However, at the prisoner sacrifice ceremony three days later, Murong Fu obediently and cooperatively went through the whole process. Of course, Zhai Man believes that the main reason why Murong Fu can cooperate so much is because of the prisoner sacrifice ceremony, and he basically has no role except for wearing an official uniform as a stake.

On the day of the New Year's Day, the two of them led three thousand soldiers into the city and went straight to the Taimiao, and after the selected soldiers took the 100 captives of the Xia Kingdom, the people who watched outside the Taimiao immediately resounded with huge cheers. After the ritual music is played, it is the Honglu Temple that reads the Lubu. The meaning of the Lubu is very simple and clear when translated into the vernacular. The gist of it is: Over the past few years, the Xia Kingdom has always been very rude, and the state of etiquette of the Great Song Dynasty has endured several times without getting the return of friendship. Is it tolerable or unbearable, in order to uphold justice and relieve the people, the Great Song Dynasty had to raise a division to exterminate the ministers. Now that the Xia Kingdom is hanging, it is all their own fault, and the people of the countries should learn from it. Although those who commit my strong Song will be punished far away, don't say that you are unpredictable!

After that, Zhao Xu himself entered the temple to worship, and the first paragraph of the prisoner sacrifice ceremony ended.

The second part of the ceremony is that the official family moved to the Daqing Hall and accepted Murong Fu's Xia State ritual utensils and fish scale atlas, and the hundred officials celebrated for the official family, and the official family rewarded the meritorious heroes. In the evening, the banquet was given to the flat building, and the officials and hundreds of officials ended the ceremony in a happy and harmonious manner in singing and dancing, eating and drinking.

However, when Zhao Xu returned to the Daqing Hall with his ministers, and the chamberlain took the notebook presented by Murong Fu and read out the spoils one by one, Zhao Xu's brows were unconsciously furrowed slightly. Compared with the amazing feats of pacifying the Xia Kingdom, the loot brought back by Murong Fu was really a little unproductive. In addition to the land and population that no one could take away, the only thing left to Zhao Xu was a number of Xia State ritual vessels, a few boxes of gold, silver and jewelry, and two heads of the Empress Dowager of Xia and the emperor. This accumulation of money is not even as rich as the raid on Zhao Ting's house back then. Of course, Zhao Xu was very dissatisfied, and before the chamberlain finished reading the grain, horses, and other riches listed later, he couldn't help but ask Murong Fu: "Xia Guoguo has been in the country for a hundred years, is there only so much money?" ”

Seeing that Zhao Xu's eyes were only staring at those floating wealth, as expected, Murong Fu still couldn't help but sigh secretly in his heart. "Back to the official family, the monarchs of the Xia Kingdom were greedy and extravagant, and the wealth they accumulated was naturally a lot. It's a pity that on the day our army broke the city, the Empress Dowager of Xia and the little emperor would rather die than surrender, and even set fire to the palace, which is a ......"

Zhao Xu couldn't help but sneer when he heard this, and said slowly: "How many treasures worth the city have been burned, but the bodies of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor of the Xia Kingdom are still well preserved. Rare! Rare! ”

Zhao Xu's words were very sarcastic, but Murong Fu didn't realize it, and only said honestly: "Although the body has to be preserved, its appearance is extremely indecent. ”

"In this way, it is doubtful whether the body found by Yan Yanjun is the Empress Dowager and the Emperor of the Xia Kingdom?" Murong Fu's voice fell, and Zhao Xu seemed to have caught some trick, and he couldn't help but ask out loud.

As soon as Zhao Xu's words came out, the entire Daqing Hall was in an uproar. The destruction of the Xia Kingdom by the Great Song Dynasty was a happy event, but as an official, he questioned the heroes in front of the foreign vassals, which was really a bit stupid. I saw Murong Fu immediately knelt down on the main hall, and replied loudly: "The minister will not dare to bully the king!" ”

"Whether it is a deception or not, it will be clear if you present those two heads." Zhao Xu's expression was always cold, and he didn't let Murong get up. Taimiao sacrificed prisoners, offering living prisoners, as for the two heads of the Empress Dowager of Xia and the emperor, Zhao Xu had never seen it.

Who knew that this time, Murong Fu was stubborn, and only shook his head and said: "That person has a bloody head, and the official family is still young, according to Weichen's opinion......"

What Zhao Xu hated the most since he came to power was that some people said that he was young, and Murong Fu's words undoubtedly violated his taboo again. I saw Zhao Xu patting the imperial case, and said gloomily: "Murong Qing, do you dare to resist the decree?" ”

"Weichen doesn't dare!" A cold sweat immediately broke out on Murong Fu's forehead, and he hurriedly turned around and gave a look to the cultivator who was kneeling behind him.

The seed master comprehended, strode out of the Daqing Hall and brought in the two wooden boxes containing the heads of the Empress Dowager of Xia and the emperor.

