There are two prisons in Luoyang City, one is for the prisoners around Luoyang City who are examined by Dali Temple, and the other is the private prison of the Xiao family, and the guards are more severe than the previous one, and now Xue Xiang is locked up here.

When Xiao Ce walked towards the door of the cell where Xue Xiang was being held, the other rooms were empty, except for the torches burning on the wall next to the one at the end.

Xue Xiang heard someone coming from a distance, and subconsciously looked over, but what he saw was Xiao Ce.

"His Royal Highness King Ming, what does this mean?"

If they were going to kill him, why did they come to see him in prison in person, and if they were going to release him, why didn't they give the order?

Xiao Ce was now in the aisle in front of him: "My secret guard found the account book in your mansion, and the contents on it are recorded in detail, from the ordinary nobles of Luoyang City to the ministers of the current dynasty, whether it is the bribes they have received over the years, whether it is the transactions of money officials, it seems that Xue Xiang has recorded every one clearly." ”

He's already found out about the ledger.

Xue Xiang was a little stunned at first, and then sighed with relief, what could he do if he knew these things? He wasn't afraid that Xiao Ce would know this.

Xue quickly asked the person in front of him, "So His Royal Highness King Ming came here today, did he come to Xingshi to ask about his guilt?" ”

Xiao Ce shook his head: "Han Ning promised Xue Rui that she would not kill you, her words are my words, I will not kill you, although the amount of money on the account book is enough for you to die thousands of times, but for Xue Rui's sake, I will not kill you." ”

Although his capital crime is avoidable for now, the other accounts must be settled before he is released from prison.

Xiao Ce said to Xue Xiang, who looked haggard in front of him: "From the moment I saw the account book, I understood why you took the risk to use the people on the official ship to smuggle and sell. ”

Every dot requires a lot of expensive silver, and even the Xue Mansion has long been unable to make ends meet for so many years, but it can't be stopped, otherwise those people will rush up and tear their Xue Mansion to shreds.

Xiao Ce saw that the person in front of him was silent, and said again: "I have been thinking about it for the past few days, for the long-term stability of the Great Zhou, there is one thing I still have to tell Xue Xiang, I plan to reuse Xue Rui, the only right thing that Xue Xiang has done for so many years is to cultivate such a good son, after you, he will become the second Xue Xiang of my Great Zhou." ”

Xue Xiang naturally knew in his heart that his daughter was married to Xiao Sheng, and at that time she had been inextricably linked with the Prince's Mansion, and there would be no pie falling from the sky, Xiao Ce must have his conditions.

Sure enough, I heard Xiao Ce say again: "You have protected Xue Rui very well over the years, he is loyal and filial, outstanding in martial arts, and smart, it is not easy for him at his age, with such a son, you must be very proud in your heart." ”

Xiao Ce also believed that the Xue Xiang in front of him was a smart person, and finally reminded him:

"Then you should also understand what the Xue family will face in the current situation once you get out of this prison."

Xue Xiang lowered his head and was silent, he had already understood Xiao Ce's words, Xiao Ce would not kill him here for the sake of Xue Rui's face, but he couldn't watch him continue to stay in Luoyang.

Seeing that Xiao Ce ordered someone to remove the iron lock on his cell door, and turned around to leave, Xue, who had been silent for a long time, said to his back:

"Can Your Highness really reuse my child regardless of past suspicions?"

There is no father in the world who will drag down his son's future.

Xiao Ce knew that he understood what he had just said, and he heard the voice of an old man behind him, but he paused but did not look back.

"I look at Xue Rui, as if I looked at myself in Chang'an City back then, Xue Xiang can rest assured, you also know what I am Xiao Ce, and it is difficult to chase after a horse."

Xue Xiangchang behind him sighed, but he was relieved.

Xue Xiang, who returned to the Prime Minister's Mansion, was dressed in prison clothes, staggering but straightening his back, Xue Rui, who had not slept all night, heard the news of his father's return, and hurriedly looked for him.

He and his father have always been at odds, but his father is old after all, and this time he has experienced nine deaths in prison, and now he looks emaciated.

"Rui'er, you're finally willing to go home."

He was naturally relieved to see this child of his.

"Father go and rest first, let's change your clothes."

Seeing that his father was still wearing a gray-white prison uniform, Xue Rui hurriedly stepped forward to help him into the room.

At dinner, the two of them were very calm, and they didn't mention the affairs of the court, nor did they mention Xue Rui's eldest sister, but just chatted about some parents, just like ordinary fathers and sons.

Xue Rui remembered that the last time he sat at home and had dinner with his father was many years ago, time always passed so fast, and the omnipotent father in his memory was now gray-haired.

Xue Rui kept serving vegetables to his father, and although Xue Xiang had no appetite, he still reluctantly moved his chopsticks.

