Sure enough, at the end of the day, about three o'clock, You Jian was guarding outside the Huainan Princess's Mansion, and saw an ox cart from the Linchuan Palace's mansion passing by and stopping here, and two people walked down from the car, it was Xiao Ying and Lu Huilin, the two people looked hurried, just walked up the steps at the entrance of the house, and the two porters in front of the house greeted them, bowed and saluted, and then invited the two to enter.

You Jian watched the two of them enter the mansion with his own eyes, and only then left, and then he had to go back to the Hou Mansion to tell Xie Zheng.

At this time, Huainan princess Xiao Huijin was sitting in the backyard pavilion quietly embroidering flowers, and her granddaughter Shi stood aside to shake a fan for her, and the maid walked up to the pavilion quickly, and said: "Princess, His Royal Highness the King of Linchuan has come down." ”

Hearing this, Xiao Huijin was not surprised, but rather calm, as if she had expected it.

"I know, the main palace will go over immediately, and you will be entertained."

"Yes," said the maid, and then walked down the gazebo and turned back to the front yard the way she came.

After the maid retreated, her granddaughter Shi said: "Princess, His Royal Highness the King of Linchuan came here at this time, I'm afraid it's not for the matter of the embezzlement of taxes in the Zhishang Book, and I came to intercede with you?" ”

Xiao Huijin put down the needlework in her hand, raised her right hand slightly, and her granddaughter Shi saw the situation, and immediately reached out to support her and helped her to stand up.

"I've been waiting for a long time."

Xiao Huijin said, then took his granddaughter Shi to walk under the pavilion, and then stepped on lotus steps, swaying, and walked to the front yard unhurriedly, but when he arrived at the hanging flower gate where the backyard and the front yard communicated, he stopped and did not go out for a long time, just looking at the front yard from afar.

Just look at Xiao Ying with her hands on her hips, pacing back and forth in the courtyard, her face full of anxiety and impatience, and there is another person next to her, standing fixedly, with her head down and not daring to move, Xiao Huijin looked at it for a while, until he raised his head to look at Xiao Ying, she didn't see the man's face clearly.

Scold! It turned out to be Lu Huilin!

"Your Highness...... You ......" Lu Huilin frowned, looked at Xiao Ying with a bitter expression, seemed to be a little embarrassed, and said hesitantly: "Can you ...... Don't shake ......."

At this time, Xiao Ying happened to have her back to Lu Huilin, and when she heard that Lu Huilin was dry, she immediately froze, and then slowly turned to look at him, and said, "You told this king not to shake?" This king is very annoyed in his heart, can he not shake it! ”

Lu Huilin didn't dare to refute, so he had to lower his head again, but Xiao Ying became more and more annoyed, seeing that he didn't speak, he walked quickly to him again, raised his hand and pointed at his eyebrows, lowered his voice slightly, and gritted his teeth and said, "Why is this king annoying?" Not because of you? Because you're not doing well! I really don't know what kind of stuff you're raising under your hands, a bunch of garbage, rice buckets! ”

"Yes, yes...... His Royal Highness taught a lesson......" Lu Huilin couldn't stop nodding, and his head, which was originally slightly lowered, was lowered now.

"I'll confess you in three or two clicks, so do you have to confess this king after two more hits!" The more Xiao Ying spoke, the more panicked he became, and Lu Huilin hurriedly explained: "It's not like this, the subordinates of the lower officials' mansions directly obey the orders of the lower officials, and although the lower officials instructed them to collect taxes, they never mentioned His Royal Highness." ”

Xiao Ying was originally just an example, talking about how stupid Lu Huilin's part was, how loose his mouth was, and exaggerating a little, but he never thought that Lu Huilin really explained it to him, Xiao Ying was annoyed, seeing his stupid appearance, the anger in his heart suddenly surged up again, and without saying a word, it was a slap in the face, and it hit Lu Huilin on the head lightly and heavily.

Lu Huilin was born in a scholar clan and his status is not low, so how can he really grovel like that?

The matter of tax corruption was originally instructed by Xiao Ying, but his subordinates were not in a good position, and he had bowed his head and admitted his mistake for this mistake, but he never expected that at this juncture, Xiao Ying actually blamed all the faults on him, and it was just a scolding, but he still did it in front of so many people in the princess's mansion!

