Don't go back to hometown

When Shen Zhui was summoned, he was interrogating the assassin brought back from Huai'an in the prison of Tianxin Mansion.

It was Shen Feng who sent the letter.He was stopped outside the prison by Shen Zhui's only remaining confidant, and when Shen Zhui came out, his expression was cold: "The Holy Father summoned my father to enter the palace immediately."

Shen Zhui snorted coldly, feeling that "father" was extremely ironic.He looked at Shen Feng coldly: "Where is the edict?"

Shen Feng glanced at him with a half-smile, "Your Majesty ordered that the father-in-law who delivered the decree is still waiting for father outside the mansion."

Shen Zhui expected that Shen Feng would not dare to deceive him with such a thing, so he turned around and ordered his confidants to guard the prison, and prepared to leave for the palace.

When passing by Shen Feng's side, he suddenly heard Shen Feng asking: "The testimony in the prison, how is the father's interrogation going? Can you be sure to catch the mastermind behind the assassination of the Nine Kings?"

Shen Zhui didn't know whether he was probing or provoking, but the anger in his heart was provoked, a trace of disgust flashed in his eyes, and he said to Shen Feng: "It's better for you to look like a filial son with a low eyebrow and a pleasing eye."

Shen Feng showed a sarcastic smile: "I'm afraid I will disappoint you. Ever since I was sensible, I have never thought of being your filial son."

Shen Zhui took a deep breath, panted heavily with a sullen face, raised his hand to teach Shen Feng a lesson, but the latter took a step back, the smile on his face couldn't reach his eyes: "Father, go slowly, Your Majesty is still waiting for you."

Shen Zhui had no choice but to suppress his anger, flung his sleeves and left.

It was only when he came back that he found out that the eldest son, Shen Feng, was holding the commander's badge he had given before he went to the south of the Yangtze River. He had drawn all his subordinates together and emptied his power.

He was shocked and angry, and reprimanded him sharply, but Shen Feng was indifferent, and refused to return the token. The entire Tianxin Mansion now only listens to Shen Feng's orders, making him, the commander, useless.

And His Majesty even ordered him to concentrate on investigating the assassination of the Nine Kings, and temporarily hand over the affairs of Tianxin Mansion to Shen Feng.In this way, he completely lost the reason for Shen Feng to return the token.

So he could only step up the investigation of the assassination of the Nine Kings, focus on interrogating witnesses, and strive to do a good job in order to regain the power of the commander.

But outsiders don't know that the witness he brought back was already insane when he was rescued from the mountain, and he couldn't confess anything useful.

He couldn't identify the King Zhong just by relying on a jade tablet with the word "loyalty" written on it. Without sufficient evidence, the Holy One would not only not deal with the King Zhong, but would also be disappointed with his ability.The witness testimony is his only breakthrough now, he can only ask the doctor to testify for the treatment, and at the same time investigate the movements of King Zhong, Prince Rui and the Deposed Prince during this period, trying to find any clues.

However, Shen Feng controlled the power of Tianxin Mansion, so that he didn't even have anyone he could use!

Shen Zhui suppressed his anger and entered the palace, not forgetting to ask the father-in-law who delivered the decree why Emperor Wenqing called him into the palace.

The little eunuch didn't know why, so he could only tell King Zhong to go to the palace to face the saint, and then His Majesty summoned him.

Shen Zhui didn't know what kind of trick King Zhong was up to, so he entered the imperial study with some trepidation.

"Weichen see Your Majesty."

"Ahem..." Emperor Wenqing coughed just as he was about to speak, and the chief eunuch quickly handed him warm water to comfort Emperor Wenqing.

Emperor Wenqing was more and more bored by his sickly body, and he didn't bother to call Shen Zhui, so he threw the forehead portrait in his hand like Shen Zhui, "Do you recognize this person?"

The portrait landed lightly, a little far away from Shen Zhui, but Emperor Wenqing didn't call out, so Shen Zhui could only walk forward on his knees to pick up the portrait.

