Chapter 24 Chapter 24 He and her child appeared briefly...
==Chapter 24==
It was late at night and everyone was asleep in the City Lord's Mansion. Gu Yushi was still awake. The lights in the study were brightly lit. There were two cups of hot tea on the desk. The tea was strong. Someone was standing next to the desk, looking through the files with him.
Qin Li clicked his tongue twice:
"These people are really brave."
The private sale of salt permits would definitely leave traces, but these people started to falsify accounts directly at the salt field. This batch of salt permits did not exist from the beginning, so naturally there was no way to trace them.
Unfortunately, there is no impenetrable wall in the world, and everything you do will leave traces.
Thinking of this, Qin Li couldn't help but look at the adult. He still didn't understand how the adult could be so sure that the problem started from the salt field when no flaws were found.
But no matter what, now that they have the evidence, their trip is worthwhile.
Hearing this, Gu Yushi looked up at him and said calmly, "With someone backing them up, they naturally dare not do anything."
Qin Li was surprised again, because when the Lord mentioned Gao Dang's entourage calmly, he seemed not to be afraid of the Gao Dang whose followers were all over the court. It was obvious that the Lord had only been in the officialdom for half a year. However, in just half a year, he was able to be valued by the emperor and be appointed as an imperial envoy, which also proved that the Lord was extraordinary.
With successors, the Gu family was finally supported.
Qin Li suppressed his thoughts and smiled: "It's a pity that the people behind them are not the king of heaven."
Gu Yushi glanced at him and did not comment on his words. He continued to flip through the files. Qin Li paused and whispered:
"Sir, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should mention it."
Gu Yushi nodded slightly, and Qin Li continued, "This humble official always feels that the words His Majesty said to you before leaving are full of profound meaning."
Gu Yushi finally looked up at Qin Li. He didn't say anything, but simply closed the file and threw it directly on the table.
Every action a person takes reveals information.
Qin Li understood instantly that the master was tacitly agreeing with his words.
The imperial envoys already had the power to make decisions, and when things were urgent, there were precedents for executing first and reporting later. However, the emperor specifically raised this point and pointed out the boundary of the fifth rank.
Qin Li had suspected this a long time ago, but never dared to speak it out.
Gu Yushi understood in his heart. Since his rebirth, he has attached great importance to the Jiangnan corruption case and has also shown some radicalism in front of the emperor. The emperor was reminding him that it is easy to break after being too aggressive, so he should be more cautious.
After all, the person behind these salt fields is not the prefect, but Gao Qianming.
Gao Qianming is more than just a fifth-rank official.
Gu Yushi said calmly, "Your Majesty is reminding me that I need to investigate, but not too deeply."
Qin Li was stunned and frowned instantly:
"What does this mean?"
If you don't remove the roots of the problem, there will be endless troubles.
Qin Li might not be unaware of the reason, but that didn't stop him from being indignant: "Your Majesty is too partial to them."
Over the years, His Majesty has indulged the Gao Party in countless cases!
Gu Yushi gave him a warning look:
"Be careful with your words."
Qin Li fell silent, but the unwillingness on his face did not fade at all, and he obviously felt that it was unfair.
Isn't it fair?
Gu Yushi declined to comment.
They were study companions in childhood and competed for the throne when they were princes. Gao Ge Lao and the emperor have been together for thirty years. How many thirty years are there in a lifetime?
This kind of affection is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. The emperor is the Son of Heaven, but he is also a mortal being, and everyone has selfish desires.
Qin Li's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and he felt very indignant in his heart.
Gu Yushi didn't feel anything. If the emperor took the initiative to attack the Gao Party, it would inevitably make people feel that the bow was put away after the bird was killed, and he would be known as a heartless person.
But what if Gao Dang himself forgot his duty as a subject?
Just look at Qin Li's reaction and you will know that there are many people in the court who are dissatisfied with Gao's party.
Gu Yushi is no longer the same person who entered the officialdom in his previous life. He knows very well that sometimes those in high positions need to turn a blind eye in order to maintain the overall stability.
Sitting in the position of emperor, he knew some things very well, but he could not do whatever he wanted. Moreover, he might not be willing to really deal with the Gao Party.
When it comes down to it, it's just a matter of affection.
Qin Li felt frustrated, but also felt that the dawn was just around the corner. He asked, "What are you going to do next, sir?"
