The brothers, Grand Scholar Kong and Mr. Kong Jiu, each had their own troubles, but Zhu Tingfang had long forgotten about them. The next morning, when he went to the Nancheng Military and Horse Department as usual, he got the news from the deputy military envoy who came to report -
—The fake courier who committed suicide mysteriously yesterday, two of the best gangsters in the capital jointly investigated, and the cause of death was found out at dawn.
"Has he already swallowed the poison pill beforehand?"
Although Zhu Tingfang was smart and eager to learn, he could not be said to have a good understanding of this kind of art. When he summoned the two disciples, he frowned and asked. After receiving a positive answer, he couldn't help but become more confused, and he was not ashamed to ask.
.
"But when this person was arrested before, there was no sign of pain, and he died very quickly, as if he could decide independently when to die. What kind of poison pill can have such an effect?"
"Don't get me wrong, I didn't question your intention. There are specialties in the art industry. After all, you are more experienced in this area. I just want to take more precautions in the future. Therefore, you need to explain it more clearly. After all, I have already submitted a letter
Please forgive me, if the emperor inquires about it in the future, I cannot simply say that people swallowed poison pills and committed suicide under my nose."
This was the first time for the two gangsters to meet Zhu Tingfang, a big shot with a noble family background and a prominent official position. At this time, they felt a little more at ease when they saw the person's inquiring attitude and cheerful look.
The older one smiled apologetically and said: "Sir, this man said he swallowed a poison pill, but I'm afraid that poison pill was not secretly taken by him when you interrogated him, nor was it buried in his teeth long ago, but was taken by him.
It was wrapped in food and swallowed into his stomach early. Then he probably didn't eat or drink, so the food on the outer layer of the poison pill was not digested in his stomach. But before..."
He paused for a moment before continuing: "When this man was tortured with a stick before, he probably wouldn't have had time to feed him. Of course, he later intended to commit suicide and blocked his mouth.
It is even more impossible and we dare not let him eat anymore. Therefore, according to the two of us who checked the residue in his stomach, there was only a little bit of food, and poison residue was found..."
Although Zhu Tingfang was not an expert in pharmacology, after hearing this, he already understood that no matter who sent this fake messenger, the person behind the scenes had deliberate intentions. Needless to say, it was difficult to determine whether the fake messenger knew about it beforehand.
.
Because if he knew in advance that he had poison in his belly and was determined to die, all he had to do was calculate the time to make a fuss at the city gate, and then take advantage of the situation to inflict poison on him and kill him, then the whole city would definitely be in trouble.
But it happened that after the interrogation, he revealed that the other party may not have died of poison when the eldest prince sent a fake messenger. It seemed that the timing of his death was good, but compared to making the matter bigger, it was more quiet than the former.
Much smaller. As for putting all the responsibility on him, that makes sense, but the problem is... the emperor probably can only give him a few words of warning.
"I understand, you two have worked hard all night. Come and reward them with ten coins!"
Hearing that their hard work all night was not in vain, the two coworkers were naturally overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed and thanked them. After seeing Zhu Tingfang's approval of the document signed by them, they both left. After they left, Zhu Tingfang just said to the people sitting next to him.
The deputy envoy of soldiers and horses ordered: "This matter will be closed directly. Let's say that someone pretended to be a messenger and spread the news of the death of the eldest prince with evil intentions."
"The mastermind is currently missing, and the accomplice is the deceased, whose identity is unknown. We have already asked a master of painting to draw an image of this person, right? Post it up, and use the dead horse as a living horse doctor to see if anyone can recognize him. As for the dead person,
, wrapped it in a reed mat and buried it directly."
Such a simple and lively way of handling the situation was naturally something the deputy envoy could not ask for, so he immediately agreed with awe.
But before he left, he suddenly thought of another thing and said in a hurry: "I have conveyed your instructions yesterday. Everyone is grateful and said that they will kowtow to you and congratulate you after you return from your wedding vacation."
.”
He never mentioned that he had spread the news that Zhu Tingfang would not accept gifts. Although he received a lot of doubts, there were also a lot of other people who were grateful to him. However, Zhu Tingfang's answer was completely beyond his expectation: "
Marriage leave? What kind of wedding leave? After I pay my respects at the family temple the day after tomorrow, I will come to the Yamen as usual. When I return home after three days, I will only take half a day off."
Seeing the stunned deputy envoy of soldiers and horses in front of him, Zhu Tingfang said calmly: "Now is the troubled winter. Since the emperor has entrusted the five-city army and horse department to me, how can I only care about the small family and ignore everyone? As for kowtows and congratulations,
But it’s not necessary. It’s enough to keep the peace and order in the capital and work together from top to bottom.”
