The prison at Dagukou was at the end of the government office. It was originally used to temporarily detain pirates. They would usually be detained for ten days or half a month before being transferred to Tianjin City Guard for trial and conviction. Therefore, the prison at this government office was empty most of the time.
The cell was dark and damp, with thick spider webs on the beams and snakes, insects, rats and ants everywhere.
Wan Youliang hasn't been able to sleep since he was thrown into prison.
It hurt at first. The wound on his thigh had been bandaged with a cloth and stopped bleeding, but the pain was so severe that he couldn't sleep. Later, he was used to a life of luxury and this was the first time he had experienced such hardship. Just smelling the rotten smell in the cell made him sick and he couldn't sleep at all.
He sat against the wall, staring, wondering, how did it come to this?
Obviously, he and Guan Haishan had planned everything. As long as they could force the prince away, Fang Zhengke would be left alone and unable to accomplish anything. He could still enjoy himself in this nest of gold and silver for another year, waiting for the next transfer envoy to take his place.
But now there is nothing.
When he was first locked up, he would yell for people to let him out. But after struggling for half a day and seeing that no one paid attention to him, he gradually calmed down and wondered how Guan Haishan was doing at the moment.
Now the only person who could possibly rescue him is Guan Haishan.
As I was thinking about the possible situation, I heard the creaking of the old cell door and the sound of footsteps in the long corridor.
Wan Youliang moved, looked over, and saw Xue Shu walking in.
Xue Shu was well-dressed, but he became a prisoner.
Wan Youliang forgot the pain in his leg for a moment and shouted angrily, "You bastard! How dare you deceive me!"
Xue Shu stood in front of the cell where he was imprisoned, and slowly glanced at him with eyes full of hostility. He said gloomily: "You cursed my family, but you have to pay it back." After saying that, he turned his head to the subordinates who followed him and said: "Shut his mouth and drag him out."
The soldiers from the four guard camps who were accompanying him were now obedient to him. Upon hearing what he said, they immediately opened the cell door, gagged Wan Youliang, and dragged him out.
Xue Shu had the pirates brought to the torture room for interrogation, while Wan Youliang was held aside. He stared at him with wide eyes in horror, making grunting sounds in his throat.
"Don't worry, Your Highness still has use for you. We won't kill you now. Just watch from the side." After saying that, he ordered people to tie him to a rack nearby, and he began to interrogate the pirate who was brought up.
These pirates had shaved heads and dressed like Japanese foreigners. No matter what Xue Shu asked, they kept talking incomprehensible words.
Xue Shu asked a few questions, and seeing that they refused to cooperate, he ordered them to be tortured.
After all the torture instruments were used, some people started to speak. They no longer spoke in bird language to pretend to be stupid, but spoke pure Dayan Mandarin.
——Although these pirates are dressed as Japanese, they are actually bandits roaming along the coast.
They committed murder, looting and other atrocities along the coast. Fearing that their true identities would be discovered and their parents and relatives would be implicated, they simply dressed up as strangers to conceal their identities and act more conveniently.
As for yesterday's raid, the pirates were unaware of the inside story. They only vaguely knew that the official they had been dealing with for many years had run into trouble, and the superiors sent them to scare the "trouble" on behalf of the official and teach him a lesson.
As for going deeper, these small fry who were usually only responsible for robbing on shore had no idea, saying that only the bosses above knew.
Xue Shu did not comment on this, and ordered his men to torture a dozen pirates one after another.
Although he still didn't get to the point about the assassination, he unexpectedly came up with another thing.
——A small pirate leader confessed that there was not enough food and women on the island, and a new batch of goods had arrived not long ago. In about ten days, the main force would land at Dagukou to "restock and sell goods."
In order to avoid being hunted down, these pirates hid in the islands near Tianjin. They would only go ashore when they were short of supplies or needed to sell goods. Burning, killing and looting were common, and the government did not care.
Xue Shu made sure that he could not get any more information out of these pirates, so he ordered them to be taken back to prison.
