After the first battle of Shangqingguan, Xiao Meiniang returned to the palace and informed Emperor Yang Guang of Sui that Yuan Ziyan was not in the palace. Five days later, Xiao Meiniang was arranging a rest in the palace, and a waiter from the Yellow Gate came to report that Wang Shichong had bound himself to the palace to ask for guilt and was being tried in the court.

When Xiao Meiniang came to the front of the palace, Wang Shichong had already been untied from the rope and knelt on the ground, Xiao Meiniang went to the officials of the Criminal Department to look at the confession of the interrogation, only to know that Wang Shichong was escorting Yuan Ziyan back to Luoyang, and temporarily lived in a temple on the way, and at night, due to the lights, Yuan Ziyan's undressed figure was mapped on the window lattice, which made some soldiers look at it, so in the middle of the night, these soldiers raped Yuan Ziyan to death! When Wang Shichong knew about this, he knew that he could not escape the blame, and he did not dare to rush back to the dragon boat to resume his life, so he escaped with some soldiers. After the issuance of the holy decree, Wang Shichong was panicked again, feeling that he had lost the emperor's favor, so he poisoned all the soldiers who followed him, and came to ask for guilt with his hands tied.

Wang Shichong's words, where will Xiao Meiniang believe it! Although Yuan Ziyan was seriously injured by Xiao Zhuo at the beginning, after all, he was a cat demon who was only more than five hundred years old, where could those mortal soldiers be subdued! Also rape and kill! Yuan Ziyan sucked them all dry, she believed it! After Xiao Meiniang finished reading the confession, with a wave of her jade hand, the surroundings immediately fell into a deathly silence.

"Wang Shichong! Since Yuan Guiren has been raped and killed by those soldiers, where is the body? As an escort officer, if you let Yuan Guiren expose the corpse to the wilderness, even if this palace wants to protect it, I'm afraid it won't be able to protect you! Xiao Meiniang's voice was like a clear bell drizzle, and Wang Shichong didn't know if she meant it. Because although he knew that Yuan Ziyan was not a human, he didn't know whether Xiao Meiniang was a human or not. If Xiao Meiniang was just a person who was controlled by Yuan Ziyan before, then Yuan Ziyan was dead at this time, and Xiao Meiniang was freed, she should be grateful to herself; If Xiao Meiniang is also a demon...... Wang Shichong hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed: "Your Majesty! Empress! Please bypass the life of the guilty minister, the body of the noble person has been buried in the temple by the guilty minister, and please be merciful to Your Majesty! Wang Shichong finally bet on Xiao Meiniang's side of the human being.

But Wang Shichong kept kowtowing, but he didn't know that Emperor Yang Guang of Sui couldn't hear what he said at this time, and even what Yang Guang saw was what Xiao Meiniang wanted him to see. At this time, Xiao Meiniang spoke again: "Then do you remember what Yuan Guiren looked like when he died?" ”

"The nobleman's clothes are ragged, his description is untidy, his whole body is covered with bruises, and his face is extremely painful......" Wang Shi tried his best to think about what the scene would be like when the woman was raped and killed, but as soon as he said a few words, his body involuntarily straightened up, and then he heard Xiao Meiniang's voice sound behind him: "This is not what I asked." What I asked was, when Yuan Guiren died, what was he like as a human being? Still, the look of a cat! Wang Shichong's body was twisted all of a sudden, and what caught his eyes was still the glamorous queen, but an orange-haired cat's head!

Yes! Wang Shichong let out a shocking shout, but found that no one in the palace Mene paid attention to him at all. Only then did he realize the seriousness of the matter, and his body immediately collapsed on the ground and shivered.

"Tell me honestly how Yuan Guiren died, I can save your life, and let you have a prosperous official fortune from now on. You poisoned all the soldiers who knew about it and risked their lives to turn themselves in, did you intend to send them to death? If so, I can let you die like some soldiers right now, but with my hands, and the process may not be as glamorous. Xiao Meiniang's method of death made Wang Shichong think of the soldiers who were squeezed dry by Yuan Ziyan and described as dead by withered and dead, he couldn't imagine how painful it was to die when the whole body essence was sucked dry at one time (in fact, I can't think of it, please make up for the children's shoes with brain holes), because the one who has experienced it must be dead, but he is instinctively afraid of this way of death!

