Zhao Rang left the Drunken Immortal Tower and strolled through the city, feeling peaceful.

The afternoon sun shines gently, and the bluestone-paved streets seem to have been polished by the years to become brighter and brighter, and the hustle and bustle of pedestrians and the shouts of hawkers converge into this lively market picture.

However, he is like an unearthly immortal, wandering outside this earthly world, thinking about the clouds and smoke of the past.

The smell of wine wafting from nowhere aroused his greed.

I found a lively restaurant at random, climbed the stairs, and found a place by the window to sit down.

A pot of sake, a few dishes of side dishes, pour yourself and drink, there is a unique taste in your heart.

Wine, like the water of the rivers and lakes, flowed through his throat, evoking countless memories and feelings.

The wind and sand in the Western Regions, the laughter of brothers, and the happiness and enmity of the rivers and lakes all turned into lingering sorrow with this cup of wine.

Thinking of this, Zhao Rang couldn't help but think of Yuan Mingkong and Yuan Kexin. At that time, they were like newborn calves, with longing and enthusiasm for the rivers and lakes, and walked through the ups and downs hand in hand.

Now, although each party is holding one side, it is still unforgettable to forget the innocence and oath that first entered the rivers and lakes.

After he had eaten and drunk, he paid the bill and walked leisurely to His Highness's mansion.

Although the dispute over the jade pendant has come to an end, the undercurrent behind it is becoming more and more intense.

The unfathomable depths of the Nangong family and the power and calculation of the Prime Minister's Mansion ...... Among them, the name of the Tang family in Nandi Shu is particularly loud.

Being able to invite them to participate in the Spring Festival banquet this time is undoubtedly a great help for Yuan Mingkong.

Walking through the courtyards of the mansion, Zhao Rang came to the pavilion in the back garden with ease.

Yuan Mingkong stood with his hands in his hands, admiring the swimming fish in the pool.

When he heard footsteps, he turned around and smiled.

"Brother Zhao is here."

He beckoned.

Zhao Rang also sat down unceremoniously, took the teacup and took a sip, and then said bluntly:

"Your Highness, the jade pendant has been sent out."

After hearing this, Yuan Mingkong was in a good mood and asked:

"I don't know who Brother Zhao gave the jade pendant to?"

Zhao Rang brought the forces on the list one by one.

When he heard "Tang Family in Shuzhong in the South", a strange brilliance flashed in Yuan Mingkong's eyes.

"The Tang family is even willing to accept our invitation?"

He said with some surprise.

"It seems that the lineup of this Spring Festival Banquet is indeed extraordinary."

Zhao Rang nodded and said:

"Although the Tang family is far away in Shuzhong, their influence on the rivers and lakes cannot be ignored. Being able to invite them to the dinner this time is a great addition to us. ”

Yuan Mingkong laughed after hearing this:

"Good! Good, good!"

After saying four good things in a row, Yuan Mingkong patted him on the shoulder again and said,

"Now we're going to have to plan for the feast. What is Brother Zhao's opinion? ”

Zhao Rang groaned and said:

"Your Highness has already arranged for so many forces to participate in the night banquet, you must have already made a plan in your chest, right?"

He smiled and continued.

"But in my opinion, we need to work more on defense and safety."

After hearing this, Yuan Mingkong nodded and said:

"What Brother Zhao said is extremely true. The stakes are so high that there must be no room for error. ”

A hint of coldness flashed in his eyes, and he continued: "I have arranged the most elite guards, and there are many masters of the rivers and lakes who secretly protect the safety of the night banquet. In addition......"

He paused and whispered:

"I also prepared a special 'gift' for those uninvited 'guests'."

Zhao Rang's heart sank after hearing this, but he asked quietly on his face:

"I wonder what kind of 'gift' Your Highness has prepared?"

The "guests" mentioned by Yuan Mingkong must refer to those people and hostile forces with bad intentions.

Yuan Mingkong smiled mysteriously and said:

"You'll know when the time comes."

The figures of the two intertwined in the pavilion, reflected in the pond, as if they merged with the swimming fish.

"The location of the Tang family in Shuzhong in the south must be properly arranged."

Yuan Mingkong instructed.

"They are the most important thing for me at this dinner, and we must not be negligent."

Zhao Rang nodded yes, and he understood a little more about Yuan Mingkong's attention in his heart.

"As for the dishes, I have ordered people to collect rare ingredients from all over the world and prepare some unique dishes."

Yuan Mingkong said with a smile.

