Spring is warm and dry, and there is a subtle fishy smell in the air in the ghost market.

Shen Zhou walked slowly down the stone steps, the sunlight on his body was taken away little by little, and the cold wind came straight to the door. Shen Zhou wore a silver ghost mask on his face and a black cloak on his body, and no one looked at him when he walked in the ghost market.

The ghost market is underground, and the underground water canal network of the imperial capital has gradually been transformed into a residence by the poor and helpless people, and then countless shady transactions have been transferred here. Huge sums of gold and silver circulated in places where the light of the Son of Heaven could not shine, but the inhabitants of the ghost market were still poor, and the solid bricks sheltered the wind and rain from the sun.

The sunken boat walked through the chaotic and winding alleys, and several pale children lay on their stomachs by the canal to catch snails. He stopped outside a small, empty shed, with only a simple table covered with pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. Shen Zhou reached out and brushed the ink that had not dried on it, and turned to walk towards the child who was fishing for snails.

"Who are you looking for?" The child was not afraid of life, and asked him lively.

"Xiucai." Shen Zhou took out a grain of broken silver from his waist and threw it to the child.

"He's not here."

"Where did you go," Shen Zhou asked calmly, "when did you leave?" ”

"Just left." The child pinched the broken silver, took a bite very skillfully, and put it in his pocket with satisfaction, "If you want to find him, you can leave an address, and I will tell you when he comes back." ”

"Really?" Shen Zhou strode among the children, grabbed one of the children who turned to run, and ripped off his hat, revealing the face of an adult man who did not match his short stature.

"I'm afraid he won't want to see me."

Shen Zhou grabbed his hand and lifted him up, and the dwarf struggled and screamed in terror. When a group of children saw that the two-headed food deal was exposed, they hurriedly dispersed. Ignoring the dwarf's kicks, Shen Zhou tied him up tightly and threw him into the shed.

"How did you find out?" The dwarf fell to the ground motionless, squealing at Shen Zhou.

"This table is too low," Shen Zhou tapped the hilt of his sword and tapped on the tabletop, "it's clearly for children." The children's eyes are shining when they see the silver, and you are the only one who grabs the snail without looking back. You don't think you're smart, do you? ”

"The assassin of the Nine Shadows also kills people in broad daylight?" The dwarf was tired of scolding, and finally began to be afraid, "Whoever wants my life, I will pay double the price, and you kill him." I also have money! ”

"There's a guy who bought an article from you." Shen Zhouyi said in a nutshell.

The dwarf rolled his eyes and picked up Qiao, "There are more people looking for me to buy articles, even champions and tanhua." Which do you say? ”

"I just entered the ghost city and you crawled and hid, don't you know who I'm here for?" Shen Zhou pulled out a few inches of the blade and pressed it against his neck, "I know that there are many places on people's bodies that can keep draining the blood of their whole body without dying in the middle of it, do you want to try?" ”

"It's the question of the temple exam, isn't it?" The dwarf immediately confessed, squirmed two inches away from the blade of the sword, and said flatteringly, "I remember, it was bought by a servant of the son-in-law, so angry!" Although I did not leave a manuscript, I remember every word of that article. ”

"If you make a mistake, I'll pick you a tesuji." Shen Zhou cut the ropes on his hands and feet, and said lightly, "Write." ”

The dwarf immediately began to sharpen the ink, nodded and said, "Okay, you can rest assured that I will do something." That boy was caught by your employer, right? I'm just doing a little business, I'll give you the article, don't look back and take my life! ”

"You're honest, I won't kill you." Shen Zhou tapped him on the neck with the hilt of his sword and said, "But if you do anything about the article, I will drain your blood and hang it on the eighteenth floor." ”

The dwarf shuddered and said with a smile: "Don't dare, don't dare." ”

——

Shen Zhou brought the dwarf and the article back to the Akiba Mountain Residence, and the dwarf was gagged, whimpering and cursing Shen Zhou along the way. Shen Zhou turned a deaf ear and simply threw him to Cheng Yuan neatly.

