There is more and more evidence about Xu Xiang’s battle in Mingshui.

It was not just Mingshui's battle, but the crimes presented were all kinds of, everything was sold, the titles, the appointment of private individuals, the deceiving of the emperor, and the acceptance of bribes...

The change in the emperor's attitude made the Xu Party smell the bad direction of the wind, and the court was immersed in a tense atmosphere. The people who originally thought they would be able to rescue Xu Jingfu soon now realized that this was not a simple thing, or rather, it was impossible.

At Shi Jin Bo’s mansion, the servant stopped the person who wanted to come in and smiled and said with apologies: “Sir, please come back, the fourth young master is not in the mansion.”

"Where did Chu Zilan go?" One person was anxious and angry, and asked in a low voice: "If we don't let us see Mr. Chu again, the prime minister will have no time!"

The servant just said with a bitter face: "The adults ask the young man, but the young man doesn't know. The fourth young master hasn't returned home for a long time."

Seeing that after asking for a long time but couldn't find anything useful, the person who came had to leave in disappointment. After the group left, the servant closed the door, returned to the yard, knocked on the door of the study, and walked in.

Chu Zhao was sitting at the table reading a book.

"Fourth Young Master, all the people coming have been sent back." The servant said.

Of course, Chu Zhao was at Shi Jin Bo's mansion. In fact, he had never left the mansion these days, so no one saw him.

"well done."

"But the fourth young master..." the servant hesitated for a moment and asked, "Don't you really want to think of a solution?"

Chu Zhao raised his head and looked at him. The servant turned pale. After a while, he heard the person in front of him say, "You go out."

The servant retreated with relief.

Chu Zhao's eyes fell on the table again, and the Duan inkstone on the table was given to him by Xu Jingfu. Since Xu Jingfu was imprisoned, people have wanted to find him to help Xu Jingfu come out from time to time. After all, Xu Jingfu treats him like his own son. It won't take long before he is Xu Jingfu's son-in-law. He should have done this for reason.

Chu Zhao's eyes became distant.

Chu Zhao still remembers the first time he met Xu Jingfu.

He was not old at that time, and was very bullied by Mrs. Chu and his three legitimate brothers. He was very beautiful, and Chu Linfeng liked to take him to socialize with him. He looked extremely handsome, but every time he came back from socializing, he was waiting for him with countless more powerful tortures.

Chu Linfeng couldn't see what happened in the backyard. Even if he saw it, he would just say a few words. It would be impossible to be apart from his worries for him and Mrs. Chu.

One winter day, Chu Linfeng had a social event between his colleagues, and wanted to bring him with him. This time he was a guest at Xu's mansion. Chu Linfeng specifically ordered Mrs. Chu to pick a good dress for Chu Zhao and never lose face of the Chu family.

Since he was visiting Xu Xiang’s mansion, Mrs. Chu did not dare to neglect her. Even though she was reluctant, she still prepared gorgeous clothes for him.

Chu Linfeng was quite satisfied.

But Chu Zhao left a difficult journey.

Just because I don’t know if it was Mrs. Chu or one of his legitimate brothers, I nailed a few nails on the bottom of his boots. At first, I couldn’t feel it. As the people walked, the nails were gradually trampled into the boots and finally got into the soles of his feet.

But at that time, Chu Zhao and Chu Linfeng had already arrived at the Xu Mansion.

It is very rude to take off your boots in public. Chu Linfeng is particularly proud and does not give him a chance to speak at all. It is like showing off a beautiful vase and an exquisite decoration, pulling him to meet everyone, "This is my third son, Chu Zhao."

Chu Zhao had no choice but to endure the pain and talk to Chu Linfeng with a pale face.

In the end, he could hardly support it anymore.

Chu Linfeng drank a few more drinks at the banquet and spoke proudly with his colleagues. Finally, he didn't pay attention to Chu Zhao for the time being. Chu Zhao wanted to find a secluded corner to take off his boots and pull out the nails. But in the huge Xu Mansion, he didn't know the way, and as he turned, he ran into someone.

A scribe in a long gown, a little older, looked down at him.