Gu Yushi leaned back in his chair, his knuckles tapping against the desk. The night outside was dark, and the pale moonlight fell on his face, obscuring some of his expression. Only his voice could be heard clearly, calm and solemn:
"Yangzhou City is about to get into chaos."
Qin Li looked up and saw the white gauze sticking out of the adult's sleeve, and the wound was faintly red.
Qin Li's breathing quickened as he keenly sensed the solemn atmosphere in the air. Then, he became excited: "Your subordinate has received your order!"
******
Feng Wenyu felt that when he woke up one night, the whole Yangzhou city had changed.
As soon as she arrived at the main courtyard, she saw Madam Lu holding her hand, her face filled with fear. "This morning, we received news that the imperial envoy was assassinated. Now the City Lord's Mansion, including the entire Yangzhou City, is under siege!"
The imperial envoy was assassinated?
Feng Wenyu's mind went blank for a moment, and she subconsciously turned her head to look in the direction of the City Lord's Mansion.
Someone appeared beside her, holding her shoulders, as if he had already noticed her thoughts, and shook his head at her: "Sister, don't be impulsive."
Perhaps because they were born in the same family, Feng Wenzhou could always perceive Feng Wenyu's thoughts better than others. He vaguely knew that A'mei was not as free and easy as she seemed.
But she wanted to hide it, and Feng Wenzhou didn't want to expose it.
Feng Wenyu forced a smudge of her lips and said, "I'm fine."
When people calm down, they can actually sense that something is wrong. Gu Yushi had just told her yesterday that the Jiangnan case would soon have a result. How could he have been assassinated that night?
Was it an accident, or was it something Gu Yushi had planned in advance?
Feng Wenyu already had the answer in her heart. She looked up at her aunt and said, "Besides that, what other news do you want?"
Mrs. Lu was uneasy and shook her head:
"It's said that yesterday at the City Lord's Mansion, a cook poisoned the imperial envoy. This matter has been investigated and implicated several families. Soldiers have already gone to search their homes. Even our Zhou Mansion is surrounded by soldiers outside!"
No one is allowed to enter or leave the Zhou Mansion now. The master was summoned to the City Lord's Mansion early in the morning. This information was delivered by someone sent by the master. She doesn't know anything more.
City Lord's Mansion.
The assassination was premeditated, while the cook's murder was an accident.
The cook pleaded bitterly: "Please show some mercy, sir. I am forced to do this. If I don't do this, I and my family will be doomed!"
Mu Fan was extremely angry:
"You want to kill my master, and my master has to spare you?!"
The cook ignored him and just cried and begged: "Sir, you are the kindest person, please spare me this time!"
Mu Fan just felt that the person in front of him was really hateful. When they first came to Yangzhou City, he saw this cook being bullied and he saved her once. Because of this, she was able to arrange meals for the imperial envoy and his entourage.
Who knew she would repay kindness with enmity?
Gu Yushi also looked at this farce coldly.
He knew very well why the cook made such a choice. In her opinion, the imperial envoy and his entourage were kind-hearted, while the person who threatened them behind the scenes was really ruthless and would kill.
Kindness is sometimes just an obstacle in officialdom.
"Who ordered you to do that?"
The cook shook her head, not daring to speak. She burst into tears and said, "Sir, I can't say anything!"
Gu Yushi's eyes were indifferent, without any emotion. He said in a dull voice:
"For the purpose of murdering the imperial envoy, the punishment is slow slicing, and all three clans will be implicated. Take him away."
The cook's face was filled with horror. She had never imagined that the usually easy-going Imperial Envoy would actually execute them. The moment she was dragged away, she finally felt fear and cried out repeatedly:
"I say! My Lord, I say!"
Mu Fan looked at the adult, Gu Yushi nodded, and Mu Fan immediately took the cook down.
Not long after, Mu Fan came back and gnashed his teeth: "These people are so audacious!"
Gu Yushi's tone was icy: "Throughout history, it's not uncommon for imperial envoys to die on the way to investigate a case."
There are many people who are willing to take risks for profit. Gu Yushi was not surprised that this happened, but that did not mean he would not pursue it.
Gu Yushi threw down the wolf-hair brush in his hand and looked up:
"Let Qin Li arrest the person based on the cook's confession. Anyone who disobeys the order—"
"kill!"
******
Pei Mansion.
