Dafeng Night Watchman
Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Foolish Lin An is also useful

Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Foolish Lin An is also useful

Zhou Min's widow?

Xu Qian'an's first reaction after hearing this was: She's lying.

Except for the clerks, officials from all over Dafeng, from the governor of a state to the governor of a county, are all outsiders.

As an experienced officer of the Experience Department of the Commandery, Zhou Min is certainly no exception. Moreover, experience is his official position on the surface, and his identity behind the scenes is a night watchman.

Would Wei Yuan let a secret agent bring his wife and children with him? Wouldn't that make him a traitor in a minute?

"Zhou Min?" Governor Zhang frowned, "What injustice has he suffered?"

He looked like "I don't know who Zhou Min is."

Yang Yingying said in a sad voice: "My husband was originally an officer of Yunzhou Duzhishisi."

Governor Zhang was surprised, and his attitude suddenly changed. He bent down and helped Yang Yingying up from her kneeling position. "So you are the wife of Officer Zhou. What happened to Officer Zhou? Why did the lady go to Qingzhou to file a complaint?

"Qingzhou and Yunzhou are states of the same level, so Governor Yang may not take over this case. Well, I am the governor of Yunzhou, and the three departments of Yunzhou must obey my orders. If the lady has any grievances, just tell me."

It turns out that not only are women born actors, but their acting skills as officials are also top-notch...Xu Qian'an watched silently, watching Lao Zhang perform alone.

Yang Yingying hesitated for a moment, stared at Governor Zhang, and said: "Sir, can I take a look at your appointment document, or the official seal?"

As soon as these words came out, Governor Zhang and the night watchmen all frowned.

The copper and silver gongs could not help but hold down the hilts of their knives and scrutinized Yang Yingying.

This is not something an ordinary woman can say, even if she is an experienced lady.

She knows the market very well... Xu Qian'an also held the hilt of his knife and stared at Yang Yingying seriously. There was no fluctuation of Qi in this woman's body, and judging from the body fat coverage, she did not look like a martial artist.

But we can only rule out that the other party is a martial artist. Other systems are too fancy and have too many means, so we cannot take it lightly.

Governor Zhang took two steps back calmly and said: "Please trouble Jiang Jinluo to get my documents and official seal."

Coward... Jiang Luzhong glanced at him and took out the documents and official seal.

Governor Zhang did not take it, automatically ignored Jiang Luzhong's gesture, and looked at Yang Yingying: "This official considers you as an experienced lady, so I allow you to take a look. "

Jiang Luzhong had no choice but to step forward and show the document and official seal. Yang Yingying carefully read it for a long time. In fact, it was also her first time to read the appointment document. When she searched for the words "Yunzhou" and "Governor", and then saw the bright red seal, she no longer had any doubts.

Until now, the other party was willing to argue with her, a weak woman, for so long, which was actually a kind of sincerity and style.

Yang Yingying knelt down again and kowtowed, saying: "I, Yang Yingying, was originally a woman from the Yunzhou Jiaofangsi. I met and fell in love with Mr. Zhou a few years ago. I got rid of my status and have been serving Mr. Zhou..."

Everyone showed an expression of "I see" tacitly.

... It turned out to be a seafood merchant. No wonder she was more knowledgeable than ordinary women and knew how to read documents and official seals. Xu Qian'an suddenly realized it.

In this era, seafood merchants are a group of women with high education and high culture. They are proficient in everything from music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and songs. Yang Yingying briefly talked about her past with Zhou Min, and frankly said that she was a woman kept outside, and Zhou Min would only meet her once in a while.

"Some time ago, Lord Zhou suddenly came to me and gave me something. He said that he might be in danger in the near future. If I really encountered an accident, he asked me to hide immediately, and then replace a way to leave Yunzhou and give this thing to Lord Yang, the governor of Qingzhou.

"Not long after, I received the news of Mr. Zhou's death..." Yang Yingying's tears rolled down, and she couldn't speak:

"I was sad and scared, and I didn't dare to stay any longer, so I hid in a sister's house and asked her to replace out the news.

"After hiding for a while, my sister told me that Mr. Zhao's caravan would go to Qingzhou soon, so I borrowed 20 taels of silver from her, bought a horse, and left Yunzhou with the caravan..."

