Wang Zhenwen frowned slightly and replied in a deep voice, "Come in!"
He knew that the wife's daughter was sensible and would not disturb him at this time if there was nothing important.
The door to the study was pushed open. Simu Wang stood at the door and bowed gracefully. Her posture was perfect. "Father, your excellency Xu wishes to see you for an urgent matter."
Minister Sun and the others thought that the "your excellency Xu" Simu Wang mentioned was Xu Qi 'an. Their eyes lit up and they became very interested.
Although this troublemaker was annoying, his ability and means to stir up trouble had long won the acknowledgement of the officials in the imperial court.
What was the purpose of Xu Qi 'an visiting the Wang Residence at this time?
Wang Zhenwen also became spirited and said, "Invite him in."
Simu Wang turned her head and looked to the side. A few seconds later, Xu Erlang walked out from the side of the door with a bloody nose and a swollen face. He crossed the threshold and bowed. "This lowly official greets my lords."
'So it's him …' Qian Qingshu and the others shook their heads.
Xu Cijiu was a very talented person. His knowledge and courage were outstanding, but compared to his elder brother, he was too far behind.
In their eyes, Xu Cijiu was an outstanding junior with a lot of potential. However, in their eyes, Xu Qi 'an was an opponent that made their scalps go numb.
Their importance could not be mentioned in the same breath.
Wang Zhenwen's eyes flashed with disappointment, but he quickly recovered. He nodded and said, "your excellency Xu, what business do you have with me?"
Xu Xinnian took out a stack of secret letters from his sleeve and walked to the table. He pushed them to Wang Shoufu. "These things should be useful to the Grand Secretary."
Wang Shoufu glanced at them and picked them up indifferently. As he flipped through them, his gaze suddenly froze.
He quickly scanned through the first secret letter and impatiently opened the second letter, the third letter …
After reading all of them, Wang Shoufu remained seated and did not move. He seemed to be in a daze, but also seemed to be thinking.
Minister Sun and the Grand Secretary Qian Qingshu looked at each other. The latter leaned forward slightly and probed, "Grand Secretary?"
The Minister of Personnel and the others also exchanged looks. They realized that these letters were not ordinary.
Wang Shoufu tidied up the letters and handed them to Minister Sun who was closest to him. Seeing him reaching out to take them, Wang Shoufu hurriedly said, "Be careful."
Minister Sun was startled and nodded. He then focused on the letters and began to read them.
Minister Sun was startled and nodded, then focused on the letters and began to read.
After remaining silent for a few seconds, he suddenly opened the other letters in a bit of a rush, his movements crude and impatient. When he saw Grand Secretary Wang, his brows rose up, fearing that this old fellow would damage the letters.
Minister Sun's reaction made the Grand Secretaries and Ministers even more curious and perplexed.
They were eager to know what was written in these letters.
With these things, we don't need to give in to any benefits, and we can rope in a large number of forces. "Hao, and," Wang said. Heh, even if he investigates until next year, he won't find anything. "
Shou. "
"Minister.
The Minister of Personnel grabbed the letters and began to read them. After a dozen seconds, he excitedly said, "Wonderful."
"I thought about collecting evidence of Yuan Xiong and the others to fight back, but there was too little time, and the other side had already dealt with the beginning and the end. This, this is like someone giving you a pillow when you want to take a nap. "
In the study, the big shots finished reading the letters one by one. Their serious expressions were replaced by excited smiles.
Wang Simu stood at the door, quietly watching this scene. She saw her father and uncles' faces from the dignified expression to the excited laughter after reading the letter. She saw it all.
Although the letters belonged to Xu Qi 'an, her father couldn't ignore Erlang's kindness. She quietly breathed a sigh of relief and became more confident about her future.
Wang Shoufu took back the letters and put them on the table. Then he looked at Xu Erlang and said gently, "Your excellency Xu, where did these letters come from?"
