A large number of people flocked in to watch the execution of Lingchi Zheng, and the Xianyifang Mutton Hutong near the Xisi Archway inevitably seemed a bit deserted. This alley was already one of the three famous downtown areas in the capital when it was the capital of the Yuan Dynasty. Now it has been moved to the capital.
As time went by, it naturally became a place with denser crowds. When there were countless noises from the Xisi Archway because the time had come and the execution had begun, the shopkeepers here looked at the pastries that used to fill the entire street.
At the food stall, everyone couldn't help but started talking about it.
"There are at least a thousand or two thousand people over there at the Xisi Archway. The business of Gongbing Liu's jujube cakes has always been good. On this day, at least it can make a lot of money!" "Not only Gongping Liu, there are also other restaurants in our alley.
Seven or eight stalls have been set up early, and some money has been paid to the Xicheng Army and Horse Department. The business will be well managed in these two days. It is not a beheading, it will be over in a while, and the slashing knife will last two afternoons!"
"Well, if it weren't for the shop, I would have wanted to join in the fun."
Several shopkeepers who were chatting at the door shook their heads and sighed when they saw the three or five people in the alley. They did not notice at all that a young man in green clothes and a small hat slipped into a newly opened clothing store in the west. After all,
Although the ready-to-wear business has become increasingly difficult these days, it is still no problem for seven or eight customers to come in every day and sell one or two pieces of clothing.
Li Qingniang was flipping the abacus beads behind the counter. When she saw someone coming, she immediately raised her head. When she recognized Xu Xun, she was stunned. Although Xu Xun had come to visit Shen Yue quietly in the past, he was simply dressed in plain clothes.
How could she just change into the boy's clothes this time? Not knowing why, she saw Xu Xun making a sign and entering the back door by a familiar route. She couldn't help but shook her head, lowered her head and made calculations.
Ruyi, who was sweeping the floor in the yard, suddenly saw a young man dressed as a servant come in. He couldn't help being surprised. He quickly walked forward with his broom on his side, and then he realized that it was Xu Xun. He put his finger on his lips and shuddered at her.
With a loud gesture, she couldn't help but smile and pointed at the main room. Seeing the person tiptoeing past, she snickered for a while and then continued to bury her head and scan the ground, but she glanced into the room from time to time.
"I told you to tell people nonsense, you big liar!"
Xu Xun, who had just entered the room, was startled when he heard these two sounds. He almost thought it was Shen Yue who had eyes behind his back. When he found out that the little girl was just tossing the buckwheat pillow on the bed,
He just boldly stepped forward and coughed lightly behind the person. When he saw her turning around like a frightened deer, and then jumping up, he smiled and blinked.
"You are still talking about Lou when I'm not around, I'm really worried about you!"
"Bah, who cares about you, you big liar!" Shen Yue didn't expect Xu Xun to be so shameless and was angry and angry at the same time. "You actually lied to me together with an outsider. That Zhu Xiaohou, he is obviously His Highness the Crown Prince! You actually even gave me a trick
I forgot to remind you, and you just watched me lecture people!"
"It's okay, that master loves this tune!"
"What did you say!"
Xu Xun, who was muttering in a low voice, saw Shen Yue puffing up her cheeks, as if she was going to have an attack next moment, and immediately smiled and said: "Okay, it's no big deal. Others want to see His Highness but they can't. How can you do it so lightly and skillfully?"
She became his sister... Speaking of which, when did you notice the clue?" "Look at the jade pendant he gave me!" Shen Yue thrust the thing into Xu Xun's eyes, and when she saw that he suddenly understood, she hummed softly.
Said: "Who else would dare to use this coiled dragon pattern except the people in the palace? What's more, the tape is made of continuous Wanshou knots. I looked at the interface and saw it with the word "royal" in it. If I really
If you take them out, you will definitely get into big trouble! Besides, the news of the Emperor's personal trial came out a few days ago. Today, Ling Chi of Xisi Archway killed someone again. I would not have noticed it unless I was a fool!" "Oh, of course you don't.
Who are you stupid to be as smart as Yue'er?" Shen Yue was almost mad at Xu Xun's perfunctory tone. She instinctively clenched her fist and gave him a hard blow. Seeing that he screamed out in an exaggerated way, she then
Remembering that Ruyi was still outside, she hurriedly reached out to cover his mouth. Sure enough, the next moment, Ruyi's voice came from outside, and she quickly raised her voice: "It's okay, he accidentally knocked himself!"
Seeing that Ruyi was silent, she glared at this hateful guy hatefully. Seeing that Xu Xun was looking at her with a sly look on his face, she immediately put down her hand and realized that she had been taken advantage of by him again. Cursed: "A big liar, he knows how to lie to people!"
Xu Xun didn't care about this indifferent scolding, he just found a place to sit on his own, and suddenly took a teacup and looked around for water to drink. Shen Yue was half-infuriated by his familiar attitude, and couldn't help it. He grabbed the cup he usually used and found a new one. He poured half a cup of cold tea at once, and then asked angrily: "You never see anyone dressed like this when you come here. Today What's going on with this body?"