Everyone knew what happened after that.

Xu Qian'an watched coldly, studying Yang Yingying's micro-expressions. This time when she spoke, her eyes were impartial, her voice was sad and full of emotion.

There was no falsehood.

So he looked for clues from Yang Yingying's words - Zhou Min never revealed his identity as a night watchman's hidden man until his death, even if the other party was a completely trustworthy friend of Guan and Bao. This shows that Zhou Min is a qualified hidden man.

If he easily told his identity, it would be suspicious.

As for why he went to Qingzhou to replace Ziyang Jushi instead of other neighboring states, Xu Qian'an judged that Zhou Min didn't trust anyone but the great scholar from Yunlu Academy.

First of all, compared with ordinary scholars, the great scholars from Yunlu Academy are more trustworthy because of their practice system. After all, bad people can't leave the

Confucian system.

Secondly, the scholars from Yunlu Academy and the Imperial Academy have a dispute over the orthodoxy. Adhering to the principle that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, replaceing Ziyang Jushi is the right choice.

Governor Zhang frowned, "You suspect that Zhou Min was killed."

Yang Yingying nodded vigorously: "This is already very obvious, isn't it? Please make a

decision for my husband."

"This..." Governor Zhang pondered for a moment: "Okay, I promise you, you can take out the last thing Zhou Jingli left for you."

Yang Yingying immediately kowtowed: "Thank you, sir."

Xu Qian'an couldn't help but look at him differently. Old Zhang's scheming was acceptable. He was indeed a veteran official. Those who worked with Wei Yuan had dirty hearts. Yang Yingying stood up, reached into her arms, took out half a jade pendant, and presented it with both hands: "This is what Lord Zhou gave to me that night."

Everyone's eyes were focused on the jade pendant.

It was a semi-circular jade pendant, the whole body was clear green. It should have been a round jade, but it was cut in the middle by a sharp weapon and split into two.

Jiang Luzhong took the jade pendant and handed it to Governor Zhang, who held it in his fingertips and rubbed it, pondering in silence.

"This looks like a token? "Jiang Luzhong whispered, and then he looked at Xu Qian'an and

asked for his opinion.

Governor Zhang also looked over.

Look at what I am doing, I can investigate cases, but I am not a fortune teller... You two did

not hide the idea of using me as a tool... Xu Qian'an pondered and said, "Let's go to Yunzhou first, what's the point of guessing."

Governor Zhang put away the jade pendant and ordered the soldiers: "Keep going, go to

Yunzhou."

Dig a pit on the spot to bury the bodies, take the surviving merchants and goods with them, and the team will continue to set off, heading towards Yunzhou along the official road.

....

The sun was shining brightly and the air was warm. On this rare morning, Huaiqing finished practicing swordsmanship and was about to call the palace maids to prepare hot water. Turning his head, he saw two palace maids sitting in the pavilion playing chess.

Huaiqing frowned, not because she was dissatisfied with the palace maids playing chess, but because they did not understand chess at all.

She did not say anything, walked into the pavilion silently, and watched the two palace maids

playing chess.

The pretty little palace maids were completely selfless, fighting in the chess game, and did

not notice the approach of their masters.

They played chess without any rules, did not know how to layout, did not know how to compete for advantageous positions, and played chess quickly, clacking as if they did not

think.

Huaiqing frowned more and more deeply. This childish way of playing was very

uncomfortable for her, a great master. But after watching for a while, she understood.

This kind of chess is very simple. It is to see who can arrange five pieces first, vertically, horizontally or diagonally. It doesn't matter. Whoever can connect five pieces first is the

winner.

I couldn't help but ask, "What kind of chess is this?"

The two maids were frightened and stood up in a hurry. They answered softly, "It's Gobang."

Gobang? What is this?

Huaiqing, who is well-educated, was stunned.

Another maid explained, "It was spread from Princess Lin'an. Now it has spread in the palace.

Everyone is playing it."

She meant the eunuchs and maids in the palace.

"I heard that even Concubine Chen said it was interesting." Another maid said.

Lin'an? She is just a stupid girl... Huaiqing nodded and said, "I want to take a bath. I don't

need to ask the cook to prepare lunch."

