Peach Blossom Fairy and others used a relatively covert method of communication with Luo Yaoniang. The method came from Zhang Ning's dictation. It was to first select an antique shop, and Peach Blossom Fairy's people first put an ordinary thing in it and asked the store to do it for them.
It is for sale, but the price is marked very high; of course, it is impossible for unrelated people to spend a lot of money to buy an ordinary thing. But it always sells. The main reason is that the other party asks to contact him at the agreed place when he sells it.
Signal.
This meticulous method was pioneered by Zhang Ning. It is neither known to the public nor is it carefully thought out, so it will hardly be exposed. Because there is a very reasonable explanation for this strange thing in the world, and that is the method of official bribery: the bribe taker
Put an item in the shop, say it is a family heirloom, and then buy it at a high price for bribery. The profits from the purchase and sale are secretly circulated. Businessmen who open antique stores encounter this kind of thing.
They would take the opportunity to ask for high mid-price fees from it, and everyone would benefit; but they generally would not suspect that it was related to the detailed activities. Zhang Ning had been an official in the Ming Dynasty for several years, and he still had some understanding of these things, so he cleverly made changes and applied them to
Carefully crafted, it has not been exposed so far.
The Peach Blossom Fairy stayed in Guzhuang in the countryside of Yangzhou Prefecture for a few days. The spies who entered the city found that the items for sale had been sold, so they hurried back to report the signal.
Something happened that day in Yangzhou City, but unexpectedly it stopped in just a few days. Fairy Peach Blossom didn't know what was going on, but after being contacted by Luo Yaoniang a few days ago, she decided to take the risk and sneak into Yangzhou City again.
When they left Guzhuang and came to a room in the city that was prepaid for a month, Fairy Peach Blossom still couldn't suppress her inner uneasiness.
The arranged Luo Yaoniang has not come yet, maybe she will come after nightfall? The Peach Blossom Fairy listened to the surrounding movements and observed the situation outside through the gap in the window. There was a lot of traffic in Yangzhou City, and the imperial court maintained control of the Jianghuai area.
With good order, the market is gradually prospering, but under such circumstances, it is also like a dragon's pond and a tiger's den for the Peach Blossom Fairy because she does not have a legal identity in this area.
She had been in the world for many years. When trafficking illegal salt, she had direct armed conflicts with the government inspections more than once, and then faced the pursuit of the police. There were also colleagues who were also in the world, and they might not be trustworthy for the sake of a little profit. Every time she felt uneasy in her heart.
Afraid... It's still the same now. It seems that no matter how many times I have experienced this kind of thing, I still can't get used to it.
She didn't say it verbally, but sometimes she still thought in her heart: Why would Zhang Ning still ask her to do these things?
Is his gentle and pitiful gaze just a disguise? Or maybe he is somewhat similar to Peng Tianheng, the owner of "Peach Blossom Villa" a long time ago, and he just regards himself as a tool that can be used? As for liking ambiguity, it doesn't mean anything.
Back then, Peng Tianheng also thought she was pretty and wanted to sleep with her several times. If he wasn't worried about her relationship with Jianwen Yudang, it's hard to say what he would have done.
That's not the case! Fairy Peach Blossom quickly remembered that Zhang Ning asked him to assassinate the government envoy at the Luxi Miao Army camp. In the darkness on the eve of dawn, he grabbed his wrist and made a difficult choice and let go; she then
Thinking of the sight of him standing in front of the war-torn battlefield in a battle formation filled with smoke and roaring artillery fire, with artillery shells flying around and corpses strewn all over the field, he might have some troubles. The Peach Blossom Fairy seemed to see that calm but hidden face.
Hesitant face.
It is always too easy for women to think about trivial details and subtle feelings. She is no exception. The feelings of a moment are more important than the conclusion of cause and effect inference.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door. The Peach Blossom Fairy immediately recovered from the moment of distraction, and with caution, she signaled her followers to open the door.
