At this time, on Tianmen Street, Xue Ne and Lu Zheng walked side by side, and after coming out of Yao Chong's mansion, Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask Xue Ne: "Yao Xiang is old now, I don't think he may be able to control the stubborn second son." When I saw Yao Yi that day, I felt that this person was very gentlemanly. ”

Xue Ne said in a heavy tone at this time: "There are a lot of gentlemen in this Chang'an City, and the few sons in Yao Chong's mansion rely on it, but Yao Chong is the prime minister at this time, so they dare to do this." ”

"What about Yao Chong's resignation? Is it that the son of the Yao family does not dare to act at will? Lu Zheng then asked.

"That's natural, now Your Majesty wants virtuous and upright talents, if you only rely on your father's shadow, there will be a day when you will come to an end."

Lu Zheng could hear the meaning of Xue Ne's words, Emperor Taizong once said that the heroes of the world are among them. And today's world is not to judge by talent, if there is no talent, then the decline of the door is not far away.

At this time, the shops on Tianmen Street were about to close, but the West Market was still noisy, so Xue Ne said: "It's been a few days since I came to Chang'an, but I haven't seen the West Market yet, so it's better for us to go there for a visit." ”

Lu Zheng immediately responded, and walked towards the West Market with Xue Ne, along the way Lu Zheng looked at both sides of the street endlessly, and when he walked not far from the West Market, Lu Zheng saw the colorful lights in front of him, and the market was densely populated and bustling.

At this time, Lu Zheng fixed his eyes on a young son eating a string of sugar gourds, and the sugar gourds pasted with honey made Lu Zheng want to eat them. Looking further away, he could still hear the sound of wine glasses colliding, and he couldn't help but say to himself: "It turns out that this place is so noisy, not to mention that there are many people, I want to take a good look." ”

Walking into the depths of the West Market, the prosperity here exceeded Lu Zheng's imagination, and the restaurant was full of people without any closure, and you could still hear the conversation and laughter inside. The customers on the second floor all opened their windows and looked at the lion dance procession over there. And the lion dance team over there, mixed with the sound of gongs and drums, staggered like churning golden waves.

Xue Ne said to Lu Zheng at this time: "There are not only lion dance artists in this West Market, but also dignitaries. For example, when the princess of the dynasty, Zai Fu Xungui may appear here. ”

At this time, Lu Zheng saw an official in front of him wearing a scarlet official robe walking into a restaurant, Xue Ne was talking about dignitaries, but he didn't expect to witness one with his own eyes. Lu Zheng saw a few big characters written on the plaque of the restaurant, and thought that this was not the meaning of a drunken party.

Xue Ne also saw the official's face, but he didn't know who it was, but at least he was a Beijing official above the fifth grade. At this time, Xue Ne said to Lu Zheng: "Go to the restaurant in front and have a look." ”

In front of the restaurant, Lu Zheng and Xue Ne stepped in, and the people inside talked endlessly, as for the official just now who had disappeared, Xue Ne walked to the counter and asked, "Is there a seat on the second floor?" ”

The shopkeeper looked at Xue Ne and Lu Zheng in front of him, and greeted him and said, "This private room on the second floor is just enough for the two of you to enjoy the scenery of the West Market, but the price is more expensive." I see that the two of them are not poor people, they both have positions in the capital. ”

Xue Ne said: "Money is not a problem, but I want to say that just now an official wearing a scarlet official robe came in, does the shopkeeper have an impression?" ”

"There is indeed such a person, he is in the warm pavilion on the second floor."

Xue Ne walked up to the second floor, followed by Lu Zheng, lifted the bead curtain on the second floor, Xue Ne heard a burst of noise, he walked a few steps, and found that a voice came from a warm pavilion, which happened to be the official in the scarlet official uniform. However, the person opposite is even more prominent, and Xue Ne also knows it, that is, the current His Majesty's henchman Wang Mao Zhong.

Wang Maozhong is no better than Yang Siqiao and Gao Lishi in helping Xuanzong to make decisions, and at this time he has also achieved the rank of General of the Auxiliary State, the title of Huo Guogong, and the rank of the third grade, even if Xue Ne sees it himself, he will also pay a visit.

However, Xue Ne did not appear immediately, but hid outside the bead curtain, listening to the conversation between the two, while Lu Zheng watched the wind from the side.

Xue Ne obviously heard the official say: "Now that General Wang is getting grace, why don't you take the land outside Chang'an City as your own, I have already thought of countermeasures for the general here, even if someone comes to investigate, it can be avoided smoothly." ”

Xue Ne knew that Wang Maozhong was now in full swing, not only married to another favorite minister, Ge Fushun, but also received many rewards from His Majesty, but this person was pampered and arrogant, and the ministers of the court and the central government all complained.

At this time, Xue Ne was also shocked when he heard it, and he couldn't imagine that when Wang Maozhong began to collude with officials and secretly take profits. This makes people say that His Majesty will definitely investigate this matter to the end, although Wang Maozhong may not be punished, and other relevant officials will be punished.

