Not long after, Li Gang came in with a man in his twenties. The young man was dressed in sackcloth and linen and dressed as a peasant. He was very strong and broad-eyed. When he came to Mei Changsu, he folded his fists and saluted, saying: "Tong Lu pays respects to the Sect Master."
Tong Lu was originally a farmer, but because his younger sister was spotted by bullies, his family suffered a disaster. Fortunately, Jiang Zuomeng rescued him. Now his mother and weaker sisters are all in Langzhou. Chang Su took a fancy to it and sent him to Jinling. After all, Mr. Thirteen has a great reputation in the music world, and it is not easy to come and go often, so the smart and reliable Tong Lu is the best messenger, and he comes to Su Mansion almost every other day in the name of delivering food.
"It's hard work, sit down and talk." Mei Changsu raised his hand gently, "Are there any new trends in the prison?"
"Yes," Tong Lulu said in a succinct manner, "they have found the right person. It will be handled by Qi Min's most trusted class leader named Wu Xiaoyi. The person is now locked in Wu Xiaoyi's house, and there are indeed seven or eight points. He looks like He Wenxin, but he is thinner, and now he is preparing for the wine and meat. He Wenxin has suffered a lot in prison, and his face is not as white and fat as before. Bo never thought that they would have this skill, and since he was not particularly familiar with He Wenxin, even if he wanted to come to the scene to watch the beheading, he would not be able to see any flaws."
"Well," Mei Changsu pondered for a while, "that Wu Xiaoyi, the family of the deceased, and the jailer in the prison, all must be watched closely, but they must not be noticed. After He Wenxin is replaced, he will be sent out of the capital immediately. Avoid disaster, don't lose it."
"Yes."
"How many of the old cases where the Ministry of Punishment had secretly replaced death row prisoners before?"
"Seven cases have been found that can get human and material evidence."
"Continue to work hard, and be sure to grasp the most crucial witnesses."
"Yes."
"Tell Gong Yu to pay attention to Qin Banruo and not let her realize that someone is investigating the old case of the Ministry of Punishment."
"Yes."
Having said these words, Mei Changsu felt that his eyes were slightly darkened, and he hurriedly closed his eyes to adjust his breath. The Ministry of Personnel and Punishment, for the time being, they can still have a good year. On the day of execution next spring, they will have a good show. I just hope that this unsatisfactory body will not be in a bad situation.
"Sect Master..." Tong Lu was very worried when he saw his face turning pale, and asked in a low voice, "Do you want to call Dr. Yan over?"
"No... Doctor Yan will only let me take tonics," Mei Changsu smiled, "It's fine. Does Mr. Thirteen have anything else to tell me?"
"Yes. According to the news from Canal Qingduo and Jiaoxinggang, in recent months, different cargo owners have successively transported gunpowder from groceries into Beijing through different channels, although the amount each time is not the same. It’s big, but I’m afraid it will have accumulated 200 pounds. The brothers in the foot line pretended not to find it for the time being, and only secretly informed Mr. Thirteen. Now the gentleman is still investigating whether there is any connection between these shippers, and we will wait for further information. The news will be reported to the Sect Master.”
"A large batch of gunpowder?" Mei Changsu frowned, "Is it related to Jiangnan Thunder Hall?"
"No connection has been found so far."
"Where does the gunpowder exist after entering Beijing?"
Tong Lu lowered his head and looked ashamed, "The consignee is too careful and cunning. After a few turns, we actually lost it..."
Mei Changsu couldn't help sitting up straight: "In other words, the whereabouts of this batch of gunpowder are unknown now?"
"Yes... The matter of gunpowder seems to be a dispute between the rivers and lakes, and it should have nothing to do with us, so Mr. Thirteen didn't want to alarm the Sect Master. But now the whereabouts of the gunpowder is unknown, and I don't know where it will be used. Sect Master, you are always here. Walking around in the capital, we are afraid in case..."
"The capital is so big, how can there be such unfortunate things?" Mei Changsu couldn't help but smile, "You should check carefully, but don't worry too much."
