When Zhao Yang and his entourage came out of Kaifeng Mansion, the people waiting outside the mansion cheered.
Someone wanted to come forward to talk to Zhao Yang, but was stopped by the imperial guards brought by Yuan Chongban. Zhao Yang only had time to wave his hands to the people who supported him before he was pulled straight to the palace by Yuan Chongban and his entourage. city.
After arriving at the Xuande Gate, the main gate of the palace, Yuan Chongban let go of Zhao Yang and apologized with a smile on his face: "Young man, please don't blame me. It's really hard to violate the holy will."
At this time, Zhao Yang had already calmed down and returned the greeting: "If this is the case, I would also like to thank Yuan Chongban for coming to the rescue quickly. If Yuan Chongban came a little later, I might have to suffer the physical pain... "
After that, he bowed his hands to the hundreds of forbidden troops who came with Yuan Chongban: "Everyone, please find an opportunity in the future. When you are not on duty, I will treat you to a drink and express my gratitude."
All the Imperial Guards clasped their fists in return. Some of the Imperial Guards who followed Yuan Chongban into the Kaifeng Mansion's Yamen looked surprised. It was hard for them to imagine that this young man who had quarreled with Qian Mingyi, the magistrate's official in Kaifeng, would be like this now. of peace.
Yuan Chongban nodded secretly and said in a low voice: "Yuanwailang, let's go see the officials first. The officials are still waiting."
"OK."
Everyone happily entered the palace city and went straight to Chui Gong Hall.
After a while, a group of people arrived outside Chui Gong Hall. At this time, the eunuch Wang Shougui was standing on the corridor of the side hall. Seeing Zhao Yang and others coming, he hurriedly walked down the stairs, looked at Zhao Yang's body and asked with concern: "Little Lang Jun, are you... okay?"
"I'm fine, thank you Zhongguan Wang." Zhao Yang replied with a smile: "Thanks to the officials, and also to Yuan Chongban who arrived in time, saving me from having to kill the mighty stick with twenty sticks?"
"Killing stick?" Wang Shougui looked puzzled.
From the side, Wang Zhongzheng snorted coldly and said: "Do you know, that money... The prefect Quan hated Yuan Wailang and persuaded the officials to recall Fan Xianggong. He held a grudge and deliberately persecuted Yuan Wailang because he did not have official credentials. The court officials must kneel down to interrogate, otherwise they will be punished with twenty kills with a powerful stick..."
The "Du Zhi" in his mouth was Wang Shougui's official name. When he entered the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was called Du Zhi. The entire province he led was referred to as Du Zhi.
"Is this happening? It's simply unreasonable!"
Wang Shougui suddenly changed his expression and vowed to Zhao Yang: "Don't worry, young man. When I have the opportunity, I will try my best to take away this bad breath from you."
Zhao Yang knew that the other party was just saying polite words, so he didn't take it to heart. He glanced at the palace and asked, "Is the official family in there?"
"here I am.."
Wang Shougui also looked back and lowered his voice and said, "I'll report it first. Young Master, please wait for a moment."
Seeing Zhao Yang nodding, he winked at Yuan Chongban, and they walked into the hall together.
After about ten breaths, Zhao Yang heard Zhao Zhen's voice that seemed to be a little angry coming from the hall: "Tell him to come in!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Shougui hurriedly walked out of the palace, stood on the corridor and waved to Zhao Yang. When Zhao Yang approached, he reminded him in a low voice: "The official is still angry, so please pay attention."
Zhao Yang pursed his lips and made a slightly weird face, then walked into the hall and saw Zhao Zhen sitting behind the royal table with a sullen face.
Sure enough, when he saw Zhao Yang entering the palace, Zhao Zhen got angry and shouted with a stern face: "Less than two hours after leaving the palace, you have caused such a big disaster for me?"
Zhao Yang was aggrieved when he heard this: "You can't blame me. I always see injustice and uphold justice. Who knew that Qian Mingyi wanted to harm me intentionally?"
When Wang Zhongzheng sent Bao Rong back to the palace to bring reinforcements, the latter had already explained to the officials about Zhang Yaozuo, but the officials did not know what happened in Kaifeng Mansion. Hearing this, they asked in confusion: "Qian Mingyi? Why did he want to kill him?" you?"