"Mother's life! Mother's life! It's a Dao aunt, a Dao aunt, it's she who killed Yuan Guiren! When I rushed over, I saw a dead cat lying next to the aunt...... It's Yuan Guiren! Wang Shichong pleaded.

"What kind of Dao Gu?" Xiao Meiniang didn't expect that Yuan Ziyan was really not killed by Yuan Tiangang.

"I can't remember the little one, but I remember that she is beautiful......"

"Huh?" Xiao Meiniang glared angrily, her voice became fierce, and Wang Shichong hurriedly said: "But the villain remembers her clothes!" Wang Shichong said the style of clothes that Jingyi was wearing at that time, and Xiao Meiniang immediately shouted angrily: "Yuan Tiangang! You actually played this hand! ”

Because the Taoist robe worn by Wang Shichong was the same as the Taoist robe worn by Yuan Tiangang during the First World War of Shangqingguan, which made her have to suspect that this Taoist aunt was Yuan Tiangang's fellow disciple and was instructed by Yuan Tiangang to kill Yuan Ziyan. As for how Yuan Ziyan died, she didn't care very much, what she cared about most was the remnant soul of her daughter on Yuan Ziyan's body! If Yuan Ziyan's soul is scattered, then her daughter will have no hope of resurrection!

"Mother?" Wang Shichong didn't dare to ask Yuan Tiangang more, what he was most worried about now was his life and death. "The life of the villain, please be gracious to the mother!"

"Don't worry! Since this palace promised you, I will save your life. Wang Shichong, since you have painstakingly made up a lie, Yuan Guiren's corpse, you must have been prepared, right? Xiao Meiniang had a monstrous hatred in her heart at this time, but there was still a glimmer of hope in her heart, she hoped that Dao Gu could find that trace of the remnant soul in Yuan Ziyan's demon soul, so that her subordinates could show mercy, or Yuan Ziyan's demon soul could evade that Dao Gu's means and not have a soul to disperse. Otherwise, Yuan Tiangang and Xiao Zhuo would have to die!

"Yes, sissy!" Wang Shichong truthfully explained: "After Yuan Guiren was killed, the villain knew that the guilt could not escape, so he comforted those soldiers and said that I would bear the responsibility alone. Then on the way back to the dragon boat to confess their crimes, the villain found a Qinglou woman for them to have fun, and poisoned them all that night, and destroyed the face of the Qinglou woman and buried her under the hillside of the temple. In this way, even if the criminal department sent someone to find the corpse of the noble person to collect evidence after the villain surrendered, first, it was impossible to determine the appearance of the corpse, and secondly, the lower body of the corpse was intertwined with many people, which is in line with the characteristics of the case. ”

"Good! You just say that, when the criminal department collects evidence, I will let people excuse you. In the meantime, you'll be in jail for a bit! But afterwards, you've got to do something for me! Xiao Meiniang is very satisfied with Wang Shichong's performance, first, she is smart, and second, she has no concept of good and evil, and she is mercenary. This kind of person, as long as he can survive, can do anything! Li Mi is gone, and she also needs to find another person to entertain those hungry people in the harem.

"The villain must do his best!" Wang Shichong knelt down again, Xiao Meiniang waved her jade hand, and everyone in the hall began to be busy again. I saw Xiao Meiniang walking to Emperor Yang Guang of Sui, and whispered: "Your Majesty, since Sister Ziyan has died, while severely punishing the murderer, you should also take back Sister Ziyan's body." And His Majesty usually dotes on Sister Ziyan, and this time she died without leaving a word, which is really sad. Therefore, the concubine wanted my nephew Xiao Zhuo to enter the palace and leave the former appearance of Sister Ziyan on Xuanmo, so as to relieve His Majesty's thoughts, and ask Your Majesty for permission. ”

"What the queen said is exactly what I want, Xuanhua died in the past, I have deeply blamed myself, I don't want Ziyan to leave me again today, hey......" Yang Guang sighed before ordering: "Someone!" Spread my will, let the Criminal Department quickly pick up Yuan Guiren's body, collect evidence, and bury it with a ceremony. After the name of the soldier who killed the nobleman is verified, his family and relatives shall be severely punished according to the law. Then he looked at Wang Shichong and said: "Wang Shichong, the concubine is dead, you should have brought her body back to the dragon boat, how can you bury it privately!" But remembering that you are loyal and commendable, and the person who killed the concubine will be brought to justice, and will be temporarily detained in the prison for trial, and after the criminal department collects evidence, the punishment will be given as appropriate. ”

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness!"

