Fang Renzhu's sudden visit made Zhao Xiu very surprised, and hurriedly went out of the second door in person, and welcomed her into his room with a smile.

Fang Renzhu was a little embarrassed to apologize to her: "When you invited me to participate in the warm house wine in the house, I didn't hear back for a long time, and I almost missed your business, I'm really sorry." ”

Zhao Xiu hurriedly helped her up: "A small matter, don't say it so seriously." I've also heard that your family has been going on lately, so I'm afraid it's not very convenient. Actually, it's nothing, I can't come this time, I just have to come back later. Our garden is there, and you can go to it at any time. If you don't crowd with so many people, maybe it will be more interesting. ”

Zhao Xiu thought that Fang Renzhu was here to decline the invitation, after all, Fang Shaoqing's current situation is really not good, and it has reached the point where he may be dismissed or demoted, and his wife and daughter have to go out for a banquet, which does not seem to be very suitable. However, Fang Renzhu's answer surprised her very much: "Sister misunderstood, I came here today to tell you that my mother and I will come over on the day when your family has a warm house wine." It's just that my father is a little inconvenient, so I can't accept Brother Ling's kindness. ”

Zhao Xiu was stunned for a moment, quickly reacted, and said with a smile: "That's better." I'm still thinking about it, my grandmother asked me to invite so many ladies to be guests, but in fact, they are really my friends, except for you, there is only Sister Cao Jialuo. If you can't come, won't I be bored to death that day? It's great that you're willing to come! ”

While she was happy, she didn't forget to comfort Fang Renzhu: "I've heard about Ling Zun, but it's just a small mistake." Today's saint is a wise king, and he will not deal with Ling Zun strictly because of this trivial matter. You just have to rest assured. ”

Fang Renzhu smiled bitterly and did not answer.

The two sat down to drink tea and exchanged pleasantries for a while. Zhao Xiu saw that Fang Renzhu was not interested. With another look of concern, he asked her, "Are you still worried about Ling Zun's affairs?" I've only heard rumors, and I don't know the details. Could it be that there is something in it that I don't know that makes you worry about Ling Zun's future? ”

Could it be that Fang Shaoqing's mistake was not as simple as rumored outside? Otherwise, Zhao Xiu couldn't figure out what the emperor was for, so he would hang Fang Shaoqing there. After so many days, there is still no explicit disposition. If it weren't for drying, he would already be disposed of. Then there is only one reason - Fang Shaoqing's crime is bigger than the rumors, and it is very serious and far-reaching. The emperor did not think about how to deal with it for a while, so as to minimize the adverse effects.

Fang Renzhu lowered his head, suddenly stood up, and bowed solemnly to Zhao Xiu. Zhao Xiu was taken aback. Hurriedly held her up: "What's wrong with you?" If you have something to say, it's good to say. Seeing Fang Renzhu's embarrassed face, she suddenly had a conjecture: "What are you...... Want to ask me for help? ”

Fang Renzhu's eyes were red. He bowed his head and said, "I know this shouldn't be, it's just...... In the end, that is my biological father, and I have never been a child to watch my father suffer. I don't know who to turn to for help, since the first month. There are people in Beijing who spread rumors related to my family, and my sister's reputation has deteriorated, and the palace no longer summons me to Jinjian. The girls I used to be good friends with. Most of them are no longer close. Even the girls in my relatives were much colder when they saw me. But for the sake of kinship. It's just a matter of maintaining face. There is only one you, who still correspond to me as before, and never look down on me for the slightest. I want to ask for someone, but I have nowhere to go but to beg you. I know I'm going to embarrass you when I say that. Don't worry, even if you reject me, I won't have half a bit of resentment. ”

Zhao Xiu listened and couldn't help sighing. She helped Fang Renzhu, and the two of them sat down on the side of the kang together, and she asked the girls and mothers-in-law in the house to leave temporarily, and then said to Fang Renzhu: "Seriously, I really don't know much about your family's affairs, everything is based on rumors outside." What's going on? Didn't you say that Ling Zun just made a small mistake? How did it get to this point? Can you panic so much that you rush to the hospital to find me a little girl? ”

Fang Renzhu could hear her tone loosen, and suddenly burst into tears. That's enough. Zhao Xiu's willingness to listen to her talk about her difficulties, rather than categorically refusing, is already a rare affection. Even if Zhao Xiu can't help with anything, she is willing to accept this love.

