Chapter 318 – How to Break the Situation? (8000 words)

Two quarters of an hour later, Xu Qi’an stepped out of the Haoqi Building, stood at the bottom of the building, closed his eyes for a moment, and resolutely left.

Leaving the courthouse, he rode a small mare along the spacious and unimaginably spacious main road of the inner city, and galloped quickly towards the Criminal Ministry’s courthouse.

The main road was more than a hundred meters wide, reaching straight to the imperial city, and was the road that the emperor took when he traveled. This width was mainly to prevent assassins from ambushing the roadside, and in the event of cold arrows and assassinations, such a spacious road would provide ample buffer time for the forbidden army.

In a short time, arrived at the office of the Ministry of Justice.

Xu Qi’an saw Uncle Xu’s figure from afar, he was clad in armor and armed with a sword, he should have received the news while patrolling the streets and immediately rushed here.

Xu Ershu was stopped outside the main gate by the guards of the Ministry of Justice’s office.

The two guards shouted their rebukes, and one of them reached out and shoved Uncle Xu so hard that he didn’t dare to fight back and staggered back.

“What, a small Imperial Sword Guard Hundredth, dare to forcefully break into the Ministry of Justice’s office?” A guard pointed at Xu Pingzhi’s nose and cursed, if you don’t get lost don’t blame me for being rough.

Xu Pingzhi, who was in the Qi Practicing Realm, hardened and clenched his fists in suffocation, and said in a deep voice, “I am Xu New Year’s father, I have the right to visit the prison.”

Another guard mocked, “It has always been the rule that no one is allowed to visit a felon who has committed an imperial examination fraud. You illiterate piker, what do you know.”

Xu Pingzhi really didn’t know, the cases related to the imperial examination fraud were too far away from him to be touched.

“Then you guys are still asking me for thirty taels?” Xu Pingzhi raised his eyebrows, his anger boiling.

“What’s wrong with just pitting you, this is the Ministry of Justice’s courtroom, you still dare to make a move. You move one try.” The guard sneered.

“Ho …. .tui.”

The other was even drier, spitting a mouthful of saliva at Xu Pingzhi.

Xu Pingzhi hurriedly avoided it.

The two guards laughed wildly.

“Phew …….”

Uncle Xu slowly exhaled a breath and looked at the two columns of soldiers coming out of the yamen, apparently, as long as he dared to make trouble at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice’s yamen, he would not be able to eat today.

Sending handles to people for nothing.

“Get out!”

The guard looked out of the corner of his eye and chided.

Da da da ……. Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came, and looking at the sound, a sturdy steed sprinted and brazenly rushed into the Ministry of Criminal Affairs office.

Slamming into the two guards in the cross hairs.

Bang!

One of the guards couldn’t avoid it, and was hit in the chest by the filly, falling heavily out, struggling for a moment, and slowly falling to the ground, too injured to get up again.

Someone really dared to commit murder at the entrance of the Ministry of Justice?

“Ning Banquet.”

Xu Pingzhi was relieved to see his nephew.

“Clank …..” The sound of knives being drawn connected together, the guards in the Yamen heard the commotion and ran out with knives in their hands, wanting to kill the guy who dared to cause trouble in the Ministry of Justice Yamen by a thousand cuts.

But after they saw that the silver gong sitting high on the back of the horse was Xu Qi’an, one by one they were dumbfounded.

The guard in the lead withdrew his sword, cupped his fists and said in a deep voice, “Lord Xu, this is the Ministry of Justice’s office. You must know that rushing the Ministry of Justice and injuring the guards is punishable by imprisonment and exile for minor offenses, and beheading for serious ones.”

Ignoring it, Xu Qi’an rolled over and dismounted, kicking over the guard who was leggy enough to avoid the filly’s charge.

“Ouch …….” The guard screamed miserably and tumbled to the ground.

Xu Qi’an took off the saber at the back of his waist and carried it in his hand to give it a beating, the muffled sound of the sheath of the saber beating against flesh and skin was heart-stopping.

The guards screamed in agony.

“Lord Xu!”

“Call me Lord Viscount.”

The head of the guards choked and pretended not to hear as he bellowed, “Do you really think that there are no experts in the Ministry of Punishment, are you really not afraid of His Majesty’s condemnation and the laws of the Great Feng?”

