The window of Xiaoxuan is ajar, facing a winding flower path in front of the porch. Looking out the window, Mo Zhu was talking to a few servants brought by Gao Gong from Xiakou in the shade of the trees that could not be sunny, and there were no outsiders.

Gao Gong, who was standing by the window, calmed down and stretched out his hand to spread the window sash wider.

Then, he steadily sat back down beside Gao Wei and said earnestly, "Wei'er, my father has always only constrained your brother to study, but he forgot to tell you some side truths. The matter of the Zhou Jiawen Society, think about what Zhou Xianneng brought so many people here for? ”

Regarding Zhang Shaoxiong's suspicion and precautions, Zhou Xian only said one or two vaguely after a few old friends met in Huocheng, and the only one who could guess the truth was an old man like Yang Xun. And most of the others, based on the righteous indignation of the Zhou family's grandson being kidnapped, were invited to come to Huocheng County to pressure Huocheng County to solve the case within a time limit. used them to deal with the officers and soldiers from Hezhou, but Zhou Xian secretly calculated.

It's just that Gao Gong wrote to inform Gao Wei on the day he was rescued, and the Zhou family only thought about informing his parents as much as possible, after all, Gao Wei was also one of the victims.

Gao Gong didn't understand the cause and effect, so he naturally had another interpretation of Zhou's family affairs. From the abduction and rescue of the children in the Zhou family to the kidnapping and amputation of Zhou Shen's fingers, it obviously made the Zhou family realize that the clan's control and influence in Huocheng was weakening. There are only three or two petty officials in the Xibei Zhou Mansion now, and there is no one in the Xinan Xiao Zhou Mansion, and it is normal for the Zhou family, which seems to be declining and weak, to be targeted by foreign bandits and want to cut meat.

"If you talk about fame, the grandfather of the Zhou family is very proficient, and you don't know the depths of the boy who only stare at his partiality...... Let's inquire about Zhou Song's reputation in the market now? The most taboo for officials is corruption. But not long after he returned to his hometown from prison, he was arranged by Mrs. Zhou to go up the mountain to guard his grandmother's filial piety. Then I turned over the fragments of the ancestors' relics and printed two books, and after a few years, there seemed to be a famous Confucian style of self-cultivation and learning. And the other rooms of the Zhou family are as good as ......

This time, Xinan Xiaozhoufu sent a letter to collect people. The Xibei Northern Zhou Mansion responded with the same spirit, the in-laws were old, and the teachers and apprentices gathered together. Wei'er, tell me what those who beat the idea of the Zhou family will think? ”

"There are still 3,000 nails left in the broken ship!" , Gao Wei quickly responded, showed a little embarrassment, and pursed his mouth.

Gao Gong had no intention of pursuing his son's slang that he didn't know where he learned, so he nodded slowly and said, "If the Zhou family has always been like this." will not be dizzy and self-defeating, and the reputation of the business will at least protect for several generations. ”

Just like this time, it is said that Zeting He's daughter sued the Zhou family for murder and extermination, whether it was the scribes and Confucian scholars who participated in the literary society or the ordinary people in the market, they almost stood on the side of the Zhou family before the case was clear. The Zhou family is the master, the He family is the servant, not to mention that there are witnesses who have confirmed that the He family participated in the kidnapping case, the servant should have died, and this murder is not something the Zhou family will do.

Zhou Xian's second son, Zhou Bai, was just a lawless person after taking the medicine stone, and raped the maid next to his wife and committed suicide, and Zhou Xian locked up his son-in-law for several years. Until now, he has not been allowed to make a comeback.

Two days ago, news came from Hezhou that the second daughter of the He family made a false accusation, and fled in fear of crime, and disappeared. Li Zhixian of Huocheng received the news. A notice was immediately issued to post the case of kidnapping Zhou Shen outside the county office, and the case was closed and reported. When the people of Huocheng talked about this case again, they all praised the Zhou family for their kindness. The minions who betrayed their masters were all buried in coffins, like Zhou Shen who lost a finger and denied the possibility of going to school. It's not an exaggeration to change to another family and raise all these harmful people to ashes.

