Xie Huiming took a sip of tea and said with a faint smile: "This list was compiled by my father, Gao Fuguo."
Lan Tiao didn't know what was going on: "Okay, why does the Saint want a list of famous ladies? Could it be that the Saint wants to reopen the draft?"
The cold smile on Xie Huiming's face became thicker and colder: "Draft? Ten years ago, my father failed to use the spring palace to keep Han Changmu in the capital, let him return to the mountain, and let him fight in the Jiannan Dao Army. Ten years later, with a high reputation, military morale, and military power, it has finally become the biggest scourge of the imperial court. But I don’t know what method my father used this time to actually detain Han Changmu in the capital as he wished. Naturally, he will not He let him go easily and held him hostage in the capital. All errands and marriages were decided by his father, completely cutting off his connection with the Jiannan Dao army. As time went by, his prestige and power in the army naturally slowed down. It will soon fall apart. Without Han Changmu, the few idiot sons left by the King of Han will not be able to carry the military power of Jiannan Road."
Lan Tiao frowned slightly and understood in an instant: "Your Highness means that the saint wants this list to grant Han Changmu a marriage?"
Xie Huiming shook his head: "Not only Han Changmu, but also Leng Linjiang, and maybe me and the King of Han." He narrowed his eyes slightly, his eyes serious: "The case of missing salary and silver involves most of the court, and almost all of the military department. The army was wiped out. According to my father's temper, his old man's thunderous anger cannot be dispelled by a few curses at the moment, but my father endured this case. I vaguely felt something was wrong. According to the news from Hexi, this case It involves a rather mysterious organization called the Four Saints, but the decree did not mention this at all, I'm afraid my father has other agendas."
Lan Tiao stared silently, listening to Xie Huiming hesitate to speak. She knew that he still had something to explain.
Sure enough, Xie Huiming looked at the strange night, holding an orange in his hand, rubbing it slowly, and after a moment of silence, he raised his hand and threw the orange into the burning charcoal basin, only to hear a sizzling sound. There was a sound, a few wisps of smoke rose from the red charcoal fire, and the room was filled with the smell of orange and burnt.
He took a shallow breath and ordered: "Let the people in the Internal Security Department prepare."
Lan Tiao responded and handed over another letter: "Your Highness, this is Qing Qian's portrait."
Xie Huiming glanced at the portrait and peeled another orange, his hands slow and steady, thinking: "She is very beautiful, but beauty is nothing. She is a beautiful strawbag. I didn't expect Han Changmu to be so unfeminine. Gentleman, you actually like this."
Lan Tiao said matter-of-factly: "My maid has never met Qing Qian, but she has met Yao Yao, who joined the army in Jingzhao Mansion. In terms of beauty, Yao Yao, who joined the army, is indeed not as good as Qing Qian, but as His Highness said, Qing Qian is She may have beauty, but Yao Canjun is very smart and smart." She raised her eyes and looked at Xie Huiming with a smile: "Your Highness, if you let Your Highness choose, which one will Your Highness choose?"
Xie Huiming didn't expect Lan Tiao to have such a high opinion of Yao Yao. He thought seriously for a moment and suddenly sighed: "If you are choosing a counselor, the smarter the better. But if you are choosing a concubine, it doesn't matter whether you have brains or not. As long as you are beautiful enough.”
Lan Tiao smiled, nodded and said: "What His Highness said is absolutely true, so the choice of Major Envoy Han is also expected."
Xie Huiming raised his eyebrows: "Of course, it would be a blessing in life to have someone as beautiful and smart as you."
Two rosy clouds flew up from Lan Tiao's cheeks, and her eyes were extremely bright. She was Xie Huiming's counselor and even Xie Huiming's concubine. Although she was unknown and had no status, she was deeply favored. However, Xie Huiming had never told her this way. After saying this, her heart was filled with emotion as she said it, and she smiled shyly: "Your Highness."
Xie Huiming ignored Lan Tiao's shyness, tapped the desk with his finger, and ordered slowly: "Song Huaide's murder case involved Wang Yuanji, the chamberlain in charge of Ye Ting. The Jingzhao Mansion has no right to investigate him, but the Internal Security Department is different. Now, send someone to keep an eye on Wang Yuanji to prevent him from talking nonsense."
Lan Tiao nodded.
Xie Huiming continued: "We can temporarily stop the Tibetan mission and let Han Changmu worry about it."
Lan Tiao said: "Yes, my servant will give the order immediately."
It was already dark, but the lights in the Internal Security Department were still brightly lit. Emperor Yong'an had issued an edict, and Han Changmu was busy writing papers again.
Hearing the heavy footsteps outside the door, Han Changmu raised his head from the pile of files, looked at the visitor and said, "What's wrong?"
Meng Sui was still far away in Hexi and was escorting Xie Mengxia and his party back to Beijing. He Zhenfu, another commander-in-chief of the Internal Security Department, came. He bowed and saluted: "Your Excellency, Huo Shangshu is here."
Han Changmu was stunned for a moment. Huo Hanshan had been imprisoned in the prison of the Department of Internal Security. Huo Shiqi had never come to visit him. Today, after the saint made an announcement, Huo Shiqi came. I don't know what he wanted to say to him.
He said calmly: "Please."
