A traitor

Mei Liusheng was very puzzled when he heard the words, and asked: "Brother Su said that, what exactly do you mean?"

Su Qinglang dared to ask such a question, so he didn't intend to make false claims with him. Only when this kind of moment hits the nail on the head and cuts through the mess quickly can he ask the answer he wants.

So he continued: "I heard from others that Brother Mei beheaded his family's guards in the Wind and Rain Pavilion that day. This seems to be a little different from what Brother Mei said earlier."

"An ordinary student who is going to take the exam is accompanied by an unusual guard who kills people with fierce methods. Brother Mei's background must not be simple, right?"

Mei Liusheng was stunned for a moment, then calmed down and asked, "Brother Su is talking about Chengying?"

That young man that day, Su Qinglang actually noticed, was only fourteen or fifteen years old, but his whole body was full of hostility.

Different from other guards, he looked more like a dead soldier, with a strange coldness, as if he only had his son in his eyes.

As for Mei Liusheng, although he was also a martial artist, his temperament seemed much gentler and calmer because of his years of studying.

The master and servant, one is like the warm morning sun in the spring breeze, and the other is like the solid ice in the abyss of hell.

It's just that that day, after drinking some wine, he put his mind on Mei Liusheng again, and didn't pay much attention to that young man.

I also heard Mei Liusheng say: "Chengying was slaughtered by bandits in the village when she was young, and she has been living in hatred, so her temperament is inevitably surly. Back then, she was successful in martial arts. Although she found revenge from the bandits, she was seriously injured. I rescued him by accident, and with gratitude in my heart, I have always followed by my side, paying extra attention to my safety..."

"As for the matter of the Wind and Rain Pavilion that day..."

He lowered his head with a look of shame on his face: "Brother Su, please forgive me, because on the way to the imperial city to take the exam, I encountered many thieves with malicious intentions, so I saw those people hiding in the peach forest that day. Because of being sneaky, Chengying will misunderstand, thinking that those gangsters are chasing after him, unexpectedly, those people are Brother Su's friends..."

After a pause, he continued: "When I saw Brother Su, a scholar, I was afraid I couldn't bear the shock, so I had no choice but to lie to Brother Su. Now that I know the reason for this, everything is our negligence, and I am willing to take responsibility. This is the end The government office surrendered itself."

According to the law of the imperial court, if you encounter a thief who robbed your house, it is not a crime to kill him in public, so it depends on what the Prime Minister has to say about Mei Liusheng's matter.

That day Qin Huan sent people to follow him, it was not a glorious thing for the Xiangfu, if there were any bad rumors spread because of this, it would be even more harmless than the gain.

He knew Prime Minister Qin very well. In his eyes, the lives of four or five guards were as humble as ants on the ground compared with his own son's reputation.

And with Qin Huan's behavior style, Qin Jian probably didn't know about this matter, it was related to the face of the prime minister's mansion, even if they made a fuss with the mansion, they probably wouldn't admit it.

Looking at Mei Liusheng's sincere expression, he finally said: "Forget it, brother Mei made a mistake on purpose, and besides, my friend didn't pursue it, so let's forget about it."

Holding the folding fan behind his back, he cupped his hands and said, "I misunderstood Brother Mei just now, and I ask Brother Mei to forgive me for my disrespectful words."

Mei Liusheng smiled, lowered his head and replied, "I was the one who was rude first, and it's only natural that Brother Su had this misunderstanding. If I want to apologize, I should apologize to Brother Su."

The two turned around and walked down the steps together, Mei Liusheng saw a carriage parked not far away, it should be here to pick up Su Qinglang.

Afraid that he would abandon himself and go somewhere else like last time, so he turned his head and asked him: "It's past noon now, it's time to eat, I wonder if Brother Su will have something to do later, I still have something to do." I owe Brother Su a good meal..."

Su Qinglang shook his head, said with a smile: "I'm going to enter the palace later, so I won't have dinner with you, just remember this meal, one day, I will ask for it."

Mei Liusheng also smiled, and said: "It's a pity that the affairs of the court are busy, otherwise we can spend more time with Brother Su."

Su Qinglang thought to himself, when you have time, you went to Pei Yan's place, but now you don't have time, it's because the imperial court is busy.

Although he was slandering in his heart, he still made a face of not knowing how regretful he was, and told Mei Liusheng that we would meet again next time, but the two didn't stop and bid farewell. live.

Looking at Mei Liusheng, he asked, "When I was looking for you a few days ago, I happened to meet Cai Jun from our Rites Department. You were not at the inn at the time. I wonder if you have seen him in the past few days?"

Mei Liusheng was stunned for a moment, then nodded, and said: "Master Cai came again yesterday, and I have already seen you."

After a pause, he said apologetically: "I knew I should stay at the inn that day, otherwise I would not miss Brother Su's agreement, and I would not let Mr. Cai make a trip in vain."

Today's No. [-] pick, three new graduates came to pay a visit. For the Ministry of Rites, it is also a very important matter.

That's why even Su Qinglang, the Shangshu lord who was often missing and never seen, came to the Ministry of Rites on purpose.

Moreover, in order to express their respect for their own lord Shangshu and their care for the younger generations, all other officials from the Ministry of Rites were also present, but Cai Jun was the only one missing.

