In the imperial garden of the Great Xia Palace, Emperor Yuning, who was accustomed to getting up early, took square steps. Today he is in good spirits, and he hasn't been to the Imperial Garden for a long time. Emperor Yuning didn't go fast, and the sick Seventh Prince Delong also followed behind.

"Delon." Emperor Yuning stopped and shouted softly.

"The son is here."

Emperor Yuning looked at the resplendent Jinluan Hall not far away, "Your three imperial brothers are all in charge of the government there, are you interested in participating?" ”

The seventh prince, Delong, looked up at the distance, his face showed a serenity, "Father, the son is thin, I'm afraid I can't take on this heavy responsibility, let's let a few imperial brothers come." ”

Emperor Yuning nodded with satisfaction, "Delong, staying away from government affairs is good for you, and you will understand it later." However, there are some questions that you have unique opinions on, and my father wants to hear what you think of the Heavenly Master Palace. ”

At the mention of the Heavenly Master Palace, the Seventh Emperor Delong smiled slightly, "Father, the sons and daughters feel that they~ are not like my officials in Great Xia." ”

"What, you're saying they're a rabble?"

"No, no, the retainers mean ~ their masters are not like masters, and their vassals are not like vassals. It seems to be ~. ”

Without waiting for Delong to finish speaking, Emperor Yuning smiled, "A nest of bandits." ”

The Seventh Emperor Delong also smiled, he felt that his father's description was good, the Heavenly Master Hall was indeed like a bandit's nest, and even the tone of the Shangguan Heavenly Master's speech was full of ruffianism.

Emperor Yuning then laughed and said, "Hehe, don't underestimate this nest of bandits. The little guy who had never been through a big battle dared to fight to the death with 500 people and 50,000 elite soldiers in the northern battalion. Just ask who else in this court would dare to do this. It can be said that the courage of these people has changed the pattern of the world. If not, I'm afraid the biggest headache now is me. ”

"What my father said is extremely true, if there is a war between Great Xia and Northern Ming, and the northern battalion weighs it arbitrarily, I am afraid it will be difficult to control them. In this way, the Heavenly Master Hall has made a great contribution. ”

Emperor Yuning turned his head to look at the Seventh Emperor Delong, and admonished, "Delong, the people of the court are unpredictable, and only the Heavenly Master Hall is still a pool of clear water. They are innocent, and they are not in the same stream, so my father left them to you. However, there is one thing that my father wants to give you, and that is to make friends with people. You are different from those of Dezhang, you do not compete for the big position, and you are not a threat to anyone. If you want to use your benefactor to deter the Heavenly Master Palace, I'm afraid it will be difficult to subdue them. ”

"Father and emperor don't have to worry, the son has no quarrel with the world, even if he can't get the trust of the Heavenly Master Palace, he can still be happy and worry-free."

Emperor Yuning shook his head, "Xiao Qi, you underestimate the cruelty of fighting for power. Even if they are siblings, they will kill the killer for the sake of the stability of the big position. Born in the royal family, this is an unavoidable fact. Whether you fight or not, you will eventually be implicated. Your father didn't give you anything, but your father will arrange important ministers inside and outside to protect you for a safe life. ”

The Seventh Emperor Delong looked at Emperor Yuning with emotion, he understood what his father meant. Regardless of whether he fights for the throne or not, he will eventually choose to support one of the three imperial brothers. Being in the royal family, you can't hide if you want to. What's more, his uncle is in charge of the northern camp, and the Seventh Prince can't escape the pull of several imperial brothers. In case he chooses the wrong person, I'm afraid he can only rely on his ministers and relatives to escort him, as his father said.

"Father, the sons understand that tomorrow the sons will stay in the Heavenly Master Hall to pray for their fathers and pray for my Great Xia."

Emperor Yuning smiled with relief, the Seventh Prince Delong could have a good home, and he also let go of a big concern. As for the disputes between other princes, Emperor Yuning did not object. In his opinion, only those who survived the brutal struggle were worthy of being in charge of the Great Xia Dynasty. The Emperor's House does not need the weak, and only under this cruel competition can it be passed down from generation to generation. Otherwise, sooner or later, one day, this country will become someone else's world.

