Qi Feng shook his head when he heard her ask. Jin Yiwei now even forgot his words as a military advisor, and followed Jiang Ruan wholeheartedly. For example, last night, Jiang Ruan asked Jin Er to pick up the secret guards to blend in with Xia Jun's men, taking advantage of the chaos to provoke a conflict between the people and the officials, but he didn't let him know in advance. If Qi Feng had known that Jiang Ruan had this intention earlier, he would probably have stopped it. He was accustomed to making complete considerations, and although Jiang Ruan's plan was linked one by one, the risks he took were too great. It was the boldness to come up with this idea, and Qi Feng only felt shocked when he thought about it afterwards. Now that she asked where the 800 carts of military pay were now, Qi Feng was even more confused. To be honest, he was also very suspicious, eight hundred carts of military salaries was not a small amount, it was impossible for Xuanli to transport them out of the capital so quickly, as for other places, the capital was so big, if he really wanted to investigate, it would be a matter of time before he found it, and Xuanli would be so stupid to stay in his hands as a handle?

"Eight hundred carts of military pay is not a small amount," Jiang Ruan said lightly: "A long time ago, Xuanli dug a secret passage in the capital, which led to a few hundred miles outside the capital, where there was a post station arranged by Xuanli himself to help him transport all the materials to other places. If I'm not mistaken, this batch of salaries is in the secret passage right now. ”

Qi Feng stood up suddenly, unable to hide the surprise in his eyes: "What did you say?" ”

He knew the post station outside the city, and Jin Yiwei had found out about this place a few years ago, but the matter of the secret road was unheard of, and Jiang Ruan said it so categorically, it made Qi Feng suspicious in his heart. He stared at Jiang Ruan tightly: "What you said is true?" ”

"If you don't believe it, you can let someone you trust check it." Jiang Ruan said.

"How did you know about this?" Qi Feng asked reluctantly: "Jinyi Wei Baizhanglou has not found out the matter, third sister-in-law, don't lie to me, what is the relationship between you and Xuanli?" If there really is a secret passage, why hasn't it shown a trace of horse's feet for so many years? No matter how well Xuanli covers it up, it is impossible not to show a trace. ”

"There is no trace of it, it's because he has never used this secret passage." Compared with Qi Feng's nervousness, Jiang Ruan is completely calm, and can even be called leisurely. She smiled lightly, but every word she said hit Qi Feng's heart like a heavy hammer. She said: "The secret passage was there many years ago, but it was originally a mine road left by a wealthy merchant in Beijing. I was just waiting for one day when I could help the great cause to come in handy, but now I am using it in advance. Jiang Ruan looked at Qi Feng with a smile: "As for what you said, why did I know about this?" Forgive me for not being able to tell you, but Qi Gongzi, you can rest assured, now that I have entered the door of the Jinying Palace, I am in one day, I will protect this Jinying Palace, and I will not do anything to hurt the palace, since I am on the side of your master, why should you worry? ”

Qi Feng was shocked by Jiang Ruan's words, she had already touched Xuanli thoroughly in her mouth, and her understanding of Xuanli was even higher than that of Jinyiwei, which really made people doubt her identity. But at the moment, Jiang Ruan seems to be more like a deep hatred for Xuanli across the sea of blood, and he suddenly has a feeling that as long as Jiang Ruan is there for a day, she will do everything possible to stop Xuanli's great cause, and Xuanli's great cause will never succeed.

This woman has a tactful and delicate mind, outrageous means, and shows that she is charming and charming, but her heart is barren, as if nothing can enter her eyes, and nothing can make her show her face. There is a sense of mystery all over her body, but people can't help but be attracted to her.

