"North Qiao Feng, South Murong …" Jia Shidao's eyes were cold. "Has Murong Fu come?"
Liao Yingzhong, the chief counselor standing next to him, answered, "My lord, Murong Fu has been waiting in the side hall for a long time."
"Let him come." Jia Shidao snorted. Seeing Qin Keqing kneeling on the ground, he waved his hand impatiently. "You can leave now. Haven't you embarrassed yourselves enough?"
"Yes." Jia Zhen felt like he had been pardoned. He took Qin Keqing and left.
As soon as the two of them left, Murong Fu walked into the study. Seeing Jia Shidao's gloomy face, his heart skipped a beat. He hurried forward and saluted. "Murong Fu greets you, Lord Jia."
After Song Qingshu and the others left, he was about to heal his father when the Jia's sent someone to call him over. Murong Fu didn't dare to delay, so he hurried over. Because Jia Shidao was still at the palace banquet, he had to wait in the side hall. The longer he waited, the more nervous he became.
Jia Shidao didn't seem to hear him. He drank his tea and treated Murong Fu, who was bowing in front of him, as if he didn't exist.
Because Jia Shidao didn't answer, Murong Fu couldn't stand up. He could only keep bowing. The tiredness wasn't the main reason. The main reason was that he was embarrassed.
Soon, he was angry. Murong Fu was a famous figure in Jianghu. He was a guest of honor wherever he went. He had never been humiliated like this.
If it were before, he might have left. However, he had been defeated by Wu Tiande and Song Qingshu one after another today, so he was no longer arrogant. Coupled with his father's persuasion, he knew that temporary humiliation was nothing for the revival of the Yan Kingdom. So, he still bowed respectfully.
Jia Shidao's face looked better. Liao Yingzhong, who was standing on the side, immediately came to ease the atmosphere. "My lord, Prince Murong is here."
"Oh …" Jia Shidao acted as if he had just seen Murong Fu. "It's Prince Murong. Have a seat."
Hearing the sarcasm in his tone, Murong Fu hurriedly declined, "I didn't do anything to deserve a reward. Murong Fu doesn't have the face to sit."
Jia Shidao sneered and said, "At least you know your place."
Murong Fu's heart had long since calmed down. He turned a deaf ear to his sarcasm and maintained a respectful posture.
"Prince Murong, you've disappointed me this time," Jia Shidao snorted.
Murong Fu's heart skipped a beat. The interrogation had begun! He hurriedly said, "I have failed to live up to your expectations. I really deserve to die."
"You deserve death!" Jia Shidao slammed the table hard. "If it weren't for Wang Ziteng, do you think you would still be standing here alive?" Wang Ziteng's two biological sisters were married to Jia Shidao, and the other was married to Xue Ji. As for his third uncle's cousins, one married Li Qingluo, and the other married Murong Bo. Speaking of which, the Murong family was not only related to the Wang family by marriage, but also to the Jia family.
Murong Fu's body stiffened. "Thank you for your mercy, my lord."
"Don't thank me too early. I haven't said I'll let you go yet." Jia Shidao stood up. "The great Murong Fu of Gusu can't even defeat a man who has lost his body to alcohol and women. If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have replaced Guo Jing with you!"
Murong Fu suddenly hesitated and said, "I have something about Guo Jing, and I don't know if I should tell you."
Jia Shidao frowned and said, "Speak!"
"Did Guo Jing put on a show with Han Xingzhou and the others?" Murong Fu told him the story his father had taught him.
Jia Shidao didn't feel anything strange when he learned that Huang Rong was with Song Qingshu. It turned out that Zhao Gou had kidnapped Huang Rong in order to hide it from everyone. In the palace, only Huang Chang, Zhao Gou, the two eunuchs, and a few other people knew the inside story. Jia Shidao didn't know that Huang Rong had been kidnapped by the emperor. Now that he learned that she was with Song Qingshu, he suddenly realized why he couldn't find any information even after using so many resources.
"Okay, I got it." Jia Shidao didn't say anything about what Murong Fu said. "You can leave now."
"Yes." Murong Fu secretly let out a sigh of relief, but he was stopped by Jia Shidao after a few steps.
"Wait!" Jia Shidao hesitated and said, "Although you lost the competition this time and didn't get the military power in Sichuan, I got you a position as the Military Transport Envoy. Go back and pack your things, and get ready to go to Sichuan."
Murong Fu was overjoyed. "Thank you, sir!"
The Transport Envoy was in charge of the money and food of a road (the concept of a road in the Song Dynasty was similar to that of a province), and he also had the power to evaluate officials and so on. He was like the highest officer of a road. The Military Transport Envoy didn't have that much power, and he was only responsible for the money and food needed by the army. But even so, it was still a position with real power.
Murong Fu had been in the Southern Song Dynasty for many years, so he naturally knew about the official system. He also knew that Jia Shidao had lost the military power in Sichuan, so he had to find another way to install his trusted subordinates.
Jia Shidao waved his hand and said, "You can leave now. Someone will tell you the details."
"Yes." Murong Fu was so happy that his steps were lighter when he left.
After Murong Fu left, Jia Shidao asked, "What do you think of Murong Fu's words?"
Liao Yingzhong said in a low voice, "Murong Fu is trying to shift the blame to others."
Jia Shidao snorted and said, "He is indeed shifting the blame, but what he said is not unreasonable."
Liao Yingzhong frowned and said, "But I don't think Guo Jing is a two-faced person."
