That night.

Yu Hu stopped at the door of the Yangxin Hall. Pei Shunnian stepped forward and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, we have arrived at the Yangxin Hall."

Emperor Jiayou looked at the jade steps outside the Yangxin Hall, was silent for a long time, and said: "Go to Kunning. Palace. "

Kunning Palace. "

The eldest palace maid hurriedly walked into the inner hall with the palace lantern and said to Queen Qi: "Your Majesty, the emperor's royal banquet is coming to Kunning Palace soon."

Queen Qi had just removed the hairpin ring and was startled when she heard this and looked at it from the bronze mirror. The palace maid asked: "Do you know where the emperor has been today? Who has he met?"

The palace maid said: "I only heard that the emperor left the palace. As for where he went and who he met, the ceremonial supervisor and those in charge can tell you. It's like a clam, it can't be opened no matter what."

Queen Qi frowned slightly.

While thinking about it, Emperor Jiayou had already entered the inner palace, and the palace people inside and outside knelt on the ground.

"Everyone get out." He said warmly.

After the palace people filed out of the inner hall, Queen Qi stepped forward to undress Emperor Jiayou and said with a smile: "Why didn't the emperor send someone to deliver a letter to Kunning Palace in advance?"

The man held her hand and spoke warmly. He said: "I'm just here to talk to the queen, and I'll go back to Yangxin Palace in a while."

After saying that, he took Queen Qi's hand and sat down beside her.

"Miss Qi Wu has entered the palace today?"

Qi Wu Qi Ying, the daughter of the left governor Qi Heng, is Empress Qi's favorite niece.

"Yes." Queen Qi said with a smile on her face and a pair of sparkling peach blossom eyes: "It has been almost a year since Xiaowu married to Baoding Mansion. I heard that she misses home a lot. She has been raised by my concubine since she was a child. It is rare to have her. When I come back, I want to see her."

Emperor Jiayou smiled, raised his hand to tuck Queen Qi's broken hair behind her ears, and said gently: "As soon as she comes back, let her go. If you stay in the palace for a few more days, you can

spend some time with the queen." Emperor Qi responded with a smile: "That's natural. Today, Xiaowu also told me that she has learned a dish and will cook it for me and the emperor tomorrow. Eat."

After chatting like this for a quarter of an hour, Emperor Jiayou patted Queen Qi's hand, gave a few warm words, and stood up to leave Kunning Palace.

The emperor's banishment was far away, and the palace people waiting outside the inner hall entered the inner hall again.

Mammy Zhu picked up the jade grate and combed Queen Qi's hair while saying, "It's so late, why doesn't the emperor stay at Kunning Palace?" She

sighed and then said, "Why don't you let the emperor stay ?" Exit? If you open your mouth, the emperor might not leave, and you can still be angry with Chang Xin Palace. "

Chang Xin Palace is the palace where Concubine Xing lives.

Queen Qi, however, seemed not to have heard anything. Staring at the beautiful face like spring flowers and autumn moon in the bronze mirror, she felt uneasy for no reason.

Xiao Yan, is he going to touch the Qi family?

...

Gu Changjin went to see Pan Xueliang the next day.

Compared with yesterday, his will was a little lower. There was a patch of green stubble on his jaw, and there was a hint of darkness in his stubborn eyes.

"Lord Gu, you don't have to run for the common people anymore. The common people won't admit guilt, but they don't want to drag you down because of me." Pan Xueliang laughed at himself and said, "You only have one life." He

knew this when he was sent to Dali Temple Prison yesterday. Well, depriving him of his fame is no longer enough to quell the anger of the officials outside, and the head on his neck is probably not saved.

Pan Xueliang only read the books of sages. He was once a very simple scholar, full of ambitions for the country and the people. However, what he experienced in the past month made him completely discouraged about his official career and his previous ambitions.

He thought about it for a long time last night, and he always felt that instead of waiting for others to convict and sentence him, it would be better for him to take his own life, so that the world could at least let the world know that he would rather die than plead guilty.

But he wanted to see Gu Changjin again, and he knew that this gentleman would come to see him.