Mrs. Pei was restless. Ever since the master left the house, the Pei Mansion had been surrounded by people sent by the imperial envoy. The master only had time to leave a message saying "Don't move."
Pei Yan also came to the main courtyard. He frowned, thinking of the imperial envoy, and his eyes were dark and unclear.
Mrs. Pei clasped her hands together, bowed to the Buddha, and said anxiously:
"I don't know when the master will come back."
Pei Yan also frowned: "Dad has always been honest and upright, and he has nothing to do with the salt merchants. Even if the imperial envoy wants to investigate, he won't be able to find anything on Dad."
Mrs. Pei was silent for a moment.
She knew very well that the master was in officialdom and no matter how hard he tried to protect himself, he could not be completely innocent. Besides, they hoped that Pei Yan could become a disciple of Lord Zheng, so they absolutely did not want the Gao Party to be involved in the salt merchant case.
At this moment, Mrs. Pei suddenly had an epiphany and finally understood why the master felt so complicated when he learned that Lord Zheng in the capital wanted to take Yan'er as his apprentice.
Mrs. Pei had a terrible headache.
She finally understood that once the master accepted the olive branch extended by the capital, he would definitely not be able to escape the corruption case.
Mrs. Pei's face turned pale.
Pei Yan noticed something and instantly raised his head to look directly at Madam Pei: "Mom, are you and Dad hiding something from me?"
Mrs. Pei's lips trembled twice, but she finally chose to tell the truth.
Pei Yan stood up suddenly and whispered as quietly as he could:
"Is Dad crazy? The Emperor would send an envoy to Yangzhou at this moment. His intentions are obvious. The Gaos have a bond with the Emperor, so they might be able to escape, but others don't!"
The Gao Party's influence is spread throughout the government and the opposition, but it is also because of this that the Gao Party's prominence seems to be flourishing, but in fact it is a raging fire.
Madam Pei lowered her head. She only asked one question: "Do you think the Gao Party will fall this time?"
Mrs. Pei couldn't believe it. How could the Gao Party, which had been domineering for so many years, be brought down?
Pei Yan understood the implication of Mrs. Pei's words and couldn't help but lose his composure: "Mother!"
Madam Pei held her forehead with her hand. Her face was a little pale, but she was willing to look Pei Yan in the eye.
"I haven't read as many books as you, but I do understand one thing: a centipede dies but remains in its limbs."
No matter how poor the Gao Party is, it is still more prominent than the Pei family because of the favor between Lord Gao and the Emperor. Once Pei Yan misses this opportunity, it will be difficult for him to get on board the Gao Party again.
Her thin body made her look even more fragile in the cold wind, but at this moment she displayed an indescribable courage:
“Opportunities always come with risks.”
For Pei Yan's future, Mrs. Pei is willing to take any risk, no matter how great it is!
Realizing Mrs. Pei's persistence and determination, Pei Yan's usually straight shoulders drooped a little. He closed his eyes, somewhat puzzled: "Why is mother..."
His father's term in Yangzhou was about to end. Once he was promoted, he would have a foothold in the court. Although he could not be compared with Gao's faction, it was enough to protect himself. Why take the risk?
However, Madam Pei just looked at him knowingly:
"Yan'er, you are so stubborn today and refuse to get involved with the Gao Party. Is it because you have a clear understanding of the situation in the court, or do you have other selfish motives?"
Pei Yan's voice stopped abruptly.
Does he have selfish motives?
Yes.
Party struggles have always been cruel. Once the Pei family joins the Gao Party, there will be no possibility between him and Feng Wenyu!
Pei Yan closed his eyes, many distracting thoughts intertwined in his mind. He knew very well that at this moment, his thoughts were no longer important. What was important was what choice his father, who was now outside the mansion, would make.
The solemn atmosphere in Yangzhou City lasted for several days, and the streets and markets that used to be sleepless all night suddenly had a curfew.
Feng Wenyu was trapped in Zhou's house. Her mood had changed from the initial anxiety and worry to numbness. After all, facing this situation, she really could not do anything and could only wait for news. However, her aunt would ask her to sit with her for a while every day.
Whenever Feng Wenyu came back at this time, Feng Wenzhou would wait for her at the gate of the main courtyard.
In the main courtyard, seeing Feng Wenyu and his sister leaving hand in hand, Madam Lu looked at this scene and suddenly sighed:
"If I had given Bai'er a brother or sister, wouldn't it have been better?"
