Xu Hong stood up with a stunned face, paced around the room twice, and asked, "What else is hidden in this?" ”

Zhou Ying was about to serve tea to the guests, but when she saw that Xu Hong was indeed in the dark, she said: "My cousin only knows that Fang Yuxiang is missing, and her parents are looking for her in many ways, but I am afraid they don't know that the situation has been reversed, she has fled back, but her parents have disappeared." ”

Xu Hong had a bad premonition and muttered, "Could it be ......?"

Zhou Ying asked: "Dare to ask my cousin about this, but Lord Xu Jinian, the governor of Tai'an Prefecture?" ”

Hearing that Zhou Ying had even guessed someone, Xu Hong's premonition was even worse, and he nodded with difficulty, "It's this person." He is a brother of my Xu family, his family is poor, but he is diligent and studious. During the Bingshen period, he was admitted to the Jinshi, and in just more than ten years, he went from the eight-grade experience to the current five-grade Zhizhou. ”

Zhou Ying pinched her fingers and calculated, the Dachen Ministry was assessed every three years, and according to Xu Jinian's promotion speed, he really jumped a few levels in the middle. Although the Xu family is indeed powerful in the court, judging from Xu Jinian's experience of being only an eight-grade person at the beginning, the Xu family may not be optimistic about this person at first, otherwise he would not have helped to operate one or two, and let his starting point be so low. The Xu family has very little care, and he can rise from a small official to the position of Zhizhou, and take charge of the governance of a state, although it may be the reason for the camp, but I am afraid that there are indeed some real talents.

But no matter how difficult Xu Jinian climbs up, it is not a reason for him to treat the people like this.

Zhou Ying said: "In this case, my cousin might as well go back and ask why he is worried about the disappearance of Xiaomin, the Lord of Zhizhou." Moreover, for what reason did he hide the key to it and instigate his cousin to ask me for someone. ”

Xu Hong was silent for a long time, "Since you said so, I'm afraid you already have a bottom in your heart, right?" ”

Zhou Ying glanced at Xu Hong. Xu Hong has never been out of Beijing in these years, and if he can say that he can have something to do with the affairs of Tai'an Prefecture, which is thousands of miles away, Zhou Ying will never believe it again. Since Xu Hong himself didn't know, Zhou Ying was one for the sake of past friendships, and the other was also for the sake of selling the prince of Xu Guo to save face, and said: "It doesn't matter if I have a bottom in my heart, the key is that this matter has reached the heavens, and whether my father has a bottom in his heart." ”

Xu Hong couldn't help but be slightly surprised, "Your Majesty also knows about this?" ”

Zhou Ying smiled softly, "Otherwise, cousin thinks, why did this Xu Zhizhou mobilize the crowd and say that you came to ask for someone from me?" ”

Xu Hong thought about the ins and outs carefully, and couldn't help but be shocked. Although Xu Jinian is an official to the fifth grade, he has already stepped into the political core of the court with half a foot, but it is nothing to the Xu family, even if something happens, the strong man will break his wrist, and it will not hurt the foundation of the Xu family. But if the emperor knew that there was still something about him, Xu Hong, the prince of the Guogong Mansion, the Xu family would not be so light-hearted.

Xu Hong was shocked into a cold sweat, got up and said to Zhou Yingchang: "I was reckless this time, thank you cousin for your advice." ”

"Why should my cousin be outside?" Zhou Ying smiled with tea, and said, "This matter is still being investigated by the emperor, and few people know about it......"

Xu Hong knew the meaning of the strings and promised: "Cousin, don't worry, I won't make a noise and cause trouble to my cousin." ”

Zhou Ying nodded with a smile, in fact, she just gave a word in vain. At this time, more than a day has passed since she reported to the emperor, and with the emperor's efficiency, it must have been almost done. And Xu Jinian can make such a decision, I am afraid there is no way to do it. Even if Xu Hong reveals it, can he, Xu Jinian, still be able to fight against the emperor? And Xu Hong is also a smart person, he should know which way to stand at this time.

Sure enough, not long after Xu Hong's farewell, the emperor sent someone to invite, and Zhou Ying cleaned up a little and went to meet the emperor.

After Zhou Ying entered the room, she glanced at it, and her eyes couldn't help but pause, this time the emperor did not put a screen.

The emperor sat alone in the room, and his original color could not see joy and anger, but after seeing Zhou Ying, he smiled, pointed to the seat under the head and said, "Xiao Qi is here, sit next to me." ”

Zhou Ying naturally understood what this meant, and was deeply blessed, "Thank you, father." ”

The emperor smiled and accepted Zhou Ying's salute, and then called Zhou Ying up and patted the back of her hand, but he didn't say anything, only called Qiao Rong to call someone.

Qiao Rong took the order and left, and soon called someone over, it was Ding Tang, who he hadn't seen for a long time.

Zhou Ying was slightly surprised, although Yuxiang was just a civilian, but after Huang Qian's preliminary investigation, it had already involved the parents of a county, and seeing Xu Hong's special visit, I am afraid it would not be related to the governor of a state.