Seeing that Wang Shichong was escorted down, Yang Guang looked at the eunuch behind him again, the eunuch immediately understood the meaning and walked out of the hall, Xiao Meiniang also left on the grounds that Yang Guang was preparing to rest, but as soon as she arrived outside the hall, her natal body had already rushed into the sky and flew to Shangqingguan.

When she came to Shangqing Temple, Xiao Meiniang obviously felt that the Shangqing Temple at this time was no longer the Shangqing View five days ago, not to mention the sharp decrease in spiritual power, she came here, and Yuan Tiangang's cultivation should have been discovered, but she stopped for a long time and did not see Yuan Tiangang appear, which is too unusual! In her impression, Yuan Tiangang is a person who would rather bend than bend, and it is impossible to protect himself because he can't beat her. Unless...... Yuan Tiangang is not in the audience!

"Daoist, may I ask if Daoist Yuan is in the view?" Xiao Meiniang grabbed a Taoist priest and asked.

"Uncle Yuan has left Benguan five days ago, donor, if you want to offer incense and pray for blessings, you can go to the front hall, this is our living place, there is a lot of inconvenience, please leave early." Because during the battle five days ago, none of the Taoist priests had seen Xiao Meiniang's appearance, and this Taoist priest only regarded Xiao Meiniang as a lost pilgrim.

Let's go! Yuan Tiangang is actually gone! What about Xiao Zhuo? Xiao Meiniang thought of Xiao Zhuo, and disappeared in place when she turned around. When I arrived at Xiao's house, it happened that the eunuch was reading out the edict: "Pass on Your Majesty's edict, and order Xiao Zhuo to enter the palace to paint immediately!" The head of the Xiao family, Ling Lang can be there? ”

"Back to my father-in-law, please go back to the palace to give your majesty, my son Xiao Zhuo has left Luoyang five days ago, and please choose someone else for painting." Xiao Yu replied.

"Master Xiao, where has Ling Lang gone? Can you still catch it back? "The eunuch is also stubborn, but if he can, he still wants to take Xiao Zhuo back to the palace.

"Lao Yu didn't know, Zhuo'er only said that he wanted to go to relax, presumably he went to Balingyan's house, he used to go every year. It's just that if you chase it at this time, I'm afraid you will miss Your Majesty's business! ”

――――――

In the territory of Dengzhou Mansion, Qin Qiong and Luo Fang Xue Liang finally returned to the backer king's mansion, and just saw the gate of the backer king's mansion, Qin Qiong found that the backer king's mansion at this time was actually dressed in red and hung with colors, beaming with joy, and the two huge "longevity" words were pasted on the two bronze doors, indicating that what was happening in the backer's palace. Qin Qiong was puzzled, so she opened her mouth and asked Luo Fang: "General Luo, ...... this?" ”

Who knew that Luo Fang glanced at Xue Liang and replied with a smile: "Brother Qin doesn't know, today is my father's birthday, before we left, my father had specially explained that we must rush back before today." Originally, according to the plan, we didn't have to stop when we came back, who knew that Luoyang would blow such a big northwest wind, and there was a delay on the road, so we could only suffer with us! ”

"I see!" Only then did Qin Qiong understand why Luo Fang Xue Liang was unwilling to stop all the way after handing over the Emperor Gang to the household department that day. The three of them immediately entered the mansion to hand over the order, and after entering the door, Qin Qiong thought that the mansion would be lively, but when he entered, he found that it was not much different from usual, except for a few officials and gentry who were talking to the king of the backer, it was completely different from the birthday banquets of other officials he had seen.

