Bastard's Counterattack [Rebirth]

"Rong Youtang is actually your concubine brother?" Zhao Zening tapped on the window sill with his fingers, his eyes dark and unpredictable.

Zhou Minghong was filled with righteous indignation, and said firmly: "It's absolutely true!"

"Hehe." Zhao Zening sneered playfully, watching Rong Youtang, who was in high spirits, walk quickly and disappeared into the crowd at the end of the street.

"Your Highness the Eighth Highness doesn't know that there is already an uproar in the Caomin's house." Zhou Minghong drank a lot of wine, gasped like a trapped animal, his chest heaved violently, extremely angry, and said distressedly: "My parents, brother and sister, all I already knew, but kept it from me! Fortunately, I overheard them when they were arguing in the study, otherwise I don’t know how long they would have been kept in the dark!"

"Unfortunately, although the news is good news, it's too late." Zhao Zening shook his head regretfully, walked back to the table with his hands behind his back, reaching out to grab the jug—

"I'll come, I'll come!" Zhou Minghong hurriedly grabbed the jug, poured a glass of wine for the other party attentively, and advised him respectfully: "Please use it slowly."

Zhao Zening picked up the wine glass, casually sniffed it, shook it to play with it, marveled, and questioned in disbelief: "Rong Youtang is your concubine brother? Is he the concubine son of the Zhou family?"

"I know it's unbelievable, but that's the truth."

Zhou Minghong drank a glass with his neck back, blushing and thick neck, his mouth and nose smelled of alcohol, raised his sleeve and wiped his mouth, and complained anxiously: "Don't talk about you, I was shocked when I heard it! But the family made a lot of noise because of him. Can't be wrong. Hmph, my concubine raises a concubine who can't be seen in the public eye. He is shameless and shameless. After entering the household department, he actually overwhelmed us two brothers! Bah, what is he? A dirty thing selling assholes."

Are you going crazy with jealousy?

A smile appeared on the corner of Zhao Zening's mouth, with contempt and disdain, his natural brows pressed down, and he looked a little gloomy for no reason, and asked calmly: "What evidence do you have? It's not that my Highness is suspicious. Outsiders look at you three brothers, you don't look like you at all. , Rong Youtang is even more indistinguishable from your father, as for the dead Aunt Rong, who knows what she looks like?"

"Hey, that's where the problem is!"

Zhou Minghong slapped his thigh, drank a couple of sips of wine, raised his sleeves and wiped his mouth, spitting stars flying all over the place, poured bitter water, and said drunkenly: "My brothers and sisters and I are not idiots. We knew Rong Youtang as early as last year, but because of three We haven't seen each other for four years, but he has grown up and is completely different from when he was a child! He doesn't look like his father or Aunt Rong, but like his grandfather! Otherwise, how could we not notice anything?"

"There is such an anecdote in the world!" Zhao Zening laughed and shook his head, sighing: "His Highness is really an eye-opener."

Since knowing the truth, Zhou Minghong has been shocked, irritable, humiliated, full of resentment, depressed, shocked and unacceptable.He leaned back, drank his sorrows with wine, gritted his teeth and said: "Thanks to the appreciation of the Eighth Highness, Caomin has no reason to hide it. It's just that you are right, this news is worthless--ah, only my father is still daydreaming, Delusion to recognize that disobedient thing who turned his face and refused to recognize anyone!"

"My father wants to recognize the concubine? It's difficult."

Zhao Zening raised his glass and put it to his lips. The wine dipped around his lips, and he slowly sipped it. There was always a hint of depression between his brows and eyes, and he said lightly: "If this news was known earlier, I can still make use of it, but Rong Youtang now He is already the number one scholar in the new department, and he has just made a contribution in solving a case. His identity is disguised well, so it can be justified, as long as he is killed and refuses to admit it, what can you do to him? Are you spreading rumors that the concubine of the Zhou family died and resurrected?"

"Hey, there was a big fuss when the rankings were released a few months ago. In a fit of anger, my parents complied with his wishes and called him the nephew of Rong Zhengqing, the current doctor of the Ministry of Industry! How can they talk back now?" Zhou Minghong It looked like he was heartbroken, but he couldn't hide his secret joy.

Due to the environment in which he grew up, Zhao Zening was very scheming and very good at observing words and expressions. He said with a casual smile, "Rong Youtang tried every means to get rid of the Zhou family, as if he would never turn back. However, Lingtang and your brothers probably don't want to recognize you. Back to him?"

At that time, the concubine who wandered outside and was neglected will be more promising than the golden and precious son. Wouldn't the mistress and the son be ashamed?

"I, I don't care!"

