Chapter 252: Make up your mind and behave like a gentleman

In Xizhou in late autumn, the morning light always comes with special restraint. The fifth watch has passed, and the high-walled alleys are still dark. The night watch torches and the ever-burning lanterns with the Chinese character "Shou" have been extinguished, and the watchmen and doormen have also gone out. He retreated into his hut and looked around. The entire Xizhou City seemed darker and more deserted than it was late at night.

The Prince's Mansion in Chang'anfang was already brightly lit inside and outside the study room. Qu Chongyu, who hurried over from the backyard, had his hair **** casually, and the color of his cloak and robe did not match. He stood there in a daze for a long time. Then he spoke, his voice a little hoarse, "Is that all?"

Wang Junmeng, who was standing opposite him, was still wearing the same clothes as when he went to the banquet. His eyes were bloodshot. He glanced at Qu Chongyu worriedly before saying, "This is what my father heard. Maybe Su Ziyu had some relationship with the Zhang family in private." There is no other agreement.”

The room fell into suffocating silence again. When he spoke again, Qu Chongyu's tone became extremely calm, "In other words, give Zhang's daughter the status of a common wife, give Xizhou Gaomen a few official positions in the Protector's Palace, plus some empty promises, and that's it. Having bought so many families easily, Su Ziyu’s deal is really a good deal.”

Wang Junmeng didn't know how to answer the question for a moment, and thought for a moment before saying, "They also had grievances for a long time, and all they had in their eyes was the little grain, rice, money, and silk they had. They were coerced, lured, and instigated by the Su family, so they were temporarily confused. "

Qu Chongyu smiled faintly, "Xinqiao, do they have any intentions? Gaochang Kingdom has shared wealth and wealth for more than a hundred years, and Chang'an City has shared hardships for more than 20 years. However, just for a little profit, they joined forces with the enemies of the Qu family overnight. He stabbed our father and son in the back, how could anyone with any heart do it?"

His tone was surprisingly calm, without any anger. Wang Junmeng's ears felt more and more unpleasant. He could only say, "Yulang, now we still have to think about how to make up for the remaining twenty thousand stones." Whether it's grain collection or grain purchase, we have to do it quickly, otherwise if the Su family and his son take advantage of this, I don't know what kind of charges they will be laid on."

Qu Chongyu's smile was a bit cold, "It's not urgent, there is always a way. But what are your plans now?"

Wang Junmeng sighed, "To tell you the truth, I am also very confused. My father is stubborn and I can't persuade him. But you also know Jing Niang's temperament. If she learns about this, she will never be in the Wang family." If she stays for another day, I don’t know if she will go back to the Protectorate or come to your place... Anyway, wherever she goes, I will live there too!"

Qu Chongyu glanced at him, with a hint of warmth in his indifferent eyes, "Let her come to me. This matter must be hidden from the governor no matter what!"

Wang Junmeng immediately breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, otherwise I don't know how to tell the governor." He thought for a while and then said, "Yulang, you'd better not go to the granary today. Today, all the family heads will Stay away, it’s just some of the disciples from the side branches who come forward to argue with them, no gain or loss of identity!”

Qu Chongyu shook his head, "No, I will stay there for these two days. I want to see every house clearly and remember every person clearly." He turned around and looked at the high window with his hands behind his hands. , the voice became softer and softer, "In this way, I will no longer be merciful in the future!"

Wang Junmeng's heart felt cold, and he said after a long while, "Yulang, you... these people are not worth your irritation. We still have to find ways to raise food." He looked out the window and said, "It's getting brighter, so I'll take a step forward. , maybe we’ll move here in the afternoon.”

Qu Chongyu didn't say anything, just nodded. Wang Junmeng sighed silently, turned around and walked out. Qu Chongyu was silent for a moment, and suddenly raised his voice, "Here comes someone!"

The attendant outside the study hurriedly opened the curtain and walked in. Qu Chongyu said in a deep voice, "Follow Wang Ming's Mansion quietly and see where he goes. Come back and report to me immediately."

