Liu Heng turned his head, stared at Kou Ji, and asked seriously.
Kou Ji was stunned and laughed softly: "She is your aunt after all. Do you really have the heart to watch Cao Li secretly deal with her and finally kill her?"
Liu Heng said with an ugly face: "Fourth brother listened to Cao Lili's words, are you afraid that I will tip off my aunt?"
Kou Ji shook his head and said with a smile: "If I was worried that you would tip off your aunt, I wouldn't have brought you here. I just feel that your aunt has always been kind to your Liu family. If one day, Cao Lili really has the ability to kill
When she comes, will you feel distressed about rescuing Cao Liang today?"
Liu Heng was stunned for a moment, lowered his head and smiled, "If such a day comes, the one who will be most distressed should not be me, but you, Fourth Brother."
Kou Ji was stunned.
Liu Heng continued to laugh and said: "Fourth brother has an irreversible friendship with the Guan family, and the Guan family also has a mother-son affection for my aunt. If one day, Cao Lili really wants to kill my aunt, both the Guan family and you will be caught in the middle.
.”
Kou Ji was stunned, then laughed and said, "You can see clearly."
Liu Heng grinned and said: "From the time I left Bianjing to now, I have thought a lot. There are some issues that I couldn't understand before, and some things that I couldn't see clearly before. Now I have figured them out and can see them clearly."
Kou Ji glanced at Liu Heng and said, "As long as you can think clearly and see clearly...if you untie the knot in your heart, your life will be easier in the future."
Liu Heng nodded.
"Let's go...find a place to rest for the night and return to the capital tomorrow. When the two soldiers guarding Cao Lili return to Bianjing City, you can find a reason to take them away, and then find a reason to take them away with their
The whole family will be sent to Leizhou together."
"..."
Liu Heng opened his mouth in astonishment and followed Kou Ji to a ruined temple not far from the inn.
A bonfire was lit in the ruined temple.
Little sparks slowly scattered.
When Liu Heng saw Kou Ji wrapping himself tightly in a wool blanket and lying on the haystack to sleep, he couldn't help but said: "Fourth brother, are you hiding someone in Leizhou?"
Kou Ji covered himself with the quilt and said angrily: "What do you mean by hiding people... It seems like I have many outer rooms... I just made some arrangements in Leizhou in my spare time, just in case.
"
Liu Heng held the wool blanket with complicated thoughts and sat next to Kou Ji. He said with a trembling voice: "You hid soldiers and horses secretly in Leizhou? What do you want?"
Kou Ji said angrily: "Of course it's a critical time to take the whole family and run away in a big boat. Are you rebelling?"
Liu Heng was stunned for a moment, with a somewhat disappointed look on his face.
Immediately.
Liu Heng was stunned again.
Why did I feel disappointed after hearing that my fourth brother would not rebel?
Am I born a traitor?
Like to do some bad things?
Rebellion obviously won't do me any good, right?
…
Complex thoughts became a mess in Liu Heng's mind.
It kept him up all night.
The next day.
Liu Heng stared at the two panda eyes, accompanied Kou Ji, mounted his horse, and ran towards Bianjing City.
When they arrived, the two of them galloped wildly.
It was the same when I went back.
Liu Heng disappeared for ten days and a half, and no one cared.
But Kou Ji can't.
Kou Ji was a man with a heavy responsibility and a high position. If he disappeared for ten days and a half without any reason, the civil and military councils of the Manchu Dynasty would try their best to find him out.
Therefore, Kou Ji could not stay outside Bianjing for any longer.
The two traveled back to Bianjing city at night and under the stars.
They parted ways on the official road outside Bianjing City.
Liu Heng returned to Bianjing.
Kou Ji turned around and went to Ruian Villa.
When we arrived outside Ruian Town, we saw many people surrounding Ruian Town.
Four to five thousand soldiers of the imperial army blocked the people and prevented them from entering.
"Young Master..."
Just as Kou Ji was about to get on his horse, he heard a familiar shout.
Follow the sound.
Then he saw Kou Zhong, dressed in coarse linen clothes, appearing in front of his horse from an inconspicuous corner.
"Why are you here? Dressed like this?"
Kou Ji sat on the horse and asked.
Kou Zhong smiled honestly and said in a low voice: "My old servant is here specially to wait for you, young master."
Kou Ji frowned and said, "Is there something going on at home?"
Kou Zhong shook his head and said: "There is nothing wrong with the house. With my current status, who would dare to cause trouble in the house."
Kou Ji opened his mouth and was about to ask when he heard Kou Zhong continue: "The master ordered the servant to wait for you here. There have been many people visiting the master in recent days, and the soldiers of the Imperial Army in Ruian Town did not let them in.
They blocked all the main roads in Ruian Town. I was afraid that you would be entangled along the way, so I sent my old servant to take you back from another place."
Kou Ji didn't know whether to laugh or cry and said: "Is there still such a thing? Those people have been making trouble for more than half a month, aren't they tired?"
