The three of them crossed the Jinshui Bridge and walked not far, but they saw Zhang Yu waiting in front of the road with a team of people. Seeing the three of them, Zhang Yu immediately bowed down and gave a soldier's salute, and said in a voice like a bell:

"The left guard of Yanshan commanded Zhang Yu, and on the orders of His Royal Highness King Yan, he was here to greet Lord Yao, Yuan Gaoren and Shen Shaoxia. The prince was unwell today, his appearance was untidy, and he didn't want to frighten Mr. Yuan, so he had arranged a post house for Mr. Yuan, and asked the general to escort Mr. Yuan to the post house to rest first; Tomorrow, the prince will set up a special banquet to welcome Mr. Yuan. Please don't blame Mr. Yuan. ”

When Shen Ruoyu and Yuan Hui heard King Yan's decree, they were quite puzzled. Yao Biao was not surprised; He already understood King Yan's intentions, but he was afraid that Yuan Hui would be dissatisfied with this superficial neglect, so he glanced at Yuan Daxian carefully.

After a moment of surprise, Yuan Hui quickly regained his composure, as if he didn't care at all, and said with a smile:

"Yuan thanked the prince for his kindness. Since the prince has already made arrangements, it seems that Yuan only needs to obey the arrangement. Also ask General Zhang to lead the way. ”

Zhang Yu said: "The prince has a will, please Lord Yao and Shen Shaoxia go directly to Xingsheng Palace." Mr. Yuan, please leave the palace with the last general and go to the post house. ”

Seeing Yuan Hui follow Zhang Yu away, Shen Ruoyu asked softly:

"Master, what does the prince mean? Hasn't he always been a corporal of courtesy, why did he invite Mr. Yuan here, but he was so cold? ”

Yao Biao smiled and said, "Why are you in a hurry?" You'll find out tomorrow. ”

Shen Ruoyu laughed self-deprecatingly: "Tomorrow? Well, if I lived to live today. ”

"What?" Yao Biao didn't hear clearly.

Shen Ruoyu did not answer, and silently shuttled through the quiet and deep Yanwang Palace.

As he crossed the bridge from the Taiye Pool, he suddenly stopped and listened with bated breath for a while. Yao Biao saw him stop, his face full of focus and confusion, and immediately understood what he had heard.

"Ducks, geese," he said, "I hear them too." ”

The noisy sound of chickens, ducks and geese came from somewhere, which seemed to be far away, and seemed to be close at hand, but it was deliberately masked, so it was not very clear.

Shen Ruo looked at Yao Biao suspiciously: "Do you raise poultry in the palace?" ”

"What's so strange?" Yao Biao smiled: "Who doesn't like to eat roast duck?" ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "However, the last time I came in, I didn't hear the sound of poultry. ”

Yao Biao wrote lightly: "Last time was an extraordinary situation, you were flustered, and it is not strange that you can't hear it." ”

Shen Ruoyu looked at Yao Biao contemplatively for a moment, did not speak, turned around and got off the bridge.

Yao Biao couldn't help but feel a pang in his heart; The moment Shen Ruoyu turned around, he saw that in those dark pupils, a touch of vigilance was fleeting. Although it was only for a moment, it made him, a seasoned gentleman, shudder.

What kind of eyes do you mean......

When Shen Ruoliao and Yao Biao arrived at Xingsheng Palace, the soldiers guarding the door immediately ran in to report, and soon ran out and ordered the two to go in.

I'm going to see King Yan again - Shen Ruoyu suddenly recalled that in Emperor Ying's palace, the pale and weak young son of heaven Zhu Yunwen, he couldn't help but hesitate for a moment, and his chest was a little tense.

Will he still be able to go home today? Can you still get out of this Yan Palace?

Yao Biao beside him suddenly stopped, knelt down and bowed: "See Your Highness." ”

"Shude doesn't need to be polite, sit down." A mellow and low voice that he was familiar with, although it was not big, but it was like thunder.

Shen Ruoyu raised his head and met Zhu Di's smiling and concerned gaze. I haven't seen him for more than half a year, and King Yan seems to be slightly thinner than before, although it is winter, and the clothes on the prince's body are more than those in summer and May. The blazing eyes are more calm and deep, the thick eyebrows like Wolong are more and more heroic, the broad dark face is so resolute and decisive, and the three handsome long beards are as chic as ever. This is the Yan King he is familiar with; This turned out to be Zhu Yunwen, the uncle of the Son of Heaven.

Shen Ruoyu couldn't help but exclaim: "Lord Wang......"

