Pan Lin was depressed, and after changing her clothes, she sat on the couch by the window. Fei Shi felt ashamed, sitting in front of him hesitant to say anything.
"You don't have to say it," Pan Lin looked at the brightly lit old brothel outside the window, "It's because of my bad luck that I met such a bad guy like him."
Fei Shi said, "You know he's a bad guy and a very narrow-minded person, so why bother with such a person? It's not worth it."
Pan Lin laughed at himself and said, "Have our Pan family been in such a poor field? If it is for food, we can lose our strength and let him laugh like this, then it's better to let me die."
Seeing his sad expression, Fei Shi knew that the warmth of human affection these days had really broken his heart. Although Fei Shi was muddled, he could see it openly, and he comforted him: "Leave the green hills there, don't be afraid that there will be no firewood, and the emperor has not issued an decree! Chengzhi, didn't the Hou Ye also say it? Master Pan is an old minister of the three dynasties. The emperor still has weight in his heart."
The Skull Jin hit the curtain, and Xiao Chiye leaned in. Fei Shi and Pan Lin stood up together and saluted him.
Xiao Chiye raised his hand and said, "You two don't have to be polite, Pan Shilang, sit down."
Pan Lin took his seat and said to Xiao Chiye, "Tonight not only ruined Lord Hou's happiness, but also missed Lord Hou's pleasure in drinking wine. It's time to fight."
Xiao Chiye didn't care. When he sat down, Gujin watched the tea. He took a few sips and said, "I've heard of the waiter's talent for a long time.
Fei Shi laughed when he heard the words, and winked at Pan Lin.
Pan Lin hurriedly saluted, Xiao Chiye motioned him to sit again and said, "I am responsible for dredging the official ditch, and I know the taste of it best. The old official ditch on Donglong Street is all in the work department of Mr. Pan. There are a lot of unreasonable things in the past of Shang Shu. I think this time the water rises, we shouldn't put all the blame on Master Pan. "
Pan Lin felt hot and said, "My father asked someone to draw special drawings a few years ago, but at the time when the Zhongbo army was defeated, the treasury was unable to turn around, and the Ministry of Accounts refused to allocate money, so this matter was let go, who knows... Ugh!"
"There is such a thing," Xiao Chiye put on the tea cover, "Then Wei Huaigu didn't mention it in front of the royal family. Didn't the two of you have a good relationship?"
Pan Lin was silent, but Fei Shi hurriedly said, "Master Hou, why did Wei Huaigu go all the way to the camp? Just to become a high-ranking official. Investigating, I am waiting for the evaluation report now, so I can promote the second assistant, and in the future, I will fight against the old Haige. Who knows that at this juncture, the official ditch is blocked, of course, he will try to get rid of the relationship, and he will not take the slightest responsibility. "
"I didn't expect him to be such a person," Xiao Chiye was slightly surprised, "I saw that the accounts of the Ministry of Household over the years were clear, and there was no big mistake, and I thought that it was his turn to Wei Huaigu this year, who would have known him He's actually a sly guy, it's a pity Master Pan."
Hearing the love between the lines, Fei Shi couldn't help but say boldly, "The recent news has been kept secret, Lord Hou, Chengzhi and I have asked many people, and I don't know what the emperor gave to the Ministry of Punishment. If Master Pan is sentenced... will he send Ye Du?"
Pan Lin also raised his heart and looked at Xiao Chiye.
Xiao Chiye sat firmly in the chair, turned his fingers around a few times, grasped the hearts of both of them, and said, "It's hard to say, I think the emperor is also hesitant."
Fei Shi immediately said: "The matter has changed since the imperial decree was not issued. Now that Lord Hou is the real close minister of the emperor, I hope Lord Hou can have a good word with the emperor on this matter!"
"I won't say good things for Master Pan," Xiao Chiye said calmly when he saw the two of them changing expressions, "I will only say frankly that the adults are talented and meritorious, even if there are some minor faults, it will not matter. As for beheading and exile. I will go to the palace tomorrow and talk to the emperor about it. If it is possible, then I should go to the palace within four days of the pardon."
Pan Lin was overjoyed, her eyes were red when she got up, and she didn't dare to touch Xiao Chiye arrogantly, so she could only grab her sleeves, knelt down as if planting a seedling, and said, "Thank you... Thank you Lord Hou for saving your life!"
"Gujin quickly help the waiter to get up," Xiao Chiye said with a smile, "This is what I should do, and the waiter doesn't have to take it to heart. After returning today, I instruct Master Pan to take a good rest. For state affairs and government affairs, there are still many places where you need adults in the future. ."
Fei Shixin said bluntly, "If you have something to do in the future, just tell him! Chengzhi, let's go, let's go back and announce the good news to the adults!"
Pan Lin thanked him again and again, and said sincerely to Xiao Chiye: "In the future, if the Lord has something to do, just tell me! It's too far from the north, I'm afraid I can't stand it, but as long as I'm in the capital, the Lord will tell me, Pan Chengzhi. Do your best!"
