Dou Kui looked horrified. Qi Ning knew what he was thinking and said softly: "Of course we can't stop the pursuit of the remaining party members, but I'm worried that many unjust, false and wrong cases will result from this." He raised his hand and said, "Just like Mr. Dou, everyone in the court knows about Dou Kui. Your Excellency has good relations with King Huainan, and Lord Dou also spoke for King Huainan when he was in the imperial mausoleum. Lord Dou, think about it for yourself, if the Sima family is not the first to find you, who else can it be?"
Dou Kui's face became even more ugly, and he said anxiously: "Master Hou, Xiaguan...Xiaguan was just telling the truth at that time, and had no intention of protecting the King of Huainan."
"But others won't think like this, let alone the Sima family." Qining sighed: "Once a major case is raised, Lord Dou will be the first to be interrogated."
Dou Kui felt weak all over, and without caring about his face, he stood up and knelt down on the ground: "Master Marquis, Xianguan... Xianguan knows that there were many things that he was sorry for in the past. It was all because of Xianguan's confusion. I hope... I can still... I hope Lord Marquis will not blame you."
Qi Ning said: "Master Dou, please don't be like this. You are also a high-ranking member of the court, so how can you be like this?" He stepped forward to help him up and said: "I know what you are worried about, but there is a saying that is right, the one who is pure will be the one who is pure." Qing, if you, Mr. Dou, are clean, you will be able to overcome this difficulty."
Su Zhen said from the side: "If Sima Lan raises a case, no matter who is innocent, he will always find a way to eliminate anyone who is not him. Jinyihou, you are one of the four hereditary princes, and you are also appreciated by the emperor. , At this time, we can’t just watch the Sima family act recklessly.”
"The Marquis of Wuxiang is also a hereditary prince, and his qualifications are much higher than mine. If we really want to stop the Sima family from framing the innocent, naturally it is the Marquis of Wuxiang who will step in to stop it." Qining said with a half-smile but not a smile.
Su Zhen looked a little embarrassed, but Qining had already snorted coldly and said calmly: "Marquis Wuxiang, if you come here tonight, we don't have to beat around the bush and talk nonsense. It's true that you are a marquis, but you are not far away from the King of Huainan. , if the Sima family really wants to get to the bottom of it, they may not be able to implicate you, so in order to protect yourself, you should step in and stop it." He stood up, stretched out, and said: "I have been too sleepy these past two days. If there is nothing else, I will go and rest first." He said loudly: "Qi Feng, see the guests off!"
Su Zhen looked even more embarrassed. Dou Kui winked repeatedly. Su Zhen hesitated for a moment before finally saying: "Jin Yihou, Mr. Dou and I are here to discuss important matters." He said awkwardly: "You sit down and talk first."
Qining said "Oh" and asked, "What's the big deal?"
"You also know that although I am a Marquis, I don't have military power." Su Zhen said awkwardly: "And I don't have any other real power. In the final analysis, I am just... just an Anle Marquis. Even... Even if I If you really want to stop the Sima family, that's... that's just too much ambition but not enough strength."
"You have a lot of heart but not enough strength?" Qi Ning smiled faintly, then sat down and said: "The Marquis of Wuxiang said it in the middle of the night, so this sentence is still true."
Su Zhen looked a little worried, but Dou Kui stepped forward and said: "Master Hou, please forgive me for speaking frankly. What the Sima family did in the imperial mausoleum has made its ambitions obvious. The King of Huainan has been... removed by him. Looking at it, Among the civil and military officials of the entire dynasty, the only ones who can compete with him now are the Jinyi Qi family and the Jindao Tantai family. Jindaohou is old and has almost no interest in political affairs. Although you are a rising star, you are deeply appreciated by the emperor. , you are brave and resourceful, and you still have military power in your hands, how can the Sima family trust your existence?"
"Master Dou, you mean that the Sima family will deal with my Jinyi Qi family next?" Qining said with a smile.