Zhou Minghong stuck his neck stiffly, resentfully, and sarcastically said: "What's so good about him? Being a shameless male pet, relying on flesh and blood for future, he doesn't have to tarnish the lintel of my Zhou family! My father is old and incompetent, short-sighted, you say What was he thinking? Rong Youtang made it clear that his wings were long and stiff, and he was desperately trying to climb high branches, and he was still trying to act as a loving father, he was humiliating himself!"

Zhao Zening poked his head, tilted his head, flicked the wine glass with his fingers, took a sip after a long time, lowered his eyes in thought, his skin was dazzlingly white, his lips were light in color, he was wearing a silk robe and a gold inlaid jade headband, he was clearly young, But there was a sickly dead air around him.

He squinted, lowered his eyebrows, squinted his eyes, indifferent and contemptuous, with an indescribably weird feeling, but Zhou Minghong was [-]% drunk, chattering unceasingly, and did not pay attention to observe.

"It turns out that Master Zhou is eager to recognize the concubine?" Zhao Zening asked with a sneer.

"No way!"

Zhou Minghong was so drunk that he slapped the table angrily, like beans poured from a bamboo tube, hating iron for not becoming steel, and said: "Think about it, how is that possible? Mingtang, oh no, Rong Youtang hated us, and took revenge several times. According to the investigation, my sister’s dowry shop, my studies, my brother’s official career—he didn’t let go of them all. He took revenge madly and made us miserable! Woooooo, I was turned into a joke by him, relatives and friends They are all alienated." Zhou Minghong felt sad, sobbing and weeping.

"Why did he retaliate wildly? There must be some reason?" Zhao Zening asked in a leisurely manner.

"It's just that we treated his mother and daughter harshly when we were young. But what's the matter? It's purely normal! A concubine is a concubine, and a concubine is a concubine, how can he surpass the mistress? Hmph, wishful thinking." Zhou Minghong lay down on the table drunk, reeking of alcohol soaring.

Last time, Zhou Minghong was hired by Rong Youtang to give him a hard time. He was rumored to be a "madman who danced naked in the street". He was notorious and hid at home for a long time before he dared to walk.It's a pity that he was ridiculed by his friends one after another, so he turned to the Eighth Prince in a fit of anger.

"No, it should be more than that."

Zhao Zening shook his head in denial, and calmly pointed out: "If it's just because you were abused by your aunt's mother when you were young, you don't have to rack your brains to leave the family, or even shock the world to find another biological father for yourself, and fabricate a new life experience. Not driven by ordinary hatred."

There are indeed many other inside stories, but Zhou Minghong knows very little.

"You bastard who sells assholes! Bah, it's disgusting and dirty, what's the big deal? And the youngest champion in history, it must, must be the hands and feet of King Qing. The same is true for solving cases. What does he know about solving cases? Absolutely." King Qing helped to solve it. His Royal Highness King Qing is really generous, and his studies, future, and achievements are like flowing water to give to male favorites." Zhou Minghong muttered unconvinced, cursed, and was extremely stubborn—or he refused to accept that he was inferior to others. The facts about Brother Shu.

The eighth prince talked for a long time, until the drunk fell into a complete coma.

You are as confused as your father, ignorant and incompetent, superficial and vain, and mud cannot support the wall.

Zhao Zening got up, and looked down coldly at Zhou Minghong, who was drunk and lying on the table. He didn't pay attention to Zhou Minghong at all, and just treated him like a dog's leg.

at the same time

Rong Youtang had already walked back to the East City. It was hot in the evening. He was carrying his luggage, holding the emperor's reward with one hand, and raised his sleeve to wipe his sweat from time to time.

Near nostalgia timid.

When he ran excitedly to the door of the house, he stopped instead, carefully arranging his robe and headband, so that he would not be so tired and embarrassed, so that his family members would not feel uncomfortable.

"Knock knock~" Rong Youtang knocked on the door calmly, and shouted loudly, "Uncle Zhang? Uncle Zhang? I'm back."

next moment

The small door of the concierge slammed loudly, and after the bang, the old man sprinted and shouted in surprise, "Master?"

"it's me."

"Oh, oh, oh, haha, master, the young master is back! Come quickly."

Lao Zhangtou opened the door, overjoyed, hurriedly took the burden and the gift box, and asked curiously: "Master, what is this?"

"Given by Your Majesty." Rong Youtang told with a smile, he was so thirsty that his throat was almost smoking, he ran into the living room in a hurry, and bumped into his adoptive father and the housekeeper——

"Oh!"

"It can be regarded as a safe return!"

