The window in the study was half-open, and the sycamore branches brushed against the lattice wood, rustling in the autumn wind.

There was no snow, no brazier, and no little lady lying beside him.

It's a dream.

When he realized this, Gu Changjin noticed something unusual about himself.

He has been practicing martial arts since he was a child. He looks gentle and elegant, but in fact he is physically strong. But he was used to being pure-minded and had few desires, and he never had any charming thoughts.

But it didn't happen today. It was like a young boy who was just beginning to have a love affair. An inexplicable dream made his heart beat like a drum and his mouth was extremely dry.

All he could think about was the girl pulling her clothes and asking him ignorant questions.

It's both inexplicable and ridiculous.

Gu Changjin frowned and got down on the couch. He drank half a cup of cold tea in an instant. He looked at the dark sky outside, then returned to the couch and calmed down for half an hour.

After returning to normal, Chang Ji was called in to serve him.

Chang Ji saw that his expression was sterner than usual, and thought to himself: "Master rested late yesterday, but do you want me to go to the Ministry of Punishment to take a leave of absence? After all, Xu Li'er's life is not in danger now, so it is more than enough for one of my men to see her off."

Gu Changjin said: "The assassination of Xu Li'er must be reported to the chief minister and Tan Shilang as soon as possible. Although Xu Li'er is not dead, it does not mean that the matter can be revealed. Those people and the people from the Ministry of Punishment will definitely investigate This matter should be pinned on Yang Xu's party members. "

Dongchang has caused many unjust imprisonments in recent years, and Yang Xu's party should also have a taste of being accused of crimes with red lips and white teeth.

After Gu Changjin explained, he rubbed his brows and said, "Bring me a basin of cold water."

After a pause, he added, "Make two cups of cold tea."

Chang Ji responded with "yes", but when he went out, he couldn't help but wonder. : Although the master never cares whether the tea is cold or warm, since he has to make tea, why make cold tea? It’s still chilly this early in the morning, who wants to drink cold tea exclusively?

The cold tea and water Gu Changjin asked for were quickly delivered to the study.

When the master and servant left the study, the lights in Songsi Courtyard were still dark. Chang

Ji said: "I heard that the young lady spent half the night chatting with Miss Xu yesterday, and she has probably only slept for more than an hour. How about I bypass the main room and go directly to the Dongji Room to call me?"

When Chang Jin lived in Songsiyuan, Chang Ji and Hengping came in whenever they wanted. But now there is a mistress living inside, so the two of them cannot go in casually.

A few days ago, the master also made a rule that in the future, messages could not be sent in the corridor, and messages could not be sent directly to the young lady, but only to Yingque, Yingyue or Zhang's mother.

Chang Ji didn't think much about it, he just said that the master didn't like the young lady, so he didn't let them have more contact with the young lady.

Thinking of this, Changji sighed again, it would be great if the master had a maid or something beside him, so it would be much cheaper to get in and out of the backyard.

How is it like now, when he wants to go in and deliver a message, he still has to look forward and backward.

Gu Changjin pondered for a few breaths and then said: "You stay here and I can go in."

After saying that, he stepped into the moon cave door and halfway through, he suddenly saw a person pushing the door open from the main room.

It’s Mama Zhang.

Seeing him coming, Zhang's mother hurriedly smiled and said: "The young lady has woken up and is sending a servant to give the second master and Miss Xu an early meal. Would the second master go into the room and sit and wait?"

Gu Changjin nodded slightly. Yesterday, he mentioned to Rong Shu that he would take Xu Li'er back to the Punishment Department this morning. Just then he saw that the lights here were not on, so he thought Rong Shu was still awake.

He came in with the intention of waking her up.

After all, Xu Li'er is a girl who has not yet left the court. Yesterday, due to urgent matters, she was allowed to rest in Songsiyuan. But both he and Changji should avoid suspicion.

The best way is to ask Rong Shu to send Xu Li'er out.

After all, this girl loves sleeping in a cage the most.

In the past, when he got up early to go on duty, she would always get up with half-closed eyes to change his clothes. As soon as he left, she would not even eat breakfast, bend her body, and fall asleep again while holding a pillow for her baby.

