last time

Chapter 17 Attack
At three o'clock in the unitary hour, Zhuo Ran returned to Zuixue Court.

Everyone in Guozijian had their own residences, and Zhuo Ran was arranged to live in the alley on the west side of Zhuque Street. Going east on Zhuque Street, there are restaurants, restaurants, Huanyan Pavilion, and Wuhualou. Going west, there are some abandoned houses, which have been unoccupied for a long time, and they are empty and empty. They simply use them as officials' resting places, saving a lot of money for the Ministry of Households and Industry.

This place is a little far away from Zuixue Court, Zhuo Ran walked all the way back, almost no one was on the street.

Han Congzhong handed over a small cup of hot fruit wine and said, "It's cold, take a sip to keep you warm."

Zhuo Ran tried it with her lips, put down the wine glass, and said, "Master, I'm on duty today, and I saw Yan Chengxuan."

Han Congzhong took a few sips from the jug and said, "Tell me carefully."

"The student I rescued yesterday was named Kang Sheng'an. His father died young, and his mother made a living from embroidery. She lived in a small shed on Lianhua Lane. I went to visit her today, but her mother was very vigilant, and I couldn't ask What, I planned to leave, but at this time, Yan Chengxuan came with cold clothes. I was suspicious, so I waited outside for a while, and found that his mother knew Yan Chengxuan very well, but she didn't appreciate his favor, so I finally sent him to I threw away all my things." Zhuo Ran lowered her head and thought for a while, then said: "The child who bullied Kang Sheng'an yesterday is Xu Zheng's grandnephew, named Xu Zhen."

Han Congzhong said: "Xu Zheng has always kept himself clean, and it is impossible for him to do things that are of no benefit to him, so this Xu Zhen should have a lot of background."

Zhuo Ran said: "Kang Sheng'an said that the crazy old man who appeared yesterday is Xu Zhen's grandfather."

"You really believe what the child says."

Zhuo Ran took a sip of the wine, her tongue hurt from the hotness, she said: "Children's words are free and trustworthy."

Han Congzhong smiled, pulled his beard, and said, "Girl, what do you think about Kang Sheng'an?"

Zhuo Ran said: "The relationship between Kang Sheng'an and Yan Chengxuan must not be simple. Kang Sheng'an has to take the Fajie Examination. If he passes the examination, he can enter the Hanlin Garden. After a few years, he will take part in the Palace Examination, and then he will be an official in the court. The helpers of the Yan family are still afraid, and you can see the truth if you try to solve it."

Han Congzhong nodded and said, "Yes, so you have to seize the opportunity to find out."

Zhuo Ran looked at the flickering candle, and had a countermeasure in mind.

***
Wen Rongxi gave the account book to Yan Yingzhen, and walked straight to the shop. The sales of embroidery products have not been very good these days, and the clothes to keep out the cold have been snatched up. Wen Rongxi was still thinking about what to do, but Yan Chengxuan stopped her up.

"I told you it won't work, so don't bother me any more." Wen Rongxi ignored him and continued walking forward.

Yan Chengxuan followed and said: "Yan Shu, I'm not for that matter, I'm talking to you personally."

Wen Rongxi looked at his flushed face, and smiled: "Which girl do you see?"

Yan Chengxuan gave a "tsk" and said, "It's Zhuo Ran. I saw her yesterday, and she also went to Lianhua Lane. But don't think too much about it, she is the director, and she is going to see Yong Niang. She I don't know anything else."

Wen Rongxi changed his expression slightly, and said: "This person survived a catastrophe, and there will be a great commotion. Don't deal with her, she is not simple."

Old Wang, a clerk from Jinxiu Workshop, ran over with his robe in his hand. When he saw Wen Rongxi, he immediately shouted: "Mr. Wen, Mr. Wen, it's not good!"

"What's the matter?"

Old Wang panted, and said: "Rats have entered the storeroom, and a lot of cloth has been destroyed. It was ordered by several big families in Gaodu. There is nothing to replace it now, but those people suddenly came into the shop today to ask for goods."

Wen Rongxi followed Lao Wang to Jinxiufang, he turned his head and said: "Go and do the official affairs well, the examination is coming soon."

Yan Chengxuan said "Oh", seeing Wen Rongxi walking away, he plunged into the alley, looked at the person in front of him, and said, "You want to find me?"

Zhuo Ran turned around, bowed and said, "Master Yan, I do have something to ask for in a humble position."

Yan Chengxuan put his hands behind his back and said, "What's the matter?"

