Since the two broke up unhappily in the backyard of the post house, Jiang You left angrily, the two have never spoken again, she has been busy buying and selling food outside for the past few days, punishing corrupt officials, and deliberately going back very late at night, not wanting to bump into him.

But no matter how busy she is, this matter has come to fruition in a few days, and the He family also sent a letter urging her to return to Jinling as much as possible and not stay in Yangzhou again.

Chonglan has been helping by her side for the past few days, or did she see her wrongly first, so she found an excuse to invite her to tea, and said with a smile: "The matter in Yangzhou has been decided, why are the prison guards still a little uneasy recently?" ”

Jiang You looked at the painting boat on the river in a daze, and said after a while: "I don't know what to say" She sighed: "Some people are obviously by your side, but they seem to be separated by thousands of mountains and rivers." ”

Chonglan thought for a while: "The prison army is worried about his sweetheart? After she finished speaking, she smiled and said: "Since the prison army likes it, why don't you show your heart to your sweetheart, with the talent and character of the prison army, why worry that no one is not tempted?" ”

Jiang You wrinkled his eyebrows tightly, his face was full of annoyance: "It's useless to show it, the two of us have different identities, and some contradictions are inevitable, I was sure of his intentions, but I stay with him every day, and I can't guess his thoughts." ”

Chonglan's face stiffened, his identity was different, and now he is staying with 'Zhang Jianjun' every day, and he should be the only one who is eligible. She covered her mouth and coughed dryly; "However, the status of the prison army is noble, and he is from a famous family, so this matter should be carefully considered."

Jiang You supported his chin with both hands, and his lips pursed: "Sometimes I can't wait to give up this son to go with him, but when I think of the burden and inheritance passed down from my ancestors and fathers, it is impossible to really leave it alone." ”

One is a famous son, and the other is just a lowly businessman, and it is really difficult to have both together. Chong Lan just swallowed a mouthful of tea choked in his throat, and blushed: "Have you ever thought about what the other party thinks?" "'Zhang Donglan' is good, but she is really not interesting! Listening to his words, how can he still have the smell of not marrying!

Jiang You nodded thoughtfully: "What you said is that I should ask him, and I can't wronged him in vain." ”

Chonglan thought that she was going to ask in this teahouse where people came and went, so she hurriedly waved her hand and said, "Don't, don't, she is not worthy of the prison army, the prison army should choose another good woman." ”

Jiang You was a little unhappy when he heard this, where was the palm print not worthy of her? She frowned and said: "He has known me for a long time, and he treats me carefully and considerately, and everything is thoughtful, how can he not be worthy of it?" ”

Chonglan finally heard that something was wrong, and hurriedly covered his face with a tea cup, hiding his embarrassment, and said vaguely: "It's good if the prison army likes it." She was afraid that Jiang You would continue to speak, so she hurriedly changed the topic and said, "When do the prison guards plan to leave?" It just so happens that I'm planning to leave for home, so why don't you continue to have a companion? ”

Jiang You thought for a while and said, "It's better to just go the day after tomorrow, let's return the day after tomorrow." ”

The two discussed the specific matters again, and then they each said goodbye, Jiang You raised his eyes and saw that it was still early, and he was hesitating whether to go back to the post house, but he involuntarily walked back, she stood at the door and paused, looked left and right for a while, and simply tiptoed to prepare to go back to the courtyard where he lived.

She was looking forward to seeing Xue Yuan along the way, but she didn't know what to say after seeing it, but she didn't expect to collide with someone as soon as she stepped through the weeping flower gate, covered her nose and staggered back a few steps, but was helped by someone.

