The rain outside seemed to be getting heavier and heavier. Shi Miyuan sat alone in the study, staring at the incense stick that was about to burn out in the incense burner in front of him. As the last piece of incense ash on the incense head fell silently into the incense burner, the blue smoke that had originally curled up into the incense head instantly became a little confused at the incense head.

At this moment, a knock on the door also sounded at the entrance of the study. The servant walked in respectfully and stood at the entrance of the study and said in a deep voice: "Master, General Xia replied, Duke Rong Guo Zhao Shikui set out."

"Okay, go down." Shi Miyuan said quietly at the incense burner in front of him. The last wisp of blue smoke was burned out at this moment.

As the servant slowly brought the door away, Shi Miyuan, who was sitting on the chair, then breathed a long sigh, and his originally solemn expression became a little relaxed.

After a while, Shi Miyuan stood up as if he had finally made up his mind and walked out of the study. At this time, dozens of soldiers from the Palace Front Office and the Guard Office were standing outside the study.

"Go to Xin'an County Prince's Mansion." Shi Miyuan snatched the oil-paper umbrella that the servant held up behind him and walked out quickly.

As Shi Miyuan left first, dozens of soldiers wearing armor immediately followed Shi Miyuan in the rain. The rain made the armor on the soldiers particularly bright, and even looked a little more solemn and sharp on rainy days.

The carriage outside the mansion was obviously waiting for Shi Miyuan. After Shi Miyuan got on the carriage, a team of more than 100 people, including the other soldiers who had been outside the mansion, began to escort the carriage away from Shi Miyuan's mansion.

The heavy rain made the entire Lin'an City look particularly hazy, but for some reason, Lin'an today seems to be less poetic and picturesque in the heavy rain, but instead the haze is full of murderous intent everywhere.

Most of the luxurious carriages on the streets are guarded by soldiers, and the imperial guards are much more today than usual, which makes the streets that appear deserted due to rainy days seem even more lonely at this time.

The rainy days for several days obviously made the people of Lin'an's desire to appreciate the rain begin to decrease. The streets and alleys are no longer as full of graceful figures and gentle young men who feel the rainy days as they did in the past few days.

Most people obviously like to gather in taverns and tea shops on rainy days, while those who have prestige, wealthy and powerful in Lin'an City either talk to friends at home or fall in love with beautiful women in a place of love and mist.

The casino business has also been the most prosperous these days, which has also made some unexpected money that some people who want to make easily either lose their money, or regret it in their hearts, or they blushed and want to make up for the gambling money they lost today.

Under the eaves of a small tavern, Zhong Can squatted silently in the corner of the wall to shelter from the rain. The one who took shelter with him was a big yellow dog that ran over from somewhere. Each person and a dog were under the eaves, and they had already stared at each other for about a quarter of an hour.

The footsteps of the man in the raincoat interrupted the stalemate between Zhong Can and the big yellow dog, and each person and the dog looked in the direction where the footsteps came at almost the same time.

"Boss, Shi Miyuan has left the mansion, and his destination is...Xin'an County Prince's Mansion." A soldier from the Hua Family Army wiped the rain from his face and said to Zhong Can.

"Did you find out who was in the carriage that secretly arrived in the Prince's Mansion of Daxin'an yesterday?" Zhong Can asked while squatting under the eaves.

"Not yet, the time is too short, but it probably will be soon." said the soldier of the Chuanghua Family Army.

"Continue to check." Zhong Can scratched his head, then thought for a while and said, "Let's ignore Shi Miyuan for now. I'd better order my brothers to keep the place in the palace in secret and tell them, if anyone exposed his whereabouts in advance, he will twist his head off." Zhong Can continued to squat under the eaves and said.

Not far from the left of the tavern is the most spacious street leading to the Xinwang Mansion. So if Shi Miyuan really comes to a mantis stalk the cicada oriole behind, then he should enter Xinwang Mansion from here.

"Okay, I understand, then you brothers and two of you continue to enjoy the rain." The soldiers of the Hua Family looked at each man and a dog, teased him and ran away immediately.

"Dogs are more loyal than Shi Miyuan. You know you a hammer!" Zhong Can didn't plan to chase and beat the soldiers who teased him, but she still couldn't leave behind.

The hazy rain curtain caused the soldiers of the Flower Planting Family to quickly disappear into the world. One person and the dog unconsciously stretched their waists together at the same time. However, when Zhong Can wanted to get close to the big yellow dog, the big yellow dog who had stretched his waist silently glanced at Zhong Can, then adjusted his head, and lazily looked at Zhong Can with his butt, lazily lying down to continue watching the rain again.

