There is another person who returned to the capital with Di Renjie today, that is, Lai Junchen, who was also exiled to Jiangzhou.

However, unlike Di Renjie's return to the dynasty, coming to Junchen's return to the capital is a bit gray. Originally, he was able to leave the penal colony only after returning to the capital as a sinner, and although he was forgiven halfway and did not pursue the old sins, he was only a head of the capital and was not given a new ministry.

Lai Junchen also returned to the city in the evening, but did not choose Dingding Gate, but entered the city in the west of the city.

He was dressed in a gray cloth robe that could no longer be seen in its true colors, and his head was wrapped softly on top of his head without a scarf, his face was thin and weather-colored, and he rode a thin horse with mottled coat, while his two attendants could only ride donkeys.

There was also an old carriage behind it, which creaked and was loaded with a small amount of luggage.

There are many people in and out of the thick gate, and there are some private markets that buy and sell cattle and horses, and livestock excrement can be seen everywhere on the road, and even in the depths of winter, there is still a rancid smell in the vicinity. The soldiers guarding the gate were also extremely unfriendly to people entering and leaving, and scolding and urging were just ordinary.

When it was the turn of Lai Junchen and his entourage to enter the city, they were stopped by a soldier commander in front of the city gate, stepped forward to look at them carefully, knocked on the already crumbling carriage board with a cane in his hand, and asked: "Is it an official who entered Beijing to run for election, or a Jia Ke who walked on his feet?" ”

Lai Junchen naturally didn't bother to take care of these small roles, so he only let the servant step forward and answered: "It's a traveler who has entered Beijing to visit relatives." And casually fabricated the address of a city square.

"Is riding equipment self-sustaining or municipal? If you can't get a citation, you can't enter the city! ”

The commander snorted coldly: "Recently, there are often traitors visiting relatives and smuggling into the market. If you can't get a citation, you have to make up for it at the city gate, and pay fifty dollars for each pack. ”

When the slave of the Lai clan heard this, he immediately glared at him, and said angrily: "Thief Qiu Ba, do you know who the master of my family is......"

"Shut up! Give it to him! ”

Lai Junchen was in an even worse mood, and said angrily, unwilling to reveal his identity casually.

The house slave cursed in a low voice and reached into his arms, took out a hundred copper coins with strings of ropes and threw them at the commander, and snorted coldly: "That's all! ”

The copper coin fell at his feet, and the soldier commander glanced down, his demeanor was even more unkind, and he beckoned back: "Come on, take down these two cheap slaves, and find out if there are any fugitive slaves!" ”

As he spoke, two more soldiers rushed up with sticks, and the slaves of the Lai clan were also a little panicked, bending down to hug the donkey's neck, looking back at Lai Junchen and roaring: "Lord Lang, help!" ”

"Stop!"

At this time, a cry sounded from the inside of the city gate, and several people rode out, the first one was Wei Suizhong. He was dressed in an official robe, and the guards of the city naturally did not dare to be presumptuous, and hurriedly retreated.

With the support, Lai Junchen no longer endured, his face was fierce, he dismounted and walked to the commander, raised his hand and pointed at the other party and said viciously: "Who do you know about me? Want to catch my house slave? You're dead! ”

"Brother has just returned to the capital, don't be emotional, everything is to be planned, why bother with these pawns!"

Seeing that Lai Junchen was glaring at a few guards of the city, Wei Suizhong felt embarrassed and hurriedly stepped forward to pull Lai Junchen.

The soldier commander was already sweating like rain, and he fell to the ground to confess, and Lai Junchen spat a few more viciously, and asked his family to ask for his name, and then he changed to the idle horse brought by Wei Suizhong and others, and marched into the city together.