After making a plan in his heart, Pan Xueliang felt calmer and more stable than at any time before. Although he was desolate, unhappy, and uncomfortable, at least he could decide how and when he would die.

However, Gu Changjin's words dispelled his hard-earned determination.

"Pan Gongshi, do you want to know why this happened to you?" Gu Changjin seemed to have seen through the thoughts hidden in his heart, and slowly said word by word: "Do you want to know why the old minister confessed? "

Pan Xueliang raised his eyes blankly, thinking that all this was a coincidence.

"Master Gu, does he know why the old minister wants to plead guilty? Why does such a thing happen to ordinary people?"

"I don't know either, but I will investigate." Gu Changjin looked into his eyes and said, "Until I find out the answer , but if you die, the line will be broken, and I can't check it even if I want to."

Pan Xueliang bit his back teeth, opened his nose slightly, took a deep breath, and said, "What do you want me to do?"

"Live. If you really feel that you are innocent, don't plead guilty." Gu Changjin said: "Besides, tell me about your matter."

"What about the common people?"

Gu Changjin said "Huh": " Your affairs, your family relatives, your classmates and friends, and your experiences since childhood must all be told to me in detail."

Gu Changjin asked this question for more than two hours, starting from Dali Temple Prison. When we came out, it was almost noon.

I thought I could find some clues from Pan Xueliang's mouth, but I couldn't detect anything strange.

Pan Xueliang was the concubine of Yangzhou merchant Pan Wan. Pan Wan's concubine died of illness after giving birth to Pan Xueliang. Pan Xueliang was Pan Wan's only son. Due to his poor family background, as soon as Pan Xueliang turned three years old, Pan Wan hired a teacher to teach him. After that, he spent a lot of family money to send Pan Xueliang to the famous Lingshan Academy.

It is common for ordinary people to spend their family's efforts to provide a scholar, but it is even more unusual for a businessman like Pan Wan who is determined to become an official from a businessman.

An ordinary merchant's son, an ordinary scholar, why on earth must he be involved in this matter?

Returning to the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Hu He handed a thick stack of letters to Gu Changjin, said "Hey" and said: "Since Lord General Xian said that you want to take care of Pan Xueliang's affairs, then you should take care of it till the end." , Don’t embarrass the Inspector General. This is a letter found from the old minister’s house. Please sort it out and remember not to lose it.”

“Yes”

Gu Changjin took it and sat down to read it.

The sun climbs higher and sets little by little.

When duty was about to end, half of the letters on the desk were gone, and Gu Changjin was about to go out to refill his tea.

When he stood up, he had a few letters dropped on his sleeves. He glanced at them casually, then with a focused gaze, he pulled out two of the letters from Yangzhou.

One letter came from the old master of Lingshan Academy, the Yu Jing that Pan Xueliang once mentioned, and another letter came from the hand of Liao Rao, the governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

The pirates in the coastal states have always been rampant, among which the pirates in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Fujian were the most serious.

Liao Rao was originally the Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of War. In the ninth year of Jiayou, Emperor Jiayou sent him to Jiangsu and Zhejiang to serve as the governor of Zhejiang and the governor of the military affairs of Zhejiang and Jiangsu.

Gu Changjin put down the tea cup and sat back on the official hat chair to open the letter.

After reading the two letters, he tapped on the desk and repeatedly smacked every word in the letter.

Both Yu Jing's and Liao Rao's letters are extremely ordinary.

In his letter, Yu Jing invited Lao Shangshu to visit Lingshan Academy and give lessons to the bastards in the academy.

In another letter, he probably heard about the old minister's illness and wrote a few words of concern. At the same time, he did not forget to mention some of his victories in suppressing the pirates in Jiangsu and Zhejiang.

Yu Jing was a classmate of the old minister. After becoming a Jinshi, he only served in the Hanlin Academy for a few years and then returned to his hometown to open an academy. He has a deep friendship with the old minister, so it is only natural for him to invite the old minister to the academy.

As for Liao Rao, he once served under the old minister and married the old minister's niece. Not only was he a former high-ranking official, but he also had an extra level of marriage relationship. When he learned that the old minister was in poor health, he wrote a few words of condolences. That makes sense.

