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

In the middle of the night, the treasury of the government office should be quiet and only dark, but at this time the entire government office is brightly lit, as if it were daytime.

A team of apparently well-trained guards firmly guarded the exit of the warehouse. The pale-faced, empty-faced man with his hands cut behind his back was heavily pressed and knelt on the ground.Her lips without the slightest trace of blood trembled unceasingly, not even half of her usual gentle appearance.

Gao Ming just followed Shen Jinghe into the gate of the government office, and what he saw was such a strange scene.Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a figure with a cold expression leaning on the pillar with folded arms, and asked in surprise:

"It's so late, why is General Liang here?"

That figure was Liang Yan who had disappeared for a whole day. When he saw the two of them appear, he withdrew his scrutinizing gaze, and a touch of warmth melted on his face covered with frost.

Calmly inserting himself between the two, pushing Gao Ming away from Shen Jinghe, Liang Yan naturally put his left hand around Shen Jinghe's shoulder, raised his chin towards the warehouse door, and raised his eyebrows.

"If I didn't guard here early, how could I catch a thief who was wreaking havoc in the warehouse at night?"

Hearing these words, Gao Ming looked in surprise at Zhang Wenrui, who was severely suppressed with a golden face, and then at the overturned wooden barrel, struggling to digest Liang Yan's words.

"General, General, you mean..."

Gao Ming was a bit straightforward, but he was not stupid, and immediately realized why Zhang Wenrui appeared here late at night.After seeing Liang Yan's and Shen Jinghe's calm faces with no signs of surprise, they turned their heads and realized that the two of them obviously had expected it.Shen Jinghe's various actions today, including the one that puzzled him the most, allowing him to carry the superior species with him to another hospital at night, were also explained at once.

"How can you be so confused... Oh! Brother Zhang, you can use your energy in other places when you are fighting with me. But the selection and cultivation of tea seeds is the most important thing related to the life and death of Nanyue. How can you... ..."

Gao Ming beat his chest and looked at Zhang Wenrui, sighing again and again, full of disappointment.

Since Zhang Wenrui was captured and knocked down, he has been stunned and silent as if he had lost his soul. Facing Gao Ming's accusation, he still remained silent as if he hadn't heard it.

"You don't want to speak, why don't you let me explain a thing or two for you?" Shen Jinghe stepped away from Liang Yan, took two steps forward, squatted down slowly, and stared straight at Zhang Wenrui with sharp eyes.

"You and Gao Ming have had a relationship for a long time, and you see that you are not as favored by the superior as he is, so you have a heart of jealousy. Hearing today that I have entrusted him with the important task of collecting tea seeds, I am afraid that he will love you even more after the matter is completed. So I quietly went to the storeroom at night, and poured the bucket of water on the newly stored tea seeds, so that these tea seeds were damp and festered. If I don’t know the cause and effect, I will definitely see the damaged tea seeds the next day. Thinking that Gao Ming is not good at doing things, what's more, he is negligent..."

"It's not water." Zhang Wenrui interrupted suddenly with a sullen face, his eyes slowly rolled, and finally fixed the focus, "It's not just water, the lower officials sprinkled autumn grass pins in it, the seeds were contaminated with this medicine, and at least they deteriorated and rotted. If it is serious, it will be infected with toxins. Even if it is dried and replanted in the soil, it will only rot in the ground with the roots attached."

"You are really cruel."

Shen Jinghe narrowed his eyes, his expression turned cold for a moment.

"It's a pity..." Zhang Wenrui sighed, "everything was so perfect. If General Liang and the guards hadn't been ambushing here early in the morning, based on the official's understanding of the interior of the government office, they would have disappeared without a trace in just a few breaths. "

"Up to now, do you still have no regrets?" Liang Yan said coldly.

Zhang Wenrui raised his head to look at him, and smiled with the corners of his lips pulled up like a broken can.

"Zhang Wenrui! Are you crazy?"

