Thinking about it, Cao Jixiang felt that this was a trap under the emperor's step, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt that Zhu Qizhen in front of him had become very unfathomable, and the fear in his heart couldn't help but increase.

Thinking of this, he hurriedly knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, the cause of Princess Ning Xin's death has not yet been ascertained, and the emperor has locked up General Shi, I am afraid that it is unreasonable and cannot explain to the civil and military forces of the Manchu Dynasty." What's more, after Princess Ning Xin married General Shi, she was General Shi's wife, how could he kill his wife? ”

Although Cao Jixiang's statement sounded beautiful, Zhu Qizhen was immersed in the huge pain of losing his sister, how could he listen to it.

Therefore, he glanced at Cao Jixiang indifferently and said, "What would you think if your sister died in Shi Heng's mansion after marrying Shi Heng?" Could it be that I think Shi Heng did it, is it wrong? ”

Where did Cao Jixiang dare to find fault with the emperor's mistakes, he said very carefully: "Your Majesty, you are a saint, the emperor is a saint, you are the Son of Heaven, how can what the Son of Heaven say be wrong." It's just that the old slave hopes that the emperor will read that General Shi once helped the emperor 'seize the door and restore', and can forgive General Shi for the mistake he made this time. ”

"Hmph", Zhu Qizhen flicked his sleeves and said: "You still have the face to tell me 'seize the door and restore', haven't I already passed down the holy decree, if anyone mentions the words 'seize the door and restore', will he not be able to die well?" You think it's a glorious thing to 'seize the door', but it's a shame in my heart. ”

Only then did Cao Jixiang remember that Zhu Qizhen had issued a holy decree not long ago, and no one was allowed to mention the words "seizing the door" and "restoration".

He saw that Zhu Qizhen was angry, so he said to Zhu Qizhen: "Yes, the old slave has no collision, the old slave said the wrong thing, and asked the emperor to deal with the old slave." ”

Now, although Zhu Qizhen hates Shi Heng very much, he will not be angry with Cao Jixiang, one is that Cao Jixiang does have some power, and the other is that Cao Jixiang has not done anything rebellious. Cao Jixiang usually shows great awe of himself, and is not as complacent as Shi Heng and does not take himself in his eyes.

The emperor was not as jealous of Cao Jixiang as he was of Shi Heng, so he raised his hand and said, "That's it, I also know that you are unintentional." It's just that if anyone dares to intercede with Shi Heng in the future, whoever will end up with Shi Heng will be the same. ”

Cao Jixiang saw that Zhu Qizhen was so resolute, and knew that it was useless to plead for mercy, since this was the case, he could only let Shi Heng ask for more blessings.

Therefore, Cao Jixiang said a few good words to the emperor and left.

After going back, the more Cao Jixiang thought about it, the more he felt that the emperor would definitely not stop there. Now, Xu Youzhen has been sent to Yunnan, Shi Heng is in prison, and maybe it will be his turn next.

After thinking about it for a long time, he decided to go to Sun Xiangyong to ask for clarification.

Late at night, after the emperor went to bed, Cao Jixiang secretly came to the Qianqing Palace to call Sun Xiangyong out.

Sun Xiangyong saw that the person in front of him was Cao Jixiang, and immediately knew what he was looking for. He took Cao Jixiang to his house, personally poured a glass of wine and handed it to Cao Jixiang, and said, "Big brother, the wind and fog are heavy at night. Big brother, warm up with a glass of wine. ”

Cao Jixiang took the wine glass, looked at his shadow in the wine glass, sighed several times in a row, and said, "Second brother, where is the brother still in the mood to drink at this moment!" As a brother, now he even has the heart to die. ”

Sun Xiangyong heard Cao Jixiang say this, he couldn't understand it in his heart, so he asked, "I don't know why the eldest brother said that?" Now although the emperor has locked up Shi Heng, he has no intention of pursuing the eldest brother. ”

"That's not the case, the so-called cunning rabbit is dead and the lackey is cooked, and the birds and beasts are all hidden by the birds, and now that the emperor's throne has been seated steadily, since he can deal with Xu Youzhen and Shi Heng, how can he not deal with the old slave?"

