One hundred and fifty-six

Yuzhang.

While Huo Shanrong was waiting for the news of his adopted son's death or serious injury, he had a moment of thought about stopping his calculations.

But it was only for a moment.

After this thought, he was ready to take his own son to Zhou Mansion as soon as the news came.

However, what he waited for was not the news of the adopted son being assassinated, but the news of the assassination of Zhou's illegitimate son, the magistrate of Yu County.

Not only was he assassinated, but he was also seriously injured.

No matter how stupid Huo Minzhi was, he would never choose a brainless person to assassinate the wrong person.

Huo Shanrong had seen County Magistrate Zhou before. He was tall and strong, completely different from Fu Wei's figure. Only a blind person would make a mistake!

Huo Shanrong's lieutenant asked, "Since the situation is different from what you expected, sir, do we still need to take Master Minzhi to the Zhou residence?"

Huo Shanrong sneered, "What's the reason for taking him away? Just saying he hired someone to assassinate Fu Wei, but accidentally killed the wrong person, Magistrate Zhou?"

"The two of them are so different in appearance and stature, do you believe it?"

The captain's eyes were slightly evasive.

Obviously, he also felt that this statement was a bit far-fetched.

"But it was clearly Fu Wei who entered the room first. Why was it Magistrate Zhou who appeared inside last? And why did Fu Wei, who was originally in the room, only break in from outside during the assassination attempt?"

Huo Shanrong narrowed his eyes slightly.

Jinzhi appeared just as the assassination was taking place. What a coincidence.

As if he had figured something out, he suddenly stood up, resting his palms on the table, his eyes sharp, "It's Jinzhi."

The captain was stunned, and in his confusion, he heard the master say, "At the Zhou family, I originally thought that I was the one who angered Minzhi, but in fact, he was also adding fuel to the fire. He wanted to use Minzhi's assassination attempt to plot for his master."

"Planning, sir, are you referring to the incident four years ago when County Magistrate Zhou was suddenly transferred to Yu County?"

Although the captain was not clear about the details, he vaguely knew that it was related to military pay.

Huo Shanrong also knew something. Some people said it was an injustice, while others said it was true, but he was not interested in the truth.

But now thinking about it carefully, if Jinzhi wants to move up, he can only climb to a higher power, or send his master to a higher position.

No matter whether it was an injustice or the evidence was solid, he had a way to turn the matter around and make it appear as if the person was wrongly accused.

In this way, County Magistrate Zhou would have the opportunity to return to Yuzhang.

If that was the case, Jinzhi might have guessed that he had allowed Minzhi to harm him. No wonder his attitude was so cold when they met again that day, as if he were a stranger.

After thinking for a long time, Huo Shanrong suddenly sneered: "This time, let him go and let Min Er go."

The captain asked, "Are you still going to the Zhou residence?"

He put his hands down on the table, flipped his sleeves, and put his hands behind his back: "Of course I will go. I will leave Yuzhang tomorrow. Today I must visit the Zhou family's patriarch. No matter what, we must maintain the relationship first so that we can better win it over later."

He left the house and prepared to visit the Zhou family, but he ran into his eldest son on the corridor outside. He looked at him coldly, and saw that his eldest son's face was pale and his eyes were evasive. He asked, "Where are you going, father?"

He obviously knew that the killer he hired had assassinated the wrong person, and he came to test it out because he was afraid of being implicated.

Huo Shanrong sneered and passed by him without even looking at his bloodless face.

*

After his second son was assassinated, Sect Leader Zhou began to have doubts about the misappropriation of military funds. The seeds of doubt took root and sprouted, growing quietly.

Because he was suspicious and felt that his second son might have been wronged for four years, when County Magistrate Zhou wanted someone, Master Zhou lent him his confidant who only obeyed his orders.

Just as Sect Leader Zhou had made all the arrangements, someone came to announce that the prefect of Wuling County was coming to visit.

Upon hearing that Governor Huo was coming to visit, his brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

Twenty-one years ago, Deputy General Mo, under the former prefect of Wuling County, led a thousand people to quell a civil unrest, but was ambushed and trapped in a canyon.