Xiao Chiye said: "Why do you see the outside world like this? But I heard you say that Master Pan asked someone to draw a map of the official ditch in Qedu, and I am also worried about the repair of the official ditch, please ask me for it. Master Pan, can you lend me the blueprint?"
Pan Lin said, "You don't need to ask. When I go back, I will send someone to the Houye's mansion immediately."
Xiao Chiye comforted him again and watched Gujin send the man off the boat. He listened to the music for a while, then turned around and said to Ding Tao: "Whatever you like, ask the cook to cook it. After you finish eating, prepare some sweet and spicy dishes, and then ask the cook to carefully cook a few fish for you, Mr. Shen. In the past, don't disturb others."
Ding Tao ran away with the book in her pocket, Chen Yang came up from behind and whispered to Xiao Chiye, "Master, Xue Xiuyi will stay there for a while, he is still waiting to see Yao Wenyu, shall we go over?"
"Go, of course." Xiao Chiye looked back, his eyes were cold, "Xue Xiuzhuo buried a knife for me in the matter of Quancheng Silk, and I have to give back a big gift. You ask someone to serve a few more pots of good wine, this Xue Xiuyi is big. useful."
* * *
The prison was managed by Kong Qiu, and the management was strict. Xi Hongxuan could not deliver news, as if he was isolated from the world. The more he waited, the more anxious he became. After waking up one night, he found that he was being detained in isolation and had changed to a room without windows.
"Why did you change your place suddenly?" Xi Hongxuan couldn't squat freely because of his obesity, so he could only bend down slightly, and said to the jailer who was delivering meals from the gap, "Big Brother, Master! Anyway, give me a word."
The jailer ignored his words, opened the shutter, pushed in the leftover soup, picked up the tray, and left.
"Hey, brother, stay!" Xi Hongxuan raised his voice, "I still have some silver taels in my pocket. Seeing that you have been working hard these days, why don't you buy wine and drink it, and I will honor you!"
The jailer turned back and spat at him.
Xi Hongxuan sat on the straw mat and was stunned. For the past few days he waited, he couldn't even sleep well, and he thought about it, but he didn't know what was wrong. The longer the time passed, the less confident he became. It was too hard for him to look down on him like this.
The house was damp, there was no ventilation, and there was no light. Xi Hongxuan usually slept on the bamboo mat and hated the meat, but now it is even more miserable. He had eczema again on his back, and he couldn't even scratch it.
Later, Xi Hongxuan heard movement at the door. The door creaked, Shen Zechuan stepped in, and Qiao Tianya, who was disguised as a wooden-faced youth behind him, lit the lamp.
Xi Hongxuan moved his legs with difficulty and said, "What's the matter, how did you lock me up here? Is it what Kong Qiu meant? I've never heard of such a courtier in the prison!"
"You're not an old prisoner of the Ministry of Punishment, you don't know that this place is the right place." Shen Zechuan tore off his cloak, handed it to Qiao Tianya, and said to Xi Hongxuan, "The food here is also not edible, I specially prepared dishes, you can use Let's talk slowly."
Qiao Tianya hung the cloak with one hand, opened the food box with the other, and placed all the chicken, duck, and fish that he bought on the way.
Xi Hongxuan sat on the straw mat, silently watching Qiao Tianya's movements, suddenly smiled, and quickly cooled down, saying, "It looks like a farewell meal."
"This case won't kill you, why should you scare yourself?" Shen Zechuan sat on the bench that Qiao Tianya had brushed over. Seeing that Xi Hongxuan didn't move his chopsticks, he asked Qiao Tianya to take out a pair of chopsticks and pick a few bites of food to eat. Another sip of wine.
Only then did Xi Hongxuan move his chopsticks.
Shen Zechuan put down his chopsticks, looked at him, and said with a smile, "My brother, are you so tight?"
Xi Hongxuan devoured the flower rolls, relieved his hunger, and said, "It's a special time, if it's you, isn't that the case? How did it go, did you see Xi Dan?"
Shen Zechuan finished his glass of wine and nodded to Qiao Tianya. Qiao Tianya opened the door and led people in.
"Second Master!" Xi Dan rushed in and cried when he saw Xi Hongxuan, "You are suffering!"
Xi Hongxuan held his hands steady, drank the last bit of wine, and said, "Get up, let people see a joke! I'm not dead yet."
Xi Dan wiped his face and said, "In these days when the second master is not at home, I have known to tell the shopkeepers in various places to manage the accounts more carefully, and I dare not let them mess up, but you are the backbone of the family, and you have to be in charge yourself. ."
Xi Hongxuan ate the food in silence, and after a while, he said, "Tell me what's going on outside."
Xi Dan said: "Long live Lord will be held accountable, both the household and labor departments are not willing to take responsibility for this fault. Pan Xiangjie has been suspended from his job and he has also received a court cane. I think the situation is not good, so I went to ask Lord Xue to intercede. Why? It is expected that Sir, he is busy with official business and can't see anyone at all!"
"Yanqing didn't see you?" Xi Hongxuan suddenly threw his chopsticks and looked at Xi Dan with narrowed eyes, "Are you telling the truth?"