Kou Zhong laughed and said, "I'm afraid I won't be tired for a while."
Kou Ji shook his head and jumped off the horse.
Kou Zhong waved his hand, and someone came out from an inconspicuous corner and took Kou Ji's horse away.
As for the elite cavalry who followed Kou Ji, they dispersed long after Kou Ji entered the boundary of Bianjing.
Kou Ji followed Kou Zhong, going around and around, along a little-known path, back to the other courtyard.
Entered the other courtyard.
Then I saw Kou Zhun sitting in the main hall with a golden sword, frowning, not knowing what he was thinking.
"grandfather……"
Kou Ji entered the main hall and bowed to salute.
Kou Zhun slowly came back to his senses, and after seeing Kou Ji, his face turned slightly cold.
"Kou Zhong, take the others down first."
Kou Zhun gave an order, Kou Zhong cupped his hands, and left the main hall with the other maids and servants.
Kou Zhun stared at Kou Ji and said coldly: "Cao Li is dead?"
Kou Ji pretended to be surprised and said: "Grandpa, do you already know?"
Kou Zhun snorted coldly: "Two days ago, the governor of Xiangzhou sent people to hurry up and tell the court about this matter."
Kou Ji laughed in a low voice: "The news from the imperial court is really fast."
Kou Zhun stared and asked, "Did you kill him?"
Kou Ji was stunned, then laughed and said, "Grandpa, that is a person who has served as a privy envoy. How can I kill him if I want to?"
Kou Zhun asked again: "Then where have you been these past few days?"
Kou Ji did not hide anything and said calmly: "Xiangyang..."
"Bang!"
Kou Zhun slammed the table and stood up, saying angrily: "Then you still say you weren't the one who killed me!"
Kou Ji smiled bitterly and said: "Grandpa, I went to Xiangyang just to take a look. I didn't touch Cao Yong, I didn't even touch it."
Kou Zhun frowned and snorted: "You didn't do anything?"
"No!"
Kou Ji answered decisively.
Kou Zhun's expression softened a bit.
Kou Zhun sat down again and asked in a deep voice: "Then how did Cao Lili die?"
Kou Jidao: "Cao Lili was forced to death by Yang Huaimin."
Kou Zhun's eyes widened instantly, "Yang Huaimin? How dare he?!"
Kou Ji laughed in a low voice: "Yang Huaimin doesn't dare, but the people behind him do."
Kou Zhun snorted coldly: "I will reveal the news to Wang Zeng and Li Di. Wang Zeng and Li Di will definitely not make it easy for Yang Huaimin."
Kou Ji pondered: "Grandpa cares about Cao Liang?"
Kou Zhun was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said: "I don't care... I just feel that if Cao is using someone like him who has made great contributions to the country, he must kill him according to national law, rather than lynching him."
Kou Ji cupped his hands and said, "Grandpa Gaoyi..."
Kou Zhun rolled his eyes, "There's no need for you to put a high hat on me. Go to the Ministry of Works to deal with your trivial government affairs. If Wang Yunsheng finds me again, I won't be able to spare you."
Kou Ji said in shock: "Wang Yunsheng is looking for you?"
"Get out!"
"oh!"
Kou Ji still wanted to ask Kou Zhun for clarification, but Kou Zhun obviously had no intention of continuing the conversation with him, so Kou Ji could only leave the other hospital and go to the Ministry of Works to ask Wang Yunsheng for clarification.
Kou Ji rested at his residence for half a day, washed himself, and after changing into the official residence, he left Ruian Town and went straight to Bianjing City.
He ran all the way to the Yamen of the Ministry of Industry.
Amidst the compliments from his subordinate officials, I found Wang Yunsheng who was handling government affairs.
After careful inquiry, I found out that the Ministry of Industry had indeed encountered some trivial troubles in recent days. Wang Yunsheng was unsure about it, so he went to the Kou Mansion to find Kou Ji.
Kou Ji is not here.
Kou Zhun came to help and solved all the troubles.
"You mean, my grandfather has already taken care of all the trivial matters? I don't need to take care of them anymore?"
Kou Ji asked Wang Yunsheng with some uncertainty.
Wang Yunsheng smiled and nodded: "With the Grand Master coming forward to sign the judgment document, who dares to embarrass our Ministry of Industry again?"
Kou Ji nodded thoughtfully.
Kou Zhun had been in charge of government for many years, and his handwriting was familiar to everyone in the court.
The documents he signed were handed over to other yamen at all levels, and people from all yamen at all levels had to give face.
It's not worthwhile to go against Kou Zhun over trivial matters.
"So the Ministry of Industry doesn't need me to be in charge now?"
"Yes, if you have anything to do, just do it. Your subordinate will help you take care of everything in the Work Department."
"Then I'm leaving..."
"Send your regards to your superior..."
"..."