"Because of Fan Zhongyan, he probably listened to my advice to the officials to recall Fan Zhongyan, so he took the opportunity to take revenge on me. Otherwise, I have no enmity with him, why would he target me?"
"Is that true?" Zhao Zhen raised his head and looked at Wang Zhongzheng and others.
Wang Zhongzheng and others were sent to Zhao Yang. They also knew that everyone would be prosperous and suffer losses. In addition, Zhao Yang was also polite to them and showed no contempt. Although they had only been in contact for a short time, they already recognized it, so they all gave their money to them. Mingyi told Zhao Zhen exactly what he was targeting, and Zhao Zhen frowned.
After a long while, Zhao Zhen sighed softly and said: "Even if this matter is not your fault, but you are involved in it, I'm afraid you can't get away from it..."
As he said that, he found a copy of the note from the case and patted it on the case: "Let's take a look."
Zhao Yang doubtfully picked up this note, which was similar to letters from later generations, pulled out the paper and slowly unfolded it.
"Demon star?"
After just two glances, Zhao Yang's expression became strange: "Well, relying on favor, being disrespectful in front of the palace, not following etiquette, showing no dignity... What are you talking about me?"
Zhao Zhen's right hand resting on the table spread out.
"Who wrote it?" Zhao Yang asked again.
"Wang Gongchen."
"Wang Gongchen?" Zhao Yang frowned and recalled, then shook his head: "I have no impression."
At this moment, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a plate of pastries on the table, which looked exquisite and delicious. He put down the paper in his hand and stared at the plate of pastries and muttered: "This plate of cakes... looks pretty good."
"Still thinking about eating?" Zhao Zhen was angry, but still moved the plate slightly towards Zhao Yang with the back of his hand.
With the tacit approval, Zhao Yang immediately picked up a piece of cake, and under the envious gazes of Wang Shougui, Wang Zhongzheng and others, he put it in front of his eyes and looked at it, saying disapprovingly: "I have seen this kind of trick too many times, or I will say that the person is a demon star or a disaster. Oops, or you could say that his morals and character are damaged, but in fact, isn’t it just a matter of sharing the same party and opposing those who are different?”
After saying that, he dropped the small piece of delicate pastry into his mouth.
The same party and the other party...
Zeng Gongliang, who was in charge of repairing daily life notes, was startled and secretly looked at Zhao Zhen, who was stroking his beard thoughtfully.
Later, Zhao Yang swallowed the piece of pastry and picked up another one: "This is more proof that I suffered an unreasonable disaster today. In just one day, one said that I was a demon star to deceive the officials; the other deliberately retaliated. It shows how many people don’t want to see Fan Zhongyan return to Beijing.”
Zhao Zhen stroked his beard without saying a word, and his gloomy expression made everyone in the hall secretly frightened. Only Zhao Yang ate the cakes piece by piece, and finally took the whole plate away.
Zhao Zhen glanced at it and said angrily: "Aren't you worried at all? You caused such a big fuss today, and someone will impeach me in front of me in the future! At that time, I and I... I'm afraid I will also be criticized. , saying that I violated the ancestral precepts and conferred official positions on my children privately."
"What are you worried about?" Zhao Yang didn't care. "Both the name and the weapons are in the hands of the officials. If the officials don't nod, how can anyone dare to press their hands? As for impeachment... they impeached me, I can also impeach them. , just like Qian Mingyi, I made it clear to him that if he can’t kill me today, I will kill him later.”
After hearing only the first half of the sentence, Zhao Zhen still felt it made sense. After hearing the full sentence, he almost stood up in anger: "Did you say this in public in Kaifeng Mansion?"
Seeing the official's expression change drastically, Wang Shougui hurriedly stepped forward to help him and said: "The official must calm down. I am young and energetic. I have been wronged again today, so I can't help but say some angry words." He frequently gestured to Zhao Yang with his eyes, "Are you talking out of anger, Mr. Xiaolang?"
Seeing that Zhao Zhen was still glaring at him, Zhao Yang could only nod his head: "Okay, I won't kill you, but I have to take revenge no matter what. As the saying goes, a gentleman takes revenge, and it's never too late in ten years..."
