Wang Laohu was not sure if the person who came was the emperor.

He walked forward, his fist already clenched.

When I got closer, I saw clearly that the other party had a saber in his hand. When he went further, five steps away, five steps away, Wang Laohu also stopped.

There is a person on the opposite side: "Hanshan Temple outside Gusu City." ”

When Wang Laohu heard this, he knew that the person opposite was the person he wanted to see, but when he heard the voice, it was not the emperor, and he said, "Who are you?" ”

This time, I heard a familiar voice, "Lord Wang, it's me." ”

"Lord Cao, you are Lord Cao." Wang Laohu heard that the voice was Cao Hongting.

Wang Laohuren relaxed, he released his fist, and a hanging heart finally fell.

"Lord Cao, it's really you." Wang Laohu walked forward. Cao Hongting also walked forward and said, "Lord Wang, don't come unharmed." ”

"It's great to see you."

"I said, Lord Wang, the next time I see you in the capital, I don't dare to talk to you like this."

"Why?" Wang Laohu felt strange.

"Your official is bigger than mine."

"But what does the emperor mean?"

Cao Hongting smiled.

"Where is the emperor, take me to see the emperor." Wang Laohu said.

"The emperor didn't come."

"The emperor didn't come?" Wang Laohu was stunned, he didn't come, could it be that this Cao Hongting deliberately lured himself out, Wang Laohu couldn't help but get nervous again. What does he want to do?

"Lord Wang, don't be nervous." Although Cao Hongting said this, how could Wang Laohu not be nervous? If it's bait, he can't afford to gamble.

"Lord Wang, the emperor asked me to come."

Wang Laohu believes this sentence, judging from the letters, only the emperor will write like this, in addition, Cao Hongting is the person next to the emperor, although the official position is low, but every time he goes, the person arranged by the emperor is him.

"Lord Cao, what instructions does the emperor have?" Wang Laohu asked.

Cao Hongting looked around, although he couldn't see anything clearly, it was just pitch black, but he still glanced cautiously, "This place is not a place to talk, you come with me." ”

Cao Hongting led Wang Laohu to a wing room of the temple. "This is the place that Master Hua arranged for me, there should be no problem."

Huatai Shi Wang Laohu is also trusting, "Lord Cao, is the emperor okay?" ”

"It's still the same." Cao Hongting said, "You sent troops to King Ning this time, and you were blessed by misfortune, and the Eight Tigers seemed to be very angry with you and promoted you to the capital as an official." ”

Wang Laohu knew very well that the purpose of Cao Hongting's visit was to find out what kind of relationship he had with the Eight Tigers. "There is no suspicion in employing people, and there is no need to suspect people."

"Gone?" Cao Hongting asked.

"It's gone."

"How do you want me to believe what you say?"

"Everyone has a scale in their hearts, and people have to do it, not say it."

"It seems far-fetched to say that. There are some things we can't afford to gamble on, and we can't afford to lose. ”

"Me too. I've come to see you in such a hurry, I think you should know which boat I'm from. ”

"Even if I believe you now, even if what you say is true, what do you use to make me believe what you say?" Cao Hongting asked.

Wang Laohu took out the Yuan Yu sword from his arms and said, "I have never dared to forget the mission given to me by the emperor. Everything I do, Lord Cao, you should know. I could have been a peace officer in Hangzhou, why should I risk my life to block King Ning. Who can understand my suffering? ”

"Resist King Ning? Isn't there a little selfishness on your part? ”

"Selfishness? What good will I do against King Ning? I risked my life to move troops from another place without authorization, and you should know the consequences. This is my faithfulness. Selfishness, what's in it for me? ”

"The Eight Tigers transferred you to the capital, and the soldiers and horses in Hangzhou are not yours, and the emperor asked you to come to Hangzhou because he meant it."

"I know that as soon as I leave Hangzhou, the Eight Tigers will send their cronies to Hangzhou to hold the military power, but please believe that we are not many people, but the essence."

"What do you think?"

"I have an idea, but it's not going to say right now. I can only reveal one thing, Liu Jin asked me to choose 100 unmarried women and 10 Tujia girls for the emperor, and I have already done so. ”

"What does this have to do with dealing with the Eight Tigers?" Cao Hongting believed that these women were only sent to the leopard room and had nothing to do with them.