This is a great shame for Lu Huilin, thinking about it, he is already full of resentment.

"Third brother."

It was only at this time that Xiao Huijin walked out from behind the hanging flower door, and the elegant posture of Fang Cai's gentle movement was no longer there, but was replaced by a deliberate eagerness.

And Xiao Ying's face changed after hearing Xiao Huijin's soft call, Fang Cai's face was still full of anger, and now he was smiling quite festively, seeing Xiao Huijin coming over, he put down his hand and moved a few steps in the direction she was coming from, and called with a smile: "Ah Jin." ”

Xiao Huijin walked up to Xiao Ying, and then asked, "Why are you free to come to me?" She clearly knew Xiao Ying's intention, but she pretended not to know.

"It's just that I haven't seen my sister for a few days, and I have some worries in my heart, so I'll come and take a look," Xiao Yingyue said, the smile on his face became more and more flattering, and when he said this, he simply smiled so much that his eyes narrowed into a slit, and he asked: "How is Ah Jin doing lately, have you ever missed the third brother?" ”

Xiao Huijin is not as good at pleasing people as him, she only smiled at Xiao Ying lightly and said, "If the third brother is worried about me, then I will naturally miss the third brother too." ”

As soon as she finished saying this, she immediately turned around and walked towards the living room, Xiao Ying immediately turned around and waved at Lu Huilin, signaling Lu Huilin to follow him.

The three of them walked into the guest hall, Xiao Huijin first sat down in the main seat, and then saw Xiao Ying and Lu Huilin walking in, so she pointed to the first guest seat on the right side, and said with a smile: "Third brother, sit down." ”

Xiao Ying walked in the direction she pointed to the guest seat and sat down, but Lu Huilin was still behind him, Xiao Huijin saw it, and pretended not to know, and asked in surprise: "Third brother, this is ......?"

Before the words fell, both of them were stunned for a moment, Xiao Ying and Lu Huilin glanced at each other, and then looked at Xiao Huijin in surprise and said, "This is ...... Lu Huilin, sister, don't you recognize me? ”

Seeing the shocked looks on the faces of the two of them, Xiao Huijin suddenly reacted, this Lu Huilin had been her brother-in-law for a few months, she shouldn't have recognized this person, but now that the words have been spoken, she can't take it back, so she has to think of a round, so she looked at Lu Huilin and teased: "Oh! It turned out to be Lu Envoy. I haven't seen it for four or five years, and I'm getting older and older, and I don't recognize it anymore. ”

Lu Huilin glanced at Xiao Ying again, then smiled awkwardly, and then catered to Xiao Huijin and said with a smile: "Yes, yes, I was originally a lot older, and I always had to worry about things outside the family in the past few years, so I became more and more anxious." ”

"Lu Yuanjun is still so interesting to speak, you can also sit down, although you are no longer the brother-in-law of this palace, but we were also a family, this love is always there, not to mention, you and the third brother of this palace have always had a good friendship, and this palace will naturally not snub you."

When Xiao Huijin said this, there was a slight smile on his face, which looked very real, although there was nothing wrong with what he said, but it always sounded weird.

The maid came over with a teapot and poured tea for all three of them one by one.

Xiao Ying glanced at Lu Huilin, and then said to Xiao Huijin: "Ah Jin, actually...... Brother, I'm here today, and I have a very important matter, and I want to ask for your help. ”

At that time, Xiao Huijin was taking a sip of tea with a teacup, and when she heard Xiao Ying say this, she was even more sure of their intentions, she gently put down the teacup, and said: "Third brother, what do you say, please don't ask, don't help, you and I are brothers and sisters, why should we talk outside." ”

Xiao Ying smiled, imagine that he was born in the Lanling Xiao family, although he is a concubine, but the foreign family is a first-class scholar like the Xie family of Chenjun, and no one dares to look down on him, from the third prince of the Lanling Xiao family, to the third son of the Qi Wangfu, and now he has become the king of Linchuan County, since he was a child, how could he ever be like now, he actually wanted to mention the word "please" with others, but this person is still his half-sister who has never been in his eyes for more than 20 years, and has not even said a few words.