Jiang Ruan didn't notice Qi Feng's gaze, but his thoughts drifted into the distance. In the previous life, this secret passage of Xuanli had not been used so early. At that time, it was already in the late stage of seizing the heir, the crown prince had also died, the five princes were in prison, and the great cause of the world was just around the corner, so he used this secret passage to transmit news to the outside of the palace, this secret passage is the most valuable bargaining chip, and people who are accustomed to planning for a rainy day always have to leave a way back for themselves. This is his trump card. At the beginning, Jiang Ruan unintentionally knew that Lu Dao had said this secret way, and Xuan Li was angry at her for the first time, but at that time she was busy apologizing, and repeatedly said that she would not tell others about it, and Xuan Li forgave her. It's just that later she sent two more maidservants to her palace. At first, she thought that Xuanli was considerate and carciful for her, but now that she thinks about it, those two maids are just sent by Xuanli to spy on her. Xuan Li is very suspicious of this person, he does not allow anyone to know his trump card, and he did not kill her with Jiang Ruan's life, which is already considered merciful. It's just that when I think about the past now, I always feel that every scene is ironic.

Qi Feng sensitively noticed the change in Jiang Ruan's gaze, which seemed to contain ridicule and self-loathing about something, and there was a hint of deep coolness. After settling down, he asked, "I see, no one could have imagined that he would hide his military salary in a secret passage." ”

"That's right," Jiang Ruan came back to his senses, slowly lowered his head and said, "He wants to protect this secret passage, so he will never help the Xia family." Once it is revealed that it is the old grain that has been burned, and the military salary is still there, then his secret will not be kept. Once the secret path is exposed, the emperor will inevitably know that he has a rebellious heart, so he doesn't dare to gamble, he won't save it, he wants to protect himself, and he will sacrifice the Xia family. ”

Qi Feng suddenly realized.

Now everyone in the capital is staring at the matter of grain and grass, if Xuanli wants to tell the emperor everything at this moment is just a misunderstanding, Xia Jun and Jiang Chao are burning old grain, so where did the military salary go? With so many pairs of eyes staring, it was impossible to bring back the military pay intact. Once Xuanli's secret path is exposed, the emperor will be aware of his rebellion and will inevitably vigorously suppress it, so Xuanli's great cause will come to an end.

If he can't help, and even if he wants to avoid suspicion and protect the secret of the secret passage, he is destined to sacrifice the Xia family, and the strength of the Xia family is exactly what he needs. In this way, at least the efforts made by Xuan Li in the past few years have come to naught. Qi Feng almost wanted to laugh, Jiang Ruan's move was too ruthless, and it was difficult to retreat before Xuan left, and he always had to strip off a piece of raw meat on his body, I am afraid that now is the time for him to jump his feet.

"So what should we do now? Thoughts of the secret way to inform His Majesty of Xuanli? Qi Feng asked.

"Now if you say it, Xuanli will have a hundred ways to prove that the secret path has nothing to do with him, and after saying it, if Your Majesty finds out, it will inevitably implicate the Jinying Palace. The status of the Jinying Palace's position in the court is already embarrassing, and being involved in this matter has all kinds of harm but no benefit. Jiang Ruan said: "The most important thing is,"

"So what to do?" Seeing that she had undoubtedly rejected this suggestion, Qi Feng knew that she must have other ideas in her heart, and asked, "The third sister-in-law has a good idea?" ”

"I said, this time, I want them to knock out their teeth and swallow blood, and they have suffered a big loss, and they don't dare to say it." A hint of anger flashed in her eyes: "Xiao Shao still needs the eight hundred carts of military salaries, and I still want Xie Lu and Xie Xuanli to transport them out intact, I want this batch of military salaries!" ”

"You ......" Qi Feng looked at her in surprise, and after a while, he suddenly laughed out loud, laughing very happily, and said while laughing: "Third sister-in-law, you are really happy, bold, and have a better idea, if this thing is done, if I declare my departure, I will definitely be angry and bedridden, you are really - high!" ”

Jiang Ruan was noncommittal, and at this moment, Dew Drop pushed the door and walked in, seeing that Qi Feng was also there, he bowed and came forward to hand over a letter, and whispered: "Girl, the master has sent a letter." ”

