Don't go back to hometown

After the civil examination was over, the military examination was also in full swing.First, there were two rounds of literary examinations, and more than half of the martial arts candidates were unsuccessful in each round. In the end, there were only more than 200 candidates, which were considered half of the tributes.It's just that they still need to pass a round of military tests to determine their ranking.

Because many martial arts candidates failed in the first two rounds, there are not many remaining martial arts candidates in each province. They are sorted according to their rankings in the provincial examinations.

The three civil and military trials took nearly a month, Jiang Xianyu was more cautious this time, he did not go to the martial arts test site to join in the fun, and only sent his bodyguards to find out the news.

Just as they expected, both Ren Xiaoyao and Duan Yu entered the martial arts test.Ren Xiaoyao, as the martial arts Yayuan of Jiangnan Province, not only blocked all the challenges of ranking below Yayuan, but also defeated several Wu Jieyuan from other provinces. In the end, he was defeated by Wu Jieyuan of Southeast Province due to lack of physical strength in the wheel battle.

As expected, Ren Xiaoyao was not the only man assigned by King Zhong. Jie Yuan from the southeast province won another round, and finally lost to Duan Yu, finally sending the latter to the position of Wu Huiyuan.Ren Xiaoyao kept the No.4 position.

Jiang Xianyu and Xie Cheng did not comment on this, it depends on how the emperor will use him at that time.

After the martial arts examination is over, the day when the literary examination is released is not far away.

This month, Xie Cheng, with the assistance of Jiuwang Menke, found a shop for antique soup in Kaishu, and opened it in a low-key manner.This time he still didn't show up, but was managed by a trustworthy shopkeeper brought from Yangzhou.

The name of the restaurant is "Sheng Han Lou", which means that the antique soup can drive away the cold, and the other means "the heights are too cold", which means climbing the heights and making progress to a higher level.The overall layout is quiet and elegant, with a lot of private rooms and partitions designed, and some poems were transcribed and hung on the wall, showing an elegant atmosphere.

Jiang Xianyu inadvertently invited Li Mingya and Xu Jing to have a meal here, and they immediately remembered the taste of the mandarin duck pot.

Afterwards, led by Li Mingya and Xu Jing, the noble ladies and young ladies from the capital all came to taste the mandarin duck pot in Shenghanlou.Some of the poems hanging on the wall are also famous for this.

There is no shortage of rich and noble people in the capital who love to taste new things. After hearing the name of "Shenghan Tower", they all became interested and wanted to try it out.

As a result, it is often hard to find a table in Shenghan Building only half a month after its opening, and its high price has become a symbol of status, attracting aristocrats from aristocratic families.

However, after Sheng Han Tower became famous, it still attracted some people's attention.

Those who are less skilled found out that the shopkeeper is from Jiangnan and the chef is from Sichuan. The two hit it off and opened Shenghan Building together; Amazing, Li Mingya and Xu Jing have been found, and they are known to be the first customers of Sheng Han Building, and have brought many guests to Sheng Han Building.

"Do you think Shenghan Building is the property of the third child?"

Prince Zhong's Mansion, Prince Zhong also noticed this Shenghan Tower, which was frequently visited by dignitaries and nobles in a short period of time, and because Li Mingya was found, he naturally suspected that he was with Prince Rui.

"This king has lost so much money in the south of the Yangtze River, but the third brother found a good way to make money!" Zhong Wang called Wang Rui "third brother" on the surface, but his tone was very contemptuous when he mentioned it in private.

The counselors below did not make a judgment lightly. Ren Xiaoyao stood behind his adoptive father with a low-browed look, but when he heard Li Mingya's name, his heart stabbed severely.

After he returned to the capital, he saw Li Mingya from afar more than once, but every time he didn't dare to step forward or show his face, he could only follow and follow like a voyeur.

Therefore, he knew that Li Mingya was in contact with Xu Jing, that they were in love with each other, and there was only one imperial decree to grant marriage—his bride in the previous life eventually became someone else's wife.

