Chapter 113: The wind and rain are coming

The next day, a saying began to spread in various restaurants and teahouses in Chang'an that Cui Yuan colluded with the Uighurs at the beginning of the year and deceived the emperor to personally lead the army and was trapped in the Xishoujiang City. It was well-founded. Zhang San immediately thought that Cui Yuan was indeed profitable in the end. He slapped his forehead and realized it suddenly. He turned around and told Li Si about his analysis, adding some oil and vinegar, as if he was the worm in Cui Yuan's belly.

Perhaps Li Si had a relative who was a Shaoqing or a doctor, so he had a high political awareness. Li Si felt that he was responsible for the rise and fall of the Tang Dynasty, so he told Wang Wu, Li Liu, and Zhao Qi about it in one breath, and sweared to make sure that this matter was seen with his own eyes and was completely false.

The news spread more and more, and more and more derives were derived. Some people even said that Cui Yuan was originally a descendant of the Hu people. On a morning when the wind and snow had just stopped, he was picked up by the servants of the Cui family on the steps of the Cui Mansion. However, the most widely circulated statement was that Cui Yuan wanted to murder the current emperor and ascend the throne himself.

Many people are sensitively aware that behind this news, something might really happen.

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Dozens of fast horses passed through the white mist in the morning, crossed the bare fields, and rushed towards Taiyuan City like lightning. Zhang Potian's face was grim and his eyes were filled with anxiety. He had just received the news that the head of the family had worsened and ordered him to rush back to the Taiyuan Sect for 100,000 yuan. He was galloping at night. The original ten-day journey was shortened to six days. Everyone rushed to a slope, and the magnificent wall of Taiyuan City was already far away.

This was Zhang Potian's second return to Taiyuan in half a month. The first time, shortly after Zhang Huan left Taiyuan, he returned to this sect to pay homage to the ancestral tablet, which was considered to be the official return of the Zhang family. But his biggest regret was that Zhang Huan was unable to become the heir of the head of the family, and there were signs of leaving the Zhang family. However, Zhang Ruohao told him that things were not as bad as he thought, and asked him to let Zhang Huan go by himself. In doubt and half-information, Zhang Potian returned to Taiyuan again.

Since the last family meeting, the Zhang Mansion in Taiyuan has gradually calmed down. Zhang Ruohao is seriously ill. To a large extent, he only serves as a spiritual sustenance for the Zhang family. He has handed over most trivial matters to Zhang Can, the heir of the head of the family. He will only express his opinions when encountering major events.

That morning, Zhang Ruohao was half lying on the sickbed and listening to Zhang Can's report. His vitality was getting weaker and weaker, almost drying out, and by night, he was even in a semi-coma. Only in the morning did he feel a little bit sensible.

"The head of the family, the copy of the Ministry of Personnel has arrived, and Yin Zhang Xuan is the magistrate of Yuxiang County."

Zhang Can sighed secretly. He was the Viscount of Yuxiang, while Zhang Xuan was the magistrate of Yuxiang County. This was obviously against him. The Ministry of Personnel was controlled by Cui Yuan. It can be seen that he did not give up on the Zhang family because of this. He would still attack the Zhang family whenever he had a chance. Thinking of this, Zhang Can felt very stressed.

In terms of ability, Zhang Can is a steady person, focusing on maintaining success, but not pioneering. For example, after the Zhang family meeting, he was reluctant to make up his mind about the requirements for the increase in monthly terms of the Zhang family's illegitimate sons. This left a crack in the unprecedented unity of the Zhang family. The illegitimate sons generally resented him, but the legitimate sons did not appreciate it. They hoped to share the Zhang family's farmland to everyone. The original good situation of the reconciliation of the illegitimate sons was spared in vain due to his hesitation.

But there is one thing that Zhang Can is not vague, that is, his loyalty to the Emperor of Tang. The day after Zhang Huan left, the Li Shi secretly received him, poured tea and served water for him, and gave him the jade pendant he had worn for fifteen years. He allowed him to see that the emperor would not worship him, and wrote a secret decree on the spot, appointing him as Duke of Yu, a staying in Taiyuan, and a governor of Hedong. The emperor's favor moved him very much. Zhang Can then formally classified himself as the Dragon Sect, but he did not tell Zhang Ruohao about this. He had known for a long time that Zhang Ruohao and Zhang Potian had actually surrendered to the emperor. Otherwise, how could he have sent millions of stones of grain and 800,000 jin of money to Duan Xiushi of Anbei every year? He only continued the Zhang family's usual position.

Zhang Can waited for a long time, but did not see the head of the family answer. He glanced slightly through the crack of the curtain and saw that Zhang Ruohao closed his eyes tightly, his face was as thin as a skeleton, and he quietly wanted to withdraw.

"Zhang Potian is coming today, bring him to see me immediately." Just as Zhang Can was about to retreat to the door, Zhang Ruohao suddenly whispered.

