Yangyue

On the first night on the way back, the group stayed in an inn in the city.

Late at night, Henry Zhang sat alone in the inn room, with a lamp on the table, and he was wiping his sword carefully with a knife and silk.

A figure slowly appeared outside the door of the room, knocked lightly on the door, Henry Zhang replied lightly "enter", a guard walked into the room, it was Bai Yu who came.

Bai Yu stepped forward, knelt down on one knee, cupped his fists and nodded, "My lord, my subordinates have something to report."

"What's the matter?"

"Yes..." Bai Yu hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "It's about Lord Hou."

Henry Zhang raised his eyes, put the sword by his side, and said, "Say."

Bai Yu: "On Sanfeng Mountain that day, when my colleagues and I were poisoned and unconscious in the poisonous fog, I woke up for a moment and suddenly heard a strange sound. , I accidentally heard Hou Ye in the sedan chair unfolding his fan. The sound of that fan... seems to be the sound I heard in the poisonous fog at that time."

Henry Zhang frowned slightly: "The sound of Lord Hou's fan?"

"The subordinates are not quite sure." Bai Yu replied, "At that time, the mind was dizzy, the poisonous fog would cause hallucinations, maybe it was just a wrong hearing... But the subordinates dare not make their own opinions, so I asked the cabinet Lord Lord, report."

Henry Zhang was silent for a moment, he remembered that when he returned to the outside of the village, Lord Hou was also unconscious.

Henry Zhang: "I see, step back."

"Yes."

Bai Yu walked out of Henry Zhang's room, and gently closed the door.What he didn't know was that in another room separated from Henry Zhang by a wall, Qi Zhu was sitting on the window frame, drinking tea and admiring the moon.

Qi Zhu didn't expect that his accidental whim not only rewarded the moon, but also got an unexpected harvest.

He didn't intend to eavesdrop, if he wanted to blame it, he could only blame him for his keen senses and his extraordinary hearing. Through a thin wall and a window, all the words of Henry Zhang and Bai Yu fell into his ears.

It was late June when everyone arrived in the capital.It took more than five months for Qi Zhu to go back and forth, and even though he sent a letter back to the mansion halfway, everyone in the mansion still looked forward to his return with trepidation.

After Qi Zhu returned safely, everyone in the Hou Mansion breathed a sigh of relief.The road was far away, and the south was extremely humid. The housekeepers were afraid that Qi Zhu would be overworked, so they hurriedly invited a doctor to take care of Qi Zhu, and even invited a master to come to the house to practice exorcising evil spirits.

Qi Zhu didn't want to eat those things at first, people who practice martial arts are full of energy and blood, and if they eat these nourishing things, they will become more and more irritable.But helplessly, the housekeeper tried his best to persuade him. If he didn't eat, Xihe, the big maid beside him, would cry with a group of young maids, forcing him to agree.

On the second day after returning home, Qi Zhu went to court.

Xiao Yangyue wore a long black dress sprinkled with golden scales, with jasper carved jade pendants hanging on the skirt, and her two strands of long hair were pulled up by burnt blue inlaid agate flowers, and she was full of gorgeous style.

Xu Shi hadn't dressed like this for a few months, but now that he finally returned to the capital, Henry Zhang was free from restraint.Before the emperor came, all the officials in the court could only hear the jewels on Henry Zhangyue's hair accessories shaking, so they could only keep silent.

After the emperor arrived, he went to the court as usual. After all the civil and military officials had reported the morning affairs, the eunuch standing by the side took out an imperial decree and shouted loudly: "Qi Zhu, the chancellor of Dali Temple, will do his best to re-investigate the Southwest kidnapping case in the first month. You are wise and reasonable, and you have made great contributions to helping the case come to light. You should be rewarded to show your merit. Now you have been promoted to be the Shaoqing of Dali Temple, and you will be rewarded with ten boxes of gold, silver, white jade and precious tonics, and one horse paddock in the eastern suburbs. This is your honor."

Qi Zhu took a step forward to receive the order: "The minister Qi Zhu took the order, thank the emperor for his kindness, long live the emperor."

The eunuch took out another imperial decree from a tray inlaid with gold and rust dragon patterns, and shouted: "Xiao Yangyue, the owner of the Duckweed Pavilion, made a contribution to the re-investigation of the Southwest kidnapping case in the first month, and rewarded five boxes of coral jewelry pieces, gold and silver hairpins, and four seasons. There are five brocades embroidered with hundreds of flowers, each of which is light, and this is yours."

