Time rewinds back to when Xiao Feng sent Yan Song away. At this time, Xiao Feng no longer cared about Yan Song's future, and he no longer had hatred.

The Yan Party has been wiped out, but the officials of the Yan Party are still there, it is not that Yan Shifan is dead, Yan Song is gone, and these people are reborn.

They will be transformed and rejoin new parties. Maybe it's himself, maybe it's Xu Jie, maybe it's Gao Gong, or even Hu Zongxian or Qiu Luan.

There are too many things to do, and we can only come from urgent to slow, and the most important thing at the moment is undoubtedly the imminent rebellion of Miaojiang. No matter how low-key the imperial court handles it now, this is unavoidable.

Xiao Feng first went to the World Observatory. As expected, Lao Dao was tied into a stick and lay straight on the bed, with a piece of cloth in his mouth and whining.

Xiao Feng loosened the tie for him, Lao Dao took out the rags, threw them on the ground angrily, and snorted twice.

"I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed, since my debut, I've been conceited, deaf and clear-sighted, I've never been attacked by anyone, and I didn't expect to be stabbed in the back by Xiao Dong!"

Xiao Feng said leisurely: "Since I knew the date when Yan Song was going to leave the city, I told you that you want to watch Xiaodong, I didn't expect you to be so useless." ”

Lao Dao's face turned red: "Poor Dao is ashamed, Xiao Dong didn't know where to get the medicine, mixed it with the tea for me to drink, and I fell asleep after drinking it."

Originally, I could detect the ordinary medicine as soon as I licked it on the tip of my tongue, but the tea was very fragrant, and it was still the ...... that Yuwang gave me last time."

Lao Dao stopped talking, staring at the cup of tea in annoyance, thinking that he already knew where the medicine came from, but he didn't dare to scold.

At this moment, Xiao Dong walked in from the outside with his head drooping, and without waiting for Xiao Feng to speak to Lao Dao, he knelt on the ground with a plop.

Lao Dao's anger suddenly disappeared: "It's good to know that it's wrong, get up, it's cold on the ground!" ”

Xiao Feng said coldly: "Kneel, kneel and get up again after kneeling with three sticks of incense." Think about it for yourself, what will happen if I don't stop you.

The first incense stick thinks about me, how much effort I put into trying to save you, how much risk I had, and there is a whole family behind me!

The second incense thinks about him, how did the dean come over all these years in order to save you, and you still learned to take medicine, who taught you?

Third, think about your family, did your family send you out in the first place to let you avenge them? They want you to live well!

If you really assassinate Yan Song, it is equivalent to admitting that you have a grudge against Yan Song, do you think Banzai is really stupid? He let you go, but you hit him in the face!

At that time, not only you, the dean, Zeng Zaoban, me, and the entire Xiao Mansion behind me will have to give you a funeral! ”

Xiao Dong didn't say a word, knelt with his head down, tears crackling down, wetting his clothes and the ground.

Lao Dao couldn't see this, he looked at Xiao Feng with bared teeth, wanted to plead but didn't dare, and circled around with his two hands.

Xiao Feng saw King Yu who was looking into the house from a distance, and strode out, King Yu didn't expect Xiao Feng to be there, so he was startled, turned around and ran.

Where could he run past Xiao Feng, Xiao Feng caught up with him, grabbed the back of his neck by the collar, and lifted his feet off the ground.

King Yu turned around in the air and looked at Xiao Feng awkwardly, with a flattering smile on his face.

"Master, why do you have time to come here today, that, I'm here to see the division of the immortal vine from the World Entry View, don't you often teach me to know the nongsang?"

Xiao Feng put him back on the ground: "Xiao Dong's high-grade sweat medicine, you gave it?" Where did you get that thing? What is it for? ”

King Yu looked at Xiao Feng with a straight face, and he couldn't be fooled, and the hippie smile avoided the serious.

"It was Xiaodong who asked me for it, not me who took the initiative to give it to her. She said that the dean had not been sleeping well lately and asked me if I had any sleep aids.

I asked Tao Xianshi for a pill, and Tao Xianshi said that there was no harm in this medicine, it was sleeping, and he researched it based on the incense of the flower thief. ”

Xiao Feng nodded: "I'll go to Tao Zhongwen, in the future, this kind of pill will be a prescription drug, and if anyone wants it, there must be Banzai and my list!" ”

Xiao Feng returned to the cabinet and met Zhang Juzheng, who was sitting in the lobby.

The office of the cabinet is Wenyuan Pavilion, which actually has a compartment in the cabinet and is a semi-open house.