"He wrote the article?" Cheng Yuan was shocked.

The dwarf rubbed on Cheng Yuan's armor, spit out the gag rag, and scolded: "Who do you look down on? You're so tall, can you write articles? If I hadn't been born short, the person who won the championship in the Jinluan Palace might not have me number one! ”

Cheng Yuan was sprayed with spittle on his face, and hurriedly blocked his mouth again. The dwarf squirmed around to dodge, and scolded at Shen Zhou's back: "Didn't I give you the article, what are you arresting me for!" Aren't you nine ghosts a promise? ”

"When I confirm that the article is word for word, I will naturally release you." Shen Zhou was confident, "Otherwise, something is wrong, where can I arrest you?" ”

"You!" Gnome knots.

Shen Zhou turned his head and left, and the dwarf was so angry that he screamed. Shen Zhou searched in the courtyard, but saw no trace of Chu Zhixia, so he went back to his room. He took a shower with cold water, and suddenly tasted a hint of blood as he pulled the corners of his mouth.

Shen Zhou stretched out his hand and wiped it, and found that his lips were cracked. Spring is warm and dry, and chapped lips and bleeding are common.

Unconcerned, he returned to his bedroom, only to find a box of cut fruit on the table. There was no one to serve in the courtyard of Shen Zhou, and no one dared to enter his bedroom on his own initiative - except for Chu Zhixia. There is a box of grease next to the fruit, which is used to wipe the hands and feet and lips of the people of Rongbei when they are cold in winter.

The fruit is peeled and cut into pieces, and the bottom is poured with ice water to keep the fruit fresh and juicy. Shen Zhou picked up a piece of fruit, the sweet taste spread from the tip of his tongue to his heart, and he wiped his hair happily.

——

Xuanzheng Palace.

Cheng Yuan hurriedly entered the door, and the ministers, the emperor, Bai Huan and Bai Ziche were all present. Cheng Yuan fell to his knees and held a box above his head. The chamberlain beside the emperor took the box and opened it, and the officials of the Ministry of Rites also took out Shen Ming's sealed test paper.

After reading the two articles, the official of the Ministry of Rites knelt on the ground, shocked and frightened: "Back to Your Majesty, the two articles are word-for-word...... Even the hyphens are exactly the same! ”

The test papers of the palace examination have been sealed in the Taixue Palace, and except for the examiners who closed and revised the papers, only the candidates themselves know what they wrote. If it weren't for Shen Ming going crazy and posting his articles everywhere, it could only be that the real author of the article was outside the Taixue Palace.

The emperor took the scroll with a gloomy face, glanced at it twice, and said, "What about the person who cheated for Shen Ming?" ”

Cheng Yuan's face did not change, and his heart did not skip a beat: "That person is a liar who is in the market, and he absconded for fear of crime." If the minister is ineffective, please punish Your Majesty. ”

"That person may not know what this article is for, and those who don't know it are not guilty, and please calm your anger."

Yushi Zhang Gui came out of the crowd and said righteously: "The most important thing now is how the palace exam questions were leaked. The imperial examination screens the talents of the imperial dynasty, and the courtiers are the important weapons of the country, and the imperial examination does not allow any fraud. This person has ill intentions, and the fraud in scientific research is a move that will bring harm to the country, and I ask Your Majesty to strictly investigate it. ”

Zhuang Dang in the Xuanzheng Palace didn't say a word, and looked at Zhang Gui's eyes and wanted to peel him off and cramp. Since his return from Jiangnan, Zhang Gui's reputation has risen, and although his official position has not risen further, he has been praised as "iron bone" from time to time. A group of people in the prison lined up to be beheaded, and cursed Jang Gyu to die early day and night.

Bai Ziche Bafeng stood side by side with Bai Huan without moving, thinking to himself, now there are more people who curse Zhang Gui to die early.

"Then let Dali Temple investigate the case." The Emperor said lightly.