"Wei'er, if the Gao family is in Qingyuan, they can be like the Zhou family. Why should I send you to Huocheng ......", comparing the family's qi, Gao Wei couldn't help but sigh, patted his son's hand and said: "Although the name of the generation cannot be changed, it determines the people's hearts. My father has high hopes for you, and I hope that you can restrain your temperament from now on and learn hard from Grandpa Zhou. ”

"Daddy!" Gao Wei's face was slightly bitter, and he pulled his father's sleeve and said softly: "The eldest brother is in Beijing, and the son still wants to serve in front of you and his mother." ”。 Hearing that he still had to stay in the Zhou family, Gao Wei inevitably felt a little guilty of being a thief, although since the kidnapping case, the Zhou family has never asked him about the situation that day, but Gao Wei, who has hidden a lot of truths, is always unsure.

"Xiakou Miscellaneous...... Besides, your studies matter. ”

"If it's for study, the child can go back to Luojing and be with his eldest brother." , Gao Wei has the eagerness to get out.

"Gao Wei!" , Gao Gong couldn't help but glare, and said, "I have already agreed with Zhou Shibo, and when you are raised until the end of the month, you will still have to study in Chuanfang Academy with Zhou Shen!" ”

Gao Wei bowed his head aggrievedly.

With a light sigh, as a big hand pressed on Gao Wei's shoulder, a trace of gloom quietly slipped over Gao Gong's solemn and square face.

The reputation of the Zhou family that I talked to Gao Wei just now, Gao Gong is extremely envious.

In his son's mind, Gao Gong is still an honest and upright gentleman as when he was a little Hanlin in Luojing, but Gao Gong knows that because he is responsible for the construction of the Xiakou River and the palace, the infamy of "King Gao Yan" in Yunzhou has gradually spread from the driven river people to the ordinary people in Jiangbei. This time when he came to Huocheng, there were many old men with temper who unceremoniously appreciated their eyes.

Gao Gong had expected such a situation when he received the letter of appointment. How could an official who is afraid of bumping into a faction do such a drudgery of ruining his reputation and facing all kinds of dangers, but if he wants to make a career, he can't take care of a lot. The money and silver drawn by the imperial court passed through his hands like flowing water, even if he was thinking of his loyalty and honesty today, the nobleman who helped him connect with the Son of Heaven in the hidden mansion still asked his eldest son to go to the capital as a hostage.

Under the pretext of entrusting the second son of a relative, Gao Wei was ignorant, and he was embarrassed to get along with the Zhou family, who had always treated the Gao family kindly, so that Gao Gong did not dare to easily mention anything else to Zhou Xian until he left Huo City, so he could only repeatedly tell his son at the time of parting that he would save himself from now on, and he could no longer make mistakes.

"If the Zhou family is really defeated, it will be better ......", Gao Gong, who was surrounded by his servants and left, looked back at the small Zhou Mansion on the south bank of Xiafangxi, and sighed in his heart.

If the Zhou family is defeated. The marriage between the second son and the six girls of the Zhou family is better mentioned and more meaningful. The eldest son's wife, who has been appointed, is not noble. The Gao family also does not want a dowry for their daughter-in-law, if the second son's relatives are the same as Zhou Xian's insistence on letting the second son marry the weak girl Gao who lost her parents. It is best for the Gao family to save a good reputation of valuing love and righteousness, especially in Jiangnan, where they will retire and live in peace in the future.

After his father Gao Gong left, Gao Wei, who was still left in the Zhou family, was no longer depressed and trapped in the house, and he sincerely visited Zhou Xian and others one by one.

Fu Jing pleaded guilty or directly stated the inside story, Zhou Manyun didn't know or ask. Not to mention that his grandfather is an experienced old man, Zhou Ke and other brothers also have their own criteria for judging right and wrong and dealing with others.

But as long as he sat in Zhou Shen's room in Yunhuaju, Zhou Manyun couldn't help the urge in his heart to open Zhou Shen's little head and change it again.

Zhou Shen, who returned from Zeting, has been placed by Gao's side. Man Yun ran over every day to pull out poison for him and heal his injuries. The broken little finger of Gao Shen's left hand could not be reconnected, and the nameless poison in his body was similar to the materials and characteristics of the "purple ink lingering" that Man Yun had learned, all of which made people's hands and feet sore, unable to hold a piece of paper, and would convulsions and vomit blood from time to time.

But looking at similar poisons, the treatment methods are different when the drugs are used differently in subtleties. In order to ensure that there is no hidden danger, Zhou Manyun tried and tried very carefully, but it was just that Zhou Shen could recover some strength within ten days.

