Prostitution

Chapter 111

This day Qi Jue returned to Beijing from the border to report on his duties.

Ling Jue, the chief soldier of Jiangnan Dao, is a household name in the south.He himself is low-key, humble and dedicated to his duties, so he only has a well-behaved reputation.

And this reputation is dismissive to the garrison in the wild land on the northwest border.

After successfully killing Zhong Ming Zhong Ding, he was ordered to take over the largest garrison position in the border area, with a total of 30 soldiers.

With a little carelessness, together with the 20 defenders stationed at several passes hundreds of miles away, 50 horses and horses can crush mountains and rivers in an instant.

The level of trust in such a strategy that risked life and death was carried out by him was immeasurable, and he admired and worshiped that courageous prince even more.

However, Qi Jue is indeed a person with good intentions, and it is his natural disposition to never show the truth.Otherwise, how can the trust of drawing cakes based on empty paper be able to deter the brutal and powerful frontier soldiers.

Yuan Cheng is not aware of this.

However, he didn't know that 15 years later, the emperor he personally supported became a puppet master, and his unrecognizable uncle eventually became the regent who swept the world and controlled the court and coordinated the society.

This is an afterthought.

For more than a month, the imperial decree and Enwei have been implemented together, and the frontier can be regarded as a great stability, alleviating the worries for this extraordinary coup.Needless to say, how thrilling the process was.

Qi Jue returned to Beijing with his intangible feats.Qi Mingxiu, who is the emperor, wanted to confer him a noble title, but Qi Jue thought that he had no real merit, and if the current situation gave him a big reward, he would fall into disrepute and be secretly arranged for no reason. When I return, I will reward you again so as to block the mouths of many people.So this matter will not be mentioned for the time being.

Regarding Qi Jue's real identity, Qi Mingxiu also thought hard for a long time, and had discussed it with Yuan Chengqu earlier, but couldn't find a suitable reason and opportunity for a while, so he could only give up for the time being.

When Qi Mingxiu expressed his guilt with a depressed face, Qi Jue smiled and comforted him. Even with the glory of the royal family, it is still a fact known to the world that he has no merit, and it is of no practical help to govern the army.

Many matters have to wait for the opportunity to wait for the future.

What surprised Qi Jue was also Qi Mingxiu's changes in just a few months.The once impetuous and impetuous has disappeared from him, he is much calmer, and his words and deeds are full of everyone's demeanor.Qi Jue was naturally very pleased about this.

When it comes to the follow-up details of Master Wen's death, Qi Jue did not expect that Mr. Wen would leave without hesitation.As for the entanglement between the three, Qi Jue, who is an outsider, can only sigh inwardly that God's will is unpredictable.

The uncle and nephew reunited and had a good conversation in the imperial study.The palace has set up a dust-cleaning dinner, and they are waiting for Yuan Cheng, Qu Tongyin and a group of courtiers to enter the palace.

But it was said that this Xiang Yuancheng returned home from Wenzhai on the outskirts of the city, and was planning to enter the palace for a dinner in the afternoon.

The unidentified students have been investigating for several days and finally got the result on this day.

That Zhang Xuan was tied up with a rope, and he knelt in Liangtang's study with his head held high, assuming a confident posture.

On the side, Lian Qi reported what happened.

The portrait of Zhang Xuan, more than a dozen surviving imperial soldiers all said that they had never met or met each other.Coincidentally, one person died at home the next day. The original wound on the corpse was ruptured. On the surface, he died of excessive blood loss, but Lian Qi checked and found that the cause of death was a broken neck bone.

And for several days, another person died by the same means.

Since he was ordered to conduct a secret investigation, Lian Qi was confident that his actions would never reveal any clues, so when Zhang Xuan tried his old tricks again, he was caught by Lian Qi who had been hiding for a long time.

After hearing these facts, Zhang Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

But Yuan Cheng's heart had sunk to the bottom of the valley at this moment, and his expression was as stern as iron.Now it seems that such acts of killing and silencing are really trying to cover up their own lies.But if he hadn't tracked down Master Wen's death, I'm afraid the truth would have fallen into the sea like a stone, and he would be wronged forever.

"Who instructed you?"

Yuan Cheng's voice was gloomy, even though he knew that he would not confess easily, he still couldn't stop wanting to prove it.

"No one ordered." Zhang Xuan looked fearlessly, looking directly at him, with such a firm attitude.

Yuan Cheng's eyes were full of hostility, but his heart was full of anger, "Don't forget that you are a soldier, General Ling and your robe Ze went to the frontier to die and die, but you hide in the capital and do such a self-deprecating thing! "

Zhang Xuan lowered his head, his eyes changed slightly, and his expression became slightly moved.