Like the first assistant, the second assistant, and the like can sit in the cubicle to work, but the newcomer with the lowest status in the cabinet often has to sit in the lobby on duty.

When Yan Song was there before, this position belonged to the high arch, but now that Zhang Juzheng has become a newcomer, the high arch can enter the compartment.

So Zhang Juzheng is now equivalent to the little girl at the front desk of the cabinet office, and when she saw Xiao Feng coming in, she immediately stood up and greeted her warmly.

"Brother Xiao, I heard that you went to send Yan Song? It really has the style of an ancient gentleman, admire and admire. ”

Xiao Feng smiled: "Taiyue, is there any news from Hu Zongxian?" The cabinet asked him to kill Luo Wenlong and leave Xu Hai, did he reply? ”

Zhang Juzheng hesitated for a moment, and said softly: "Not yet, Brother Xiao, Hu Zongxian is the governor of Jiangnan, and he has the power of life and death, he won't kill Xu Hai first without waiting for the cabinet documents, right?" ”

Xiao Feng smiled faintly and didn't answer, just patted Zhang Juzheng's shoulder.

"I still have something to do in the Ministry of Industry, if the cabinet has something, just send someone to call me."

After Xiao Feng left, Xu Jie's and Gao Gong's heads poked out of the compartment respectively, looking at Xiao Feng's back, and Zhang Juzheng who was looking at Xiao Feng's back.

The two of them looked at each other, and without saying a word, they both shrank back into their cubicles.

Hu Zongxian had indeed received a quick letter from the cabinet, but he was hesitating. Yu Dayou was still on his way back, and there was only Xu Wei by his side.

Xu Wei saw Hu Zongxian's hesitation, but he didn't say anything, because he knew that this choice was extremely important and had to be made by Hu Zongxian himself.

The Ming Dynasty's cabinet was not a decree, similar to the imperial court's advice. If Hu Zongxian does not act according to the cabinet's ideas, it will not be regarded as resisting the decree. Because he is the governor of Jiangnan, he has the right to make decisions on the spot.

He could kill Xu Hai and then play it to the court, and find a good reason, indicating that the situation was urgent at that time, Xu Hai had to be killed, and the court generally did not blame him for this.

Hu Zongxian has been weighing repeatedly how to deal with Xu Hai since he wrote the impeachment of Yan Shifan according to Xiao Feng's plan.

Xiao Feng's plan was to let him release Xu Hai and Wang Cuiqiao in the end and kill Luo Wenlong. At this time, the cabinet also represented the meaning of Xiao Feng.

But Hu Zongxian felt that killing Xu Hai was more beneficial to him for three reasons.

First, in any case, Xu Hai had participated in Luo Wenlong's rebellious actions, even if it was passive and assistive, but after all, he was a participant, and killing him justified him and had no consequences.

Although when Xu Hai surrendered, he had already stated that he would not be held accountable for all his past crimes, but there were many times when the imperial court did not talk about credit, and it was not bad this time!

What's more, if Xu Hai really rebels in the future, today's surrender will become the crime of arson, and it is better to take profits now!

Second, after killing Xu Hai, with Xu Wei and his own talents, he was enough to directly control this fleet. Although the strength is worse than Wang Zhi's fleet, he is the governor of Jiangnan, and the coastal land is in his own jurisdiction after all.

As long as he focuses on cultivation and is a little eccentric in weapon supply, Xu Hai's fleet strength can be expanded and strengthened soon, and finally it is enough to compete with Wang Zhi's fleet!

Third, and most importantly, Hu Zongxian felt that killing Xu Hai was not a betrayal of Xiao Feng. Xiao Feng is the most feared person Hu Zongxian has seen in his life, and he is not willing to turn his face with Xiao Feng.

But Xiao Feng is too particular, in the words of Yan Shifan and Xiao Qin, it is the kindness of a woman, and it is difficult to achieve great things, and Hu Zongxian also feels the same.

Xiao Feng didn't kill Xu Hai not necessarily because he didn't want to, maybe he didn't want to be treacherous? killed Xu Hai for him, he was unhappy for a while, and he might understand later.

This is also the psychological comfort that Hu Zongxian found for himself, after all, isn't Xiao Feng also worried about Wang Zhi's family dominance? Isn't it more credible to directly control the fleet than Xu Hai?

Hu Zongxian found these three reasons for himself, originally with his character, he had already done it, but he hesitated again and again.