But just as it is much more difficult to cure a disease with poison than to kill a person directly with poison. To change a person's character. It's also harder than killing.

Zhou Shen couldn't do anything, so he sat on the couch in front of the window and asked Zhang Luo, the person next to him, to pack up the books and pen and ink that he was going to go to Chuanfang Academy to resume his studies tomorrow, and his whole mind was immersed in a chess game in his hand. simply turned a deaf ear to Man Yun's serious nagging.

"To listen or not to listen, I'll just say it." , Zhou Manyun unceremoniously pressed the scroll in Zhou Shen's hand. Said seriously: "In the future, Gao Wei has something to do, you stay away!" He has his own men to serve him. I don't need your help. ”

The head of the young man in front of him immediately nodded obediently.

It's obviously a mouthful and a heartless one! Zhou Manyun, who got the response, was even more angry, and suddenly jumped to Zhou Shen's side. Sulking with a pouting mouth.

It has been more than half a month since he woke up, and no matter what kind of statement he heard, Zhou Shen has never complained a word, including Mrs. Zhou and Gao Wei. This temperament is like Manyun in her previous life, and she hates it so much!

Gao Shi, who was standing at the door, quietly looked at his son and niece for a long time, and then slowly walked up to Man Yun, and said astringently: "Wei'er is just a child, even if there is an unintentional mistake, now I know that I am afraid of mistakes." Sister Yun doesn't have to worry about it. ”。 A nephew of his mother's family and a niece of his mother-in-law, Man Yun has always regarded Gao Wei as an enemy because of Zhou Shen's affairs, which makes Gao feel embarrassed.

Holding his own son, those private evaluations of Gao Wei's behavior, Gao didn't complain at first hearing. But after the eldest brother came to Huocheng, Gao's heart let go, when it comes to blood relatives in this world, she doesn't have many anymore, and she doesn't want to really be a wrongdoer.

"Second uncle!" , Man Yun stretched out his hands and dragged Gao's family, his eyes shook to Zhou Shen's hand wearing silver finger covers, and said softly: "The past is over, and Yun'er will no longer mention it to you and my brother repeatedly." It's just that what I just said is from the bottom of my heart, uncle, you think, the Gao family's career is getting better and better, and Gao Wei also has the idea of being the ruler of the country.

But Brother Shen'er has a quiet temperament, and he can mix for a day with a chess and a ping, regardless of intimacy, in the future, he is not a person all the way. Instead of always being in a pile and pulling each other and not being able to concentrate, it is better to make friends and find teachers, which is also convenient. If the fourth brother likes it, Mr. Wen, who came here last time, is a national player, why not let Grandpa lead the fourth brother to learn seriously? ”

A black jade chess piece in Zhou Shen's hand landed on the flat and posed a double tiger, raising his head with a sparkling gaze.

Zhou Manyun sighed secretly, smiled and continued to take care of things, and said, "Grandpa, I'll say I'll go!" ”。 She didn't expect to be a big girl, Gao Wei couldn't drive away, so she asked Zhou Shen to dodge, just hoping that Zhou Shen and Gao Wei would completely part ways from now on.

Whoever says that those who are good at playing games are good at scheming, and a smart but pure-minded person like Zhou Shen can't stand up to a high-dimensional calculation. In her previous life, she lost her life, and in this life, Zhou Shen has lost a finger, and Zhou Manyun doesn't want to be affected by Gao Wei or the Gao family at all.

The niece's mind could be seen through at a glance, but Gao still looked at the excitement on his son's face and nodded.

Man Yun helped Hongmei, followed behind Qingying, who was carrying the lantern, and left Yunhuaju together.

The lantern in front swayed lightly with the graceful figure of the girl's beginning, dyed with light, and the two masters and servants in the back who had not yet grown up quietly bit their ears.

"There are thieves for a thousand days, and there are no thieves for a thousand days!" , Man Yun, who came out of Yunhua Juli, was angry because he once again forced Gao Wei to be hindered by family affection. Anxious to find a punching bag, she gritted her teeth fiercely and said to Hongmei: "Tomorrow, let's go and find Uncle Xuanshuang as we wish, and Jihua will clean up the gang of bandits in Liupanyan first!" (To be continued......)