Sun Xiang gently put his hand on Cao Jixiang's shoulder, stroked his shoulder and said, "Big brother, you don't have to be so nervous, I believe that the emperor has no intention of disposing of you now." The reason why he disposed of Xu Youzhen was because he believed in the words of his eldest brother and General Shi. Now disposing of General Shi is also because General Shi forced the emperor's favorite Princess Ning Xin to death. Princess Ning Xin has been dependent on the emperor since she was a child, and the two have a deep relationship, she is now dead in Shi Heng's mansion, how can the emperor not be angry. ”

Cao Jixiang heard Sun Xiang say this, and his heart was a little comforted, but despite this, he still sighed for a long time, and it seemed that he still had something to worry about.

Sun Xiangyong persuaded him for a long time, and Cao Jixiang's heart calmed down a little, and he wanted to ask Sun Xiangyong more about the emperor and Shi Heng.

Although Sun Xiangyong is very grateful to his eldest brother, he is also loyal to the emperor and will never do anything to harm the emperor. Therefore, he also became very careful in answering Cao Jixiang's questions, as long as Cao Jixiang asked anything that was unfavorable to the emperor, Sun Xiangyong would avoid talking about it.

Sun Xiangyong's actions made Cao Jixiang feel that even Sun Xiangyong was not on his side, and he was disheartened for a while.

After coming out of Sun Xiang's house, Cao Jixiang returned to the mansion, he thought about the whole thing, and always felt that he and Shi Heng were both prosperous and loss-making. Now that Shi Heng has been imprisoned, it has only been a month or two since Xu Youzhen was confiscated, is it possible that another month or two will be his death?

"No, I'll get Shi Heng out no matter what." Cao Jixiang said to himself: "Only if I join forces with Shi Heng, can I make the emperor jealous of us, what will happen to Shi Heng, when the time comes, I will be alone, and the second brother will not necessarily help me, and then I will really die without a place to be buried." ”

This night, Cao Jixiang had no sleep all night.

The next morning, someone suddenly came to tell him, "Father-in-law Cao, there is a man dressed as a merchant who has come to see Father-in-law Cao. ”

Cao Jixiang had never had anything to do with the Warat people, but now he heard that a Warat merchant had come to see him, and he was upset and said, "No, what's the matter with the Warat merchant coming to me?" Don't you know that my father-in-law has been upset these days? ”

When the men saw this, they went out and drove away the merchants of Navarat.

Who knew that the merchant of Nawara walked in, and when he saw Cao Jixiang, he arched his hand and said, "This is Cao Jixiang and Cao Gonggong." ”

Cao Jixiang was furious, and he said to his subordinates: "Blasting this Warat merchant out for me, beating him up and driving him away." ”

The subordinates promised to do something.

Who knew that the merchant of Nawarat made a big gift and said to Cao Jixiang: "Father-in-law Cao, why do you have to be like this, there is no malice in the bottom. ”

Cao Jixiang snorted coldly and said: "We don't care if you have malicious intentions, if the news of your appearance in my mansion reaches the court, won't I be able to get rid of it?" ”

"I'm afraid that Lord Cao won't be able to get rid of it, so I deliberately pretended to be a businessman to see Lord Cao, doesn't Lord Cao understand the hard work of the next one?"

"Oh? You're not a Warat merchant, so who are you? Cao Jixiangyuan asked the man with his eyes open.

The man said slowly: "I am the messenger of Warat, and I came to see Lord Cao today to discuss with Lord Cao, and this matter is related to the fate and safety of Lord Cao. If Lord Cao refuses to listen to the next advice, if there are any three longs and two shortcomings in the future, there will be no regret at that time. ”

Cao Jixiang thought that the man was threatening him, but looking at the person's serious expression, it didn't seem to be a fake.

He was distraught at this moment, anxious about whether the emperor would punish him, and when he saw that the messenger of Warat said this, he nodded and said, "Okay." In that case, come with me to the study. ”

So, the Navarat people came to his study with Cao Jixiang.

Cao Jixiang's study is very neat and quiet, and there are several sets of rare classical books on the desk. The furniture in the study is all made of fine huanghuali and sandalwood, which looks very elegant and magnificent.

The Warat envoy didn't seem to have seen such a quaint study, so he raised his hand and praised it repeatedly: "Grandpa Cao's study is really very simple and charming. It can be seen that Gonggong Cao is a gentleman. ”

In fact, where does Cao Jixiang know what piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry and songs, the reason why he arranged the study like this is nothing more than to pretend to be a literati.

