It was a harsh winter, and even though the climate of Dongshengdu was mild, far from the frost and snow of Xingluo County, it was winter, and the grass and trees inside and outside the city were withered, and the flowers and leaves withered.

However, when Zhao Xiao came to the palace city, he found that the flowers and plants everywhere were lush and vibrant, and the potted flowers that had been pruned by the palace people, and the delicate and fresh petals still had early morning dewdrops, which were regarded as nothing.

Such a scene of phenology that violates the weather should be the handiwork of that group of scholars. Even from the perspective of Zhao Xiao's current cultivation realm, by arranging the pattern and sorting out the leylines, he can achieve a heaven and earth with its own atmosphere, and the achievement is also extremely extraordinary.

What's more, such a unique palace city also has the effect of prohibiting spells and eliminating demons. After Zhao Xiao came here, he felt that his hands, feet, and limbs were not as light and healthy as usual, and he thought that it was to prevent cultivators from sneaking into the palace to assassinate him.

In order for the many prohibitions to operate constantly, this palace city must consume a lot of spiritual treasures to lay the foundation. However, it is not surprising that the construction of Miyagi is often a national effort.

Zhao Xiao followed behind Anyang Hou, remembering that he had previously instructed not to look around after entering the palace, so he quickly withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and secretly beat a drum in his heart.

Walking through the corridor and turning into the doorway, Zhao Xiao followed the Marquis of Anyang to the outside of a quiet hall, and the eunuch who led the way entered to report, and was called to enter after a while.

There were already people in the hall, A good-looking man was wearing a yellow robe, plain and without lines, sitting on the back of the bookcase, and the left and right hands were Zhang Duanjing and Liang Tao. Liang Tao was as deep as ever, with eagle eyebrows and falcon eyes, and a twisted beard sneering.

"See Your Majesty." Anyang Hou and Zhao Xiao hurriedly bowed.

"No need to salute." The yellow-robed man's tone was gentle, and his gaze shifted slightly: "You are Zhao Xiao?" ”

Zhao Xiao knew that this yellow-robed man was the current lord of Huaxu State, and bowed his head: "Yes." Weichen Zhao Xiao, see Your Majesty. ”

"I heard Wei Qing mention you." The lord of the country smiled kindly, and his tone was not threatening: "It is said that you initiated the Fu Soldier?" ”

"The occasional success of the micro-minister is the grace of His Majesty." Zhao Xiao carefully replied according to the teachings of Anyang Hou.

"Oh? Is it He Enze? The lord asked.

"If it weren't for Your Majesty's sweeping and external imperial palaces, I'm afraid that Weichen would have fallen into the ruins, let alone enter the pavilion to study and study." Zhao replied.

The lord of the country smiled lightly, noncommittal, and then looked at Anyang Hou: "The arrest department has found a batch of treasures in the ghost market, and there is no shortage of spiritual materials and magic objects in them, how does Aiqing think to deal with them?" ”

"The demons and demons in the ghost market are accustomed to lawlessness and amass treasures, and after searching and counting, they should be enriched in the treasury, and the spiritual materials and magic objects should be paid to the company, take their wonderful use, and help the country and protect the king." An Yang Hou replied.

The lord of the country nodded slightly: "The spiritual materials and magic objects that have been found will be handed over to the Jinding Division for inspection and distribution." ”

The Marquis of Anyang couldn't hide his excitement: "The minister obeys the order!" ”

The lord handed over a book to the eunuch beside him, handed it to the Marquis of Anyang, and then said: "Aiqing will go to do things first, I still have something to say to Zhao Huang." ”

"The minister retired." An Yanghou bowed his head and gave his hand, and peeked at Zhao Xiao as he stepped back, as if he was secretly reminding.

After the Marquis of Anyang left, the lord waved his hand to let a group of eunuchs retreat, he tapped his fingers on the bookcase, and looked at Liang Tao on the side: "Liang Weng, now the sky is boiling inside and outside the court, and you also understand why." The Hatoe Zheng clan did such a thing, do you really want to protect it to the end? ”

"I don't know what Your Majesty said about 'such a thing'?" Liang Tao raised his eyebrows: "If you talk about the assassination case of Jackpot Pavilion, in the final analysis, it is Zheng Tunan who is trying to avenge personal grievances, and he is bewitched by the demons of the ghost market, and it has nothing to do with the Zheng family of Jiujiang, and the arrest department has already asked the truth from Qing Luoyi and other criminals."