"Among them, there is a 'dragon and phoenix are auspicious', and it uses rare golden carp and snow-capped flying phoenix, which means auspicious and peaceful in the world."

After hearing this, Zhao Rang couldn't help but admire:

"Your Highness is really well-intentioned, and I believe that this night banquet will definitely become a momentary event."

Yuan Mingkong waved his hand and said humbly:

"This is all thanks to Brother Zhao's great help. Without your planning and planning, this night party would not have been so perfect. ”

The sun was darker, and Zhao Rang's figure gradually blurred outside the gazebo. He was just about to walk away, but an inexplicable throbbing suddenly surged in his heart, making him subconsciously turn around.

A fresh breeze blew through the corners of his coat and raised doubts in his heart.

He looked at Yuan Mingkong, and in those eyes that were always unfazed on weekdays, there seemed to be bottomless worries hidden at the moment.

"Your Highness,"

He spoke, his voice a little ethereal.

"There's something down there that I don't know."

Yuan Mingkong sighed lightly and said:

"Between Brother Zhao and me, what else can't be said?"

Zhao Rang paused, and finally asked the doubts in his heart:

"Princess Kexin...... How is she lately? ”

When Yuan Mingkong heard this, a complicated look flashed in his eyes.

He looked up at the dark night sky, where there was a lonely star, stubbornly shining in the darkness, just like his mood at the moment.

"Glad she ......"

He spoke, his voice a little hoarse.

"She recently took care of her father in his father's bedroom."

Zhao Rang's brows furrowed.

"The emperor is sick?"

An ominous premonition welled up in his heart, as if something important was quietly passing by.

Yuan Mingkong was silent for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Yes, the body of my father...... It's been a bad thing lately. ”

"This is also the reason why the Spring Festival Eve banquet was postponed and the number of participants was reduced."

Zhao Rang's heart was shocked.

He knew that Emperor Dawei's health had not been good in recent years, but he didn't expect it to be so serious.

Thinking of the wise and martial emperor back then, but now he is seriously ill in bed, and his life and death are uncertain, I can't help but sigh at the ruthlessness of the years and the impermanence of life.

At this sensitive moment, any disturbance may cause an uproar and even change the pattern of the entire court and rivers and lakes.

He looked at Yuan Mingkong and saw an indescribable tiredness and heaviness on his face.

Those eyes, which are always full of wisdom and determination, are now full of confusion and helplessness.

"Your Highness, don't worry too much. Jiren has his own natural appearance, and the emperor will definitely get better. ”

He knew that his words might be a little weak, but he still wanted to say it and give Yuan Mingkong some comfort.

Yuan Mingkong smiled bitterly, shook his head and said:

"Borrow Brother Zhao's auspicious words! But the condition of the emperor ...... Alas, it can only be left to fate......"

Although he is a prince, in the face of life and death, he is still as small as an ant.

The two were relatively silent.

Zhao Rang stood silently beside Yuan Mingkong, looking at the lonely star with him.

After chatting a few more words, Zhao Rang said goodbye and left.

He walked out of Yuan Mingkong's mansion and looked up at the starry sky.

The night is getting darker and the stars are twinkling.

But no matter how bright the starry sky is, it can't illuminate the darkness and confusion in people's hearts.

Zhao Rang was pretending to be in his heart, and his steps naturally couldn't get up quickly, pondering Yuan Mingkong's words about the emperor's illness all the way.

Stepping on the moonlight, as soon as he entered the courtyard, an old figure stepped out of the shadows.

Fauber greeted him and said:

"Young Master, you're back."

Zhao Rang nodded and asked:

"Fauber, what's the matter?"

Fauber handed over a note and said:

"Young master, Ximen Dazhuang sent someone to send them, saying that if you come back, go to Fengnian Rice Store to find them."

Zhao Rang's heart moved, and he said secretly:

"It's so late, what is Ximen Dazhuang looking for me?"

He took the note, glanced at it hurriedly, and then turned and ran in the direction of Fengnian Rice Shop.

Fengnian rice shop was the largest industry of the Ximen family in the imperial city, and almost monopolized the entire grain market in the imperial city

Walking to the door, Zhao Rang saw that the door of Mi Xing was closed, and only the side door next to it was open with a crack, revealing a faint light.

"Brother Jean, you're here!" Simon said with a bitter face.

"Something is wrong!!"

Zhao Rang's heart tightened and asked:

"What's wrong?"

Simon Dazhuang sighed and said:

"At noon today, a warehouse manager of the rice bank went to the warehouse to transport rice, and found that the rice in the entire rice warehouse was poured with fire oil!