“You can just let your horse come over, if this bit of crap can’t be settled, I, Xu Qi’an, will have mixed in the capital for nothing.” Xu Qi’an sneered, waving his knife sheath and continuing to whip.

The guard was able to dodge at first, or raise his hand to fend it off, and after a dozen or so swipes, his eyes began to turn white and he was dying.

The leader of the guards clenched his teeth, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the sword bloomed and jumped, but he didn’t dare to really make a move against the arrogant silver gong.

The scene of the fight on that day was still fresh in his mind, Xu Qi’an’s reputation had not dissipated, and at this juncture, idle people did not dare to get tough with him.

The most critical thing is that this person has a death-free gold medal protection, even if in the Ministry of Justice Yamen entrance to kill a whole bunch of people, in the end, but also just dismissed from office, life is not a worry.

Seeing that the guard still had a breath left in him, Xu Qi’an stopped, hung his saber back on his back waist, and said indifferently, “Thirty taels of silver, take it as the consultation fee for the two of you to hire a doctor, as well as the cost of the tonics.”

After taking out his breath, he stared at the head guard and said, “Go in and pass the word, I want to see Xu New Year.”

Upon hearing this, the head of the guards did not refuse or respond, signaling with his eyes for his men to carry the two injured into the courthouse for treatment, looked deeply at Xu Qi’an, and retreated back into the interior of the courthouse.

In a short while, the head of the guards returned and said, “Shangshu Sun has an invitation.”

Xu Qi’an bolted the reins to the stone lion at the entrance to the court house and turned around to greet, “Second uncle, let’s go in together.”

Xu Pingzhi followed in silence, the two of them entered the courthouse and walked through the front yard and corridors, Uncle Xu opened his mouth to say something, but chose to remain silent.

The guards led the uncle and nephew into the side hall, and on the main seat of the side hall sat the scarlet-robed Sun Shangshu, his face serious and expressionless as he waited.

“Greetings, Minister Sun.” Xu Qi’an clasped his fists.

Sun Shangshu did not look away, his eyes seemingly devoid of Xu Qi’an, and faintly said, “Two words are missing.”

After staring at Shangshu Sun for a few seconds, Xu Qi’an flexed his spine and cupped his fists in the tone of a subordinate meeting his superior, “Your humble servant has met Shangshu Sun. Your humble servant would like to meet Xu New Year.”

Seeing this scene, Xu Pingzhi’s eyes suddenly became a little sour.

Shangshu Sun revealed a satisfied smile and said, “The imperial examination fraud is a major crime, and family visits are commonplace.”

Suddenly, the words changed, “No.”

…… Xu Pingzhi gritted his teeth.

After saying this, Shangshu Sun stopped looking at his uncle and nephew and picked up his tea. In the official world, halfway through the words, the host serves tea but does not drink it, representing a send-off.

“I won’t bother Minister Sun.” Xu Qi’an turned to leave.

Looking at the backs of his uncle and nephew, Shangshu Sun faintly said, “There are a few thorns in the courtyard, I heard that Lord Xu has cultivated a Buddhist golden body, are you interested in trying it out.”

Xu Qi’an walked away without looking back.

Xu Pingzhi walked out of the Ministry of Justice Yamen while cursing, “Son-of-a-bitch Shangshu, still want you to carry thorns to ask for a pardon, the old man is to pull out a sword and cut him, but also will not agree.”

“How did Second Uncle come so quickly?” Xu Qi’an asked.

“It’s you who came too slowly, after I received the news, I immediately went home to appease your aunt and Ling Yue, and it turned out to be completely useless …….” Second Uncle Xu said with a headache:

“Just know how to cry and cry, alas, Ning Banquet, how is this going to be?”

Although Xu Pingzhi is a crude martial artist, he knows about the “feud” between the State Prison and Yunlu Academy. On his way here, he analyzed the situation and felt that Erlang’s imprisonment was in all likelihood related to this.

“This matter is very complicated, second uncle you go back first, I have something to do.”

Xu Qi’an didn’t want to waste any time, straddling the little mare and running away down the street with a clatter.

In his mind, Wei Yuan’s words surfaced:

The first step, you have to stop the Ministry of Justice to bend over backwards, the government office of the Chen magistrate for the official greasy, left and right, once this matter is confirmed, he is most likely unwilling to offend Sun Shangshu.

“Minister Sun hates me to the bone, the imperial examination fraud case just gave him the opportunity to take revenge, or even, this is what he pushed for. No more than that, he is one of the participants, wanting him to treat Erlang kindly is almost impossible.”

