When the group returned to the city, the sun was just getting angry in the morning. After a long night, the entire streets of Wanhu City were deserted.
At the gate of Wanhucheng County Yamen, County Magistrate Kong Yu was pacing back and forth anxiously at the gate, stretching his neck so long that he couldn't help but look at the end of the street. There was also a general wearing armor standing next to him.
The whole street in front of the county government office was filled with soldiers holding weapons. The whole street looked quiet and solemn.
"General Xiaolin, why hasn't the prince come back yet? Should we send someone to check?"
The young general glanced sideways at him and said, "Master Kong, the prince ordered us to station in Wanhu County and not to disturb the people."
Kong Yu said: "But there is nothing going on in the city now. But the prince, if something happens to the prince in Wanhu City, we will..." We can't bear it.
The young general disagreed and said: "Since the prince has given orders, we can just follow them. What's more, if even the prince can't solve the problems outside the city, you and I will be even more powerless."
Kong Yu looked at the young man in front of him and sighed, it doesn't matter, you have the final say if you have soldiers and horses.
Just when Kong Yu was worried, a group of people finally appeared at the end of the line. When Kong Yu took a closer look, he was overjoyed and hurriedly greeted them.
"I respectfully welcome the prince and princess."
Xie Yan glanced at Kong Yu in front of him and looked at the young general following him.
"Your Majesty, the people in the city were not disturbed last night. At dawn, most of the people in the rivers and lakes had left the city. Those who had not yet left were well behaved and did not disturb the people."
Xie Yan nodded, "Mr. Qu is back."
"Mr. Qu came back at dawn and brought two people with him."
Xie Yan nodded: "Very good."
Kong Yu looked at the people following Xie Yan. Some of them were obviously prisoners, and there were also some people from the Jianghu. The rest were all the soldiers under the command of the governor and the palace guards. Kong Yu still didn't understand the regent.
What exactly did His Highness Wang do in Wanhu City? He also felt that he should not ask about these things.
He just stepped forward diligently and invited the regent and princess to come to the county government office to rest.
The group of people entered the lobby of the county government office, and Qu Fang was already sitting in the lobby, well dressed, waiting for them.
Seeing Xie Yan come in, Qu Fang stood up and pointed to the ground not far away, saying: "Where is the person?"
"Thank you." Xie Yan glanced at the two people on the ground and nodded slightly.
Qu Fang glanced at the few people who were escorted in behind him, raised his eyebrows and said: "It seems that the prince's work is done."
Xie Yan smiled, pulled Luo Junyao and sat down on the main seat.
There was a solemn atmosphere in the lobby. Xie Yan and Luo Junyao were sitting at the main seats. On their right were Qu Fang and Qu Tiange, their masters and apprentices. On the other side sat Bai Xu.
Lei Yunmu and Yao Fu were inconvenient to participate in these matters, so they resigned early very wisely.
Cao Mian and Wu Yi were standing in the hall, and with them was the young man. But compared to Cao Mian and Wu Yi, he looked much more embarrassed.
He is very powerful and was seriously injured by Qu Tiange during the fight.
Luo Junyao was playing with an exquisite golden dragon seal in his hand, but for some reason this golden seal was missing a piece in the middle. It was as if someone had dug out a piece from the center of the seal. Although it looked like a small seal on the outside, it turned out to be a small seal.
When you get to the seal side, it's completely empty, and it can't serve the purpose of a seal at all.
Xie Yan looked at Cao Mian and said: "Marquis Wen Ding, what do you have to say now that things have come to this?"
Cao Mian smiled and said: "Now that I am useless to you, I will naturally be at your mercy."
Xie Yan nodded slightly and said: "Okay, Cao's conspiracy is unforgivable. According to law, he should be escorted back to the capital and executed on the same day. In addition..."
Xie Yan pondered for a moment and said: "There is news from Qingzhou that the Zhenjun and the Wuwei Army attacked in two directions and captured Qingzhou City three days ago. As for Yannan, the Young Master has been defeated by Gu Jue. Now the Cao family,
Only Cao Jie is on the run. The others will all be escorted to Shangyong today."
Cao Mian was startled for a moment, then slowly said: "It's so fast. I overestimated them."
Xie Yan looked at the young man and asked: "I don't know yet, how do you call this person?"
The young man sneered and said: "The regent is so well-informed, he doesn't know who I am."
Xie Yan said: "I really don't know. The person who told me this news doesn't seem to know your identity. However, I have a little guess. I just don't know how to call you."
The young man's face darkened, he glanced at Cao Mian and said nothing.
Cao Mian sighed and said: "Since the prince has guessed it, why bother to ask more questions. He is my son, named Cao Ai."
Luo Junyao couldn't help but asked: "Marquis Wen Ding, how many sons do you have?"
Next to him, Bai Xu burst out laughing and said, "The princess's question is a good one. As far as I know... Marquis Wen Ding has quite a few sons."
Not only did Luo Junyao look strange, but Qu Fang and Qu Tiange couldn't help but look at Cao Mian.
Having three wives and four concubines is not a strange thing these days. For a large family, having many children and grandchildren is a symbol of good fortune.
On the surface, Marquis Wen Ding only had one or two concubines besides his first wife, and not many children.
Why does he need to create a bunch of illegitimate children?
Luo Junyao looked at Bai Xu, "Mr. Bai knows."
Bai Xu said: "I know, after the few young masters in the palace, Wen Dinghou has at least seven or eight other young masters who are not known to outsiders. But I haven't seen many of them, oh... Luan Yisi, that's it."
Every boss has a boss by his side."
"As for this person..." Bai Xu pointed at Cao Ai standing in the hall and said, "I met this person when I lived in Wen Dinghou's family more than ten years ago. It seems that he is a son that Wen Dinghou values very much.
, but I don’t know why, Wen Dinghou has never disclosed his identity to the public.”
Cao Mian glanced at Bai Xu calmly and said calmly: "Mr. Bai, this is my private matter and has nothing to do with you."
Bai Xu smiled and said: "It turns out it's just a private matter. I thought that Marquis Wen Ding had had different intentions for a long time. He felt that outsiders were unreliable, so he secretly raised so many sons."
Luo Junyao blinked and felt that Bai Xu's guess seemed to make some sense.
After all, in an era when men could legally take concubines and have concubines, Cao Mian's actions were indeed very suspicious.
Cao Mian did not refute, "Master Bai thinks so, that's right."
Bai Xu sneered and said: "I have no interest in Marquis Wen Ding's son or Panlongyin. Lord Marquis, now that things have come to this, please take out my father's letters."
Cao Mian smiled lightly and said: "Young Master Bai also contributed a lot to why I am in this situation. Do you think... I will give it to you?"
Bai Xu narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Master Hou, please don't slander anyone. Your current situation seems to have nothing to do with Bai."
"Really?" Cao Mian didn't know whether it was true or not, and said calmly: "Those scholars at Yunhai Academy could easily escape Qingzhou without anyone's help. Isn't it Master Bai's work?"
Bai Xu smiled and said: "I'm afraid I've been wronged by the Marquis. I also heard that the Marquis was trapped in Bingzhou, and I was afraid that you would accidentally die, so I came all the way here."
Cao Mian said: "In this case, the manuscript that Mr. Bai wanted has been destroyed."
Hey, two updates at ten.
It’s the last day. I wish you all a Happy New Year in advance! May everything go well in the new year and have a new atmosphere!
