The Great General and His Little Scholars

Chapter 31

"Hide, be silent, don't come out..." Mother's eyes were shining brightly against the flames behind her.Jiang Tong's thin body curled up under the carriage floor, wanting to cry, but the wet nurse tightly covered his mouth.

Mother turned around and ran outside, shouting frantically, the cold light of several steel knives flashed by.Mother's body was shrouded in blood mist, and she fell to the ground.

After the rain, the ground was full of potholes and muddy water. Jiang Tong gradually lost his anger when he saw his mother lying in the puddles.

Before my mother died, she kept shouting: I am wronged...

His black official boots were covered with mud and blood, and he walked towards Jiangtong stepping over the corpses all over the ground.The blood on the steel knife congealed into beads, rolled down, and dripped into the puddle.

The nanny was trembling with fright, her arms lying on the ground became numb, and she couldn't hold Jiang Tong anymore.

Jiang Tong broke free, his fear and panic suddenly disappeared in an instant.The fact that his mother died in front of him seemed to make him extremely brave all of a sudden.

Jiang Tong got out from under the car, his body covered in mud and water.Only a pair of big eyes like water grapes stared closely at the masked men in black in the darkness.

Those people didn't expect this little child to have such fearless and resolute eyes, and they all stopped in their tracks.

"I'm sorry, young master, we are also obeying orders." The leader said in a low voice.

Jiang Tong didn't speak, just walked up to his mother, stretched out his little hand, trying to wipe off the blood on his mother's face, but wiped more and more blood - there was a long wound on the left forehead of the mother.

Jiang Tong lay down, pillowed in his mother's arms, his little hands hugged his mother's neck tightly, and closed his eyes.

The steel knife slid across the night with a coldness, and Jiang Tong even felt the cold murderous aura on his back.However, the steel knife did not fall down for a long time, only a few muffled groans were heard, followed by the sound of fighting for a while, and then it gradually quieted down.

Footsteps approached from behind, and a big hand stroked Jiang Tong's cheek.Jiang Tong shivered, turned around suddenly, and saw a heroic face.

The man's face was stained with a little blood, but it didn't make people afraid.With gentle eyes, he smiled at Jiang Tong: "My name is Liao Shan, your father's best friend, come home with me."

………………

Song Yuanhao closed the thick secret file, and Tong Lian started a corruption case. There were a total of one hundred and three names circled in red on this secret file.

One hundred and three... is not enough to wipe out the roots, it is really creepy.

There was a cold light in Song Yuanhao's eyes, and he said to the eunuch Liu Chang in a deep voice, "Didn't you find out about Tong Lianqi's concubine who was raised outside?"

Liu Chang replied: "Your Highness, Tong Lianqi's concubine has never lived in the capital. On the night Tong Lianqi was beheaded, she took her son and rushed back all night to see Tong Lianqi for the last time, but was intercepted by secret guards on the way."

"Although the information was accurate, for some reason, there was no news of the secret guards. After receiving the secret report from the local officials, I found out that including the secret guards, a total of 22 people were killed on the way."

"22 people?!" Song Yuanhao frowned: "But... according to the secret file, there were 13 people in the concubine convoy, including servants, maids, and coachmen. The secret guards had ten masters at that time. Come down, but unexpectedly one person is missing.”

Liu Changdao: "The slaves have already searched for relevant people and asked them. They said they thought it was strange at the time, but the concubine's room and the child's body had been found, so they thought that maybe some servant was greedy for life and afraid of death, and escaped without hesitation. We can see."

"How was the body of the concubine and the child found?"

"All 22 corpses have been burned by a fire, and they are in a mess. The people who collected the corpses finally found the corpse of a seven or eight-year-old child, and put the Tong family's ancestral jade bracelet on the other corpse, judging that The identities of the mother and son."

The doubts in Song Yuanhao's eyes became even more serious, and he mumbled: "In this case, it cannot prove that the two corpses must be the people the secret guards are looking for. After all—all the secret guards who have seen them are also dead."

Seeing Song Yuanhao's doubts, Liu Chang asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, what do you mean...the concubine and the child are not dead? Then if they are still alive..." Liu Chang showed a terrified and complicated look on his face: "The late emperor Isn’t it possible that the secret edict that I’ve been thinking about is still in their hands?”

Song Yuanhao also had a trace of panic on his face, and then turned cold again, saying: "If Tong Lianqi's son really survives, then the secret edict can only be in his hands."

Liu Chang gasped: "I couldn't find it anywhere, so I thought it was burnt together."

At this time, it was reported from outside that Zhao Qun, the captain of the hussars, asked to see him.

Song Yuanhao winked at Liu Chang, and Liu Chang hurriedly put away the secret files on the table.

Zhao Qun walked in excitedly, with a look of good news, saluted and said: "His Royal Highness, I have found out about the old things related to Lord Sima."

Upon hearing this, Song Yuanhao immediately said, "Speak quickly!"

Zhao Qun said excitedly: "Your Highness, the Zhao family, my concubine, used to be a singer in the old mansion of Jingzhong Pavilion. She said that at that time there was a dancer with outstanding skills who was favored by an adult in Jingzhong. Elder Ge sent him a favor. When she mentioned this matter again yesterday, she suddenly remembered that the lord who got the dancer girl is a minister and walks in the Ministry of War."

Song Yuanhao was surprised when he heard this and said, "Do you remember your concubine's room clearly?"

"It wasn't true at first, but a sister who used to be in the elder's house once mentioned that the sister had a very good memory. As soon as she said it, the concubine remembered it."

Zhao Qun said again: "Speaking of the concubine who was with the Minister of the Ministry of War, the concubine was very envious. She said that she was treated the same as the main wife. Because of her frail body, she was pregnant and sent her back to her hometown in the south. keep it."

