Assistant Minister of the Phoenix Pavilion, Wei Fangzhi, lay on the bed and said in a trembling voice: "This old man is ill and cannot see you off. Take care, Your Highness! Cough, cough, cough … "
Wu Chengsi's face was ashen and he said in a cold voice: "I dare not trouble Minister Wei to see me off. I will take my leave!" With a flick of his sleeve, he swept out the door like a gust of wind. Wei Fangzhi watched Wu Chengsi's departing figure and smiled faintly. His sickly appearance was swept away and he turned over and sat up.
The old steward waved his hand and two maids hurriedly brought him a robe. Wei Fangzhi stood up and opened his arms, asking them to help him put on the robe. The loyal old steward worriedly said: "Prince Wei's power is overwhelming and there is no one who can compare to him. This old servant thinks that even if Ah Lang disdains to be associated with him, he should not pretend to be ill and make things difficult for him. This kind of person will seek revenge for the smallest grievance and I am afraid it will bring trouble to Ah Lang. "
Wei Fangzhi removed the earthen cloth from his forehead and threw it on the bed. He said in a deep voice: "Good or bad, it is fate! A man of indomitable spirit, how can he bend the rules to curry favor with these relatives of the Imperial Family? Wu Chengsi must have come to visit with a request. Even if this old man throws a big banquet to entertain him, as long as I do not conspire with him, I will still offend him. Why worry about personal gains and losses and hurt my own feathers? "
"Ah Lang …"
Wei Fangzhi waved his hand and said: "Since it has come to this, there is no need to say more."
The old steward knew that Ah Lang was a righteous person and could only sigh and silently withdraw.
Wu Chengsi left the Wei Residence and gripped his horsewhip tightly. He angrily said: "Good Wei Fangzhi, how dare you be so rude to me! He took a three-day leave in front of the Imperial Family and clearly said that he caught a cold. When I came to visit him, he actually fell ill and could not get out of bed! Bah! This Prince can smell the stench of alcohol on him. This old man is going too far, going too far! "
The attendants hurriedly smiled and said: "Wei Fangzhi does not know how to appreciate favors. Your Highness does not need to lower yourself to his level!"
Wu Cheng Si snorted coldly and angrily leaped onto his horse. He whipped the horse and galloped away. Wu Chengsi arrived in front of his mansion. He had just pulled the saddle and dismounted his horse when suddenly from a distant a rider galloped toward him. When the rider arrived in front of him, the rider rolled down the saddle and prostrated in front of Wu Chengsi, crying, "Wangye, I beg Wangye to uphold justice for my family's Ah Lang!"
Wu Chengsi looked at him and didn't seem to have any impression of this person. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Who are you?"
The man raised his face and cried, "Your Highness, Xiao Ren is Wang Sanyang, a servant of Scholar Wang's mansion. I used to serve Ah Lang by his side, I have seen Your Highness before."
"Oh," Wu Chengsi said, stroking his beard, "Your Ah Lang is Wang Qingzhi? What happened to him? "
Wang Sanyang cried and said, "My family's Ah Lang was beaten to death outside the Meridian Gate on behalf of Wangye to enter the Palace."
"What?" Wu Chengsi glared at him. He suddenly bent down and grabbed Wang Sanyang's collar, lifting him up. He roared in a stern voice, "What are you going to say? Wang Qingzhi was dead? Quickly tell me, what happened? "
Wang Sanyang's face was sprayed with spittle, but he didn't have time to wipe it off. He told him everything his matriarch had told him. When the Wang family heard that Wang Qingzhi was beaten to death at the Meridian Gate, Wang Sanyang followed his matriarch to the Meridian Gate to collect his body. When he came back, he was sent by his matriarch to the Wei Wangfu to deliver the letter.
Madam Wang had already investigated the cause and effect of the matter clearly. Madam Wang also knew that if the Emperor wanted to kill an official, there was no way to avenge him. However, Li Zhaode was her husband's murderer, so it wasn't impossible to take him down. That's why when she sent someone to the Wei Wangfu to deliver the news, she had already taught him how to put all the blame on Li Zhaode.
After listening to him, Wu Chengsi fiercely pushed him away. He was so angry that he looked up to the sky and roared. If a person was angered by an unpleasant incident, and before his anger could subside, he was suddenly met with another unpleasant incident. His anger could be ignited tenfold. Wu Chengsi had just lost all his prestige at Wei Fangzhi's residence and came back with a soft rebuff. Now, he heard about this incident that greatly reduced his prestige in the court. He was so angry that he almost went crazy.
Wu Chengsi's face was red with anger. He circled around the room twice like a trapped beast. Suddenly, he pointed at one of his personal attendants and said sternly, "You go, you go! Tell Zhou Xing to come see this prince immediately!"
That personal attendant didn't dare to say anything more and hurriedly mounted his horse and galloped away. Wu Chengsi gritted his teeth and said with a face full of hatred, "Li Zhaode! Li Zhaode! You've ruined my plans time and time again. If this prince doesn't kill you, I swear I'm not a man! "
… …
In the study of the Yang residence, Yang Fan and Zhao Yu, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, were seated across from each other.
