That Wu Yong fell to the ground with a dead face and kowtowed to us violently. "The villain is wronged, the villain is wronged!"

I turned my head and motioned to Bo Heng, who called Cong Thorn and his group. "Put this Wu Yong in prison and interrogate him severely. No one is allowed to visit without my command. ”

Cong Thorn dragged Wu Yong out, and Wu Yong's voice of shouting injustice could still be heard from afar.

Xu Zitang and Xing Daokui looked at each other, and they didn't dare to speak for a while, while Mrs. Hu continued to play with the Buddha beads without her own concern.

Bo Heng asked them about Lingyang's agriculture, commerce, and salt production, and the three of them answered well, and it seemed that they had already reconciled with each other to deal with our investigation.

It didn't take long for me to cough, and Bo Heng sent all three of them away. Looking at their backs, I summoned the red.

Childlet truthfully replied to what Childlet had seen and heard behind the screen by placing them behind the flower hall. That Xing Daokui was rude, took off his boots and itched his feet on the chair, complaining for a long time and saying that he had waited so long.

Mrs. Hu seemed to be very annoyed by these two people, and she had been fiddling with the Buddha beads with her eyes closed, but Xu Zitang always talked to her, although Mrs. Hu ignored it, she still frowned.

That Wu Yong didn't come originally, but the three families seemed to have hurried over from somewhere not long after they arrived. Then he stayed with Xu Zitang all the time and poured tea and water for Xu Zitang.

After listening to the description of Zhihong, I have a rough outline of these three masters. Bo Heng was puzzled and asked me what I was going to do if I imprisoned Wu Yong?

I broke the walnut in my hand and handed the flesh to Bo Heng. "Of course I am."

The sound of the childish red next to me startled me. "Princess, you specially sent someone to watch Aunt Yu's family, didn't you just want to catch Wu Yong's handle, why did you catch it and release it."

I stuffed the walnut into my immature red mouth, "Because to dispel the suspicions of those three people, there is a way that the new officials take office with three fires, if we don't do anything and pretend to be clumsy, they will not believe it." It's better to make some ridiculous noises and make them think we're good at it. ”

I said to Cong Thorn, "Torture that Wu Yong a little, and scare him so that he doesn't hurt him." Later, I personally went to the prison and released him, and I said that I had misunderstood him. ”

"Madame's move is planning to let the tiger return to the mountain?" Bo Heng asked.

I shook my head, "We have to make them think that we are no different from those gentlemen, so that they can be deceived and fooled, so that they can show their feet." ”

I tilted my head and looked at Bo Heng with a sly smile. Blow the whistle and summon the Secret Guard. The leader was Ke Mo, and I instructed him to arrange for people to go to the mansion of the three families and keep an eye on the three of them.

then patted the crumbs on his hands, "A good show, the husband has to accompany the concubine to perform well." ”

After lunch, I swayed slowly to the door of the cell. Angry Dantian, learning Wu Yong's shouting and running into the prison where Wu Yong was held, "Oh, Wu Fu Ya, I blame you!" ”

The warrior cowered in the corner, looking at me in fear. I pretended to choke up and wiped away the tears that didn't exist in the corners of my eyes. "Wufu Ya, I blamed you for my lard, it was my subordinates who didn't check it out, so I locked you up."

After saying that, he was about to reach out to help him, but Wu Yong was so frightened that he stood up with his hands and feet. "The villain is fine, the princess is also a reward for the villain's punishment, and the villain is gracious." Wu Yong's cloak looks very funny.

I instructed Cong Thorn to take Wu Yong out, and apologized to Wu Yong again and again, until Wu Yong walked away. Zhihong watched me act, and finally couldn't help laughing with a suppressed smile. I nodded at her waist and laughed at something, and I didn't arrange for someone to follow him.

After an hour, the men sent to follow Wu Yong returned. said that Wu Yong did not go back to his home, but went to Xingfu.

The expression on my face became subtle, and Bo Heng asked me what I thought.

