In the evening of the same day, Shen Tingjun went to the agreed restaurant to make an appointment, and Wang Zhizhou was already waiting in the restaurant at this time.

In terms of official position, Wang Zhizhou is the second-grade Minzhou Zhizhou, and Shen Tingjun is the third-grade Dali Siqing, and it seems that Wang Zhizhou should be respected among the two, but this is not the case.

Because this involves a Beijing official and an exiled official, and as we all know, Beijing officials are at the third level.

Why is this so?

There are two reasons for this.

First, compared with local officials, Beijing officials have more opportunities to meet the emperor and royal relatives. When everyone has a holy grace, only when there are more opportunities to see saints, will there be more opportunities to come out, and they will be more reused.

Second, Jingguan represents not only himself, but also local interest groups. More precisely, some Beijing officials were agents of local interest groups in the imperial court.

From this two kinds of observations, the status of the Beijing official is already higher than that of the local official. Not to mention Shen Tingjun, a powerful minister who is already in the heart of the emperor and has a high position. He is also in charge of one of the three divisions, and he has been watched by Emperor Longqing since he was a child, so this relationship is naturally even more different.

Therefore, after seeing Shen Tingjun, Wang Zhizhou didn't dare to take it at all, and was the first to see the salute.

Shen Tingjun naturally did not accept his courtesy, the unspoken rules are unspoken rules, but on the surface, the official positions of the two are the difference between the second and third grades. It is a great mistake to be honored by a person of humble position.

Shen Tingjun immediately saluted and returned, Wang Zhizhou laughed when he saw this, and brought Shen Tingjun to the table.

Wang Zhizhou is in his fifties, his face is full of wrinkles, his hair is gray, but his body is thin. If you walk on the street from time to time, you are afraid that you will not be considered an inconspicuous old man, but you only need to look at Wang Zhizhou's excessively sharp eyebrows and eyes, and the tightly pursed lips that always show a downward skimming, you can know that this person is not good at stubble, and he is really not easy to contact.

But whether it is good or not, it is necessary to divide who is right, at least when dealing with Shen Tingjun, Wang Zhizhou has taken his identity properly, and it will not make people feel offended at all.

Wang Zhizhou is also really sociable, and when he came up, he said politely: "I learned that Zun was driving in Minzhou, but I couldn't meet him in time, so don't blame me for Shen Hou." ”

Shen Tingjun said: "I didn't want to disturb Lord Zhizhou, I just wanted to meet the adults after the matter was over, Lord Clinker was well-informed, I was in Minzhou for only one day, and the adults came to the door." ”

This tone is not good, but Wang Zhizhou only laughed twice when he heard it, and did not take Shen Tingjun's sarcasm to heart.

And this person is really slippery, knowing why Shen Tingjun came to Minzhou this time, and even more so with him, his own kid Wang Qihe may not be able to escape. But Wang Zhizhou has this characterization, and there is no difference from beginning to end. He only mentioned the customs of Minzhou throughout the whole process, and recalled that he had a few encounters with Shen Hou in the capital before, but unfortunately he had no deep friendship, etc., and the rest was never mentioned......

Until the two sides parted in the restaurant, Shen Tingjun left in a carriage, and Cheng Lin looked back at Wang Zhizhou, who was still standing at the door of the restaurant to see his master, and he didn't figure out what Wang Zhizhou invited his master to the banquet today.

He originally thought that Wang Zhizhou would give Li Shan eye medicine and take out his son by the way. But Wang Zhizhou was very stable, and he didn't mention the case during the whole process, as if he invited the master to a banquet this time, just to solve the regret of not having a deep friendship with Hou Ye at the beginning.

It's really an unpredictable character.

Sure enough, the characters who can sit in Minzhou and share the same color as the Admiral's Mansion are not ordinary people.

The carriage rolled over the bluestone slabs and gradually disappeared at the corner of the street.

Seeing them completely disappear into the dark night, the smile on Wang Zhizhou's face completely fell.

If Cheng Lin looked back at this time, he was afraid that he would be frightened by the deep coldness on Wang Zhizhou's face. That kind of coldness is not the usual condensation of his master, but has the smell of yin owl calculation, like a poisonous snake dormant in the dark, which will jump out of the grass without anyone at any time and give you a fatal blow.

