In the prison, Xu Jingfu sat quietly.
When he first came in, the jailers treated him with respect and did not dare to neglect him at all. Although he was shocked by Xiao Huaijin's resolute means, he was not in a hurry. Chu Zhao was outside, not to mention that Emperor Wenxuan had a gentle temperament. After a long time, not to mention retreating, at least he would be able to recover a game slowly.
But recently, the attitude of the jailers towards him has gradually changed.
What kind of person is Xu Jingfu, who has been in court for so many years, sometimes he can see that the situation has changed with just one look. These days, no one came to visit the prison, and he had no way of knowing what was going on outside. Xu Jingfu was on his own, not knowing what happened to Xu Pingting and Madam Xu now. Since she was born, Xu Pingting has been spoiled and raised. She has never experienced any ups and downs, and now she does not know how Emperor Wenxuan dealt with them.
Xu Jingfu didn't show it on his face, but he was already a little anxious in his heart.
Crown Prince Guangyan should not be of great use, and he had previously been separated from him because of the Uto people, so I'm afraid he doesn't dare to speak out now. Thinking of this, Xu Jingfu secretly disdain in his heart, if there is no one in the court now, he will not support this idiot Guangyan. But after so long, Chu Zhao still hasn't thought of a way? Or, Chu Zhao is also in trouble now
Xu Jingfu became a little irritable. The longer you spend in prison, the less good it is. He didn't know what Xiao Jue had already achieved, and Emperor Wenxuan... even if he was benevolent, he was still an emperor. When he was away, other ministers would teach the emperor what to do.
There will always be people who want to drag him into the water, he has to think of other ways, but the most important thing is to see him first.
Xu Jingfu was thinking about it, and his eyes flashed, and he seemed to see someone flashing through the dark of the cell. If you look closely, there is nothing.
It was snowing outside, and the prison guards were squatting at the gate of the cell to drink. The alcohol temporarily dispelled the cold, and the voices of joking and laughter gradually decreased. The torches burning on the wall were quietly glowing faintly. In the light of the fire, there seemed to be a small "crackling", like the sound of burning debris. Gradually, the sound became blurred, and after a long time, I don't know when, an exclamation cut through the night sky. .
"The water is gone! The water is gone! The water is gone in the prison!"
"Quick, put out the fire quickly!"
The smoke choked people's throats, and the raging fire ignited in an instant. There was a lot of talk, there was the sound of going to get the basin to splash water to put out the fire, and the voice of someone, accompanied by the sound of fighting with swords: "Come here, someone Someone robbed the prison!"
"Xu Xiang was kidnapped!"
…
I don't know when the carriage stopped. Xu Jingfu was pushed into a different courtyard. It looked like a farm in the wilderness. There were no other houses everywhere. As soon as he entered, Xu Jingfu coughed.
He is already old and can't stand such a toss. Half of his beard has been scorched by the fire, and his clothes are all blackened by the fire, and he looks particularly embarrassed. There was no one else in the room, there was tea and food on the table, and it looked delicate. He didn't move.
Anytime, it's always good to be cautious.
When he came, he had already asked the people around him who had kidnapped him out of prison, but no one answered his question. Xu Jingfu was also uneasy in his heart, and sat for a while, when there was a sound by the door, and someone walked in.
Xu Jingfu looked up and saw that the person was wearing a light blue robe, as warm as a blue orchid. When he saw him, he called softly, "Teacher."
"Zilan?" Xu Jingfu was overjoyed at first, then frowned, "What's going on?"
Chu Zilan closed the door.
"What the teacher doesn't know, Xiao Huaijin found witnesses in Ming Shui's case."
Xu Jingfu's heart skipped a beat, but it wasn't too surprising after all. His people have been looking for the whereabouts of the brother surnamed Na Luo, and they obviously already have clues, but they suddenly disappeared from the world. At that time, Xu Jingfu began to suspect that it was Xiao Jue's hands and feet. It's just that Xiao Jue's work is secretive, and he has never been able to seize the handle. Now that he is in prison because of He Rufei, Xiao Huaijin must not let this opportunity pass. Xiao Jue has never forgotten about the Ming Shui case, and sooner or later he will be found out for a retrial.
"Only witnesses are not enough to convict."
Chu Zilan sighed: "There are not a few courtiers who fall into the trap."
Xu Jingfu could only sneer.
Having been in this position for so many years, of course he also knows that sometimes winning or losing is instantaneous. In the past, when he suppressed Xiao Zhongwu's old team, he also took advantage of the Ming Shui case to turn Feng Shui.
"What do you mean, you think the Xu family can't turn over?" Xu Jingfu looked at Chu Zhao with a bit of displeasure in his tone, "When I was in prison, you came up with a solution like this? Take advantage of the fire to rob prison?" Speaking of this, Xu Jingfu was a little annoyed, "Do you know that when this move is made, the emperor's heart will only be more inclined towards Xiao Huaijin, you are not helping at all."
"Teacher," Chu Zilan stood beside him and shook his head, "Students have no other choice."
Xu Jingfu took a deep breath, "You've always been smart, why did you choose a stupid way this time. What did you do to get me out of prison, to save my life? My life was saved, but the Xu family couldn't. , and Pingting and Madam... you..."
The more he thought about it, the more anxious he became, but now he couldn't go back by himself, but if he stayed like this, people outside would only say that Xu Jingfu absconded in fear of crime.
"Teacher," Chu Zilan said warmly, "Even if the prison is not taken, the Xu family will not be able to keep it. Xiao Huaijin will not let the Xu family have a chance to turn over, and the fourth prince has already taken action now."
"But you made a bad move! Can you save me for a while, and for the rest of my life?" Xu Jingfu stared at the young man in front of him angrily, "You have always done things safely, I have never been at ease with you, why this time ..." His words came to an abrupt end.
The person in front of him is his prospective son-in-law, his student, the person he grew up with, who has always been by his side, studying and entering the office. He is smart, has a gentle temperament, and is polite. He is a truly talented person. Xu Jingfu's In his heart, he admired him very much. He had no son of his own, so he cultivated Chu Zhao as his successor.
There was silence in the house for a moment.
"You did it on purpose?" Xu Jingfu asked slowly, his eyes fierce like a snake.
Chu Zhao smiled slightly: "Teacher, we have reached this point. Only by doing this is the best."
Xu Jingfu's hands trembled a little.
"I know that the teacher is not reconciled, and still wants to make a comeback, but the teacher is in the prison, I don't know the situation outside, it has changed." Chu Zhao's voice was still gentle, and he continued: "The students have seen the prince before. Your Highness, this is also what His Highness the Prince meant."
"That idiot Guangyan," Xu Jingfu sneered, "how could he have come up with the idea of abandoning the car and protecting the handsome, I think it's you," he stared at Chu Zhao's face, "You suggested it, oh well, Chu Zilan , you've been with me for so long, I didn't even realize that I kept a poisonous snake by my side."
"Isn't this all learned from the teacher," Chu Zhao was not angry, and said in a low voice, "It's the teacher who taught me well."
Xu Jingfu has been ups and downs for many years, and for the first time, he experienced the feeling of being vomited by popular people. Back then, when he fought with Xiao Zhongwu, he was not angry at the moment.
Xu Jingfu understood what Chu Zhao meant. I'm afraid it's fake that he robbed the prison, and it's true that he wanted to cause himself to secretly collude with others and abscond in fear of crime. Then, as a student, he took action and killed his relatives righteously, which not only showed that he was loyal to the monarch and patriotic, but also eliminated the possibility of collusion with himself. In Xu Jingfu's hands, there is still a lot of evidence that Chu Zhao left behind, enough to destroy him.
More importantly, after Xu Jingfu's death, the original Xu Party sought refuge. If Chu Zhao could get out of this case, all the contacts he had left behind would be Chu Zhao's.
He didn't have a son, that is, he took a fancy to Chu Zhao's temperament and talent, and wanted to train him to be his own, but he didn't expect Chu Zhao to hide it so deeply, like...
Xu Jingfu suddenly felt sick.
"Chu Zilan," Xu Jingfu called Chu Zhao's name, "I ask myself, there is nothing wrong with you. If I hadn't rescued you back then, you would have died in Shi Jinbo's house and I don't know which yard. For many years, I have protected you, helped you enter office, and arranged everything for you, but you are so kind and revenge, you... a villain who forgets his roots and repays his virtues with resentment!"
"Legacy? Repaying virtue with resentment?" Chu Zhao smiled, he looked at Xu Jingfu, and said warmly, "The teacher treats students very well, but in this goodness, how much sincerity and how much use, the teacher also knows how much You don't have to say it too sincerely, otherwise, it has been said for a long time, and I am afraid that even I will believe it."
Back in the Xu residence, Xu Jingfu gave him a pair of boots and rescued Chu Zhao from Mrs. Chu's men. After that, at least on the bright side, the three brothers and Madam Chu did not dare to be too presumptuous, and he was able to save his life. For a while, Chu Zhao was really grateful to Xu Jingfu.
It wasn't until he grew up and was appointed as an official by Xu Jingfu, which seemed to be a good thing. The teacher made arrangements for the future of the students, and few people in this world did that.
But from the first day he became an official, he truly became a pawn of Xu Jingfu.
Xu Jingfu's disciples were all over the Wei Dynasty, and every official disciple was his chess piece, and Chu Zhao was no different from other chess pieces. He did everything for Xu Jingfu to kill, unjustly, and win people's hearts. Xu Jingfu is behind him, he is in front of people, and his target in front of people always encounters many dark arrows.
Once, he overheard Xu Jingfu talking to his servants.
"The fourth son of Chu is going to the banquet, it may be in danger. Your lord, why don't you..."
"Young people just want to grow up in danger," his teacher said with a smile, "If I don't even want to give my life, what's the point of raising him for so long?"
Chu Zhao later understood that he was a dog raised by Xu Jingfu. If Xu Jingfu wanted him to bite, he would bite. The person who gets bitten hates the dog, not the dog owner.
Didn't Xu Jingfu know that going to Jiyang would be dangerous? Of course, Xu Jingfu was still wary of him when he was in Rundu. When Xu Pingting fell in love with him, Xu Jingfu could arrange his marriage on his own. Chu Zhao knew in his heart that if Xu Pingting didn't like him, or even hated him, Xu Jingfu would abandon him without hesitation.
"You play the teacher, and I play the student. After a long time, the teacher has forgotten why he chose me as a student."
Xu Jingfu stared at him and said angrily, "... because I saw you as pitiful at the time!"
"Is that true?" The young man laughed. "Isn't the teacher who saw me as having nothing and being easy to control, so he brought me in?"
A poor man who was bullied by his mother and brother at home and would die at some point, a person who had nothing and had nothing to rely on, once he received a little favor, he would repay it a hundredfold, and if he had the opportunity, he would go all out to do it. climb up.
It is really suitable for a chess piece.
It is also too suitable for being used, because there is no other choice.
That kind and gentle teacher was just a fake disguised by him, his calculations and plans were hidden in those soft boots, just waiting for the time to pass slowly, the nails slowly emerged from the boots, and unknowingly, Blood flowed from the stab.
But at that time, didn't he have a plan
He clearly knew that he was going to the banquet at Xu Xiangfu's mansion, but he knew that the clothes Madam Chu made for him were as thin as paper, but he still wore those clothes.
Chu Linfeng took him to socialize, but he really couldn't find a little space to change the boots, at least pull out the nails inside
The Xu mansion was so big, why did he ask him to meet Xu Jingfu
He is a child who grew up in a brothel. He has seen women use all their means in order to win the favor of men. Pity is the instinct of all strong people, and he uses people's sympathy and compassion. In those years, he learned From the ability to protect.
Every opportunity is hard-won, and every opportunity must be seized firmly.
He caught it, so he finally changed his destiny. Although the fate of the way back was not very bright, it at least kept him alive for so many years.
Xu Jingfu used him, and he also used Xu Jingfu. After all, he and Xu Jingfu were the same person from the beginning.
It's just a pity that those boots, he thought regretfully, had really warmed him for many years.
The lights in the house swayed slowly, the wind was blowing so hard outside, the windows blocked the wind, like a ghost howling. The warm candlelight seems to only make the room colder.
Xu Jingfu looked at him, looked at him, and suddenly laughed in a low voice, he said, "Chu Zilan... wow... you are really amazing..."
"Teacher," Chu Zilan looked at him, her eyes still gentle, "Like you, it's true that you sympathize with me, it's true that you want to use me, it's true that I appreciate you, and it's true that you want to kill you." He took a step back, and his outline became completely clear in the light. It was clearly a soft, handsome face that didn't eat human fireworks, but he seemed to have tasted all the sins in the world, with a kind of indifferent pity," All the tricks the students seek are all learned from the teachers. It's just that the youth is better than the blue."
"A good youth is better than blue." Xu Jingfu laughed, but the smile was especially miserable. He asked, "It's all your people outside... When are you going to kill me?"
Chu Zhao did not speak.
"This resolute and unfeeling, worthy of being my Xu Jingfu's student!" He suddenly said, "What about Pingting? What do you want with her?"
This old official who has been vicious in officialdom all his life, finally at this moment, shows a vulnerability that belongs to the old man. He looked at Chu Zhao, his eyes even prayed, "She really likes you... If you still have a conscience, just Don't hurt her!"
"I won't hurt her." After a long time, Chu Zhao said, "As long as she is obedient."
The lights in the house were bright, and someone's voice came from outside, "Fourth Young Master! The pursuit is coming soon!"
Chu Zhao looked at Xu Jingfu.
Xu Jingfu looked back at him quietly, with a lot of unwillingness, anger, and resentment in his eyes. In the end, the sinking became a powerlessness.
He was already old. When he was fighting against Xiao Zhongwu in the Mingshui battle, he should have expected such a day.
Facing Xu Jingfu, Chu Zhao slowly knelt down and bowed to Xu Jingfu.
"The student union will inherit the teacher's legacy, and the teacher will go all the way."
He stood up and walked out the door without looking back. Several guard-like people rushed in. The sound of tables and stools toppling was heard in the room, accompanied by low-pitched screams.
Chu Zhao stood quietly, the wind blew the corners of his robes, making his figure extraordinarily thin, as if he was going to ride the wind back in the next moment. For a moment, I remembered that many years ago, when he was about eleven or twelve years old, he went to Xu Jingfu's mansion to celebrate his birthday. Xu Jingfu's students were older than him, many of them had become officials, and the gifts they gave were gold and jade jewelry. He was alone, hesitated for a long time, and finally took out a painting from behind.
The painting was of a pine tree that he painted, and it took him several days and nights to paint it with great care. He didn't have much money, and he didn't want to ask Chu Linfeng to ask for it. After thinking about it for a long time, this was the only thing he could get.
Crane bones loose tendons, green pines and cypresses, at that moment, he really thought so.
But, that was a long, long time ago.
Not long after, the two guards came out. The knife on one's waist had already been dyed bright red with blood, and it was dripping drop by drop into the snow under his feet, like a blossoming plum blossom.
Chu Zhao took the knife from his hand. The knife was heavy, and the man was struggling to hold it. He didn't know how the thin and short girl could wield it so easily.
He looked at the knife, held the handle with his backhand, and suddenly stabbed himself in the chest.
"Pfft-"
The tip of the knife sank into the flesh, and there was a clear pain, which seemed to awaken a bit of confusion just now. The guard beside him was shocked: "Fourth Young Master!"
He waved his hand laboriously, pulled the knife out again, and threw it to the ground, covering his wound with one hand, blood instantly stained his palms and dyed his robes red.
The next moment, the sound of soldiers and horses outside suddenly came. He took two steps forward, finally exhausted, and fell to his knees.
"Fourth son! Fourth son!"
The last thing I saw was the bright torches, and a large number of soldiers and horses came.