bastard returns

After Sikong Xu returned to Beijing, he immediately entered the palace without stopping. Originally, he was full of hope to persuade the emperor that those mysterious statements should not be believed, but he underestimated the extent of the emperor's anger. I can't even say a word to defend myself.

It is also true that he underestimated the losses of the three states in the southeast, not to mention the fertile fields with no harvest. With the rampant disasters, thieves and bandits everywhere. It also lost more than half of the money.

This is what really touched the emperor's heart.

Whether the tax money can be collected in full is the lifeblood of a country. Only with money can there be military pay. If the treasury is short of money, it can immediately push a country into a precarious situation. Seeing that the tax money is so low, the emperor is naturally angry, but natural disasters He couldn't scold God for such a matter, so he was so rude to Sikong Xu who had recited the name of the Lone Star of Heavenly Fiend.

Of course, if there is scolding, there must be punishment. Fortunately, the emperor is angry and angry, and he also understands that relying on such mysterious and mysterious things, he can't clearly punish Si Kongxu for what to do, so he has to order him to stay in the mansion in peace and think about his crimes. , praying for the common people, not allowed to go out, tantamount to putting him under house arrest, and confiscated most of his property by the way, saying that it was going to be used for disaster relief in the disaster area.

It's fine to be under house arrest. Sikong Xu has been under house arrest so many times since he was a child, so he doesn't have much fear of this kind of punishment, but the emperor took away so much money from him at once, which still makes him itch with hatred.

If it wasn't for him to have another hidden property, I'm afraid he should vomit blood.

Of course, during the time when the emperor conceded the crime, Si Kongxu also contacted some officials who had some friendship with the court, and wanted these people to speak for him in the court. What Sikong Xu cares about is not the guilt he bears. , but concerned about whether he would fall out of favor with the emperor because of this incident.

He was not valued by the emperor since he was a child, but as a prince, he has been released to Jiangzhou. After many years of waste, he went back to Huajing. You are so useless, and you must never change back to the previous situation.

It's a pity that all the important ministers in the court who can talk are not close to him, the prince who is not very favored, and those who are close to him but of low status can't talk. As for Pang Songda, who has been fighting with him, he is completely closed. Damen only complained about his illness to the outside world, and kept his ears to nothing, as if he didn't want to care about Sikong Xu's life or death at all.

Regarding Pang Song's gesture, even if Si Kongxu scolded his throat secretly, there was nothing he could do. Who let her daughter die by his own hands, and seeing that Pang Song refused to help, Si Kongxu also made up his mind , When the emperor calmed down, he was going to find another person in the court to rely on each other, and then he would have the good fruit of the Pang family.

****

On the western outskirts of the city where most people live, there is also the poorest place in Huajing, which is commonly known as a slum.

It used to be a gathering place for homeless people, because the smog all day long really affected the appearance of the city, so Jing Zhaoyin led people to clean it up several times, but those homeless and rich people were very good at guerrilla warfare. When they came, they scattered and hid where they couldn't find them. They stayed in the nest for a day, and when the officials left, they continued to come back and do their own way.

Their actions caused Jing Zhaoyin a big headache. After a few times, Jing Zhaoyin disliked the trouble, and the location there was indeed very marginal. Gradually, Jing Zhaoyin simply ignored it, and because of this, More and more homeless people gathered in that place, not only homeless people, but also some residents who used to live in the city. Later, some accidents occurred in their homes and they had nowhere to go. They all gathered here. The originally desolate barren land was gradually built up. One after another shacks and simple houses were built, and gradually evolved into slums.

The weather has been bad in the past few days, and it has been cloudy and rainy since autumn. Although it is not heavy rain, and there is no flood, but such gloomy weather will make people feel bad after a long time. In Zhou Shi's opinion, such weather, Most of the children of ordinary people would stay in the house, drink a cup of warm ginger tea to dispel dampness, read two books, play two games of chess, instead of running here to be dirty and messy like their own young master. The slums in the city come to "drop in".

From the time they stepped into the border of this slum until now, aside from the ragged people on the side of the road who stared at them with malicious and wretched eyes, they ran into three people just for stealing. Sibo, but obviously those who are used to stealing can't get the slightest advantage in front of Zhou Shi and Ning Yuan who have kung fu, they are often caught straight before they make a move, and Zhou Shi will not be polite to such people, he will be ruthless. He will only be let go after a lesson. After several times of killing chickens and monkeys like this, the well-informed thieves seem to know that the pair of masters and servants are not easy to provoke, so they don't come up to seek bad luck. Thoughtful people probably can only think about it in their hearts. If they don't have the guts to actually do something, they may be surprised that this place is usually not even set foot by ordinary people. This young master who is dressed like a man Could it be that you are full and full, so what are you doing here?