She covered her nose and looked up, Xue Yuan held her shoulders with both hands, and saw that she stood firm and slowly let go, she paused for a long time before she said sullenly: "Palm print"

Xue Yuan sighed, raised his lips and smiled: "The minister still thinks that the emperor plans not to come back for the rest of his life." ”

Jiang You didn't expect that as soon as he opened his mouth, he would be holding a gun and a stick, and he paused before saying: "I have already discussed with others, and I plan to leave the day after tomorrow, I don't know what the palm print will be?" ”

Xue Yuan said lightly: "Since the emperor has discussed with others, why should he ask the minister again, is it just to inform the minister?" ”

Jiang You clenched his fists and endured annoyance and said, "The palm print means that you don't plan to leave the day after tomorrow?" She breathed a sigh of relief and said, "If you think the time is not right, we can discuss it again." ”

Xue Yuan put one hand on her shoulder, as if he wanted to say something, but withdrew his hand and said, "Obey the emperor's orders." ”

Jiang You subconsciously wanted to shake it back, but found that he had withdrawn his hand, nodded a little abruptly, turned around and walked back.

Everyone agreed that the return journey proceeded very quickly, and they boarded the ship the next morning, along with the women who had been rescued from Haixi Province.

Most of these women are from Jinling, or they have relatives in Jinling, Jiang You was afraid that something would go wrong with them, so he didn't let them go back by themselves, so he simply took them on the boat together. The woman with a red mark on her neck was named Bai Zhi, and she was probably grateful to her, and she stayed with her all the way.

Jiang You sat in the main hall, she washed the fresh melons and fruits and brought them in, and pricked them with a silver skewer and fed them to her mouth. She happened to see Xue Yuan coming down from the second floor, and took it over with some embarrassment: "You put it down, I'll do it myself." ”

Bai Zhi's eyes darkened, and she smiled reluctantly: "Yes." She looked up at the window and muttered, "It's almost time to Jinling." ”

Jiang You smiled and said: "Now that Haixi is dead, all the family property has been confiscated, most of it has been confiscated, and some of it has been distributed to you, although it is not said how rich you are, but at least it can ensure that you and your mother have no worries about food and clothing in the next life." ”

Bai Zhi listened to her softly, raised her eyes and glanced at her, her voice was like a mosquito's chirping, and she said very softly: "What can you do if you have money?" Now there are only two people left in the family, my mother and me, two weak women who are helpless, even if they have money, they can't keep it. After she finished speaking, she wept and said, "But my body is broken, and who good person is willing to ask for it." ”

Jiang You said with relief: "Marry a wife and marry a virtuous person, besides, this is not what you want, you can find someone who can understand you in the future." ”

Bai Zhi thought of her majesty in breaking down the door to save people that day, her face was slightly red, and seeing that she still didn't understand what she meant, she lowered her head and twisted the corners of her clothes: "The concubine is willing to serve the adults around"

Serve her? The palace ladies in the palace have their own fixed numbers, and she is afraid that it will be difficult for her to enter the palace, not to mention that she is waiting in her Qianqing Palace, she spread her hands and said helplessly: "The rules in the family are big, and I can't add more people around me." ”

Bai Zhi saw that she still didn't understand, she was in a hurry, and was about to speak, when she heard a sneer behind her, it was okay to let her say a few words when only the two of them were there, but she was embarrassed to continue to say something when someone else was there, and she turned around and ran away with a red face after accusing of a crime.

Xue Yuan dragged downstairs and sat opposite her without hurry, and immediately someone put tea and melons and fruits on the table, and he knocked lightly on the table: "The beauty is gracious, and the emperor is so beautiful." ”

Jiang You was stunned for a moment before he reacted, and then said with an embarrassed face: "You mean she wants to make a promise?" ”

Xue Yuan saw that the embarrassed look on her face did not seem to be fake, his face was slightly softened, he picked up the tea cup and looked out the window, and slowly sipped the tea: "The minister didn't say anything." ”

He changed into his regular clothes today, wearing a plain blue straight on his body, a white jade crown with the long hair of a black crow, and his demeanor was leisurely, with a more elegant taste than the usual gaudy and scorching.

