Gu Qing was waiting for news about Chang'an in an inn in Shangzhou.

For some reason, Li Shierniang, a folk hero, actually has an incredible channel of news. She knows many things that even the officials of the court know clearly.

Gu Qing was actually a little jealous of her news channel, but the channel was originally someone else's thing, and Gu Qing was embarrassed to ask for it. Even if it was a relative, some things were too precious, so he should not open his mouth. Gu Qing was afraid of destroying the relationship between relatives.

I was not idle when I waited for the news about Chang'an. In the afternoon, the guards sent out went back to the inn one after another.

They were sent out by Gu Qing to inquire about the official reputation of Xing Shen in Shangzhou City.

This matter is also very important, it is related to Gu Qing's next attitude towards Xing Shen and the toughness of his methods.

Things in the world are not black and white, and people are the same. Since ancient times, ordinary people have actually very high tolerance for officials. In fact, the people do not mind that officials are greedy for some money when they are in office.

The important thing is that after greeting for money, you can at least do something practical for the people, build bridges, roads, and embankments to run schools. If you help the old lady cross the road, you are considered a good person, as long as the old lady really plans to cross the road.

The news that the guards received was very messy, and there were not many things about Xing Shen. Unfortunately, all the topics about Xing Shen were not good things.

Xing Shen was originally a weak scholar in Hedongdao, and his family was of medium-sized background. He looked handsome and even when he was middle-aged, he looked like a fairy-like dress and was diligent in his studies, otherwise he would not be able to pass the Jinshi exam.

In the 26th year of Kaiyuan, after Xing Shen passed the imperial examination, he was admitted to the Jinshi. He was immediately released as a county magistrate. After several years, he was promoted to the governor's office, and then he became the governor. In less than ten years, he was promoted from Jinshi to governor, and the speed of promotion was extremely fast.

The Xing family's ancestral tomb was not just blue smoke. It was like someone putting a monkey under the coffin of his ancestral tomb. A little fire made it soaring to 90,000 miles.

The official promotion was fast enough, but his virtue did not keep up.

Gu Qing was not sure how famous he was when he was a county magistrate in the past, but in Shangzhou City, neither the civilians nor the scholars nor the merchants had said a good word.

Since Xing Shen took office as governor, the taxes in Shangzhou have been raised by one third, and the corvee service is the heaviest. Although Shangzhou's geographical location is only more than 200 miles away from Chang'an, it is even more incompatible with the eastern capital Luoyang. However, Xing Shen insisted on launching corvee service to build an palace in Shangzhou, saying that it was for the emperor's patrol. Such a mystery was reported to the court, and the three provinces actually agreed.

After summarizing the news that the personal guards inquired, Gu Qing only commented on Xing Shen’s eight characters, “I am insatiable and very happy to be successful.”

In the evening, the personal guards sent to Chang'an finally returned.

Li Shier Niang did not disappoint him. Xing Shen's backer found out. Gu Qing was shocked when he heard his personal guard's name and said nothing for a while.

The backer is indeed hard enough.

Yang Guifei's third sister, Lady Guoguo.

This lady is very famous in the Tang Dynasty today, but it is not a good reputation. Like Yang Guozhong, Lady Guo was prominent by Yang Guifei. Perhaps because she was afraid of being poor at that time. After her popularity, Lady Guoguo lived a very desolate and luxurious life and often bullied others with her power.

The last time Yang Guifei was furious by Li Longji, she rushed back to her parents' home because Lady Guo was riding a horse in the Forbidden Palace as if she was in a no-man state and was whipping the guards. Even so in the palace, it shows how arrogant it is.

Not only that, Mrs. Guo’s private life was also very chaotic, and she never shy away from contact with men. It is said that she was a little confused with Li Longji.

This is not a rumor. Later generations have poems saying, "The Lady of Guo received the favor of the master, and Ping Ming rode a horse into the palace gate. But she thought the makeup was dirty and the eyebrows were light and looked at the supreme."

The three words "to bear the Lord's kindness" are meaningful.

This is not enough. Legend has it that the relationship between Lady Guoguo and Yang Guozhong is a bit like that. Yang Guozhong often stays at Lady Guoguo's mansion all night, and often rides in the same carriage with him and never avoids suspicion when traveling.

"There are lovers in the world who will eventually become brothers and sisters." These two people have fulfilled the curse of countless single dogs on Valentine's Day night after a thousand years.

Why is the "Dirty Tang" called "Dirty Tang"? Historians' eyes are still very bright.

But Gu Qing's mood became very heavy.