Minister Sun, Minister Xu, and the Grand Secretaries all looked at Xu Erlang.
Xu Erlang bowed and said, "From my brother."
"So it was him …" Minister Sun had mixed feelings, so much so that he didn't even know how to feel. Without a doubt, he hated Xu Qi 'an.
Because of the Sang Po case, that little bastard had repeatedly opposed him. The most extreme time was when he wrote a poem to scold him, nailing him to the pillar of shame.
Yes, he didn't kidnap his son, but wrote a poem to scold him.
According to the rules of the government, this was a fight to the death. As a matter of fact, Minister Sun also wanted to kill Xu Qi, so he kept working hard.
That was until the massacre in Chu Zhou City, which was a turning point.
Some people were like this. You wanted them dead, but you couldn't help but admire them for certain things.
And now, when the Royal Faction was at a critical juncture, Xu Qi 'an actually delivered such an important item. It must be known that if this item fell into their hands, the crisis this time would be more daunting than dangerous.
It was a great favor, and Minister Sun couldn't refuse it.
Qian Qingshu and the others were both surprised and not surprised. These letters were left by Cao Guogong, but who killed Cao Guogong?
They were surprised because they didn't believe that Xu Qi 'an would help them.
Wang Shoufu heaved a sigh and asked calmly, "What does he want?"
Xu Erlang bowed and said, "My brother will pay you a visit after we solve the problem in the court."
Wang Shoufu thought for a few seconds and nodded. "Very well."
Then, Simu Wang said softly, "Father, Erlang and his brother almost turned against each other in order to get these letters. The wound on his face was caused by Xu Qi 'an. Erlang just didn't want to take credit for it."
Wang Shoufu was taken aback. He looked at Xu Erlang carefully and his eyes softened.
Qian Qingshu and the others looked at Xu Erlang and then at Simu Wang with a strange look on their faces.
They were all experienced officials, so they immediately picked up a lot of information.
If Xu Qi 'an wasn't willing, Xu Cijiu wouldn't be able to get it even if he risked his life. After he retired from officialdom, he was consciously looking for a backer for the Xu family … Qian Qingshu was excited when he thought of this.
In his opinion, it was a good thing that Xu Qi 'an was willing to offer an olive branch. Although he was Wei Yuan's confidant and Wei Yuan didn't see eye to eye with the Royal Faction, if the Royal Faction needed to use Xu Qi' an, he would definitely not reject it based on his relationship with Xu Xinnian. Both parties could reach a certain degree of cooperation.
Xu Qi 'an was a handy and useful tool.
After the Year of Jingcha, most of the officials in the court had a similar concept.
If the Royal Faction could control this tool, it would definitely be of great use in the future.
This person is very good with words. If we can support him, he will be invincible in a quarrel in the future. Hmm, he seems to have an ambiguous relationship with niece Si Mu … Most importantly, we can use Xu Qi 'an as a tool if we get Xu Cijiu … Minister Xu of the Ministry of Personnel pondered.
The others had similar thoughts. They quickly weighed the pros and cons and guessed the relationship between Xu Xinnian and Simu Wang.
Wang Shoufu coughed and said, "It's getting late. Let's split the secret letters and go on our own."
He didn't look at Xu Xinnian again.
…
Simu Wang rushed to send Xu Xinnian out of the Imperial City before dusk. She also gave a lot of medicinal wine and powder for Xu Erlang. After returning to the residence, she heard her eldest brother, second brother, and mother talking in the hall.
Wang Erge said in a relaxed tone, "Father and the uncles seem to have a countermeasure. I saw that when they left, their footsteps were light and their brows were no longer solemn. I chased after them and asked. Uncle Qian said not to worry. "
Brother Wang said with a smile, "Father also deliberately asked the housekeeper to inform the kitchen to make fried meat tonight. He hasn't eaten this dish for a long time to maintain his health."
Wang Erge clapped his hands, "This means that father's worries are gone and his body is relaxed."