As for the matter of the Hatojiang Zheng clan's secret collaboration with the enemy country, it has also been found out that the specific affairs are entrusted to the demon people of the ghost market, and the Hatojiang Zheng clan does not even know that the ghost market trafficks grain, rice, and raw silk to the Jiuli country. Your Majesty, don't forget that many of the children of the Zheng family of Jiujiang died on the battlefield, and it was because there were not enough people close to them, so they had no choice but to entrust the Grange industry to outsiders. ”

The lord of the country was silent, and Zhang Duanjing, who was opposite, said: "Liang Shouzao, on this occasion, don't be clever and quibble. The country has laws and regulations, and it is true that the Zheng clan of Jiujiang collaborated with the enemy, and the bulk of grain, rice, and raw silk were trafficked out of the country, and the guards at the passes along the way were bought, and it was the old officials of the protégé who relied on the Zheng family of Jiujiang to send a letter. Can this also lie that Zheng is negligent and ignorant? ”

"Zhang Shouzuo wants to talk about Fadu?" Liang Tao smiled a little: "Okay, the old man will talk about the law." If the Hatojiang Zheng family is guilty, how should the children of the clan who are also close to the ghost market be punished? ”

Zhang Duanjing didn't answer, the lord frowned slightly, Liang Tao turned his head to look at the lord: "There is another matter, the old man saw that the case file of the arrest department was not mentioned, can Your Majesty allow the old man to speak bluntly?" ”

"Liang Weng, but it's okay to talk about it." The lord of the kingdom was still calm.

"The old man learned that the overseas Phantom Wave Palace had sent people in and out of the ghost market, and it is said that this is not worth the old man's attention." Liang Tao said: "However, recently, the old man heard that this generation has a close relationship with the Zhou family. ”

The lord of the country asked, "Fufeng Hou?" ”

"Not bad. Recently, it has been rumored that the Fufeng Hou Zhou clan is a descendant of the Phantom Wave Palace. Liang Tao said: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, this matter may just be a rumor." The old man has already sent a capable disciple to arrest this Phantom Wave Palace gatekeeper, and he will definitely send him to the front of the palace to order this generation to reveal the truth. If the Phantom Wave Palace acts under the guise of the queen's family, it will damage His Majesty's prestige and will never be forgiven. ”

Zhao Xiao below was terrified to hear this, Fufeng Hou is the father of the current queen. It is said that when the lord of the country was only a child of an infamous clan, he married the Zhou family under the mediation of Mrs. Zhu Zi, and thus got a large dowry as the capital to compete for the throne in the future.

And the Zhou family also ascended to the sky one step at a time, in the case of an empty treasury and insufficient internal funds, the financial resources of the Zhou family are the pillars of the country. When the lord of the country killed the troops in Shouyang, he rectified and dismantled the domestic armies, and if he had a little spare strength, he also reciprocated the peach, and let the children of the Zhou family participate in the management of many industries in the country, including the national wealth of Shanze salt and iron.

At the beginning, Luo Xixian went to the salt factory run by the Zhou family to kill the evil spirits, and the other party gave back the pearls of light produced in the East China Sea Mansion, and his financial strength can be seen.

Now that he heard that the Zhou family had dealings with a certain overseas immortal cultivation sect, Zhao Huang didn't think it was unusual. However, there was a hint in Liang Tao's words that the Zhou family was probably instructed by the Phantom Wave Palace.

A relative of a country, or a family of descendants who are in charge of a large amount of wealth, and the result is the descendant of an overseas sect, isn't this equivalent to giving away the lifeblood of the country?

Originally, many people in the court were deeply dissatisfied with the control of salt and iron wealth by the Zhou family, and they were ignored by the lord of the country many times.

