The cold wind is biting, the white snow is flying, and the heavy snow in Guanzhong comes and goes.
It was still sunny during the day, but at night another heavy snowfall fell from the sky, covering the entire city of Chang'an in a blanket of white.
After the curfew, Chang'an City seemed very cold, and even the sound of the north wind blowing snowflakes could be clearly heard.
On winter nights like this, almost everyone stays in their mansions to warm themselves by the fire or sleep on their couches.
Even relatives and friends rarely get together on this cold winter night.
Therefore, before the time of Haishi arrived, apart from the lanterns hanging outside the squares trying to emit light, all the mansions in Chang'an City had already been plunged into darkness.
However, when the time came, the main hall of Duke Baoguo's mansion was brightly lit.
There were charcoal stove tea sets prepared by servants in the main hall, and the door was tightly closed so that the north wind could not penetrate, but the hall was as warm as spring.
Heavy snow surrounded the pavilions and courtyards of Duke Bao's Mansion, making it cold and quiet, as if isolated from the world.
There seemed to be no other sound between heaven and earth except for the soft sound of washing outside as snowflakes fell outside and the sound of the kettle gurgling on the stove.
The servants were all separated from each other, and there were only two people sitting around the fire in the main hall.
Duan Zhixuan, Duke of Bao, was born as a military general. Although he was strong and strong, he was wearing brocade casual clothes at home, but he showed an air of elegance.
He has a straight face and a neatly trimmed short black beard, which makes him look extraordinary.
Sitting opposite him was Cui Yongping, the Minister of Civil Service. At this time, his expression was worried, his eyes were blurred, he was obviously lost in his thoughts, and his whole person looked miserable.
If you don't know, if you compare the two, you will think that Duan Zhixuan is a child of a noble family, while Cui Yongping comes from a poor family that is full of hunger and poverty.
Seeing Cui Yongping's anxious expression, Duan Zhixuan's eyes flashed with contempt.
This is the child of the aristocratic family he used to try his best to fawn over, but it seems that he is nothing more than that, and his mental endurance is too poor.
At this time, the two of them were still in an alliance, but they couldn't express what they were thinking.
Seeing that the tea in front of Cui Yongping had cooled down, Duan Zhixuan personally lifted the kettle on the stove, washed the tea, made the tea, served the tea, and refilled the hot tea skillfully.
There is no way, even if they look down on Cui Yongping's useless behavior, no one dares to underestimate the giant Cui family of Qinghe.
Cui Yongping slowly came back to his senses, looked at the emerald green tea in front of him, picked up the delicate white porcelain tea cup, and took a gentle sip. A fragrance reverberated in his mouth, making it appear fresh and sweet.
After putting down the tea cup, Cui Yongping sighed softly: "This Longjing tea is indeed unique. Compared with the previous tea-making methods with mixed flavors, it is indeed more elegant. It contains sweetness in the slight astringency, and reveals the sweetness in the plainness.
Smell the fragrance and feel like life!"
"It's just that no matter how good the tea is, it can't fill your stomach, let alone serve as a staple food. Does Mr. Bao agree?"
Hearing this, Duan Zhixuan looked at Cui Yongping, then stared at the cup of tea in front of him, falling into deep thought.
As expected, people from aristocratic families still have some background. Just now, they were in a big loss, but now they are calm again. There is obviously something in their words!
Cui Yongping didn't look at him, he slowly sipped the tea and looked at the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall.
As expected, Duan Zhixuan, Duke of Bao Guo, came from a humble background. Even if he put on a yellow mantle, he could not conceal his ruffian spirit.
I kindly came over to discuss with him how to handle the ambush case.
This guy actually wants to push everything away and pin all the shit on his own body, Cui, so don't blame yourself!
There is a sound of falling snow and the pleasant fragrance of tea!
For a while, the main hall fell into silence again.
After a long while, Duan Zhixuan slowly raised his head and let out a long sigh: "Master Cui, what do you have to say!"
Only then did Cui Yongping look away, glanced at Duan Zhixuan, and saw that there was already a lot of sadness on his high-spirited face. He thought for a while before speaking:
"I just want Duke Bao to take him seriously, but don't make any mistakes. I heard that the second son of Duke Bao is still in the house?"
