Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

After serving Doctor Hu, Bafang saw that the candle was still lit in Meng Changqing's room, so he went to the kitchen of the inn to ask for two plates of snacks, which he brought to Meng Changqing's room.

"Master." Bafang knocked on the door and came in. He saw Meng Changqing sitting at the table, and he didn't seem to be going to sleep yet. "Are you worried about something?"

Looking at the snacks in front of him, Meng Changqing looked around and relaxed, "I have always known that I am suspicious. I used to think that this is my nature, but I didn't expect that Master Zong is also like this."

"Everyone has suspicions." Bafang sat opposite Meng Changqing, "The more afraid a person is, the more suspicious he is. If anyone dares to claim that he has never had any suspicions, it just means that the day he is afraid has not come yet.

Besides, being suspicious isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”

"You have a point."

"By the way, young master, why are we staying in an inn?" Bafang asked.

"All the rooms at home are sealed. Uncle Dai will have to clean them up again when we go back. We can't stay here for a few days, so don't make Uncle Dai work hard." After Meng Changqing finished speaking, he glanced towards the door.

With just one look, Bafang knew what she meant, “When I came over just now, the lights in Lord Bai’s room were off.

I knew you would ask him, so I asked Master before I came to you. When you and Doctor Hu went to visit Master Zong, Master Bai went to the Bai Family Tea Shop on Shisheng Street in the East Market and brought back a bag of good tea. "

Bafang said: "He is too blatant."

"I'm not worried about it being so straightforward."

The night watch rang outside, and Bafang said at the right time: "Master, you should go to bed early."

Early the next morning, Meng Changqing hurriedly ate breakfast and took Xi Bei to the clan mansion.

Zong Shouqing had already applied for leave from the court earlier because of the health of the Zong elder. When Meng Changqing arrived at the Zong residence, he had just got up.

When Zong Shouqing heard the servant report that Meng Changqing had arrived, he immediately quickened his pace in washing up.

Meng Changqing arrived too early and did not see Zong Ruwen right away. He sat in the flower hall for a while before waiting for Zong Shouqing to come.

After a few words, Zong Shouqing asked cryptically, "During dinner last night, I saw Bafang gave Doctor Hu a package. Is that the money given by the Zongfu?"

Meng Changqing made the excuse that he owed money to Doctor Hu in the past.

Zong Shouqing naturally didn't believe it, so he took out the 1,000 taels of silver notes he had prepared last night and wanted to give subsidies to Meng Changqing.

Meng Changqing didn't answer. It was rare for him to say no to money. "Father has not been sleeping well recently. He can't fall asleep at night and can't wake up in the morning." Zong Shouqing said, "Let's drink tea and talk here, and then go over after father wakes up."

Although there is a big age gap between the two, because of Zong Ruwen's relationship, the two get along very well. Now that they are meeting again after a long separation, they have a lot to talk about.

Of course, the first thing to ask is how the other family members are doing.

Meng Changqing still replied that everything was fine.

Zong Shouqing said, "My mother is still healthy, but she is worried about my father's condition. She often goes to the temple to burn incense. The temple we went to yesterday is a bit far, and we won't be home until this afternoon. If my mother goes home to see you, she will definitely be very happy."

Zong Shouqing poured tea for Meng Changqing, using the tea leaves he often drank recently. He asked Meng Changqing to describe the taste of the tea.

The two chatted around tea for a while, and Zong Shouqing suddenly said, "You are in Liangzhou. You should know that the son of Minister Chen has returned to Beijing."

Meng Changqing thought that the other party might have something to tell her. "Before he returned to Beijing, he came to Beishan County to say goodbye to me." She asked about Chen Xingqi's recent situation. "I wonder if he is doing well these days?"

"He has returned with military merit, how can it be bad? He has only been back in Beijing for half a year, and now he is the Deputy Director of the Treasury Department, in charge of the weapons depot.

Although he was not in his father's Ministry of Works, the two of them were both in the six ministries and held real power, which was very rare. "Zong Shouqing said, "Among the officials' children of this age in the capital, he has the highest official position.

However, his words and actions are not the same as before, he is very arrogant, and he is very close to the crown prince. He and his father have been reported by the censors several times. "

"We young people are not always very good at speaking and doing things. We always speak loudly when we are emotional, otherwise we will not feel satisfied." Meng Changqing said, "Master Chen is probably the same."

Zong Shouqing told her not to regard him as her own just because he was in the same party as the prince.

"It's not gentlemanly to talk about people behind their backs, but given the relationship between us, there are some things I can't help but remind you of."

"What's the matter?" Meng Changqing asked.

"Since Chen Xingqi returned to Beijing, the Chen family has been in trouble one after another. Some people have seen people being carried out of the small door behind his house. They said they were sent out for treatment, but they have never been seen to come back.

What was even more strange was that two months after he arrived home, one of his father’s concubines died at home for no apparent reason.”

Zong Shouqing said, "These are all news that can be heard on the street. There is no exaggeration in them. I will not speculate on what Chen Xingqi did. I just want to remind you to be careful."

"I know." Meng Changqing accepted the other party's kindness, but asked again: "Since the censors have reported him many times, has no one secretly investigated his family affairs?" (End of this chapter)