, please tell me."

Xu Qi'an said hesitantly: "Embrace your wife and respect yourself."

"Brother, what do you mean by this?"

"When you marry someone else's daughter, it is equivalent to having a hostage. Unless Wang Zhenwen doesn't care about this prostitute, otherwise, no matter how bad your relationship is, he will not be really heartless. If you grasp this speed, you will be invincible Besides, you don't need to be completely attached to the Wang family, you just let the Xu family have more ways."

"That makes sense." Xu New Year nodded slowly.

Seeing that he seemed to have realized something, Xu Qi'an smiled, looked ahead, thinking about his outer room kept outside.

I haven't seen her for a long time, but I actually have the charm of raising her to be the number one beauty. It seems a little strange, not as attractive as Luo Yuheng, but secretly subtle?

Really want to know where she came from.

Well, let's put the outer room at the confidante's place first, and then go see her after the matter of King Zhenbei is settled. Until then, caution is required.

Zhong Li didn't pick her up for now, and stayed in Sitianjian. I must go out frequently these days, and it's inconvenient to take her with me.

Lin'an and Huaiqing are also missing, I will definitely not be able to enter the palace during this period, and this matter is related to the royal family, so I will be involved, and I don't want to see them.

While thinking about it, I suddenly heard Xu Erlang confused: "Brother, what do you mean by teaching me everything?"

At first he thought it was the uneducated and vulgar elder brother who made a wrong wording, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt something was wrong, so he couldn't help asking.

Xu Qi'an thought for a while, and replied: "Whether a man loves a woman or not depends on whether he is willing to give her all."

There is such a saying? Xu Cijiu said: "Does the woman love a man? How can I tell?"

After the eldest brother broke through to the Qi training state, he has a lot of luck and can always hook up with stunning beauties. In the field of love and romance, Xu Cijiu is still very convinced by his eldest brother.

You want to ask, does Wang Simu really like you? Xu Qi'an thought for a long time, and said: "It depends on whether the woman is willing to repay her with the spring."

Xu Cijiu didn't understand what the hell the elder brother was talking about, and he was studying it all the way.

"cauldron"

Entering the mansion and coming to the inner hall, it happened to be dinner.

As soon as Xu Lingyin saw her long-lost elder brother come back, she didn't even eat any food, walked up to her in surprise on her short legs, and then slammed into Xu Qi'an's arms.

Xu Qi'an swayed, a little surprised.

I haven't seen you for a month and a half. Has Xiaodouding's strength increased to this level?

"Have you made your mother angry recently?" Xu Qi'an walked towards the inner hall with Xiao Douding in his arms.

"Huh? Do I often make girls angry?" Xu Lingyin asked back in surprise.

She was such an obedient child, but her mother said that she didn't know what happened in her life, so she gave birth to Xu Lingyin.

It can be seen that I am different from my eldest brother, second brother and sister.

Xu Lingyin still hasn't distinguished the difference between her cousin and her own brother, and always thinks that her elder brother was also born by a mother.

Xu Qi'an touched her head, but did not speak.

It seems that the cultivation methods of the Power Gu Department can only increase strength, but cannot improve IQ, otherwise Lina would not be what she is now.

Thinking of this, he looked at the curly hair at the end, eyes like the blue sea, wheat-colored skin, and the little black skin in Nanjiang with exquisite features.

"I feel that you have changed." Little Heipi examined him.

"What's different." Xu Qi'an asked back.

Lina thought for a while, then shook her head. She couldn't say anything, but felt that the coordination of his limbs and the way his muscles exerted force had improved when he walked.

"Brother, you are back."

The happiest one was of course Xu Lingyue, with a beautiful and refined melon-seeded face with a smile on her face, she personally served Xu Qi'an a meal with chopsticks.

Xu Cijiu waited for a while, and saw that his sister didn't care about him at all, so he made a living by himself.

"Just come back."

Second Uncle Xu had been examining his nephew, and seeing that he was safe and sound, he became more energetic, and a smile appeared on his rough face.

"Um!"

The arrogant aunt nodded in agreement, and then said: "Lingyin, come down quickly, don't delay your elder brother's meal."

My aunt is wearing a plain double-breasted dress today, embroidered with plump begonia flowers, which is as beautiful and plump as she is, outlining her full breasts and slender waist.

The lower body is a goose yellow skirt, which makes her more elegant and intellectual.

After dinner, Xu Qi'an was invited into Xu Erlang's study.

Unknowingly, the two of them discussed important matters and began to avoid Second Uncle Xu, unlike the three men who discussed with Zhou Xianping, the servant of the household department.

The two brothers thought it was good. The second uncle was not good at intrigue. The more he knew, the easier it was to be distressed.

Because as an elder, he is thinking about how to solve the problem, instead of waiting for his nephew and son to solve the problem.

It is the instinct of every elder to protect the children from the wind and rain, but Second Uncle Xu is not good at these, so it will only increase troubles.

