The first floor is a soup pool, and the second floor is a private room with couches, tables and chairs, wine sets, tea sets, chess games... all the furnishings are very elegant.
Xu Zhiqiong and Liu Jiangpu sat across from each other at the wine table, and Liu Jiangpu ordered the waiter to cook wine for Xu Zhiqiong.
Although their attitude was a little more respectful, the two sixth-grade waiters and four eighth-grade maids always stayed by Liu Jiangpu's side.
Liu Jiangpu first poured a glass of wine for Xu Zhiqiong, then asked with a smile: "Did the Holy One send Zhang Yushi here?"
Xu Zhiqiong played with the exquisite cup in his hand and seemed unwilling to talk to Liu Jiangpu.
You can't talk nonsense at this time, because Xu Zhiqiong is still not sure who Liu Jiangpu is.
He may be from the emperor, or he may belong to other organizations. Every word he says may be a test for Xu Zhiqiong. If he answers any question wrongly, Xu Zhiqiong's identity will be exposed.
But Xu Zhiqiong can choose not to answer.
Liu Jiangpu laughed twice and said: "If it's not the Holy Emperor, could it be that Princess Yuyao invited the censor here?"
Xu Zhiqiong still didn't answer. Liang Yuyao and Liu Jiangpu had no contact. This sentence was obviously a test.
Liu Jiangpu sighed softly and said: "Censor Zhang, Liu has an important position and must be cautious in his actions. I also ask the censor not to argue with Liu."
Xu Zhiqiong put down his wine glass, looked at Liu Jiangpu and said: "How long has it been since I still had the time to argue with you about etiquette? Wait until Xu Zhiqiong stands in front of you, no matter how thorough your etiquette is, will you still be able to keep it?
This life?"
Liu Jiangpu put down his drinking utensils and sighed softly: "If Xu Zhiqiong comes alone, Liu will not be afraid."
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "What are you doing here? Reminiscing with Liu Tongzhi? Does he have such a friendship with you? There are three fourth-grade soldiers in the evil-suppressing army, and Xu Zhiqiong also has a fifth-grade Jiang Feili under his command. Just rely on you.
Can these servants stop him?"
Liu Jiangpu poured another glass of wine and said: "Xu Zhiqiong is ruthless and domineering. Liu has heard about this for a long time. However, the Suppressing Army was ordered by the Holy One to defeat the bloodthirsty criminals. How could they do it because of Xu Zhiqiong's own wishes?
Are you good at killing court officials?"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "Gao Renxiao, the magistrate of Yu'an County, has died in the hands of Xu Zhiqiong. Didn't Liu Tongzhi receive the news?"
Liu Jiangpu had already received the news: "Gao Renxiao had an affair with the Blood Evil Sect. He also practiced the Blood Evil Sect. He deserved his death. How can Liu be compared with him?"
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "Liu Tongzhi, Raozhou and Huazhou are not far apart. Do you know about the blood evil practice in Kozhi County?"
Liu Jiangpu shook his head repeatedly and said: "Liu and Gao Renxiao have never met. I only know that he entered the official position very late and that he is upright and honest. Other than that, I know nothing about him."
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "You also said that he is upright and honest. How come he became a blood evil cultivator overnight?"
Liu Jiangpu was startled: "Did Luo Zhi come up with this crime?"
Xu Zhiqiong asked: "Liu Tongzhi, will you also become a blood evil cultivator?"
Liu Jiangpu was stunned for a moment and said calmly: "If you want to pin baseless crimes on Liu, I'm afraid Xu Zhiqiong doesn't have the ability."
Xu Zhiqiong handed over the memorial prepared in advance to Liu Jiangpu. This was Zhang Zhuyang's memorial to impeach Liu Jiangpu as the censor. The main crime was colluding with the Blood Evil Sect and practicing the Blood Evil Sect.
Liu Jiangpu read the memorial, raised his head and asked, "Yu Shi Zhang, do you want to join me?"
Xu Zhiqiong said with a smile: "It's not that I want to participate in you, but everyone in Yushitai wants to participate in you. Memorials like this are flying like snow flakes. If Zhang doesn't follow everyone and write one, he will be ostracized by his colleagues.
"
"Why did Yushitai frame me?"
"Do you know how deep Xu Zhiqiong's foundation is in Yushitai?"