He once consulted Xu Wei: "Sir, I killed Xu Hai, it is not considered a betrayal of Xiao Feng, these three reasons, no one can say that it is unreasonable, right?" ”

Xu Wei just looked at him lightly: "Hu Weng, since that's the case, then why are you still hesitating?" I'm afraid that before you can convince anyone, you need to convince your own heart, right? ”

Hu Zongxian gritted his teeth: "Sir, you and I are sincerely intersecting, and we have the ambition to live and die together, what does Mr. think, please make it clear." ”

Xu Wei shook his head: "I was invited by you, as a minister, I should be his master." No matter what choice you make, it is actually for the sake of the Ming Dynasty, and there is no right or wrong.

So I can't help you choose this matter. The most critical steps in life have to be chosen by yourself, and even your parents and relatives can't help you, let alone me? ”

Xu Wei knows very well that Hu Zongxian really can't pass the level, in fact, he subconsciously wants to kill Xu Hai Liwei and let other officials see that he Hu Zongxian is not just Xiao Feng's person, he himself is a thigh!

Late at night, Hu Zongxian walked into Xu Hai's cell, and Xu Hai looked at him hopefully. Hu Zongxian ignored him, just paced and walked around alone.

"Governor Hu, I heard that Luo Wenlong has been beheaded! When will I be able to release it? ”

Hu Zongxian turned a deaf ear and turned to leave, leaving Xu Hai with a bewildered face. Then Hu Zongxian walked to Wang Cuiqiao's door again.

The lights were still on in Xu Cuiqiao's room, the little maids were already asleep, and through the crack in the window, Hu Zongxian could see Wang Cuiqiao's beautiful and haggard face.

"Woo woo, Brother Hai, I hurt you. I shouldn't have persuaded you to believe Xu Wei and Hu Zongxian. Brother Hai, I regret it, I don't want to go ashore anymore.

As long as I follow you, I can stay at sea for the rest of my life. If Hu Zongxian kills you, I will never follow anyone, I will jump into the sea to find you. ”

Hu Zongxian's face turned cold, he snorted softly, turned around and left, and Wang Cuiqiao, who was crying sadly in the house, didn't notice it.

Hu Zongxian walked back to the front hall of the Governor's Palace, and when he was groaning, Xu Wei led Yu Dayou in. Hu Zongxian couldn't help but be stunned.

"Dayu? Why did you get there so quickly, I thought it would take two days. ”

Yu Dayou opened his eyes wide and walked around, and finally found the wine jar placed in the corner, picked it up, patted the mud seal, and took a big sip.

"I'm going to whip it up! I didn't even live in a store on the way, let alone drink, and I had another sip to enjoy it. ”

Hu Zongxian looked at Yu Dayou with a smile and drank half a jar of wine before he spoke: "Say, running back in such a hurry, is there anything Brother Xiao commands?" ”

Yu Dayou took out a small cloth bag from his arms: "Master asked me to bring it to you, but I didn't say anything else, I asked several times, and Master only said to hand it over to you." ”

Hu Zongxian took it suspiciously, opened the cloth bag, and inside was a piece of silver, five taels.

Hu Zongxian was even more puzzled, looked at the ingot of silver repeatedly, and approached the light to see if there was any engraved text on it, but there was nothing.

It is an ingot of ordinary silver, with the pattern of the Foundry Bureau engraved at the bottom, which is an ingot of official silver, and the fineness is very good.

Xu Wei also looked at Yu Dayou inexplicably: "Did Lord Xiao really not say a word?" ”

Yu Dayou nodded affirmatively: "I didn't say a word." ”

Hu Zongxian held the ingot of silver, looked at it suspiciously for a long time, and suddenly his face brushed up, becoming as white as paper, and the hand holding the silver trembled.

He left Xu Wei and Yu Dayou, turned around and left. Yu Dayou wanted to call him strangely, but was stopped by Xu Wei.

"Dayu, let him figure it out for himself. You have worked hard all the way, go, go to my house, I am drinking, the wine and food are ready-made, give you the wind! ”

Hu Zongxian strode all the way, eager to run, and went straight to the master bedroom in the back hall of the governor's mansion, frightening the nightside maids on the side of the road to give way.

As soon as she entered the room, the painting girl was pretending to embroider under the lamp, yawning constantly, and when she saw Hu Zongxian coming back, she threw away the cloth in her hand.

"Master, why is it so late today, I'm going to fall asleep."

Hu Zongxian held the ingot of silver tightly in his hand, and his voice trembled slightly: "After you left with me, you asked someone to send Xiao Feng the money for word measurement, how much?" ”

The painting girl was stunned, why did she remember this matter of Chen Sesame and rotten grain?

"He measured the word for two taels of silver at that time, and I asked Xiaoshui to give him five taels of silver, and asked Xiaoshui to thank him for me, so that I found a good master!"