At the residence of the Xin'an County Prince, there were a hundred soldiers from the front office of the Palace Guard Division and the soldiers lined up neatly at the door. Shi Miyuan's carriage was parked in the center of the front office. At this time, three men were already standing at the entrance of the residence of the Xin'an County Prince.

Zhao Shicheng, the prince of Xin'an, Zhao Shiyi, and Zhao Guicheng, the son of Zhao Shiyi, did not wait for Shi Miyuan to get off the carriage. After the carriage had just stopped, he immediately signaled his father Zhao Shiyi's eyes, and ran towards Shi Miyuan's carriage with an oil paper umbrella.

In the heavy rain that Zhao Guicheng was completely exposed, the oil-paper umbrella in his hand was completely covered by Shi Miyuan's head to shelter him from the wind and rain.

Shi Miyuan was not polite either. He just turned around and nodded slightly to Zhao Guicheng, and then walked towards Zhao Shiyi and Zhao Shicheng who were saluting him.

After a simple greeting, the three of them walked towards the front hall of the mansion under the guidance of their master, Zhao Shicheng, the prince of Xin'an.

When several people followed Zhao Shicheng into the Xin'an County Prince's Mansion, Tang Wan, the hostess in the County Prince's Mansion, was secretly looking at the few people in the side hall with a worried look.

Yesterday, King Shu and his son Zhao Guicheng suddenly arrived in Lin'an quietly, which surprised the couple. But today, even Shi Miyuan ran to his mansion in person. As a woman's natural intuition, Tang Wan instantly realized that all this is definitely not as ordinary as seen on the surface.

Although Zhao Shicheng, the Prince of Xin'an, was entertaining King Shu, Zhao Shiyi with a smile, and Shi Miyuan, the left prime minister of the dynasty, was extremely nervous at this moment.

After King Shu arrived in Lin'an quietly yesterday, the couple felt a little unusual. Even because of the arrival of King Shu Zhao Shiyi, Zhao Shicheng and Tang Wan did not sleep well last night.

Early this morning, King Shu did not even plan to enter the palace or report to the court that he had arrived in Lin'an. Instead, he told them early in the morning that the left prime minister Shi Miyuan would come to the mansion to visit their father and son.

Because of King Shu Zhao Shiyi's generation, Tang Wan and his wife had to greet others with a respectful and smiling face. Obviously, as juniors of the royal family, they were unable to ask Zhao Shiyi's purpose of quietly coming to An this time.

But no matter what, after Shi Miyuan arrived at their Prince's Mansion, Zhao Shicheng and Tang Wan and his wife felt as heavy as a huge rock that had been placed in their hearts.

The unusual and even strange atmosphere slowly spread in the residence of the Prince of Xin'an. Zhao Shicheng greeted the real rare guest with a smile. The distinguished guest Shi Miyuan sat in the upper head, and then took advantage of the greetings between Shi Miyuan and Zhao Shiyi and Zhao Guicheng and his son, and found an excuse to quickly exit the front hall.

When he quickly walked into the side hall, he saw Tang Wan looking at him with a worried look on his face. The couple with heavy hearts looked at each other. Now, no matter how slow he was, he could clearly realize that the secret arrival of Shu King Zhao Shiyi and his son to Lin'an was definitely not an ordinary thing.

"Madam..." Zhao Shicheng was a little helpless, and his face was filled with panic and uneasiness.

Since Tang Wan married him, almost all the people in the prince's mansion have been managed by Tang Wan, and Zhao Shicheng, unconsciously, gradually began to rely on Tang Wan to make decisions in everything.

Tang Wan was always able to manage the whole mansion smoothly. The most important thing was that no matter what, whether in front of others, or behind others, could give Zhao Shicheng the Xin'an Prince's face, so that the Xin'an Prince's mansion, and among their relatives and friends, the Xin'an Prince has a full sense of presence and face.

"The court and the emperor obviously didn't know that King Shu had arrived in Lin'an..." Tang Wan frowned and said in confusion.

"It's hard to say." Zhao Shicheng spread his hands and said in a terrifying and terrified manner.

"What do you mean by your husband?" Tang Wan said inexplicably.

After thinking about it, Zhao Shicheng explained: "Madam doesn't know. Just now, I and Prince Shu's mansion were waiting for the left prime minister. The left prime minister actually brought hundreds of soldiers. Moreover, these soldiers were not imperial guards, but the palace front office and guard office dressed in the palace, with helmets and armor, and murderous aura. Could it be that something big will happen in Lin'an City?"

Tang Wan was shocked, and even felt a little dizzy. She grabbed Zhao Shicheng and asked anxiously: "Husband is sure, it's definitely not an imperial guard?"

