Bai Song didn't understand these three words "Hou Shibo" for the first time.
He soon realized it and his expression changed.
"Didn't we agree that no one would mention it?"
"I don't know... I don't know what happened. This morning, my maid went to the Hou Mansion to deliver a message and found that the Hou Mansion was heavily guarded and no one could approach Sister Hou. Later, I learned from Sister Hou's maid that Sister Hou had been captured.
He was put in solitary confinement and even beaten. Although it was not explicitly stated that what happened on the ship was leaked, this is definitely not normal."
Bai Song was confused.
She thought in her heart that Hou Zheng must have lied, but on the surface she promised not to tell, and took the initiative to confess after returning home.
After all, this is related to a woman's innocence, and it is impossible to estimate what Hou Zheng's true thoughts are in her heart.
With Hou Zheng's character, it is very likely that both of them will be destroyed, so don't let Lu Yao go.
This matter is troublesome. Hou Junji will definitely suppress the news and settle the score with Lu Yao privately.
"What a troublemaker!"
Bai Song cursed and stamped his feet, feeling flustered because he hated the iron.
"What should I do?" Zhang Yuhan asked.
"What should we do? Hey!" Bai Song sighed heavily, "What else can we do? Send a message to Lu Yao quickly and tell him to pack up and leave Chang'an! He can't stay in this place any longer."
After saying that, Bai Song turned around and left.
Zhang Yuhan chased after him: "Master Bai, take me with you. I have also experienced what happened yesterday. If I meet Hou Shibo, maybe I can still intercede."
Bai Song thought about it for a while and felt that it was not impossible, so he took Zhang Yuhan to Lu Yao's home first.
When we arrived at Lu Yao's house in Chang'an, it was an ordinary farmhouse. There was a young and beautiful woman tailoring clothes at home.
This is Lu Yao's wife, whom Bai Song has never seen before. She is good-looking, but of ordinary birth.
Bai Song ignored the pleasantries and directly asked where Lu Yao was.
The woman said that Lu Yao went on an errand early in the morning.
Judging from the woman's appearance, it was obvious that she did not know that her man was in danger.
Bai Song didn't have time to elaborate, so he turned around and went to the Ministry of Finance.
When I arrived at Hubu, I saw no one at all.
I couldn't see Lu Yao, and I couldn't see Hou Junji either.
As long as I ask people, they all say they don't know, they don't know, and they don't get involved.
Typical question and answer.
Not to mention looking for someone, even the household department is not allowed to enter, which makes this matter even more strange.
By this time, Bai Song knew that something was definitely wrong.
Now we must meet one of Hou Junji or Lu Yao.
Bai Song and Zhang Yuhan could not forcefully break into the household department, so Zhang Yuhan suggested asking his father to come forward.
Zhang Liang and Hou Junji are on the same level, so Zhang Liang came forward to find someone, and Hou Junji had no reason to stop him.
Bai Song thought this was a solution and took Zhang Yuhan to the Ministry of Industry again.
The carriage stopped at the Ministry of Industry, and the two of them were so anxious that they got out of the car and ran hand in hand.
This scene is so strange, the mouths of the Ministry of Works policemen are so wide that they can fit a big steamed bun.
This is Lord Shangshu's daughter, and he is being paraded through the street holding hands by a man?
Who is it?
I'll be a good boy!
Prince Consort!
People who are quick-thinking quickly turn around, pretending not to know anything and not seeing anything.
When the two of them ran into the Ministry of Industry, Zhang Yuhan noticed a pair of surprised and horrified eyes, and then realized that his actions were inappropriate. He blushed and gently broke away from Bai Song's hand, feeling a little reluctant to let go.
Zhang Liang was at the Ministry of Industry when he heard the news, but he didn't see the previous scene.
I just felt that the eyes of the men around me were wrong, and there was something wrong with the atmosphere at the scene.
Zhang Liang asked the two men what they were doing. If what they wanted to say could not be spread, he called Zhang Liang inside to discuss.
Soon, Zhang Liang put on his official uniform and led the two of them straight to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Affairs. The policemen from the Ministry of Works who were left behind gathered together and started talking, and the whole Ministry of Works was in a panic.
…
At the same time.
The warehouse of the Ministry of Revenue was converted into a temporary torture chamber.
Lu Yao was tied to a wooden post.
Hou Junji whipped him hard with a whip.
"Crack!"
The sound of the whip hitting flesh and blood was clearly audible, but no one from the Ministry of Revenue outside dared to meddle in other people's business.
Hou Junji was born as a general, and he was so ruthless that he beat Lu Yao until he fainted.
Hou Junji immediately asked someone to splash water on Lu Yao to wake him up.
After Lu Yao woke up, he continued to whip him.
I fainted and continued to splash water.
So back and forth.
From beginning to end, Hou Junji never said a word.
The people under my command didn’t know where Lu Yao provoked Mr. Hou, so that he could have suffered like this?
Some people couldn't stand it anymore and reminded in a low voice: "Master Hou, if we continue to fight like this, someone will die."
Hou Junji seemed not to hear at all and continued to beat him.
Fortunately, this was the Department of Husbandry, not the Department of Punishment. There were no instruments of torture in the yamen, so I could only find a whip.
Otherwise, Lu Yao would have to suffer more torture.
"Sir Hou, it's not good. Mr. Zhang Liang, Minister of Industry, is here."
"Say I'm not here."
"They are looking for Lu Yao."
"I won't talk about Lu Yao anymore."
"But...we can't stop it!"
"I can hold you back for as long as I can!"
Hou Junji's words were cold and without a trace of spirit.
All the men around him went out, trying to delay Mr. Hou as much time as possible.
There was no one else in the warehouse, so Hou Junji raised his whip again.
Lu Yao, who remained silent, vomited a mouthful of blood, slowly raised his head, and said with his last breath: "We... have... a common enemy..."
Hou Junji's whip was hanging in the air, and he suddenly stopped when he heard these words.
"Bai Song... you dare not do what the princess told you to do, but I dare... please give me a chance..."
"What do you know?"
"Your Excellency is collecting evidence of crimes from the imperial examinations of the Bai Song Dynasty...but due to the emperor's wishes, he has not dared to announce it to the world. If your Excellency does not dare, I will do it."
"Bai Song is your fellow disciple."
"But he...he betrayed me."
"Do you think he leaked the news?"
"There is no one else but him. I am completely infatuated with the lady... I made a mistake last night. I promised not to reveal it, but you still heard the news. Only he would betray me!"
"What if it wasn't him?"
"I will do anything to survive! Mr. Hou, beating me to death will not do you any good. I am also a minister after all. The emperor will never allow a minister to execute a court official."
"Then tell me, what are you going to do to make me bypass you?"
"A little evidence of cheating in the imperial examination is nothing. To solve a threat, the best way is to make the threat disappear forever. Without the Bai Song Dynasty in the world, the East Palace can be stable."
Hou Junji frowned and looked at Lu Yao seriously.
"Can't you see that you are also a ruthless guy who would sacrifice anyone to protect yourself?"
"The reason for approaching Miss Hou is to gain Master Hou's appreciation. Lu Yao is willing to serve you, the princess, and the East Palace."
Hou Junji sneered twice: "It's good that you have such a consciousness. If you sincerely surrender to Her Royal Highness, don't talk nonsense next time."
