Fu Shifeng

Chapter 40
Mr. Changqing turned over and sat up, his face full of irritability. Cheng, who was in the same room, was lying on his back on the opposite bed, making earth-shattering snoring sounds. The whole room trembled faintly, making Mr. Changqing unable to sleep even for a moment. bell.

"are you a pig?!"

Mr. Changqing couldn't bear it anymore, stepped forward and kicked, Cheng Sanwu's body was as solid as a rock, and he didn't even wake up, so he uttered a few vague dreams:
"...Well, roast chicken, delicious..."

Mr. Changqing was so mad that he became agitated because of this. He simply rushed out of the guest room and went outdoors to breathe heavily.

It was almost early autumn, and the night was already a bit chilly. Looking up and seeing the moonlight high above, Mr. Changqing calmed down.

Mr. Changqing strolled freely. This post house is located in the old city of Xiaoguan in Yuanzhou. After several expansions, it is still full all the year round.

If Afu hadn't ordered the posthouse to take care of two guest rooms by relying on her status as the Minister of the Interior and her direct clearance certificate, they might have slept on the street tonight.

Afu occupies a room alone, needless to say, the other three big men will be crowded in the remaining room.Mr. Changqing is used to being alone, and he thought it was okay to spend the night, but Cheng Sanwu's earth-shattering snoring sounded like a mountain torrent and thunder passing through the border. The sound of thunder forced into the sea of ​​consciousness, making it impossible for people to calm down.

After leaving Quzhi City, the Duhu Mansion sent troops to escort them all the way until they sent the four of them out of the Longyou states.After arriving at the Guanzhong Road, Afu took out the pass certificate issued by the imperial court. No one dared to stop the pass cities along the way.

Walking along a small stream, Mr. Changqing discovered at this time that the post house was diverted from the outside world. Bamboo frames were erected on both sides of the stream and vines were planted. Bo, like a private garden, is supposed to be used to entertain dignitaries passing through here.

After turning a corner, we came to an empty courtyard, and we could see a little light in the distance, illuminating the outline of the gazebo.

There was a person in the booth holding a scroll in his hand and flipping through it silently.Mr. Changqing stared at him, and it was Su Wangting.

"Su Zhang is very interested, is it because Cheng Sanwu can't sleep because of the noise?" Mr. Changqing stepped forward and asked.

"I'm not in charge of Baochangfang now, sir just call me to help." Su Wangting put down the scroll, announced his name, and welcomed Mr. Changqing to sit opposite.

"It seems that your father has high hopes for Brother Fu." Mr. Changqing smiled faintly, and recognized the meaning of Su Wangting's name.

"My father used to be a county magistrate in his early years. Unexpectedly, he found out that the tax amount was wrong during the assessment, so he was demoted to a commoner." Seeing that Mr. Changqing seemed suspicious, Su Wangting said with a wry smile: "My father is stupid and not good at dealing with people in the official circle. , maybe it was framed by my peers, so I was depressed for the rest of my life, so I put all my expectations on me. Unfortunately, I still let him down."

"Brother Fu is humble, with your talent, it is more than enough for any governor of Shangzhou." Mr. Changqing said bluntly: "The people in the Western Regions are complicated, even if it is the guardian of the capital, most of the affairs have to be taken care of by the people. Baochang Society has done many things in the past, which are almost equivalent to civil affairs. Without you Baochang Society, I am afraid that the Duhu Mansion will not even be able to collect taxes."

"Sir's words are really too high." Su Wangting did not take credit for himself.

"Brother Fu, after returning to Chang'an, is he planning to find a job as an official?" Mr. Changqing asked.

Su Wangting shook his head: "Where do I dare to have such delusional thoughts now? I left the Western Regions, almost equivalent to being exiled. In Lu Xiang's eyes, I was really a loser. It would be a blessing not to be questioned. Life, do you want to go back to your hometown and study honestly?"

Although Mr. Changqing felt that Su Wangting had short ambitions, he did not demand too much from him, so he asked again: "What about Cheng Sanwu? Do you want to take him back to your hometown to settle down?"

Su Wangting sighed and said: "I've been worrying about this these days. Old Cheng...has no family or friends, so he's alone. If we meet again in this world, I'm really worried."

Mr. Changqing smiled mercilessly and said: "Cheng Sanwu is stupid and ignorant, and he acts entirely according to his temperament. If there is no persuasion from someone like Brother Fu, he will be just a wild boar running around, and eventually provoke a bunch of enemies. I don't know where I died."

How could Su Wangting not know?Walking side by side with Cheng Sanwu for these years, Su Wangting has regarded him as his brother, how could he let him fall into a desperate situation?
"So when I go to Chang'an, I hope that with the accumulation of years of service, I beg Mr. Lu to ask for a pardon for Lao Cheng, and help him find a good future." Su Wangting said.