Chang Sui raised his head in astonishment and saw Qu Chongyu's cold face. He didn't dare to ask any more questions and hurriedly stepped out.

Seeing the dawn outside the window gradually turn from weak to bright, Qu Chongyu's heart became heavier and heavier. Finally, Chang Sui's voice came from outside the curtain, "Your Majesty..."

He turned around suddenly and said, "Report!"

He must have just run all the way, and Chang Sui's voice was not very steady, "Wang Ming left the house, stood at the gate of the square for a while, and then went to Pei's house in Qushui Square. The young boy asked Ah Kuan to find an inconspicuous place. Waiting somewhere. Prince, look, the younger ones will follow Mingfu later.”

He went to discuss it with Pei Xingjian... Qu Chongyu breathed a sigh of relief, and his face slowly softened. Only then did he realize that his legs were a little stiff when he stood. He thought for a while and whispered, "No need, let Ah Kuan Come back and ask people to clean up the west courtyard immediately, and use the best items."

Hearing the footsteps at the door hurried away, he stood for a while, then suddenly shook his head and smiled, most of the gloom on his face dissipated, he lifted the door curtain and strode out.

More than an hour later, the rising sun was already shining slantingly on the Xizhou Granary beside the school grounds. However, the grain trucks entering the school grounds were sparse. There were only twenty or thirty grain trucks in each group. It was already time to open the warehouse to collect grains. At that time, half of the school field was still empty.

Zhang Gao, a member of the Cang Cao Army, lowered his head listlessly. He neither dared to look at the bleak school grounds nor the cold-looking Qu Chongyu. He glanced at the sky, and finally mustered up the courage to shout, "Open the warehouse!"

After arranging the manpower to weigh and carry the records, he walked up to Qu Chongyu and said in a low voice respectfully, "Your Majesty, the granary has been opened. These matters are complicated. Your Majesty, go back first. There are subordinates here." Just watch it.”

There was no hint of joy or anger in Qu Chongyu's voice, "Here comes someone!"

Zhang Gao jumped, subconsciously took a step back, and raised his head in fear. Qu Chongyu continued with a calm expression, "Go and move a bed, a desk, a pot of wine and a cup..."

Zhang Gao opened his mouth in astonishment. He really didn't understand what was going on. Qu Chongyu's chief attendant also had a blank look on his face, but he still hurriedly turned around and went down. He took out the bed and desk in a short time and said, "Qi Chongyu Your Majesty, I have sent someone back to pick up the small wine pot and wine glass. Please wait a moment, Your Majesty."

Qu Chongyu nodded, sat down, and watched expressionlessly as the guards collected grain and put it into the warehouse. Wherever his gaze went, everyone felt like a thorn in the back. In the midst of suffering, someone heard someone laughing from a distance, "Yu Lang is in such a good mood!"

The man striding over from outside the school grounds, who could it be but Pei Xingjian, the chief minister?

Qu Chongyu looked at the empty school ground, and then at the smile on Pei Xingjian's face. For a moment, he simply didn't even bother to say anything. But he saw Pei Xingjian panting behind his entourage, holding a wine pot and a silver cup in his hand. He put the things on the table and said with a smile, "Chang Shi, wait a moment, I will go get a cup later." Someone was there. He hurriedly moved another bed over, and then stepped aside with relief.

Qu Chongyu couldn't help but "hum".

Pei Xingjian lifted the hem of his robe and sat down. He reached out and filled the cup in front of Qu Chongyu with wine. He smiled and cupped his hands, "Xingjian is here to congratulate the crown prince today."

Qu Chongyu's eyes were still on the school grounds, and he said coldly, "Why should Chang Shi behave like this? What happened today was because I, Qu Chongyu, didn't know people well and had delusions, which made Chang Shi laugh."

Pei Xingjian chuckled and said, "Xingjian never meant this. Wang Ming's Mansion has informed me of everything that happened last night. Although it happened a little unexpectedly, if you think about it carefully, you can't blame them."

