In the lobby of the Governor's Mansion in Hangzhou, Qin Xiao was sipping West Lake Longjing tea. Although to him, wine was more flavorful than tea, this cup of tea was Fan Yang's heart, so Qin Xiao naturally enjoyed it with pleasure.
.
"How does it taste?" Fan Yang looked at Qin Xiao with a smile.
Qin Xiao smiled and said: "Your Excellency also knows that Xianguan is a rough man and does not understand the tea ceremony, but this tea is fragrant in the mouth and should be a rare and good tea."
"To tell you the truth, West Lake Longjing only produces spring tea once a year, and the output is not much." Fan Yang seemed to be in a good mood and explained: "Every year, I go to the court to present it to you, and the governors of each state also prepare it.
One serving, the West Lake Longjing that ordinary people drink is just in name, and it cannot compare to this purity. The tea is made from spring rainwater, which is specially stored, so I have no choice but to take this sip."
Qin Xiao hurriedly took two sips and said with a smile: "Such a precious and good tea cannot be wasted."
"Qin Shaoqing, don't worry." Fan Yang said with a smile: "Yuan family in Hangzhou is engaged in tea business. He pays tribute to this Longjing tea every year. This time Shaoqing saved the Yuan family, your tea will be indispensable in the future." Sighed.
He took a breath, picked up his tea cup, stirred up the tea foam, but did not drink the tea immediately, but looked at the tea in a daze.
"What's wrong, Mr. Boss?"
"Nothing, nothing." Fan Yang smiled slightly and sighed: "I just wonder if I will have the opportunity to drink such good tea in the future."
Qin Xiao was startled, but Fan Yang put down his teacup and his expression became solemn: "There was chaos in the south of the Yangtze River and Anxing Hou was assassinated. No matter which one happened, my position as governor has been over. I can save my life this time."
, is already Amitabha." He looked at Qin Xiaodao: "Young Master, I invite you to drink tea today, I don't have anything else to do. Many officials in Hangzhou have uncertain fortunes and lives, and many of them are also old men reporting to the court.
Recommended, it is very likely that you will be implicated this time. I just ask that the young minister can speak well to these people in the court when he comes back, and even if he cannot keep his official position, he will try his best to save their lives."
Qin Xiao frowned and asked: "But there is an order coming from the court?"
"It will come sooner or later." Fan Yang forced a smile: "Shaoqing is respected by the saint, and he has successfully countered the rebellion this time, so naturally nothing will happen to him. However, we people were unwary and failed to protect Anxing.
If Hou Zhouquan offends the Prime Minister, disaster will naturally be imminent."
Qin Xiao shook his head and said: "Sir, An Xinghou was assassinated. It happened so suddenly. I can't blame you."
"That's what I say, but the Prime Minister doesn't think so." Fan Yang smiled bitterly: "I shouldn't say it, we are all supported by the princess. This time An Xinghou was killed, the Prime Minister not only had to pay for
If An Xinghou seeks revenge, he will definitely take this opportunity to suppress the princess. If he avenges his son and attacks people like us, the princess may not fully support him. The most important thing is that even if the princess wants to be protected, the saint may not agree to it.
So I already know my ending very clearly."
Qin Xiao was thoughtful, and Fan Yang said with a smile: "Don't think too much, Shaoqing. I am not asking for mercy for myself when I say this. I will never implicate Shaoqing. I just hope that if there is a chance, Shaoqing can protect others...
..!”
"Sir, if we can find out the origin of the assassin as soon as possible, we may be able to atone for our sins, and the court may be able to be lenient to you."
"We are currently investigating the origin of the assassin, but there are no clues." Fan Yang sighed: "In the end, the Purple-clothed Supervisor will definitely send someone to investigate this matter." After a pause, he asked: "Yes, how is the situation with Young Supervisor Chen?"
"He has been there for five days." Qin Xiao said: "I went there two days ago. Taoist Aunt Luo Yue had superb medical skills and managed to drag him back from the gate of hell. Although he had escaped death, he was still alive for the time being.
