Do you know: I am Yuan Wenshao

Chapter 340 Death of Gu Tingyu

"I pay my respects to Your Majesty!" Gu Tingye saluted.

Zhao Zongquan waved his hand and said: "During this period, King Huan often reported on the progress of the salt investigation, but the progress was very slow. It can't be all because of your personal matters that you are asked to return to Beijing this time, right?"

Naturally, he, the emperor, would not pay attention to what happened in the Sheng family.

However, he knew about the news of Gu Tingye's return to Beijing. After Gu Tingye returned to Beijing, he did not enter the palace immediately, so he would naturally ask people to find out the reason.

Although he didn't fully find out what happened, he also knew that a large part of the reason for Gu Tingye's return this time was due to personal matters.

"Your Majesty, of course I will not abandon public service for personal reasons. After King Huan arrived in the south of the Yangtze River, wherever he went, the local salt gangs lurked without any action. The local officials also seemed to have no knowledge of the salt gangs.

Even the local people are very secretive about this, and it is difficult to get useful information. "Gu Tingye said.

Zhao Zongquan's face darkened and he said: "I am very clear about the difficulties of thoroughly investigating the salt affairs, so please don't complain here. A few months have passed, and I just want to know how the specific progress is now?"

"Back to Your Majesty, in order to paralyze the Salt Gang and those officials who were connected with the Salt Gang, His Highness Prince Huan was lax on the surface, but secretly sent people to other places to conduct secret investigations. Now he has obtained a lot of evidence. When I return to Beijing this time, It was His Highness King Huan who asked me to come back and report to His Majesty in person. Now that the evidence is complete, we can take the initiative to alert the enemy," Gu Tingye said.

Zhao Zongquan pondered for a while and said, "Are you sure?"

"Back to Your Majesty, although the evidence we have now cannot catch all the people involved, it can catch some of them. Once these people are caught and interrogated, the rest will no longer be able to hide," Gu Tingye said.

"Well, in that case, you tell King Huan to let him take action. Try to cut through the mess as quickly as possible, otherwise many people in Bianjing will be unable to sit still." Zhao Zongquan sneered.

"Yes, I obey!" Gu Tingye responded.

"I heard that you were assassinated many times in Jiangnan?" Zhao Zongquan asked.

"Yes, since entering Jiangnan, I have been assassinated no less than ten times." Gu Tingye said.

"boom!"

Zhao Zongquan patted the imperial case hard and sneered: "These people are really brave. When you go back this time, you will bring five thousand forbidden troops with you. You must ensure the safety of King Huan."

"Your Majesty, don't worry. As long as I have a breath left, I will definitely protect Prince Huan." Gu Tingye said.

"Yes." Zhao Zongquan nodded and said: "Zhonghuai, I have worked hard for you during this period. When you were in Yuzhou before, you asked me to help find your outlaw. This time he appeared in Bianjing, and the emperor Cheng Si followed the clues and found out that the reason why she appeared this time was related to the person behind the Salt Gang. As for your son, he didn't find any clues. You can figure out the rest by yourself. "

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Gu Tingye cupped his hands and said.

"Go, take a day off today, and go back tomorrow. King Huan can't do without you." Zhao Zongquan said.

"Yes." Gu Tingye responded and said, "I have something to ask of Your Majesty."

"Say." Zhao Zongquan said calmly.

Gu Tingye briefly talked about the Sheng family's affairs and asked Zhao Zongquan for a place to be sent to the Shenjie Division.

As Gu Tingye, sending people to the Shenjie Department does not need to go through the official family.

But in this case, Shen Jie Si wanted to ask the reason.

Through the official, the Shenjie Department does not need to record it in the book, and they will not ask the reason.

It doesn't matter if the officials know about this kind of thing. If other people know about it, there is a possibility of leakage.

Zhao Zongquan naturally would not refuse such a trivial matter and directly agreed.

……

After Gu Tingye left the palace, he did not go to the Sheng family, but returned to the Orange Garden.

When I came to a courtyard that was heavily guarded by guards, I walked in and heard a woman's shrill scream coming from inside.

Gu Tingye walked in without any hesitation.

"Son!"

When Shitou saw Gu Tingye coming in, he saluted quickly.

"You haven't asked yet?" Gu Tingye said lightly.

"No." Shitou said with some shame: "I had people use the torture methods used on women in the inner house, but she didn't say anything. If torture is used again, someone may die."

Mannia was tied to a wooden frame, her hair disheveled and hanging down, covering her face.

Hearing Gu Tingye's voice, he raised his head suddenly, looked at Gu Tingye and said bitterly: "Erlang, you are so cruel."

"Am I cruel?" Gu Tingye rushed over, grabbed Mannia's neck, and said sternly: "Am I as cruel as a poisonous woman like you? Tell me, where is Brother Chang?"