Only now did Yang Fan realize that it was indeed inappropriate to have no attendants by his side. Guests had arrived but there was no one to serve them. As the host, if he personally went to serve them drinks and fruit platters, it would also be inappropriate to leave the guests here. Moreover, these guests had all sorts of statuses and some of them were not worthy of his attentions, such as Zhao Yu. The two of them could only sit there and talk.
Yang Fan said, "The congratulatory gift that Brother Zhao sent yesterday was truly too valuable. This Yang doesn't know when I will have the opportunity to meet Brother Shen, so I should personally thank him."
Zhao Yu smiled and said, "Lang General need not be so courteous. My Third Uncle is admittedly worthy of this gift, but in the past, there has never been anyone worthy of such a generous gift from my Third Uncle. Since my Third Uncle has given you such a generous gift, it means that in his heart, he doesn't think of Lang General as an ordinary friend. When Third Uncle sent a message, he said that based on Lang General's intelligence in repelling the Turkic army of one hundred thousand and sparing the millions of soldiers and civilians of Hexi, Longyou, and Shuofang from suffering, even giving you half of Luoyang should be enough. "
Zhao Yu laughed and said, "It's a pity that Luoyang doesn't belong to my Third Uncle, so I can only give you a street as a token of my sincerity."
Yang Fan smiled faintly and said, "I am deeply ashamed that Brother Shen thinks so highly of me. Today, the Emperor issued an edict to have Wang Qingzhi executed outside the Meridian Gate. It seems that Wu Chengsi's recent actions have angered the Emperor. I estimate that Wu Sansi will make his move in the next few days. In three days, after my wedding, I will return to court. In this period of time, I will have to ask you to help me keep an eye on the movements of the court. "
Zhao Yu nodded and said, "Naturally."
Yang Fan asked, "When will Brother Shen come to Luoyang? In the current situation, if Brother Shen is here to oversee things, it should be more stable. "
Zhao Yu frowned slightly and said, "I'm afraid that my Third Uncle won't be able to leave Chang 'an for the time being. To tell you the truth, some things have happened in the family. That Young Master Jiang is deliberately making things difficult for Third Uncle. This matter has already alarmed the elders in the family. Without Third Uncle's presence, it can't be resolved, so … "
Yang Fan had already seen how resourceful Shen Mu was. Since this matter required him to stay in Chang 'an, it probably wasn't as simple as "some things". He didn't ask too much and only said, "In that case, let him settle things there in peace. Everything here has already been laid out. As long as there are no accidents, Wu Sansi will definitely make his move on time. All we need to do is wait and watch the show! "
Zhao Yu suddenly remembered something and said, "Right, Lou Shide is about to return to the capital."
Yang Fan was surprised and said, "Oh? General Lou is returning to court? "
Zhao Yu said, "Yes. He will probably arrive in the capital in three days. Lou Shide made a great contribution in the Juyan Sea victory, so the Emperor will definitely reward him handsomely. Promotion and nobility are not out of the question, and it is very likely that he will be allowed to stay in the capital. With his current position and the contributions he has made, it is not impossible for him to become the Prime Minister! "
Yang Fan said happily, "General Lou is honest and has a noble character. If he can become the Prime Minister, it will be a great thing for the country and the people!"
Zhao Yu smiled and said, "But Third Uncle thinks that the current situation in the Western Region cannot be separated from General Lou. There is no other suitable candidate besides General Lou. The court does not lack a Prime Minister, but the Western Region lacks a famous general. Therefore, he will use some of his connections to ensure that General Lou does not leave the Western Region!"
Yang Fan was startled and carefully thought about the complicated situation in the Western Region. At the moment, it was indeed necessary to have a veteran like Lou Shide overseeing things. He couldn't help but nod.
Zhao Yu smiled mysteriously and said, "Although Young Master Jiang is making things difficult for my Third Uncle, his opinion on this matter is the same as Third Uncle's. He also feels that military power in the Western Region is more important than a Prime Minister, so he will also make some moves on his side. It's just that … it will inevitably inconvenience General Lou."
Yang Fan smiled bitterly and said, "That's right. Worshipping a general and being conferred the title of Marquis is the highest dream of any official. General Lou will certainly not know that the reason he cannot become the Prime Minister is because … he is too capable."
Zhao Yu said, "Lou Shide is famous for his magnanimity, prudence, and forbearance, but the court is full of either foxes or wolves, all of them treacherous. In my opinion, it is better for him to be a free and unfettered general outside than to become the Prime Minister in the court. It is a blessing in disguise!"