The filly ran through a fine layer of sweat, panting, and finally stopped at a courtyard in the outer city.

“Taoist Master, Taoist Master, the river and lake save the day ………”

Xu Qi’an pushed open the courtyard door and went straight to the inner room, seeing Daoist Master Jinlian lying peacefully on the bed as if asleep.

Again, again on the cat went …….. Fiery and anxious, he couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth when he saw this scene.

Having had the hind kick of the last filly love, as well as the purpose of having a request, Xu Qi’an didn’t physically wake up the Golden Lotus Taoist, sat at the table and waited silently, and in less than three minutes, a slender shadow appeared at the door.

“What is it.”

Golden Lotus Taoist Master crouched at the threshold, his voice gentle and calm, as if he was already accustomed to this look of conversation.

“My cousin Xu Xinxin has been implicated in an imperial examination fraud case ………”

Xu Qi’an briefly recounted what happened before saying, “Daoist, I need your help.”

The orange cat’s amber pupils stared eerily, vibrating the air, and said:

“I don’t know enough about the Da Feng officialdom to give you effective advice, you shouldn’t be looking for me in this matter, Wei Yuan is the master of political fighting. If political fighting is divided into grades, Wei Yuan is the second grade.”

Xu Qi’an, who was originally anxious, couldn’t help but pick up on the topic when she heard it, “Just second grade? Then who’s a first grade?”

The orange cat smiled and said: ”Naturally, it is Emperor Yuan Jing, in terms of the emperor’s mental skill, Emperor Yuan Jing has already reached the peak. Wei Yuan and Wang Zhenwen are both expected to be a first-rate in the political bucket, but their philosophies don’t match and their political views are different.

“Emperor Yuan Jing purposely put two fierce tigers in the courtroom, its own real sitting ducks.”

Makes sense …….. Wait, didn’t you say that you don’t know much about the court situation? Xu Qi’an cursed in his heart, while his mouth asked:

“Then, does the Taoist Master think that there is an existence beyond the grade of the political fight?”

“Of course there is,” Daoist Golden Lotus raised his paw, licked it, and said, “The highest level of political fighting is when force overpowers everything, and no one dares to disobey a single word. This is true for every founding emperor.”

Taoist master seems to be gradually affected by the habits of the cat ……… Sure enough, any living thing, in fact, the body controls the brain, the body secretes hormones that determine what you have to do ……… Hungry to eat, sleepy to sleep, thirsty to drink water, the vault is full to give alms to the female incense, then the question came, Jinlian Taoist like on the female cat or on the female cat?

At that moment, the orange cat sighed and lowered her paw, sulking:

“You seem to enjoy teetering on the edge of life and death.”

And repeatedly jumped horizontally? Xu Qi’an subconsciously flashed these words in his mind, then hastily changed the topic back and said, “Daoist, I would like to ask you for a favor ……..”

…………

Along the canal outside the capital, to the south, in the suburbs of the city ten miles, there is a lake, smoky waves, both sides of the green mountains surrounded by the lake, the lake in the lotus flowers in pieces, the scenery is extremely beautiful.

There are also smoky farmhouses, teahouses and taverns around the lake.

Because this place is on the outskirts of the capital, it can be reached by boat, fast and convenient, so every spring, there are countless young gentlemen and rich girls who take the boat to swim in the lake, it is very lively.

An exquisite embroidered boat moored at the shore, Wang Simu today can be said to be dressed up, wearing the fashionable wide-sleeved light gauze dress, the pattern color is the same as the base color, which shows complex and exquisite, but also low-key and introverted.

Exquisitely made up, with a nice bun and gold hairpins dotted between her dark hair, she was completely up to date standards.

But an hour has passed, people swimming lake swimming a round trip, Miss Wang’s boat is still parked in place, the mood is not beautiful.

“Miss, forget it, let’s go back.” The maid advised in a low voice, “Xu Huiyuan won’t be coming.”

“Is it possible that your news didn’t arrive?” Wang Simu did not accept this reality and gently glared at the maid in an attempt to dump on Xu New Year.

“How dare you, it must have been delivered.” The maid commiserated.

Wang Simu stayed seated for a long time, her bright eyes could not hide the loss, and softly said, “Just, go back.”

“Hey.” The maid answered briskly and left the cabin with small steps, going to the stern to inform the boatman to return.