"You can't judge a book by its cover." Jia Shidao sighed and said, "Do you know what Han Xingzhou said to the emperor at the palace banquet?"
"What did he say?" Liao Yingzhong thought it must have something to do with Guo Jing. Otherwise, he wouldn't have looked like that.
Jia Shidao sneered and said, "Han Xingzhou recommended Guo Jing to the emperor as the Deputy Inspector of the Front Department! Humph, Guo Jing, Han Xingzhou! "
"Really?" Liao Yingzhong was shocked. If that was the case, it would be very serious.
"Why would I lie to you?" Jia Shidao narrowed his eyes and said with dissatisfaction.
"I wouldn't dare." Liao Yingzhong realized that he had said the wrong thing. He hurriedly asked, "Did the emperor agree?"
Jia Shidao shook his head and said, "The emperor has been very obedient to Han Xingzhou, but for some reason, the emperor rejected his request this time. Instead, he appointed him as the Commander of Zhenjiang to prepare for the northern expedition."
No matter how powerful Jia Shidao's intelligence network was, he didn't know that Guo Jing was the descendant of Guo Rong of the Later Zhou Dynasty. How could Zhao Gou trust him to be the Deputy Inspector of the Front Department? What if Guo Jing followed Zhao Kuangyin's example and rebelled? Wouldn't that be the end of the world?
"Guo Jing is such a traitor!" Liao Yingzhong hesitated and couldn't help but say, "But Guo Jing doesn't look like someone who can design such a complicated plot."
"This plan might not have been Guo Jing's idea." Jia Shidao snorted and said, "Don't forget that he has a good wife named Zhuge."
Liao Yingzhong nodded and said, "That makes sense."
Jia Shidao walked to the window and looked at the stars in the sky. After a long time, he said, "I won't let anyone who betrays me have a good ending."
The temperature in the room suddenly dropped. Liao Yingzhong was shocked. She knew that he wanted to kill her, so she didn't dare to say another word.
The next morning, Song Qingshu woke up with sleepy eyes. It turned out that Lin Pingzhi and Yue Lingshan had come to say goodbye to him. Last time at the banquet, Lin Ruhai introduced him to Lin Pingzhi. Knowing the relationship between Lin Pingzhi and Song Qingshu, Lin Ruhai no longer looked down on this distant relative and quickly used his connections to get him a job.
Because Sichuan had just been taken back, they urgently needed a large number of officials. So, even though Lin Pingzhi didn't have an official title, he still took the opportunity to get a job.
"Pingzhi, you have to take revenge in Sichuan, but don't let hatred blind your eyes. A real man is born in a chaotic world, and he should carry a three-foot sword to accomplish great deeds. Compared to taking revenge, I believe that the ancestors of the Lin family hope that you can do well and bring honor to your ancestors, "Song QingShu advised.
Lin Pingzhi bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for your advice, Brother Song."
Song Qingshu sighed secretly. Although Lin Pingzhi's tone was respectful, it was obvious that he didn't listen to what Song Qingshu had said. At that moment, all he could think about was revenge.
Looking at Yue Lingshan, Song Qingshu said, "Lingshan, take care of Pingzhi. Don't let him do anything impulsive."
Yue Lingshan bowed and said sweetly, "Brother Song, I will."
Looking at her rosy lips, Song Qingshu couldn't help but recall the soft touch, and his heart couldn't help but flutter. But he quickly calmed down and began to think, "Linghu Chong, Linghu Chong, I've done what I can. As for whether Yue Lingshan chooses you or Lin Pingzhi, it's up to you. I can't keep helping you without principles. Lin Pingzhi is also a pitiful person … "
In fact, sometimes he also thought about a problem. Was this unfair to Lin Pingzhi? Later, he gradually thought it through. Because of his involvement, Lin Pingzhi's ending was definitely better than the tragic one in the original. On the contrary, Linghu Chong's ending was much less happy. So, he more or less wanted to make it up to him.
What Lin Pingzhi wanted most was revenge. He gave him martial arts manuals and gave him connections in the official circles. Linghu Chong wanted Yue Lingshan the most, so he could play the matchmaker.
Hopefully, all three of them would have a good ending …
Not long after Lin Pingzhi and Yue Lingshan left, Guo Jing came to visit. Huang Rong heard the news and came out of the inner chamber to welcome him. Fortunately, Song QingShu dismissed his servants in time, so her whereabouts were not exposed.
Guo Jing said with a wry smile, "Rong 'er, Brother Song, I'm actually here to say goodbye to you."
Both Huang Rong and Song QingShu were taken aback. "What happened?"
"I was appointed as the commander of Zhenjiang by the imperial court. Today, I'm leaving for Zhenjiang to prepare for the northern expedition against the Jin Kingdom." Guo Jing told them what happened at the palace banquet last night.
Song Qingshu was secretly shocked. He thought it would not be long before the Southern Song Dynasty started the northern expedition. He had to return to the Jin Kingdom as soon as possible to prepare.
Huang Rong said hurriedly, "Then I'll go with you."
Guo Jing shook his head. "No. First, you just ran away from the palace. If you show up in front of me, it's hard to say how the emperor will react. Second, Zhenjiang is busy with military affairs and it's dangerous. You're pregnant and need to rest. You can't take risks there."
Huang Rong actually knew these things, but she was still worried when she heard it. "But I can't stay with Brother Song … all the time."
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