Recently, Changzhou Duokou has entered a troubled period with frequent accidents, which has caused Nanjing Tankou to speed up its response to Cao Shipin, the governor of Nanjing.

They wanted to use Governor Cao's power and influence to save the situation.

At this time, the second watch drum sounded on the bell tower, and the night was already dark.

In the main hall of the "Shengjia Courtyard" near the south bank of Xuanwu Lake, the lights are dim.

In the middle of the hall, a shadowy figure of a woman stood, her head lowered and her eyebrows lowered, listening to the reprimand of a man sitting at the top:

"Xu Lan, the leader of this forum has given you enough time, but until now you have made no achievements and have spent countless of our time and energy. You are unworthy of my trust in you,"

"Please give me some more time, Master Sheng, and I will definitely be able to complete the task." Xu Lan's voice was trembling, and she was extremely afraid of the altar master.

"This is the 'Shuowang Hongwan'. When you get back, find a way to get him to take it. Your mission will be completed." Master Sheng altar threw a pill box at the woman's feet.

The woman shivered as she picked up the medicine box and put it in her arms.

Cao Shipin has been feeling depressed these days, not because of work, but because his wife, Xu Lan, is pushing too hard.

Xu Lan has already shown his cards, he can either join the "Red Faction", and then his career will be smooth sailing and he will reach a higher level.

Otherwise, not only will his official career be terminated, but her life will also be lost.

Because it is her task to mobilize Governor Cao to join the religion, and if she fails to complete it, she will be severely punished.

He was once very puzzled. His wife had lived with him for more than twenty years. From a poor scholar to a high official in the border areas, she had always worked hard and supported each other. There had never been any cracks in their relationship. Why had he joined her since he joined the family?

After the "Red Feng Sect", everything changed.

She would often go out in the middle of the night, and sometimes she would stay out all night. When asked, she would always cry like pear blossoms: if she didn't listen to their calls, her body would be tortured by the drugs, and she would eventually die of pain.

Sometimes she even asked him to kill her and then lead the army to destroy the Nanjing branch.

However, he really couldn't do it, after all, she was also a victim of coercion.

He hated the "Red Sect" to death, and he even hated Xu Lan's cousin Cui Weitian, because according to Xu Lan, it was Cui Weitian who used deception to coax her into taking the pill:

"This kind of pill was brought back from Nanyang by a friend. Women can maintain their health and beauty after taking it. All the concubines in the palace are taking it."

Unexpectedly, from then on, she became a slave of the "Red Sect", because this poison could not be removed from the body, and she had to take the antidote for the rest of her life.

Now he is being roasted on the fire. He can neither touch the "Red Factions", but also has to watch his wife being held hostage by them.

He can use his officers and soldiers to destroy Tankou in Nanjing at all costs.

However, given the size of the "Red Faction Sect" across the country, it is just a scratching point and cannot cause any harm to it at all, let alone move its muscles and bones.

The result is that he loses his wife's life and his own future.

Even if she is not punished by the law, she will eventually die because there is no antidote.

His wife joined the "Red Order". This matter must not be hidden. Someone will easily bring this matter to the court. Then, those who don't like him in the court can take him alive.

Chew to death.

The moonlight is very good tonight, and the room is illuminated silvery white through the window.

There was a sound of the door opening outside, and he knew it was her coming back.

Without a lamp, there was a rustling sound of people taking off their clothes, and then a warm and silky body got into his arms.

He didn't move, letting her hug him tightly.

After a long while, she shrugged her shoulders and started crying.

"Alas," he sighed and reached out to touch her shoulder.

"They gave me a red pill tonight and asked me to find a way to take it for you." She said timidly.

He was silent for a long time, just staring at the roof with empty eyes.

"You might as well kill me, and I'll be freed. I won't have to deal with people, ghosts, or ghosts all day long, and you'll be involved in the end."

"Do you think they will let me go if you die?"

She was speechless, knowing that he was right.

Even if he dies, they will still threaten him with her past.

The two of them just stayed there in silence, neither of them sleepy.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door and said hurriedly:

"Governor Cao, someone wants to see you."

When I heard it, it was the voice of the yamen officer on duty in front of me.

Asking for a meeting in the middle of the night, the person who comes is definitely not an ordinary person, let alone an ordinary thing.