"My hometown in the south?!" Song Yuanhao looked at the secret file in his hand, which clearly recorded that Tong Lianqi's concubine—Jiang's family was robbed by robbers when he was traveling from Fuqu County in the south to the capital.

Song Yuanhao frowned tightly, staring at Zhao Qun with eagle eyes: "Who is that sister in your concubine's room? Where is it now?"

"His Royal Highness may not believe it." Seeing that Song Yuanhao was very interested, Zhao Qun said proudly, "The concubine's sister is the concubine of General Liao's mansion—Aunt Zhu."

Song Yuanhao was stunned for a moment, and a sneer appeared on his lips: "So, when Aunt Zhu met Jiang Tong ten years ago, she mentioned the dancer who followed the Minister of the Ministry of War?"

"Exactly." After Zhao Qun finished speaking, he hastily stamped his feet falsely: "It's all because the concubine at home has little knowledge. If I said it that day..."

"No matter that day or today, there is no evidence, and we can't frame the officer." Song Yuanhao said uncharacteristically gentle: "So I have to trouble Mr. Zhao, and do my best."

Zhao Qun hurriedly nodded in agreement.

At this time, Liu Chang reminded from the side: "Your Highness, this Aunt Zhu is Liao Mingli's biological mother."

"Oh? It's the second son of the general's mansion who hangs around in front of the eldest princess all day?"

"That's him, now walking in the Hussar Guard."

"Hmph! If Yuan Zhen hadn't helped him with his little ability, he would have been able to get into the Hussars." Song Yuanhao's sneer became even worse: "No matter how hard a rock is, if there is a gap, it will be cracked into powder sooner or later!"

On the day of the Winter Solstice, Liao Mingsi sat on the couch and watched Cuiqiao change Jiang Tong's clothes. He said with a smile, "I have disliked official dresses since I was a child, but I never expected that someone would wear them so nicely."

Jiang Tong smiled, put his arms behind his back, and made a gesture: "How? Does it look more mature?"

"How come, a boy is a boy, no matter how old-fashioned your clothes are, it can't stop your vitality."

Jiang Tong sighed and said, "This is the first time I go to the palace for a banquet, I really want to be with my brother."

"You are going to accompany Grand Master Fu Zhengchun, and I am going to be with my father and all the generals. We can only meet at the banquet."

Liao Mingsi stood up as he spoke, walked to Jiang Tong, stretched out his hand to help him straighten his clothes, and comforted him: "You go first, and I'll be there later. If the banquet is boring, how about we sneak out first?"

Jiang Tong smiled and nodded: "Okay, it's a deal, if I feel bored, brother will sneak out with me."

"Hehe, it's a deal."

In the palace, in the Peony Flower Hall, which was used as the winter solstice banquet, a group of court ladies and eunuchs were busy coming in and out.Numerous colorful lanterns and huge candles illuminate the flower hall as bright as day.

A group of relatives of the emperor and important officials of the court sat in their respective positions, and each table was filled with various fruits, dishes, and fine wines.The court rites and music were played melodiously, creating a festive and peaceful atmosphere.

Following the announcement, Emperor Song Yuanxi, Empress Dowager Xu Wen, Eldest Princess Song Yuanzhen, King Zhao Song Yuanhao, the Empress and Princess Zhao all came in and took their seats.

The monarchs and ministers rejoiced together, toasted and drank, singing and dancing, and singing rituals and music together, pushing the atmosphere of the Winter Solstice Festival to a climax.

After several rounds of toasting, Jiang Tong, as a newly promoted young Scholar, was surrounded by everyone and couldn't refuse. After drinking a few more glasses, he felt that he was already a bit over the top.

While she was resting on her forehead, a court lady came over, put down a bowl of hot sweet porridge, and said softly, "Lord Sima, the Major General specially ordered the sweet porridge to warm your stomach."

Jiang Tong raised his head, facing Liao Mingsi's concerned eyes.

Liao Mingsi sat across from the generals, but he didn't take his eyes off Jiang Tong for a moment.Seeing that he was overwhelmed by alcohol, he took money and secretly asked a court lady he knew to prepare porridge for Jiang Tong.

Seeing Jiang Tong looking over at this time, he hastily winked and asked him to drink less.

Jiang Tong was a little drunk, seeing Liao Mingsi's earnest eyes, he also forgot to avoid taboo, just smiled foolishly, the heat in his eyes couldn't be stopped.

Song Yuanzhen, who was sitting on the main seat, looked at them coldly and couldn't help clenching his teeth.At this time, Song Yuanhao came over, sat beside Song Yuanzhen, and said, "Seeing how you stare at Sima Jiangtong, do you want to kill him immediately?"

Song Yuanzhen snorted coldly: "What? Are you distressed?"

Song Yuanhao said without hesitation: "Before I get tired of playing, I still don't want you to touch him."

Song Yuanzhen gave Song Yuanhao a hard look, but said nothing.

Song Yuanhao was not annoyed, but a smile appeared on his lips: "This king knows your plan tonight, but you think you can really make it happen just by relying on that idiot Liao Mingli?"

Song Yuanzhen paused, looked at Song Yuanhao angrily and said, "Second brother, what do you mean?"

"It's nothing interesting, it's just that my second brother loves you so much, so I help you." After saying that, he pointed in the direction of Liao Mingsi.

Song Yuanzhen looked over and saw an eunuch bending over and talking to Liao Mingsi. Liao Mingsi seemed taken aback, hesitated for a moment, and followed the eunuch out of the Peony Flower Hall.

Seeing this, Song Yuanhao nudged Song Yuanzhen with his elbow and said, "Don't hurry up? Be careful, let Liao Mingsi see through."

Song Yuanzhen suddenly realized, stood up hastily, and left the banquet.