"Haha...hahaha..." Mannia heard this and laughed crazily.

"Speak quickly, or I will kill you." Gu Tingye increased his strength.

"Uh...ahem..."

Mannia coughed violently and struggled.

Seeing this, Gu Tingye let go of his hand and said, "As long as you tell me, I guarantee that you will not only survive, but also have food and clothing for your whole life."

"Ha." Mannia sneered and said, "You want a son? It's very simple. If you divorce your wife and marry me, you will naturally see your son."

"Impossible! Don't force me?" Gu Tingye looked at Mannia with burning eyes.

"Then there's nothing you can do. As long as you want a son, you have to do this." Mannia said.

"My patience is limited. When you come to Bianjing, you can't hide Brother Chang too far away. Do you think I really can't find him?" Gu Tingye said angrily.

"Haha, then you go and find it." Mannia sneered: "Anyway, I only have one condition. If you want a son, you must marry me."

"It's impossible to marry you. Let's not talk about your identity. I'm an official now because I have errands to do, and I don't have time to stay in Bianjing to divorce my wife and marry another."

At this moment, Minglan walked in with Xiaotao's support.

"Minglan, why are you here?"

Gu Tingye was stunned when he saw Minglan, and quickly went up to help her sit down.

"I was thinking about telling the officials about this before, but when I thought about it carefully, I probably couldn't hide this from the officials. I guessed that the officials would capture the person and torture him to extract a confession," Minglan said.

"Since you guessed it, you shouldn't come back. I will take care of the things here." Gu Tingye said.

"Haha, you two are very affectionate as husband and wife." Mannia sneered.

"Shut up!" Gu Tingye shouted: "If you don't tell the whereabouts of Brother Chang, I will chop you alive!"

"Then come, I am a good citizen now, if you have the ability, kill me." Mannia sneered.

"Stone…"

"Officer."

Minglan grabbed Gu Tingye and said, "Guardian, I have a few words to tell you. Come out with me."

When Gu Tingye heard this, he glared at Mannia and helped Minglan out.

"Guardian, Mannia wants to enter the Gu family..."

"She didn't want to enter the Gu family's door. She wanted to enter the Hou's mansion." Gu Tingye snorted coldly.

When he severed ties with the Gu family, he was ready to leave Bianjing with Mannia and the child.

Mannia secretly sold his mother's belongings. At that time, he understood that what Mannia valued was his identity as the legitimate son of the Hou family.

After he severed ties with the Gu family, he felt that he had nothing, so he thought of absconding with the money.

"No matter what she is doing, the child is her only trump card. Unless the Marquis agrees to her conditions, it is impossible for her to tell the whereabouts of the child." Minglan said.

"It's impossible. Stop talking. I won't divorce you and marry her. Even if I lie to her, I can't do it. Otherwise it would be too unfair to you." Gu Tingye said.

"Guan Ren, listen to what I have to say." Minglan said: "Even if Guan Ren does this, she will be on guard against Guan Ren lying to her and won't say anything in the short term. So even if she does do this, it doesn't make any sense. What I mean is to drive them out, and then send people to keep an eye on her, and search her for all her money and valuables. She is penniless, and she will definitely contact the people behind her, and then she will be able to find the child. Whereabouts." After hearing this, Gu Tingye thought about it carefully and said with a smile: "My wife is smart, so let's do it this way. But I have to leave Beijing tomorrow. I will leave the stone behind and let him handle what happens. Let him report to you."

"Well, sir, don't worry, I will definitely help you find Brother Chang." Minglan nodded.

"Thank you for your hard work." Gu Tingye said movedly.

"Stop talking about this, I'll leave first and you go release them," Minglan said.

"Ah."

Gu Tingye watched Minglan leave and returned to the house.

……

"So, Erlang drove people away?" Xiao Qin said.

"Well, the people over there saw it with their own eyes, but we also sent some people to keep an eye on it." Mother Su said.

"Haha, this is trying to lure the snake out of its hole." Xiao Qin sneered: "If he wants to stare, just stare. By the way, is there any news from the Sheng family?"

"No, the door of the Sheng family has been opened now. The slave asked someone to contact the servants of the Sheng family who were out. The news I heard was that the Sheng family had been robbed before, so the door was closed. Now the thief has been caught. In addition, the Sheng family's old man My wife told the public that she was ill," Su's mother said.

"What a waste." Xiao Qin scolded.

She originally wanted to borrow Manniang's knife to kill Minglan, but Minglan ran away to the Sheng family and never came back.

Now it's okay, Mannia's knife is gone, and Kang Wang's useful knife is gone.

"Old madam, do you think the Kang Wang family will bite you?" Mother Su asked worriedly.

