startled autumn

Han Bi waited for two full days in the capital guard before finally being summoned by the emperor.

In just two days, Mr. Han's faults of being picky in everything were brought into full play. Although the capital guard had guarded many high-ranking prisoners, he was still tormented enough by him. The emperor favored him, but he could neither beat nor scold him, and he had to satisfy his demands as much as possible, which was simply annoying. Therefore, the day Mr. Han left the capital guard, he was treated as a farewell in the road.

The one who led Han Bi to the Tai Chi Hall to face the saint was a guard officer with a mask on. He only showed a pair of eyes, and walked with his head down the whole time without saying a word. He smiled and said, "You went wrong, the Tai Chi Hall is on the east side."

Su Wei officer paused, abruptly turned his body from west to east, lowered his head as if nothing had happened and continued walking, Han Bi followed behind him, his face slowly sank.

After entering the Dongxuan Hall, the guard officer quietly retreated to the side, like a vivid stone carving.

Han Bi raised his eyebrows thoughtfully, saluted the emperor again, and waited for the other party to speak. After a while, he heard a kind question from the seat: "Ah Xuan, have you spent these two days in the capital guard?" ?"

Han Bi replied truthfully: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I don't have enough to eat and I can't sleep well."

The emperor frowned and said, "Could it be that they still dare to make things difficult for you?" Even if nothing else was mentioned, because the commander of the Jingchengwei is Han Yuan, there is not much difference between Han Bi entering the Jingchengwei and returning to his own home.

Han Bi: "The guards of the capital acted according to the rules and did not intentionally make things difficult for me."

"Then what are you worrying about?"

Han Bi replied in a low voice: "My dear friend has been wronged and wronged, so I can't sleep at night."

"Ah Xuan, you released the fugitive privately, but I just locked you up in the capital guard for two days, and asked you to reflect on yourself. If it were someone else, I would have sent him to the prison." The emperor shook his head, hating him. Casting a look at Han Bi with iron and steel, "What did you find out in the end?"

"Return to Your Majesty, I didn't know that Shen Zhiqiu was wanted at that time." Han Bi lied without blinking, with a sincere expression and a calm tone, "I didn't know that Shen Zhiqiu was framed until I was brought to the capital guard."

The emperor snorted and said with a smile: "Since you found out later, why didn't you tell him where he was going?"

Han Bi didn't rush, and put on an attitude of asking three questions: "I really don't know his whereabouts."

"I asked you personally, but you still refused to answer truthfully?" the emperor raised his eyebrows and asked.

Han Bi remained silent.

After half a sound.

"Ah Xuan, for your sister's sake, you said you didn't know, and I'd like to believe you once. Besides, Shen Zhiqiu has saved your life and is friends with you. You can trust his innocence in your heart. It's just that the law is not merciful, if you still insist on shielding these murderers who assassinate court officials... I won't tolerate you anymore."

The volume of the emperor's voice was very ordinary, but the meaning in the words weighed more than a thousand catties, firmly pressing on Han Bi's back. The heavy atmosphere of the conversation made the Dongxuan hall dead silent, except for the guard standing in the corner. He took a step forward involuntarily, and then retreated hesitantly after a while.

"There are still many doubts about this matter. If you simply convict Shen Zhiqiu, it will only fuel the arrogance of the murderer and let the black hands behind the scenes go free. If there is another suspicious case in Beijing, no matter which high-ranking official died tragically, it will definitely make your prestige worse." Damaged." Han Bi replied with no fear on his face, "This is the end of the matter, Your Majesty, I want to do business with you."

The emperor was already moody, but now he seemed to have heard something interesting, and asked with great interest: "You are quite courageous, let's hear it."

"Returning to Your Majesty, I have hundreds of shops in the capital area, all of which are involved in food, clothing, housing and transportation; outside the capital, the land deeds and house deeds of the shops are innumerable. Not only that, I have built three piers in the Huainan area, and there are no less than hundreds of boats. Ten thousand silver."

Hearing this, the emperor couldn't help laughing: "Are you showing off to me?"

In the whole world, could it be that the king's land, no matter how arrogant Han Bi is, it is impossible to show off in front of the emperor, not to mention that he has a reserved temperament and never speaks nonsense, so how could he rashly make such an unwise move?

