Yan Wulu originally wanted to invite the Li family siblings to live in Yan's mansion for a while.
However, the Li siblings said that the fishing nets, fishing boats, fishing traps, etc. at home still need to be cleaned up. Besides, it is not too far from Jinling City, so they go home to clean up these first.
Tomorrow or the day after tomorrow, like those dignitaries from Jinling, they will surely "visit" the Yan Mansion with gifts.
Yan Wulu thought about it and didn't try to persuade him to stay.
Jinling City is prosperous, there is no curfew, and the market is not closed at night, but the city gates will still be closed at certain times.
Yan Wulu sent several Zhenbei mounted guards to accompany the carriage to escort the two of them out of the city.
At that time, the Zhenbei cavalry guards were already ready to set off.
Li Sanya suddenly jumped off the carriage, came to Yan Wulu, and said——
"Mr. Yan, do you want my wife?"
"...If you want it, just tell me and I will send my sister to you right away!"
When Yan Wulu heard this, he was stunned for a moment...
Seeing this, Li Sanya continued to explain: "Young Master Yan, you are a good person. My sister and I are dependent on each other because our parents died young. My sister is too kind to others and cannot tell the difference between good and bad, so her marriage can only be decided by me.
It's up to you, the younger brother, to worry about everything."
"...Originally, to marry my sister, you have to have at least three betrothal gifts, six gifts, and eight sedan chairs. But if it is you, Mr. Yan, the conditions can be relaxed a lot... Hmmmm."
Li Sanya hasn't finished speaking yet.
His sister, Li Erdan, had already got off the carriage. After realizing it, she immediately covered the mouth of this cheap brother...,
While smiling apologetically, he said, "Mr. Yan, don't listen to this brat, he's not very smart."
With that said, the Li family sister dragged her brother back to the carriage.
The Zhenbei cavalry guards looked at Yan Wulu and escorted him off after receiving the order.
During this period, the sister of the Li family stuck her head out from the curtains of the carriage, smiled and waved goodbye.
Yan Wulu and Zhang Chunhua also waved on the spot.
After the carriage had gone away, Zhang Chunhua suddenly said -
"Your Majesty, you have unintentionally stolen the heart of a beautiful girl."
"ha?"
Yan Wulu was stunned again when he heard this, not knowing why, "...How can a little girl of fifteen or sixteen know what love is?"
Zhang Chunhua smiled slightly and was noncommittal.
Quietly watching the carriage go away and disappear.
Yan Wulu entered the mansion in front of Yanfu Avenue.
The little girl of the Li family admired the beautiful clothes Yan Wulu gave her in the carriage, her face turned red and she was very excited...
His younger brother was quite disdainful. "Huh, I like it but I dare not say it. From now on, you have to rely on me as your younger brother to help you worry about it!"
Everything disappeared into the night so quietly and beautifully.
No one knows what the scene will be like the next time we meet again after this farewell.
…
…
It's night.
Jinling City.
Inside the main hall of the Royal Palace.
Cao Xi, the governor of the East Factory, has truthfully reported to Emperor Zhao Purui everything that happened in the Daxiangguo Temple yesterday.
On the dragon's eucalyptus in front of the old emperor, there were also several scrolls full of pen and ink, all of which came from the secret agents' information. On them were the scenes of the Grand Prime Minister's Temple yesterday.
...Double protection of the East Factory and the secret door.
The old emperor Zhao Purui put away the scroll, but Cao Xi did not hide it from him.
He glanced around the hall indifferently, and finally settled on the person next to him, the chief attendant Wang Eunuch...
The prince was suddenly sweating profusely.
He stepped forward slightly, saluted His Majesty, and said——
"Your Majesty, yesterday, the Prince of Zhenbei came to pay homage to Your Majesty. He asked the old slave about His Majesty's attitude towards the engagement, and... gave the old slave two large ingots of gold."
