It has been nine months since Tang Long returned to his hometown, and the book of the Criminal Department has also been empty for nine months, and it is temporarily handled by the Left Attendant Lang Ai Zheng of the Criminal Department. Ai Zheng's ability is obvious to all, the government affairs are well organized, and he has also dealt with some old cases that have been deposited for many years. It's really a prestige at the same time, so that Cao Shu has nothing to say, I want to find some flaws, but I ushered in Ai Zheng's face-to-face confrontation, the political views are different, and the angles of looking at things and dealing with government affairs are not the same, Ai Zheng has a hot temper, and he doesn't care about Cao Shu's face, and sometimes he breaks up unhappily, so that Cao Shu is disgraced, and he hates it in his heart, but he has nothing to do, just because Ai Zheng's backstage is too hard.

There are only three cabinet members in the cabinet, so naturally they can't keep busy. Fortunately, Xia Zhan came to help from time to time, which made Cao Shu, Qin Yunhou and Luo Yan a lot easier, but this was not a solution. The cabinet of previous dynasties is five cabinet members, and since Cao Shu took office, there has been no cabinet member, four in the past five years. Now there are only three of them, and if they don't enter the new cabinet members, some can't be justified. But Emperor Jiaqing was not in a hurry, let the three of them do it first, Cao Shu knocked on the side from time to time, Jiaqing pretended to be like nothing, and passed in a daze.

The first thing to come was the appointment of Ai Zheng's criminal department Shangshu, which was expected, looking at the entire court officials, no one was more suitable than him, and Ai Zheng was not excited. To his surprise, Wang Hecheng, the right attendant of the Criminal Department, was promoted to the left attendant. Wang Hecheng was recommended by Ai Zheng after he took office in the Criminal Department Zuo Shilang, and his tenure was shorter than that of Zuo Shilang in his Criminal Department, Emperor Jiaqing really gave himself face, Ai Zheng's strength is even stronger, it is rare for the emperor to value it, and he is too sorry for the saint's Longen if he doesn't work hard.

Less than a month after Ai Zheng's appointment, Xia Zhan was appointed as a cabinet minister and secretary of the ministry. In less than ten days, more unexpected news broke out, and a new cabinet member was added to the cabinet, he was Ai Zheng, the cabinet minister and the secretary of the criminal department. It is the same product as Xia Zhan, but Ai Zheng also has the title of Wenyuan Pavilion University Scholar, and the limelight overshadows the invincible Xia Zhan.

It's only been ten days since he was happy, Xia Zhan was in a hurry at home, the four cabinet members, Cao Shu and Xia Zhan are two against two, plus the right to speak for the first assistant, they can completely influence the government. Now that there are five cabinet members, it has lost the majority, and you must know that Ai Zheng is raising the bar with Cao Shu, and things are even more difficult to handle. Now even Xia Zhan has to admire Emperor Jiaqing's way of checks and balances, and promote Ai Zheng's head is to deal with Cao Shu and himself, and in the future, he will look at Ai Zheng's eyes in many government affairs, and if he does not form a unified opinion, he argues in front of the emperor, then Cao Shu's trust will be greatly reduced. In order to form a resolution, it is necessary to take into account Ai Zheng's political views, and then it is necessary to compromise. In the future, Xia Zhan Weng's son-in-law will not be able to cover the sky with one hand in the cabinet, and when he thinks about it, he will let Xia Zhan block his heart.

Ten days ago, Xia Zhan held a banquet for three days in a row, and more than half of the officials in the capital went. Tang Tong went alone and followed the ceremony, but due to his low position, he was dissuaded from going on the first day and asked him to come back on the third day. If you can accept the gift and enter the Xia Mansion to eat a table, it is a kind of showmanship, and you will be regarded as a person of the Cao Dang faction. It was this flattery to Xia Zhan that Tang Tong was completely abandoned by the Marquis of Qingyuan and was no longer regarded as a doorman. can only be regarded as Chen Qinqiang's subordinate, and it is impossible to get the care of Chen Dehuai, the Marquis of Qingyuan, in the future. In the eyes of the world, Tang Tong is a villain with a tendency to attach, and he is spurned by others, so he can only walk one way and go darker, and tie up the big tree of Xia Zhan.