Duan Zhixuan unconsciously picked up the tea cup and took a sip of tea. After pondering for a long time, he slowly nodded and said:
"Yes, the dog is still in the mansion. I have grounded him. I think even your majesty can't just enter the mansion and arrest people without real evidence, right?"
"According to the information I received, His Majesty has handed over this case to Marquis Zhongyi for investigation. This guy is just relying on His Majesty's favor and there is nothing to be afraid of."
"It is said that after arriving at the Baiqi Station, this young boy did not do any serious business at all. He stayed in the duty room for several days chatting with people. It is impossible to find clues."
"And this general has destroyed all the evidence. As long as we don't tell ourselves, no one has any evidence to do anything to us!"
"Master Cui is too careful. It is said that you arranged for your other brother to return to Qinghe. Don't let him run around in case someone takes advantage of the loophole."
Looking at the arrogant Duan Zhixuan, Cui Yongping regretted believing in this guy's deception.
If Yang Fan was so easy to get along with, he wouldn't have failed in his repeated calculations.
Fortunately, I had saved my life and did not send Cui's dead soldiers to ambush him, otherwise Duan Zhixuan would have taken advantage of him.
Cui Yongping laughed and said: "What are you talking about, Mr. Bao Guo? My third brother Cui Yongjian returned to Qinghe, his ancestral home, just to visit his family elders when the new year is approaching. He is a merchant, what loopholes can others take advantage of?
"
Duan Zhixuan had a sullen face and said displeasedly: "Isn't it too late for Mr. Cui to say something sarcastic? Have you forgotten who transported the crossbows out of Chang'an City? Who found the person to ambush?"
Cui Yongping's expression immediately became frightened, and he waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Don't talk nonsense. Although my third brother Cui Yongjian transported a batch of goods out of the city, I have never seen anything. Even if it is prohibited goods, it is an unintentional act.
It is impossible to talk about the person we are looking for to assassinate him."
"Marquis Zhongyi was assassinated because he offended the Fusang envoy, thus injuring His Highness the King of Wu. What does this have to do with me, the Cui family?"
"Please don't talk nonsense, Duke Bao. I have a close relationship with Duke Bao. Please don't frame our Cui family in Yiyi."
Seeing that Cui Yongping actually wanted to leave everything behind, Duan Zhixuan was slightly angry. He secretly called him an old fox and said coldly: "Master Cui really wants to stand by and watch, but don't forget that we are grasshoppers on a rope."
Cui Yongjian didn't take it seriously, but smiled slightly and said, "Isn't it because I came here this time to care about you as a friend?"
After a moment of reflection, he continued: "Tomorrow in the court, our Cui family will put pressure on His Majesty to end this case as soon as possible."
"But Mr. Bao Guo wants to hide your second son. It's best to send him far away and never return to Chang'an City again."
Duan Zhixuan said displeasedly: "Master Cui doesn't need to worry about this. I know my son well..."
Cui Yongping's face darkened, and he reminded him again: "Although Yang Fan is young, his methods are quite sophisticated, so please be careful."
Duan Zhixuan waved his hand indifferently: "I'm just a young boy, it doesn't matter..."
Before he finished speaking, there was a rapid sound of horse hooves, accompanied by a banging on the door, which was particularly clear in this cold night.
Cui Yongping was a little surprised. Who else came to visit so late?
Judging by the sound of horse hooves, there must be a lot of people.
Just as he was about to speak, after a burst of hurried footsteps, some panicked words came from outside the door: "General, Zhongyi Marquis Yang Fan asked soldiers to surround the Duke's mansion and are you asking for an audience in front of the mansion?"
Duan Zhixuan's face turned red and he was a little embarrassed.
I looked down on this bastard just now, but I didn't expect that Cao Cao would arrive.
More importantly, he dared to send troops to surround the Duke's Mansion at such a late hour. This guy was simply lawless.
It was so sudden, indicating that it could not be the emperor's will, which is somewhat intriguing.
Unless there is an imperial edict to confiscate the family and exterminate the clan, who would dare to treat a founding general like this and not take him seriously at all?