Gao Ming looked at him in disbelief, not understanding why someone could still laugh at such a point.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Wenrui seemed to be suddenly stimulated by him, trembled all over, and struggled fiercely, and his dull expression just now was torn apart.He stretched his neck with bulging veins, the corners of his eyes were red and cracking:

"Ha, am I crazy? Gao Ming, anyone can accuse me, but you are not qualified! Why, why? You are not as smart as I am, not as sophisticated as I am, and not as good as I am in everything from family background. You, even the new county guard looks at you high? Do you know that I am the master, and I should be the one under Nanyue—”

"Under you alone, can the old man only be at your disposal?"

The guards who surrounded here clasped their fists towards the group of people who were rushing forward.

The white-haired old man in the lead had a livid face, obviously suppressing his anger.The clothes and hair of the few people following behind were slightly disheveled, and they could tell that they had just been woken up.And one of the men who was six points like the kneeling man's footsteps was a little messy, his face turned pale and pale, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

Gao Ming who was suddenly yelled at was stunned, and when he heard the familiar voice, he turned around and saluted as if awakened from a dream: "Xiaguan...Xiaguan has seen Jun Cheng."

Sun Mo waved his hand to signal him to get up, and he didn't stop until he walked in front of Zhang Wenrui.His right index finger kept pointing to the warehouse behind Zhang Wenrui, his beard trembling with anger:

"Zhang Wenrui, you have been an official in South Vietnam for several years, how dare you do such stupid things! Do you know that thousands of people in South Vietnam are waiting for us to open terraces and sow tea seeds, so that we can get rid of the hunger here? You can only gnaw the bark and pull the weeds and struggle to survive! Is it the tea seed that you destroyed? It is the hope of all the people in South Vietnam, and it is their life!"

Zhang Wenrui's body was on the verge of falling, and his face was gloomy.If there were no ruthless guards behind him holding his arm firmly, he would have slipped and fell to the ground with all his strength in the next second.

Shen Jinghe clapped his hands and got up from the ground. Before he could speak, he heard a "plop", a figure kneeled heavily on the ground, and his knees collided with the hard stone floor.

"Gong Cao, are you... wanting to intercede for your cousin?"

Shen Jinghe frowned, and looked at Zhang Wenxun who was kneeling with a face that was not much better than the white wall.Just now when he actually kneeled down, he could tell from the sound that his knee was going to be red, swollen and black and blue for a few days.

"No..." Zhang Wenxun's lips trembled uncontrollably, and he didn't even look at Zhang Wenrui halfway. Frame up colleagues, destroy public property... I beseech you, my lord, to punish this person severely, so as to make an example to others!"

After saying that, Zhang Wenxun put his hands on the cold and rough stone floor, and knocked his head heavily with a bang.His trembling body did not rise from the ground for a long time, and after a while, a trace of bright red blood flowed out along the loose black hair.

Everyone present was shocked, except for Zhang Wenrui who was also pressed and knelt down, trembling all over, his eyes were full of regret after all.Along with the blurred tears, there was an inaudible "Brother..." from his mouth.

Shen Jinghe was silent for a moment, rubbed the center of his brows wearily, and sighed, "Get up."

Gong Cao paused, and stood up silently, the blood on his forehead was about to scatter and stick together, but he didn't seem to feel any pain.

Shen Jinghe turned around and turned his back to them: "... I will leave the matter of Zhang Wenrui to you."

He didn't say who the "you" refers to, but everyone present looked at Zhang Wenxun in unison.The young man whose forehead was still dripping with blood still had his usual serious and rigid face. Hearing this, he bowed silently and thanked him again.

"clever."

"The subordinate is here!"

"You take someone to clean up the warehouse, and the remaining batch of tea seeds are well preserved. Tomorrow's seed selection, everything will be as usual."

"Yes!" Gao Ming's face was still a little heavy. After he took the order, he glanced sideways at the pair of cousins, and finally turned around and led them into the warehouse in a hurry.