"You're back?" Zhu Di smiled, "It's changed, I can't recognize it." What about your mother? ”

"Thanks to the blessing of the prince, everything is fine with my mother. I just think I'm white-headed—"

Zhu Di smiled: "That's nature. You have not been heard from for half a year, and Lord Yao's procurement office came back and said that you threw yourself into the river and died, and anyone who knew you would be sad; Master Yao's hair has also turned a lot grayer for you, haven't you noticed? ”

Shen Ruoyu was slightly stunned. "Lao Shi is back? When did he come back? When you came back, what did you say? ”

Zhu Di glanced at Yao Biao. Yao Biao replied:

"Lao Shi said that you were chased all the way to Xiangyang by a fortune teller in Chengdu and deceived you to Mrs. City with a note. He waited for two hours, and when he did not see you return, he went to look for it, and the city was empty, but he heard passers-by near him say that an hour ago he saw a group of officers and soldiers from here carrying a young queen to the river. He went to the Xiangyang Mansion to investigate, but the government told him that no officers and soldiers had been dispatched that day, let alone arrested, and that he must have made a mistake. The next morning, Lao Shi still couldn't see you, so he ran to the mansion to beat the drum in a hurry. The prefect of Xiangyang had no choice but to send someone to find the riverside with him, found two ferry boats, asked the boatman, said that after noon the first day, he carried two boats of guests, both dressed as officers and soldiers, and took a young posterior to cross the river, but halfway through the river, the latter suddenly committed suicide by throwing himself into the river, and was salvaged up, as if he was seriously injured, and he didn't know if he still had life; When the officers and men of the two boats came ashore, they hurriedly carried the men away. The prefect of Xiangyang then sent people to search for ten miles along both sides of the river, but could not find any trace. Lao Shi was desperate, so he had to run back to Beiping to report first. ”

"He-wasn't he captured by the brocade guards? Always in the inn? Shen Ruoyu was surprised.

Yao Biao shook his head.

Zhu Di asked, "What happened?" Why did you get involved with Jinyiwei again? ”

Shen Ruoliao briefly recounted his encounter in Xiangyang to King Yan; As for what Huang Tanzi said to him: his father's past, the acquaintance between King Yan and Lord Yao, and the monitoring of Yanshan by the two of them, he omitted them all and did not mention them.

Zhu Di listened, pondered for a long time, looked at Shen Ruoliao, and smiled kindly:

"No wonder; Lone just said in his heart, why is it that after half a year, your face seems to have changed as if it has changed, it is very vicissitudes, unlike the original handsome baby face, and now the lines are hardened - what do you say, Shude? ”

Yao Biao couldn't hide his distressed smile and said: "Yes, it's strange and cold now, I didn't dare to recognize him at first sight." ”

"Children always have to grow up," Zhu Di smiled quietly: "I see that you have jumped a lot taller, and your shoulders have become wider; It's time to become a man. ”

He stroked his long beard, frowned slightly, and pondered:

"It's a strange thing. Half a year ago, when the new emperor ascended the throne, he abolished all the powers of Jinyiwei and left a banner for decoration. Listening to your description, the style of these people is somewhat similar to that of Jinyiwei, but there is a key difference: Jinyiwei goes out to arrest people and has always borrowed the prison of the local government; Lone had never heard of a time when the Jinyi guard had arrested someone and left it in the nearby government prison, but he was locked up in a mass grave in the wilderness, and the local government knew nothing about it. Could it be that the new emperor abolished the brocade clothes on the surface, but he was still calling it secretly, and his method of acting was completely different from the previous emperor's examination? Or is it because this time, it is not an ordinary court official who is investigating, but a prince, so even the local government has to hide it? ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "Lord Wang, when I went to the capital, because of the recommendation of Mr. Fang of the Hanlin Academy, I was summoned into the palace by the Son of Heaven for questioning, and I told him about it, and the Son of Heaven didn't know anything about it, so he summoned Jinyiwei to ask, and the commander of Jinyiwei swore to the sky that there was no such thing, they had never been out of the capital, and there was no such person as Huang Lizi in Jinyiwei." Mr. Fang said that it must be a group of gangsters disguised as Jinyi Guards to commit murder and harm people, and they will also drive a wedge between the court and the prince. ”

Zhu Di shook his head and sneered: "Only Fang Zhengxue can have such naïve thoughts." In the whole world, who dares to be so bold, pretending to be a Jinyi guard, and dare to claim to investigate the prince's rebellion? ”

Shen Ruoyu stood in place blankly: "That-is it really Jinyiwei?" ”

Zhu Di shook his head and said, "It's not like it's lonely." If it weren't for Jin Yiwei, the origin of this group of people would definitely not be as simple as ordinary gangsters. In this great future, it is by no means idle to know my Yan King's every move so clearly, and dare to intercept the messenger who threatens Lone, and even to the person who detains and detains you. At present, only the imperial court has the motivation and ability to do so; If it is really a secret agent of the Son of Heaven, but he is outside the Jinyi Guard, I am afraid that Lone will cause a lot of trouble. ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "Lord Wang, it shouldn't be." The Son of Heaven himself told me that he didn't know anything about it, because the Jinyi guard was hiding from him, and he lost his temper, promising that he would investigate it thoroughly. ”

"You have seen the Son of Heaven," Zhu Di looked at him meaningfully, his eyes were full of smiles, and he asked lightly, "How is the Son of Heaven?" ”

Shen Ruoyu hesitated. What exactly is this question asking? How is the Son of Heaven's health lately? Is there any movement from the Son of Heaven? Or do you want him to think of the Son of Heaven?