Jiang Ruan took the letter, didn't care about Qi Feng's presence, and pulled out the letter, and read it in a short time. ”

Dew Zhu walked out as she said, and Qi Feng looked at her: "What happened to the third sister-in-law?" ”

"It's nothing, it's just that my father thinks that my second brother is in prison, and my younger sister should also do her part to rescue her." Her words were sarcastic. Qi Feng felt harsh when he heard it, and couldn't help but say, "What kind of truth is this?" As a father, even if he wants to deal with Jiang Chao, it shouldn't be you. You are a deep girl, how can you be involved in this? Isn't Jiang Quanmo crazy? ”

"He's just a little naïve." Jiang Ruan sneered: "Save him? I just want to look at him, step by step and never look back, he has lived long enough, this time, I want his life. ”

……

In Nanhua Garden, the emperor waved his hand, and the eunuchs who were about to speak were silenced, and Gonggong Li drove them all out, and the emperor stepped into the door and saw at a glance the young man who was practicing calligraphy in the room.

It's a little early to say that he is a teenager, he looks more like a child, and he looks like he is more stable and introverted every time he sees him. The emperor slowed his steps, and when he walked in, he saw that the child's snow-white rice paper was written: Those who love lust are like holding a torch, and if they go against the wind, they will burn their hands.

His handwriting was excellent, and he was as delicate as others, without the slightest hint of sharpness, but that did not mean that the boy was as harmless as his handwriting. In fact, everyone has a temper, and when he was still young, he looked at people by words, and in the handwriting of this young man, his heart could not be seen at all.

The emperor looked around and remembered that when Gonggong Li returned, the side hall where Xuan Pei lived was the most remote hall in the palace, and it was not even as good as the private house of a seven-rank official, and then he vacated the Nanhua Garden where the four princes lived to Xuan Pei. The fourth prince was also quite favored at the beginning, but if it weren't for the accident later, I don't know what the situation would be now. The emperor's move immediately aroused the speculation of the courtiers, and with a little bit of eyesight, he began to inquire about this inconspicuous and seemingly helpless Thirteenth Highness.

Although he has the emperor's favor, Xuan Pei does not have a strong mother's family, and he is still not very optimistic in the palace. But even so, now seeing that Nanhuayuan is well organized and well-arranged, but not extravagant, you know that this Xuanpei is a person with means and ideas. The emperor looked at his child, who did not value him, and a complicated feeling suddenly rose in his heart.

Xuan Pei seemed to sense his arrival, looked back, was slightly startled, and then saluted: "Erchen has seen his father." ”

"No courtesy." The Emperor waved his hand: "I have come to see you." It was difficult to hide the tiredness between his eyebrows, there was such a big thing in the capital, Jiang Chao and Xia Jun burned down the granary, almost making the world angry, he was also angry, and what made people even more angry was that the Xia family's contempt for imperial power, the Xia family's private army dared to attack the army led by the city garrison, and it was really bold. Xia Cheng originally pleaded for mercy, but was thrown into prison by him, although his behavior seemed to be reckless, but the Xia family had already committed the anger of the world, and it was difficult to calm the resentment of the world if they were not arrested. Besides, in the final analysis, this country is still the country of his Xuan family, when is it the turn of the people of the Xia family to point fingers, as the emperor, he must be known to the world, he wants to pinch a Xia family to death, as easy as pinching an ant to death.

The Xia family has been in the dark for so many years, he is not ignorant of the way, and he just doesn't want to break the balance with one eye closed, but now it seems that some things are not endured and passed, since the Xia family has taken the initiative to stab this layer of skin, it is natural that they should spare no effort to suppress it.

Dealing with a Xia family is not enough to worry the emperor, but what he is worried about is what the military salary should be, the war has tightened the treasury, the last time he collected grain from the people was not long ago, and now he has to come again, how to appease the people. Thinking of this, the emperor slowly frowned again.