Qu Chongyu couldn't help turning his head to look at him and frowned, "What do you mean by that?" Pei Xingjian thought for a while and then said, "This morning, I mentioned this matter to Zhuo Jing, and Zhuo Jing said something , the family is like a country, there is no enemy or friend, some are just a word of benefit. In the past, the Xizhou Gaomen and the Qu family advanced and retreated together, just because they shared the same blessings and misfortunes, now that someone has given them great benefits. Far greater than the Qu family, it is natural that they and the Qu family were cut off. You and I are both descendants of the aristocratic family. Is it possible that we can’t even understand this today? "

Qu Chongyu was silent for a moment and nodded, "Well said! It's just a word of profit, it's Chongyu's pretense... After drinking this pot of wine, I will go back." He picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

Pei Xingjian's eyes slowly swept across the school grounds and his voice lowered, "It is indeed time to go back. There were one or two things that were quite strange about last night. It seems that there is something going on, so we have to make plans early."

Qu Chongyu felt a chill in his heart. He lowered his head and thought for a moment, and his eyes turned cold. "You're right. What are they planning to do here?"

Pei Xingjian shook his head, "It's hard to say. Just be prepared. You should also have spies on the Protectorate's side. Make sure they keep an eye on what's going on in the Protectorate, especially Su Haizheng's soldiers."

Qu Chongyu was stunned for a moment, and a trace of anger flashed across his brows, "They dare!"

Pei Xingjian’s smile was filled with mockery, “You dare to massacre cities and plunder land, so why wouldn’t you dare?”

Qu Chongyu sneered, "I want to see if they have this ability!"

Pei Xingjian laughed and said, "To see clearly, I'm afraid I have to drink less. This matter does not depend on the amount of alcohol to decide the outcome. Besides, when people see it, they say that we are helpless and are drowning our sorrows in drinking."

Qu Chongyu threw the wine glass away and stood up, "You don't need to provoke me. I have already thought about this matter in the morning. Once this matter is resolved, there will no longer be an example of an official in Xizhou having to go to a high position. I We will never allow them to interfere in government finance and taxation again!”

Pei Xingjian also stood up, with a faint smile on his face, "It should have been like this a long time ago. It should be noted that the growth and decline of all things have their own destiny. The prosperity of a family depends on virtue and talent. If you are like the governor, no matter how wise or foolish, Xizhou will Officials at both the upper and lower levels were retained by them, and regardless of whether they were right or wrong, they were always considered first in everything. This resulted in a group of villains who were not enterprising and were only interested in profit. If this rule was not broken, it would certainly be detrimental to Xizhou, but it would also be detrimental to these high-ranking families. It will cause more harm. Only in this way can they rise again."

Qu Chongyu's voice was cold, "Whether they are prosperous or declining, dead or alive, what does it have to do with me? I just need to let them remember that if they betray me, Qu Chongyu, I will pay back double the amount!"

Pei Xingjian shook his head and smiled without saying anything, but Qu Chongyu's eyes suddenly condensed, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Su Ziyu is indeed here!"

Pei Xingjian turned around and saw Su Nanjin walking leisurely from outside the school grounds. He was wearing a dark green robe and a jade belt around his waist. He looked very different from his usual military uniform, but He was in high spirits and with a smile on his face. When he saw Pei Xingjian and Qu Chongyu, he hugged his hands from a distance and said, "Keep your promise, Yulang, you two are so hardworking!"

Qu Chongyu's chief attendant just panted and brought a wine glass over. Looking at this posture, he touched his head and said, "I'll get another wine glass, little one." After that, he ran away again.

Su Nanjin walked up to the two of them with a smile, glanced at the case, and grinned wider, "So you two are not only diligent, but also so interested, but you don't know how the harvest is today?"

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "It's not much different from what I expected. I can collect about three to five thousand stones."

Su Nanjin's face showed an exaggerated look of surprise, "Oh, that's how we collected all the 130,000 stones of food and grass in Xizhou."

