After putting the invitation away, Su Qi'an looked at Qin Huai beside him and said.
"Why don't you come with me this time? Maybe Mr. Zhou Mu will ask me for help. With my brother's talent, my brother-in-law will have a place among the top ten to enter the capital this time."
Qin Huai smiled and shook his head, and said with a serious look, "Brother-in-law, I know what my abilities are. After passing these several state examinations, I have also seen something clearly. It is enough to have the title of Jinshi."
"It's just right. I can stay in Xizhou City and use this status to help you. As for going to Kyoto to participate in the imperial examination, I have no interest in it."
"Same as my brother-in-law, my Jinshi status has proven my ability. From now on, I just want to help you in Xizhou City."
Qin Huai was serious, but Su Qian didn't force it, he nodded.
The day passed very quickly. This time, Su Qi'an didn't have a bodyguard with him, only the driver followed him.
This made Qin Huai, Su Yong and others worried. Su Qi'an waved his hand and explained to them.
If Zhou Mu's mansion is in danger, I'm afraid there will be no safe place in Xizhou City.
At this time, attacking Su Qi'an, even if he didn't want to live anymore, would be a disgrace to Zhou Mu.
The so-called danger is actually not dangerous.
After giving instructions to several people, Su Qian got into the carriage and headed towards the state capital.
The state capital occupies a large area and is the residence of three political officials of Xizhou.
Therefore, there are three gates, which are far apart from each other. It takes at least half an hour to walk through several streets to walk from one side to the other.
This also gave the three chief officials enough face, so that the administrative powers between the three would not interfere with each other.
Su Qi'an's trip naturally attracted people passing by to watch, but no one dared to step forward or stop him.
Su Qi'an's name was already well-known in Xizhou City, and even several major families did not dare to provoke him, let alone these ordinary people.
Su Qi'an's carriage moved forward slowly, with many eyes staring behind it.
Watching the carriage turn into an alley, these people quickly followed.
But when they walked into the alley, the scene in front of them made them dumbfounded.
There is no one in the alley. This is not a dead end. The end of the alley is an adjacent street.
They went back and forth three or four times, but there was no trace of Su Qi'an. They confirmed that he was not lost.
It was a ghost in broad daylight. Su Qian and his carriage disappeared in front of them.
Just these people, like a group of headless flies, are looking around.
In an extremely hidden passage, similar to a secret passage, a carriage was driving slowly.
After turning a corner, ahead, a butler was waiting at the door on one side.
Su Qian got off the carriage and walked to the housekeeper. The housekeeper held his hands and said softly.
"Forgive me, Earl Su, but please cooperate."
Looking at the blindfold in Butler Tang's hand, Su Qian did not refuse and picked up the blindfold very skillfully to cover his eyes.
There was someone supporting him beside him, and he followed Butler Tang's footsteps and moved forward.
This darkness did not last long. After about ten minutes, Su Qi'an stood still and untied the black cloth that blindfolded his eyes.
Su Qi'an narrowed his eyes slightly, adjusting to the light, and gradually opened his eyes.
In front of him was a large courtyard.
The courtyard is very simple and quiet. It has everything, including pavilions, bridges, and ponds. It looks very elegant.
In the pond, koi carps swim happily, and a gravel path spreads towards the courtyard along the green shade of willow trees.
Su Qian just glanced at this simple and quiet atmosphere and looked away.
In front of him was no longer Butler Tang, who was leading the way, but Tang Xiao, the son of Zhou Mu.
Su Qi'an didn't have a good impression of this prince, but he wasn't conflicted either.
After all, the conflict between the two was just a dispute between the Zhou and Wei families in Sichuandu County.
But later, with a transfer order from Zhou Mu, the sentences of Zhou and Wei were directly pronounced.
The downfall of the family.
Later, when they arrived in Xizhou City, they thought that there would be a conflict with the prince.
But this prince, from the time he came to Xizhou City to the subsequent confrontation with Gongsun Yi, even the cheating scandal in the final state examination.
Tang Xiao was like an outsider. From beginning to end, he never set a trap on Su Qi'an and added insult to injury.
They all judge things from a relatively fair perspective.
This surprised Su Qi'an. In his impression, even if this prince was not as arrogant as Gongsun Yi, he was definitely not a kind person.
Su Qi'an didn't think too much. Looking at Tang Xiao, he stepped forward and cupped his fists to signal.
Tang Xiao also clasped his fists in return and whispered, "Please."
Then he led Su Qi'an towards the courtyard with an expressionless expression.
Walk along the gravel road to the end, and a courtyard appears.
The door of the central courtyard opened, and a figure stood beside the stone chair with his hands clasped, as if he had been waiting for someone for a long time.
This person is Xizhou Mu Tang Feng. As soon as Su Qi'an stepped into the middle courtyard, he was very keenly aware that there were no less than ten masters hidden in this middle courtyard.
The auras of these people were very similar to the two shadow guards that Tang Xiao had brought with him.
This is the strength of the highest official in a state.
As long as Su Qi'an dares to reveal even half of his murderous intentions, he will definitely be attacked by the thunder of these shadow guards in the next moment.