A subordinate brought warm water and a cloth for him to wash his hands. Xue Shu carefully washed the blood off his hands, wiped his hands with a cloth, and then turned to look at Wan Youliang, motioning him to take the cloth out of his mouth: "Master Wan, what are you shaking about? The torture we inflicted on those pirates is just an appetizer. Master Wan has lived in Tianjin Wei for a long time, so I'm afraid you haven't seen the torture in Xichang?"
Wan Youliang's lips were trembling and he couldn't speak. He looked at Xue Shu as if he was looking at an Asura evil ghost from hell, full of fear.
"Master Wan's body is well-maintained, and it is most suitable for combing." Xue Shu looked at him, his lips slightly raised, but there was no smile in his eyes. The flickering candlelight distorted the shadow cast on the wall, making him look even more eerie and strange: "First, use boiling water to burn it from head to toe, and then use an iron comb to comb it. Make sure all the flesh on your body is combed cleanly."
"You, you..." Wan Youliang's facial muscles twitched, and he used all his strength to squeeze out two words from his throat. Then a smell of urine came into the air.
Xue Shu frowned and took a step back in disgust.
Now that Wan Youliang is still useful, and he cannot move for the time being, I just want to scare him. I didn't expect that he is so easily frightened.
"We haven't used torture yet, what are you afraid of?" Xue Shudun felt bored and ordered his men to take him back before he turned around and left the prison.
It was only five o'clock outside and the sky was dim. Except for the guards on duty, even the chirping of insects and birds had stopped.
Xue Shu looked at the bright and cold moon above his head, stopped to think for a while, and then went to the main house where Yin Chengyu lived.
He did not show up, but found a big tree facing the main house and sat there, staring at the closed window in a daze.
His Highness should be asleep at this moment. Xue Shu pictured him in his mind, sleeping peacefully with his eyes closed and wearing only his undershirt. His mood became very good.
He leaned against the tree branch with his arms as his head rested on it, his eyes fixed on the window from the fifth watch all the way to Chen Zheng.
When the cold moon sets in the west, the early sun rises in the east. The early spring sunlight shines through the gaps between the branches and leaves, casting mottled shadows.
When the soldiers on duty changed shifts, Xue Shu saw Zheng Duobao entering the house carrying toiletries.
After a while, the tightly closed window was pushed open, and Yin Chengyu's figure appeared behind the window.
He was only wearing a black shirt, with his hair hanging down. The light and shadow from the window flickered on his face, sometimes bright and sometimes dark, which was somewhat similar to the scene in Xue Shu's dream.
Xue Shu immediately sat up straight, stared at it for a while, and finally couldn't help it. He jumped down from the tree and went to the main house to report the results of the interrogation.
Yin Chengyu had just finished washing up when he heard someone report that Xue Shu was here.
He muttered, "Why so early?" and changed his clothes to go out to meet people.
Xue Shu and others were in the hall. When they saw him come out, they raised their eyes, and then their eyeballs did not move.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?" Yin Chengyu sat down in the main seat.
Xue Shu reported the results of the interrogation truthfully.
The situation was not much different from what Yin Chengyu had expected. He tapped the table with his fingers and said after a while, "What happened in the city yesterday cannot be covered up. Guan Haishan must have known about Xiao Wan Youliang's situation. It's not a good idea to let him stay in the guardhouse and not come out. Go and bring him back."
"As for the threat of pirates..." Yin Chengyu went through the people he could use in his mind and said, "I will make other arrangements."
As they were talking, the kitchen servant brought in breakfast.
Yin Chengyu ordered someone to place the table in the living room, and then he sat down at the table leisurely. Seeing Xue Shu still standing by, he asked him to sit down and have dinner with him.
Xue Shu sat down below him, but he didn't look at the food in front of him, he just stared at Yin Chengyu.
Yin Chengyu's etiquette has always been known as a model, and his every move is full of elegance. He picked up a piece of white jade osmanthus cake, took a bite, swallowed it slowly, and looked at Xue Shu with his eyes slanting: "If you don't want to eat, go and do your work."
