The surnamed Zeng and the surnamed Zheng of the House of Marquis Juan are a pair of brothers and sisters in distress. They often drink together. Although the food is not rich, it is fortunate that they can complain to each other.
"Brother, it's hard work. I've been diligent and dedicated for half my life. I finally managed to become a seventh-rank petty official. In the end, I was sent here. I didn't recruit anyone and didn't provoke anyone. , If I have a backer in the court, or can spend a few hundred taels of silver to manage it, I won't be so unlucky."
"Sir, be content, anyway, you still have a chance to be promoted. I'm a little commander of the prefecture, one level lower than you. My salary is so small that it's hard to support my family, and I can only get a few compliments after working so hard. Want to be promoted? Don't even think about it. think!"
The two clinked glasses and drank it all in one go. In addition to being annoyed, they also felt a lot more comfortable in their hearts.
Someone knocked on the door outside, and then an old slave came in. He didn't know how to greet him. He walked silently, put down the food box in his hand, took out the wine and vegetables in it, and placed them on the table.
Zeng Fucheng and Zheng Fuwei were inexplicable, they both thought it was the other's credit, they glanced at each other and knew that something was wrong.
"Old Liu, who asked you to bring the food and drink? Did you make a mistake?" Zheng Fuwei asked.
"Kitchen." Lao Liu said vaguely, put away the empty food box, and left.
"The one who sent it?" the prefect guessed, the kitchen only listened to the orders of the two masters, and the one who delivered the dishes was not the wife. In private, they called Marquis Juan "the one".
Looking at the table full of fish, Zeng Fucheng swallowed and swallowed, but did not dare to move his chopsticks, "What does that mean? Never before... You won't cause trouble again, so seal our mouths in advance?"
Zheng Fuwei was more courageous, tore off a whole chicken leg, and took a bite, "What about him, even if that one causes trouble. We can't stop him, it's better to be a full-fledged ghost."
Zeng Fucheng was uneasy, but the attraction of wine and food was too strong. A little later, the other chicken leg will probably fall into Fuwei's stomach. So with a wave of his hand, he grabbed most of the chicken and ate it with his mouth open.
The first lieutenant and the first lieutenant pushed the cup for a change, only to be drunk at the moment.
For Han Ruzi, this is not just a matter of "now". He sent people to bring food and wine, and he will have it every day in the future. The purpose is not to please. It is not a bribe, but to resolve the grievances - Cheng and Wei are both minor officials and are directly appointed by Zongzheng's mansion. They have no ability to help, but they have the ability to destroy the prince.
For Du's grandfather and grandson, a table of wine and food is not enough.
Ten taels of gold and one hundred taels of silver, this is just the beginning, Zhang Youcai smiled and held the reward to Du Motian.
The grandfather and grandson stayed outside for two days and two nights before returning to the mansion. Du Chuanyun was really drunk this time and staggered. Picking up a piece of gold, he said with a big tongue, "What is this? It's fried so yellow, I don't know if it's crispy or not."
Du Chuanyun wanted to put the gold in his mouth. Was patted by grandpa. Du Motian was still very awake, and clasped his fist to Hou Juan: "What is the meaning of Hou Juan?"
"The boy is immoral, disturbing the two Qingxiu, and preparing this small gift is not a respect. There is another one for Brother Hu, please pass it on to the old teacher Du."
Du Motian showed a hint of suspicion, but Du Chuanyun didn't think so much. He recognized the gold and silver and took it with both hands. Loudly said: "What the Hou Juan gave, let's take it. Grandpa, it's actually not much. We can save it..."
Du Motian tapped his grandson's head with a finger, and said sternly, "Don't be complacent, you want to save people with your ability?"
"Isn't it?" Du Chuanyun asked unconvinced.
Du Motian knew best that it wasn't Du Chuanyun or him who stunned Wu Wuye's two subordinates. Marquis Juan secretly had another protector, so he didn't say it, and smiled: "Since Marquis Juan is generous, our two masters You're welcome."
After all, Du Motian is an old river and lake, and he already understands the intention of Juan Hou's unwillingness to owe his favor.
Han Ruzi respectfully returned the salute, and since then he has treated Du's grandfather and grandson more and more favorably.
On the third day after Hua Shaoqing came to ask questions, Zongzheng’s mansion sent another official to read out a reprimand, scolding Juan Hou for going out without a reason, and the words were quite gentle. Afterwards, the mansion chief, who enjoyed good wine and meat every day, whispered to Marquis Juan: "Congratulations Marquis Juan, with this admonition, you are an ordinary person."
For the deposed emperor, becoming an ordinary person is a kind of "ascent".
After another two days, Hou Juan was finally allowed to study at Guozijian. Yang Feng originally planned to let him go to Taixue, but it failed.
The night before going to study, Han Ruzi excused himself to review his homework and stayed in the study for the night. This day was April 23, the day he and Meng E agreed.
What rules should be followed for this mysterious palace maid? Palace? Court? Jianghu? Han Ruzi was hesitant. Yang Feng seemed to know Meng E better, but he refused to give advice. Since that time, he has not appeared again, and Han Ruzi has not even had a chance to discuss the general situation of the court with him.
