When Fang Yishan returned home, he only felt that half his life had been gone. But he did not dare to be careless, because the letter he carried in his arms could take away half his life at any time.

He wanted to cry, but he was afraid of being seen and suspicious. He wanted to curse, but he was afraid that the person who wrote the letter would find out. He wanted to ask God to worship Buddha, and he had to make up an excuse to deceive him in front of his wife and children. The matter was so important that he didn't dare to tell them at all, and there was no one to discuss, so he could only sit alone in the city of sorrow.

After a sleepless night, his hair was dozens more gray. When I got up early the next morning, I couldn't take care of breakfast, so I went to find my cousin in the second room, Fang Chongshan's brother Fang Sanye. The other party used to be the same as him, he was a secret stake for King Ying, but unfortunately the thing was not done, his identity was exposed, and he was dismissed and investigated, although he was lucky to save his life, but now he is just idle at home, and even the clansmen refuse to associate with him.

When Fang Sanye saw Fang Yishan, he didn't have a good face. Their branch has always been the head of the lineage, and his brother is the patriarch, and if the elder brother abdicates, the patriarch should be him. Since he was questioned, he has died of this heart, although he doesn't treat his brother very much, but with the protection of the other party, he can live a good life. But as soon as his brother was reprimanded by the new emperor, Fang Yishan tried to take away the position of patriarch and threw him aside, so how could he bear it? He also knew in his heart that as long as his brother Fang Chongshan stayed in the position of patriarch, his family could live in peace. But the position of the patriarch has been moved, and he is afraid that he will be expelled immediately. Although his brother's position seems to be secure now, that doesn't mean that those who once threatened him no longer exist. So at this moment, when Fang Sanye saw Fang Yishan, his eyes were not the former comrades, but the enemies who wanted to kill him completely.

Before Fang Yishan could take out the letter, he was scolded by Fang Sanye first. The scolding is over. Fang Sanye directly drove people out of the door, so that he didn't even have the time to say a word. Fang Yishan could only go home stupidly, secretly complaining that Fang Sanye was not humane. After complaining, he looked at the letter and became more and more worried, what should he do with this hot yam?

Fang Yishan got an envoy and had to go to the Ministry of Rites every day to order something. He could only collect his mood. Be careful to hide the letter in a hidden compartment in the study. I changed into an official uniform and went on a business trip. Because he couldn't remember the request that Mrs. Zhang had told Gao Ju yesterday, he could only run again, as for the letter. was directly thrown away by him. He is not stupid, when he goes to Yingtai, there is no shortage of attendants around him, which is equivalent to being watched at any time. How could it be possible to pass something to Mrs. Zhang or Gao Ju in private? Once discovered, his life will be lost!

So he was fine. Do what you should do, and see people when you should see them. At most, when he went to Yingtai, he deliberately brought an acquaintance of the Ministry of Rites, nominally to write down the requirements of Mrs. Zhang and Gao Ju. In fact, it is to prevent the "old friend" from using the excuse that there are others around him to prevaricate when he comes to question.

Three days passed, and no one came to him again. Fang Yishan only thought that the other party saw that there were outsiders around him. It was difficult to make it, so I gave up. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief in my heart.

He didn't know, because he suddenly went to find Fang Sanye, and Fang Chongshan went to his brother uneasily and asked about it.

Fang Sanye said angrily: "How do I know what he is doing here?" He didn't do good things, he was delusional, and he was scolded by me and ran away. He didn't say anything he had planned, so I didn't know. ”

When Fang Chongshan heard this, he couldn't help but sigh: "Your temper is really ...... You have befriended him, and you don't have to tear your face with him for my sake. I know you're angry, but after I leave Beijing, who in my clan will be able to shelter you? If you have some friendship with him, he must not let people insult you. ”

