It's better to fall in love than seize the heir

"This is the official office of Su County? It's not as grand as I imagined."

A voice came from Lanlan, and the majestic yamen servants standing on both sides in front of the mansion heard the words, immediately raised their eyebrows and looked at it unkindly, "Bold! Who dares to speak nonsense in front of the mansion!"

The one who just closed his mouth with a frivolous smile on his lips was a tall and handsome young man, and behind him was a heroic man in black clothes.Hearing the servant's words, the young man shook his head slightly, clicked his tongue softly, and raised his chin casually, "Who am I? It's not your turn to ask. Call your magistrate out."

The yamen servant on the left was so angry that his face turned blue, and he was about to stride forward to scold him, but his colleague grabbed his arm.The colleague secretly gave him a wink, and it was only now that he had time to notice the luxurious, exquisite and well-made clothes on the young man.

The yamen servant seemed to have thought of something, his face froze, he quietly glanced at the young man who was wearing an arrogant smile from the beginning to the end, and hurriedly turned and entered the yamen.

"Who wants to see me?"

After a while, guards on the left and right stepped out of the mansion, surrounded by a kind-looking middle-aged official.Seeing the young man with his hands behind his back looking proudly at him, he was taken aback for a moment, and tentatively said, "I don't know if this young man is..."

"You don't recognize me, but you also don't recognize the token that His Majesty personally gave you?"

Shen Jinghe finally saw Chen Zhongquan's true face, glanced at him without showing any traces, and turned his head to signal Liang Yan to hold up the token given by the emperor before leaving.

As soon as the gold and jade inlaid dragon pattern token comes out, it is as if the emperor is in person.The officials and servants in front of the mansion immediately lowered their eyebrows and closed their eyes, with serious faces, shook their robes and then knelt down on the ground in unison, shouting and kowtowing to His Majesty long live.

With a twist of his fingertips, Liang Yan lightly put the token into his arms, and exchanged a glance with Shen Jinghe.Shen Jinghe was not in a hurry to flatten them, but like a real dandy, he looked critically at the majestic government office, and then let everyone kneeling on the ground stand up as a kindness.

The first impulsive yamen servant was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat. He only secretly rejoiced that he didn't show his prestige to the sixth prince who came from the capital. Otherwise, even if the sixth prince didn't care, he would be picked up by his own adults sooner or later The next layer of skin.

Chen Zhongquan waved his hand to separate the surrounding officials, and stepped forward with a respectful smile on his face, "I don't know that the sixth prince is here, and I have been far away to welcome you, so I ask the sixth prince to forgive me a lot! I just don't know...why I didn't see you in the capital?" In the convoy that came, only the sixth prince and this—this?"

Shen Jinghe spoke in a timely manner, "This is General Liang Yanliang, who came down to the south of the Yangtze River with me. As for the convoy you mentioned, it will only take two days to arrive in Jiangcheng."

He laughed lightly again, and threw a knowing look at Chen Zhongquan, "The two of us couldn't wait for the slow-moving convoy, so we left on Qingqi first, and went to Yangjun for a round of fun. Everyone It is said that the scenery in the south of the Yangtze River is unique, if it hadn’t been for the flood, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have had the chance to take a good look here!”

He speaks and behaves extremely casually, and he doesn't seem to care about the flood. He is just like a dandy who uses the name of the Southern Tour Imperial Envoy to spend his days and nights.Chen Zhongquan saw it, and the smile on his face became even bigger, and he also smiled meaningfully, "That's right, that's right! Don't worry, sixth prince, I have been an official in Su County for many years, and I don't have any other skills. However, I have a good understanding of scenery and scenery. If the sixth prince doesn't dislike it, he might as well stay in the official office first, and we will take a good tour of this Jiangcheng in the next few days!"

Shen Jinghe clapped his palms, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face, "Prefect Chen is modest. From what I've seen along the way, this Jiangcheng is well-organized by you. Don't worry, when I go back to the palace, I will report to my father." A few words of praise for you!"

As expected, Chen Zhongquan kept his promise, he deliberately put aside his official duties for the past two days, and just wandered around Jiangcheng with Shen Jinghe and Liang Yan.Shen Jinghe and Liang Yan knew well that he was scheming, so they were not in a hurry for this moment. They really focused on playing, eating and drinking, and praised the good scene of Jiangcheng, which also made Chen Zhongquan less wary of them.

Two days later, when a few of them were tasting the new Longjing tea picked this year in the official office, and listening to the compliments from the surrounding officials, a government servant hurried into the inner room.