Nearly the third watch, Han Ruzi blew out the candle, sat on the bed, and silently performed counter-breathing. He could feel a warm breath flowing in his body, but he didn't know what it was for.
"You can learn the exercises for the next stage," said a voice on the opposite side.
Han Ruzi forgot that he was in the dark, shook his head, and said, "No, we have to talk first."
"What are you talking about?"
"You are the daughter of a minister, and you want to clear the name of the family and take revenge?" Han Ruzi said the first guess.
There was no answer on the other side.
"Or are you the daughter of a royal family of a certain country and want to use the power of Great Chu to restore the country?"
"Stop guessing." Meng E finally said, "I won't embarrass you, internal strength is free, when you are eligible to compete for the throne, I will tell you everything, whether you are willing to accept the deal, then you can decide, I don't force it."
"You haven't shown up for the past few months, do you think I don't want to fight for the seat?"
"Well, that's it." Meng E did not deny it.
"I take risks, it doesn't mean I have to fight for the throne. You should know that I have nothing now. Even if I practice your internal skills, I can't break into the palace and become the emperor again."
"You don't have to tell me the truth, anyway, it's me who bet on me. If you don't have the heart to seize the position, or if you fail to win the position, my loss is not big, it's just a set of internal skills."
Meng E was still so straightforward, and Han Ruzi laughed, "Does your brother know your choice?"
"He knows, as does the queen mother, that I have been expelled from the palace. I am no longer a bodyguard."
"Why didn't you come to the Marquis' Mansion?" Han Ruzi was surprised and delighted.
"Darkness suits me better."
Han Ruzi immediately felt uneasy again, "So, the queen mother actually knows me... Why didn't she just get rid of me. Never have future troubles?"
"Don't ask me about this kind of thing. Do you want to learn internal skills?"
"Of course." Han Ruzi stood up, "I still want to learn your martial arts. Those people in Jianghu are not as good as you."
Meng E stopped speaking again, and Han Ruzi said, "If you don't want to, forget it. I just want to learn some... useful martial arts, with one enemy and many enemies."
"I can teach you."
"Great."
"But you can't have more than one enemy. There is no such martial arts in the world."
"You stunned two people at once two days ago. Didn't you defeat more than ten swordsmen alone in the alley of the palace?"
"Where do you think I am?" Meng E asked a strange question.
Han Ruzi thought for a while, "You are at the door."
"now what?"
"Under the window. No, on the bookshelf... nor on the beam?"
"do you understand?"
Meng E's voice was right in her ears, and Han Ruzi stretched out her hand in a half circle, but there was nothing in her arm's reach, "Understand what?"
"How many people do you think are in the room?" Meng E changed the question.
"Two, me and you."
"Really?"
Han Ruzi felt that something was passing behind him, and immediately turned around to check. Something hit his back, and he turned again... Attacks came from all directions. Books, paperweights, writing brushes and other objects have become hidden weapons, as if four or five people were besieging them at the same time.
"I understand." Han Ruzi shouted, these blows were not heavy. But very annoying.
The attack stopped.
"You are in the dark, and I am in the light. If I didn't know you, I would think there were several people in the room. This is your technique of using one enemy with many enemies: bluffing in the dark makes the other party think they are under siege, so they flee in a hurry. "
"Um."
"Fighting openly, you can't beat ten people?"
"I don't have three heads and six arms. How can I beat ten people? I don't think three are too many, unless they all know martial arts. Or are willing to come up one by one and fight me alone."
If Han Ruzi realized something, he slowly sat down. "What is false is what is true, what is true is what is false. Your way of breaking the enemy is very consistent with the art of war."
"I don't know the art of war, I only know not to stand up when I can be in the dark."
This is indeed Meng E's code of conduct all along, Han Ruzi smiled and said: "You are completely opposite to the Jianghu people, they all want their fame to be better, but you don't want it at all. Those swordsmen don't even know who they are. who was defeated."
"So I have no power in the arena. If I want to do great things, I can only turn to the queen mother or the emperor for help."
Han Ruzi nodded, "In the palace before, how did you keep the maid from falling asleep?"
"A little medicinal powder, you'd better not use this kind of thing, especially not for Jianghu people, it's a big taboo for them."
"But you stunned those two people in the vegetable garden in Nancheng. It must be real martial arts, right?"
"Well, if you want to learn, this can be taught to you."
"Want to learn. Do we have to talk in the dark? I almost don't remember what you look like."
"It's always going to change, it's useless to remember, you know it's me. Are you done talking? I can't stay here all night."
"We're done talking. Wait, one last question, have you been around to protect me?"
Meng E didn't answer right away. After waiting for a while, she said, "Of course not. I have my own business to work on, so I may not come every five days."
"Then why did you follow to Nancheng?"
"Half coincidence, half guess. You seemed uneasy when you came back from Baoen Temple. I guess you must do something, so in the past two weeks, you should observe more frequently, about once every two days."
"This is also the benefit of hiding in the dark. I thought you had been hiding in the house."
"At least three people are needed to protect you at all times. You said it was the last question, why do you say more and more?"
"No, please teach me to practice." Han Ruzi consciously benefited a lot. Not only did he learn more about martial arts, but he also came up with a way to approach the King of the East Sea.
The bluff used to the extreme is a real force, which is exactly the "weapon" Han Ruzi needs at the moment.