The old minister said that he was entrusted by an old friend, and Yu Jing was the mountain chief of Pan Xueliang. The "old friend" here seems to be talking about Yu Jing.

But Gu Changjin always felt that something had been overlooked by him.

Subconsciously, he squeezed the corner of the letter tightly, and then loosened his fingers in the next moment.

This wasn't his usual little trick, it was that girl's.

He pursed his lips slightly and put down the letter.

The moment he saw her figure in Straw Hat Alley yesterday, his heartbeat almost stopped, fearing that he would be a step too late and she would be injured.

It wasn't until he firmly grasped her wrist that he felt that he was alive.

Gu Changjin opened his sleeves and looked down at the blood scab on his forearm.

When the hairpin penetrated yesterday, he was so anxious that he really didn't feel any pain. Later, when I felt pain, I realized how hard the girl had exerted herself.

That's how it should be.

Don't hesitate when encountering danger. Use as much strength as you can. Saving your life is the most important thing.

She should go back to Mingluyuan.

She was frightened yesterday, but she is mostly recovered today.

That girl has never been a timid person.

The man's stern eyebrows gradually softened, and the irritability caused by Pan Xueliang's case gradually dissipated.

Rubbing his eyebrows, he refilled his cup of tea and continued to open the letter. Halfway through opening it, he suddenly paused and went back to take a closer look at Liao Rao's letter.

Liao Rao used to be the left minister of the Ministry of War. He loved studying the art of war and once created a formation called "Paper Clip".

Gu Changjin recalled the formation of the "winding formation" and dug out Liao Rao's letter word by word based on that formation.

I finally understood what was strange. The things Liao Rao mentioned in the letter were too trivial, so trivial that they were a little abrupt. It turned out to be to hide the words.

[I have something to ask of you, and I beg my uncle to help me. 】

The candlelight flickered, Gu Changjin stared at the letter, and an idea vaguely appeared in his mind.

What is the relationship between Pan Xueliang and Liao Rao, the governor of Jiangsu and Zhejiang?

...

After several spring rains, the weather in Beijing was getting hotter day by day. Rong Shu changed out of his spring shirt and put on a newly cut summer coat.

Yingque came in holding a box of fragrant pills and said: "Girl, these are the osmanthus fragrant pills that Madam prepared for the Lord of Danzhu County. When the County Lord comes back in a few days, don't forget to bring these fragrant pills with you." ."

Mu Nijing liked the sweet-scented osmanthus pills made by Shen. Whenever she came back from Datong, Shen would prepare a box for her.

Rong Shu could not remember the date of Mu Nijing's return to the capital, but she only found out because the old housekeeper of the General Protector's Mansion specially sent the news to Minglu Courtyard.

On the second day of May, Mu Nijing will return to Beijing with Brother Mu to report on his work. If he knew that she had divorced, his eyes would be so wide.

Rong Shu smiled and said: "Let's put it away. As soon as the Dragon Boat Festival is over, we will go to the General Protector's Mansion."

Every time Mu Rong and Mu Nijing came back from Datong, they would go to many banquets, both in the palace and from the aristocratic families nearby. of.

Mu Nijing was not used to these kinds of human interactions, and Rong Shu estimated that she would not be able to bear it for at least three days. After the Dragon Boat Festival, they would probably hide in the general's mansion claiming to be sick as before.

After Yingque put down the fragrant pills, she suddenly asked: "When you returned to the Marquis Mansion a few days ago, did you hear your brother mention Pan Gongshi's case?"

That day in the dark spot of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, Pan Xueliang and Gu Yingque also heard Chang Jin's conversation, so every ten days when she went back to Cheng'an Marquis Mansion, she would ask her brother a few questions, and when she came back to Minglu Courtyard, she would talk to Rong Shu.

Knowing that Pan Xueliang did not commit suicide in prison this time, Rong Shu was really relieved.

But she couldn't help but think of Xu Li'er and Zhong Xueyan. Since Pan Xueliang was not dead, would an innocent person die in his place in the future?

Is the incident between Xu Li'er and Zhong Xueyan a coincidence?

Or... one of them is destined to die?