Kou Ji strolled out of the Ministry of Industry Yamen and walked out of the city.
As soon as I stepped onto Royal Street, I was rudely stopped.
The person who stopped him had a high status and he couldn't beat him, so he could only put on a smile and walked over.
"Grandpa Li..."
Kou Ji walked up to Li Di who was riding on horseback and bowed.
Li Di nodded slowly and pointed to the donkey led by Kou Ji, "The donkey is pretty good..."
Kou Ji hurriedly said: "If Grandpa Li likes it, I will give it to you."
Li Di nodded with satisfaction, "Suppose you have a filial piety, but I happened to be the one walking in your place. For the sake of your son's filial piety, I will treat you to dinner."
Kou Ji was stunned and nodded in agreement.
Li Di rode on horseback and took Kou Ji to Li's house.
Li Di ordered people to prepare a large table of food.
Didn't call anyone else.
Just the two of them sat at the table, eating and drinking.
Halfway through the meal, Li Di said calmly: "Just pretend you didn't hear what I said before..."
Kou Ji held the dish in his mouth and raised his head blankly, with a confused look on his face.
Li Di waved his hand, "Eat, eat..."
Kou Ji nodded and continued to eat.
Li Di sighed and said nothing more.
Kou Ji naturally knew what Li Di meant by what he said just now.
Kou Ji just didn't want to expose this matter and embarrass Li Di, so he pretended to be dumbfounded.
Li Di told Kou Ji openly before that he should be on guard against Kou Ji.
Kou Zhun's resignation was like a slap in the face.
It made him understand that he was judging a gentleman with a villain's heart.
Li Di invited Kou Ji to dinner this time for the purpose of apologizing to Kou Ji.
It's just that as an elder, he wants to maintain his dignity as an elder, so naturally he can't apologize directly to Kou Ji.
He could only apologize to Kou Ji in a vague way.
It's just that Kou Ji didn't seem to understand what he said in his apology just now, which made him hesitate whether to continue apologizing or not.
Li Di ate the rice tastelessly. He opened his mouth several times but hesitated.
Kou Ji didn't care about Li Di's thoughts and ate and drank deliciously.
Today's meal should be the best meal Li Di has ever had for Kou Ji since he met Li Di.
After having enough wine and food.
After Kou Ji wiped his mouth and rinsed his mouth, he accompanied Li Di to the main hall and sat down.
Seeing that Li Di was still hesitating, Kou Ji smiled and said, "Grandpa Li, there are some things that I have forgotten a long time ago. Why do you have to worry about it?"
Li Di was stunned and lost his voice: "Did you just hear the meaning of my words?"
Kou Ji smiled and nodded.
Li Di said dumbfounded: "Then why didn't you answer me, instead of pretending to be dumbfounded?"
Kou Ji smiled shyly and said, "Isn't this because I'm afraid of embarrassing you?"
Li Di pointed at Kou Ji and complained: "You kid..."
Kou Ji continued to smile and said: "This matter has passed. Grandpa Li, please don't mention it again, so as not to affect the relationship between you and me."
Li Di nodded and sighed: "It's better for you to see clearly. I am too persistent."
The threshold in his heart was crossed, and Li Di smiled more on his face. He pulled Kou Ji and asked, "How is your grandfather doing outside the city?"
Kou Ji smiled and said, "It's pretty good...it's more comfortable than living in the palace."
Li Di nodded, "That's good... once your grandfather becomes a saint, it's better for me to wait."
Kou Ji shook his head and said with a smile: "Grandpa Li, there is no need to belittle yourself."
Li Di shook his head and said: "I'm not belittling myself, I'm telling the truth. Since ancient times, there have been very few people in your grandfather's position who can throw away their power freely.
If I were in your grandfather's position, I probably wouldn't be so free and easy to throw away my power.
I admire your grandfather very much for what he did.
If I had known that your grandfather was so free and easy, I would not have judged a gentleman with a villain's heart."
Kou Ji smiled bitterly and said, "Didn't we just say not to mention this matter?"
Li Di was stunned, then laughed and said: "Yes, yes, don't mention this..."
After a pause, Li Di's face darkened and he asked: "Before, your grandfather sent someone to tell me that Cao Lili's death was related to Yang Huaimin. Do you know about this?"
Kou Ji pondered for a moment and said: "I know something... Yang Huaimin was responsible for escorting Cao Lili, but Cao Lili died in Xiangyang Post. No matter how Cao Lili died, he cannot escape the blame."
Li Di nodded slowly, "The civil and military officials in the court said the same thing. It's just that Yang Huaimin was right, Cao Lili committed suicide and had nothing to do with him. The magistrate of Xiangzhou testified for him, and I and Wang Zeng were not good either.
Blame him.
But the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty were filled with righteous indignation at Cao Yongli's death.
If we don’t give an explanation to the civil and military officials of the Manchu Dynasty, I’m afraid it will be difficult to calm down this matter.”