The sun was setting in the west. Zhang Yanling lay drunkenly on the mat in the back room and fell asleep.
In the morning, she and Wang Shouren had a pleasant chat. At noon, Zhang Yanling simply invited Wang Shouren to have a drink. Wang Shouren happily agreed. Wang Shouren drank a lot, and he drank for more than an hour and drank two large jars of wine. In the end, both of them were drunk.
On the wine table.
In the end, Zhang Yanling's entourage carried the two of them out and sent them back to their homes. Zhang Yanling was already very drunk when she came back. Axiu made Zhang Yanling a sobering soup and drank half a bowl of it, so that Zhang Yanling could sleep peacefully.
Outside, Xu Wanyi and Axiu were sitting in the hall, chatting and discussing family matters. Axiu and Xu Wanyi were discussing some things about Ruqing's marriage. Xu Wanyi asked a few questions from time to time, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
At this moment, there were quick steps outside, and someone quickly ran into the main courtyard, shouting loudly: "Master Hou, Master Hou. Save my daddy, save my daddy."
Xu Wanyi and Axiu in the room, as well as several maids in the corridor, all stood up in surprise.
"Who is it?" Xu Wanyi poked her head and looked outside.
"It seems... Miss Youtang." Axiu said.
A figure flashed at the door, and Xu Youtang appeared at the door. Her face was red, her hair was wet and stuck to her forehead, her eyes were full of tears, and she was wiping her tears with her hands. Her expression was extremely anxious.
"Sister Youtang, what happened? What's wrong?" Axiu hurriedly went up to greet her and asked.
Xu Wanyi also frowned and said, "What's going on? What happened?"
Xu Youtang cried loudly and shouted: "Princess, Sister Axiu, something happened in my family. Where is the Marquis? Is he there? Please save my father. They took my father away."
"
"What happened? Who arrested your father?" Xu Wanyi asked.
Xu Youtang cried: "People from the imperial court, Jin Yiwei, came to arrest me. They said that my father had committed a crime and participated in some impeachment matter. They said that my father was a traitor and wanted to arrest and interrogate him. Princess, Sister Xiu'er, I really
I have no choice but to come to Mr. Hou and beg him to save my father. Please."
Xu Wanyi frowned and said nothing. She basically understood. Xu Youtang's father must be related to the impeachment case in the court. Xu Youtang's father served as a doctor in the Yu Heng Officials Department of the Ministry of Industry, and he was also an official in the outer court. This time
He must have participated in the impeachment case. Now that the impeachment failed in the outer court, he will be liquidated.
Xu Wanyi hesitated. Since Xu Youtang's father participated in the impeachment case, that is to say, he also participated in the impeachment of Zhang Yanling. In this situation, it is actually quite embarrassing. Logically speaking, Zhang Yanling should not be involved in this matter, but Xu
After all, Gao is Xu Youtang's father.
There was only a moment of hesitation, and Xu Wanyi immediately said: "Sister Youtang, don't be anxious, Mr. Hou is drunk and has fallen asleep. I will wake him up right away. Mr. Hou will definitely not sit idly by and ignore your matter.
"
Xu Wanyi is extremely smart, and she certainly knows Xu Youtang's position in Zhang Yanling's mind. After Zhang Yanling came back this time, she said that it was thanks to the firearms Xu Youtang made for herself, otherwise she would have died in the hands of the Tatars. No matter it was
Thinking from Zhang Yanling's point of view, or from her own point of view, Xu Youtang is a meritorious person. Her father Xu Gao committed a crime, which has nothing to do with Xu Youtang. Zhang Yanling will definitely help her, but she doesn't have to think too much.
Axiu comforted Xu Youtang softly and wiped the tears and sweat from Xu Youtang's face. Xu Wanyi went into the room and called Zhang Yanling. She shook Zhang Yanling for a moment, then wiped Zhang Yanling's face with a cold cloth a few times, and Zhang Yanling finally
He opened his eyes drowsily.
"What's wrong? Are you drinking?" Zhang Yanling said, smelling of alcohol.
Xu Wanyi smiled bitterly and said: "I'm still thinking about drinking. Mr. Hou, get up quickly. Sister Youtang is here. Something happened at home."
Zhang Yanling said in a daze: "Youtang? Something happened to her family?"
Suddenly he said angrily: "Something happened at Youtang's house? What happened? Something happened to her, right? Where is she?"
Xu Wanyi said: "It's not that something happened to her, it's that something happened to her father. She's outside. Go and ask her yourself."
Zhang Yanling jumped up and got off the ground. He staggered and almost fell. He put his arms around Xu Wanyi's shoulders to hold on. Then he immediately walked out.
"Wear a robe. I don't have any clothes on." Xu Wanyi yelled angrily. She took the robe and chased Zhang Yanling to put it on him.
Zhang Yanling walked out of the room and came into the main room. When Xu Youtang saw Zhang Yanling, he subconsciously rushed over to him. However, seeing Xu Wanyi and Axiu present, he stopped in a hurry and knelt down in front of Zhang Yanling with a thud.
"Master Hou, please save my father." Xu Youtang cried.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly stepped forward to help her up and said, "Youtang, get up and talk. What's going on?"
After returning to Beijing, Zhang Yanling has not gone to see Xu Youtang. Xu Youtang has not come to the Hou Mansion to see Zhang Yanling. Zhang Yanling was temporarily free. Soon after returning, he encountered something bad and had to find a way to deal with it. Xu Youtang was informed by Xu Gao that she and Zhang Yanling
=Zhang Yanling's gossip, so she is not allowed to go out and wander around.
