Night is falling.

When Ning Feng took Guan Yun'er back to Ningfu, it was already night, and Guan Yun'er looked a little lonely on the way back to Ningfu.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make trouble...... Guan Yun'er said with her head down and picking her fingers, speaking in a childlike tone.

Ning Feng shook his head and gently rubbed Guan Yun'er's head, "Don't be sorry, you are also Dan Xiaochuan." ”

"Then Xiao Chuanzi will be okay, right?" Guan Yun'er raised her head and looked at Ning Feng with blinking, wanting to eagerly learn about Ning Xiaochuan's news.

Ning Feng smiled lightly, "It's okay, don't worry." ”

"Okay, it's okay......" Guan Yun'er turned around with some disappointment, followed Ning Feng's side, and walked home silently.

Ning Feng led the horse and followed beside him, walking quietly......

The hall of the Ning family was still brightly lit, and Ning Zhi and Old Lady Ning were anxiously waiting for news from Ning Xiaochuan.

"Dad, mother, you haven't slept so late?" Ning Feng entered the door and saw that the whole family was sitting in the hall without saying a word, and he knew in his heart that he was worried about Ning Xiaochuan's situation.

"Without news from Chuan'er, how can we sleep." Old Madam Ning got up and frowned and said, "By the way, how is Chuan'er's situation?" ”

Guan Yun'er walked to Cheng Shuangshuang's side, hugged Cheng Shuangshuang's arm and lowered his head, Cheng Shuangshuang doted on Guan Yun'er in his arms and comforted him softly.

"Chuan'er was taken away by Xue Shangshu, cooperate with the investigation of some things, don't worry, I'll be back in a few days." Ning Feng said with relief.

Ning Zhi asked, "It's just that the investigation is so simple?" What about killing people in the street? ”

"This is true, but those people are not good people, they have done many murderous and illegal things, they are deserving of death, Xiaochuan killed them and it can be regarded as doing the right thing for heaven, you can rest assured, it is just to assist in the investigation." Ning Feng continued.

Hearing this, Ning Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and slowly leaned back in his chair, "It's okay, I thought this stinky boy was in trouble again." ”

Ning Song was also relieved, "It's okay, it's okay." ”

"When will Chuan'er come back?" Old Madam Ning still asked a little anxiously, "I heard that the prison of the Criminal Department is extremely dangerous, and those torture ordinary people can't resist it at all, Chuan'er, Chuan'er won't be tortured by them." ”

"Mother, no, Xiaochuan is just cooperating with them in the investigation of the case, and he is not a prisoner, so he will not be tortured." Ning Feng explained helplessly.

Old Madam Ning breathed a sigh of relief, and her hanging heart finally let go.

"It's good not to be tortured, it's good not to ......"

Ning Feng also breathed a sigh of relief, now it depends on when Ning Xiaochuan will come back.

……

The next day, early in the morning, the palace Zhengde Hall.

Gao Zhen sat quietly on the dragon chair, dressed in a robe, holding a scripture book, and reading it very seriously.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded, and Han Zhongxuan walked in with his head down and Hu Tongxun, who was wearing a prison uniform and unkempt.

At this time, Hu Tongxun's face was dull, his expression was wooden, his eyes were dull, and his mental state was very bad; His hair was dirty and messy, and his prison uniform was stained and dirty.

Walking into the Zhengde Palace, after Hu Tongxun saw Gao Zhen, he directly stopped it, and Han Zhongxuan arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, Hu Tongxun, the Lord of Nongsi, has already brought it." ”

"Hu Tongxun, the official and agricultural secretary, pay a visit to Your Majesty." Hu Tongxun hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed excitedly, his voice slightly trembling and aggrieved.

"Hu Tongxun, for the sake of you being an old minister, I gave you a chance for a month, but I didn't expect you to be so hard-mouthed, and you still refused to admit your guilt." Gao Zhen said lukewarmly.

Hu Tongxun looked at Gao Zhen and gritted his teeth, "Your Majesty, what is the crime of the minister?" ”

"The three million military rations were lost inexplicably, and you were in charge of the Agricultural Division, didn't you participate in it? If it weren't for your mediation, I'm afraid that the rations would not have been lost. Gao Zhen said.

Hu Tongxun was stunned, and immediately kowtowed, "Your Majesty, wronged, the minister has been conscientious since he became the master of the agricultural department, and the military rations are a matter of great importance, and there is no delay in the slightest. ”

"Are you accusing me?" Gao Zhen sneered.

"The old minister didn't dare to ......," Hu Tongxun said without raising his head.

At this time, the sound of footsteps came, Gao Yuan hurried over, and as soon as he came in, he saw Hu Tongxun bowing his head to the ground, "Erchen greets his father." ”

"Yuan'er, you came just in time, I asked you, three million military rations disappeared mysteriously in Shuzhou, although the truth has been ascertained, but I still suspect that Hu Tongxun colluded with those corrupt officials, causing the loss of military rations, what do you think about this?" Gao Zhen said lightly.

Gao Yuan looked at Hu Tongxun and frowned, "Father, forgive the son, your suspicion is too unreasonable, although the military food has passed through the hands of Lord Hu, but Lord Hu has been in charge of the Agricultural Department for some years, so many times there has been no accident in the transfer of military rations, but this time there was an accident, if Lord Hu was greedy for money, then it should have been done a long time ago, why wait until now?" ”

"Oh? Listening to what you mean, do you think I wronged Hu Tongxun? Gao Zhen looked a little displeased.

