Wen Yaozhen's face was like ashes, her whole body was trembling, she suppressed her extreme horror, and kowtowed: "Slave, slave, slave...... Sin, ask the fourth master to be born ......"

"As I said, I will continue to take care of you." Yin Zhen remained silent, "People say I'm mean, but I'm not unkind." Nian Qianyao has only been under my disciple for a few years, and now he is the governor of Sichuan! Li Weiding bumped into me, and now he is the prefect; Huang Kejing became the political envoy of Yunguibu; Dai Duo saw that he was going to release the platform! The other elder brothers are all rewarding people for money, I don't, I'll ask him to be an official and do things for the court. There is only one case, if any of my minions are unfaithful, I will also punish them severely. I once guaranteed Liang Haozhi to be a platform in Henan, but this unethical thing actually spread the gossip I said, where is he now? In Uriya Sutai! If you earn dignity for the fourth master, I will have the ability to let you be the governor; If you deliberately annoy me, I will also ask your family to be slaves to the armoured people; Or put you in an iron cage and starve to death - I know it's not good. But I can't change it! After saying that, he sipped tea and didn't say anything, staring at Wen Yaozhen coldly and snorting again, which made Yinxiang and several people shudder.

Wen Yaozhen was stunned by Yinzhen's words, lying on the ground sweating profusely, and asked in a trembling voice, "Fourth Master, what do you want to ask?" ”

"I want to know," Yin Zhen stomped leisurely and took a sip of tea, "where does Ren live, why are so many adults afraid of him?" ”

"Lao Ren - Ren Bo'an lives in the left-wing Zongxue Hutong." Wen Yaozhen swallowed a mouthful of saliva, "But I can't live at home for a month in a year." He has a lot of shops outside, not only in Beijing, but also in Nanjing and Hankou. Now that the wind is tight, it's hard to say where he lives. As for everyone being afraid—" He glanced up at everyone, snorted, and said with a smile, "The Thirteenth Master is my life-changing brother; Lord Shi is a well-known minister, my good friend; Dador is my minion. Just say that it's all up to the fourth master. Wen Yaozhen said: "Ren is a deputy tribute student in the fifteenth year of Kangxi, and he has been on an errand in the Ministry of Officials for 20 years, and he is in charge of the archives of the Ministry of Merit. For the big and small mistakes of the hundred officials, he prepared a separate book and kept it for himself......"

Yin Xiang couldn't help laughing: "What's the use of him copying these?" ”

"Good thirteen masters!" Wen Yaozhen smiled bitterly, "You golden branches and jade leaves, how do you know!" The files of the Examination Division are confidential documents and cannot be accessed without following orders. More than 20 years ago, as long as the state and county officials survived, they are now all the Taixian officials of the imperial court and the provinces, and the heart of promotion is flourishing. So I scared him first. He used this to blackmail the person concerned to provide news, record it in detail, and fill it in by category - there are more than 20 scribes he hires alone! The files stored in his library are more detailed than the files of the ministry! ”

The three of them looked at each other in unison, and their hearts were shocked! Yin Zhen was suddenly furious in his heart, thought about it, and asked: "Could it be that all the courts are corrupt officials, and everyone is afraid of Ren Bo'an?" There are so many imperial histories, and no one has raised the imperial court! Unbelievable! Wen Yaozhen kowtowed again and again, crying: "When it comes to this, I still dare to bully the master?" Ren Bo'an has been able to wade in several elder brothers' mansions, and now the princes seem to be making housework, who dares to wade into this troubled water? The outsiders only reported on their work and occasionally went to Beijing, some did not know the details, and some knew that they were afraid to avoid it. Even the upright and honest, who would dare to play without real evidence? In fact, a few years ago, when Jackie Chan and Guo Xiu were famous ministers, Ren Boan was still careful in doing things, and he has become more and more bold in recent years. Plus he is the eighth master's text-" He suddenly covered his mouth in horror and changed his words: "...... The slave no longer dares to deceive the fourth master! Yinxiang heard what he said strangely, and asked with a glare: "How can you say half a word?" What is he the Eighth Master Wen? Wen Yaozhen sweated like rain, and kowtowed like garlic: "The slave is dizzy, talking nonsense - there is no eighth master's business......" When Yinxiang was about to ask, he stopped when he saw Yinzhen sweeping an eye.