Seeing this, the nanny could only say, "The love between the cousin and the young master is so deep, it's really rare."
She said it very vaguely, that even siblings would have conflicts, especially in a family like theirs, where the interests were too broad and once they were distributed unevenly, let alone deep brotherly love, it would be a good thing if they didn't have any grudges against each other.
Mrs. Lu was just talking. She sighed and said, "I don't know what's going on with the master."
Mammy couldn't say for sure, but she was quite puzzled:
"Why does Madam ask her cousin to come over every day?"
Madam Lu coughed lightly and said frankly, "Looking at her always makes me feel more at ease."
Not to mention the relationship between the imperial envoy and A Yu, just talking about the Feng family in the capital, it is impossible for them to just leave Feng Wenyu and his sister alone.
On the evening of the seventh day, Zhou Yuangui finally returned home. Seeing this, Madam Lu stood up and got busy:
"Master, please take a bath quickly. I will ask someone to prepare food."
When Zhou Yuangui sat down, Madam Lu asked, "What's the situation outside right now?"
Hearing this, Zhou Yuangui paused, his expression full of secrecy. He exhaled deeply:
"The Li and Wang families have been taken down. I see that the imperial envoy has no intention of giving up."
He quickly finished his meal and ordered, "Pass the word down. The Zhou family will close its doors and refuse visitors. No one will be received!"
Mrs. Lu was completely confused. She thought that with the master's return, Yangzhou City would return to normal. But why did the situation seem to be getting worse and worse?
Mrs. Lu didn't dare to delay. After passing on Zhou Yuangui's order, she asked, "Why are you closing the door to visitors?"
Zhou Yuangui raised his head and glanced at Wen Shiyuan, and whispered:
"The news of Ah Yu and the Imperial Envoy's past relationship has spread."
Mrs. Lu still didn't understand what the connection was.
Zhou Yuangui gave a wry smile: "Do you know how many people died in this corruption case?"
Lu was stunned. Just from Zhou Yuangui's few words, she seemed to have seen a scene of blood flowing like a river, and she couldn't help feeling terrified.
Feng Wenyu also received the news that her uncle had returned. She hesitated for a while and still did not go to the main courtyard.
She looked dazed, sitting on the couch with her knees hugged, looking at the scenery outside the window, a little dazed.
Jinshu closed the window a little, worried that the girl would be caught in a cold draft. "What are you thinking about, girl?"
Feng Wenyu barely regained consciousness, and her voice vanished in the evening breeze:
"There was no such thing in my dream..."
Jinshu didn't hear clearly, so she turned back in confusion: "What did the young lady say just now?"
Feng Wenyu woke up immediately. She bit her lip and felt like she was possessed. How could she confuse dreams with reality?
But the dream was too real, as if it were another real world.
Feng Wenyu felt that she was really confused. After all, dreams were different from reality from the beginning, and she and Gu Yushi did not really get married, right?
Having said that, Feng Wenyu still felt very depressed in his heart, always feeling that he had neglected something.
The next day, Feng Wenyu went to the main courtyard and watched her aunt reject several families' requests for an audience. She looked at her aunt in confusion, but Mrs. Lu wiped the cold sweat from her forehead:
"Fortunately, the master had foresight, otherwise, this would have been a disaster."
Feng Wenyu was puzzled: "What on earth is going on?"
Lu Shi did not dare to hide it from the parties involved:
"These people all came to ask the master for information or to plead with the imperial envoy."
When she spoke of pleading for mercy, Mrs. Lu glanced at Feng Wenyu, who immediately understood. She was rather speechless: "He and I have already broken off our engagement."
Mrs. Lu didn't say anything, but she thought of Zhou Chiyu.
Zhou Chiyu accepted the salt permit, but he is still in the mansion now, and the Zhou family has not been involved in the salt merchant case. Who dares to say that the imperial envoy did not show mercy?
It is a fact that Feng Wenyu and Gu Yushi broke off their engagement, but as long as Gu Yushi still has feelings for Feng Wenyu in his eyes, then in the eyes of others, there is still an opportunity for them to take advantage of.
Gu Yushi showed no mercy at all. Those who should be arrested were arrested immediately, and batches of officials were sent directly to the capital for trial.