Pausing for a moment, he shook his head lightly, what he said earlier was in cadence, but in just a few sentences, he said what he got in half his life, and the remaining half sentence is what he wanted for the rest of his life.

"I would like to pledge all of my wealth to guarantee Shen Zhiqiu's innocence."

These words were really shocking, the emperor paused, and asked in a low voice: "Are you really trying to save that Shen Zhiqiu? Did you do it yourself, or did your father ask you to do it?"

Han Bi replied: "Your Majesty, what I did today is all from my heart, my father knows nothing about it."

The emperor was silent for a while. Han Bi grew up beside him and Empress Han. The two loved each other like father and son, and their relationship was extremely deep. At this moment, he sighed with difficulty: "Why did you do this for a man? I don't understand."

Han Bi: "I am willing."

If you like someone, even though the mountain is difficult to get over, you are still lucky to meet him by chance.

Han Bi wants more than this. He likes someone, so he has to accompany him through the world, through the hardships and dangers of the world, fulfill his dream of stepping into the mountains and rivers, and make him the destination of Shen Jian's name.

"...I will give you a period of one month to appoint you as the supervisor of the capital guard to assist the capital guard to thoroughly investigate this matter." The emperor is currently in the upper position, and no one can see what he is thinking, "As for Shen Zhiqiu, he is waiting for trial in the prison , no one is allowed to visit without my relative's order."

Han Bi immediately bowed his head and thanked: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness, I will definitely live up to the entrustment of the Holy Majesty."

The emperor was upset when he saw him like this, threw the Taoist hand into his arms, and said impatiently: "They are all ignorant children."

The one who escorted Han Bi out of the palace was still the former guard officer, he stopped halfway, and at this time Han Bi looked up, and it was Han Yuan who was standing not far away with an anxious expression. Seeing that his younger brother was safe and sound, Immediately his eyes lit up.

Han Bi didn't go forward immediately, but looked at the silent guard along the way with a sullen face, and said in a low voice, "Do you have anything to say to me?"

Half a minute passed, but still no answer.

Han Bi pursed his lips tightly, left him and walked towards Han Yuan, when he passed by, he finally heard a familiar voice.

"Why did you do this..." The voice was extremely suppressed, as if suppressing anger.

"Because I want to save you." Han Bi smiled slightly, "I will lose my family and property, and I will do whatever it takes."

Han Bi followed Han Yuan out of the Forbidden Palace. Han Yuan's expression was extremely bad along the way. It was all because he had asked about Han Bi's actions in the Dongxuan Hall just now. However, his younger brother, who was proud since childhood, just wanted to teach Han Bi a lesson, but was stopped by Han Bi's light words: "If you are really afraid that I will be poor, why don't you hand over your private money first for me? Turn around one or two."

Commander Han, who always respected his wife, quickly waved his hands: "Where do I have any private money? You are simply slandering me. Don't say that in front of your sister-in-law, or I will beat you up."

Han Bi didn't bother to pay attention to him, and walked forward for a while on his own, and then met General Yan, who was in a hurry. He was wearing a long robe, and his feet were windy. , People can't see a trace of blood on the battlefield.

General Yan's name is Yan Huaishen, who was the governor of the Northwest. The Yan family army under his command was once strong and strong, guarding one side until the flames gradually calmed down. The army scattered everywhere. Yan Huaishen, the former governor of the Northwest, was reappointed as a general. Although he had no real power, he had prestige. Have a good time.

The Yan family and the Han family had long been in touch, and when the Han family brothers met General Yan, they naturally wanted to say hello.

Unexpectedly, before the words were spoken, General Yan let out a long sigh of relief, patted Han Bi on the shoulder and sighed: "I heard that you were brought into the palace by the capital guards, so I came to see what's going on— Bi'er, you are doing business well, why did you get involved in a lawsuit, even in front of the Holy One?"

General Yan, as an elder, can be considered to have watched Han Bi grow up. He used to say "If Yan Yang can be half as obedient as you, I won't have to worry about it for the rest of my life", which made Yan Yang very disgusted. Accustomed to Han Bi, the child from the next door family, he made troubles even worse, and he didn't have a long memory no matter how cruelly he was dealt with.

Thinking back to the present, since General Yan asked this question, Han Bi naturally had no choice but to answer, so he replied in a general way: "Uncle Yan, don't worry, your majesty just wants me to be the supervisor of the capital guard, to assist the capital guard to investigate the previous situation. The murder of Zuo Lan and others."

