Overlord's Road to Ancient Emperors

Li Xu and his team left quietly. When Qiao An got the news, they had already boarded the boat. Qiao An rushed to the seaside. This used to be a small harbor for fishermen to go to sea. Now a pier is being built. Not far from here is King Shun's The shipyard will recruit workers in the next year, and one can imagine how prosperous the dock will be then.

"I heard that the pier in Minzhou City is full of people, and I don't know what kind of scene it is. When the government has a boat, can we also go to Minzhou?" Qiao An asked the master.

This master was the one who followed him when he was the county magistrate. He was not very knowledgeable in his forties, but Qiao An trusted him very much, and he still took him with him after he was promoted.

Qiao An also thought about finding an official position for him, but the other party refused. He knew that he was not capable enough, so he stopped harming the people. I don't have much contact with official business.

It only took two days to return to Minzhou by boat from Xiangcheng. The dock in Minzhou City has been expanded twice, and now it can accommodate hundreds of large ships to dock at the same time.

The convenience of sea transportation allows merchants to see the violence after saving costs. Now more and more people are starting to run businesses in South Vietnam. They are no longer satisfied with pushing small trucks to sell goods everywhere, but rent a boat with three or five people and go north. , Bring things from South Vietnam to the Northland, and then bring back the specialties of the Northland.

This is a method that every businessman knows to earn the price difference, but when there are too many people, some things tend to be unsalable, so Li Xu also opened a river channel leading to Shu County. This road will pass through several counties along the way. Enough for businessmen to play up.

Moreover, the government has ships to Shu County regularly every month. As long as the identity is reliable and a certain amount of shipping fee is paid, the government ships are also willing to help take people and bulk cargo there. Later, a steward of the Zhong family saw the business opportunity and bought two There are more and more cargo ships, and the boss of the Zhong family also intends to specialize in this industry.

In the past, most of the freight on the river was in the hands of the Wang family. After the fall of the Wang family, no one dared to touch it for a while, so they ran along the boat of the Wang mansion. After a long time, everyone's hearts became active. Has the Zhong family ever No one cares about getting together with the Wang family.

It was also at this time that the Zhong family revealed a message to Li Xu, saying: There are people in the Wang family in the capital, and what they did before should have been instigated by others.

Li Xu didn't need to investigate too much, there were not many people in the court who would miss him, and the third prince who had lost power couldn't get up for the time being, and it was the Zhao family that he had to be on guard against.

After returning to the palace, Liu Shu took good care of the two masters, making them comfortable and comfortable before letting anyone in to disturb them.

"My lord, during your absence, several incidents happened at the old palace." Liu Shu first informed Li Xu of the news.

"What? Big or small?"

"The slave thinks it's a small matter, but the adults think it's a big thing." Liu Shu privately felt that these people made a fuss out of a molehill, and such things are quite normal, so there's nothing to worry about.

"Speak, my king, listen."

"That's right. Do you still remember Cen Huan, the steward over there?"

"Cen Jin's grandnephew, what happened to him?"

"He rescued a woman outside a few months ago, and then took him home as a concubine. A few days ago, his wife saw that the concubine had a close relationship with a sesame seed seller, so she paid attention to it. As a result, she was arrested within a few days. People were murdered, and they were pushed into the lake in the winter, that is, the small pool outside the city that you wanted to fill up. People who understand water will definitely not be drowned, but Cen Huan's first wife can't swim. After sinking, the murderer thought People die and leave.

Unexpectedly, this old lady was quite capable. When she sank into the water, she pulled a reed pipe in her hand. There were patches of reed forest by the pool, and the murderer didn't realize that she was still alive. Although she was rescued When she got up, she was dying, but she still spent money to order someone to carry her to the government. She wanted to sue her husband for doting on his concubine and destroying his wife, and conspiring with others to kill her. "

"Cen Huan really did it?"

"That's not true. Although Manager Xiao Cen dotes on that beautiful concubine more, he never thought of killing his wife. It's just that the relationship between the two is getting colder."

"Since it wasn't caused by her husband, it should be caused by the concubine and the adulterer, but is there any ulterior secret here?"

Liu Shu rolled his eyes, looked arrogant and motherly, and squeezed his throat and said, "You never would have imagined that his little concubine is actually the Zhao family's eyeliner, even the salesman who sells sesame seed cakes. They are closely related." It’s always news.”

