bastard returns

At the end of the Spring Festival this year, the dismissal of the academician Gao Yu caused an earthquake in the official circles of Huajing.

It is true that the Hanlin Academy is not an institution with real power, and the academicians are not very high-ranking officials, but this position is a model for scholars in the whole country, and this former model was resigned because of the crime of "deceiving the emperor and neglecting the government, favoritism and fraud". In the meantime, insults and slanders were overwhelming, saying that Gao Yu had lost the face of scholars all over the country, and some people even blatantly wrote a lot of unsightly doggerel outside the courtyard wall of Gao Yu's house, and it was precisely because of this reason A few days before Gao Yu was dispatched to leave Beijing, probably to avoid suspicion, fearing that he would be accused of being part of Gao Yu's party, none of the former colleagues of the Imperial Academy came to visit him, except Tian Buwei.

But at this time, no one dared to slander Gao Yu and at the same time say something about Tian Buwei. Occasionally, some people would scribble graffiti on the wall of Gao Yu’s house, seeing Tian Buwei coming from a distance, they would He will immediately cover his face and walk away. This may be due to Tian Buwei's bad temper, but the biggest point is that on the Chunwei just released the list, Xie Changqing, Tian Buwei's disciple, was named the number one scholar by the emperor and became the number one scholar. Since the establishment of the Great Zhou Dynasty, he is the fifth genius with the aura of three yuan in succession.

With such an outstanding disciple, Tian Buwei's status has also risen accordingly. Naturally, no one would choose to touch the bad luck of the champion master at this time.

Xu is thinking about Gao Yu's past achievements. Although he was dismissed and distributed, he was not taken down immediately like other prisoners. He was dressed in a splint and paraded through the streets in a prison cart. Tian packed up his things and bid farewell to his relatives and friends in the capital. He didn't even have a plywood prison uniform. At that time, he could pack lightly and be sent out of the city by official messenger like an ordinary person.

Ning Yuan lived and ate at the Gao Mansion for the past few days. After all, Gao Yu and his wife were not young anymore. With him around, he could help with many things, but Gao Yu didn't ask him to help. Playing chess by myself usually lasts an afternoon, and then Mrs. Gao will simply make some simple tea and light meals. After eating, she will take advantage of the moonlight to pack a few things to prepare for leaving.

It was the day before his departure that Gao Yu sent Ning Yuan back, saying that things were almost cleaned up, and if Ning Yuan was willing, he would come to see them off tomorrow when they left.

These two masters and apprentices have never talked about what happened in the Chunwei field these days. They may know it in their hearts, and it is useless to talk too much. They simply pretend that it has never happened, and they can calm their minds.Ning Yuan took the collection of books that Gao Yu gave him that he couldn't bear to lose, and calmly left the Gaofu, and walked towards the west of the city. Just after turning the corner, a low-profile but very flamboyant carriage trotted up Next to him, the curtains of the car were lifted up, revealing a handsome young man's face, and called out to him: "Mr. Ning."

Ning Yuan stopped in his tracks, looked back at him, and very politely saluted his head, "Fourth Highness."

Sikong Xu's complexion was rosy, he looked very proud, and his whole body was even more handsome. He seemed to not be able to see Ning Yuan's indifference, and continued: "I don't want to meet Mr. Ning here, it's really a coincidence, Mr. Ning is this Where are you going, how about letting this hall give you a ride?"

"No need." Ning Yuan responded lightly, "Cao Min dare not delay His Highness's efforts." After finishing speaking, he turned and continued to walk forward.

But Sikong Xu was steadfast, and while letting the carriage follow Ning Yuan, he said: "Young Master Ning, no, Brother Ning, we haven't seen each other for so long, it's rare to see an old friend again, Brother Ning treats people so coldly, it's really disappointing."

"Your Highness, I don't think I'm an 'old friend' with you." Ning Yuan knew Sikong Xu's temperament, if he didn't face up to send him away, he would be more convenient, so he stopped and said directly: "Your Highness If you are forgetful, I might as well remind you a few words, the little relationship between me and His Highness was ended in Yanzhou a few years ago."

