The official's surname was Zhao. Before today, he had been unknown, and he was only a third-rank Beijing official.

Barely regarded as a high-level official, during the festivals, he also received charcoal and ice tribute from local small officials, but in Chang'an, where there are many high-ranking officials, it is really not ranked.

Even the gift list for the New Year's Eve gift to the Xu family every year is ranked behind the old man.

However, this Master Zhao is very good at exploiting tricks, and he was born to be a person. He did what he liked and gave several gifts to Xu Xiang and Xu Zongwei, and also happened to flatter their precious child Xu Cong'an. After a long time, he also got a face in front of Xu Zongwei. There is a chance to sit in Xu Mansion and have a cup of tea.

It is precisely because of this that the official position and status of this Master Zhao have also risen, and the errand in his hand is also a fat poor face in front of the saint.

Master Zhao knew that his team was on the right track.

Apart from those idle officials with no name and name in the court, there are no more than the Jiang Xu family. Don't see that the Jiang family is also powerful, and even when Jiang Xiang is ranked as the left phase, he also serves as Taifu.

But the officials on the Jiang family's side are a bunch of poor scholars. Although Master Zhao, like them, is also a scholar, but Master Zhao claims that he is not as unclear as they are.

Full of benevolence, righteousness and morality, and helping the world and the people, what he said was boundless big talk. That group of people looks powerful, but who actually has the military power and makes money?

Of course it was the Xu family.

Sure enough, according to Master Zhao's philosophy of life, he has been smooth sailing for a few years, and today, he has reached a new level.

He was appointed by His Majesty and asked him to re-investigate the Shandong prefecture's corruption case.

What does he know about this case? During the Chinese New Year last year, the prefect in Shandong was still a fourth-rank official in the capital. When the two of them gave gifts to the Xu family, they met at the door.

However, this dear friend was not very lucky. After being sent to Shandong, he did such a dangerous thing for Xu Xiang, and was arrested by the King of Guangling.

This time, the greed of ink and silver is a sure thing, and this person's head will definitely not be able to be saved.

What else is there to investigate about such a greedy thing? When Emperor Qingping was there, he had already figured it out. Even the correspondence between the official and the capital has left evidence.

Master Zhao knew what he was looking for.

What he wants to investigate is to select the Xu family from this case, destroy the evidence, and let them retreat.

This is an opportunity for Master Zhao.

This matter is very simple, as long as he is ruthless, it can be done easily.

As long as he gets this thing done, he's helping the Xu family a lot. Now sitting on the throne is the fourth prince who is connected to the Xu family by blood, and it is Xu Xiang who is in charge of the government and power; Chen Bing is outside, it is the direct descendant of the Xu family.

After finishing this matter, he still worries about his official career for the next few decades?

After Master Zhao received this appointment, his heart was trembling with excitement.

And what excites him more is still behind.

After retreating from the dynasty, the little eunuch next to the fourth prince came to invite him in person, saying that the fourth prince had something to order him.

Even if Master Zhao usually goes to court, he is standing in the middle and back, unable to see the holy face, and can only see the black gauze hats of the officials in front.

At the end of the year, how many times can he be summoned by the emperor?

He hurriedly sorted out his clothes and went to the imperial study.

Sitting on his father's dragon chair, the fourth prince flattened him with a gracious expression, and then pushed back all the palace servants.

Only the two of them remained.

Master Zhao was so excited that his whole body was tense, but the fourth prince was like a spring breeze, gentle and kind, and chatted with him.

Master Zhao is shrewd and naturally knows that when the fourth prince treats him like this, it is not like seeing him at first sight, but he has something to do by himself.

Looking at this situation, 80% is still the fourth prince's confidant, and he needs to do it in his name.

Master Zhao is naturally not afraid of such trouble.

If it can't be done, the fourth prince will also think about doing things for him by himself, and will not punish him heavily. Once it is done, taking him is to gain face in front of the future crown prince and the emperor, and the scenery in the future will naturally be more.

Master Zhao sat upright and listened to the fourth prince talking to him.

The two talked for a while, and sure enough, the Fourth Prince led the conversation to the real business.

He said that when he was a prince, he suffered from the two people in the court.

One is Jiang Xiang, who is pedantic in thinking, does not know how to adapt, and likes to rely on the old and sell the old. One is Duke Yongning. He doesn't seem to have any intention of competing for power. In fact, he repeatedly flattered and bewitched the emperor in private, and even let his son and the prince in the palace secretly communicate with each other, thinking that he had wolf ambitions.

And this time the prefect of Shandong Province was greedy for ink, he also suspected that it was the Yongning Public Supervisor who lived in the south of the Yangtze River.

Since he can direct the wind to the capital, he must also have a presence in Chang'an. But all of this is just speculation. The most important thing is to trouble Master Zhao to check it out.

Master Zhao understands.

He knew that it didn't matter who was greedy for ink. The most important thing is that the emperor hates Duke Yongning, and wants to take advantage of Duke Yongning's absence in Chang'an to properly rectify Duke Yongning's mansion.