There was no hint of annoyance in his words, but rather a hint of arousal due to his sideways glance at her.
Xue Shu's eyes suddenly became hot, and countless emotions were swirling under his eyelashes that were pulled down so low.
He lowered his head and very slowly picked up the chopsticks to pick up the plate of white jade osmanthus cake placed in front of Yin Chengyu.
But when he reached out, Yin Chengyu held it down with chopsticks.
Yin Chengyu looked at his expression, smiling and saying, "Don't you dislike sweets?"
Xue Shu pursed his lips and said after a while: "Your Highness likes it."
If His Highness likes to eat, then he likes to eat too.
He wants to know what the other person likes.
"Then this dish is for you." His words pleased Yin Chengyu. He withdrew his hand and signaled the servant who was serving the dishes to put the dish of osmanthus cake in front of Xue Shu.
Only one piece of the osmanthus cake that had just been served was moved, and the half piece that Yin Chengyu had bitten off was placed on the top.
Yin Chengyu put down his chopsticks, picked up the hot tea and took a sip, then looked at Xue Shu through the hot steam.
Seeing that he really tried to pick up the piece he had eaten first, her eyebrows twitched and she curled her lips and smiled.
After breakfast, Yin Chengyu went to the Salt Commissioner's office to look for Fang Zhengke.
Xue Shu, who was reluctant to leave, was sent to the guard post to arrest Guan Haishan.
Fang Zhengke's injury had healed, and he stayed in the office for a while, just cleaning up the files and accounts of the Salt Commissioner. On that day, Wan Youliang burned the archives of the Salt Commissioner to destroy the evidence, and although the people arranged by Yin Chengyu snatched some of them out, a lot of them were still damaged.
