"Well……"
In the cabin, Su Ziji moved, opened his eyes, and looked around. He had returned to the treasure ship. This was already the world.
His face sank slightly, he stood up, walked slowly, looked outside and pondered.
The weather outside was not good, and it started to rain as soon as the boat passed the ferry. However, it was summer now, so we were not afraid of the rain and cold. Instead, a gust of wind swept across the lake, bringing with it the raindrops, which made it even cooler.
In the fields and piers in the distance, the reflections of windmills swayed on the water, and drizzle filled the eyes, seemingly shallow, but also as deep as ink-stained fog.
"Don't you want Lord Long to still be here and help me?"
"Looking at her physical body, she should be Zhou Yao. Something has changed. Is it going to happen again?"
"As deeply in love, I really don't know how Wei Shizu and her are related by fate."
"It's a pity that my own friend..."
The encounter with Long Jun made Su Ziji think again of Fang Xi and Yu Lu who were walking in front.
These two people have known each other since they were young, and their friendship in the past cannot be doubted. They were also involved in the whirlpool of the capital because of themselves. What is commendable is that they still did not betray themselves when facing danger.
But when faced with conspiracy, the three of them had different choices.
"No wonder some people say that if you want to destroy friendship, just state your political stance, which will ensure that decades of friendship will be in vain."
However, Fang Xiyulu cannot be blamed. After all, the reason why he can see through the conspiracy is because although he is in the game, he is also a chess player.
"Public and private, loyalty and treachery, righteousness, etc., are artifacts, mazes, and chess games."
And the two of them are just two pawns in the game.
As the two chess pieces used by the emperor to check and balance Su Ziji, the emperor can use the two of them to do anything, even in dangerous situations. Just because the emperor occupies the orthodox status, he can use the two of them to scheming as much as he wants.
It is the duty of a minister to die.
However, Su Ziji had to take into account the safety of the two of them, and in this case, he had to fight back against the emperor to prevent him from succeeding.
"Love, righteousness, and the final insight."
Perhaps even the emperor felt that Su Ziji had reached the point where he had to fall.
It's not just a word of cruelty that can solve the problem. Even if you don't care about friendship, justice, or the reputation, as long as you don't have enough experience, you will never be able to escape.
"I can solve it this time, but you can only commit a thief in a thousand days, and there is no reason to prevent a thief in a thousand days."
"Besides, the emperor won't give me much time."
Su Ziji pursed his lips, thinking that when it seemed like there was still room for him, he had to secretly plan and pull out the firewood in order to have a way out.
"Otherwise, it's just cutting sausages and boiling frogs."
But after all, we still have to do our best to do this errand "well" without showing any signs of wanting to flip the table, so that we can hide it from the countless eyes.
"Yu Lu, Fang Xi..." After whispering their names, Su Ziji looked through the heavy treasure ship at the two people who had gone to Nantong County first.
Nantong County
This is one of the counties in Zhili. Its characteristic is that the post roads are accessible. There is a canal five or six miles away, and the ferry post station is the starting point.
"First Evolution"
The county is not too prosperous. The streets are only three or four miles long and winding, and there are many shops and buildings lined up in rows.
An oxcart was driving in the neighborhood. There were two people sitting in the oxcart. One was wearing a silk robe and the other was wearing a starched bamboo robe. The styles and prices differed. Both were dressed in scholarly clothes and had a bookish look on their faces. From time to time, they opened the car curtain. Look outside.
This is Zhili, where grain and grass supplies are collected faithfully, and seven warehouses are located in seven places in Zhili.
Although Yu Lin Mansion was the main place of their investigation this time, the six warehouses also had to be investigated together, so Yu Lufang Xi, who pretended to be an ordinary traveling scholar, got off the ship as soon as he stepped into this place, taking only one person with him. The second entourage, sometimes even without the entourage, just wandering around.
In their opinion, they acted as a scholar very realistically, and no one could see through their identity.
After all, it was just an ordinary move, and it didn’t take long for him to jump over the dragon gate.
"There's a rice shop over there, let's go take a look?" Fang Xiyuan saw a flag with the word "rice" hanging in front of him, and hurriedly pushed Yu Lu and reminded in a low voice.
Seeing his excitement, Yu Lu wanted to warn him first: "Don't let anyone see through your identity for a while."
"It's absolutely impossible. Don't worry. The two of us are ordinary scholars. Even now, there is no difference." Fang Xi said very confidently.
When Yu Lu thought about it, it was indeed the case.
The two of them really have no official aura. Maybe this is one of the reasons why the emperor asked them to investigate the case. It would be difficult for those officials to pretend to be real if they want to visit privately incognito.
And if you can't visit in person, it's easy to be deceived by the people below.
Even if they have never done such a thing as an investigation themselves, they have heard about other people's deeds and even read similar story books. They have long wanted to do it themselves and gain the reputation of being a great master!
This feeling of pride, as if he had personally experienced the script incident, made Yu Lu, who was usually more calm, a little excited, not to mention Fang Xi.
The two of them looked at each other and asked the hired ox cart driver to park the ox cart next to the rice store. They told him that they would be out in a moment, and then walked into the rice store that was open for business.
The owner of the rice store was lowering his head to settle accounts. There was a boy beside him who was sorting the goods and heading towards the back. There was also a younger man who looked a little dark and thin. The boy smiled at the two people who came in and asked: "You two gentlemen, do you want to buy rice?"
