From a son-in-law to a favorite of the empress

It was very hot at noon in July. The ban on Lin'an Prefecture came suddenly. The people didn't know why and didn't dare to ask more. They could only endure it.

Many people who relied on going in and out of the city to resell supplies and do small businesses suddenly lost their livelihoods, not to mention some farmers who came to the city from the countryside to work.

Countless people gathered inside and outside the city wall, waiting for the moment when the gate would open, which put pressure on the soldiers guarding the city.

They were also from the Jiangnan area, and most of them were poor families. How could they withstand the people kneeling and begging.

At this moment, outside Lin'an Prefecture, a carriage had been parked for a long time.

"Miss, what should we do? We can't get in!"

The personal maid Qing Yuan had a worried look on her face and whispered, "The city gate is not open. It's too hot outside with the sun shining. I'm afraid we can't hold on for long!"

Zhao Jianjia also had a thin sweat on her face. The sun was so scorching that the carriage was like a steamer. It was simply not a place for people to stay.

But she was calm and her eyes were solemn. She said in a deep voice: "This is an extraordinary situation. It doesn't matter if you suffer a little. Your son-in-law is struggling in the city. That's life-threatening."

Mingrui said: "Miss, why don't you give me the letter and tell me what you want to tell me. I will sneak into the dog hole."

Zhao Jianjia shook her head and said: "No, it's a serious matter. Dad has repeatedly emphasized that I should hand it over to Zhou Yuan in person. How can I ignore the overall situation and miss the big thing."

Speaking of this, her eyes lit up and asked in confusion: "You mean, there is a dog hole?"

Qingyuan hurriedly said: "Miss is a rich woman and the most talented woman in Yunzhou. How can you sneak into a dog hole? , Mingrui, you deserve to be beaten."

"Shut up!"

Zhao Jianjia frowned and said, "Qingyuan, when did you become so arrogant? Have you been used to a good life and can't stand the slightest hardship?"

Qingyuan was aggrieved and almost cried: "Miss, I feel sorry for you. You are a daughter of a rich man, the daughter of the top scholar. How can you go through a dog hole for a son-in-law? If this gets out, how can you live in the future?"

"What do you mean by a son-in-law?"

Zhao Jianjia changed color and said, "How dare you! Who gave you the courage! How dare you insult your son-in-law like this!"

Qingyuan saw that Zhao Jianjia was really angry, so she didn't dare to say anything.

Zhao Jianjia said: "Although Zhou Yuan is a son-in-law, he is also my husband who has worshipped heaven and earth with me. Even if we are not in harmony due to emotional differences, we still have a friendship. How can you be so arrogant and insult him!"

"Besides, since we got married, Zhou Yuan has never done anything bad. On the contrary, he has saved the Zhao family many times and supported my father. Now he is in Lin'an Prefecture to help the country and save the people."

"If I abandon him now, how different will I be from those ungrateful and slutty women who climb up and trample on the weak!"

Qing Yuan was already in tears, crying: "Miss, I was wrong, it was me who was wrong."

Zhao Jianjia took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Put down all the valuables, Mingrui, take us to the dog hole."

"No matter what, we must deliver the things to the son-in-law in the shortest time."

...

Zhou Yuan looked at the letter in his hand and his eyes widened for a while.

He suddenly turned around and looked at Song Shanzi, who looked tired, and said in surprise: "Master, you have read a lot. This article is really brilliant. There are even metaphors and allusions, and it is very vivid!"

"The Marquis of Annan likes to eat the brains of babies. You can make up such an evil act that is hated by both humans and gods. I underestimated you!"

Song Shanzi sighed and said, "It's not made up."

The smile on Zhou Yuan's face froze, his face turned cold, and he continued to look down.

He likes to eat baby brains, keeps female slaves, kills people for fun, causes mutilation to vent anger, abducts and sells women and children, uses gambling as a trap, and forces countless families to be broken up.