"Sixth prince, my lord, the convoy has arrived! It's just, just..."

"Just what, why don't you tell me quickly?" Chen Zhongquan put down the teacup, leaned slightly, and urged, frowning.

The yamen servant gritted his teeth, with a troubled expression on his face, and finally said ruthlessly, "It's just that most of the chariot and horses were damaged, and the servants were all wounded, and they were in a terrible state. It is said that they were attacked by refugees on the way and paid a lot of money." With one hand, it is almost impossible to reach our Jiangcheng!"

"What? That's unreasonable, how courageous!" Chen Zhongquan shouted in surprise, turned his head, and carefully looked at Shen Jinghe.

When Shen Jinghe heard the words of the yamen servant, his heart sank half a point.He quietly glanced at Liang Yan, who was also looking at him solemnly.

——Sure enough, his previous intuition was correct, some people didn't want them to come to Jiangnan so smoothly.If it wasn't for him not being in the carriage, I'm afraid that according to the careful planning of those people, there would be no survivors left in the entire convoy to come to Jiangcheng.

Thoughts turned abruptly, but Shen Jinghe's face changed greatly and he was panic-stricken, his fingertips were still trembling almost invisible, "This, this... this group of mobs, mobs! How dare they be so presumptuous!"

He shook his hands and wanted to put the teacup on the table in front of him. He waved his long sleeves, but accidentally knocked the teacup and its cover on the ground.The loud sound of broken porcelain made him even more disturbed. The steaming tea splashed and wet a large area of ​​the ground.

Chen Zhongquan took a full view of his useless, idiot appearance, narrowed his eyes slightly, and in the next second he spoke softly to appease, "Sixth Prince, don't worry, this gang of unscrupulous people is like this, relying on the floods in the past few days You were so bold that you dared to do anything. Fortunately, you had the spirit of a dragon, and you were blessed by the gods and Buddhas, so you left the convoy early. Now that you are safe and sound, that is the greatest blessing."

"Yes, yes, you are right." Shen Jinghe seemed to have calmed down a little, and he let out a long breath, "Forget it, it has been here for a few days. Since the convoy has also arrived, then you What around here... what officials, big and small, are called together, let's have a meal together casually."

"Naturally." Chen Zhongquan smiled respectfully, "Don't worry, Sixth Prince, the official has already booked the most prestigious restaurant in the city today. Counting the time, almost all the officials from the surrounding counties have arrived, just waiting for you move."

As soon as he walked into the beautifully decorated restaurant, the officials who had been waiting for a long time rushed to his side humbly, scrambling to flatter Shen Jinghe.Shen Jinghe also listened to their flattery with a rather appreciative expression, but looked around calmly.

Sitting at the round table filled with dozens of delicacies from mountains and seas, Chen Zhongquan cleared his throat, and then took the initiative to introduce the official positions and names of these people to Shen Jinghe.Shen Jinghe intended to numb him, so he only supported his head with one hand and listened for a while, occasionally raised his eyelids to take a look, and after a while, he turned his head and whispered to Liang Yan.

Chen Zhongquan saw that he was not interested in this at all, and only recruited officials to meet him in accordance with the practice of imperial envoys on inspections, so he put his heart firmly into his stomach again.He didn't mind Shen Jinghe's absent-mindedness, and he still introduced them one by one with a smile.

Shen Jinghe took advantage of the opportunity to whisper to Liang Yan, but actually secretly matched each person's identity with their faces in their hearts.When he heard Chen Zhongquan introduce Luo Guang, the county magistrate of Qingchi County, his pupils shrank slightly, he brought the teacup to his mouth casually, and glanced at Luo Guang's face inadvertently.

Luo Guang didn't look amazing, his complexion was darker, and his thinner figure was covered in loose official robes, which seemed a bit out of place and funny.He was not as good as the county magistrates of several other counties, seeing Shen Jinghe, he couldn't wait to flatter him and say hello, but he quietly blended in the crowd like a saw-mouthed gourd.

Shen Jinghe just glanced at him, then turned his gaze back.When Chen Zhongquan finally introduced all the officials present, he moved his neck and waved his hand, "Okay, I can't live up to such a delicacy. If you wait any longer, I'm afraid even the food will be cold."

Chen Zhongquan laughed happily, and waved to the waiter to come over for more wine, and everyone started to move their chopsticks.

After drinking for three rounds, the atmosphere of the banquet gradually warmed up.Shen Jinghe put one hand on the back of the chair, and raised his eyebrows at Chen Zhongquan suggestively, "I heard that there are many unique scenery in the south of the Yangtze River, such as embroidery, calligraphy and painting, they must be first-class, right?"