At this time, Xue Ne didn't dare to listen anymore, if he was discovered by Wang Maozhong and others, it would be difficult for him to get out. So he turned around and left, and went to the counter downstairs, and asked the shopkeeper carefully, "Do those two people in the warm pavilion come here often?" ”

The shopkeeper said: "Those two do come here often, but I heard that these two are nobles from the court, and I don't dare to ask more about what official positions they are." ”

At this time, Xue Ne said: "The shopkeeper doesn't know, but I do." One person is a fourth-rank official, while the other person is a prominent person, a very popular minister, named Wang Maozhong. ”

At this time, the shopkeeper was a little surprised, so he said: "It turned out to be a nobleman, no wonder he was generous." But why are you telling this? ”

Xue Ne put aside the next sentence and said, "It's just to remind the shopkeeper of the identities of these people, so that the shopkeeper has a bottom in his heart." ”

Xue Ne actually wanted to say that although Wang Maozhong had a private meeting with other courtiers here, and had a traitorous heart, he did not dare to divulge this secret. Once the East Window incident occurs, it is not simple to deal with.

The shopkeeper was stunned for a long time, and then shouted, "The two guest officers go slowly." ”

Coming out of Zuisheng Building, Lu Zheng asked directly: "What does Gong Xue think about this matter?" Is that just a matter of not caring about it? ”

Xue Ne was a little angry, so he said, "What's the matter?" Wang Maozhong, you know this person too shallowly, we have to manage it and have no heart, after all, this person is being favored for a while. However, if evidence of this person's guilt can be found, there may be a chance. ”

"Opportunity? Is it an opportunity to bring down this person? ”

Xue Ne said to the sky: "No, we can only unite the ministers step by step, until one day the traitorous matter of this person reaches the ears of His Majesty, we can jointly play and ask Wang Mao Zhong and his party to be dismissed." But not yet, only to endure more, one day will be very happy. ”

"Then it's okay for now, go for evidence?"

Xue Ne said: "This evidence of the crime is not easy to find, let's go shopping first." ”

The two of them were wandering in the West Market, and as soon as what they saw and heard just now calmed down in Xue Ne's heart, he said: "Lu Zheng, why don't we eat something at the stall in front of us, and it will be regarded as experiencing the hardships of people's livelihood." ”

So the two sat next to the wonton shop, watching the idlers shopping come and go, and Lu Zheng said: "Wang Maozhong wants to do it outside the city, undoubtedly to take a large amount of fertile land under his own, which will inevitably provoke contradictions." ”

"I don't think it's better to have more than less, Wang Maozhong must have made sufficient plans to do this, we can only know it secretly, and it is inconvenient to interfere at this time." Xue Ne sighed at this time.

Wang Maozhong's reckless behavior is tantamount to a frenzied attempt to grab the people's fat and ointment, and sooner or later it will arouse the people's anger, even if some officials in underground positions of power do not care, those who are in the same high position and power will definitely intervene in it.

Lu Zheng said again: "Then it is better to inform Yao Xiang, according to Yao Xiang's character, Wang Maozhong will be sanctioned, this is a major matter related to the livelihood of the people, presumably he will not deal with it indifferently." ”

Xue Ne reminded at this time: "In this way, there will be a sudden change in the situation in this court, and there will be no peace, after all, it is related to Wang Maozhong, a meritorious man of the Yuan Cong, and a newly promoted minister of change headed by Yao Chong." And Ge Fushun, who is in-law with Wang Mao Zhonglian, is not a person who does his duty, so he will inevitably implicate many forces. ”

"On this side is the hero who followed His Majesty to conquer the country, and on the other side is the hero who is now governing the country, so it is difficult for even His Majesty to do it." Lu Zheng also sighed heavily.

At this time, Xue Ne suddenly moved his eyes to the door of the drunken building, and it was Wang Maozhong and the official who came out of it. When the two came out, they were still talking and laughing freely, and Lu Zheng saw that the official whispered a few more words to Wang Maozhong, and then saluted Wang Maozhong before leaving here.

At this time, a carriage came towards Zuishenglou, and Wang Maozhong got into the carriage and drove towards the shadow of Yan Shan. Lu Zheng could feel that this was already secretly planning a strategy, trying to take advantage of it.

Lu Zheng couldn't help but say: "In addition to plotting here, Wang Maozhong may be in other places, maybe there are many such dens in the entire Chang'an City." We must find these places in order to expose the evidence of Wang Maozhong's crimes. ”

Xue Ne pondered for a moment, and then said: "You are right, as long as the evidence is sufficient, you can bring down a minister like Wang Maozhong. Now I want to talk about this matter to Su Ying, the Chinese scholar, and ask him to help us. ”

"Is this person reliable? When I saw him that day, I felt that this person had a purpose, and he didn't mean to put his heart into his heart at all. ”

Xue Ne saw that Lu Zheng was not very relieved, so he said again: "You can rest assured, I am an old minister in the court, and I have a lot of insight into this view." This Chinese scholar Su Ying is a confidant that His Majesty relies on. ”

Lu Zheng nodded, and said, "Then when is Xue Jungong going to go to his mansion?" ”

"There must be a lot of important affairs in Zhongshu Province these days, and Su Ying also has a lot of things to deal with, so it's better to wait until tomorrow, and I will go to Zhongshu Shilang to explain the benefits."

"It's okay, if we can recruit Su Ting, we have a much better chance of winning."

At this time, the two of them finished eating the wontons, then stood up and walked into the distance, Lu Zheng had an understanding of the intrigue in Chang'an City at this time, and today's conspiracy with Xue Ne, he knew that this Chang'an City is still controlled by powerful people in the final analysis.