Dou Kui nodded and said: "The Marquis upholds justice in the imperial mausoleum, and his loyalty and righteousness are naturally admirable, but doing so will inevitably incur the hatred of the Sima family, so...!"
"Master Dou, your methods are really not very clever." Qi Ning smiled disdainfully: "You just want me to stand up and fight with the Sima family. You think that if I want to fight against the Sima family, I must To win over power, just like you, Mr. Dou, are in charge of the household department. If the Jinyi Qi family can have the household department to help them, their strength will naturally increase greatly, so you think I will definitely protect you because of this, don't you?"
Dou Kui didn't expect that Qining, at such a young age, would reveal his thoughts with one word. He was startled for a moment, but immediately said: "Master Marquis, Xiaguan... I definitely don't have such thoughts...!"
"Whether you know it or not, the Duke of Zhen Guo whom I saw did not seek to usurp the throne." Qi Ning said calmly: "You are speculating here without permission. Aren't you slandering the Duke of Guo? The Jinyi Qi family serves the country with loyalty. If one day there is any If someone dares to rebel, even if the Qi family is shattered to pieces, they will still protect the emperor."
"Yes, yes...!" Cold sweat broke out on Dou Kui's forehead: "It's the official who made a mistake."
"Of course, if the Sima family really wants to use this topic to frame Zhongliang, I will not sit idly by and do nothing." Qining said: "If you, Mr. Dou, are really not involved in this rebellion, even if your Dou family used to be with me. There’s something going on at home, and I won’t let others frame your innocence.”
Dou Kui was stunned for a moment, then showed gratitude, bowed deeply, and said: "The Marquis is fair and honest, I am an official... Even if I die, I can't repay you." He stepped forward to Qi Ning's side and whispered: "Master Hou, Xiaguan is still in charge of the Household Department. Although the finances are stretched thin, Xianguan here assures the Marquis that as long as the official is in the Household Department for one day, the reconstruction of Heilin Camp will be the first priority. If you need to equip horses, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, you still have to spend money to make up for it."
At this time, the servant had already served tea. When the servant left, Qin Ning picked up the tea cup and said slowly: "Master Dou, just do things impartially. There is no need to do anything more for the Black Scale Camp." He sighed and said: " But having said that, the Black Scale Battalion is indeed in difficulty right now, both in terms of equipment and horses, it is very lacking. If Lord Dou can allocate money to supplement it, I would like to express my gratitude to Lord Dou on behalf of the Black Scale Battalion."
"Don't dare." Dou Kui was a veteran in the officialdom. He was obedient and happy in his heart: "It is the emperor's will to rebuild the Black Scale Camp. If the Black Scale Camp is delayed, it will be against the holy will. No matter what, the Ministry of Revenue will have to Make this a top priority.”
Qi Ning smiled slightly, suddenly thought of something, and asked softly: "Master Dou, have you ever heard of Duan Qingchen?"
"Duan Qingchen?" Dou Kui thought for a moment, shook his head and said, "Master Hou, who is this?"
"This person is from the Black Lotus Sect. I heard that he has sneaked into the capital." Qi Ning stared at Dou Kui's eyes: "Master Dou, think about it carefully. Have you ever heard anyone mention this person?"
Dou Kui asked in surprise: "A person from the Black Lotus Sect?" He frowned in thought, but after a moment, he shook his head and said, "Master Marquis, I have indeed never heard of this person's name. I don't know much about the Black Lotus Sect. I heard that the leader of the Black Lotus is a great master, yes, and there is also that poisonous king, he is also very ruthless, this is the first time I have heard of the name Duan Qingchen."
Qi Ning knew that Dou Kui was very cunning, but looking at his eyes, he knew that he was not lying this time.
Duan Qingchen is one of the four holy envoys of the Black Lotus Sect, but very few people know his name.