Duan Zhixuan was furious and said coldly: "There is no holy order, so don't pay attention."
Are you kidding? Do you really think that the Duke of Baoguo is a soft persimmon?
He cut off his son's arm just last year, and now he wants to come to show off his power. Do you really think I'm a fool?
However, the housekeeper outside the door did not retreat, but said again with a grimace: "General, Marquis Zhongyi also brought a message, saying that if the Duke of the country does not see him, he will bear all the consequences."
With a bang, Duan Zhixuan suddenly stood up, kicked over the table beside him, and the tea sets fell to the floor. He said angrily: "This bastard doesn't know the heights of the world. Please order all the troops for me..."
With that said, he was about to go out and teach Yang Fan a lesson.
Haha, you are responsible for all the consequences, what a big statement.
Where did he think Baoguo Gongfu was, and who did he think Duan Zhixuan was?
To dare to send troops so blatantly to block the door is to seek death.
Apart from the serious crime of rebellion and treason, who dares to deal with the founder of the country like this?
Cui Yongping stared at Duan Zhixuan and said with concern: "Please calm down, Lord, why bother with that stick? Is it possible that as the Lord, you still want to fight with that kid?"
"That kid sent troops here blatantly. There won't be any clues in that kid's hands, right?"
Duan Zhixuan pondered for a moment and shook his head firmly: "Impossible!"
I quickly ran through my mind and found that there was nothing wrong, but I suppressed the anger in my heart.
As a veteran general, he certainly knew that anger could easily lead to loss of consciousness, but he didn't want to follow that kid's lead.
After asking the servant to clean up the spilled things, Duan Zhixuan said: "Let that kid come in, I want to see what tricks he can do."
The butler left in response!
At this moment, Duan Guan, who was awakened, hurried to the main hall, bowed to Duan Zhixuan and asked eagerly: "Father, what big thing happened?"
"How unbecoming are you with your hairy hands and feet? Didn't I tell you not to come out?" Duan Zhixuan glared, frowned and scolded in displeasure, and then explained: "That boy Yang Fan is outside the house..."
Hearing this, Duan Guan's face turned pale with fright, and he said with some anxiety: "You're not here to find a child, are you?"
Cui Yongping also asked with some doubts: "Yes, although Yang Fan is arrogant and domineering, he is definitely not stupid. Whether he is facing the Duke or the Prince, he always makes plans and then acts. If there is no evidence, he dares to surround the Duke's Mansion.
This is not his style of acting, Duke Bao will have to deal with it carefully later."
Cui Yongping was both envious and jealous of Yang Fan.
Thinking back to the time when they were hoarding charcoal, Yang Fan found a briquette, causing the Cui family to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Junyangfang is such a big piece of fat, and the Cui family can only watch it. Even if they let the Wu brothers plan how to make colored glaze, there has been no movement at all in the past year.
Because of his military exploits, Yang Fan had already taken up the post of Minister of Rites at a young age, and Cui Yongping was extremely envious of him.
Thinking that Cui Yongping was of noble birth, he was able to climb up to the position of minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs only when he was over 50 years old.
If you want to become the first one, it will take at least many years.
In the past, I always felt that I was superior, but now I realize that I am living like a dog!
Duan Zhixuan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and suppressed his restless emotions.
After all, he is the most outstanding figure of this era. It is rare for Duan Zhixuan to be so determined. In just a moment, he calmed down and became clear-minded.
When he opened his eyes again, he could no longer see any emotion fluctuations: "Master Cui, don't worry, if that kid dares to come here randomly, he will never come back. This is not Duke Ying's mansion..."
Cui Yongping was overjoyed and quickly echoed: "Don't worry, Mr. Baoguo, if that kid dares to do anything reckless, he will go to court tomorrow without any money."
"Wait a minute, let's play a double act to show that boy some color..."
While the two were talking, three figures came from a distance!
Duan Zhixuan and the others looked up, their gazes penetrating the snowy sky.
The leader was seventeen or eighteen years old, none other than Zhongyi Hou Yang Fan.