Sikong Xu's expression faltered, of course he knew what Ning Yuan was talking about.He also thought that when he passed through Yanzhou, he got what he wanted, and he shouldn't have any extra thoughts about Ning Yuan, who was always blocking him like a stone, but the strange thing was, the more he thought about it, Over the years, Ning Yuan's figure has not faded from his heart, but has become more profound, always popping up out of nowhere to disturb his peace. Only then did he realize that he has no attraction to the former one, even There are also some lonely teenagers whose thoughts are not as simple as the previous point of "indiscriminate".

So even though Ning Yuan pointed out this point, he still said cheekily: "Brother Ning, why bother to see each other like this, meeting is fate. Brother Ning really doesn't want to get in the car and sit for a while?"

"Your Highness the Fourth Highness was just joking, such an expensive car is something I can't afford to be a pariah." After Ning Yuan left the last sentence, he turned around and was about to take a step, when he heard Sikong Xu whispering again: "So, brother Ning is not worth it at all." Don't care about your benefactor, Mr. Gao?"

Ning Yuan took back the steps he took and frowned, "What do you mean?"

"Brother Ning, you should know that when Huajing goes to Yanzhou, whether it is far or close, there will be many inaccessible places in the middle, and there are many bandits burning, killing and looting in these places." Sikong Xu The voice rose with joy, "Poor Mr. Gao is old and has no strength to restrain the chicken. If you really encounter those desperadoes, how can you guard against them with just a few official guards?"

Although he had already guessed that Gao Yu and himself would suffer from this hardship and that it had something to do with Sikong Xu, but Ning Yuan never thought that Sikong Xu would be able to threaten him so blatantly, even to the point of being shameless, he thought so, Over there, Sikong Xu had already taken the initiative to lift the curtain of the carriage, and made a gesture of invitation to him.

Ning Yuan lowered his head and thought for a while, and finally got into the car.

The carriage seems to be newly made, it looks plain on the outside, but the interior decoration is very elegant, the floor is covered with a layer of black and white tiger skin, the surroundings are made of brocade curtains, and the incense is also very precious pear blossom fragrance.Sikong Xu leaned on the golden silk cushion in a brocade robe, his whole body exuded an air of nobility, he was completely different from the downcast appearance Ning Yuan had heard before.

"Standing up" in the main hall, saved the emperor's life, and recognized the concubine Yue as his mother. Finally, this once down-and-out prince Xianyu turned around. Although he is not considered favored now, it is normal The emperor gave him all the rewards that the prince should have, which is completely different from the previous situation of being out of favor and under house arrest.

"Brother Ning, why are you so unfamiliar? How about getting closer." Seeing that Ning Yuan was sitting far away from him, Sikong Xu smiled and pointed to the cushion beside him, "I really haven't seen Brother Ning for a long time. I'm really happy to charge this time. Very well, if brother Ning doesn't mind, my father gave me a new prince's mansion, why don't brother Ning go back with me and have a drink or two."

But Ning Yuan said: "Your Highness, there is really no need to beat around the bush between you and me. In such an uncool weather, you made a special trip to wait in front of the Gao Mansion and followed me for so long. You probably just want to see me off or It's as simple as buying me a drink, just speak up if you have something to say, and I think His Highness should also understand that after you have done those things, it is impossible for me to drink with you calmly."

Sikong Xu was taken aback for a moment, as if he didn't expect Ning Yuan to be able to speak so straightforwardly, but he quickly laughed again, nodded and said: "Brother Ning really guessed it, this cleverness really hasn't changed at all."

"Why did you do this?" Ning Yuan thought for a while, and then asked, "The Fourth Highness has great ambitions, but he still has trouble with a quiet scholar. If the truth is revealed to the world one day, wouldn't you be afraid of being ridiculed?"

