The officers and soldiers were shocked when they heard this, and were about to draw their blades, but Xiao Jinyan grabbed the Master of Mercy, "Second master, don't make trouble, the palace here is not a joke." ”

He said to the officers and soldiers, "I'm sorry official, my second uncle has a little problem here, he didn't marry a daughter-in-law since he was a child, he became a madman, and his family couldn't help it, so he let him become a monk in Qingliang Temple. He pointed to his head as he spoke.

The Master of Compassion said, "You have a problem, Lord, I'm not a madman, let alone his second uncle, we are both killers, and he said it himself when he broke into the palace." ”

Xiao Jinyan hugged the Master of Compassion, "Okay, let's go!"

"You let go of me. Official, you have to believe me. ”

Xiao Jinyan said, "Yes, you are not a madman, I am, I am a madman." “

The officers and soldiers looked like they were, and waved their hands at Xiao Jinyan, "Okay, having such an old man at home is really enough for you." ”

"Official, listen to me, I'm really not crazy. You've got to get him arrested. As he spoke, the officers and soldiers had already walked away.

Xiao Jinyan carried the Master of Compassion not far away, glared and said, "You came to make trouble for me, didn't you?"

The Master of Compassion sneered, "I figured it out, the last assassination, you were in a group with them, and you colluded to let me live on the roof for ten days, right?"

Xiao Jinyanxin said that you were taking revenge on me, but he said, "You can't say that, the person you want to kill, but the third son of the Li family in Jinling, I can't hide it, Zhang Tou'er has been killed, I let you live on it, in fact, to protect you." Otherwise, you don't know how many times you've died by now."

"And I'm going to thank you?"

Xiao Jinyan said, "I have something important now, where are you going to listen to the respect, if you do anything bad to me, be careful that I throw you into Xuanwu Lake to feed the fish." ”

The Master of Compassion said, "From now on, I will follow you wherever you go." ”

"That's what you said. Xiao Jinyan took the Master of Compassion to the Drum Tower, saw that there was no one around, took the Master of Compassion in his hand, jumped into the top of the building more than three feet high, and the Master of Compassion exclaimed, "What are you going to do?"

Xiao Jinyan laughed, "You can cool off here for a while." He immediately jumped downstairs and ran in the direction of the palace.

The master of compassion scolded on the top of the drum tower, but the surroundings were secluded, and no one came at all, so he went down to the roof and went up to the roof again, annoyed in his heart, and greeted Xiao Jinyan's eight generations of ancestors.

Not long after, Xiao Jinyan came to the city wall, he released the string force, and everything within 30 zhang of his body was reflected in the sea of knowledge, and when people were unprepared, he climbed over the city wall and came to the palace.

With the lesson of the last time, he had already memorized the map in the palace in his mind, and with the help of strings, he easily avoided several groups of patrol officers and soldiers, and specially selected the roof of the palace to march, first, the terrain is good, the field of vision is wide, and the second is that the top of the palace has wing horns, ridges, and sets of beasts, and the unevenness can hide the figure.

Taiji Hall is the emperor used to discuss politics in the palace, located in the central axis of the palace, since Emperor Chengzu moved north, Yingtian became the capital, Taiji Hall was idle, for hundreds of years, only the emperor toured south as a temporary place to discuss politics, but now the emperor, since entering the capital 20 years ago, has never come out. Therefore, except for the eunuchs on duty and the cleaners, there are very few people who visit here.

Xiao Jinyan crept around, and sneaked into the Taiji Hall while the patrols were not paying attention. The main hall is a hundred zhang square, the momentum of the construction is magnificent, and it has the atmosphere of the emperor. From the gate to the inside, there are three entrances and three plaques, which divide the Taiji Hall into three levels. The outermost is the place where the courtiers below the six grades of the Xuanxuan stand, the second entry is the place where the civil and military officials are in the court, and then up is the emperor's dragon chair and the back door, just above the dragon chair, there is a big plaque, which reads "Jianji Suiyou" four big characters, which means that the Son of Heaven should be the meaning of the people of the heavens.

Thinking that the mystery of his life experience was hidden behind this plaque, Xiao Jinyan felt an indescribable feeling in his heart. In the past 20 years, he has asked Li Chuntie and Wang Banxian, but both of them have been secretive about this matter, and have never mentioned who his parents are or what their background is. And the answer will be revealed in a moment.

He came to the plaque and was about to jump up, when he heard a cough next to him, Xiao Jinyan was shocked, it turned out that there was someone in the hall, and with his cultivation, he didn't sense the existence of this person.

