Zhao Yuanzuo held the water bladder, poured it violently, and handed it to the guards again.

The guards saw that Zhao Yuanzuo really drank it, so they passed the water bladder to drink.

A water bladder, passed around, and half of it remained.

Although the guards were thirsty, they did not hold the water bladder and drank bitterly, but only took a small sip to quench their thirst and leave the excess water for the others.

Seeing this scene, Kou Ji sighed slightly, and instructed the people behind him: "Go find Chen Lin, let Chen Lin instruct the imperial dining room to prepare a table of good wine and food, I will accompany the King of Chu to drink and have a long talk." ”

The soldiers of the Tiger Army agreed, and quickly ran to pass the word.

Kou Ji bowed deeply to Zhao Yuanzuo, "Xiaguan Kou Ji, see His Royal Highness the King of Chu." ”

Zhao Yuanzuo took the water bladder handed over by the guards in his hand, tied the bag tightly, hung it on his waist, squatted on the threshold, and said with a little surprise: "The court actually didn't revoke my title?" ”

Kou Ji was silent for a moment, and said in a low voice, "My grandfather cut your food last night and did not depose your throne. ”

Zhao Yuanzuo was also silent for a while, and said faintly: "I see...... so"

Kou Ji slowly took a step forward and asked, "Didn't the official send someone to bring you food and water?" ”

Looking at Zhao Yuanzuo's posture of drinking water just now, it should be that he didn't get a drop of water all night.

Although Zhao Yuanzuo's actions at this moment are wrong, Zhao Zhen shouldn't treat him so harshly, right?

Zhao Yuanzuo said indifferently: "I sent it...... But I sent it back again......"

Kou Ji was stunned for a moment, and understood why Zhao Yuanzuo did this.

Zhao Yuanzuo was afraid that Zhao Zhen would save Liu E, but he was unwilling to hurt him, so he drugged food and water.

Kou Ji groaned: "Then aren't you afraid that the lower officials will be drugged in the water?" ”

Zhao Yuanzuo glanced at Kou Ji and said indifferently: "You won't ......"

Believe me so much?

Kou Ji was slightly stunned.

Then I heard Zhao Yuanzuo continue: "Because you don't want to see Liu E continue to appear in the court, you won't make a move on me." ”

Kou Ji was stunned and smiled bitterly in his heart.

He didn't expect that Zhao Yuanzuo was not obvious on weekdays, but he was a rare person who understood.

Kou Ji stood there silently, never speaking again.

Until Chen Lin sent someone to bring food.

Kou Ji asked people to set up the table and tried all the dishes in person before inviting Zhao Yuanzuo to sit down and eat and drink together.

Zhao Yuanzuo gave most of the wine and food on the table to his guards, leaving only two dishes and a pot of wine.

Kou Ji accompanied him to the side, and accompanied Zhao Yuanzuo after eating and drinking.

Zhao Yuanzuo put down the dishes and chopsticks, stared at Kou Ji, and asked, "Aren't you here to be a lobbyist?" Why don't you say anything to persuade me? ”

Kou Ji smiled dryly and said, "I heard...... The people who came to persuade you before were all beheaded by you, and I don't want to die. ”

Zhao Yuanzuo was silent for a moment, and said indifferently: "I won't kill you." ”

Kou Ji was slightly stunned, and said tentatively: "Then I can say ......?"

Zhao Yuanzuo glanced at Kou Ji and said flatly: "No matter what you say, I won't let Liu E go." ”

Kou Ji smiled indifferently: "Whether you let people go or not, I didn't promise the officials." ”

Zhao Yuanzuo was stunned for a moment, and nodded slowly, "You kid has not been an official for a long time, and the set of methods of seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages in the officialdom is skillful. ”

Kou Ji thought that Zhao Yuanzuo was praising himself.

Kou Ji smiled and said, "I don't think you should be stuck here and make everyone embarrassed." ”

"Hmmm......"

Zhao Yuanzuo didn't see any joy or anger on his face, and gave a little response.

Kou Ji continued: "If the one in the dormitory dies in the palace, it will not be good for you or everyone. ”

Zhao Yuanzuo glanced at Kou Ji and said in a quiet tone: "You mean, let me find a way to get people out of the palace?" ”

Kou Ji didn't respond to Zhao Yuanzuo's words, and continued to himself: "If that person is forced to die in the palace by you, you will have to be punished by everyone in the world.

