The most prosperous cities in the entire Jiangnan region are naturally Jinling and Suzhou.

Next on the list are Huating, Wuxi, Zhenjiang and Hangzhou.

The population of Huating County is only half of that of Hangzhou City, but its prosperity is in no way inferior to Hangzhou. One can imagine how wealthy and prosperous it is.

The most prosperous section of Huating and even Songjiang is the ten-mile long street starting from Huayang Bridge in the east and ending at Kuatang Bridge in the west.

The long street is lined with houses, tiled with thousands of tiles, with carriages and horses following behind, and the seats are full of guests, with three thousand green sleeves and bright lights and wine.

The water lanes are dazzling, painted boats are lined up, and boats carrying prostitutes are lining up among the green waves and red pavilions. It is truly a paradise on earth in the south of the Yangtze River.

On a two-story pleasure boat with carved railings and jade-built walls and hanging gauze curtains, two female actors were singing the "Transformation into a Snake on Dragon Boat Festival" section from "The Legend of the White Snake" to the accompaniment of a musical band.

I only heard Xiaoqing singing: "Although the weather on the Dragon Boat Festival is good, I am worried about whether to go or not. It's because I didn't practice well at that time, and I was most scared at noon..."

In front of the stage, there were three low-legged nanmu tables painted with gold, and delicious delicacies were laid out.

Xu Fan sat in the center, Xu Ying on the right. Behind the low table on the right sat Zheng Yuanshao, the military governor of Susong who was left behind by Lin Run to continue measuring the land.

At this time, Zheng Yuanshao was surrounded by two charming ladies, who were trying to please and tease him in various ways.

Zheng Yuanshao felt as if he was being entangled by two beautiful snakes, and he felt a chill at the back of his head.

It's not that he is a moralist, nor that the two ladies are unsightly. It's just that the banquet was not a good one and made people feel very uncomfortable!

Xu Ying held the boneless lady in her arms and played with her for a while, then smiled at her elder brother and said, "I think Zheng Guancha is also celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in the same way as Xiaoqing, and he is very scared."

"Don't talk nonsense." Xu Fan was not very open in front of his brother, and just held the little hand of the lady tightly. "Come, I'll pour a cup of realgar wine for the observer, and see if you will show your true colors."

"Haha, you two dear brothers are really humorous." Zheng Yuanshao's heart trembled when he heard this.

The lady beside him kept wiping his sweat, and she was secretly calculating in her heart that this Zheng Guancha was either guilty or had kidney deficiency...

On the stage, White Snake comforted Xiaoqing and said, "Qing'er, don't complain. Go back to Mount Emei as soon as possible. We can separate for the time being to avoid being investigated."

Xiaoqing reluctantly held Bai Niangzi's hand and asked, "Sister, what's wrong?"

White Snake sang tenderly: "We should be careful to accompany him here, so as to avoid any suspicion between husband and wife..."

~~

Under the stage, Xu Ying laughed and said, "What a good White Snake, but it's a pity that Fahai doesn't understand love."

"Yes, it is quite hateful." Zheng Yuanshao said hurriedly.

"Come to think of it, our Lin Zhongcheng is really fucking like Fahai." Xu Ying sneered, "He is so stubborn and stubborn that he will hurt others and himself in the end!"

"..." Zheng Yuanshao didn't dare to respond now.

"Okay, how many years does it take for a freak like that to appear?" Xu Fan waved his hand and took over the conversation, "Of course we normal people can't understand it. Right, Zheng Guancha?"

"Haha, ah, Zhongcheng is so arrogant and proud that ordinary people like me can never catch up with him..." Zheng Yuanshao laughed dryly.

"Right? So we can't be like him." Xu Fan stretched out his arm, poured him a glass of wine with some difficulty, and said:

"He is a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) and a favorite of the emperor. If he does his job well, he can become a high-ranking official or even a general or a prime minister. Zheng Guancha, what about you? You are a Juren (a successful candidate in the imperial examination) and have worked hard in the officialdom for twenty years. If you can become a fourth-rank official, you have already reached the top."