"Brother Qin, my father is usually frugal and doesn't like to be extravagant, so this birthday banquet is no different from a family banquet, only some local officials and some friends of my father will come to celebrate, go, my father called us!" Qin Qiong followed Xue Liang and saw Yang Lin waving at them. The three of them stepped forward, and Luo Fang stepped forward first and handed over the order: "Father, the emperor has been escorted to Luoyang in full, this is the approval of the household department, please check it!" ”

Yang Lin took the approval and read it, nodded and said, "Hmm! Fang'er, you have worked hard all the way, go wash and wash up first, don't delay the banquet later. Qin Qiong followed Luo Fang and Xue Liang was just about to leave, but Yang Lin stopped Qin Qiong again: "Uncle Bao! ”

Uncle Bao! Qin Qiong was slightly unwell because of Yang Lin's sudden change of title. Since he was a child, except for his closest friends of the same age and some elders, no one has ever called him that, and in Yang Lin's voice, he even felt a trace of love.

"What does the prince command?" Qin Qiong turned around and asked.

"Uncle Bao, for...... The room prepared for you is next to Fang'er, you wash up and go with Fang'er and them to see what's wrong. Also, a few days ago, a few letters from you came to Jinan Mansion, which have been placed in your room, don't forget to read them. ”

"Thank you, Lord Wang." Qin Qiong stopped and retreated with Luo Fang and Xue Liang. When I finished washing up and came to my room, when I opened the letter, I saw that it was written:

My husband Qin Qiong, please see:

Since the husband went to Dengzhou, the mother-in-law and Yu'er are all right, the day before yesterday, there were two old friends of the husband to visit, I heard that the husband has served in Dengzhou, has returned, the husband do not read. However, the mother-in-law's birthday is approaching, and the husband has many old friends, if the husband does not turn back, he is afraid that it will be difficult for his wife to meet the source, so he sends this letter in the hope that the husband will return it as soon as possible.

Wife Jia Yunshu

After reading the letter, Qin Qiong was shocked to realize that she had neglected her mother's birthday because of Dengzhou Mansion's actions that mattered to her life and death, and now that she thought about it, she realized how serious the matter was. Because he is anxious for justice and righteousness on weekdays, in addition to the people in the official mansion who have a very good relationship with him, he also got acquainted with a lot of heroes in the rivers and lakes, these people in the rivers and lakes give him face, and every year he will go to celebrate the birthday on Qin's mother's birthday, and in order to let these people avoid the people in the government, he arranges for the people in the government to celebrate his birthday during the day, and then let these people in the rivers and lakes come to celebrate his birthday at night. But now that he is not at home, where can Jia Shi take care of this, no wonder he will write a letter to him and ask him to go back quickly!

Qin Qiong calculated the time, there were still five days before her mother's birthday, and from Dengzhou Mansion to Jinan Mansion, if you travel day and night, it only takes three days to rush back, so she decided to spend Yang Lin's birthday first and then go back, after all, Yang Lin Yu also has the grace of saving his life and knowing things, and if he leaves, it won't seem that he is too cold.

At noon, the birthday banquet began, first a sheng song performance, and then the Taibao and the guests presented birthday gifts, Qin Qiong realized that he had not prepared any gifts. But at this time, Yang Lin had already opened his mouth and shouted, "Uncle Bao, come here." ”

Qin Qiong walked up to Yang Lin and just wanted to tell him about the unprepared gift, but Yang Lin had already spoken first: "Shubao, I remember that a few months ago in Lanling, this king admired you very much when he first met you, and at that time, this king wanted to transfer you to his side, and then choose the opportunity to accept you as his son. But it backfired, and it was because of your mother. At that time, the king also thought that there was no turning point in this matter, but he didn't want you to come to the state to take the blame because of the emperor's gang. Now that you escorted the emperor to Beijing, it can be regarded as meritorious, and this king asks you again, are you willing to be the righteous son of this king and the thirteen Taibao of my Yang family? ”

Yang Lin's words were loud and sonorous, Qin Qiong never thought that his previous feelings were true, at that time, Yang Lin saw that he was back, he was really as relieved as a father, so he knelt down and kowtowed: "Father-in-law, Uncle Bao is willing!" ”

"Good! From now on, you will be the thirteenth Taibao of my Yang family! Yang Lin picked up Qin Qiong, took the dragon pattern token and handed it to Qin Qiong, and said happily: "This is the Yang family's Taibao seal, with this seal, all the state capitals in the world need to bow down and obey the order, except for the saint and the king, no one in the world can determine your life or death!" ”

"Congratulations to my father on winning the Thirteenth Taibao!"

"Congratulations to the prince on winning the Thirteenth Taibao!"