Master Zhao responded in a serious manner, and he also agreed with it. After returning, you must rectify your subordinates and go to Yongning Gongfu to check.

The fourth prince smiled and nodded.

"You're fine," he said. "This is good."

——

Mr. Zhao was leading behind him to investigate the corruption case. There were fifty or sixty personal soldiers assigned to him by the palace.

Although there are not many people, but when Hula La is in front of Yongning Gong's mansion, the battle is not small at all.

The door of the Duke's Mansion was knocked on by Lord Zhao.

The servant at the porter opened the door and saw that the door was full of officers and soldiers. The servant was stunned for a moment, and was about to close the door when the officers and soldiers raised their hands and blocked it.

The door could not be closed, and the servant watched helplessly as an adult walked to the door arrogantly.

"This official was ordered to come to investigate a case of corruption in Shandong," he said. "Now there is evidence to confirm that Lord Yongning is related to this case of embezzlement of ink, so this official has ordered to come to Duke Yongning to search for the stolen money."

The man was stunned.

stolen money? Their grandfather and grandfather are not big officials, and the government has always been frugal. How could they have stolen money? Besides, the place of corruption is in Shandong, and their fathers and grandfathers are in Jiangnan, how could they be related?

Their grandfather and eldest young master are not in the mansion, and the second young master has been absent these days. Now there are only his wife and eldest young lady in the mansion.

How can these officers and soldiers come to raid the house?

The servant was in a hurry, and quickly blocked his body: "I also ask the official to wait for a while, the servant will go back and report to the madam, and then..."

"Bin Ming? Are you waiting to hide the stolen money for you?" Master Zhao sneered and waved his hand. "Come on, check!"

This group of officers and soldiers were originally under the officials of the Xu family. They had received orders long ago and knew what they should do. Immediately, the gate of the Duke's Mansion was slammed open with a bang.

Most of the servants in the mansion were maids and maids, and there were only twenty or thirty servants in total. The servants in the mansion came after hearing the news, and they were all held hostage by officers and soldiers in a short while.

As a civil official, Mr. Zhao was still timid. He didn't dare to let people do bloody things to cause trouble. He only let the soldiers beat and bound the little servants and detained them together.

The maids scattered in fright, Master Zhao led a group of soldiers, smashed all the way, and went straight to the main courtyard.

A maid has already gone to the main courtyard to report.

But the courtyard of the mansion has no gate. Most of the people in the house are maids and daughters, how can they stop them?

In the main house, Mrs. Jun heard the news from the maid and knew what was going on.

Although the grandfather of the country has never been involved in court disputes, she knows better than anyone what his relationship is with the Xu family, and the relationship between the noble concubine in the palace and the biological mother of the fourth prince. The situation in Chang'an has changed over the past two days, and at dawn today, the fourth prince ascended the throne.

Shen shi knew that before the grandfather of the country came back, there would definitely be trouble in the house.

I just don't know how this mess happened so quickly.

She hurriedly asked the maids to block the door of the hospital for a while, then took Ling Huan, who was painting in her room, to hide her behind the house.

Although this crowd did not dare to do anything to them, they were definitely going to cause trouble. Ling Huan was young, and it was possible that she would be hurt or scared. She must not be allowed to see such a scene.

But before she could bring Ling Huan to the back of the house, the screams of the maid came from the courtyard.

Mrs. Jun looked out, and saw a group of soldiers broke in and threw the maids who were blocking the door to the ground mercilessly.

But after a while, the soldiers put the entire yard under martial law.

Madam Jun slowly stood still and silently protected Jun Linghuan behind her.

Then saw that Master Zhao walked in arrogantly.

"Xiaguan, please be safe, Mrs. Guogong." He looked at Shen Shi and saluted with a smile that was not a smile.

Madam Jun blocked Ling Huan and said indifferently, "My lord suddenly broke into the mansion, and my concubine really can't handle it."

Master Zhao laughed a few times.

"Your life is on your side, please forgive me, ma'am," he said. "The next official came today because it was reported that the Duke of the State had something to do with the Shandong Mo corruption case, and now he needs to search the house. According to the regulations, the wife also needs to go to the Shen Punishment Division with the lower official, and when the truth comes out, the next The official will invite the lady back again."

Madam Jun's hand froze while holding Ling Huan's arm.

What he meant was that he was going to imprison himself.

"I don't know what your lord's ordinance is, which law do I follow?" Madam Jun forced herself to remain calm and asked.

Master Zhao laughed.

"Of course it's your destiny," he said. "Oh, by the way, there is an eight-year-old lady in the mansion? There is no one in the mansion, so let's take the lady to the Department of Penalties to take care of her."

Madam Jun took a step back.

He was going to be detained together with Ling Huan. When he arrived at the Department of Shen Punishment, he would be sent to a prison. The prison was cold and damp, and if he entered, he would be a prisoner. It was unknown what kind of torture he would suffer at that time.

Her heart was cold, and she held Jun Linghuan's arm tightly.