"Do you know where these girls end up? Their fate is so miserable, have you ever paid attention? ”

"Lord Wang, we are discussing the emperor now, we don't need to pay attention to the final fate of these girls, their fate is nothing compared to the emperor."

Wang Laohu shook his head and expressed his disagreement with this sentence, now is an imperial society, of course the emperor's life is precious, which is beyond reproach: "These girls all have fathers and mothers, and they are also the treasures of the family, how can the lives of a good couple not be valuable?" ”

"Good, good, good. I won't argue with you about this, you just have to tell me, what does this matter have to do with the emperor? ”

"Do you know how hard it is to find a hundred unmarried girls, and how many people would come if you let them know that it was for this purpose?"

"Alright, alright, I know. Please tell me, what does this have to do with dealing with the Eight Tigers? ”

Wang Laohu knew that Cao Hongting didn't want to listen to some of his explanations, maybe in this era, the fate of some people was not what they cared about, plus the status of women in the feudal era was not high.

"These girls are all my people, and they are all willing to go to Beijing with me, they all have kung fu, I want to send them to the leopard room, on the one hand, they can be used as a link between me and the emperor

On the other hand, it can protect the emperor in times of crisis. ”

Cao Hongting nodded in agreement. "But I still have a question, the leopard room is not an ordinary place, do you think there are no eight tigers in it? And the woman can't get out of the leopard room at all, how can she be a bridge between us? ”

"The leopard room is heavily guarded, how did the emperor come out? In addition, the emperor can still send news in the leopard room. The same goes for my people. ”

Cao Hongting also nodded, "The emperor hopes that you can play a major role in this matter, so he attaches great importance to you, and let me come to meet you from thousands of miles away." ”

"Master Cao, I still don't know anything about it."

"Please say, does the emperor know about King Ning's rebellion?"

"The emperor knows."

"Then why didn't he move?"

"Don't you understand? The emperor is more than willing but not enough. Cao Hongting said.

Lack of energy? In other words, the emperor has ordered the people to go down, but the courtiers below have gone their own way and do not listen to him. "Is this capital really that bad?"

"The little plum next to the emperor has been killed by the Eight Tigers, and the last time you went to the capital to see the emperor secretly, they have also been arrested by the Jinyi Guard, how do you say that such an environment is not bad. This time I came to Suzhou, and I also came to make a secret appointment with you under the guise of a case review, but it has been a few days now, and I don't know if I can get through it after returning to Beijing? Cao Hongting said.

"The main reason this time is me. I went to Huaide and chose a hundred unmarried women, and I was delayed for some time. Wang Laohu said, "I want to see the emperor now." ”

"No way!" Cao Hongting refused, "Now that you are an official in Hangzhou, if you suddenly go to the capital, you will definitely attract the attention of the Eight Tigers, and besides, you are still in their inspection period, and if you are not very good, they will be noticed." ”

"To whom do I speak of my worries now?"

"The emperor said that when you go to the capital as an official, he will arrange a meeting with you." Cao Hongting Road.

Wang Laohu nodded and said to Cao Hongting: "This time I am going to the capital as an official, and you have been in the capital for many years, there is something I want to ask you for." ”

Lord Cao said: "Lord Wang, don't be polite, please speak." ”

"I want to ask you about the military department, you know that I went to the military department this time, what is the situation in this military department?"

"The secretary of the military department, Wang Qianwen, and the left servant of the military department, they are all Liu Jin's people, plus you, the entire military department is under the control of the Eight Tigers."

"In this way, there are no of us in the entire military department."

"Not to mention the military department, other important departments, the Eight Tigers have sent their own people. The whole dynasty is up and down, and if the emperor wants to move, he has to go through the nods and pleading of Liu Jin and other eight tigers. Cao Hongting said.

"Doesn't the emperor have a royal army?"

"The Guards?"

Wang Laohu forgot that the Imperial Forest Army of the Ming Dynasty was the Jinyi Guard, and the Jinyi Guard was already under Liu Jin's command. "I'm talking about the troops guarding the palace or the troops in the capital."

"This, you don't have to think about it, if the emperor could call these troops, he would have taken down Liu Jin and the other Eight Tigers a long time ago."