Wang Zhizhou didn't know when a young man appeared on his side.

This person looks a little bit like Wang Zhizhou, with the same hooked nose, pursed lips, and tightly locked brows, and cold and calculating eyes. It's just that unlike Wang Zhizhou, he is slightly taller, more than a head taller than Wang Zhizhou. But he is also too thin, and his cheeks are too fair, which is matched with the expression on his face at the moment, which makes his whole person even more feminine.

This person is Wang Qihe, that is, Wang Zhizhou's most beloved son.

Wang Qihe asked out loud: "Father, how is this Shen Hou a person?" ”

Wang Zhizhou's brows furrowed even tighter when he heard this: "His temperament is unpredictable, and he is as unapproachable as rumored. ”

Wang Qihe couldn't help but raise his eyebrows when he heard this, and a cold light flashed in his long narrow eyes. "According to Daddy's words, this person can't buy it?"

Wang Zhizhou bowed his head: "Don't beat his idea, this person is a close minister of the Son of Heaven, he is arrogant, and he is a nobleman from heaven, he will not be in the same stream with us." ”

"How's that going? The evidence against the child is now in his hands. If he is a man who does not rub sand in his eyes, the child is in danger. ”

Wang Zhizhou glared at Wang Qihe when he heard the words and hated iron, and scolded angrily: "Stupid thing who is bold, I will turn a blind eye to your sale of illicit salt, you are still bold enough to intercept the salt tax, you really have the heart of a bear and a leopard guts." ”

Wang Qihe didn't admit it, he only shouted wronged, "Even if the child is really bold, he won't put his calculations on the salt tax." It's just that Lei Shuanghan deducted the basin and couldn't swallow this breath, so he really intercepted the salt tax and planted it on Li Shan. ”

What is the truth of the facts, Wang Zhizhou is clear in his heart. But if his son doesn't admit it, he won't force it, but just stares at him and says; "I hope he goes to court in the future, and your mouth can be so hard."

As soon as he heard the court, Wang Qihe began to retreat in his heart.

If the court was promoted by an official from Minzhou, he was naturally not afraid. He has never been to court in his life, but that time those officials and gentlemen didn't treat him as a guest? Although he is the defendant, he has a place to sit every time, no matter who he is, and he wants to sue him in Minzhou, it is all a fool's dream.

But the next time he was summoned to the court, it would be different, the next time he was designated as Shen Hou, the Dali Temple Qing Shengtang, although he had not met with this legendary Shen Hou, but when his father greeted him, he had been listening next door. As Daddy said, this is indeed a character who doesn't eat oil and salt. And he is not angry and arrogant, and his awe-inspiring aura is even more intimidating.

To quibble under Shen Hou's interrogation, he is afraid that it will be a little difficult.

Thinking of this, Wang Qihe quickly bowed his head to Wang Zhizhou. "Whatever you say, the children are yours. Tiger venom still doesn't eat children, how can you not save children when they die? Dad, the child has made a big disaster this time, how can the child survive this difficult time without your help? ”

Wang Qihe can bend and stretch, and he is even closer to Wang Zhizhou. Although Wang Zhizhou secretly scolded the shaft in his heart for causing trouble, this is his own seed after all, and Wang Zhizhou categorically has no reason to open his eyes and watch him die.

Besides, everything Wang Qihe did was connived at by him, and if Wang Qihe was sentenced, he, a father, would not have good fruit to eat.

Wang Zhizhou scolded Wang Qihe angrily, "You little brute who makes trouble", and asked the housekeeper to come and see if the person who took the blame had arranged it.

Wang Qihe followed his father throughout the whole process, and he watched his father's actions in his heart. He thought to himself: What if his father scolded him badly? After all, I can't see him die in prison.

But Wang Qihe couldn't help hating, this time he didn't fold Lei Shuanghan in, but picked up a stone and hit his own feet, he remembered the grievances this time, and after Qin Cha left, see if he didn't give Lei Shuanghan a ruthless blow.

Don't say what happened to the father and son of the Wang family here, just say that when Shen Tingjun and his party arrived at the courtyard where they were temporarily staying, before they could enter the door, they first saw Cheng Yi greet him with a wooden face.