"Yes." Tong Lu replied, and after touching his arms for a long time, he found a palm-sized spirit mink. The little thing waving its tail and tilted its head, saw Mei Changsu, and slid into him. 's arms.
"What did you bring Xiaoling for?"
"This... Miss Gong Yu said that Xiaoling will follow the sect master these days." Tong Lu lowered his head and said, "It is the most sensitive to gunpowder, and it will keep moving if it smells a little bit, the sect master will take it with him, no matter what Wherever you go, Gong maiden is also more at ease."
Mei Changsu shook his head and laughed, but he knew that they were all good-natured. Seeing Tong Lu's expression, he must have been scolded by Gong Yu for chasing the gunpowder. Xiaoling is very good, just stay for a few days."
Tong Lu's face immediately spread a smile, clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Sect Master!"
"Thank me for what?" Mei Changsu waved his hand in a funny way, "Okay, you can go back earlier too, and tell Mr. Thirteen... and Miss Gong Yu that my illness has been cured, and they can do it. Stop complaining to Langzhou..."
"Uh..." Tong Lu's face turned pale, "We didn't..."
Mei Changsu didn't listen. He closed his eyes and began to rest his mind. Tong Lu didn't dare to say more, so he crept out and stuck out his tongue secretly.
Xiaoling blinked her small black bean-like eyes, and crawled and crawled onto Mei Changsu's shoulder, scratching his earlobe with her small paw, but she didn't get a response for a long time, and crawled back into his shirt sullenly. Go to sleep.
Two fingers stretched out suddenly, pinched Xiaoling's ears at once, and held it in the air. The little thing was caught off guard, and his body twisted desperately in fright. Crackling screams.
Mei Changsu opened his eyes and said warmly, "Fei Liu, what's the matter?"
"Those three!"
"Oh," Mei Changsu rubbed his temples and cheered up, "Go and bring them in."
"Okay!" Fei Liu let go, and Xiao Ling fell from mid-air on Mei Changsu's stomach. Although he wasn't injured, he was very frightened and curled up in a ball in aggrieved way, wailing and daring not to move.
"Okay, don't be afraid, Fei Liu just likes you..." Mei Changsu smiled and stroked it for a while before putting it back into his warm arms, "Will you sleep with Fei Liu at night?"
Fortunately, Xiaoling couldn't understand what he said, and still blinked his black bead eyes, not fainting from fright.
At this time, footsteps sounded in front of the steps, with different weights and rhythms, just like their respective personalities.
"Brother Su, are you feeling better?" Of course the first person who came in was Yan Yujin, "I brought a few baskets of citrus that were newly shipped from Lingnan. When I was sick, my mouth felt bitter, and eating that was the most comfortable. "
"Don't be so noisy," Xiao Jingrui pushed him with a frown, then looked at Mei Changsu's pale complexion, and said worriedly, "Brother Su, don't get up, just sit, this solar term is not a trivial matter, the doctor's medicine Does it work?"
"It's almost okay, it's hard for you to come and see me." Mei Changsu smiled, "Come and sit down, I haven't talked to you for a long time."
The three took a few steps closer and sat down on the chairs beside them. Xiao Ling suddenly moved around in the front of his clothes, and the little claws grabbed it, Mei Changsu couldn't help but feel a move in his heart.
"It's really comfortable to soak in the hot spring. Brother Su should try it too. It's very good for the body." I'll go to the back, and I'll bring a few over for you to try first. This one is thin, easy to peel, juicy and sweet. Brother Su will definitely like it. I'm going to plant a few trees in my yard tomorrow..."
"Oranges born in Huainan are oranges, and those born in Huaibei are oranges," Xie Bi rolled his eyes at him, "Have you ever read a book? If it were planted in your home, it might yield bitter gourd..."
Xiao Jingrui and Mei Changsu laughed together. The latter stretched out his hand and took a tangerine, put it in his nose and sniffed it lightly. The fresh and sour breath was cold and frosty. There is also a slight hint of nitrates.
Mei Changsu vaguely speculated about some reasons.