Yin Zhen's face was as cold as a layer of ice, and his thin teeth were gritted, looking very hideous and terrifying. After a while, he suddenly sneered and said, "Did you hear that?" There is a dragon and a crouching tiger in Beijing, and there is a court in secret! We're all in the dark! ”

"What do you have in his hands?" Yinxiang asked. He saw Ren Bo'an twice, only knowing that he had a very close relationship with Yinxi and others, but he didn't expect this kind-looking old man to be a man with hands and eyes! Before and after: Could it be that Wen wanted to say, 'He is the eighth master's literary team'? That is, there is also a martial arts team! It's a thrilling thing! While thinking wildly, Wen Yaozhen kowtowed and said: "The slave was in the thirty-ninth year of Kangxi, because he wanted to make up for the shortage, he gave two thousand taels of silver, asked Zhongtang for bad things, copied out this bribe list, and Ren Boan asked the officials to deduct it and buy it...... Since then, he has fallen deeper and deeper - the conscience of heaven and earth, the slave really hates him, but there is nothing he can do with him: as soon as he turns his hand, the slave has to be regarded as Suo Etu's henchmen! ”

Yin Zhen was silent, stood up, approached Wen Yaozhen, and his voice became hoarse and low: "Where is his archive?" Tell me about it—huh?! Wen Yaozhen shook her head in horror as if she had been hit by a snake and scorpion: "I can't move, Fourth Master!" If he could move, Big Brother would have done it a long time ago! ”

"Why!" Yinxiang jumped up excitedly and approached Wen Yaozhen and said, "Is it the Longtan Tiger's Den?" Shi Shilun frowned and muttered, "Could it be that you are in which brother's mansion?" ”

"Not really." Wen Yaozhen said in a panic, "But it's about the same—it's in ...... The Eight Masters Mansion is wrong at the door, leaning on the Wanyong pawnshop at Chaoyangmen Wharf. The name is Ren Bo'an's, and the real shop is the eighth master, which is managed by the ninth master's housekeeper - the slave has only just heard of it. It turned out that he was not here, and the year before last, the eldest brother tried to go to Shuntian Mansion, and as soon as the soldiers stood at the door, the eunuchs and guards in the Eighth Master's Mansion came to protect him. ”

Yin Zhen pondered for a long time, changed his smile and said, "Ye only wants to know these things today, you say it, it's good." There are bigger things in your heart, and I will ask you again when I need it, and let it rot in your heart if I don't need it. Remember one thing, as long as my servants are faithful, I will keep them, even if they are great; If you are clever with me, even if it is a small mistake, I will not tolerate him. Think about it again, are there any discrepancies in these confessions today? It's too late to change your tune! ”

"The fourth master is so thoughtful, the slave doesn't dare to make a fake." Wen Yaozhen was very simple this time, and said, "Although the slave is stupid, he has always known the temperament of the fourth master, he must believe his words, he must be fruitful in his deeds, he has a clear distinction between grievances and grievances, and he is the most saintly and benevolent ......" and then said a car of words to praise the saint. Yinzhen ignored it, waved his hand and said, "You go, pretend that no one is right to go back to your study to 'think about it behind closed doors'." There are a few people here, I dare to vouch for it. If you leak the slightest rumor, you will cause trouble yourself—I roasted you alive in an iron cage! ”

Wen Yaozhen Nuonuo retreated continuously. No one in the room spoke for a while, exchanging glances. Shifting the time, Shi Shilun said: "That is the case, Fourth Master, it is up to you to decide, Shilun will follow you to the end!" ”

Yin Zhen bit his lip and groaned, "...... It's a big surprise, and your identity can't do it. I'll try to. It has been done for you and the Thirteen Masters; If you can't do it, you two just push and don't know. Lao Shi, you will send a whole transcript to my house in the middle of the night, and the original manuscript will be destroyed in person after it is transcribed. For this Wen, you have to think of ways to protect him, you will still judge him tomorrow, just pretend that there is no such thing as today! After that, he came out with Yinxiang.

It was already late, and the shops on the dark street had already closed their doors, and the "angry wind" lamps flickered and flickered, and the night market vendors shouted as if they were singing loudly and lowly:

"Ghee - osmanthus sugar, fried shrimp and spiced melon seeds!"

"Who buys - dumplings, wontons!"

"Sesame yakiniku! Dumplings with bean paste filling! ”

The two brothers walked side by side, Yinxiang approached Yinzhen and whispered: "Fourth brother, why didn't you ask me to ask about it?" ”

"The power is not up to it right now." Yin Zhen replied after a while, "Actually, as far as he said, it is very difficult to do." He breathed a long sigh of relief.