Pei Xingjian nodded without changing his expression, "Of course it's all there, I'm afraid there will be a lot more. I heard that quite a few grain shops in the market were closed today, and the price of grain rose accordingly. These thousands of stones of grain and rice are really a timely rain." , just in time to stabilize food prices.”

Su Nanjin was a little stunned. She never expected that Pei Xingjian would talk nonsense like this in front of his face. He couldn't say anything at the moment. He could only laugh twice and said, "Keeping the promise is indeed keeping the promise. I wonder if Xizhou can send out military rations as scheduled in one month?"

Pei Xingjian's tone was still very determined, "Don't worry, Ziyu, we will never delay the affairs of the Protectorate."

Su Nanjin couldn't help but snorted in her heart, but she also knew that there would be no results if she continued to ask about this matter, and her chest couldn't help but feel a little tight. After thinking for a while, he smiled and said, "Nan Jin is here to inform you two that Nan Jin has just purchased a courtyard in Luoyangfang. He will send a letter to Zhang's house on the sixth day of next month. If you two are free, , hope to come. ”

Qu Chongyu raised his eyebrows with interest, "Oh, I have to congratulate brother Ziyu! It's just...the Zhang family's daughter, who is the Zhang family's daughter?"

Su Nanjin suppressed the expression between her brows and said, "She is Zhang Canjun's cousin."

Qu Chongyu showed a look of sudden realization, "Isn't it the most beautiful woman in Xizhou? Brother Su is really blessed. This Lady Zhang is extremely beautiful. She has a good piano, a good tea, and a good calligraphy. Manxi There is no other woman in Xizhou who can compare with her. The flutes she makes are also very good. The two I have have not even had a crack. When it comes to manners and conversation, they are even more decent. Not to mention Xizhou, I am afraid that Chang'an is more expensive. There are not many women who can compare to her..."

Su Nanjin was still listening with a smile at first. The more he listened, the more he couldn't hold back his smile. He finally waited for Qu Chongyu to stop before he laughed twice and said, "In Xizhou City, the high gates have close contacts."

Qu Chongyu shook his head solemnly, "No! Although Madam Zhang is famous, ordinary people can't see her easily. That is to say, Shouyu and I have better luck. We are lucky enough to drink her good tea and enjoy her cooking. There are only a handful of people who have played the flute, but they are not as lucky as Brother Ziyu! Keep your promise, don’t you think so?” He patted his forehead, “Look at my memory, how could I forget this? Madam Zhang, didn’t you accept me as my sworn brother? Congratulations to me, Ziyu has become your sister-in-law!”

Pei Xingjian smiled and remained silent, while Su Ziyu's face turned completely dark and she forced a smile, "It turns out that I have such a fate with Shou Yue. It's a coincidence. You guys are busy first. It's time for me to return to the camp. Say goodbye." He hugged his hands, turned around and left, walking twice as fast as when he came!

Qu Chongyu looked at Su Nanjin's back, raised his eyebrows and smiled. Pei Xingjian shook his head gently and said, "Yulang, what you did is not the behavior of a gentleman."

Qu Chongyu snorted nonchalantly, "Gentleman? From now on, if I, Qu Chongyu, can be a gentleman again, I will turn into a stone turtle and carry a monument for the rest of my life!" He sneered and turned to look at Pei Xingjian, "It's just that you, Pei Shouyue, dare to say something here today. Didn't you recognize this girl just to put a thorn in Su Ziyu's heart? You dare not say it, but you are just a hypocrite!"

Pei Xingjian coughed, then lowered his head and straightened his clothes as if he didn't hear anything. "Yulang, I just remembered something important. I wonder how many of your servants are good at bow and horse?"

Qu Chongyu’s face suddenly darkened, “Why do you ask this?”

Another 4500 words, I patted myself on the shoulder and said, you have really become more diligent, **** ho. Those who code diligently request pink votes for recognition. Although it's a bit shameless to ask for pink every day, but the Peacock has said that whoever is a gentleman is a turtle, and I will still be a villain to the end.

(End of this chapter)

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