It's not that Jun Linghuan didn't understand their conversation, but at this moment, his shoulders trembled slightly, and his arms were hurt by his mother's grip, but he didn't dare to make any sound.

"Since it is the emperor's order, there must be an imperial decree." She looked at Master Zhao and said.

The Fourth Prince could indeed issue such an order. But firstly, he is not yet a prince or emperor, and secondly, even if he sits on the throne, he cannot give such an order to detain the family members of the official family without any reason.

Master Zhao laughed a few times.

"Ma'am, the guards at Qinmen Pass are just outside the city. They are here to inform you, not to ask for your opinion."

After speaking, he raised his hand.

Immediately, the soldiers in the courtyard swarmed up.

The surrounding maids rushed to protect her, but were violently pulled away. Immediately after, some soldiers held Mrs. Jun and pulled Jun Linghuan out of her arms.

Mrs. Jun was naturally unable to pull it, and was pulled away.

"Mother!" Jun Linghuan was held by a soldier, and finally couldn't help crying out.

With the sound, a pair of teardrops that had been endured for a long time rolled down.

Madam Jun no longer cared about her manners and struggled to go to Jun Linghuan.

But it was pulled farther and farther.

"Take it away." Master Zhao glanced lightly, turned and left.

But at the moment he turned around, the sound of breaking the sky rose.

Following that voice, a sharp arrow came from a distance, like an eagle pounced on its prey, leaving only a phantom in the air.

Master Zhao didn't have time to see anything, and didn't have time to make a sound.

A sharp arrow pierced his throat and pinned him to the ground.

Master Zhao suddenly lost his breath.

Before the surrounding soldiers could react, a man with a bow jumped down from the opposite roof and rushed into the main house.

He put away his bow and drew out his knife. Before everyone could react, the blade smeared the throats of the two soldiers who were holding Mrs. Jun, and the two fell to the ground, and blood stained Mrs. Jun's skirt.

Outside the house, the soldiers who were originally under martial law around the yard have been dealt with by Dongchang Fanzi and Jinyiwei who came here.

And the few in the house were stunned and dumbfounded.

The soldier holding Jun Linghuan was so frightened that he pushed Jun Linghuan out.

The little girl stood unsteadily, fell forward, and was immediately caught by a figure covered in blood.

Jun Linghuan sobbed.

Not quite the same as his brother's embrace, this man's body was very hard, and he exuded a rust smell unique to his blood.

She raised her head with tears in her eyes, she couldn't see his face clearly, but she could see his sharp jaw and the blood running down his jaw.

She didn't know yet that the boy's name was Duan Shishi.

Duan Shishi looked at the soldier.

He had no idea how terrifying he looked now. His face was blood-stained, his face was expressionless, his dark eyes were cold and deep, not like ordinary people, but like a blood-stained blade.

He just happened to have the help of Jun Linghuan. At this time, he was holding a knife in one hand, and in the other hand, he was holding a clean little girl in a pale yellow dress.

The soldier hid behind him.

But the next moment, the boy stepped forward.

The tip of the knife pierced his throat, and his blood splattered the boy's face.

The soldier did not know that he had aroused a rare trace of hatred in this young man with imperfect humanity.

It was the dark memory of watching his parents being stabbed by Duan Chong when he was so young and held in a corner like this.

The soldier died under the sword of Duan Shishi with his eyes open.

He withdrew the knife.

According to his usual habit, when things are done at this time, he will return to the master in front of him, and then use it to do the next thing.

But he looked around and frowned.

There were several corpses in the main house, and it looked like a mess.

forget.

He forgot that his master had told him not to let the blood stain the Yongning Palace. Just now, it was all subconscious behavior, but he forgot that the master would not let him kill here.

Duan Fourteen was a little annoyed.

At this moment, he realized with hindsight that there was a faint sweet fragrance in his arms that was very unfamiliar to him.

He bowed his head.

is a little girl.

Just now, he caught her as if he was picking up an object, but he forgot that he was a living person.

He was about to let go of Jun Linghuan when he saw the little girl raised her head.

A pair of watery almond eyes, a very mild and beautiful dark brown. At this moment, there were tears in his eyes, and when his eyes blinked, the small drops of water on his eyelashes trembled.

The little girl sobbed, obviously frightened by him.

Duan Shi Shi was accustomed to this kind of fearful look, he let go of his arm and put her back on the ground.

But heard the little girl speak numbly.

"...Thank you brother." She said softly.

There seemed to be something that bumped into Duan Shishi's heart.

He quietly and Jun Linghuan looked at each other.

He didn't know how scary he looked at this time, how cold his eyes were, but the little girl was stunned for a moment, and the tears couldn't stop rolling out of her eyes.

He paused, then put Jun Linghuan back blankly, and turned to hold the knife to Mrs. Jun.

"The subordinates are ineffective, and since then they will go to the master to take the blame." He said.

Failing to fulfill the master's request, so that blood was seen in the government's mansion, is also a crime.

...It seems to have scared the eldest lady of the country's government to tears, these two sins are also.