Yin Xiang thought about it and said with a smile: "How serious is the fourth brother's heart!" It's practical, it's not worrying, it's really impossible to do it, so let's cover it up. If you are determined to do it, leave this mission to me, and keep the horseshoe knife and cut the vegetables in the gourd, so that the soup will not leak! ”

"It must be done." Yin Zhen said, "I'll go back and think about it, and we'll think about it again." Yinxiang reined in his horse and said, "It's okay anyway, please invite the fourth brother to my house, otherwise I'll go to your house and discuss, or I'll do it, how about it?" Yinzhen patted him on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Don't be in a hurry." Maybe someone else will follow after my son! There are two vixens in your house, and it's hard for me to say that there are no people there. So it's best if you forget about it for a while. Wait for my brother's words. "With that, loosen the reins and take the followers with you. Yinxiang knew that the stakes were very high, and the fourth brother was afraid that he would be affected again, so he was grateful in his heart, and he stayed in Ma for a long time, and Fang Yu returned home.

Wanyong's pawnshop is located at the Chaoyangmen Canal Wharf, with the back door facing the water and the front door by the street, and all the boats entering Beijing are all over the river. A street is constantly filled with cars, horses and people, which is the most lively place in Beijing. The pawnshop is diagonally across the street from the door is the magnificent and magnificent Eight Princes' Mansion, and you can hear a greeting from there.

Half a month later, Dai Duo was ordered by the Lord, and the two of them came out of Qihuamen to check, and saw that not far from the entrance of the street, a tall cloth banner carried the word "dang" in Douda, and the two small words "Wanyong" were subfixed. Dai Duo said, "Xingyin, let's go in." You only look, I deal with them. With that, the two of them picked up the cotton curtain and came in.

There are very few people in the pawnshop, and some of the first few people are holding antiques, and some are bringing clothes, but they are all not sold because of the poor condition, and the price is too low. A few guys wore leather jackets and sat high on the cabinet eating tea and laughing. Dai Duo screamed a few times before one of the courtiers scratched his teeth and asked:

"When what?"

"Nothing to blame." Dai Duo said, "I am from Prince Yong's mansion, and I have something to see the shopkeeper here." ”

When the courtier heard that it was someone from the Fourth Master's Mansion, he didn't dare to slack off, leaned over the cabinet and bowed, and said with a smile: "The shopkeeper went back to the south in April." My name is Liu Renzeng, I am the first here, what do you have to say, tell the little one. ”

"The Fourth Master's Mansion was robbed the night before yesterday." Dai Duo raised his face and said, "You know his old man's temper, he almost didn't scare the soul of the family!" has already reported to Shuntianfu, we must take the thief, and he personally asks for the guilt. I didn't say it, do me a favor - this is the lost list, I will give you this copy, someone wants to be these things, you stabilize him, and quietly inform the head of the Fourth Master's Mansion - it's me - brother, it's done, I'll give you a thousand taels of silver! ”

Liu Renzeng took the list and glanced at it, with a smile on his face, "We never take objects of unknown origin. You can rest assured! Of course, this has to be served, but I'm afraid that if he doesn't come, he won't be able to leave! ”

"Then please." Dai Duo said, waved his hand at the sex voice standing by the corner door, and said, "Hu family, let's go to another pawnshop and take a walk." ”

Liu Renzeng watched them go out and said, "Slow down, let's go!" Picked up the list and looked at it, pinched his teeth and groaned, hesitating to know whether to take it in and show it to Ren Bo'an. When a few men heard that this matter had been settled, they could privately divide a thousand taels of silver, and Baba looked at him. One guy laughed, "I said the head!" Do you want to be hurt by silver? The more people who know, the more people who share the thousand taels! Liu Renzeng scolded with a smile: "it, you're smart!" What is this, what is going on? If you don't have children, you don't know the pain, in case you smash the pot, where do you find such a good livelihood? One sentence made everyone stare at him, and Liu Renzeng took the list and went in to ask for ideas.