"Although part of the matter has been sorted out now, it is only the tip of the iceberg." Fang Zhengke's face was full of anger: "Just look at the remaining accounts, and you will know how corrupt the Changluo Salt Administration has been over the years!"
In these years, from top to bottom, from inside to outside, from Wangjing to local salt administration officials, I am afraid that few are clean.
"If Your Highness wants to make a fundamental change, you have to find a way to sort out the accounts over the years."
"How difficult is that?" After reading through the accounts one by one, Yin Chengyu said, "Just wait and see, Mr. Fang Yushi. I have a way to catch all these parasites. Salt tax is related to the foundation of the country. The chaos in the Changlu Salt Administration must not be allowed to continue."
殷承玉與方正克一番懇談之後，便回了天津衛城。
經過一夜功夫，大沽口的消息顯然已經傳回了天津衛城，迎出來的官員瞧見殷承玉，各個面帶惶惶之色，卻誰也沒敢表露太甚。
殷承玉卻不再與他們虛與委蛇，直接擺駕去了衙門公堂，接着便命人将鹽商與漕幫當家均宣到了公堂上。
八大家三大幫的當家們齊聚公堂，跪了一地。
殷承玉端坐高堂，手裏端着茶盞，茶蓋邊緣緩緩濾過茶沫，姿态從容地輕啜。
當家們被晾了快兩刻鐘，跪得膝蓋都發了麻。面面相觑半晌，最後推了鹽商之首曹峰出來說話。
曹峰拱了拱手，陪着笑臉道：“不知道太子殿下召草民們前來，所為何事？”
“是有些事想問問諸位。”
殷承玉“當啷”一聲合上茶盞，茶蓋撞擊茶碗，鳴聲清脆：“有人檢舉長蘆鹽使司鹽政混亂，私鹽泛濫擠兌官鹽。孤特奉皇命前來徹查……”說到這裏，他故意頓了頓，目光緩緩掠過下方，将衆人表情收歸眼中，方才繼續道：“查了這些日子，孤發現長蘆鹽使司不僅賬目混亂，鹽轉運使萬有良還僞造戶部文書，私發鹽引，截留稅銀，實在罪無可恕。”
“如今萬有良已被羁押，但前陣子鹽使司檔案室被燒毀，不少賬目文書缺失。孤這才召諸位前來了解萬有良私發鹽引一事。在場諸位都是天津衛的大鹽商，萬有良私發鹽引提高稅銀，諸位想必久受其害。如今若有冤屈不滿，盡可以說來。”
殷承玉表情寬和，仿佛真只是召他們來訴說冤屈。
一時幾位當家心裏都打起了鼓，不明白這太子到底是真傻還是裝傻。
萬有良私發鹽引，多收稅銀之事鹽商心中自是有數。但這點稅銀相比起私鹽巨大的利潤來，不過九牛一毛。
他們予萬有良好處，萬有良予他們方便，這是互利互惠之事。
況且若是萬有良倒了，牽扯出私鹽一事，他們誰也跑不掉。
曹峰露出惶恐之色，以頭搶地道：“還請太子殿下明鑒，自萬大人赴任以來，一力打擊私鹽，穩定官鹽價格，天津衛鹽商深感其恩，不知道這私發鹽引提高稅銀一說從何而來？我等并不知情。”
其餘人見狀緊随其後，紛紛附和：“沒錯，還望太子殿下不要聽信了小人誣言。”
“萬大人一心為民，怎會犯下此等大錯？”
殷承玉聽着他們一個個争先恐後為萬有良辯駁，反倒是拊掌笑了：“孤本不信長蘆鹽場官商勾結倒賣私鹽，如今見諸位如此維護萬有良，倒是信了八九分。”
此話一出，激烈的辯駁聲便霎時頓住。
當家們詫異地望向他。
殷承玉冷下臉來，不複方才寬和：“萬有良所犯之事罪證确鑿，已是死罪難逃。爾等與他狼狽為奸，亦難逃罪責。只不過孤行事歷來寬厚，法不責衆。你們若是想清楚了，便帶上歷年賬目前來自首，尚可轉做污點證人從輕發落。若是想不清楚……”他森然笑道：“倒賣私鹽者，按大燕律，當斬。”
話罷，便拂袖而去。
鄭多寶捧着一疊賬冊留在最後，看着神色驚疑不定的當家們，又給了個棗兒吃：“殿下仁厚，不願看見天津衛血流成河，這才召諸位前來。可惜了……”他憐憫地掃過公堂衆人，嘆聲道：“你們自以為鐵板一塊，但殊不知早有人暗中投了殿下。”