Bai Huan's eyelids jumped.

——

Pei Fu.

"Your Majesty will not let His Royal Highness King Qi come down to investigate this case."

Chu Zhixia's fingertips flickered, and the white son fell on the corner of the chessboard. Chu Zhixia was wearing a loose robe, her hair was casually draped, the tassels of the hairband hung down between the hairbands, and the center of her eyebrows was attached to the red flowers. She lazily propped up her forehead, and her son fell carelessly.

Pei Zhang sat across from her, with a chessboard and two cups of peach blossom tea on the table. Pei Zhang also has a wide robe and big sleeves, lazily does not put the shelf of the son of the family, and holds a folding fan in his hand.

The spring breeze is drunk, and the peach blossoms are scorching.

"The case of scientific research fraud seems to be an easy and simple errand for both fame and fortune, but there are countless protégés of the first assistant, and once they are implicated, countless people will be offended." Pei Zhang said, "But does Your Majesty cherish His Royal Highness King Qi so much?" ”

"It doesn't matter."

Chu Shixia shrugged his shoulders and said, "But now that the position of the East Palace is vacant, the three princes don't need to think about it at all, King Qi of Qin is the same age and fame." If the king of Qi is damaged, the king of Qin will inevitably gain power again. His Majesty may not be very fond of King Qi, but he definitely doesn't like King Qin. ”

"Then this case will inevitably fall into the hands of Dali Temple, let the regent and the first assistant eat black, it depends on how big the regent's appetite is." Pei Zhangyu smiled and sighed, "But if Dali Temple is hasty, what should it do?" ”

"Dali Temple must have done something hastily, and it is easy to kill a Shen Ming."

Chu Shixia said firmly, "If he thoroughly investigates to the end and uproots the first and auxiliary parties, in the eyes of His Majesty, it will be a struggle between the two parties and the exclusion of dissent." Otherwise, why would the regent go to great lengths to borrow the knife of the eldest princess to kill people? But after going around and around, the knife fell back into the hands of the regent. ”

"It looks like it's a dead game." Pei Zhang bowed slightly, "The bamboo basket is empty." ”

Chu Zhixia smiled, picked up the white son and landed between the black seeds, and the whole situation was immediately reversed. Pei Zhang looked at the winner in amazement, the black son was cut off, and the white son was desperate.

"Variables, right here."

The wind rises at the end of Qingping.

In the silence, the waves are turbulent.

——

Shen House.

The Shen family was like a mourner, and from morning to night, the crying never stopped. The cry is that the eldest son in the family was imprisoned, and it is also the future of the Shen family that has been implicated and dragged down, and it is difficult to get ahead.

Shen Shilang has been sick for several days and has not been in court, and he is upset from crying. As soon as he pushed open the window and was about to curse, he saw the little servant hurriedly come to report: "Master, His Royal Highness King Qi is coming to visit." ”

King Qi? Shen Shilang had no impression of Bai Ziche, he only knew that he was a docile and silent young man, who won the emperor's attention with his hand, and took advantage of the east wind of the eldest lady of the Chu family to pacify Jiangnan, the only thing commendable was that he was very lucky. Shen Shilang hesitated for a moment, he hadn't seen Zhuang Shoufu's face for a long time, and Bai Ziche might want to send charcoal in the snow to win over the Shen family.

"Let Your Highness wait for a while, and I'll come after tidying up." Shen Shilang instructed.

Shen Shilang was late, and when he walked to the main hall, he saw a young man wearing a plain brocade robe. Bai Ziche spoke softly, slowly and clearly so that people could hear every word clearly, and when he smiled, his eyebrows and eyes were crooked, which made people not feel hostile.

"Shen Shilang." Bai Ziche politely greeted him.

"Your Highness is too humble, I don't know why Your Highness is coming?" Shen Shilang asked cautiously.