"From my own standpoint, I'm not willing to do this either." Sikong Xu said, "A scholar like Gao Yu, I actually admire him very much, but it's just a last resort, who let him block the way of others."

Ning Yuan frowned, "Is it really the Pang Mansion?"

"It seems that Brother Ning is not an official, but he understands the encroachment of rights in Beijing very well." Presumably, Si Kongxu felt that Ning Yuan is not even a real thing now, but just a commoner who will never be able to take the imperial examination for the rest of his life. Without the slightest hesitation, he said frankly: "Yes, Pang Song has always wanted to get rid of Gao Yu, who was a hindrance, in order to let the Zhongshu Province take over the Imperial Academy, and I want to get Pang Song's support, even if I admire Mr. Gao , and had no choice but to sacrifice him."

Ning Yuan had already guessed it, but when he heard that what Sikong Xu said was the same as what he had guessed, although he thought it was reasonable, he still felt chills in his heart.

If a prince like Sikong Xu wants to make a difference, it is not enough to have a favored mother-in-law, he must also have the support of courtiers, and most of the nobles in Beijing support the eldest prince and other noble princes of the mother clan, almost no People pay attention to him, so he must win over the powerful Pang Mansion who is also looked down upon by the nobles in Beijing, so that they can consolidate their power by embracing them together, and Gao Yu is pitifully formed into their embracing A nomination certificate.

"You want to get the support of the Pang Mansion, even at the expense of offending the Ningguo Mansion?" Ning Yuan sneered, "Ningguo Mansion has always been at odds with the Pang Mansion, so it is bound to stand on the opposite side of His Highness. It seems a little unreasonable."

"Even if I don't get close to the Pang Mansion, Duke Ning's Mansion won't stand by me." Sikong Xu said, "Besides, it doesn't matter if you tell Brother Ning. If you want to come, you and I know that Duke Ning's Mansion is really at odds with Pang Mansion. Yes, they are just a pair of grandsons and grandchildren of Duke Ning. Duke Ning’s son died young, and he didn’t like his only grandson very much. It's really hard to say who is the successor to the Duke of Ningguo. Maybe the Duke of Ningguo is standing on the opposite side of me right now, but when the next Duke of Ningguo appears, such a big tree will accidentally become the shadow behind me Maybe."

Ning Yuan said unhurriedly: "His Royal Highness seems to be very confident about the candidate for the next Ning Guogong."

"In short, it can't be Ning Zhongkun's idiot." Sikong Xu laughed.

"In this way, His Highness will definitely get a lot of help in the future, and the future is really bright." Ning Yuan said sarcastically.

"No matter how bright the future is, if you don't have a good person to spend it with, it's actually very boring." Sikong Xu straightened his body as if he couldn't hear Ning Yuan's sarcasm, and suddenly said: "Since Brother Ning doesn't like me talking around the bush , then I will speak frankly, even though I never saw Brother Ning again when we parted in Yanzhou, I can still remember the joy of that night until now, as if it happened yesterday."

Such blunt and obscene words, but Sikong Xu can still say so sanctimoniously, Ning Yuan couldn't help expressing his admiration in his heart, but on the face he still said: "So."

"Brother Ning, you should understand what I mean." Sikong Xu stretched out his hand and caressed Ning Yuan's black hair hanging from his temples, and then said with a smile: "I used to think that I should be just to you. I thought it was as simple as a moment in the Spring Festival, but later I found out that a moment in the Spring Festival is not enough, it should be a long and lasting Spring Festival, I just said so much to you, Brother Ning, just to let you know that you are with me , the days to come will not only be glorious and rich, but I will also have the ability to protect your family for the rest of your life. Your family is what you value most, isn't it?"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your kindness." I knew that Sikong Xu was planning this kind of calculation, but after he really said it, Ning Yuan still felt inexplicably sick. He turned sideways, letting Sikong Xu's hand go, and said: "It's a pity that I'm not interested in Your Highness. I think I've made it clear several years ago."