The person who came was not Luo Yaoniang, but her maid, and she only sent a letter. Fairy Peach Blossom asked someone to go out to confirm whether anyone was following her, and then opened the envelope to read the contents.
The handwriting was Luo Yaoniang's own handwriting, and the letter stated that it would be inconvenient to meet each other for the time being... Sure enough, although Luo Yaoniang was nostalgic, she still had concerns. She seemed unwilling to take too big a risk to help them. However, the letter revealed an important point.
According to the news, Wang Gou'er, the chief seal officer of the Supervisor of Ceremonies, has a confidant, the eunuch Wang Zhen, who would come out from the Beicheng River to buy things for expenses every three or sixty-nine meetings. He also described the places where the eunuch Wang Zhen entered and the routes he often took.
Fan. Because Peach Blossom Fairy mentioned last time that she wanted to find Wang Gouer.
Upon seeing this, Peach Blossom Fairy saw hope. With this news, it would be much easier to find Wang Zhen and then see Wang Gouer through Wang Zhen.
...On the third day of March, it happened to be the day mentioned in the news. Sure enough, the ugly eunuch with a sharp mouth, monkey cheeks, and left and right eyes of different sizes came from the expected place to the palace. Purchasing things for the palace was a very profitable job.
The eunuchs in the early and mid-Ming Dynasty were not so courageous, but it was inevitable that an item worth one tael would be one, two, five, or two taels in the internal affairs books. With such a fat job, Wang Gouer, who was in power, would certainly have to
Leave the responsibility to your own people, and at the same time, you can still get a big share of the profits without taking any risks. This person is Wang Zhen.
Wang Zhen had a large group of eunuchs around him, most of whom were responsible for carrying things. He only bought things according to the books and kept accounts.
Just as he walked into a grain and oil grocery store and went to the warehouse to see the goods in person with a very responsible attitude, suddenly a woman's voice in the corridor at the door said: "Is your prince okay?"
This made Wang Zhen stunned. When he looked back, he saw a woman in robes and a hat. Although she couldn't see her true face, he knew from her voice that she didn't recognize him... Except for the palace maid, no one Wang Zhen knew
There are really only a handful of women, and his appearance determines that he is unlikely to be destined for women, so it is easy to judge whether he is an acquaintance. However, Wang Zhen only entered the palace after he became an adult, and his relationship with his hometown is not like that of ordinary eunuchs.
So clean, I still wonder: Could it be the person entrusted by my wife at home?
Wang Zhen asked curiously: "Who are you? Do you know our family?"
The woman said: "I came from Nanzhili and was asked to bring you a letter from home, please accept it." What a coincidence, Wang Gou'er was guessing that, and the woman said so.
.She is naturally the Peach Blossom Fairy.
When a eunuch has become a eunuch, his family will usually not recognize him because he feels humiliated, and he will often change his name after arriving in the palace. On the other hand, if his family still recognizes him, he does not have much to avoid. Some
When popular eunuchs become successful, they will look for opportunities to return to their hometowns to experience the feeling of returning to their hometowns in fine clothes. Of course, local officials and gentry do not dare to offend them on the surface, but it is hard to say whether they really appreciate them in their hearts.
Wang Zhen then asked the Peach Blossom Fairy to come forward and write him a letter.
Since it was a family letter, of course he had to read it in person. In fact, most of the other eunuchs next to him were not literate at all, but Wang Zhen was different. He was a serious scholar who had passed the examination.
Wang Zhen took a look and saw what kind of family letter it was. The first piece of paper inside was written in fine calligraphy. It said: Back then, Wang Zhangyin conspired with Wang Zhen to deal with the eunuch Haitao, and he and I (Zhang Ning) took care of each other internally and externally.
Wang Zhen was the bridge between them, and correspondence was exchanged. I don’t know if there were any fragments of my words in the place where Wang’s handprint was printed (it would be useless if they were), but I still had several manuscripts in my hand. I specially asked someone to copy them at will.
Zhang sent it to Wang Zhangyin to see if he still remembered what happened back then...