"That's right. Above them are the assistant ministers, provincial governors, and provincial inspectors. Do you think that group of Jinshi officials can tolerate a Juren among them?" Xu Ying also echoed:

"Can't you see Hai Rui if you can't see others? He is so famous, known as the most honest official in the world, but he is still stuck at the fourth rank, and he is eating idle meals in the Nanjing Tongzheng Department. He is worse than observing you."

"Alas..." Zheng Yuanshao was struck by what he said. This is how the Ming Dynasty officialdom works. No matter how capable you are, a Juren will never be as good as a Jinshi.

He smiled bitterly and said, "How could this humble official have ever had such extravagant hopes? Being able to become a military governor seems like a dream. I am content with this life."

"That's it. Since you are content with your career, why do you have to follow Lin all the way to the end? It's not worth it." Xu Ying said, taking out a ticket from his sleeve, flicking it lightly with his fingers, and it flicked in front of Zheng Yuanshao.

"What does this mean?" Zheng Yuanshao's pupils shrank and he was shocked by the amount on it.

One hundred thousand taels of silver.

"You travel thousands of miles to be an official just for money. You should stay closer to us brothers in the future." Xu Ying smiled and said, "I guarantee that you will earn enough money for three lifetimes in three years."

"Old Third, don't talk so vulgarly." Xu Fan pretended to scold Xu Ying and said to Zheng Yuanshao with a smile: "Old Zheng, you and I are brothers and we hit it off right away, so I'll tell you the truth. Such a big thing happened in Suzhou, and Lin Zhongcheng, the governor, won't be in office for long."

"What?!" Zheng Yuanshao trembled all over, his face pale, and said, "What does that have to do with the Zhongcheng? The court will not be so careless!"

"You have been an official in the local government for a long time, so you think it is not surprising that the governor is higher than the sky." Xu Fan sneered and said, "But in the entire Ming Dynasty, a third-rank official is really nothing. Replacing the governor is not a big deal. It only takes a few impeachment documents from the Ministry of Personnel to succeed."

"This..." Zheng Yuanshao's throat kept shaking, and the fear in his heart made it difficult for him to breathe.

~~

On the stage, the play had already reached the part where White Snake drank realgar wine and Fahai came up.

I only heard the monk chanting: "Why should I seek for idle sorrow in life? A white cloud drifts away leisurely. The sea of ​​suffering may end at some point, but the rolling of rivers will never stop!"

Off the stage, the Xu brothers had also finished their coercion and inducement.

"Zheng Guancha, tell me. Do you want to follow Lin to the end, or turn back from the endless suffering?"

"..." Zheng Yuanshao lowered his head and struggled for a long time. After a long time, he raised his head, his eyes red and trembling, he said: "I'm sorry, the two of you, the Zhongcheng has been very kind to me, I can't let him down."

As he said this, he broke free from the two beauties, stood up and said, "It's getting late. Thank you for your hospitality. Let's dock the boat."

"Haha, you really don't want to drink the toast and then drink the forfeit." Xu Ying sneered.

"Observation, why don't you drink the wine in the glass?" Xu Fan was not annoyed, he picked up the glass and said, "Let's part ways in peace."

"Okay." Zheng Yuanshao nodded, bent down to take the wine glass offered by the lady, tilted his head back to drink it, but couldn't help but spit out half of the glass.

"What kind of wine is this?"

"Didn't I tell you? Realgar wine." Xu Fan said with a smile, "After drinking realgar wine, all the demons and ghosts will show up."

"This kind of joke is not funny at all!" Zheng Yuanshao's robe was stained with wine, and he turned away unhappily.

Xu Fan, however, smiled faintly at Zheng Yuanshao, who was about to leave the cabin, and said, "Isn't that right, Zheng Yuanzhao?"

Zheng Yuanshao felt as if struck by lightning, sweat pouring down his face, and he dared not take another step forward.

On the stage, the actors sang "Qian Qiu Sui":

"Don't be stubborn, the snake demon has changed its shape secretly, this is all the tenderness in the dream and the love in the mirror.

When youth is over, when youth is over, you are in the belly of the white snake, and then you will believe that the prosperity is empty and the dream of the world is over..."

Xu Xian cried out in fear: "Master, save me!"

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