Just when Cui Yuan told Liao Hui carefully, in the backyard of Cui's house, Cui Ning's room was also very bright, Cui Ning wrote a letter to Pei Ying on the table, looking up at the snow outside the window from time to time, in the past three years, Cui Ning's appearance has not changed much, but his temperament seems to be much more mature, and his personality is more calm.

In the past three years, she has been taking care of her father's sick body, and with the filial piety of a daughter, she also misses Zhang Huan unforgettablely, but she hopes that Zhang Huan can understand her hard work.

The friend who lives with her is naturally Lin Pingping, like Cui Ning, for most of the past three years, she has been accompanying her mother, she is twenty-five years old this year, her mother is also dead, she doesn't want to marry Zhang Luo for her, she never thinks about any lifelong events, she lives freely every day, she is optimistic and nosy by nature, she is uneven everywhere, and has left a nickname of Jincheng Woman among the people of Longyou.

Three months ago, she came to Chang'an to look for Cui Ning, but it happened to be the day after Cui Ning returned to Chang'an with her father, so she simply lived with Cui Ning and persuaded her to return to Longyou from time to time.

At this moment, Lin Pingping sat in front of the small table and sharpened a wooden sword, this is her apprentice, that is, Pei Ying's son has to go through many times, Lin Pingping sharpened the wooden sword for a while, and then she had no patience, she put the wooden sword and knife in the corner of the wall, then tiptoed behind Cui Ning, secretly watched her write a letter for a while, and suddenly couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh.

Cui Ning felt something, and when she turned around, she saw that she was peeking at herself writing a letter, so she couldn't help but be ashamed and anxious, and crumpled the letter twice, and said angrily: "You guy is always like this!" Go back to your room. ”

Lin Pingping laughed louder and louder. It took her a long time to stop laughing. Taking advantage of Cui Ning's inattention, he snatched the letter from the table, unfolded it, cleared his throat and read in Cui Ning's tone: "Eldest sister, I haven't written to you for a long time, Qi'er is good, and Qiuqiu, who has not met yet, I really want to meet her, and I don't know if she looks like you or her father."

The words are not finished. Cui Ning, whose face was swollen and flushed, rushed up, snatched the letter, and pressed her on the bed to tickle her vigorously, "If you do this again, I will drive you away." ”

Lin Pingping laughed so hard that he couldn't breathe. She begged for mercy repeatedly: "Sister Ning." Spare me! I don't dare anymore. ”

"Humph! It's really thick-skinned. When she is two years older than me, she still calls me sister. Cui Ning saw her begging for mercy, so he let her go, walked quickly to the lamp and burned the letter, the fire shone brightly, and a trace of sadness flashed in her eyes.

Lin Pingping's smile gradually stopped, and she sighed and said, "Cui Ning, don't be angry with me." It's like you're cocooning yourself. Whoever mentioned you in the past three years has been furious, for that reason. It can be seen that your position in his heart is irreplaceable, I grew up with him, I still don't know him? He has lost his mother's love since he was a child, and he grew up alone, and I know that he is a very nostalgic person, and you should go back. ”

Lin Pingping saw Cui Ning bowing his head and saying nothing, so he walked up to her and pulled her to sit down, "I know you hate him for marrying that princess in a silver bottle, but that's just his need to win over the Qiang people, he is a person who does great things, how can he be restrained in this kind of thing, besides, a small landlord still has three wives and four concubines, he is a dignified envoy of Longyoujie, the king of Zhangye County, and now known as the first warlord of the Tang Dynasty, are there still few women around him?" ”

Speaking of this, Lin Pingping chuckled, "I thought that my father really only had one wife, but later I heard my mother say that my father actually had dozens of concubines back then, and in order to avoid trouble, he gave them all away." ”

Cui Ning sighed, patted Lin Pingping's hand and said, "Why don't I know? My father has more than 100 concubines, and now there are sixty-two people who are sick like that, which of my uncles does not have dozens of women, I left him not because of how many women he married, even Pei Ying had to marry concubines for him, what am I worried about, not for this, but because he has changed too much, all he thinks about all day long is power, territory, in order to get Longyou will not hesitate to tear up the treaty just signed, in order to envelop the Qiang people at the expense of hurting the wives around him, of course, such a person may be able to do great things, and even seize the world, but I don't like it, I like the affectionate and righteous Zhang Huan in the past, who smashed the county government and kidnapped Xiangguo's daughter to save his friends, I left him for three years, just hoping that he could wake up, and people's lives will pass in a flash, not only power, status, but also family, love, and friendship, if he abandoned me just because I left him for three years, then he is not worthy of my love. ”