When the news spread through the word of mouth through the deputy envoy of the Army and Horses, many officials and soldiers in the entire Nancheng Army and Horses Department were in disbelief. These days, even a small soldier can get a three-day wedding leave after getting married, and even more
Not to mention the officials in the DPRK and the Central Government. Those in the capital rarely get five or six days of wedding leave, and if they return to their hometown to get married, their superiors will even approve it for a month or so with a stroke of a pen.
Of course, the prerequisite for being granted a long leave after returning to your hometown to get married is that you have enough rank and have been an official for a long time - if you were an official with a Jinshi background, depending on your age, you would either be selected to catch your son-in-law and get married, or you could get married while studying.
Okay. As for the scenario of getting married in a glamorous manner after becoming an official...unless your wife dies and then renews your relationship, it is impossible.
But no matter how lively it was at that time, it was still the second marriage... Do you have the nerve to ask for ten days off?
But Zhu Tingfang's rank is high enough, his official position is big enough, and more importantly, he is a serious relative of the emperor, a direct descendant of the noble family. Now he is getting married for the first time. There is no need to be so diligent and hardworking.
? Under such a comparison, how can others live?
It doesn't matter to Zhang Shou how hard-working my uncle will make others look dull. It's none of his business anyway. However, my uncle doesn't even want a wedding leave - even for those many students.
He would have no choice but to shorten his wedding leave in the future. He couldn't help but be shocked when he heard last night that Zhu Tingfang planned to take half a day off on the second day after the wedding and another half day off on the day he returned home.
Therefore, when he finished his half-day lecture at Ciqing Palace in the morning, the third prince asked politely about the marriage in Zhao Guogong's mansion tomorrow, so he simply publicized it for his elder uncle. Now, from now on, from
Everyone found it strange that the third prince came to read with a group of companions. Lu Sanlang couldn't help shouting: "I still took a few days of wedding leave. Boss Zhu, is this too hard?"
"Do you want me to tell my father?"
The third prince asked with some uncertainty. Seeing Zhang Shouzhi shaking his head, he thought about the impression that Zhu Tingfang was indeed not a person who listened to advice, so he couldn't help but sigh: "That's right, Mr. Zhu has always been upright and a bit old-fashioned.
Man, this is not surprising. The last time Senior Brother Lu got married, it was his fourth brother who went there. This time..."
The third prince actually wanted to join in the fun, but the news of the eldest prince's death was sent to the palace yesterday. Although his father was not as furious as when the news of the second prince's shipwreck came last time, he could still tell that the people were in a very happy mood.
Not good, so he didn't think it was a good idea to go to such a festive occasion at this time.
After all, brothers should also be in mourning. Even if the eldest prince and the second prince were expelled from the clan when they were expelled from the capital, that would not erase the blood relationship.
He paused for a moment, and finally said softly: "Teacher, I would like to ask you to please stop my fourth brother and not let him go to Zhao Guogong's mansion to join in the fun at this time. He is an impulsive person who doesn't care, and he can easily be caught."
.”
Of course Zhang Shou knew what the third prince was worried about, so he immediately laughed and said: "Don't worry, the fourth prince has more important things to do now than secretly attending the wedding and making trouble in the bridal chamber. He has no time to worry about anything else. Even if he doesn't attend,
Although he will be unhappy about my wedding to Yingying, he will probably agree to it."
Not to mention that the third prince didn't quite believe it, no one else believed that the naughty kid could be so honest. However, when Zhang Shou and the third prince were alone together, when Zhang Shou talked about the bet that the fourth prince made with Zhang Chen, people couldn't help but believe it.
. However, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince could not take good care of his younger brother, because he knew too well the three-minute enthusiasm that the fourth prince had when doing things.
For example, taking arithmetic as an example...the Fourth Prince's enthusiasm for it is far less than before.
Today's third prince is no longer a shy little prince who keeps things in his heart. He confided his worries to Zhang Shou very straightforwardly. When Zhang Shou smiled and said nothing, he couldn't help but said: "Teacher
, I am afraid that my fourth brother will do it with full confidence, but when he turns around and is frustrated, he will droop his head and lose energy. After all, neither he nor I are too far away from the common people."
Seeing that the trace of lightness and joking disappeared from Zhang Shou's face, the third prince said solemnly: "Although my fourth brother and I followed the teacher to the village in the countryside of Haidian, we also went to the fields, and saw farmers harvesting wheat.
I have been to the market, and I have even taken classes with my classmates from Jiuzhangtang, but after all, this is just watching and getting along with each other, not a real personal experience."