"As for me, I just heard that my sister you, this morning in Zhoushan, I met a group of people who were collecting taxes for the household department, injured the people, and offended your sister you," Xiao Ying said euphemistically, guessing in her heart that her sister saw that he brought Lu Huilin and mentioned this matter again, she must have guessed his intention.

In fact, Xiao Huijin had already guessed their intentions since they came, and now Xiao Ying opened her mouth to mention the matter, but she pretended to be confused and said: "That's right, I encountered this kind of bad thing in Zhoushan this morning, but those people, they are not the tax collectors of the household department, according to their explanations, they are just the subordinates of the Duzhi Shangshu Mansion, and the Duzhi Shangshu sent his own soldiers to collect taxes, not to collect taxes as soon as possible, but to fill their own pockets." ”

When she said this, she suddenly raised her hand to block the corner of her mouth on the left, and then leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice and whispered to Xiao Ying: "Third brother can know that Duzhishangshu is greedy for taxes!" ”

Xiao Huijin's words are all mentioned as "Duzhi Shangshu", not "Lu Huilin", as if he doesn't know that Lu Huilin is Duzhi Shangshu, of course, this is undoubtedly pretending to be confused with Xiao Ying.

Lu Huilin sat in the first guest seat on Xiao Huijin's left, that is, sitting opposite Xiao Ying, as soon as he heard Xiao Huijin say this, his heart became more and more worried, Xiao Ying glanced at him, and then cleared his throat, but he didn't know what to say for a while, he only felt that his sister clearly knew that he brought Lu Huilin over this time, just to intercede with her for this matter, but he didn't know that his sister actually intended to mention Lu Huilin's tax corruption in front of him, which was afraid to embarrass him......

After Xiao Huijin finished speaking, he put his hand down, sat up straight again, and then said: "According to the field system, three buckets per mu of land are taxed, and the book can be supported, and they actually sent those people to six buckets per mu of land as a tax, which is more than doubled, the family I met this morning, the first three acres of land in the family, should have paid one stone of grain, but they forced people to pay two stones, and if they couldn't hand it over, they would beat people to death, I couldn't see it, so I told them to stop, how do I know that they still want to be lighter than me, if it weren't for the timely arrival of the part of my house, I'm afraid that Shaoyue and I are both in different places now! ”

"Yes, they are disrespectful to you, naturally they should cut off their hands and feet, and divide the corpses of the five horses, but Lu ......" Xiao Ying was about to intercede for Lu Huilin, so he said the word "Lu", and before Lu Huilin's name was even spoken, the words were snatched away by Xiao Huijin: "But isn't it!" I am a princess of a country, and I have the right to deal with such a trivial matter, but this matter is related to the corruption of taxes in Duzhishangshu, and I am a woman, and I dare not enter the palace to talk to my father, but since this matter is known to the third brother, then Ah Jin wants to ask the third brother... Justice. ”

Xiao Ying nodded, and said kindly: "Sister, don't worry, the gang that bullied you in Zhoushan in the morning, my brother has already solved it for you, but ...... Lu Hui ......"

When he was about to mention Lu Huilin again, Xiao Huijin interrupted: "What about the Duzhi Shangshu?" He is so blatant about tax greed, it is obvious that he didn't take his father in his eyes, and the third brother can't spare him! ”

When Xiao Ying heard this, his face was full of embarrassment, he glanced at Lu Huilin again, and cleared his throat again.

Looking at Lu Huilin again, he was wiping the sweat on his face with his sleeve, and he was really nervous and sweaty.

"Third brother, who is that Zhishangshu? How dare you be so blatant about tax corruption, and you are not afraid that the people of the Sili Mansion and the Yushitai will find out? Or is it that he has the support of the Sili Mansion and the Yushitai behind him? Xiao Huijin thought that it was enough to pretend to be confused, and it would be difficult to pass if he pretended to be more, so he simply asked who Du Zhishangshu was.

When these words came out, Xiao Ying and Lu Huilin were stunned.