Everyone at the table unanimously congratulated, Yang Lin was also extremely happy, and ordered his entourage to take a set of armor and a spear for Qin Qiong to try on.

"Good! It's worthy of my thirteen Taibao! Only you are worthy of this set of goose feather armor! Yang Lin sighed.

"Wild goose feather armor?" Qin Qiong was puzzled in his heart, because he seemed to have heard this name, as if it was said by the domestic servant Qin An.

"That's right! This armor and the golden gun were originally owned by Qin Yi, the guard general of Ma Ming Pass, who led the army to besiege Ma Ming Pass for his father, and General Qin was betrayed by his subordinates and had to lead the army to break through. Because his father wanted to spare his life, he besieged him with the Beidou Long Snake Array, but General Qin was determined to die, and almost broke out of the formation with this golden gun, so his father ordered him to be killed. ”

That's why my father ordered him to be killed!

That's why my father ordered him to be killed!

That's why my father ordered him to be killed!

Yang Lin's words echoed in Qin Qiong's ears for a long time, he never thought that it was Yang Lin who killed his father! And a moment ago, he even worshipped the enemy who killed his father as his father-in-law!

"Uncle Bao? Shubao? Seeing that Qin Qiong was motionless, Yang Lin hurriedly asked.

"Father-in-law, the child is tired from traveling all the way, and he is a little too drunk to drink, can you allow the child to go back and rest first?" Although Qin Qiong knew that the enemy who killed his father was right in front of him, he couldn't do it. Because Yang Lin has saved his life twice, if he kills him like this, even if his father gets revenge, he will owe him this favor in his life! He will take revenge, but he must return this favor to Yang Lin first!

"It's okay, you go back to rest first, and tomorrow morning, my father will take you to familiarize yourself with the things that the Yang family Taibao should know." Yang Lin watched Qin Qiong leave, and he was infinitely relieved in his heart. Among the thirteen Taibao of the Yang family, some have defended one side, some have sacrificed their lives for the country, and there are only seven or eight people left so far. And among these seven or eight people, some are either too strong to get through the accident; Some are either too cautious and difficult to achieve; Some only know about military affairs; Some are arrogant and flamboyant, and so on. Only Qin Qiong has the courage and responsibility, Yang Lin believes that as long as he cultivates it well, Qin Qiong will definitely be able to inherit his lord in the future and lead the Yang family Taibao to protect the Great Sui River!

"Mother! Why? Qin Qiong returned to the room, leaned against the door and asked herself. He remembered why his mother repeatedly opposed him to come to Dengzhou, and also remembered Xiao Zhuo's words: "This person is not only the noble person in your life, but also your biggest enemy!" ”

In the early morning of the next day, Yang Lin sat in the main hall and waited for the Taibao to greet him, but he didn't see Qin Qiong arrive for a long time, and sent someone to urge him to see, only to know that Qin Qiong had left the palace of the backer. In Qin Qiong's room, there was still a letter, Yang Lin looked at it, it turned out to be a letter from Qin Qiong's family, which said that Qin's mother's birthday was approaching, urging Qin Qiong to go home as soon as possible.

"The thirteenth brother is really, even if he wants to go back to pay his mother's birthday, he will say it to his father! How can there be such a person who leaves without saying a word! Xue Liang complained.

"Father." Luo Fang said at this time, "The thirteenth brother left overnight, there must be other reasons, and the matter of the father accepting the thirteenth brother as a righteous son has not been approved by Qin's mother, why not take this opportunity to go to Jinan Mansion to visit Qin's mother, so that outsiders will not say that the thirteenth brother is greedy for power and ignores filial piety." ”

"Hmmm! Fang'er is reasonable, you guys get ready, and we'll set off immediately. As soon as Yang Lin finished speaking, another soldier from the government came to report: "Lord Qiqi, Lord Tangbi of Jinan Mansion has a letter to submit!" ”

Yang Lin took the letter and looked at it, his brows furrowed, Luo Fang looked at it and asked, "Father, what's wrong?" ”

"Tang Biyan said that he intercepted a flying pigeon biography of the rivers and lakes and green forests five days ago, the content of the book is to invite all the green forest characters to gather in Jinan Mansion, Tang Bi feels that the person who robbed the emperor should also be among them, so please send troops for his father to encircle and suppress together."