"They say a gentleman like Fan Zhongyan is called a gentleman, look at you again." Zhao Zhen scolded.
Zhao Yang paused for a moment and changed his words on the spot: "The so-called villain's revenge lasts all day long..."
"..."
Zhao Zhen was almost angry and pointed at Zhao Yang with his finger, but he was speechless.
Everyone else in the hall suppressed their laughter and did not dare to speak out.
At this time, an eunuch from the Ministry of Internal Affairs hurried in and reported: "The official family, the prefect Qian Quan of Kaifeng Prefecture, sent someone to send Zazi."
Zhao Yang raised his eyebrows: "Oh, this is such a villain, even more villainous than me."
"..."
Zhao Zhen glanced at the boy and waved to Wang Shougui to pick it up. The latter quickly picked it up and presented it to the royal table.
"This is coming."
Looking at the papers on the table, Zhao Zhen sighed, then opened the envelope and took out the papers inside. While spreading them out on the table, he turned to Zhao Yang and said, "You want to take a look too?"
"It's definitely not good, so just don't read it."
"Humph." Zhao Zhen hummed, lowering his head to read Qian Mingyi's notes.
Sure enough, Qian Mingyi's letter was rushed to complain. The content of the letter was all about how Zhao Yang despised Kaifeng Mansion and humiliated him in public. Unfortunately, Zhao Zhen already had a tendency in his heart. He secretly sneered after seeing these, especially It was when he saw at a glance that the handwriting on the notebook was sloppy, obviously caused by haste.
In just a moment, Zhao Zhen finished reading the letter, which was only a few hundred words long, and clasped the royal table with his right hand and fell into deep thought.
After a long while, he glanced at Wang Gongchen's notes on the desk, and then at Qian Mingyi's notes in front of him, with a trace of sullenness flashing through his slightly lowered eyes.
Suddenly, he seemed to have thought of something. He turned around and asked Zhao Yang: "Zhao Yang, Wang and Qian handed over their letters one after another. One advised me to stay away, and the other advised me to remove you from my official position. You have nothing to say to me." Said?"
Zhao Yang was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and understood what Zhao Zhen said, and said disdainfully: "Then I'm not really a sycophant?"
Under Zeng Gongliang's silent glance, Zhao Zhen curled his lips, then looked down at the two letters on the table, and slowly shook his head with an indifferent look on his face: "Leave it in without sending it."
"yes."
Wang Shougui hurriedly stepped forward and put away the two papers.
Until the evening of that day, Qian Mingyi did not wait for the official's approval. Feeling anxious, he went to Song Xiang's house to visit.
Unexpectedly, Wang Gongchen was also there. After asking Qian Mingyi, he found out that Wang Gongchen had not waited for the official's approval, so he came to discuss with Song Xiang.
The three of them discussed countermeasures while discussing.
Qian Mingyi made a suggestion: "It is against the rules to grant a son the rank of seventh rank in the official family. Wang Xiandi may as well start from now on. I will also agree with him at the time, and I will definitely be able to remove this son from the official position."
Wang Gongchen was about to agree, but he saw Song Xiang shaking his head and saying: "It's okay not to do anything useless. If this son is really favored by the officials, even if he loses his official position because of your impeachment, he can still be by the official's side." , what’s the difference? It’s just that I’ve done evil to the official family and this son.”
Wang Gongchen cupped his hands and said, "What does Song Xianggong mean?"
Song Xiang picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and said calmly: "In my opinion, this is a good thing."
"A good thing?" Qian Mingyi and Wang Gongchen looked at each other with confusion on their faces.
Seeing this, Song Xiang held a wine cup and explained: "Fan Zhongyan's return to Beijing is a foregone conclusion, and his so-called New Deal may also come back... I remember that one of them is to 'suppress luck' and give up kindness. It just so happens that this son is Isn't it a good thing to receive an official's favor and be granted an official position under special circumstances?"
Wang Gongchen's eyes suddenly lit up and he exclaimed: "Congratulations, Mr. Song!"
Qian Mingyi also suddenly realized, and then regretted: "But I have hated that boy, what can I do?"
"..."
Song Xiang glanced at Qian Mingyi, with a flash of sympathy in his eyes.
He has seen how damaged that kid is...