Shen Tingjun keenly sensed that something was wrong, frowned and asked, "What happened?" ”

Cheng Yi couldn't say it all in words, "Before the master came back, someone came to give gifts in the name of the Wang family. said that Hou Ye came from afar, and it was his fault that he failed to meet him in time, and now he gave a thin gift, and asked Hou Ye to smile. ”

Cheng Yi repeated the words of the person who came, but the expression on his face became more and more subtle.

Without waiting for Shen Tingjun to ask carefully, Cheng Yi had already told what kind of gift the future had given.

"The Wang family sent some beauties over, saying that they would let them serve the Hou Ye's daily life."

Shen Tingjun pursed his lips slightly, and his deep eyes pressed straight down.

Cheng Lin sensed that something was wrong and avoided it in time. He was glad at this time, fortunately he followed his master out of the door this time, otherwise he would have accepted this gift, I am afraid that he would not have his own good fruit to eat.

The master is the most taboo in officialdom This kind of "courtesy exchange", Cheng Yi knew this, but he actually accepted it, Cheng Lin couldn't help but glance at Cheng Yi in surprise, he was impatient, right?

Cheng Yi had beads of sweat rolling out of his forehead, and his words were very difficult, "It's not that his subordinates want to accept it, but the person who gives the gift is not particular." When the visitor saw that he was stubborn, he threw them at the door and ran away.

And the beauties knelt on the spot and wept, saying that there was only one way to die after being sent back, and begged him to spare their lives.

Cheng Yi has never been so big-headed, and the surrounding people are leaning out to see the excitement, Cheng Yi has to bite the bullet and let people get those beauties back to the house.

Cheng Yi said: "Everyone is locked in the firewood room, I don't know what to do with the master?" ”

Shen Tingjun still looked at Cheng Yi directly, and Cheng Yi was sweating profusely, so he finally snorted coldly and said, "Where did you come from, where did you send people." Don't let them dirty my ground. ”

Cheng Yi answered the two "yes", and was about to turn around and go back to lead the people, when Shen Tingjun suddenly spoke again, "Keep your mouth shut, don't say what you shouldn't say." ”

Everyone knows what this is for. It's nothing more than that I don't want Miss Sang to hear some rumors, and then turn around and talk to Hou Ye.

Cheng Yi and Cheng Lin hurriedly responded, no matter what they thought in their hearts, they all tightened their mouths and made enough gestures anyway. They will definitely not pass a word on this, otherwise, they will sew their mouths with needles in the future.

Cheng Yi went to see off the beauty, and Cheng Lin followed Shen Tingjun to the study. While walking into the forest, he wondered, "Master, this kind of thing is not like what Wang Zhizhou's scheming people would do." ”

Shen Tingjun said "um", Cheng Lin was recognized by his master, and his heart immediately burst into joy.

He tried to open his active brain and said, "But since it was sent by someone from the Wang family, it must not be someone else who did such a thing under their banner." As far as I can see, eighty percent of this thing was done by Wang Qihe's prince. ”

Shen Tingjun said "um" again.

Cheng Lin became more and more excited, "That Wang Qihe ......"

"Shut up, go get your toiletries ready, and by the way, see if today's letter is coming."

Cheng Lin let out an awkward "oh", didn't dare to disturb the master anymore, and hurriedly went to prepare the toiletries.

During the time when Hou Ye went to bathe, Cheng Lin went to ask someone again, can there be a report on Miss Sang's side today? The result is naturally there, but where is the letter to Cheng Yi, and Cheng Yi is now going to send the beauty home.

Cheng Lin couldn't help but pat it on the door of his head when he heard this, and muttered that Cheng Yi "killed people and didn't pay for their lives." ”

……

The next day was still a busy day, not only Sang Xuanyue was busy, but even Shen Tingjun was still very busy.

I received the letter yesterday, and the accompanying Qincha will arrive in Minzhou the day after tomorrow. At that time, preparations will be made to hear the salt tax case. Regarding this case, it is not known who Wang Qihe used to frame Li Shan, and it is also necessary to beware of Wang Zhizhou's murder and exoneration of others.