Of course, you probably don't care about that right now.

But the official family will be tainted with notoriety because of what you have done.

At that time, the voices of the people insulting the official family will probably not be small.

Some young people will also take advantage of this to make trouble.

The Manchu Dynasty was civil and military, and they wanted to be ashamed of this matter.

The country and the society may be turbulent because of this. ”

Zhao Yuanzuo sneered: "It's as serious as you said? ”

Kou Ji smiled dryly: "In short, it will not benefit anyone if you force that person to death in the palace. ”

Zhao Yuanzuo frowned and did not speak.

Kou Ji saw that Zhao Yuanzuo was in deep thought, and he didn't say anything more.

He got up, arched his hand, and left the place.

After leaving the palace group where Liu E's bedroom was located, I saw Zhao Zhen and his party, anxiously waiting for where.

Zhao Zhen saw Kou Ji, hurriedly stepped forward, and asked, "How is it?" ”

Koji shook his head.

The expression on Zhao Zhen's face changed, and he muttered, "Even you can't help it?" ”

Kou Ji sighed and said faintly: "That person shouldn't have beheaded the eight kings. ”

Zhao Zhen gritted his teeth and said, "I will go and ask the Taishi ...... again."

Kou Ji stood in front of Zhao Zhen and arched his hand: "It's useless...... The king of Chu has made up his mind, and it is useless for anyone to go. ”

Zhao Zhen's face turned slightly pale, and he gritted his teeth and said, "I can't watch the eldest lady being forced to death. ”

Kou Ji said calmly: "The minister explained to the king of Chu the harm of persecuting that person in the palace, if the king of Chu has a heart, he should find the official family and negotiate some conditions with the official family."

What the official has to do now is to wait for the King of Chu to make conditions, and then see if there is a way to save that person's life. ”

"Is that all there is to it?"

"That's all there is to it."

“……”

In Zhao Zhen's sad expression, Kou Ji bowed, "The minister retires!" ”

Zhao Zhen sighed, watched Kou Ji leave, and then returned to the Shishitang accompanied by Chen Lin.

Kou Ji left the palace and returned to the house, and saw Kou Zhun getting a soft couch from somewhere, lying on his side in the main hall, like a sleeping Buddha.

After hearing Kou Ji's footsteps, Kou Zhun opened a slit in his eyes, and asked faintly across half of the courtyard, "How is it?" King Chu didn't go crazy and cut people, right? ”

Kou Ji entered the main hall and gave a salute before he spoke: "The anger of the King of Chu is also provocative. I haven't messed with him, and my official position is not low, so how can he cut me casually. ”

Hearing this, Kou Zhun nodded thoughtfully.

"Reason is this reason...... What did you say to the King of Chu? ”

Kou Ji spread his hands, "I just told the King of Chu that if he forced Liu E to death in the palace, it would bring trouble to many people." ”

Kou Zhun was stunned for a moment, and then laughed, "You can be regarded as catching the weakness of the King of Chu, the King of Chu is the most affectionate, if it is because of his fault, he will definitely not want to bring a lot of trouble to the official family." ”

Kou Ji was puzzled: "Grandfather knows the King of Chu very well? ”

Kou Zhun clicked his mouth and said with emotion: "The old man watched the King of Chu bury his crown prince step by step, and then restore the official title again. ”

Implication.

He knew the king of Chu very well.

Kou Ji asked: "Then what does grandfather think King Chu will do next?" ”

Kou Zhun didn't say it directly, he sold it, shook his head and said, "Don't say it...... Don't say ......"

Don't wait for Kou Ji to ask.

Kou Zhun sat up from the soft couch, put on his boots, and said, "Let the royal people worry about the royal affairs." Our grandparents can't do that much. ”

Kou Zhun glanced at the empty courtyard with disgust, and muttered: "There is nothing to do in the house, the old man will still go to the Ruian Courtyard and continue to manage the affairs of the school." ”

After saying that.

Kou Zhun put his hands behind his back and staggered out of the house.

