startled autumn

Emperor Nanjiang has always been diligent since he ascended the throne. He usually eats and wears food and clothing on weekdays. In the Dongxuan Hall on the left side of the Taiji Hall, the lanterns are often lit until late at night. Even on days of rest, memorials are also delivered to the palace.

The mountains and rivers, the sun and the moon, there is not a day that is not in the palm of the emperor, and he will turn the rain and the clouds.

Han Xun stood in the Dongxuan hall, and the two talked for a while about the news brought back by Wei Dezheng, only to hear the emperor say angrily: "The officialdom in Liaodong is simply filthy. , really shameless!"

The evidence brought back by Wei Dezheng includes the account books of the sale and purchase of official positions at a clear price, and even the blood books of the local people. , and the frontier officer as well."

After the emperor got angry, he sighed again: "The most hateful thing is that I have repeatedly issued decrees that officials should be promoted based on their political achievements and should not be handed over to each other privately, but I never thought that in the end it would be my son who did everything against his will, disregarding the laws of the country, and doing everything to earn money." !"

The officialdom in Liaodong seems to have become a faction of the prince, and the source of corruption is directed at the East Palace. The whistleblower said that without the prince's approval, it would be empty talk for officials in Liaodong to be promoted or transferred.

Han Xun didn't dare to touch him, so he had to persuade him softly: "This matter has not been investigated yet, so it may not be the crown prince's doing. Although His Royal Highness is usually a little irritable, it is unlikely that he would do such an unreasonable thing."

"Even if he didn't order it to be done, it still has something to do with him. How can I rest assured that the dignified prince of a country is so unknown?" The more the emperor said, the more angry he became, his headache was about to split.

"Maybe it was framed by someone." Han Xun guessed.

"After all, he's either stupid or bad!" The emperor shook his head, then looked at Han Xun, "At the beginning, I asked you to serve as the prince and tutor, but you refused. Look, what the prince has become now!"

Han Xun had nothing to say, but bowed his head to take the blame: "I would like to resign and return to my hometown, and use the rest of my life to conduct self-criticism."

The emperor choked at his words, felt that everything was not going well, and sighed: "I am not as good at teaching my son as you are. Pei Lang is now three years old, and he is not as smart and likable as Ah Xuan was when he was a child."

When it came to the third prince born by Empress Zhao, Han Xun didn't dare to speak to him, and said in a low voice: "Bi'er is not doing a proper job, so I won't be worthy of your majesty's love."

Emperor Nanjiang now has only three sons, the crown prince Lu Peixuan, the second prince Lu Peiheng, and the third prince Lu Peilang. The mothers of the three are not from aristocratic families, especially Lu Peixuan's mother and concubine. At first, she was just a maid in the East Palace. If it hadn't been for the later Empress Han who was still childless, Lu Peixuan would never have been able to sit on the crown prince; the second prince Lu Peiheng was mediocre and cowardly;

Regarding the seizure of the heir apparent, the Han family's position is awkward. Han Xun has always been cautious and never overstepped the rules.

The emperor frowned and said, "I will definitely investigate the officialdom in Eastern Liaodong. There are so many people who want to be officials. Do I still lack a few students?"

Han Xun bowed his head and bowed.

Immediately afterwards, the emperor asked in a cold voice: "Han Qing, tell me, the death of Zuo Lan and others, and Wei Dezheng who almost failed to return to Beijing... Could these be the actions of the crown prince instructing Mo Yi?"

Han Xun: "I dare not jump to conclusions."

"Don't worry, since I believe in you, of course I also believe in Mo Yi." The emperor frowned, "It's just that this matter is fierce, and the finger is directed at the prince. I don't want to make a joke about father and son fighting each other, and I don't want to see everyone in the capital Danger."

As soon as Han Xun heard it, he knew that the emperor had made a decision.

The emperor smiled and said, "I passed on my oral order to let the Jingcheng Guards arrest the murderer as soon as possible, and close the case today."

Han Xun's heart skipped a beat and he couldn't help but hesitate.

Over the years, there are only two great master sects, Mo Yi and Chi Pei, near the capital, and it is not for nothing that they occupy the north and south.