The boatmen pulled the anchor up out of the water and worked together to row the oars as the embroidered boat traveled slowly down the canal back to the capital.

Returning to the capital wharf, Wang Simu entered the carriage waiting at the side of the road and instructed, ”Lan’er, you go to the Xu Mansion right now instantly, and tell them that I’m going to go look for Miss Ling Yue to have fun.

“I’ll wait here for half an hour before I set out.”

“Why is that, miss.” The maid furrowed her small brow.

“Even if he has no intention of treating me, I want to know clearly.” Ms. Wang was very offensive.

…………

Chun exam Huiyuan Xu New Year, because of suspected fraud, was arrested by the Ministry of Justice, escorted to the prison.

This great case, which was destined to shake the entire capital, circulated from the government offices and the Ministry of Justice, and then through the six ministries, quietly spread throughout the officialdom of the capital.

After a few more days of fermentation and spreading, it will then be known to all.

During the lunch break, officials and mandarins who knew each other well gathered in restaurants, teahouses and other places to discuss the imperial examination fraud case.

“I knew that the courtiers would agree when a scholar from Yunlu Academy achieved the Huiyuan? This isn’t coming.”

“This you only know one and do not know two, this matter is absolutely not so simple, that Xu New Year is Xu Qian s cousin, Xu Qian is the Dafeng poetry leader, ‘difficult to walk the road’ and other masterpieces ……… to say that there is no catnip, I do not believe.”

“Bullshit, is Xu Qi’an the only one in this world who can compose poetry? Can’t we readers just have a flash of insight and get it by accident?”

“Okay, there’s no point in arguing about this. Xu Huiyuan will be sure this time, no matter whether there is fraud or not, his future will be ruined. I remember in the twelfth year of Yuanjing, there was a fraud case, three students were involved in it, the case was investigated for two years, and finally released, but the reputation was ruined, and their studies were wasted.”

“A similar case occurred in the twentieth year of Yuanjing, but that time the evidence was overwhelming, and the scholars and examiners involved were all beheaded by His Majesty.”

“If this case is confirmed, with Xu New Year Yunlu Academy scholar’s identity ……. Hiss, left and right, there’s no chance of a turnaround, do you guys think Wei Gong will make a move?”

“Most likely, that Xu Qi’an is Duke Wei’s beloved, he must have begged Duke Wei to make a move.”

“And what if Lord Wei stood by and did nothing?”

“If Lord Wei doesn’t take action, then who else can save Xu Huiyuan, counting on that martial artist Xu Qi’an? He may be a good hand at solving cases and killing enemies. The doorways of the official world are not something that a mere martial artist can figure out.”

Lodging in the home of a former friend of Chu Yuanjian, lunch time, but also from the Yamen returned to the mouth of a close friend learned about this matter.

Number Three is caught in the middle of the imperial examination fraud case …….. Although No.3 is extremely smart, the fight between Yunlu Academy and the Imperial College is an irreversible trend that can’t be remedied by being smart …….. The best outcome is that he will be dismissed from his post and will not be able to work as an official, which is a loss to the court ………

“I’ve heard that this matter was started by the new Right Imperial Secretary’s petition for impeachment, but I reckon that, well, with all the parties either watching from the sidelines or secretly helping out, Xu New Year is in danger.” A good friend said.

Chu Yuanjian sighed and said in a deep voice, “It was because I was tired of party disputes that I left the temple. Since ancient times, party disputes hurt the strength of the nation, and imperial monasticism hurts the qi.”

His best friend’s face changed drastically, “Yuan Zhuan, be careful what you say.”

“What are you afraid of, I have long been a white man, free and easy.” Chu Yuan Zhen gave a kind smile, then sighed: “I pondered for a long time just now, but I couldn’t even break the game. Unless Wei Yuan goes down to fight, with Xu Ning Banquet’s potential, Wei Yuan should make a decision.

“Still, this might be just what that group of people would like to see. Hey, still can’t break the ice.”

………..

The Imperial Palace.

In De Xin Yuan, Huai Qing, who was wearing a plain palace dress, sat behind the table and nodded towards the head guard in the room, “This palace knows, you can step down.”

When the head guard left, Huaiqing got up, walked to the window, frowned and pondered, “If it were me, how should I break the game?”

Thinking long and hard, he shook his head and sighed.