"Sister, you...... I don't know who Duzhishangshu is? Xiao Ying's words were slightly tentative, Xiao Huijin frowned, pretended to be puzzled, and said with a smile: "How can I know who he is, I am a woman from a Taoist family, neither participate in politics, nor make friends with powerful people, those civil and military officials in the court, I can't even recognize them, how can I know Duzhishangshu?" ”

At this time, Xiao Ying secretly gave Lu Huilin a look, and Lu Huilin understood, and hurriedly got up and walked to Xiao Huijin, bent his waist and said, "Princess, it's a lower official......"

"You?" Xiao Huijin pretended to be surprised, and asked, "You said that you are Duzhi Shangshu?" ”

"Yes...... It's really a subordinate official,......" Lu Huilin said, thinking that he was so ashamed that he couldn't feel ashamed, so he simply lowered his head again.

Xiao Huijin stretched out his hand and pointed at Lu Huilin, then looked at Xiao Ying sideways, pretending to be incredulous, and said, "Third brother, he ...... Isn't he from the Taicang Agency? ”

"The youngest daughter of his family, I promised our cousin Xuandu a while ago, and my father also promoted him to Duzhi Shangshu, which is more decent."

"Oh...... That...... Since I am my own family, I will rot in my stomach about the tax corruption, third brother, Ah Jin took back Fang Cai's words, you should not have heard it," she said, not forgetting to raise her right hand and rub her temples, so that Xiao Ying thought she was really embarrassed.

Xiao Ying finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "It's still sister, you are considerate, I haven't said anything yet, you agreed first." ”

"It's all my own family, it should be," Xiao Huijin finished speaking, his eyes turned to Lu Huilin again, and asked, "Lu Envoy, you won't mind what this palace just said, right?" ”

Lu Huilin was deeply flattered, and hurriedly replied: "No, no, no, the princess is serious, this matter is ...... It is true that the lower officials have no way to discipline the middle of the house, offended the princess, and asked the princess for forgiveness. ”

"It's okay, Lu Yuanjun should go back and sit," Xiao Huijin pointed to the guest seat where he was originally sitting, and when Lu Huilin had already sat down, she said: "Lu Yuanjun's matter, although no outsiders know about it at the moment, but he often walks by the river, how can he not get his shoes wet, my father and emperor added a division and subordinate office above the two divisions last year, isn't it just to prevent officials from being corrupt and taking bribes?" Yushitai and Sili Mansion, one is clear, one is secretly visiting, not to mention that Jiankang is at the feet of the Son of Heaven, many things, it is better to be careful. ”

"Yes, yes...... The princess mentioned that it was true, and the lower officials must keep it in mind! Keep it in mind, "Lu Huilin looks quite teachable, but he is very modest.

After Xiao Huijin finished speaking, she thought about it, and was afraid that if Xie Zheng secretly dealt with Xiao Ying and Lu Huilin, Xiao Ying would suspect her at that time, because after all, she also told the two of them, and no outsiders knew about it.

She simply said to Xiao Ying again: "And the third brother is too." Although Ah Jin has never participated in politics, nor has he made friends with powerful people, but the situation in the DPRK and China, Ah Jin has more or less heard of it, and now the eldest brother has the support of the lord of Hengyang County, and the tiger has wings, the fifth brother is deeply favored by his father, and he is backed by Wu Xing Shen's family, like a fish in water, the third brother is the enemy on your belly and back, and you should be wary of, not only Yushitai and Sili Mansion. ”

Xiao Ying nodded thoughtfully, and responded: "Sister, don't worry, the third brother will be careful in this matter." ”

After saying that, he looked sideways again, and then said to Xiao Huijin: "Then Ah Jin, it's not early, and the third brother will disturb you." ”

Xiao Huijin saw that he was leaving, so he stood up, the number of gifts to welcome guests was not comprehensive, and the number of gifts to send guests was inevitable, she smiled and said: "The third brother said this is too foreign, if you have anything urgent, go and get busy first." ”

"Okay, then the third brother will come to see you another day," Xiao Ying got up and walked out, Lu Huilin also said goodbye to Xiao Huijin, Xiao Huijin stood outside the living room, watching the two leave.