Hearing Warat praise himself like this, he couldn't help but feel a little happier in his heart.

After he sat down with Cao Jixiang, Cao Jixiang looked at him with fierce eyes and said, "You said that you came to me this time because it is related to my safety, what is the matter?" Speak quickly. ”

The Warat merchant was not surprised, and said: "Since I came to see Gonggong Cao alone, what I want to say to Gonggong Cao is naturally true, am I not afraid that Gonggong Cao will deal with me?" ”

Cao Jixiang said in his heart: "It's not unreasonable for him to say this. If you find a dozen random people to deal with him, this person will not be able to eat and walk away. ”

So he looked at the man and said, "What is it?" Come on, don't sell off. ”

There was a flattering glint in the man's eyes, and he looked at Cao Jixiang and said: "Gonggong Cao, now that the matter of General Shi Hengshi's imprisonment has spread throughout the Ming Dynasty, even our Warat people in the far north already know about it, hasn't Gonggong Cao found anything?" ”

When Cao Jixiang heard the man say this, the man's words happened to be on his heart, and he was a little shocked, so he opened his mouth and asked the man: "What do you mean by that?" ”

The man smiled and said, "I just want to help Gonggong Cao, does Gonggong Cao think that I will harm you?" ”

After speaking, he took a sip of tea and stopped talking.

Cao Jixiang saw that this person was selling Guanzi, not to mention how anxious he was, he thought for a long time, and finally asked: "You said you are here to help our family, what is going on?" Let's hear it. ”

The man said: "Yes, Gonggong Cao and Master Shi have always been friends, the two of you can be said to be both prosperous and lossy, and now General Shi has been imprisoned by the emperor, is this far from Gonggong Cao's imprisonment?" ”

Cao Jixiang heard this person say this, and his whole body trembled, what this person said was exactly what Cao Jixiang thought at this moment.

"Now that Shi Heng has been punished by the emperor, is there still a good life for himself?"

Thinking of this, cold beads of sweat broke out on his head.

The messenger continued: "If Gonggong Cao doesn't want to die, it's not impossible. I came here this time to show Gonggong Cao a clear way. ”

Cao Jixiang looked at the man and asked, "If you have any clear path, you might as well point it out, why pretend to be a god and deceive ghosts." ”

The Warat envoy shook his head suddenly, and said, "I don't mean to pretend to be a god and deceive ghosts, but I really have something to discuss with Gonggong Cao. Gonggong Cao, do you want to stay in the Ming Dynasty now, although you still have a little power, but how is your power better than the emperor's power, and how is it better than General Shi's power? Even a hard-working general like General Shi will be beheaded by the emperor in a prison, let alone someone else? ”

Cao Jixiang had fully understood what that person meant, he squinted his eyes, glanced at the person and asked, "You mean you want us to take refuge in Warat?" ”

"Yes, that's exactly what it means, if Gonggong Cao can take refuge in our Warat and help us conquer the Ming Dynasty, then Gonggong Cao will be a meritorious minister, and it will be okay to send the king and the marquis."

Cao Jixiang stroked Ying Sui on his clothes, looked at the man for a long time and said: "You want me to take refuge in Warat, but don't even think about it, Daming has been at war with Warat for many years, and has always been a mortal enemy, although my father-in-law is really worried about the safety of General Shi Hengshi at this time, but he will not take refuge in Warat for his own selfishness and work hard for Warat." ”

Hearing Cao Jixiang's words so resolute, the soldiers of Nawarat seemed to really not want to cooperate with Warat, so he stood up and said: "In this case, Gonggong Cao doesn't even have half sincerity, so he won't bother his father-in-law and take his leave." ”

With that, the man stood up and walked out.

After walking a few steps, he turned back to Cao Jixiang and said, "In the future, my father-in-law has three strengths and two weaknesses, don't blame it." ”

Listening to his words, Cao Jixiang's ears couldn't help but "chuckle".

Cao Jixiang was stunned, this person said well, "Will the emperor really let himself go?" ”

Seeing Cao Jixiang standing there, the Warat envoy seemed to hesitate again, as if there was some mystery that could not be solved, so he said to Cao Jixiang: "Gonggong Cao, if you don't listen to me today, you will definitely regret it in the future, and when you are in prison, there is no way to cooperate with Gonggong Cao."