"From the Zhao family?" Li Xu didn't expect this to happen, he asked curiously: "How could the Zhao family use such eyeliner? What kind of tricks are they hiding? There is still some important task ahead of them." ?”

"These two people are not very important people, but they are usually bought by others to deliver news. I heard that the Lord did not let them investigate any secrets, as long as they report what they saw and heard in Minzhou City. , Of course, there must be a reward for being able to pry into the secret."

"Who asked about this? Such a person probably doesn't even know who the master is?"

Liu Shu glanced at Kou Xiao, and replied with a smile: "It was the result sent by Jiang Junshi. As soon as the government heard that it was related to the spies, they transferred the case to Kou's army. Only then did the servant know that Kou's army was still in charge. trial."

Kou Xiao glanced at the little eunuch, this little thing is so thoughtful, and he did not forget to drive a wedge between him and King Shun at this time, he probably still hated not letting him go out with him.

But the palace cannot leave anyone to take care of the little princess. He Zun followed them out, and Liu Shu was bound to stay as a housekeeper, but it was not his fault.

Kou Xiao held a cup of hot milk tea and sipped it. This milk tea was made by Li Xu. Not only did it not taste bad, but it was also sweet and delicious. He and the little princess were the only favorites in the family.

"South Vietnam's military and government are integrated. In the past, the division of functions was not clear. Such matters as spies infiltrating were generally handled by the military. Therefore, the government transferred the case to the Kou family army. This was also caused by the lack of available talents in the government. If the prince wants the government Regardless of this, it’s okay.”

Li Xu glanced at the two of them each, thought for a while, and said: "In the future, the case will be handed over to the government for first trial. If it is confirmed that it is related to the military, it will be sent to the military camp. If it is only related to the palace, it will be sent to Ye Changqing. There are people under him Minzhou stays behind, Xiao Liu should know the exact location, and tomorrow you will go to the county governor's office to report this matter."

Liu Shu bowed his head in response, and continued to talk about the previous incident, "The eldest lady of Xiao Cen's steward's house didn't know that the two of them were spies, but only knew that the concubine had some background and could hire a killer to kill someone, so she didn't dare to sue her directly. , and was also afraid that her husband would be harmed, so she sued her husband, and did not tell the whole story until her husband was brought to the government.

There is no suspense about what happened after that. After the military division found out, they still arrested many people in the city. I heard that they were all spies from various quarters. The Zhao family sent the most, and there were several other ministers, and a few One should be a dead man, who committed suicide by swallowing poison as soon as he was arrested. "

"It seems that there are quite a few people who care about this king." Li Xu laughed at himself.

"Especially after the third prince was punished, officials who want to turn their hearts back must want to know how you are doing in Nanyue." Kou Xiao thought gloatingly: You idiots, how did you know that today's King Shun is gone? It's rare that you take it seriously, and sending someone to investigate the news will only make King Shun even more disgusted.

Li Xu frowned and said, "Although I knew that everything here could not be hidden for too long, I always thought that no one would pay attention to this remote place in South Vietnam. It seems that the next step is to develop outside."

"Good things can't be hidden in the first place, let alone your fiefdom. Even without them, the emperor will soon find out. He had complicated feelings for you before, so he ignored you. Now he is probably thinking about you again. "

Li Xu smiled wryly: "Then let's go, it's better to ignore me."

Kou Xiao's words were quickly fulfilled. Just a few days before the Chinese New Year, an imperial decree from the capital was sent to Shun Prince's Mansion in a hurry. One of them was Li Xu's old acquaintance, who had escorted him to South Vietnam.

After entering the city, the man ran to Prince Shun's mansion with the excuse of having diarrhea, and told Li Xu the content of the imperial decree. In fact, it was unnecessary, because Li Xu would have to kneel to hear these words in less than half an hour, but Li Xu appreciated him very much. Love, knowing that he is also to prepare myself psychologically.

And this time the decree really needs to be mentally prepared before accepting it, otherwise Li Xu might not be able to do something against the decree on the spot. The emperor finally thought that his son, a young widow, should marry a stepmother. The Shun Prince's mansion needs a concubine to take care of the housework, and the Shun King also needs an eldest son to continue the incense.

And the choice of this concubine is not bad, she has an outstanding family background, outstanding character, and has long been known as a talented woman.

Those with a higher status than her did not want to suffer in the barbaric place of South Vietnam, and those with a lower status were not worthy of the former Crown Prince, so this daughter of Lang Zhongling was very suitable in all aspects, and the emperor felt very satisfied after the selection , also rewarded a decent dowry.

