Zhu Yan sighed and said, "The current situation is like this, the court is turbulent, and the national treasury is empty. The Northern Zhou Dynasty tasted the sweetness from the Fenghuangling incident. Now he is preparing for the battle. He heard that he has set up the idea of ​​the four counties in Liaodong. The Western Chu army is eyeing it and wants to annex the Stone City east of Hengduan Mountain. The current Ming Dynasty is like a giant ship leaking in the sea, swaying in the wind and rain. Sadly, even though he knows that this will sink sooner or later, he still only cares about the interests in front of him, and fights openly and secretly, but I can't do anything. Xiaodao, come and tell me what to do?"

Fan Xiaodao said: "I am a martial artist. I don't understand the principle of governing the country and saving the world, but if you want to manage the country well, so that the people can have food, houses, and land to plant it, it is enough. If you don't understand internal troubles, how can you solve external troubles? At the beginning, when we were in Shuanglong Mountain, many of our brothers became bandits because they were desperate."

There is food to eat and there is land to plant.

The reason is very simple, but how difficult it is to practice it?

This is the trouble of the crown prince Zhu Yan, but not Fan Xiaodao's trouble.

In the world, whether it is a high-ranking official or a peddler, living is never an easy task.

Zhu Yan seemed to remember something and said, "By the way, there is something..."

After thinking about it, he felt inappropriate, so he said, "Forget it. I'll complain to you and feel much better. Later, I have to listen to the Dali Temple's report, so I won't leave you for dinner." He originally wanted to say that tomorrow was the day for Duke Jingguo to have funerals, so he asked Fan Xiaodao if he wanted to go, but when he thought that Duke Jingguo's death could not be separated from Fan Xiaodao, so he gave up.

...

The next morning, Fan Xiaodao and Zhao Xing met at Six Gates.

Today, Xue Yingxiong was in a funeral, and they wanted to go to mourn. Just as they were about to go out, they met Zhuge Xianyu. When they learned that the two were going to go to the Duke of Jingguo Mansion, Zhuge Xianyu did not stop him, but instead showed a meaningful expression, "Go and go, but there is one thing, don't make trouble."

Fan Xiaodao said: "We have a sense of responsibility."

Xue Yingxiong's death was because he rebelled and because he killed Princess Changle.

No matter which of these two points is a crime of being executed by the whole family, but they are given a posthumous title and are worthy of the Taimiao. Their treatment is comparable to that of the meritorious ministers. Not only Fan Xiaodao, but Zhao Xing was confused, but even the civil and military officials in the court were puzzled. King Gaoyang, Ye Yulou, and Zuo Jinwu Guard were all liquidated. Why was the emperor so relaxed in dealing with Xue Yingxiong?

Soon, the two arrived at the Duke of Jingguo Mansion.

A white banner was hung at the door of the mansion, and the whole mansion was covered with mourning, with a look of tranquility on his face.

In the past, the Jingguo Duke's Mansion was crowded with people coming to pay homage. Now it is full of desertedness, with a deserted street. Even pedestrians deliberately avoided this place.

This is a crime of rebellion.

It was too late for everyone to avoid it, so how could they come to pay their respects?

That kind of thing happened, and the Xue family did not let the family confiscate the family, but instead gave him extremely high honor. It was the grace of His Majesty to remember the old love, but this was also because Duke Jingguo and His Majesty were played companions together since they were born. Who said that the emperor was ruthless?

No one is back, but there are countless pairs of eyes staring at the Duke of Jingguo Mansion.

When Zhao Xing saw this scene, he couldn't help but sigh.

Unexpectedly, a few days ago, he was still in the Duke's mansion and had a deep conversation with Xue Yingxiong, but now he is separated from heaven and earth.

As soon as I arrived at the door, someone immediately recognized the two.

These two people can be regarded as the culprits who killed the master.

Today's funeral was a place where they were buried, but they were provoking them.

Everyone was full of grief and anger, and their eyes were full of hostility. They blocked the two of them outside the gate. Some even picked up the guys and wanted to fight them.

When the manager heard that the two of them were visiting, he rushed out and stopped his subordinates and said, "Today, the master was in a funeral, and the person who came was a guest, so he should not be rude. Open the main door and invite the uncle Anle and the uncle Zhongyong came to the mansion to worship!"

Fan Xiaodao and Zhao Xing came to the mansion, took out two funerals and handed them to the palace guard at the door.

Among the two envelopes, each of them contained 500 taels of silver notes.

In the past, the Duke's Mansion did not look down on this little money at all, but as time passed, as Duke Yasukuni died, the standard of food and clothing in the mansion also dropped sharply, and this little money could also solve the urgent problem.

The mourning hall is set up in the hall.

Xue Yingxiong had no children in his life and never took a concubine. In the mourning hall, only Mrs. Xue was guarding him, and four or five maids guarding the courtyard, kneeling behind him.

Fan and Zhao came to the mourning hall, lit three incense sticks each, and exchanged a few greetings to Mrs. Xue.

Mrs. Xue said, "Please go to the inner hall to use tea."

Fan Xiaodao said: "No need. In the past two years, General Xue has taken care of us. Today we came here to send the general's last journey."