"Brother Ning, do you really not think too much about such a flat rejection?" Sikong Xu didn't seem to be angry at Ning Yuan's rejection, "You have already been deprived of the title of Juren, and you will not be able to participate in the imperial examination in the future, you can't If you take the imperial examination, you cannot become an official, and you will be a civilian for life. In Huajing, if someone with a little power wants to crush a civilian, it is as simple as crushing an ant... Brother Ning has been in Huajing these days, After all, it must have offended someone."

"I don't need to bother you, Your Highness." Ning Yuan still refused flatly, "If someone really wants to crush me like an ant, it's my life, not to mention that ants can bite people these days, isn't it? So good to grind."

"You..." Even though Sikong Xu could guess Ning Yuan's attitude, he still couldn't help being a bit arrogant when facing Ning Yuan's indifferent appearance, "Even if you don't think about yourself, you don't think about your family? "

"I will protect my family. If there is nothing else, I will not disturb His Highness's time." After Ning Yuan finished speaking, he raised the curtain of the car and planned to get out of the car, but at this moment, Sikong Xu said something suddenly , "As I said at the beginning, if I say, I can let Gao Yu stay in the capital?"

Ning Yuan's movements stopped.

Seeing that Ning Yuan had stopped, Sikong Xu continued as if he was in high spirits: "The journey to Yanzhou is difficult, and Mr. Gao is very old. What if something unexpected happens."

"Are you threatening me?" Ning Yuan turned his head lightly.

"I was just discussing with you." The smile on Sikong Xu's face widened, "Brother Ning, if you can disregard Mr. Gao's life and death, you can naturally ignore my words."

Sikong Xu thought with all his heart that if this condition was thrown out, even if Ning Yuan had the hardest bones, he would compromise, but what happened next was really beyond his expectation.

Ning Yuan actually jumped out of the car without saying a word.

Sikong Xu raised the curtain of the car in disbelief, and said to Ning Yuan who was drifting away: "Is this your answer?"

"Your Highness, although I am just a commoner now, I still want to advise you that some things cannot be taken for granted." Ning Yuan did not stop walking, and said as he walked, "I will not obey your request, not to mention that there is a saying from ancient times. If I do too much unrighteousness, I will kill myself. If I were you, Your Highness, I would not be so forgetful when I appear to be careless, or I will regret it very much when I climb up and fall seriously."

Hearing these words, Sikong Xu's expression changed, he had already put down his body to speak such nice words to Ning Yuan, he didn't want Ning Yuan to make him ashamed like this, he really didn't see the coffin without crying.

With a cold snort, Sikong Xu lowered the curtain heavily again.

Ning Yuan walked forward for a while, confirmed that Sikong Xu's car did not keep up, then slowed down and fell into deep thought.

If Sikong Xu threatens the safety of him and his family, he can indeed ignore it. With his and Zhou Shi's skills, plus Nuxuan, there is no need to worry about any assassination, and there are many forces in the capital. Being unfavorable to the civilians will only give him a clue to fall into the hands of others, but Gao Yu's side is different, just like what Sikong Xu said, in the wilderness, Gao Yu and his wife are old, if he has any evil intentions, It is completely possible to prevent Gao Yu from reaching Yanzhou in his life without anyone noticing.

Being a teacher for one day and being a father for life, Ning Yuan absolutely cannot see this kind of thing happen.

Ning Yuan heaved a sigh of relief, instead of continuing to walk towards the west of the city, he changed direction and walked towards another street.

****

It's night, Pang Mansion.

Sikong Xu and Pang Song were sitting at a low table in the study, having a drink with three or two dishes of small dishes.

"At this time, I'm afraid Gao Yu's side has already settled." Pang Song glanced at the moonlight outside the window, "That old pedant who is so sour still wants to fight against me, and he doesn't even look at what he is. thing."

Just this morning, Gao Yu's carriage had already left the city, and the assassin sent by Pang Song also accompanied him all the way. According to Pang Song's order, as soon as the carriage drove out of the border of Huajing, he would do it immediately, and he must send Gao Yu to the city. Huang Quan can't.

