There was a cold light in Song Ming's eyes, and he tried his best to restrain his murderous intent from showing.

If his father hadn't reminded him again and again, Song Chi would have been killed.

This guy is really haunting. Song Ming has a hunch that Song Chi is deliberately targeting him and wants to step on him to get to the top.

The banquet did not last long and ended. After everyone left, only Song Ming and Xu Zhoumu were left in the box.

"Master Ming, is the situation in Ji County really irreversible?" Xu Zhifeng asked in a low voice.

He was the governor of Jiangzhou and Ning'an Prefecture was under his jurisdiction, so he naturally knew what had happened.

"yes."

Song Ming said, "His Majesty has been so kind that he has handed this matter over to my father to handle. He has tried to suppress it and minimize the impact, so not many people know about it yet."

"Father instructed me to have Governor Xu be responsible for investigating this matter. Ning'an Prefecture is under your jurisdiction, so it's only right that you be in charge. This will also help avoid the gossip of the Qingliu Party."

Xu Zhifeng's face was gloomy.

This matter was exposed in the court, and he was impeached a lot. He was the prime minister's man, so it was easy for him to be implicated.

As the governor of Jiangzhou and a close confidant of Song Shiwen, he was of course involved.

And with the Prime Minister behind him, he won't be implicated.

"We've suffered a lot this time. Zhou Zhengan is just a prefect, so it doesn't matter if we can't protect him. The key is the Han family..."

Song Ming said in a deep voice: "If you don't bleed, His Royal Highness Prince Qing won't let you go either."

"How could such a big mistake happen? I really had no idea." This was also what made Xu Zhifeng angry, and it made him very passive.

"Even Xuzhou Mu might not believe it."

Song Ming said coldly: "The reason why this situation has come about is all because of that Song Chi."

"he?"

Xu Zhifeng frowned and asked, "He's just a kid, how could he have such great abilities?"

In front of the governor of a state and the high officials, a young man like Song Chi was not even a nobody.

"That's the truth."

Song Ming said, "Father said you don't need to know too much about these things. Just follow the procedures. Tomorrow, the Central Censorate and the Imperial Household Department will come to Jiangzhou City. Then you can send someone to Ning'an Prefecture to confirm this matter directly. Don't show any mercy."

Xu Zhifeng asked, "The Han family wouldn't be... dissatisfied, would they?"

He really didn't know what exactly happened. These things were mainly done by the Han family. Xu Zhifeng knew that Han Yu suddenly retired and returned to Ji County in order to make money.

This is definitely related to the Prime Minister.

Others may not know this, but as the Prime Minister's confidant, how could he not know that the Prime Minister is definitely not the poor man that outsiders know, but a greedy person.

Xu Zhifeng would go to Beijing once a year and bring some "specialties" every time.

What he was most curious about was where did all the money go?

At least he didn't see the Prime Minister spend the money.

There is no wall that is impenetrable. The truth was finally revealed, and the Han family became the scapegoat and abandoned.

Song Ming said coldly, "After such a huge mistake, you still dare to be dissatisfied? Han Qingshan still wants to be the Minister of Personnel, so they must accept everything."

Xu Zhifeng remained noncommittal.

Only the Jixian branch collapsed, and the main branch of the Han family was not affected.

"Since it was that kid who did it, why not get rid of him?"

"There are too many people watching him now. Father means that we can't let anyone get hold of him. As long as we can make him fail the entrance exam, he'll be forgotten by everyone in less than two years. Then, wouldn't it be easy to get rid of him?"

Xu Zhifeng replied: "This is a small matter."

He pulled out a thin piece of paper from his sleeve and said, "This is the exam question for tomorrow's literary club."

Song Ming naturally took it.

"Then I won't bother you anymore. I wish Master Ming win the first prize in the literary competition tomorrow." Xu Zhifeng stood up.

"Mr. Ming, if you want a beauty to accompany you, just give the order. The beauties in Fanlou are no less beautiful than those in the capital... As for the four beauties, if you win the first place tomorrow, all four of them will be yours."

Xu Zhifeng smiled and said, "The winner of the literary competition can have the four most popular courtesans serve him at the same time."

"Go slowly, Mu Xu."

Song Ming held the thin paper in his hand and said with a ferocious expression, "Song Chi, what do you have to fight me? You think you can snatch the first place in the literary competition from me? I will let you know that you are nothing in front of me!"

......

In the early morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone, the entire surface of the Jinshui River was covered with golden light, and the people on both sides were excited.

Today is the day of the poetry and literature meeting.

It starts at noon and lasts until the end of the night. The title of the champion of the literary competition will be decided at that time. The winner will also fill the vacancy and become one of the four great talents in Jiangnan.

The Yudai Bridge on the south bank of the Jinshui River was crowded with people, and many scholars gathered here.

Although there was an age limit of no more than 30 years old, there were still too many people participating in the literary gathering, so a pass-through format was adopted. The entire venue was from Yudai Bridge in the east to the south bank of Jinshui Bridge in the middle.

It is now closed and entry will not be allowed until the actual start.

This is a literary gathering and also a literary competition. People on the north bank can see the situation of the literary competition, and there are dedicated personnel setting up fixed announcement points to announce the customs clearance situation.

At the entrance, several licensed gambling houses were still shouting.

The scholars who attended the literary gathering were almost squeezed to death, but a separate area was allocated for them. No one would believe that there was no government behind this gambling house.

"There's only a quarter of an hour left before the literary competition begins. If you don't place your bet now, you'll have no chance!"

"Based on the current odds, the one most likely to win is... Tang Yan!"

"That's right, he's no longer Master Ming."

The young man behind the gambling stall was shouting, and people kept running over to give him the latest odds, which he promptly informed everyone. This process was quite mature.

"In second place is... the proud student from Huating Academy, Fang Yingwu."

"Ranked third is... Duan Yunzhou from Nandu Academy."

"Song Ming was in first place last night, but he's already tenth today. Don't so many people trust Young Master Ming?"

Listening to the young man shouting, Song Chi in the crowd sneered in his heart. It was obvious that Song Ming's odds had been adjusted.

He knew the purpose of holding this literary gathering, which was to expand the influence of the Literary Party, especially among the scholar community. Song Ming was the son of the Prime Minister, and since he was here, he would definitely take the lead.

In other words, the outcome of this grand poetry and poetry competition was already determined.

As for why the odds were adjusted, the reason was very simple. They just didn't want Song Ming to show up, so that if he won the championship, people would not think that he was behind the scenes.

Therefore, Song Chi has only one opponent, and that is his good brother Song Ming.

At this time, a servant ran quickly to the young man and whispered something in his ear.

The young man looked shocked, then shouted, "The odds have changed! Song Chi's odds have changed! Someone's betting big on him!"