Ren Bo'an lives in a fine study next to the warehouse at the back of the store. Since Yinzhen returned to the second department. According to Yinyu's instructions, he never dared to go out of this gate. Stay in the house all day long to watch "Golden Vase Plum" and "***". Listening to Liu Renzeng talk about the things on the façade, Ren Boan took the list and looked at it carefully, there were hundreds of gold and jade antiques, worth about 100,000 gold, he was silent for a long time, and coughed lightly: "You are good." I should have known this. If there really is a thousand taels of silver, I don't want one. With that, he took a long breath and looked at the pane with a blue and white face. Liu Renzeng smiled and said, "Master Ren, it's not a problem for you to be so bored." It's better to go out of Beijing for a walk. You haven't violated the king's law, what are you afraid of them? Ren Bo'an sighed: "Good boy, how do you know: this place is the bottom of the eighth master and the ninth master, once it is lost, there will be a catastrophe - the eighth master went to the ninth master's mansion today, you take a trip, give this file to them, see what the idea is." With that, he waved his hand and fell down.

Yinyu Mansion is in Xizhi Gate, and Liu Renzeng did not arrive until the end of the card. Bi Yinyu and Yinyu, Wang Hongxu, A Ling'a, and Yu Xu invited Li Guangdi to eat tea and play chess in the study. He couldn't get on the stage until the sun set, and then he saw Wang Hongxu and Yu Xu go out with Li Guangdi left and right, and then came in to reply.

"You go out first, and I'll call you later." Yin Yu glanced at the list and instructed Liu Renzeng. asked Yinxi again: "These days, the fourth child has made trouble in the official department, and I haven't heard of asking any famous names." Could it be that you have smelled something, and you want to make up your mind at this pawnshop? Yin Xi played with the white marble fan pendant, closed his eyes and pondered for a long time, and said with a smile: "Long Keduo went to my house yesterday morning. The theft in the fourth family's house is real. The thief seemed to be a master, and there was more than one person, and he stole all the royal gifts. The fourth child was so angry that his face turned pale, and he also scolded Shuntianfu for being a waste - it is also common sense to inform the pawnshop to prevent the sale of stolen goods, and I can't see what kind of article it is. Besides, Lao Ren is next to me, just be careful, and it will be fine. Rao is Yinyu City Mansion is deep, thinking about it for a long time, he couldn't see anything strange, so he smiled and said: "This is retribution!" Otherwise, if he was bent on being in the limelight and keeping his home well, how could this kind of thing happen? ”

Yin Xi also smiled and said: "Even so, it is better to be careful, do not believe in the straight and straight, and you must guard against benevolence and unkindness!" The old four are hard-hearted, and the thirteenth is shrewd, and we can't take it lightly. A hint of a sinister smile flashed at the corner of Yinyu's mouth, and said: "If you don't have great ambitions, what's the use of just being shrewd?" Starling was worried that after a while, that thing would have to be in a more serious place. Be careful not to overdo it. really exposed the bottom, so he asked Ren Boan to burn it all with a fire! Yin Yu groaned: "I haven't retreated to Bagong Mountain yet, don't make a noise." Just ask Ren Bo'an to burn the handwriting you and I wrote—come, call the man from Wanyong to come in. ”

It was half a month in a row, and there was no movement, and Ren Boanti's heart in mid-emptiness gradually let go. Kangxi's car drove from Nanjing to Yangzhou and was about to return to Beijing by water. When the news came, the princes who were in charge from Yinren to Yinzhen and Yinxiang became more and more busy, and they had been messing around for three or four days before they could take care of the driver. Yinren ordered all provinces to lock up the prisoners and enter Beijing according to the list; Tell Yinzhen to rest for three days and concentrate on preparing for this conference. Yinzhen is easy to steal out of his busy life, so he will post to invite Yinzhi, Yinqi, Yinyou, Yinyu, Yinzhen, Yinzhen, Yinxiang, and Yinyi brothers to sit in the house to cool off. It was rare for everyone to invite him, but they were not embarrassed, so they had to come as promised. On this day, the first snow of winter fell. Ice makeup and jade carvings, Qiong Yao is everywhere, sitting in the spacious and warm Wanfu Hall to eat wine and enjoy the snow, but it is also not interesting.

At this moment, seven or eight strong men carrying five or six large cages in a pannier sedan chair rushed to the Wanyong pawnshop in the heavy snow for a day. The five big and three thick at the beginning, with a Shandong accent, shouted as soon as he entered the door: "Hey, who is on the shop?" ”

On snowy days, there are few people and there is not much business. Liu Renzeng and a few guys were all behind the cabinet and facing the fire. Hearing someone shouting, a fellow stuck his head out and asked, "What should I be?" ”

"Come down and take a look, a cart of hard goods!" Dahan smiled, "It's the goods of Jining Huangquanpu." originally wanted to go to Beijing to donate to the official envoys, but now the fourth master is in the ministry and has suspended donations. If you are in the store and are afraid of a mistake, you should find a pawnshop and put it first, and then redeem it when you use it - what are you stunned about? Let's take a look. ”