Two years later, if she is lucky enough to survive, will someone die in her place?

While thinking about it, Yingque shook her head in disappointment and said, "Brother said that after this case entered the Three Laws Division, it would be difficult to find out the news. We don't know what the outcome will be until the last moment. But -"

Ying She glanced at Rong Shu and said, "My maid still believes that Lord Gu can restore Pan Gongshi's innocence."

After hearing this, Rong Shu pursed her lips and smiled. She also believed that Gu Changjin would find out the truth.

On the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, Rong Shu was hanging moxa leaves and calamus in the west wing when his mother Zhang came in and said, "Girl, the Lord of Danzhu County is here!" As soon as he

finished speaking, he saw a red figure crossing the moon cave door, smiling and saying: "Rong Shu God of Wealth, I'm here."

Rong Shu was stunned, handed the mugwort calamus in his hand to the servant, and said in confusion: "I thought you were going to have a meal today."

"Please spare me, the county master, you can't come back. I've been to four banquets in the past two days." Mu Nijing frowned and said, "Fortunately, my brother found an excuse to excuse himself from the Dragon Boat Festival today." " Brother

Mu didn't go either?"

It's not unusual to go to a banquet, but it's quite rare for Mu Rong not to go.

All the sons of the Mu family fought on the battlefield and were all very upright. However, Mu Rong stayed in Shangjing since he was a child due to his frailty and even entered the Imperial College.

The year his father and brother died in the battlefield, he was supposed to take part in the imperial examination and become the first civil servant of the Mu family.

Later, in order to support the Mu family, Mu Rong gave up his literary career and joined the martial arts and went to Datong.

At that time, everyone knew that the husband of the Mu family was so sick that he would probably die in less than half a year. Who would have thought that the nobles who came to Beijing did not wait for the news of his death, but instead waited for the victory of the Mu family's army. News.

Also because he grew up in Shangjing, Mu Rong understands the ways of the world better than anyone in the Mu family. He always goes to every banquet and is better at dealing with people than the average family member.

"The eldest prince and the second prince both sent invitations. My brother couldn't offend either of them, so he simply refused because of his illness." Mu Nijing said coldly: "Our Mu family never competes for the merit of serving the dragon, only for the military merit on the battlefield. "Speak, these two highnesses are probably going to lose their heads." You

can't say such things in front of others. Rong Shu hurriedly gave Zhang's mother a wink, and waited for Zhang's mother to lead Yingyue and Yingque out. He led Mu Nijing into the boudoir and said, "Brother Mu is right not to go to the banquet."

Emperor Jiayou's health has been getting worse year by year in the past few years. He only has two princes under his knees, not to mention the court. Even the people who came to Beijing were guessing which prince would be able to attend the ceremony.

Mu Rong reorganized the Mu family army in Datong Mansion, and the troops at his hands were not weak. The eldest prince and the second prince naturally wanted to win over him. Only Rong Shu knew that the person who would be crowned prince in the end was Gu Changjin.

Therefore, no matter what, the Mu family cannot have any contact with the eldest prince and the second prince.

"We still don't know who the emperor prefers to be the crown prince, so it would be best if eldest brother Mu doesn't attend the banquet. It's best not to get involved. After all, no matter who sits in that position, as long as he sees the Mu family's loyalty, he will take it seriously.

Mu Nijing chuckled: "What you said is exactly the same as my brother. My brother also said the same thing. Otherwise, I would rather complain about illness than accept the invitation. You don't know that my brother is now a favorite. " Yesterday, when we went to dinner, the old British prince and the governor's wife from the Qi family were all vying to introduce their girl to her brother. "

When she said this, she didn't know what she thought of, and she became slightly solemn. He

said , "What happened to you and Mr. Gu from the Procuratorate? Last year, you were still looking forward to the Moon Mother's Day. Why did you break up without saying a word? But he bullied you?" Shu smiled and said, "I just don't like him anymore. This matter is also my fault. The Miss Wen I mentioned in my letter to you before is actually Gu Changjin's sweetheart." There

are some things. Shu didn't want A Niang to know, but she had nothing to hide from Ni Jing.