他意味深長地拍了拍手中捧着的一疊賬冊，跟在殷承玉後頭離開。
留下堂中衆人驚疑不定。
蔣家當家懷疑地掃過幾人：“誰做了叛徒？”
“離間之計你也信？！”曹峰叱了一聲。
“都穩當些，若真有證據，咱們今日還能輕輕松松回去？”柯守信也跟着安撫道。
他說得不無道理，但殷承玉的話到底在心底留下懷疑的種子，一時間衆人心中各有計較，出了公堂之後，便匆匆各回了家中。
而這頭殷承玉回了行館，便傳了趙霖來：“可以命人将消息放出去了。”
之前衛西河交給他的賬目，他一直隐忍不發，就是為了今日。
就在鹽商和漕幫當家們還在猶疑不定、觀望形勢時，素來與曹峰交好的鹽使司官員忽然透出風聲來，說衛家暗投太子，已經交出了私鹽賬目。
這兩日裏太子正在二次核查賬目。
這些年來，各家經手的私鹽都是有明細賬目的，這既是他們的催命符，也是他們彼此牽制的保命符。
只要衆人還是系在一條繩上的螞蚱，那誰也不會輕易将這東西拿出來。
可現在卻傳出風聲說衛家已經叛變，消息還是打鹽使司內部傳來的。
忽遭背刺的當家們一時激憤難當。
如今衛家乃是柯守信當家，曹峰也不敢帶太多人上門，恐引人矚目，便只和柳家當家柳緒之以及羅生幫的大當家閻楚河找上了衛家。
這兩日柯守信也頗有些惶惶不安，聽聞三人上門，還以為有了新消息，連忙将人請到書房去，結果剛進門就遭了閻楚河一拳頭。
閻楚河掐着他脖子将人掼在牆上，神色兇狠：“你敢出賣我們？！”
柯守信掰着他的手，神色驚詫：“你胡說什麽？！”
另兩人見他神色驚詫不似作假，連忙上前勸說，才将人先放了開來。
曹峰端起和事佬的架子：“老柯啊，咱們都可是一條船上的兄弟，你要是先跳了船，害了其他人，可別怪我們心狠手辣。”
他将一張謄抄的賬目自袖中抽出，遞給柯守信：“你看看這是不是你家的賬。”
“我怎麽可能做這種蠢事？這兩日我還擔心那幾個蠢貨信了離間計去自首呢！”
柯守信面色鐵青，接過他手中紙張，原只是随意掃了一眼，但看到上頭獨特的記賬法子時，表情就滞住了。
其他三人見他表情不對，立即狐疑起來：“這真是你家的不成？”
柯守信心中驚濤駭浪，面上卻還是穩住了，蹙眉不快道：“不是我這兒的。”
只是說是這麽說，他臉上笑容卻十分勉強。
他在心裏飛快思索着，賬目是從何處流出去的——那些賬目自他掌控衛家後，一直都是握在他手裏，不可能為外人知曉才對。
不對，還有一人知道！
柯守信悚然一驚，想起了自己那個行将就木的大兒子。
他無心再和三人周旋，匆匆将人打發走後，便快步往西院去。
衛西河剛收拾完東西。
他在這方宅院裏生活了二十年，臨到離開，不過簡簡單單一個包袱。
親人已逝，衛家易主，只剩自小一道長大的奶兄還陪在他身邊。
他仰頭望着衛府高高的院牆，釋然笑了聲，側臉道：“阿懸，我終于能離開這裏了。”
周懸接過他手中的包袱，“嗯”了一聲：“少爺要去祭拜老太爺和夫人嗎？”
“現在還不是時候。”衛西河看向大步走來的柯守信，輕聲說：“血仇未報，談何祭拜？”
“逆子，是你對不對！”柯守信大步上前，就要來抓他的衣領。
周懸下意識想要擋開，卻被衛西河一個手勢止住了動作。
“除了我，還有誰？”
衛西河笑看着他，一根根掰開他的手指頭，眼底盈滿惡意：“如今只不過是開始罷了。不只是你，你那些妻妾、兒女，都會為衛府陪葬。”
他眼神之陰冷，語氣之冷酷，叫柯守信下意識退後兩步，咬着牙道：“早知如此，當日我就不該心軟留你！”
衛西河嗤了一聲：“現在後悔也來不及了。清明将至，我必提你項上人頭，去祭祖父和母親。”
話罷，他撣了撣衣袍上的塵灰，在周懸的攙扶下，挺直了腰背，一步一步走出了這座困了他五年的牢籠。
衛家投了太子的消息很快就在各家傳開，尤其是曹峰等人去找柯守信打探消息回來後就推病不見客之舉，更叫一幹人心中打起了鼓。
不少人心中已經開始動搖。
尤其是萬有良被羁押不過五日，就又聽說總兵官關海山也被緝拿歸案。
他原本躲在衛所裏，以為可以暫時避過一劫，卻不料太子派了四衛營精兵前去緝拿。關海山反抗未果，反被斬了一條胳膊，關進了天津衛城的大牢。
關海山身為天津衛總官兵，乃二品大員。若不是有了确鑿證據，太子絕不會如此行事。
一時間天津衛人心惶惶。
而殷承玉的離間之計也終于起了效用，接連有人暗中前來自首，呈上歷年私鹽賬冊，願轉為污點證人，只求從輕發落。
一箱箱的私鹽賬冊被送到了方正克處。
人證、物證确鑿。
殷承玉抵達天津衛一個月後，私鹽案終于正式開始審理，巡鹽禦史方正克為此案主審官。
而殷承玉此時，則忙着另一件事——防備大沽口海寇來襲。