After the man had finished speaking, he continued to walk out.

Just when he was about to walk out of the threshold, he was stopped by Cao Jixiang's words "stop".

Cao Jixiang said: "The envoy, please come back, there is indeed one more thing I want to ask the envoy below." ”

The messenger came back, sat down beside Cao Jixiang, and asked, "Father-in-law Cao, what else do you have to ask?" If Gonggong Cao doesn't want to cooperate with Xia, and he doesn't want to delay Gonggong Cao's time, there are many people who want to cooperate with Gonggong Cao in the civil and military affairs of the Manchu Dynasty, and it is not necessary to cooperate with Gonggong Cao. ”

When Cao Jixiang heard that person say this, all his mental defenses collapsed in an instant, and he said to that person: "If our family helps you win the Ming Dynasty, can you really crown our family as the king and the prince in the future?" ”

"Of course, I always speak in the next word. What's more, if Gonggong Cao doesn't believe it, there is also a contract and a contract to sign each other's names with Gonggong Cao. ”

"Contract, contract?" Cao Jixiang looked at the man with doubts.

"Yes, this contract and contract not only have a binding effect on Cao Gonggong, but also have a binding effect on Zaixia, which is a good thing for both parties."

Cao Jixiang heard the man say this, so he had no choice but to bring the inkstone over and press his name and date on the contract provided by the person.

The man laughed and said, "Grandpa Cao, I hope we have a happy cooperation." ”

With that, he walked away.

It wasn't until the Warat messenger was far away that Cao Jixiang understood what he had done.

Now he Cao Jixiang is no longer the eunuch he used to be, and now he has become Warat's secret envoy in the Ming Dynasty.

After Cao Jixiang agreed to the request of the Varat envoy, less than two days later, the Varat envoy came again.

This time he was dressed no different from the people of the Ming Dynasty, and no one on the street could recognize him as a Warat man, so he walked to Cao Jixiang's mansion and asked to see Cao Jixiang.

When Cao Jixiang heard that it was this Warat envoy who came, he hurriedly let him in and asked him, "What is the matter?" ”

The Warat envoy said solemnly: "I really came this time to find Grandpa Cao for something, the so-called nothing to go to the Three Treasures Palace!" "The name of the messenger of Warat is Li Changqing, who was originally a person from the Ming Dynasty, because Warat gave him a high-ranking official Houlu, so he took refuge in Warat.

Cao Jixiang saw him suddenly visiting, with a look of distrust in his eyes, and asked, "Since the envoy has nothing to do but go to the Three Treasures Palace, I don't know what is going on?" If you have something, just say it. ”

With a very cunning look, the messenger glanced at Cao Jixiang and asked, "I wonder if Lord Cao wants to rescue General Shi Hengshi?" ”

When Cao Jixiang heard him say this, he touched the string in his heart, and said in a loud voice: "If you can save Lord Shi, it would be great." ”

The messenger raised the folding fan in his hand and said to Cao Jixiang leisurely: "As long as Gonggong Cao wants to do this, there is a way to do it." ”

"Oh? I don't know what the messenger has in mind, but let's hear it. Cao Jixiang hurriedly leaned up and asked.

At this moment, he had no other way but to trust this messenger, who asked him to plead with the emperor, the emperor refused to let Shi Heng go, and Sun Xiangyong refused to help him.

The Warat envoy said to Cao Jixiang slowly: "What is the role of General Shi Heng in the imperial court? ”

Cao Jixiang listened to the question of the envoy of Warat, so he lowered his head and thought for a long time, and said: "The imperial court will reuse General Shi Hengshi because he can lead troops to fight and attack Warat. ”

"Okay, Gonggong Cao is right. In this case, if at this time, our army of Warat moves south to attack the Ming Dynasty, do you think the emperor of the Ming Dynasty will release General Shi? ”

When Cao Jixiang heard this, he immediately understood what the envoy said, and he said in his heart: "Yes, the emperor has been refusing to release Shi Heng, just because there is no danger at the border at this moment. If the Warat army suddenly attacks the Ming Dynasty, when the time comes, don't say that Shi Heng will be released, that is, what Shi Heng wants to do, I am afraid that Zhu Qizhen will not agree. ”