"Master, I see that the rain is getting heavier and heavier, and the place is so messy. I'm afraid there is no one the young master is looking for. Maybe it's because Brother Huyan's subordinates made a mistake." Zhou Shi saw that Ning Yuan still had Wanting to go deeper, he couldn't help persuading: "Maybe you go back first, young master, and leave the rest to me."

"You don't know that person, so tell me how to give it to you." Ning Yuan glanced back at him, and said, "Huyan's subordinates are not sure if what they saw is the person I'm looking for, so I have to come here in person." , let’s search again, this place is not big, it should take half an hour to search around.”

Zhou Shi pursed his lips, didn't say any more, just held an umbrella for Ning Yuan honestly, and continued to walk forward slowly with him.

As Ning Yuan walked all the way, he never took his eyes off the various low-rise shacks and the eyes of the passing residents. Most of the residents were dressed in rags, and the women sat on the side of the road with their children, looking at them with shrunken eyes. And the man either turned a blind eye to them, or looked greedily at the two or three jade pendants and ornaments on Ning Yuan's body, and occasionally ran into a few people who were eating, and they ate black pancakes Looking at the disgusting soup, but seeing those people gobbling up so hungry, it's a bit unbearable.

"The imperial court will have some pensions for the poor people in the city, and some high-ranking officials and nobles will occasionally set up food stalls in their homes, but most of the people here have no household registration, and many of them have done stealthy business, so they dare not expose it to others , so life has been very difficult, Jing Zhaoyin wanted to clean up this place, but he was also afraid that such a dirty environment would cause an outbreak of epidemics, and then affect the entire capital, but after several attempts without success, he sent someone to clean up the place. Everyone is guarded, but anyone who is sick is not allowed to go out." Zhou Shi looked at Ning Yuan with some pity, and couldn't help saying what he knew.

Ning Yuan nodded and took back his emotions. Just now he saw those poor women with children, and originally wanted to give them some money, but he had limited money. There are so many people here, it is impossible for everyone to share. Secondly, even if he gave it, he would surely be snatched away, and the orphans and widows were powerless to resist, so they simply dismissed this idea.

There are too many poor people in the world, and he can't take care of them, and he is here today to do business, not to be a Bodhisattva.

After walking for a while, suddenly there was a burst of kicking and cursing in front of him.

"Damn! Dare to steal from me! Beat me hard! Beat me to death!"

"This kid is really tired of work. At the beginning, our brothers saw him as an orphan and widowed mother, and reluctantly let him settle down here. Who would have thought that this kid would be so ignorant and move his wrong thoughts on us. It's really alive." Tired!"

"Big Brothers... Big Brothers... I beg you, my mother is seriously ill, she is waiting for this money to save her life... I beg you..."

"Damn! Your mother is seriously ill, it's none of my business. I still want to keep the money to buy my brothers a drink tonight! Why don't I beat you to death now, and when your mother dies, you can continue to do your best on Huangquan Road. Your filial piety will not let your mother go on the road alone!"

"You...you..."

"Hey, you still dare to wait for me! I'm really tired of work!"

"Ah... please... please... forgive me... forgive me..."

Ning Yuan pricked up his ears and listened for a moment, and felt that the voice was familiar, he hurriedly stepped forward, only to see clearly when he got close, a group of thick and rough men in ragged clothes were surrounding a thin man and couldn't stop punching and kicking him. Kicking, the man begged for mercy and howled, as if he had no ability to fight back.

Ning Yuan glanced at Zhou Shi, Zhou Shi understood, and shouted: "Stop!"

Those big men are probably the local snakes here, they never imagined that someone in this area would have the courage to tell them to stop, they were stunned, and then they all stopped, turned around, and looked at Zhou Shi and Ning Yuan with gloomy eyes.

When one of the tallest people, who looked like the leader, saw that Ning Yuan was clearly not a resident of this place, he immediately rolled his eyes, showed a slightly teasing expression, and shouted in a vulgar tone: "Where is the little boy from?" How dare you tell me to stop in my uncle’s place, you’re so courageous!” After speaking, his eyes fell on the jade tube Ning Yuan used to bind his hair and the jade pendant hanging from his belt, and continued: “Look at you! The material of a suit of clothes is probably not very valuable, but those two pieces of jade are not bad. If you honor the two pieces of jade to my uncle, I will forgive you this time, or my uncle will be ruined. Interest, whether it is a broken arm or a broken foot, you choose yourself!"