"Even if the fourth brother eats and lives with the little peanut Xiao Cheng in the public school, it will not be very difficult. I am very worried... I am very worried that when his endurance reaches the limit and he behaves like a prince,
He can no longer keep the two friends he just made."
Having said this, the third prince lowered his head slightly, his mood was very subtle.
The short period of time he studied in Jiuzhangtang was the happiest day in his life. He studied hard, worked hard to solve problems, and kept up with Zhang Shou's lectures. He also worked hard with a lot of students from different backgrounds.
The classmates got along with each other, and they became more and more familiar with each other... He once thought that besides Lu Sanlang, he could make a few friends.
Anyway, he is an insignificant little prince. Whether he is a wise king or an idle king in the future, that will be the best outcome.
However, his father finally chose him to inherit the world! And from the moment he agreed to his father's promise, he could no longer go in and out of Jiuzhang Hall, his teacher's house, or even travel to the market and see the people as before.
Of course, it is impossible to make as many friends as originally imagined, because no one dares to make friends with the current prince and future emperor.
Therefore, although his fourth brother was ordered by his father to reflect outside the palace, although he could not see his younger brother, he knew that his younger brother lived a fulfilling and meaningful life, and it seemed that he had rarely made friends of similar age. The third prince was very
I'm happy for him, but I don't want him to be looked down upon by his friends if he fails or gives up halfway.
When Zhang Shou looked at the third prince's worried attitude, he naturally realized the prince's concerns. He smiled and shook his head: "Your highness, you underestimate your younger brother too much. You will learn from the pain."
Zhi, even though the fourth prince seems to be always getting into trouble and causing trouble, he has also grown up a bit."
"Although I can tell you that even if he loses the bet with Zhang Chen this time, it doesn't matter. Xiao Huahua and Xiao Cheng will not blame him for this, but I still tell you the truth. This time
In the gambling fight, I will definitely let him win and make Zhang Chen convinced of his defeat. This is what I promised Duke Qin."
Zhang Shou saw that the third prince was confused and confused, so he whispered what Duke of Qin Zhang Chuan had entrusted to Zhu Ying. Sure enough, the third prince immediately became dumbfounded: "It's really shameless for Duke Qin to throw away the burden... But if the teacher plans to borrow
Isn’t it unfair to ask my fourth brother to attack Zhang Chen?”
"No, the most I can do is take a look at the situation and then follow the trend. I won't really attack the side from the beginning. I have to let them fight first. I plan to set the place where they will fight in Tongzhou, and by the way
Miss Ye, whom Yingying is very optimistic about, should contact Zhang Chen again. Of course, this is not for the sake of matchmaking, but to give Zhang Chen and the fourth prince a blow."
"As far as I know, Miss Ye has a strong and independent personality, and is well-educated and knowledgeable. If you let her make a private judgment, she should be very fair. Anyway, the enrollment of women's schools is still going on, so there is no need for her.
The gambling fight only lasts for a month, so she should have plenty of time. Of course, when you go to find her, you can't go to her in the name of a gambling fight, but in the name of talent selection."
Having said this, Zhang Shou looked at the thoughtful third prince with a smile: "Can I invite you in the name of His Royal Highness?"
"Me?" The third prince was obviously caught off guard - he was not worried about whether he would be suspected of being lecherous if he met a woman from the Ye family. After all, he was still too young - but he was worried about the other one.
Question, "But I've never seen her, so how can I find her?"
"It's very simple. Later, Yingying will take her into the palace to see the Queen Mother, and by the way, she will also meet Princess Yongping. After all, the Queen Mother is the biggest sponsor of the women's school. When the time comes, you can go too. Then, you can
Let me tell you about the bet between Zhang Chen and the Fourth Prince, and I think given the temperament of the Queen Mother, she should agree."
The third prince was a little confused, and he felt that Zhang Shou's arrangement was very careful, but he also vaguely felt that there was more to it than that. Therefore, on this day, Zhang Shou needed to go back to Zhao Guogong's mansion early to help prepare for Zhu Tingfang's marriage, so he could do it early.
After resigning, he could not help but feel a little absent-minded in his afternoon class.
When the third prince returned to Qianqing Palace in the evening, he saw that his father was still depressed, so he couldn't help but tell him about this ridiculous gambling fight. After already knowing that the public school was going to undergo such a change, although
This shows that the emperor knew that Zhang Shou had bad intentions, but was upset by the news of the death of the eldest prince, and his attention was unknowingly diverted at this time.
"Just follow Zhang Shou's words and try. Don't worry about your fourth brother, let alone Zhang Chen. These two boys just need to be dealt with! If Zhang Shou really wants a fair gambling environment, I will quietly take action.