Fang Sanye was silent for a moment, and sneered: "I still have to rely on him? It's not disgusting! This is where I live, if there is no father to earn this family business for the Fang family, which one of the clansmen can have today's scenery? Just because the father is gone doesn't mean they can bully his son! If they go too far, and they scatter in two, I will go out and ruin their reputation, and I will have nothing left now, and I don't care about that little bit of fame. But they still have to rely on the reputation left by our father to save face! ”

"Why do you have to do that?" Fang Chongshan sighed, "If someone who is not long-sighted is really bullied on your head, you should take your family to Zhuangzi outside the city to avoid it." It was our own private property, and my mother married it, and it has nothing to do with the clan, and no one can drive you away. When I am convinced, I have my own way of being angry for you, so why make a big deal out of it? Of course, you don't care about reputation, but the sixth sister is not married yet, you always have to think about the children. ”

Fang Sanye's face was gloomy: "With a father like me, what good family can the sixth sister say?" It makes no difference whether the reputation is good or bad. ”

Fang Chongshan saw that he had already given up on himself, and he couldn't bear to see his brother like this, so he persuaded him: "I know you are wronged, you went to help King Ying that day, it was not for your own future, but for the family." Now you have done something bad, but your people have rejected you, and they should not have done it. I also feel very cold. It's just that people like us can't do without the assistance of the family, and you can endure it for a while. With me for one day, I can always protect you for one day. ”

Fang Sanye was silent, his expression gloomy.

When Fang Chongshan saw it, his heart moved, and he couldn't help but think of Zhao Xiu's reminder that day. He knew that there was a prince of Guangping behind her, and the words she said were actually what the prince of Guangping meant. Although he didn't know what kind of fish he had suffered, it could be speculated that the emperor was probably disgusted with him because of the people around him. Now that he has escaped the catastrophe, he is full of ambition, and plans to show his skills and achievements in the local area, so as to please the emperor and return to the central government. He would never allow anyone around him to stand in the way of his future. Even if it is not clear who the "person around you" is, it is a fact that my brother once participated in the rebellion.

He persuaded Third Master Fang: "Don't complain, you become a king or lose, there is nothing to say." King Ying is defeated, you can save your life, it is already the emperor's grace. Although the future has been cut off, you are still young, and you still have children and grandchildren, and you may not have nothing to do in the future. I see that he is a generous gentleman, and he understands very well in his heart, which is very different from the one before me. Treat me to do a few big things and make meritorious contributions to the court. Today, I want to be a little more tolerant of you. King Ying is dead, so you don't have to think too much about it. You voted for him that day. Is it because you are genuinely convinced of him? The overall situation has been decided, so you should think more about the future. ”

Third Master Fang's heart moved, he looked at his brother, and nodded slowly: "I understand." "I thought that I had not had a good face for my brother since I was questioned, but my brother still didn't give up on himself. It was not his brother's responsibility to get to where he is today. Make a face again. It's not reasonable, and it's annoying to people. It was time for him to think about the days ahead.

Fang Chongshan saw that his younger brother had a change of heart, and his heart was a little calmer. You're almost ready to pack. He took three or five entourages and a cart of luggage, said goodbye to his wife, daughter and brothers, and went straight out of the capital. I took a boat south to Jining.

His pomp and circumstance is much smaller than before, in fact, it is for others to see. so that the emperor knew that he cared about the people and was very frugal. In fact, Mrs. Fang had already sent more than a dozen other subordinates. transported three or four truckloads of things to the south in advance, and never asked Fang Chongshan to be aggrieved in office. It's just that outsiders don't know about it, and the clansmen don't know much about it. Seeing Fang Chongshan's slightly shabby pomp, he privately mocked a few words.

Fang Yishan also laughed. He remembered that he had done a good job because of the envoy recently, and the emperor also praised him for his "diligence", and everyone showed him an envious look, and he felt that there was wind under his feet when he walked, and even going to Yingtai was no longer a chore, anyway, Mrs. Zhang did not mention anything other than saying "familiar" that day. In contrast, Fang Chongshan of the Yanzhi branch went out of Beijing so gloomy, which was much more embarrassing. Fang Yishan thought in his heart, when this mission was completed, he would strive for it again, and maybe he would be able to rise back to the fifth grade. After that, as long as he rises one level further, he will be equal to Fang Chongshan, if he is promoted by two levels, it will not be difficult to win the position of patriarch.