After seeing the names and characters on it clearly, Shen Zhui's heart skipped a beat, and he glanced at King Zhong from the corner of his eye.

Could it be that King Zhong found Jiang Xianyu's head and presented the portrait to His Majesty?

Shen Zhui's thoughts changed sharply, and he was silent for a while.

"Why? Is this portrait difficult to identify?" Emperor Wenqing said coldly.

Shen Zhui hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, forgive me, this portrait is indeed familiar. Looking carefully, it should be the bodyguard that His Royal Highness Cheng said, and he went to the mountain to rescue His Highness Yi Wang with him, but..."

Shen Zhui paused, looked up at Emperor Wenqing's expression, and said tentatively: "I'm looking at the portrait now, but I feel that this person is somewhat similar to... and...."

Emperor Wenqing looked at him with deep eyes and said nothing, but King Zhong raised his lips to induce him: "Master Shen, why not just tell me, who do you think you look like?"

As soon as King Zhong's words came out, Shen Zhui knew that he had made the right bet. His Majesty had obviously doubted Jiang Xianyu's identity.

The first thing King Cheng did after returning to Beijing was to ask for credit for King Yi. He praised his younger brother again and again, and also mentioned a team of loyal bodyguards, asking His Majesty to reward them after the disaster is over. .

At that time, His Majesty had heard of the names of Ping An Escort and Jiang Xianyu, but he had never seen the portraits or real people.Now that King Zhong presented the portrait to His Majesty, it is impossible for His Majesty not to suspect such a similar appearance.And if he just denied that he knew Jiang Xianyu, he would definitely be exposed.

Fortunately he was right.

"I feel that this person... somewhat resembles the late Empress Dowager Jiang."

Emperor Wenqing still looked at him silently, and King Zhong answered: "Master Shen should have seen this person in Huai'an, right? Lord Shen didn't think he looked like him at that time, but only after seeing the portrait now?"

Shen Zhui still knelt on the ground, raised his eyes to look at King Zhong, but refused to lose in his imposing manner: "I did have a relationship with this person once, but I was blind at the time and couldn't realize this, but this portrait is even more beautiful than me. A little bit more like Empress Dowager Jiang."

He counterattacked indifferently, implying that King Zhong had tampered with the portrait to make "Jiang Xianyu" look more like Empress Dowager Jiang.

King Zhong was taken aback by what he said, and immediately raised his head to look at Emperor Wenqing. He wanted to explain that he had never met Jiang Xianyu himself, and he did not deliberately retouch the portrait. .

Zhong Wang's face suddenly turned ugly.

At this moment, Emperor Wen Qing finally said, "Shen Aiqing, let her live in peace."

Shen Zhui immediately stood up, bowing his head respectfully.

Emperor Wen Qing didn't ask about the portraits, but said, "Shen Aiqing suddenly asked for an order to go south at the end of last year, saying that he had traced the clues of the rich merchants in the south of the Yangtze River embezzling the people's property. Have you found out the result?"

Shen Zhui had indeed received such a secret letter, but Tianxin Mansion received at least hundreds of such secret letters a year, and not every one had the energy to investigate carefully.This secret letter is just an excuse for Shen to chase Jiangnan.

"This..." Shen Zhui glanced at King Zhong, hesitant to speak.

King Zhong has a violent temper, and immediately raised his eyebrows uncontrollably: "What does Mr. Shen mean by this?!"

Shen Zhui: "Return to Your Majesty, the Duan family in Jinling involved in this matter is the natal family of King Zhong's side concubine, I—"

"Nonsense!" King Zhong interrupted him angrily, "Master Shen can't slander me without evidence."

Shen Zhui deliberately pretended to be under the power of lust: "This minister is not doing well, and the evidence has not yet been found."

"you--"

"Sixth!"

King Zhong wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Emperor Wenqing.

"Investigate this matter later." Emperor Wenqing rubbed his forehead and said to King Zhong, "Go down first."

King Zhong hesitated to speak, glared at Shen Zhui, and resigned angrily and left.