So Mei Liusheng was a little puzzled, and asked: "It's just today, in the courtyard of the Ministry of Rites, why haven't you seen Mrs. Cai?"

Hearing this, Su Qinglang's expression was a bit complicated, and he pulled his lips, feeling very uncomfortable.

He replied: "I didn't see you when I went to the inn that day. I happened to meet Cai Jun, so I drank some wine with him. I didn't expect this guy to drink so badly. He fell ill when he returned to the mansion. He has been asking for leave for the past few days. When will it recover."

Among the six departments, the existence of the Ministry of Rites can be regarded as the interpersonal hub of the imperial court. The most frequent thing to do is to hold banquets and welcome foreign guests.

However, their Minister of Rituals, the second-in-command in the dignified department, is a soft-footed shrimp. He will get drunk when he gets drunk, and he will fall asleep when he is drunk. He lies on the table like a dead pig and cannot wake up.

This kind of thing has happened four or five times, and every time his colleagues have to hold him up and carry him back, it's a complete embarrassment to his boss.

Mei Liusheng nodded, smiled again, and said, "No wonder he looked a bit uneasy when I saw him yesterday, and he was carried to the inn by servants..."

When Su Qinglang heard the words, he couldn't help being deeply moved, this Cai Jun, who was so ill, still didn't forget the emperor's order, persisted even though he was sick, and told the news himself.

Although it's a bit embarrassing at the wine table, but this kind of spirit, this kind of courage, is really a model of their etiquette department. It's so good that he can have such a subordinate...

He said again: "Now that Cai Jun is ill, I don't know how the emperor will deal with Du Qingyun's case. Maybe there will be another person in a few days."

Mei Liusheng was taken aback when he heard this, obviously he didn't expect that Su Qinglang would know about it, after all, the emperor bypassed him earlier and directly summoned Cai Jun, Minister of Rites, because he didn't want him to know.

What's more, this matter is only a secret order, and it hasn't been made public yet. Even the officials of the Ministry of Punishment don't know about it yet.

He also thought of what he said just now, when he met Cai Jun that day and drank some wine with Cai Jun, he knew it in his heart.

So he said with some embarrassment: "I am also responsible for this case. As for whether to change or not, it depends on the emperor's final decision."

Su Qinglang raised the topic earlier just to inquire about this matter, now seeing that Mei Liusheng did not evade, he should seize this opportunity to ask.

"The matter of minerals is intricate and involves a lot of people. Your majesty has given you a difficult problem..."

Mei Liusheng hummed, nodded and said, "I have briefly reviewed this case, and it is indeed a bit tricky."

After speaking, he looked at Su Qinglang and said, "I have just entered the officialdom, and many things are still unclear. I'm afraid that when the time comes, I will have to bother Brother Su."

After testing the depth and attitude, Su Qinglang was satisfied. This Mei Liusheng was also straightforward in his actions. He was able to say these words, which showed that he had noticed the things that should be paid attention to in this case. He also heard him say that Su Qinglang was even more eager to get involved in something.

After all, with the addition of Cai Jun, even if he does not participate in the trial process of this case, he has absolute control over the overall situation.

Although he still couldn't figure out what the old emperor meant, since he chose to bypass him, he didn't want him to directly participate in this matter, so he had to do it secretly.

So he said happily: "Okay, if you encounter trouble, just say hello, I'm here, no one would dare to trouble you if you think about it."

Thinking of Pei Yan's matter, Su Qinglang was still a little worried, so he deliberately tried to say: "However, with Mr. Pei making the decision, Brother Mei actually doesn't have to worry."

Mei Liusheng looked at Su Qinglang and realized the deep meaning in his words. After a while, he slowly said: "Master Pei wanted to betroth my niece to me that day."

Hearing this, Su Qinglang couldn't help but shook her head and clicked her tongue, that niece of Mr. Pei's family, with a hulking back and a face like a vegetable bowl, was even more powerful than Li Saisai.

When he was a child, he once slapped him into the water and nearly drowned him. Pei Yan used her as a bargaining chip to attract Mei Liusheng. He really didn't know whether it was a favor or a punishment.

Xiang Meiliusheng said: "Don't agree, that girl from Pei Yan's family is not as good-looking as Lu Xun."

Mei Liusheng smiled and said: "I have never met Miss Pei, but it is better to be more cautious in matters of marriage, so I declined Master Pei's kindness that day."

Su Qinglang sized up Mei Liusheng, quite approvingly, paused, and then deliberately asked: "Brother Mei is worth a hundred times now, I heard that even the Right Prime Minister has thrown Gao Zhier at you?"

Mei Liusheng didn't know that the rich gift that day was given by Su Qinglang, so he shook his head and replied: "What a tall branch, it's just that the prime minister loves the younger generation, but it's a pity that it is too expensive, I dare not accept it, so I will withdraw back."

Su Qinglang snorted, raised his eyebrows and said: "Brother Mei, you know that the imperial court is roughly divided into two factions, one is the left minister Pei Yan, and the other is the right minister Qin Jian. Now that you reject them, you have offended both of them at the same time. Since you don't choose either side, then, who do you choose?"

Mei Liusheng fell into silence. Under the willow tree, a gust of wind blew by and lifted his hair.

After a while, he raised his head, stared at Su Qinglang, and replied seriously: "Brother Su, I want to choose you."