It wasn't until the two of them walked out of the gate of the princess's mansion that Xiao Huijin said with a smile on his face, and said with a cold face: "When I have nothing to do on weekdays, I never remember that there is a sister like me, but now I have something to ask me, just what am my sister before and after my sister!" ”

Granddaughter Shi stood behind Xiao Huijin and asked, "Princess, if the Hengyang County Lord's side secretly injures people, will His Royal Highness the King of Linchuan suspect you, the princess?" ”

"That's why this palace reminded him to beware of the eldest brother and the fifth brother, that's the reason," Xiao Huijin turned to look at his granddaughter Shi, and then said: "If the county lord of Hengyang really dealt with the third brother and Lu Huilin in secret, then the third brother will only suspect the eldest brother and the fifth brother, but he will definitely not suspect the palace here." ”

After she said it, she thought about it again, and said: "Actually, there is no need to worry about this matter, since the lord of Hengyang wants to act in secret, he will definitely not reveal his identity, and this palace guesses that she will start from the Yushitai, because there are people from the fifth brother in the Yushitai." ”

Granddaughter Shi's mind was a little overwhelmed, and after listening to it for a long time, she reacted and said: "What does the princess mean is that the county lord of Hengyang will borrow the hand of His Royal Highness the King of Wuling to deal with the King of Linchuan when the time comes?" ”

Xiao Huijin glanced at her, smiled and said nothing, naturally acquiescing.

Outside the princess's mansion, Xiao Ying and Lu Huilin walked to the ox cart, Xiao Ying was about to go up, Lu Huilin followed behind, and asked quite uneasily: "Your Highness, is it really okay?" ”

As soon as Xiao Ying thought about talking to Xiao Huijin in a low voice, she became more and more angry in her heart, turned to look at Lu Huilin, and raised her hand at his head and was about to hit him, Lu Huilin also hurriedly took a step back to dodge, Xiao Ying didn't hit it for a while, so she simply put her hand down.

"Just because of your, you almost killed this king! Do you know that if this matter is heard by my father, can this king still stay in Jiankang in peace? Xiao Ying said, and involuntarily crossed his waist, he looked at Lu Huilin now, no matter how he looked at it, he was not satisfied.

Lu Huilin bowed his head and was silent, Xiao Ying glanced at him, and advised: "You stop these days, let the tax collector of the household department collect the tax, and don't send the subordinates in your house." ”

"Yes."

Xiao Ying glared at Lu Huilin again, and then boarded the ox cart, followed by Lu Huilin.

When You Jian returned to the Hou Mansion, he glanced at the west ear room when he entered the mansion door, and saw that the door of the west ear room was closed, and it seemed that the person was no longer inside.

At this time, two maids walked hand in hand, as if they were going out, and when they saw You Jian walking towards the house, one of them smiled at him as if he was teasing, and said, "Yo, You Xiaolang is back." ”

You Jian also smiled at them and asked, "Two sisters, do you know where Mrs. Xie is?" ”

The two maids smiled at each other, and the other quipped, "Hey? Why did You Xiaolang find Xie Niangzi as soon as he came back. ”

"You two, you always make fun of me, it's too bad," You Jian didn't have time to joke with others at this time, so after speaking, he walked quickly inside, and the two maids looked back at him and exclaimed: "Xie Niangzi is in the courtyard of the county marquis, you go over there to look!" ”

"Got it! Thank you two sisters! ”

You Jian found the courtyard of Huan Ling, and sure enough, he saw Xie Zheng and Huan Ling sitting on the stone bench in the courtyard, while Yuzhi and Zeng Qionglin were standing behind the two.

Huan Ling lived on Xie Zheng's right hand, sitting sideways, holding Xie Zheng's fan embroidered with hibiscus flowers in his hand, and was shaking the fan for her, and the two seemed to be talking about stargazing in Stone Town at night.

"You Jian is back," Huan Ling faced Xie Zheng, and also faced the courtyard gate, and saw You Jian at a glance.

When Xie Zheng heard this, he turned his head sideways to the gate of the courtyard, and when he saw You Jian, he instinctively called: "You Jian!" ”

"Xie Niangzi," You Jian trotted all the way to Xie Zheng, let Xie Zheng see that his head was full of sweat, and hurriedly took a handkerchief and handed it over, saying: "Look at how well you run, your face is sweaty, turn around and hurry up to wash." ”

You Jian didn't dare to take it, and said with a smile: "Xie Niangzi, his subordinate is a rough person, and he is not used to these fragrant things," he is not used to it, but he is afraid of getting dirty, so he is embarrassed to accept it.