"Didn't you notice that Danri in Yangrou Hutong has some eyeliners?" Seeing Shen Yue suddenly stunned, Xu Xun smiled slightly and said, "His Royal Highness probably can't sneak out of the palace these days, and he hasn't sent anyone here either." I have been looking for you. However, he and Liu Jin must have concealed their previous encounter with you, but they were probably out of curiosity or something else, so they sent someone to Yangrou Hutong to inquire about you. Monk Huitong said a few days ago that this time There were quite a few strangers walking around the whole street, but luckily Mother Li probably noticed it and didn't let you out."
"Then I can't live here anymore?"
"That's not necessarily the case. The most dangerous place is also the safest place. It's just that it's more troublesome for me. I have to crawl back and forth like an underground worker every time."
Although Shen Yue wanted to keep a straight face, he was still amused by these words: "You are an underground worker, you think you are a mouse burrowing in the ground! But it's true, this Mutton Alley is a busy city, it's impossible for people to Keep staring here. It’s you, you are now the dignified Prince of Xing’an, don’t always sneak out without any trouble, 1 be careful to bring the mouse to me!”……………………………………
A restaurant northeast of the Xisi Archway Execution Ground was also crowded with people at this time.
The best private rooms on the third floor facing the street have all been booked a few days ago.
At this moment, in a private room with the best location, Mr. Luo stood at the window and looked down, gently sipping the wine in his glass, and then turned around and came back after a long while.
"Big shopkeeper, it seems that I really underestimated you. I thought you would destroy the Great Wall by disturbing the prince so easily. Who knew you could predict the emperor's temper! I have always boasted of my intelligence and scheming. I really made a mistake once!"
"Mr. Luo is self-effacing. You and I are in the south and the north. I have always been in charge of matters in the north." It's not surprising that he is more accurate than you. The emperor is a very affectionate and filial person, as long as the palace officials of Renshou Palace are involved. "He will definitely not pursue it aggressively: and the Queen is involved, he is determined not to allow this matter that once caused a huge commotion among the people to be carried out quietly, and he will definitely bring down everyone. It’s only because Liu Shan was the instigator that it’s not surprising that he was punished.”
"The big shopkeeper really has a plan, I admire him!" Mr. Luo drank the wine in one gulp. After putting down the glass, he looked at the iron man opposite and said, "It's just that I don't understand. Liu Shan should have known that he was going to die. How could he?" Won’t you reveal the mastermind?”
"What mastermind are you confessing?" The man with the iron mask calmly took a piece of fish with chopsticks, put it into his mouth and chewed it slowly. Then he shrugged and said, "It's because he likes gambling and owes a huge gambling debt: But Zheng Wang had his own wishful thinking, and went to Xuanwu Gate to find his relatives. The two lunatics met and naturally hit it off. One used the reputation of the royal family to collect money and was able to be on an equal footing with the nobles; the other with gambling debts gradually I have paid off, and I am proud of myself: Even if they want to reveal the mastermind, they can't tell it! However, it took me a lot of effort to get these two people together and to get them to hit it off and keep in touch." "It's worth it. , this strange case can be spread all over the world in the blink of an eye, it is all the credit of the big shopkeeper!
In the past, I only knew that the big shopkeeper was the master’s money bag, but now I know that I, as a think tank, should give it to you!” Seeing the iron-faced man smiling and saying a few humble words, Mr. Luo suddenly changed the subject and said
"I've never taken off your mask since I met the big shopkeeper. Even if there are scars on your face, there's no need to do this?"
"It's really because people who see my face can't sleep most of the night." The man in the iron mask looked at Mr. Luo with a smile, and suddenly reached out to untie the mask. "I just hope Mr. Luo doesn't have nightmares."
Mr. Luo was already mentally prepared, but when he saw the mask being taken off and that face appearing in front of him, he still almost didn't scream out. That face was too horrible to look at, as if it had been beaten by someone.
The place was completely burned by the fire, and no trace of its former appearance could be seen!
…………………………
Late at night, Jiao Fang, who was in the study, listened to the housekeeper Li Zheng telling him about today's execution at Xisi Archway and the story about Ying San taking Xu Yi to see Qi Jiliang. His frown relaxed.
Kai Lai, then ordered: "After Xu Yi goes to seduce Ma Wensheng's son again, send Ying San away far away. Ma Wensheng, if you put it nicely, will make his employer ruthless, if he puts it badly, he will make countless enemies out of spite...
Now that he has become the one who lights the firecrackers, he is not far from stepping down! That boy Xu Xun has the holy will and the favor of the prince, but Ma Wensheng has the favor of the three cabinet ministers, and let them fight
!”
"Yes, Master." Li Zheng nodded hurriedly, but after thinking about the risks of this matter, he still couldn't help but said, "But last time the emperor gave the young master four new books, doesn't it mean that the master's holy family has already married Ma
Is the difference between Shangshu and Shangshu not far? Besides, Ma Shangshu also submitted a letter to become an official but was refuted..."
"What's the matter of writing a letter to become an official? The old man is trying to retreat in order to advance. He doesn't really want to retreat. He is clearly relying on his old age and wanting to continue to put pressure on me! Moreover, just being a holy family is better than being useless. The emperor has retained Ma Wensheng. Is it possible?
I have to wait until I die before I can succeed as Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?"
Moreover, although Ma Wensheng is over eighty, Jiao Fang is also over seventy.