"It's just that I didn't expect that His Highness, who had always opposed me to kill Gao Yu, would stand by my side." Pang Song smiled and looked at Sikong Xu, "Why did Your Highness suddenly change his mind?"

"It's nothing, I just feel that it's good to teach those who don't know how to flatter you a little." Sikong Xu replied with a light smile, "Now that Gao Yu has been eliminated, please make plans for the next thing. For good."

"Naturally, the eldest prince seems to have fallen out of favor now, not to mention that he looked down on my Pang family before, and I don't bother to stick to his cold ass anymore. Now that I stand on the same front with the Fourth Highness, I must do everything For His Highness's consideration." Pang Song filled the wine for the two of them again, "Now your concubine is gaining the favor of the Emperor, Your Highness, you have done a good job in escorting, wait for an appropriate time to change Ning Guogong's position, at that time , with your majesty, the new Ningguo Duke and veteran ministers as the backing, His Highness will no longer have to worry about the future, even if someone wants to jump out and sing against us, they have to weigh Gao Yu's fate today." After finishing speaking, Pang Song seemed to see Sikong Xu gaining power After seeing his bright future, he couldn't help laughing out loud.

But at this moment, the door of the study was pushed open, and the housekeeper stood outside with an ugly face, his lips trembling, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't say it.

"What's the matter?" Pang Song was obviously dissatisfied with the sudden interruption from the housekeeper, "Didn't you see that I'm meeting a guest!"

"Master..." The steward's voice seemed to be about to cry, "The back door... outside the back door..."

Pang Song's eyes froze, and his intuition told him that something bad should have happened.

When he followed the butler to the back door in a hurry, his eyes widened because of the large amount of blood on the porch. Two servants had already cleaned the ground under the orders of the butler, but it was probably the first time they had seen so many blood stains. Not only did their hands tremble while cleaning, some even squatted aside and began to vomit.

"What's going on here!" Amidst Pang Song's questioning voice, the butler tremblingly pointed to the firewood room not far from the back door, "Those things... were left outside the back door, little ones... little ones Afraid of being seen by others, he moved into the firewood shed, and... there was one alive..."

But before he finished talking with the butler, Pang Song had already strode open the door of the firewood room, and at a glance he saw a man lying on the ground covered in blood.

Although the man's face was smeared with blood, Pang Song recognized it at a glance. He was the leader of the group of assassins he sent to Jie Gaoyu.

The strong smell of blood pushed Pang Songxun half a step back, and Sikong Xu, who followed closely, was also shocked by this scene.

"Adults... small... small ones..." The man lying on the ground finally opened his mouth when he saw Gao Yu, and grumbled in a hoarse voice: "There are a few... unidentified guys... small ones We are not opponents..."

"Why are you the only one? Where are the others? Where's Gao Yu?" Pang Song was obviously more concerned about Gao Yu's life and death. He covered his mouth and nose and asked, "Have you finished him yet?"

"Gao Yu was taken away by those people...others...others..." After the man finished speaking the last sentence, he suddenly seemed to be unable to carry out his breath, his throat twitched a few times, and he swallowed Annoyed.

"Trash!" Gao Yu obviously didn't want to care about the man's life and death, he glanced at a big bulging bag beside the man, and asked again: "What is that?"

"It's inside..." Seeing the cloth bag, the steward's already trembling body trembled even more, "Those dirty things may stain the master's eyes, so the master should go back and rest, and let the younger ones take care of it." .”

But before the housekeeper finished speaking, Pang Song stepped forward and kicked the cloth bag away.

Following the unraveling of the cloth bag, six or seven round things rolled out of it and scattered all over the ground. One of them just rolled to Gao Yu's feet. sit on the floor.

And Sikong Xu, who was behind, also had a frightened expression on his face, and took several steps back.

The things that rolled all over the ground turned out to be heads one by one, all the heads of the assassins they sent out!