"...Old slave, I was thinking of reporting to His Majesty and handing over the gold."
As the prince spoke, he also took out two gold ingots from his broad sleeves yesterday and presented them to the old emperor with both hands.
The old emperor just glanced at it with his peripheral vision...
"Since Nephew Wulu rewarded it for you, just accept it."
"...about the engagement, what did you tell Nephew Wulu?"
After hearing the first half of the sentence, Wang Gonggong felt relieved, but when he heard the second half, he couldn't help but become nervous.
As someone who often served the old emperor, the prince was well aware of his vast magical powers and his suspicious and cruel character.
I don't know how many servants have been beaten to death by the old emperor in front of the palace.
It is really like "accompanying the king is like accompanying a tiger".
"Your Majesty..." The prince trembled and said cautiously: "... The old slave only told His Highness the Crown Prince that according to the rules of Daqian, it will take at least two years to get engaged to the princess. If you have to wait until the marriage is completed, It just takes longer.”
"Um."
The old emperor Zhao Purui just said humbly, and then he said -
"... From now on, if there are some things that I am inconvenient to say to my nephew Wulu, I will let you do it. Anyway, you promised to convey the holy will to him at that time."
When the prince heard this, he immediately knelt down with a thud, his back dripping with cold sweat.
He also didn't expect...
His Majesty was actually able to hear clearly even the few words he casually said in the palace corridor.
Is it true that His Majesty's secret agents are all over Jinling and know everything?
He regretted it greatly.
But fortunately, the old emperor doesn't seem to intend to hold him accountable too much...
The old emperor Zhao Purui turned to look indifferently at the Prime Minister Qin Shucheng and the Governor of the East Factory Cao Xi, and said leisurely——
"I remember, nephew Wu Lu, he has only been in Jinling for two days? Or three days?"
"If you include the day when you first entered Jinling and before entering the palace, it will be three days. Your Majesty." Prime Minister Qin Shucheng respectfully answered with his hands in hand.
"Within three days, he caused trouble in Daxiangguo Temple, beat up Princess Taiping, and now he has deposed the only son of Zhang Jian, the commander-in-chief of the Jinyi Division."
"...I heard that Zhang Jinglong can no longer get hard? Has he become a cripple?"
Emperor Zhao Purui said, there was no blame in his words, there seemed to be a sense of fun and pride.
"It's good to abolish it, so that you can come to our Dongchang. Our Dongchang is in need of talents like Mr. Zhang's son."
Cao Xi, who was standing on the right side of the hall, suddenly spoke inexplicably, feeling that his words were more of a joke.
When the old emperor Zhao Purui heard this, he burst out laughing.
Qin Shucheng chuckled slightly, his movements were very light and left no trace.
For a moment, the entire hall seemed to be immersed in a very harmonious and joyful atmosphere.
It's not like the kind of intrigues like court squabbles, but more like a chat between three old friends.
Of course, except for the prince who was still kneeling down and trembling all over.
…
"That's all."
The old emperor said, also beginning to prepare to end this conversation.
"...In the Daxiangguo Temple, the skills of those monks are not as good as others. It would be good if we can draw a draw. Let the monks in the Daxiangguo Temple practice well for me. Next time someone makes trouble, I will not have the time to send people there.
Went to the rescue."
"...As for Zhang Jian's son, he is known to everyone in Jinling City for bullying men, dominating women, and being domineering. Give him a punishment, although it is a bit harsh, but it is harmless. Let's comfort Zhang Jian a little. Anyway, he
That son was not much different from a useless person, he was good for nothing except being fat, let Zhang Jian give birth to a new one."
"...As for Lingxin, alas, it's difficult to deal with. After all, she is my biological daughter. Fortunately, Nephew Wulu was not stupid at that time. He blocked the news in time and not many people knew about it. He turned a blind eye.
Go over there with one eye and tell Lingxin, isn't she known as the 'Female Overlord of Jinling'? Let her fight back on her own, just don't beat her to death or maim her."