He has not woken up. According to Taoist Aunt Luo Yue, it will take at least two days for him to wake up. Sir, now we are just waiting for Chen Shaojian to wake up and see if we can get any clues about the assassin from him. If Chen Shaojian provides them
Clues, if we find out the origin of the assassin and even arrest him, your Excellency will naturally be able to make amends."
Fan Yang sighed: "Now I just hope that Mr. Chen can wake up soon."
Suddenly they heard the sound of footsteps, and the two of them looked around, only to see Sha Deyu, the chief minister, entering the house in a hurry, forgetting to report in advance. Fan Yang couldn't help but frown slightly. Although his future was uncertain, he was still the governor of Hangzhou, Shangguan.
It is also most taboo for his subordinates to come in without reporting.
"Sir!" Sha Deyu looked nervous. Seeing that Fan Yang's face seemed a little ugly, he immediately realized that he had been rude, but he didn't care. He hurried forward and cupped his hands and said, "I just got the news. Commander Changsun has entered the city!"
"Commander Changsun?" Fan Yang didn't recover for a moment, but he immediately thought: "Who? Changsun Yuanxin? He...he's back?"
Qin Xiao also reacted.
"Back." Sha Deyu said: "He brought more than a hundred cavalry into the city. They seemed to be heading towards the Governor's Mansion. The captain who defended the city did not dare to stop him and sent someone to report quickly, and... this team
The cavalry also protected a carriage."
Qin Xiao was startled for a moment, but immediately realized something, stood up and said, "It's the princess!"
"Your Highness the Princess?" Fan Yang also stood up immediately: "Shaoqing, are you saying that the Princess is here?"
Qin Xiaodao: "We sent someone to report the news of An Xinghou's assassination to His Highness. After His Highness found out, he naturally knew that it was not a trivial matter and must have come to Hangzhou to handle the matter in person."
Fan Yang was a little nervous and hurriedly told Sha Deyu: "Hurry up and summon the officials of the sixth rank and above, and ask them to come to the Governor's Mansion quickly and wait for His Highness to arrive." He looked down at his casual clothes and said to Qin Xiao: "Young Master
Sir, I need to change my official robe, so you should pack it up quickly and let’s go to welcome the princess together. By the way, which gate did the princess enter the city through?"
"East Gate!"
"After changing your official robe, go to the east gate to greet you immediately." Fan Yang was a little confused.
Sha Deyu was about to go out to summon officials when Qin Xiao stopped him and said, "Wait a moment." Then he said to Fan Yang, "Sir, I'm afraid it's too late. The princess has already entered the city. If she comes directly to the Governor's Mansion, she will be there soon.
The princess did not send anyone to notify her in advance, probably because she did not want too many people to know that she had arrived in Hangzhou, so if you summon many officials to pick her up now, it would make the princess unhappy."
"Not bad, not bad." Fan Yang also responded: "Thanks to Shaoqing's reminder. Sha Changshi, there is no need to summon other officials. After the princess arrives, we will see what the princess wants and then we will see whether to summon other officials.
What came to mind, he asked: "What can be done over there in Changming Garden? Send people to clean up immediately. In addition, deploy troops to block the roads around Changming Garden and not allow anyone to get close. Yes, go to the prison and find Ganjingshan."
, let him lead the soldiers and horses of the Hangzhou Battalion to protect the garden."
Sha Deyu said yes and was about to turn around and go out when a figure came towards him and almost bumped into him. When Sha Deyu saw clearly, it turned out to be Zhao Qing.
"Old Zhao, what's the matter in such a hurry?" Sha Deyu took a step back and frowned.
"Changming Garden...!" Zhao Qing was out of breath and said to Fan Yang: "Sir, Changming Garden... went to Changming Garden. Commander Changsun led the troops.
Guarding a carriage to Changmingyuan...!"