Rong Kaiji smiled happily and was extremely excited. The four elderly members of his family surrounded Rong Youtang who had returned from a long trip, asking about his health, handing him tea to wipe his sweat and playing with a fan, making cakes and meals.

An hour later, it was already dark.

"Why are you still soaking? The water is cold! Get up, hurry up." Rong Kaiji pushed the door and entered, urging repeatedly.

"Oh." Rong Youtang agreed, without any intention of moving, and soaked comfortably in the bathtub.

"Just rest at ease tonight. I have sent someone to deliver a message to your fourth uncle, Yan Shishu, Master Lu and other relatives and friends, asking you to take a break and pay your respects to the teacher after you have regained your energy."

"understood."

Rong Kaiji was happy, like a gust of wind, blowing in and out, rambling: "Except for the gold ingots, the rest have been put into the warehouse as heirlooms of the family."

"Yeah." Rong Youtang didn't lift his head, and vigorously took a shower. He went out for a month, and he was too busy to take a shower a few times, his body was itchy.

"Why is there so much money left?" Rong Kaiji asked, he was packing his son's messy bundles.

Rong Youtang said happily: "Time is tight, and there is no time to spend money. The only few times are on the way, the boat stops at the ferry, and I go down to treat my brothers to dinner and tea."

"Hey, thanks to the blessing of the Buddha, I helped you return home safely." Rong Kaiji sighed, and said reverently and solemnly: "When you take a rest, we should go and fulfill your vows."

"Okay, you decide."

At this time, the only maid of the Rong family was making the bed in the inner room, she asked with concern: "Master, it's getting colder at night, can you make a thin mattress for the young master?"

"Lay it on the bed so that he won't catch a cold at night."

Rong Kaiji readily agreed, turned his head and saw that his son was still soaking, immediately put down his burden, strode over, grabbed the bath towel involuntarily, and urged helplessly: "The skin is wrinkled! Come out quickly, doesn't it mean something is wrong? Rest early and get a good night's sleep."

"Oh."

Rong Youtang had no choice but to jump out of the bathtub, his skin was flushed all over, he slowly put on his pajamas and trousers, stepped on wooden clogs to dry his hair, relaxed, strolled slowly in the small garden, blowing the night breeze, and fiddled with the flowers and plants.

Not long after, Rong's father called from inside: "Tang'er, what are you doing?"

"Admiring the flowers."

"Come in!"

With half-dry hair on, Rong Youtang stepped into the room.

"People who are seventeen or eighteen years old still don't know how to cherish their bodies. What are they doing after taking a shower and going out to blow air?"

Rong Kaiji was getting old, and it was inevitable that he would chatter. He quickly packed his bags, clapped his hands, and then moved closer to the bed, patted his lying prone son, and asked worriedly: "How is the errand done? Is Your Majesty satisfied?"

"Hmm... I don't know either." Rong Youtang said frankly, lying on his stomach with his arms on his pillow, exhausted.

"Satisfied, right?" Father Rong said to himself, "If you're not satisfied, how can you give a reward?"

"I hope so."

"There was only one case in the imperial decree, why did it become two? I heard that you escorted a group of corrupt and rebellious parties—" Rong Kaiji stopped abruptly, smiled apologetically, and said reasonablely: "Hey, I shouldn't ask Court business."

Rong Youtang turned over and lay on his back, with sleepy eyes, thought for a while, and said with relief: "Don't worry, Your Majesty has handed over corruption and chaos to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for trial, and let us assist you. Those who have no right to dictate and interfere, at most It's just a question and answer."

"You only need to know what's in your mind."

Father Rong sat on the edge of the couch, pulled his son down and lifted the pajamas that exposed his belly, and said in fear: "I received your letter from home last month, fortunately I read it several times, if you don't find the mystery, what will you do? "

"I'm sure you'll find out! Sure enough, hahaha~"

"Still laughing? You are far away in the river, and I can't do anything to help, so I can only do it in a hurry." Rong Kaiji Yan's father's face was halfway up, and he couldn't help but laughed, with mixed feelings in his heart, and sincerely sighed: "I reported to Prince Qing's Mansion overnight, and His Highness immediately made arrangements. He is highly capable, decent and generous, and he is indeed reliable."

Huh?

Why should I praise His Royal Highness King Qing as "reliable"?

Rong Kaiji was stunned, puzzled, and frowned in surprise.

Rong Youtang didn't understand, his eyes sparkled, and he blurted out his agreement: "That's right. His highness is a man of wisdom and courage. I have never seen a person as powerful as him!"

Looking at his son who was full of admiration and admiration, Father Rong hesitated to speak, nodding worriedly in agreement, and asked, "Did he help a lot during the investigation?"