Not long after, Huo Shiqi entered the mansion.
Han Changmu bowed and saluted, and when he raised his eyes, he felt deeply sad.
This Huo Shiqi looks older than he did a few months ago. He was originally very well-maintained, but he has a face in his thirties despite being in his forties. He is more than ten years younger than his actual age. He has always been envied by his colleagues. envy.
But as soon as Huo Hanshan's incident happened, he was exhausted physically and mentally from the torment, and he quickly showed an old look. There were wrinkles between his eyebrows and eyes, his temples were gray, and his back was not as straight as before.
Although Emperor Yong'an did not severely reprimand him, let alone dismiss him from his position, he imprisoned Huo Hanshan in the Internal Security Department.
What kind of place is the Department of Internal Security? It is more ghastly and terrifying than the eighteenth level of hell. There are countless people who go in vertically and come out horizontally.
He also thought about it and asked Xia Jigang to be accommodating and let him see Huo Hanshan, but before he could open his mouth, Xia Jigang blocked him back.
Now that the saint had a clear edict, he dared to step into the door of the Department of Internal Health. However, when he thought of asking a junior to be accommodating and gracious, he felt a little unhappy. However, he asked someone for help, so he responded politely. He bowed politely and said very sincerely: "Young Envoy Han, I am here because I want to see my incompetent son."
In the dim light, Han Changmu's expression was indifferent, showing no emotion or anger, and even a bit cold.
He said calmly: "The lower official understands what Huo Shangshu means. It's not that the lower official is unreasonable. It's because the saint is angry and the lower official is unable to be accommodating because of his responsibilities."
Although the tone was tactful, the words were harsh. Huo Shiqi choked up and spoke with difficulty: "Young Envoy Han, I know this matter because it embarrasses the young envoy. However, since the saint has made it clear that the young envoy should appease the Tubo envoy , the young envoy must figure out what happened that day." He paused slightly, and when Han Changmu nodded in agreement, he breathed a sigh of relief, and continued: "Yande is timid, and it is easy to forget when he is scared. He knew what was going on and was talking nonsense. After Han Shaoyang came back, he was busy with things and had not had time to examine Yan De carefully. If someone close to Yan De was around, he would be calmer and could talk in detail. These will be beneficial and harmless to Major Ambassador Han’s mission.”
Han Changmu pursed his lips, showing a hint of contemplation. The saint only asked him to find out about Huo Hanshan and appease the Tibetan envoys. He did not say that Huo Shiqi could not see Huo Hanshan. There was no need for him to offend the Minister of Civil Affairs on this matter.
He thought for a moment and said calmly: "That's fine. Lord Shangshu, please go to the prison with me."
Huo Shiqi really didn't expect Han Changmu to be so easy to talk to. He made a lot of preparations and prepared to spend half the night talking to Han Changmu. He even took a ginseng slice in his mouth before leaving to prevent him from fainting after being exhausted for a long time.
He never thought that Han Changmu would agree so easily, and all his preparations would be in vain.
His ginseng slice was a century-old ginseng tree, which made him feel so sad.
Huo Shiqi covered his heart and followed Han Changmu to the prison.
The prison of the Department of Internal Security is built underground. Walking along the stone steps to the depths, there is no expected dampness, but the cold air and the dense smell of blood linger for a long time.
Huo Shiqi shuddered and followed Han Changmu deeper into the area.
That dim yellow lamp illuminated the surroundings gracefully.
There are cells on both sides of the path, which are completely different from the cells in Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment.
From the outside, the prisons of the Department of Internal Health are made of large green bricks. There are no doors on the walls. There is only a square window at a very high place that can only allow one person to pass through. Once a prisoner is imprisoned, the window will open. It was locked from the outside.
In addition to the windows, there was another small, palm-sized window opened in the wall to monitor the prisoners in the prison.
The prison of the Department of Internal Health is not big. Each cell can only accommodate one person lying down, and there is also a bucket.
The walls in the prison are made of special cork without any protrusions to prevent prisoners from hitting the walls or using other means to commit suicide out of fear of crime.
There is a fire wall sandwiched in the wall. If you light the stove outside, the billowing heat will spread along the fire wall. The prison will be dry and hot, and eventually the person will die of thirst and heat.
Huo Shiqi didn't know the mystery behind this wall. He just saw that this wall was much thicker than the walls of Dali Temple and the prison cells of the Ministry of Punishment. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion. Fortunately, his son was squatting here, so he couldn't even think about robbing the prison. out.
Walking all the way to the end of the path, a circular hall suddenly opened up. Various torture instruments were placed along the walls. It was cold and chilly, making people shudder just looking at it.
Han Changmu politely asked Huo Shiqi to sit down, poured the tea with his own hands, and ordered someone to bring Huo Hanshan over.
In just a moment, Huo Hanshan was brought into the hall.
He has lost a lot of weight and his face is a bit haggard, but he is not desperate. He is not wearing any shackles. His clothes are just a little messy, but he has obviously not been tortured.
Huo Shiqi breathed a sigh of relief, blinked his eyes, forced back the tears in his eyes, and asked in a trembling voice: "Nie Zhan, do you know your guilt?"
Huo Hanshan trembled, then fell to his knees, looked at Han Changmu and the two of them and cried, "I'm wronged, I'm wronged."