Jiang You opened his mouth, after all, he didn't have a qualification, and opened his mouth first: "You have been angry with me these days, isn't it because of the last time I questioned you, you dare to say that you are not at all wrong with the account book that I checked in Haixi Mansion at that time?" ”

It's not good for the two of them to be so cold, Xue Yuan narrowed his eyes: "The Great Qi Dynasty is like a forest, although Dongchang and Wenguan Ming are on the same page, but the root system has long been entangled, Haixi will never be the first official to be involved with Dongchang, nor will it be the last." ”

Jiang You said stiffly: "So, I blame you?" She couldn't help but pat the table: "I also know the truth that when the water is clear, there are no fish, but if it weren't for the momentum of your Dongchang all the time, how could he dare to be so bold and reckless and harm so many innocent people?!" ”

Xue Yuan didn't answer, slowly got up and walked to her, she was so shocked that she wanted to hide back but didn't dodge, he raised his hand and rubbed her jade white ears, making her whole body soft, and then said slowly: "The minister is not an immortal, he asked himself if he did his best to Qi Dynasty, if the emperor does not believe in the minister, what can the minister do?" ”

Jiang Youyan's red lips pursed into a line, and he sneered: "In this way, you are a loyal minister who endures humiliation?" ”

Xue Yuan leaned down, his plump lips almost touched her cheeks, he sniffed the sweet taste that he hadn't tasted for many days, and said slowly: "The minister is not a loyal minister, just because this world is the emperor's world, the minister is willing to do his best." ”

He brushed her cheeks with a faint fragrance, which made her brain mess up, so she could only hold her forehead and lean back: "You stay away." ”

Xue Yuan's two lips rubbed lightly on her cheeks, intentionally or unintentionally, and then she slowly straightened up: "What else does the emperor want to say?" ”

Usually two people quarrel, if one of them softens first, this matter is much easier. Jiang You covered the place where he had been kissed, his expression was slightly relaxed, and he was about to speak, when he felt a shock to the hull of the ship, and the helm shouted loudly: "A few nobles, let's go to Jinling." ”

Jiang You was shocked and swayed from side to side, subconsciously grabbed his hand, looked at his expression, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Let's get off the boat first." ”

Xue Yuan didn't expect a few words to untie the knot between the two, nodded, and got off the boat side by side with her, the two stood on the deck, and saw from afar that He Fu had sent someone to greet him, and standing at the forefront was He Changming, the eldest son of He Mansion.

She hadn't seen an acquaintance these days, and she was very happy to see him come to pick him up, so she easily slid off the board and joked to He Changming: "Didn't He Lao ask you to help sort out the collection of books in the academy recently, why was he willing to send you over?" ”

At this time, Xue Yuan also got off the boat, Chonglan also followed cautiously, He Changming's face showed a look of embarrassment, and he smiled bitterly: "I came to pick up people this time, but I actually have something to discuss with the factory father." ”

After he finished speaking, he staggered and revealed a young man behind him, this young man's appearance is somewhat similar to Chonglan, and his eyebrows are also handsome, but he lacks Chonglan's easy-to-use bearing, so he is far less amazing than Chonglan.

She just wanted to ask out loud, but Chonglan behind her had already run over quickly, and said in surprise, "Third cousin, why are you here?" ”

Chongnian, the second son of the big house, ignored her, looked at Xue Yuan with straight eyes, and suddenly bowed down and bowed down, using the etiquette of a junior to see an elder, and said in a clear voice: "The younger generation is a heavy year, and at the order of my father, I specially visited the third cousin." ”

Fortunately, the dock was surrounded by He Changming in advance and drove away all the idle people, but the only few people on the dock were so shocked that they couldn't speak for a while. He Changming took a few steps out of the way, revealing a girl behind him, and the girl also bowed down, and said crisply: "Junior, Chongya, meet Uncle Santang." ”

He Changming smiled bitterly and said: "These people are all people who valued the family of the emperor in the past, and they came to our He Mansion and kept saying that the factory was their relative, and we didn't dare to call the shots without permission, so we brought them to ask the factory to be the master." ”

Although Xue Yuan's background is rarely mentioned, it is not a secret, he was originally the son of the Xue family in Quanzhou, and later the Xue family suffered, the woman was punished and confiscated into the teaching department, and the man was castrated as a palace slave.

But no matter how you look at it, the Xue family suffered, and the left and right have nothing to do with the heavy family, where did the heavy family come from?

He Changming saw Xue Yuan's face gloomy, and hurriedly added: "Don't worry, the factory father, only Xia and his father know about this matter, and the people next to him don't know about it, you look at this."