Gu Changjin's footsteps suddenly stopped.

Once upon a time?

Whose past?

Seeing that he had stopped, Mother Zhang thought that Gu Changjin had something to say, so she hurriedly said, "Second Master, does he have something to say?"

Gu Changjin came back to his senses, pursed his lower lip, and said, "Nothing. Mom, hurry up and go."

Zhang's mother responded repeatedly before leaving the verandah.

Rong Shu was combing his hair inside, and when he heard the noise outside, he said to Ying Yue: "I don't need you to serve me anymore. Go to the East Room to see if Miss Xu is awake?"

Rong Shu woke up early in the morning, no. , it should be said that she didn't sleep all night.

After rescuing Xu Li'er, her brain was in a state of extreme excitement, and she tossed and turned on the bed for a long time, not feeling sleepy at all.

She got up immediately, but she was afraid that the noise would disturb Tojijian, so she didn't let anyone hold the lamp.

When Yingyue came out of the house, Rong Shu stood up from the rose chair, greeted Gu Changjin, and said with a smile: "Have you just seen Mr. Zhang? Mother Zhang went to the small kitchen to make breakfast and will be back soon. The sky is now dark. It's still early, sir, let me have some tea first."

This girl's speech is really refreshing. Her tone is gentle, her speech is neither fast nor slow, and she is always organized. She can always make people's hearts warm.

That was what she said to Xu Li'er yesterday.

He seemed to be two completely different people from the girl who was dazed and tugging at her underwear in the dream.

But not that different.

Probably due to the influence of those ridiculous dreams, when he saw Rong Shu, his thoughts would lose their usual clarity and rigor, and this sense of confusion had always been his taboo.

Gu Changjin tilted his eyes and said a faint "hmm", deliberately avoiding her right shoulder.

I am afraid that some sexy scenes that I have spent a lot of time forgetting will pop up inadvertently.

The room was quiet for a moment, and Rong Shu remembered his injury and asked smoothly: "Is Lang Jun's injury better?"

Gu Changjin raised his eyes, nodded and said softly: "It's a small injury."

His injury was indeed serious. A minor injury, the injuries he suffered earlier on Chang'an Street were much more serious than this.

Rong Shu politely asked and said no more. When Zhang's mother came back, he said: "Mr. Zhang has a meal first, and I will go to the East Room to see Miss Xu."

After that, he left in a hurry without asking for anything . It means having a meal with Gu Changjin.

Xu Li'er talked to Rong Shu for half the night yesterday, but it was rare for her to have a peaceful sleep. As soon as a person's energy returns, most of the sorrowful thoughts lingering in his heart will dissipate.

Seeing Rong Shu come in, he called out "Mrs. Gu" with relaxed eyebrows.

Time was running out, and Rong Shu only spoke to Xu Li'er for less than two quarters of an hour in Dongci Room. Ying Yue came to remind him that the carriage was ready.

When Xu Li'er left Songsiyuan, she was particularly reluctant to leave.

Only she knows that her future is not here.

"Miss Xu should live an honest life. There are many girls in this world who have been as hesitant and desperate as you. The better you live, the more strength you can give them. I believe that sooner or later Miss Xu will become one of those girls." Hope."

Xu Lier thought it was a shame for her to live.

But Mrs. Gu's words seemed to open a door for her, letting her know that the path a woman could take might be wider and longer than she thought.

Realizing this, her heart seemed to have been hit hard by something.

Women in this world have a harder life than men.

Those women who have lost their innocence and reputation like her, if they are lucky and born into a wealthier family, they can spend the rest of their lives in their family temples with ancient Buddhas and green lanterns.

But if you were born in a poor family like her, and had no close relatives to be around, you would be as lifeless as duckweed in winter, and you would have no hope of living.

Mrs. Gu said that if she lived well, she could become the hope for those lonely women.

She wants to try it.

Before getting on the carriage, Xu Li'er bowed solemnly to Rong Shu and said seriously: "Li'er, thank you Madam."