"What?"

Zhao Rang was taken aback,

"How is this possible?"

The warehouse of Fengnian Rice Store is tightly guarded, and ordinary people cannot approach it at all.

Simon shook his head and said:

"I can't believe it either, but that's the way it is. And our people didn't find anything wrong. ”

Zhao Rang's heart sank, he knew that this matter was not trivial.

This happened again when the Spring Festival Night Banquet was about to be held, which made people have to doubt the connection.

If not handled properly, it is likely to set off a chain reaction.

He pondered for a moment and said:

"Da Zhuang, there must be something strange about this matter.

Ximen Dazhuang nodded and said:

"Brother Jean, I think so too. The previous has already asked them to block the news, and don't spread it for the time being.

"Well, let's go, let's go to the warehouse first."

The two of them walked through the dimly lit corridor to the rice barn. A pungent smell of fire oil came to his nose, and Zhao Rang couldn't help frowning.

In the rice warehouse, piles of rice that were originally golden and full were soaked in a layer of black fire oil at the moment, which looked particularly weird.

Zhao Rang squatted down and looked at it carefully, and he already had a plan in his heart.

He stood up and said to Simon Dazhuang:

"Although the rice has been soaked with fire oil, it has not completely lost its value. Rinse it off before disposing of it. ”

Ximen Dazhuang was stunned when he heard this, and then said with a wry smile:

"Brother Jean, this oil is flammable and explosive, in case something goes wrong during the drying process......

Zhao Rang smiled slightly and said:

"Don't worry, just be careful."

Seeing that Zhao Rang was so confident, the worry in his heart was also reduced a little, and he nodded, and said:

"Good! I'm going to do some clever work to help. ”

Zhao Rang asked people to prepare a large amount of hay, cotton cloth and water, as well as some fireproof equipment.

When everything was ready, he personally supervised the crowd and began to rinse the rice.

Everyone first opened all the doors and windows of the warehouse to allow air to circulate. Then, they spread bales of hay and cotton cloth on the ground, spread the rice soaked in fire oil evenly on it, and slowly rinsed it with water.

I worked until the middle of the night, and the rice that had been soaked in fire oil finally became refreshing, and although the color was slightly dull, it no longer had the pungent taste it had before.

These rices, originally carefully selected and of the highest quality, were ordered by the palace to supply the daily consumption of the forbidden palace and the upcoming Spring Festival banquet.

Although Zhao Rang and the others had tried their best to rinse the oil off, it was obvious that the rice was no longer edible.

If it cannot be delivered on time, it will be a devastating blow to the credibility of Fengnian Rice Shop, and the power of the Ximen family in the imperial city will also be greatly reduced.

Simon Dazhuang's face was solemn, he knew the seriousness of this matter. He looked at Zhao Rang, his eyes full of anticipation and anxiety.

"Brother Jean, what now?" He asked.

Zhao Rang was silent for a moment, and then said slowly:

"Now that this has happened, we can only find a way to make amends. Da Zhuang, you immediately go to other rice shops in the imperial city to buy rice, no matter what, you must first gather the order of the imperial palace. ”

Simon nodded and turned to leave in a hurry.

Zhao Rang stayed in the rice warehouse and continued to think about countermeasures.

Mobilizing the inventory of other rice banks is only a stopgap measure, and it does not solve the problem fundamentally.

Moreover, there are obviously people behind this matter who are secretly making trouble, and if the truth is not found out, I am afraid that there will be even greater trouble waiting for them.

Not long after, Ximen Dazhuang hurried back to the rice warehouse with a few of his subordinates.

"Brother Jean, I have already bought out the inventory of other rice banks at a price three times higher than the market, and there is no problem in getting together the orders of the palace."

Simon said breathlessly.

He changed his words and said:

"But then...... My family has very little liquidity left in the Imperial City, and this business ......"

Zhao Rang waved his hand, interrupted him, and said:

"Let's put aside the business for the time being, and get through the current difficulties first."

The same oil, the same fire.

Zhao Rang also smelled almost the same smell in the ruins of Yangsaki Academy.

The Yangzaki Academy was assigned by the third prince by Hedier to burn it clean.

But Hediye obviously didn't want to mix right and wrong in the imperial city anymore, otherwise he wouldn't have found Zhao Rang and told him all these causes and consequences.

But the situation in the rice warehouse is difficult for Zhao Rang not to think of Hediyah and the people of the Western Regions led by him.