Emperor Yuning turned around and looked at the Jinluan Palace. He didn't know if Shangguan Xuanwu had the ability to break this deadlock, and Emperor Yuning was ready to give Shangguan Xuanwu another five days, otherwise, he would have to go out of the mountain to clean up the chaos in Kyoto.

In Dali Temple, Zhang Ruming waited anxiously with a little anxiety. Although he agreed to Duan Lang yesterday, Zhang Ruming was also afraid of accidents. Zhan Feng is not an ordinary person, although he is now in his forties, his majesty is still the same as it was back then. If something goes wrong, the whole of Kyoto will be in turmoil.

Zhang Ruming looked at Duan Lang from time to time, and Duan Lang smiled comfortingly, "Don't be nervous, just like usual." ”

"Are you ready for that thing? Don't that don't work. Zhang Ruming said uneasily.

"Something from the Detective Division, it should be fine." Speaking of this, Duan Lang suddenly remembered Li Jianshan, "By the way, where did this guy Li Jianshan go, why didn't he see anyone early in the morning?" ”

"Oh, that guy asked me for a leave of absence, saying he was going to the Defense Division to complete the formalities. Anyway, he is already one of our people, so I asked him to go to the Ministry of Officials as soon as possible to get a handover paperwork. ”

Duan Lang nodded, and as the two were talking, they saw a black-armored guard running in.

"My lord, here they are."

Zhang Ruming stood up nervously, "How many people are here?" ”

Hei Jiawei was stunned, "It seems that there is only Lord Liu and Master Zhan." ”

Zhang Ruming looked at Duan Lang and breathed a sigh of relief, "Let them in." ”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Zhan Feng appear at the door of the lobby. Liu Xusheng also hurriedly ran over and put Shang Fang's sword on top of the public case.

Zhan Feng walked majestically, walked to the lobby, and looked at Shangguan Xuanwu with a majestic gaze, "Lord Shangguan, I don't know if you are coming down with Shang Fang's sword, what do you want to ask?" ”

Zhang Ruming walked out from behind the public case with a smile, "Master Zhan, this official just wants to discuss a few things with you, not an inquiry. The black armor guard of my Heavenly Master Hall was also trained under Master Zhan back then, and everyone is not an outsider, please take a seat. Commander Duan, don't hurry up and show Master Zhan tea. ”

Zhang Ruming was so polite, Zhanfeng's face looked much better, "There is no need to watch tea, if there is anything Shangguan asks, he is busy with official business, and there are still many things to do." ”

"Then how to do it, the visitor is a guest, let's talk while drinking tea, Master Zhan doesn't have to be anxious." Zhang Ruming said and waved his hand at Duan Lang.

Zhang Ruming didn't return to the public case and sat down, and the two sat down separately on one side. After a while, Duan Lang walked in with a tea tray in his hand. Zhan Feng glanced at Duan Lang and nodded slightly, which was regarded as a hello.

Duan Lang was as cold as before, and his face was grim to two cups of tea, and he picked up one of them, "Lord Zhan, please." ”

"Commander Duan, it's rare for you to be so polite, thank you." Zhan Feng brought it over and put it aside.

Duan Lang stood beside Zhang Ruming quietly, Zhang Ruming coughed twice in embarrassment, and picked up the teacup, "Come on, let's taste the tea first, I heard that the tea in Dali Temple is very good." Zhang Ruming said, taking a small bite.

Zhan Feng was unmoved, and asked directly, "Lord Shangguan, just say anything about it." ”

"Uh~this~ What, I heard Commander Duan say that you were also at the scene when he found the butcher?" Zhang Ruming asked without words.

"Yes, I also found out that the butcher is suspicious."

"Lord Zhan, you also know Hu Weilin's case, to put it bluntly, he wanted to testify that Xiangguo was plotted against Feng Zhun, the squire of the Ministry of War. I wonder if Lord Zhan agrees with this? Zhang Ruming stretched out his head and looked at Zhanfeng.

"I'm sorry, whether it was plotted by someone, this is still to be checked. In the absence of evidence, no one can make a conclusion in their own right. ”

"Well, let's not talk about the fire in the prison of the Criminal Department, the official of the Criminal Department was shot to death, this is a fact."