This person went to the capital, but there was no guarantee he would be able to come back.
After all, after so many years in office, who could be completely clean? As long as you're willing to investigate, you'll always find some problems.
Seeing that the imperial envoy was becoming more and more unscrupulous in arresting people, more and more guests came to Zhou Mansion to ask for a meeting.
The Zhou family could still close their doors to visitors, but several waves of guests came to Prefect Pei's house.
Pei Zhifu fell ill as soon as he returned to his mansion. When he heard that someone was coming to visit, he was silent for a long time, but he still opened the door to see the guest. Pei Yan heard the news and immediately rushed to the front yard. He was puzzled:
"Dad, what are you doing? Anyone with eyes can see that there's a fire pit ahead!"
The imperial envoy represents the emperor's eyes and ears. Every move in Yangzhou City will be reported to the emperor. Pei Xu's current actions will be known to the emperor. Seeing that his term of office is coming to an end, Pei Yan doesn't understand why the Pei family wants to get involved in this mess.
Pei Xuzhu looked at him with a complicated expression: "Why do you think Dad has been able to sit comfortably in the position of Yangzhou prefect all these years?"
Pei Yan realized the implication of his words and couldn't help but lose his voice.
Pei Xuzhu didn't wait for his reply, turning to look out the window. The night was dark, making Yangzhou City even more silent. "The matter of the salt field is of great importance. It involves more than just the mutual protection among officials. It also involves the interests of various salt merchants. Once the word 'business' is involved, it ultimately revolves around profit."
"Merchants live for profit, and now that the imperial envoy has destroyed their interests, they dare to kill people!"
"The Zhou family dares to close the door to visitors because they have a minister as their relative, but our Pei family doesn't have that!"
Before he leaves office, these noble families and merchants who are about to launch a final counterattack are completely capable of dragging him down with them. Especially since Pei Xuzhu himself does not dare to say that his years in office were completely clean.
Pei Yan was completely speechless.
He had not yet officially entered the officialdom, but he was hit hard today and fully realized the dangers of officialdom and the cruelty of party struggles.
As soon as the first light came up, Pei Xuzhu went to the City Lord's Mansion. He didn't dare to plead openly, so he could only persuade him implicitly with words.
Gu Yushi looked at Pei Xuzhu coldly. He said nothing, but directly ordered the setting up of an incense table and the display of the imperial edict. Pei Xuzhu looked at the words "Fifth-rank officials can be executed first and reported later" on the imperial edict, and his heart sank to the bottom in an instant.
Gu Yushi's voice was unclear:
"Prefect Pei has chosen to play it safe for so many years, so he might as well continue to do so."
Pei Xuzhu was silent. The four words "know your own business" uttered by Gu Yushi at this time were inexplicably sarcastic. Knowing your own business sounds good, but to some extent, it also represents cowardice. It was precisely his inaction that made the mutual protection and corruption among officials in Yangzhou City more rampant.
After returning to Pei Mansion, Pei Xuzhu immediately fell ill. He knew very well that this matter was no longer something he could interfere with.
The person sent by the emperor this time is an executioner. He is so bold and reckless that he is not afraid of the power of the Gao Party at all. The blood on the tip of the knife has not been wiped clean yet. Whoever dares to stop him will be killed!
Unstoppable.
Pei Xuzhu finally woke up from the opportunity of becoming Pei Yan's apprentice. The imperial envoy and his entourage represented the emperor's will - the emperor wanted to liquidate the Gao Party.
When Madam Pei came to take care of him, Pei Xuzhu grabbed her wrist, his face pale, and he smiled bitterly:
"Wrong, absolutely wrong."
Madam Pei's hands trembled, and she was terrified: "Then now——"
Pei Xuzhu smiled bitterly and shook his head. He seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. His voice was deep:
“There’s no turning back.”
At the same time, in the capital, batches of officials were escorted back to the capital. Emperor Wenyuan was so angry that he laughed. Several cabinet ministers were in the imperial study. He slammed the imperial desk:
"This Gu Yushi is so audacious!"
Gao Ge Lao lowered his head and remained silent.
Elder Feng could only reply, "Gu Shidu, after all, is still young."
Someone secretly cursed Gu Yushi as an old fox. Although his words seemed to be condemning Gu Yushi, they were actually just speaking for Gu Yushi.
Being young also means being full of energy and hating evil.