East Wing.

Second Uncle Xu sat at the table, took a sip of tea, and sighed, "You two bastards don't like me anymore."

The aunt, who was wearing a thin white dress, sat cross-legged on the bed, playing with her jade bracelet, and asked, "What do you say?"

Her legs are well-proportioned and slender, overlapping each other, quite beautiful and delicious.

"Oh, something big happened in Chuzhou. Today, hundreds of officials are making trouble in the imperial city, and rumors are spreading." Second Uncle Xu frowned.

"What's the matter?" Auntie asked curiously.

"Women, why do you care so much?" Second Uncle Xu gave her a look

Just like the two brothers didn't want Second Uncle Xu to worry too much, Second Uncle Xu also didn't want his wife to worry in vain. For a woman like her who thought she was in her prime, it was enough for her to be peaceful and happy.

"Brother, you haven't told me the details of Chuzhou City."

In the study room, Xu Erlang was sitting at the coffee table holding a cup of strong tea.

Xu Qi'an stood by the window, looking at the dark and silent courtyard, and said slowly: "The Chuzhou case is far more complicated than you think."

He calmly narrated, telling Xu Cijiu little by little about his experience of going north, including empathizing with Zheng Buzheng, and seeing the scene of the massacre in Chuzhou City.

His tone was so calm, so calm that he didn't dare to have the slightest ups and downs.

Great sorrow without tears.

"It turns out that he was also involved."

Xu New Year said in a daze. In his heart, the few feelings of loyalty to the emperor collapsed, leaving nothing left.

"The purpose of the mission's return to Beijing this time is to expose King Zhenbei's crimes to the world. Heh, Mr. Zheng does not allow such a beast as King Zhenbei to be buried as a prince, so as to protect the country's gods and generals." The name will be passed down to future generations." Xu Qi'an sneered.

Scholars pay the most attention to posthumous fame. If King Zhenbei cannot be convicted, from Zheng Xinghuai's point of view, this is an unsuccessful revenge, and it does not count as justice for the people of Chuzhou City.

"Cijiu thinks, how should this "war" be fought?" Xu Qi'an asked the school.

"You are already doing it." Xu Nian said: "Threatening Emperor Yuan Jing with a huge momentum, even the emperor can't stop the turbulent momentum. Didn't he agree to see Wang Shoufu? Let's see what happens tomorrow."

"It's a pity that I can't help much with the matter of the court. It doesn't feel good to pin your hopes on others." Xu Qi'an sighed.

"Brother, you have done enough"

Xu Nian was about to say a few words of relief when he suddenly frowned and paused for a long time before his expression slowly became serious: "Brother, something seems wrong."

Xu Qi'an turned around and looked at him.

Xu Nian whispered: "According to what you said, if Emperor Yuan Jing and King Huai conspired in this case, then the mission's plan to catch him by surprise would have failed from the very beginning.

"Don't forget, Que Yongxiu absconded, and Zhenbei King's spies also fled. Will these people pass the news of Zhenbei King's fall back to Beijing? Maybe he had already got the news in advance when you were full of ambition.

"Then, Emperor Yuan Jing has definitely figured out how to deal with it. Don't doubt, our Majesty has been playing tricks for so many years. If he wants to be serious, I'm afraid Duke Wei and Wang Shoufu are no match for him."

"You reminded me, it's true." Xu Qi'an turned back, facing the dark courtyard, and did not speak again.

Xu Qi'an knew that the court was not his home field. First of all, political struggle is not about solving crimes, let alone relying on a clever mind to fight in the imperial examination. Who is not a smart person.

But there are so many ups and downs every year.

Xu Qi'an would not be arrogant enough to think that he could fight Emperor Yuan Jing for 300 rounds in court.

Secondly, his official position was low after all, and he didn't even have the chance to go to court, which meant that he was not qualified to go to the "front line".

"So this time, the position of the main force will be handed over to Wei Gong, Zheng Buzheng, and those princes who are fame and fortune, or have justice in their hearts. However, I can still contribute outside the situation."

Star Observation Building, Eight Diagrams Platform.

The supervisor, dressed in white clothes like snow, with white hair and white beard, stood on the edge of the gossip platform, with his hands behind his back, overlooking the entire capital.

The night wind blew the corners of his clothes and stroked his white beard, like an exiled immortal.

"I heard that King Zhenbei died in the northern border."

A deep voice sounded, the tone was low and flat, like a conversation between old friends, giving people a feeling of inscrutability.

Behind the prison, a figure in white clothes appeared.

Da Feng forced the king, Yang Qianhuan.

The master and apprentice stood back to back, both standing with their hands behind their backs, both dressed in white as snow. Not to mention, it's really hard to tell the difference for a while.

The supervisor gave a "hmm" and said with a smile: "Some people wake up laughing when they sleep."

Was the teacher referring to Wei Yuan, or who? Yang Qianhuan murmured in his heart, his tone was still dull like that of an outsider, and imitated the supervisor and let out a "huh".