Ever since the remnants of the Song family led people from all walks of life to break into the palace and cause chaos, Emperor Nanjiang has attached great importance to the trend of martial arts, trying to cultivate martial arts forces loyal to the imperial court. Wulin has the right to speak. Over the years, Han Xun has been in charge of negotiating with Mo Yi.

Han Xun couldn't help but wonder if the emperor deliberately asked Han Yuan to arrest Shen Zhiqiu, was it another test for their Han family?

If he persuaded the emperor to take a long-term view, perhaps it would arouse the emperor's doubts about whether the Han family and Mo Yi have taken refuge in the prince; if it is according to the emperor's words, the most important thing is to maintain stability...

"If I bring someone home, is there a guest room?" Han Bi's voice echoed in his ears.

It's a pity that things are impermanent.

Han Xun closed his eyelids heavily, and said in a deep voice to the emperor, "I obey the order."

In the Xixi Bieyuan, Ning Banque had already left. According to what Han Bi knew so far, but after a little calculation, he felt a chill down his spine, and called out in a deep voice, "Shen Zhiqiu."

You Ming had already returned to his room, and there were only the two of them left in the courtyard. Shen Zhiqiu couldn't help becoming serious when he heard his voice tense: "What's wrong with you?"

He was obviously the one who was framed by others, but he still had time to care about what happened to others. Seeing him like this, Han Bi didn't know whether he was angry or amused, and said helplessly, "Do you know that you are being splashed with dirty water now?"

Shen Zhiqiu nodded, and said in a low voice, "Since I have a clear conscience, I won't panic."

Han Bi sighed: "It is said that the Qing is self-clearing, but it may not be useful at a critical moment."

"What other people think of me is not important, the key is how I think of myself." Shen Zhiqiu's expression was light, but his eyes were full of sharpness. It was the sword intent that could not be worn away through thousands of mountains and rivers. "Mo Yi's sword way, It means that I should be honest with others, discipline myself, and have no regrets in everything. Since I practice swordsmanship, I must abide by the way of swordsmanship, even if I die forever."

Han Bi frowned and said, "If I persuade you to avoid the sharp edge for a while, will you listen to my words?"

Shen Zhiqiu hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "I know you are doing my best."

Han Bi: "In that case..."

"Fleeing in battle is not what swordsmen do." Shen Zhiqiu interrupted him, and said in a deep voice, "Ah Xuan, you should understand me."

Han Bi was dumbfounded.

Shen Zhiqiu has always had only the way of swordsman in his heart. He is stubborn and doesn't know how to adapt. For a clear conscience, I would rather fight to the death than retreat.

Han Bi really wanted to say to him, you don't care about life and death because of the swordsmanship you believe in; I only care about your life and death because I love you.

In the end, he couldn't say it, he didn't want Shen Zhiqiu to violate the morality in his heart for him.

"I understand." Han Bi pulled him into his arms, his movements were gentle but decisive, "Don't worry, I know what to do."

Shen Zhiqiu paused for a moment. He wanted to push him away, but seeing no one around, he finally put his arms around Han Bi's waist. The infinite warmth flowed quietly between the two of them, as if he could heal the pain. All cracks.

Until Shen Zhiqiu yawned.

Han Bi: "Go to sleep."

Shen Zhiqiu: "What about you?"

Han Bi smiled and said, "Are you inviting me?"

Shen Zhiqiu didn't understand why, so he even nodded: "Well, let's go together."

Han Bi was overwhelmed with flattery, coughed lightly, and said solemnly, "Go to bed first, I... I'll be there in a while."

Shen Zhiqiu nodded again, turned around and went back to the room.

Standing in the courtyard, Han Bi whispered some instructions to Han Pu and Han Tong who were guarding outside, the two agreed repeatedly, and left the other courtyard immediately.

Taking a deep breath, Han Bi tried to push the door of Shen Zhiqiu's room, only to find that it was locked.

"..." Han Bi laughed at himself as if he had expected it long ago, "I knew it."

That night, Shen Zhiqiu slept well alone, without any dreams.

Early the next morning, Shen Zhiqiu stretched his waist, washed himself up very quickly, and walked out of the room refreshed, ready to practice his sword.

When he just walked into the yard, he found a delicate figure in the yard, squatting beside the gurgling stream, dipping his hands in it, having a great time playing.

