Just as Xiao Yu was pacing back and forth in the study room, thinking about countermeasures, someone knocked on the door of the study room.
"What's the matter!" Xiao Yu was already anxious, but when he heard someone knocking on the study door, he felt even more impatient.
"Sir, Wang Zhongyun's housekeeper outside the door is asking to see you!" The person who knocked on the study door was Xiao Yu's housekeeper, Xiao Huan. This Xiao Huan has been Xiao Yu's study boy all the way to the current housekeeper of Xiao Mansion. It can be said that Xiao Huan is Xiao Yu's housekeeper. Yu's confidant.
"Huh?" When Xiao Yu heard Xiao Huan say that Wang Gui's housekeeper came to the door, he raised his eyebrows slightly, thought for a moment, and then said in a deep voice: "Take him to the front hall to wait for me!"
"Yes!" After hearing Xiao Yu's instructions, Xiao Huan took the order and turned around. He came to the gate of Xiao Mansion and asked the concierge to open the side door. Wang Xing, Wang Gui's butler, hurriedly thanked Xiao Huan and then took a step forward. Entered Xiao Mansion.
"Steward Xiao, long time no see! I'll be hosting at Fumanlou later. Can I treat the steward to a few drinks?" Wang Xing said to Xiao Huan. Although he is also a steward, Wang Gui's current official position cannot be compared with Xiao Yu. It is said that the prime minister is a third-rank official. Now Xiao Yu is the Duke of the Song Dynasty and the Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He has a high and powerful position, so Wang Xing also wants to have a good relationship with Xiao Huan.
Xiao Yu glanced at Wang Xing. Xiao Yu was no stranger to Wang Xing. After all, they were all housekeepers of officials from aristocratic families. They were somewhat mobile, and sometimes when they accompanied their masters to court, they would always look down without looking up. Yes, there is no need to make enemies, not to mention that the aristocratic families are intertwined, why bother to create branches and make enemies with them!
"Well, thank you Butler Wang for the invitation!" Xiao Yu smiled and said, cupping hands with Wang Xing, "My master is changing clothes in the back, but Butler Wang will be waiting in the front hall later!"
While talking, Xiao Huan took Wang Xing into the front hall of Xiao Yu's house.
Wang Xing naturally did not dare to sit down, so he stood in the front hall and waited, not daring to look around. After all, he was just a housekeeper, and he only came here to deliver Wang Gui's letter to Xiao Yu, so he He stood with his hands down in the front hall, while Xiao Huan went to the study to inform Xiao Yu.
At about tea time, Xiao Yu was led by Xiao Huan to the front hall. Wang Xing, who was standing with hands hanging down in the front hall, quickly bowed his head and bowed.
"Wang Xing, the villain, has met the Duke!" Wang Xing knelt on the ground to greet Xiao Yu.
Xiao Yu squinted his eyes and glanced at Wang Xing. When he saw Wang Xing kneeling down to him, the feeling of boredom and anxiety in his heart that he had just felt in the study was relieved a lot because of Wang Xing's kneeling down.
"Get up!" Xiao Yu sat directly on the main seat, looked at Wang Xing who was kneeling on the ground, and said lightly. At the same time, a maid sent the teacup to the coffee table next to Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yu picked it up He took a sip of tea from the teacup. After putting down the teacup, he looked at Wang Xing standing in front of him with a calm expression: "Why is Butler Wang here this time?"
"Your Excellency, I have a letter for you to present to the Duke!" After Wang Xing saw that he, Xiao Yu and Xiao Huan were the only ones in the front hall, he took out a letter from his sleeve. .
"Bring it here!" Xiao Yu winked at Xiao Huan, and Xiao Huan went over to take the letter from Wang Xing and presented it to Xiao Yu.
Without being polite, Xiao Yu took out the letter paper and read it carefully.
The content of the letter was not complicated. It just invited Xiao Yu to go to the Wang family and discuss a plan to deal with Lu Chen with several other families. After all, the Wang and Wei families lost 15,000 acres of fertile land to Lu Chen, and the Zheng family lost even more. Unfortunately, five mines were directly trapped by Lu Chen. Although the Xiao family did not suffer any losses, it also allowed Lu Chen to wipe out Xiao Yu's face. This was all the reason for them to stand on the same front to deal with Lu Chen. .
Moreover, the concept upheld by these aristocratic families is: "Anyone who cannot be used by me can be eliminated!"
What's more, since following Li Yuan to observe Lu Chen's Lujiazhuang, these aristocratic families have not been idle. Naturally, they have also sent out spies to keep an eye on Lujiazhuang. The development of Lujiazhuang is even more different day by day. Since Zheng Shanguo and Wang Wei were successively taken by Lu Chen Judging from the situation that has been tricked twice, it is even harder to get Lu Chen to side with the aristocratic family. In this case, it is better to make Lu Chen disappear ruthlessly. As for Li Jiancheng's wooing of Lu Chen, this group of aristocratic families They also saw that they just wanted to use Li Jiancheng, so it was better to have Lu Chen on the side of the aristocratic family. If not, they could not let Lu Chen become a "stumbling block" to the aristocratic family.
"When you go back and reply to Wang Zhongyun, say that our guild will be on time for the banquet!" After reading the letter Wang Gui wrote to him, Xiao Yu directly stuffed the letter into his sleeve, then looked at Wang Xing and said calmly, while picking up the He put the tea cup aside.
How could Wang Xing not see that Xiao Yu meant "bringing tea to see off the guests"? He hurriedly responded: "I will go back and inform my master right now!" After saying that, he saluted Xiao Yu, turned around and walked out of the front hall. go.
"Xiao Huan, go see him off!" Xiao Yu said pointedly to Xiao Huan.
