I go to the ancient imperial examinations

Chapter 313

Feng Pingqing put down the secret letter he had just read, with a bit of doubt in his expression, "Master, General Yang would actually rob prison? This is really strange."

Although the murderer who killed the eight ruffians came from the Hou Mansion in Zhenbian, he must be the guard of the Hou Mansion. The Zhang family who is in jail must have no way to find out where the murderer came from and prove his innocence.

However, with the absolute control of the Yang family in Longyou Road, it is not difficult to find the murderous bodyguard, it only needs to expend some energy, and robbing the prison is the next best thing to do.

The more Feng Pingqing thought about it, the more strange he felt. Rumors of the Yang family being robbed before they were recovered, and the rumors of the Yang family being ruined and ruined. Isn't the Yang family afraid of being ruined by Yushitai?
"It really doesn't look like what Yang Shoucheng did, but if someone else robbed the prison, then Yang Shoucheng must also know about it." Zhang Minxian stroked his beard with a dignified expression. This matter was full of weirdness, and Zhang Minxian felt a little strange in his heart. Very ominous premonition.

Thinking of Xiangwu County, where dragons and tigers are hidden, Feng Pingping cupped his hands in the direction of the capital, "Master, could it be the order from the person in the capital?"

Feng Pingqing carefully deliberated that he could kidnap the Zhang family without anyone noticing without alarming other forces, and if it wasn't for the Yang family, the current Holy Majesty is the most likely.

"Back then, Old General Yang was accused of collaborating with the enemy and treason. The Holy Majesty knew that it might be a frame-up, but no one investigated it. Instead, he closed the case hastily and took away the military power of the Yang family. Now that the Holy Majesty wants to restore the Yang family, it is possible to show favor to the Yang family. At this moment, Zhang Minxian suddenly regretted what he did to the troubled Yang family back then.

With a long sigh, Zhang Minxian no longer had the majesty and solemnity of a magistrate, and his voice was full of sighs and emotions, "It is easy to add flowers to the icing on the cake, but it is difficult to send charcoal in the snow. I was still too young back then. If I took a long-term view, the Zhang family will not be as good today. will face such an embarrassing situation.”

"Who would have expected that the Holy Majesty would be willing to return the military power to the Yang family? God's will is unpredictable, and it is not human fault." Feng Pingqing also sighed, got up and walked to the table when he spit out the fat in his mouth again.

Poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Zhang Minxian who was sitting in the main seat. Feng Pingqing said: "My lord, even if there is no Zhang family, but Master Xu is ashamed of the Zhang family and the Zhou family. I think it will not have a big impact."

In fact, the Zhang family is also a hot potato for the Yang family father and son. They can't be killed and can't be kept. Looking at it, Feng Pingqing really admires Yang Shoucheng's mind.

An indomitable general was cuckolded by his wife, and his adulterer was the mortal enemy of the Yang family. Yang Shoucheng was able to hold back from killing Zhang, and he held back for so many years.

Taking a sip of hot tea to dissipate the depression in his chest, Zhang Minxian lost his attitude when he mentioned the flamboyant Zhang family, even though it was his concubine sister.

"It would be fine if she had been detained in Xiangwu County Prison, but now that she is missing, the Zhang family doesn't know whether this change is a blessing or a curse." Zhang Minxian felt that if time could be turned back, he was the first to do it back then. If Mrs. Zhang dies, there won't be so many troubles in the future.

Here Zhang Minxian was still talking with his staff member Feng Pingqing, when there were hurried footsteps outside the study, the two couldn't help but stop talking, both got up and walked towards the door.

"Master." The old butler of Zhang's mansion came quickly. He was the school boy of Zhang Zhifu at that time, and later became a housekeeper. He has been taking care of Zhang's mansion these years. It can be said that he is the most trusted subordinate of Zhang's father and son. .

"Uncle Quan." Signaling the old housekeeper to enter the study, Zhang Minxian watched Feng Pingqing close the door, and then asked, "What happened, Uncle Quan looked so flustered?"

"My lord, please read." The old butler took out a secret letter from his pocket and handed it over, "Someone put it on the old servant's desk."

Zhang Minxian opened the letter and looked, his complexion changed suddenly, there was only a short sentence on the letter paper: Mrs. Zhang is in Hongfeng Courtyard in the south of the city.

"This?" Feng Pingqing, who also saw what was written in the letter, was also stunned for a moment. Just now, he and the master were discussing the whereabouts of Mrs. Zhang, and now she has her whereabouts.

Although the old housekeeper didn't know that Mrs. Zhang was robbed of the prison last night, he knew that Mrs. Zhang was imprisoned in a cell in Xiangwu County for murder.

A prisoner appeared in the Hongfeng Courtyard. This is not to make people think that the person who robbed the prison is the Zhang family, but this is a serious crime requiring beheading.