Someone risked his life to escape and seek help. He happened to meet him who was leading people to Kyoto to pay tribute. Because he had some friendship with Fu Taishou, he helped him.

Just as they rescued the people, news came from Wuling County that the prefect Fu had colluded with the enemy and committed treason, and his property was confiscated.

On his trip to Kyoto, in order to avoid assassination, he deliberately concealed his identity and changed his route to Kyoto. However, he avoided the disaster by accident, and the people who ambushed Deputy General Mo did not know who they were.

We were ambushed here, and rumors of treason spread there. Such a coincidence seemed to indicate something was up.

As soon as Governor Fu was beheaded, his subordinate Huo Shanrong became Governor. There must be something fishy going on here, but Sect Leader Zhou didn't believe it.

The second leader of Muyun Mountain, Mo Er, investigated for many years and found evidence to prove that Governor Fu was framed by Huo Shanrong.

But the court is dark and treacherous officials are in power. Anyone who tries to overturn the verdict will be killed. So we can only wait.

When the situation changes, all the wrong judgments made by the emperor will be made public.

Huo Shanrong is so insidious and cunning. If you deal with a villain like him, you might be stabbed in the back at any time.

Although I look down on such people, I cannot do anything unpleasant in public.

After thinking for a moment, he ordered, "Send someone to the main hall and serve tea. Tell them I'm busy and will be back in a moment. Also send someone to invite Mr. Fu, one of the Second Master's men, to the front yard so they can gather."

Some time ago, Mu Yunshan sent a letter saying that the second leader of the Mo family had been in contact with the second son of the Fu family, and even the leader of the village was treating his headache at the Yu family's place in the Fu family.

Since they had private dealings, he must have known that Huo Shanrong was the murderer of his father.

This young man was able to work under Yi'er, and he also took the opportunity to catch the eye of Cangwu Prefect Chen and seek his protection. His scheming and cunning must be unfathomable, and he will deal with Huo Shanrong first.

*

Fu Wei was discussing the next steps with County Magistrate Zhou when a servant came in to report.

It was said that the prefect of Wuling was visiting, and the clan leader was temporarily busy, so he let Fu Langjun meet with the prefect Huo first.

County Magistrate Zhou raised an eyebrow and said, "Go and meet him. I will take care of the rest."

Fu Wei raised his hand and bowed, then left the room and followed the messenger to the front hall.

In the front hall, Huo Shanrong had just finished a cup of hot tea when he noticed someone coming in from outside. Thinking it was Sect Master Zhou, he put down the cup and was about to stand up with the help of the armrest when he saw his adopted son and sat back down.

"Why is it you, Jinzhi?"

Fu Wei bowed and saluted: "Master Zhou is busy and will come back later. Let me come and meet you first."

Hearing this, Magistrate Huo smiled and said, "It's just right. Our last meeting was too hasty. This time, let's have a good chat."

Fu Wei stood in his original position, his face calm, and said, "I am grateful for your kindness, sir. However, my late father might not want to see me being called father and son by others, so sir, please still address me as Young Master."

Magistrate Huo raised his eyebrows slightly. "Twenty years of father and son, now you're done with me. Jinzhi, are you really going to sever ties with me?"

Fu Wei raised his eyes and looked at him: "The one who doesn't want it first is the governor."

Under Huo Shanrong's gloomy gaze, Fu Wei continued calmly, "Your Excellency said you didn't know what Huo Minzhi had done, but I always thought I knew. Ever since my legs were broken, and I was dragged until my body was covered in wounds, and finally lay dying in a filthy, stinking sewage pit, I've finally repaid what I owed Huo Minzhi and your kindness in raising me."

"You didn't say this in your previous letter. If I ask for something, and it's not against the law, you will help me, as a way to repay your kindness in raising me." Huo Shanrong mentioned this with a smile.

Fu Wei also smiled, his smile was so light that it was hard to tell what he was thinking. "Your Excellency is in a high position and has everything you want. I am just a small staff member. How can I help you?"

Huo Shanrong straightened his sleeves and leaned back in his chair. "There's something that only you, Jinzhi, can help me with. I can't bear to leave my son like you. After much thought, I still only want you to return to the Huo family."

