Hujialou, one of the largest restaurants in Wanganjing.
Hu's House is comparable to Fengle House in scale, and the three-story restaurant can accommodate a thousand people.
But it can't be compared in terms of quality. Hu's Restaurant is a restaurant for the common people. Both the food and the environment are far inferior to Fengle Restaurant.
When it was time for dinner in the evening, in the hall on the first floor, the tables were crowded and the people were crowded. A table of wine and food, including fish and meat, would only cost four or five people a hundred or so yuan to eat and drink.
Today, there are some special guests sitting in the hall, but no one knows their identities.
One was Chen Shuncai, the other was Emperor Zhaoxing, and they were accompanied by several chamberlains.
I heard that the prince's rebellion and assassination had caused a stir in the city, and Emperor Zhaoxing wanted to come out to take a look.
Chen Shuncai didn't want him to come: "Your Majesty, the capital is not peaceful today, we should wait for a while..."
"How long? Are you waiting for that traitor to make more military exploits and then show off his power?"
Chen Shuncai did not dare to stop him, and as ordered, he took Emperor Zhaoxing to the Hu's House in casual clothes and ordered a table of wine and food.
The food at Hujialou was very delicious, but Emperor Zhaoxing didn't touch it for a moment.
The waiter had tasted every dish, so there was no need to worry about the poison, but Emperor Zhaoxing thought the ingredients were rough and shoddy, so he refused to eat them.
Sitting in the restaurant without moving a word would easily arouse suspicion. Chen Shuncai was worried that someone would recognize the emperor's identity, and he was even more worried that the emperor would hear the conversations of these common people.
The rumor spread.
But I don’t know why it changed.
Several craftsmen at the next table were discussing this matter.
"Have you heard that the prince won a great victory in the north and conquered all the provinces of Tunu?"
"I heard that the southern province called Tunu is larger than our state. A few days ago, the second elder of the Liang family brought back General Tunu, pulled off his head and presented it to Lord Canglong.
Our men from Daxuan are really fighting for it!"
"You also have to see who is arrogant. The prince is really capable. If he is transferred to our official family, he might have to be called uncle again. Maybe he will be called grandpa!"
Everyone was chatting and laughing, and said that no one cares about the common people talking about the emperor like this? Isn't this disrespectful?
This is the tradition of Daxuan, including the previous dynasty Daqian. As long as you don't curse in front of the emperor, you can say anything in private.
Of course, there are many people like Wang Yanyang who scold him in person.
Emperor Zhaoxing had proposed many times that this tradition should be changed. Discussions about the emperor in public must be punished and serious crimes should be punished. Gongsun Wen also reported this many times, but he was blocked by the cabinet.
Seeing these common people making fun of the officials, Emperor Zhaoxing really wanted to sentence them to death with a thousand knives. Fortunately, these people quickly talked about the topic that Emperor Zhaoxing was interested in.
"Have you heard? While the prince is fighting in the north, he is still thinking about the throne."
"I've also heard that Taibu's murder of a high-ranking official's family is also related to the prince!"
"Don't talk nonsense. Can the prince do such a thing?"
"That's not surprising. Who do you think doesn't want to be a high official?"
"That's him kissing me! Can he do such a thing?"
Emperor Zhaoxing looked somewhat satisfied. He made an exception and picked up the wine glass and took a sip.
This is the result he wants.
Convict the prince of assassinating the king and killing his father.
Chen Shuncai kept staring at Emperor Zhaoxing.
If the conversation at the next table stopped here, or if Emperor Zhaoxing left with satisfaction, the result would be so wonderful.
But Emperor Zhaoxing did not leave, and the conversation at the next table did not stop.
"Actually, it would be great if the Crown Prince can really do this. I really look forward to seeing the Crown Prince become the emperor. He will definitely be much better than the current high officials."
"What you said is the same as what you didn't say. A person is better than this one!"
Emperor Zhaoxing almost crushed the wine glass!
"It's not right for you to say that. Our official family is also a good person and has done some good things."
Emperor Zhaoxing's expression became slightly calmer.
"Tell me what good things he has done?"
"As for the matter of the prince, the official family knew about it and did not blame the prince at all. They also said that they wanted to give up the throne. They also discussed it with the second elder in Canglong Palace. If the second elder hadn't pulled him, the official family would have really
Give up the throne!"
"There is such a thing! Is he really willing to give up?"
"The senior official said that he is tired and wants to live a quiet life for two years. When the prince comes back from the expedition, he will give up the throne. It's settled!"
boom!
Emperor Zhaoxing slapped the table and left Hujialou. Chen Shuncai quickly chased him out.
Before getting on the carriage, Emperor Zhaoxing suddenly grabbed Chen Shuncai's hair and slapped him in the face.
Chen Shuncai looked aggrieved, and Emperor Zhaoxing lowered the car curtain fiercely.
Emperor Zhaoxing went to several restaurants and teahouses one after another and heard similar rumors, saying that he would take the initiative to give way to the crown prince.