"Yes!" How could Xiao Huan, who had been following Xiao Yu for half his life, not understand the meaning of Xiao Yu's words? He directly caught up with Wang Xing who had just walked out of the front hall, and then led Wang Xing around the back house in a zigzag way to arrive at At the back door.
"Steward Wang, if you come to the house again in the future, you can use this door!" Standing at the hidden back door, Xiao Huan pointed to a somewhat dilapidated small wooden door in front of him and said, "These are troubled times, and people are making irresponsible remarks. Our adults are at a disadvantage!" Xiao Huanyi said to Wang Xing with a hint.
Being able to become the steward of an official of aristocratic family, how can there be a fuel-efficient lamp? The adults who follow their family know many things well, so why can't Wang Xing understand the meaning of Xiao Huan's words.
"Butler Xiao is reminding you! I was reckless!" Wang Xing hurriedly apologized to Xiao Huan. Obviously, the news about his visit to Xiao Yu's house today should be spread. Now the prince and King Qin are in the same situation. Mr. Wang is from the East Palace. As a housekeeper, he came to the Ministry of Civil Affairs Minister's Mansion blatantly today. I am afraid that when Mr. Wang goes to court next time, he will inevitably be tampered with by the officials of Tiance Mansion.
"My lord will naturally have something to say about what happened today to block those people's excuses, but remember not to be so reckless in the future!" Xiao Huan said to Wang Xing with a smile.
"I've been taught a lesson!" Wang Xing and Xiao Huan handed over to each other again, but this time they had already returned to the front door of the Xiao Mansion. "With that, I'll take my leave! I have an appointment with Fumanlou in a few days. Butler Xiao, please don't forget it." Oh!" Wang Xing winked at Xiao Huan and said.
"I'll keep this in mind! Steward Wang, go slowly!" Xiao Huan smiled, cupped his hands at Wang Xing, and then sent Wang Xing out of the Xiao Mansion through the side door.
"Sir, Wang Xing has left!" After Wang Xing left, Xiao Huan returned to the front hall to report to Xiao Yu. At the same time, he accidentally saw the letter burning in the charcoal basin. Xiao Huan naturally knew that the letter burning in the charcoal basin was What was it, so after taking a glance, it was as if he didn't see anything, waiting for Xiao Yu's instructions.
"Yeah!" After hearing Xiao Huan's reply, Xiao Yu nodded, "Xiao Huan, why do you think we can't give these five mines and 15,000 acres of fertile land to Lu Chen?" Thinking of the Zheng family losing Lu Chen was given five mines, and Wang and Wei's family lost fifteen thousand acres of fertile land to Lu Chen. Xiao Yu felt a severe pain in his body. Although these families were thousands of years old, aristocratic, and had more than a hundred mines, Taking out five mines is just a drop in the bucket, but when he thinks that this is undoubtedly cutting off flesh from the aristocratic family, Xiao Yu still feels a little emotional. After all, the aristocratic family has always collected things, so there is no reason to take them out. In addition, Lu Chen also touched Xiao Yu's face, which made Xiao Yu even more angry. If Lu Chen really got these things, the family would have nothing to do but hide their faces and sweep the floor.
But he couldn't think of how to deny Lu Chen mines and fertile land. After all, the certificate was written in black and white. Lu Chen had one copy in his hand, and there was another copy in the hand of Emperor Li Yuan. When he thought about this, Xiao Yu had a headache. , usually his butler Xiao Huan also has some clever ideas, not to mention Xiao Huan is Xiao Yu's confidant, Xiao Yu can't help but ask Xiao Huan what he thinks.
"Sir, although there is a written certificate to prove it, I think that since the written certificate says that the period is within three months, if it is within three months, we can..." Xiao Huan also heard about the bet between the Zheng family and Lu Chen Regarding the incident, it was written that if Zheng Shanguo lost, five mines would be handed over to Lu Chen within three months, and they should not be too far away from Chang'an. Xiao Huan's intention was to let the family make a fuss about time, so he was talking about When he said the last few words, he made a motion of wiping his neck with a knife.
The meaning is obvious. If Lu Chen disappears within three months, then what is the use of this written evidence?
"Lu Chen just presented the blast furnace iron-making method. The emperor favored Lu Chen very much, and the Beiwei guards around him were well-equipped. What's more, His Majesty just gave him three thousand guards, and at the same time, he was granted the title of Duke of Chang'an County. , I’m afraid it’s a bit difficult to get rid of him in a short time!” Xiao Yu never thought about the method Xiao Huan said. Xiao Yu had thought about this situation when he was pacing back and forth in the study just now, but This kind of thing can't be done just by doing it. That's the Duke of Chang'an County. You killed a county official who was favored by the emperor for no reason. Why don't Li Yuan explode?
"Sir, we don't have to kill him! As long as he loses power, His Majesty will no longer want to see him, and may even be dismissed from his position. Then what's the use of this document?" Xiao Huan was a little self-righteous. suggested.
"It's difficult! Now that Lu Chen is in his prime, what can be done to ruin his reputation? As long as it's not a crime of beheading, nothing can shake him! Last time when he was just in white, he dared to brainstorm the Tai Chi Palace , in the end, from time to time, he should be granted a title of marquis, and His Majesty just gave him a restraining order out of affection, so what if he just scolded him a little bit?" Xiao Yu frowned helplessly, looking at the servant standing there. Xiao Huan said in front of him.
"The crime of beheading..." Xiao Huan thought for a while, "Sir, what will happen if Lu Chen molests the princess?" Xiao Huan suddenly remembered something, his eyes lit up, and he leaned into Xiao Yu's ear Bian muttered something quietly.
"Huh?" After hearing Xiao Huan's words, Xiao Yu's falcon-like eyes also lit up.
