In the middle of summer in June, the heat is like fire.

Even after sunset and dark, the whole city of Tokyo is still very hot, and the occasional wind blows and it comes with a wave of heat.

At this time, ordinary people can only go out of the house to enjoy the cool gossip under the big trees, and some people who have spare money will buy some summer drinks such as sour plum soup or melons and fruits to relieve boredom. But for those wealthy and high-status dignitaries and tycoons, the summer heat is nothing.

For example, one of the famous main stores in Tokyo, Qinfang Junei, at this moment, there are ice basins prepared in the private rooms and it is as cold as autumn, and there are plates of exquisite dishes on the wine table, and you can even see ice cream-like things that are similar to those in later generations, these are the good foods that rich people now spend their summer and summer, but the price is enough for ordinary people to spend a year for the whole family.

Around the first watch, a carriage slowly stopped at the side door of Qin Fangju, and then a man in ordinary clothes and a slight body came down. I saw that he was in a hurry, just like those newcomers who rarely came to eat in such a large restaurant, and he entered the gate without heeding the inquiries of the outsiders, and then went straight along the winding path to the separate private courtyards behind.

After walking for another distance, he was stopped by two guards guarding the gate of the courtyard. This Qinfangju restaurant is not a place to wait, and it can't be let people run around at will. However, their attitude was quite kind, and they even smiled when asking: "Which courtyard is this guest officer going to?" But do you have acquaintances who invite you? "It doesn't seem like people dress up like they're willing to spend a lot of money to eat and drink here.

This one still half-bowed his head and said vaguely: "I was invited by the boss of the Xuanzi Academy. ”

Hearing this, the two nurses suddenly showed respect: "It turned out to be a guest of the Xuanzi Academy, please inside." The two of them accompanied him further and walked deeper for a while, before they stopped in front of a small courtyard with a rather nice view, and made a gesture of invitation to him.

It wasn't until he entered the courtyard and was sure that there were no people around him that the man finally stood up, although his stature was not high, but the momentum was much stronger than before, and if he appeared in front of the gate now, he was afraid that someone would have come up to greet him. He is the Taifu of the Dynasty, and now Song Jiang, the Shangshu of the Criminal Department!

Therefore, this dress is to hide people's eyes. Because since he confirmed that the people around him had been targeted by the people of the Imperial City Division, Song Jiang became more and more cautious, and he didn't go out to socialize much in his spare time. And today, it was really important that he had to come on this trip, but he was also fully prepared before going out.

As early as yesterday, everything had been arranged, when Song Jiang returned home from the yamen in the afternoon, a very inconspicuous carriage was already waiting at the back door, and then he did not make any stay at home, he went directly through the courtyard to the back door, and even changed his clothes in the carriage. In this way, even if someone really stares at him all day, he can use this to get rid of the other party, and then rush to Qinfangju to make an appointment.

When Song Jiang revealed his identity, walked past a few entourages, and pushed the door into the brightly lit courtyard, his brows suddenly locked. Everything in front of him was too different from the meeting he had envisioned—

In his mind, today's secret meeting is very important, and the participants must all be disguised, and there are only a few people in the hall. But now, there are more than a dozen nobles in brocade clothes, wide robes and big sleeves sitting in the hall, and there are beauties around them to serve, sifting wine and cloth dishes for them, which is really not at ease.

I used all kinds of means to hide my traces, but now it's good, there are so many irrelevant outsiders on the scene, how can this talk about big things?

But at this time, it was impossible to retreat, because at the same time as the door was pushed open, everyone's eyes looked over, and then an eager voice sounded: "Mrs. Song, you are here, you really told me to wait, come in quickly, the wine here is going to be hot." The person who spoke shook the glass in his hand with a hospitable look.

Song Jiang laughed dryly, and had to step into the hall, and there was a burst of unhappiness in his heart, these guys actually shouted out their identities in front of outsiders, and they were really not afraid of causing any trouble...... But the other party's enthusiasm made it difficult for him to turn his face and push back, so he could only step forward to greet him: "He Shilang is too polite, he is really busy with official business, and I am just a step late." Looks like I'm the last to arrive? ”

"That's not true, there are still the most important big people who haven't arrived." An official also answered with a smile.

He Dingkun, the waiter of the Ministry of Rites, Shi Ziming, the Hou of Changxing, and the Lang of the Ministry of Officials are in the big year...... These people present are all the main officials of the important yamen in the imperial court, although their status is not as good as Song Jiang, but in terms of qualifications and background, they are all far above him, so when facing Song Jiang, not only are they not a little timid, but they have a somewhat condescending attitude.