This Xing Daokui did everything possible to please the Xu family, and even gave up his own flesh and blood. But it may not be loyal to the Xu family, after many years of dependence, it is still a lonely industry, and I am afraid that there will be no less resentment against the Xu family. ”

"And the Xu and Hu families are in-laws, and there is only one daughter, so at present, Miss Xu is very likely to grasp the two industries in the future. Then the Xing family will never have a bright day, so if Xing Daokui wants to break through this level, he needs an ally, so Wu Yong like him is the best choice. ”

"What is the lady going to do next?" Bo Heng asked.

I ordered Zhihong to bring pen and ink, "Give Mrs. Hu a post and ask her to bring her daughter for a trip." ”

The second day was a sunny day. I shook the fan and waited for Mrs. Hu's arrival. A girl with a double snail bun and silver butterflies dangled out from the shadow wall, and followed Mrs. Hu in.

The baby pink dress is as bright as the peach blossoms in March, which makes Miss Xu's cheeks pink and complexion. A short round little face, with crooked eyebrows and eyes, is very cute.

Mrs. Hu still saluted me with a straight face, and Miss Xu knelt down ignorantly like her mother. I got up and helped them up and sat them down.

"Mrs. Hu is willing to come with a face, and the palace is very happy. You and I are both women, and we both know that it is not easy to be a woman, so we should not be too formal. I said kindly.

Hu Yin's still lukewarm polite reply is a sense of proportion.

"This is Ling Ai, it looks very cute, and I like it very much when I see it." I turned to Miss Xu, who didn't dare to look at me.

Although she was a little surprised, she still got up politely, it seems that Hu Yin is very good at her daughter's tutoring, and she can't get on the stage without twisting.

"Xu Yunnong, a folk girl, has seen Princess Lingyang." A beam of light passed through the front hall and shone on Xu Yunnong's body, gently coating her with a layer of golden light.

I took the opportunity to say that I had brought some fabrics from Yanqi, and asked Zhihong to take Xu Yunnong to choose one to see if there was anything I liked, so that I could be alone with Hu Yin. Xu Yunnong glanced at Hu Yin, and Hu Yin lovingly said let her go, don't refuse the princess's grace.

Immediately, only Hu Yin and I were left in the hall, and Hu Yin turned the rosary. "The princess doesn't have to go to such great lengths to let the women come over, if there is anything that the women can help the princess, the women must be duty-bound."

I couldn't help but laugh, it was so much easier to get along with smart people. "Mrs. Hu is a smart person, so the palace will not beat around the bush. We opened the skylight and said that the palace and His Royal Highness need Mrs. Hu to help us find out what the current situation in Lingyang is. ”

Hu Yin Muran's face finally had some expression, but it looked full of hostility. "This woman can't help each other, the situation in Lingyang is complicated, and this is not something that I can change."

I don't expect Hu Yin to refuse, after all, no one wants to make trouble for themselves. "Mrs. Hu, although you don't want to stir up a storm. But the tree wants to be quiet and the wind does not stop, and you and Xu Zitang only have such a daughter. In the future, Miss Xu will be the heir of the Xu and Hu families, and will be eyed by other forces. ”

I looked at Hu Yin's eyes like stagnant water, "Even if it's not for the people, you have to think about Miss Xu." The future is still long, how difficult it is for a woman to stand at the top, I think you will know better than me. ”

Hu Yin's lips pursed, as if she was beginning to waver. Seeing this, I directly told her about Wu Yong's going to Xing Daokui's house, and then pretended to be tired and began to send off guests.

Xu Yunnong happily came out with a few pieces of cloth, not seeing her mother's solemn expression at all. The moment Hu Yin walked out of the door, I said to her back: "Today's matter, I hope Mrs. Hu will think about it more." The main shrine is here, waiting for you at any time. ”

Hu Yin's footsteps paused, and then walked out. I only heard Xu Yunnong chattering curiously and asking what's wrong, Hu Yin was silent the whole time.

After sending Hu Yin and the others away, Zhihong asked with some concern: "Is the princess sure that Mrs. Hu will cooperate with us, what if she doesn't want to?" ”

I poked the door of the childish red head with my index finger, "Silly childish, you remember, never underestimate a mother's love for her child. ”

As the night grew darker, I was enjoying the cool breeze in the courtyard. Childish Red hurried over to my side and whispered a few words, and I followed her to the backyard.

