"It's Mr. Qi. Mr. Qi went to appease the poor candidates, but he was pushed down from the high slope by those people and fell on the rocks nearby... I might not be able to do it!"

The words fell on Xiang Yi's ears. There was a sudden pain in my ears.

Before Mrs. Qi left, she and Tan Ting made a special trip to see his old man and talked about the chaos that happened in Lishui. The old man just said that he was relieved and could not tell anything about it.

Why is it still...

Xiang Yi's mind was blank for a moment, and he asked hurriedly, "So how is the old man doing?"

Chunsun shook his head, and just as he was about to say something, he heard someone's voice in the hall, but... He didn't say anything completely suppressed.

"I don't know what you are pretending to be? After all, you are not of my race, and there is something different in your heart."

These words were full of yin and yang. Xiang Yi looked over and saw Miss Li San's originally beautiful face, which was distorted in the mean look. point.

Xiang Yi didn't say anything and didn't want to interact with such a person.

She was thinking that something happened to the old man, and the old lady got the news at home and didn't know what happened.

The old couple's son and daughter are not in the capital, and not many of the Haidong Qi clan are officials in the capital. Something happened right now, and there is no one around...

Xiang Yi thought about this, and felt a little sitting up. He couldn't help it, and his expression showed a bit of anxiety.

But this anxiety has a different meaning in the eyes of some people.

Especially Miss Li San.

When she first saw Xiang Yi, she was actually very surprised.

She thought that a woman who could come to her door with a marriage certificate must be a vulgar person, but she didn't expect that she would be dignified, beautiful, and generous.

But if Mrs. Xiang hadn't shamelessly blocked her way, she might have married into the Tan family at that time. How could her husband have fallen off a horse and broken his leg and become a cripple?

When the news about Old Mrs. Qi came out, she finally felt relieved when she saw that Xiang, who was born in a common family, couldn't sit still.

But this little bit of happiness was not enough to offset the difficult times she had been having these past few years.

Seeing that Miao and Qiuyang County Lord were about to rescue Xiang again, they called her to the newborn and put the child in her hands.

Miss Li San snorted and started talking to the female family members of the family as if unintentionally.

"People like Mr. Qi are so rich all over the world, how can those people be willing to take action? They treat Mr. Qi like this. How much do they hate us, the ordinary children of the family? Maybe they will use dirty tricks secretly. We have to be careful, we won't even know if we get hurt."

As soon as he said this, everyone's eyes fell on him, and Xiang Yi's fingers just touched the baby's hand.

Xiang Yi knew that neither Miao nor Qiuyang County Lord would mind, but he still smiled at the child and slowly took his hand back.

Miss Li San became more and more proud, and her words became more serious.

"Those despicable common people have no idea what vicious thoughts they have in their hearts. Even if they become officials in the imperial examination, they must be corrupt officials..."

The more he talks, the more he points out. No one here knows it. Xiang Zhiyuan is a corrupt official from the common people, and Mrs. Tan Xiang Yi is Xiang Zhiyuan's biological daughter.

The Lord of Qiuyang County was the first to see it, but she was still in confinement, and her mother-in-law did not allow her to leave the inner room. Miao was from a small family, so she never spoke in front of the female relatives of these big families. At this moment Startled.

Unexpectedly, someone walked in at this moment.

"I'm late, but why did I hear some powerful words as soon as I entered the door?"

She said, her eyes passing over everyone, and finally saw Miss Li San.

"What are you talking about?"

Xiang Yi didn't recognize this person, but he saw that she was slightly older than them. She was wearing an autumn-colored long double-breasted coat embroidered with swastika patterns, and her eyes were cold and somewhat majestic.

But Xiang Yi suddenly felt that this person looked familiar. When Miss Li San and everyone in the Li family came up to her and called her "Second Sister-in-law," she suddenly understood.

It turned out that this person was the second wife of the Zong family of the Li family in Huaichuan, but she also had an original identity, the second lady of the Huang family in Denghe, and the biological sister of Huang Erniang, a compatriot of Huang Siniang's mother.

The clan wife of the Li family in Huaichuan was in her hometown in Huaichuan, and all matters in the capital were handled by the second wife, Huang Erniang.

