As soon as Xiao Lingzi was sent away, Qin Tai and the others were targeted by Jinyiwei's people. In order not to implicate Xiao Lingzi and Duan Xingao, Qin Tai has not contacted Xiao Lingzi. It wasn't until Qin Tai's family was completely imprisoned in their hometown and Qin Tai was not allowed to leave their hometown that they got in touch. However, Xiao Lingzi did not have many letters, and there were not many clues in the letters. It's just that when Xiao Lingzi learned that Zhan Xiaoxiao had become her sister-in-law and was pregnant, Xiao Lingzi sent some supplements and expressed her concern for Qin Tai and his wife. Xiao Lingzi was originally going to come to visit Qin Tai and his wife, but after hearing that Qin Tai and his wife had something to leave their hometown, they dispelled the idea of going home to visit their relatives.

After Qin Tai settled in the capital, he once wrote to Xiao Lingzi. But I don't know what happened, and the letter was returned. Qin Tai was too busy at the time to inquire about Xiao Lingzi. Until one day a month ago, a man from Hunan brought Xiao Lingzi's letter. Xiao Lingzi, who has not heard from him for more than a year, has changed a lot. First of all, Xiao Lingzi's handwriting is getting better and better, not only is it very smooth, but also the handwriting is becoming more and more beautiful. Second, Xiao Lingzi talked a lot. Xiao Lingzi kept asking about Xiao Ping'an, and he was very concerned about the life of this little nephew. Reading between the lines, you can see Xiao Lingzi's care and love for Xiao Ping'an. Third, Xiao Lingzi has changed owners. Xiao Lingzi has left Duan Xingao and is now working as a scribe under an official in Hunan. Although his status is not high, this owner treats him well, and is ready to let Xiao Lingzi participate in this year's township test. Xiao Lingzi has passed the children's test and the Xiucai exam, which can be regarded as a Xiucai. As long as he passes the township test, he is a lifter, and he can be regarded as a great intellectual. As long as you perform well after the lift, you can participate in the "Autumn Festival" in the second half of the year. If all goes well, he will be a jinshi, that is, an alternate official of the imperial court. If "Chunqiu" goes to high school again next year, Xiao Lingzi will be an official official of the imperial court. You can choose to be directly exiled as a local official, or you can stay in the capital as a middle- and lower-level official. Xiao Lingzi was very confident in his future in the letter, saying that he would come to the capital soon to reunite with Qin Tai and his wife. The first is to visit Qin Tai and his wife, the second is to visit his little nephew Xiao Ping'an, and the third is to come to the capital to participate in the imperial examination.

After Qin Tai read this letter, he was really happy for Xiao Lingzi. Xiao Lingzi not only has a good future, but also a lot more cheerful. Qin Tai was worried that Xiao Lingzi would become unhappy because of his parents' affairs, which would affect his personality. Now it seems that Qin Tai doesn't have to worry about Xiao Lingzi, Xiao Lingzi has completely stepped out of the shadow of the year. It's just that Qin Tai also has doubts in his heart, and he needs to talk to Xiao Lingzi in person.

First, why did Xiao Lingzi leave Duan Xingao? At the beginning, Xiao Lingzi was not happy to go to Duan Xingao. Later, after his contact with Duan Xingao, he found that Duan Xingao was a good person and a relative who was very good to him. Xiao Lingzi mentioned in the letter again that Qin Tai is Xiao Lingzi's best brother, and Duan Xingao is more like a father and teacher to Xiao Lingzi than Qin Tailai. Duan Xingao unreservedly taught all his knowledge to Xiao Lingzi, and ran around for Xiao Lingzi. How could Xiao Lingzi leave such a good Duan Xingao?

Second, Xiao Lingzi left Duan Xingao, why didn't he come directly to Qin Tai and his wife? Xiao Lingzi was reluctant to leave Qin Tai at the beginning, and said that he would definitely come back in the future. Now that he has left Duan Xingao and has the opportunity to meet Qin Tai's side, why hasn't he come back?

Third, Xiao Lingzi mentioned in the letter that the current owner is arranging for Xiao Lingzi to participate in the township test. What kind of owner is it, so sure that he can arrange a new identity for Xiao Lingzi? According to Xiao Lingzi, the status of this proprietor is not high, at most it is just a prefect. But how could a prefect help Xiao Lingzi arrange a reasonable identity? Even if it is a big man like Tan Lun, it is not easy to get a legal identity certificate for Xiao Lingzi without affecting his future. If Zhang Juzheng is willing to help, he may have a better grasp. However, Xiao Lingzi said that this matter is not only simple, but also very graspable. This made Qin Tai interested in the owner of this little spirit.

Fourth, Xiao Lingzi said that he was very sure of gaining fame. Qin Tai also came over like this, he knew that it wouldn't be so easy. Even when Yan Song was in charge of the government many years ago, it was not a simple matter to gain fame. What's more, now Zhang Juzheng controls the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Officials, and it can be said that he attaches great importance to the imperial examination. Even if Xiao Lingzi has the ability, he can't be so sure. Could it be that Xiao Lingzi has really improved by leaps and bounds over the years, and his level is so high that Qin Tai can't compare to it?