The supervisor has long been used to this disciple's temper, so he doesn't care about it, as long as Yang Qianhuan doesn't say in front of him, "When the sea ends, the sky is the shore, and the magician is the best, I am the peak", the supervisor will not bother to argue with him.

Yang Qianhuan continued: "The one who killed the King of Zhenbei was a mysterious expert. He fought against the five masters alone on the ruins of Chuzhou City, beheaded the King of Zhenbei in full view, and avenged the people. Kill auspicious Zhigu.

"It's so exciting, I can't wait to replace it. However, thinking that Xu Ningyan is also not in the limelight, I feel much better. Hehe, this kid keeps taking my chances, very hateful. I must have watched that mysterious master in Chuzhou. He must be very envious."

After finishing speaking, relying on the intuition of a fourth-grade warlock, Yang Qianhuan noticed that Teacher Jianzheng turned his head for the first time and glanced at himself.

Is Teacher Jianzheng finally ashamed of the wrong things he did before? Yang Qianhuan felt relieved.

Jianzheng's eyes were full of pity.

The next day, all the ministers gathered at the gate of the palace again to strike and make trouble. They feel like they've been played.

After so much fuss yesterday, I thought His Majesty would compromise and invite Lord Chief Assistant to discuss matters. Unexpectedly, Wang Shoufu's reply was: His Majesty did not see me.

Ridiculous, thinking that if you avoid seeing it, you can treat it as if it didn't happen?

As the incident unfolded, the Zhenbei Wang massacre case was no longer limited to the officialdom. In the marketplace, all the three sects and nine streams heard about this, and they were shocked.

Taverns, teahouses, brothels, these places are known as news distribution centers, people come to listen and talk all day long.

"The king of Zhenbei is inhumane, with 380,000 lives, and a whole city, how did he get down to it?" Someone slapped the table and cursed angrily.

Now in the marketplace, insulting King Zhenbei is already politically correct, so there is no need to be afraid of being questioned, because the entire officialdom is scolding. Anyone who doesn't scold King Zhenbei is a mad beast.

If you scold the King of Zhenbei, you are a scholar who has read sage books and a partner of justice.

"Do you know that Xu Yinluo is the one who went to the northern border to investigate the case this time? He deserves to be him. Without him, King Zhenbei's crimes have not been revealed until now."

"There is no case in this world that Xu Yinluo can't investigate. With Xu Yinluo, I feel that the court is still a good court, because there is no possibility for criminals to get away with it."

"But I heard that there is nothing Xu Yinluo can do about this court matter."

"It doesn't matter, civil and military officials will naturally succeed Xu Yinluo. Have you heard that Xu Yinluo's cousin, the Chunwei Huiyuan, scolded at the gate of the palace for two full hours yesterday until dusk. Today Went again."

"It's really amazing."

In the bedroom.

The old eunuch stepped across the threshold with a splitting headache, and his old face turned pale with anger: "Your Majesty, that, that Xu Xinian is yelling outside again. It's really hateful and can be killed."

Emperor Yuan Jing sat on the big chair, holding the Daoist scriptures in his hand, and upon hearing the words, he responded lightly: "Kill him, then the unstoppable trend will really be unstoppable, and everyone will be angry."

The old emperor's face was calm, and he said: "Yesterday, what did Wei Yuan do?"

The old eunuch whispered subconsciously: "Wei Gong went to meet Wang Shoufu privately at night."

The implication is that the two fierce tigers in the court formed an alliance in private.

Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen symbolize the two largest factions in the court. If they join forces, no one can be their opponent. Even His Majesty has suffered from the two of them.

Back then, the sale of officials and nobles was extremely popular, but it was later put out by the two together. For those officials who were sold, and those who were awarded titles, within five years, most of them were dismissed from office and beheaded by Wang Shoufu.

The old emperor smiled, seemingly disdainful, and asked instead: "Is there anything unusual in the palace?"

The old eunuch said in a low voice: "The weather is calm, but Princess Lin'an returned to the palace yesterday. And Princess Huaiqing"

The old emperor squinted his eyes: "What's wrong with Huaiqing?"

"Leaving the palace, back to Huaiqing mansion."

After a long silence, the old emperor hummed and ordered: "If Lin'an comes to see you later, let her go back."

third day.

The officials still gathered at the palace gate, but those who are careful will find that although the number of people has not changed, some of the ministers who hold great power did not come today.

Xu Qi'an met the chief guard of Princess Huaiqing's residence at the watchman's yamen. At the order of the eldest princess, Xu Qi'an was invited to the princess mansion for a talk.

PS: Well, I could have updated it at five o'clock today, but the status is not bad, so I added 2,000 words. A chapter of six thousand words.

Thank you "Shen Chao_Uncle Window" for your reward. Uncle Chuang is always interesting, and he speaks nicely. I really like to watch him talk in the group. This is the large size of the window speed. The trumpet is also the leader.