He followed the prestige and saw the Mai swordsman, and couldn't help but be surprised, "Didn't you go to Shanhefang?"

The Mai swordsman was expressionless, "There are other people who go to Shanhefang." I've been waiting for you here for a long time. ”

......

The celebrant Gao Yuan's carriage stopped at the door, but he refused to get out of the car. This father-in-law is one of the four eunuchs who proclaimed the decree in the palace, and he regards wealth as his life, and he goes out on patrol on weekdays, representing the majesty of the Son of Heaven, and the shelf is very big. Over the years, except for a nail in Hidden Yang City, almost everyone has been polite to him and sent him away.

The work of proclaiming this work is both a fat job and a chore. If it is a holy decree of reward, the people who listen to the decree and those who announce the decree are very happy, and there is often a lot of benefit, but when it comes to the holy decree of raiding the house and dismissing the official, it becomes a chore.

Today, the Li family worships their ancestors, and the court rewards them, which is naturally a beautiful one. He came to Jinling half a month in advance and lived in the palace, but after half a month, the Li family not only did not go to give gifts to inquire about the news, but also did not even come down to pay a greeting, so Gonggong Gao was very angry and refused to get down in the car.

Everyone was dumbfounded, Li Dongyang instructed Li Xiaohua to let the family clean the water and splash the street again, and then stepped forward to wait, and Gao Gonggong swallowed it slowly.

"Father-in-law Gao has worked hard all the way, and this time he came to our house, which really made the Li family proud. I wonder if my father-in-law has ever lived in Jinling?"

Li Xiaohua welcomed her father-in-law into the inner hall, and said things to him along the way, without any indication at all, and her father-in-law wanted to ask for money, but it was inconvenient to speak. After all, although Li Xiaohua has no official position or position, he has a decent title, not to mention that his relationship with His Majesty is not an ordinary closeness. Every year, the things that the Li family sends to the palace can be counted by boat, of course, there is no share of him.

Grandpa Gao sighed, "I've encountered something recently, and it's a little difficult to do." ”

"Oh?" Li Xiaohua said with a smile, "I don't know why my father-in-law sighed, it's better to say it, my Li family is not talented, and I am willing to solve problems for my father-in-law." ”

Gao Gong said, "Someone owes me money, but refuses to return it, and I am worried about how to talk to him." ”

Li Xiaohua laughed, "It turned out to be a matter of debt collection, I don't know where the debtor is?"

"It's in Jinling. ”

"That's going to be easy. Our Li family lives in Jinling, so everyone will give me a face, if it is inconvenient for you, it is better for me to help you deal with it. ”

Gao Gonggong said in his heart that he was waiting for you, and said: "With Lord Li's words, the miscellaneous family will have confidence in their hearts." ”

After that, he took out a package from his arms, the inner three layers and the outer three layers were tightly wrapped, and when they were opened layer by layer, there was actually a piece of paper inside, and Gonggong Gao handed over the paper, "Lord Li, have you ever known the words on it?"

Li Xiaohua took it and looked at it, and it turned out to be an IOU, which read:

"There is a special basis for Jinling Li Chengcheng to owe Zhao Lanjiang 100,000 taels of silver. Days. ”

This IOU was written to Zhao Lanjiang when Li Chengcheng was in Yinyang last year, and was later treated by Zhao Lanjiang as a "favor to the water" and stuffed to Eunuch Gao.

Li Xiaohua couldn't cry or laugh.

"It turns out that this is a note made by the dog. Li Xiaohua said, "Wait a while, Allure will be the head of our Li family, and I will ask him to give you an answer." ”

After that, he handed the IOU to Li Tingcheng.

Regarding the IOU, Zhao Lanjiang once mentioned it to Li Tingcheng, and Li Tingcheng had to say, "Father-in-law Gao, take a step to speak." ”

He pulled Eunuch Gao in the side hall, and ordered someone to come up to make tea, looking at him with a smile, Gao Yuan was flustered by him, "What's the matter, do you want to repay the debt?"

Li Chengcheng said, "How can it." I, Li Chengcheng, am also a member of the Li family, and the Li family has built a family with integrity for five hundred years, how can there be any reason to rely on the debt?"

"Are you going to use cash, or silver tickets?"

Li Chengcheng said, "Father-in-law, please drink tea first." ”

Gao Yuan picked up the teacup and took a sip, only to feel that his lips and teeth were fragrant, and he couldn't help but praise, "Good tea!"

Li Chengcheng said, "The taste can enter the mouth of the father-in-law?"