General Yan nodded and said with a smile: "Since there is nothing wrong, I was thinking that if His Majesty wants to punish you, I can help you and persuade Your Majesty not to get angry, but now it seems that it is unnecessary. "

Han Yuan stood aside and said with a smile, "Uncle Yan, I'm afraid you're not here just to inquire about news."

General Yan coughed lightly, and asked casually: "I heard that Yanyang entered the capital guard again today..."

After all, he just wanted to beg for mercy, Han Yuan waved his hand and said, "Yanyang didn't do anything serious this time, but he lost a bet with others, and he wanted to eat the table on the spot, he refused to admit it, so he started a fight with someone, The shopkeeper had nothing to do, so he asked someone to go to Jingchengwei."

General Yan suddenly felt ashamed, and sighed: "It's a shame to fight fiercely all day long."

Han Yuan smiled and said, "I'll take you to pick him up later."

Seeing that the two of them chatted endlessly, Han Bi could only leave in a low voice, "I was ordered by the emperor to go to the prison first."

"Go ahead, if you, Uncle Yan, can help you, just come and look for it." General Yan smiled gently, and there were a few fine lines in the corners of his eyes, full of traces of the warm spring breeze.

In the afternoon, a gust of wind blew up in the capital for some unknown reason, causing the new leaves on the trees to sway. It is distorted out of shape.

He walked into the dungeon with slow steps, and a gust of cold air hit his face, covering his face slightly stiff, the corridor was very deep and narrow, and there were many vacant cells along the way, without exception. With a dead breath.

The guard who led the way had already received the Nanjiang Emperor's handwriting, and walked ahead respectfully, but beads of sweat the size of beans flowed from his forehead: "My lord, you are a step late."

Han Bi frowned, and asked in a low voice, "What?"

"You want to see Shen Zhiqiu, but he has already..."

Hearing this, Han Bi quickened his pace and walked straight to the depths of the prison.

In the prison cell, the lights flickered non-stop, as if responding to the draft wind that came from nowhere, blowing away even the last bit of vitality left. Han Bi's steps were extremely heavy, which set off his Such a handsome and even a little frivolous rich man was inexplicably infected with a murderous aura.

In the dark and empty cell, on the rack, was tied a man covered in blood. He had several whip marks on his body, and his skin was ripped apart. , despite the black hair covering his face and his limbs limp, he didn't know whether he was dead or alive.

Han Bi's throat trembled, as if suppressing the surging emotions, he asked softly, "... Zhiqiu?"

Seeing his gloomy expression, the prison guard couldn't help taking a step back on the spot, flinching and said: "Shen Zhiqiu had pleaded guilty at first, but when asked whether Mo Yi was involved in this matter, he bit his tongue on the spot, fearing the crime... committing suicide in fear of the crime."

"Who tortured him?" Han Bi asked in a low voice, but the circles of his eyes gradually turned red, "Who dares to force him to commit suicide?!"

The prison guard looked flustered for a moment, his mouth was tightly shut, he hesitated, but couldn't speak clearly.

"--it's me."

The voice was neither high nor low, and it echoed between the stone walls, like wind, frost and bitter cold.

Han Bi turned around, unbelievably, but expectedly called out: "Father."

The prison guard's eyes lit up, and he immediately saluted the high-ranking Prime Minister Han. He was clever, but he didn't want to be cannon fodder for the father and son's quarrel. Seeing this opportunity, he quickly resigned.

He retreated outside the cell, but did not leave, but pressed his ear against the wall, holding his breath and listening quietly.

Han Xun was silent for a while, then sighed faintly: "As my Han family, you should understand..."

"I don't understand." What interrupted him was a sneer, Han Bi's voice was tight, and the words seemed to be squeezed out, "He just left me for two days, and died in the blink of an eye. Hands, teach me, what is the truth of this?"

Han Xun's eyes moved slightly, and he asked in a low voice: "I also want to ask you, my son actually wants to take over my Han family in order to save a man. What's the reason for this?"

"What I do has nothing to do with the Han family."

Han Xun smiled inaudibly and said, "It's irrelevant if you say it's irrelevant? Do you know what His Majesty will think?"

"Your Majesty has appointed me as the Supervisor of the Capital Guard..."

