But Zhang Wei knew that Gu Zaixing was not dead at all, and was living incognito in the Gu family's farm on the outskirts of Beijing...
Gu Zaixing was indeed not dead. Back then, his family spent a lot of money to bribe the prison guards of the Ministry of Punishment, and secretly exchanged him out of the prison with the corpse of a dead beggar.
In ancient prisons, this method of killing Li Daitao was quite common. Rich and powerful people relied on this to escape from death. They had to be secretive in front of such things, and they had to be tight-lipped afterward. Once they were stabbed,
If it leaks out, no one will be able to live with it. Especially for a princely family like the Gu family, whenever something comes out, it will inevitably become the focus of public attention. By then, even the iron book and the iron certificate will not be able to protect them.
The Gu family all have a clear understanding of this, but Mr. Gu Cheng and Gu have already felt sorry for his four sons and can no longer watch his eldest son and grandson being beheaded... In fact, as soon as Gu Zaixing was imprisoned, Gu Cheng came to plead guilty and
He expressed his willingness to trade his title and official position in exchange for the life of his eldest grandson. However, Zhu Di dismissed him as a prince who broke the law and was guilty of the same crime as the common people, and did not give him this face.
On the surface, this incident was the emperor's attempt to scare the monkeys and frighten the powerful children, but in fact it was Zhu Di who was still resentful of Gu Cheng's refusal to help him in the rebellion. It was just because Gu Cheng had guarded Guizhou for forty years and was irreplaceable in stabilizing the frontier.
Because of his important role, he never punished him. This time he insisted on killing Gu Cheng's grandson, and he also meant to punish him.
Gu Cheng was angered by the emperor. He had already killed four sons because of Zhu Di, and he did not expect Zhu Di to kill his grandson again. Under his instruction, Gu Xingzu and his uncle Gu Liang began to try to rescue Gu Zaixing. Especially Gu Xingzu
, in the years when his father was executed and his grandfather did not return, it was his eldest brother Gu Zaixing who protected him and allowed him to survive those difficult days. Therefore, in Gu Xingzu’s heart, his eldest brother was the most important person to him.
I risked everything to save him.
But to be honest, the Gu family was somewhat marginalized in the elite circles of the capital because of Gu Cheng's uncooperative attitude during the Jingnan War. Gu Xingzu also had a very serious and rigid personality, and was determined not to make friends with people from all walks of life. At this time, it was really
Now that he has to use these people, he can't even find where the Buddha's feet are even if he tries to figure it out temporarily. He can only ask for help from his best friend Zhang Sala.
The Second Young Master Zhang was born in the most glorious, dazzling, and powerful palace of the Yongle Dynasty, but he had an unruly temperament and was not afraid of meat and fish. He had friendships with both black and white people in the capital. When Gu Xingzu found him, he didn't have any bad intentions.
, He was just very enthusiastic about making arrangements for his friends. Although his line was not used later, Gu Xingzu's sixth uncle got the matter done, but Gu Xingzu was still very grateful to Zhang Wei, and of course he did not forget to ask him, Qian
Don't talk nonsense everywhere.
Zhang Hui naturally swore to heaven that he would never leak the news, and Gu Xingzu felt relieved. Later, Zhang Hui asked Gu Xingzu where his eldest brother was now. Gu Xingzu looked panicked, and then said that the old man had sent his eldest brother to Guizhou.
The sky is high and the emperor is far away there, and the tribal leaders only recognize his grandfather and not the Ming Emperor, so the eldest brother is very safe.
Originally, this matter was over, but the relationship between the two was too close. Later, Zhang Wei discovered that Gu Xingzu acted in a mysterious way. Every once in a while, he would go out of the city to stay at his family's manor. Zhang Wei originally thought that Gu Xingzu was carrying his wife behind his back.
He raised a little girl outside, and with a mischievous mentality, he asked people to stare at Gu Xingzu's tail. It turned out that the person hiding in Gujiazhuang was not some jade-faced girl, but Gu Zaixing, who was supposed to live with the savages in Guizhou...
…
I don’t know what his psychology was at that time, but Zhang Wei didn’t expose this matter, but the look in his eyes when he looked at Gu Xingzu changed involuntarily. Especially after Gu Xingzu inherited the title, Zhang Wei felt even more like a rare commodity. Not only did he not
He reminded Gu Xingzu to move his eldest brother to another place, and instead sent people to keep an eye on Gujiazhuang to prevent Gu Zaixing from disappearing from his sight.
That day Zhang Hui told Wang Xian that he had something against Gu Xingzu, which was what he was referring to. He actually thought of using Gu Zaixing's matter to blackmail Gu Xingzu. But he also knew that once he revealed this matter, the two of them would
His friend had already done it, so he didn’t want to do such an immoral thing unless he had to. Now listening to Wang Ning’s words, this old guy seemed to have some good ideas. Zhang Hao hurriedly bent over and poured wine for him.
He nodded and said repeatedly: "It is indeed true that the King of Han was too kind to Xiao Gu Shi. I am afraid that I will not be able to do it just by relying on old friendships." He said with a flattering smile and said: "Please teach me, uncle."
"Well." Wang Ning said with a faint smile: "My dear nephew, you can't just rely on yourself, you also have to learn to borrow help. You can take him to a place and I'm sure he will get results immediately.
"How could it be so amazing?" Zhang Sala exclaimed, and before Wang Ning could speak, he suddenly said, "You mean, Qingshou Temple?"