Sun Mo, who had been silent all this time, also let out a long sigh, and led the rest of the officials behind him to come forward: "Since your lord has a way to deal with it, then I will stop talking too much. After all, Zhang Wenrui is a member of my Nanyue government office." , this kind of thing happened, it is because the lower officials are disadvantaged in employing people, and it is also to blame."

"Juncheng doesn't have to take the blame for him. Before the incident, no one could have expected such a scene." Shen Jinghe comforted, "It's getting dark, please go back and rest first. What's the matter? , it won’t be too late to talk about it tomorrow.”

After Sun Mo led the crowd to leave, Zhang Wenxun also bowed again, silently took Zhang Wenrui from the guards, and limped towards the government office with his support until his back merged into the dim light of the falling moon. Can't see you anymore.

"Aren't you afraid of his favoritism?"

Liang Yan walked forward from the shadows and walked up to Shen Jinghe who was looking deeply at the two of them with his hands behind his back, with a thoughtful expression on his face.

Shen Jinghe was silent for a moment, then smiled lightly.

"Zhang Wenxun is a smart man."

He let out a long sigh with relief, "Since he is a smart man, he knows exactly what to do. I don't care whether Zhang Wenrui is dead or alive. As long as he doesn't appear in front of me again in the future, I don't mind letting them go." way of life."

Liang Yan glanced at him, "Without Zhang Wenrui, it is impossible for the position of chief bookkeeper to remain vacant all the time."

"Drag." Shen Jinghe lowered his brows sharply, "I won't let go, after all no one would dare to force a person to my side."

Liang Yan sighed, stretched out his hand and rubbed his head lightly, "Without a master, there will be more things that you will need to do things yourself in the future. If you can use me, don't hesitate to ask."

"Okay." Shen Jinghe turned his head to follow his movements, his eyes were calm, "With you by my side, I never need to think about retreating."

"Because you are my retreat."

……

The business of opening terraced fields is gradually getting on the right track, and it is looking good, and it will be the end of August in a blink of an eye.From the government office down to the people in Nanyue, they are all busy diligently. Everyone is preparing for planting tea in October and spring plowing in the coming year.

Not long after that incident, Zhang Wenxun returned to the government office to continue his work, and his words and deeds were still serious and unwavering, no different from before.Shen Jinghe didn't ask about Zhang Wenrui's whereabouts, but he never saw him in Nanyue again.During the period, he also took the time to ask Gao Ming once to see what he thought about this matter.Gao Ming answered like this——

"I really didn't expect him to do such a foolish thing. As for my lord, if you hadn't noticed it earlier, I might have been framed and punished this time, and I won't regret it later..." The tall, dark-faced man scratched his head, He replied honestly, "I don't regret being an official, I don't regret dividing the fields, and I don't regret taking over the tea planting errand."

He suddenly felt something in his heart, and added: "Juncheng used to say that he would stick to his heart, and this is the heart of an official. Even if it is just a small official, from the day he became Tian Cao, he swore to himself We must adhere to the principles we want to uphold, and try our best to do more practical things for the people."

At that time, Shen Jinghe laughed at him as simple and straightforward, but in his heart he also felt a lot of emotion.He knew that he was not such a straightforward and unrepentant character in his previous life or in this life. Although he couldn't do it, and he didn't fully agree with it, he still took care of Gao Ming a little bit more since then.

September is the fishing season.Liang Yan led the troops out to sea, but returned early disappointed.Shen Jinghe was only pestered by him for a good kiss the day before, and he reluctantly said goodbye for a long time.Unexpectedly, I missed it for less than three or four days. When I returned to the other courtyard, I found a big man with a sea style squatting under the fence.

Asked him, Liang Yancai answered bitterly.After going out to sea, I found out that the sergeant was not a sycophant at the time, and that the pirates were indeed dormant, even if it was fishing season, they would not be seen.Occasionally, stragglers ran into the army and surrendered tremblingly when they saw Liang Yan's banner, not daring to let a fart go.