"I am definitely not a man of the imperial guards, I don't know the people of the Palace Front Office and the Guards. I have never been to the palace." Zhao Shi said with confidence, and then thought for a while and said, "Madam, can it be because of the rain that the people of the Palace Front Office and the Guards will follow the left and right prime minister?"

Tang Wan immediately shook her head negatively, her eyes were a little empty, and she murmured: "It's definitely not that simple. If it's so simple, then it shouldn't be the Zuo Xiang who came to visit King Shu in the rain. It should be the Zuo Xiang who went to the Zuo Xiang Mansion to visit King Shu in the rain."

Zhao Shicheng sighed unconsciously. What Tang Wan said is indeed reasonable. Although King Shu Zhao Shiyi is also a royal title of the royal family, he has not been in Lin'an for a long time. Moreover, Shi Miyuan is now in the court with a high position and power. No matter how noble the King Shu is, he cannot let Shi Miyuan come and take the rain.

He was the only one who took the initiative to visit him, let alone the King Shu and his son arrived in Lin'an quietly? This made people wonder what was hidden in it.

"Now... in the opinion of my wife, what should we do?" Zhao Shicheng also knew the seriousness and strangeness of today's incident, but no matter what, he was still a bit lucky. Naturally, he hoped that no matter what big things happen to Lin'an, it would be better not to implicate the couple.

But now, I don’t go to find trouble, but I can’t stand it and come to me.

They are both royal family members like King Shu, and King Shu is one generation older than him. After coming to Lin'an, they immediately came to his Xin'an County Prince's Mansion. No matter what the purpose is, the couple had no reason to refuse.

Tang Wan was still holding Zhao Shicheng's hand tightly, her expression seemed extremely solemn and serious. Looking at Zhao Shicheng who was nervous and trepidated, she said calmly: "I'm afraid there is only one who can ask for help from the King of Yan at the moment."

"Seeking help from King Yan? This..." Zhao Shicheng was stunned, his head short, and he said in confusion: "What does this matter have to do with King Yan?"

Tang Wan looked at Zhao Shicheng's words full of rejection and sighed unconsciously. Although the relationship between them and Yan King Ye Qing could not be said to have a deep personal relationship, at least Yan King never thought of harming them and their wife, and even helped them again and again.

Even in the past few years, when Zhao Shicheng wanted to go further in the court, Ye Qing did not help in the end, but no matter what, Ye Qing was more kind to the couple than malicious.

Moreover, the reason why Zhao Shicheng did not go further in the court a few years was not Ye Qing's fault, but because Zhao Shicheng was a little afraid of Ye Qing from the bottom of his heart and was very resistant to dealing with Ye Qing, so he was unwilling to ask for Ye Qing.

Tang Wan sighed again, looked at the rain outside the window and the door of the side hall, and then took Zhao Shicheng's hand and walked a few steps in, then deliberately lowered her voice and said, "Don't you think that the reason why King Shu came to Lin'an and the left prime minister took the initiative to visit King Shu in our mansion is related to the fact that King Yan was granted a title?"

"You mean..." Zhao Shicheng grabbed Tang Wan's hand and said in surprise.

Tang Wan looked down at Zhao Shicheng's somewhat cold hand and said slowly: "How difficult is it to be a king since the founding of the Song Dynasty? Although Zhao Shikui, Duke Rong, is still deeply trusted and important to the emperor, isn't he just a duke? The King of Yan is not a royal family, but he was granted the title of King of Yan because of his extraordinary achievements in the north. Doesn't your husband think that this will make other royal families jealous of Ye Qing?"

"These...these are the affairs of the emperor after all, what does it have to do with us? King Shu is already the king..." Zhao Shicheng's mind began to feel a little confused and irritable.

Her character and way of dealing with the world have always believed in keeping alone, and Tang Wan was also very pleased with her husband's sake. At least Zhao Shicheng's frivolous ambition would not bring pressure to the court or a catastrophe to their husbands.

But obviously not all royal families can do this to Zhao Shicheng and believe in the way of being alone. Obviously, some people are ready to move and are ambitious about the court. Especially with the lessons of Zhao Ruyu, other royal families naturally want to follow suit openly and secretly.

"King Shu is the title of king, but the Zuo Prime Minister is not the title of king." Tang Wan continued to explain: "Now the Zuo Prime Minister and Shu King are entangled, and Duke Rong and Zuo Prime are very close. Isn't this obvious?"

"Madam means..." Zhao Shicheng thought for a while and said something tentatively: "Do you mean that Zuo Xiang and Duke Rong also want to be kings? That's why they would win over King Shu to help them? Then wouldn't it be better for them to find King Qing or King Wu? It's more direct..."

Tang Wan rolled her eyes helplessly, not knowing her husband yet, and she was really helpless in her heart. She explained patiently: "Although King Zhao Shichun of Wu is also a candidate, don't forget that King Wu has just been awarded the title of king shortly after..."

