Fu Shifeng

Chapter 52
"How does Eunuch Feng plan to deal with Cheng Sanwu?" Afu knew that Eunuch Feng was not Chu Zhongcheng, and would not act without scruples in order to serve His Majesty the Emperor.

"This kind of person can't be allowed to stay in Chang'an all the time, for fear of accidental changes." Eunuch Feng shook his head: "I heard from Chu Zhongcheng that Shangzhang Jun intends to stay by Cheng Sanwu's side and monitor him nearby?"

"Yes." The corner of Afu's lips curled into a smile: "I plan to invite him to the Sanqu Land in Pingkangfang tonight."

The place of Pingkangfang Sanqu is a well-known eclectic place in Chang'an City. It would be a bit offensive to say such words in front of an eunuch eunuch, but Eunuch Feng just nodded slightly, expressing his approval of Afu's method.

"Does Eunuch Feng want to bring Cheng Sanwu into the Ministry of Internal Affairs?" Afu asked.

Eunuch Feng looked at Cheng Sanwu's picture and thought for a moment: "Mr. Lu knew that Cheng Sanwu was the murderer of the Heyang massacre for a long time, but there has been no movement in the past ten years. Now that he is walking in the Central Plains, I am afraid that he will Let's start a bloodbath. Mr. Zhang Zhang thinks, can Lu Xiang control Cheng Sanwu's every move?"

"If it's a spell that confuses the mind and gives orders at will, it should be impossible." Afu said: "I have tried a few times before and found that Cheng Sanwu's mind is like a hard stone, which is difficult to disturb. But the feeling he gave me is also It's not like those masters of Buddhism and Taoism who have been practicing for many years."

"So Cheng Sanwu acted entirely on his own will?" Eunuch Feng quickly calculated in his mind: "This person cannot fall under Lu Xiang's control. It would be best if he could win over and appease him."

Afu then asked again: "What happened to the Heyang massacre back then? The murderer was left alone before he was caught?"

"When Sun Shaoren was serving as General Youwuwei, it happened that Princess Zhenguo's party conspired against him. After he got the order, he acted slowly, and for a time he stood on the sidelines." Eunuch Feng's face was gloomy: "But your Majesty, at that time, nearly half of the civil and military personnel in the court were sitting on the sidelines. Changing the situation, the law does not blame the public, but Sun Shaoren was dismissed, without going too deep.

"During the investigation of the Heyang massacre, a batch of letters were found from the Sun family's mansion, including Sun Shaoren's remarks about His Majesty. Lu Xiang thought that this matter should not be publicized, so he asked His Majesty to stop the investigation, and the matter was over. There should be corresponding dossiers in the Ministry of Punishment’s file library, if Mr. Shangzhang is interested, you can go and look it up yourself.”

Afu took the iron token handed over by Eunuch Feng, with which she can retrieve the case file of the Ministry of Punishment.She played with the token in thought and remained silent. Before and after the enthronement of His Majesty the current emperor, there were several turmoil in the court and palace, and it was hard for him to settle down.

But this is by no means to say that everything will be peaceful from now on, not to mention the harassment of foreigners in the frontier, the rebellion of bandits in the country, the bureaucrats headed by Lu Xiang in the court, and the group of generals in the border towns of the British government.The previous battle between the two sides in the Western Regions around the Star Marrow was just a microcosm of this kind of battle, and it could even be regarded as a small fight.

"When I was in the Western Regions, I met Eunuch Wei's subordinates." Afu then said, "His name is Peng Ning, and he was placed in the caravan of Prime Minister Lu's White Horse Society. The Star Marrow was once on this person."

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is only loyal to the emperor, but it does not mean that the Ministry of Internal Affairs is monolithic and united.Even Chu Zhongcheng, who helped take care of Gongchenwei, had the idea of ​​bypassing Eunuch Feng and expressing his affection to the emperor alone after he learned about the star marrow and the method of longevity.

And just like Afu has Qin Wangshu and other personally selected subordinates, Chu Zhongcheng and Wei Gonggong will cultivate their own power and manpower, and even recognize them as adopted sons and send them to various places to work.Those who are a little greedy will ask for bribes and seize in the name of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Because the outside world knows little about the specific situation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, unlike other imperial government offices that are under the watchful eyes of the public, the battles in the Ministry of Internal Affairs are often deeper, more vicious, and more unpredictable.

Even Afu, one of Gongchenwei's ten taisui, still has to face overt or covert methods from other colleagues.In comparison, Afu felt that Eunuch Feng was much easier to get along with—even though the secret war in the Ministry of Internal Affairs was probably the result of his deliberate connivance.

"Nonsense." Eunuch Feng frowned: "It's good for others to fight for the star marrow. Why is Wei Qi involved in it? I have heard of Peng Ning. He is a disciple of Lantian Huiyunlou. When Tubo invaded the frontier, it stopped its troops and delayed its fighters, causing the enemy troops to go deep into Helong, which almost caused a catastrophe.