Wang Zhen's asymmetrical face suddenly changed color.
Peach Blossom Fairy said: "Your Majesty, I have read the family letter. Can I take a step to speak now?"
Wang Zhen looked around and ordered other eunuchs to guard outside, including the shopkeeper. Then he took Fairy Taohua into a warehouse where goods were stored. He lowered his voice and said urgently: "Back then, Zhang Pingan was still in the imperial court.
Officer, how do we know he is a traitor? Based on this little thing, what do you want to do and threaten us? "
Fairy Peach Blossom behaved quite calmly: "What King Xiang means is not that there is anything wrong with you colluding with him internally or externally, but the inside story of the matter itself. Could it be that Wang Gonggong has forgotten it, or that Wang Gouer has no idea at all?"
Tell you the truth?"
"What's the truth?" Wang Zhen frowned, his little eyes rolled and he was thinking about something. He didn't dare to act rashly, but he didn't seem to give in so easily.
Fairy Peach Blossom said: "Haitao poisoned the late emperor's concubine. Was he a conspiracy to poison, or was the 'incense ash' found really poisonous? This old case was related to the death of the emperor's grandfather; the truth has already been revealed.
The case has been settled, but if there is something hidden and the old matter comes up again... I think you have to go back and tell Wang Gouer about this matter and let him talk to us before we can make it clear. What do you think? Or do you think you can do it alone?
Making your own decisions?"
Wang Zhen didn't need to think too much and immediately answered: "How can I contact you? Let's tell our godfather Wang Zhangyin first and let him make the decision."
His answer was what Peach Blossom Fairy and Zhang Ning had expected when they were planning a few days ago. Since this matter did not only involve Wang Zhen, and Wang Zhen was not considered the mastermind, he certainly did not need to bear the responsibility alone and ask the people behind it.
Ventilating against a mountain is the simplest, cost-effective and wise way.
The Haitao incident alone could not really threaten Wang Gou'er. Peach Blossom Fairy had to meet Wang Gou'er in person and deceive him with another incident. That incident was very serious, the death of Emperor Yongle.
This matter originally came to an end as the Peach Blossom Fairy said, but it was very twists and turns. Probably the reason was that Hu Ying smelled a strange fragrance in the mourning hall of Emperor Yongle, and then saw this thing during the investigation of Jianwen's remaining party.
This led to the suspicion that Emperor Yongle died suddenly on the northern march after being poisoned by a strange poison; later the eunuch Haitao intended to use this incident to attack his political enemy Wang Gouer, and fought for several rounds in front of Xuande.
What is the truth? Emperor Yongle was poisoned by a spy? Who poisoned him? Was it Wang Gou'er? Or was it someone else? No one knows, at least Zhang Ning didn't figure it out.
Zhang Ning was an official under Hu Ying back then, and had handled many related cases and knew some of the ins and outs, but he still didn't understand it... However, he thought he could use this matter to deceive Wang Gouer. If true.
It was Wang Gou'er who did it. He must be very guilty, and he would inevitably think that Zhang Ning already knew the secret. After all, Zhang Ning's current identity is Prince Jianwen, and he is over there; even if it wasn't Wang Gou'er who did it, after
After going through so many twists and turns, he will also suspect that there is someone else. He didn't do it himself but he can't get rid of it.
...If Wang Gou'er really had anything to do with Emperor Yongle's death, he would definitely die without a burial place. Emperor Xuande had a deeper affection for Zhu Di than anyone else, including his parents; when he was only a few years old, he was
Grandpa took him with him and taught and demonstrated martial arts. The deep feelings involved are difficult for outsiders to understand. Even Zhu Di passed the throne to Zhu Gaochi not because of his identity as the eldest son, but more because of his grandson. Zhu Di is the direct grandfather of Emperor Xuande, and even more so.
The idol he worshiped was like a high mountain and a god-like status in Emperor Xuande's heart. Who touched his god, his belief, a eunuch? The consequences are self-evident...