Hangzhou, a prosperous place in the south of the Yangtze River, was even more prosperous. There were so many officials coming and going, so the Hangzhou Posthouse could be said to be the most luxurious local posthouse in the entire Tang Dynasty.
The local state post halls are divided into east and west halls. The east hall receives officials above the third rank, while those below the third rank stay in the west hall.
However, visitors from the royal family are naturally not allowed to stay in the post house.
Not many emperors in the past dynasties left Beijing to go south. Even if there were emperors who visited the south, they would make preparations early. They would build local palaces or make room for the most luxurious mansions in the area to welcome them. After the founding of the Tang Dynasty, Emperor Taizong
When he went south that year, in order to welcome the Holy Emperor, Jiangnan aristocratic families jointly funded the construction of the magnificent Changming Garden. However, after Emperor Taizong stayed there for a few days, it was idle until the former emperor used it once when he went south. It was already more than thirty years ago.
What happened years ago.
For more than thirty years, although Changming Garden has been idle, the local authorities have not dared to neglect it. They have always sent people to keep it clean. However, if it is damaged, it will be repaired immediately. Therefore, to this day, Changming Garden is also the most luxurious place in the south of the Yangtze River for the emperor.
A spacious palace.
Moreover, Emperor Taizong had decreed that if the princes and princesses went south, they would also be eligible to live in Changming Garden.
Fan Yang heard that the eldest son Yuanxin was escorting the carriage to Changmingyuan. He was completely sure that the princess was really coming. Without hesitation, he ordered: "Sha Changshi, Zhao is not driving. You two must pack up quickly and go with me."
See you at Changmingyuan." Then he said to Qin Xiao: "Shaoqing, you also go and get ready. Let's meet at the main gate and go together."
Changming Garden is located in the east of the city. Great care was taken when the site was selected and built. There is a lake in front of the yard, and an artificial rockery was built behind the yard. It means being close to mountains and rivers, so there are naturally no houses around it.
Existence, quiet and unusual.
When Qin Xiao and his party arrived at Changming Garden, it was already dark, and Sha Deyu also issued an order to the deputy commander of the Hangzhou Battalion to dispatch troops and horses to guard Changming Garden.
Gan Jingshan has been leading the Hangzhou Battalion to guard the Hangzhou Prison. However, in recent days, a large number of prisoners have been overturned and released, so there are not many prisoners left in the prison. Naturally, there is no need for too many soldiers and horses to guard. Gan Jingshan received
After the transfer order, a large number of soldiers and horses were immediately dispatched to Changmingyuan.
The roads around Changmingyuan were blocked and there were guards all around.
There were also dozens of Hangzhou battalion elite guards outside the main gate. After Fan Yang and others arrived, the guards immediately went in to report. Soon they saw a military general wearing black scale armor coming out of the garden. When he saw Fan Yang, he cupped his hands and said:
"I have seen you, sir!"
"Commander Zhangsun, you are back." Fan Yang nodded with a smile on his face and said, "I am very pleased to hear that you have made great contributions to Suzhou. Yes, is the princess in the garden?"
Qin Xiao looked at the general in front of him, and saw that his complexion was dark, but his face was sharp and angular, and he was full of heroic spirit. He thought that the eldest grandson Sheguan was one of the most beautiful women in a thousand, and the eldest grandson Yuanxin was Sheguan's brother, so he was.
Extraordinarily handsome.
"The princess knows that you have come to see me, but it is getting late. The princess has worked hard all the way and disappeared today." Fan Yang is the eldest grandson Yuanxin, but the eldest grandson Yuanxin is also very polite: "The princess said that you must have been very hard recently.
Go back and have a good rest first, see you tomorrow." After a quick glance, his eyes fell on Qin Xiao and asked: "Are you Qin Shaoqing?"
Qin Xiao cupped his hands and said, "It's Qin Xiao!"
"Princess has an order for Qin Shaoqing to appear alone!" The eldest grandson Yuanxin raised his hand and said: "Qin Shaoqing, please!"