按照那海寇小頭目的招供，他們在配合關海山完成了吓唬“麻煩”的任務之後，便會留在大沽口，方便兩日後接應大批海寇登岸。
天津衛海防松懈，軍隊憊懶。關海山這個總兵官又帶頭勾結海寇，縱容海寇船只往來，致使這些海寇登岸已成常律。
他們不僅會在岸上燒殺劫掠，還會将海上運回的貨物售給天津衛的商販，由其銷往各地，換取大筆銀錢和物資。
因有利可圖，不少商販和當地百姓自願成了海寇的耳目，為了防止關海山出事的消息走漏，殷承玉命人走水路自廣寧衛調兵支援，撤離了整個大沽口的百姓。
如今大沽口只剩下一座空城，而城中生活的“百姓”則是兵士所扮。
只等海寇登岸。
兩日後，一切都已布置妥當。
廣寧衛指揮使肖同光随殷承玉一道坐鎮大沽口。
“殿下确定那夥海寇今日會登岸？”
此次調兵肖同光也是冒了風險的，若不是他一向敬佩殷承玉品行，信上殷承玉又言辭懇切求援，換了旁人，沒有兵部文書，他絕不會貿然同意調兵。
天津衛本身就有駐兵五六千人，更別說下頭的千戶所百戶所等，兵力十分充足，左右又有遼東、山東護衛，便是有小波海寇，也當能自行解決。
只是殷承玉來信時說天津衛總官兵勾結海寇，數日後海寇将要登岸，衛所上下卻無可信之人。為防走漏風聲，只能從旁處調兵。
肖同光幾經思慮，這才冒險調兵前來支援。
“不确定。”殷承玉搖搖頭：“消息是從捉拿歸案的小頭目口中所知，孤也不确定這中間會不會有變故。但海寇猖獗已久，孤既聽聞了消息，便不能置之不理。”
他拍了拍肖同光的肩膀，笑道：“肖指揮使放心，若是出了岔子，孤一肩擔着就是。”
說罷他背着手上前，通過千裏鏡觀看海面情形。
此時海面平靜，并不見有船只航行跡象。
這麽一等，便等到了傍晚時分，仍未見海寇蹤影。
殷承玉依舊從容不迫，倒是肖同光就有些沉不住氣了，再次懷疑道：“莫不是消息有誤？”
殷承玉道：“今日不來，明日也許來。等過三日不來，肖指揮使便可先行折返。”
聽他如此說，肖同光只能耐着性子繼續等。
就在夕陽快要墜到海平線上時，忽然有斥候來報：海上來了五艘大船。
其中兩艘是五百料戰船，另外三艘略小些，都是貨船。
肖同光精神一振，迅速布置下去。
此時大沽口如同往常一般，看不出任何差別。
幾艘大船在靠近碼頭時，打起了旗語。接頭的旗語早從小頭目口中問了出來，當即便有兵士回了暗號，示意一切正常。
大船在簡陋的碼頭暫時停靠，海寇們興高采烈地搬着貨物下船。
他們大部分人都剃着月代頭，穿着扶桑異服，但口中卻熟練地以大燕話交流。
不過半個時辰，貨物便裝卸完畢。
海寇們将堆積如山的貨物扔在碼頭上，成群結隊，準備先進城去找點樂子，順便喊人來裝貨。
為首的大漢扛着一把厚背重刀，身上穿着不倫不類的衣裳，一雙眼睛四處掃射，并未加入狂歡的海寇隊伍裏。
他踹了旁邊的人一腳，皺眉道：“都擔心着點，我感覺有點不對。”
“能有什麽不對？大當家就是太謹慎了。”被他踹了一腳的是二當家，嘻嘻哈哈道：“咱們這次弄到了好東西，到時候叫關總兵來看看，他若是肯收，咱們就發大財了。”
他們早就眼紅私鹽生意許久，只是天津衛的私鹽早都被瓜分完了，他們這種後來的一直沒尋着機會加進去，只能跟着喝點肉湯。
如今正好從關海山兜裏掏點銀錢。
大漢沒有反駁他的話，但眉頭仍然皺着，心底總有股危機感盤旋不去。
殷承玉在鼓樓上，他看了一眼為首的大漢，将千裏鏡遞給了肖同光：“賊首起疑心了，讓他們準備提前行動。”
肖同光接過看了一眼，也發現了大漢四處張望的動作，當即便傳令下去。
鼓樓上的旗幟以特殊頻率交錯揮動數下。
昏暗暮色裏，大沽口城門緩緩阖上，發出沉悶吱呀聲響。
“不對！有詐！”大漢聽見聲響，最先反應過來，便往城門口沖。
他的速度極快，城門又過于沉重，閉合的速度緩慢，竟當真讓他沖了出去。
而在他之後，幾個速度快的海寇也沖到了城門前，與守城的兵士戰到了一處。
局勢瞬間混亂起來，肖同光見那匪首跑了，急忙道：“我帶人去追，不能讓他跑了。”
那大漢如此機警，身手又好，必定是海寇重要頭目。
“不必，我的人已經追上去了。”殷承玉眯着眼，看向城門口已經戰至一處的兩道人影。
——在大漢沖向城門的同時，薛恕已經追了上去。那大漢十分悍勇，眼見甩不脫薛恕，便回身拔刀與他戰了起來。
大漢用厚背重刀，大刀揮出時勢如千鈞，攜帶風聲；而薛恕用雙刀，一長一短兩把刀在他手中如臂使指。
看出大漢臂力驚人，他并未硬碰硬，而是仗着靈活身手貼身近戰，左手短刀不時在大漢身上留下傷口。
不過片刻，大漢身上便血跡斑斑。
他啐了一口，眼神更見兇惡，将一把大刀舞得虎虎生風。
然而薛恕就如同狡詐的孤狼，每每都能正好躲開他的招式，還順勢反擊。就在大漢被纏磨的不耐時，就見他上身忽然漏了個破綻，心中頓時一喜，揮刀朝他左肩砍去。