Chu Zhao was stunned and recognized at a glance that this was the protagonist of today's banquet. Chu Linfeng wanted to curry favor with Xu Jingfu. But he had been following Chu Linfeng, and Chu Linfeng didn't even talk to Xu Jingfu. I think he might not know him.

"I am... the fourth young master in Shi Jin's mansion." Chu Zhao spoke carefully, "I... I'm lost."

Xu Jingfu just looked at him with a smile, paused slightly, and suddenly asked, "What's wrong with your legs?"

Chu Zhao subconsciously hid his feet behind him.

Xu Jingfu looked around, called the servants, and said, "Carry Master Chu's Fourth to the room."

Chu Zhao waved his hand in a hurry: "No need, I..."

"Your leg will become lame if you walk on." Xu Jingfu shook his head and smiled, "I'll tell your father, don't worry."

Chu Zhao was carried to the room by the servants of the Xu family. Not only that, they also took off his boots. As soon as the boots were taken off, everyone present took a breath. Almost all the nails were sank into the soles of his feet, and the blood flowing out stuck to the white socks, and it felt miserable just to look at them.

Xu Xiang frowned and said, "Call the doctors in the mansion to come."

There is a doctor in Xu's house who is skilled in medicine. After being called over, he took out the nail from Chu Zhao's feet and said, "Young Master, you can bear it too much. It hurts so much that the nail has not been in. How did you endure it until now? Oh, after you go back, you will not go down the floor in the past few days and have a good rest."

Chu Zhao pursed his lips and didn't say anything. Although he was the fourth son of the Chu family, he lived the same way as his servants. He had to work every day, so how could he not rest in the ground?

Xu Jingfu waved his hand and told them all to go down.

He got up and walked to the other end, and asked casually, "What's your name?"

"Chu Zhao, whose courtesy name is Zilan." He answered restrained and cautiously.

"Good name." Xu Jingfu smiled and put a pair of brand new boots in front of him. "This was originally what my wife planned to give to my students. Your boots can't be worn anymore. This pair should be able to wear."

Chu Zhao hugged his boots in his arms, perhaps because the stove in front of him was very hot, and the cloth boots were roasted warmly. He said, "Thank you, Lord Xu."

Xu Jingfu looked at him. The clothes that Mrs. Chu gave him were indeed gorgeous and exquisite. It was just in the twelfth month of winter. There was no lint in the thin brocade clothes. It looked good, but it was not practical. He walked outside for a while, and his face was already frozen, and his hands and feet were cold.

"You have three brothers in your house?" Xu Jingfu asked with a smile.

Chu Zhao's body stiffened slightly: "That's right."

Xu Jingfu looked at him thoughtfully: "I have never seen your father take them out."

Chu Linfeng had a good face and always felt that he was a handsome man from the Wei Dynasty. His three legitimate sons were born like mothers and had an ordinary appearance. He was afraid that others would laugh at him behind his back, so he only took Chu Zhao to socialize with his colleagues. Chu Zhao lowered his head and did not speak.

Xu Jingfu asked: "Can you read a book?"

"Read a little bit," he replied softly.

"Oh?" Xu Jingfu was a little surprised. Perhaps he was thinking that Mrs. Chu would actually make an outdoor room like Chu Linfeng study a little. Chu Zhao thought for a while and said in a low voice: "I learned a little from my mother before, but after returning home, I secretly hid some books in the room."

Xu Jingfu has always loved talents. He looked at the particularly beautiful child in front of him and smiled and said, "Since that's the case, you can come to me to study in the future."

Chu Zhao was stunned, subconsciously raised his head, and stammered his lips: "I..."

"I have many students, but they are all older, and I haven't taken any more disciples in many years," the scribe said in a gentle manner, like a loving elder. "I am older, and I don't know how many years I can teach you. If you are willing to learn from me, just call me a teacher."

teacher……

The teacher preaches and learns knowledge and answers doubts. Unfortunately, in the past years, no one has taught him what to do and why he does this. The person in front of him is the prime minister of the Great Wei Dynasty who is powerful in the court and the country.

He buried his head, regardless of the wound he had just bandaged, went down from the ground, kowtowed respectfully to Xu Jingfu, and called out: "Teacher."