"His father hanged himself after being imprisoned. The Peng family was deprived of their titles and property, their female relatives were not included in the Jiaofang Division, and all the sons were expelled and exiled to Lingnan... I thought Peng Ning also went to Lingnan. He was inserted into the Western Region Trading Company."

Afu was not moved when she heard the words. Based on the years she experienced in the world, she had seen and heard such things, so she didn't deserve her concern at all.

But she could more or less guess that it must be Eunuch Wei who made many promises to Peng Ning, claiming that as long as he got things done, he would use the Ministry of Internal Affairs' means to rescue the Peng family and return them to their original places.

This may explain why, when Peng Ning was about to die, he still cared about the so-called "Buddha bone relic" and pinned his hopes on Cheng Sanwu.

In fact, judging from Peng Ning's experience, he might have already been in despair. If he hadn't had no way out, he wouldn't have gone to the doctor in a hurry to trust Cheng Sanwu who he just met.

Peng Ning was lucky and unlucky.Fortunately, under the circumstances at that time, except for Cheng Sanwu, it is estimated that not many people would still be busy with an illusory promise after his death.Unfortunately, in the end, the family members that Peng Ning wanted to save were still sinking into the sea of ​​misery.

Afu was silent in thought, and Eunuch Feng also turned his attention back to the shadow graphics on the case.Jie Cheng San Wu and Su Wangting, when Eunuch Feng saw Chang Qing's face, he couldn't help staring.

"Shangzhang Jun said that this person is Lu Xiang's illegitimate son?" Eunuch Feng mentioned the picture of Changqing.

Afu replied: "I have eavesdropped on the conversation between him and Su Wangting. Su Wangting's words may not be believed, but Changqing can't hide his temperament, so it seems true."

Eunuch Feng put down the paper, still staring at Changqing's face, and asked, "Is he also in the Wang's residence in Chongrenfang?"

"Yes." Afu secretly smiled. Could it be that Eunuch Feng is planning to use the child Changqing to blackmail Lu Xiang?That Lu Xiang has climbed all the way to a high position, what insidious means has he never used?How many enemies have they made?How can a pair of concubines and concubines who were abandoned in the early years shake the resolve of the prime minister in power?
Eunuch Feng's face was expressionless, but there was an impenetrable depth in his eyes. He flipped over the shadow picture nonchalantly, and then said to Afu: "Since that's the case, Cheng Sanwu, please pay attention to Mr. Zhang."

……

"Brother Fu wants to meet Wang Yuanbao tomorrow?"

In the Kungang Courtyard of Chongrenfang, Chang Qingchao asked Su Wangting, who had just sent away the manager of the guest residence.

"That's right." Su Wangting said with a smile on his face, "When I used to preside over Baochang Society, I often had business dealings with Baoquan Society and Caijuan Society under the name of Wang Yuanbao, or entrusted the goods to Baochang Society. Selling, or asking us to help him escort... Lao Cheng has also done a lot of hard work."

At this time, Cheng Sanwu was working hard in the open space of the courtyard, and he didn't open and close, but his movements were much slower, and he often moved halfway, and then retreated, as if he was dismantling in a daze. moves.

Changqing glanced back, ignored Cheng Sanwu, and asked in confusion: "Wang Yuanbao is known as the richest man in Chang'an, why does the trading company under his name entrust the goods to you?"

"From Quzhi City to the west, the road becomes more and more difficult." Su Wangting said: "Actually, no one does business in the Western Regions from the beginning to the end. Starting from Chang'an, passing through the west of the Longliang River, across the vast sandbar, When they came to the city of Quzhi, even if there were no accidents along the way, it would be enough to torture people, and there was no guarantee that all the camels and horses would survive.

"Besides, the farther west you go, the more confusing the customs and language, and the more thieves and monsters. Therefore, when doing business in the Western Regions, they usually take over one by one and send the goods to distant places. As for Wang Yuanbao, in fact, most of his business is in the Central Plains. , especially the water, land, boats, warehouses and banks on both sides of the Yongji Canal, that is the big business that makes money every day.”

"The canal is more convenient after all." Changqing had to admit.

Su Wangting noticed that Changqing hesitated to speak, and asked in a low voice: "Do you need to find Wang Yuanbao?"

In the past, Changqing, who was more or less a Taoist, had a high self-esteem, so he couldn't speak for a while, and he hesitated: "It's really... nothing wrong. I went to Xuandu Temple to submit the certificate and plan to participate in next year's Taoism. Seniors in the temple Tell me, if you want to win the Dao exam, you'd better take advantage of the recent months to spend more time with the rich and noble families in the capital area to accumulate fame."

"I see." Su Wangting was not surprised, not to mention that even in the normal imperial examinations, there are many scholars who recommend themselves to high-ranking dignitaries, prefectures and county magistrates in order to get in the door.

Changqing is proud, it is indeed not easy for him to cling to the powerful and make friends.Su Wangting then said: "Then I will bring you to visit Wang Yuanbao together tomorrow. He must be willing to make friends with a magician with profound magic power like you. Maybe there are still some troublesome things that I need to ask you to solve."