"A pardon?" Mr. Changqing asked, "Is Cheng Sanwu the one who committed the crime?"

Su Wangting nodded slightly. In fact, there is more than one Central Plains criminal in his Baochang Club?Those who went into exile in the Western Regions are no longer considered good people, they just abandon everything in the past and make a living according to their own abilities.

But now that Cheng Sanwu is in the Central Plains again, Su Wangting has to think about the future for him.

"What crime did he commit?" Mr. Changqing suddenly became curious.

"He... killed someone." Su Wangting replied.

"What's so strange about this?" Mr. Changqing saw that Su Wangting's expression was slightly dignified: "Could it be possible that some important person was killed?"

"Doctor Yinqing Guanglu, the founder of Heyang County, and Sun Shaoren, who once served as General Youwuwei."

After Su Wangting reported this list of names, there was silence in the pavilion for a moment, only a light flickered slightly, reflecting Mr. Changqing's stunned face with his mouth slightly open.

"...and 120 members of the Sun family." Su Wangting then added.

Mr. Changqing blinked again and again, then looked towards the guest room of the post house, the thunderous snoring sound was still rumbling in his ears.

"The founder of Heyang County, I have heard of it." Mr. Changqing was shocked, and murmured: "The Taizu of this dynasty once fought fiercely in the Heluo area, and when he learned that there was a powerful enemy in Hebei, he was about to go west through Heyang. Hearing the news, Taizu also crossed north from Mengjin to intercept the enemy. The two sides broke out in Heyang and fought bloody for several days and nights.

"In that battle, Taizu personally led the troops into battle. Nine arrows penetrated the armor, blood stained the clothes, and three good horses died in the battle. It coincided with the heavy rain, and the two armies were stuck in the mud. They fought endlessly. Taizu once Facing the siege by three enemy generals, the school lieutenant Sun Yunhu desperately came to rescue him at the critical moment. After the battle, this school lieutenant Sun was named the founding uncle of Heyang County because of his meritorious service."

"It seems that you know the story of the founding of this dynasty like the back of your hand." Su Wangting praised.

"I just... I traveled with my master to Xingsheng in mountains and rivers, and when I passed by Heyang, I learned about the before and after of this battle." Mr. Changqing still couldn't believe it: "A descendant of the founder of the country was killed all over his family. ...is this a pardon that can be pardoned?"

Although Mr. Changqing felt that there were many shortcomings in the court's laws and regulations, the majesty was still there. The heinous crime of destroying people's families could not be easily pardoned.

"In fact, most of the outside world doesn't know who the specific perpetrator is." Su Wangting smiled lightly: "Master Lu is one of the very few people who found out the truth, and the soldiers and horses who chased and killed Lao Cheng were also transferred to Elsewhere, let Old Cheng escape."

"Wait, so, did Prime Minister Lu deliberately let Cheng Sanwu abscond to the Western Regions?" Mr. Changqing immediately figured out the key point.

"I didn't ask, but it's probably the case." Su Wangting said: "So when Lao Cheng returned to the Central Plains, he might be able to hide it from others, but he couldn't hide it from Prime Minister Lu. What I want is not an amnesty from the court, but an amnesty personally issued by Prime Minister Lu. Book, so that the old Cheng can be preserved."

Even though Mr. Changqing boasted that he was talented, he was stupefied: "But ten years ago, Prime Minister Lu was not the one who ruled the court, and he didn't have the final say alone. Didn't anyone else request to investigate to the end? ?”

"The investigation was done, but the result is nothing." Su Wangting said: "I have been in the Western Regions all year round, so I don't know much about the details of the case. Later, I sent someone to inquire. It is said that Sun Shaoren indulged his children to abuse the people and occupy the land. The case was also determined to be a riot by the villagers."

"Cheng Sanwu, this can be regarded as... Seeing injustice, drawing swords and being a hero?" Mr. Changqing felt absurd and incomprehensible. It is not uncommon for him to see such things as Jianghu heroes killing and injuring people, and relying on martial arts to violate the ban, but they killed hundreds of people in one go. Even the vicious gangsters in the green forest and underworld would rarely do this.

Although Cheng Sanwu is stupid, reckless, addicted to drinking and sex, gluttonous and rude, at least Mr. Changqing doesn't think he is a vicious person.Even if Wu Maocai's death was related to him, it was a direct fight between the two sides. Mr. Changqing was a cultivator with a clear mind and would not be entangled by it.

Moreover, the two of them sneaked into the Duhu mansion together at night before, and he didn't even tell Su Wangting who was closest to him about this secret matter. Mr. Changqing had unknowingly regarded Cheng Sanwu as someone he could trust. It was hard to imagine that he actually There is such a past.

"Didn't you ask about the process?" Mr. Changqing noticed that Su Wangting didn't know much about the specific case.

