The prince is hard to serve

Mu Jiyan was stunned for a moment, and when he changed his mind, he knew what Yan Wenhao was doing. After realizing it, he nodded, turned his head and told Ah Lin, who had red eyes, to take good care of Mu Ziling, and then said to him: "Your Highness Please come with me."

Having been an official for [-] years, Mu Jiyan has his own set of sources of information, not to mention that the palace is full of eyeliners, and there are almost no secrets. Two hours ago, Emperor Yan issued an imperial decree, ordering Yan Wenhao to resume the court and the Lord. The trial of Li Zezhang's case is now well known.

The Mu family is a family of scholars, whether it is Mu Jiyan or Mu Ziling, or Mu Jiyan's deceased wife, they are all lovers of books, so that the Mufu study is located in the atrium, which is very convenient. You need to go around the garden and pass through an arch.

Following Mu Jiyan to the study, and pushing the door open, Yan Wenhao saw a "Plum Appreciation Picture" hanging on the central wall at a glance.

Although the painter's brushwork was still very immature at that time, and some places were not handled properly, but just by looking at the direction of the lines and the author's little habits when painting, he knew who it was from——

This painting was painted by Mu Ziling.

Instructing Mu Yan to go down and deliver hot tea and snacks, Mu Jiyan turned his head and saw Yan Wenhao standing still at the door, his eyes fixed on one place, Mu Jiyan followed suit, and when he saw the wall When painting on his face, his eyes instantly softened, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

He said with a smile: "This is a painting that Ziling made when he was eight years old, and it is also the first painting he completed independently."

Withdrawing his gaze, Yan Wenhao nodded with a smile: "I know it was painted by Qian He." After a while, he said again: "Would Mr. Mu be willing to give me this painting?"

Mu Jiyan looked at him in surprise: "Your Highness, this painting is not good."

At that time, Mu Ziling was only eight years old, and he was just a naive child. No matter in terms of brushwork or strength, he was too young and limited. This painting is naturally not a good painting.

Stepping forward slowly, Yan Wenhao raised his hand to touch the painting on the wall, and smiled very gently: "In this painting, there is something that I cannot participate in. It belongs to the humble past. I want to collect it."

His eyes were a little turbulent, but Mu Jiyan still shook his head. His voice contained memories, and he refused softly: "This painting cannot be given to you, Your Highness. This is the first gift Ziling gave me."

He can even remember the scene at that time, exactly.

Hearing this, Yan Wenhao showed a little regret on his face. Since this painting has such commemorative significance for Mu Jiyan, he can no longer force Mu Jiyan to give him up.

Raising his head, he looked at the "Plum Appreciation Picture" for a long time, then slowly looked away, walked to the chair beside him and sat down.

Mu Jiyan glanced at him, saw that the regret on his face was true, and remembered what he said just now, so he thought for a while, and then said: "If Your Highness likes Ziling's calligraphy and painting, I still have a few more here. It was made by Zi Ling when he was 16 years old, if His Highness wants it, I can give it to you."

His eyes lit up, Yan Wenhao tilted his head to look at him, and nodded with a smile: "If that's the case, thank you, Mr. Mu."

Just at this time, Mu Yan led a waiter and brought up hot tea and snacks.

Waving his hand, Mu Jiyan said to Mu Yan, "Go and wait outside the door. If Ziling wakes up, come in and let us know."

Mu Yan nodded politely, and then bowed respectfully to Yan Wenhao before exiting the study and closing the door by the way.

When Mu Yan left and the two of them were left in the room, Mu Jiyan suppressed the smile on his face, looked at Yan Wenhao squarely, and said bluntly, "Your Highness is looking for me because His Majesty ordered you to preside over the interrogation." thing?"

Mu Jiyan knew very well that in the past, Yan Wenhao had lived in the deep palace for a long time due to illness, never went to court, and was completely unfamiliar with the government. Now Emperor Yan made this decree and ordered him to investigate the case, and let the Ministry of punishment and Dali Temple Assisting him has a lot to do with this case, and at this time he turned to him, it must be for this matter only.

Hearing this, Yan Wenhao restrained his expression, straightened his sleeves and stood up, bowed his hands to Mu Jiyan solemnly, and said sincerely: "Master Mu, please help me."

Although he knows it well, Mu Jiyan has been an official for many years, and he has a much deeper grasp of the court situation than him. Except for a few important officials, other small officials have never been in control of him. Learn more, so this time, he still needs Mu Jiyan to advise him on the candidates for the Ministry of Criminal Justice and Dali Temple to assist him in the trial.

Mu Jiyan has always been honest and impartial, upright, and belongs to the neutral faction, and he is most displeased with corrupt and fraudulent people like Li Zezhang, so he will definitely not play tricks on the candidates to assist in handling the case.

What's more, this is also a small test for Mu Jiyan.

A gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and Mu Jiyan looked up at him, his expression unchanged: "How does Your Highness want me to help you?"

He did not refuse.

Yan Wenhao's thinking was right, Mu Jiyan really hated officials who practiced favoritism.