If Xing Shen’s backer was Mrs. Guoguo, this would be very difficult. I have to say that if you are a master of Shengjuan, Gu Qing could not compare to her. After all, Gu Qing only had one person, and behind Mrs. Guoguo was the entire Yang family, including Yang Guifei who treated him very well, and Yang Guozhong, who was still in the honeymoon period.

If you want to overthrow Xing Shen, the price Gu Qing has to pay is too high. This is not the last time he dealt with King Ji. King Ji is just an unpopular prince and has no political power. But the Yang family is different. The Yang family's political power is at its peak. Even if you overthrow Xing Shen, you still don't know what kind of evil consequences will be waiting for him in the future.

Reason told Gu Qing that Xing Shen could not move.

However, the brother of the personal guard must not be spared.

Gu Qing, whose expression was changing, thought for a long time, then gritted his teeth and said, "Brother Han, send a few people to Chang'an again and withdraw three thousand from the warehouse in my mansion... No, five thousand taels of silver cakes, go and go back!"

Han Jie responded to the order, walked to Gu Qing with a pale face, and said softly: "Mr. Marquis, let's give up this matter. I didn't expect Xing Shen's backer to be the Lady of Guo. No wonder he dared to be so confident..."

Gu Qing nodded and smiled bitterly: "My title is not high enough, and I am not very good at being an official. I really can't afford to offend Mrs. Guo... But I still have to do what I should do. This time I will take the money to talk to Xing Shen. Five thousand taels of silver cakes will buy a person's life. With Xing Shen's greedy nature, he should agree..."

Sighing with a loss, Gu Qing said, "How did Xing Shen get to the Yang family? And it's Lady Guo State, I really can't figure it out. What kind of evil fate is it..."

Han Jie hesitated for a moment and whispered: "When I was in the Left Guard, I heard about the reputation of Lady Guo. It is said that Lady Guo is good at fishing and has a unrestrained temperament. She has a good impression of a man with good looks and extraordinary demeanor. When she met him, she wanted to attract his mansion. The governor Xing had a good appearance and good demeanor. Could it be..."

Gu Qing suddenly realized, then glanced at Han Jie: "I didn't expect that you, who has thick eyebrows and big eyes, would be so gossipy..."

A deep resentment surged in his heart. Xing Shen turned out to be a soft-hearted person, so he pretended to be noble and arrogant.

Then Gu Qing was stunned. Why was the word "Ye" used so vividly just now? Could it be that he also...

Thinking about his success history, it seems to be inseparable from Concubine Yang.

Then Gu Qing strongly denied this idea of ​​hurting self-esteem.

She didn't get me any soft rice.

In the inn yard, Zheng Xiang sat with his mother at the stone table, the mother and son looked uneasy and worried.

Gu Qing walked up to the two and whispered: "Aunt, Zheng Xiang, I'm going to tell you, Governor Xing is not a small source. The method I originally planned to use may not work, but I have ordered people to allocate money from Chang'an. No matter what, Zheng Jian will be taken out of the prison first. Negotiate with Governor Xing, or some of the money..."

The mother and son stood up and saluted Gu Qing gratefully. The old woman cried and said, "My son is blessed. I have followed you, the kind-hearted and righteous family. The old woman died without regrets. The marquis has achieved the ultimate goal for my Zheng family. Regardless of success or failure, the old woman is appointed as the marquis to set up a tablet of immortality at home. She recites scriptures every day and prays to God to bless the marquis..."

Gu Qing said in a heavy tone: "Aunt, don't be polite, I'm not brave enough, I'm in the court and have too many concerns..."

The old woman shook her head quickly: "It's enough, it's enough. Don't let the old woman get rid of the old woman. If you can treat the marquis so righteously, even if my eldest son has something to do..."

Before he finished speaking, panic and rapid footsteps came from outside the yard.

For some reason, Gu Qing felt something was wrong when he heard the sound of footsteps, and an ominous premonition arose.

As if there was telepathy, everyone in the yard looked at the door.

A personal guard gasped and appeared outside the door with a look of shock. When he saw Gu Qing in the yard, the personal guard couldn't help but shout: "Marty, it's not good! Zheng Jian committed suicide in the prison of the Shangzhou Governor's Mansion!"

It was like a sudden thunder that shocked everyone in the yard for a long time.

The old woman's eyes were filled with tears, and she suddenly stood up, then her legs became weak, and she fell down involuntarily. Zheng Xiang, who was beside her, quickly supported her with his eyes.

Gu Qing's eyes were quickly congested and red. He ran to the guard in front of his wife in a few steps, and said with a ferocious expression: "Is Zheng Jian still alive?"

The personal guard was frightened by Gu Qing's face. He looked at Zheng Xiang and his son next to him, and stuttered: "Zheng Jian... is dead. Just now, the servant from the governor's mansion carried Zheng Jian's body out of the mansion. Our brothers have tested it, and Zheng Jian's life is broken!"