As he spoke, he smiled and said, "I have only one request of you. Divorce your wife and marry Qi'er, and I will let you return to Wuling and continue to serve as a major general in the army."

Even though I already knew Huo Shanrong was hypocritical and disgusting, I never thought he could be so disgusting.

The Qi'er mentioned by Huo Shanrong is the concubine of the Huo family.

There are ten children in the Huo family. Huo Min is the only legitimate child of the original wife, and the others are legitimate children of the second wife or illegitimate children.

Fu Wei's face turned cold: "I'm sorry, I can't obey your order."

Not to mention such a ridiculous thing as divorcing his wife, even if he asked his sister to marry him after being his brother for more than ten years, he would not be able to do it.

Huo Shanrong understood Fu Wei and knew that he would not agree. He brought up this matter just to tear off his calm mask.

Seeing his face turn cold and his mood change as he wished, Huo Shanrong smiled and said lightly, "Since you don't want to, I can't force you."

"Can't force anything?"

Suddenly, a deep voice was heard from outside the hall, and the two of them looked towards the door one after another.

Sect Leader Zhou stepped over the threshold and strode towards the seat in the hall.

Huo Shanrong stood up from his seat and bowed slightly after Sect Leader Zhou sat down: "This humble official greets the Duke of the County."

Sect Leader Zhou waved his hand and said, "Don't shout yet. The decree for the succession hasn't been issued yet. I'm not yet the Duke of Yuzhang County."

Huo Shanrong smiled and said, "The decree of succession may arrive sooner or later, but the position of Duke of the County is a foregone conclusion."

Sect Leader Zhou smiled but said nothing. He looked at Fu Wei and asked jokingly, "By the way, I just heard that you can't force anything. But what did Governor Huo force you to do?"

Huo Shanrong glanced at Fu Wei.

Fu Wei lowered his eyes and replied, "The governor wishes to take me as his son-in-law."

Sect Leader Zhou smiled and said meaningfully, "They can't be father and son, so they want to be father-in-law and son-in-law, but..." Then he changed the subject, "But your daughter, Lord Huo, and Mr. Fu have been siblings for over a decade. Suddenly wanting them to be husband and wife is a bit off-putting. Others might even say that the person who facilitated this marriage has dirty thoughts."

At the end of his words, he looked at Huo Shanrong and said, "Master Huo, don't you agree?"

Huo Shanrong secretly withdrew his palm and took up the indirect criticism: "Hearing what the Duke said, I only wanted Jinzhi to return to the Huo family as soon as possible, and I was not thoughtful enough."

Sect Leader Zhou smiled and glanced at Fu Wei: "Mr. Fu wants to return to the Huo family?"

Fu Wei said slowly, "I am a member of the Fu family, why do I want to return to the Huo family?"

"Look, Magistrate Huo, they don't want to go back, why are you still making things difficult for the young master?"

It was just a few words, but each one was filled with sarcasm. Huo Shanrong understood that for some reason, the Zhou family leader was not very welcoming of his visit.

Fu Wei raised his hand and bowed: "Since the Sect Master has finished his work, I will not disturb your conversation any further."

Sect Leader Zhou nodded and said, "Well," then he said, "Retreat."

Fu Wei took a few steps back before turning around and leaving. After turning around, the corners of his lips raised slightly.

Huo Shanrong should not even dream of establishing a relationship with the Zhou family.

Sect Leader Zhou's attitude today shows that he dislikes Huo Shanrong. Uncle Mo is the second in command of Muyun Mountain. He works for the Zhou family. How could Sect Leader Zhou not know that Huo Shanrong had betrayed his master for fame and fortune?

In this way, if the Zhou family ascends to a high position in the future, the Huo family will no longer have the possibility of making a comeback.

Fu Wei left the front hall, walked through the winding corridor, stepped out of the moon gate, and was stopped by a man dressed as a steward when he was walking across the Nine-Curve Bridge over the lake.

"Mr. Fu, my master is affectionate."

Fu Wei recognized him as the servant of the Zhou family's eldest son.

The fish seems to be taking the bait.

Fu Wei nodded gently and said, "Please lead the way."