Chang'an City.

Chunming Gate in the east of the city, inside Xingqingfang.

After Xuanzong ascended the throne and expanded the Xingqing Palace, most of the palace complex had been burned down, leaving only a garden to the west of Xingqing Lake. After several renovations, it became Wang Jun's residence in Chang'an.

That day, outside the door of the house, a young man came with a gift box, and a big red flower was tied to the box.

The guard in front of the mansion stopped him: "What are you doing?"

The boy hurriedly nodded and bowed and said, "Someone hired a boy to deliver gifts to your mansion."

Several guards laughed. I don't know how many people came to give gifts every day. Regardless of their official level, they basically came in person. The stewards of the house selectively let in a group of people based on their level and position.

Mansion, there is a chance to be received by Wang Jun.

Those with lower official positions can leave the gift list and gifts before they leave.

Whether you can be received by Wangdu Supervisor in the future depends on luck.

I hired someone to deliver the gift, but I didn’t show up, but this was the first time I saw him.

"Who hired you? What is the gift? Is there a gift list?" the guard asked again.

The boy shook his head honestly.

The guards laughed again.

It's just a box with big red flowers on it, and no one's name is left on it. It's such a rare gift.

The boy hurriedly said: "The official said that the gift was given to the Wangdu Supervisor by an old acquaintance. The Wangdu Supervisor will naturally know after seeing it."

The guard said: "Okay, put your things down and you can go."

The boy quickly thanked him, carefully put down the gift box, bowed again, and trotted away.

The guard called the steward and sent the gift box into the house.

They were also curious about what kind of gifts a person who didn't even show his face would give.

However, they did not have the right to open the gift and could only find an opportunity to ask the house steward.

The gift box was transferred to Wang Quan, an official in the inner government. According to the rules set by Wang Jun, all gift givers and gifts must be handed over to Wang Quan. He would look at them first and register them one by one. When he met important people and novelties,

The items will be reported by Wang Quan.

Wang Quan had just finished a bowl of eight-treasure lotus seed soup, wiped his mouth with a silk handkerchief, hummed a tune, cut the red string with a pair of scissors, threw aside the big red flower tied with red cloth, and opened the lid of the box.

The number of people giving gifts has decreased recently, and most of the gifts given are yellow and white things, which look boring.

Today, the guard outside the mansion reported that someone had sent a gift anonymously, and that it was from an old acquaintance, and the owner would know it at a glance.

Wang Quan became interested and opened the package himself.

As soon as I opened the lid of the box, a strong smell hit my nostrils, like a mixture of white ash and salt, mixed with a faint rancid smell.

Wang Quan stretched out his nose and sniffed, wondering if someone would deliver bacon to his door?

There is a basket in the box, and the basket is covered with red silk cloth.

Wang Quan took off the red silk cloth and saw a left hand with a broken wrist lying quietly in the basket.

After being shocked for three seconds, Wang Quan let out a sharp exclamation!

The frightened maids and slaves inside and outside the house gathered around and saw the severed hand in the gift box, and screamed a few more times.

The severed hand was swollen and appeared blue-grey, and bones could be seen at the fracture. The blood scab turned black and smelly and yellow mucus oozed out.

Wang Quan had been following Wang Jun for many years and had seen a lot of the world. He quickly calmed down, closed the lid of the box, looked around and said sternly: "No one is allowed to reveal a word! Otherwise, I will pull out his tongue! Send him immediately."

People, go and catch the person who gave the gift!"

Wang Quan took the gift box and hurried to the garden of the back house.

There is a two-story Feijiao Pavilion by the lake, which Wang Jun ordered to imitate the long-burned Agarwood Pavilion.

Most of the time, Wang Jun likes to live here, enjoy the lake view, and practice singing at the top of his lungs.

This is also Wang Jun's special skill as a descendant of music officials.

Looking at the key points in Wang Jun's career rise, the advantages of beautiful singing voice and wide and changeable vocal range definitely played an important role in promoting it.

Wang Jun is the best voice among the ministers of the Five Dynasties, and he is also the ancestor respected by later generations of actors.

Wang Jun's experience of being able to rise from a humble official to a frontier official who combined military, political and financial power is legendary.