Bai Ziche frowned slightly, sighed, and seemed to be unbearable: "Today, Yu Linwei has searched for evidence of writing an article for Ling Lang, and that article is exactly the same as the article that Ling Lang sealed in the Taixue Palace. The fraud has been confirmed. ”

Shen Shilang was like being struck by lightning, and he almost couldn't stand steadily.

Bai Ziche helped him worriedly, and said with concern: "Shen Shilang, you still have a family to take care of, you must cherish yourself!" ”

Shen Shilang was immersed in this huge bad news, his mind almost couldn't turn, and after a while, he looked at Bai Ziche vigilantly: "The minister and His Highness have never known each other, why did His Highness come to inform the minister?" ”

"Shen Shilang, do you think Ling Lang and the Shen family have a way to survive now?" Bai Ziche said step by step, "You have been rejected by Shoufu for a few days?" ”

Shen Shilang's lips turned white, and he couldn't stop trembling slightly.

"The case of scientific research fraud has been handed over to Dali Temple to handle. Dali Siqing is the regent's person, and although the regent has been fighting with Zhuang Shoufu for a long time, he does not dare to eradicate it in front of His Majesty. Bai Ziche said with a false regret, "Ling Lang is destined to become an outcast." ”

Shen Shilang knelt on the ground with a "plop", grabbed the corner of Bai Ziche's robe and begged: "Your Highness came today, definitely not to fall into the well. It's not a pity for my son to cheat, but my family's life and future can't be buried here! I beg His Highness for mercy, if the Shen family does not die in this catastrophe, it will be His Highness before and after the saddle! ”

Bai Ziche hurriedly helped him up and comforted: "It's not me who can save you." Ziche is soft-spoken, where is there such a big ability. ”

Shen Shilang looked at him blankly.

"Why did Dali Siqing kill Ling Lang? Because the regent didn't want His Majesty to feel that the two parties were at odds, he was the only one. Shoufu has no fear, because he knows that the Shen family must be an outcast, so he will not see you. ”

Bai Ziche patted Shen Shilang's hand, and the warmth of his palm gave him an illusion.

Bai Ziche is intriguing: "Shen Shilang doesn't have to be too resentful, the first assistant can get out, and self-protection is also human nature." ”

The implication was like a thunderbolt slamming on Shen Shilang's spiritual platform - if Shoufu couldn't stay out of the matter, but lived and died with the Shen family, then he would have to save the Shen family.

——

Chu Zhixia returned to the Autumn Leaves Mountain Residence, looked around but did not find the sinking boat, and finally climbed to the top of the highest building in the Autumn Leaves Mountain Residence. Shen Zhou really sat on the roof, looking at the twinkling stars in the sky, his expression was a little dumbfounded.

Shen Zhou must have been wearing a silver ghost mask when he went in and out, and the back of his ears was worn out a little, and he was slightly red. Chu Zhixia stretched out his hand and rubbed it, Shen Zhou shrank suddenly, and looked at her uncomfortably.

"Why don't you rub the medicine?" Chu Zhixia was a little dissatisfied.

"It'll be fine in a few days, rub some medicine." Shen Zhou took her hand and sat down, pointed to the stars in the sky and said, "That one is Beichen, and that one is ...... Direction in the clouds. ”

"Are you homesick?" Shen Zhou asked without warning.

"Yes." Chu Shixia admitted calmly.

"I want to, too." Shen Zhou said angrily.

Chu Zhixia looked at him amusedly, and noticed that the lustrous color on his lips was shiny. Chu Zhixia's heart was narrow, he stroked the corners of his lips like a disciple, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Is this coquettish with me?" Do your lips still hurt? ”

Shen Zhou blushed from his cheeks to the tips of his ears, and whispered, "That grease is fragrant." ”

"There is osmanthus essential oil added to it," Chu Shixia said incomprehensibly, "I specially asked the maid to buy it." ”

Shen Zhou asked even more quietly, "Then do you want to taste it?" ”

"The wind rises at the end of the green pings. Song Yu "Wind Fu"

The two chapters are combined."