The female relatives of the Huaichuan Li family present respected her, but Xiang Yi fell silent for a while after learning her identity.

On the boat at that time, it was obvious that Aunt Lin wanted to bring Huang Siniang and the old man together, but she failed in the end.

Huang Erniang is Huang Siniang's biological sister, and maybe she also wants her sister to marry into the Tan family...

Xiang Yi knows that he will leave sooner or later, and has no intention of occupying that position for a long time.

She didn't speak for a while, but after Miss Li San thought of something, she said something to Huang Erniang.

"I'm complaining about Mr. Qi's injustice, and I would like to remind everyone to be careful, so as not to be harmed by the common people."

She expected that Huang Erniang would definitely speak to her. She had heard about Huang Siniang following the Tan family's boat to Beijing.

Everyone also looked at Huang Erniang's attitude.

Who would have thought that Huang Erniang suddenly laughed and turned to ask Miss Li San.

"If we follow what Third Sister says, let's not go out on the streets in the future. There are many restaurants, teahouses, and satin shops on the streets, but we can't even enter them."

She said with a smile. After saying this, Miss Li San froze in disbelief. Got there.

And Huang Erniang said something more clear.

"Both races are ordinary mortals, who would want to harm others at the expense of themselves?"

Her words almost refuted Miss Li San's words just now.

Miss Li San had a hard time in her husband's family, and Huang Erniang was the one who helped her most of the time. Now that Huang Erniang said this, she couldn't even open her mouth to refute.

The members of the Li clan couldn't say anything more and kept their mouths shut.

Xiang Yi was startled and looked at Huang Erniang.

She looked over, and Chahuang Erniang also looked over. Her cold eyes turned soft without knowing when, and she nodded lightly and sat aside.

Miao quickly came up and put the topic aside, and the matter stopped temporarily.

The third baptism ceremony was a lively one. Li Chengyun and the son of Qiuyang County Lord had loud voices and cried several times.

All the female relatives were standing aside, looking at the newborn baby and smiling.

At this time, Xiang Yi heard someone calling her from behind the bushes. She turned her head and saw that it was Huang Erniang standing in the bushes.

Xiang Yi stepped forward to salute her, and was about to thank her for saving the siege, but she spoke first.

Her voice was not loud, but it fell firmly on Xiang Yi's ears.

"My roommate is young and ignorant, and my father always obeys my uncle's arrangements, and my younger sister doesn't know how to refuse. Mrs. Xiang has a lot of people and doesn't care about her or embarrass her. The second mother is very grateful."

He Xiang Yi thought . What was completely different was that Huang Erniang couldn't help but feel terrified after hearing her younger sister Huang Siniang talk about what happened on the ship with an embarrassed expression.

If Mrs. Xiang is such a thoughtful woman, she can completely destroy Siniang's reputation by using some tricks this time, and it is not impossible for Siniang to commit herself to being a concubine from now on.

But Xiang didn't do it at all, and instead saved Liu Niang's life during the commotion.

What kind of character is this?

Huang Erniang scolded her sister at that time and kept this favor in her heart.

During this third baptism ceremony, Huang Erniang also guessed that with Miss Li San's magnanimity, she would definitely be unhappy with Xiang Yi this time. It was just that something tripped her up and it was too late.

She thanked Xiang Yi seriously, and even wanted to give Xiang Yi a serious bow.

Xiang Yi felt that whether he was kind to Huang Erniang or Liu Niang, he was just doing it out of his own heart and should not be treated as a big gift.

She quickly helped Huang Erniang, "Second Madam, you don't have to be so polite, it's just a small matter."

The more magnanimous she was, the more Huang Erniang felt admiration in her heart.

However, she still gave Xiang Yi a kind reminder.

"I've also heard about Mr. Qi. I'm afraid Madam will have a hard time in the next few days, and I don't know when this will end."

Xiang Yi sighed secretly and thanked her for the reminder.

A female member of the Li family came over.

The two of them glanced at each other in unison, and both saw in each other's eyes this spring day coming out of the severe cold, something warm.

But neither of them said much. They were still Mrs. Li and Mrs. Tan who were not very familiar with each other or even didn't know each other at all.

The three baptisms ended quickly, and Qiuyang County Lord was also tired. The baby was distressed and fell asleep in his mother's arms.