"Okay! All of you, please step aside."
"As you command, Your Majesty." Everyone shouted in unison.
…
After everyone left, the prince wanted to wait on his majesty and rest.
But the secret agent from the secret door appeared in the darkness of the palace...
The prince knew in his heart that His Majesty would have to stay up late again to deal with confidential matters, so he stopped talking and bowed and left.
The secret agent stepped forward, half-kneeling to report——
"It has been a long time since there has been any accurate and powerful news from the Northland. Most of the hidden stakes left behind by the secret door in the Northland may have been cleared and investigated by Zhenbei Palace."
"...In addition, the three princes in Jinling have all been in contact with Prince Zhenbei."
"...Among them, His Royal Highness Prince Yu and the direct descendants of His Royal Highness Prince Jin had a long secret conversation with Prince Zhenbei in Lan Yue Tower. Because Lan Yue Tower is so special, we were unable to find out the specific content of the conversation, but we speculate that,
It should be the two princes trying to win the support of the North behind Prince Zhenbei."
When the old emperor Zhao Purui heard this, he let out a long sigh.
He looked into the distance, seeming to be thinking about something, then suddenly turned around and said -
"By the way, Mengyun's death anniversary should be coming soon, right?"
The secret agent was a little confused...
But then he realized, "Your Majesty, the death anniversary of Princess Zhenbei has already passed, and the next one will be next year. It should be several months away."
"Yes." The old emperor Zhao Purui said to himself, "...the death anniversary of Princess Zhenbei has passed long ago, but the death anniversary of Liu Mengyun is just in these few days."
"...You, go and get me an almanac. I want to read it, so as not to forget the time to pay homage to Mengyun."
"This is my humble duty... I obey my orders." The secret agent didn't know why, but he was still respectful.
…
Leave the palace.
Prime Minister Qin Shuzheng went straight to his gorgeous carriage, ignoring even some simple greetings from Cao Xi, the governor of the East Factory.
Qin Shu is a proud and arrogant person. He has the feeling of being a proud scholar.
But he didn't look down on Cao Xi. On the contrary, he respected people like Cao Xi. It was precisely because of this that Qin Shuzheng consciously kept a distance from Cao Xi.
The emperor was a suspicious and manipulative emperor.
Qin Shuzheng also knew that although he seemed to be a very popular minister, leading the world's nobles, and even being able to counter the imperial power, this power was too fragile.
No one knows what day the old emperor will take action against him.
At that time, not only the Jinling Qin family, but also all the beings who have good relations with the Qin family will "fire at the city gate, affecting the fish in the pond."
...Even though Qin Shuzheng and young Zhao Purui were such close friends.
There will be no exceptions.
The Prime Minister's carriage marched in an orderly manner and arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion in a blink of an eye.
The servants of the Prime Minister's Mansion picked up the carriage and took the stairs, and Qin Shuzheng also walked straight out of the carriage.
"Tell Chechu to come to the study to meet me."
After leaving such a sentence, Qin Shuzheng went directly to the study room in the Prime Minister's Mansion without staying any longer.
People around you should be respectful and bow accordingly.
Prime Minister Qin Shuzheng nominally only had one first wife who died young.
It was a family marriage, and there was no love between the two, but even so, the first wife actually gave birth to two children for Qin Shuzheng - the eldest daughter Qin Jing, and the legitimate son Qin Chechu.
Apart from this, Qin Shuzheng no longer had any side chambers or concubines.
But people who are familiar with Qin Shuzheng know that he once had a drunken sexual relationship with an unknown dancer, and gave birth to a concubine named Qin Shumian.
Qin Shuzheng was furious at that time. He did not give any status to the dancer. He had always avoided seeing the so-called concubine and only provided some basic living guarantees to the two of them.
They even drove the dancing girl and her daughter out of the Prime Minister's Mansion and arranged them in a Jinling house where Qin Shuzheng could not see them.