Emperor Yuan Jing will have a family dinner this morning, and the princes and princesses will

have dinner in the Qianqing Palace.

After bathing, Princess Huaiqing left the garden and went to the Qianqing Palace. She met her brothers and sisters in the magnificent elegant hall. In the place without her,

Lin'an, who likes to wear red skirts and gorgeous and complicated jewelry, is the center of the

topic.

Today is a little different. The royal brothers and sisters just nodded to Huaiqing and

continued the previous topic.

"Lin'an has created a school. The rules of Gobang are easy to understand and more interesting

to play. Even the servants in my palace can easily get started and have fun playing."

"The name of our Princess Lin'an will also be widely spread. "

With a round face and charming peach blossom eyes, Bian Bian enjoys the flattery of her

brothers and sisters. She smiles sweetly and says a few self-reserved and modest words. Like a proud hen who wants to show off but is holding back.

When she saw Huaiqing coming in, she slightly raised her snow-white chin and put on a

proud attitude.

Be jealous of me... Bian Bian muttered in her heart and glanced at Huaiqing with her peripheral vision.

But the cold Huaiqing just sat there, drank a few sips of tea, and ignored her stupid sister.

Humph... Huaiqing is really jealous of me. Bian Bian comforted herself in her heart.

Princess Huaiqing is an unsociable princess. It's not just because she is proud, but also because her thoughts are beyond the imagination of the princes and princesses. The princesses discuss beautiful clothes and rouge and powder, but she is interested in the Four Books and Five Classics.

When the princes discuss current affairs and the overall situation, she will say: How to solve the flood, how to govern the officials?

The princes will feel uncomfortable. Who knows? We are discussing the overall situation and

macro issues. You are just arguing.

Near noon, the eunuchs in the Yuan Jing Emperor's palace came to invite several princes and

princesses to come over.

Bian Bian followed the crown prince with her skirt flying. Suddenly, she heard Huai Qing's

voice behind her: "Lin'an." "

Bian Bian laughed, completely unable to control her expression, and said proudly: "What are you doing!" After the other princes walked away, Huai Qing said lightly: "Who taught you Gobang?" "I created it myself." Lin'an was actually very entangled, because Xu Qian'an taught her, and

she shouldn't use it against her conscience, but her brothers' words were too nice, and she couldn't stop.

I'll say it was Xu Ningyan who taught me later... she thought to herself.

"When my father asks about it later, you'd better say the same thing. "Huaiqing walked out,

with a cold and pleasant voice mixed with warnings:

"Father doesn't like that guy, you should use your brain when you speak."

After saying that, Huaiqing added: "If you have any."

"Why" was swallowed by Bianbiao. She was like a little lion with bared teeth and claws. While

chasing Huaiqing, she said angrily:

"You don't have a brain, you don't have a brain!"

"I'm prettier and smarter than you. Look, Xu Ningyan is willing to work for me like a cow and

a horse, and doesn't want you."

Huaiqing stopped suddenly and glanced at him sternly.

Bianbiao jumped back like a nimble cat, and felt that he was too cowardly. His peach blossom

eyes stared back stubbornly.

Princess Huaiqing raised her hand.

"Brother Crown Prince, Huaiqing wants to hit me. "Bian Bian screamed and ran away.

At the banquet, Emperor Yuan Jing asked about this matter.

How did Huai Qing know that his father would ask... Lin An was shocked and subconsciously

glanced at the annoying Huai Qing. Her beautiful face had no expression and she ate the food by herself.

Bian Bian's eyes rolled around and she smiled and acted coquettishly: "Because Lin An is my father's daughter, and my father is the smartest person in the world."

Emperor Yuan Jing laughed heartily.

Father had indeed been paying attention to the situation in the palace, just like he silently

looked down at the court... Huaiqing ate without changing her expression.

She did not cultivate her own confidants in the palace, and never actively inquired about the

news of the palace. She didn't even know about the Go that was popular recently.

It's not that Huaiqing didn't know, but she didn't want to know.

Princess Huaiqing had to admit that although her sister Lin'an was extremely stupid, she was

still useful even if she was useless. It all depended on how you used her.

At least in pleasing Father, no one in the palace could beat Lin'an, including those concubines

who were not favored or had been favored.