Zhan Feng looked at Zhang Ruming with unkind eyes, "Lord Shangguan, what do you want to say?" These two things are well known to everyone in Kyoto, so why bother asking. ”

"Don't worry, Lord Zhan, don't you think these two things seem to be related to Yu Xiangguo?"

"Then you can just ask Lord Xiangguo, you don't have to ask me. is in charge of the military order, as a subordinate of the Prime Minister, he dare not speak. ”

"Well, then let me ask you, why are you investigating the butcher?"

Zhan Feng looked at Duan Lang and snorted, "I am responsible for the safety of Kyoto below." In addition, the official also wants to find out the facts and return the innocence of the country. ”

"Innocent, hehe, if he is innocent, why should Hu Weilin accuse him. Moreover, it is too much of a coincidence that the confessions written by Hu Weilin were burned. In all of Kyoto, Hon-sama can't think of anyone else with such energy. ”

Zhan Feng's face darkened, "Lord Shangguan said this, but it is against justice. ”

"Then tell me, how can it not be unjust? Anyway, in the eyes of this adult, Yu Ban is the most suspicious. Zhang Ruming squinted at Zhan Feng.

"Hmph, if you want to talk about arson, everyone in the criminal department is suspicious. Only they can get the news first, and they can free up time to set up the killing game. You people only know and suspect, don't you specifically interrogate the people who were on duty at the prison of the Criminal Department that day? Zhan Feng said angrily.

The two of them were arguing, but Duan Lang, who was standing on the side, was in a hurry. The tea is going to be cold, and if you don't drink it, you can only splash it and re-store the tea. If that's the case, he'll go and get the medicine again.

Duan Lang interjected helplessly, "Lord Shangguan, what Lord Zhan said also makes some sense. If you want me to see, you two should calm down and talk slowly. Come, first drink a cup of tea and calm down. ”

When Zhang Ruming heard this, he quickly nodded, "Yes, yes, let's not talk about these things first, come, have a cup of tea and then talk." ”

Zhan Feng stood up, clenched his fists and said, "I'm sorry, Xiaguan still has important things to do, if Shangguan has nothing else to do, I will say goodbye." Zhan Feng said that he was going to go out, if it wasn't for Shang Fang's sword, he wouldn't have bothered to come here.

Zhang Ruming saw it and quickly stood up, "Wait!" ”

"What's the matter, Lord Shangguan still has something to do?" Zhan Feng looked at Zhang Ruming with a cold face.

"Hmm~ There's one more thing, I'd like to talk to you about it." Zhang Ruming was embarrassed and couldn't think of any tricks.

"To put it bluntly, I don't like to beat around the bush."

"Okay, straightforward, I like the character of Lord Zhan. What, this official wants to ask, how did your forbidden army give the black armor guard's pension? Zhang Ruming really couldn't hold back anything, so he had to pull it on the head of the black armor guard.

At the mention of the Black Armor Guard, Zhan Feng snorted heavily, "Your Heavenly Master Hall is really capable, since the establishment of the Black Armor Guard, there has never been such a big battle damage. But you, Lord Shangguan, may be able to step on their blood and get a good credit. ”

Zhang Ruming's face pale, "You can't say that, when the Japanese officials and Commander Duan were present, no one took a step back." They are not only the Black Armor Guards, but also the brothers of my Shangguan Xuanwu. I mean, under the normal circumstances of bereavement, my Heavenly Master Hall will give an additional double to the families of those brothers. ”

Zhan Feng nodded, "If you can do this, your Lord Shangguan deserves my high view." ”

"Well, Lord Zhan was also their boss, and today you and I will replace the wine with tea and toast these dead brothers. Come on, it. After Zhang Ruming finished speaking, he personally brought a teacup to Zhanfeng.

Zhan Feng took the teacup, "Okay! Just make a toast to these brothers who died, and hope that Lord Shangguan will treat the Black Armor Guard well in the future. ”

"!" Zhang Ruming drank it all with a teacup.

Zhan Feng didn't refuse this time, and drank it boldly. Duan Lang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and also sighed in his heart that these brothers who died could still help him when it was critical.

"Lord Shangguan, if there is nothing else, I will say goodbye."

"Uh~ Okay, please."