Speaking of this, Cui Ning stared at Lin Ping's flat eyes, "Pingping, aren't you like this too?" ”

"Me?" A trace of panic flashed in Pingping's eyes, and she waved her hand again and again, "Don't get me involved in your business, I don't marry him and have nothing to do with him, I like to be free, I don't want to be bound by marriage, if I want to marry, I will marry a long time ago." ”

"Don't lie to me, you don't marry because you don't marry him, you say he misses the old, I think you miss the old even more, you've been reading for more than 20 years, and you told me last time that you were looking for Zhang Huan who was willing to eat your fried eggs every day."

"Nonsense!" Without waiting for Cui Ning to finish speaking, Lin Pingping jumped up, she plugged her ears and ran out as she said, "You must be mistaken, I didn't say it, I'm going to sleep, I won't tell you." ”

Cui Ning saw that she ran away, she couldn't help but shake her head, she sat down and pulled out a piece of letterhead, but she couldn't put down the pen, after a while, she put down the pen, slowly walked to the window, looking at the fine snow in the night sky, she whispered to herself: "Huan Lang, do you know? Writing so many letters, in fact, I just want to ask one sentence, my Huanlang, are you okay? ”

A crystal teardrop has unconsciously slipped down her beautiful face,

The snow is getting heavier and heavier, like a ruffle in the sky, covering Chang'an City overwhelmingly, in the western courtyard of Zhang Huan's mansion, hundreds of soldiers are heavily guarded, and the room is bright, Zhang Huan sits on a wisteria chair and listens to the narration of the person being questioned silently.

There was a young man standing below, although he looked a little restrained and nervous, but his eyes were shining with excitement, this person was called Zhou Ming. A native of Wugong County, Chang'an. It was he who submitted a letter to Pei Yi's son Pei Mingdian for cheating in the imperial examination, and was sent to the mansion by Zhang Huan overnight.

"Zhang Shilang invited Mingjian, Pei Mingdian studied with the students, the students knew him very well, he couldn't even recite the Analects, why did he rank eighth in the high school jinshi, three days before the imperial examination, he specially came to find the students. came out with a policy topic and asked the student to write a policy, saying that it was his father's investigation, and the student wrote an article for him for the sake of his classmates for many years, but the topic was the topic of this year's imperial examination, and the student learned that he was actually the eighth place in high school Jinshi after the list was published. He was also awarded the Lingtai Lang. Students are tolerable and intolerable. Angrily submitted a letter, and asked Zhang Shilang to discern it. ”

Zhang Huan remained silent, glanced at him and asked, "Since you said that the policy was written by you, do you still remember its content?" ”

"The student remembers that the student has already been silent, and he can write it out at any time and ask Zhang Shilang to look at it."

Zhang Huan nodded, "I see." This thing has been poked out. It won't end peacefully, for your safety. Stay in my house first. When he saw that Zhou Ming wanted to stop talking, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will also send someone to protect your parents, wife and children." ”

Zhou Ming was overjoyed, and hurriedly saluted and thanked: "Students, thank you for your concern." ”

Zhou Ming was taken down, Zhang Huan paced in the room with his hands behind his back and pondered, the key to this matter is the heat, heavy, not to hurt the muscles and bones, light but not silent, Pei Yi is not insignificant, the key is the impact, at this time, the cow monks and children on the side couldn't help but remind: "Governor, my subordinates suggest that this matter is best for the sake of prudence." ”

"What did you say?" Zhang Huan's train of thought was interrupted, and he asked in surprise, "What are you saying to be cautious?" ”

Niu Monk and Yu stood up and bowed and bowed, "The subordinates are saying that Pei Yi's son cheated in the imperial examination, after all, it is this Zhou Ming's words, and the subordinates suggest that they should seek more people in the know, and then do it after the evidence is conclusive, so as not to make the governor fall into passivity." ”

"You have a point." Zhang Huan nodded in agreement, "I'll leave this matter to you." ”

"The subordinates will not let the governor down."