Seeing this, Yuan Cheng restrained his stern expression, and then said again, "I believe you must have refused, were you threatened by him?"

Zhang Xuan raised his face, looked at him and quickly lowered his gaze, without saying whether or not.

Yuancheng tried his best to restrain Tengsheng's anger, and said again with unyielding determination, "Do you think you can still hide the matter until now? You shot and killed Mr. Wen with your own hands that day. It's a good countermeasure, and your ability to escape is also powerful enough to use To kill a meritorious official in his sixties is to let down your good ability to make meritorious deeds!"

Zhang Xuan buried his face a little lower, his shoulders fluctuated, he seemed remorseful, but he still refused to let go.

Yuan Cheng stood up suddenly, walked around the desk, and stood in front of him.Zhang Xuan felt a gust of wind blowing towards his face, and a shadow in front of his eyes made his heartstrings tense.

"What did Mingxiu promise you? Wealth? Fame?"

Zhang Xuan heard the word Mingxiu, raised his head suddenly, and put Yuan Cheng's previous words behind him, his expression was as determined as a rock, "It's not him!"

Yuan Cheng's eyes froze, and he scolded, "Who else is it if it's not him!"

"After all...it's not him." Zhang Xuan was so startled that he avoided his gaze and kept shaking his head.

Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light exploded in front of Yuan Cheng's eyes, and he was suddenly enlightened. In an instant, he became short of breath, pacing back and forth, pointing and pointing at the drooping head, and was so angry that he lost his voice for a while.

After he calmed down for a while, the shocking thought brought an ambiguous smile to his lips, as if he couldn't believe it and had to believe it, but his tone was infinitely mocking,

"He won't let you be his bedtime favorite?"

Zhang Xuan's face turned pale when he heard the words, as if he had been hit in the head by the words, even his body trembled uncontrollably.

Yuan Cheng suddenly burst into laughter, leaning forward and back together in laughter, the sadness in his words was also piercingly cold,

"I really underestimated him..."

Hearing this laughter, Zhang Xuan was so ear-piercing, his pale face turned red instantly, then turned ashen as a dead man.It was already too late to apply the phrase that a scholar can be killed but not humiliated.

"Lian Qi, take him into the palace."

In the end, Yuan Cheng turned up his robe sleeves, an ominous aura condensed between his brows, and resolutely walked away in a wrong step.

The imperial study room is carved with jade columns.

During the conversation, the father-in-law reported to the saint, and Daohuai respected the king to see him.

At the time of the invitation, the man had already arrived at the gate of the palace, and he bowed his waist as soon as he entered, the golden light could not wash away the decadent aura in his body.

Qi Jue stood up and bowed, only thinking that his faint sense of decadence was caused by emotional frustration.

"General Ling worked hard for months." Yuan Cheng replied.

"The emperor has been praising the prince for his tireless work and dedication. It is really a blessing for Daqi."

Qi Jue spoke from the bottom of his heart, but it was still unavoidable to be polite, Yuan Cheng smiled and accepted, not wanting to receive any more compliments.

"You came at a good time. Uncle just mentioned the issue of military pay. The dinner is still early. Let's discuss specific matters now." Qi Mingxiu went around the dragon case and walked to the side of the two.

Yuan Cheng laughed dryly, glanced at him but said, "General Ling is tired from traveling all the way, and the matter of military pay is not in a hurry, the emperor should invite General Ling to rest in the back hall, how can we have a dinner party if he is not in good spirits."

Qi Jue was embarrassed by what he said.Don't mention how lively he is at this moment, although the journey is hard, it is not worth it to him.Clearly and politely sent him to leave the imperial study temporarily.Just about to take the initiative to ask to leave, Qi Mingxiu smiled sweetly,

"I think my uncle is in good spirits, and soon he will go to the border again. The time we have together is short, so we should cherish it." As he spoke, he took a special look at Qi Jue, seeking approval.

Today's Qi Mingxiu is no longer the impulsive young man in the past.The biggest benefit of power to him is that he can support his own power, but currently it is only limited to the guards and eunuchs serving in front of the imperial court, so that he can do things that he doesn't want to be known.

He hadn't thought of suppressing Yuan Cheng and Qu Tongyin's assistants in government affairs.It is still unshakable in his heart that national affairs are the most important.

However, the fledgling goshawk always wants to break away from the shelter and soar into the sky.

Perhaps they didn't even pay attention to the rift that arose quietly between them.

Qi Jue met Qi Mingxiu's gaze, then looked at Yuan Cheng again, not knowing how to respond.

Yuan Cheng smiled indifferently, and said bitterly, "The emperor has only been on the throne for two months, and now he has learned how to restrain the powerful officials. Congratulations."