Ai Zheng also held a banquet in the mansion for three consecutive days, Tang Tong learned well this time, and on the third day, he brought a big gift and came to the receiving desk to report the name of the official position, and the person receiving the gift immediately stood up, "Lord Tang!" Please come back!".

"Why?", Tang Tong actually knew it in his heart, but he had to straighten his waist.

"Ai Fu only accepts friends and relatives!".

"I'm friends with Lord Ai, don't you believe it? You can go and ask Lord Ai.", Tang Tong said confidently, it has reached this point, and he must save face, unless Ai Zheng himself says that he will not receive it.

This blocked the people coming from behind and caused a commotion in the crowd. The housekeeper of Aifu immediately came over and invited Tang Tong to the side, and the flow of people became smooth.

"Lord Tang! Please go back!", although the housekeeper of Aifu saluted, but he did not seem very friendly.

"If Lord Ai doesn't come out, I'll be here to consume.", Tang Tong didn't look at him, his head was raised high, Lao Tzu didn't care about it, it was not as good as Lao Tzu's wishes, Lao Tzu would be a scoundrel.

The housekeeper was also anxious, and he couldn't let Tang Tong mess with his family's good deeds here, "Lord Tang, but you have brought humiliation on yourself, then you wait!", before he finished speaking, the housekeeper shook his hand and left.

Tang Tong snorted, attracting the contemptuous eyes of everyone.

Not long after, Ai Zheng came out, followed by the housekeeper. As soon as he saw Tang Tong, he immediately waved his hand: "Lord Tang!" I didn't expect you to come, I'm sorry, it's my rude!", the butler in the back and the person standing in the back didn't expect this to be the result, and they were very surprised.

Tang Tong immediately stepped forward and arched his hand: "Congratulations to Lord Ai on being promoted to the prime minister!".

Ai Zheng stepped forward and took Tang Tong's hand and said, "You and my brother don't say this, it's good to come, please inside!", saying that the two of them entered the mansion side by side, which made the people present confused.

As Tang Tong expected, most of the people who came to congratulate on the third day were some officials who were not very important, and the grade was below the fourth grade, and Tang Tong stood out from the crowd.

Ai Zheng came in with Tang Tong's hand, and most of the people present didn't recognize Tang Tong, so if they could be treated like this, the relationship must be unusual. Ai Zheng pointed to Tang Tong and introduced: "This is Lord Tang Tongtang, the captain of Xiding Gate!".

After such an introduction, there was inevitably a commotion present, most of the people had heard of injuring the prince of Yunyang, winning forty-eight taels of silver, relying on women to stay in the capital and stammering Xia Zhan without discipline. It's surprising why it appears here, and wants to step on two boats, isn't it too explicit.

"Hello adults!", Tang Tong did not forget to salute and say hello.

"You must be curious, how can Tang Duwei and I be friends? Then let Tang Duwei explain it himself!", as soon as he finished speaking, Ai Zheng stretched out his hand and made a gesture of invitation.

I didn't expect Ai Zheng to come to this hand, Tang Tong didn't expect it. Everyone's eyes were looking forward to it, although they didn't think about how to say it, Tang informed that he couldn't delay any longer, and first said something to stabilize the scene, "I have known Master Ai for a long time, as for when we became friends?" I don't know where to start, let me think first!".

After being silent for a while, Tang Tong said with great interest: "I am a martial artist, and I can only kill and save people. Nine years ago, by chance, I happened to meet Lord Ai who was robbed by three robbers, I didn't think about it at the time, rushed up and killed one person first, seriously injured one person, and ran away. Since he is a life-saving benefactor, he has naturally become a friend.", said while looking at Ai Zheng, with a very confident expression.

Ai Zheng looked at Tang Tong in surprise, what he said was true, it was not Tang Tong who saved him. Ai Zheng never told anyone about it, how did he find out. Since he can know about this matter, if he wants to deny it, he will definitely tell the cause and effect of this matter, but Ai Zheng doesn't want to mention it again, it is an eternal pain in his heart. Regardless of whether Tang Zhi didn't know it, Ai Zheng didn't want to take this risk, and he didn't have the courage to uncover a scar from the past.