Chen Zhongquan has been in the officialdom for many years, but he can't tell that the sixth prince is secretly asking for bribes.However, he has never worried about things that can be settled with silver taels.I'm afraid that the imperial envoy from the capital is a hard-headed and selfless man, and now that the sixth prince has taken the initiative to hint that he has sold out, he is naturally overjoyed.

He immediately handed over a comprehensible look, and raised his glass to invite, "Indeed, there are many scenery produced in Jiangnan. The sixth prince finally came here. When he leaves, he can bring some back to Beijing. Whether it is a gift for a close friend, or It must be very good to stay in the mansion to appreciate it."

As he said that, he changed the subject seemingly casually, "The long street where this restaurant is located can be said to be the most prosperous place in Jiangcheng, and there are countless shops and stalls. For example, the Hexing Pawnshop on the west side is already an established An old shop that has been around for nearly a hundred years.”

Shen Jinghe hooked the corners of his lips, didn't answer much, but raised the cup in his hand, and drank it with a smile.

The meal was finally finished in a lively manner, and after the officials from the surrounding prefectures and counties bid farewell and resigned, Shen Jinghe and Liang Yan walked slowly towards the official office together.The two sat firmly in the bedroom when they heard a light knock on the door, and a man dressed as a servant bent over and waited beside the door.

"Come in." Liang Yan kept his eyes on Shen Jinghe's face, and just called out the door.

Hearing this, the young servant bowed into the room, carefully placed the two volumes of calligraphy and paintings in his hand on the yellow birch table, took another step back and said with a courteous smile: "Sixth Prince, General Liang, this is a little gift from our lord." Sincerely, I hope you two will accept it."

Shen Jinghe inadvertently pulled the rope, put aside the calligraphy and painting casually, and glanced at it, "Well, the prefect Chen is interested, thank him for me, and just say that he has bothered him a lot these days."

The servant responded repeatedly, and carefully closed the door for them before leaving.

The room was finally clean, and when only the two of them were left, Shen Jinghe didn't bother to pretend anymore, he sighed long and pressed his forehead.

"This Chen Zhongquan is indeed an old fox. He didn't mention all kinds of temptations. I'm afraid he only believes us a little bit now."

Liang Yan simply sat beside him, supported his head and rested it lightly on his shoulders, and gently pressed the acupuncture points on his forehead with his slender fingers, "You have worked hard these few days..."

Shen Jinghe also obediently leaned her head on his shoulder, slightly closed her eyes and enjoyed the moderate strength massage from her temples.Hearing Liang Yan's pityful voice, he couldn't help but chuckled first, "It's not hard work. After all, I just eat, drink and have fun every day, but Mr. Chen who never forgets to accompany me wherever I go, I'm afraid he is the one who has worked harder!"

Liang Yan saw the corner of his lips curled up slyly, and the smile in his eyes became more gentle.He stroked Shen Jinghe's temples lightly, reached out to pick up the two calligraphy and paintings on the table, and asked with a smile on his face, "These two calligraphy and paintings don't seem to be made by any famous master, but they also look ordinary. Why is Chen Zhongquan Do you want to specially send someone to bring these things to please you?"

"General Liang is an incorruptible general, of course you don't know about that." Shen Jinghe laughed, sat up straight, and brushed the curly edges of calligraphy and paintings cautiously with one hand, "These people have been rolling in Vanity Fair for decades, so naturally they are They are cunning and scheming. Even when accepting bribes, you have to be extremely careful. These are indeed just ordinary calligraphy and paintings, and they won’t sell much outside. But if you take them to a specific place..."

Liang Yanben was smart, and when he changed his mind, he realized something, "That... Hexing Pawnshop?"

"Exactly!" Shen Jinghe nodded happily, "These corrupt officials all have their own special places to deal with money. I think the Hexing pawnshop he mentioned specifically is a place to help them transfer bribes. If I expect it to be right, I'm afraid that if we send these two unremarkable calligraphy and paintings there, they will get a lot of money in exchange. Even if the people above check it, they can't get any actual evidence. At most, they can only say a few words Then the pawnshop doesn’t know the goods.”

"It's no wonder that everyone else thinks that the officialdom is treacherous, and those who can hang out in it are not really deep in the city." Liang Yan looked solemn and sneered.

Shen Jinghe glanced at him, feeling somewhat displeased in his heart, slightly rounded his eyes, and raised his eyebrows at him threateningly, "Are you talking about me?"