"Impossible, the old lady of the Sheng family is not dead. Even if she is caught, it is not a capital crime. She poured dirty water on me, but she still can't escape. Instead of doing this, it is better not to say anything and expect me to save her." Qin sneered.

"Oh no!"

At this moment, a maid hurried in.

"What are you so worried about?" Xiao Qin asked with a frown.

"Old madam, Lord Marquis, he...he...passed away." The maid knelt down with a plop.

"what?"

Xiao Qin stood up suddenly, her expression changing.

After coming back to his senses, he hurried out.

On the other side, not long after Gu Tingye ordered Mannia to be driven away, he received news of Gu Tingyu's death.

The whole person stood stunned on the spot.

Gu Tingye was full of hatred for Gu Tingyu.

If he and Xiao Qin hadn't been plotting behind his back these years, his relationship with his father wouldn't have become worse and worse.

In the end, my father was so angry that he couldn't even see him for the last time.

However, it was very difficult for Gu Tingye to accept the news of his death.

"Guardian, death is like a lamp going out. Everything in the past has passed. Let's go over and have a look." Minglan said.

"Ah."

Gu Tingye nodded absently, and took Minglan back to the Gu family with a blank mind.

When they arrived outside Gu Tingyu's yard, they heard the heartbreaking cries of Mr. Shao and his daughter.

Entering the room, Mrs. Shao and her daughter were lying on the bedside crying, while Mrs. Qin stood aside wiping her tears.

Gu Tingye looked at Gu Tingyu lying there with his eyes closed and his face pale, with a complicated expression.

"My condolences, sister-in-law," Minglan said.

Shao stopped crying and turned his head sideways. His eyes were red and swollen with tears streaming down his face. He took out a letter and said, "Brother-in-law, this is a letter left for you by the official."

When Gu Tingye heard this, he took it with trembling hands and unfolded it to read.

For a long time, Gu Tingye held the letter into a ball, veins popped up in his hands, and tears fell from the corners of his eyes.

"Guanren, are you okay?" Minglan asked worriedly.

"It's okay." Gu Tingye shook his head and looked at Gu Tingyu intently.

Gu Tingyu said in his suicide note that he had actually known for a long time that his mother's death had nothing to do with Gu Tingye's mother.

I just haven't been willing to admit it.

In the letter, he also mocked himself and said that he could live for so long only because of hatred.

Finally, I implore Gu Tingye not to embarrass the Shao mother and daughter.

Finally, he was told to be careful about Xiao Qin.

Gu Tingye stood in the room for a long time before leaving.

After leaving the Gu family, Gu Tingye asked Minglan to go back first while he went to the palace.

Gu Tingyu has a title, so someone from the Ministry of Rites should be sent to help handle the zombies after his death.

In addition, he can no longer go to Jiangnan to protect King Huan.

After Zhao Zongquan found out, he comforted Gu Tingye for a few words and let him go back.

As for King Huan, he could only send Shen Congxing.

Now in the past few months, Shen Congxing's matter has calmed down.

……

In Hehuang, the capital of the Tubo Kingdom, vocal music was being played in the palace hall, and a group of women were dancing in the hall.

At the end of the song, Kelsang Norbu waved away the dancing girl and raised his glass: "I would like to give you a toast to the loyal and brave lord."

"I should be the one who respects the King of Tubo. The King of Tubo invites you." Yuan Wenshao raised his glass.

After drinking and drinking, Kelsang Norbu smiled and said: "Now that Mavis has not replied, I would like to ask Marquis Zhongyong to send someone to put some pressure on Mavis."

After Yuan Wenshao led his troops to the capital of Tubo, Mavis immediately ended the war with the Qiang people and led his troops back to support.

The Qiang people were also afraid of the Great Zhou Dynasty and did not continue to use troops against Mavis until the situation became clear.

For a time, the land of Hehuang fell into calm.

Kelsang Norbu immediately sent people to find Mavis for peace talks, promising that as long as Mavis was willing to support him as king, he could make Mavis a general.

However, half a month passed, and there was still no reply from Mavis.

"If you do this, I'm worried that Mavis will defect to Xixia in a fit of anger. When Xixia sends troops to intervene, it will be difficult for me to deal with it. And Mavis may not be afraid just by words." Is Yuan Wenshao doing the same thing?

"Then what does Marquis Zhongyong think we should do?" Kelsang Norbu asked.

"If the King of Tubo hands over Yulong Pass to Zhou, Mavis will definitely be afraid, and it will be much easier to negotiate by then." Yuan Wenshao said calmly.

It would be best if we could take Yulong Pass without any bloodshed.

"Impossible!" Kelsang Norbu said with an angry look on his face: "Yulong Pass is my Tibetan barrier, how can I hand it over to the Great Zhou?"

(End of this chapter)