薛恕似躲閃不及，鋒銳刀鋒自他肩上削過，鮮血迸出。
大漢朝他兇狠一笑，還未來得及得意，笑容就僵住了。
——薛恕右手長刀正砍在他腿上。
這回換薛恕朝他陰森一笑，腰身一旋帶動手臂使力，便将他整個右腿齊膝斬斷。
大漢痛呼倒地，膝蓋處鮮血噴湧。
薛恕随意抹了把噴濺到臉上的鮮血，将刀拄在地上，扭頭看向鼓樓方向。
殷承玉從千裏鏡裏看見這一幕，目光卻被他左肩殷紅一片刺痛。
“孤下去看看。”他将千裏鏡扔給肖同光，便下了鼓樓。
城門口的厮殺已至尾聲，廣寧衛士兵訓練有素，很快将一百多海寇盡數拿下。
連同五艘大船一道扣下。
殷承玉趕到城門口時，那斷了腿的賊首已經被綁起來押上囚車。薛恕拄着刀跟在後頭，身姿一如以往挺拔，只臉色有些發白。若不是肩膀上暗紅洇濕一片，幾乎以為他和平常無異。
“快傳軍醫！”
殷承玉看見那片鮮紅就一陣心悸，已顧不上旁的，只命人去架住薛恕。
薛恕皺眉掙紮，正要說他自己能走，就被殷承玉瞪了一眼：“老實些！”
他動作一頓，果真老老實實被人架着，回了官衙。
軍醫背着醫藥箱匆匆趕到官衙，看到他肩上傷口就驚了一跳：“這若是再偏些，這條胳膊怕是就廢了。”
他說着便吩咐小醫童準備麻沸散針線等物。
薛恕臉上布滿汗珠，聞言冷聲反駁道：“不過小傷罷了，我心中有數。”
那軍醫被他噎住，本想痛罵他一頓，但對上他的兇悍眼神，又閉了嘴，悶不吭聲拿出紗布替他清理傷口。
反倒是殷承玉看得心煩，叱道：“你若有數，能傷成這樣？”
薛恕抿起唇，眼中不服，卻到底沒有反駁。
片刻之後醫童端來麻沸湯，他喝完之後便昏睡過去，軍醫替他清理幹淨傷口，又以針線縫合，忙活了小半個時辰，才将傷口處理好。
“他這傷如何？需休養多久？”殷承玉問。
“至少靜養半月。”軍醫道：“幸好避開了經脈要害，只傷在皮肉，不然怕是一年半載也好不了。”
殷承玉眉頭擰起來，命人送走軍醫，才在榻邊坐下來。
麻沸湯的藥性還沒過，薛恕此時還昏睡着。
因為失血太多臉色蒼白的緣故，平日鋒銳的眉眼此時顯露幾分脆弱，多了幾分少年氣。
殷承玉細細打量着他，這才驚覺，他其實與他年歲相仿，還是個少年郎。
他自己重生一回，又帶着對前世的既定印象，每每看他時，總習慣性将他當做上一世那個無所不能的九千歲。
但他忘了，就算是九千歲，其實也是從刀光劍影裏走來，留下過滿身傷疤。
他總說他是殺人的刀，卻忽略了一把刀，需得無數次打磨，才能如此鋒銳無匹。
這人骨子裏就有旁人沒有的狠戾，似乎天生就擅長搏鬥厮殺，可無論前世今生，他都從未問過，薛恕這一身功夫是如何習來。
殷承玉在榻前坐了許久。
直到鄭多寶端着熬好的湯藥進來，他仍未離開。
鄭多寶給薛恕喂完了藥，勸他回去休息，殷承玉只是搖頭，眼神沉沉的不知道在思索什麽。
鄭多寶只當他是太擔心薛恕，心裏感慨了一句殿下當真是看中薛恕，便帶着空碗退了下去。
Xue Shu woke up two minutes after taking the medicine.
When he first woke up, his eyes were still unfocused and a little dazed. But this confusion only lasted for a breath or two, and then his eyes became clear and sharp again.
He turned his head to look at the person beside the bed and said in a hoarse voice: "Your Highness?"
He probably didn't expect Yin Chengyu to be here guarding him, and there was a hint of surprise in his tone.
"Awake?" Yin Chengyu lowered his eyes and looked at him: "Does the wound hurt?"
Xue Shu wanted to say it didn’t hurt, but hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded and said “it hurts”.