"Wouldn't King Qing be more appropriate? No matter what, he is now the emperor's uncle..." Zhao Shicheng said with confidence.

Tang Wan helplessly slapped Zhao Shicheng and continued, "You are really unfaithful! You don't think about which branch of King Qing is the royal family? Duke Rong, Zhao Shikui, and Zhao Shiyi of King Shu! So will King Qing support Duke Rong?"

Seeing Zhao Shicheng refuting again, Tang Wan did not give him a chance and said, "Yes, the King of Wu is yours, don't forget that the relationship between King of Wu Zhao Shichun and King Yan is to marry the King of Yan, and it is given by the Empress Dowager's imperial decree."

Tang Wan looked at Zhao Shicheng helplessly. Although they were nominally all the royal families of the Song court and were all descendants of Taizu, among the Song court, they would still unconsciously be divided into the lineage of Taizu's eldest son Zhao Dezhao and the second son Zhao Defang.

Since Emperor Xiaozong, the Qin King Zhao Defang inherited the imperial throne, so the reason why King Qing was more noble than others was precisely because of this.

Whether it is Zhao Shichun or Zhao Shikui, the reason why he has been the Duke of the Kingdom for many years is naturally inseparable from this.

As for King Shu, Zhao Shiyi, it was entirely because after the Supreme Emperor ascended the throne, in order to avoid the formation of visible cracks between the royal families and clearly divided them into two factions, Zhao Shiyi was granted the title of King Shu. The purpose was to make the few remaining royal families after Bianan be like a family.

Just when Zhao Shicheng and Tang Wan and his wife were planning to tell Yan Wang Ye Qing about the matter in their mansion, a group of men in the straw raincoat began to quickly enter Lin'an City at the gates of each city.

In the Aunt San’s Tavern, an imperial guard skillfully ran into the tavern and immediately found the corner where the Imperial Commanders Lu Zhong and Wu Gui were. Seeing that there was only one wine pot on the table, the imperial guard was slightly surprised. Usually, almost half of the wine pots were placed on the table every time, just to show their huge amount to other guests. But for some reason, there was only one wine pot and it had not been finished.

"Two sirs, some unidentified straw men began to appear at the gates of each city. Should I check their identities?" the imperial guard asked conscientiously.

Lu Zhong rolled his eyes, looked at Wu Gui who lowered his head and smelled the wine, and said disdainfully: "You are trying to die? Did you offend me? Will you turn a blind eye? Just think... what happened in front of you was the heavy rain?"

"Okay, I'll feel relieved with you. I'll tell those old brothers..." The Imperial Guard said after asking for a glass of wine.

"Don't worry, they know better than you. They have long been squatting in a corner to shelter from the rain. You should save money. It's not too late to sit down and drink a few drinks." Wu Gui raised his head and said to the imperial guards who were about the same age as them.

Among the imperial guards today, the youngest one is nearly fifty years old. Some merchants who want to get a degree in the imperial guards will not appear in the imperial guards at all, and they even don’t even have monthly salary. This makes it possible that the imperial guards today have almost no combat power, while the number of elderly, weak, sick and disabled people is increasing, but the salary is much more due to the sharp decline in the number of people and the "gift" of merchants' children, which is much more than when Ye Qing was the imperial guards.

The man in the straw raincoat began to enter Lin'an City from various city gates like locusts. At this time, as the rain was getting heavier, almost all the imperial guards disappeared quickly in every corner of Lin'an City like a tide.

The straw raincoat people on the street are like small flowing rivers. From the sky, you can see that they are all gathering in the same direction in advance.

When Duke Zhao Shikui of Rong entered the Xinwang Mansion, he involuntarily lifted the curtain and looked at the rain outside the car. At the entrance of a small tavern, a commoner in a straw raincoat and a lazy yellow dog were staring at each other.

Although the picture is not very poetic, in Zhao Shikui's eyes, the quick glance at the human and dog is quite harmonious. The leisurely picture has slightly relieved his originally nervous mood.

A disdainful smile of people and dogs appeared unconsciously, and she sighed unconsciously in her heart. Obviously, as a foolish and ignorant people, it is sometimes a happy thing.

The man and the dog were sheltering from the rain under the calm eaves. I am afraid they would never think that something would happen next that they could not imagine.

However, these things have nothing to do with them, and will not improve their lives at all, nor will they affect their already struggling livelihoods.

Obviously, no matter what important things happen to the court, in their world, they will neither become better nor worse, and everything has nothing to do with them. They are just a commoner like ants and cannot affect the changes and unchanging of the world. These have always been controlled by the high-ranking "people".
To be continued...