Meeting each other at this moment, the two people could not express their love for each other, but they had to speak under such circumstances.
Xu Youtang quickly told what happened. Just half an hour ago, a group of royal guards in Jinyi came to the Xu family. After they broke into the yard, they pulled Xu Gao out of the house and said that Xu Gao participated in the impeachment of the traitor party.
The imperial court had decreed that he should be escorted to the south of Jinshui Bridge to receive the decree and receive punishment.
Xu Youtang and her mother were panic-stricken. Although Xu Gao said that there was no need to worry, it was nothing serious. But it had long been spread in the city that officials in the imperial court were beaten to death with sticks because of the impeachment. Many people were also injured.
He was seriously injured, and rumors of being dismissed from his post and having his home raided, or being imprisoned and exiled were rampant. How could they not be worried?
Xu Youtang was panic-stricken. The only person she could think of who could save her father was Zhang Yanling, so she hurriedly ran to ask for help.
Zhang Yanling suddenly understood after listening to Xu Youtang's account. It seemed that Xu Gao was also one of the officials who jointly impeached Liu Jin and himself. Zhang Yanling felt a little sad. Xu Gao was just a technical official in the Ministry of Industry. Regarding these strife, he
He shouldn't have participated. What's more, he didn't know that he was also on the impeachment list. He had helped him with relief work at least, and the relationship was pretty good. Why would he do this to him?
However, this is not important. Zhang Yanling knew that this matter must be caused by Liu Jin. He just met the emperor last night and gave him the suggestion to appease the mood of the outer court at this moment and calm the matter as much as possible. Zhu Houzhao also expressed his approval at that time
. But just one day later, people started to be arrested. What does this mean? Officials like Xu Gao are just small roles among the officials in the outer court. Even Xu Gao was arrested, which means that the scope of the attack must be very wide.
, there must be more people involved.
If this was Liu Jin's move to liquidate and establish authority, and if many officials were involved, it would have been impossible without Zhu Houzhao's approval. This means that Zhu Houzhao changed his mind, or was persuaded by Liu Jin. After all, the emperor was still a young man, and his temperament might be wavering.
.But it also proves from another aspect that Liu Jin and others have great influence on the emperor.
Seeing Zhang Yanling frowning and hesitating, Xu Youtang felt cold in his heart. It seemed that the Marquis had no intention of helping him.
"Master Hou, are you...are you...willing to help me save my father? I'm worried that something will happen to him. My mother was so anxious that she lay down, and I was so scared. If something happens to my father, we...my mother and I
But what should I do?" Xu Youtang asked sadly.
Xu Wanyi could not help but sigh softly: "Sister Youtang, your father was really careless this time. Did you know that Mr. Hou was among the people impeached in the outer court this time? Your father followed those people to impeach Hou.
Lord, why is this necessary?”
Xu Youtang groaned and looked at Zhang Yanling with a pale face. She had no idea that Zhang Yanling was also on the impeachment list. Her father actually participated in the impeachment of Zhang Yanling, but she came to ask Zhang Yanling to save her father. No wonder he was hesitant.
"So that's it. Then, let's forget it. It seems that the Marquis will not help me, and there is no reason to help me. I'd better go back." Xu Youtang said in a daze, turned around and walked out in despair.
Zhang Yanling came to her senses and asked, "Youtang, where are you going?"
Xu Youtang turned around and said: "Master Hou, my father should not have impeached you. I apologize to you on his behalf. I can understand your refusal to come forward. I will go back and think of other ways."
Zhang Yanling smiled bitterly and said: "Who said I won't save your father? That's your father, how could I not save him? You wait here, I will go and save people."
Xu Youtang shed tears of surprise and was so excited that she didn't know what to say.
Zhang Yanling immediately changed his clothes, ordered his men to prepare his horses, and then went out with a few personal guards to mount their horses and gallop away.
Axiu accompanied Xu Youtang to her residence in the West Courtyard to rest. Xu Wanyi was not at ease. Zhang Yanling was still drunk and went to rescue people so rashly. She was worried that something would happen. After thinking about it, she immediately ordered people to go to Dingguogong Mansion.
Inform dad and ask him to take a look to avoid any trouble.
…
In front of Taihe Gate, south of Jinshui Bridge. The evening sun is still scorching. The bluestone ground that has been scorching all day is scorching hot.
At this moment, a large group of dejected court officials were kneeling on the hot ground, numbering forty or fifty in number. They were all sweating and kneeling there tremblingly, not knowing what kind of punishment they were about to experience.
They were all officials from the outer court who were picked up from their homes and government offices by the royal guards. In less than an hour, dozens of officials were arrested and escorted here. They were told to wait here for the announcement of the decree.
"Eunuch Liu, the Master of Ceremonies, has arrived!" came a loud shout.
The officials looked up and saw a group of people coming from inside the Taihe Gate, surrounded by Liu Jin who was wearing a black robe and a crown.
Liu Jin looked proud, with a cold smile on his fat face. When he saw a group of ministers crawling south of Jinshui Bridge, the smile on Liu Jin's face became even thicker. Those self-proclaimed aloof guys were crawling in front of them at this moment.
The shivering look made Liu Jin feel extremely comfortable.
"Everyone, please listen carefully. You who formed a clique to criticize Zhongliang, eliminated dissidents, and participated in the treasonous act of coercing the emperor into breaking into the palace are all sinners of the imperial court. The evidence for these things is conclusive and cannot be quibbled with. Our family
Now announce the list of traitors, please listen carefully." Liu Jin stood on top of the arch of Jinshui Bridge and shouted in a deep voice.