These people have always been deceitful, left and right, acting without logic, sometimes looking at interests, sometimes only by mood!

As soon as the morning dawned, the five princes led a team of forbidden troops to Fengnian Rice Shop.

He has a warm smile on his face, as if he is a wise prince who cares about the people's livelihood.

"Master Ximen, I heard that there is something wrong with Fengnian Mixing, so I came to take a look."

The fifth prince said, but his gaze inadvertently swept over the rice that had been soaked in fire oil.

Simon Dazhuang came out, and his heart was full of dissatisfaction:

"It's just a small situation, and it's been taken care of."

He tried to make his tone appear calm.

The fifth prince nodded and said:

"The rice shop in the harvest year is the granary of the people of the imperial city, and nothing can happen. I've brought the Janissaries with me to help you defend yourself. ”

Ximen Dazhuang and Zhao Rang glanced at each other, and they both saw the doubts in each other's eyes.

The Fifth Prince's move was obviously a bit abnormal.

Although he has a friendship with the Simon family on weekdays, it is really suspicious that he is so enthusiastic to come to help at this moment.

Zhao Rang took a step forward and said:

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Fifth Prince, for your concern. However, we already have a countermeasure to this matter, so we will not bother Your Highness. ”

"Moreover, Ximen Dazhuang has already mobilized inventory from other rice shops, which is enough to meet the orders of the palace. As for the defense, we have our own arrangements. ”

A hint of discoloration flashed in the eyes of the fifth prince, but they quickly returned to normal.

"Brother Zhao is really resourceful. In that case, then I won't bother. It's just that...... If there's anything you need help with, just ask. ”

At this moment, a team of people who looked like dart masters walked in from outside.

They were dressed in uniform and wore golden dart flags around their waists, and they were the dart masters of the Admiralty Dart Bureau.

Seeing this, the five princes said to Ximen Dazhuang and Zhao Rang:

"Oh yes, I also specially invited the brothers of the Admiralty Dart Bureau to help defend. Their skills and experience are top-notch, and with them, they will be able to ensure the safety of the harvest year. ”

Ximen Dazhuang and Zhao Rang were stunned when they heard this.

I didn't expect the five princes to ask someone from the Admiralty Dart Bureau to help!

You must know that Ximen Dazhuang and Zhao Rang both have a lot of grievances with the Admiralty Dart Bureau.

On the surface, everything is peaceful, but secretly it is like fire and water.

At this moment, seeing the people from the Admiralty Dart Bureau appear here, Ximen Dazhuang and Zhao Rang couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in their hearts.

But in the presence of the five princes, they were not easy to attack.

Zhao Rang arched his hand and said:

"Thank you, Your Royal Highness the Fifth Prince, for your kindness. However, we already have a complete defensive plan, so we won't bother our brothers in the Admiralty game. Please forgive His Royal Highness the Fifth Prince and all the dart brothers. ”

As he spoke, Ximen Da Zhuang waved his hand, and a group of guards from the Ximen family behind him stepped forward and blocked the way of the Admiralty Dart Bureau.

Seeing this, the fifth prince frowned, but then stretched out again.

He didn't seem to care about Zhao Rang's refusal, but said lightly:

"In that case, we still have to be careful and careful. These men are here to stay, and the two of you are ready to send them whenever you need them. ”

With that, he turned and left.

The people of the forbidden army and the Admiralty Dart Bureau did not evacuate, and stationed themselves in the streets and alleys.

said that he was sent by dispatch, but they all stared at Fengnian Mixing's every move.

As soon as the five princes left, Ximen Dazhuang couldn't help but scold:

"Fuck! What exactly do these five princes mean? Knowing that we don't deal with the Admiralty Dart Bureau, he deliberately found them to anger us! ”

Zhao Rang just said coldly:

"He's testing us."

"Test us?"

"Tempting what?"

Zhao Rang did not answer him.

The move of the five princes is by no means untargeted. He must have known something.

This not only tested the reality of the Simon family, but also deepened the contradiction between them and the Admiralty Dart Bureau.

Combined with what Yuan Mingkong said, the emperor is seriously ill, and His Royal Highness, who is in charge of the army, seems to be impatient.

Once the emperor dies and a new emperor ascends the throne, then all power and interests will be reshuffled.

As one of the largest grain suppliers in the Imperial City, the importance of Fengnian Rice Bank is self-evident.

Controlling the rice industry in the harvest year is equivalent to controlling the food supply and the people's aspirations in the imperial city!

Therefore, no matter what, he has to find a way to take Fengnian Rice in his own hands!