"Master Yan, you are the Minister of the Ministry of Officials, managing the roster of officials. I have a student named Kang Sheng'an. His mother has an old illness, but his family is poor, and his illness has been delayed for a long time. Only he can get the reward if he passes the examination. The silver." Zhuo Ran said.

"So you want me to help him?"

Zhuo Ran lowered his head: "Yes. In previous years, the Fajie Examination was not only ranked by grades, but also sometimes involved in family background. Kang Sheng'an is smart and eager to learn. He is a good seed. I hope Lord Yan will give him a chance."

Yan Chengxuan closed his eyes and said, "Why should I help him?"

Zhuo Ran said: "Master Yan has compassion, and he must not see people suffer. You will help me with this."

Yan Chengxuan immediately smiled and said, "You know me so well?"

Zhuo Ran has a good face, kind and innocent, but those eyes are full of indescribable light, which is charming enough.Yan Chengxuan couldn't bear it naturally, and soon he couldn't hold back, who can resist a beauty?
Yan Chengxuan said: "No problem, leave this matter to me. It will be a test in the next day. You go to prepare and wait for my news."

Zhuo Ran thanked her, turned around and walked to the depths of the alley, she raised the corners of her lips slightly, what official minister?It's just a brat.

***
Liu Yulin stayed in the Guozijian and divided up all the tasks. The examination room was solemn and quiet. Zhuo Ran changed into a black official uniform with sleeves, with a belt around her waist and the brocade worn by the staff in charge of the examination room. She looked at the candidates in the crowd .

Yan Chengxuan looked at her from afar, and the moment he met his eyes, he smiled slightly.

Zhuo Ran entered the test waiting area.

"Master Registrar!" Kang Sheng'an called Zhuo Ran, and said, "Master Registrar, will you be an invigilator?"

Zhuo Ran shook her head and said, "I'll be waiting for you outside, come to me after the exam, I know a doctor who can treat your mother."

Kang Sheng'an nodded solemnly. The officials of the Imperial College handed Zhuo Ran some water. Zhuo Ran took it and gave it to Kang Sheng'an again, saying, "Sheng'an, drink some water before the exam, so you won't be nervous."

Kang Sheng'an was about to drink, but Xu Zhen rushed out, grabbed the bowl and drank it down in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and said, "Hmph, you will definitely not pass the test!"

Kang Shengan dodged backwards, Zhuo Ran pulled Kang Shengan away.

"It's good not to be nervous, take the exam well, your mother is still waiting for you." Zhuo Ran let go of his hand and said, "Xu Zhen, don't worry about it."

Kang Shengan nodded and entered the examination room.

***
Here, Li Xunchuan just woke up, wiped his face with cold water, regained consciousness a little bit, and was about to order something, when Xiyu strode in and said, "Master, something happened!"

Li Xunchuan asked, "What's wrong?"

"A student died in the examination room of Fajie. It was Xu Zhen, the nephew of Prime Minister Right." Xi Yu said, "Liu Jijiu has already gone to the palace. The examination room of Fajie is close to us. I'm afraid the master has to go and see it." .”

"Who is in charge of the examination room?"

Xi Yu said, "It's Zhuo Ran."

Li Xunchuan raised his lips and sneered, and said: "This guy really has a problem, I said she is not a fuel-efficient lamp, prepare your horse, go and have a look!"

After the autopsy, Xu Zhen's face turned purple, and his seven orifices were bleeding, which was a sign of poisoning. Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xu Zhen snatched Kang Shengan's water. Maybe he was poisoned, so the people in the prison sent Kang Shengan Charged up.

Kang Sheng'an looked at Zhuo Ran, weeping in fear.

Li Xunchuan rode his horse and rushed over. Xu Zhen's body was parked there, covered with a white cloth. His grandfather was obviously in tears. Xu Zheng was comforting him. He glanced around and looked at Zhuo Ran standing there blankly. Behind Fu Sisi, who didn't get off the horse, looked down at Zhuo Ran and said, "What, it's life at stake again."

Zhuo Ran ignored him, and Fu Sisi saluted and said, "Why is the governor here? This place was handed over to the people in the imperial prison. Kang Shengan poisoned Xu Zhen to death, and he should have exchanged his life for his life."

Li Xunchuan snorted, and said, "I'm leaving myself alone. As the governor, this place is close to me. To avoid suspicion, I always come to join in the fun."

Li Xunchuan looked back and said, "Since it was handed over to the Imperial Prison, what about Liao Ze, why didn't he see him?"

"Master Liao followed Wu Zuo into the palace to report the situation."