"In the old days, it was Brother Wei who led me to the show. Now that he has lost power, it is Brother Wei who has descended to greet him, this look is in my heart! ”

Seeing his party members, Lai Junchen regained his vitality, although his outfit was still difficult to hide, his tone had become high-pitched: "In previous years, I was in the opposition, and I was able to stand tall in the court!" Now that I have returned from clearing my grievances, I will not be long after the recovery, people will not abandon me, I will not abandon people, you can expect prosperity! ”

When Wei Suizhong and the others heard this, they just smiled and complimented a few words, but when they saw that Lai Junchen was so downcast, they still said a little strangely: "Brother Lai is not a vulgar stream in the world, why is his return journey so simple?" ”

When Lai Junchen heard this, his face became even more sad and angry, and he looked back at Nanwang and cursed: "Foreign officials, most of them are scum, they are treacherous, and they are all in the world!" When I return to the capital this time, I will make the best use of my talents to help His Majesty the Holy Emperor sweep away the old evils and make my Great Zhou people clear! ”

Although Lai Junchen was also in a hurry when he was demoted from the capital, he was not so shabby. The exile was quite calm because of the care of the imperial court. However, when he arrived at the penal colony, all kinds of tortures began to pour in, and local officials, wealthy families, and even envoys who crossed the border all took pleasure in beating him.

In a short period of time, the goods were extorted, the slaves were scattered, and even the two maids were taken away by the local strongmen. It is also thanks to his humble background in the market, otherwise under all kinds of blows, I am afraid that he will be succumbed to illness.

"There is no need to talk about the old things, Brother Wei, you wait for a plan, I want to face the saint as soon as possible and receive a new position!"

After tasting the wonders of power, Lai Junchen is now as urgent as an addict, so he commanded the guards to command.

Wei Suizhong was embarrassed when he heard this, and only said: "After my brother left Beijing, there were many new things in the capital, and it was inconvenient to go into detail on the way, so I should go into the house first." ”

While speaking, Wei Suizhong introduced Junchen into a hostel in the nearest Datongfang, and said a little apologetically: "Although this place is not beautiful, it is quiet and rarely seen. ”

Lai Junchen dismounted and looked at the environment of the guest house, and said with a smile: "It seems that after I leave the capital, it will be difficult for you to maintain it." ”

After entering the house, he said again: "Anyway, after I leave, what will happen to Duyi?" ”

Wei Suizhong hung his head and said in a low voice: "Those who are related to the coming brother, the original set up the eyes and ears of the kings such as King Wei and King Liang, and they were killed. The kings have their own grievances, and the fact that the brother has not been granted a new one is also related to this. ”

Lai Junchen had already gasped when he heard this, cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and he no longer asked when he could face the saint, but grabbed Wei Suizhong's wrist and exclaimed: "Do the kings know about my return to the capital?" ”

"How dare I leak it! But if the brother asks for a reply, I'm afraid it will be difficult! ”

Lai Junchen also had a sad face when he heard this, and sighed for a long time before his emotions gradually recovered: "Offending the kings, although it is worrying, it is not a big trouble." A few people are just puppets in the hands of His Majesty the Holy Emperor, and His Majesty forgives me and lives me, not that he can disobey his private will. Let's talk about another big thing first, I have heard that the imperial heir is involved in the matter, this time I am returning to the capital, and I am about to dig deep into the evil, this is an opportunity for me to reuse, and it is also where the love of the kings of the martial arts family lies, as long as I get into the matter quickly, they will not harm me! ”

He asked Wei Suizhong carefully, and when he heard about the handling of the case by the relevant prisoners, he couldn't help but stroke his palms and laugh: "It's very good, these clumsy people are cowardly and incompetent, and they don't dare to go straight to the roots, but this is where I come out!" How many members of the party are still there? Recently, let them submit a book to explore the way. The west of the street Guande Fang, many old and sick people are released to the internal officials, and I want to lead the emperor directly! ”

Speaking of this, Lai Junchen was full of energy again, without the cautious shabby spirit he had before: "These things, I should not come forward for the time being, I have to rely on Brother Wei and you to be extravagant." As long as the case reaches heaven, there is hope for my recovery, and the kings of the martial arts family will not only not stop me, but also exert their strength to help! ”

Wei Suizhong and the others nodded again and again after hearing this, and after a pause, Lai Junchen looked at Lai Junchen and said, "Yes, I forgot to ask Brother Wei if you have been used under the Hedong Wangmen?" ”

When Wei Suizhong heard this question, he was a little nervous, but he just sighed and said: "Xunqing is now full of guests, and although I am sideways to the door, I still can't be green-eyed. Since my brother has returned to the capital, I am really too lazy to compete for favor and luck, so I follow my brother......"