Madam Wang, who was listening on the side, also revealed a smile: "Si Mu is right. Your father has seen all kinds of storms and waves, don't worry."
Seeing Simu Wang come in, Wang Erge said with a smile, "Sister, father has just left the residence. I have good news for you. Uncle Qian said he found a way out."
After a pause, he immediately said, "What about that guy? Second brother wants to use this opportunity to test him and see if we can go through thick and thin together. Take me to him. I will tell him that the Wang Residence is in trouble and the future is uncertain. Let's see how he will treat you. "
While he was talking enthusiastically, Wang Simu interrupted him coldly, "Compared with Second Brother who only knows how to boast here, he is much better."
Wang Erge stared at her, "Sister, how can you say that?"
Wang Erge was in a good mood and was willing to flatter his second brother.
He smiled and said, "The moral character of a scholar from Yunlu Academy is trustworthy. But your second brother also has good intentions. If he wants to try, then let him try. "
Simu Wang pursed her lips and sat down to drink a mouthful of tea. She slowly said, "The way father and uncles solved the problem is the evidence of the officials' corruption."
"How do you know?" Wang Erge was surprised.
"Because this was brought by Xu Erlang. He paid a huge price for it." Simu Wang felt sweet and heartbroken.
"Then Xu Erlang brought it …" Wang Erge murmured.
"This, this is a huge bargaining chip. He gave it up just like that?" Wang Erge also murmured.
Madame Wang looked at her two sons' expressions. She realized that the Xu family's boy that her daughter liked had made an important contribution in this matter.
…
In the next three days, the capital's officialdom was turbulent. At first, the neutral faction looked on coldly from the sidelines as the Royal Faction was suppressed by the imperial power. Yuan Xiong and Qin Yuandao, who represented the "Royal Party", were sharpening their knives.
But as the situation developed, the Dali Monastery chose to side with the Royal Faction. They worked with the Ministry of Justice to clear the Royal Faction's officials who were imprisoned and started a tug-of-war with the Imperial Censorate.
Then, many people in the six departments changed sides and accused Qin Yuandao and Yuan Xiong of being on the same side and abusing their power. The flames of war spread to the two of them.
Soon, a few powerful figures in the Xun Gui Group also wrote to impeach Yuan Xiong and Qin Yuandao.
In a short period of time, people from all walks of life jumped out to protect the Royal Faction. The Ministry of Justice and the Dali Monastery stopped the "Royal Faction's officials" from interrogating them. Since there were no results, Yuan Xiong and the rest's follow-up plans were ruined.
The court was flooded with impeachment memorials again and again. Rumors began to spread in the officialdom that the Yuanjing Emperor was settling scores. Those who forced him to issue an edict would all be punished.
For a time, people's hearts wavered and rumors spread everywhere.
This was not the end. The six departments and the censors led by Zhang Xingying were like sharks that smelled blood. They excitedly wrote to impeach the Yuanjing Emperor for being narrow-minded and taking revenge. They accused him of damaging the Royal Family's dignity and the Emperor's prestige.
The happiest thing they could do was to pick on the Emperor and then write a memorial to criticize him. This meant that they were loyal officials and at the same time, they could quickly become famous and gain prestige in the officialdom and the scholarly circles.
On the fifth day, after the Yuanjing Emperor flew into a rage in his bedroom, he stopped the matter and released the Royal Faction's members who were imprisoned.
Yuan Xiong was demoted to the Right Imperial Censor and the former Right Imperial Censor Liu Hong took over.
The Assistant Minister of War, Qin Yuandao, was so angry that he could not get out of bed.
…
On this day, the Crown Prince, who had been observing the changes in the court, summoned Minister Xu of the Ministry of Personnel in the name of admiring the flowers.
In the garden of the East Palace.
The Crown Prince sat in the pavilion and took a sip of wine. He asked, "The changes in the court these few days have left me speechless. I still don't understand it. Minister Xu, please explain it to me."
