Zhu Rong was very satisfied with her statement, smiled and said: "Zhao'er, how old are you this year?"
Zhao'er replied respectfully: "Madam, I am nine years old this year."
Zhu Rong continued to ask: "Then where are you from?"
Zhao'er replied: "Madam, my ancestral home is from Guangzong, Jizhou."
Zhu Rong asked in surprise: "Then how did you get to Wuling? Who else is here?"
Zhao'er was very smart, so she still didn't understand what Zhu Rong meant by asking her. She turned to look at Zhu Rong and said, "Madam wants to know about this slave's life experience."
Liu Xin knew that if they were really compared, Zhu Rong might not be as scheming as this little girl. Originally, it was most appropriate for Ma Yun to do the research on Zhao'er's origins, but Zhu Rong had already asked about it. If he didn't
If Zi asked the truth, it would arouse her wariness, so she said: "Zhao'er, eat a piece of cake first, and then tell me slowly. I really want to hear your story."
"Thank you, Master!" Zhao'er was not pretentious at all. He picked up a piece of mung bean cake generously, leaned forward slightly, but didn't rush to stuff it into his mouth. He was stunned for a while, and tears already fell from his eyes.
After he came down, he choked and said, "Master, Madam, my surname is Guo. My father once served as the governor of Nanjun, so my family moved to Jiangling. Later, the family fell into decline, both parents died, all brothers died, and they became slaves. Last year, they became slaves.
It was given to Lord Jin by the master."
Zhu Rong was kind-hearted. After listening to Guo Zhao's unfortunate life experience, he couldn't help but hug her in his arms and comforted her: "Zhao'er is really a miserable child, but when things get better in the future, follow me and you won't have to worry about it again."
It’s hard.”
"Guo Zhao?" Liu Xin recited the name twice silently. She couldn't remember any female celebrities named Guo in this era. However, she somewhat believed what she said. If she wasn't a woman from an official family, there wouldn't be one.
Such insight. According to the time calculation, her father should have served as the prefect of Nanjun before Bei Yu. It should be recorded in the classics. It is not difficult to check it out.
With this carriage and the cavalry accompanying it, the speed was naturally much faster. At noon, they had arrived at the Navy Pier upstream of Wuling Ferry, including the carriage and boat they took last time.
The fleet is already waiting there.
Zhu Rong knew that after getting on this boat, he only had more than one day left to get to Xiangyang, and he would not have many opportunities to be alone with Liu Xin in the future, which made him slightly sad. But Guo Zhao had never seen such a big boat before, and it was novel and exciting.
, has completely freed her from the sadness caused by just recalling the past.
Liu Xin attaches great importance to the navy, and the training is extremely strict. Not only must they be able to participate in night battles, but they must also be able to ensure that there are no problems in long-distance sailing at night. The sailors in the fleet are carefully selected, and there is a favorable wind, and the next day
We arrived at the north gate of Xiangyang City at noon, half a day ahead of schedule.
When they arrived outside Xiangyang City, Zhu Rong no longer stopped Liu Xin and allowed him to get on the horse. However, he stayed on the carriage and refused to get off. He said that he was a wife now, and he wanted to act like a wife.
Riding a horse ostentatiously through the city will result in people making irresponsible remarks. In fact, Liu Xin knew very well that she was not the kind of woman who was afraid of gossip. She was clearly interested in the snacks in the car. She enjoyed the scenery and ate the delicious food.
Is there anything more satisfying for her than this?
Liu Xin had just reined in her horse and walked a few steps forward when she saw Zhu Yu staring at the carriage eagerly. She couldn't help but smile and said: "The carriage is empty now. Go and accompany your sister."
After receiving this order, Zhu Yu hurriedly jumped off the horse, took three steps and two steps at a time, and got into the carriage. She wanted to get close to Liu Xin, but before she could do so, another photo appeared.
It made Zhu Rong and her somewhat alienated, and she didn't want that. Otherwise, if Zhu Rong just said a word, she would be sent back to the village just like Zhu Yan and the others. The top priority was to improve the relationship with Zhu Rong first.
Liu Xin shook his head and continued to move forward. As soon as he arrived outside the city gate, he saw Jushou, Tian Feng, and Chen Gong coming out to greet him. He couldn't help reining in his horse and asked in surprise: "Three gentlemen, how do you know Liu?"
Will you come back early?"
Jushou cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Back to my lord, although my subordinates and others don't know the exact time of my lord's return, they know that my lord's return is as fast as an arrow. He will only do it in advance and will never delay it. So I and my subordinates and others will do it early in the morning."
So I'm waiting here. As for the others, because they have their own duties, I didn't let them come with me."
Liu Xin knew that during the most half a year of his expedition, the entire rear grain transportation, army dispatch, taxation, and production all relied on Jusao and Tian Feng to assist Ma Yun, so that they could run in an orderly manner. But now that he knew that he was back,
I have been waiting from early morning until now. I couldn't help but feel moved. I jumped off my horse, took the two of them by the hand, and said, "Mr. Yuan Hao, thank you for your hard work during this time!"
Ju Tuo and Tian Feng said in unison: "My master is kind to his subordinates, and this is what I should do!"
Chen Gong waited for them to finish their greetings, then took a step forward, cupped his hands and said, "I have seen my lord. May I ask if your lord's health is better?"
Liu Xin knew that Chen Gong had always been serious about words and had not been serving him for a long time. He was quite surprised that he could take the initiative to care about his body now. He couldn't help but nodded and said with a smile: "Gongtai, you see I am strong now."
