next day
Bai Ji trotted into the house and immediately saw Fang Xu sitting at the table dressing up. He called out in a low voice, "Madam."
Fang Xu looked sideways and looked at her with some curiosity, "I haven't seen you this morning. Where did you go crazy?"
"My slave went to Dongshi to buy sandalwood. I accidentally overheard the common people talking about it." Bai Ji put the sandalwood on the table and said softly, "The decree came from above. Master Shen was promoted to the rank of minister, and Mr. Lian was promoted to minister." I got a lot of rare treasures and fields.”
Fang Xu took a sip of tea and looked calm, "They have made meritorious service, and it is normal to receive a reward."
Bai Ji nodded, with a bit of indignation on his face, "Having said that, I still feel aggrieved for Master Shen and others, and I have to do my best, but in the end I have to be investigated. Master Shen can still keep his composure, but even Young Master I lost my temper."
Fang Xu chuckled helplessly and whispered, "Lian Yan is straight-tempered and has a bad temper. He doesn't have many evil intentions. He sincerely serves his superiors but is suspected. It would be strange if he is not in a hurry."
Fang Xu gently put the tea cup in his hand on the table and said slowly, "Now the treasury is empty. Xie Li once mentioned that there was no money to suppress the disaster in some counties. The new emperor also pointed to these gold mines to bring them back to life. The gold mines are in His eyelids were robbed, and he lost his sense of proportion for a moment.”
"It's just that... acting impulsively will definitely chill the hearts of loyal ministers."
Bai Ji sighed and immediately straightened his expression, "I just met Uncle Zuo in the front yard. He asked me to tell my wife that he has received news that people from the Wanhua Club will arrive in the capital today."
Fang Xu's eyes flashed, and the corners of his lips raised slightly, "It's finally here, a little later than I expected."
"What do you need to prepare, Madam?" Bai Ji looked nervous and asked in a lowered voice, "If the people from Chunjiangxing are no match for them..."
"Won't."
Before Fang Xu could speak, a voice sounded from the beams, the tone was stiff and as cold as ice.
Embarrassment flashed across Bai Ji's face. He raised his head and glanced upwards. Seeing that there was no one there, he couldn't help puckering his lips and complained in a low voice, "Hiding so high up, your ears are pretty good."
Fang Xu found it interesting and looked at her with a smile, "If you really have no idea, you can set up some traps."
Bai Ji nodded, knowing that someone above him could hear him, so he simply stopped suppressing his voice and said, "I'll go and think about it, lest something slip through the net in the melee."
Fang Xu nodded and watched her leave. He turned back and looked at the powder ornaments on the table, not knowing what he was thinking.
After a long while, Su Zi came in and reported, "Madam, the Crown Prince is here."
Fang Xu came back to his senses, glanced at the door, and whispered, "Please come in."
"yes."
Su Zi's voice fell, and after a few breaths, Xie Li opened the door curtain, leaned into the room, saw Fang Xu, and called out in a deep voice, "Mother."
"Why do you have time to come here today?" Fang Xu looked at him with an easy-going expression.
Xie Li walked slowly to the table, bent down and sat down, with a smile on his face, "My son is undecided about something, and he wanted to talk to his mother."
Hearing this, Su Zi retreated knowing the current affairs, leaving the house to the mother and son.
Seeing that no one was in the room, Fang Xu said softly, "Come and listen."
Xie Li opened his mouth, paused for a moment, and then said in a deep voice, "It has been some time since the new emperor ascended the throne. Now that my son has a place in the court, he shouldn't have other thoughts, but..."
"But the emperor's mind is so elusive that you sense danger, so you set your mind to move forward and retreat freely when necessary."
As soon as Fang Xu opened his mouth, he immediately revealed what Xie Li had not yet said.
Xie Li was slightly startled and murmured, "Why did mother know...did Shen Jitong tell you?"
Fang Xu raised the corners of his lips and looked at him with a smile.
Xie Li pursed his lips with helplessness on his face, "I should have thought that he was not strict with his mouth."
"I am your mother, why should you hide it from me?" Fang Xu said with a hint of helplessness in his tone, then straightened his expression and said softly, "Good birds choose trees to roost in. If the big tree they lean against rots, they can fly away as soon as possible. It’s not a wrong thing.”
A trace of struggle flashed in Xie Li's eyes, and he whispered, "But..."
"You hesitate because the new emperor has not yet shown the ruthlessness of the previous emperors, so you are still waiting and watching, not daring to take any action."
Fang Xu seemed to have seen through his thoughts, and whispered, "Power can blind people's eyes and darken their hearts. That position is not something ordinary people can do. As time goes by, who can guarantee that the new emperor's character will remain the same?"
Xie Li's eyes flashed, his mind became clear, and he hurriedly said, "Please mother come up with a solution."
"Come here."
Xie Li leaned forward, Fang Xu's red lips opened slightly, and said something in his ear.
Xie Li's face changed again and again. When he was leaving the house, his handsome face turned pale with fright.
-
At night, the stars were shining brightly, and the huge palace was silent. No one was seen in the courtyard, and it was eerily quiet.
Fang Xu looked as usual, with a thin blanket draped over his shoulders, and was sitting on the bedside reading the account books.
Su Zi was sitting next to the bed, lowering her head to peel oranges for Madam. If you look carefully, you can see her hands shaking constantly due to excessive tension.
Bai Ji stood guard at the door with a big knife, looking solemnly, staring outside the crack of the door.
I don't know how long it took, but there was a sharp sound outside. It sounded like some weapons colliding together.
Just one sound, and then there was no more movement.
"Madam, they are coming!" Su Zi exclaimed in a low voice, and immediately stood up and stood beside the bed to protect Fang Xu. Even though her body was shaking violently, she did not dare to move away even half a step.
Baiji's face became darker, and the hand holding the handle of the knife turned white with force.
Only Fang Xu was surprisingly calm. He stuffed an orange into his mouth calmly and fiddled with his abacus leisurely.
After a while, there was a sudden movement outside. First there were a few slight sounds, then the sounds became louder and louder, and more and more black shadows were reflected on the windows.
"Madam, please hide quickly..." Su Zi was almost frightened when he heard the fighting outside.
Turning his head, Fang Xu was holding an orange and stuffing it into his mouth.
"Madam, don't eat!" Su Zi was already on the verge of collapse, urging in a low voice, "We are facing a formidable enemy, so you should be more serious! After we survive today, I will eat as much as you want, and I will skin you as many slaves as you like!"
Su Zi turned pale and almost cried.
Her current mood was like participating in a track and field competition. She had already run half a lap. When she turned around, the referee hadn't blown the whistle yet.
Seeing that she was really scared, Fang Xu yelled, sat up straight, and stared at the figures flying back and forth on the window.
Su Zi's heart was pounding, and he asked in a low voice, "Baiji, what did you see when you leaned on the door?"
Bai Ji occupied the best viewing position and wanted to squeeze his eyes into the crack of the door. When he heard Su Zi calling him, he responded in a low voice, "It's very chaotic outside. It's hard to separate and fight. Everyone is red." With my eyes, I can no longer tell who is who.”
"When someone attacks, someone goes to kill him. After so long, no one from the Wanhua Club has even touched our roof."