Zhang Can was stunned. He was about to agree, but hurried footsteps came from behind, "Young head of the family, Zhang Potian is back, I want to see the head of the family."

Zhang Can glared at the butler fiercely, "Can you call Zhang Shangshu's name? You will call him the second master in the future!"

The housekeeper agreed in panic, and Zhang Can glanced at the room again and whispered: "The main person in the family will see him, bring him in!"

After a moment, Zhang Potian hurried into Zhang Ruohao's room. The light in the room was dim and dusk was heavy, full of death. He walked to the head of the house's couch and put away the tent. Zhang Ruohao opened his eyes slightly, and his dry lips showed a smile. His eyes turned and looked at Zhang Can behind him again. Zhang Can understood and he immediately left the room.

"I'm afraid I'm almost out of reach." Zhang Ruohao smiled bitterly.

Zhang Potian silently stared at this enemy who had been a decade ago, but now his elder brother. He held Zhang Ruohao's hand and nodded gently, "If you have anything to say, just say it to me!"

Zhang Ruohao trembled his hands and took out a key from his close body. He pointed to a copper box at the head of the bed. Zhang Potian understood and took the key and opened the box. There was only some old clothes in the box. There was a cylindrical leather bag at the corner of the box. Zhang Potian took out the leather bag and showed him a gesture. Zhang Ruohao nodded slightly, "Please help me sit up!"

He sat up with difficulty and gasped slightly, "You should guess that Zhang Huan is not a child of our Zhang family."

"Yes! I've guessed a little."

At this time, Zhang Ruohao's eyes became brighter, and a hint of redness appeared on his sallow face. He pointed to the skin and said, "It was the decree left by the former prince Yu, and we ordered our Zhang family to help his son retake the throne."

"What!" Zhang Potian was shocked, "Is Zhang Huan...?"

Zhang Ruohao nodded slowly, "Yes, this is the real reason why I want to make Zhang Huan the heir to the head of the family. It will take more than one or two years to regain the throne. I am afraid you and I won't see that day. Only by letting him master the financial resources and territory of the Zhang family can he have the strength to compete for the throne."

"But if he fails, will our Zhang family be at risk?" Zhang Potian was very worried.

Zhang Ruohao glanced at him and said coldly: "If the Zhang family does not perform this dangerous chess, at the latest ten years later, Hedong will be Cui and Pei's meat on the plate."

Zhang Potian was speechless. Although the head of the family made sense, the risk was too great. He used the entire Zhang family to bet. If he was negligent, the Zhang family would be a disaster for the family extermination. He really disagreed.

Zhang Ruohao seemed to see his hesitation, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Even Zhang Potian could not convince him. Then who would agree? He patted his hand gently and advised again: "I have observed Zhang Huan since he was a child. If he was a slutty man or a mediocre person, I wouldn't have such a thought, but he is indeed a person who does great things. Even you call him one of the three Zhangs in Hedong. Do you not believe him now?"

Zhang Potian's brows frowned. Of course, he knew that Zhang Huan was a great person, but he always positioned Zhang Huan as the head of the Zhongxing family who revitalized the Zhang family in Hedong. He never thought of letting Zhang Huan compete for the supreme throne.

He was confused and sighed, "This matter makes me think about it again."

"Okay!" The brilliant color on Zhang Ruohao's face slowly faded away. He lay down powerlessly and handed the skin to Zhang Potian and said, "I haven't had much time, so it's called you."

Zhang Potian took it, carefully put it away, and whispered to Zhang Ruohao: "Please don't worry, brother, I will defend the interests of the Zhang family to the death and never let Cui and Pei interfere in Hedong."

Zhang Ruohao closed his eyes and said nothing again. Zhang Potian slowly exited the room. He stood in front of the door, his eyes full of worry. After a long time, he took the yellowed order from his skin, slowly tore it to pieces, and murmured: "Brother! I'm sorry, our Zhang family must not use the price of killing the nine clans as a bet."

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In the Qujiang Pond in Chang'an, the day is short, the dusk has quietly set, and it has entered mid-autumn. The north wind is strong at night, and there are few tourists by the Qujiang Pond. Occasionally, there are still one or two lovers who have been reluctant to return.

An old man hurriedly walked on the official road leading to Chang'an from Qujiangchi. His hair was gray, his face was full of vicissitudes, and his back seemed a little hunched. He was the mute uncle who had taken care of Zhang Huan's life since he was a child. He had just come to Qujiangchi to visit his mistress home. In order to protect his mother's safety, Zhang Huan did not tell his mother that he was in Qiushui Temple, but simply told him that his mother had become a monk near Qujiangchi.

Therefore, visiting Qujiangchi every day became his only spiritual sustenance in life. This was a habit he developed in Taiyuan for more than ten years. Today, as usual, after visiting the east, he rushed back to Chang'an.