Minister Xu of the Ministry of Personnel was a supporter of the Royal Faction and the Crown Prince. It was the most appropriate to summon him.
Minister Xu was dressed in casual clothes. The cool breeze in the garden brought along a faint fragrance of flowers. He smiled contentedly.
"There's no big mystery in this matter. A while ago, Hanlin Academy's Shu Jishi, Xu Xinnian, sent a few secret letters. They were left by High Duke Cao."
Immediately, he told the Crown Prince the whole story.
The Crown Prince's breathing quickened. He asked, "Where are the secret letters? Are there more? There must be more. High Duke Cao has been in power for many years. It's impossible for him to only have a few letters. "
If he could get his hands on those secret letters, his power would soar and his position as the Crown Prince would become more stable.
"I think so too. Unfortunately, Xu Qi'an is Wei Yuan's man …" Minister Xu smiled and did not continue.
The Crown Prince suddenly thought. The Royal Faction couldn't get it, but it didn't mean that he couldn't get it.
Now that he thought about it, Lin An's letter played a role. Otherwise, why would Xu Qi'an borrow his cousin's hand to pass the secret letters to Wang Shoufu?
Xu Qi'an didn't reply to the letter to avoid arousing suspicion. After all, his identity was sensitive.
"I have to go to Shaoyin Palace and ask Lin An to find a way to contact Xu Qi'an. Maybe I can get more secret letters from him …" The Crown Prince only felt that the wine was bland and his butt was on pins and needles.
He patiently talked with Minister Xu for a while and then sent him out of the palace.
He immediately went to Shaoyin Palace.
…
Shaoyin Palace.
After lunch, Lin An took a nap. She sat up in a thin dress and stretched her waist lazily.
In the hot summer, her clothes were thin. Although she was not big, she was not small. But compared with Huaiqing, it was a story of a cup injury.
When she stretched her waist, a small part of her snow-white waist was revealed.
The curve of the water snake was beautiful, and the two waist pits were sexy and cute.
Under the service of the palace maid, she put on a complicated and gorgeous palace dress. After rinsing her mouth with tea and cleaning her face, Lin An waved a beauty fan and sat in the pavilion in a daze.
The personal palace maid who had been slapped on the butt by Xu Qi 'an was reading the story in her hands. While she was breathing, she secretly glanced at the princess.
Compared with the melancholy a few days ago, Her Royal Highness had recovered a lot recently, but she was still a little listless.
"Tell me, if the young lady in the book was not a woman from a wealthy family, would that poor scholar still like her?" Lin An gently waved his fan and looked into the distance absentmindedly as he suddenly asked.
The palace maid thought for a while and said, "Yes, after all, the scholar eloped with her."
Lin An shook her head and said softly, "But someone told me that the scholar deliberately eloped with the daughter of a rich family. In this way, he didn't need to pay a sky-high betrothal gift and could marry a beautiful wife. A real responsible man should not do this. "
The palace maid asked, "Then what should he do?"
Lin An raised her head and said sadly, "I don't know either. I used to think that he was like that …"
At this time, a guard came from outside and stopped not far away. He cupped his hands and said, "Your Royal Highness, Xu Xinnian, the scholar of Hanlin Academy, asks to see you."
Lin An was stunned for a moment. After a few seconds, she remembered that Xu Xinnian was that person's cousin. She frowned slightly. She had never interacted with that scholar. What matter could he have to see her for?
After thinking for a few seconds, she said, "Go and take him into the palace."
After a quarter of an hour, Xu Qi'an, who was wearing a sky blue brocade robe, a pair of cloud-covered boots, and a golden crown with his hair tied up, entered the reception hall with the guard of Shaoyin Palace.
He sat behind the table, straightened his waist, and asked the palace maid to serve tea with a serious look. He said in a flat tone, "Why does your excellency Xu want to see me?"