In such a busy situation, I still have to prepare for a meeting with Chang Wuxing at night.

It's really a good idea.

Seeing that it was evening, Shen Tingjun stopped his pen, changed his clothes again, and went out again.

Today, I am not going to a restaurant, but in a secluded house.

It is impossible to find out who the owner of this house is, but there are rumors in the market that this is an elegant place run by the descendants of an old imperial chef. Because of the elegant layout inside, and the food conforms to the changes of yin and yang in the four seasons, it is more in line with the cold and warm weather, and it is still quite popular in this Minzhou city.

In this private restaurant, Chang Wuxing and Lei Shuanghan were already waiting in the flower hall at this time.

It's a small place, but the layout is really elegant. It's summer, and the interior of the house is decorated in green, and you can feel a sense of coolness as soon as you enter it. In addition, in the water tank in the corner of the wall, the lotus figure leans out of it, or waiting to be released, or elegantly stretching its body. The color was pink or red, and it added some bright fragrance to the coolness of the room.

Lei Shuanghan was bored drinking tea, and looked out with his head to see if someone was coming.

He was really impatient to wait, so he approached his eldest brother and talked to Chang Wuxing.

"It is said that the Wang family sent a beauty to Shen Houna's mansion last night."

Chang Wuxing glanced at his sister-in-law who was sitting or standing, and said with a blank face: "You are well-informed." ”

"Where, I also heard the news after listening to people chewing their tongues." With a malicious smile, he said to Chang Wuxing sneakily, "But the follow-up development of this matter, big brother, you don't know." ”

"What?"

Those beauties were sent back to the Wang family by Shen Hou. Hey, hey, you just say that this thing is funny or not, and you can't give gifts yet, the Wang family's face is embarrassing. ”

Lei Shuanghan made fun of the Wang family at this time, but he completely forgot that after seeing his eldest brother yesterday, after returning home, he found his wife and discussed with Chang Minjun to give Shen Hou a gift.

He didn't think about sending a few beauties or anything, after all, there were rumors that when Shen Hou came to Minzhou, there were beauties on the boat. Although I don't know if this is true or not, it is all up to women to do things, which makes Lei Shuanghan very disdainful.

In fact, from the bottom of his heart, he was very disdainful of gift-giving. But it's not, isn't it?

As for the Wang family's gifts, I don't give them, I always feel that Shen Hou will be biased towards the Wang family. If you don't give gifts, you will be weak-hearted; If it is sent, then it will be good, he will have a kind, and everyone will be on the same starting line again, so Shen Hou you can't favor either side because of the "gift".

Anyway, Lei Shuanghan is such a psychology, and he and the Wang family have been opponents for more than ten years, and he still has points for how Wang Qihe will operate. Therefore, when he knew that Wang Qihe would give gifts to please Shen Hou, how could he sit still and wait for death?

Lei Shuanghan discussed with his wife, should he send some gold, silver and jewelry directly? But he has no other problems, one thing is that he is very greedy for money. Of course, he is not greedy for foreign wealth, he is greedy for his own wealth. In other words, he's a miser. If the family has an account, he will smile happily, but if he takes such a lot of money to give it away, it will be broken, and he will die of distress.

Fortunately, although Lei Shuanghan is unreliable, Chang Minjun is a reliable person. She pulled out Old Man Chang to speak.

Old Man Chang has entered Beijing several times to face the saint, and he naturally knows Shen Hou, who grew up under the knees of the saint. It's just that Shen Hou was young before, and he was just an inconspicuous companion who followed the prince, so he didn't pay much attention to it. But since Shen Hou Sanyuan and the first, and then was arranged by His Majesty to be on duty in the Sixth Department, who dares to ask the Manchu Dynasty civil and military, who dares not to look at Shen Hou in his eyes?

At that time, Shen Tingjun was their colleague, and he was a menacing official of the DPRK and China with an unlimited future, so they couldn't afford not to pay attention to it.

General Chang naturally paid attention to it, and when he came back, he told his children and grandchildren that although Shen Hou was born in a noble family, he was a clear stream in the court. Although the words were simple, they gave the highest praise to Shen Tingjun's character.