Mrs. Xue said, "When my deceased husband died, he left some relics and said that if there was any accident, I would give you those things. Originally, I thought about it and wait until the funeral was over and we would find Mr. Fan before leaving the capital. Since we are here today, we will save some trouble."

The two came to the inner hall.

Someone presented fragrant tea.

Tea is a good tea, but it is soaked in cold water.

When people leave, the tea is cold.

Mrs. Xue asked Zhao Xing to take a moment and bring Fan Xiaodao to the cellar in the backyard.

This is Fan Xiaodao's second time coming to the cellar.

The first time I came here was when I first came to the capital, I encountered Sun Mengwu's case. Xue Yingxiong took him to the cellar. At that time, in the cellar, he saw an ice sculpture, which was the statue of his mother. Because of this, he had a different feeling about Xue Yingxiong.

If he hadn't stood up in the underground palace, Fan Xiaodao would have thought that the person who killed his mother was Xue Yingxiong.

There is no big difference in the cellar from when I came two years ago.

But the ice sculpture was gone.

Mrs. Xue took out a small box and handed it to Fan Xiaodao. When she opened it, she saw that it was filled with letters.

When these letters were not disturbed, they were shocked to make Fan Xiaodao sweat.

In addition to the correspondence with Lei Lie, there are also some letters from Song Jingang. Most of the contents of the letters are related to some details of the Qifeng Pavilion case. The most recent letter was written by Song Jingang before his last visit to Beijing, saying that he had found some new clues and was preparing to come to the capital for investigation.

But Xue Yingxiong returned: "There may be clues in this matter, brother, please do not act rashly."

It turned out that the adoptive father and Xue Yingxiong had always been in contact.

Judging from the tone in the letter, their relationship is not ordinary.

But why did Xue Yingxiong admit his crime in the underground palace and end up with a tragic death?

Why didn’t Song Jingang stop him?

This puzzled Fan Xiaodao.

However, the Qifeng Pavilion case is indeed another secret!

Among these letters, another one was left for Fan Xiaodao, which said that if Fan Xiaodao saw this letter, he might have encountered an accident. Over the years, he and Song Jingang have been investigating the case in Qifeng Pavilion. The files given to Song Jingang before were just some fragments. In order to cooperate with His Majesty's plan, they deliberately revealed clues and led Song Jingang to steal the files. Song Jingang and I were preparing to use the trick to see if there was any seizure. There were secret blocks on the three stone bricks on the north side of the cellar, and some files were found. They were the contents I found. You may be of some help to you after reading them.

Fan Xiaodao found the dark grid.

Press the mechanism and open the secret wall. There is an iron box inside, which is not locked.

He took it out and opened it and saw that there was nothing inside.

this?

He looked at Mrs. Xue.

Mrs. Xue said, "There is only one key in this cellar, and it has always been kept by the deceased husband. On the day of the night banquet, he handed the key to me. I have been wearing it on my body for these days and have never taken it off. How could the things inside disappear?"

Anyone else has come in?

However, there was no sign of external force intrusion. Moreover, although the Duke's Mansion had fallen, it was strictly guarded. After Xue Yingxiong's accident, the cellar was blocked and no one could sneak in.

What's going on?

With doubts, Fan Xiaodao and Zhao Xing left the Duke's Mansion.

This industry is not without gains.

There is indeed something strange about Xue Yingxiong's death.

Song Jingang also knew about this, but he was in the underground palace at that time, but he did not point it out.

So, since Xue Yingxiong is not the murderer, why should he stand up and take the blame for others?

Who should I take the blame for?

Combined with the treatment of Duke Yasukuni after his death, the truth is almost revealed.

That person can only be the emperor!

Only he can make Xue Yingxiong willingly take the blame, die, and block Song Jingang's suspicion.

After the incident, who stole the evidence from the cellar?

Zhao Xing saw his depressedness and asked what was going on. Fan Xiaodao did not hide it and handed the letters to Zhao Xing. After reading it, Zhao Xing looked solemn and was silent for a long time before saying, "Your Majesty has given you an explanation. Do you still need to continue investigating?"

Fan Xiaodao took a deep breath, "Since it's all about this, I'll end halfway? I'm not willing to give up."

Zhao Xingdao: "No matter what, I will stand on you."

Fan Xiaodao wanted to find a place to be cleaned up, so he said goodbye to Zhao Xing and walked aimlessly on the long street. Unconsciously, he came to Dingguo Temple.

Dingguo Temple is a royal temple and a forbidden place. There is Dingguo Pagoda here, which can overlook the capital. It was originally the tallest tower in the capital. Later, after the Changsheng Tower was built, it became the second tallest tower here. Unexpectedly, the Changsheng Tower was burned to ashes as soon as it was built, and this Dingguo Pagoda became the first tower again.

Fan Xiaodao turned over and took advantage of the monks' unpreparedness and jumped up to the Dingguo Tower.

Thinking of Huang Youcai who accidentally entered the secret realm of the temple a year ago and who had completed his mission silently in the secret realm, Fan Xiaodao only felt that things in the world were impermanent.

It is the end of October and the winter moon is approaching.

Although it was daytime, the chill was rising above the top of the tower.

Fan Xiaodao stood above, the entire capital was prosperous and the world was full of all kinds.

The imperial palace is within reach.
To be continued...