But he had to admit that what Jiang Xianyu said was right, he was not qualified to atone for Ming Ya.In his previous life, he had blamed Mingya himself, choosing the former between loyalty, filial piety and love.

In this life, he has lost his own face and his dignified identity, and he has no right to appear in front of Mingya again.

What's more, even if he was given a chance to choose again, he still couldn't abandon his adoptive father and choose Mingya.

But now King Zhong has noticed Mingya...

Ren Xiaoyao probably knew that Ming Ya's idea of ​​Sheng Han Lou's mandarin duck hot pot could not be, even if it was Prince Rui's property, given his love for Ming Ya, he would never let Ming Ya show his face to run it.

Reminiscent of Jiang Xianyu and Xie Cheng's visit to Beijing a month ago, and getting in touch with Ming Ya, Ren Xiaoyao vaguely had an answer in his mind.

At the same time, Ren Xiaoyao's adoptive father, Ren Su, said: "Prince Rui has no roots in Jiangnan and Shu, even if Shenghan Tower is his property, there are probably others who are giving him advice."

"Sir, what you said is justified." King Zhong nodded in agreement, then turned his head and told the guards: "Go and find out if there are any new faces around Lao San, and find out who is behind Sheng Hanlou."

The guards were ordered to retreat, and King Zhong asked again, "How is Shen Chasing that old fellow doing?"

Shen Zhui returned to Beijing with His Royal Highness Cheng Wang a month ago, and it is said that he brought back personal and physical evidence, which can prove that the one who attacked Li Yi was not an ordinary bandit.But he hid in the Tianxin Mansion except for entering the palace to face the saint, and claimed that he was thoroughly investigating the assassination of the Nine Kings, but in fact there was no movement for a month.

King Zhong sent people to inquire for a long time, but he still didn't know what evidence Shen Zhui had.

Advisor Ji Ting said: "Shen Zhui has not been able to submit evidence to His Majesty for so long, presumably because the witnesses cannot pry open his mouth, and the physical evidence is not enough to identify us, so there will be no results."

Xu Jing, the counselor, went on to say: "I'm afraid that he will forge other evidence, which is not good for us."

Ren Su reminded: "But don't forget that there is Master Xiao Shen. Shen Zhui probably didn't have time to investigate the assassination of the Nine Kings when he came back this time, but was busy regaining the command of Tianxin Mansion."

A trace of sternness flashed in King Zhong's eyes, and he cursed: "That old man! I have no talent and incompetence, but I raised a son who is as good as a wolf cub, who dares to bite his own father!"

Ji Tingdao: "It's actually a bit strange to say this matter, Mr. Xiao Shen has seized the power, and His Majesty has not expressed anything."

King Zhong sneered: "That old thing is even more ruthless. He has grown impatient with Shen Chasing such a stupid and stupid dog. Shen Feng is indeed smarter than his father, and he is more in line with that old thing's wishes. Plus There must be some wounds in the fight between father and son, the old man loves to watch this kind of drama, so naturally he won't intervene."

Sometimes he even suspects that the old thing actually sees the plan between him and the deposed prince and the third child.

Ren Su opened his mouth to say something, but was interrupted by a cough rushing to his throat.Ren Xiaoyao immediately handed him a glass of warm water.

"This time, we can see His Majesty's methods by sending officials from the Ministry of Industry to Jiangnan to preside over the reconstruction." Ren Su reminded King Zhong, "He not only wants to take this opportunity to test the Nine Kings, but also to test the Lord and Prince Rui, as well as the abolished Prince."

Whoever moves the most here will naturally be the easiest to be discovered by the emperor.

King Zhong was silent for a while, then suddenly asked: "How is the progress of Lao Jiu?"

Xu Jing: "I heard that some time ago, I was going around lobbying Jiangnan wealthy businessmen to donate money."

King Zhong was taken aback, and frowned.

