Late at night, Xu Zhiqiong and his party stayed in a guest house. Sun Tong complained that the food was poor and poor.
"This is simply not for human consumption. I asked you to stay in a post house, but you refused. I don't even know what was mixed with this rice."
Sun Tongpan vomited out two pieces of chaff, which was more disgusting than eating flies.
Xu Zhiqiong knocked on Sun Tongpan's head: "It's good to have food to eat. When we get to Shenlin City, you may be hungry for a few days."
Sun Tongpan put down his job and said, "Didn't you say that you were here on errands for the Lord Shen? Didn't you say that this person is an important person? Didn't you say that we went to make great achievements? Why do we have to starve when we get to Shenlin City?"
Xu Zhiqiong pointed at Hong Zhenkang and said: "We have accomplished a great service by escorting him safely to Shenlin City. If he makes any mistakes, he will not only starve, but may also lose his head."
Sun Tong's name was Sun Xiaojie. He was born in Juren and had been to Shenlin City once in his life.
He had never met Lu Wang Hong Zhenkang, and he didn't know the origins of the two people in front of him. If he hadn't been held hostage by Xu Zhiqiong, he would have fled back to Heilu City long ago.
But Sun Tongpan did help a lot along the way. Qiancheng State strictly controlled the movement of civilians, and there were no notices or documents. Xu Zhiqiong was a key target wherever he went.
With Sun Tongpan, the situation was completely different.
When an official goes out, he normally needs to have a notification document, but no one in the prefectures or counties along the way asks Sun Xiaojie. When he meets someone with a low official rank, he can dismiss it in a few words. When he meets a high-ranking official such as the prefect or tongzhi, he can just say a few polite words.
If you say you have important matters, the other party won't ask any further questions.
Xu Zhiqiong traveled more than two thousand miles in three days using magical formations. He usually stayed in a post house and was well received by the yamen of various counties.
Now that he is approaching Shenlin City, Xu Zhiqiong must be cautious and stay in a private house tonight.
Yuan Chengfeng must have received the news of Hong Zhenkang's escape. Judging from his temperament and current situation, he will find Hong Zhenkang back at all costs, and if he alarms the state and county officials, he will be killed.
Sun Tong was asleep, and Xu Zhiqiong poured some power of imagery into Hong Zhenkang's meridians, slowly dissolving the orifice-sealing technique in his body.
The technique of sealing the orifice was not complete, and it was not difficult to resolve. Xu Zhiqiong did not completely resolve the technique. He left some chaotic energy behind, leaving Hong Zhenkang still unable to speak, write, or express his thoughts.
But what little energy is left is like window paper, it will break when you poke it.
After staying one night at a farmer's house, Xu Zhiqiong took the two of them to the outside of Shenlin City without waiting for dawn the next day. They did not go through the city gate and used a magic circle to pass through the wall and enter the city.
After entering the city, Xu Zhiqiong went straight to Prince Shu's Mansion.
King Shu Hong Zhenji is having a meal with his face covered in bandages. Today’s main course is conscience.
Hearing that Marquis Yun was coming, Hong Zhenji asked the maids to retreat and invited Xu Zhiqiong in.
Seeing two people following Xu Zhiqiong, Hong Zhenji asked about the origin.
Xu Zhiqiong introduced them one by one: "This is the general magistrate of Heilu City, Sun Xiaojie."
Black deer city?
Hong Jinki smacked his lips.
Why did a judge from Border City suddenly arrive in Shenlin City?
Besides, what is this man’s status? He’s just a sixth-grade official. Why did he bring him to me?
Hong Zhenji had just been beaten half to death by Hong Zhenkang. His nose was bruised, his face was swollen, his mouth and eyes were crooked, and he was not suitable for seeing guests.
Now being seen by a sixth-grade petty official, Hong Zhenji felt very unhappy.
He tried his best to hide his contempt for Sun Tongpan, but Sun Tongpan was very excited.
He saw Prince Shu, a prince he could never get close to in his life.
Sun Tongpan knelt on the ground and kowtowed more than a dozen times, making a banging sound. Hong Zhenji quickly asked him to get up, looked at Xu Zhiqiong's face, and said a few polite words: "Sun Tongpan, there is no need to be polite. Since you are
If you are valued by the Lord of Luck, you are the friend of others."
As soon as he heard the word friend, Sun Tongpan burst into tears.
This is touching from the heart.
King Shu said that I was his friend, a mere sixth-grade judge...
Sun Xiaojie was still willing to get up and knelt on the ground, kowtowing loudly and loudly.
After Hong Zhenji persuaded him for a long time, Sun Tongpan dared to stand up and stood aside cautiously with a red and swollen forehead.
Hong Zhenji asked him to sit down, but Sun Tongpan did not dare to sit down. Hong Zhenji ignored Sun Xiaojie and turned to Xu Zhiqiong, "I wonder who this is..."
Hong Zhenkang always wore a veil on his head, which made Hong Zhenji very dissatisfied.