Shen Zhiqiu didn't see her face clearly, only thought she was an ordinary maid, and said softly: "Girl, the sword has no eyes, please step aside and wait for me..."

The woman raised her head, her almond eyes were slightly bent, and she smiled lightly: "Brother Zhiqiu, don't you remember me?"

Shen Zhiqiu opened his eyes wide, as if he couldn't believe the scene in front of him.

"...Ji Zhao?!"

Ji Zhao is Shen Zhiqiu's childhood sweetheart in Yancheng.

It has been ten years since we saw each other, and even though Ji Zhao has grown into a big girl, she still looks petite and charming, especially the frankness and frankness between her brows, without losing the style of Yancheng.

Shen Zhiqiu: "Why are you here?"

Ji Zhao sighed sadly, "Something happened in my family, and I want to ask you for help."

Shen Zhiqiu regards Ji Zhao as his younger sister, and has been thinking about her for many years. Now it is his duty to hear her asking for help: "If I can help, I will."

Ji Zhao smiled slightly: "In that case, let's go."

Shen Zhiqiu asked blankly: "Where are you going? Besides, haven't you seen You Ming?"

"It's too late to explain, let's go first." Ji Zhao said, "The future will be long, I will find a chance to meet him later."

Shen Zhiqiu hurriedly said: "I want to tell Han Bi first..."

"I heard it." Han Bi actually stood behind them all the time. Shen Zhiqiu was probably overly surprised by Ji Zhao's arrival and didn't notice it at all, "Hurry up and leave."

Shen Zhiqiu only felt that something was wrong, but he didn't know what was wrong, so he asked, "What about you?"

Han Bi smiled gently at him and said, "I'll wait here for you to come back, okay?"

Shen Zhiqiu couldn't bear Han Bi's tone the most, and nodded quickly: "I helped Ji Zhao, so I'll come back to you..." He said, thinking for a while, and asked in a low voice, "Do you want to come together? go?"

Han Bi was slightly moved, but shook his head resolutely.

Shen Zhiqiu was a little disappointed.

Seeing his frustration, Han Bi smiled and coaxed him, "I'm in the capital, I won't run around."

Shen Zhiqiu still felt uncomfortable for no reason.

"Did you forget what I said?" Han Bi said with a pun, "I will wait for you."

Shen Zhiqiu nodded and also smiled slightly.

Shen Zhiqiu didn't have time to pack anything, so he just carried a Yingta sword and followed Ji Zhao into the carriage, and gradually drifted away in the early morning light.

Han Bi was sitting alone in the Xixi courtyard. He hadn't slept all night, his eyes were pale blue. You Ming had woken up at this time, looked him up, folded his arms and smiled, "Is it really good for you to do this?"

Han Bi: "He just left for a few months. When he returns to Beijing, he will find that everything is over."

You Ming smiled and said: "You are too confident, aren't you afraid that things will get worse?"

"Where is this? If he stays, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep him." Han Bi sighed softly, "I know that person's character very well. For the sake of the overall situation, he will never be stingy at sacrificing an insignificant Shen Zhiqiu."

You Ming paused for a moment, and said, "Young Master Han, I misunderstood you before."

Han Bi smiled and said, "What's the misunderstanding?"

"I misunderstood you as a businessman who valued profits, and was born frivolous and frivolous."

"It's okay, I once misunderstood myself." When Han Bi said this, he didn't know what to think of, and suddenly laughed, "I've been with the stone for a long time, and I will inevitably become a stone too."

Only in this way can it be matched.

Following a burst of noise, Jingchengwei broke into the hall.

Han Yuan looked gloomy, and asked sharply, "Where's Shen Zhiqiu?"

"Let's go." Han Bi replied truthfully.

"Where did you go?"

"do not know."

In terms of resourcefulness, Han Yuan knew that he was no match for his younger brother, so he asked bluntly: "Your Majesty is still planning to try this case himself, but now that the suspect has escaped, what do you plan to do with me?"

"Since Your Majesty has time to try the case, it is better to try me than to try him." Han Bi said leisurely.

Han Yuan said angrily, "You!"

Han Bi stood up with a smile, knowing that the road ahead would be difficult, but always looked calm.