"Haha, that's right." Wang Ning showed a teachable look in his eyes and nodded: "I figured it out after I went there. If you can't convince him, you might as well take him to try your luck."
"Master Daoyan, will you help me speak?" Zhang Hao said in surprise.
"You'll know when you get there." Wang Ning pretended to smile mysteriously.
"Okay, I understand." Zhang Sala nodded, seeing that asking was in vain, so he stopped asking.
"Anyway, if you can bring the Marquis of Zhenyuan over, our cards will be easy to play." Wang Ning took a sip of wine and said quietly: "The two major governor's offices plus your right guard, such a huge force, it's hard to
Whoever you go to will win, even if we have to sell ourselves, we have to sell it for a good price, right?"
"Uncle is still smart," Zhang Sala's blood boiled after hearing this, and he excitedly poured wine for Wang Ning and said, "My nephew will definitely follow my uncle's lead. We will live and die together, and we will be rich and honorable together."
"Okay." Wang Ning nodded, bursting out with some pride, clinking glasses with him and saying: "We live and die together, and we share wealth and honor."
It was already past noon when he came out of Wang Ning's place. Zhang Huan rushed to Zhenyuan Hou's Mansion excitedly with the help of wine, hoping to win over Gu Xingzu in one go. Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered Zhenyuan Hou's Mansion, he felt that the atmosphere was not right.
I saw that all the servants in the house had solemn expressions and walked in a hurry, which meant that he was too familiar with Gu Xingzu, and coming to his house was just like returning to his own home. Otherwise, it would be a problem whether the servants in the house could let him in.
Without announcing, he walked into the main hall of the Hou Mansion and saw Gu Xingzu's two uncles, Gu Yong and Gu Liang, sitting in the main seats. When they saw someone breaking in, they both frowned. When they saw it was him,
He nodded as a greeting.
Gu Xingzu was sitting on the chair at the bottom. When he saw Zhang Wei coming, he motioned with his eyes to sit down next to him. After Zhang Wei sat down, he felt that the already tense atmosphere was obviously a little more awkward. Seeing Gu Yong and Gu Liang
Without saying anything, he touched his nose and whispered to Gu Xingzu: "I came at the wrong time?"
"Yeah." Gu Xingzu nodded slightly, unable to hide the anxious look on his face and said, "Something happened at home."
"Since Xingzu has guests, let's go back first." At this time, Gu Yong stood up, and Gu Qing on the side also stood up hurriedly. Gu Yong said: "Everyone can find a way to do that, but quietly
Do it without making any noise."
As Gu Yong spoke, he took a deep look at Zhang Sala, who smiled obediently and said, "I didn't hear anything and I don't know anything. Just treat me as if I haven't been here."
"Haha, Brother Salamander, don't be surprised," Gu Qing forced out a smile and said, "You and Xingzu are brothers, how can we not trust you?" Even so, until the two brothers left, they did not mention what happened.
After seeing off his two uncles, Gu Xingzu and Zhang Sala went for a walk in the back garden. There were pots of chrysanthemums ready to bloom in the back garden. Seeing these flower pots, Zhang Xing thought of something and slapped the back of his head.
Said: "It's September now, and the time to enjoy chrysanthemums and eat crabs is coming."
"You still have such a leisurely and relaxed mood," said Gu Xingzu, who was born with deep and deep features, and wore a dark green robe, making him look like a melancholic prince. "I saw the autumn colors in the garden, but I only thought of the desolate scene of the autumn wind blowing away the fallen leaves.
"
"There is no real autumn in the capital," Zhang Kai said with a smile: "When I was a child, I grew up in Beijing, and the autumn there is really amazing. Compared with Beijing, here we are like spring all year round." He said in a low voice.
: "What happened?"
"This..." In the past, Gu Xingzu would have told his good friends directly, but after becoming the Marquis of Zhenyuan and becoming the Governor of the Zuo Army Governor's Mansion, he acted much more steadily than before, and he hesitated for a moment not knowing what to do.
he said.
"People say that you should never forget each other if you are rich and noble. It's a good thing for you, you just became the Marquis and forgot about your brothers." Zhang Wei snorted dissatisfied and said: "If it's inconvenient, forget it. I'll leave too, so as not to bother you."
thing."
"Did I say I won't tell you?" Gu Xingzu hurriedly grabbed him and said with a wry smile: "You have to let me think about what to say."
"Then why are you talking? If you have anything to say, why should we think so much?" Zhang Sala stopped and said.
"Hey, okay, my eldest brother is actually not dead, you know that." When Gu Xingzu said this, he couldn't help but look around, and he felt relieved when he saw that there was no one in the garden.
"I know." Zhang Hu nodded and said, "I helped you clear the way at that time, but it was your sixth uncle who was more capable and got the job done first." He paused and asked, "By the way, our eldest brother is here.
How are you doing in Guizhou?”
"He is missing." Gu Xingzu sighed, worry evident in his words.
"Oh?" Zhang Hu said in surprise: "When did it happen?"
"He disappeared last night." Gu Xingzu sighed again.
"So fast?" Zhang Kai's eyes widened, as if he really thought the eldest brother of the Gu family was still in Guizhou.
"Actually..." Gu Xingzu hesitated and said truthfully: "My eldest brother is not in Guizhou..."
"Then where is he?" Zhang Wei felt a little guilty. Compared with Xiao Gu's honesty to him, it was really not fun for him to deliberately plot against him.