Li Xunchuan got off the horse, Xu Zhen's grandfather was crying in the dark, crying out for grievances, Xu Zheng stood up wiping his tears, looked at Zhuo Ran, walked over step by step, and said, "You dirty little man, you have such a cruel heart. ! This old man is going to kill you!"

Fu Sisi said: "My condolences to the Right Prime Minister, this matter has nothing to do with the Registrar!"

"How can Kang Sheng'an know how to poison?" Xu Zheng burst into tears and said, "Just now a student said that the only person Kang Sheng'an has come into contact with is her!"

Fu Sisi stopped in front of Zhuo Ran, Li Yanchuan came over, and it was raining, Zhuo Ran blinked, looking very innocent and pitiful, Li Yanchuan thought, this face would really bewitch people's hearts.

"Kang Sheng'an really has something to do with you?" Li Yanchuan asked.

Zhuo Ran shook her head sideways and said, "So what."

"That's not good, you are doomed this time..."

The guards in the palace lined up to come here, and Liao Ze waited outside the sedan chair, helping people get off the sedan chair.

Li Chengru hadn't shown his face since Lu San's death. Today he was wearing a dark blue brocade robe, a black jacket with cranes embroidered on it, and a black gauze hat, and he looked a lot older.

Li Xunchuan went up to meet him and said, "Eunuch Li was alarmed."

"The governor is here too." Li Chengru covered his mouth and nose, and said, "Our family is here to pass on a message. The little prince got up this morning and developed a high fever, and His Majesty Lan Concubine was very worried, so I handed over this matter to the governor and let the imperial edict All members of the prison are assisting in the investigation.”

Li Yunchuan smiled at Li Chengru, looked at Liao Ze and Li Chengru, and said, "Leave it to me?"

Li Chengru nodded: "Your Majesty trusts the governor. After all, Kang Sheng'an is still young, and there must be someone instigated behind the scenes. Your Majesty wants the governor to find out and give the right minister an explanation."

Li Xunchuan said: "It's okay to investigate, but I can't take care of the right minister's family affairs. Father-in-law find someone to send the right minister and the others back. It's not good to stay here."

Li Chengru said, "Naturally."

***
After Li Chengru took the people away, Li Yanchuan looked at Liao Ze and said, "Master Liao, take people to check the examination room. The invigilator of that test is a literati after all, and he was already frightened crazy when he saw this scene."

"I will trouble the governor with this matter." Liao Ze said with his head bowed.

Li Xunchuan wiped the water off his face and said, "You're welcome."

Fu Sisi followed Liao Ze into the examination room, Li Yuchuan took the umbrella, propped it up and covered Zhuo Ran's head, and said, "Go, I will prove your innocence for you."

Zhuo Ran said: "How dare you bother the governor?"

"You're not the one who poisoned you, why do you have this expression?"

Zhuo Ran pulled down the umbrella, with the wind and rain drifting in, it was a bit cold, she said: "What expression does the governor think I want?"

Li Xunchuan said: "You escaped the arson case of Jiyuan Temple, leaving Lu San to die there in vain. Can you escape today?"

"Then who knows, my luck has always been good." Zhuo Ran said.

Li Xunchuan sighed: "Yes, you are lucky, but I'm afraid it's not enough."

Zhuo Ran lowered her head and thought for a while, then raised her head to look at Li Yuchuan, and said, "So, I have to obediently please the governor, so that I can save my life."

"Want to dedicate yourself?" Li Yuchuan said, "I don't like it!"

Zhuo Ran seemed a little helpless, she said: "The governor has high eyesight, so he definitely doesn't like me."

Li Xunchuan sighed and said, "I'm blind to such a good skin."

Zhuo Ran turned her eyes sideways, and said, "The Governor acts according to his face, Xu Zhen is also good-looking, the Governor should check it carefully."

Li Xunchuan also looked at her sideways: "Don't shoot yourself in the foot. If you do too many bad things, it won't be so easy to clean up."

"It's not important." Zhuo Ran walked side by side with him, Li Yanchuan tilted his umbrella, Zhuo Ran looked up at his profile, and said, "The governor thinks how to investigate this matter."

"Kang Sheng'an was taken away. His mother must be worried. Let's go to Lianhua Lane first." Li Yuchuan turned to look at her and said, "You are calm, you are used to it."

Zhuo Ran tore off the wet brocade and put it in her arms, raised her head, and said, "You're right. But every time someone wants to pay for my life, my life is just like this, and it may not be enough to divide it into pieces. So sometimes you don’t have to accept it.”

Li Xunchuan didn't say anything more, and the two of them slowly disappeared in Lianhua Lane in the face of a steady stream of passers-by in the increasingly heavy rain.

(End of this chapter)