Unfortunately, his dream was not over, and the nightmare came again.

One day he came out of the Ministry of Rites and rode home in a carriage. He closed his eyes and recuperated, and did not make any noise, but later found that the carriage had not arrived home for so long, but had stopped. He was suspicious, lifted the curtain and looked out, only to know when he arrived in the wilderness, and when he looked at the wheel, his coachman had collapsed by the door at some point, and the driver had already changed, and the figure was so familiar that it was terrifying.

Fang Yishan was frightened: "Why are you here?!" ”

The man sneered: "Brother Fang is living a prosperous life now, and he has forgotten who he is." Why didn't you delay doing what you promised that day? ”

Fang Yishan broke out in a cold sweat and swallowed his saliva: "I want to send it...... But every time I saw those two, there were always people around, so I ......"

"If that's the reason, you don't have to worry." The man interrupted him, "Tomorrow the scribe will be sick, so just pass the letter to him." If there is anything inconvenient, Huang Gonggong next to the princess is an old man in the palace in the past, you can ask him to help deliver a message. He paused, turned his head and glanced at Fang Yishan with a meaningful gaze: "Instead of letting you continue to hide the letter at home and be discovered at some point, it's better to hand it in early and save yourself from worrying all day, right?" ”

After the man said this, he left, leaving Fang Yishan sweating alone. It wasn't until his coachman woke up that he settled down and scolded the driver, claiming that it must be the other party's drunk driving that would pull him to such a place in a daze. The coachman didn't know what was going on, and he kept begging for mercy. But after returning home, Fang Yishan still drove him away, found another skilled coachman, and decided to bring a few more entourages when he went out in the future, so as not to be touched by someone in the car again at some point.

In the dead of night, he went into his study alone, did not light the lamp, took out the fateful letter from the dark compartment, and began to sigh for a long time.

If the letter is not delivered, it will not work. If you hand it over, you will probably be found out and lose your life, but if you don't hand it over, you will only let that person take your life. The man could steal his car without knowing it, and even if a few more people followed, it might not hurt him. He didn't dare take the risk. The only way to do this is to hand over the letter, but I have to think of a way to clear myself.

He slipped the letter into his sleeve pocket, turned around, and suddenly noticed a figure swaying outside the window. He was shocked: "Who is there?!" ”

Outside the window, the voice of his servant came: "It turned out to be the master." The little one heard movement in the study, so he came to take a look. Why didn't the old man light the lamp? ”

Fang Yishan breathed a sigh of relief and reprimanded: "If the master doesn't like to light the lamp, he won't light it, what are you talking about?" Why don't you go down quickly?! ”

"Yes, yes, yes." The clerk ran away in a hurry, but instead of going back to his room, he took swift and silent steps to a wall, and when he saw no one left and right, he held his throat and learned a few cat meows.

A figure jumped down from the other side of the wall in an instant, and the scholar lowered his voice very low, and said this and so in the man's ear, and the man went out over the wall again. He looked around and left again silently.

At night, the Maoqin Hall of Qianqing Palace is brightly lit. The emperor looked at the note he had just sent in his hand, smiled slightly, and handed it to Gao Zhen.

Gao Zhen took it and took a look, and whispered the contents of the note to King Guangping: "Fang Yishan has moved." He took out the secret letter hidden in the study, and it must have been those people who forced him to make up his mind. ”

King Guangping smiled: "The emperor is like a god." Fang Yishan is really a gutless rat. If he is just timid, but he still has a heart of disobedience, such a person will be clean as soon as possible. ”

"The trap has been set, it depends on when he gets into it." The emperor looked at Gao Zhen, "Zhen'er, why don't you guess, what will Gao Ju do when he sees this letter?" (To be continued) R655