He also didn't want to believe what the heavy family said, if what they said was true, then the Qi Dynasty would have a big mess, but since people came to the door, it was impossible to ignore it or kill people, do you want the He family's century-old reputation? He discussed with He Lao, and simply handed it over to Xue Yuan to deal with himself.

Xue Yuan didn't even look at the two of them, and said indifferently: "The cats, dogs, and four came out of nowhere, climbed indiscriminately, and cut their tongues to sink into the river." ”

Chongnian and Chongya's faces changed, and Chongya hurriedly knelt down and said sharply: "How can Uncle Santang be so ruthless, we are your nephews and nieces!" My father often talks about how kind my uncle is to his juniors at home, how can you be ruthless now?! ”

Chonglan also reacted at this time, the Chongjia family didn't know who was jumping, and he dared to come to confess his relatives, no matter whether Xue Yuan was really a Chong family or not, he would never be able to spread the news!

She figured out this section, and suddenly felt cold all over her body, she hurriedly walked to Chongya's side, pulled her back, and shouted: "Fifth cousin, you can't go crazy!" Our third cousin has died a long time ago, this is Xue Changgong of Dongchang, where did he come from! ”

She said with a smile to the few people present and said apologetically: "My cousin and cousin had a very strong relationship with the third cousin when she was a child, and she became worried when she grew up. ”

The big house of the heavy family was indeed instigated by others, thinking of Xue Yuan's high position and power, and then thinking of the fact that the heavy family is now in a down-and-out position, so he moved the mind of recognizing his relatives, so he first sent two juniors to test the waters. Now the East Factory is powerful, in their opinion, this world is the factory father, although I don't know why he changed the surname Xue, but now he is alone, pressing the civil officials and holding the emperor, who dares to put a beak with the surname Xue?

Chongya only remembered the great prospect described by her father at home, and she broke away Chonglan's hand and scolded loudly: "You dare to be so rude! I think you're blind, I've met Uncle Santang so much, but I didn't recognize it! ”

Chongnian was afraid that people would not believe him, so he followed up and said: "Uncle Cousin's name is Jingfeng, there are four out of twenty this year, and the name and portrait of Uncle Cousin are also enshrined in our family temple." ”

After he finished speaking, he took out a slender wooden box from the burden behind him, and took out a painting from it, and everyone looked at it, although the person on it was not very old, but his appearance and demeanor were indeed Xue Yuan. He kowtowed and said: "This is the portrait of Uncle Santang left at home, it is clearly the factory father!" ”

Chongya rubbed the corners of his eyes with a silk, the beads on his sideburns swayed, and his tone was sad and surprised: "My father and the third cousin have a deep brotherhood, I heard that the third room was in trouble, and I couldn't sleep at night, my hair was gray overnight, and I couldn't stop crying while holding the ancestral tablet. ”

After she finished speaking, she kowtowed heavily: "We don't ask for anything, we just ask my cousin to go home to see my father for the sake of flesh and blood." ”

If Xue Yuan really values his family, going like this is equivalent to confirming his identity. The people in the big house of the heavy family only thought about climbing high branches and couldn't understand it, but Chonglan could see it clearly, whether Xue Yuan was really a heavy family or not, he must not be caught in the wrong place. She hurriedly scolded: "Cousin Hugh wants to talk nonsense, the factory is the factory father, and the heavy family is the heavy family, why did you run to the heavy family to recognize your relatives, you should hurry up and sober up!" ”

Chongya retorted that the person was sharp-toothed, and said with a sneer: "Now that the third cousin is here, but you insist on preventing us from recognizing each other, what do you have in mind, did you do anything to be sorry for the third cousin in the second room back then?!" ”

Chonglan saw that they were still insisting on dying, so angry that her chest rose and fell a few times, and she didn't listen to the persuasion left and right, she simply arched her hand to Xue Yuan and said: "Now that the second room of the big house has long been separated, what the big house does has long had nothing to do with the second room, and I also ask the factory to learn from it." "It's okay for the big house to die by himself, and the second room can't be dragged into the water by them.