The official road was very quiet. A gust of autumn wind blew up several fallen leaves on the ground, and followed him with his spinning under Uncle Ya's feet. He suddenly felt a little cold, so he wrapped his clothes tighter, making his back look even more hunched.

Suddenly, a black shadow jumped out from behind the tree and hit the back of his head with a stick. Uncle Mute fell softly. At this time, three men in black jumped off the tree. The four of them quickly put him in a sack, carried him and ran towards the bushes beside the road.

They had just run into the woods, but suddenly they were stunned. Their horses tied to the woods all fell to the ground, and another companion who was supporting them also turned up to the sky and had been dead for a long time.

With a whistle, more than a hundred men in black suddenly appeared around them, each holding a saber in his hands, staring at them coldly, like a group of ghosts wandering in the night.

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It was getting late at night. At the moment when the Chang'an city gate was about to close, several horses rushed into Mingde Gate. They seemed to have a whirlwind swept across Zhuque Street and rushed straight towards Xuanyangfang.

After a moment, these knights had arrived in front of Cui Yuan's mansion, jumped off his horse and ran up the steps. In the mansion, Cui Yuan walked around the study with his hands behind his back. His face was gloomy and his eyes were filled with anger. In the past few days, Cui Yuan had been extremely irritable. He had heard about him in the past two days. Although there was no evidence, the three of them became tigers. These rumors would ruin his reputation. Even more importantly, someone had already started to take action. It is unknown who this person is, and it is unclear what purpose it was, but one thing is certain that there must be a huge conspiracy behind this matter.

This is exactly the reason why he is irritated. He still can't see what this conspiracy is?

By the wall, Cui Xiong knelt straight there, not daring to move. Cui Yuan glanced at him, and became even more angry. He could not resist Cui Qinggong's repeated begging, so he handed over the kidnapping of Zhang Huan's old servant to Cui Xiong. The old servant had to go out of the city to visit the Qujiang Pool every day. Kidnapping was as simple as it could be, but even this small matter, Cui Xiong could not do it. He has not come back yet, so there must be an accident.

"You said, who did you tell me about this?"

Cui Xiong was extremely depressed. Because it was too simple, he didn't take this matter seriously at all. Unexpectedly, something unexpected happened. Although he made a swearing, he felt a little guilty. He got drunk at Cuiyunju at noon. He really didn't know if he had said anything. Although this was the case, he couldn't say it out. He said in panic: "My nephew dared to swear and swear. He never told anyone about this. I don't know what happened?"

"Hmph! Your curse?" Cui Yuan sneered, "Your curse is only worthy of women to say, don't taint my ears here."

Suddenly, the housekeeper ran over and reported urgently at the door, "Master, the people who went to the check-in house outside the city have returned, and they have brought news."

Cui Yuan was excited, "Hurry! Let them come in."

Soon, a knight strode in. He half-kneeled and bowed to Cui Yuan and said, "The subordinates found the bodies of the five of them in the woods. There were signs of fighting at the scene. The footprints on the ground showed that there were as many as a hundred people on the other side."

Cui Yuan was stunned for a moment. There were so many hundred people, and the other party actually invested so much money on this matter. His original intention was to get some information about Zhang Huan from Zhang Huan's old servant, but someone actually used hundreds of people to steal the old servant. Is there any secret hidden in this old servant? Also, who is doing this behind the scenes? Could it be Pei Jun again?

He suddenly remembered the rumors again. Is there any relationship between these two things?

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‘Wow!’ A bucket of water poured on Uncle Ya, and he gradually woke up. He felt a splitting headache, and sweetness surged in his throat, his hands and feet were tightly tied. Slowly, his eyes adapted to the dark environment. He looked at both sides. This seemed to be a stone house for raising horses, full of grass, and the room was filled with the smell of horses.

Next to him were two extremely majestic women, who were women. He saw clearly that they were two women who were seven feet tall and had fleshy faces, with hands crossed on their chests, and their arms were even thicker than ordinary men's calves.

"Awaken?" Uncle Ya heard them mutter vaguely, then his body lightened, and they were taken out of the room from left to right.

"I didn't expect that you, the old mao, was actually a eunuch." A woman smiled "haha!", her voice was like a night owl, which was creepy.

Uncle Ya suddenly burst into blood. He bit his lips tightly, and he was soon carried to a corridor. The night was still dark outside, with stars everywhere, and next to it was a huge square. Uncle Ya suddenly recognized this place. It turned out to be the Yeting Palace. The Yeting Palace is a place where palace maids live and sinners serve labor. How could he be here?

Two huge women walked steadily and soon carried him to another empty room. There was an iron cage in the room. The two women threw him in, and then the iron door was closed heavily.

After a while, he faintly heard the voice coming, "Don't worry, the Queen Mother, Cui Yuan will never know about this. I am using my father's personal soldiers and are absolutely loyal to me."
To be continued...