Seeing that he didn't believe it, Xi Dan hurriedly said: "Second Master, how can this be fake? When you go out, you will know if you ask me? How dare I fool you about this kind of thing! Isn't this rushing for the emperor's amnesty? Dali Temple will cooperate with the Department of Punishment to investigate old cases, Master Xue has to review the files with Kong Qiu and the others, and I don’t dare to stop the sedan chair, so I haven’t seen each other.”
Xi Dan explained in this way, and Xi Hongxuan believed it eight points. He said, "I'm really unlucky. I was born at such a time... Lan Zhou, who instigated the emperor to leave the palace? Is there any news from the palace?"
"There are so many people around the emperor, just guess one by one." Shen Zechuan said, "but the emperor is obviously reluctant to investigate this matter, and he is willing to protect the other party."
"The only one who can protect the emperor to this extent is Mu Ru." Xi Hongxuan squeezed his fist, "Bitch | ruthless, she must have a reason for doing this, you must be careful... She is not pregnant with the emperor, Moved the curtain and listened to the government's mind!"
"Since she belongs to Xue Xiuzhuo, she will not conceive so easily." Shen Zechuan brought up the past again, "Xue Xiuzhuo's intention to go to the examination department is also what Xue Xiuzhuo meant. If Muru is really trying to kill you... What is Xue Xiuzhuo's mind, and what should I do? I do not understand?"
On the day Xi Hongxuan kidnapped Qi Huilian, Shen Zechuan also mentioned that Xue Xiuzhuo meant the reason why he would enter the examination department. Now, after half a month, if you mention it again, the meaning will be different.
Xi Hongxuan pondered for a while, and said, "Leave these things aside, Lan Zhou, the top priority is to get me out. What did Wei Huaigu say? How much money he wants, I'll give it to him!"
Shen Zechuan stretched out four fingers.
Xi Hongxuan said, "400,000?"
Shen Zechuan didn't move.
Xi Hongxuan stood up against the table and said, "Four million?!"
The dishes and bowls collided on the table, and Xi Hongxuan's face under the lamp gradually became hideous. He threw the wine glass suddenly, and said with hatred: "What a Wei Huaigu... what a Wei family! Four million..."
He sneered.
"This is the total military expenditure of Da Zhou, and it has already caught up with the cost of rebuilding Zhongbo! So much money, how the fuck does he get it? Half a year! In the meantime, the deposit of silver will cost more money for all checkpoints! Even if he does get the capital, where will he put it? So much money, he can't hide it at all!"
"He is a lion now, so how can he care so much? Jin Yiwei only got the news. The Wei family is really interested in Zhongbo. Just imagine, Wei Huaigu now controls the Ministry of Household, if he is allowed to win the six states of Zhongbo. , then this money can really be used for military expenses. When the Wei family has troops and horses, and then with the queen mother... The Xi family will be slaughtered by others."
Xi Hongxuan turned his head abruptly and looked at Shen Zechuan: "You advised me to join forces with them that day, have you ever thought of today? Lan Zhou! These people are all wolves and tigers, and all of them are insatiable. I can't get up!"
"I advised you that day to unite with them and kick out the Yao family, but you are hesitant. The Yao family was originally a good target to kill the chickens and show the monkeys. You missed it, so today's situation is expected. Xi Hongxuan, if you don't kick them, they will Thinking of a way to kick you out." Shen Zechuan seemed to sigh, "The situation is changing rapidly, and it is no longer a time when everyone could be reasonable decades ago. king."
Xi Hongxuan's breath was slightly short, and he regretted at this moment. His fists were full of sweat, and facing the slightly flickering candlelight, he said: "Lanzhou... When I go out this time, what plans will I have in the future, I will listen to you! Now that the matter has come to this, we must first find a way to put the four million… "
"Four million is still too much," Shen Zechuan said. "With so much money to pass through Juexi, it is impossible to escape Jiang Qingshan's eyes. Just wait a minute, I want to talk to Wei Huaigu."
At this moment, it is not possible to wait, Xi Hongxuan said with restraint: "It is still necessary to quickly, the situation in the DPRK has become too fast, and the emperor is a person who has no opinion. If you let Xiao Er or Mu Ru coax him over, it is really too late. already."
Shen Zechuan should not stay for a long time. When wearing a cloak, he seemed to ask casually, "By the way, you are in prison, what about Qi Huilian? He is also very important, so don't let anyone see him."
Just as Xi Hongxuan was about to say something, he changed his mind in an instant, and he softened his voice to Shen Zechuan: "Don't worry, Qi Huilian will definitely not starve to death, I will find someone to watch him. It's just a hidden place, when I go out, I will Give him back to you."
Shen Zechuan looked back halfway in the dim light, with a smile in the corner of his raised eyes. While wearing his cloak, he said softly, "Okay."
A wisp of cold wind slipped in through the crack of the door, blowing Xi Hongxuan's hair upright. He rubbed his arms and wanted to appease a few more words, but Shen Zechuan had already stepped out the door.