However, as the highest-ranking official at the moment, Song Jiang was still given the second seat at the top, and there was only one seat left above him. When he sat down, there was a little lady with eyebrows and eyes like flowers, and she wanted to be served, but she was waved away by Song Jiang.

Seeing this, He Dingkun, who was closest to him, laughed: "Mrs. Song is too incomprehensible, and if you live up to the deep grace of the beauty, you will be punished for drinking." ”

"Hehe, Song Jiang really doesn't have the heart to drink slowly, you should also know why we are gathered together today, so such a trivial matter can be avoided. If you want to drink, other times there is an opportunity. Song Jiang refused to accept this conversation, he was already not a good fellow with these people, and there was no need to sell this face now.

And as soon as he said this, the faces of the people in front of him changed slightly, and the scene naturally became cold. At this moment, the door of the hall was pushed open again, and a rather majestic old man's voice came in one step ahead: "Well said, Mrs. Song has really seen people, better than me and other scholars who only know how to dance and write and make ink, and sing the wind and the moon." ”

As soon as this person entered the door, everyone in the hall subconsciously stood up and bent down to salute: "I've seen Li Xiang!" "This person who can be so sincerely courteous to everyone after criticizing everyone is Li Gang, the current Prime Minister of the Great Song Dynasty!

Song Jiang looked surprised at the moment, and looked directly at Li Gang who entered the door for a long time before exhaling a turbid breath: "I should have thought of it a long time ago, if there was not such a character taking the lead, I wouldn't have been able to make such a big show." ”

At this time, Li Gang looked completely different from the old man who didn't care about anything in the political affairs hall before, and after entering the hall with steady steps, and sitting in the top position as a matter of course, he pressed his hand down and said, "Everyone, sit down and talk." ”

Then, he looked at Song Jiang again: "Taifu Song said this well, right now, I am honest that the Song Dynasty is in danger of survival, and we are waiting for us to gather together in order to eliminate traitors, and the most important thing to discuss is how to act next, rather than caring about what wine to drink, what food to eat, and what kind of powder to find." ”

When he said this, everyone could only say yes, and they didn't even dare to change their faces. From this alone, it can be seen that the prime minister's prestige among officials is far greater than that of ordinary times. And with Li Gang's statement, everyone finally let go of the beauties in their arms and sent them out of the hall, and in the end, in addition to their more than ten officials, there were only two or three guys who poured wine in this hall.

Song Jiang was still a little uncomfortable, and his brows were also furrowed, Li Gang saw it, and smiled: "Mrs. Song doesn't need to be too nervous, since this is a meeting place set by the old man, there is naturally no problem with safety." Do you know that this Qin Fangju is Shihou's property, and the people in it are naturally his people, how can there be the eyes and ears of the Imperial City Division? ”

"I see, that's ......" Song Jiang completely relieved his heart, and looked at Shi Ziming again, who only smiled and nodded at him.

Seeing that he had accepted the current environment, Li Gang swept over everyone and said, "I called the big guy here today just for two important things." First, everyone has also seen that from today onwards, Mrs. Song will also become a member of our loyal ministers. That Sun Tu acted too deceitfully, not only did he call us and other civil officials from serious backgrounds and treat them as nothing, but even His Majesty was nothing more than a puppet in his eyes. For two years, His Majesty has been under house arrest by him, and the decree does not leave the palace gate, but he can always use the will of the Son of Heaven to arbitrarily issue false edicts to achieve his goals. This kind of behavior is almost similar to recklessness, and it is not wrong to say that he is the great disaster of my Great Song Kingdom.

"Such a traitor, even if my generation is unarmed and has no soldiers and horses around us, we must fight it to the end. What's more, now there is also Song Taifu, who also holds military power, everyone, can you have the confidence to cut off the traitors and return to your majesty? ”

"Of course, I've been waiting for this day for a long time!"

"Li Xiang, my old Shi is also a rough man, but the heart of the loyal monarch is not much to give, as long as you give an order, I dare to break through the sword mountain and the sea of fire."

"How can we, who have received the emperor's grace, watch the traitor run rampant?"

The atmosphere in the hall was ignited in an instant, and everyone scrambled to state their positions and attitudes, one by one speaking louder than the other. Only Song Jiang was not affected by this atmosphere at the moment, listening to these fake empty words with an expressionless face, and his eyes swept back and forth between Li Gang and the others.

After a while, Li Gang pressed it to stop everyone from talking, and looked at Song Jiang, who was still calm: "I don't know if Mrs. Song has anything to say?" ”

This is to make him take a stand!