Yin Chengyu sneered upon hearing this, unable to suppress his anger: "You know the pain, but don't know how to cherish your life?"
"He can't kill me." Xue Shu defended himself, and then said, "And Your Highness wants to capture him alive."
The thief leader is quite capable. If he doesn't show some flaws and get hurt, I'm afraid he won't be fooled.
Yin Chengyu fell silent again, his expression returning to calm.
After a long moment, his eyelashes trembled, and he leaned over to lift his chin, almost nose to nose, and said with a bit of gnashing teeth: "You are so loyal, do you... like me?"
His sudden question made Xue Shu's breathing pause for a moment, and then he nodded without hesitation.
"What kind of love?" Yin Chengyu smiled after getting the expected answer, lowered his eyes and looked at him for a long time, then pointed at him with his fingertips: "This kind?"
Xue Shu's breathing suddenly became rapid, and the look in his eyes seemed to be about to bring a storm. He grabbed Yin Chengyu's wrist with his uninjured hand, veins popping out on the back of his hand, and he endured and restrained himself.
Yin Chengyu patted the back of his hand lightly and scolded, "How dare you."
Just because of the elongated ending sound, these words don't sound too threatening, but instead add a bit of seductiveness.
Xue Shu did not let go of his hand, but controlled the strength and carefully held his hand in his palm.
"Where is your highness?"
He raised his eyes, as if he wanted to look directly into Yin Chengyu's heart.
Yin Chengyu did not answer. Instead, he glanced at him with a half-smile, left an incoherent sentence "I'm still angry", then withdrew his hand and left.
Xue Shu looked at his back and twisted his fingers unconsciously.
Your Highness's hands are indeed softer than a handkerchief.
The author has something to say:
Gou Gou: Your Highness is flirting with me again, Your Highness loves me so much.
Your Highness: