Outside the window, there was only the light of burning lanterns and the sound of voices coming from very far away. Ning Yi didn't know what time of night it was. He got up from the bed and touched his swollen forehead.
In the Right Minister's residence, the funeral was still going on, but the vigil in the middle of the night was not quiet. The fourth of the third month, the seventh day of the first death.
Qin Shaohe was already dead.
On the twenty-fifth of the second month, Taiyuan City was finally breached by Zong Han, and the defenders were forced into urban warfare. Although the defenders had made extensive preparations for urban warfare, they had been bitterly defending the city for several months without reinforcements. The city walls had already been breached and could not be recaptured, and the morale of the remaining soldiers in the city for urban warfare had finally been extinguished. Afterwards, they could no longer put up any resistance.
The massacre of the city had begun.
At this time, the defenders gathered the last of their strength to break out of the encirclement. As the defenders broke out of the encirclement, a large number of civilians who still had strength to spare also began to flee. But this was only their final struggle. The Female Zhenrens had surrounded the city on all sides and had managed it for a long time. Even in such chaos, less than one in ten people could escape. And after a gap of at most two to four hours, no one could come out.
Qin Shaohe was one of the last to retreat. After leaving the city, he raised the banner as the commander, attracting the attention of a large number of pursuing Female Zhenrens. Finally, on the evening of that day, he was surrounded and killed by the pursuing soldiers on the banks of the Fen River. His head was brought back by the Female Zhenrens and hung over the walls of Taiyuan City, which had become a scene from hell.
As a member of the Office of Secret Investigations, Ning Yi naturally knew more details.
On the twenty-fifth of the second month, after Taiyuan City was breached, the city was in chaos. Qin Shaohe led his personal guards to resist and engaged in urban warfare. He had already decided to die and charged at the front. By the time he left the city, his body had already suffered many wounds and was bathed in blood. As he fled to the banks of the Fen River, he even ordered his men to drag the banner. His goal was to delay the Female Zhenrens and allow those who could escape to scatter as much as possible.
In the end, Qin Shaohe jumped into the Fen River. However, the Female Zhenren had prepared a boat nearby. She used a harpoon and a fishing net to drag Qin Shaohe onto the boat, trying to capture him alive. One of Qin Shaohe's legs was pierced by a long harpoon, but he still resisted with all his might. In the chaos of his sudden resistance, he was killed by a female soldier with a swing of his saber. The female soldier chopped off his head, chopped his corpse into several pieces, and threw them into the river.
When Qin Shaohe was in Taiyuan, he had a concubine by his side, whose name was Zhan Mei. When the city was breached, she was already pregnant with his flesh and blood. During the breakout, he handed the concubine over to another team to take her away. Later, this team was intercepted and scattered, and the concubine's whereabouts were also unknown. At this moment, it was unknown whether she was dead or captured by the Female Zhenren.
Li Pin was temporarily missing, and Cheng Zhouhai was on his way back to the capital.
These scattered pieces of information gave one a headache, and the atmosphere in Qin Manor was even more heart-wrenching. Qin Shaoqian wanted to go north several times to retrieve his big brother's head, or at least his flesh and blood. However, he was sternly scolded by Qin Siyuan, who forcibly suppressed his sadness. In the afternoon, Ning Yi accompanied him for a drink. When he woke up, it was already late at night. He pushed open the door and went out, crossing the courtyard wall. The night sky on one side of Qin Manor was filled with light, and the spontaneous condolences of some people were still continuing.
Under Takeshi's propaganda in the past two days, Qin Shaohe had become a hero to a certain extent. Ning Yi rubbed his forehead and looked at the light. He knew in his heart that at the same time, in Taiyuan City, a thousand miles north, the massacre of ten days without a blade was still going on, and Qin Shaohe's head was still hanging on the city wall, exposed to the wind and rain.
On the seventh day of his death, he didn't know if he would come back …
*****
With a "peng", the copper coin accurately fell into the mouth of the wine cup, causing water to splash. On top of the tower, the man surnamed Long laughed out loud.
"Young Master Long is really good at this. If this goes on, people won't dare to come anymore." The girl beside him had a bitter gaze and pouted. But then, she still drank the wine in the cup amidst his laughter.
At this moment, voices could be heard from downstairs.
"… Of course we have to drink the blood of these golden dogs …"
Then, someone replied.
The man surnamed Long's expression dimmed. He picked up the wine cup and finally sighed. Huakui beside him said, "Young Master Long is also sad about what happened in Taiyuan, right?"
"… The country is like this, and the people are innocent." He said and then drank the wine in one gulp. "Of course … I have some feelings."
"I also listened to what happened in Taiyuan. Just now, Young Master Long was downstairs, and you also heard about Lord Qin. Really … those golden dogs aren't human!"
The girl's scolding seemed soft and gentle, but the emotions within were real. Young Master Long held the wine cup, at this moment, he spun it in his hand and didn't comment.
At this moment, this Young Master Long who came to the tower a few times was naturally Zhou Zhe.
Wu Sheng Army's rescue was defeated, Chen Yanshu died, Taiyuan fell. This series of things made him feel a heart-wrenching pain. During these few days, the Imperial Court and the people were discussing this matter. Especially the people, under the instigation of Chen Dong and the others, there were several large scale petitions. When Zhou Zhe came out incognito, the various matters regarding Taiyuan were being spread on the streets. At the same time, some storytellers were spreading the tragic death of Qin Shaohe, making him look like a hero.
However, he could clearly see how the people on the side were being instigated.
That Takeshi was really scheming, he was really skilled at using such small methods to stir up the hearts of the people!
However, that Ning Liheng had many unorthodox methods. To him, it wasn't something rare.
In any case, in times of crisis, a clown would always have a clown's use!
Twirling the wine cup in his hand, he remembered something and asked casually, "Oh right, when I came over, I casually asked about Miss Shishi. I heard that Miss Shishi isn't here again. Where did she go?"
"So Young Master Long is looking for Sister Shishi …"
"Not really." Zhou Zhe smiled. "It's just that the most talented and good-looking people in the tower are all here, but she ran out. I'm just a bit curious."
"Senior Sister went to the Prime Minister's residence." The girl beside him didn't get angry and poured wine for him again. "Today is the seventh day of Lord Qin's death. Many people went to the Prime Minister's residence to keep vigil for him. In the afternoon, Mother said that Senior Sister would go on our behalf. We are prostitutes, this is the only thing we can do to show our sincerity. When the Enlightened Lady attacked the city, Senior Sister even went to the top of the city wall to help. We all admire her. Has Young Master Long seen Senior Sister before? "
"Although I am a prostitute, I can still worry about national affairs. Miss Ji, you don't have to belittle yourself." Zhou Zhe's eyes wandered as he thought about it. He didn't know if he had seen Li Shishi the other day at the bottom of the city wall. In the end, he shook his head. "I wanted to see her a few times, but I didn't. It seems that Miss Ji and I are more fated." In fact, the girl beside him was Ji Yanluo, the most popular courtesan in the tower. Compared to the slightly outdated Li Shishi, she was much sweeter and more charming. In this sense, not being able to see Li Shishi wasn't something to be regretful about.
Ji Yanluo smiled sweetly and said a few more words to him. Zhou Zhe frowned slightly. "However, Qin Shaohe is a high-ranking official, and the mourning hall is the Prime Minister's residence. Although Miss Li is famous, will she be able to enter?"
"Uh, this … Yanluo is not sure. Oh, I heard that Senior Sister has some connections with the Prime Minister's residence." As she said this, she smiled again. "Actually, Yanluo feels that we should do our best to guard the mourning hall for such a great hero. Once he passes, we will have done our part. It doesn't matter whether we enter or not. "
"That's true …"
Zhou Zhe replied, but he snorted slightly in his heart. On one hand, he thought about how the people of Taiyuan City were still being slaughtered. On the other hand, he thought about how Qin Siyuan had played some tricks to make Qin Shaohe into a great hero. On the other hand, he thought about how Li Shishi had a good relationship with Ning Yi. Ning Yi was an advisor of the Prime Minister's residence. Naturally, he could bring her in. Although it was said to be a wake, it was actually a meeting.
These two thoughts flashed past his mind. In his heart, he didn't know which was lighter and which was heavier.
*****
However, Zhou Zhe's thoughts were wrong at this time.
Although she went to the Qin Mansion to mourn, Li Shishi didn't ask for permission to enter the mourning hall through Ning Yi. That night, she and the other people who were at the mourning hall lit some joss sticks and candles at one side of the Qin Mansion. Then, they silently prayed for the dead. And Ning Yi, who was in the Prime Minister's residence, didn't know that Shishi had been there that night.
Passing through the corridor in the backyard of the Qin Mansion, Ning Yi went to the courtyard where the advisors of the Qin Mansion usually gathered.
That night, many relatives, friends, and children of the Qin family participated in the wake for Qin Shaohe. As for those who were Qin Shaohe's elders, they naturally didn't have to stay. Although Ning Yi wasn't an elder, he didn't have to stay in the front all the time. Most of the guests and advisors who were close to the Qin family were resting in the backyard.
Because it wasn't past midnight, Yao Zunian, Jueming, and the others who were here during the day hadn't returned yet. Wenren Bu 'er was also here to chat with them. Qin Shaohe was the eldest son of the Qin family and the successor of Qin Siyuan. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that Yao Zunian, Jueming, and the others had watched him grow up. When the news of his death came, everyone was sad. But at this time, the first wave of emotions gradually began to settle.
And with the current situation of the Qin Mansion, this settling would only make people more sad.
Qin Shaohe's birth mother, Qin Siyuan's first wife, was already old. When the news of her eldest son's death came, she was sad and fell ill. Occasionally, when Qin Siyuan had nothing to do, he would accompany her. After Ning Yi spoke with Yao Zunian and the others for a while, Qin Siyuan came over. These days' unforeseen events, including the death of his eldest son, didn't seem to make him more haggard and old. His eyes were still full of spirit, but they had lost their passion, appearing calm and deep.
"Shaoqian's matter is all thanks to Liheng and Bu 'er. With you guys here, he will feel better. But I heard that Liheng drank too much, so I asked the servant girl to prepare some ginseng tea. Later, Liheng will drink some … "
After a brief chat, everyone sat down in the room, listening to the faint sounds of movement coming from outside. Qin Siyuan also expressed his gratitude to Ning Yi for the people who took the initiative to come over to offer their condolences to Qin Shaohe. In these two or three days, the Bamboo Shop had spared no effort in publicizing the matter, and only then was it able to organize such an event.
But Ning Yi shook his head. "The dead are gone. Brother Qin, you probably don't care too much about this matter. It's just that there are many different opinions out there. I just … found something to talk about. It's all selfishness, so it's hard to take credit. "
Qin Siyuan also shook his head. "No matter what, those who came to see him were sincere. Since he died, receiving this sincerity might be a bit of comfort … Also, the search for Zhan Mei's whereabouts in Taiyuan was also thanks to Liheng's men's quick reaction. If they can find her … that would be great."
The old man's words were short and concise. Ning Yi also nodded. In reality, although the men Ning Yi had sent were still searching, they hadn't found her, so there was nothing to be comforted about. Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Jueming said, "I hope that after this matter, the palace will have some misgivings."
Yao Zunian also nodded.
Although the news of the move against the Qin family had come from the palace, and Cai Jing and the others seemed to be ready, at this time, the Qin family had produced a hero who died for his country. Perhaps they would have to slow down their actions. If they were to make a move against Qin Siyuan, they would have to be more careful. This was also one of the reasons why Ning Yi had promoted this matter.
Everyone then said a few words to liven up the atmosphere. Jueming laughed. "I heard that yesterday, Wang Bei sent someone to find Liheng again?"
Ning Yi's expression was calm. A hint of mockery appeared at the corner of his mouth. "In a few days, he will be attending a banquet."
"You have everything going for you." Yao Zunian smiled slightly. "When this old man was young, I also had a time like this." Then he said, "Old Qin, you too."
Although there was sorrow in his eyes, Qin Siyuan also smiled. "Yes. When I was young, I had a time like this." Then he said, "Old Qin, you too." Although there was sorrow in his eyes, Qin Siyuan also smiled. "Yes. When I was young and proud, it has been decades.
They were all outstanding talents of the present age. They had made a name for themselves when they were young, so they had experienced this kind of thing and were already used to it. It was just that as their statuses gradually rose, this kind of thing finally became less common. They were all outstanding people of the present age. When they were young, they had temporarily made a name for themselves. They had experienced this kind of thing and were long used to it. However, as their status gradually increased, this kind of thing finally decreased.
At the side, Wenren Bu 'er said, "I really want to know what Grand Preceptor Cai and Liheng talked about." In reality, at that time, Ning Yi had just received the news that Taiyuan had fallen. When he went to the Grand Preceptor's residence, Cai Jing also happened to receive the news. The atmosphere was subtle. Cai Jing said a few words, and Ning Yi also conveyed them to Qin Siyuan. "Grand Preceptor Cai said that Prime Minister Qin wrote books and essays, and they were brilliant and brilliant. However, first of all, his arguments set the rules and principles, and he wanted to seize power for the literati. Second, now that the Wu dynasty is in the autumn of a storm, he wants to clear the name of martial artists. Both the literati and the martial artists have to stand up, so where does the power come from … Roughly like this. "
Ning Yi said this calmly. Qin Siyuan's gaze did not move, and the others were slightly silent. Then, Wenren Bu 'er softly snorted. After a while, Ning Yi also shook his head.
"To be honest, after this matter, if the Prime Minister's residence is no longer around, I will leave."
Everyone raised their eyebrows. Jueming sat up. "Leave? Where? Not staying in the capital? "
Yao Zunian also frowned. "Liheng has great potential. Are you disheartened now?"
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