"In this way, the power of this talisman is in Liu Jin's hands." Wang Laohu said, "Can't the emperor transfer troops from the border provinces?" ”

"What you said is light, the power of the Eight Tigers was not formed overnight, up and down the Ming Dynasty, many places have been under the control of the Eight Tigers, in addition, the army is mobilized in a large area, how can the minions of the Eight Tigers not know. This has to be done in the long run. Cao Hongting said.

In this way, there are very few people in the capital who can move, and when he goes to the capital, the troops in Hangzhou are also lost, and it may be difficult to move. "I went to the capital, and the troops of the Hangcheng Guard Station are no longer under my control, so we have lost a usable force again."

"The emperor asked you to come with a deep meaning, let you come to Hangzhou to control the soldiers and horses, but I didn't expect to run into King Ning, I'm wondering, is it too early for the emperor to bring you up."

Cao Hongting's meaning is very clear, the emperor originally wanted to let himself control the soldiers and horses in Hangzhou, and he could help him at that time, which was originally high-profile enough. Unexpectedly, it was the rebellion of King Ning that happened, and he exposed himself to the Eight Tigers early.

"Lord Cao, it may not be a bad thing to let me go to the capital, at least I am closer to the emperor, I can help the emperor do things faster and relieve the emperor's worries."

"You are also a member of the Eight Tigers now, can you still help the emperor openly?"

"It's not okay in the open, it's always okay in the dark."

"What the Eight Tigers do is all things that hurt nature and reason, framing loyalty, Lord Wang, you are also their person, what harm have you done?" Cao Hongting Road.

"Sometimes I have to do something against my conscience to gain a person's trust, but please believe that my heart is towards the holy world today."

Cao Hongting smiled and said, "Only you know." Okay, I will arrange a meeting with the emperor after you arrive in the capital, and when the time comes, we will not be able to meet freely like now, minions are everywhere, and we must be very careful when we meet and speak. ”

"I made a note of it."

"Lord Wang, farewell." Cao Hongting Road.

Wang Laohu watched Cao Hongting disappear into the night, and his heart couldn't calm down for a long time. The situation in the capital is not as simple as he thinks, Hangcheng can at least make his own decisions, don't defend people in many ways, but in the capital, which are his own people and which are the enemies, he can't tell at all, and he is confused about what happened after he went to the capital.

The next day, Wang Laohu changed into an ordinary dress, this time he came to Suzhou, of course, he still had to visit the Taishi, the Taishi has been idle at home for many days, but he is dedicated to the emperor, Wang Laohu knows, in addition, he has to go to see her sister Qiuxiang.

When he arrived at the Taishi Mansion, Wang Laohu knew that his sister Qiuxiang had left with Tang Bohu. After visiting the Taishi, Wang Laohu went to the Tang Mansion, and after meeting Tang Bohu and Qiu Xiang, he set foot on the back

Hang's Road.

Just like the development of history, Tang Bohu and Qiu Xiang had a lover and eventually became married. On the way back to Hangzhou, Wang Laohu rode a horse, thinking about their loving appearance on the horse, and felt a feeling in his heart.

Hangtown. Wang Laohu returned to Hangzhou.

Prefect's Mansion.

"Childe, I have arranged all these girls, but I have arranged these hundred or so girls in one place too conspicuously, so they are placed in several places, your house, Bian Yifang, this prefect's mansion, all arrange girls. The other part I arranged in two inns. Feng Sheng said.

Wang Laohu nodded and said, "These girls are a lot of mouthfuls, and I'm afraid that someone will pull out the root of my tongue behind my back." You're right to do that. ”

"The matter that is trapped in your heart this time has finally landed, and then it is time to arrange for you to go to Beijing." Feng Sheng asked.

"These are all preparations, and going to Beijing is the big thing." Wang Laohu said, "I have ordered Zhang Zheng to go to Beijing to prepare some things, and in addition, after arriving in Beijing, the place where I live must also be arranged." ”

"Childe, I'll arrange this."

"That's what I mean, and I'm not at ease with other people." Wang Laohu said, "You take your brothers Qishun and Hu Da to the capital first." ”

"Hu Da, the prince treats him well, let him get along with Xiaochun sister for so many days, if it was other masters, he would have been summoned back a long time ago." Feng Shengdao.