"Well, it's a pity that we couldn't chat a little more when we met today."

Father Rong froze for a moment, suddenly felt melancholy and sad, and asked casually, seemingly:

"Did you go to Prince Qing's Mansion before going home?"

"No. When General Qi and I returned to the palace, we happened to meet His Highness and Master."

"Oh."

moment of silence

Rong Youtang suddenly noticed that the atmosphere was abnormal, he hurriedly opened his eyes, and he understood his adoptive father's thoughts at a glance, and immediately said righteously: "I will definitely go home first!"

Father Rong laughed, nodded in relief, and said: "Your Highness has a great favor for our family, you should not be ungrateful, and you should repay as much as possible." Otherwise, wouldn't you be a white-eyed wolf?

Rong Youtang closed his eyes again, feeling very tired, and said vaguely: "We received His Highness's assistance during the investigation, and we should thank you as soon as possible. But I am too tired, and I didn't sleep a few hours outside. Sleepy, too sleepy to run, wait for rest before going.”

"You look at the arrangement yourself, I will prepare a few gift boxes for you at most, and don't care about the rest." Father Rong kept a straight face, very wise.He is old, but the child has grown up and has his own attention. He wants to manage many things but finds that he can't!

"Okay, okay." Rong Youtang murmured, the ending was inaudible, and he fell asleep in a flash, with his head resting on the edge of the bed, his hands and feet spread out, his breathing was long and steady, his eyes were black and blue, he was obviously very tired, even if he had great ambitions I really don't have the energy to move.

"Okay, you go to sleep." Father Rong shook his head, smiled openly, lifted the thin quilt and covered it up, let the child sleep sideways, put down the gauze curtain, closed the door lightly and left.

Right now

Prince Qing's Mansion · Moon Pavilion

"Raise a glass to invite the bright moon!"

Ninth Prince Zhao Ze'an held up the sweet soup tureen, turned his head and asked his elder brother solemnly: "How many people are in the opposite shadow?"

Zhao Zeyong smiled, raised his hand and pointed at the wide eaves of the Moon Pavilion, and said in a low voice:

"No one is facing each other, only the lonely moon."

"That's right." Ninth Prince took a sip of the sweet soup, full of energy, ran out of the pavilion briskly, and said with a smile, "Look, there is a shadow now!" He walked along the cobblestone corridor, along the stone lampstand.

"Watch the road carefully. Zuo Ji, follow him." Zhao Zeyong ordered.

"Yes." The chief servant in the palace smiled, and he had already spontaneously followed him closely, together with some maids and servants of the Ninth Prince, a group of people chattered and watched the moon.

In the moon pavilion, Zhao Zeyong poured himself a drink, just for pleasure, not drunk.

With a sound of "boom", he ate the wine glass gently, thoughtfully, and slowly pushed the wine glass to the right side - that's where Rong Youtang used to sit.

Nobody's there, little bastard thing...

After a while, the Ninth Prince went around the pavilion and sat down again, panting and sweating, Zuo Ji hurriedly arranged for him to wash his hands and wipe his sweat.

"The moon is shining tonight. Brother Rong has returned to Beijing. Why didn't he come to play with me?" The Ninth Prince asked regretfully.

Due to the age gap, Zhao Zeyong can only play the role of "elder brother like father" in many cases.He patiently explained: "The imperial envoy has just returned to Beijing and needs to hand over official duties and return to the palace. Besides, he also needs to rest after being away for more than a month."

"How did the case be solved? I heard that there were bandits blocking the road to rob and kill the imperial envoy. How brave! It's as thrilling as it is written in a drama script." Ninth Prince's big black and white eyes were bright and clever, full of imagination and curiosity. , heart itching, impatiently said: "I really want to listen to Brother Rong right now!"

"He'll come to see you when he's free, and talk slowly then."

"it is good!"

The two brothers chatted, the elder brother drank, and the younger brother played with Jiu Lianhuan.

After chatting for a while, Zhao Zeyong reminded: "Xu Shizhong, you should go back and rest."

The Ninth Prince, who was having fun, stopped immediately, and muttered, "But I'm not sleepy at all."

"Then who can't get up every morning?"

The Ninth Prince was at a loss for words, thought for a while, and made a serious proposal: "It's late at night and the dew is heavy, let's go back together? Go to bed early and get up early."

Zhao Zeyong raised his eyebrows, raised his eyes, looked at his younger brother for a moment, put down his wine glass, stood up and said, "Let's go!"

"Just go." If you want to go, go together, I rest and you rest too!

The Ninth Prince was satisfied, his eyebrows and eyes were curved, he walked and danced, inexplicably very happy, as if he had won his brother once.