Ren Su was slightly surprised for a moment, smiled softly, and said to King Zhong: "I am afraid that the prince's backyard will receive a letter from home again."

King Zhong's face darkened, and he had a bad premonition in his heart.

Ren Xiaoyao was surprised when he heard it, and he was stunned for a while before he realized that the prince's side concubine came from the Duan family in Jinling, and was also a wealthy man in the south of the Yangtze River.The Nine Kings lobbied the rich merchants in the south of the Yangtze River to donate money, and it was inevitable that the Duan family would be missing.

The Nine Kings...are they desperate, or are they declaring war on the prince?

……

A few days later, King Zhong really received a letter from Duan's family complaining, crying to him that there was no money to donate to the Nine Kings.

But King Zhong had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask the Duan family to donate money, and the donation should not be too small, otherwise the censor's spittle would drown him tomorrow.

Unexpectedly, the strategy used to hold Lao Jiu back at the beginning actually made him lose his wife and lose his army!

Prince Zhong was so angry that he dropped a tea set, and at the same time received a tip to investigate the new faces around Li Mingya and Prince Rui.

Looking at the portrait with Jiang Xianyu's name written on it, his pupils shrank, and he was beyond shocked.

Flicking through Jiang Xianyu's history and life with trembling fingers, King Zhong's eyes became brighter and brighter, and finally stood up suddenly: "Prepare the horse! This king is going to the palace to face the saint!"

……

In the imperial study room, Emperor Wen Qing was checking the ranking of the general examination submitted by the Ministry of Rites.

He was nearly sixty years old, with white hair and chicken skin, cloudy eyes, pale complexion, coughing twice from time to time, and he had long since lost the appearance of a generation of iron-handed tyrants.

The chief eunuch handed him warm water at the right time, and persuaded him with a worried face: "Your Majesty, it's better to take a rest first, it's time to drink medicine."

Emperor Wenqing contracted a cold and fell ill in winter, and worked hard because of the snow disaster in the south of the Yangtze River, so that his illness fluctuated for a long time.Now I am often mentally ill and unable to sit for long periods of time.

A few days ago, if there was no reminder from the chief eunuch, I almost fell asleep in the morning.

Emperor Wenqing put down the ranking and examination papers in his hands, took the soup and medicine handed by the chief eunuch and drank it, leaned on the cushion of the throne, and planned to close his eyes and rest for a while.

The chief eunuch immediately ordered the palace staff to open the windows for ventilation and light incense to eliminate the smell.

"Your Majesty, His Royal Highness King Zhong is asking to see you."

Emperor Wenqing rubbed his forehead, a trace of impatience flashed in his brows and eyes: "Xuan."

As soon as King Zhong entered the room, he smelled a faint smell of medicine, and immediately looked carefully at the state of Emperor Wen Qing.

"The sons and ministers see the father."

Emperor Wenqing waved his hand to excuse him, with a clear impatience in his tone: "Say something quickly, I'm tired."

A trace of resentment flashed in King Zhong's eyes—this old thing always did this, and he never had a good face towards him.

He suppressed the emotion in his heart and presented the portrait to Emperor Wen Qing.

"I saw a familiar face in the capital a few days ago, and I was very surprised. After careful investigation, I found that this person has some relationship with the third brother."

Emperor Wenqing unfolded the portrait, his pupils trembled, and he froze on the spot.

His lips trembled, and it took him a long time to find his normal voice: "His... his surname is 'Jiang'?"

"Yes, although this person's surname is Jiang, the sheep girl, she is almost similar to the Empress Dowager Jiang. She was originally from Yangzhou, and her family runs an escort agency." King Zhong paused, and quietly raised his eyes to look at Emperor Wenqing's expression, "Niece Mingya This is the young owner of the bodyguard bureau that I met when I went to Jiangnan for fun."

Mingya...

Yangzhou...Yangzhou!

Emperor Wen Qing breathed heavily, and he clenched a corner of the portrait: "Let Shen Zhui!"