It was autumn, and the leaves on the trees behind Zhuque Street in the capital were blown by the wind and fell down. Soon, the roofs of the houses on the street were covered with a golden blanket.
At the end of Zhuque Street, there is a big ginkgo tree. According to legend, it was planted when Taizu entered the capital. It has been growing until now, and it is more than a hundred years old. It has experienced several emperors, including Taizu, Gaozu and Feidi. Things in the world change, but these trees take root silently in this world, and their leaves turn green and yellow over and over again for decades or even hundreds of years, tirelessly.
Now, Zhan Changshi was standing under the ginkgo tree. He stroked his beard proudly, watching the troops from the Five Cities Army passing by on the street, with a faint smile in his eyes all the time.
After a while, the leaves on the tree fell down in a spiral. He grabbed a golden ginkgo leaf in his hand, laughed silently, and watched Chen Haohui's back as he walked away.
Years of planning finally lead to success.
As long as the plan is completed as scheduled, he will be a first-class meritorious minister before King Zhuang. Right and wrong are written by the victor. From now on, he will be second only to the king and above everyone else.
The window upstairs closed with a click. Uncle Chen's fingertips were cold and he hesitated to pick up the stack of letter papers that Su Rong pushed over to him on the table.
Su Rong was not in a hurry either. He just held the cup and drank tea calmly, without any intention of urging anyone.
After a long while, Grandpa Chen slowly reached out his hand and put the things in his arms. He lowered his eyes and spoke quietly: "I made this decision because I believe in Song Heng. To tell you the truth, I don't seek fame and fortune. The reason I took this step and became an unfilial son is because I want to save the rest of the family..."
Su Rong looked at him with understanding, and waited until he finished speaking before saying frankly, "I know, so I admire you. It is not easy to make such a decision."
Uncle Chen's confusion, bewilderment, struggle and resentment seemed to be locked in a box. He whimpered, held his face with both hands, then wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and stood up resolutely.
Su Rong was still sitting there. After a long while, he stood up and said to He Jian who had been guarding him, "Let's go."
He Jian agreed in a low voice, opened the door in advance, followed him and whispered about the siege of Guangping Marquis Mansion and Mrs. Wang Wu being summoned, feeling a bit oppressive: "Master, this is a battle of life and death."
"Yes, a battle of life and death." Su Rong agreed, but there was no fear in his eyes and eyebrows. Instead, he was in high spirits. He laughed and said in a deep voice: "When two meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins."
He lost once, but he would never be afraid to go to the battlefield just because of his loss.
Being bullied to this extent, it is impossible for him to give in easily.
Seeing how excited he was, He Jian stopped talking and followed him quietly. As soon as he walked out of the restaurant, he saw a group of people galloping past. He hurriedly stepped forward to stop Su Rong behind him. This was a habit that had been engraved in his bones after accompanying Su Rong for so many years.
But Su Rong stood firmly, stretched out his hand to block him, and then said calmly: "These people are not from the Five Cities Army."
It really is. He Jian frowned and took a closer look, then said with certainty: "It looks like it is from Shuntian Prefecture..."
The waiter had already led their horses over. Su Rong paused for a moment and suddenly said in a deep voice, "Chen Haohui just met with Zhan Changshi. If they want to meet, they don't have to come here..."
He Jian looked at him in surprise, not quite understanding what he meant.
Su Rong had already jumped onto the horse, turned the horse's head quickly, and galloped towards the archway in front.
The speed was so fast that even He Jian couldn't help but exclaimed, and then he hurriedly mounted his horse and galloped behind Su Rong.
After turning around Zhuque Street and crossing several busy streets, He Jian vaguely saw people gathered in a circle in front of him. Many people were pointing and talking outside, and many people were lying on the ground without a sound. Many people around were crying and wailing.
Something happened!
He Jian exclaimed in his heart, and then felt a little puzzled. This was on the street, who was so bold
Su Rong's horse was soon not far from where the crowd was gathering. Someone screamed first, and the people who were watching the excitement suddenly became like frightened birds, shouting and crying, and scattered. Some even pointed at Su Rong in indignation.
Su Rong reined in his horse skillfully, cleverly dodged the man lying on the ground, and quickly got off the horse. Then he quickly shouted to the front: "Wang Tuiguan!"
Wang Tuiguan of Shuntian Prefecture was talking to someone. When he heard the shout, he turned around subconsciously. When he saw Su Rong, he hurriedly bowed to Su Rong and said, "My Lord!"
Although Su Rong had not yet held an actual position, he had inherited the title of Earl of Yongding. When the people around him saw Wang Tuiguan saluting, they all looked at Su Rong with different eyes.
Su Rong ignored them and walked forward despite their gazes. He glanced at the front and asked Wang Tuiguan, "What happened? Why is there such a commotion and blocking the road?"
Wang Tuiguan looked a little solemn: "Mrs. Wang Wu was summoned to the palace, but she met an assassin here..."
Su Rong's eyebrows jumped. He didn't know who had given the order in front of him. Some soldiers had already started to push the carriage. He was about to ask Wang Tuiguan, but suddenly he heard a familiar shout: "Brother Su!"
Wang Tuiguan was a little surprised. Before he could react, he heard Su Rong agree. He then quickly said, "Wang Tuiguan, my family and the Wang family are relatives. If something happens to the Wang family, I should take care of them. I wonder if it would be convenient for me to go over and ask about the situation?"
Wang Yuerong had already stuck her head out of the carriage and cried out again, "Brother Su, please help me, my fifth aunt has fainted! My fifth uncle is also injured..."
Su Rong nodded to Wang Tuiguan, stepped forward quickly to block the officers and soldiers, and said with a smile: "There are wounded here. I don't know how badly they are injured. It's better not to move the wounded rashly."
A stranger frowned calmly, "Lord Yongding, this is a summons from the emperor, so we can't delay. We should give priority to the audience. Now that we have fallen, the assassins are all dead. I think the matter is more urgent. Lord, please give us some leeway and let us handle the matter properly."
Wang Yuerong gently pulled Su Rong's clothes under the cover of the carriage curtain.
Su Rong understood and immediately said, "In broad daylight, someone is so bold as to assassinate someone in the street. He is really a daring lunatic. I wonder if you have brought enough people with you?"