The strength of these people is comparable to that of Tong Zhan, and they are all top-notch masters.
Su Qi'an walked into the atrium, and Tang Feng noticed the subtle changes on his face.
Tang Feng smiled, waved his hand and said, "You all should step aside."
"Father, this..." Tang Xiao's face changed slightly and he spoke to stop him.
But Tang Feng didn't care and said, "This invitation is originally my invitation to Earl Su."
"Earl Su is here alone this time. As a father, you have to show your sincerity. Besides, this is my father's residence, so what danger can there be?"
Following Tang Feng's order, Shi Lai, who was hiding in the atrium, came to the shadow guard, his breath disappeared, and he left quickly.
Seeing this scene, Su Qi'an looked a little embarrassed and wanted to say something, but was stopped by Tang Feng.
"There is no need to bear the burden, Earl Su. My invitation today is purely private. You can speak freely and don't feel pressure."
"Xiao'er, I heard that you felt sorry for Earl Su in Chuandu County before. You must be too courageous."
"It just happened to happen today. I would like to apologize to Earl Su."
Tang Feng changed the topic and directly named Tang Xiao.
Tang Xiao showed no resistance and bowed to Su Qi'an respectfully, saying sincerely.
"Earl Su, I was the first to be rude during our trip to Chuandu County. I hope Earl Su won't worry about it."
"Your Majesty, you're welcome. This is just a trivial matter. It can be considered as acquaintance without fighting."
Su Qi'an waved his hand and said.
"What Earl Su said is reasonable. Let's just talk it over. Xiao'er, you must learn from Earl Su's generosity."
"Xiao'er understands. If you don't understand anything in the future, please ask Earl Su for advice." Tang Xiao was very sincere and saluted Su Qi'an again.
This move made Su Qi'an feel helpless. Su Qi'an and Tang Feng sat opposite each other.
In the end, it was Su Qian who spoke, "Lord Zhou Mu, I am very grateful to you for your regard for Su, but Su has a straightforward temperament."
"What's wrong with Mr. Zhou Mu? I hope you can tell me. Your current behavior is really too much for Su."
Tang Feng was startled by Su Qi'an's frankness, and then laughed loudly, "Haha, only Count Su dares to be so straightforward in front of me."
"That's all. Now that Earl Su has asked about it, I won't hide it anymore."
"I hope to cooperate with Earl Su."
This time it was Su Qi'an who was stunned. Su Qi'an looked at Tang Feng and shook his head.
"Lord Zhou Mu, you are kidding me. Not only in Xizhou City, but also in the entire Xizhou, who else does Lord Zhou Mu need to cooperate with?
"
"Even if we cooperate, Su is just a small earl. Compared with Master Zhou Mu, he is not worth mentioning."
Su Qi'an's rejection was unexpected by Tang Feng. He did not speak and remained silent.
As time passed, Tang Feng sighed and said, "Earl Su, I think with your intelligence, you should be able to guess that things in Xizhou City are not that simple."
Su Qian nodded.
"I, this state pastor, seem to have unlimited glory, but in fact, I am being checked and balanced by the other two people." ap.
"One is from a local family that has been around for many years, and the other is someone from the imperial court who wanted to do something. You saw the result."
"Let's not go too far, let's just talk about the state examination cheating investigation results announced a few days ago. Does Earl Su really believe that the so-called cheating incident can be set off by just two inconspicuous guys?"
"Many things are ultimately the product of my own compromise."
Su Qi'an was silent. He understood that what Tang Feng said was not simple.
But Su Qi'an knew more about how deep the water behind it was that even Yizhou State Mud couldn't change. Even if he was added to the situation, if the matter did not go well and instead drowned, then it would be over.
Su Qi'an's worries were naturally noticed by Tang Feng, who continued.
"Earl Su, originally I didn't want to involve you in these matters, but I learned that I have received important news."
"The Gongsun family seems to have a powerful Heilu army."
When these words came out, Su Qian was shocked.
Because of this, I knew it from the exchange with Miss Jiu.
If what Ninth Girl said only made Su Qi'an suspicious, but this time it was Tang Feng who spoke, the nature immediately changed.
Su Qi'an asked, "Master Zhou Mu, this is true. With the power in Master Zhou Mu's hands, it should not be difficult to directly report to the imperial court and send troops to destroy the Gongsun family."
Tang Feng smiled bitterly and shook his head, "It would be great if this matter were as simple as Count Su said."
"In fact, I learned about this news half a year ago, but the Gongsun family's concealment was too deep. In the past six months, I have failed every time."
"But not long ago, according to reliable information, the Heilu army of the Gongsun family made some big move. If I can't stop it, if I wait for the Gongsun family to take action and stop it by then, it will be too late."
"Lord Zhou Mu, do you suspect that the Gongsun family will besiege Xizhou City?"
Tang Feng nodded, "Yes, this is what I am most worried about. You also know the strength of Heilu. If the Gongsun family really has a thousand-strong Heilu army, once it gains momentum, the consequences will be disastrous."