Yu Lu said: "Let's take a look first."
"Okay! Then you have to watch it first. If you like it, call me the little one!" Just as he was talking, a customer came into the store. This guy was busy in front alone, so he could only say to Yu Lu Fang Xi After saying this, he ran to entertain him.
The area of the rice shop is not very large, but it is not small either. Except for the small counter in the corner, there are some opened rice and noodles placed everywhere else, including various types of coarse grains, fine grains, etc. There are even peanuts and dried fruits, some of which are placed in bulk for those who come in to take a closer look.
If someone wants it, there is no need to ask the price one by one. In the middle of each grain, there is an exposed wooden board with the price marked on it.
Unless you are illiterate, you will ask a waiter or rice shop owner to ask for the price.
Both of them were wearing scholarly attire, and they could tell they were literate at first glance. This was why the waiter felt free to let them see for themselves. They could see the quality and price themselves, and then discuss whether to buy or not.
But Yu Lufangxi did not enter the store to buy rice or whole grains, but to investigate the situation.
He did not show up directly to the government as an investigating officer, but went to this ordinary rice store to investigate privately. This was very consistent with the situation of private interviews and investigations, and was more cautious than the content in the dramas he had heard in the past.
There was nothing about the two of them that revealed their identities. In order to appear more like ordinary scholars, even their clothes were half-worn and had been starched and washed many times. At first glance, they met the standards of a scholar.
Fang Xi walked aside, first looked at the price of ordinary rice, then stretched out her hand to touch the rice, and then asked: "Boss, I wonder if the price of rice is now low or high?"
Looking at the question, the owner of the rice store was doing the abacus and doing the calculations himself. When he heard a customer ask, he said without raising his head: "It's not too high, it's not too low. I can only say that it's about the same as in previous years."
This sounded like a careful answer, but upon closer inspection, it turned out that no details were given.
Yu Lu touched the rice on the other side and found that these bags of rice were new. The texture and luster were obviously better. He looked at the rice price and found it was similar to what he had occasionally heard mentioned before when he was not in Beijing. , but the problem is that the county where he is located is not a wealthy place, nor is it a good place with good trade routes.
And the more places like this, the price of rice may be lower.
He then asked: "Boss, where do you get these new rice? The texture looks different from the old rice."
Fang Xi continued: "Is the price of rice higher than in previous years?"
Hey! These two people touched the rice and saw the price, but they asked these questions. Are they looking for trouble?
"Tell me, you two, are you here to buy rice, or are you here to inquire about the market? If you are here to buy rice, these questions you two are asking are not interesting."
"In every rice shop, the price of rice is almost the same. It doesn't matter whether you ask or not. Could it be that if you don't ask, the rice you buy will not taste sweet when you eat it?"
"If you ask about the market situation, not only are there government supervision, but there are also guilds. The water is deep, and small shops like ours can't make the decision. It's useless to ask us."
The owner of the rice shop put aside his calculations this time, raised his head and looked at the two scholars who came in seriously, and said a little bit sinisterly.
"Hey! You!" Fang Xi had never experienced such ridicule before, and she immediately retorted.
Yu Lu hurriedly stepped aside and said with a smile: "Boss, we just want to take a look first."
"If you want to see it, you should have seen enough now, right? Our store is small, so you two should make way for others first. I would like to thank you both here first!" The owner of the rice store said towards the two of them. People just give up.
This is not a direct scolding, but for scholars, it is more embarrassing than a direct scolding.
Even though Yu Lu's face became hot and Fang Xi blushed even more, they couldn't stay any longer and had no choice but to go out.
They wanted to simply buy some rice back, but the problem was that they had to ask questions all the way. They couldn't just go into a store and buy some rice, right?
Besides, I still feel awkward when I buy rice after being ridiculed.
That’s all, let’s leave first.
Impatiently, he drove the person out. The rice shop owner cursed a few words at the waiter who had just finished his work, then walked over, smoothed the rice that the two of them had touched, and sneered at the door: "Ask, don't buy." , He is really a scholar who is stupid at reading!"
The owner of the rice store really didn’t regard the two of them as nobles. After opening more stores, he became more discerning. As for the long-term living habits, it is actually difficult to cover up - it’s not about the appearance, dress, or demeanor, but the living habits. , is the foundation of piercing eyes.
Just then he sighed, and someone came in. As soon as he took a look, he quickly smiled and said: "It's Mr. Shen, why are you here in your spare time? Come in quickly, and the man will serve you some tea."
Mr. Shen, a man in his thirties, smiled gloomily and said, "I don't have time to drink your tea. Tell me what the two scholars asked you just now."
The boss and several store clerks couldn't help but look at each other. This Mr. Shen was a figure in the guild, and it was not easy to meet him. Now that he was asked, could it be that the two people who passed by just now were really the masters who paid a private visit incognito?
"Yes, Mr. Shen, I will tell you now, and I will tell you every word." After coming back to his senses, the boss quickly bowed and became cautious.
The process didn't take long. After hearing what was said, Sanye Shen couldn't help but sigh: "You stupid scholar, what can you find if you continue to check like this?"
"This can't be done!" Mr. Shen couldn't help but worry about the country and the people.