Do you have to kill a cow to look like something is wrong?"
After Jia Xu went to Xiaoguan, Chen Gong handed over the affairs in his hands to him and returned to Xiangyang. He was the censor of the Supervisory Yuan and was responsible for supervising all civil and military officials, and Xiangyang was Liu Xin's base camp.
It is indeed not appropriate for Chen Gong to leave for a long time. Chen Gong is an upright person and the kind of person who can't get dirt out of his eyes. It is perfect for him to serve as the censor of the Overwatch Council.
After listening to Liu Xin's words, Chen Gong looked at his face again and again. As expected, he was in high spirits and did not look like he was in trouble. Then he bowed and bowed and said, "My lord, I have something to report to you!"
Jushou is in charge of Phantom, and he inevitably has to strengthen surveillance on officials, but he only cares about whether anyone is colluding with the princes and intending to rebel, and he cares little about other illegal things. But he also knows the responsibilities of Chen Gong. Since Chen Gong
If Gong said that he had something to report to Liu Xin, it must be related to the issue of official ethics. As an ordinary official, Chen Gong has the power to deal with it directly. The person who needs to report to Liu Xin first and then make a decision must be someone close to Liu Xin.
A close confidant or a high-ranking official.
Only then did Jushu understand why Chen Gong insisted on coming with them to the city gate to greet Liu Xin, and hurriedly said: "Gongtai, my lord has just come back, he is so tired, and he has not seen my wife and the others yet, what can I do for you?"
It’s not too late to talk tomorrow, so why be in such a hurry.”
Although the character of most of Liu Xin's civil and military personnel is not problematic, it is inevitable that some people will become increasingly extravagant and extravagant as their status, power, and wealth change, and it is inevitable that a few lawbreakers will appear, but Jushou said this
It’s not that I mean to help those officials who broke the law cover up, but I know that Ma Yun is very intolerant at home.
Yi. A husband and wife who have been separated for a long time are better than newlyweds. It is not easy to meet once. If one or two trusted officials are dealt with first, will Liu Xin be in a good mood? In fact, Jushou himself has many things that need to be reported to Liu Xin alone.
But after he sorted it out in detail, he found that there was no rush for a day or two, so he planned to talk about it tomorrow.
However, Liu Xin was not a person who did not distinguish between public and private affairs. When she heard that Chen Gong had something to report, she waved her hand and said, "It's okay. Let's talk on the public stage."
Chen Gong walked up to Liu Xin and said sternly: "My lord, my subordinates reported the cabinet scholar Guo Jia for his loose behavior, disorderly style, and contempt for etiquette!"
Liu Xin was stunned when he heard this, and then said with a smile: "Gongtai, Fengxiao is a slut. He is used to being lax. Extraordinary people often do extraordinary things, and it is reasonable. If it is not a very important fault, it will be done by him."
He goes."
Although Liu Xin's words were obviously meant to exonerate Guo Jia, Chen Gong did not give in and continued: "Back to my lord, my subordinates also admire Guo Fengxiao's clever strategy, but what I reported today is not trivial."
, please, my lord, listen to your subordinates’ detailed explanation!”
Liu Xin couldn't help but embarrass him, so she could only murmur: "I have always been informal in my conduct of filial piety. Maybe it was just an unintentional mistake. Gongtai, please tell me, what illegal thing did he do?"
Chen Gong glanced at Ju Shou and Tian Feng who were walking alongside them, but stopped talking.
Jushou smiled and said: "Gongtai, Fengxiao made great contributions in the battle to recover the lost territory of Zangke and put down the rebellion in Nanzhong. If it is just a minor offense, you might as well forget it, so as not to affect the lord's mood."
What he said was very obvious, but Chen Gong was indifferent and said seriously: "If it was just a minor offense, Chen would have dealt with it himself. How dare he labor the lord?"
Tian Feng said from the side: "Gongtai, as the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Tian is in charge of the appointment of officials at all levels. Gongyu is a cabinet bachelor and participates in the decision-making of large and small affairs. What you are reporting now is another
Cabinet bachelors, Mr. Tian and Mr. Ju should be informed. Just tell me what Fengxiao has committed. Why hide it from the two of us? Don’t waste my lord’s time!”
Chen Gong glanced at Liu Xin and saw him nodding slightly, and then said: "My lord, Guo Jia seduced other women, and my subordinates have verified that it is true."
Liu Xin burst out laughing, turned around and asked, "My lord, Fengxiao is in his early twenties this year?"
Jushou held back his laughter, cupped his hands and said, "Go back to my lord, Fengxiao is twenty-three this year. It's time to get married long ago."
Tian Feng couldn't help but laughed and said: "It's true that Fengxiao is not married. If he likes a girl, he just invites a matchmaker to come to his door. Is there anyone else who doesn't want to? Why do he do it secretly and offend?
De Gongtai is not happy."
Chen Gong waited for them to finish laughing, then raised his hands and said: "Master, gentlemen, Chen is not a flexible person. If Feng Xiao seduces an ordinary girl, as long as nothing scandalous happens, Chen will naturally do the same."
Turn a blind eye."
Liu Xin didn't expect that Chen Gong could also say "turn a blind eye", so she couldn't help being surprised. It seemed that Guo Jia was in big trouble this time. She couldn't help but put away her joking thoughts and asked in a deep voice
: "Gongtai, please tell me, whose girl did he seduce this time?"