Therefore, when Lei Shuanghan was about to move, Chang Minjun directly stopped him, and sent him to the front yard to teach his three sons to practice martial arts and write.

Lei Shuanghan was sent away like this, and at this time, recalling the shape of Cheng Yi last night when he sent all the beauties back to the door of the king's house, he still couldn't help laughing.

He felt that Shen Hou's approach was too damaging, and he didn't know if he was slapping the Wang family's face. But who let the Wang family do things without brains, they are the messengers appointed by His Majesty, and you are hospitable, which can be said to be more or less in the past, after all, it is to do the friendship of the landlord. But you are still giving gifts with great fanfare, this is not appropriate, this is not a bribe to Shen Hou, let people know that Shen Hou is unfair.

was making fun of Lei Shuanghan, who was making fun of the Wang family's unreliable work, but he didn't realize that if Chang Minjun hadn't stopped him in time, he wouldn't have had the leisure to laugh at the Wang family now. After all, he also made a joke, and now he is afraid that he will not even be able to pull his face when he comes to the banquet.

Don't talk about these messes, just say left and right, and still didn't wait for Shen Tingjun to come over. Lei Shuanghan couldn't help but look at the hourglass at the door, yes, time had only passed in a blink of an eye, and there was still a stick of incense before the agreed thing.

He talked about the case again with great interest, saying that Wang Zhizhou was scheming, insidious and cunning, and now he was busy exonerating Wang Qihe, and no matter how bad it was, he would arrange a person to take the blame, anyway, Wang Zhizhou couldn't afford the consequences of his son being imprisoned. It's not just as simple as being embarrassed, I'm afraid that whether the black gauze hat on his head can continue to be worn steadily, that's a problem.

As he was talking, he suddenly heard someone say, "Here we are." ”

Lei Shuanghan suddenly shut up, and then asked excitedly, "Who is here?" Shen Tingjun? ”

Chang Wuxing stood up with a slight bow, then smoothed the wrinkles on his body, and beckoned to Lei Shuanghan, "Let's go, go out with me to greet you." ”

The two walked to the gate of the small courtyard and happened to meet Shen Tingjun. The two sides greeted each other, and Chang Wuxing introduced Lei Shuanghan on his behalf, and several people greeted each other, and then they entered the flower hall together.

When he took a seat in the flower hall, Shen Tingjun took a slight sip of the teacup, and glanced at it without a trace, which always gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

This man's skin should be fair, and this is from his nakedness. You can get a glimpse of the skin color of the neck and hands that are exposed. It's just that I don't know if it's a personal fetish, or for some other reason, his face is covered with a black beard, but he doesn't bother to take care of it at all.

This makes him look like a big black bear with a tiger's back, which looks very intimidating. But the beard also hides his true appearance, making people wonder what he looks like and what his specific age is.

Looking into his eyes again, that sense of familiarity came back to his face.

But Shen Tingjun was sure that this was the first time he had seen this person.

After all, it was the first time he came to Minzhou, and such a person with such a sense of existence and such an alternative image would not have been impressed.

There were so many thoughts in his heart, but Shen Tingjun didn't show it at all.

The drinks and dishes were quickly served, and the three of them raised their glasses and changed the lamps, and the drinking was lively.

Today's banquet is more enjoyable than yesterday, just because although Chang Wuxing is a Confucian general, he is more disciplined in doing things, and he is also polite to others. He is less calculating than Wang Zhizhou, and he is more modest, plus there is a stunned Lei Shuanghan who speaks from time to time to liven up the atmosphere, Shen Tingjun doesn't feel that the wine at today's banquet is difficult to swallow.

It was getting late, and the two sides parted. By the time I got back to the house, it had been nearly a watch.

Shen Tingjun walked unhurriedly into the house, and Cheng Lin and Cheng Yi followed behind him.

Very suddenly, Shen Tingjun's footsteps froze in place. He looked back at the two of them and said, "Do you think Lei Shuanghan is a little familiar?" ”

Both of them shook their heads inexplicably, not knowing why their master would ask this.

Shen Tingjun didn't explain much, only whispered to Cheng Yi: "Go and check the origin of this person's life, remember, don't alarm others." ”

(End of chapter)