Chapter 109: The Second Prime Minister of the current dynasty, Grand Protector Lu Zhong!
Three months passed in a flash.
Zhang Shunyi, a promising young man who had just passed the imperial examination and was at the stage of striving for progress in his life, was forced by Xu Chong to retire early.
Su Ruochen was a little reserved at first, but after a while, he came over.
Drinking, playing chess, cheating, bragging, taking a walk, everything is done.
Just like that, three more idle young people appeared in Zhentian City.
Perhaps it was this kind of leisurely life that diluted the obsession in Zhang Shunyi's heart, making him feel that he was not far from breaking through the second level of body washing.
this day.
The three of them sat in a row on the edge of the cliff, looking extremely lazy.
"It has to be Brother Xu."
Zhang Shunyi sighed, "In another two months, I should be able to break through without any worries, and no longer have to guard against the troubles of my inner demons."
“Don’t be careless.”
Xu Chong raised his eyebrows, "If it can eliminate the trouble forever, it will be worthwhile to delay for a longer time in the first stage of washing the body."
"indeed so."
Su Ruochen nodded, "I think, whether the strength is high or low, isn't it the same? Look at these people in the secondary capital, there are also some very powerful ones, but can they use that strength?"
"You can't say that."
Xu Chong's expression straightened up. "Strength is something you must have first, and then you have the choice not to use it... For example, if the Supervisor wants to kill your father, and you don't have the strength, there is no room for mediation, and you can only watch your father being killed."
"Well."
Su Ruochen was stunned. "The Supervisor has a grudge against my father? Didn't I hear them say...was it also because of a woman?"
“…”
Xu Chong's mouth twitched, and he turned his head to look at Zhang Shunyi, "After the breakthrough, you have to go back to the capital?"
"Yes, my mentor said so early in the morning."
Zhang Shunyi nodded, "However, I would like to see the Master before returning to Beijing."
"Yes, indeed."
Xu Chong pondered.
If Zhang Shunyi chose to break through, it would mean that his inner demons had gone away and he could indeed go back to see Wang Hezhi.
but……
Xu Chong grinned and said maliciously: "You will be scolded when the time comes."
“As it should be.”
Zhang Shunyi did not show any rejection, but instead smiled a reminiscence, "Back then, the Master valued Brother Xu the most and rarely beat or scolded him... I am different."
"It turns out that if you want to succeed, you still have to fight."
Xu Chong laughed, but also sighed in his heart.
Wang Hezhi was obsessed with teaching a top three talent, and put most of his attention on the original body, but in the end it was Zhang Shunyi who succeeded.
Not only achieved, but exceeded.
Being on the three lists and passing the three imperial examinations are completely different concepts.
Throughout the history of Daqing, there are less than a hundred people who have achieved this. It is no wonder that Zhang Shunyi's "mentor" was so nervous.
Thinking of this, Xu Chong asked curiously: "By the way, who is your mentor?"
"What's your mentor's name... Lü Zhong."
Zhang Shunyi did not hide anything, but he said the word "Lü Zhong" in a very low voice.
Although he spoke in a low voice, all those present were at least Tongmai warriors, so it seemed like they were trying to cover up their crimes.
Su Ruochen exclaimed directly: "The current second assistant, Lü Zhong, one of the three ministers?"
"Exactly."
Zhang Shunyi touched his nose.
He is very relaxed when bragging, but telling the truth makes him feel shameless.
"its not right."
Xu Chong frowned, "How can a deputy assistant be the chief examiner of the provincial examination?"
"Brother Xu misunderstood."
Zhang Shunyi explained, "My humble brother's provincial examination teacher was a Hanlin lecturer. Not long after I arrived in Beijing, he recommended me to Master Lu, and then..."
"And then you were accepted into the sect by the second assistant?"
Xu Chong was a little shocked, "Your luck... is really unique."
In fact, if you really count, Zhang Shunyi's first half of his life can be said to be smooth sailing.
Although his family background was not good, he had hardly suffered any hardship. After the provincial examination, he jumped several levels and was worthy of being called a son of luck.
"Not as good as Brother Xu's great ancestor's bloodline."
Zhang Shunyi winked.
"No, no, no."
Xu Chong raised his chin and said, "The fact that you can know me, the descendant of our great ancestor, is enough to show that you are very lucky."
"When there is a disagreement, he starts to brag..."