The status is no different from that of an illegitimate daughter.
No one knows why Qin Shuzheng was so angry at that time, and why he could be so ruthless towards his own daughter. For more than ten years, he ignored her.
Some time ago, a servant came to deliver news——
It is said that Miss Qin Shumian was attacked by bandits when she was out. Now she has disappeared and was probably robbed by the bandits! Please ask the Prime Minister to send troops to eliminate the bandits and rescue the young lady.
Qin Shuzheng was reviewing court documents at that time. Regarding this matter, he agreed and said there would be no further details.
Even if the daughter of an ordinary family was kidnapped by bandits, Qin Shuzheng would go to great lengths to send troops to suppress the bandits and rescue her.
But facing his concubine, Qin Shuzheng was so cold and decisive...
He hates his daughter...
Because Qin Shumian's existence was like a barb in his heart, always reminding him that he was wrong, very wrong.
…
In the study room of the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Qin Shuzheng, sitting upright on the main seat.
The gorgeous and spacious daiganxiang clothes have been replaced by home clothes.
Qin Shuzheng was wearing an ancient crown at this moment, still holding the ancient string of sapphire beads in his left hand, and holding a volume of dictionary in his right hand. He looked no different from an ordinary handsome Confucian scholar.
However, it is difficult to conceal the self-confidence between his eyebrows and the leadership qualities of someone who always lives in a position of superiority.
"My father heard that the prince of Zhenbei was assassinated by many people on the road to Jinling."
Qin Shuzheng suddenly spoke.
His words were addressed to the young man in brocade clothes standing upright in front of him.
"...Chechu, was it you who issued the 'Jianghu Order' to summon people from the Jianghu to assassinate the Prince of Zhenbei?"
"Yes, Father." Qin Chechu replied with a slight bow.
He was a young man with a dignified and capable appearance. He was dressed in rich clothes and had the majesty of a man from Jinling.
When Qin Shuzheng heard this, he put down his dictionary and stood up slowly.
He put his hands behind his back and came to Qin Chechu in a few steps. Then he raised his hand and slapped Qin Chechu on the face.
"Do you know whose son Yan Wulu is? How dare you assassinate him?!"
Qin Shuzheng scolded seriously.
Qin Chechu was a little unbelievable. His father had never hit him before, let alone such a direct and insulting slap in the face.
Qin Chechu's facial muscles twitched, but he still replied respectfully——
"Back to my father, I know that he is the son of Yan Dong, the king of Zhenbei."
"No!"
Qin Shuzheng directly denied it and continued: "...What can Yan Dong's son do? The truth doesn't matter at all!"
"...What you need to know is that Yan Wulu is the son of Princess Liu Mengyun of Zhenbei. Even if you die, you cannot let her son die!"
When Qin Chechu heard this, he was stunned on the spot...
He looked at Qin Shuzheng blankly and blurted out, "Dad, I am your son."
When Qin Shuzheng heard this, he just glanced at the other party coldly, and left without saying another word.
Qin Chechu was a little dazed...
The relationship between him and Qin Shuzheng had always been polite and even a little distant.
He always called Du Qin Shuzheng "Father", which was a bit unlike the affectionate title between father and son.
Today was one of the few times that he directly called the other person "Dad".
In the past, if he was so rude, he would always be scolded by Qin Shuzheng, but today the other party actually didn't even want to talk to him.
Qin Chechu was a little lost.
He didn't quite understand that Zhenbei King Yandong was the head of the three kings with different surnames and was the sworn brother of the current emperor. They were an important force that the old emperor relied on to suppress his father's power as prime minister and the power of the Jinling gentry.
And he just wanted to share his father's worries and assassinate Yan Wulu, or at least, make Yan Wulu seriously injured and disabled, and lose the qualification to marry Princess Taiping, thus destroying the old emperor's conspiracy to win over the North and suppress his father.