"What a big tone." Threatened by the big man, Ning Yuan didn't show the slightest timidity, but smiled and said: "Look at you, you are considered a person of status here?"

"That's natural. Who here doesn't know the name of Uncle Cao, Hunjiang Longcao Lin in the west of my city!" The big man hammered his chest twice hard, and then spat at his feet, "Boy, stop talking nonsense!" , hand over the things quickly, don't make me unhappy, or be careful of your life!"

"Go and deal with it, don't hold back against such domineering people." Ning Yuan patted Zhou Shi on the shoulder, Zhou Shi nodded, and immediately strode forward.

This Cao Lin is indeed the tyrant in this slum. Relying on his natural strength and strength, he entangled a group of homeless men and ruled the slum in this slum. No one dared to disobey him. Seeing that Ning Yuan was threatened by him in this way, not only did he remain indifferent, but instead sent out a man who looked like a servant beside him, who seemed to want to do something, he couldn't help being even more furious.

Zhou Shi was born heroic and tall, and he can be regarded as Kong Wu's powerful type among ordinary people, but his physique is still worse than Cao Lin's. Naturally, Cao Lin doesn't take people seriously. Ning Yuan snatched all the valuables from Ning Yuan's body, and then went outside to find the cheapest brothel to have a good time, snorted coldly, and said to do it, and a few men around him who looked like entourage immediately rushed up with strange screams. Like beating that thin man violently, Zhou Shi was pressed to the ground and the Fa rectified on the spot.

It's a pity that Zhou Shi has practiced martial arts for many years, and his internal skills are also profound. How could he look down on these homeless men who can only show their physical strength? Surrounded by wailing, no one could stand up.

"You... who are you..." Cao Lin, who was full of confidence, was stunned by this scene, as if he realized now that the two masters and servants in front of him cannot be provoked, and he has already stepped back and planned to run away , Zhou Shi did not speak, but suddenly made a movement to rush forward. Cao Lin was startled, screamed strangely, turned around and ran without looking back, and disappeared after a while.

"It's really a straw bag." Zhou Shi pouted without cutting his lips, shaking the ashes on his sleeves, and Ning Yuan also stepped forward at this time, walked up to the thin man who was lying on the ground and was still sobbing, and looked down at him from a height. Looking at him, he said, "Can you stand up?"

The man was trembling all over, as if he hadn't realized that the people besieging him had disappeared. After a while, he took off the arm protecting his head and slowly opened his eyes.

But when his eyes fell on Ning Yuan's face, he immediately showed an expression about to cry, as if he was terribly frightened.

"Brother Qi and I really haven't seen each other for a long time." Ning Yuan smiled, "Actually, I had planned to talk to Brother Qi for a long time, but for some reason, I couldn't find any news about Brother Qi in Beijing. I don't want you to be here, and it seems that your life is not very good..."

"You...you..." The man seemed to be terrified, and he gasped for a long time before he managed to say a word, "Did you come here specially to seek revenge on me..."

Ning Yuan avoided answering, and instead said: "It seems that Brother Qi lives near here. After all, it's inappropriate for us to talk in the rain. You might as well invite me to your home for a while."

The man looked at Ning Yuan in fear, then at Zhou Shi who was following closely, and the people lying all around howling together. He trembled all over, knowing that he had no way to refuse, so he could only nod silently.

This man whom Ning Yuan calls "Brother Qi" is none other than Qi Muyun, Ning Yuan's old acquaintance in the Confucian Academy.

Of course, saying it was an old acquaintance is actually a bit biased, because Ning Yuan was not familiar with him before. If Gao Yu hadn't been framed, Ning Yuan might not have had any contact with Qi Muyun at all.

Ning Yuan will never forget that before the beginning of the Spring Festival, he lent Qi Muyun a fine pen out of good intentions, but in the end it was used as evidence to frame his teacher Gao Yu. After that, Ning Yuan had several times I thought about asking Qi Muyun to find out, but he seemed to have evaporated and never appeared in Huajing again.

Ning Yuan originally thought that with Sikong Xu or Pang Song's disposition, a person like him with no background and no power to protect himself would have been silenced in order to keep the secret, but now, after so long, he actually You will get the news that Qi Muyun is hiding in the slums.

So he found it.

This is a shack that couldn't be smaller. Ning Yuan estimated that it was only a quarter of the size of his bedroom. A few wooden sticks fixed with scrap iron nails and straw that could barely shelter the wind and rain supported it. I entered this small world, the place was not big, and was separated by a curtain between the inside and the outside, and a mattress was spread in the room, and a white-haired old woman slept. The old woman was skinny and looked like she was suffering from chronic illness. The three of them sat in the outer room, Qi Muyun was still very absent-minded, did he turn around to look at the condition of the old lady.