Kou Zhong didn't know when he arrived outside the mansion gate, and led a group of people to escort Kou Zhun out of Mahang Street.

Kou Ji stayed in the mansion alone, and it was boring.

He went out of the mansion and ran all the way to Kaifeng Mansion, where he met Xue Tian and Liu Heng, the prefects of Kaifeng Mansion.

The expressions on the faces of the two were a little unpleasant.

Seeing Kou Ji appear, Liu Heng stepped forward and said with a frown: "The officials and officials who accompanied the rebellion of the Eight Kings have basically been arrested and brought to justice, and all the mansions have been confiscated, and all the belongings have been filled into the treasury.

Only after the household department sends someone to hand over the account books, and the criminal department and Dali Temple send people to approve the charges of the prisoner and his family, they can be executed and distributed.

All the things we have to do are done. ”

Kou Ji asked, "Since it's all done, why are you two still worried?" ”

Xue Tian lamented: "The Kou Gong Department doesn't know anything. There are still three important criminals, and they have not been apprehended. ”

Kou Ji was stunned and said, "Who? ”

Liu Heng said in a deep voice: "Wang Qinruo! Xia Zhu! Yan Shu! ”

Kou Ji's eyes widened slightly, "Xia Zhu and Yan Shu should be trapped in Liu E's palace by the King of Chu now, if the King of Chu doesn't retreat, we can't arrest anyone." But why didn't Wang Qinruo catch it? ”

Xue Tian said with a bitter face: "The two of us went to the palace with the people, but we caught Wang Qinruo's family, but we didn't bump into Wang Qinruo. sent people to search around in Bianjing City, but they did not find any trace of Wang Qinruo. ”

Koji frowned.

Wang Qinruo, the old fox, was not only arrested by the imperial court, but also named by Kou Zhun to be punished.

Zhao Yuanyan rebelled, and Wang Qinruo had a lot of responsibility.

If he runs away.

Not only could Kou Ji not help Kou Zhun take revenge, but he also had no way to explain to the imperial court.

"Wang Qinruo's place of origin, have you sent someone?"

Liu Heng nodded, "Someone has already been sent...... But not too much hope should be held up. Wang Qinruo is old, even if he escapes from Bianjing, it is impossible to walk too fast.

The fast horses we sent out did not find any trace of Wang Qinruo's escape.

In other words, it is very likely that Wang Qinruo did not escape from Bianjing. ”

When Kou Ji heard Liu Heng's words, he fell into deep thought.

Since Wang Qinruo did not flee Bianjing, then he would definitely plan something in secret to save his life.

This man is the best at drilling.

The way to save one's life is to find a backer who can keep himself.

It's just that now Zhao Yuanyan is dead.

Liu E herself is difficult to protect.

It is impossible for Wang Qinruo to be rescued from either side.

Then he will have to find other backers.

Zhao Yuanzuo?

Wrong.

When Zhao Yuanzuo saw him, he estimated that he would not hesitate to hack him to death, and it was impossible for him to find the door to send him to death.

Official Zhao Zhen?

Not right either.

Zhao Yuanyan usurped the throne, Zhao Yuanzuo blocked Liu E's bedroom, he has a lot of responsibility, Zhao Zhen can't wait to kill him, how can he shelter him?

Even if he came up with enough chips to exchange for a chance to live.

Zhao Zhen will not agree.

In the Vertical Arch Palace, in front of the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs, Kou Zhun confirmed his identity as a traitor and cut off his way to seek refuge from Zhao Zhen.

Then there was only one person left, who could keep him.

The biological mother of the official Zhao Zhen, Concubine Li.

Concubine Li is not scheming, and she is easily bewitched by him.

After Kou Ji guessed who Wang Qinruo would find for shelter, he raised his head and sneered: "Wang Qinruo will go to Concubine Li!" Wang Qinruo is now a prisoner, and it is impossible for him to appear in the palace. He will only nest outside the palace and wait for the opportunity, waiting for Concubine Li to leave the palace and find Concubine Li to beg for her life.

Send someone to check to see if Concubine Li often goes out of the palace.

After leaving the palace, I like to go somewhere. ”

After Xue Tian and Liu Heng listened to Kou Ji's words, they immediately rushed out of the mansion to arrange for people to investigate the matter.