The painting girl stood up as she spoke, and coquettishly put her proudest bamboo on Hu Zongxian's body, and her little hands began to grope up and down dishonestly.

Hu Zongxian was really not in the mood at this time, and there was no reaction at all in a certain part, his voice trembled, trying to confirm his guess.

"Did you tell anyone what I told you that night?"

The painting girl perseveredly groped, and if she didn't believe Hu Zongxian, she suddenly couldn't do it, and when Hu Zongxian asked her, she couldn't help but laugh.

"Master, you didn't let me keep it a secret. Are you angry? I didn't tell anyone, but I bragged to Yan Niang once before leaving.

Master, don't be angry, aren't people happy? Yan Niang is very good to me, I really treat her as half a mother, and I only dare to tell her what I am happy about. ”

"How did you tell her?"

The painting girl felt that Hu Zongxian might be really angry, so she was so frightened that she retracted her hand, but Chengzhu pushed harder, every time Hu Zongxian got angry, this trick was always tried and tested.

"Sir, isn't that what you said to me? Don't you remember? ”

The painting girl was tearful, looking like she had been greatly wronged, and I felt pity. Hu Zongxian didn't care about pity, but just pressed hard.

"You repeat it to me word for word, not a word is allowed to be bad! Just when I am Yan Niang, say! ”

The painting girl was finally scared, looked at Hu Zongxian timidly, and repeated it in a trembling voice.

"The ancient master is not surnamed Gu, his surname is Hu, his name is Hu Zongxian, and he is patrolling the imperial history. He promised to redeem me.

No, don't worry, Mom, he won't lie to me. He swore to me, "If I fail you, there will be no place to die!" ”

Hu Zongxian sat on the bed, his face was extremely ugly, and he was so frightened that the painting girl took a step back.

Hu Zongxian stretched out his hand to pull the painting girl over, hugged her in his arms, and gently kissed her black and thick hair, full of emotion.

"Painting, I must have accumulated virtue and done good deeds in my last life, and God made me meet you.

Last time, you made me acquainted with Xiao Feng, and since then, I have shown my ambitions. This time, you saved my life. ”

Hua'er was held in Hu Zongxian's arms, listening to him, he was inexplicable, but he knew that he was not angry with himself, and he suddenly became happy. With the posture of being held in his arms, he began to tease Hu Zongxian again.

"Master, I don't understand, why did I save your life?"

Hu Zongxian had already made a choice in his heart, a stone fell to the ground, but his whole body was relaxed, and some parts of it returned to normal.

"Xiao Feng must have heard Yan Niang relay your words, he sent me five taels of silver, that is, to tell me that his friendship with me began with your five taels of silver.

He took your money because he calculated accurately and helped you find a good person to follow. But now that he's given you back the money, do you know what he means? ”

The painting girl's hand stopped, and after thinking seriously for a long time, she still shook her head: "I don't know." ”

Hu Zongxian sighed: "He is telling me that if I do something I shouldn't do, I will die like I said, and there will be no place to die."

You are my concubine, if I die without a place to be buried, your fate will naturally not be good. He helped you measure your words and help you be good, but he hurt you.

Since he hurt you by giving you the word test, he shouldn't have taken the five taels of silver, so he will return the silver to you. ”

The painting girl was frightened and shrunk into a ball. She has known Yan Niang since she was a child, Yan Niang is the young lady of the official eunuch family, and her family was convicted and implicated in the Teaching Workshop Division.

She finally came out, if Hu Zongxian was really convicted, her fate would be very miserable, not all Qinglou in the world has a good mother like Chunyan Lou.

Hu Zongxian's hand reached into the placket of the painting girl's clothes, kneading it gently, the painting girl snorted twice, relaxed, and gave him a blank look.

"Xiao Gongzi wants to warn you, why do you want to go around in such a big circle, just say no? What if you can't guess? Won't it kill me? ”

Hu Zongxian gasped and threw the painting girl on the bed: "You know a fart, I can't even think about this thing, is it worth Xiao Feng's troubled warning?"

There are few people in the world today who are worthy of Xiao Feng's attention, and your master and I are one of them, are you convinced? ”

The painting girl smiled: "If you don't accept it, if you have the ability, you will let me shout for mercy!" ”

A few days later, Xiao Feng received two ingots and five taels of silver sent by Hu Zongxian, he smiled slightly, and handed it to Liu Xue'er.

Liu Xue'er looked puzzled: "Brother Feng, you gave Master Hu a piece of silver, and he gave you two pieces of silver, what does this mean?" ”

Xiao Feng smiled indifferently: "One ingot is the life of the painting girl, and one ingot is his life, he handed it over to me, take it well." ”