Seeing this, Xuan Pei thought for a while: "Father is worried about the granary?" ”

The emperor looked at Xuan Pei suddenly, this son's intuition is sometimes too sharp, especially now that he is only eight or nine years old, how can he have the feeling of facing an adult man? Slowly, he said, "Thirteen, what do you think about this?" ”

"The Xia family is disrespectful to the court and makes mistakes, and they will be punished by their own father." Xuan Pei gently avoided this topic and said, "Erchen thinks that the top priority is not to deal with the Xia family and punish crimes, but to deal with the food problem of the border soldiers. ”

If he had doubted what he and the Xia family had in mind before, Xuan Pei's words were enough to dispel people's doubts. He didn't mention the crime of curing the Xia family, but mentioned the matter of military salary. Where you are and what interests you are considering, you will naturally pay attention to that aspect of things. For example, Xuanhua, after learning about this incident, all the excerpts he said were the crimes of the Xia family, and he didn't think about the tension of the war at all. Xuan Pei can think of this regardless of his own interests, maybe because he is still young now, or he really has no intention of power.

The emperor's gaze softened, and his tone softened, as if he was really an ordinary father who treated his son and wanted to test his son's homework. He said: "Yes, all the military salaries at the border pass have been turned to ashes, but the soldiers can't afford not to eat food, what do you think?" ”

"The soldiers of the Great Jin Dynasty shed their blood in order to protect their father's country, but they were tricked by their own people, the Xia family is sorry for them, but the royal family can't be sorry for them, otherwise who will work for their father in the future, and who will protect this country?" Xuan Pei's tone was still childish, but his eyes were extremely calm: "But now the frequent requisition of grain again does not care about the life or death of the people, ignores the will of the people, and will cause civil unrest." But the treasury couldn't get this money and food for a while, so they had to start from other aspects. Xuan Pei raised his head and looked at the emperor, his eyes were already beautiful, at this moment, he thought of a good idea, a pair of eyes were shining, and the hearts of those who saw it were about to melt. He was like a child offering treasures, and said with a smile: "Erchen thinks that my father can copy the Xia Mansion, and the Xia Mansion has been in the Dajin Dynasty for so many years, and there must be a lot of savings and silver coins. As for the Xia family, who have been officials in the court for many years, the father can spare them for their capital crimes and change the capital crimes to exile. On the one hand, this gives them the opportunity to atone for their sins, and on the other hand, it can show the royal kindness, what does the father think? ”

The emperor was silent for a long time and did not speak, but he hid a trace of deep meaning in his eyes. Xuan Pei's method, he had also thought of it, but he couldn't make up his mind for a while. Now Xuan Pei's words made him make up his mind. It's just that...... He looked at Xuan Pei, and Xuan Pei looked at him hopefully, as if he was a good son waiting for his father's praise. He slowly stretched out his hand and touched Xuan Pei's head, Xuan Pei's body stiffened, as if he was not used to such intimate contact, but he stood still in the end. The Emperor sighed and said, "You said it very well, I think it's a good idea. ”

The Xia family's influence in the court is too wide, and it will indeed startle the snake and cause unnecessary trouble, Xuanpei's method is very desirable. It can show royal benevolence, and there is no need to temporarily alarm the rest of the party. It also gives the Xia family a feeling that they don't need to be pushed too hard. Xia Fu has accumulated countless fortunes over the years, so it is natural that he can also raise a military salary.

The emperor was amazed at Xuan Pei's keen political acumen at a young age, although his methods were not yet perfect, with some loopholes, but the general direction was correct. That's great for a kid.

He said a few more words to Xuan Pei before hurriedly leaving. After the emperor left, Xuan Pei stretched his waist, looked at the words on the table for a long time, and then ordered the little eunuch on the side to take out the rice paper and throw it away. He sat down in his chair, played with the paperweight in his hand, and smiled.

Xia Jia...... It's already over.