If things develop in the worst direction, I am afraid that in the end, all the officials in the state will have to undergo a great purge, and the emperor will hand over this kind of thing to Ding Tang...... The last time it was related to the royal family*, this time it was related to the turmoil between the DPRK and China. Regardless of whether Ding Tang won the emperor's trust early on, or whether he did a good job on an errand last time, the tide rises, and Ding Tang's future can be seen.

Ding Tang was also a little surprised to see Zhou Ying here, but as usual, he reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, after the investigation of the ministers, what Fang Yuxiang said is true, his father Fang Shan is indeed a talent in the Yiwei period, and his person is poor and conservative, and has no bad habits. Fang Handle was arrested and imprisoned seven days ago, and he was indeed innocently arrested. According to the officer who captured him, he was imprisoned because he looked like a beggar and was unsightly. ”

The emperor sneered: "I don't know when Da Chen had this law. ”

Ding Tang paused, then bowed down more and more: "As for Fang Yuxiang's mother, Liu, who was arrested a few days later, it was said that she was making trouble in front of the prison, and the jailer was beaten between the conflicts, and she was arrested. The prison was in the middle of nowhere, and no one but the jailers saw it that day. Liu was already seriously ill and in a coma and could no longer obtain testimony. ”

Zhou Ying's heart moved and asked, "I remember that Fang Yuxiang said that a neighbor accompanied her mother to visit the prison that day. ”

Ding Tang replied: "The minister was about to talk about this person, this neighbor's name is Guo Zhong, and he had an oral marriage contract with Fang Yuxiang, but during Fang Yuxiang's disappearance, his mother set another family affair for Guo Zhong, and a few days ago, the Guo family suddenly made a big dowry. The minister felt strange and ordered someone to interrogate Guo Zhong again, but he didn't want to be overnight, Guo Zhong stepped on the moss by the well when he was fetching water, and fell into the well and died. At the first arraignment, Guo Zhong testified that Liu did not have a conflict with the jailer, but that he was dead, and his testimony was null and void. ”

Hearing these words, Zhou Ying also realized the melancholy between Yuxiang's eyebrows that day. And Xu Hong, to be precise, Xu Jinian, why did he know that Yuxiang had lost her innocence, and there was a reason. As for Guo Zhong's death, I am afraid that he was also killed.

And what Ding Tang said also confirmed part of Zhou Ying's speculation, and he only listened to him: "Guo Zhong's death was not an accident, but man-made." ”

Hearing this, Zhou Ying couldn't help but regret a little, could it be that she leaked the news she told Xu Hong yesterday, which caused Xu Jinian's dog to jump off the wall in a hurry? Although Guo Zhong is treacherous and there is nothing to be sorry for if he dies, but in the end, he is a witness in this case......

However, Ding Tang said again: "And it was none other than Guo Zhong's mother who accidentally pushed Guo Zhong into the well." ”

How can it be? Zhou Ying's eyes couldn't help but widen.

Ding Tang was puzzled when he saw Zhou Ying, so he explained: "According to Guo Zhong's father's confession, Guo Zhong has always disliked Guo's mother for another family affair for him, and after seeing Fang Yuxiang come back, he even had the intention of repenting. Guo Zhong repeatedly mentioned that Fang Yuxiang was in a pitiful situation, and tried to persuade Guo's mother to change her mind. ”

Ding Tang said again: "On the night when the Guo family went back after the arraignment, Guo's mother told Guo Zhong that he shouldn't talk too much, and brought out someone with a large sum of silver to inquire about Fang Yuxiang's whereabouts, saying that Fang Yuxiang must have misbehaved. Only then did Guo Zhong understand why the family suddenly had a large amount of money to buy an appointment ceremony, and there was a dispute between the two mothers and sons, and Guo's mother accidentally pushed Guo Zhong into the well. ”

Zhou Ying leaned back in her chair, but she didn't expect the truth to be like this.

Ding Tang saw that Zhou Ying had no intention of asking, and continued: "And the person who inquired about Fang Yuxiang's news with the silver was described by Guo's father, and after drawing the shadow and graphics, the minister tracked down to the master of the county order of Taoxi County according to this portrait. And this master also confessed. ”

The emperor frowned and asked, "Does the Taoxi County Order know?" ”

Ding Tang nodded and said, "I know." According to the master's confession, after Fang Yuxiang went to visit the prison a few days ago and marked his identity, it was the Taoxi County Order who ordered Fang Yuxiang to be arrested in order to avoid the expansion of the matter. It was also the Taoxi County Commander who secretly inquired about Fang Yuxiang after she fled, trying to arrest her. ”

The emperor tightened his eyebrows, "Then the Taoxi County Order has ever confessed?" ”

Ding Tang said again: "Taoxi County Ling Feng An claimed that he didn't know about the arrest of Fang Xiucai and Liu, and when Fang Yuxiang was arrested afterwards, he also thought that Fang Yuxiang was slandering and disturbing the court. Feng Xian Ling only said that he had just known the ins and outs, and said that he was not strict in discipline, causing his subordinates to make mistakes negligently, and he felt that he had a negative grace, so he took off his official uniform, took off his official hat, and pleaded guilty to His Majesty. ”

This clever tongue is like a spring, and the ability to reverse black and white really makes Zhou Ying gain insight.