Liu Jiangpu's expression remained calm: "But even with a few memorials from the Yushitai, I can't beat Liu."
Xu Zhiqiong then asked: "What if the memorial is sent to the cabinet?"
"The cabinet will never draft an edict lightly."
Xu Zhiqiong ate the apricots and said, "What if the cabinet really drafts an edict? Don't forget that the chief minister of the cabinet has a good relationship with Xu Zhiqiong."
Liu Jiangpu still showed no fear: "Even if the cabinet drafts an edict, the Holy Emperor will never approve it!"
Xu Zhiqiong said: "What if Elder Shengwei intervenes in this matter? Don't forget that he and Xu Zhiqiong have a deeper friendship."
"Even if Elder Shengwei intervenes, the Holy One will not criticize Hong!"
Liu Jiangpu looked solemn and confident in this sentence.
Xu Zhiqiong's smile did not change, but he had a plan in his heart.
This guy has so much confidence!
At the end of the first round of testing, Xu Zhiqiong came to a conclusion.
Liu Jiangpu was the emperor's subordinate. Even if he offended Liang Jixiong for this, the emperor would try his best to protect him.
This further confirms Xu Zhiqiong's speculation that Liu Jiangpu is related to Taotie's outer body. The reason why he was promoted several times within a year was because Emperor Zhaoxing personally promoted him. Because of his wide network of contacts, the cabinet did not object.
, so promotion goes smoothly.
The emperor's purpose in letting him rise through the ranks was to let him take care of Taotie's body.
After guessing this step, Xu Zhiqiong can release some information: "Liu Tongzhi, I believe that the Holy Emperor can protect you, but Xu Zhiqiong does not do things according to the emperor's wishes. If he takes advantage of the rumors in the capital and leads the evil-suppressing army in
Huazhou will investigate this matter thoroughly, and even if we can’t find out the bloody evil sect, I’m afraid we will find out other things.”
Liu Jiangpu's cheeks moved, and these words struck a chord in his heart.
Xu Zhiqiong struck while the iron was hot and asked again: "Liu Tongzhi, can you withstand the investigation?"
Liu Jiangpu put down his wine glass and said, "Since Zhang Yushi is here, he must have a good plan to help."
Xu Zhiqiong took a sip of wine and said, "Although there are good strategies, I just don't know if Liu Tongzhi can trust me."
"Censor, please speak."
Xu Zhiqiong picked up the wine glass, placed it in the middle of the wine table and said, "Since Xu Zhiqiong is here to cause trouble for you, there will always be his reasons. Where have you ever offended him?"
Liu Jiangpu shook his head and said: "Liu has never offended him. Liu has never met this person at all."
Xu Zhiqiong said again: "If you are not a person, you are doing something for others. Apart from the Bloody Evil Sect, what other purpose can Xu Zhiqiong have in coming to Huazhou?"
Liu Jiangpu still shook his head: "Liu doesn't know what his purpose is."
Old fox, even now he still refuses to tell the truth.
Xu Zhiqiong added: "No matter what his purpose is, he is no match for you after all. He must rely on the help of the Suppression Army."
After speaking, Xu Zhiqiong picked up four more wine glasses and placed them in the center of the table: "There are five groups of people in the Suppression Army, Canglong Guard, Qingyi Pavilion, Hongyi Pavilion, Wuche Academy, and Haoran Academy. Among these five groups,
, Xu Zhiqiong only commanded one section of Qingyi Pavilion, and he had no choice but to advance, retreat, attack and defend. He had to be under the control of the army, and the strategies came from here."
Xu Zhiqiong took out two wine bottles, pointed at one of them and said: "Zhang has three strategies in total. If you use them one by one, you can help Tongzhi avoid the disaster. One is to spend some silver at the Yushitai to let the Yusheng
The historians withdrew the memorial and calmed the turmoil at its root."
Liu Jiangpu pinched his chin and said: "Although there are a few old friends in Taichung, like Wang Yanyang and Qiu Dongcai, there is nothing Liu can do."
Liu Jiangpu naturally had no choice when encountering a tough censor.
Xu Zhiqiong pointed to another wine pot and said: "If you spend some money to go to the cabinet, suppress the memorial, and a few imperial officials will report it, the matter should not be difficult to calm down."