But recently, for some unknown reason, Wang Jun seldom practices his voice, nor does he organize singers to rehearse songs and dances. Instead, he sits under the eaves all day long, soaking in a pot of Yu Qian Mao Jian, holding a book, admiring the lake view, and studying historical books.

When Wang Quan arrived, Wang Jun was also reading leisurely.

"Report to Alang, something serious has happened!"

Wang Quan winked and asked the two serving maids to step back.

Wang Jun, who is in his forties, has a fair complexion and a feminine appearance. He has gained weight recently and his Adam's apple is not very obvious.

But there is no doubt that he is a complete man. He has a lot of sons and daughters in Kaifeng, and his new concubine here in Chang'an has just become pregnant.

Wang Jun put down the book, rubbed his eyebrows, and spoke in a slightly hoarse and low voice: "Don't panic, speak slowly."

"Alang, please take a look!" Wang Quan opened the lid of the box.

Wang Jun glanced over, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he frowned.

After a moment of silence, Wang Jun said: "Is it Xu Xingsi?"

Wang Quan swallowed his saliva: "Old slave thinks so too."

Wang Jun closed his eyes, as if deep in thought, his expression cold.

Wang Quan handed the box to his servant to take it down and dispose of it.

"What does Shi Kuangwei mean? Demonstrate to me?" Wang Jun opened his eyes, slightly confused.

Wang Quan said bitterly: "Shi Kuangwei hated Alang for suing him in the court, so he sent people to kill Xu Dushi, and even dared to cut off the body's hand and bring it to him. Such provocation clearly shows that he doesn't take Alang seriously!"

Wang Jun knew that Shi Kuangwei had a hot temper, so it was not impossible for him to kill someone and cut off his hand in anger.

Xu Xingsi has been out of contact for a long time, and I'm afraid the situation is in danger.

Wang Jun's eyes were cold: "This damn Shatuo barbarian, does he think that if he gets close to Li Shouzhen, I can't do anything to him?"

Wang Quan shouted: "When Alang returns to Beijing next month, we must sue him in front of the officials! Let the officials issue an order to deal with him!"

Wang Jun closed the book, stood up and held on to the railing, looking at the lake in the distance, and suddenly said: "Is the official road in the direction of Fengtian clear for entering and exiting martial arts?"

Wang Quan hurriedly replied: "Not yet! Zhao Siwan said that there are still a few generals under Hou Yi who have not been captured. Now the roads leading from Jingzhao to Jingnan Army and Fengxiang Army are all blocked, making it difficult for news to come in and out."

"What's going on with Li Shouzhen?"

Wang Quan added: "Not long ago, Li Shouzhen reported to the court and asked the court to send troops to conquer Shu. Now he has gathered troops in Puzhou and drilled day and night, saying that he wanted to prepare for the imperial attack on Shu. By the way, news came two days ago.

, saying that Li Shouzhen replaced the general guarding Tongguan and sent 3,000 additional troops to garrison Tongguan."

Wang Jun's hand holding the railing tightened suddenly, and he squinted his eyes and muttered: "No...no!"

Wang Quan asked in confusion: "What's wrong with Alang?"

"Li Shouzhen used the excuse of conquering Shu to organize troops to prepare for war. I'm afraid it's a lie! Zhao Siwan guarded the western pass of Guanzhong, and Li Shouzhen sent more troops to Tongguan. What do these two people want to do when they move east and west to cut off the beginning and end of Guanzhong?"

Wang Jun was talking to himself, his expression changing unpredictably.

Soon, he made up his mind and said: "In this way, you immediately pack your luggage secretly, only take valuables, don't alert the people below, we will leave tonight!

You send someone to announce that I have recently acquired a new song and music, and I will rehearse the song and dance behind closed doors without any guests."

Wang Quan was stunned: "Good luck, why does Alang want to leave?"

Wang Jun said coldly: "Stop asking and do as you are told immediately!"

Wang Quan said hurriedly: "Old slave, I know! Then...what should I do about the young lady? She is already five months pregnant, and I'm afraid she won't be able to bear the bumps along the way..."

Wang Jun said without any thought: "Leave her a sum of money and send someone to send her back to her husband's family in Hu County in the name of raising a baby."

"Yes! I'll do it right away, old slave!"

Wang Quan took the order and hurriedly left.
Chapter completed!