However, without waiting for the seed master Dao to hand the two wooden boxes to the chamberlain, Murong Fu got up without permission and took them over, and said earnestly: "Official, please summon Langzhong of the Ministry of Rites." "The current Ministry of Rites Langzhong is Zhai Man, who once represented the Great Song Dynasty as an envoy to the Xia State to meet the Empress Dowager and the Emperor of the Xia Kingdom.

But how could Zhao Xu believe in a Shu party? Seeing Murong Fu's panicked expression, he became more and more convinced that there was something wrong with the two heads, and immediately waved his hand to the inner servant and said, "Present the things!" ”

"Yes!" Hearing this, the chamberlain hurriedly snatched the two wooden boxes from Murong Fu's hands and hurriedly placed them on the imperial case.

Seeing that the chamberlain slowly opened the wooden box, Murong Fu couldn't help but shout anxiously and angrily: "Official! ”

Zhao Xu only sneered, and lowered his head to examine the two human heads in the wooden box. The Western Army traveled for several months before returning to Beijing, and this head was naturally not fresh for a long time. In order to preserve it to the maximum, the two human heads have been pre-salted in lime. At this time, the two heads of the two people that Zhao Xu saw were still covered with a large amount of lime, and they looked less like real ones and more like two wooden dummy heads. At the same time, the face of the human head has been blurred, and only the heads of an adult woman and a young child can be roughly distinguished.

Zhao Xu had never seen the Empress Dowager of Xia and the little emperor, so naturally he couldn't tell the truth from the fake. He looked at the two heads for a while, and his heart was already faintly cold. Just as he was about to ask the chamberlain to send these two heads to the minister for identification, he didn't know that these two heads opened their eyes at the same time at this moment and looked at Zhao Xu firmly.

"Ahhh Zhao Xu was born in the deep palace and grew up in the hands of women, and he had seen such a terrible thing a few times, and immediately screamed miserably. "He opened his eyes! He's not dead...... He opened his eyes...... "I saw him push the royal case open in a panic, and staggered back from the dragon chair as if he had seen a ghost in the daytime.

"Official! Official! Seeing this, several attendants who were standing at the foot of the stairs and served all hugged Zhao Xu to support him.

However, Zhao Xu was already frightened, and only shouted with a pale face: "He opened his eyes...... Murong Fu, you bully the king! …… You all want to die! I want to die! I saw that his face was distorted and full of anger, and when he saw the attendant rushing up, he not only struggled, but also went crazy to bite. It's extremely terrifying, but how can there be any human appearance?

Zhao Xu suddenly went crazy, and the ministers in the palace were in an uproar. Everyone was at a loss, and Murong Fu suddenly ran up the jade steps in a few steps, and said in a deep voice: "The official family has hysteria, call the imperial doctor!" Retreat! At this time, his expression was calm and composed, how could there be half a wolf when he had just dealt with it?

With Murong Fu's words, Su Zhe, the current head of the hundred officials, realized that it was really indecent for Zhao Xu to make trouble again, and hurriedly followed two steps and ordered loudly: "Retreat from the dynasty!" Retreat! ”

That night, the 3,000 armor soldiers who returned from the great victory did not enjoy the banquet of Shengpinglou, but returned to the camp early to standby. As for their superiors, Murong Fu, Zhe Keshi, and Seed Master Dao, they had been kneeling outside the Funing Hall for a few hours.

It wasn't until the middle of the moon that Zhao Xu, who had been tossing in the Funing Hall for most of the day, drank the soothing soup and fell asleep, and the Empress Dowager finally had to summon the three of him in the side hall.

As soon as the three of them entered the side hall, they immediately knelt on the ground again, and pleaded in unison: "Weichen is dead!" ”

The Empress Dowager Xiang tiredly held her forehead and slowly asked, "What's going on?" Murong Fu was about to open his mouth to explain, and he had already said to the Queen Mother. Fold it and you can do it! ”

Hearing this, Zhi Keshi immediately glanced at Murong Fu from the corner of his eye, and then he told the story of what happened in the Daqing Palace, and finally said: "Weichen has never stopped the official family, capital crime!" Capital crime! As soon as his voice fell, he touched the ground with his head at the same time as Murong Fu and the others.

What happened in the Daqing Palace, the Queen Mother had already heard the inner servant. The two heads have also been examined by the doctor, and there is nothing wrong with them. At this time, listening to the fact that the situation at that time was no different from what the chamberlain said, it was confirmed that Murong Fu was indeed innocent, and he couldn't help but sigh slightly to the Queen Mother. I saw that she was silent for a while, and then said softly: "The official family has been in poor spirits these days, and today I suddenly saw that bloody head, I thought I was a little frightened, and I saw it wrong." In this matter, you are innocent, and the mourning family will compensate you first. ”

Although the Song Dynasty said that the royal family treated the ministers well, it was rare to be so polite as the Queen Mother, and Murong Fu and the other three also made amends one after another when they saw this.

"It's been a busy day, and everyone is tired. Fold Keshi, planter Dao, you retreat first! Xiang said to the Queen Mother again.