He immediately dressed and got up, walked to the outhouse and opened the door:

"Who is coming to see you at this time?"

"It's Jin Yiwei's butcher, and he brought many people here."

When I heard that Jin Yiwei was coming, I felt vaguely uneasy, maybe my future was over.

He hurried to the front hall and asked the government servant on duty to go outside and invite the butchers to come in.

Tu Qianjun came in with two captains, and he hurriedly stepped forward to greet him:

"Master Tu came here at midnight. I am late to greet you. Please forgive me!"

Jinyiwei's Baihu is only a sixth-rank petty official, but even a third-rank official like him must be respectful when meeting them.

Because they have the power of life and death, they can make him suffer by just picking any fault.

Besides, there's something really wrong with him.

"It is absolutely necessary to disturb Lord Cao's rest at this time! Tu Qianjun, a lower official, was ordered by Lord Fusi Luo of Bei Town to come to the south of the Yangtze River to cooperate with Lord Du Wenlin and Du in investigating the murder of Hu Jinsheng last year. In order not to leak the news, I will not report it tonight.

My lords, I acted without authorization and destroyed the "Red Fengjiao" altar in Nanjing in one fell swoop. I captured the main criminal Sheng Dujiang and more than 20 of his subordinates, as well as the fish that slipped through the net. They will be arrested again at dawn. For safety reasons, I am going to lower the official.

I want to temporarily imprison these criminals in the government prison." Tu Qianjun said.

Hearing that the Nanjing altar of the "Red Confession" was being held, Cao Shipin seemed to be out of breath, and at the same time his heart was in his throat.

The altar is closed, and the next step is when his wife Xu Lan is exposed. How should we deal with the coming storm?

However, Tu Qianjun seemed to mention that his trip to Jiangnan was to cooperate with Du Wenlin. It seemed that Du Wenlin was the protagonist of this operation.

He seemed to see some hope in despair.

"Excuse me, Master Du, why didn't you come with us?" He wanted to see Du Wenlin as soon as possible. The longer it took, the worse it would be for him.

"Master Du has other tasks. I will be in charge of this operation in Nanjing for the time being." Tu Qianjun replied.

"Oh." Cao Shipin was slightly disappointed.

After dawn, Tu Qianjun made a list of the fugitives in Tankou, Nanjing, and asked the governor's Yamen to inform Yingtianfu Yamen to arrest them according to the list and wait for them to return before interrogating them.

Then, he led his Tiqi and officers and soldiers to attack Xuancheng without stopping.

Cao Shipin scanned the list first and was surprised to find that his wife Xu Lan's name was not there.

He was a little confused, couldn't figure out the mystery, and felt very uneasy.

Although Xu Lan's name is not on the list, it will be exposed as soon as the interrogation of the criminal begins.

At noon the next day, Du Wenlin led a large group of people to Nanjing.

I originally came to assist Tu Qianjun and the others in their operations, but unfortunately I arrived too late and came to nothing.

But for Cao Shipin, it was like a drowning man grabbing a life-saving straw.

After all these years as an official, I have never done anything to disgrace the court or harm the people. Maybe it was because of God's favor that Du Wenlin was sent to help me get through this disaster.

Du Wenlin came to the governor's mansion and met with Governor Cao as a junior.

"The wise son-in-law is here specifically to suppress the 'Red Feng Sect' today?"

"I came to Nanjing today, firstly to assist Master Tu in arresting the believers, and secondly, to take the opportunity to visit Cuizhu and you two."

"Alas," Governor Cao sighed, with a worried look on his face.

Du Wenlin could tell that he had something to hide, and he roughly guessed why he was worried. But he couldn't take the initiative to ask.

After a moment of silence, Governor Cao said:

"I've been upset these past few days, all because of what happened to your mother-in-law."

Du Wenlin already knew what was going on and said with some difficulty:

"To be honest, I also know about my mother-in-law."

Governor Cao was a little surprised. He didn't find Xu Lan's name on the list. How did Du Wenlin know about it?

Du Wenlin took out a few letters from his arms and handed them over.

These were all letters sent from Nanjing Tankou to Changzhou, and any mention of Xu Lan was hidden by Du Wenlin.

This is an obviously illegal act, but in the face of the law and family ties, who can put themselves in the right position?

After reading it, Governor Cao understood why Xu Lan's name was not on the list Tu Qianjun gave him.
To be continued...