Liu Jiangpu said: "It is not difficult to calm the turmoil in the capital. I'm afraid Xu Zhiqiong will use the topic to make trouble again."
"The third strategy is the key!" Xu Zhiqiong pointed to the five wine glasses and said, "The Suppressing Army came to Huazhou to destroy the Blood Sect. Liu Tong knew and gave some clues so that the Suppressing Army could make some gains. Then he would spend another day
Leave a pen of money in the army and let the evil-suppressing army leave Huazhou from now on, and the matter should be settled here!"
Liu Jiangpu nodded and praised: "It's really a good plan, but Liu has no contact with the generals of the Suppression Army. I also heard that Lin Tianzheng, Zuo Chuxian and others are stubborn and stubborn. If no one recommends them, even if they give money, I'm afraid
No one is willing to accept it."
"This is why Zhang came here," Xu Zhiqiong said, pointing to the two wine bottles; "Liu Tongzhi sent the money from the Yushitai and the cabinet on his own without Zhang's intervention. However, there are also people in the evil-suppressing army.
I am willing to lend a helping hand to fellow intellectuals, and Zhang is willing to introduce me to fellow intellectuals.”
Liu Jiangpu was stunned and asked in a low voice: "But Princess Yuyao?"
Xu Zhiqiong was silent.
Liu Jiangpu asked again: "Could he be the general who suppresses evil?"
Xu Zhiqiong looked at the male and female waiters around him, but still refused to speak.
Liu Jiangpu smiled and said: "These are all my close friends. Zhang Yushi doesn't have to worry about them, but there is no harm in talking about them."
Xu Zhiqiong shook his head and said: "Your Excellency, I am a confidant, but Zhang is a stranger, but Zhang does not dare to talk nonsense in front of strangers."
He was watching Liu Jiangpu's reaction.
If Liu Jiangpu sends the waiter away, Xu Zhiqiong will try his best to capture Liu Jiangpu and torture him carefully.
But Liu Jiangpu was very cautious and never let the waiter leave: "Since the censor is unwilling to say it, I don't dare to force it. I will leave this matter to Zhang censor, and I will allow you to prepare it for a day. At noon tomorrow, I will give you two silver coins."
Give the 10,000 taels to Zhang Censor, and ask the Censor to take care of things in the army."
Xu Zhiqiong agreed and specifically told Liu Jiangpu: "Xu Zhiqiong has arrived in Huazhou. Your Excellency, please be careful and never let him see things that he shouldn't see."
Liu Jiangpu smiled: "What are you afraid of him seeing?"
Xu Zhiqiong cupped his hands and saluted: "Zhang will not ask more about things that should not be asked. I will say this tonight. Please be more careful."
…
After leaving the inner pool, Xu Zhiqiong stayed at Soft Smoke Spring that night. In the dead of night, Xu Zhiqiong called Tao Huayuan out and asked, "Is there anything going on with the prefect?"
Tao Huayuan said: "Liu Jiangpu returned to his mansion and took a carriage out of the city not long after. I have sent my subordinates to follow him along the way."
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "Very good!"
Tao Huayuan asked in surprise: "Do you know where he is going?"
Xu Zhiqiong briefly recounted today's meeting with Liu Jiangpu. Tao Huayuan said in surprise: "What a thief, but I'm worried that you will directly ask him where Taotie's body is."
Xu Zhiqiong said with a smile: "As long as I mention Taotie's appearance, Liu Jiangpu will not only not tell the truth, but will also not let me leave this place alive."
Tao Huayuan said: "After your intimidation, Liu Jiangpu will definitely find Taotie's outer body tonight, either transfer it or step up his guard!"
Xu Zhiqiong held his head high and said, "How do you treat your husband?"
Tao Huayuan praised: "If we just talk about scheming, I'm afraid even I can't be as good as you."
Xu Zhiqiong added: "I just made a bowl of fish soup. It's quite chewy. Would you like to try it, Taoer?"
Tao Huayuan punched Xu Zhiqiong: "But I'm not in a hurry tonight. I'm afraid that my Onmyoji will make a mistake, but I have to follow him myself tonight."
Xu Zhiqiong nodded: "Be careful not to disturb Liu Jiangpu, let alone Taotie's outer body. When Liu Jiangpu releases the news about the Bloody Sect, it will be a good opportunity for us to take action."