He replied, "Son of Heaven—that's it." ”

"My three sons are also in Jingshi; Have you ever seen them? ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "Lord Wang, Ruoyu is incompetent and did not rescue the three highnesses. ”

Zhu Di smiled faintly and said, "It's nonsense again; The Son of Heaven is the cousin of the three princes, and the three princes sleep in the heavenly womb without worry, and they have a great Confucian like Fang Zhengxue as their teacher, which is a good fortune for them. Listen to you, it's like they've been plagued? ”

Shen Ruoyu carefully tasted the true meaning of Zhu Di's words, and understood that the prince wanted to know how the life of his three sons was. He couldn't help but secretly admire the prince's scheming, and said:

"To be honest, I didn't see the three highnesses in the palace on this trip. Even before entering the palace, I didn't know that you sent them to Jingshi for mourning. Later, it was Huang Zicheng and Lord Huang who mentioned it, and I only learned about it. The Son of Heaven knew that the prince and the mother were worried about the daily life of the three highnesses, so he specially repaired a book and ordered me to bring it to the prince. There is also Master Fang, who is a student of Fangzheng, and also asked me to send a letter to the prince for the sake of the studies of the three highnesses. Lord, have you seen it now? Still is......? ”

Zhu Di didn't seem surprised, and said, "Since it is the letterhead of the Son of Heaven and Mr. Fang, of course Lone should open it immediately." Ruoxiao, I've worked hard for you all the way. Xiangyang's accident, you suffered a big sin for Lonely, and you were wronged. ”

Shen Ruoyu enshrined Zhu Yunwen and Fang Xiaoru's belief in King Yan. Zhu Di took the letter, read it quickly, his eyebrows locked slightly, pondered for a moment, looked at Shen Ruoliao, and asked quietly:

"Do you know what's in the letter?"

Shen Ruoyu said: "I know probably; Before the Son of Heaven and Lord Fang wrote the letter, he had discussed it with Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng in front of me. ”

"In front of you?" Zhu Di's eyes flashed, "Did they say anything else?" ”

"The others are all big things, and when it comes to the details, Lord Fang will send me out." Shen Ruoyu said.

"What is the big one?" Zhu Di asked.

Shen Ruoyu thought for a while and said, "Lord Wang, it's better to tell you the details about these big faces." Details are obtained from elsewhere though. I met the second prince, but not in the palace, but in a restaurant in the city after leaving the palace. ”

When Zhu Di heard this, he couldn't help but sit up straight. "Oh, have you seen the second prince? Elaborate? ”

Shen Ruoyu told him how he met Zhu Gaoxu, and what Zhu Gaoxu said to him, including Zhu Gaochu invited him to a meal.

Zhu Di listened to it and muttered: "In the end, Xu'er is capable and didn't disappoint me." ”

He was silent for a while, raised his head, looked at Yao Biao, and said:

"Speaking of blood exchange - Shude, you are not there in the morning; The Ministry of Officials sent a letter of notification this morning, saying that the Son of Heaven had appointed Zhang Yu, a servant of the Ministry of Works, as the political envoy of Beiping, Yushi Jingqing of the Left Command, as the Senator of Beiping, Xie Gui, the commander of Henan Wei, as the commander of Beiping, and Zhang Xin, the commander of Yongping Weidu, was transferred to the command of Beiping. Chen Heng, the former commander of Beiping, was promoted to the governor of the capital and changed to Daning; Other personnel were evacuated and returned to Beijing, or transferred to other places. As is customary, when the officials of the prince's domain are transferred, the official letter of notification from the ministry to the palace should depart at the same time as the new official. Therefore, Zhang Yu, Jing Qing, Xie Gui and Zhang Xin stood outside the Duanli Gate this morning to routinely attend the official business of the appointed officials and pay respects to the prince. Lone Tui said that he was not feeling well and asked them to come back later. The imperial court has already begun to exchange blood for us. Now it's just the political envoy and the commander of the envoy, and it won't be long before the royal army will be moved. ”

Yao Biao seemed to have expected this step, and said unhurriedly: "No wonder I entered the palace today, and the atmosphere was much more tense than usual. The soldiers guarding the Duanli Gate also stopped the ministers, and they had to wait for the report. Lord Wang Zhen of the Hundred Households scolded him. ”

"Stopping you too?" Zhu Di was slightly stunned, and then smiled: "Which soldier is that, so bold?" ”

Yao Biao said with a smile: "This person's name is Xue Liu, according to himself, he is from Jiaodong. The prince can take care of this matter, treat him as a model, and let the whole army see clearly what the soldiers who are the prince should do and should not do, so as not to stand up to the crooked wind. ”

Zhu Di smiled: "It's a good idea; Luo Yang, you go and call Tan Yuan and Wang Zhen; Let them find that audacious Xue Liu. Lone has to take care of these people. ”

Shen Ruoyu watched Luo Yang take the order and leave, his heart was a little cold, and he couldn't help but secretly sweat for Xue Liu.