……

The burning of the granary caused an uproar in the capital, but before the courtiers could discuss the reason, the emperor's will came suddenly. First, he sent Zhao Yi, the eldest grandson of the Zhao family, to lead troops to seal the Xia Mansion, and all the countless silver in the Xia Mansion was filled into the treasury to re-prepare the grain and salary. One hundred and eighty-three people from the top and bottom of the Xia Mansion were all exiled. Jiang Chao, like Xia Jun, was exiled to a desolate place in the northwest.

made such a big mistake, although the emperor's will was carried out vigorously, but it did not put the Xia family to death, at least in the eyes of the people, the royal family was merciful. But the courtiers smelled a certain meaningful smell from the emperor's action, and they didn't dare to act rashly for a while.

Jiang Ruan was drinking tea in the house when he heard the news, and when he heard this, he was slightly stunned, and whispered to himself: "How can it be so fast? ”

As soon as the words fell, he saw Qi Feng hurriedly walking in from outside, in order to deal with the Xia family recently, he often came here to discuss ideas with Jiang Ruan. Today's expression is a little serious, and there is a bit of joy in the seriousness. said: "Third sister-in-law, it's done." ”

"Thank you for your hard work this time." Jiang Ruan smiled: "With your help, things will go so smoothly." ”

"I was about to tell you this." Qi Feng said in a low voice, looked around, and shook his head: "I haven't done this yet, it's not me who blows the wind in front of the emperor, my people haven't started planning yet, and there are other people who prompted the emperor to make a holy decree." ”

Jiang Ruan frowned: "Who is it?" ”

"Your Highness the Thirteenth." Qi Feng was also very strange: "I heard that the emperor went to sit in the side hall of the Thirteenth Highness for a while that day, and after coming out, he went straight to the imperial study to draft the decree, I think he must have heard something from the Thirteenth Highness before making this decision." ”

The teacup in Jiang Ruan's hand trembled, and a large drop of tea splashed out. Qi Feng was taken aback by her actions and said, "What's the matter, third sister-in-law?" ”

Jiang Ruan lowered his eyes, how could Xuan Pei suddenly do such a thing? Now he is just a child who doesn't understand anything in his previous life. But since the last time I saw him in the palace, I felt a little strange, and now I can even influence the emperor's actions, she has been deliberately ignoring Xuan Pei's news, so as not to cause trouble to Xuan Pei, but now I think about it is very strange, it seems that unconsciously, she missed something very important, and a bold conjecture came to her mind, is it ......

Xuan Pei could almost communicate with her telepathically, and even this time he pushed the boat so naturally and quietly gave the Xia family a fatal blow, if it was because of that, everything was not impossible.

Qi Feng looked at her carefully, not letting go of every look on her face, but after a moment, Jiang Ruan raised his head and said with a smile: "No matter what, we have finally achieved our goal." ”

Qi Feng was very sorry that he didn't find out Jiang Ruan's thoughts, but he also knew that the girl in front of Lu Dao had never been happy and angry, so he was also relieved: "Yes, I think the Xia family is in a catastrophe this time." ”

Forsythia, who was sitting on the side and sewing, was surprised when she heard this: "What do you mean by this, girl?" His Majesty did not condemn the Xia family to death, it was obvious that they were cheapened. When she learned the news, Forsythia was still very angry, in her opinion, the Xia family's desire to change the military salary and frame Jinyiwei was really a great crime, and it was not enough to die ten times.

"I didn't make a move because I didn't leave a trace," Qi Feng explained to Jiang Ruan with a smile: "Don't worry, we don't need to do it at all, naturally someone wants the Xia family's life." ”

The Xia family has been an official in the court for so many years, although they are fully involved, but they have also formed a lot of old feuds. For example, the people of the five princes hate them so much that they hate them. On the way to exile, how to safely reach the desolate place in the northwest has become a problem. They are confident that within three days, the Xia family will die violently.