When Zhi Keshi and Seed Master Dao heard this, they couldn't help but glance at Murong Fu again. Noticing Murong Fu's glance at them, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly retreated.

As soon as the two of them left the side hall, they immediately raised their eyebrows to the Queen Mother, and their faces were condensed. I saw her pat the armrest of the seat, and her eyes stared at Murong Fu for a moment and asked sharply: "Murong Qing, you tell the truth to the mourning family, the official family suddenly went crazy today, does it have anything to do with you?" ”

Murong Fu was not surprised to hear this question from the Empress Dowager, he immediately raised his right hand and said categorically: "Minister Murong Fu swore today that he would never dare to bully and endanger the official family with his words and deeds. ”

In fact, how can a human head that has been cut off for months suddenly open his eyes? Zhao Xu was frightened today precisely because Murong Fu secretly shook the eye nerves of the two human heads with internal force when he took over the two wooden boxes containing human heads, deliberately scaring Zhao Xu. Zhao Xu is now pro-government, he bites to death and refuses to reward the minister, Murong Fu is indeed helpless against him. However, Zhao Xu can not care about the name of a faint monarch after a hundred years, but Murong Fu can't care less about the impact of his actions on morale and shaking the country. Three days ago, Zhai Man came to report that Zhao Xu was delaying the reward under the pretext of illness, but this just inspired Murong Fu.

Since Zhao Xu wants to pretend to be sick, then make the fake come true and let him continue to get sick! An official who has to commit hysteria from time to time, an official who doesn't know what crazy things he will do, it is natural for a capable courtier to share the government affairs for him. In the Daqing Palace, Zhao Xu proposed to see the two heads, which was exactly what Murong Fu wanted. Even if he didn't mention it, Murong Fu would try his best to let him see it. Of course, now that Zhao Xu proposed it himself, it undoubtedly cleared Murong Fu's suspicions, and such an ending could not be better.

Murong Fu made this poisonous oath, and the Queen Mother had no doubts in her heart, and immediately let out a long sigh. "Get up!"

"Empress Dowager Xie!" Only then did Murong Fu stand up and ask cautiously. "Queen Mother, what is the current situation of the official family?"

Speaking of this, the Queen Mother couldn't help but sigh faintly. Just now, Zhao Xu made hysterical troubles for a few hours, saying that someone was going to kill him, and then shouting that he would kill the minister after the abolition. Until he was exhausted, he instructed the queen mother to pour him the soothing soup. Those two heads, Xiang Dowager has also seen them, although they look a little terrifying, but they are by no means to the point of making people crazy. Thinking about it, there is only one explanation for the cowardice of the official family. If he is just a cowardly heart, he will doubt the loyalty of the courtiers who can make great contributions to him, and he will have the intention of abolishing his wife, who respects him like a guest, which cannot but make people feel cold. I saw that the Empress Dowager Xiang was silent for a while, and suddenly shook her head and sighed: "The death of the Empress Dowager is really a misfortune for the family and the country." ”

Speaking of the Empress Dowager, Murong Fu was immediately speechless, and sighed in a low voice after being silent for a long time: "Failing to accompany the Empress Dowager on her last journey is the fault of Weichen." ”

Compared with the thin affection of the official family, it is obvious that Murong Fu's softness is more to the heart of the Queen Mother, I saw that she suddenly raised her eyes and looked at Murong Fu for a while, and said comfortingly: "The official family is unwell these days, which delays the reward." When he is in good spirits, he will give an explanation to the Western Army, and Murong Qing should not worry. Zhao Xu withheld the reward and did not approve or respond, and after a long time, even the Empress Dowager Xiang, who was in the harem, also knew. It's just that now Zhao Xu is already pro-government, even if the Empress Dowager Xiang doesn't agree with Zhao Xu's actions in her heart, she can't say anything more because of the rules of the harem that you can't interfere in politics.

Murong Fu also knew that Xiang Xiang's words of comfort to the Queen Mother were really useless, but at this time, it was better to have someone to comfort than to care about no one. Therefore, Murong Fu still hung a touch of comfort very cooperatively, and replied in a low voice: "Empress Dowager Xie is worried!" Weichen is now only a year old, and he is already a high-ranking official of the fourth grade, and the official family does not reward Weichen, which is insignificant. But it is the soldiers of the Western Army who are born and die for the official family to open up the territory and expand the territory, if there is no more explanation, I am afraid that the world is restless, and we must not ignore it! ”

Murong Fu's words were really heartfelt, and the Queen Mother couldn't help nodding again and again when she heard it. However, everyone understands people, only the official family is confused, and it is helpless that Empress Dowager Xiang is not Zhao Xu's biological mother. "When the official family improves, the mourning family will persuade one or two."

"Empress Dowager Xie." Although he knew that Zhao Xu would not listen to the persuasion of the Queen Mother, Murong Fu still bowed deeply to express his gratitude. After exchanging a few words with the Empress Dowager Xiang, he soon left the palace.