Liang Yan felt that he had slipped his words, and hurriedly approached him a few inches to flatter him, gently squeezed his fair side face with one hand, and spoke softly.

"You are different. You are extremely intelligent and exquisite."

"Okay, I think you know how to flatter and flatter better than those officials today." Shen Jinghe slapped his hand away with a smile, but Liang Yan placed it on his shoulders instead, and lightly pushed him towards her. Lightened up a bit.

Liang Yan half put his arms around him, lowered his eyes to look at his face carefully, smiled and said in a low voice, "That's different. They are flattering, but my words come from the bottom of my heart, there is nothing more sincere than that. "

The two of them laughed and whispered together for a while, Shen Jinghe backed away a little, stood up, opened the door and called a servant to come in.

"You, take these two volumes of calligraphy and paintings to Hexing Pawnshop, be careful, don't be seen by others."

The servant agreed with a nod and bowed his head, but returned to the room after a while, holding a wooden box in his hand.Shen Jinghe pursed his lips, ordered him to put the wooden box on the table, and waved his hand to make him go down.

Liang Yanyan opened the wooden box with his hand, and uncovered a few white papers placed on the top, revealing a thick stack of banknotes underneath.Counting it, it was a full 5 taels.

Shen Jinghe picked up a bank note casually, and snorted coldly, "The disaster relief money allocated by the imperial court is only 30 taels. This Chen Zhongquan is generous, and I think he has searched for people's fat and anointment in his daily life."

"It's not too late. Now that we have accepted his benefits, and he has let go of his wariness towards us, it seems that we can start the investigation tonight." Liang Yan closed the wooden box and put it away. Looking at Shen Jinghe, he exchanged a knowing look with him.

In the next few days, they spent the day enjoying amusements, listening to orchestral music and tasting local delicacies.At night, they lit candles and sat at the wooden table together to study Su County's geographical records and disaster management documents. Occasionally, they would take advantage of the night to survey the surrounding terrain, and then they would continue to carefully consider and integrate the plan when they came back.

After four or five days like this, they have roughly grasped the outline of the flood situation in Su County, and Chen Zhongquan has completely believed in this stupid sixth prince, and let them eat, drink and play in Jiangcheng to his heart's content.

On this day, in the backyard of the Jiangcheng government office, Shen Jinghe sat with Chen Zhongquan again, enjoying pastries and tea, and chatting with each other from time to time.

After another conversation about the food and scenery in Jiangcheng, Shen Jinghe put down the plate of dim sum in his hand, took a chance, and complained to Chen Zhongquan with deep frowns.

"Master Chen, let me tell you, you take care of Jiangcheng really well. I feel so comfortable here that I almost don't want to move. Alas, if I didn't receive the order of my father, I would have to go to those states more or less If I take a trip to the county, I would have already walked around the city again!"

If it was placed on other imperial envoys, Chen Zhongquan would definitely try to stop them and prevent them from having the opportunity to personally contact those local prefectures and counties that were seriously affected by the disaster.However, after these few days, he has already figured out the lingering temperament of the six princes, and he felt a little mocking in his heart - it was he who took the initiative to send them to those states and counties, I am afraid that it will not be a few days Well, the sixth prince can't stand the poverty of the place, and is clamoring to come back.

Shen Jinghe complained endlessly, and his demeanor was filled with reluctance that anyone with a discerning eye could see.The more Chen Zhongquan saw it, the more satisfied he was, and he began to persuade him with kind words: "Since the sixth prince has received the seat of imperial envoy, he still has to go there more or less. If he is not used to staying in the local area, then he can just bear his temper and do whatever he wants." Go shopping, come back to Jiangcheng earlier."

Shen Jinghe was still a little reluctant, but Chen Zhongquan cheerfully arranged for them himself, not only sent them to Qingchi County, where the disaster was the worst, but also specially sent guards to see them off all the way to ensure that the convoy could arrive safely. .

"Sixth Prince, Qingchi County has arrived, so I'll go back first and report back."

After the guards sent them to Qingchi County, they said respectfully and left the same way.

After getting off the carriage, Shen Jinghe stepped on this piece of land that had just experienced turbulent water, and he was already prepared in his heart to see a scene of mourning and devastation for the people.

Liang Yan also dismounted and stood beside him.They raised their heads, but they were slightly stunned at the same time because of the scene that caught their eyes.

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Thank you Xue Chuimo, Jiang Chen Wan Yin Shi, =3=, KIRAKIRA, Mi Yi for the landmine~ pen refills

Thank you Wanyi for the nutrient solution of annual irrigation!Happy =v=