Who in power doesn't like such a minister to share his worries? Moreover, he is young, which means he has a high potential and is easy to bribe.
As expected, someone noticed that Emperor Wenyuan's expression softened slightly:
"When he comes back, I will definitely give him a good scolding."
Some officials felt a sinking feeling in their hearts. These words expressed dissatisfaction, but also revealed an inexplicable intimacy.
I heard that Gu Shidu and the Feng family had an engagement, but the two families broke off the engagement before he went to Jiangnan. Now, it seems that Lord Feng is still speaking for Gu Shidu. Who knows whether this broken engagement is true or not.
The Minister of Personnel, Feng Rongyu, took the opportunity to complain: "Yangzhou City is currently short of officials. I would like to ask the emperor to make a decision."
These should have been the responsibility of the Ministry of Personnel, but Feng Rongyu wanted to arrange them directly. The Jiangnan area has always been prosperous, so who wouldn't be jealous?
But Feng Rongyu couldn't.
Anyone who dares to speak now will be openly offending Lord Gao. Feng Rongyu is not afraid, but there is no need to cause trouble. This person is always inconsistent. Even though the emperor is now preparing to liquidate the Gao Party, who can guarantee that he will not remember Lord Gao's kindness in the future?
By then, the emperor will hold a grudge against those who took advantage of the Gao Party's misfortune.
Feng Rongyu glanced at Lord Feng calmly. His father was calm and said nothing, so he also suppressed his ambition.
Emperor Wenyuan named a few names. Everyone listened carefully and had some thoughts in their minds. Some people looked at Gao Ge Lao secretly. The names named by the emperor this time, except for the Gao party and the Feng party, were actually very evenly distributed.
After leaving the imperial study, the others slowed down and followed Lord Gao and Lord Feng. They seemed to be talking in low voices, but in fact they were all paying attention to the two people in front of them.
After leaving the palace completely, Feng Rongyu caught up with his father and got on the carriage of Lord Feng. Lord Feng glanced at him and said nothing.
Feng Rongyu washed his hands with water from the carriage, shook off the water droplets on his hands, and said with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone: "Tell me, what does the emperor think?"
In this Jiangnan case, it would have been fine if the Gao Party had been liquidated, but in the end the Feng family didn't get any benefits either.
Elder Feng was old, and his eyelids were a little droopy. Hearing this, he showed no emotion, nor any dissatisfaction:
"The Feng family's ancestral home is in Yangzhou."
The emperor sent Feng Dang to Yangzhou to take up the post because he was worried that the case today would happen again, but with a different protagonist.
Feng Rongyu may not understand this truth, but he is unwilling to accept it after all.
Feng Rongyu closed his eyes and said, "Yangzhou..."
During the whole journey, Lord Feng did not speak again. Lord Feng and Feng Rongyu did not live in the same residence. Feng Rongyu was just taking a ride. The carriage stopped at the Minister's residence first. Before he got off, he heard his father say:
"Let that girl Ayu come back. Zhou Xiaozi is taking the provincial examination and doesn't need her to accompany him."
Feng Rongyu paused imperceptibly. He had also heard about the recent turmoil in the capital. He turned around and said cryptically, "That girl Ah Yu had her engagement broken off a few days ago. Isn't it time to let her relax a bit?"
Elder Feng raised his eyelids and looked directly at Feng Rongyu, making it difficult for them to meet his gaze.
"That kid from the Gu family is in Yangzhou. Are you sure he's just relaxing?"
Feng Rongyu's heart skipped a beat. He knew he couldn't hide it from his father, but A-Yu was the apple of his wife's eye. If there was any mistake in A-Yu's marriage, the family might be unstable in the future.
Elder Feng snorted coldly:
"Ayu is my granddaughter, I will never sell her."
Feng Rongyu chuckled awkwardly, then turned around and got on the carriage, saying loudly, "Tell my wife that I'm going to my father's house for dinner today."
In the carriage, Feng Rongyu considered his tone:
"Father, did you hear that the Second Prince is going to marry A-Yu?"
The second prince is now a popular candidate for the crown prince. Judging from her status, it seems that it is legitimate for Ayu to be the prince's consort, but the Gao Party supports the second prince. Feng Rongyu's family knows his own business. The Feng Party and the Gao Party are not incompatible, but they do not get along.