She recounted what she knew. Zhao Xiu listened carefully, and the more he listened, the more he felt that something was wrong.

Fang Shaoqing served as the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, and Taichang Temple was in charge of the temple sacrifices, ritual music and medical divination, Shaoqing, as the deputy of Zhengqing, was mainly assisted by the counselor in some large-scale ceremonial activities of the court and the royal family, which can be said to be quite leisurely. In the past year or so, because there have been various major events such as the post-book ceremony, the death of the first emperor, the enthronement of the new monarch, and the change of the new monarch, the work of Taichang Temple is relatively busy. And last year, due to the rebellion of King Ying and the death of the first emperor, many doctors in the Taichang Hospital under the Taichang Temple were questioned, and some officials of the Taichang Temple were also affected. With a shortage of manpower and a lot of things, it is inevitable that there will be omissions. Someone found that the offerings in front of the first emperor and then the spirit had not been changed for three days. It just so happened that the emperor remembered the first emperor and the first emperor Yuanhou, and went to worship his father and mother-in-law, and as a result, he found offerings that smelled no longer fresh.

The emperor was probably also in a state of distraught, so he was furious on the spot, believing that the official in charge of the offering was derelict in his duties. After being investigated layer by layer, the one who bears the responsibility has become Fang Shaoqing, who is mainly responsible for the affairs of the temple. He himself really felt wronged. Because he only went to check it two days ago, and the offerings were fresh at that time, so why did he think that the next person would forget to replace them? Originally, when Emperor Yuan and Empress Yuan were in power, she was a figure with no sense of existence, and no one took the issue of spiritual offerings after her death seriously. She has no children and no daughters, and no one will worship her except for the New Year's holidays. Anyway, if it's something for the dead, whether it's something that is changed once every three days or every day, who knows? Among them, there may be some cats, some people fill their pockets in the name of changing offerings every day, but as long as they hide it tightly, no one will find out. Fang Shaoqing naturally wouldn't be greedy for this little money, it was done by the low-level petty officials and officials, but now he has to bear the black pot for them.

Fang Shaoqing, who felt that he was very wronged, after being ordered to go home to reflect on his crimes, asked his son and brothers to ask people for him and inquire around, wanting to find someone to intercede in front of the palace. It's not for the emperor to act as if this didn't happen, but to remind the emperor. The one who really needs to be responsible should be the little official on duty. Although he, the Shaoqing of Taichang Temple, is suspected of negligence, he really won't lose his position. The Fang family's popularity on weekdays is still okay, and at first, some people said good things for him, such as a fine, or a reprimand, or this year's assessment is considered poor. But dismissal and dismissal are too serious. At most, it is to be demoted by one level, retain his original position, and let him wear the crime and make meritorious contributions.

But the emperor was talking to the intercessor. Just sneered and said "heh", and there was no follow-up.

The newly enthroned emperor for one year has never been a person who adheres to the idea of "governing the country with heavy rules". His majesty is also quite gentle, as long as he doesn't make a big mistake, he generally won't take people's lives easily. It's like King Ying committed the crime of rebellion. His wife and son did not participate in it because they were not taken seriously. He is still alive today. Although the prince was dismissed, his living treatment was not bad, but he was under house arrest. Another example is the former six princes born by Zhu Lifei, and now the Marquis of Shanyin. is also a person who has committed a crime of rebellion, and was succeeded to the clan by the first emperor, and was completely deprived of the status of a prince. But he was also under house arrest and was not allowed to go out. He was not allowed to meet guests, but he was still clothed and fed, and the emperor also chose a famous daughter as his wife.

It can be seen from these kinds of deeds that the little mistake made by Fang Shaoqing would not have caused such an angry reaction from the emperor at all. Unless...... He really did something unforgivable, and the emperor refused to let him go gently.

There were three different groups of courtesy, all of which received a cold response from the emperor. One of them was when the emperor was in a very good mood, and it was proposed by a close minister who was deeply favored by the emperor. As a result, the emperor still had the same attitude, and the close minister was assigned a not-so-good errand, and it was likely that he would not be able to appear in front of the emperor for a long time. The emperor's attitude frightened away all the people who were entrusted by the Fang family, and they began to feel that Fang Shaoqing must be in a catastrophe this time.