Both of them were smart men, too.

They didn't need Kou Ji to explain more, they could understand why Wang Qinruo went to find Concubine Li.

After arranging manpower.

Kou Ji, Xue Tian, and Liu Heng were waiting for news in the mansion.

In the evening.

The spies of the Imperial City Division sent back two pieces of news, which attracted the attention of the three people.

Concubine Li has lived in the deep palace for a long time, and she has become accustomed to life in the palace and rarely leaves the palace.

Since she was picked up from her secluded place, she has only been out of the palace twice, both of which are to pray in the Great Xiangguo Temple.

However, the female officials around Concubine Li frequently left the palace.

After leaving the palace, I often go to a place.

"Jiaozipu!"

"The Eighth King Zhao Yuanyan opened, and the people in Wang Qinruo's mansion operated the Jiaozi shop."

"Wang Qinruo wants to use the female officials beside Concubine Li to beg for her life."

“……”

After speculating on Wang Qinruo's hiding place and purpose.

The three of them were shocked.

Xue Tian let out a sigh and laughed in a low voice, "I finally caught his little tail." ”

Kou Ji asked: "When you raided the mansion of the Eight Princes' Mansion, didn't you investigate and deal with the Jiaozipu where Wang Qinruo was hiding?" ”

Liu Heng shook his head and said: "We didn't find the title deed document of Jiaozipu on the Eight Princes' Mansion, and we didn't find the title deed document on the palace. After inquiring carefully, I learned that the title deed document of Jiaozipu was in the hands of a female businessman from other places.

And the female businesswoman Jia from other places has no intersection with the Eight Princes Mansion and the Royal Mansion.

We don't have any evidence, so we can't raid this place.

Just send someone to keep an eye on this place. ”

Kou Ji was stunned and said: "The Imperial City Division handles the case, when did you learn to talk about evidence?" ”

What kind of place is the Imperial City Division?

It was an espionage agency of the Great Song Dynasty, as long as there was a suspicion of anyone who had a problem, it could be arrested immediately, and no evidence was needed.

Liu Heng subconsciously looked at Xue Tian.

Xue Tian smiled bitterly: "Director Liu wanted to arrest people, but it was I who stopped Director Liu. ”

"Why?" ”

Xue Tian sighed and said, "You don't know something. Among the many Jiaozi shops in Bianjing City, the word Jiaozi shop is the largest, followed by this Jiaozi shop.

After the opening of this Jiaozi shop, it has developed rapidly.

In just one year, it has developed to the point of one main shop and three separate shops.

As much as 5 million yuan of deposits have been collected. ”

Kou Ji frowned, "It's not enough for it to get special care. ”

Xue Tian said with a bitter face: "If you just try this, you naturally don't need special care." However, when I was investigating the Eight Princes' Mansion, I found several account books, on which there were four million more pieces of money of unknown origin.

They were all used by the Eight Kings to recruit troops and buy horses, and they won the hearts of the people......"

Xue Tian said this and did not say any more.

But Kou Ji already understood why Xue Tian would stop Liu Heng from arresting people.

The Jiaozi shop opened by the eighth king Zhao Yuanyan secretly absorbed 5 million guan savings and siphoned off 4 million savings money for use.

Once Xue Tian and Liu Heng rushed to Jiaozipu to arrest people, they disclosed the money in Jiaozipu.

The scene that was staged in Sichuan and Shu in the past will also be staged in Bianjing City.

And that's not all.

Other Jiaozi shops will also be affected.

A big economic upheaval will sweep through Bianjing.

The damage caused by Zhao Yuanyan's rebellion to Bianjing City has not subsided, and if it causes major economic fluctuations, Bianjing City will inevitably be in turmoil.

Xue Tian was one of the few officials Kou Ji knew who had an in-depth study of Jiaozi.

He probably saw that, too.

That's why Liu Heng was prevented from taking the liberty of arresting people, and just sent people to keep an eye on the Jiaozi shop that Zhao Yuanyan secretly opened.

"No wonder the Eight Kings recruited so many soldiers and horses while buying people's hearts, it turned out that they borrowed the money from Jiaozipu...... It's really going to get you in trouble. ”