Rong Shu didn't sleep all night, and she was already feeling tired, but Xu Li'er's bow made her energetic again. shock.

After being stunned for a moment, she smiled solemnly and accepted Xu Li'er's bow generously. She immediately blessed herself and said, "I also want to thank Miss Xu."

How could she not thank her?

Xu Li'er survived, which convinced her that she would be able to survive and even do more in three years.

The sky had turned pale, and the sunlight poured down on her head like molten gold. In the autumn light, the girl smiled brightly.

Gu Changjin supported the car wall with one hand and looked down at her.

Xu Li'er was wearing linen clothes, and she was also wearing plain clothes. Just like yesterday, there was no gold and green hairpins, and no jade rings.

However, just like this, with a bare face and a dimple, in the dim light, it was as beautiful as the person walking out of a painting of beauties.

"Plop" "Plop", my heart is like beating a drum.

Gu Changjin knew that at this moment, his heart palpitations were no longer unreasonable.

"Master, it's time to set off." Changji urged.

Gu Changjin said "hmm", looked at Rong Shu and said, "Madam, please go back."

Her skin was too white, and the two green shadows under her eyes really couldn't be hidden. After being tired all night, she was so delicate, so she should go back and catch up on her sleep.

The carriage quickly disappeared in Wutong Lane, and when it arrived at the Criminal Department, it was already broad daylight.

Gu Changjin led Xu Li'er into the official office of the Ministry of Justice. Chang Ji parked the carriage and quickly walked out of Xuanwumen Street and turned into a busy alley.

There is a donkey meat roasting shop in this alley that has been passed down for hundreds of years. The shopkeeper's skills are excellent. The donkey meat is tender and crispy, and the donkey meat is wrapped in the old soup and takes a bite. It's like stuffing a god. Chang Ji wants it whenever he has time. Come here and eat three or five.

The waiter in the shop had known him for a long time. When he saw him coming, he poured him a cup of hot sauce and said enthusiastically: "Brother, do you still want five donkey meats to be burned today?"

Chang Ji chuckled: "Let's have ten. My brother will be here soon."

The "brother" in Changji's mouth is Hengping. Unfortunately, Hengping can't eat the donkey meat today because he had already eaten the morning meal when he came from Hejing Alley.

Hengping looked at the two black lumps under his eyes, pushed back the five donkey meats on the plate, and said to Chang Ji: "I'm not hungry, you eat."

Chang Ji took a sip of the hot syrup and said: "What happened? The past few days You are so hungry that you want to eat ten or eight in one go. Why don’t you eat today?”

“When I left Hejing Alley, Eunuch Liu sent someone to deliver two boxes of freshly steamed cakes and fruits, saying that I have worked hard these days. ."

Hengping said that Mr. Liu was Yang Xu's adopted son Liu Yuan.

This Eunuch Liu is now the Zuo Shaojian of the Royal Horse Prison, serving under Guizhong, the eunuch of the Royal Horse Prison.

Like Yang Xu, Guizhong was the adopted son of Pei Shunnian, the Grand Priest of the Supervisor of Ceremonies. However, Guizhong was not favored by Pei Shunnian. When Yang Xu was in charge of Dongchang, he was assigned to the Royal Horse Supervisor.

At that time, the Royal Horse Supervisor was only the Royal Horse Supervisor, responsible for the control of horses, and was not included in the twelve imperial guards.

But Guizhong's luck was good. In the year he went to the Royal Horse Division, Emperor Jiayou promoted the Royal Horse Commander to the Royal Horse Supervisor. He also selected strong men from various guards to form two groups of forbidden soldiers and placed them under the command of the Royal Horse Supervisor. The training is supervised by the horse supervisor.

In this way, the Yuma Jianke had military power and became the "small military department" in the inner court.

The power in Guizhong's hands is naturally not as good as that of Yang Xu as the governor of Dongchang, but Yang Xu is used to being cautious, so he transferred his confidant Liu Yuan out of the Imperial Prison and put him in the Royal Horse Prison. Watching Guizhong's every move.