Returning to Funing Palace, Emperor Zhaoxing was lying on the couch with empty eyes.
Chen Shuncai said from the side: "Your Majesty, no matter how you beat or punish me, it will all be your slave's fault after all."
Emperor Zhaoxing asked numbly: "I heard that there is a big country outside the East China Sea, called the country of ten thousand victors. In the country of ten thousand victors, not only talking about the emperor, but also talking about a county magistrate will be punished.
Legal punishment.”
Chen Shuncai said: "This is what Mr. Gongsun said. He also said that he had been to the country of ten thousand victors."
"I only hate the unfairness of fate, why don't I be the king of a country with ten thousand victories!"
"I heard that the country of Ten Thousand Victories is very poor. The people have to work for a year and can barely have enough food and clothing. Unlike what I have declared..."
Emperor Zhaoxing said angrily: "You are not satisfied with food and clothing? Ordinary people can live, but what more do you want? It is only because the people of Daxuan live too rich that they are so vicious!"
Chen Shuncai didn't know how to comfort Emperor Zhaoxing.
Emperor Zhaoxing stood up and said: "Let Gongsun Wen write down the laws of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Victories and show them to me. Only the laws of the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Victories can subdue the evil of the people. The evil of the people will be full of evil!"
Emperor Zhaoxing became angrier and angrier as he talked, so Chen Shuncai massaged and kneaded him, trying to make the emperor calm down.
When his anger gradually subsided, Chen Shun then asked cautiously: "Several censors have prepared memorials. There is a court meeting the day after tomorrow. Do we still want them to report?"
Emperor Zhaoxing waved his hand and said: "What else can we do to attract those rebellious ministers and use the excuse to force me to abdicate? Let's put this matter aside for the time being!"
Chen Shuncai said: "Turning, the two states are sending troops..."
Emperor Zhaoxing said: "The prince's crime has not been proved, but what is the purpose of issuing an edict? Without an edict, how can the two states of Tuanxun be willing to send troops? Rebellious ministers are all rebels!"
Emperor Zhaoxing became angry again: "I condemned the prince for resisting the imperial decree, and he forced me to abdicate. I condemned him for treason, and he forced me to abdicate. I..."
In the middle of the sentence, Emperor Zhaoxing suddenly froze: "Punch him, don't dodge or dodge, but you have to punch him back hard, stab him, don't run away, don't hide, but have to return the knife, who is this person?"
?How could there be such a person?
Liang Jixiong?
He has no such intention!
Xu Zhiqiong is back?"
Emperor Zhaoxing looked at Chen Shuncai.
Chen Shuncai nodded and said, "Xu Zhiqiong came back with Elder Shengwei and returned to Zhangdeng Yamen that same day."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Chen Shuncai said: "For a Qianhu who grew up in the fifth rank at a young age, Your Majesty does not need to worry about this matter."
"Excuse me? He has become a knife in my heart! He stabbed a knife in my heart!" Emperor Zhaoxing stood up and smashed the porcelain bottle on the table. "I guessed it was this guy, this sycophant among sycophants, this traitor
The traitor among thieves!"
Emperor Zhaoxing began to cough again, and Chen Shuncai said in a panic: "Your Majesty, please calm down. This little thief is not worthy of your anger."
Emperor Zhaoxing gasped for a long time, and suddenly laughed: "I am older, have more worries, and have always been soft-hearted, but I have allowed this thief to be rampant until now. You lead two subordinates to get rid of this little thief. You must do it cleanly."
Chen Shuncai panicked and said, "Your Majesty, Xu Zhiqiong is blessed by the White Tiger God. If he is killed, it may bring disaster to Daxuan."
"It brings disaster to Daxuan? What's the harm in bringing it?" Emperor Zhaoxing smiled scornfully, "Without my Daxuan, what's the use of keeping it?"
"only……"
"As long as you do what you are told, do you also want to be a sycophant?"
Chen Shuncai did not dare to disobey and quickly accepted the order.
"You sycophants and thugs, you all deserve this! I have worked hard for the great propaganda, but how could you ever sincerely say a good word from me? You force me to abdicate, so I don't have to worry anymore!"
Emperor Zhaoxing smiled ferociously: "You can't control what is happening in the two states. You can send a message to the officials to find out what happened to the magistrates in the two states."
Chen Shuncai was startled: "If we let the officials come to investigate, I'm afraid it will alarm the two prefects. The frontier officials all have connections in the six departments."
"Alarm them?" Emperor Zhaoxing sneered, "I want to scare them out of their wits. Only when they know the emperor's anger can these sycophants obey the emperor's orders."
…
On the thirteenth day of the winter lunar month, it snowed heavily. Xu Zhiqiong was eating golden beans in Zhonglang's courtyard.
Feng Shaoqing's temper has become increasingly violent recently. Xia Hu was afraid that Xu Zhiqiong would cause trouble in the Punishment Department, so he simply sent Xu Zhiqiong's meritorious service to the Zhonglang Courtyard.