Among the shadow rats this time, the gray crow was recruited by Duan Qingchen, but the shadow rats were all used by King Huainan. Qining knew that Duan Qingchen must be connected with King Huainan.
Qining was not sure whether Duan Qingchen died in the imperial mausoleum. Dou Kui was very close to the King of Huainan. Qining thought that since Duan Qingchen was involved with the King of Huainan, as one of the confidants of the King of Huainan, Dou Kui might know about Duan Qingchen's existence. , but now it seems that King Huainan also concealed the existence of Shadow Mouse from Dou Kui.
Su Zhen couldn't help but said: "What do you want to do with Duan Qingchen? What does this person want to do when he sneaks into the capital?"
Qi Ning knew very well that although Su Zhen took refuge with King Huainan, it would not last long, and King Huainan may not like Su Zhen in his heart. Su Zhen was even less likely to know things that even Dou Kui didn't know. He smiled lightly and said : "I just heard that this person sneaked into the capital. I don't know what he wants to do."
Dou Kui cupped his hands and said, "Master Hou has been working hard for many days, so I won't bother you much. I will leave for now."
Qi Ning cupped his hands and Su Zhen straightened his clothes before slowly going out. When he was about to walk out of the door, Qi Ning suddenly said: "Marquis of Wuxiang, Miss Su will soon marry Dong Qi and become Dong Qi." The Crown Princess is really a joy to congratulate.”
Su Zhen didn't know why Qining would mention this. He was startled for a moment. He turned around and saw Qining looking at him. He thought for a moment before nodding slightly.
"The eldest lady is beautiful in many ways, but I wonder if Marquis Wuxiang will occasionally think of another person." Qining sat down and said.
Dou Kui knew that Qi Ning had something to say, so he understood the situation and said to Su Zhen, "Master Marquis, please go out and wait." He quickly left.
Su Zhen frowned, put his hands behind his back, and asked, "What do you mean?"
"It's not interesting." Qi Ning said, "Maybe I'm meddling in other people's business. I just want to ask Marquis Wu Xiang, have you not felt any guilt towards Xiao Yao for so many years?"
Su Zhen's eyes flashed, and her face looked a little ugly. After a moment of silence, she finally said: "You have already helped me take care of her. She... seems to be fine now."
"It seems that you are not indifferent to her." Qining picked up the tea cup without looking at Su Zhen. Su Zhen stood there for a moment, then turned around and left quickly.
After Su Zhen and Dou Kui left, Qi Feng, who was guarding the door, came in and said disdainfully: "Master Hou, Dou is a double-dealer. Be careful of such people. If he hadn't been a general back then, how could he be where he is today? Later, He actually defected to the King of Huainan, huh, I still have the nerve to go to the gate of the Marquis' Mansion today."
Qining put down the tea cup and said: "There are no permanent friends and no permanent enemies. I don't care what Dou Kui's character is, and I have never thought of being friends with him. But the Ministry of Revenue is in charge of money and food, and the Black Scale Camp To grow stronger, money is indispensable. If he can be used by me, I might as well use it first."
Qi Feng had been standing outside the door waiting, and he could hear the conversation between several people, and whispered: "Master Marquis, the King of Huainan is dead. It will not be easy to deal with the Sima family in the future. Fortunately, we still have Black Scales in our hands. Battalion, the Sima family currently has no control over other soldiers except the Black Knife Battalion, and he doesn’t dare to do anything to us.”
"You are right." Qi Ning's eyes were deep: "The Sima family must have a grudge against our Qi family. If they want to keep the Qi family, not only cannot they gain more military power, but they must also quickly expand the Blackscale Battalion. , this is the only force we can control." At this point, he stopped talking and thought deeply.
At this moment, a person hurriedly came in from outside the door and said: "Master Marquis, we have a visitor asking to see you!"
Qining looked at the sky, it was almost dawn, and frowned: "Who is running here at this time?" Before he could finish speaking, he saw a figure floating into the hall, and said in a deep voice: "It's me!"