When they were about to separate, Xue Xiang glanced at Xue Rui with some reluctance:

"Good boy, my father is old, and the Xue family will rely on you in the future."

Xue Rui didn't understand the deep meaning of his words at that time, he only felt that his father was disheartened by officialdom, he had just experienced nine deaths, and it was inevitable that he would suffer from gains and losses, Xue Rui believed that if he slept and rested for a few days, he would be fine.

"It's not too early, father, rest early, there are these guards guarding my father at the door, and if there is anything needed, call their names."

Xue Xiang waved his hand: "It's really not early after that, you should go to rest early." ”

It wasn't until the next morning that the guard heard that there had been no movement in the house, so he felt that something was wrong, and finally pushed open the door and saw Xue Xiang who had committed suicide in a pool of blood, and on the side was the suicide note he left for Xue Rui.

It has always been his idea not to let Xue Rui contaminate the old accounts of the Xue family, he knows that those clans are wolves that are not well fed, once the Xue family is a little careless, they will be pounced by those wolves hiding in the shadows, initially he chose the prince, so he married his daughter to the prince.

But later he saw clearly that the crown prince couldn't compete with Xiao Ce, so he put Xue Rui out of the matter, and even acquiesced to Xue Rui and Li Hanning knowing each other, so that no matter who Xiao Sheng and Xiao Ce won the throne of Da Zhou in the end, their school could stand.

He understands Xiao Ce's concerns, and is willing to die to help his son rise to prominence from now on, so that he can only be used by Xiao Ce, and he calculated every possibility before his death, including his own death.

Xiao Ce received the news of Xue Xiang's death here, and his hand in flipping through the fold just paused, and he opened the next book with an expressionless face, as if he had expected the news a long time ago, he was not surprised by Xue Xiang's death, this was originally a transaction they made in the prison.

He didn't kill him there, because he didn't want Xue Rui to have a reason to hate him, but Xue Xiang had to die, and Xiao Ce couldn't feel at ease if he was alive, and now this solution can be regarded as the best of both worlds.

Xiao Ce took a moment before he looked up at the guards who were kneeling on the ground to report:

"General Xue lost his father, he must be in a bad mood these days, you send someone to tell him to take care of his health, he doesn't have to go to court in these months, just rest in the house, and bring some more gold, silver and jewelry, it will be said that Xue Xiang is a reward for his loyalty to Luoyang all his life."

"Yes."

He just wants Xue Rui to remember his kindness, so that he will be more loyal to him in the court in the future.

The days passed quickly, and many things happened these days, such as Xiao Ce announcing the replacement of several important ministers, Ning Yu was the left minister, Xue Rui was the right minister, Zhang Jaw was still the Dali Siqing, but Xiao Ce still promoted his rank, Lu Changfeng was the general of the soldiers and horses, Yun Yan was still the Marquis of Zhenbei who guarded the northern border, Feng Zhe and others were also promoted, and his only sister Zhaoyue also lived in Luoyang City, and was rewarded with countless gold jewelry and rare treasures.

In short, those who followed him in the past were either added to the official or entered the knight, except for Yun Yan who was far away in the north, almost all of them sealed the new mansion, and they became famous for a while, and he was the only one who still lived in the former Ming Wang's mansion.

It's late at night now, Xiao Ce has finished correcting all the twists and turns, in fact, there is nothing to be busy these days, now it's about to be winter, he feels a little thirsty, looked up at the teacup, and found that there was no hot tea in it, and was about to open his mouth to call the guards guarding the door to come in, but found that there was no movement at the door, and walked over to see that the secret guard Guanlan, who had been following him, had fallen asleep against the doorpost.

Xiao Ce didn't bear to wake him up, and now the whole mansion was very quiet, but tonight Xiao Ce was completely sleepy, and the whole person looked extremely awake, he put on a coat by himself and went out for a walk in the courtyard.

The moon is shining tonight, and it is a full moon that has not been seen in recent days.

These days, he has been forced to be busy with one thing after another, even if the affairs of the prince and the rest of the party are dealt with, he also traps himself in the study to correct the folds, and sometimes after reading the folds, he goes to the vicinity of the palace or goes to Luoyang City to review the forbidden army, in short, he doesn't want to be idle for a quarter of an hour.

Xiao Ce was afraid that in the dead of night, he couldn't help but think of Li Hanning, he had lived a selfless life, as if he was just a prince who needed to be a big week, corrected and dealt with affairs, and not a living person.

No matter how long it has been, even if he knows that a whole month has passed, there is no news and sometimes it is news, the possibility that she is still alive is already very small, and he has never given up sending someone to find her whereabouts, as long as his body is not found, he can deceive himself forever.

I don't know what she would be doing if she was alive at this time, but Xiao Ce also knew in her heart that if she was still alive, how could she not return to the Ming Palace, and how could she not return to her.