"They are all my brothers, and they must always be taken care of if they can." Wang Laohu said, "Feng Sheng, I will go back to Taili in a few days, and after I go to the capital, I don't know when I will be able to come back." When I go back to Telly, you should also go to Beijing. ”

"Yes, Childe."

"After arriving in Beijing, don't do anything, keep a low profile."

"Childe, I understand."

"Miss Ruxi is still in Hangzhou City?"

"Yes, she has been living in the mansion since the last time you picked her up to see Jin Ling."

Wang Laohu nodded and said, "It seems that she really regards Miss Jinling as a wishful girl." Okay, Feng Sheng, you go and prepare, by the way, inform Qishun and Hu Da, and in addition, when you go to Beijing, you will go to Xiashan Mountain, inform the mountain seals, and let them go to the capital with you. ”

"Yes, Childe."

"Don't bring too many people."

"Yes, Childe." Feng Sheng withdrew from the hall.

Wang Laohu sat in the hall, thinking about what he would do in the future.

At this time, Jin Ling made tea and came out and said, "Childe, drink water." ”

Wang Laohu picked up the freshly brewed tea, blew it, smelled it, and a strong smell of tea came to his nose, Wang Laohu said: "Good tea, this is the Huibai I love to drink." Alas, Miss Jinling, I heard that you often go out these days, what are you doing? ”

"Childe, I went out after I finished the work in the house." Jin Lingdao.

"I didn't blame you, I wanted to know what you were doing out there?"

"It's like asking me out to go shopping." Jin Lingdao.

"Oh, what do you think of Miss Ruxi?"

"She's very nice." Jin Lingdao.

"Miss Jinling, you sit."

"No, no, you're the master, I'll just stand." Jin Lingdao.

"You're still born like this, forget it." Wang Laohu also stood up, "I'll tell you a story." Wang Laohu told Jin Ling about Ruyi, Ruxi, Bian Chengcheng and the three of them when they got along with each other in the Red Moon Tower, and ransomed for them, as well as Ruyi atoned for their own sins and was hacked to death with a cold knife.

"Whether it's Ruxi or the second lady, I see you as a Ruyi girl in my heart, no matter what you think in your heart." Wang Laohu said, "Miss Jinling, in a few days, I will go back to my hometown, and when the time comes, I will take you to meet the old lady." ”

"Yes, Childe." Jin Lingdao.

At this time, Rong Yu came to report: "Childe, the second lady and Miss Ruxi ask to see you." ”

As soon as the words fell, Cheng Cheng and Ruxi entered the hall, "Second lady, what kind of wind blew you here." Wang Laohu immediately stepped forward to greet him.

"I know you're busy, and you haven't been back for a few days, so I can't come to see you." Cheng Chengdao.

"When people get busy, they forget everything." Wang Laohu said, "Miss Jinling, serve tea to the ladies." ”

This is a little strange, even Jin Ling, a girl who has just arrived, knows that Ruxi is not his wife, and Cheng Cheng has also been divorced by him, but in his heart, maybe, Wang Laohu doesn't think so.

Jin Ling let out an "oh".

Cheng Cheng said: "Sister Jinling, don't be busy. She turned to Wang Laohu and said, "Xianggong, let's take Sister Jinling out for a while, you see, she is a girl in your house all day long, and she doesn't even have time to dress herself, she is wearing it." ”

"It's still the second lady's thoughtfulness, Miss Ruxi, the second lady, I have never tied her, she is free with me."

"Freedom? When you were in the house, she couldn't come out all day. "Rujo said.

"So, you two are blaming me, no wonder you both came to my house today." Wang Laohu said.

"Xianggong, don't listen to Ruxi's nonsense." Cheng Cheng said, "If you don't go back to the house, there is no woman by Xianggong's side." ”

"It's still the second lady who listens to what she says." Wang Laohu said, "Second lady, I want to go back to Telly in a while, to see the old lady, the new year, I will spend it over there, if I go to the capital this time, I don't know when I will be able to come back." ”

"Xianggong, Sister Qingqing and I will go back to Taili with you, and we will have a reunion together." Cheng Chengdao.

Wang Laohu wanted to mention the matter of the resignation, but they didn't care, so Wang Laohu swallowed the words again, "Okay, when the time comes, if you are happy, Miss Jinling will come, let us reunite with our family." ”