"Well, when you go, wrap me some. ”

Li Chengcheng said, "This tea is not ordinary tea, but Emperor Taizu gave it to my Li family five hundred years ago. A few years ago, the Cui family in Henan Province came to explore and bought one or two taels of silver with 1.5 million taels of silver. At this price, my father-in-law drank this cup just now, and it is almost worth 30,000 or 40,000 taels!"

Gao Yuan said sharply, "What? Such a mouthful of broken tea costs thirty or forty thousand taels?"

Li Chengcheng had a calm face, "What my father-in-law said is not right, does my father-in-law think that the imperial tea rewarded by Emperor Taizu is not worth this money?"

On an errand in the palace, he is most afraid of slandering the royal family, let alone Emperor Taizu. He didn't even dare to say it, he said in his heart, thirty or forty thousand taels were gone, fortunately he only drank one sip, and even put the teacup down on the table, Li Chengcheng's internal force vomited slightly, Gao Yuan didn't hold it, and with a snap, the teacup fell to the ground.

Li Qingcheng exclaimed, "Ah!"

"What's wrong?"

"Oh no, this teacup may seem ordinary, but it has a lot of potential. This is called a dragon and four phoenix cups, it is a reward from Emperor Chengzu, and now there are only two left in the world, in addition to this one, the other one is offered in the Taimiao! If this cup is broken, it is not a matter of money, but the crime of bullying the king!"

Gao Yuan's face changed greatly, "What can I do about this?"

Li Chengcheng said with a smile, "Father-in-law don't panic, I will cover up the past for my father-in-law, but I don't have any money in my hand recently, as for the IOU, ......"

Gao Yuan said, "It's just a piece of broken paper, you help me block this matter, and this matter will be cleared." ”

......

Li Chengcheng and Gao Yuan walked out talking and laughing, and the two of them were like friends who had seen each other for a long time, which was in stark contrast to the previous arrogant appearance of Gao Gonggong.

Li Xiaohua said, "Father-in-law Gao, the incense case, Ding furnace and other utensils for receiving the decree have been prepared, and the auspicious time has arrived, please announce the decree to the father-in-law!"

Gao Yuan then ordered someone to take out a jade box from the car, and after opening it, he took out a holy decree and said sharply, "The holy decree has arrived!"

Li Xiaohua led all the clansmen to kneel down one after another, "Grass people Li Xiaohua and the clansmen's disciples listen to the order!"

"Fengtian carries the emperor's edict: the Li family of Yingtianfu, although they live in the south of the Yangtze River, they are dedicated to the ...... of the country"

The will is very lengthy, Gao Gonggong said unhurriedly, first affirmed the contribution of the Li family to the royal family, from the return of the king of Jinling to the time, until the battle of Jingyan Li Xiaohua worked hard, the Li family ancestors praised all over again, the emperor on behalf of the royal family to the Li family to express heartfelt thanks, on the occasion of the great ancestor worship, to send sincere blessings to the Li family.

"I heard that the eldest son of the Li family fell into the city, he was young and promising, and he killed the enemy side by side with the king of Yinyang in the western frontier, and made great contributions.

As soon as the will came out, the entire Li family was shocked.

The Marquis of Pingyang is a marquis, although it is only a title, and there is no actual fiefdom, but the general royal family is also used to praise the courtiers, but the marquis of Li Chengcheng is beyond everyone's expectations. Li Xiaohua's great credit is just a Dingyang uncle.

The last time the Li family was a marquis, it was two hundred years ago when he defeated the Tatar tribes in northern Xinjiang, when he served as the governor of the northern army.

What a glory is this?

And what Li Chengcheng did was to fight against the Western Chu and Northern Zhou coalition forces with Zhao Lanjiang, and he did not exert much strength.

Li Xiaohua led everyone to kowtow and thank him.

Li Chengcheng couldn't be happy.

Others don't know where Pingyang is, but Li Chengcheng knows that Pingyang is one of the nineteen cities in Yinyang, and the so-called Pingyang Marquis is equivalent to burying a nail in the fief of the Yinyang King of Zhao Lanjiang. Its real intention is to contain Zhao Lanjiang.

The marquis of Pingyang, Li Chengcheng naturally does not have to go to the domain, but once there is any change in the war in the western Xinjiang or Yinyang, as the Marquis of Pingyang, he must fight for his fiefdom, that is to say, the entire Li family in Jinling will be tied to the situation in Yinyang.

The emperor's reward seems to be an honor, but in fact it hides a murderous intention. Of course, if the hidden yang is safe, this reward is naturally excellent, and once the hidden yang changes, then this reward will become a bane.