Then, she suddenly wondered what he would do if it was Xu Ningyan.

…………

In a restaurant in the inner city, Sun Yaoyue booked an elegant room and invited his fellow students and friends from the Imperial College to have a drink, the main purpose of which was to share a great event that was about to shake the capital’s Confucianism.

“Xu New Year, the Hui Yuan of the Chun Exam, was apprehended by my father’s men this morning, supposedly for imperial examination fraud and bribing the examiners.”

“The news is true?” The academics of the State Academy were shocked.

“Naturally true, I personally went to the Yamen to confirm it, asked my father, and although he kicked him out of the Yamen, Squire Zhu has already disclosed it to me. That Xu New Year is in jail, waiting to be arraigned.” Sun Yaoyue swept his eyes at his friends and said proudly.

Sun Yaoyue is the only first son of Sun Shangshu, his studies are quite good, better than most of the playboys, but there is a problem, especially love gossip.

Sun Yaoyue was both jealous and angry about Yunlu Academy scholar Xu Xinxin’s high school Huiyuan, and now that he’s in jail for imperial examination fraud, he can’t tell you how happy he is.

“That silver gong Xu Qi’an is not a proper son, relying on the shelter of Wei’s eunuch dog, he flaunts his power in the capital and writes poems to insult my father, he really deserves death by a thousand cuts.”

Sun Yaoyue slammed the table and laughed recklessly, “If you can’t cut him, cut his cousin. Hahaha, drink drink drink.”

The state academy students heard the news, and surprised and relieved, that is, the chun exam will be let a cloud deer academy students got to go, they these state academy students, where is the dignity?

Definitely fraud, definitely fraud, no other reason accepted.

“Brother Sun, it’s better to be happy alone than to be happy together, and for such a great pleasure, we should let it be widely spread.”

“Makes sense, let’s do it, I’ll see you at the rectory tonight.”

After drinking and eating, Sun Yaoyue drunkenly left the restaurant, entered the carriage parked outside the restaurant, and climbed into the carriage with the help of his escorts.

He was planning to take a nap for a moment when he saw a slender orange cat sitting crouched on the soft collapse padded with tiger skin, its amber pupils, looking at him slyly.

There was no movement, the carriage continued on its way, the window suddenly opened and out leapt the orange cat, its tail erect, its kittenish steps extremely fast, disappearing into the bustling crowd of people.

…………

Ministry of Justice.

Sun Shangshu recruited the mandarin and asked, “Go to the prison and ask if Xu New Year has confessed yet.”

The official received the order to retreat, and after a few minutes, returned to repeat: “Mr. Shangshu, that Xu New Year’s bones are very hard, how to beat them refused to confess.”

“That’s not enough beating,” Sun Shangshu snorted coldly and said, “The Ministry of Penal Torture has more than enough, give him a taste of each one of them, and the stone will make it blossom, well, just leave the breath.”

“Yes.”

The official retired, the front foot just left, the back foot is anxious and terrified rushed in a person, do rich people dressed, hair white, over the threshold when also tripped a little.

“What are you doing at the Yamen.” Sun Shangshu asked with a frown.

This person was none other than the steward of the Sun Mansion, the old slave who had followed the Sun Shangshu for decades.

“Master, something bad has happened ……..” The old butler cried and said in a trembling voice, “Young master he, he’s disappeared.”

“What do you mean the young master is missing?”

Sun Shangshu’s face changed slightly as he got up and walked over, staring at the old housekeeper and repeating in a deep voice, “What do you mean the young master has disappeared!!!”

“The subordinate who followed the young master out, not long ago returned to the mansion to report, today the young master in the restaurant banquet for fellow students, ate wine, into the carriage …….. and then disappeared, the carriage returned to the mansion only to realize that there was no one in the car at all.”

The old housekeeper scratched his ears and scratched his cheeks, anxious with bewilderment, and carefully said, “The guest secretary of the house said that Xu, Xu has recently offended someone?”

Dafeng officialdom has a set of agreed unspoken rules, political fights are political fights, never harm family members. It’s not that the moral line is so high, but if you do it on the first day, others can do it on the fifteenth day.

They are also seen as unruly and ostracized by the entire class.

The authority of this unspoken rule is so high that even the court agrees with it, and it is not explicitly stated because it is not on the table.

However, there is a system in the Daebung that any official, once he or she enters the capital as an official, then the parents or wife and children have to enter the capital with him or her.