"Childish! Ridiculous!" Han Xun glared at his once beloved son, "There is a fire cooking at home, and it is in danger, but you caused trouble everywhere for your own selfishness, and even made trouble in front of His Majesty... Your eldest sister's death, don't you Already forgotten?"

Shen Zhiqiu privately recruited disciples in Zhujian Valley, taught Mo Yi swordsmanship, and he led the people of Zhujian Valley to commit crimes wantonly in the capital, killing the imperial court officials, the evidence is conclusive.

The relationship between the Han family and Mo Yi is inextricably linked, and it is hard to break it. If the car cannot be abandoned in time to protect the handsome man, and the strong man cuts off his wrist, I am afraid that His Majesty will suspect the collusion between the Han family and the crown prince; on the other hand, Shen Zhiqiu With a resolute character, he will definitely not be willing to accept all the charges. If Han Bi painstakingly rescues at that time, he will definitely be exploited by others.

In addition, the emperor has an order and hopes to close the case as soon as possible, but he does not want Shen Zhiqiu's case to involve the prince of the dynasty and cause a scandal in the royal family. Han Xun can only follow the imperial order and get Shen Zhiqiu to plead guilty as soon as possible.

"I know you are not reconciled, but only dead people don't talk nonsense." Han Xun said lightly, as if this matter had nothing to do with him, "Bi'er, for your sake, he didn't suffer a lot. bitter."

Han Bi laughed hoarsely, with regret in his heart, mixed with self-mockery: "I knew it would happen."

"Why do I have to send him away? Because I know very well that if he enters the sky prison, he will definitely lose his life at the hands of my father before the day when the truth is revealed." Han Bi clenched his fists tightly, His eyes were slightly closed, and he couldn't bear to look at the blood-stained scene again, "He believes in me and my family in everything. If you want to harm him, he might even thank you again and again——Father, you always said that the overall situation is the most important thing. I sacrificed my eldest sister, now it is him, and the next one may be me."

Han Xun had nothing to say.

"I want to bring his body back to Mo Yi." Han Bihan said in a cold voice.

"Impossible." Han Xun categorically rejected him, "If he enters here, he is destined not to go out."

Han Bi took a deep breath for a moment, and then made the next best thing: "Leave his sword to me."

Seeing his pale face, Han Xun felt sour and unbearable, and sighed, "I'll let someone fetch it."

Hearing this, the prison guard leaned against the wall and turned around quickly, but after a few taps of his toes, he walked away silently, and then pretended to answer Prime Minister Han's call as if nothing had happened, and came trotting all the way.

Outside the dungeon, Han Bi walked out slowly with his sword box in his arms. The afternoon sun was just right, but he felt it was extremely glaring. dry.

Han Xun stopped him, and with his brows furrowed, he seemed to be a few years older for a while.

Han Bi turned his back to his father, and said in a deep voice: "I haven't forgotten the death of the elder sister, father, but you don't understand, if no one is here, leaving an empty home, and the name of the family is useless. ?”

"The fate of aristocratic families is like this, and no one is spared." Han Xun replied.

"How innocent is Shen Zhiqiu?" Han Bi seemed to be asking, but also seemed to be talking to himself, "I came a step late, I knew it was so..."

It was clearly the weather in early spring, with a warm breeze, but the relationship between father and son was instantly as cold as ice, and it would be too much to say a few words. After a while, Han Bi took the sword box and got into the carriage, and went silently to Mo Yihang.

On Mo Yi Peak, Han Bi entered Mo Yi with a sword box, and came out holding the sword box shortly after.

Han Banbu asked: "Young Master, why is this Shadow Stepping Sword still in your hand?"

Han Bi was in a trance, and replied in a low voice, "Just as a souvenir."

At this moment, amidst the white mist, Xiao Shaoling's voice resounded through the sky, every word was sonorous and bloody.

"Shen Zhiqiu is my disciple of Mo Yi. He studied under Yi Jian's sect. He has never made a mistake in ten years. Now that the capital guards have beaten him into a trick, he died in prison. I, Xiao Shaoling, swear here that I will see people in my life and corpses in my death. There must be justice for him."

Inside Mo Yi's gate, there was already an uncontrollable commotion: "We must seek justice for Senior Brother Shen! Suppress the capital guards!"