"Put him in the Hongfeng Courtyard, and he has already investigated the situation of the official!" Zhang Minxian threw the letter into the charcoal basin.

There are no more than five people in Hongfeng Courtyard. This was a few years ago when Zhang Minxian rescued a woman from the south of the Yangtze River.

Different from the tall and big-boned women in the north, the women in the south of the Yangtze River have a slender and graceful figure, a soft voice like water, and singing a little song from the south of the Yangtze River can charm away the soul of a man.

When Zhang Minxian first entered the officialdom, he was high-spirited and full of ambition and revenge, so he arranged for someone to live in Hongfeng Courtyard on impulse, which was his private property.

It's a pity that the beauty is unlucky, Zhang Minxian lived a year of red sleeves, but because the woman was pregnant and didn't adapt to the cold climate of Linzhou Prefecture, she couldn't afford it, and finally died with the three-month-old child in her belly. The soul has returned to the west.

Zhang Minxian was hurt by this for half a year, and never went to the Hongfeng Courtyard again, leaving only two servants guarding the yard and responsible for cleaning.

If it hadn't been for the mention of the Red Maple Courtyard on the letterhead, Zhang Minxian, who is busy with work, would have almost forgotten about this courtyard, after all, it has been ten years in a flash.

After the letter was delivered, the old butler left the study.

Feng Pingqing looked at Zhang Minxian with a gloomy expression and asked, "Master, if you're worried, I can take my place instead."

Linzhou Mansion is not far from Xiangwu County, but the distance is definitely not close. Mrs. Zhang was robbed from the cell of the county government last night, but now she appears in Linzhou Mansion. Bringing Mrs. Zhang to Linzhou Mansion without alarming any forces made people have to guard against it.

"This is to place the charge of robbery on Zhang's family." Zhang Minxian's thin face was solemn, but there was a terrifying murderous intent in his eyes.

"It seems that it must not be the work of the Holy One, but it is probably the Yang family." Feng Pingqing was not sure before, but Zhang's appearance in Linzhou Mansion, and still in the Hongfeng courtyard, it is obvious that the Yang family wants to let the Zhang family Take the blame.

Zhang Minxian glanced out the window. It was dark early in winter, and the lanterns under the corridor had already been lit at this moment, "Wait until midnight."

In Xiangwu County, Zhang Minxian, a fellow confidant, was nothing, and he could overwhelm the seventh-rank Magistrate Zhu. Whoever made Xiangwu County Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a family that the Zhang family can't afford to mess with.

But this is Linzhou Prefecture, and it is also the territory of the Zhang family, so it is much more convenient for Zhang Minxian to do what he wants to do.

……

The Red Maple Courtyard is located in the southern suburbs of Linzhou Prefecture. It is named after the red maple trees planted in the backyard. There are many Zhuangzi in this area, covering an extremely large area. The distance between the two adjacent Zhuangzi is quite far. Longyou Road The last thing missing is place.

A few years ago, the owners of these Zhuangzi would bring their children to live here, but later the roads became difficult to pass due to landslides.

Moreover, there are not many big houses with pleasant scenery. The Zhuangzi in the southern suburbs has been built for 20 years, and everything from the houses to the furniture is outdated. Therefore, after the road is difficult, almost no one comes. So he sent loyal servants to take care of it, and sent some vegetables, chickens and ducks to the mansion every month.

At that time, there was no moonlight, and the southern suburbs were so dark that you couldn't see your fingers, and the whistling wind made people's hair stand on end. Looking around, Zhuangzi here couldn't see any light.

"Master, no one has come out since the afternoon." Zhang Minxian just got off his horse, and the leader of the guards sent to guard Zhuangzi appeared immediately.

In the darkness, Zhang Minxian was also dressed in black night clothes, and even the four hooves of the sitting horse were wrapped in cotton cloth, so there was no sound at all during the journey.

"How many people are there?" Looking at the dark house, Zhang Minxian asked.

"I was worried that I would startle the snake, so I didn't dare to go in to investigate, but according to my inference, the number of the other party will not exceed ten." Although he didn't go in, the guard leader also observed from a distance in the dark.

After Zhang Minxian saw the letterhead sent by the old housekeeper in the afternoon, although no one came, he arranged for guards to come. Not only did 20 people be arranged around Zhuangzi, but also ten people were lurking on the official road not far away.

There are still people in the city to support them. Once they make a move, even if the enemy is highly skilled in martial arts, Zhang Minxian's side is superior in that they have a large number of people.

"Master?" Seeing that Zhang Minxian was about to go in directly, the commander of the guards and Feng Pingqing spoke at the same time, not sure whether the village was an enemy or a friend, and it might be dangerous for the master to go in hastily.

"It doesn't matter, since the other party dares to deliver the letter, they will definitely not do anything to me." Zhang Minxian replied indifferently, pushed the door open, creaked, and strode towards the courtyard.