Xie Zheng couldn't help laughing, so she had to withdraw her hand, so she asked, "You were staring outside Princess Huainan's mansion, but you saw King Linchuan passing?" ”

"I saw it, I still took Lu Huilin with me, the two of them were in a panic, and they walked faster than the other."

When Xie Zheng heard this, she understood everything, she looked back at Huan Ling and smiled, and then said to You Zhen: "I know, you have to run hard, go back and rest." ”

"Eh," You Jian agreed, turned around and wiped his sweat, and walked away.

Xie Zheng sat back, Huan Ling held the fan and began to shake it again, Xie Zheng said bluntly: "It seems that Lu Huilin's corruption of taxes is really instructed by the King of Linchuan." ”

"Then let's take advantage of this matter to make a big fuss and uproot the party of King Linchuan, Your Majesty hates corrupt officials and corrupt officials the most, if this matter goes on like this, even if King Linchuan is not severely punished, he will definitely not be able to stay in Jiankang," Huan Ling made it clear, indeed, Xiao Daocheng hates corrupt officials the most, and if Xiao Ying commits another crime, he will inevitably be sent to the fiefdom.

Xie Zheng smiled: "Last time Xie Wei's matter, I never had a chance to settle accounts with them, but now they have sent it to the door by themselves, so that I have to deal with it, but before that, I have to get Xie Guifei away first, lest she give the King of Linchuan another trick." ”

"Is there a solution?" Huan Ling asked.

Xie Zheng held his cheek with one hand, thought for a long time, and said: "The flood in Yizhou has just been calmed, and now the Minjiang River in the south is affected by heavy rain, and the water level is high, resulting in the downstream Jin'an County being ravaged by floods, and the proximity to the East China Sea, the flood is even more out of control. ”

After hearing this, Huan Ling also thought about it, thinking that on the grounds that the people of Jin'an County were praying for blessings, Xie Guifei would be separated, this method was naturally good, but this matter was very important, and it was necessary to ask Xie Guifei to leave Jiankang temporarily.

"What do you mean... Get Xie Guifei to Jiming Temple? ”

"Jiming Temple is naturally not good, I can't let her stay in Jiankang!"

The two really have the same heart, and they both know that if Concubine Xie stays in Jiankang, it will definitely be detrimental to their plans.

Xie Zheng thought for a while and said, "Is it okay to get her to a nearby county?" Yangzhou and South Xuzhou are too close, Yuzhou and Wu County are too far away, South Yanzhou is moderate, South Yanzhou is ......"

She rubbed her temples, suddenly remembered something, looked back at Zeng Qionglin, and asked, "Qionglin, I remember that your ancestor seems to be from Southern Yanzhou." ”

Zeng Qionglin bowed his head, and Xie Zheng immediately asked: "Then do you know, are there any more famous temples in Southern Yanzhou?" ”

"Since I can remember, I have been by the side of the county marquis, and I have never returned to Southern Yanzhou, but I have heard that there is a Daming Temple in Guangling County, which was built by the previous dynasty, and its reputation is quite loud."

"Daming Temple?" Huan Ling's eyes lit up, and he said to Xie Zheng: "I went with my mother when I was a child, and Qionglin was brought back by my mother from outside Daming Temple, at that time, he was only two years old and couldn't speak." ”

Xie Zheng thought for a moment, then made up his mind, and said: "Then get Xie Guifei to Daming Temple, Guangling County is not too far from Jiankang, if you want to let them pass, and pray for the people of Jin'an County, Your Majesty will definitely approve, however, this time the enemy is in the open and I am in the dark, and I am naturally inconvenient to come forward, so I have to bother the county marquis again." ”

At this point, she looked at Huan Ling sideways, and there always seemed to be a hint of banter in her eyes.

Huan Ling was stunned for a moment, and said in surprise: "Me? You and I are advancing and retreating together, since it is inconvenient for you to come forward, then it is naturally inconvenient for me to come forward, not to mention that I am a big man, how can I mention the affairs of those mothers in the harem to others......"

"I mean, ask the county marquis to ask Princess Huainan to come forward."

vertex