The position of the Hou Qi Zhou family is relatively special, and very few of the children of their clan have entered the hall to cultivate immortals and learn the Tao, and in this turmoil with clear barriers in the court, they did not stand on either side, which can be regarded as a clever way of dealing with the world.

But Liang Guoshi is now involved in the Phantom Wave Palace, and the Zhou family is also dragged into the quagmire. This move directly attacked the most important point of the lord, which can be described as extremely ruthless.

Zhao Xiao guessed that Liang Guoshi may have known about the relationship between the people of the Phantom Wave Palace and the Zhou family, but he hid it in the past, and he waited for this time to say it.

But he also understands that this turmoil in the court has reached the extreme, not only the two ministers arguing about right and wrong, but the lord of the country and Liang Guoshi-for-tat, and if they continue to fight like this, I am afraid that they will lose both.

"Liang Shouzuo, what do you mean?" Zhang Duanjing asked, "Do you want to use this as a threat?" ”

"I'm just following Zhang Shouzuo's meaning, focusing on the laws of the country." Liang Tao's eyes are shining, and he is intimidating.

"Alright." The lord of the country hurriedly interrupted the conversation between the two, looked at Zhao Xiao, and changed the topic: "Zhao Xiao, this time you assisted the arrest division to take down the spies of Jiuli Kingdom, which can be regarded as a great contribution to the country." ”

"This is a matter for the ministers." Zhao Xiao bowed his head and replied.

"What's the matter?" The lord of the country asked, "You are the deacon of the Jinding Division, and it seems that the matter does not include the arrest of demons and evil spies. ”

"Wechen lost his words." Zhao Xiao said.

"I want to ask one thing now, and you answer truthfully." The lord of the country had a sharp gaze: "When you left the Jinding Division and went out of the city with the Chongxuan Pavilion chariot and horse, were you ever coerced?" ”

Zhao Xiao slowly raised his head, the three people above all looked at him, he felt deep pressure, and quickly lowered his head and said, "Weichen, Weichen dare not answer!" ”

The lord of the country looked at Zhang Liang and the others, and waved his hand gently: "The two of you will step back for the time being." ”

Zhang Duanjing got up and bowed his hand, while Liang Tao bowed slightly, looking at Zhao Xiao's gaze meaningfully.

It wasn't until the two heads left that the lord of the country said, "Zhao Xiao, you can talk now." ”

But Zhao Xiao still couldn't bow down, and the lord of the country smiled faintly: "Don't worry, I will ensure that you are safe and sound, you just need to answer truthfully." ”

Zhao Xiao raised his head and made up his mind to say, "Weichen voluntarily went with Chongxuan Pavilion and was not coerced. ”

The face of the lord of the country did not show the slightest strange color: "This is your answer?" ”

"Yes." Zhao Xiao lowered his head again.

"I see." The lord of the country pondered for a moment, and then asked: "Zheng Tunan colluded with demons and evil spirits to assassinate, how do you think the Zheng family of Jiujiang should be dealt with?" ”

Zhao Xiao hurriedly replied: "This matter is arbitrary by His Majesty's cadres, and Weichen is ignorant and does not dare to speak falsely. ”

"If you are ignorant, do your words count?" The lord of the country laughed.

Zhao Huang was stunned for a moment, and the lord of the country said: "I originally thought that Zheng Tunan had done such a thing, and you should have a grudge against the Zheng family of Jiujiang, and you would definitely take revenge." ”

"But...... Your Majesty, the Zheng family also has children who are able to do things well in the Jinding Division, and it is really not suitable to connect the whole clan. Zhao Xiao said.

The lord of the country smiled approachably: "When did I say that I want to connect the entire Zheng clan?" Could it be that that's what you planned? ”

"It's not." Zhao Xiao changed his mind and replied: "Weichen thinks that the Zheng clan of Jiujiang has indeed violated the law of the country, so he might as well take away his official title and be demoted to a commoner." ”

"And then?" The lord of the country saw that Zhao Xiao had something to say.