"Do you say that you can forget the grace of saving your life?", Ai Zheng asked with a smile.

"Can't!", most of them are snobs, since Ai Zheng asked, how can there be no reason not to cater to them.

"Good! Brother Tang got to know everyone first, and then sat down at a table with me, and the two of us had a good drink! I still have something to do, so I won't accompany my brother!", he patted Tang Tong on the shoulder twice as he spoke, and entered the inner courtyard with a smile.

Although Tang Tong and Ai Zheng sat at the same table, they just drank a few glasses of wine politely. Ai Zheng went to each table to accompany the wine. After drinking for three days, Ai Zheng's body couldn't stand it, so he went to the study to rest after the toast.

The host has gone, the banquet quickly dispersed, and Tang Tong just walked out of the gate of Aifu. Suddenly, the housekeeper of Ai Mansion shouted loudly: "Tang Duwei! Please stay! Our lord specially invited you to the study, I have something important to tell you.".

The voice was so loud that the officials who did not leave could hear it clearly. Why don't you have this blessing, who calls Tang Tong a life-saving benefactor, how can you compare with it.

Tang Tong entered the study alone, only to see Ai Zheng sitting at the desk, seeing that Tang Tong did not get up, he stretched out his hand and said, "Tang Duwei!" Please be seated!", watching Tang Tong quickly sit down.

Seeing Ai Zheng staring at him, Tang Tong smiled knowingly, "I don't know why Ai Xiang came to me?".

"How did you know about this?".

"That incident?", seeing Ai Zheng's sharp eyes, he no longer pretended to be deflated, "It seems that I am right, I have just heard people talk about it, and they put on me in a hurry.".

"Who is it?", Ai Zheng still looked at Tang Tong very sternly.

"Forgot!", Tang Tong said this, no longer looking at Ai Zheng, and would not tell him.

To deny it like this, I just don't want to say it. Ai Zheng no longer insisted, "To put it nicely, Tang Duwei is exquisite, and if he loses something, he is a snob.".

That knew that Tang Tong didn't care, and smiled casually, "Ai Xiang doesn't just want to use me, I can't help but also use Ai Xiang.".

Ai Zheng let out an 'oh', "What do you say?".

Tang Tong coughed lightly, "These humble officials like me have no big trees to back on, so they can only boil slowly. Am I a man of basil, and if there is a big tree, I will lean up, and for me I will know the times.".

Ai Zheng laughed when he heard this, "What do you know about current affairs?" It's totally speculative, and I hate this kind of person the most.".

"Hate is hate, Ai Xiang still has to use people like me, because I can be useful to you.", Tang Tong disagreed, and was even more confident, as if he had decided the other party.

"Let's talk about it!", Ai Zheng looked down on him, but he couldn't help asking.

"But if you go undercover to Xia Zhan and hear unfavorable news about Ai Xiang, I will let you know in advance. There are also some people who can get rid of Ai Xiang, I have a pair of hands stained with blood.", Tang Tong spoke very directly, it was expected that Ai Zheng would not be able to withstand the temptation, he was a good material, and Ai Zheng was able to use it.

Ai Zheng laughed when he heard this, "Then what does Tang Duwei want to get?".

"Of course it's the chief who makes a fortune!".

"Why should I trust you?", Ai Zheng was still testing him.

"As long as you are willing to put down the erbium material, why worry about the fish not taking the bait!", Tang Tong smiled slightly weirdly when he spoke.

"Then what do you say about Xia Zhan over there?", Ai Zheng was wary of him in his heart, and couldn't help but ask.

"Xia Zhan, I can't speak for the time being, but Pan Guohong is so confused. Not being favored by him is also a reason for me to get close to Ai Xiang, sooner or later he will know how powerful I am.", Tang Tong had a kind of resentment in his eyes, a strong desire.

This is what Ai Zheng wants to see, but he still doesn't say anything." I've got to think about it!"...

"Ai Xiang just think about it, you will need me sooner or later!", Tang Tong looked confident.

Ai Zheng was just laughing, looking at him quietly and not speaking.