"You... drink some water..." Qi Muyun tremblingly pushed a white porcelain bowl with missing corners in front of Ning Yuan, and said shyly, "I will leave the firewood here for my mother to make medicine... now there is only cold water It's..."

Ning Yuan lowered his eyes to look at the layer of dirt inside the white porcelain bowl, but didn't reach out.

Qi Muyun seemed to have seen Ning Yuan's thoughts, and showed a smile that was uglier than crying, "If you think it's dirty... don't drink it, there really is nothing good..." As he said, he kept shaking his hands Pulling the corner of his clothes, like a child who has made a mistake and is waiting to be punished by an adult.

At this time, Ning Yuan noticed Qi Muyun's attire. He seemed to be wearing the long gown that the Confucian Academy used to distribute to every candidate, but it was much dirty and old, and the original color could not be seen at all. The place was also patched with other accidents, so it was not at all obvious that the clothes were long gowns for scholars, but they were similar to those worn by homeless people everywhere outside.

"After all, he is also a Juren whose name is on the record, why is he living so uselessly." Ning Yuan couldn't help shaking his head.

Qi Muyun naturally heard Ning Yuan's words, his face turned pale, but he seemed to have calmed down because of this, touched his nose, and laughed at himself, "You, look at me, how can I be called a person... But He is the scum among scholars..."

"If you can help them frame the teacher, they should have promised you a lot of money. Why did you end up in this situation?" Ning Yuan didn't intend to talk around the corner at all, and went straight to the point.

"I knew, if it wasn't for this, how would you have found me?" Qi Muyun wiped his face, then suddenly bowed down to Ning Yuan, his head firmly pressed against the ground, "I used to be the one who lost my heartbeat, To help them abuse others for petty profit, you have to blame yourself for falling into this situation, you want to beat or kill, I will accept any kind of revenge, but my mother..." Qi Muyun raised his face at this point , her face was covered with tears, "Please help my mother, she is getting sicker and worse, but she has no money for treatment, I don't know who to ask, now that you are here, I will beg You, one person does things and one person is responsible, my mother is innocent, it is really..."

Ning Yuan didn't go to help him, but calmly said: "What happened to you and why you hid here, I'm really curious, before you talk about other things, you might as well tell me this first Listen."

Qi Muyun nodded, wiped away his tears, and then spoke in detail.

When Zhang Wei and others found him and asked him to cooperate with acting in order to frame Ning Yuan and Gao Yu, Qi Muyun still wondered if he heard it wrong, so he refused repeatedly.He is introverted and timid, so how dare he get involved in such a thing, but Zhang Wei and the others took a fancy to Qi Muyun's introverted and honest characteristics, and decided that Ning Yuan could relax his vigilance if he came forward. If it doesn't work the first time, I'll find him three times, and keep showing him affection and reason. Over time, even though Qi Muyun is timid, he is still persuaded, because the conditions offered by the other party are really objective.

He has been in Beijing for several years, but he has been unable to pass the Jinshi examination and cannot become an official, and his mother spends a lot of money on medical treatment in Beijing. Life is already tight, but according to the promises of those people, after things are done, Not only did he have a lot of money to take, he didn't even need to participate in Chunwei, but directly became an official under the recommendation of Pang Song, and he also stated that as Pang Song was promoted by the Ministry of Education, arranging an official position for a Juren was a matter of waving his hands .

Thinking that if he became an official and had a considerable monthly salary, he would not only be able to treat his mother's illness, but also enable her to live a good life, and he would also be able to honor his ancestors and family, not to mention a lot of money, so in After a fierce ideological struggle, he finally agreed.

So there was the "stealing pen drama" performed by Qi Muyun and Zhang Wei outside the examination room before Chun Wei, and because Qi Muyun has always given people an honest character, it really made Ning Yuan relax his vigilance, so that in the end it made their tricks He succeeded, and succeeded in pulling Gao Yu off the horse, so that Pang Song could manipulate Zhongshu Province to take over the Imperial Academy.

After the matter was completed, Pang Song and the others really gave Qi Muyun a lot of money as they had promised before, and promoted him to the Zhongshu Province, and gave him a job as a seventh-rank Zhongshu door attendant.

Although he is only seventh-rank, he is more or less an official. He even allocated a special house for him, which really made Qi Muyun happy for a while, and the guilt of framing others was also relieved. He happily brought his mother to move in. new house.

But soon, before his excitement was over, the nightmare began.