Emperor Wen Qing propped his forehead with one hand, and was silent for a while before he said: "Lao Liu said that this kid was originally from Yangzhou, and this time he escorted Jiangnan students to take the exam. Lao Ba also said that he was loyal and courageous. Back to Lao Jiu..."

He stopped to take a few breaths, and locked his eyes on Shen Zhui's expression: "Do you think he is from the Jiang family?"

"My minister...has not investigated carefully, so I dare not jump to conclusions."

"Then go check it out. Before releasing the list, I need to know his identity."

"Sir... according to the order."

……

Three days later, the list will be released.

There are also two red lists, one civil and one martial arts. Compared with the martial arts exams that have come out earlier, the rankings in the literary exams are naturally more interesting.After Wenju, there will be a palace test. Although there is also a palace test for martial arts, it is just a simple martial arts performance and competition, and the ranking will basically not change. Now this red list is almost equivalent to the final result.

As expected, Wu Huiyuan was Duan Yu, and "Xie Yancheng" played by Ren Xiaoyao ranked seventh.

On the Wenju Red List, Xie Cheng's name topped the list.

"I've won! Young Master has won!" Shi Mo rushed out of the crowd and ran towards the nearest teahouse.

By the window on the second floor of the teahouse, Jiang Xianyu, who heard the voice, poked his head out, and Su He squeezed over beside him.

"Know ink!" Su He shouted loudly, "Which place did the second senior brother win?"

Ji Mo said in a loud voice: "Young Master won Hui Yuan! Young Master won No.13! Young Master Zhang, Young Master Li, and Young Master Zeng all won!"

"Yo hoo!" Everyone in the teahouse exclaimed, "Which young master is this? Both young master and uncle are so good?"

Jiang Xianyu's eyes brightened, and regardless of the scrutiny of others, he threw a piece of silver from upstairs to Shimo: "Reward! Go home and report the good news!"

"Okay!" Shimo caught the silver ingot and ran home.

Su He turned around and pulled Jiang Xianyu's sleeve: "Senior brother, let's go back quickly, I haven't seen the official messenger who announced the good news yet!"

"What's so good about being an official?" Jiang Xianyu turned his head and gave him a blank look, "Is it as good as your second senior brother?"

Su He immediately turned his head to look at Xie Cheng who was sitting at the table holding a small glutinous rice ball, and proudly puffed out his chest: "Second senior brother is naturally the most powerful!"

Xie Cheng smiled, stood up holding the small glutinous rice balls with one hand, and stretched out his hand to Jiang Xianyu: "Go home."

Jiang Xianyu stepped forward with a smile and held his hand.

"Let me hug the little glutinous rice balls."

"No, watch the road carefully."

Su He was stunned for a moment, and trotted to keep up: Hey you two!Can you abandon such a cute little junior brother like me just by talking about love?I am still a child!Don't you really think I need to be held more? !

The figures of several people disappeared by the window, and they left through the back door of the teahouse before the onlookers crowded up.

In the restaurant opposite to the teahouse, beside the half-opened window of the private room on the third floor, Emperor Wen Qing, who was dressed in ordinary clothes, stood behind the window, unable to recover for a long time.

Like, but not like.

The Empress Dowager Jiang was the most beautiful and unparalleled in the capital. Although Jiang Xianyu looked a bit like her, she was a man after all, with the sassy and handsome features unique to men, and her smile was even more cheerful.

If his little brother Li Hao grows up, maybe it will look like this.

Emperor Wenqing closed his eyes, and the appearance of the mother and child appeared in front of his eyes.

However, a woman in her early twenties, holding a child who has been ill for a long time, with firm eyes, gently covered the ears of the child in her arms: "I know that the prince will not tolerate me and Hao'er sooner or later, please give me a good time." , so that my son will not suffer.”

Emperor Wenqing, who was still the regent at that time, asked her: "Aren't you afraid of death?"

She smiled sarcastically and decisively: "If my son can't live, why should I be afraid of death?"

Emperor Wenqing took a deep breath and exhaled, slowly opened his eyes and looked behind him: "Shen Zhui, should I cut the weeds and root them out?"