"He occasionally mentions this to me, but I usually don't ask too deeply." Su Wangting looked at Mr. Changqing: "I told Mr. these past events, hoping that you can understand Lao Cheng, and if he has difficulties in the future , and please do not hesitate to take care of me, sir."

Mr. Changqing frowned, and after thinking for a moment, he realized that Cheng Sanwu committed such a serious crime, and Su Wangting tried his best to cover it up but it was too late, so how could he confess to himself?When he told himself the secrets of Cheng Sanwu's past, he must have other intentions.

"Are you... aren't you afraid that I'll betray Cheng Sanwu and take credit for him?" Mr. Changqing asked back.

"Mr. has a noble character, and I think I don't bother to do such things." Su Wangting said slowly: "And if I'm not wrong, sir... the common surname is Tang?"

Mr. Changqing's face changed, and his hands on his knees were clenched immediately.Su Wangting went on to say: "In the early years, I worked under Lu Xiangye's family. I helped to buy a property in Nanyang to accommodate a mother and son. Later, I heard from my colleagues that the mother died of illness early, and her son was killed by a songwriter. Daoren Yue will pick him up."

Hearing this, Mr. Changqing suddenly stood up, as if the old scars were being uncovered little by little by delicate means, and the pain pierced his heart.

"Mr.'s mother's surname is Tang, and his father's surname is Lu, right?" Su Wangting's expression was calm, making it hard to see his inner feelings, but the words he said were like thunder in Mr. Changqing's ears.

Mr. Changqing's expression was contorted, and he almost gritted his teeth, growling like a wounded and left-behind cub: "Are you threatening me?"

"Threats? Where did you start?" Su Wangting shook his head: "Can Mr. Cheng's life experience be used as a threat? I just think that since I have told Mr. Cheng's past, we should be open and honest with each other. I just helped Mr. Talk it through."

Mr. Changqing was burning with hatred, but he didn't dare to explode, fearing to show timidity, he said in a deep voice: "I was wrong, how can a mere prefect of the state be worthy of you? You should go to the court if you are so deep-minded. Biting each other with that vicious Lu Yan!"

Su Wangting didn't take it seriously, and continued to ask: "Sir, when he assisted the Maocai Club, he thought it was precisely because of Wu Maocai's status as a concubine, and he was not liked by his father and brother, so he felt sympathy for each other?"

"I'm different from Wu Maocai, I never intend to curry favor with those sinister villains!" Mr. Changqing shouted with a flick of his sleeves.

"Then why did Mr. help us deal with Anguti?" Su Wangting asked again.

"An Quti made troubles, and I suffered a lot from them. How can I stay out of it?" Mr. Changqing retorted: "Cheng Sanwu has no responsibility, and if he will step forward, how can I not be as good as him?"

"That's exactly what I like, sir, so I hope you can take care of Lao Cheng in the future." Su Wangting said with a serious expression, "Old Cheng is easy to be used by others, if there is no intelligent person to guide him, I'm afraid he will do something wrong again. Since Mr. Lu said that Lu Xiang is sinister and vicious, have you ever thought about what a terrible weapon Old Cheng would become under his hands?"

Mr. Changqing was stunned, and sat down slowly. He looked at Su Wangting with vigilance: "You can leave this kind of thing to me? Even if you can't be an official in the future, you can still take Cheng Sanwu back to the village."

"Old Cheng's temperament, do you think he can relax?" Su Wangting smiled: "And I expected to return to Chang'an, Lu Xiangye must have other arrangements for Lao Cheng. Even the big case of extermination can be covered, Lu Master Xiang will definitely not ignore Lao Cheng."

Mr. Changqing didn't answer, he had to admire Su Wangting's scheming, if he really wanted to take revenge on that ruthless person, it might be far easier to let his plan fail than to take revenge head-on.

The memory of being dependent on his mother, being coldly looked down upon, and struggling to survive is now rising like dross, almost suffocating Mr. Changqing.

Pressing that hatred to the deepest part of his heart, Mr. Changqing felt a little relieved, and said to Su Wangting: "Yes, I promise you."

"Thank you, Mr. Changqing." Su Wangting then asked again: "Tomorrow, I will be at Huangguan in Kongtong Mountain. May I be allowed to visit?"

"The front mountain allows ordinary visitors to come and visit. As for the back mountain... I won't know until I arrive."

After Mr. Changqing finished speaking, he got up again, and Su Wangting handed him off: "Sir, go to rest early, I will later..."

Just after saying this, the two looked at each other, thinking of Cheng Sanwu who was snoring like thunder in the guest room, they chuckled and shook their heads, neither of them moved.

On the gazebo where the two of them were unaware, Afu's figure was hidden in the darkness, silently watching the distance.

(End of this chapter)