The guy winked at Yoo In-chan. Liu Renzeng got up and opened the side door and came down, and saw that five large boxes were opened. What gold self-striking bells, mink skins, fox skins, beads, shells, gui, bi, ingots, gold and silver bottles...... The classification is placed, and the snow is bright and dazzling, which is the items on Yinzhen's lost list. Liu Renzeng couldn't help but panic suddenly, beating a drum in his heart, and it took a long time to hold back, and while pretending to look at the goods, he asked, "How much?" ”

"It's worth 120,000." Dahan knocked on a jade pot with a smile, "The shopkeeper said that the general pawnshop is afraid that it won't be able to take it out at once, so it's okay to be 80,000." I will redeem it for a month. ”

Liu Renzeng looked up and thought about it, and sighed: "What a big God of Wealth, but we are not blessed!" Let's tell the truth, the accounts were only counted yesterday, and the silver has been sent to Zhejiang Qianzhuang, and a batch of porcelain is going to be sent to the palace, where can I get so much money at one time? Thirty thousand! Dahan smiled, "I'll tell you the truth, I'm counting on this money to go into Beijing, and it will be back and forth in a month, and it won't delay our master's affairs." What is 30,000 enough? You are also greedy, seventy-five thousand! ”

Both times are fake bargaining, where can the deal be made for a while. The guy on the counter fought for a meal before he settled on 50,000 silver. Liu Renzeng went in again and asked Ren Bo'an for instructions, before he came out and said to the guys: "This is the big patron, please sit down first, have a cup of tea, and Da Zhangzi will go to the west store to get the silver, hurry up, hear?" ”

"You go in person." Ren Bo'an suddenly came in and said. He has been listening behind the partition, it is expected that the thieves are coming to sell the stolen goods, and he is busy ordering more than 50 men to be on strict guard to prevent the thieves from leaving, and it is difficult to explain to the people who came to the Yongwang Mansion. Liu Renzeng naturally understood, and went straight to King Lian's mansion with a cigarette out of the store. After a while, a word came out, saying: "The eighth and ninth masters are both eating and drinking in the fourth master's mansion, you go there to find him." Liu Renzeng thought about it, this is fine, so he borrowed a horse from the house and flew away.

Yinzhen's brothers are eating and drinking at the moment, gambling and singing. Yin smiled: "I also have a song to sing for you!" Then he pinched the woman's voice and sang:

Only then did he praise the good looks of the eastern neighbor Cui'er, and he didn't prevent the mother-in-law from falling down. Hanging eyebrows raised, wrinkled mouth like a broken purse - scolded the old immortal, what medicine did you take, and you were sassy? Grabbed the cow cage mouth and put it on his face - I call you Xiao, I call you Xiao! This rouge tiger roared scared my soul out of the body: Good mother, you are a living Guanyin, an old Chang'e, the Queen Mother of the West, and you were born to be pretty! See if you forgive? See if you forgive?

Before the song was finished, everyone was already laughing. Yin Zhen persuaded the wine: "Old ten, it's really not ambiguous. I can't believe you still have this talent! Eighty percent learned it from Sister Hu in Chunliu Lane, right? Na Yin's eyes were raised, and his voice was already astringent: "You listen too?" It can be seen that you are also a false Taoist - I still have a good one! "Sing again. At this time, Dai Duo hurriedly came up and whispered a few words to Yinzhen.

"It's really bold!" Yinzhen's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "Old eight, there is a thief who sells stolen goods to your door, which is really bold!" Thirteenth brother, I will accompany the guests here, you take a few people to take the thief and send it to Shuntianfu, go, don't delay you coming back to eat and drink! ”

Yinxi and the others couldn't help but look at each other in amazement. Seeing Yinxiang and Dai Duo going out, Yinxiang hurriedly said, "...... Take someone from my house—I'll go with you to get the thief!" As he spoke, he was about to get up, but Yinqi and Yinyou didn't know what to do, thinking that he was running away from drinking, so they dragged him together and said, "A few thieves, the thirteenth brother can't do it?" Don't worry, the thirteenth brother will definitely do it! ”

"That's it!" Yin Zhen said with great interest, "It's rare for our brothers to get together, and no one is allowed to run away from drinking - Gao Fu'er, lock up all your lords' sedan horses for me!" - My wine order is greater than the military order, and I will get drunk today! ”