A figure wearing a cloak as thick as the night slowly took off his hat. Revealing Hu Yin's haggard and pale face, I smiled at her knowingly and invited her into the house for a while.

Just entered the room and didn't sit down, Hu Yin suddenly pounced and knelt down, and the immature red on the side hurriedly wanted to pull her up, but Hu Yin refused.

Hu Yin raised his head and looked at me with a determined look. "People's woman, ask the king of Lingyang and the princess to be the masters, and save the people of Lingyang and the Hu family." With that, he kowtowed his head heavily, and there was a muffled sound on the ground.

"Mrs. Hu should get up first, and have something to say." Hu Yin's forehead was red,

I motioned for Childish Red to help her up.

"What Mrs. Hu said about saving the people and the Hu family, where did you start?" I asked.

Hu Yin gritted his teeth, as if he had made up his mind to speak. "This Lingyang, in the eyes of outsiders, is a place of good health, but in fact it has long been hollowed out. In the granary, except for the outermost rice and noodles, the innermost part is actually all chaff that the horses don't eat. ”

My heart tightened and I grabbed the handle of my chair. It is ridiculous that these people should be so bold and reckless.

"That's not all, the second room of the Xu family is dissatisfied with Xu Zitang's management, and he is always doing things like chickens and dogs behind his back. Looting the peasants' land and exchanging money from the imperial court. And Xu Zitang was mediocre and incompetent, unwilling to tear his face with his own family, and turned a blind eye to acquiesce. ”

I looked at Hu Yin in some surprise, I didn't expect her to confess her husband. Hu Yin looked at my expression and smiled self-deprecatingly.

"The princess must think that I am ruthless and unrighteous, and she will not even let go of her husband. But I never wanted to marry the hypocrite Xu Zitang, but I was forced by my family back then, and I had to do it as a last resort in order to save the dying family property. After I got married, I realized that Xu Zitang was not a person at all! ”

With that, he fell to his knees and began to unbutton his clothes. I was a little stunned and wanted to stop Hu Yin, but I was so surprised by the next picture that I couldn't speak.

I saw that Hu Yin's skin was densely covered with scars, and the injuries and injuries had become protruding scars, crisscrossing red and purple, and it was very terrifying. Except for her exposed wrists, neck, and cheeks, there was not a single piece of good skin on her body.

Tears of humiliation flowed uncontrollably from Hu Yin's eyes, and I buttoned her clothes in distress. The scars looked old, but they were enough to see how cruel the perpetrators were.

"Mrs. Hu, this palace will definitely seek justice for you. You sit down first and calm down. I pulled Hu Yin up and sat back.

Hu Yin struggled to control his shaky shoulders and buckle up his clothes. Wiping away the wanton tears from her face, I couldn't imagine what horrible days she had had when I looked at her.

Hu Yin stabilized his emotions for a while and continued: "Soon after I got married to Xu Zitang, because I discovered the secret of the Xu family, he changed his appearance of being obedient to me before marriage and abused me. The Xu family concealed nearly three-thirds of Lingyang's salt production. Secretly shipped to the country of Pilu to sell, and profited from it. ”

My anger grew, "The salt mine is the lifeblood of Yanqi, and Xu Zitang dares to do this, this is treason." ”

Hu Yin nodded, "Xu Zitang did more than that, he also joined forces with Xing Daokui to make false accounts and conceal salt taxes to enrich his own pockets. Therefore, Xing Daokui was willing to be his lackey, but in the past few years, as His Majesty began to strictly govern the officials, they did not dare to be so arrogant anymore, so the oil and water that could be fished became much less. ”

Xing Daokui was in cahoots with Wu Yong, trying to swallow the Xu family for his own use. Wu Yong seems to be in a group with the Xu family, but he has actually been listening to the news from Xu Zitang. Hu Yin said hatefully.

"The people thought that there was a parent official like Wu Yong, who came to save them from fire and water. Unexpectedly, it brought an even greater disaster to Lingyang. ”

I sent Hu Yin away with complicated feelings, and told Ke Mo to escort him so as not to let people find out. Bo Heng walked from behind the screen to my side with a blue face.

"Your Highness, this Lingyang, I'm afraid it's going to set off a bloody storm."