Xu Zhiqiong took a sip of the fragrant mash and swallowed a few golden beans. Seeing a large bowl in front of him, he frowned: "How long are you going to eat this?"
Xia Hu snorted and said: "After being a judge for many years, this is the first time I heard that someone thought that he had too much merit. If you don't want to eat it, I will keep it myself."
"If you stay, you can stay. Didn't I say that if you have meritorious deeds, you should take advantage of them first and wait until you are promoted to the sixth rank."
"You said it's easy, can I survive that test?"
No matter which Taoist sect, promotion is a test of life and death. Xu Zhiqiong was protected by the Taoist leader, but he was also unconscious for a long time. Xia Hu did not have the care of an expert and did not dare to take risks easily.
"When I was promoted to the seventh rank, I almost lost my life. I heard that many of my colleagues died at the sixth rank."
Xu Zhiqiong said with a smile: "You heard wrong. Those people did not die because of being promoted to the sixth level, but died because of the sixth level skills. Learning the sixth level skills is indeed dangerous."
Xia Hu still shook his head; "I don't have that ability like you, so I'd better wait a little longer to consolidate my seventh-level cultivation."
"Forget it, I'll ask Brother Qian to help you in the future. He must have some tricks."
After eating a bowl of golden beans, Xu Zhiqiong rolled his eyes.
Xia Hu came up to help him rub his chest, and Xu Zhiqiong held Xia Hu in his arms: "Madam, don't leave tonight."
"That won't work," Xia Hu pushed Xu Zhiqiong away, "Feng Shaoqing will count the number of people every two hours. Last time, one of the candidates was late and was almost beaten to death by Feng Shaoqing."
"This guy is really crazy!" Xu Zhiqiong frowned, "Madam, we can't wait any longer. I will take you to see Brother Qian tomorrow."
"Let's wait. I have just been promoted to the seventh level. I have to wait until my cultivation is more stable."
After Xia Hu left, Xu Zhiqiong felt very uneasy. Many people knew that the relationship between Xu Zhiqiong and Xia Hu was unusual. Feng Jing'an hated Xu Zhiqiong and would kill Xia Hu sooner or later.
When you are an official, you will eventually be subject to the punishment of evildoers, and you still have to be promoted to a lieutenant as soon as possible.
However, Xia Hu's cultivation level is indeed unstable. It can be seen through the Child of Sin Karma that the mist on her body is somewhat erratic.
Wait ten days and a half, and then look at the situation. As long as Xia Hu's foundation is stable, even if she is kidnapped, she will still have to be forced to advance to the sixth level.
Xu Zhiqiong put up a lantern and went on patrol at night. He walked from Xiji to the south gate, and from the south gate to Yinggeyuan. He wanted to go to Yinggeyuan to enjoy the elegance. Just as he was about to enter, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps.
.
In front of Yinggeyuan, people were coming and going, and the sound of footsteps was normal.
But this footsteps is very special, almost exactly the same as Xu Zhiqiong's footsteps.
Someone is following me.
Now we can’t go to Yinggeyuan.
In such a place, Xu Zhiqiong would devote himself wholeheartedly to his practice, and it would be easy for him to be plotted against.
Xu Zhiqiong walked around Yinggeyuan, trying to find a secluded place to see who was following him.
When I reached a deep alley, I suddenly heard footsteps approaching quickly from behind.
He is a eunuch, and his cultivation level should be at the fifth level.
It really isn't as simple as tracking.
Xu Zhiqiong suddenly turned around, holding a lantern, and slashed at the eunuch behind him.
The eunuch ducked sideways to avoid the lantern, split his body into two, and attacked Xu Zhiqiong from both sides.
Illusion?
No, every move and every move is real. These are two eunuchs.
The two of them were stacked on top of each other, their steps and movements were exactly the same, and Xu Zhiqiong couldn't tell them apart for a moment.
Why are there such monsters?
Xu Zhiqiong's sixth-grade skills are useless against eunuchs. He can barely deal with one fifth-grade eunuch with his sword skills alone, but there is basically no chance of winning against two at the same time. What's more, these two eunuchs have such a tacit understanding that they attack continuously without any flaws.
Xu Zhiqiong was not interested in fighting. He held Yilang Seal in one hand and was about to return to Zhonglang Courtyard. A eunuch suddenly came around behind him and prepared to make a surprise attack.
I don't know when a truck appeared in the alley. The eunuch didn't pay attention and knocked over the truck. A pair of porcelain dolls fell to the ground and smashed to pieces.
Seeing this truck, Xu Zhiqiong had no intention of returning to Zhonglangyuan.
The old salesman lowered his head, picked up the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground, and said pitifully: "You have to pay me."
One of the eunuchs sneered: "Old man, you are unlucky."
He stretched out his finger to touch the old man's chest, and suddenly felt a pressure coming over him. The two eunuchs immediately lowered their heads, and Xu Zhiqiong also lowered his head.
The old salesman held the broken porcelain doll and said in a trembling voice: "This is all for money. If you don't pay, you will have to pay with your life!"