His father was the second prime minister, so once Gao retired, Feng would definitely become the first prime minister.
But Lord Gao has always held on to power. It would be a lie to say that Feng Rongyu has no feelings towards the Gao Party.
Besides, Feng Rongyu was reluctant to marry Ayu into the royal family. The royal family seemed to be rich and powerful, but in fact, Feng Rongyu secretly shook his head. In the world, being a female member of the royal family had the most difficult life.
His eldest daughter married into the royal family, and his wife was satisfied at first. Later, as the Feng family rose step by step, his wife became increasingly dissatisfied with her eldest daughter's marriage.
The prince is not loyal, so life as his wife is not easy.
Fortunately, there is the Feng family. Even if he is the prince of a county, he can only treat Yan'er with respect at most.
Feng Rongyu was full of thoughts and couldn't help but look at his father's expression. Elder Feng raised his eyes and looked at him: "Since you know it's not suitable, you should have decided on Ah Yu's marriage as soon as possible."
This is why some people cannot covet it.
With the Gao Party, the Second Prince still wanted to gain the support of the Feng Party. He had somewhat forgotten that no matter how favored he was by the Emperor, he was still just a prince.
Feng Rongyu was relieved. He said, "My son will discuss this matter with my wife when he returns."
Without saying anything else, Lord Feng knocked on the carriage, and the carriage stopped. Facing Feng Rongyu's puzzled look, Lord Feng said directly:
"Get out of here."
Feng Rongyu said angrily: "My son has already told my wife that he will go to your house for a meal."
Feng Ge Lao sneered and said nothing. Feng Rongyu finally had no choice but to get off the carriage. After the carriage drove away, Feng Rongyu said with a sigh, "I just doubted you for a moment, you are really petty."
******
Feng Wenyu had no idea that someone in the capital was eyeing her marriage. At this time, the turmoil in Yangzhou City had subsided, and Gu Yushi personally went to Zhou's house to pick up someone.
Zhou Chiyu cried and hugged Zhou Yuangui's thighs:
"Dad, please save me, save me, I am your biological son!"
The entire Zhou Mansion was silent. When Zhou Yuangui looked at Gu Yu, he didn't even dare to get involved with him, for fear that the emperor would hear about it and think he was forming a clique for personal gain.
He was a little puzzled. If Gu Yushi wanted to settle accounts with Zhou Chiyu, why did he wait until this time?
Gu Yushi raised his eyes and met Zhou Yuangui's gaze:
"Master Zhou, it's time for you to make a choice."
Zhou Yuangui's heart trembled. Without even looking at Zhou Chiyu, he chose to sacrifice his relatives for the greater good: "My Lord, please handle this impartially."
Zhou Chiyu was so frightened that his mind was broken. He couldn't understand why he ended up being killed just for having a drink at Yunyan Tower!
He knew exactly what his turning point was, and didn't dare to waste any more time. He subconsciously let go of Zhou Yuangui, stood up, and ran towards the backyard:
"Grandma! Save me!"
In his opinion, Gu Yushi did not detain him in the beginning because of his cousin. As long as his grandmother put pressure on him and his cousin was willing to plead for him, he would definitely survive.
Generally speaking, Zhou Chiyu was right, because filial piety is more important than anything else.
But in the relationship between the Zhou family and the Feng family, he reversed the priorities. In this relationship, it was always the Zhou family that dared not neglect.
He was destined to be disappointed.
Zhou Yuangui's face darkened: "Someone, stop him!"
Zhou Chiyu hadn't even taken two steps when he was captured by the villain and forced to kneel in the hall. Zhou Chiyu was young and frightened. He just wanted to survive and cried to Feng Wenyu for mercy:
"Cousin! Cousin! Please save me! Please speak for me! Cousin!"
Feng Wenyu watched this scene coldly. For some reason, when she saw Zhou Chiyu being captured, she actually felt a sense of relief in her heart.
It was as if she had resented him for a long time and was finally able to vent it.
Feng Wenyu was a little dazed. She and Zhou Chiyu rarely met, so how could she have been holding a grudge against him for so long?
Gu Yushi did not stay in Zhou's house for long. He ordered his men to capture Zhou Chiyu and take him away. Seeing the group walking away, Feng Wenyu chased after them.
Hearing the familiar footsteps, Gu Yushi subconsciously slowed down his pace. He looked back and finally chose to stop and wait.