"These oranges are very fresh, but they were shipped from Lingnan? They must have been on official ships, right?"
"That's right, it's an official ship sent directly from Lingnan Prefecture. You don't need to stop for inspection on the way along the Fujiang River. Of course, it's faster than the Caoyun ship. The officials and noble families in the citrus capital like this. There are ten ships. It won't take long for it to be divided, and I won't be able to grab it, but fortunately my father has a reservation."
"That's right... I really appreciate your kindness." Mei Changsu said politely, but thought quickly in his heart. It turns out that it is not only the canals and foot-travels, but even the official ships can sneak into the gunpowder.
Xiaoling was still moving in his chest, and Mei Changsu reached out and patted it soothingly, probably because the smell of gunpowder was just a touch, not strong, it finally quieted down and fell asleep.
"Brother Su's hands are cold? Would you like me to peel it for you?" Xiao Jingrui asked thoughtfully when he saw Mei Changsu holding the citrus and did not move for a long time.
"...Oh, no need, Yujin is right, this skin is easy to peel," Mei Changsu hurriedly peeled off the golden yellow skin, put the orange flap with a slight white rib into his mouth, took a bite, and it was cool The juice will fill the mouth, it is really sweet and sour, and the taste is very sweet.
"It's delicious, right?" Yan Yujin also stuffed a few petals into his mouth, "It's a great pleasure to eat this while it's warm."
"Look at you, Brother Su only took one bite, but you're going to eat the second one." Xie Bi smiled, "Are you planning to go back after eating all the baskets?"
"It's delicious." Yan Yujin didn't care about his ridicule, and turned to Mei Changsu, "If Brother Su likes it, I'll send more when I go back."
"That's enough. There are not many of us, and most of us only like to eat meat. But Fei Liu likes citrus, so I will thank you for him first."
Yan Yujin looked from side to side, "Fei Liu was still there just now, but he's gone again?"
"Probably went to play at the back." Mei Changsu looked at the uncle and son of the country, his heart suddenly moved, and he said in a very natural tone as if he was speaking casually, "Why are you free to see me today? If you are ill, won't you go to the palace to visit you?"
"The Empress is ill?" Yan Yujin's surprised expression did not seem to be pretending, "No way, I only entered the palace yesterday, and she was fine when I saw her, why is she sick today?"
"Maybe it's also suffering from a cold," Mei Changsu smiled lightly, "The weather is so cold, and if you lose cover a little at night, you will catch the cold. However, with so many people in the palace taking care of her, the mother's illness will definitely be worry-free."
"Oh..." Yan Yujin looked out at the sky, "It's too late now, so I'll ask you to be safe tomorrow. If it's really serious, I'll tell Dad to tell him to come back."
"What? Uncle Guo is not in the capital?"
"I went to a Taoist temple outside the city. My father doesn't hear anything about the world now. He just wants to ask the immortals to ask for alchemy. If my son is not dragged by him, he will definitely change the house into a Taoist temple." Yan Yujin He complained helplessly, "But it's also good, that is, no one cares about me, I'm free. Except for a while ago, my father suddenly wanted to put me in Long Jinwei as an errand, and he didn't usually worry about me much. future."
"You don't have to worry about your future for a young master from a family like you," Xie Bi said, "but your father is really becoming more and more like an outsider. Throughout the year, I haven't even seen him enter the palace a few times. Why don't you ask?"
"I don't know..." Yan Yujin tilted his head and thought for a while, "You know that their brothers and sisters have never been close to each other. My father likes to clean up. If it wasn't for the ancestral hall to take care of in the capital, he would probably want to live in the mountains. Woolen cloth."
Xiao Jingrui also said: "If it wasn't for your looks, who would have known that you are father and son? Uncle Yan is indifferent, like a wild crane, but you are a troublemaker, let alone a wild crane. The temperament is more like a wild cat."
"Yes, Young Master Xiao has a temperament," Yan Yujin shrugged, "I'm a wild cat, and you're an obedient house cat, okay?"
Mei Changsu couldn't help laughing out loud, "It's been a long time since I heard you quarrel, it's really kind."