Kou Xiao was in the military camp at this time, and when he learned that the imperial court had sent an imperial edict, he was not in a hurry to rush back. Since it was an edict for King Shun, he would know it when he returned home. It is not appropriate to appear in the palace now.

Half an hour later, the incense table was set up in the hall of Prince Shun's Mansion, and Li Xu was wearing a dark blue brocade robe and knelt upright at the door to welcome the imperial edict.

The eunuch who delivered the decree rolled his eyes around, and when he saw the gate of Prince Shun’s mansion, he thought to himself: King Shun’s life is not bad, and the mansion is newly built at first glance, and the two majestic big lions are carved very well, no more than those outside the palace. When he entered the door and saw the strange building, he thought to himself: The building in South Vietnam is too strange. Why does it look like a stone house? Is it because there is no money to hire a carpenter?

When he saw King Shun's clothes, he frowned again, and kindly reminded him: "My lord, according to the regulations, you should wear a formal dress to show respect."

Li Xu said indifferently: "I would also like to ask the supervisor to tell my father that it's not that my ministers are rude and unfilial, but that I have not been able to make up the dress after it was lost halfway. For a set of decent dresses, please tell the emperor to send someone to send a pattern after returning home, and the king will let the embroiderer start making it immediately."

The eunuch was secretly startled. It has been two and a half years since King Shun left the capital, and he has lived like this. He doesn't believe that there is no pattern. This thing just needs to write a letter to the court, and the latest dress will be delivered without His Majesty having to look at it. Where does he need to go to the embroiderer himself to embroider?

However, it was hard for him to say that. Thinking of the emperor's complicated thoughts on King Shun, the eunuch did not dare to underestimate him. This man still has hope of recovery in the future, so he promised with a low eyebrow and pleasing to the eye: "Then when the servant returns to the capital, I will give you the right to do so." You report it, and Zongzheng will definitely send someone to deliver the dress."

"That's work."

"Don't dare, then please listen to the order of the prince."

Because Li Xu knew the content in advance, his mentality was quite stable when he said this, and he didn't have too many expressions on his face. He didn't look like a person who was about to marry a bride.

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial decree, he helped Li Xu stand up, and said with a smile: "My lord, have you heard of the prospective princess? I heard that she is very attractive. She is beautiful and talented, and she is a rare combination of talent and appearance. This servant is here. Congratulations on marrying a lovely wife."

Li Xu handed the imperial decree to Liu Shu, and the latter put the imperial decree away, then stuffed a purse into the eunuch, and complimented with the same humble smile: "Eunuch Yang came from a long way, you must play more in Minzhou city." God, I haven't seen you for a long time, I miss you very much."

The chief eunuch used to be very familiar with the popular young eunuch in front of the prince, and he was even more familiar with the old eunuch Liu, so he asked: "I heard that your adoptive father passed away halfway. I am very sad, and I will leave you alone to serve the prince in the future, so I have to do my best."

Speaking of foster father, Liu Shu wiped away tears, and said sadly: "The foster father is not in good health, he left a little too quickly, I am sorry for him, but fortunately, the foster father has a spirit in heaven, so that the prince can arrive in South Vietnam safely. , now every festive season, the prince also asks the servants to burn some paper money and burn incense sticks for the adoptive father, so that the old man can live more comfortably underground."

The eunuch took a look at Li Xu when he heard the words, and after receiving the imperial edict, Li Xu left on the grounds that he still had official duties. At this time, he only left him a back view. He thought that he would be received by King Shun personally when he came all the way. It seems that I think too much.

The chief eunuch was not disappointed either. After all, he was born as a prince, so it is understandable to be arrogance. Moreover, it was spread throughout the court that King Shun not only did not suffer hardships in South Vietnam, but also lived a very prosperous life.

The eunuch really didn't notice this. He came to Fujian along the way, only to see the dilapidated houses of the people, and there were still people working in the fields after the Chinese New Year, and the food along the way was very different from that in the capital. This difference seemed to him The original is simple and vulgar, not worth mentioning.

Liu Shu already knew what standard should be used to receive the great eunuch, and also knew what kind of news to convey to him, so he led the people to the post house in Minzhou to rest. I know it well.

When Li Xu returned to the study, the imperial decree had already been placed on the shelf in the study. He squeezed his forehead with a headache, thinking: When Kou Xiao comes back, he might burn this thing.