I don't know the past, the fire gradually disappeared, and only a little orange spark was left on the scorched wood on the side, and the burning scorch was quietly wrapped in the cold morning dew breath, and the Praetorian Guards, who had regained consciousness one after another, stood up and consciously began the search for the wreckage with Shen Tong's guards.

Liu Jinfu, who was originally sitting on the side, had already laid down at some point, and beside her, the black-clothed man who was escorted back lay down on the ground, and there was a faint snoring sound in the wind.

Jiang Ning was still standing so quietly, with a straight posture and a solemn expression, Mu Jingzhao was beside her, relatively speechless.

The sky was white, the fire subsided, and the forbidden army who had completed the search and rescue work came to the side of the two of them at some point, "Hui Gongzi, the house has been searched, and everyone has recovered to recuperate." ”

Mu Jingzhao turned his face and looked tired, "Let's go now." ”

The group immediately got up with the Assassin and drove their horses and chariots towards the city.

I don't know how long it has been, the carriage arrived at the door of a slightly quaint house in the city, Shen Tong took the lead in getting out of the car, and said a few words to the people in the house, and the people immediately opened the door and welcomed everyone in.

The decoration of the house is simple, not more gorgeous than the original one outside the city, but a little more life.

In the courtyard, there were a few busy people scattered around, but they didn't see the existence of a master.

Shen Tongyan smiled and said, "A few days ago, Chen's friend went to Kyoto for refuge and left this house, at first the minister thought that it was not his own house after all, so he didn't take into account that here, the servants are all old people in the family, and the son is at will." ”

This sentence was too far-fetched, but Mu Jingzhao didn't seem to be in the mood to talk nonsense anymore, so he only nodded slightly and turned his head away.

Mu Jingzhao gave Lin Zheng two commands, and then turned his head to Pei Yu to make a color, Lin Zheng immediately left with the group of assassins, and Pei Yu followed Mu Jingzhao to Jiang Ning's side.

"You go back to rest first, you have worked hard all night." He finished speaking to the forbidden army in front of him, turned around and pulled Jiang Ning into the room.

In the house, Jiang Ning and Mu Jingzhao sat opposite each other, and Pei Yu stood behind Mu Jingzhao with a slightly uneasy expression.

Mu Jingzhao poured a cup of tea, handed it to Jiang Ning, and then made a gesture to Pei Yu, "Please take a seat." ”

Pei Yu glanced at Jiang Ning, who was drinking tea on the side, and then sat down.

Mu Jingzhao's face did not change, and he poured a cup of tea slowly, and this time, the tea was delivered to Pei Yu.

Pei Yu looked frightened and waved his hand again and again.

Mu Jingzhao didn't shirk much, but just took back the tea as usual, put it to his lips and took a sip, then put it down, and said in a light tone, "Since Mr. knows my identity, does he deny the crime of killing the king?" ”

Pei Yu's body trembled, and he was about to kneel on the ground in a trembling tremble, but before he could move, Mu Jingzhao grabbed him.

"No need, you're Ning'er's friend, I don't want to embarrass you."

Pei Yu's expression was still terrified, a small piece of blood on the gauze around his neck continued to be stained, he looked at Mu Jingzhao, and bit his lip slightly, "If all this is revealed in the next, can Your Majesty spare the lives of his companions?" ”

"Huh...... You're talking to me about the conditions. ”

"The grass people don't dare."

"Even if there is no crime of killing the king, you have been guilty of unforgivable sins when you have done evil in this place for a long time." Mu Jingzhao hooked the corners of his lips with some mockery, "I thought that you dared to do such a thing at the beginning, and you had already made such an awareness. ”

He smiled with his eyebrows, his gaze swept over Pei Yu's worried face, and landed on Jiang Ning's handkerchief around his neck, pausing slightly.

With his gaze retracted, he couldn't help but recall the picture not long ago when Jiang Ning was blocking in front of Pei Yu.

"This is on the border of Qingshui County, and it is Ning'er's hometown, do you know that if someone with a heart catches this, not only you, but even Ning'er may be implicated." The teacup in his hand turned slightly, and his chin raised, "If you want to buckle the hat of killing the king and treason, no one will be spared, but not everyone can bear it." ”

Jiang Ning frowned slightly, she didn't hear that Mu Jingzhao was using herself to coerce Pei Yu to compromise and confess his companions.

She naturally knew that this was a last resort, but she was inevitably a little uncomfortable in her heart.

As if sensing her emotions, Mu Jingzhao subconsciously glanced at her, breathed a sigh of relief, and was about to speak.

saw Pei Yu "plop" and fell to the ground, "The grass people are willing to confess this." He raised his eyes, glanced at Jiang Ning hesitantly, and kowtowed heavily to Mu Jingzhao, "Please also ask the emperor to forgive Le Yin, after she left three years ago, the grass people have never seen her again, all of this has nothing to do with Le Yin, and please ask the emperor to see it." ”

Jiang Ning's brows became tighter and tighter, whether it was Pei Yu's protection or Mu Jingzhao's behavior of using her as a bargaining chip, it made her unhappy.

She would rather be held by Mu Jingzhao and tied up with those men in black, but she didn't want to become a bargaining chip in any case.

Mu Jingzhao glanced at Jiang Ning, raised his eyebrows, the corners of his mouth were still raised, but there was no longer half a smile in his eyes.

"Listen up."

"Caomin and others were originally local salt merchants in Qingshui County, when the salt and iron official camp was officially implemented." He looked at Jiang Ning, his eyes retreated, and his voice gradually lowered, "After the Jiang family was martyred, our families engaged in salt selling suffered one after another. Some families take the initiative to hand over the power in their hands to make a living, and those who are unwilling to hand over the power can only be wiped out like the Jiang family at the beginning. ”

Mu Jingzhao bowed slightly, as if he had thought of something.

"The heads of the families who are killed today are the salt merchants who took the initiative to hand over their power?"

"Yes."

Mu Jingzhao frowned, "Since it's not that you won't be compensated and given official positions, why do you have to do this?" ”

Pei Yu's emotions suddenly became excited, "Your Majesty! Do you know that the local salt merchants have a big business and a deep foundation, and the head of the family is not only responsible for the food and clothing of countless people, but also related to the livelihood of countless salt workers. ”

"No other compensation was offered back then?"

"Not really."

Mu Jingzhao gasped.

"When we were negotiating with us, the amount of silver taels offered for compensation was not even comparable to the income of the entire family in January, and the settlement of the salt workers was vague, and the slightest attempt was rejected, and there was no room for negotiation at all."

Mu Jingzhao twisted his eyebrows, his expression was not without pain.

In order to avoid this situation, he allocated a lot of silver to Qingshui County to appease the people.

Unexpectedly, the money was lost, and things were stirred up like this.