Liu Yuan has a private house in Hejing Hutong, and Hengping has been keeping an eye on him these days.

As soon as Hengping finished speaking, Chang Ji's eyes widened, he looked at Hengping with empty hands and said, "You actually ate the snacks that man gave you? Aren't you afraid of being poisoned?"

Hengping said expressionlessly: "He asked me to give them to him. Master, how dare you poison me?"

Changji choked, rolled his eyes, and asked curiously: "What kind of snack did he give? How does it taste?"

Hengping looked at Changji with disgust and said: " I'll go back and take a nap."

Chang Ji glanced at the red blood in his eyes and waved: "Go, go, master said you don't have to keep an eye on that person from now on. Since that person sent you some snacks, that's probably the case. I know this is your last day of surveillance."

He took a bite of the donkey meat and narrowed his eyes: "You are a smart man."

...

Liu Yuan only had one sentence to tell Gu Changjin - [

Xu Li'er. Since Mr. Gu wants his life, then our family will give it to Mr. Gu. 】

Gu Changjin came off duty at night. After hearing what Heng Pingzhuan said, his face did not show any strange color. He just nodded lightly and said, "There is no need to keep an eye on Liu Yuan. When the time comes, he will come to me."

Chang Ji He asked curiously: "Since Eunuch Liu knows that Hengping is staring at him, why is he not angry at all? Also, the assassin yesterday must be one of his people."

Liu Yuan was originally the eunuch of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Jiayou He loves to use ambergris, and the imperial eunuch is responsible for the emperor's royal belongings. Every day, the ambergris is sent to Qianqing Palace by the eunuch of the imperial eunuch.

Over time, the little eunuch there will get a little bit of fragrance.

The master told him that there was no need to check the people who used ambergris in Beijing. He probably guessed that the assassin was from the imperial prison.

At this juncture, Xu Li'er was deliberately allowed to hang himself, and he also forged a blood letter to incite people's hatred towards Yang Xu and Dongchang.

No matter how you look at it, it looks like he has a deep hatred for Yang Xu!

Obviously, everyone calls him "godfather" very affectionately, but none of these eunuchs are really good people.

"This man is currently Yang Xu's most favored adopted son. If Yang Xu can successfully take over the mantle of the big palm print and command the ceremonial supervisor, he will naturally follow the chickens and dogs to ascend to heaven. Not to mention the imperial horse supervisor, he will even hold the position of admiral of the East Factory. It's just around the corner. Why do you look like you want to kill Yang Xu? Isn't this self-destruction?"

Chang Ji said while shaking his head.

Gu Changjin was silent, tapped the desk with his long finger a few times, and said, "Is there any news from Zhuiyun?"

"Not yet." Chang Ji said, "After all, it happened more than ten years ago, and a lot of evidence has been destroyed. Well, it’s probably not easy to find out the truth back then. Of course, with Zhuiyun’s temperament, the more difficult it is, the more he wants to get to the bottom of it. He should have a clue in ten and a half days.”

Among the five people around the master back then, Zhuiyun was the smartest. Otherwise, the master would not let Zhuiyun fake his death and leave the Gu family.

Changji considers himself a smart man with a flexible mind, but compared with Shiiun, who is full of cunning tricks, he still feels inferior.

Who makes him a good person?

"It's not urgent," Gu Changjin rubbed his forehead and said, "Go down and make me a pot of cold tea, stronger."

Again, cold tea again?

Chang Ji glanced at Gu Changjin and left. Before going out, he heard him say again: "Tomorrow, pick a time to go to Song Si Yuan to talk to Ying Yue and Ying Que. Xu Li'er has already finished his reply at the Ministry of Punishments today. Let's go to Da Ci'en Temple. With someone from the palace accompanying her, nothing will happen to her."

Chang Ji was startled and realized that he was talking to the young lady.

Yingyue and Yingque are just servants. Shouldn't they report something to the young lady if they know something?

That's right, the young lady went to the inn to see Xu Li'er in person yesterday, and spent half the night chatting with her. She seemed very concerned about Xu Li'er. After telling the young madam, I think the young madam will feel more at ease.