Su Ruochen was speechless.
In the past three months, he has finally seen what true bragging is.
He always brags about himself, saying things like "eighth rank", "the territory of Zhentian City", and "some face".
Xu Chong, on the other hand, relied on his heritage as Taizu's and boasted all kinds of things... and in the end, it was proved that he was not just bragging.
The six ministers of ministries were really willing to drink with him, his father would always lose when playing chess with him, the Censorate was really caught eavesdropping several times... and so on.
Anyway, Su Ruochen now understands what the highest level of bragging is?
It's not about bragging until people believe it, but about making the boast become fact!
For example, the sentence just now, 'The fact that you can know me, the descendant of your great ancestor, is enough to prove that you have a prosperous destiny.'
Su Ruochen read a high degree of approval from Zhang Shunyi's face.
"indeed so."
Zhang Shunyi nodded seriously, "To be honest, before I left Beijing, my mentor specifically told me to spend more time with Brother Xu."
"oh?"
Xu Chong became interested. "Lord Lu also mentioned me. What did he say?"
Zhang Shunyi was about to answer when Su Ruochen tugged at his sleeve.
"Your master is here."
Su Ruochen pointed to the mountain path below.
"Impossible, my master is far away in Beijing. Brother Su wants to deceive me, but I still need to improve my skills..."
Zhang Shunyi smiled and shook his head, then suddenly froze there before he could finish his words.
On the winding mountain road, a large group of people were climbing up the mountain.
The leading officer holding a red flag, the musicians playing music to lead the way, the ceremonial guard holding spears and banners, and the golden-armored pagodas accompanying as guards.
If it were just these, it might not mean much, but the jade plaques held by the guard of honor had words clearly written on them that represented their identities.
'Grand Guardian', 'Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion', 'Minister of Works'...
Although they were a bit far away, these words were still imprinted in the eyes of the three people.
"You didn't play truant from school?"
Xu Chong's tone was full of doubt.
“How old am I…”
Zhang Shunyi was speechless. He stood up and walked down the official road.
Xu Chong didn't move, and Su Ruochen didn't move either.
The two watched Zhang Shunyi meet up with the team halfway up the mountain, and then they went up the mountain together.
Only when they were almost in front of them did the two of them stand up and wait.
Not long after, the team stopped in the square outside the city gate, and officials came out and rode towards the city gate.
Zhang Shunyi was walking towards this side with a tall and thin man.
“Hahahaha, I’ve long heard that Taizu’s descendants are favored by heaven. Today I see that they are indeed extraordinary.”
Even though they were still a little distance apart, the tall and thin man began to laugh and cup his fists, "I am Lü Zhong, nice to meet Xu Yimai."
Xu Yimai...what kind of ridiculous name is this? !
Xu Chong clasped his fists, not knowing whether to laugh or cry: "Your subordinate Xu Chong, I greet the Deputy Assistant."
"Brother Xu, I didn't lie to you, did I?"
Zhang Shunyi winked at Xu Chong, "Master thinks highly of Brother Xu."
"I am truly ashamed..."
Xu Chong waved his hand modestly, a little curious: "I think your Excellency is in his prime, why ..."
"Why do you call yourself old?"
Lu Zhong smiled and said, "To be honest, the side skills I have learned have some effect in keeping my youth. Don't be fooled by my appearance, I am actually eighty years old."
Keep youthful?
Is this something a man should learn ?
Xu Chong was speechless for a while.
"I have already told this to this old man. I would like to thank you for your help."
Lu Zhong bowed again.
"Your Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister, your words are very sincere. Shunyi is my classmate, fellow townsman, and childhood friend. It is our duty to help each other."
Xu Chong waved his hands repeatedly and asked, "Is it because of this matter that the Deputy Minister came here?"
"Exactly."
Lu Zhong nodded and glanced at Zhang Shunyi with dissatisfaction. "There was no letter in March. I thought he was dying, so I hurriedly grabbed someone and ran over..."
"Caught someone?!"
"Caught someone?!"
Xu Chong and Zhang Shunyi were both shocked.
People were arrested for Zhang Shunyi, is there any need to ask who they were arrested?
It can only be Master Wang Hezhi!
"Don't be impatient. I won't do anything without a purpose."
Lu Zhong waved his sleeves and said, "Why don't we get on the carriage and go into the city together? I will tell you two in detail."