Since he came to see me, why did he hide it so deeply? But in front of Xu Zhiqiong, he did not dare to say more.
Xu Zhiqiong took off Hong Zhenkang's veil, and Hong Zhenji stared at the man for a long time.
At first glance, he seems to be a stranger.
The second time he saw it, Hong Zhenji was not calm anymore.
Although his beard and hair are gray, his body is thin, and his appearance is haggard, some things will never be forgotten.
Ignoring some differences, Hong Zhenji saw a familiar face, a face that made his hair stand on end.
"Marquis Yun, what do you mean by this?"
Hong Jinji fell off his seat.
He didn't understand one thing, why Xu Zhiqiong brought Hong Zhenkang!
Just a few days ago, Hong Zhenkang almost beat Hong Zhenji to death!
Did Xu Zhiqiong rebel?
Switched to Hong Zhenkang?
Is he here to kill me?
Why did Hong Zhenkang become like this?
Xu Zhiqiong pointed at Hong Zhenkang and said, "King Shu, do you know him?"
"How could I not recognize him? He is..."
Xu Zhiqiong reminded Hong Zhenkang not to speak out, as Sun Tongpan was still present.
Hong Zhenji was stunned. Judging from Xu Zhiqiong's attitude, he was definitely not here to kill him.
If Xu Zhiqiong wants to kill me, he doesn't need to bring Hong Zhenkang and Sun Tongpan with him. I have no defense against Xu Zhiqiong, and Xu Zhiqiong alone is enough to succeed.
Thinking of this, Hong Zhenji felt relieved and said to Sun Xiaojie: "Sun Tongpan, please go to the guest room first and take a rest."
Sun Xiaojie naturally has such discernment. Prince Shu is going to discuss important matters with Marquis Yun, so naturally he can't just listen.
When the servants took Sun Xiaojie away, Hong Zhenji backed away from the others and said to Xu Zhiqiong, "Is this man my brother?"
Xu Zhiqiong asked: "Do you look similar?"
It definitely looks like him, but Hong Zhenkang is not so old-fashioned, nor is he so thin.
Could it be that this person just looks similar to Hong Zhenkang?
Then what is the purpose of Xu Zhiqiong bringing him here?
Xu Zhiqiong injected the power of imagery into Hong Zhenkang's body, completely dissolving the orifice-sealing technique.
Hong Zhenkang looked at Hong Zhenji silently.
He hasn't spoken for more than ten years, and he is not very articulate.
He opened his mouth several times, and finally squeezed out a sentence from his throat: "Zhen, Zhen, Zhen Ji..."
Hong Zhenji's cheek twitched.
This man's voice is not very similar to Hong Zhenkang's, but it sounds more cordial than Hong Zhenkang's.
"Laoba, it's me."
Laoba...
No one has called Hong Jinji that way in many years.
Among his peers, Hong Juncheng is the eldest, Hong Zhenkang is the seventh, and Hong Zhenji is the eighth.
The previous brothers died one after another, and Hong Zhenkang and Hong Zhenji grew up together. Only Hong Zhenkang called him Lao Ba.
When he reached adulthood, due to political differences, Hong Zhenkang stopped calling him Lao Ba and Hong Zhenji stopped calling him Seventh Brother.
Hong Zhenji was still a little doubtful: "Are you really the seventh brother?"
"You don't believe me?" Hong Zhenkang was eager to prove his identity, and his words were a little confused in his haste. "When you broke my father's ear bottle, I took the responsibility for you. I was beaten by my father, do you still remember?
?”
"Of course I remember this." Hong Zhenji's expression did not change.
During the last banquet, Hong Zhenji mentioned this matter to Hong Zhenkang. It was not a secret and it could not prove the identity of the other party.
Hong Zhenkang added: "When you were twelve years old, you killed your father's royal horse by mistake. Afterwards, you and I buried the horse's body together. Do you still remember this?"
Not many people knew about this. Hong Zhenji took a step back, his eyes full of fear.
Hong Zhenkang added: "When you were thirteen years old, you were drunk and scrawled random graffiti on a painting of your father's. I helped you burn the painting. Do you still remember this?"
Hong Zhenji shuddered. Even fewer people knew about this.
Hong Zhenkang continued: "When you were fifteen years old, you learned some masculine habits from the prince's young master and slept with the eunuch in the palace. I sent the eunuch away afterwards. Have you ever..."
"It goes without saying!" Hong Zhenji was shocked. Only he and Hong Zhenkang knew about this matter.
This man is really Hong Zhenkang!
Xu Zhiqiong was even more shocked than Hong Zhenji. He had a new understanding of Hong Zhenji: "You can talk about the eunuch in detail."
Hong Zhenji looked at Xu Zhiqiong blankly: "Marquis Yun, what is the whole story?"
Xu Zhiqiong smiled and said: "For the details, I'd better ask your brother."
Hong Zhenkang burst into tears: "Zhenji, it's been nineteen years. I thought I would never see you again. I was imprisoned by that traitor for nineteen years!"
Hong Zhenji was confused: "Which traitor are you talking about?"