Changqing's nervousness eased a little, and it was really not easy to ask others for help... except maybe Cheng Sanwu.

"Old Cheng, you come with me tomorrow." Su Wangting raised his head and shouted.

Cheng Sanwu paused, and was about to agree, when suddenly the sound of horseshoes came from outside.None of the three people in the courtyard were mediocre, and they all sensed that someone had come outside the gate of the Kungang courtyard.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" Cheng Sanwu took the initiative to defend himself when he saw the two of them looking at him.

"Usually it's someone who's committed a crime who says that."

Afu's voice came from outside the courtyard, even through the courtyard wall, the voice was still heard clearly, and the sneering look of the dominatrix covering her mouth with the back of her hand and smiling softly appeared in her mind.

Cheng Sanwu loosened his shoulders, stepped forward to open the courtyard door, and saw Afu riding on horseback. At this moment, she changed into men's clothes again, wearing a brocade gown with a round collar in ocher red, embroidered with dark patterns of group flowers, and her feet were turned up. Leather boots on the scalp, a belt around the waist, a kit, a jade pendant, and a dagger with a horse's head hanging on it, and instead of wearing a curly head, a golden crown inlaid with agates is used to tie the hair into a bun.

As for Afu, Qin Wangshu was also dressed in men's attire. She also changed out of the military uniform of a military officer and wore a navy blue dress with arrow sleeves and a horizontal knife hanging from her waist, just like the guard servant next to the son of a family.

"Yo, why are you here?" Cheng Sanwu leaned against the door and folded his arms, looking at the two with interest.

"Please go to Pingkangfang, will you come?" Afu held a horsewhip and pointed to the side.

Pingkangfang is just south of Chongrenfang, across the street, Afu is obviously referring to the Sanqu place where brothels and brothels gather.

Cheng Sanwu's eyes lit up, he regained his energy immediately, rubbed his palms together and asked, "Are you treating me?"

Afu smiled and said: "I have already made an appointment, Nanqu Tianxiang Pavilion. There will be good wine and food, silk and bamboo to add to the fun, I guarantee you will like it."

"You are this!" Cheng Sanwu immediately gave a thumbs up, then turned around and shouted to the two people in the courtyard: "Do you want to come together?"

Afu smiled and said nothing, but Qin Wangshu looked annoyed, Ming Mingfu only invited him as an envoy, such a great honor that no one can ask for, Cheng Sanwu is fine, he is naturally generous to others, He actually had to call other men.

Su Wangting and Changqing came, Cheng Sanwu said with an expression of asking for credit, "Look, I didn't lie to you, I said I would invite you to Pingkangfang, and I will definitely do it!"

Changqing couldn't help but rolled his eyes, but Su Wangting smiled bitterly and said, "Old Cheng, it's Miss Afu's treat now, you can't count."

"If she invites, I invite." Cheng Sanwu pointed back with his thumb, then quickly turned his head and asked, "You think so?"

"Cheng Sanwu, don't be ignorant of what's good!" Qin Wangshu couldn't help but scolded: "Envoy Fu invited you to be a guest, so you just obey orders obediently!"

"What you said, I am an envoy with your wife, that is a fateful friendship!" Cheng Sanwu pretended to be a villain, "She and I are so close!"

Qin Wangshu gritted his teeth, flaring his nostrils, inhaling angrily, and even trembling slightly.Both Su Wangting and Chang Qing couldn't listen anymore, and they tugged on Cheng Sanwu's sleeve.

"Old Cheng, enough is enough, don't go too far!" Su Wangting reminded in a low voice.

"You're so aggressive, aren't you afraid of implicating us?" Changqing is also serious this time, even if the dominatrix doesn't care about it, she can't wait to see what other people will think.

On the contrary, Afu, smiling as always, was very interested, as if to see how presumptuous Cheng Sanwu could be.

"Oh, okay." Cheng Sanwu waved at Qin Wangshu: "I'm a cheap-mouthed person, so take care of me."

Qin Wangshu resisted the urge to draw a knife to kill someone, then saw Cheng Sanwu turned around and asked, "Are you two really not coming?"

"Miss Afu just wants to invite you alone, so I won't bother you." Su Wangting smiled wryly. He knew that Afu was trying her best to win over Cheng Sanwu, and he couldn't forcefully stop her.

"What about you?" Cheng Sanwu looked at Changqing: "I heard that you chatted very well before, so you don't plan to have sex?"

Changqing immediately refused: "I'm going to the Daoist Examination next year, and I can't get drunk during this period, not to mention I don't like that kind of place."

"That's boring!" Cheng Sanwu didn't force it, and then whistled.

The bay red horse came from the stables in the backyard, walking briskly, and the sound of snorting seemed a bit ironic.

"Go! Go to Pingkangfang!" Cheng Sanwu got on his horse, excited.

(End of this chapter)