Xu Chong and Zhang Shunyi looked at each other and boarded the luxurious and spacious carriage with heavy hearts.
Without waiting for the officials from the secondary capital to come out of the city to greet them, the team slowly moved in.
Three people sat in a circle in the carriage.
Lu Zhong was the first to speak: "You guessed correctly, I did capture the magistrate of Canglong County."
"Teacher!"
Zhang Shunyi immediately knelt down and kowtowed: "Although Wang Hezhi is suspected of being involved in my father's death, there is no evidence after all, and the demon in my heart will soon be resolved..."
"Hey...get up first and listen to me."
Lu Zhong sighed , helped Zhang Shunyi up, and slowly told the story.
It turned out that although Lu Zhong had always been worried about Zhang Shunyi, he had no intention of rejecting his beloved disciple's kindness.
But two months ago, something happened by chance.
The imperial court recruited a rebel from the Taiping Dao.
This traitor's name is Xie Changqing.
That’s right, it was Xie Changqing, the third son of the Xie family, one of the six major families of Taiping Dao!
"In order to gain the attention of the imperial court, Xie Changqing revealed a lot of information about the Taiping Dao."
"Most of this news has been confirmed."
"The imperial court even used this as an excuse to wipe out the branch of the Taiping Dao in Yuzhou."
Lu Zhong narrated calmly, "Among the information provided by Xie Changqing, one was about water ghosts."
Water ghost? !
Xu Chong was suddenly shocked.
Zhang Shunyi was puzzled and asked, "Isn't the water ghost Zhou Ze? What does he have to do with Wang Hezhi?"
"Because the water ghost is Wang Hezhi!"
Lu Zhong’s words were shocking.
"impossible!"
Xu Chong said, "When I was in Canglong, I checked many bounties, including the one for the water ghost. The height and appearance of the three portraits are not something that the Master can transform into."
"Is this what you are talking about?"
Lv Zhong flipped his hand and took out a bounty order, "Indeed, the Tongmai Realm's Bone Shrinking and Shape Changing Skill cannot change the height difference to such a large extent."
"but……"
"The water ghost is not at the Tongmai realm, nor does he change his appearance by shrinking his bones and changing his shape!"
I know it's not Tongmai Realm...
Isn't it a change of appearance by shrinking the bones and changing the shape?
What's the meaning?
Xu Chong's heart was in turmoil, and there was confusion in his eyes.
"As early as twenty years ago, Shui Gui was the leader of Zhang Huafu's secret agents."
Lu Zhong continued, "Fifteen years ago, Xie Changqing's brother died suddenly. The Xie family was furious and mobilized a lot of resources to find the murderer."
"Later, when we were about to investigate Canglong County, we suddenly lost contact."
"The Xie family sent people again and again, but the result was the same. Once they entered Canglong, they immediately lost contact."
"Among them, there are many experts in the first level of body washing."
“You know, a warrior at the Body Cleansing Realm, whether in the imperial court or the Taiping Dao, is capable of suppressing an entire province.”
"The Xie family's middle-level forces suffered heavy losses, and the upper-level officials could not make any moves lightly, so they had no choice but to postpone the matter, and it eventually came to nothing."
"But Xie Changqing himself did not give up. He kept investigating secretly. He spent two years investigating and finally suspected that it was a water ghost."
At this point, Lu Zhong shook his head with emotion , "This Xie Changqing is indeed not an ordinary person. He is ruthless, patient, and smart."
"At that time, whether in the Taiping Dao or in the imperial court, the information about the water ghost was only at the first or second level of Tongmai."
"Xie Changqing directly overturned this point, analyzed it layer by layer, and finally came to a conclusion."
"Water ghosts don't open up the meridians at all, they wash the body!"
"As for why it was not discovered by the Taiping Dao when it was unsealed, it was because of a treasure."
Lv Zhong slowly uttered three words: "No appearance clothes."
"No appearance clothes?"
Zhang Shunyi was increasingly puzzled: "I've heard of this, but... isn't it in the hands of that Taiping Dao traitor? His name seems to be Wei Wuxie, and he should have disappeared with Wei Wuxie now."
"The Wuxiang Yi is not just one piece."
Lv Zhong stretched out his right hand. "He has another name - Phantom Heaven Fragment."
In the palm of his hand, there is a square jade plate, half the size of his palm.