He smuggled salt and iron, exported them to the north, and sold them to the Tartars.

He privately forged weapons and sold them cheaply to the people, secretly provoked clan and village relations, and encouraged armed fights, just to control the local government office...

This person is really worse than a beast!

Zhou Yuan slapped the letter on Song Shanzi's face and said sternly: "Look at what you support!"

Song Shanzi sighed and didn't dare to reply.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath and said coldly: "Add another one, saying that Annan Hou wants to cancel the imperial examination and restore the old system of filial piety and integrity. At the same time, he will carry out tax reform, abolish the head tax, and implement the land tax."

If this news can spread, even if Annan Hou has the ability to see through the sky and the earth, he will definitely not succeed.

Canceling the imperial examination blocked the way for the poor, who in the world would not hate him?

The land tax was damaged and the fundamental interests of the gentry were destroyed. Who would support him?

Although the land tax was definitely an improvement in the overall development of history, this thing is not suitable for people like Annan Hou to do, it is a self-immolation.

Xiong Kuohai sighed: "Master Zhou's plan is to hit the snake at its weakest point and destroy its lifeline!"

He could guess the general intention, but he couldn't figure out the reason. But he was very smart. Since last night, he no longer called Zhou Yuan by his real name, but called him "Master Zhou".

He who knows the current situation is a hero. In this regard, Xiong Kuohai did a good job.

"Report!"

A shout suddenly came from outside the door.

Then, Gao Biao strode in and said in a deep voice: "Master, three people were caught under the tower of Kuixingfang. They don't look like spies. The other party said that they are your wife and family."

"Ah?"

Zhou Yuan was startled and said immediately: "Then bring them here quickly, don't hurt them!"

Gao Biao hurriedly said: "Master, don't worry, we didn't hurt anyone, we just sent the lady to the side hall."

"Get Song Shanzi out!"

Zhou Yuan said this and ran out quickly.

Soon, he saw Zhao Jianjia sitting in the side hall.

It was a strange Zhao Jianjia.

Because Zhou Yuan had never seen her so haggard and embarrassed.

Her skirt was covered with dirt and filth, and her messy hair and sweat stuck to her face.

She looked a little flustered, as if sitting on pins and needles, and kept looking around.

For a lady from a noble family, she was obviously frightened by the escort of the Jinyiwei.

"Jianjia!"

Zhou Yuan shouted before he got close.

Zhao Jianjia turned around suddenly, and when she saw Zhou Yuan, she stood up subconsciously.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything, but her nose was sour and tears were rolling.

Zhou Yuan also felt distressed, and hurried to her, smiling and said, "Thank you for your hard work, my lady!"

Zhao Jianjia's mouth shrank, and she almost cried out.

But she still held back, wiped her tears quickly, and choked up and said, "Hurry, hurry, this is the letter from Daddy."

She took out the thick letter from her arms, which was soaked with sweat. One can imagine how much pressure she had to bear when she came here quietly on such a hot day.

Zhou Yuan put the letter aside, opened his arms, hugged her into his arms, and sighed, "I didn't expect you to come."

This sentence almost broke Zhao Jianjia's defense, and tears flowed out in an instant.

She traveled at night, not daring to close her eyes. There were tigers howling and wolves howling all the way, and bandits appeared again, and she was always worried.

She was so hot that she got in through the dog hole again, and was interrogated by patrolling soldiers and almost caught.

When she was close to Kuixingfang, before she could react, a knife was placed on her neck. Seeing that it was the clothes of the Jinyiwei, she dared to reveal her identity.

She didn't dare to complain, because she knew that this was nothing compared to what Zhou Yuan had to bear.

But for her, this was also a hardship she had never experienced before.

At this moment, facing the tenderness, Zhao Jianjia let down her guard and couldn't help but shed tears.

She leaned in Zhou Yuan's arms, choking with tears and said: "Daddy asked me to help you, so I came."