Gao Yuan knelt on the ground, arched his hand and said: "Father, everything has to be evidenced, your unfounded suspicion is really inappropriate, besides, Lord Hu is loyal, he has been diligent since he took charge of the Agricultural Division, he does not dare to slack off in the slightest, he is a loyal person, if you have to punish him now, I am afraid that it will make the ministers feel cold." ”

Hu Tongxun next to him got up and looked at Gao Yuan, and his gratitude was overflowing, "Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Prince." ”

"So His Royal Highness the Crown Prince believes him?" Gao Zhen got up and said.

Gao Yuan nodded, "Yes, the child believes in Master Hu." ”

After hearing Gao Yuan's words, Gao Zhen nodded thoughtfully, and then looked at Hu Tongxun, "Lord Hu, do you think I should trust the judgment of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, believe you?" ”

"The old minister doesn't dare to snatch the holy will, it's all up to His Majesty to decide." Hu Tongxun continued to bow his head and said.

After a while, Gao Zhen got up and said: "Then I believe that the next time His Royal Highness the Prince, Hu Tongxun, this time I will spare you, but only this time, you remember, I believe not you, but His Royal Highness the Prince." ”

Gao Yuan looked at Gao Zhen with mixed tastes, and Hu Tongxun did the same, only to see Hu Tongxun kowtowing excitedly and thanking him, "Old minister, thank Lord Longen." ”

"Alright, let's go down." Gao Zhen said casually.

After Gao Chang and Hu Tongxun left, Han Zhongxuan slowly spoke: "Your Majesty, do you think Hu Tongxun will continue to serve as the Minister of Agriculture?" ”

"Of course, grain and grass are the lifeblood of the country and must be firmly grasped."

"The old slave understood."

……

At the gate of the palace, Hu Tongxun, who had taken off his prison uniform, felt the breath of freedom, slowly turned around, looked at Gao Yuan, and bowed his hand, "Thank you Your Highness for your generous words today, you are my Hu Tongxun's benefactor, and the great grace Hu Tongxun is unforgettable." ”

"Lord Hu is serious, I'm just saying something that needs to be said, as long as the adults are dedicated to the country, loyal to Your Majesty, and loyal to Dafeng." Gao Yuan helped Hu Tongxun up and said with relief.

"The prince can rest assured, the old minister will do his best, and there will definitely be no more problems with the grain and grass."

"Okay, then the prince will rest assured, Master Hu, you have arrived at the gate of the palace, I will not send you anymore, you have been away from home for so long, go back quickly." Gao Yuan said with a shallow smile.

Hu Tongxun nodded vigorously, "The old minister retired." ”

At the gate of the palace, Hu Shangyi and the family were waiting anxiously at the door, and these people soon saw Hu Tongxun's figure, "Dad, Dad, I'm here." ”

"Shang Yi?" Hu Tongxun looked at Hu Shangyi in surprise, "Why are you here?" ”

"There is news from the palace that the grain draft has been clarified, you have been wronged, let me come here to pick you up." Hu Shangyi looked at Hu Tongxun in confusion and told the matter of the message in the palace.

Hu Tongxun turned to look at the palace, and shook his head in fear, "Your Majesty should still be the same Your Majesty back then." ”

"Huh?"

"It's nothing, let's get in the car."

"Okay, Dad, slow down." Hu Shangyi carefully helped Hu Tongxun into the car.

On the carriage, Hu Tongxun sighed and said: "Shang Yi, you have to remember, my father was able to come out safely today thanks to His Royal Highness the Prince, he is kind to our family, and no matter what in the future, we must repay this kindness." ”

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?" Although Hu Shangyi was confused, she still nodded heavily, "Don't worry, Dad, I know, the prince will be the benefactor of our family in the future." ”

"Just remember, okay, let's go back."

Hu Tongxun's matter was over, and on the carriage back, Hu Tongxun figured out what was going on.

His Majesty is paving the way for the crown prince, and he is the first stepping stone, and the foundation of the prince will be built from himself.

Your Majesty intends to let yourself be this old minister of the two dynasties, so you can't let Your Majesty down.

……

The prison of the Criminal Department.

The old man was still babbling and asking, and Ning Xiaochuan was a little impatient when he asked.

"Young man, how many people are in your family?" The old man looked like a talker, and even a few people in Ning Xiaochuan's family had to ask again.

"I even wonder if you're here to trick me." Ning Xiaochuan looked at the old man vigilantly, "What does it matter to you how many people in my family are?" ”

"Isn't that curious, old man?" The old man touched his head curtly, and through the dim light, Ning Xiaochuan looked at the old man, and suddenly found that there was an obvious scar on the back of the old man's right hand, not a new scar, but a long, long time ago.

"Old man, the scar on your right hand looks like it was cut by a sword, right?" Ning Xiaochuan said curiously.

When the old man heard this, he looked at his right hand and said with a smile, "It was cut by a sword." ”

"I don't think you look like a person in the rivers and lakes, did you accidentally cut it or what's going on?" Ning Xiaochuan asked strangely.

The old man shook his head and sat cross-legged on the ground, "It's not, I offended some people when I was young, and like you, the enemy took revenge, which left this scar, but thanks to this scar, the old man can live to this day." ”

"Grievances in the rivers and lakes, revenge of the enemy, this is interesting, so old man, you were not ordinary when you were young, tell me your story."

"Okay, how can I inquire about the old man's affairs, don't talk about it." The old man shook his head in disgust.

"You've asked me so much, it's my turn to ask you, say it quickly, don't say I'll ignore you."

Seeing Ning Xiaochuan turn around and make a look like he was going to the other side, the old man was helpless, "Okay, okay, if you want to hear it, I'll talk about it a little bit, old man." ”

"Speak quickly, speak quickly."

"The old man's matter is long, let's start with after I become an official......"