At this moment, a personal soldier came in to report, "Governor, Steward Sun said that there is a royal historian Liao Zhongcheng in the front hall who asks to see him." ”

"Liao Hui?" Zhang Huan remembered that he had seen this person at noon, and he came in the evening, "Please ask him to wait in the small guest room, don't be lazy." ”

Generally speaking, the places to receive guests are mainly in the guest hall, small guest rooms and study rooms, the guest hall is mainly for official affairs, such as the announcement of the palace, the visit of the squire's representative or the subordinates, etc., while the study is used for close friends, colleagues or confidential matters; And people who have status but not enough intimacy will be received in small rooms, such as Liao Hui in this imperial history.

Yu Shi Zhong Cheng is the deputy official of the Yu Shi Tai, and the above is the Yu Shi Dafu, but the monks of the provinces and the provinces of the Shang Shu are the same as the facts, the Yu Shi Dafu is only a title, and the specific matters of the Yu Shi Tai are responsible for the Yu Shi Zhongcheng, so that the Yu Shi Zhong Cheng actually holds the power of impeachment, after the Anshi Rebellion, the Yu Shi Tai was changed to be responsible for the cabinet, but in the past three years, as the cabinet has been increasingly hollowed out by Pei Jun, the Yu Shi Tai has actually become a chicken rib job, and the impeachment dossier is sent to the matter, often there is no news, or the cabinet has been waiting for several months to meet occasionally, On the contrary, if the matter is conducive to Pei Jun's eradication of dissidents, but it can be implemented vigorously, for example, in the imperial history, Cheng Yan impeached Cui Xian, the former minister's servant, Cui Xian's wife and brother, for leaking Xuanren's four-year imperial examination questions, and the case was finalized in only two days.

Liao Hui just came from Cui Yuan's mansion and slipped his feet to see Zhang Huan, at this moment Cui Yuandi's instructions are still echoing in his ears, Zhang Huan first arrived at the imperial court, there are not many people used, especially the lack of officials, you can become his mouthpiece, in order to explore his line, and the old man will be reported in the morning and evening

Cui Yuan asked him to take refuge in Zhang Huan, but Liao Hui seemed a little worried, more than ten years ago he was promoted by Cui Yuan from the local officials to the ministry, from the bottom of the way to the Ministry of Officials, in the eyes of ordinary people, he is soaring, but Liao Hui knows that he is firmly grasped by Cui Yuan, he is just a puppet controlled by Cui Yuan, the real duty is to monitor Cui Yu, the important minister of the Cui family, for so many years, he has performed his duties conscientiously, never complained, never dared to slack off, after Cui Yuan fell, he was also tempted to change to Pei Jun, But he finally gave up, but now Cui Yuan asked him to switch to Zhang Huan, not to mention how Cui Yu explained, this Zhang Huan acted ruthlessly, once he knew his true identity. Death is not far off.

Just thinking about it. There was a sound of brisk footsteps outside the door, and then a clear laugh came, "Could it be that Liao Zhongcheng didn't drink all the wine at noon, and came to look for me at night to continue?" ”

When the sound arrived, I saw Zhang Huan wearing a blue silk robe, a flat-topped scarf, and a smile on his face Walking into the house, Liao Hui hurriedly stood up. Apologetically: "Disturbing the waiter's rest late at night, please forgive the waiter." ”

"Since you're here, you're a guest of my wine." Zhang Huan clapped his hands, and several servants walked in briskly carrying a small table and holding wine and food. Soon a table of wine and food was cleaned up. The men then retreated.

"Come on! Liao Zhongcheng, please be seated. ”

Liao Hui sat down a little uneasily. He was not familiar with Zhang Huan, so he rashly took refuge, how could this be opened, embarrassed, Liao Hui still sat down, Zhang Huan poured him a glass of wine and said with a smile: "Actually, I also know that Liao Zhongcheng is not here to drink." Please drink this cup. Liao Zhongcheng just said bluntly. ”

Liao Hui drank the wine, and he sighed slightly: "Actually, there are some things I want to say at noon." But because Choi Sang-kook was present, it was inconvenient to open

After a pause, he saw Zhang Huan holding a wine glass and smiling without saying a word, and continued: "It has been three years since I was transferred from the Ministry of Officials to the Imperial Historical Observatory, during which there have been no less than forty impeachment cases, but only five have been really implemented, and they are all approved by Pei Xiangguo himself, and the other cases have no news, but when Cui Lao Xiangguo was in office, every case had to be approved, I don't mean that Pei Xiangguo is not as diligent as Cui Xiangguo, both of them are the same, and even Pei Xiangguo is even more hardworking, the key is the system, the Yushitai is useless, all ministries, Who will supervise the dereliction of duty of the temple supervisors? The province is hollowed out, and who will restrain the power of the Zhongshu Province? The joint cabinet meeting was gone, and a small matter was pushed back and forth among the ministries, and in the end it was not resolved, all because the checks and balances of power were broken, so I saw the squire launch of the four boxes, others thought that this was the public opinion to be served, but I thought it was a sign of revitalizing the province and restoring order in the imperial court. ”