Everyone gradually dispersed, Xiang Yi also resigned as the head of Qiuyang County, and Miao sent her outside the door.

"There are too many people today. I'll invite you over to play another day."

Xiang Yi arrived at the door, but did not see Tan Ting. He only saw Zhengji rushing over.

"Madam, something happened to Mr. Qi. He was afraid that something might happen to Mrs. Qi, so he rushed to the Qi family outside Beijing. Madam, please take the car home first."

Xiang Yi nodded.

It's just that everyone's carriages left in a queue. They all came together, or knew each other, and returned together talking and laughing. It was not convenient for Xiang Yi to jump in line, so he waited aside.

...

Tan Ting hurriedly went to Qi's house. The old lady got the bad news and she really couldn't bear it.

But she still held on, "The old man has not yet stepped into the gate of hell with both feet. I can't die before him. Don't worry, I can hold on!"

Seeing the old lady like this, Tan Ting felt a burst of respect in his heart.

He helped the Qi family arrange some manpower, and then sent his own men to rush to the place where the old man's accident happened. Seeing that it was getting late, he hurried back to the capital.

He thought that the Li family's Xi San might have just dispersed at this moment and went straight to the Li Mansion.

When he arrived, the venue had just ended and the guests were leaving one after another.

He led the horse and walked through the crowd. When he was about to find someone to ask where his wife was, he saw his wife standing under the wall.

Everyone else was walking in groups of twos and threes, but she was alone, waiting by the wall.

The female members of the aristocratic families also saw her, but none of them were familiar with her, and none of them even came forward to say hello to her.

They only glanced at her quickly, then turned back to talk in low voices.

Some were talking about the difference in status, some were talking about her reputation as a daughter of the Xiang family, and some were talking about how she once showed up at the Tan family's door with a marriage certificate...

A gust of wind blew over and broke the ear of the Xiang family. When her hair fell down, she moved slightly and quietly raised her hand to pull up the broken hair.

Tan Ting's heart suddenly felt sour, and he quickly walked towards her against the crowd.

Everyone also saw him and couldn't help but become curious about the relationship between the two. Many people stopped briefly and looked at the two.

Xiang Yi raised his head when he heard familiar footsteps.

"Uncle..."

Before he finished speaking, Tan Ting strode forward.

Everyone was waiting to see how the eldest son of the Tan family would treat the Xiang family.

But she saw him taking off his cloak and wrapping it around the woman's shoulders. At that moment, the Tan family's carriage also followed from behind.

He took the woman's hand and led her into the carriage.

There was no trace of the Tan family couple on the road for a while, and everyone's muttering in twos and threes became solemn. They all looked at each other many times, and then unexpectedly, one after another got into their own carriage and left.

...

In the Tan family's carriage.

"Why are you back in such a hurry?"

Tan Ting didn't answer in a hurry. He pursed his lips and looked down at his wife. Seeing her calm expression, he thought of asking him, "How is the old lady?"

He sighed silently.

"The old lady is fine, she can still hold on."

Xiang Yi asked about the old man's condition again, but Tan Ting did not respond. After all, the old man was old and fell from such a high slope. No one could say for sure.

On the contrary, the person who pushed the old man down actually disappeared into the crowd and could not be found.

I'm afraid it's not that the government is incompetent, but that this person came here with a purpose. Even though the old man was surrounded by many officers and soldiers to protect him, he still let people take advantage of the chaos...

This incident made the situation even more complicated.

Tan Ting silently held his wife's hand, and the two of them didn't speak for a while, and took a carriage back to the Tan family's old house.

You can already hear about the injury of Mr. Qi, who went to comfort the candidates, on the streets.

And there happened to be a traffic jam on the road.

There was an inn that suddenly kicked out all the poor scholars who were waiting for the imperial examination, saying that they would never do business with the common people again, and even if they had money, they would not be able to come in.

The scholars all gathered in front of the door and made a fuss, and the shopkeeper spoke plausibly.

"We are the family's property. If you want to attack even a great scholar like Mr. Qi, don't blame us for drawing a clear line with you!"

There was a blockage in front of the inn, with some making noises, some watching, and most of them talking. One after another.

The contradiction that was originally just lying under the water was turned over by successive waves.