Yang Fan shook his head and didn't say anything. Zhao Yu continued, "If the Emperor wants General Lou to become the Prime Minister, he will certainly consult the important officials in the court. Originally, this matter didn't have much to do with Lang Jiang, but Lang Jiang has returned from the Western Region and has the responsibility of inspecting the local officials, the people's situation, and military affairs on behalf of the Son of Heaven. Therefore, it is hard to guarantee that he won't ask Lang Jiang about it. I am here to inform him in advance so that Lang Jiang won't make a mistake. "
Speaking to this point, Zhao Yu smiled and stood up. He said, "Lang Jiang has just gotten married, I won't disturb you any longer. I will take my leave now. Lang Jiang should return to the rear residence and spend more time with Madam!"
Yang Fan also stood up. He said with a smile, "That wife of mine is not a delicate little girl who never leaves the house. Although she is no longer working in the Palace, Brother Shen has helped my wife find a good job. Sixteen shops, plus the few shops my wife used to run. I'm afraid she is even busier than I am. Ha ha, please! "
Zhao Yu laughed heartily and walked out side by side with him. As they walked, he said, "In that case, it is my fault. I should have sent the congratulatory gift a few days later, so that your honorable wife will not be busy as a newlywed."
Yang Fan said, "Otherwise, she wouldn't be idle. Isn't it just that the fu is short of people? She went to Nan City at noon to find a middleman to hire some maids and servants."
Zhao Yu laughed and said, "That day, I wanted to give Lang Jiang twenty male and female servants, but Lang Jiang refused. Otherwise, why would we need to go through all this trouble today?"
Yang Fan said, "That day, Yang was a loner. When one person was full, the whole family was not hungry. Leaving behind four people was already too much for me. Who would have thought that after I got married and only married one person, I really felt that I didn't have enough people to use? This is also good. The people that my wife has personally chosen by her side are probably more to her liking. "
The two of them chatted and laughed as they arrived at the front door. Zhao Yu turned around and said, "Lang Jiang, please stop. I won't trouble you to send me off."
Yang Fan smiled and stopped. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zhao, take care!"
The two of them had just finished talking when they heard the sound of girls chattering and laughing outside the door. They saw Gao Ying, Lan Yiqing, and a group of female Imperial Bodyguards walking in with Xiao Man. As soon as they saw Yang Fan and a guest standing in front of the door, they immediately stopped. Yang Fan laughed and said, "Wife is back. Come, come, come, let me introduce you. This is Zhao Yu, Brother Zhao. Brother Zhao, this is my wife."
Zhao Yu quickly took two steps forward and bowed deeply. "Zhao Yu greets Madame!"
Xiao Man bowed to return the greeting. "Hello, Mr. Zhao," she said.
Yang Fan said, "Wife, have you hired all the servants at home?"
Xiao Man pursed her lips and smiled. "Mmm, with the help of all the sisters, it will save me a lot of trouble. All the servants have been selected. Come forward and let Ah Lang see if he is satisfied!"
The female guards flashed, and seven or eight men walked in from the back. One of them was eleven or twelve years old, delicate and pretty, and seemed to be the attendant. There were two other men with wide waists, and their faces were full of happiness, and they must be the cooks. Although the rest of the servants were not all tall and sturdy, they all looked very spirited, and their faces were simple and honest.
Yang Fan nodded repeatedly. "Wife, you have a good eye. You really have a good eye. I am very satisfied with these people. Hey, aren't there still maids in the inner chamber? Why didn't you hire them? "
When Xiao Man heard this, she suddenly became bashful. She gently rolled up the corner of her clothes and said in a low voice, "The maids … are also hired."
Yang Fan laughed. "Is that so? Quickly call them over. Let me take a look."
The seven or eight male servants suddenly flashed to the left and right. Xiao Man had no choice. She slightly leaned to the side and pouted at Gao Ying. Gao Ying said, "Cough! Why don't you come forward and greet your Ah Lang! "
Yang Fan looked at them with a smile. The female Imperial Bodyguards flashed to the sides again. Yang Fan's smile suddenly froze on his face. His eyes almost popped out. He looked at the six … women standing outside the doorway in astonishment. His mouth slowly opened and couldn't close for a long time.
At first glance, he almost thought that Xiao Man had invited the female sumo wrestlers from Princess Taiping's mansion to go home. But when he looked carefully, they were a size smaller than the female sumo wrestlers who were also the female Imperial Bodyguards of Princess Taiping.
Yes, they were indeed women. Six big and round women. They were indeed maidservants. Looking at their chubby and childish faces, and looking at the unmarried maidservant bun on their heads, they were definitely six underage maidservants.
Xiao Man saw Yang Fan's expression. She couldn't help but stare at Gao Ying. She braced herself and timidly asked, "Langjun … are you satisfied?"
Yang Fan grinned as if he had swallowed a mouthful of yellow lotus. He said vaguely, "Wife, you have a good eye. You really have a good eye. I am very satisfied with these people. Hahaha …"
Zhao Yu stood to the side, trying his best to put his face back into place, which had been distorted by holding back his laughter. Bowing deeply to Yang Fan, he said, "My son is busy. Zhao Yu bids farewell, farewell!"
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