He was sent back by Xu Jingfu's carriage, and he also came back with the servants of the Xu family, a thick cotton coat, and brand new boots on his feet.

When Chu Linfeng woke up and learned about this, he was also shocked and quickly apologized to Xu Jingfu, but Xu Jingfu said that he didn't have to take it seriously. After Chu Linfeng returned to his house, he had a real quarrel with Mrs. Chu for the first time over the matter of Chu Zhao. The sound of their quarrel fell into Chu Zhao's ears outside the yard window.

"That's Xu Xiang! Zilan will be Xu Xiang's student in the future. You can't understand Xu Xiang's move. Don't bully Zilan in the future!"

"Who bullies him? If I really bully him, how could he be Xu Xiang's disciple? In all of this, you are biased, otherwise why is it him, not my child!"

"Who made them unsuccessful? Xu Xiang just likes Zilan. You should take care of yourself. Don't be embarrassed!"

The sound of quarrels filled his ears. Chu Zhao looked down at the cloth boot on his feet. The boots fit very well and the soles of the shoes were very soft. It seemed that even the pain of the nails piercing into the flesh and blood was caressed completely by the softness.

After that, he became Xu Jingfu's student.

Xu Jingfu treated him well, and he was unwilling to give up this opportunity and studied hard. People say that he is talented and promising at a young age, but he didn't know how many nights he could read at night to carelessly "humility" in front of others.

The friendship between teachers and students is not without past experience.

The lights lit in the oil lamp on the table cast a shadow on the wall. He looked at it for a while and stood up.

"Come."

The servant came in and said, "What are the instructions for the fourth son?"

"Prepare the horse," he looked forward, "go to the prince's mansion."

...

In the empty bedroom, Emperor Wenxuan leaned against the edge of the collapse, lowered his head and drank the boiled ginseng soup in one mouthful.

As soon as the case of Xu Jingfu came out, the emperor was extremely angry and his health became worse. He was old, but he couldn't see the leisure time he had spent every day. There were changes in the court, and things were piled up to him. However, in just over ten days, he looked old and suddenly.

After drinking a bowl of ginseng soup, Concubine Lan asked her maid to pick up the empty small bowl and said softly: "Your Majesty, get better soon."

"What's the use of getting better?" Emperor Wenxuan smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid that outside now I hope I can get it as soon as possible..."

A finger pressed against his lips and blocked what he was going to say next. Concubine Lan shook her head in disagreement: "Your Majesty, this is not something you can say casually."

Emperor Wenxuan looked at the woman in front of him. Although she said this, her expression was still gentle. She was not as frightened and furious as other concubines. She would not be as stern as Queen Zhang. Concubine Lan was not the most beautiful one in the entire harem, but he had pampered the woman in front of him for so many years because he could be himself in front of Concubine Lan.

Instead of being an emperor.

Emperor Wenxuan thought that he might be the only one who thought it was very tiring to be an emperor.

After he got sick, Empress Zhang only came once. Emperor Wenxuan knew that Empress Zhang's family was very close to Xu Jingfu. Now that something happened to Xu Jingfu, Empress Zhang's family dared not openly plead for Xu Jingfu, and the harem could not interfere in politics, so she should be very busy during this period.

Emperor Wenxuan had no intention of caring about these things, and turned a blind eye because he could feel that he might not have much time left.

It was strange that before Xu Jingfu's incident came out, he thought that he was still energetic and could live longer than his father's generation. But as soon as the Xu Jingfu case came out, he understood that he was really old, so old that he might not be able to live the next winter.

So in his opinion, there is another important thing.

"Since I ascended the throne, Xu Jingfu has made many achievements in assisting him," he said slowly: "I treat him with tolerance and know that although he has selfish intentions, he has not pursued him. But now, he has failed my trust and even treason..."

"Xiao Zhongwu is dead. I have listened to Xu Jingfu's words over the years. There are not many military generals available in the Great Wei Dynasty. General Feihong He Ruo was still a fake. The Uttor had planned it for a long time, but I was afraid that it would cause great trouble in the future. If I handed over this position to him, Emperor Wenxuan smiled bitterly, "He is not as good as me. Although I am indecisive, I am still a benevolent people and love things. What does he... have!"
To be continued...