There were too many questions in his heart, so Qin Tai decided to go to Xiao Lingzi and inquire about the ins and outs of this matter. Zhan Xiaoxiao also hoped to use this time to adjust her husband Qin Tai's mood, so she fully approved of the family visiting Xiao Lingzi. Qin Tai is either locked up in prison these days, or he works day and night in the local yamen. Although Qin Tai felt that this was not empty, it really exhausted Qin Tai. Outsiders may not know that Zhan Xiaoxiao, as a wife, is very aware of her husband's body. Every day, Qin Tai came back so tired that he couldn't walk, and he slept when he turned his head upside down, and even saved food. Qin Tai, who is only in his twenties and less than thirty, looks at least forty years old. Although he seems to be a lot more mature, his physical strength and energy are already seriously overdrawn. For the sake of Qin Tai's mood and physique, Zhan Xiaoxiao has long hoped that her husband Qin Tai will go out for a break. However, Qin Tai was too busy to do when he came, and the second court did not allow Qin Tai to leave without permission, so he had to drag it out like this. Now that I have the opportunity to go out for a walk, Zhan Xiaoxiao is of course very happy. What a pleasure it is to go out for a walk with my son and husband and meet relatives I haven't seen in years.

Originally, according to the recent route, Qin Tai and his party did not need to go to Hubei. Walk along the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal all the way to the dry road, pass through Xuzhou and go west to enter Hunan immediately. This road is not only easy to walk but also saves time, and there are many military stations and post stations along the road, which is safe and convenient to hurry. However, Qin Tai gave up this plan and asked Lao Xu to take other routes. Exit Hebei and enter Shanxi in the west, then go south through Hubei, cross the whole of Hubei Province and enter Hunan. This road is not only a relatively long route, but also the roads along the way are not easy to walk, and there are not many post stations. Lao reminded Qin Tai many times not to take this path, but Qin Tai insisted on taking this road. Zhan Xiaoxiao understood what her husband meant, and also agreed to take this long road. Although Lao Xu was polite to Qin Tai, he was not respectful, and sometimes he always taught Qin Tai a few words in the tone of an elder. But Lao Xu's attitude towards Zhanxiao is different, not only respectful but also very polite. Later, I found out why Lao Xu was like this, because Lao Xu was worried that Zhan Xiaoxiao would beat him. Lao Xu knew Zhan Xiaoxiao's skills, and was worried that Zhan Xiaoxiao would break him, so he didn't dare to disrespect Zhan Xiaoxiao.

The reason why Qin Tai wanted to take this path was to find out why Xiao Lingzi left Duan Xingao, and even more so to meet Duan Xingao, a "friend" who had been friends for a long time. Although Qin Tai and Duan Xingao can be regarded as good officials at the Qingtian level, the two of them have not been in contact. If it weren't for Xiao Lingzi, it would be impossible for Qin Tai to have contact with Duan Xingao. Now that Qin Tai is safe, Duan Xingao is kind to Xiao Lingzi, and Qin Tai should thank Duan Xingao, this great benefactor, on behalf of the family. Therefore, Qin Tai deliberately made a detour to come here, the purpose was to thank Duan Xingao in person. After Zhan Xiaoxiao knew what her husband Qin Tai meant, she secretly prepared a gift for Duan Xingao. As Qing officials, Qin Tai and Duan Xingao, the exchange of courtesies between them is very delicate. The gift should not be too expensive, but it should not be too shabby. Fortunately, Qin Tai has some money at home, as long as he doesn't send money directly to Duan Xingao, Duan Xingao shouldn't accept it. So Zhan Xiaoxiao prepared some four treasures of the study room and a coarse cloth on the way. Duan Xingao was reluctant to pay for the utensils himself, so it was very suitable for Duan Xingao to send the stationery utensils. Duan Xingao's family was not in good economic conditions, and he was unwilling to accept expensive gifts, so Zhan Xiaoxiao prepared a coarse cloth for Mrs. Duan Xingao's family. Sending these two things out will not only not be embarrassing to both parties, but Duan Xingao will not refuse. This is also the life experience that Zhan Xiaoxiao has accumulated over the years as the daughter-in-law of the Qin family and Qin Tai's wife.

But after coming to the place where Duan Xingao stayed again and again, Qin Tai and his wife immediately realized that something was wrong. Because this place is not only sparsely populated, but every house is hung with white flags. Although Hubei is a certain distance from Qintai's hometown of Shanxi, customs and habits may be different. But the meaning of hanging a white flag at the door of the house, Qin Tai still understands. Could it be that something is wrong here? Could it be that every family here has lost their loved ones? I haven't heard of a big plague here, and I haven't heard of a disaster and famine in Hubei, how can such a big thing happen? With doubts, Qin Tai decided not to leave and stay here to figure out the ins and outs of the matter.

Qin Tai asked Lao Xu to take someone to find an inn to live in, and at the same time took his wife Zhan Xiaoxiao to the yamen to inquire about Duan Xingao. Zhan Xiaoxiao privately reminded Qiu Xiaoqiu, so that Qiu Xiaoqiu subconsciously asked what was going on here, why every household had shaved white flags. Qiu Xiaoqiu understood what his cousin-in-law meant, and went to inquire about the news with Xiao Ping'an. Qiu Xiaoqiu is not very old, at most he can only be regarded as a half-sized child, plus he is holding a child in his hand, so it will not arouse the suspicion of residents. It's easier to find out some secrets that outsiders don't know, and it's easier to get close to local residents.

Qin Tai and his wife went to the yamen, but they didn't expect to find nothing. The official did not let Qin Tai enter the yamen, and Qin Tai came to visit his friend Duan Xingao in a private capacity. But the official told Qin Tai two pieces of information, first, they were newcomers who didn't know if Qin Tai was Duan Xingao's friend, so they couldn't let Qin Tai in. Second, Duan Xingao is no longer the county master here. Therefore, Qin Tai couldn't enter the yamen, and even if he entered the yamen, it was impossible to see Duan Xingao. Qin Tai and his wife had no choice but to leave the yamen, and along the way, they gave a small hint to their husband Qin Tai, and they had been followed.