"It's a narrow idea to think like this, although I offended him, but I also have to admit that this person is not a vulgar trick that can hurt. Until now, he is only looking forward to the future, not reading stories, avoiding him and letting him no longer compete. Wealth can be picked up everywhere in the world, so why bother to get it from such a tricky character. Brother Wei is there, seeking a future for himself, and he will not hinder the friendship between you and me. If the nobles still have any grievances against me in the coming year, they will ask Brother Wei to go and talk about it. ”

Speaking of this, Lai Junchen pretended to be tired and said: "The journey is hard, the situation is not calm, it is not easy to treat guests, the glory will be restored in the future, and then entertain and comfort the monarchs!" ”

Seeing this, Wei Suizhong and the others also got up to say goodbye, and left some goods for Lai Junchen to spend in the near future before leaving.

After a few people left, Lai Junchen returned to the guest house, sat silently until dark, turned into the side room and kicked the two house slaves who were already asleep: "If you want to live, get up quickly and go to settle elsewhere!" ”

The two of them were sleepy-eyed and still waiting to be cleaned up, pulling the livestock, but they were stopped by Lai Junchen, smeared and turned out of the earthen wall of the hostel, crossed the winding alley with the cat's waist, and waited for dawn in an abandoned house in the middle of the street. And all this was caught by a few lines of sight in the dark.

The next day, Di Renjie, who had rested at home for a day, dressed up early, went straight to the imperial city, and entered the palace to thank him for his duties.

After retiring from the court, Wu Zetian met Di Renjie in Renshou Palace, and introduced Li Zhaode and other two prime ministers to accompany him. Usually the ministers take up their new positions, but it is just a dialogue between the monarch and the minister, and there are usually not too many people present. Now that the emperor and the prime minister have come forward to receive them, it is enough to show the importance they attach to Di Renjie's return to the capital.

"Di Qing's new award this time is already in your talent. I hope you can get into the matter as soon as possible and solve the dilemma of the livelihood of the people in Heluo as soon as possible. ”

After seeing the salute, Wu Zetian looked at Di Renjie, who was sitting at the seat, and said with a smile.

Di Renjie returned to the capital this time, serving as a local official of the household department, and his main responsibility was the issue of hundreds of thousands of Heluo relocated households. This has been going on since the Heavenly Grant years, but it hasn't been going very well. Di Renjie has always had the talent of the local government, which is recognized by the government and the opposition, and it is also the best use of his talents to recall him to the court and the central government to preside over this matter.

was expected by the empress to do so, Di Renjie naturally wanted to show a few words of determination. Before the words fell, Wu Zetian raised his hand again and asked people to send a copy of the case to Di Renjie, and said: "There are courtiers who have made new statements, and they have prepared a few chapters, Di Qing has high eyes, take a look at whether there is anything to be done in it?" ”

Di Renjie took the transcript and read it carefully, and after a while, he arched his hand and said: "Congratulations to Your Majesty, and then pick up the virtuous legacy." The remarks in this are based on facts and conform to human feelings, but they do not seem to be the ploy of the good ministers inherent in the DPRK and China. ”

As soon as these words came out, Wu Zetian in the palace, including Li Zhaode and others, laughed, and Li Zhaode said: "Di Shilang has a large amount of weapons, and the weapons of the courtiers can be displayed in the arms, and Zang has his own equipment, which is indeed commendable!" Jun Cai specializes in affairs, and there is nothing to do. ”