At this time, the boy was wearing a cashmere hat on his head. Under the hat, he had a pair of thick eyebrows waving like thick ink, and a pair of bright eyes. Paired with that resolute face, the whole person looked completely devoid of the frivolity of a teenager.
Wearing a Sichuan brocade gown, the whole person looks clean and neat. The cold wind blows the clothes, revealing a strong and strong body.
Although the clothes are not very thick, I am not afraid of the cold at all.
Compared with before, Yang Fan's face was a little thinner, but perhaps because of his experience on the battlefield, his whole person became a bit more calm and solid.
Behind him was only a young man who looked like a guard...
The butler from the Duke's residence followed last.
In front of Yang Fan, he seemed to dare not take a breath. After seeing Duan Zhixuan from a distance, he bowed slightly and retreated.
Cui Yongping looked at Yang Fan in front of him and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
I have to admit that among the many children from aristocratic families, in terms of magnanimity, no young man can compare to this boy.
Duan Zhixuan felt even worse. Seeing Yang Fan's steady steps, a chilling air hit his face, and he felt a sense of awe in his heart for no reason.
Yang Fan's calm demeanor alone has already surpassed that of his eldest son, whom he is proud of.
At the same time, he was even more afraid of Yang Fan. He couldn't help but pay more attention to Yang Fan than ever before, and he no longer dared to have the slightest contempt.
Yang Fan walked into the main hall and saw Duan Zhixuan sitting upright. On the other side was Cui Yongping, which surprised Yang Fan.
Why is this Minister of Civil Affairs, one of the representatives of the Cui family in Qinghe, still here so late?
Could it be that there is something that the two families can't do?
But what pleased Yang Fan the most was that Duan Guan was standing beside him. Because the front door was wide open, the cold wind was blowing, and his sleeves were fluttering in the wind.
Apparently, the arm that was chopped off by himself has no ability to regenerate.
Perhaps because he sensed Yang Fan's strange gaze, Duan Guan's timid expression suddenly turned into hatred.
The reason why the one-armed hero became the laughing stock of everyone in Chang'an City was because of this loyal and righteous prince.
When his enemies met, they were extremely jealous. Duan Guan wished he could eat his flesh and drink his blood.
Yang Fan turned a blind eye to Duan Guan's hatred, since being stared at wouldn't make him lose any weight anyway, as long as the guy didn't run away.
Yang Fan took a step forward, saluted Duan Zhixuan and Cui Yongping and said, "I have met Duke Bao and Cui Shilang. I thought it would be offensive to disturb them late at night. It seems that everyone is not asleep yet, so that's the best."
Although he sounded polite, his words were sharp and there was no hint of embarrassment.
Cui Yongping slightly cupped his hands and looked on coldly, silently.
Duan Zhixuan's eyes narrowed slightly, a cold light flashed, and he shouted loudly: "The Marquis of Zhongyi is famous and powerful outside the region, how can I dare to accept your courtesy?"
"Now that you have achieved great success, you come to surround the Duke's palace. You have no attitude of being a junior. Do you really think that you can be unscrupulous because of your military achievements? Are you so devoid of family education?"
Duan Zhixuan's majestic demeanor remains the same, with a rather honest and youthful spirit, as if he is teaching a young junior a lesson.
As a famous general who conquered the world together with Li Shimin, he was able to rise to the position of general from a young age. He has been in a high position for many years and commanded thousands of troops. His magnanimity has developed, and he has quite a fierce power.
It was Duan Zhixuan's plan to get into trouble as soon as they met.
He wanted to take the lead in terms of momentum and even overwhelm Yang Fan, but unfortunately he made the wrong calculation.
If Yang Fan had just traveled to the Tang Dynasty, he might still have been affected.
But now the persistence and worldview in Yang Fan's heart have long been proud of the world. Even when facing His Majesty Li Er, they just know each other, are compatible with each other, and respect each other. Why fear a mere prince?
If Duan Zhixuan had not been lucky enough to be nurtured by His Majesty Li Er, how could he have risen from a common man to the position of Duke.
From the moment Duan Zhixuan wanted to hook up with the noble family, he was no longer the confidant and favorite general in His Majesty Li Er's eyes, and Yang Fan was no longer afraid of him.