"My lord." Song Tingcai turned around, and Qi Zhou appeared silently.
Song Ting's violent temper was almost out of control. With a stern face, she asked, "He's here again?"
Qi Zhou: "Yes."
Ever since Song Ting killed Zhang Jingshu that day, Prefect Zhang Lü has come to the post station every night to see Song Ting.
While others visited Zhuge Liang three times, Prefect Zhang visited him four or five times.
Anyone who didn't know better would think that his son wasn't killed by Song Ting, but rather saved.
"And from Chang'an, the Thirteenth Chamber just sent word that you haven't appeared for a long time, and the court is probably in turmoil."
Song Ting coldly curled the corner of her lips, took the secret letter from Qi Zhou's hand, and glanced at it casually:
"Since they're all going to cause me trouble, then I'll kill them all."
Qi Zhou lowered his head, not daring to speak. Those old guys always know how to cause trouble, daring to cause trouble when their master is in a bad mood.
Song lit a tinderbox and burned the secret letter, then coldly ordered:
"You stay here and keep watch. If there are any problems, come to me immediately. I'll go and meet that old man surnamed Zhang."
Qi Zhou nodded in acceptance: "Yes."
Xiao Wu was very annoyed. This Prefect Zhang was like a mangy dog, impossible to shake off.
With a dark expression, he chased the man away: "The commander is very busy with official duties. He can't be seen so easily. You should go home, sir!"
But Zhang Lu seemed not to understand human speech, standing there with a smile on his face.
Ren Xiaowu tried everything, from kind words to harsh ones, but the man pretended not to hear. This infuriated Xiaowu so much that he almost drew his sword.
"Are you leaving or not? If you don't leave, I really won't be polite," Xiao Wu threatened.
Zhang Lu bowed and said, "My lord, please calm your anger. But I really have important business to discuss with the commander. Please inform him."
"You—"
"May I ask what brings Lord Zhang to see me?"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Xiao Wu immediately bowed: "My lord—"
Zhang Lu suddenly turned around and knelt down with a thud in front of the figure slowly walking towards him in the darkness:
"Your humble servant Zhang Lü, Prefect of Yingtian, greets Your Excellency Commander. May Your Excellency be well."
Song Ting, shrouded in the night, had an expression even more somber than the night behind him. Zhang Lu and his advisor He An knelt on the ground, drenched in cold sweat.
In fact, Zhang Jingshu was right that night; Prefect Zhang was indeed one of Song Ting's men.
With factional strife raging in the imperial court, officials in various regions outside the court naturally also took sides.
The official Zhou who promoted Zhang Lü was the Minister of Revenue at the time, and happened to be a member of the so-called Song faction.
During festivals, Prefect Zhang's gifts would be sent to the Ministry of Rites in Chang'an, and would also be delivered to Song Ting's residence to show respect to the Commander.
"I'm afraid I can't rest easy," Song Ting said coldly.
That short sentence was powerful and impactful, leaving Zhang Lu stunned and speechless.
He kowtowed heavily to the ground, saying, "It was my son who was blind and offended you, sir. I have come here specifically to apologize to you."
"Please, Your Excellency, spare my life for the sake of my loyalty!"
Song Ting: "I haven't enjoyed killing as much in recent years."
Zhang Lu broke out in a cold sweat again: "..."
He was the local official of Yingtian, and as the saying goes, "the emperor is far away and the sky is high," so in Yingtian, he was no different from a local tyrant.
This is why Zhang Jingshu bullied men and women, yet no one dared to do anything about it.
But upon seeing this commander, Zhang Lu felt his heart tighten.
It was as if a cold snake had crawled up his back, making him too afraid to move.
"Get up. I'm tired. If Lord Zhang has nothing else to do, you may go back. You don't need to come again."
Zhang Lu dared not get up, but only looked up at the man in front of her:
"I was unaware of your arrival, sir, and have failed to provide adequate hospitality. In addition to apologizing to you, I would also like to invite you to my humble abode so that I may show my respect and filial piety."
Song Ting replied calmly, "No need, your place is too far away."
Too far... Zhang Lu and his advisor exchanged a glance, and the latter shook his head.
Neither of them understood the meaning of that sentence.
"I have also prepared a small gift for you, sir. I hope you will accept it," Zhang Lu said again.
Song Ting was annoyed and didn't want to listen to Zhang's nagging anymore, so she waved her hand and said, "Go."
As Zhang Lu emerged from the inn, the cold sweat on his forehead had not completely dried, and his steps were somewhat unsteady.
This was the first time he had seen the true form of this commander, and he never expected that the all-powerful commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard would be so lustful.
If it weren't for the murderous aura about him, people would believe he was a scholar.
"Master, what do you mean by that? Is this matter considered closed?"
Zhang Lu's heart was still pounding wildly. "What else could be considered too far?"
Master He stroked his beard, his face wrinkled: "I can't figure it out either."
"Didn't you say he came here to arrest Liang Fengye? Now that Liang has been brought to justice, why is he still staying in my Yingtian Prefecture?"
Speaking of this, Zhang Lu was furious. If it weren't for that damned Liang Fengye escaping to his territory, his son wouldn't have run into Song Ting and lost his life for nothing.
Zhang Lu dared not settle this score with the murderer, but it was a thorn in his side, keeping him awake at night.
"The spies say he frequents the Drunken Spring Pavilion day and night. Could it be that my residence is too far from that filthy place?"
"Did he really kill my son for that male prostitute?"
Zhang Lu was furious. That worthless life, which could have been lost a thousand or ten thousand times, had ruined his son's life.
He An, his face grim, grasped Zhang Lu's hand: "My lord, please calm down. Did you smell the perfume on that person just now?"
"It's so strong it's like it's been pickled, how could you not smell it? You suddenly bring this up as—" Zhang Lu paused, "You mean…"
Master He's subordinate pressed harder: "Perhaps that person stayed because of the person in Zuichunlou."
"this……"
"Since you want to give a gift, why not cater to his tastes? Firstly, it will please him, and secondly, it will help us get rid of this ancestor as soon as possible."
However, this ancestor had a notorious reputation, and Zhang Lu had just lost his son at his hands, so he dared not act rashly.
"But if that's the case, why doesn't he take the person away himself?"
"That's a question for the one at Zuichunlou..." Master He narrowed his eyes. "If you trust me, sir, then leave this matter to me."
“Of course I trust you, but can this really work out? I feel really uneasy…” Lawyer Zhang was still a little worried.
"My lord, we've probably lost his favor this time. He says he doesn't want to kill anyone today, but what about tomorrow?"
"Why not take a gamble? Maybe if that person is happy, the master will be able to go to Chang'an," He An said.
Zhang Lu's lifelong ambition was to become an official in the imperial court, and after hearing what Master He said, he was finally persuaded:
"Then I'll have to trouble you with this matter, sir..."
"Don't worry, sir, leave it to me."
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