Both looked stagnant.

Qi Jue hurriedly bowed his head, "My lord misunderstood..."

Qi Mingxiu's face was flushed, and he drooped his eyelids slightly embarrassed, "What are you talking about, how could I mean that." To be honest, he only had a little calculation in his heart, these two people are close relatives and cannot be abandoned, but After all, Qi Jue is related by blood, and the two parties are not as secure as the three parties standing together, and he can sleep more comfortably among them.It was this little idea that had just sprouted, but Yuan Cheng easily saw through it.How not to make him panic.

"Since that's the case, I don't shy away from speaking." Yuan Cheng glanced at the two of them, and even though he wanted to lower his posture, the unbearable anger in his heart made him restless, "I don't know how the emperor thinks about the death of Lord Wen?"

Qi Jue wondered why the prince brought it up again after two months had passed.

Qi Mingxiu's mood returned to normal, "It's a pity that Mr. Wen died, and he contributed a lot to Da Qi's success today."

Play with a good bureaucratic accent.If the situation is not imminent, whoever will not tell himself is the ironclad evidence, and there are also those who deny it categorically. It is human nature to avoid harm and seek profit.

Yuan Cheng continued to ask, "Then the murder of Master Wen has absolutely nothing to do with the emperor?"

Qi Jue was shocked when he heard this, and couldn't help opening his eyes to look at Qi Mingxiu.He was vaguely uneasy, it is definitely not the prince's style to ask a teacher for no reason, maybe there is another reason for it.

Qi Mingxiu was calm and composed, smiled slightly, and did not blame such offending remarks, "Because of Wen Wuyu, it is understandable for you to have doubts about Master Wen's death. The rebels are shooting at you, so it doesn't make sense for you to ask."

Qi Jue interjected cautiously at this time, "Did the lord hear some misinformation?"

Yuan Cheng's face was so gloomy that he didn't even bother to use the trick of deviating Xu Tu, and turned to ask Qi Jue, "Did the subordinates brought by General Ling go to the border with you?"

Qi Jue was taken aback, and quickly recalled that there were a few missing. Earlier, he reported that he might have encountered misfortune while dealing with officers and soldiers, but the situation was urgent that day and he had no time to ask in detail. This time he returned to Beijing to find out the truth before choosing to appease him.

He glanced at Qi Mingxiu who was still calm, and replied truthfully, "There are a few, but the reason has not been found out..."

Yuan Cheng immediately replied, "I'll find one for you."

As he spoke, he turned back and left the palace gate. After a while, Zhang Xuan, who was bound tightly, was carried into the palace by him, and he threw it aside, rolled over in embarrassment on the ground a few times, managed to stabilize himself, bowed his back and knelt down in front of the three of them. .

Qi Mingxiu remained expressionless at this moment, but his hands in his sleeves could not help but clenched tightly.

"Raise your head." Yuan Cheng scolded coldly.

Zhang Xuan raised his face a little, obviously not daring to face it directly.

However, Qi Jue had already recognized such a face, and asked in surprise, "Zhang Xuan?" Seeing that he was bound like a criminal, he was speechless.

Qi Jue was puzzled, and looked at Yuan Cheng repeatedly as if asking for an answer, but seeing his eyes were as sharp as iron spears, as if they could penetrate people, he only said to Qi Mingxiu, "Does the emperor want to say that he doesn't recognize this fellow?" ?”

Qi Mingxiu smiled contemptuously between his teeth, "I don't know what's so strange about him."

"It's not surprising," Yuan Cheng said, and then he turned to Qi Jue, speaking harshly, "It seems that you won't be recruited without punishment. General Ling, you subordinate, dare to assassinate a hero of the court. I will teach him a lesson for you. You still have the qualifications?"

Without waiting for Qi Jue to reply, he walked out of the hall, and when he heard the sound of a sharp knife being unsheathed, he stepped into the hall again, with a long sword shining coldly by his side, which made people's hair stand on end.

"My lord..." Qi Jue called out, but kept silent, not knowing what to say.

Qi Mingxiu stood sideways, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, and didn't say a word about Yuan Cheng's daring to show his power.

Such a resolute gesture made Qi Jue seem to be an undeniable confession, and he thought that he was unable to speak out to defend it.

Yuan Cheng lifted the sword, danced in the air, first broke the rope on Zhang Xuan's body, and then kicked him in the chest.

Zhang Xuan's hands were free, and he propped up the floor in a half-lying posture, looking up at the ferocious man in front of him, his eyes were full of panic, he was so panicked that he was approaching and retreating bit by bit.

Yuan Cheng swung a sword, slashing from his shoulders to his abdomen, barely scratching his flesh, blood oozed out from under the torn clothes, and was quickly eaten by the clothes.