Xiao Yangyue: "The minister leads the decree, thank the emperor for his kindness."

Qi Zhu took a closer look at the imperial edicts and rewards of the two of them, but felt that the emperor did have ulterior motives.

The emperor's favoritism towards the court and military generals has been criticized by all the officials, one letter after another every day.This time, the emperor rewarded Qi Zhu first, not only did the imperial decree draw up more carefully, one was for "making great contributions" and the other was for "contributing meritorious service"; Admire some jewelry and brocades, but on the bright side, he really looks more appreciative of Qi Zhu.

If you have done enough work on the surface, the people below naturally have nothing to say.

However, these things rewarding Henry Zhang may be more attractive to Henry Zhang than gold and silver.

After coming down to the court, there was an endless stream of ministers who came to congratulate Qi Zhu on his promotion. Qi Zhu greeted him with a smile. Just after greeting with the officials, the eunuch Zhou, the former imperial eunuch beside the emperor, came to him and said, "Your Majesty! , the emperor has ordered you to go to the imperial study."

After this court session, there were still questions in private, which Qi Zhu expected.He replied with a smile, then followed Eunuch Zhou into the palace sedan chair that had been prepared, and headed for the imperial study.

After arriving at the imperial study, Henry Zhang was already waiting by the door, he ordered the people outside to guard the door of the study, and just like last time, he closed the door and stood by the door holding a sword.

The emperor sat behind the desk, and after Qi Zhu saluted, the emperor said: "Qi Aiqing is tired during this trip. I heard that the Hou Fu has hired many doctors for Qi Aiqing to recuperate her body. However, due to the humidity in the south, her health is not good. Why don't you ask the imperial doctor to prescribe it?" Fangzi."

What just happened in the mansion yesterday, does the emperor know now?

Qi Zhu's complexion did not change, and he didn't know whether the emperor really cared about his minister's body, or he didn't forget to beat him once or twice after he was promoted and received a reward, and replied: "I thank the emperor for his compassion, but the journey back is long and I'm tired, just rest for a few days , don’t bother the imperial physician.”

The emperor nodded slowly, and said again: "When will the evidence from Dali Temple be presented?"

"Going back to the emperor, it will take some time to restore the paper fragments and decipher the secret orders. I will urge you wholeheartedly and present the evidence to the emperor within ten days."

The paper fragments that Qi Zhu took away in the tunnel that Hongyue Society used to decipher the secret order were handed over to Dali Temple when he returned yesterday.The emperor immediately sent someone to Dali Temple to send a message, ordering him to decipher the secret order passed by the Hongyue Society as soon as possible.

The emperor nodded: "Qi Aiqing is safe, I am assured."

Don't worry, will you still plant eyeliner in his house?

Naturally, Qi Zhu would not air this kind of doubt.

After ordering some things about Dali Temple, the emperor was about to retire Qi Zhu, Qi Zhu said: "Your Majesty, I have one more thing to tell you. Now all the guards and guards are still imprisoned in the prison. I beg the emperor to give all the innocent soldiers innocent as soon as possible. , Restoring their positions, and delaying it again and again, frightened the hearts of the soldiers."

Xiao Yangyue stood aside and looked up at him. Lord Hou, a civil servant, advised the emperor about resuming his position as a general. Was it unintentional, or did he want to sell himself in front of the emperor who loves generals?

The emperor stared at Qi Zhu for a moment, with no expression of joy or anger: "What Qi Aiqing said is true, but the matter has not been investigated yet. Tomorrow, you and Xiao Aiqing will go to the Ministry of Criminal Justice to assist in the trial."

Qi Zhu's question not only gave himself a job, but also added something to Henry Zhang.Henry Zhang frowned and glanced at Qi Yi, who accepted the order calmly.

After Qi Zhu retired, the emperor said slowly: "Qi Qing is indeed smart, but he is too smart to be easily misled by cleverness."

Henry Zhang was silent, the emperor's heart was unpredictable, Master Hou may have indeed made a mistake in this step.

The emperor: "Xiao Aiqing, what do you think?"

Xiao Yangyue nodded, remembering what the subordinates in the pavilion had said to him that day, a few ripples appeared in his heart, and replied: "Your Majesty, please don't withdraw the people who have been placed in the Hou's mansion for the time being."

"Quite." The emperor nodded and said, "Qi Qing is not like his father, but he is a man with some brains. But if it's really just some thoughts that I like, it won't make it to the stage. You just keep watching."

"Yes."

"The queen's birthday banquet will be in five days. You should send people to strengthen the guards. The queen was frightened during the Lantern Festival family banquet. After being sleepy for the past few months, I promised her a grand birthday banquet."

"Yes."

At si o'clock on the second day, Qi Zhu came to the Criminal Department early to wait for Henry Zhang.Xiao Yangyue arrived in a short time, maybe she was going to the dirty and humid prison today, Xiao Yangyue did not wear a female skirt, but a dark purple military officer's uniform, and simply pulled her hair upright with a blue hair crown From the beginning, the saber was inserted in the belt on the side of the body, not as gorgeous or charming as usual, but with a rare rigor.

However, the appearance is there, and the clothes are not so important.

Under the guidance of the guards of the Ministry of Justice, the two entered the prison of the Ministry of Justice. It was the first time Qi Zhu came here. Although it was indeed dark and messy, it was much neater than he imagined. At least he didn't see the bloody appearance of the tortured man. horrible prisoner.

Indeed, such prisoners are mostly locked up in imperial prisons, or in the private prisons of the duckweed pavilion and the guards.

In a separate cell, a well-described person sat on a cold wooden board. He was wearing a coarse short jacket. Although the clothes were a bit old, they were not dirty, and his face was very clean.

This person is Zuo Tongzhi, Duan Rufeng, the dry gate guard who was withdrawn by the emperor after the assassination case happened.

What the emperor told them yesterday was to let the two of them come to assist the Ministry of Criminal Justice in the interrogation, but Qi Zhu didn't see any sign of intending to interrogate from Xiao Yangyue, he seemed to have a clear understanding of the current matter.

The guards of the Ministry of Punishment on the side opened and locked Duan Rufeng's cell with a key. Duan Rufeng raised his head to look at Henry Zhang and Qi Zhu, his voice was still resounding: "Duan sees Lord Hou, sees Lord Pavilion Master."

Duan Rufeng was confiscated of his guard token, and he could no longer call himself a "lower official" in front of the two of them.

Henry Zhangyue waved his hand, and the guards on the side brought a tray, on which were placed a volume of imperial decree, a set of official robes of a dry guard, and a pair of standard tokens of a dry guard.

Xiao Yangyue: "The emperor has a decree, ordering you to resume your post as the gatekeeper Zuo Tongzhi from tomorrow."

Duan Rufeng was stunned for a moment, finally got up, and knelt down to receive the imperial edict: "I accept the imperial edict, Duan Rufeng, thank you for your grace, long live your majesty."

Qi Zhu looked at Duan Rufeng with great interest, as he expected, the emperor had already made a decision on who should be kept and who should be killed, and now he and Henry Zhang are just here to sing a show.

The guards released the shackles on Duan Rufeng's hands and feet, and Duan Rufeng came out of the cell. Even though he was still wearing a coarse short jacket, his handsome face was naturally heroic, with some majesty of an official in it.

Duan Rufeng: "My lord, the colleagues of the lower officials have been imprisoned for a long time. I implore the lord to persuade the emperor to release the innocent people as soon as possible. Lord He Siwu, Lord Zhao Qian, etc. are old. I can't stand it for such a long time..."

"He Siwu has been found to have contacts with the rebellious sect, and the empress will pronounce the sentence after the birthday banquet." Xiao Yangyue interrupted, "I advise Zuo Tongzhi to say these things less, if Zuo Tongzhi can reinstate, the emperor will You trust Zuo Tongzhi, please don’t let down the emperor’s trust.”

Duan Rufeng looked surprised for a moment, as if shocked by something in Henry Zhangyue's words, his eyes were gloomy, and he stood in the dark cell without speaking for a long time.

--------------------

Hou Ye showed that he was on the first floor, and wanted the emperor and Yang Yue to think that he was on the third floor. In fact, Yang Yue thought he was on the fifth floor, but Hou Ye was actually on the eighth floor.

Small spoiler, Bai Yu and Duan Rufeng will be more important plot characters in the future, not deputy CPs