Seeing this, Feng Pingqing and the commander of the guards followed immediately, no matter whether there was danger or not, as subordinates, they must not let the master go into danger alone.

Until a group of people entered the front yard, the originally dark room suddenly lit a candle, and instantly, the dark room became bright.

"Xiao Xu?" After entering the main hall, when they saw Yang Xu in the room, let alone Zhang Minxian was stunned, the seven or eight people who came in with him were also stunned. child.

After lighting the last candle, Yang Xu looked at Zhang Minxian who was standing at the door. Maybe it was because of his experience in the army that his immature eyebrows and eyes showed a touch of fortitude, but his voice still belonged to the immatureness of a child. , "I sent someone to send that letter to Zhang's residence."

Zhang Minxian nodded understandingly, and looked at the main hall.

Because I don’t come to Hongfeng courtyard all the year round, the two servants in charge put away all the decorations in the main hall, and put the screens and antique racks in the warehouse. Except for a set of tables and chairs in the middle of the huge main hall Other than that, there is almost nothing left, and it is clear at a glance, so naturally there is no way to hide anyone.

"You all go down." Zhang Minxian said in a deep voice, and waved Feng Pingqing and the others to leave.

Not to mention that Yang Xu is a child, and there is no one else in the room. The guards are all guarding the yard at the moment, so there is no need to worry about Zhang Minxian being in danger.

"You sent someone to rob the prison?" The voice slowed down, with a bit of helplessness and concern that hated iron and steel, Zhang Minxian sighed, and sat down directly regardless of the dust on the chair, "Xiao Xu, You know that robbing the prison is a serious crime, once the evidence is found, even your father and grandfather can't protect you."

Zhang Minxian's words were quite confiding. Of course, in terms of blood relationship, he is Yang Xu's uncle, even if he reprimanded Yang Xu a few words, it would not be too much.

If the Holy Majesty is willing to let go of the matter of prison robbery, it’s fine to just turn a blind eye and close his eyes. If it is pursued, even if Yang Xu is young, he will be punished with death, and he may be sent to other barren lands to serve as an army. It can be said that the future is ruined.

Yang Xu looked at Zhang Minxian, who had a serious face but caring eyes, and said after a long silence: "I want to keep her in the Zhang family, and save her life, which is repaying my debt."

From the moment he saw Yang Xu, Zhang Minxian guessed the purpose of Yang Xu's trip. In fact, if he agreed, he might be able to repair his relationship with Yang Xu's nephew and uncle, and he would rely on the Yang family of the General's Mansion in the future.

But thinking of Zhang's troublesome situation, Zhang Minxian frowned and considered for a while, "It's not that uncle won't help you, but the matter is very important. Once it is known, the charge of harboring fugitives will implicate hundreds of members of the Zhang family."

Today's Holy Majesty is indeed a wise king, and he is also considered a benevolent king, but if the court officials know the law and break the law, they will be severely sentenced. The meaning of Zhang Minxian's words is very clear. He can help Yang Xu alone, but he must not implicate the entire Zhang family.

"Does your father know about this?" Zhang Minxian asked, expressing his doubts. If Yang Shoucheng knew, then Yang Xu would not be asking for Zhang's family to be placed in the Zhang family.

But if Yang Shoucheng didn't know, how could Yang Xu, a child, mobilize people to rob the prison of the county government? Even though County Magistrate Zhu is a stupid official with a dead body, the prison is guarded by soldiers from the guard.

It's nothing more than a prison robbery without anyone noticing, and it can avoid all eyes and ears and bring people to Linzhou Mansion. The manpower and material resources involved in this, if it is said that Yang Xu completed it independently, Zhang Minxian will never Believe.

"My father knows." Yang Xu replied.

Thinking of Zhou Shuyao's death, afraid that Zhang Minxian would find out if he couldn't hide his emotions, Yang Xu lowered his head before continuing: "I just want her to live. She is a fugitive now. As long as she is strictly guarded, she will not dare to escape." go."

If the charges are cleared, the Zhang family will definitely not be able to lock up the Zhang family. For the sake of future prosperity and wealth, the Zhang family will try to leave and go to find Yang Xu, his own son.

But now with eight lives on her back, if Mrs. Zhang dares to escape, she will be imprisoned, and the crime will be added to her. Mrs. Zhang is a smart person. Compared with her own life, she is better off in terms of money or power , that is all false.

Yang Shoucheng really planned to keep the Zhang family in the Zhang family, Zhang Minxian suppressed his anger, it seemed that he had looked up to Yang Shoucheng in the past, and the great general had such a despicable and vicious side.

Zhang Minxian could imagine that once the Dong Chuang incident happened, Yang Shoucheng would definitely kill himself and Yang Xu. The Zhang family was the one who robbed the prison, and the Zhang family was the one who harbored the escaped criminals. The blame fell on the Zhang family.

(End of this chapter)