"The Grange industry of the Zheng family in Jiujiang is continuous, cross-county and county-wide, and there must be a large number of tenants and customers." Zhao Xiao pondered: "The Zheng family's capital crime can be avoided, but they are not allowed to hold these grange properties anymore. The imperial court might as well take the opportunity to check the Zheng family's acres of land and people, reorganize the households, and count the households.

The suburbs, mountains, and mansions occupied by the Zheng clan were all under the jurisdiction of the imperial court, or used as rewards. The children of the Zheng family left 50 acres of land for each family, and let them work on their own, not with knives and axes, in order to show the favor of the court. ”

The lord of the country looked at Zhao Xiao for a moment, the other party lowered his head and didn't dare to say more, and then smiled: "Are you robbing the rich and helping the poor?" ”

Zhao Xiao replied: "Those who cultivate immortals and learn the Tao only hope to ascend to the truth, and if they can make up for the deficiency due to the loss, they may be able to eavesdrop on the way of heaven." ”

"What a whisper." The lord of the country smiled: "With your words, I can deal with Liang Weng." ”

Zhao Xiao secretly snickered, and the lord of the country sighed: "The Zheng clan of Jiujiang has contributed to the country in the past, and it is indeed inappropriate to massacre. But is it enough for each Zheng family to have only 50 acres of land? ”

"Your Majesty doesn't know, this is more than Zhuo Zhuo!" Zhao Xiao said: "As far as Weichen knows, in many wealthy granges, a tenant ploughs a hundred acres, and most of his income is only two or three percent, not counting the rental and loan items of various farming cattle and farm tools. ”

The lord of the country nodded slightly, with a smile on his face: "Your stay in the Jinding Division is a bit overkill." ”

Zhao Xiao hurriedly replied: "Weichen is not familiar with popular affairs, Your Majesty has his own minister's advice, so you don't have to listen to Weichen's nonsense." ”

The lord of the country changed his words: "I heard the Marquis of Anyang say that your father once led the army of the Bear Kingdom into the Mirage Valley with his elite cavalry, but unfortunately died because of this?" ”

"Yes." Zhao replied.

"After the martyrdom, I didn't expect to live up to it for a long time." The lord tapped the bookcase with his fingertips, and then asked, "What do you think of Liang Guoshi?" ”

Zhao Xiao couldn't see the intention of the state lord's words, so he had to ask: "Does Your Majesty want to listen to the truth?" ”

The lord of the country feigned anger and said: "Are you still bullying the king? ”

Zhao Xiao said: "Then please forgive Weichen for being bold and outspoken - Liang Guoshi is the pillar of Huaxu State. ”

"That's what you think?" The lord of the country was puzzled: "Could it be that you intend to switch to Chongxuan Pavilion?" ”

"I've thought about it in the past." Zhao Xiao replied: "But Weichen personally experienced the assassination, and only after this incident did he understand that without the support of Liang Guoshi, Huaxu may not be able to maintain today's peace and prosperity." ”

"I saw in the file submitted by the Arrest Division that you intercepted the demons because you got the guidance of Liang Guoshi, and now this is to repay the kindness?" The lord asked.

Zhao Xiao denied it: "Weichen has no such intention. But please think about it, why did the spies of Jiuli Kingdom want to assassinate Weichen? And why did you want Zheng Tunan to be involved? In the final analysis, it is nothing more than to involve the Jiujiang Zheng family and the Chongxuan Pavilion, and finally point all the fingers at Liang Guoshi.

Isn't the chaos in the court today caused by an assassination in the Jackpot Pavilion? In such a situation, Liang Guoshi was deeply trapped in it, and he had no time to deal with foreign enemies, which was the real purpose of Jiuli Kingdom. It is precisely because Liang Guoshi is a pillar that he has to use such a clumsy method! ”

"But Liang Guoshi's attitude, you can also see it." The lord of the country said: "It is true that Hua Xu Guo has always received the help of Chongxuan Pavilion, but Liang Guoshi regards Hua Xu Guo as a plaything in the palm of his hand, and the number of dissatisfied people in the DPRK and China is increasing day by day. ”

"Your Majesty, not to mention the past, if there is a great enemy in the future, who else will be able to turn the tide except for Liang Guoshi?" Zhao Xiao asked rhetorically.