Then he told everything about Wenxi and how Wenxi was sent to Suzhou by Aunt Zhou.

"Miss Wen and Mr. Gu were childhood sweethearts and loved each other. If Aniang had not sent Aunt Zhou to Wutong Lane to discuss their marriage, they might have gotten married long ago. Miss Wen was probably afraid that the Marquis of Cheng'an would meet with him. She used her power to bully others and didn't want to delay Gu Changjin's future. She took the initiative to ask Aunt Zhou to send her to Suzhou to find her relatives. She also said that she would not come back to Beijing to disturb me and Gu Changjin."

Rong Shu only knew about these things a few days ago. .

On the second day after returning to Mingluyuan, Grandma Zhou came to find her in person, and took the initiative to explain everything, saying that grandma didn't know anything about it, and asked her not to mention it in front of grandma.

Rong Shu guessed that the relative Wen Xi went to Suzhou to look for was probably the person with the scar on his face.

"Since it wasn't my aunt who forced the girl to leave, why do you have to feel guilty? Then Miss Wen likes Mr. Gu, so she shouldn't take the initiative to quit and leave to go to Beijing." Mu Nijing shook his head and said: "If the person you like doesn't work hard to fight for it, then there are others Are you qualified to blame others?"

"If I hadn't interfered, Miss Wen wouldn't have had to leave. There was a reason." Ni Jing didn't know about the three years in her previous life, so she didn't understand Rong Shu's guilt, and she didn't intend to. He said more, "I have made it clear to Gu Changjin about this matter. He must have sent people to Suzhou to look for him. He is not a man who likes to do things by his own hands, so you don't need to send people anymore." Go find her."

There was calmness in her voice and a familiarity with Gu Changjin.

Mu Nijing looked at her steadily, "You really don't like him anymore?"

Rong Shu said openly: "I don't like him anymore."

Mu Nijing smiled brightly: "That's great. You I don’t know, I—”

Halfway through her words, she suddenly lost her voice again.

Rong Shu asked doubtfully: "What don't I know?"

Mu Nijing refused to say any more, and only said mysteriously: "It's nothing."

There were some words that she had better not hesitate to say.

My brother is full of thoughts, but he doesn't talk too much and is still hesitant. He deserves to have to watch Rong Shu get married.

Mu Nijing picked up the fragrant drink on the table, took a sip, and said: "After I received your letter, I didn't send anyone to find the girl anymore. Only one day I went to Suzhou to pick up horses, and I met her. There was a demonic monk and I fought with him. If I guessed correctly, that monk was also looking for someone with a scar on his face."

Mu Nijing's narrow red eyes narrowed slightly. , remembering the way the smelly monk held her hand and asked who she was, a fire arose in her heart.

"He searches for people in very secretive ways. I always feel that the person he is looking for is the same person that Miss Wen is looking for."

A demonic monk?

Rong Shu blinked and remembered that on the third day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Changjin borrowed her hand to go to Qiushan Villa.

Hengping said that Qiu Shan Courtyard was Gu Changjin's escape route.

When Gu Changjin went into the other courtyard, he was clearly in a good mood, but when he came out, he was injured. He said he was injured from sparring with others.

Therefore, there was either someone else present at the Qiu Shan Villa that day, or... there was a secret passage leading to the other side.

Rong Shu's eyelids twitched slightly.

She knew very well that Qiu Shan Villa was the Four Seasons Garden in her previous life.

In the first two months of her imprisonment, she had never seen any secret passages.

Could it be that when Qiu Shan Villa was renamed Four Seasons Garden, the secret passage was destroyed?

Rong Shu squeezed the fan in his hand tightly, feeling foggy for a moment.

To Sishiyuan and to Gu Changjin.

Seeing her frowning and saying nothing, Mu Nijing waved his hand in front of her eyes, "What's wrong? But what's the problem with that monk?"

"No." Rong Shu loosened his fingers and dispersed the disturbing thoughts in his mind. , "That person is probably from Gu Changjin, who went to Suzhou to find someone for him. That's all, let's not talk about him and me. I will leave for Yangzhou in a few days. I have two important things. I need your help."