Shen Jinghe naturally leaned back and laughed, who would have thought that this mighty general would be so aggrieved at this time.

Seeing him so happy that Liang Yan burst into tears, Liang Yan pinched his face itchingly, and hugged him in his arms, muttering depressingly.I only know that this time is not all fruitless, at least the spies swam back with the defeated bandits who deliberately let go, and it is just around the corner to go deep into the pirates' lair.

Mid-September is the local god-inviting festival in Nanyue. There are temple fairs of all sizes in the county, and the common people rarely go out to relax and play.Shen Jinghe's contact with the capital has never been broken. He just received the good news of Xu Jin's promotion, and heard Gao Ming's report that the Dongmu Mountain terraced fields have finally been completed, and they are only waiting for the tea seeds to start planting in mid-October. He happily took Liang Yanye with him. Join in the fun and go out for a walk.

Shen Jinghe loves sweets, Liang Yan already knew this.However, when Ren He dragged his sleeve to sit in the third sugar shop, the corners of Liang Yan's lips still couldn't help trembling.

"Shopkeeper, please serve two bowls of honey bean syrup, and a cup of lychee cream with crushed ice." Shen Jinghe didn't dislike the small square table, and greeted cheerfully after sitting down.

"Okay! Guest officer, wait a moment, I'll be here right away!"

The waiter in the shop hurriedly tore off the white veil from his shoulders, dusted it in the air with a "snap", and wiped it quickly on the square table with his hands, almost leaving an afterimage.

"He'er, you've eaten a lot of sweets today, don't you...don't feel tired?" Liang Yan asked cautiously, with the sweetness of the plum blossom wine soaked in snow just now in his mouth.

"What do you know?" Shen Jinghe flew over with beautiful white eyes, "The lychee cream here is very famous, and some scholars have written poems for it: it seems greasy but becomes refreshing, and it is condensed and ready to float. The jade comes on the plate The bottom is broken, the snow is falling to the mouth... Besides, I have been in South Vietnam for so long, it is rare to have nothing to do today, of course we have to go shopping together and eat all the snacks in South Vietnam!"

Liang Yan smiled wryly, thinking that it sounds good to eat all the Nanyue snacks, but you can't just go for the sweet ones.But when he saw that Shen Jinghe finally left the piles of official documents in front of the case, the corners of his eyes and brows were full of joy, his heart suddenly softened again.

Forget it, let's think of it as giving up your life to accompany a gentleman.

What's more, looking at the unmistakable gentle smile in Liang Yan's dark eyes, who can say that he is not willing?

Lanterns and festoons were everywhere on the roadside streets. Just now, a statue of a sea goddess was sent over with gongs and drums, and there were still many glittering gold paper and silver flowers on the ground.The children chased and fought on both sides of the street to pick up confetti and collect them home. The adults sat in the shop drinking in groups of three and four, and shouted their children's nicknames from time to time, lest they run away.

The waiter brought sugar water and lychee paste to the table, interrupting Shen Jinghe's rapt gaze.Seeing that this well-dressed young man seems to be interested in the bustling street scene, the waiter also chatted with him enthusiastically:

"Judging from the guest's accent, it doesn't seem like a local? It should be the first time you have come to our South Vietnam, right?"

Shen Jinghe retracted his eyes and nodded with a smile.

"The guests don't know, although we have a festival every year here, but this year is extraordinarily lively and joyful, and it is a big event. This kind of happy scene, but the villain has never seen it since he was born! "The shop clerk sighed and shook his head.

The man who was eating sugar water at a table not far away heard it, and answered the conversation with a loud voice.

"It's not thanks to the newly appointed county magistrate this year, who is busy opening terraced fields and planting tea and rice. The people have hope, and everyone's face is radiant. And this year, for some reason, Up to now, there is no sign of pirates. My wives always say that the new county sheriff is blessed by gods, and thieves dare not come easily!"