Feng Wenyu stopped in front of him, panting, and asked:
"I want to know what will become of Zhou Chiyu?"
Feng Wenyu herself wondered why she was so obsessed with knowing the answer.
When Gu Yushi looked at Feng Wenyu who was asking for the answer, he had a momentary illusion, as if the person in front of him also knew everything about his previous life.
But he knew that this was impossible.
Gu Yushi lowered his eyes, concealing the complex emotions in his eyes. After a long moment, he said concisely:
"die."
He would not allow Zhou Chiyu to have any other outcome.
Gu Yushi turned his face away and said in a cold and hard tone, "If you want to plead for him, then there is no need to say more."
Feng Wenyu was puzzled. Why did she plead for Zhou Chiyu? Zhou Chiyu's current fate was all his own fault. If the imperial envoy was not Gu Yu, perhaps the Zhou family would have been implicated by Zhou Chiyu.
It was precisely because of this that Feng Wenyu had complicated feelings towards Gu Yushi, which made her even more puzzled. He seemed to still have feelings for her and was deeply in love with her, so why did he have to cancel the engagement?
Feng Wenyu didn't understand, but she subtly sensed some of Gu Yushi's emotions, and she asked hesitantly:
"Do you hate Zhou Chiyu?"
Is it just about the salt permit?
Feng Wenyu felt that this was inappropriate. She believed that she still understood Gu Yushi. Even if Zhou Chiyu intended to plot against Gu Yushi, Gu Yushi would not bother with Zhou Chiyu.
Hearing this, Gu Yushi's eyes darkened for a moment. It was more than just disgust. He hated Zhou Chiyu to the core.
The Jiangnan case in the previous life broke out four years later.
After the case broke out, Zhou Chiyu was deeply involved in it, and the Zhou family was dragged into the quagmire. Even the Feng family could not save the Zhou family.
When Mrs. Zhou got the news, she couldn't bear the blow and passed away in just three days.
When the news reached the capital, Feng's mother fainted. After waking up, she went to Yangzhou to attend the funeral. Feng Wenyu was also one of the people who went to the funeral when her elder passed away.
At that time, he and Feng Wenyu had been married for three years, and she was pregnant.
The Jiangnan case was widely related to the Gao Party, and the biggest beneficiary of the fall of Gao was the Feng Party. It is conceivable how dangerous it was for the people who went to the funeral to return to Yangzhou.
Bandits, ambushes, assassinations, poisonings, and many other methods are countless.
Gu Yushi refused to recall what happened later. He only remembered the deep red under Feng Wenyu's body in the snow and the endless cries of grief around him.
By the time everyone rushed back to the capital, it was too late.
The imperial physician confirmed that she was completely ill.
Gu Yushi didn't know who to blame. Zhou Chiyu? Gao Dang? Or him for not protecting her?
Maybe it's all to blame.
Therefore, when Gao's party was defeated, he killed them all, not hesitating to earn himself the reputation of being cruel and ruthless.
She and his child appear briefly.
So much so that he and Feng Wenyu later reached a point of relative silence, and he thought more than once - if that child was alive, would everything be different?
When she and Shen Jingchen were entangled and mentioned divorce countless times, he had the despicable thought of trapping her with the child.
But it's all delusion.
Seeing that he did not answer, Feng Wenyu became more silent instead, and her doubts grew deeper and deeper. Her dream appeared after she broke off the engagement, and all the scenes in the dream were related to Gu Yushi.
She had a hunch that perhaps only Gu Yushi could help her solve her doubts.
But Feng Wenyu had no intention of asking Gu Yushi about it. If he told the person who had that dream, would she still be able to live as a human being in the future?!
Gu Yushi answered the question irrelevantly:
"The imperial envoy's trip is about to end, and I will be returning to the capital soon."
Feng Wenyu curled his lips subtly and nodded perfunctorily: "I understand. I wish the Imperial Envoy a safe journey."
Feng Wenyu was secretly annoyed that he never answered her questions directly!
Gu Yushi looked at her with a serious look: "When are you planning to return to the capital?"
The capital city and Yangzhou city are far apart, and there are many bandits along the way. It is safer for the imperial envoy to be escorted by the imperial guards than for her to travel alone.
Feng Wenyu snorted lightly: "This has nothing to do with the Imperial Envoy, right?"
I won't go back with him!
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