Zheng Xiang held the body of his mother and cried loudly: "How could my brother commit suicide? It must be Xing Shen's actions!"

The guard lowered his head and said sadly: "Brother Zheng, I just reported it to the truth. This was what the officer in the governor's house said when he carried out his body. The officer said it even more ugly, saying it was... 'I committed suicide for fear of guilt'."

"Grass!" Gu Qing couldn't help but curse, and his fists were clenched tightly in his sleeves.

"Xing Shen, I will never stop with you!" Zheng Xiang roared in tears.

Gu Qing collapsed weakly on the stone bench and said, "First place Zheng Jian's body properly. Han Jie ordered his guards to go to the Shoucai shop to buy a good coffin and a funeral item, and then send someone to a nearby Taoist temple to ask Taoist priests to do rituals... After doing rituals, let's get buried in peace."

His mind was very messy and his ears were buzzing. Gu Qing found that he underestimated human nature. There was no worst human nature, only worse. He thought Xing Shen was an official figure and everything would follow the rules of the officialdom, but he did not expect that the official figures had no bottom line in doing things. Gu Qing, the county marquis, was still staring at the gate of the governor's mansion, but Xing Shen dared to kill him inside.

From an objective standpoint, killing Zheng Jian is indeed a complete solution. Zheng Jian is dead and all the troubles are solved. As for making enemies with Gu Qing and having Lady Guo as her backer, how could Xing Shen be afraid of him?

Soon, Zheng Jian's body was carried into the inn yard by his personal guards, and he lay quietly on the ground in the yard with a layer of white cloth on his body. Gu Qing looked at the stranger in front of him and felt infinite guilt in his heart.

It was his misjudgment that harmed him, and this incident was a bloody lesson for him.

Han Jie stepped forward and squatted down, carefully checking Zheng Jian's wound.

After checking for a long time, Han Jie stood up and whispered: "Mr. Marquis, Zheng Jian has many scars on his body. It is probably caused by torture after being taken to prison. He has only one fatal injury. He is in the heart. The weapon is a piece of sharpened wood. It looks like a piece of wood broken off from the prison. After being sharpened, it is inserted into his heart..."

Gu Qing closed his eyes and took a deep breath, calmed down his emotions, and said, "The appearance is done well, it seems like he committed suicide. It is reasonable to write it in the document. I underestimated Xing Shen, it is my fault..."

"Marty..."

A ferocious look suddenly appeared on Gu Qing's face, and his eyes were cold and cold: "I underestimated Xing Shen, but Xing Shen also underestimated me. He doesn't know what kind of person I am!"

In the silence, as if there was a thunderclap on the ground, Gu Qing shouted sternly: "Han Jie!"

Han Jie bowed and clasped his fists: "The last one is here!"

"All the personal guards gather!"

"yes!"

The guards quickly assembled, and a team of 100 people stood densely in the yard, everyone looked at Gu Qing silently with a cold and graceful look on their faces.

Gu Qing looked gloomy and looked at the faces of his guards, but suddenly grinned.

"Zheng Xiang is your brother in robe, and I am also my brother in robe. His brother was harmed by others. Now I want to do something lawless to avenge his brother. Would you like to go with me?"

The guards shouted in unison: "I wish to go!"

Gu Qing stared at them and said coldly: "You think it clear. After doing this, I may be dismissed from office and removed from office. You may end up like me. I will ask you again, are you willing to go?"

Still shouting in shock: "I wish to go!"

Gu Qing smiled: "Okay, after this incident, I may have been white, or a sinner who has been exiled for thousands of miles. In any case, as long as you still recognize me as a brother, I will still be your brother."

Turning around and walking to Zheng Xiang, who was helping his mother with his eyes lost consciousness, Gu Qing squatted down and patted his shoulder and said in pain: "Zheng Xiang, it was my carelessness that killed your brother's life. I will avenge your brother's revenge, and you can take good care of Lingtang."

As soon as he got up, Zheng Xiang suddenly regained his mind, grabbed his sleeve hard, and said in tears: "Marty, forget it, the villain cannot implicate the Marquis' future, please stop!"

Gu Qing smiled firmly and said softly: "A real man must do something. If this revenge is not avenged, my inner demons will not be eliminated in this life. This is no longer your business."

After saying that, Gu Qing turned around and looked around the hundreds of personal guards, shouting: "Let's take Luonan County!"

…………

The horse's hooves rumbled, Gu Qing carefully held the saddle, swaying left and right in the cold wind, but gritted his teeth and held on his feet.
To be continued...