The more Liao Hui spoke, the more excited he became, the more emotional he became, he even forgot the task he shouldered, and in the end, he couldn't hold back his excitement, and resolutely stood up and saluted Zhang Huanchang, "I, Liao Hui, am not a mediocre official who ends up in mediocrity, for the long-term stability of my Tang Dynasty, I am willing to be loyal to Shilang and assist Shilang to revitalize the dynasty!" ”

The next morning, the snow had stopped, and Chang'an had once again become a white world, the white snow was pure and immaculate, as if all the evils in the world had been buried.

The side door of Danfeng Gate is slowly opening, the sound of the hooves of the cavalry of the brigade was heard in the distance, the momentum was like thunder, a moment, from the Daming Palace swarmed out, a carriage made a sharp turn, and drove out from the side door under the support of the front and rear guards, the soldiers guarding the gate saluted together, and sat on the ground in the carriage is the left minister Pei Jun, last night he worked very late, so he stayed in the courtroom, and went back to the house today to take a nap.

On the small table in the interior of his carriage was a thick report, which was a report on Zhang Huan's whereabouts yesterday, from Zhang Huan's departure in the morning to his return to the house in the evening, everything he did during this period, including where he went? Who he came into contact with and who came to him, of course, some were detailed, some were brief, and some were not recorded.

In this way, he also wrote more than a dozen pages, thick stacks, Pei Jun looked through them all the way, most of them were not interested in him, such as meeting Cui Yu at noon, and meeting the Queen Mother in the afternoon, these are all things he expected, and there are only three things he is interested in, one is that his subordinates brought a scholar, and he never came out after entering the mansion; The second is that he brought more than a dozen submissions back to the mansion, needless to say that he also knew that it was something that was not good for him Pei Jun, but what he was most interested in was the scene where Zhang Huan met Zhu, one day, I want you to live better than die!

Reading this, the image of Zhu gritting his teeth seemed to leap on the paper, Pei Jun smiled, maybe this is the most valuable sentence in these dozen pages of information, since someone wants to serve him, why wouldn't he do it?

Zhang Huan put on two things Pei Jun never interfered, but this does not mean that he will let it go, he is also very anxious, he knows that in the past three years, the Pei family has been ambitious, and the constraints on the door style have weakened somewhat, although most of the children are cautious and cautious, but there are still some unscrupulous children who cause trouble, they are all suppressed by him, and the suppression is only speech, but it may not be able to suppress people's hearts, he is extremely worried that Zhang Huan will catch one or two things, which will be detrimental to the reputation of his Pei family.

It's funny to say, Zhang Huan is still his only son-in-law, and their son-in-law has evolved into political rivals today, and his daughter simply didn't enter Beijing because she was caught between her husband and father.

He can't blame his son-in-law for his unfilial piety, after all, he took away his son-in-law's inheritance first.

The carriage slowly stopped, and before he knew it, he had arrived outside his mansion, Pei Jun got out of the carriage, although he was very tired, there were some things he had to explain before he could rest.

Soon after entering the study and sitting down, his intelligence chief, Pei Danming, received the order to come back, and as soon as he entered the study, he bowed down and saluted: "Please command!" ”

"I'll give you two things, first, you have to find out for me immediately, who is the scholar who was called into the mansion by Zhang Huan last night? Second, I asked Cui Qinggong's aide Ma Siyi, whom I bought last year, to raise troops for a thousand days and use them for a while, and now it's time for him to play his role. ”

Pei Jun picked up the letter he had just written from the table and handed it to Pei Danming, "Let Ma Si do what I said in the letter." ”

"Yes!" Pei Danming took the letter and turned away, but when he went out, he almost bumped into the housekeeper who came in a hurry.

Pei Jun stretched his waist and just got up to rest, but the housekeeper's voice sounded outside the door, "Master, my uncle asks to see you." "I'm going to rest and let him come back in the evening." Pei Jun only took one step, immediately came to his senses, and asked repeatedly, "Which aunt is it?" ”

"It's Aunt Zhang, the envoy of Longyoujiedu!"