Fang Shaoqing didn't know what he had done at all. The tribesmen will also cause trouble for him at this time. If this continues, before the emperor's will to punish him comes down, his position in the family will be lost first.

Fang Renzhu asked Zhao Xiu for help, not to ask her to help go to the palace to intercede, but to ask her to find out what her father had done wrong? What is the emperor dissatisfied with him? The holy family of the Marquis of Jiannan is magnificent, the old lady Zhang is also a celebrity in front of the queen mother, and the brothers and sisters of Zhao Wei and Zhao Xiu are also familiar with the emperor's compatriots, King Guangping. Compared to the Fang family, they had more ways to probe the rumors in the palace. Even if it was just one or two casual words, it was possible for the Fang family to understand. Even if Fang Shaoqing is really unlucky, he can be a clear ghost.

After Zhao Xiu listened, he was silent for a long time, and then asked Fang Renzhu: "Today is a generous person, and a little thing will not cause him to be angry." Could it be that he has a deep admiration for Emperor Yuan and Empress Xian, so he gets angry when he sees someone snubbing her? ”

Fang Renzhu shook his head blankly: "I don't know...... The little official on duty heard that he was beaten ten boards and fined for one year, so he was fine. But the disposition of the father has not been delayed. The father and mother guessed that there must be something that annoyed the emperor. The emperor is taking the opportunity to embarrass him. ”

Zhao Xiu couldn't help but think of the rumors he had heard before, the royal family didn't want to have anything to do with the daughter of the Fang family at all, but the Fang family first planned to send the eldest daughter Fang Huizhu into the East Palace as a side concubine, and the King of Guangping had an accident and abdicated, and the Fang family dispelled the idea; When the new emperor ascended the throne, they wanted to send Fang Huizhu into the palace as a concubine, but the emperor said that his father would be filial piety for three years and refused to accept a concubine; The Fang family also wanted to promote the marriage of Fang Renzhu and the emperor's eldest son, and created momentum everywhere in Beijing. Previously, in order to warn the Fang family, the emperor also promised the third girl Fang to the Marquis of Shanyin, but the third girl died early, and the marriage was over. Since Layue, Fang Renzhu has no longer been summoned in the palace, and people from the outside world think that her eldest concubine's dream is shattered. Is the Fang family still unwilling and still wants to promote this matter? This kind of action will definitely feel very uncomfortable in the eyes of the royal family, right? Finally, until now, the Shang family and the Fang family have a gap, and Mrs. Shang will not intercede for Fang Shaoqing, so it is not impossible to get rid of this dog skin plaster quickly.

But this kind of talk...... But it's not good for the other party Renzhu to say it clearly. After all, she is a little girl, her skin is quite thin, and her self-esteem is relatively high.

Zhao Xiu was a little entangled in his heart. Fang Renzhu noticed something wrong: "Sister Zhao, what did you think of?" Please tell me. ”

Zhao Xiu wanted to speak and stopped, at this time, Bihan called outside the door: "Girl, there is a guest in front of you." The little marquis is not at home, and the old lady will let you go and see it. ”

Zhao Xiu frowned and called Bihan in: "What's the matter?" Didn't you tell your grandmother that I had a guest here? ”

Bihan whispered to her, "It's the son of the world who is here." ”

Gao Zhen?

Zhao Xiu stood up immediately, but she immediately remembered that Fang Renzhu was still there, so she stopped the steps she had just taken.

Fang Renzhu hurriedly said: "If you have a guest, just go and see me, don't worry about me." She smiled bitterly: "It's been so long, I should go back." "She didn't have much hope, and now she doesn't have much hope to go home.

Zhao Xiu wanted to see Gao Zhen very much, but when she saw Fang Renzhu's sad appearance, she couldn't bear it. After hesitating for a moment, she pressed Fang Renzhu: "I have a few new good books, you may be interested." Wait here, I'll come. It also saves me from going back to your house to report the news. ”

What does this mean?

Fang Renzhu looked at Zhao Xiu in surprise. (To be continued)