Both sides have their own positions, and no one is willing to give in to the other.

If there was unilateral turmoil among the common people before, now both sides feel the same and are becoming hostile.

Tan Ting held Xiang Yi's hand tighter and tighter.

Warmth came over him, and Xiang Yi couldn't help but look up at the man.

Just like that day at Mrs. Qi's house, he said two words to her almost through lip language and extremely softly.

"It's okay."

Xiang Yi's heart suddenly felt hot.

It was noisy and uneasy outside the car, but there was an atmosphere of peace slowly flowing inside the car.

As soon as this incident came out, the next morning everyone started to insist on banning these poor scholars from taking exams.

The prince frowned, but was speechless for a moment.

The emperor asked Mr. Lin Ge, "What does Mr. Lin Ge think?"

Lin Ge, the first assistant, has a beautiful beard, and his beard and hair are still black despite his age.

He thought carefully for a while with half-closed eyes.

"I also feel that they should not be forced to a dead end, but Mr. Qi must be unable to comfort him like this, and I don't know who else can comfort him."

Mr. Lin Ge followed the previous prince's meaning, but next , if the appeasement continues, then the question of who should be allowed to go has come around again.

The current government really failed to identify a suitable candidate.

After all, something happened to Mr. Qi, and the tension among the common people became even more intense. Who is willing to take this risk to appease the common people and speak for the common people?

...

Afternoon, the Prince's study room in the East Palace.

Gu Yansheng, Xu Yuanming and other ministers gathered here.

The prince still held his previous views and did not want the court to ban the examination of common people.

"We still need to send someone there."

Xu Yuanming stepped forward.

"I am willing to go."

Xu Yuanming was neither a commoner nor an aristocratic family. He came from a military household. He came to the court through recommendation and imperial examination. He was also a close minister of the prince, so he always had some weight.

But some assistant ministers also raised questions, "When Mr. Qi went there before, he actually represented the attitudes of the two sides. If only Mr. Xu went there, I'm afraid the meaning would be worse."

The two clans became more and more stalemate, and only one side now showed up. In fact, it cannot fully explain the attitudes of all parties in the DPRK and China. Those scholars are not as easy to talk to as ordinary people. Xu Yuanming's departure may still make them uneasy.

But the person whose identity can represent the aristocratic family and who is willing to go at this critical moment is the person in the capital, and you can't find anyone even if you try hard to find it.

The prince mentioned someone.

He is Huang Liuniang's father, Master Huang San of the Huang family in Denghe.

The Huang family in Denghe is a large family. Mr. Huang San has been an official for many years and has quite a reputation as an official. He is currently in the capital.

But the assistant minister below shook his head, "I have already gone to check out the Huang family's intentions. Mr. Huang is willing to go, but his eldest son and elder brother are unwilling to get involved in this matter. He wrote a letter before asking him not to go out. Jing."

As soon as these words came out, the prince couldn't help but sneered.

"The power of these aristocratic families is so great that even the imperial court cannot control the officials of the imperial court. Instead, it depends on what they want."

This is why he is willing to speak out for the common people.

Without officials from poor families, the entire dynasty would be filled with children from aristocratic families, which would be the biggest hidden danger for the court.

Gu Yansheng remained silent.

He did have someone on his mind, but in such a tense situation, Gu Yansheng just thought about it and didn't speak.

After all, Tan Ting, the eldest son of the Tan family, is the eldest son of the Tan family. Does he really dare to take a trip into this muddy water?

If something happens to Tan Ting, what will Yizhen do...

Gu Yansheng didn't speak for a while.

He thought that unless Tan Ting recommended himself, it would be inconvenient for him to propose it.

But Tan Ting was still in the process of replacing his official position, so how could he recommend himself for such an unsuitable job?

But without someone who can represent the family, Xu Yuanming alone cannot make the trip.

The study fell into a silence as dark as a dark cloud.

The prince sighed heavily and pinched his eyebrows.

Just at this moment, a eunuch stepped forward quickly and suddenly broke the silence.

"Your Highness, someone handed me a sign asking to see you."

Gu Yansheng's eyelids twitched inexplicably, and the prince asked.

"Who is he?"

"His Royal Highness, he is Lord Tan Tingtan, the eldest son of the Qingkan Tan family."