What is the point of the existence of this system?

A system that paves the way for an unspoken rule shows how authoritative that unspoken rule is.

What people have been offended …….. Sun Shangshu muttered, and the bitch Xu Qi’an naturally surfaced in his mind.

“Stupid!”

Shangshu Sun bellowed, his beard and hair flaring in fury, roaring, “Thinking that kidnapping my son will make this official yield? Yellow-haired child, self-destructive.

“If anything happens to my son, there will be no place for you in the entire capital. No, your entire family will die.”

After the roar, the table on the folding all swept down to the ground, tea cups “bang” fell a shattered, ink and paper scattered all over the place.

The old housekeeper was silent, the atmosphere did not dare to come out, the master for many years as an official, has long developed a city of favor and shame.

This kind of furious appearance, however, had happened twice, the previous time was that extremely humiliating poem, and both times were because of this yellow-haired child named Xu Qi’an.

Sun Shangshu suddenly lifted up the hem of his official robe and ran out of the house furiously with an athletic body that did not fit his age.

“Master, if you have any orders just let the old slave do it ……..”

The old butler came out after him, exclaiming.

Sun Shangshu ignored it and growled, “Come on, come on, go to the prison quickly, no torture, no torture ……..”

The sky of the Ministry of Justice’s office echoed with Sun Shangshu’s “No torture” (broken voice).

………….

A quarter of an hour later, at this point, the already initially calm Sun Shangshu returned to the hall out of breath, received the hot tea offered by the old housekeeper, and took a big gulp.

“Yellow-haired child, dare to blackmail this official, ignorant, stupid!”

After cursing, Sun Shangshu turned his words around and instructed his housekeeper, “You immediately go to the office of the night watchman and ask the dog thief who killed that day to come and see me.”

Although the other party broke the rules, but Sun Shangshu now also hardened, can talk of course the best, first to keep the first son unharmed, and then with the surname Xu’s dog thieves to settle scores in the autumn.

The butler nodded in response and turned around, about to leave, when he saw a guard cross the threshold and cupped his fists, “Lord Shangshu, that Xu Qi’an is here again.”

Came just in time!

Sun Shangshu’s eyes shot out a fine light, instantly straightening his back, “Let him come in.”

In a few moments, the guards brought Xu Qi’an, who was wearing a silver gong messenger uniform, inside, and the dog thief surnamed Xu had a smiling expression and walked idly, unlike the morning when he had asked for an audience, when he had a sullen face and suppressed his anger.

And the expression on Sun Shangshu’s face at the moment was exactly like Xu Qi’an’s at that time.

“Where is my son Sun Yaoyue, Xu Qi’an, quickly release him to his home, and this official can pretend that this matter never happened.” Shangshu Sun did not look away, as if he did not have Xu Qi’an in his eyes at all.

“What do you mean? This official can’t understand it.”

Xu Qi’an looked innocent, thought for a moment, and then suddenly his face changed dramatically, “Good, Sun Shangshu not only wrongly accused my cousin of cheating in the imperial examinations, but even I want to plant evidence to frame me, there is such a despicable and shameless person in the world.”

“You ……..”

Shangshu Sun finally moved his gaze and stared at Xu Qi’an dead in the face, he did not open his mouth, but waved away the officials in the hall. And then, word by word, he said:

“This official, recognizing that you are young and don’t know the rules, is willing to give you a chance. If you still want to stay in the officialdom of the capital, then obediently release them.”

Xu Qi’an shook his head and said, “Minister Sun must be mistaken, this official has no idea what you’re talking about.”

After a pause, he came to a realization and said with concern: ”Listening to the meaning of Sun Shangshu’s words, could it be that something has happened to your son? Kidnapped by thieves? You tell me, I am the most eager and righteous person, and I can solve cases like no one else. As long as Sun Shangshu opened his mouth, I guarantee that within a day, I can get him back for you.”

Play dumb with me …….. Sun Shangshu was furious and said viciously, “Xu Qi’an, don’t forget that you have a family as well.”

Xu Qi’an sighed, his face showing sorrow: ”Lord Shangshu, you don’t seem to know me well. My parents died when I was young, and my second uncle raised me.

“Ran, my aunt bullied me and humiliated me in all sorts of ways, and when I was fifteen years old, she kicked me out of the house and made me live in a dog kennel. It is a pity that I did not have a father who was surrounded by 100,000 troops and who could speak with a crooked tongue …….”