It seems that His Majesty in the palace is still a little relieved that Zhao Lanjiang is the dominant family in Yinyang City.

Not long after, the matter of Li Chengcheng's official sealing of the Marquis of Pingyang spread all over Jinling City. Before Gonggong Gao left, Li Xiaohua ordered someone to load a box of gold, silver and jewelry in his carriage.

It was almost noon, and the ancestor worship ceremony was coming to an end.

Next, there is the Council of Elders within the clan.

Li Xiaohua announced that he would wash his hands in the golden basin and give up the position of the head of the family, and according to the rules of the clan, a new patriarch would be elected.

There is only one topic on the agenda of the meeting, the proposal on the election of the new patriarch of the Li family in Jinling in Li Tingcheng, voted by the elders of the three rooms and sixteen branches of the elders, as long as there are thirteen votes passed, Li Tingcheng will smoothly become the new head of the Li family.

Li Xiaohua made a speech of resignation from the head of the family, with the support of the clansmen, under the care of the imperial court, and under the wise leadership of His Majesty, the Li family in Jinling has made remarkable achievements in the past 20 years, and has greatly improved its economic, political influence and status in the rivers and lakes, which is the result of the joint efforts of all the children of the Li family.

Everyone affirmed Li Xiaohua's contribution to the Li family in the past 20 years and sent their best wishes.

After some politeness, the Council of Elders officially entered the voting session.

The voting was carried out by secret ballot, and the general collection of the Jinling branch of Xiaosheng Jianghu was invited, the Shaolin faction counted the votes, and the Wudang faction supervised the votes, and the voting results will be open to the entire Jianghu.

In the council hall of the ancestral hall, the Council of Elders enters the voting process. The two sword servants began to distribute the votes, and since the rooms had already made up their minds in advance, the voting was soon over.

The total number of votes began to be counted.

"Big room, agreed, second room, agreed, third room, agreed. ”

The elders of the Li family's three rooms all voted for it, and everyone began to breathe a sigh of relief, and the position of the head of Li Chengcheng's family was basically determined.

"The fourth room, I don't agree, the fifth room doesn't agree, the sixth room doesn't agree...... The ninth room agrees, the eleventh room agrees......"

Li Xiaohua thought that he had a chance to win, but as the singing continued, his face became ugly.

The Li family has three rooms and sixteen branches, which is originally full of factions, involving the distribution of interests, and Li Xiaohua cannot treat everyone equally, so it is natural that he will be dissatisfied with him, and it is expected to vote against him.

But after subduing Li Xiaoshu, as long as he doesn't act as a demon, Li Xiaohua is ninety percent sure that he will send Li Tingcheng up, but the voting process is not like this. If it's a centrist, forget it, the eighth and fifteenth rooms, which have always listened to Li Xiaohua's dispatch, actually voted against.

At the end of the rolling, there were 12 votes in favor and 6 votes against.

Li Xiaohua said in a deep voice: "How can you get one less vote?"

At this time, Li Xiangzhong, who was of the thirteenth branch, said, "My ticket has not been filled in yet." ”

If you want to pass the resolution, you must have thirteen votes, and Li Xiangzhong deliberately waited until the end, so at this moment, this vote in his hand is crucial.

Li Xiaohua said, "Xiangzhong, you have to think about it." ”

Li Xiangzhong smiled, "Naturally, it is thoughtful, the status of our thirteen rooms in the clan, I think everyone knows it, I never thought that I also have a vote in my hands to decide the patriarch, so before making a decision, I have a few words to say." ”

Li Xiaohua looked at Li Xiaoshu, Li Xiaoshu shook his head, saying that he didn't know.

"Say it. Li Xiaohua was afraid that he would have extraneous branches, and added, "If you have any requirements, you can mention them." ”

Li Xiangzhong said, "For a long time, the thirteenth room belongs to the branch that the mother does not care about and the uncle is not close to, and in the family, there is not even a decent property, but what I want to say today has nothing to do with this." The position of the head of the family, for the thirteenth room, it makes no difference to whom it is passed on and who it is not worn. I have no problem with this kid in Allure. I just want to ask our patriarch one question today, if the answer is satisfactory, I will naturally agree, if not, I'm sorry, I give up voting. ”

If he gave up voting, Li Chengcheng could not meet the conditions for becoming the head of the family, so the disciples of the Li family's three rooms and sixteen branches had the right to compete for the position of the head of the family.

Li Xiaohua said, "What's the problem?"

Li Xiangzhong, who has always been honest, asked Li Xiaohua sharply, "Li Xiaohua, are you guilty?"

??????