Zhan Feng walked out, Zhang Ruming glanced back at Duan Lang, Duan Lang gave a thumbs up, "Well done, wait for my news." Duan Lang said and hurriedly walked out.

Zhan Feng walked out of Dali Temple, and just untied the reins on the tethered horse stake, when he was suddenly stunned, and found Duan Lang walking over with a strange expression. Zhan Feng didn't get on the horse immediately, and looked at Duan Lang.

"Lord Zhan, I would like to ask a question." Duan Lang said softly.

"Say!"

"You seem to have mentioned the Shadow Artist last time, and after inquiring about it in the next two days, you learned that there was such a mysterious portal more than ten years ago. It's really a coincidence, last night, I was tracking down the clues of the real murderer who killed the officials of the Criminal Department, and I actually found something related to the shadow person. ”

Zhan Feng was stunned for a moment, and looked at Duan Lang with a fierce look, "In this Kyoto, it seems that few people know about the Shadow Person, where did you find out?" What's more, how do you know that what you find is related to the Shadower? ”

Duan Lang smiled calmly, "Of course it was found out in the Investigation Division, you can ask Lord Huai about this matter." If you're not interested, then I won't talk about it below, I'll check it myself. After Duan Lang finished speaking, he turned around and left.

Duan Lang deliberately pushed the matter on Lord Huai's head, anyway, as long as he showed his style, he would never have a chance to ask Lord Huai for verification in his life.

"Wait! Are you going to check? What to look for. Zhan Feng asked urgently.

Duan Lang stopped, turned to look at Zhan Feng, "Of course, it's to track down the clues, even if this clue is not the real murderer who killed the officials of the Criminal Department, it is a great achievement to be able to dig up the remnants of the Shadow Person." ”

"Boy, this is not something you can check, what did you find? Tell me. Otherwise, don't blame me for taking you back to the forbidden barracks. Zhan Feng said threateningly.

Duan Lang hesitated for a moment, and took out a piece of straw paper from his arms, on which were several marks drawn by Zhou Guangji. One of the marks is the unique battle axe Hengtian at the head of the Duan clan of Jingji Mountain.

"Look at this, Lord Huai said that this is the mark of the Shadow Artist, I found it in a broken grass house on the outskirts of the southern city."

Zhan Feng took it and took a look, and his face suddenly changed, "Where is that place, take me there immediately." ”

"What are you kidding, I found out, what's the matter, Lord Zhan wants to compete with the Heavenly Master Palace?"

"As long as you find something valuable, the credit will be yours, and in addition, you will be rewarded with five hundred taels of silver. Don't talk nonsense, take me with you. ”

"Now?" Duan Lang deliberately pretended to be embarrassed.

"If you don't leave, Lao Tzu will escort you away." Zhan Feng's eyes showed a murderous aura.

Duan Lang looked at it, "Okay, this is what you said, and the credit belongs to me." ”

"What a ramble."

"You wait, I'll lead the horse."

Duan Lang was secretly happy in his heart, and hurriedly came to the horse tether to untie his horse rope, and the two of them galloped towards the south city gate. In the crowd, Zhou Zhu also quietly retreated, rode on his horse and quickly chased after him.

At the corner of the wall of Dali Temple, a man on horseback wearing a hat watched Duan Lang and Zhanfeng hurrying past him. The man in the hat was about to follow quietly, but found that a woman also rushed past him.

From the speed of Zhou Zhu's gallop, the man immediately judged that he was following Duan Lang and Zhanfeng. The corners of the hat man's mouth went up, revealing a subtle sneer.

"It's kind of funny, someone actually tracked the Kyoto military plane. I'd like to see what this woman does. The man in the hat grabbed his crotch and got off his horse, and also ran to the south of the city.

Duan Lang quickly walked out of the city gate with Zhan Feng, and at this moment, Duan Lang couldn't help but be a little excited and nervous. Zhan Feng didn't suspect that this was a game set up by Duan Lang, and he was completely occupied by the matter of the shadow artist.

Duan Lang saw the woods in front of him, which was the ambush site he and Zhou Guangji had planned. The blood in Duan Lang's heart was burning, but he didn't expect that after the praying mantis catching cicadas and yellow finch, a man with a hat actually followed.