Father, I really don’t want to be the emperor

"Your Highness, you must have seen it along the way, right? Today, Tianjiang is getting worse and worse. Not only is the people struggling to make a living, but it is still far less prosperous than in the past."

Song Chengzhou sighed.

"Yes, it is indeed difficult for me to be prosperous now! There is a severe drought in the northwest, the Huns have repeatedly invaded the territory, and there are internal and external troubles!"

Then, Ning Fan changed the topic: "However, it is all thanks to Governor Song and you ministers who are willing to help you, that our Dakang can be as stable as a rock. Although the people of Dakang are temporarily living a hard life, they can also enjoy peace and tranquility! "

"Yes, once war breaks out, the people will suffer the most, so if we can avoid fighting, we should stop fighting and recuperate, which is the right way."

Song Chengzhou also echoed.

Talking and laughing all the way, everyone entered the city and entered the Tianzhou government office.

"Your Highness, this is the state capital. Let's go to the back office."

Song Chengzhou led the way, and Ning Fan followed closely behind.

The place is different from the capital. The major government offices in the capital are where offices are held, and officials generally have separate residences.

However, the situation is different in various prefectures and counties. Because officials are often promoted, transferred, etc., they generally do not purchase family properties when they arrive in their respective places.

The residence is basically in the back office of the government office.

Tianzhou has a governor's palace and a governor's office, and governors in the same city, but their offices and residences are not together.

The Governor's Palace is a bit old, but some dilapidated places have been carefully repaired.

Arriving at the back office of the Governor's Mansion, servants had already prepared a banquet in advance.

After Ning Fan sat down, he immediately served the hot meal.

"Your Highness, just don't worry. The entourage has been arranged properly. They will have good wine and meat, and they will not be treated badly."

Song Chengzhou whispered in his ear.

The dinner started with another round of pleasantries, but what needed to be said had already been said on the way. In addition to the pleasantries, the banquet was about commenting on the food, and listening to Song Chengzhou and Zhuang Wen introduce the customs of Tianzhou and some historical celebrities. .

Ning Fan ate and listened at the same time, and the meal was a feast for both host and guest.

Song Chengzhou was already old, and after a few glasses of wine, he became a little too drunk, so he was helped by his servants to rest.

Seeing Song Chengzhou leave the table, Zhuang Wen came over.

"Your Highness, you are on this trip to Tianzhou. You are the imperial envoy appointed by His Majesty. I am afraid you are not just here to watch the show, right?"

Zhuang Wen held the wine glass to test.

The secret was sent by Zhuang Wen, so Ning Fan naturally didn't hide it.

After all, if the investigation is to continue in Tianzhou, Ning Fan must win Zhuang Wen's support.

"Mr. Zhuang, there are some things that you and I know very well, so there is no need to say it explicitly, right? But when my father sent me here, he told me that he wanted me to get closer to Mr. Zhuang and rely more on Mr. Zhuang."

Ning Fan smiled and whispered.

Hearing Ning Fan say this, Zhuang Wen's face turned into an old chrysanthemum with a smile.

"That's natural. I eat the emperor's salary and share the emperor's worries. Everyone knows that Song Chengzhou intends to rebel! If I know about it and don't repay it, then I will be betraying the emperor's kindness!"

Zhuang Wen said impassionedly.

Ning Fan glanced at Yue Chunping casually and saw Yue Chunping sitting at a distance. He seemed not to have heard Ning Fan and Zhuang Wen talking. His attention was always on the food and wine on the table.

"Master Zhuang! Do you have any evidence of Song Chengzhou's rebellion? If the evidence is solid, we can take him down directly!"

Ning Fan whispered.

Hearing Ning Fan say this, Zhuang Wen's eyes shone with light.

He didn't expect that this young prince would be so naive.

Can the dignified governor be taken down casually?

"Your Highness, if I dare to report, there will be evidence! Let's go to the backyard together for a while, and I will take you to see something."

Zhuang Wen smiled mysteriously and pulled Ning Fan to stand up and leave the table.

As the host, Song Chengzhou was too drunk, so Zhuang Wen naturally became the host.

If Ning Fan wanted it convenient, Zhuang Wen would not arouse any suspicion if he accompanied him.

The two of them walked back along the path of the back office. Zhuang Wen seemed to be familiar with the governor's office. He led Ning Fan through twists and turns and successfully evaded the eyes and ears of the Song family's servants, and arrived at a row of rooms that looked like the Song family's bedrooms. In front of the house.

"Your Highness, according to what I know, there is evidence of Song Chengzhou's rebellion hidden in this house."

Zhuang Wen pointed to one of the wing rooms and said.

Ning Fan was a little confused and didn't know what evidence there was.

This place is not the east wing. It is obviously a vacant house. What can be stored in it?

"Your Highness, you can come with me and take a look. I'm sure it will surprise Your Highness."

Seeing that Ning Fan didn't seem to believe it, Zhuang Wen smiled mysteriously and pulled Ning Fan towards the side room.

With a creak, the wooden door of the wing was pushed open.

The sound was so loud that it startled Ning Fan, fearing that he might alert the servants of the Song family.

"Don't worry, Your Highness, this Song Chengzhou is usually a hypocrite. He says it is to save money for the court. There are no more than ten servants in the back office! Now they are busy in the front yard and have no time to care about us."

Zhuang Wen said with a smile.

Ning Fan glanced at Zhuang Wen suspiciously, then followed Zhuang Wen into the side room.

As soon as he walked in, Ning Fan was startled.

In the middle of the room, a dragon robe was hanging on a wooden shelf.

"Have you seen, Your Highness, that this is evidence of that old guy Song Chengzhou's rebellion?"

"This old coffin-looking man without a king or a father is so shameless. Secretly letting someone embroider a dragon robe is enough to prove his ambition!"

Zhuang Wen pointed at the dragon robe and whispered.

The crime of hiding the dragon robe privately was enough to cost Song Chengzhou his life!

Even if he is a high-ranking official in the border area, he may not be able to save his life if he commits such a disobedient crime.

"This old thief is really bold!"

Ning Fan said angrily.

Seeing Ning Fan's reaction, Zhuang Wen's eyes flashed with joy.

"Your Highness, General Yue has always been loyal and patriotic. If you order the arrest of Song Chengzhou, I believe General Yue will respond positively! If this old thief resists, I suggest that he be punished on the spot!"

Zhuang Wen's eyes flashed with cruelty.

Hearing that Zhuang Wen was so impatient, Ning Fan calmed down.

A high-ranking official in the border area cannot be killed just by asking!

If I can't get ironclad evidence, I'm afraid I will be criticized when I return to Kyoto.

"Master Zhuang, the dragon robe can indeed prove that Song Chengzhou has rebellious intentions! But if he refuses to admit that someone has framed him, what should we do then?"

"Only this isolated evidence cannot turn the case into a solid case. Let me think twice before making a decision on this matter."

Ning Fan suppressed his anger and pulled Zhuang Wen out of the room.

Just now, Ning Fan did have an impulse, which was to immediately mobilize his troops to defeat the Governor's Mansion and cut Song Chengzhou, an old thief, into pieces.

But suddenly, Ning Fan remembered the words of Cheng Wei, the chief minister of the cabinet, when he was leaving, think twice before you act, don't just believe what you see and hear...