An acquaintance next door teased: "Return your wives! Ergui, didn't your little lady run back to her mother's house in anger after arguing with you the day before yesterday? My sister-in-law lost her temper and called you bloody, I Heard it two streets away!"

The guests in the whole Tangshui shop suddenly burst into laughter, and the sound of knocking bowls and slapping the table was endless. The man blushed and struggled to argue, "I've been coaxed long ago." thing.

Shen Jinghe also smiled and listened to the people chatting loudly, Liang Yan squeezed his hand quietly under the table, his eyes sparkled.

"You see, everything you do, they see it in their eyes and remember it in their hearts."

Shen Jinghe didn't answer, but just pulled out his hand and pushed a portion of the sugar water on the table, with a rare look of embarrassment in his eyes.

"Eat quickly! A bowl of sugar water can't stop your mouth."

Liang Yan glanced at him with a smile, not to pierce his shyness, picked up a spoon to scoop up a sip of honey-colored thick juice and put it into his mouth, but frowned faintly.

"What's the matter?" Shen Jinghe was curiously waiting to see his reaction after tasting, and subconsciously looked down at the untouched sugar water in front of him, "Is there any problem?"

Liang Yan remained silent, frowned and thought for a while, until Shen Jinghe couldn't help but want to taste it himself, then he swallowed the last mouthful slowly.

"Not sweet enough."

"Not sweet enough?"

Shen Jinghe stared at Liang Yan in surprise.Is this a sudden sex change?Liang Yan also had a day when he thought the dessert was not sweet enough?

Shen Jinghe couldn't help reaching out to take a spoon to taste the magical power of this bowl of sugar water, which made General Liang say these three words.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he raised his hand, General Liang, who had quick eyes and quick hands, quickly grabbed it, and pulled it toward him calmly.He didn't see how much strength he exerted, but he even brought Shen Jinghe's whole body involuntarily to explore there.

Liang Yan glanced at him lightly with his dark and cold eyes, deliberately slowed down his movements as if to let him see clearly, and turned his head inch by inch.Shen Jinghe's dilated pupils reflected a man with a deep outline and handsome features, gradually leaning down, and slowly, sticking out the tip of his tongue to lick his white fingertips.

"That's enough."

An electric current quickly spread from the fingertips that had been licked and sucked by the warm tongue, and the blood that stimulated the limbs and bones flowed back to the heart.Shen Jinghe gasped, his face flushed from neck to neck, he stared blankly at someone who had already let go of him and sat calmly like a normal person.

"you you……"

Shen Jinghe's usual sharp articulation suddenly became ineffective, and he held back his words for a long time, and could only hatefully drop a sentence in the smiling eyes of the man opposite him.

"You rascal!"

Liang Yan was so teased by his cute appearance that he couldn't help but burst into a muffled laugh, and coughed several times before he stopped laughing.With one hand on his chin, he admired the pale crimson color of the jade face in front of him, his eyes deepened.

"Why are you ashamed..." Liang Yan said lazily, "Did you forget the candy corners at the Lantern Festival that year?"

Shen Jinghe was recalled by his words at the Lantern Festival, how Liang Yan waited in line from early morning until noon to buy him a white and tender candy corner, and how he tore it with his hands and ate it. The hot and humid tongue tip ambiguously rolls away the sugar grains on the fingertips.Thinking about it until now, his body still felt an unstoppable heat, and the beating of his heart was frighteningly loud.

Shen Jinghe let out a long sigh, and quickly covered his hot face with both hands, regretting his short memory.

"I was wrong." The muffled voice escaped from under the tightly covered palms, "I will never take you to eat dessert again."

The contented General Liang had already discovered the beauty of sweets, he held Shen Jinghe's wrist tightly with his hot palms, and gently opened his hands to the sides, revealing a small red face inside.

Liang Yan leaned over and pecked lightly on his lips, his chest vibrated, and he let out a pleasant low laugh.

"...It's too late, I already like sweets."