Prince Qing's mansion is calm, but the palace is always undercurrents.

In the bedroom of Kunhe Palace, there were only the husband and wife, and the maids in the palace were ordered to retreat.

Empress Yang, who had removed her phoenix robe and phoenix crown, knelt down, with tears streaming down her face, raised her face, painted her eyebrows and eyes just right, and begged, "I beg your Majesty to learn from you! You watched Xiang'er grow up. He has always been filial and humble. He grew up so big. He only made a trip to the south of the Yangtze River a few years ago, and he has been serving his parents in a respectful manner, how could he associate with corrupt and rebellious parties? Someone must have maliciously framed him!"

The crown of Emperor Chengtian was not removed, sitting on the head, wearing a dark purple embroidered bright yellow dragon pattern inlaid with auspicious cloud borders, expressionless, said: "Last year for my birthday, the three-foot-tall Songhe Yannian gifted by Xianger The beautiful jade carving was a gift from Guanying, the head of the corrupt party."

"Your Majesty, rest your anger."

Empress Yang was stunned, thinking quickly, and found that she couldn't deny it, so she could only bite the bullet and explain: "It was originally a whole piece of jade, which was given to Xiang'er as a gift by others. The child is filial and pious. I specially invited a famous craftsman to carve it into a song and a crane to prolong his life. , Congratulations to Mr. Father, longevity is boundless. Who knew that Governor Hejian was a shameless and corrupt official? If he had noticed, Xiang'er would definitely not accept his gift!"

"As a prince, it's nothing to receive jade as a ceremony, and it's not surprising to give a jade carving as a birthday gift." Emperor Chengtian said slowly, he took a long breath, held it in his chest, and let it go after a while, and said majesticly: "But, Xiang'er is fine." Second, one should have the ability to distinguish between loyalty and villainy at a young age, otherwise one will be fooled a lot. As for court officials' offerings to curry favor, they are offered every year, every month and every day, how can one laugh at them one by one? Where is the dignity of the royal family?"

Empress Yang blushed in embarrassment, clenched the silk handkerchief tightly, pressed her eyes gracefully, choked with sobs, and bowed her head softly: "Your Majesty has taught you that Xiang'er has acted improperly, and my concubine will definitely be vigilant and teach him. I just ask you Take care of your dragon body, and don't let your body be spoiled by corruption and chaos."

Ugh.

Looking down at his wife kneeling and weeping, Emperor Chengtian sighed silently, patted the armrest, and said with restraint: "Get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Empress Yang got up, breathed a sigh of relief, and then poured tea virtuously, and served fruit after busy.

Old couple, old wives, the emperor has passed the age of indulgence and greed, and he pays great attention to maintenance, so he came here for something.

Emperor Chengtian sat quietly for a long while, he already knew the many contacts between his second son and You Guanying, and he just kept the overall situation in mind, so he didn't say anything.

"Your Majesty, please rest in peace?" Queen Yang bowed, making a gesture to untie her robe for her husband.

Emperor Chengtian raised his hand to block it, stood up, and ordered in a flat tone:

"I have something urgent to do, so go back to Qianming Palace to rest. Teach Xiang'er carefully, tell him to learn more from his brothers, so that he will not be confused again in the future." After speaking, he strode back to his bedroom.

"Yes."

Queen Yang gritted her teeth, bowed her knees and bowed her head: "The concubine sends you off to Your Majesty respectfully."

next day

Rong Youtang had no dreams until dawn, refreshed, and asked Qi Zhiyang to go to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to assist in the trial.

However, the Ministry of Punishments and other government offices have their own regulations. They are busy reading files, deliberating carefully, and calling out criminal files for research... In short, the imperial envoys are left empty-handed, and special personnel are sent to serve them with good tea and meals.

It's nothing more than fear that we will steal credit.

Rong Youtang knew it well, and cooperated very well. He went off duty early, rode a horse and quickly went to the homes of several close relatives and friends, and finally rushed to Prince Qing's mansion.

It was night now, and the lights were on.

"My lord, please sit down in the living room and wait a while. The Ninth Prince has gone to Dingbeihou's Mansion to visit the old lady." The housekeeper greeted him thoughtfully and meticulously, still calling him "Young Master" affectionately as before.

"Where's Your Highness?" Rong Youtang asked holding his breath, full of anticipation.

"I guess I'll be back soon. You can rest for a while. When His Highness comes back, the boys will notify you immediately." The butler smiled and stretched out his hand to invite: "Be careful of the threshold."

As soon as the words fell, Zhao Zeyong's voice sounded not far behind him, with a low smile: "Master Xiao Rong is here?"