Xue Yuan squinted slightly, originally looking at the incense situation, he didn't plan to do anything to the heavy family, anyway, they are far away in the northwest, and they may not see each other in this life, but they didn't expect them to be so ignorant of what to do, and they directly shook this matter out.

His wrung brows loosened slightly, and he had already made a decision in his heart, and he saw Jiang You, who had not spoken, looked sideways, and his face sank like water: "Does the factory boss have anything to say?" ”

Xue Yuan saw her cold expression, his heart was blocked, and he was rarely uncomfortable, and he still smiled at her with a warm smile on his face: "The prison army has also heard it, these two people are crazy, how can what they say be true?" ”

He still looked calm and elegant, and there was no panic on his face: "There are many people who want to get close to our family over the years, if all of them are recognized by our family, relatives can be sent all the way from the imperial city to Jinling, even if these two people are not crazy, they should be trying to cling to the like in vain, and what they say is not credible." ”

Jiang You lowered his eyes and didn't want to look at him, thinking of the bandit leader who looked like him, what Han Dayjin said, and Chonglan's stunned eyes when he first saw Xue Yuan, his heart gradually became a line. She raised her eyes and asked, "What is the factory going to do?" ”

Xue Yuan didn't answer directly, and said indifferently: "This person is bold, today he dares to falsify evidence and say that he is a relative of our family, and tomorrow he may dare to go outside the imperial city and shout that he is a relative of the emperor, and our family will not be appeased." ”

Jiang You's gaze swept over Chonglan, who was tight-skinned, and he glanced at him deeply: "Just do what the factory said." After she finished speaking, her strength seemed to be drained, and her expression was so sad that she didn't seem to want to say more, so she walked directly to the carriage prepared by He Fu.

He Changming hesitated, arched his hand at Xue Yuan, left him to deal with the two of them in place, and chased after her quickly, seeing that her steps were a little staggering, he reached out and wanted to help her, but she avoided it sideways, shook his head and said, "I'm fine." ”

He Changming looked at her carefully, thinking of the rumors in the capital, his heart moved, and he asked carefully: "The prison army seems to have a good relationship with the factory company?" ”

Jiang You didn't say anything, and paused for a while before saying: "So that's the case, now" She seemed to sigh: "Not necessarily." ”

He Changming saw that she looked tired and didn't seem to want to speak, so he also stopped his mouth with interest, and watched her get into the carriage, he hesitated for a moment by the carriage, and paused before he spoke: "I'm afraid that there will be some trouble waiting for the prison army later" There was no sound coming out of it, He Changming sighed, shook his head, and stopped making a sound.

The group went to the city, just arrived at Hefu, and saw a group of people standing outside the gate of the house, she lifted the curtain and took a closer look, and found that most of the officials in Jinling City were standing neatly outside Hefu, and He Lao stood in the crowd and smiled helplessly at her.

Jiang You had some bad premonitions in her heart, as soon as the carriage stopped, she got out of the carriage, and when those officials saw her get out of the carriage, they knelt down in unison with solemn expressions, bowed to the ground and kowtowed: "The minister has seen the saint, welcome the saint in person!" ”

Jiang You's face sank suddenly: "What do you mean, my lords?" Don't hurry up, you can't afford to be charged with pretending to be a saint. ”

The people kneeling at the bottom were solemn, and no one answered, and after a while, the officials of the Jinling Ministry of Shangshu slowly got up: "If you go back to the emperor, the ministers and others went to Beijing to ask for details, and they already know the reason for the emperor's 'hugging', Taifu Li Xiangzhong deceived us, knowing that the emperor did something wrong and did not advise, but it is actually a minister, please return to Beijing in time, so as not to be in turmoil in the world, and then abolish Taifu Li Xiangzhong, purge the Qing Dynasty, and set an example!" ”

Jiang You heard him say Li Xiangzhong, and knew that he couldn't hide this matter, so he said in a deep voice: "I have my own reason for doing this, you lead people to retreat quickly." ”

As if he hadn't heard, the official still knelt on the ground, kowtowed and said loudly: "The minister invites the emperor to return to Beijing!" ”

The ministers followed and responded loudly: "The ministers invite the emperor to return to Beijing!" ‘