“Xu Qi’an!” Sun Shangshu interrupted angrily, staring at him for a long time before whispering:

“What do you want? The imperial examination fraud case is his majesty to investigate, the Ministry of Justice and the government office main trial, full of civil and military watch, not my one person to say. If you want to use my son as blackmail, this official can only with you fish death net broken. Don’t be naive!”

These days ah, who is more horizontal who will be able to take advantage of …….. The importance of the cousin is naturally not as important as the son, I can be “cruel”, but he can not ……… Xu Qi’an narrowed his eyes, walked to Sun Shangshu, and whispered with his ear:

“I have only one request, during Xu Xinxin’s imprisonment, no torture is allowed, don’t try to bend him. If he is missing a finger, I will break one of your son’s fingers, and as many wounds as he has on his body, I will leave as many wounds on your son’s body.

“After the imperial examination fraud case is over, regardless of whether or not Xu New Year gets off the hook, I will release your son as promised.”

“Xu Qi’an ……..”

As Sun Shangshu was about to rebuke, Xu Qi’an suddenly blackened, his face grimacing as he snapped, “Call me Lord Viscount.”

…….. Sun Shangshu softened and said in a deep voice, “Lord Viscount, on what basis should I trust you.”

Xu Qi’an walked slowly to the table, picked up a piece of pastry and ate it, and said indifferently:

“Does Minister Sun have a choice? Believe it or not, you must follow my wishes. Unless you don’t want the first son. I didn’t ask you to help Xu New Year get off the hook, I just asked you not to do anything superfluous. This matter is not difficult.”

He walked over to Sun Shangshu, wiped his hands on the scarlet robe, and said in a deep voice, “As you said, I have a family as well.”

This step was taught to him by Wei Yuan, but the approach and plan, he came up with on his own, Wei Yuan did not come up with the idea.

Doing nothing and hoping that the opponent is kind-hearted is only a fool’s errand, as evidenced by the teasing and cold treatment he encountered at the Ministry of Justice this morning.

To take down an enemy, you need to capitalize on their weaknesses.

And most of the weaknesses were flesh and blood. However, wreaking havoc on one’s family was a major taboo, the scale of which Xu Qi’an would have to deliberate and control on his own.

Therefore, he didn’t whimsically think that just one Sun Yaoyue could save Er Lang from getting away. Only taking Sun Yaoyue to make a deal with Sun Shangshu, in this way, the difficulty was greatly reduced and the nature was lighter.

As for the fact that Sun Shangshu disagreed and had to torture Xu Erlang, then Xu Qi’an did what he said he would do. He even let the Sun Shangshu send the black hair to the black hair.

So far, everything has gone his way, thanks to a good grasp of scale.

Shangshu Sun exhaled a breath, “This official believes you for once, I will not torture Erlang Xu, and I also hope that when my son returns to the house, he is also all whiskered and unharmed, otherwise, he will suffer the consequences.”

“It’s natural.” Xu Qi’an hummed.

“But I’m not sure about you either, I’m going to meet Xu New Year. You have someone arrange it.”

With that, he walked to the door with a six-fold pace, suddenly turned back, and laughed, “By the way, Lord Viscount …….. called it well.”

Sun Shangshu’s face was gloomy and his beard was shaking with anger.

………….

“Claptrap …….”

At the sound of chains sliding, the jailer opened the door to the brig, and the smell of dampness and decay hit him.

Led by the jailer, Xu Qi’an walked through the dimly lit passageway and arrived in front of the cell where Xu Xinxin was being held.

Xu New Year’s eyes were closed and his back was resting against the wall; he was wearing a prison uniform, his face was pale, and his body was bloodstained.

Seeing his little old brother’s miserable appearance, Xu Qi’an’s face sank in vain, after all, he had come a step too late, and Er Lang had suffered some pain in prison.

He underestimated Sun Shangshu’s impatience to get back at himself.

Xu Qi’an softly said, “Er Lang, Er Lang ……..”

Xu Erlang froze, suspecting that he had heard wrong, and opened his eyes in shock.

………….

PS: I’ll make up for yesterday’s outstanding work today, well, make up for the number of words, not the number of chapters, and you’ll have a much better reading experience if you have big chapters.

My usual word count for a chapter is 4,000 – 5,000. so, today’s word count is between 12,000 – 15,000.