Seeing that Mu Jiyan didn't reject him directly, Yan Wenhao knew that Mu Jiyan actually wanted to help him, so he breathed a sigh of relief and sat down on the chair again.

He stretched out his hand to take the cup and took a sip of tea. Yan Wenhao pondered for a while, then smiled self-deprecatingly, then he lowered his eyes and said softly: "I live in the Lingxiao Pavilion all the year round, recuperate and recuperate, and never ask about the government. I really don't understand the case of the former Minister of Rites, I don't know why my father ordered me to preside over this case, but since my father has ordered, I will do it well."

Having said that, he stopped, sighed slightly, and then continued: "It's just that there are so many involved in this case, not to mention that Li Zezhang is the biological father of Concubine Liang, the son-in-law of Duke Mu, and the grandfather of the Fifth Emperor. As far as they are concerned, I can't achieve perfection with my own strength, even though my father ordered Dali Temple and the Criminal Department to assist me, I still don't know what to do."

Yan Wenhao frowned, and there was a helpless smile on the corner of his mouth: "I'm afraid that even if this problem is put in front of my father's eyes, my father will be equally embarrassed, right?"

Mu Jiyan listened quietly all the time, with no expression on his face, and didn't say a word about it.

Lifting his head suddenly, Yan Wenhao's eyes were still slightly blank. He looked at Mu Jiyan and asked, "I don't know what should I do in the eyes of Mr. Mu?"

Hearing this, Mu Jiyan put down the cup in his hand, and then cast his eyes on him again, the light in his eyes flashed, "Seriously check!"

After a pause, he continued: "In recent years, the practice of favoritism and fraud in the autumn examination has been prevalent, and His Majesty has long wanted to investigate. No matter who is involved in this case, His Highness should ignore them and thoroughly investigate the case. It is only after the investigation, and it may be for this reason that His Majesty ordered you to preside over the trial."

Based on Mu Jiyan's understanding of Emperor Yan, he can naturally guess the reason why Emperor Yan ordered Yan Wenhao to preside over this case.

After listening to his words, Yan Wenhao nodded slightly, and said solemnly: "I have written down what Mr. Mu said." However, the frown between his brows still did not loosen, obviously he still had doubts.

After hesitating for a while, Yan Wenhao couldn't help it, and said again: "I have another question, please answer it for me." After a pause, he said bluntly: "Master Mu thinks, which one should I choose? Someone to assist me with the case?"

Tapping the table lightly with his fingers, Mu Jiyan thought for a while, and said in deliberation: "I do know a few officials, they are intelligent, and their character and knowledge are extraordinary, but because they are too lonely, they don't like to be with others. You are in the same class, and you never modify your words, and your words are quite straightforward, so they have not been reused. If Your Highness doesn't mind, they may be able to help you."

"My lord, please write down their names." Yan Wenhao raised his hand as a gesture of invitation.

Nodding his head, Mu Jiyan took a pen and wrote down the names of the officials he mentioned just now, a total of five people, and handed them to Yan Wenhao: "It's them."

After receiving the note, Yan Wenhao lowered his head and glanced at it. After seeing the name on it, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he couldn't help nodding in his heart, obviously very satisfied.

——This list is the same as the list he made earlier.

These officials were all investigated by An Wu before, and all of them were not bad in character and knowledge. The only thing worse than others was a good opportunity.

As for this opportunity, let him give it.

※※※

When Mu Ziling woke up, it was already close to You hour.

Staring at the carvings on the top of the bed for a while, the memory before coma flooded back again, his emotions surged, and he felt a splitting headache again.

Raising his hand to cover his chest, Mu Ziling curled up his body, his eyes widened, his mouth opened, and he tried his best to breathe. He wanted to call out a few times, but found that he couldn't make a sound.

Hearing the slight noise, Ah Lin, who had been waiting in the outer room, hurried in. When he saw Mu Ziling woke up, he quickly put his big head towards him, and asked with red eyes: "My lord, what do you think?" Are you still suffering?"

Seeing Ah Lin, Mu Ziling was slightly taken aback. After a long time, he shouted in a hoarse voice, "A Lin?"

"Yes, son, Ah Lin is here."

Blinking his eyes, a few round tears fell down his cheeks, he raised his hand to wipe away the tears, Ah Lin hurriedly poured a glass of warm water, and fed it to Mu Ziling: "Come on, my lord! Drink some water first."

Following Ah Lin's hand to drink the water, Mu Ziling felt that his throat was better.

"Ah Lin, why are you here?"

Mu Ziling's voice was extremely weak, but maybe it was because he saw Ah Lin. At this moment, the pain that made him feel suffocated has been reduced a lot, but he is still curled up, his face is pale, and his whole body is trembling. trembling.

"You're back..." Sniffing and widening his eyes, Ah Lin couldn't help but asked again: "Master, what's wrong with you?"

came back?

Opening his eyes wide, Mu Ziling looked away from Ah Lin's body and landed on behind him. When he saw the familiar furnishings and arrangements, he finally couldn't help it, grabbed the quilt tightly, and his eyes were red.