Yuan Cheng stared at Zhang Xuan, who had no military demeanor, and kept the sword in his hand, avoiding the vital points, as if he wanted to completely empty his red blood,

"General Ling, if you are a soldier, you should not dodge the ax and the ax when you are a soldier, is it wrong?"

Qi Jue stared intently at Zhang Xuan whose chest was red all over, without any intolerance or anger, he replied sonorously, "That's right!"

Yuan Cheng treats Zhang Xuan like a plaything, retreating an inch from him and following him, until he is forced to confess, otherwise he will have to watch his blood flow cleanly with his own eyes.

"You are a capable general, you should use his good skills in such dirty activities as assassination and assassination, should you kill him?"

"Should kill!"

Qi Mingxiu turned his head slightly and took a look. There was a long scarlet blood trail on the carpet, and the sheet moved back a little bit, he closed his eyes and turned a blind eye.

The smell of blood filled the air, making people vomit.

Until he retreated to the high sill of the inner door of the imperial study room, and he had to climb over the high sill if he retreated, Zhang Xuan finally stopped moving, waiting for the fatal sword to free him.

Yuan Cheng couldn't help laughing, from another perspective, this is another kind of backbone and loyalty.

Pointing at Zhang Xuan's chest with his sword raised in mid-air, he said, "General Ling doesn't know that he has a high heart, and this guy wants to be the king's concubine by his pillow!"

The sound fell faintly, but it was like lightning flashing across the sky.

Qi Jue's pupils shrank suddenly, and he looked back in surprise.

Qi Mingxiu turned her back hastily.

These words were clearly told to Qi Mingxiu.The last sentence, insulting Zhang Xuan, was also a deep stab in his heart.

Qi Jue couldn't hide his disappointment, walked up to the two of them, took the long sword from Yuan Cheng's hand, and put it against his throat,

"Is what the prince said true or not?"

That demeanor was really ruthless and decisive, as if if he was half-truthful or silent, this sword would pierce his throat without hesitation.

Zhang Xuan was terrified to the extreme, his voice was full of despair, "Yes..."

"Enough!" Qi Mingxiu turned around abruptly, couldn't hold back her anger and shouted, "Isn't he worthy? You're not the same yourself, why should others be unbearable in your eyes!"

Qi Jue dropped his sword, turned his body sideways and lowered his head, not knowing what to think.

When Yuan Cheng's goal was achieved, his heart was full of mixed feelings, overwhelmed, both bitter and indignant, and even felt a kind of sadness spontaneously.

He looked at Qi Mingxiu squarely, looked into his eyes, but there was no one in those eyes, "If you treat him sincerely, he deserves it. But are you? You are just using him and causing him to perish forever."

Qi Mingxiu snorted coldly, looked at him with a teasing smile on his lips, "So what, when have you ever been merciful?"

Yuan Cheng chuckled, "Being merciful will be exhausting, that's why I can help you sit on this dragon chair. But remember, killing blindly will only lead to self-destruction."

Qi Mingxiu's lips trembled slightly, her fair face lost its original brilliance and became as dead as a deep pool.

"You are always wrong and self-righteous. Have you ever examined yourself? Why did I kill Wenxin? Isn't it your fault? What are you talking about with me here!"

At this time, Qu Tongyin and Xu Jingyun, who were invited, stepped into the hall, heard some words, and saw the three of them standing on each side, and there was a bloody and dying man paralyzed on the ground, his nose was full of blood.The seriousness of the situation was far beyond imagination, and both of them consciously held their breath and waited in place.

The images of the past flashed back in Yuan Cheng's mind very quickly, and he was a little absent-minded.This self-righteous comment was the second time he heard it.Perhaps, everything he did was really a dream. The people in the dream were completely different from the reality. Everyone he knew was just his self-righteous speculation.

Yuan Cheng was at a loss for a moment, like a lonely boat lost in the sea, swaying alone.

After a long while, he finally repelled the illusion, calmed down, picked up his usual resoluteness, met Qi Mingxiu's vigilant and bewildered gaze, and stood firmly in front of him,

"The so-called Dao I talked about, whether you listen or not is up to you. I just want to tell you today, three years, after three years, I will no longer care about you."

After saying that, he immediately turned around without looking at the other people in the hall.

The dust flutters aimlessly in the golden light, suddenly comes alive with the wind, and then returns to soothing in an instant.

The golden light in the sky is obscured by long floating clouds.

The sky is getting darker and darker, and it will be night.

The author has something to say

In fact, Qi Mingxiu's blackening is not without warning. I also have an ambush, but because I didn't write it in a big way, it doesn't seem obvious.All in all, if it feels like a sudden personality change, it's all my fault.