Seeing that Xiang Chengfang had retreated, the Marquis ordered Cong Ting to serve Zheng Zhongguang a cup of tea, and pointed to the chair below him, gesturing for him to sit down and talk.
Zheng Zhongguang didn't show any pretense. After thanking him, he took his seat and then said with a somewhat embarrassed expression: "Although Lord Marquis has never met Xiaguan, I guess he knows something about Xiaguan's affairs."
The Marquis nodded and motioned for him to continue.
"My status as a lower official is rather embarrassing. Prime Minister Ju is still unwilling to acknowledge me. He also went to Yongning Palace two days ago. Concubine Lian did meet with this official, but she clearly told me to restrain myself at this time and not to contact His Highness Seventh Prince. , so as not to reveal the truth and leave a trail of words." Zheng Zhongguang looked shy and took a sip of tea.
Mr. Hou had a calm temper and did not rush him.
"Originally, I wanted to discuss this matter with His Highness the Seventh Highness and see if I should inform the Marquis. But now I can't see His Highness the Seventh Highness. After thinking about it, His Highness the Seventh Highness has a close relationship with the young Marquis. Now the Young Master The Lord Marquis suffered this disaster, and although the official found out a little late, he didn't know if he could help, so he had to make the decision without permission and come to tell the truth." Zheng Zhongguang finally explained all the causes.
The Marquis changed his sitting position, knowing that the next thing he wanted to talk about was the business, and he was also very curious about what he had discovered.
"Some time ago, His Highness Seventh Prince learned that the Marquis seemed to be quite concerned about an incident that happened sixteen or seventeen years ago. Although he didn't know what the Marquis was inquiring about, he ordered his subordinates to pay more attention to it. So these days , the lower official has been sorting through the files in the Ministry of Industry and found a strange thing, which also involved sixteen or seventeen years ago, so he came here specifically." As soon as Zheng Zhongguang started speaking, Mr. Hou's face became condensed. down.
He had been secretly investigating in the palace some time ago to find out who led someone to ransack the Miao Family Incense Shop sixteen or seventeen years ago, but there was no trace of this incident as if it had never happened.
Later, trouble occurred in early Xia, and the matter was shelved.
Now, hearing Zheng Zhongguang mention it, his expression was naturally solemn.
How did Xiao Zimu find out? He put it aside for the first time. At this time, he was even more confused about what the person leading the troops had to do with the Ministry of Industry.
Zheng Zhongguang saw the change in the expression of the Marquis and did not dare to delay, and then said: "Sixteen or seventeen years ago, the Ministry of Industry was probably ordered to take over a project and build a palace. It was very private and the subordinates did not know it. The appearance of the palace can only be inferred based on the materials used. And the craftsmen all left in batches, so they should have never seen the whole picture. "
The Marquis frowned and finally asked: "What about the last batch of craftsmen?"
Zheng Zhongguang seemed to be connected with the Marquis: "I also thought of this, but the batches of craftsmen did not mark the time. The official went to investigate one by one privately, and it took all this time. But I After checking and asking, they themselves didn't know what was built. They were all covered with black scarves on the way there. They couldn't even tell where it was built. And there were a group of people on the list. , all of them are dead, the official concluded that that batch should be the last batch."
After hearing the whole story, the Marquis sighed slightly: "So, all the clues are gone."
Zheng Zhongguang looked embarrassed: "Yes, I had nowhere to start, so I thought of telling His Highness the Seventh Highness, but I can't enter the Yongning Palace now. I thought that His Highness the Seventh Highness wanted to help the Marquis secretly investigate at first, so I had no choice but to let Dr. Xiang make the decision without permission." He took me into the Hou Mansion."
The Marquis nodded and said, "Thank you, Lord Zheng. Since this matter has been covered up so tightly, don't mention it to anyone else."
The Marquis secretly asked him to be vigilant about his own life. Zheng Zhongguang smiled bitterly and stood up to leave: "I have suffered a loss once, so I naturally know the pros and cons. Now I just want to do something to help His Highness, the Marquis." If there is an order, you can give instructions to your subordinates."
The Marquis inadvertently glanced at the inner room and had no intention of keeping him. He was thinking that Xiao Mubai also wanted to discuss it with him after hearing the whole story, so he said to Zheng Zhongguang: "What Concubine Lian said is true. In recent days, it's true." , it is better to be cautious and keep a low profile, and let Xiang Chengfang take you out of the house."
Seeing that he had no other instructions, Zheng Zhongguang bowed and retreated.
When Xiang Chengfang was brought out by Cong Ting, he was still full of satisfaction. When he saw Zheng Zhongguang waiting there, he shouted: "Why is it over so soon? Why don't you go in and chat for a while? I still have some things that I haven't finished studying. Woolen cloth… "
Zheng Zhongguang's forehead was throbbing with veins: "Let's go, your imperial edict for promotion is probably coming to the mansion soon, so why don't you hurry back."
Xiang Chengfang pursed his lips. He originally wanted to stay in the Marquis Mansion for a while, but after hearing Zheng Zhongguang's words, he remembered that he wanted to go back to greet the imperial edict. Suddenly, his little face was full of displeasure.
Zheng Zhongguang looked at his reluctant look and was really dumbfounded: "This is the first time I see someone promoted, but it seems like he has been demoted."
Xiang Chengfang sighed, and the two followed Cong Ting out of the Hou Mansion.
When the Marquis saw Zheng Zhongguang retreating, he walked back to the inner room with a tea cup and asked the thoughtful Xiao Mubai, "What do you think about this?"
There was also a trace of sadness on Xiao Mubai's face: "This is really strange. Why can't my father be upright and be so cautious and secretive?"
The Marquis sneered at Xiao Mubai: "I'm thinking deeply. I didn't know anything about such a big thing. I was completely kept in the dark. No wonder General Zhao told me before leaving, don't underestimate it." emperor."
Xiao Mubai raised his eyes and looked at the Marquis: "Old General Zhao also mentioned this to A Chu back then. Does Old General Zhao know something?"
The Marquis took a sip of tea and said, "My father-in-law has been fighting abroad all year round and has only returned to Chang'an once in fourteen years. What can he know? Besides, even if he really knows something, if he doesn't want to say anything because of his temper, who will? I can force him to go."
Xiao Mubai thought about it for a while. General Zhao was still in Han Yang when this happened. Even the Marquis who grew up with him didn't know about it, and it was even less likely that General Zhao knew about it.
"Do you think Cui Xuhong knew about this matter?" Mr. Hou asked Xiao Mubai.
"Sixteen or seventeen years ago, he was not the Minister of the Ministry of Industry. If he had known about it, based on my father's attitude towards this matter, he would probably be gone now." Xiao Mubai held his head against his head and said, "Let's put this matter aside for now. Well, even if Cui Xuhong wants to ask, let's wait until Ah Chu comes back to find him, he has a good idea of Cui Xuhong."
The Marquis nodded and then continued: "Shuanglu's maid Cong Ting didn't make a sound during the interrogation all night and passed out. I asked him to send her to Yunqiyuan and leave it to you to see if she can pry her off." Open her mouth."
Xiao Mubai lowered his head and said "OK", lowered his eyelids, evil aura surged under his eyes, and a hint of coldness curled up at the corner of his mouth...
(End of chapter)