In the eighth year of Xiande's reign, it was midsummer.

Wang Xian, the head of the Household Department, had his collared shirt soaked with sweat. He sat on pins and needles in his chair, lifting his black gauze hat more than once to wipe away the sweat.

"Master Xiao." Wang Xian said hesitantly, "No, it's not that the Ministry of Accounts doesn't allocate money to you, it's because the treasury expenses haven't been settled yet, and Eunuch Pan doesn't approve the red money, so we really can't do anything to allocate it!"

"Settling accounts takes time." Xiao Chiye took a few sips from the teacup, "Shouldn't I be waiting? There's no rush."

Wang Xian's throat slid as he looked at Xiao Chiye, who was calm and composed, and the motionless imperial army in the corridor outside.

"Sir," Wang Xian almost begged, "It's hot, so I feel sorry for letting the sergeants stand outside. I'll treat you to some cold drinks, and the ice in the reserve -"

"No reward for no merit." Xiao Chiye smiled on his face, "Our Imperial Guards are thick-skinned and thick-skinned. What we do is hard work. What does it matter if we stand for a few hours? Don't bother me, sir, and concentrate on settling accounts."

Wang Xian held the account book and couldn't put down his pen for a long time.

Today is the beginning of spring, and the emperor is seriously ill. For this reason, the queen mother ordered people to carry out large-scale construction in the palace. She wanted to build a Buddhist temple to bless the emperor and chant sutras. The Ministry of Industry had an errand and had to welcome timber from Duanzhou. In order to save money, she

The imperial army was called to transport the wood. The imperial army transported the wood into the capital, and the Queen Mother withdrew the plan to build the temple because of the advice of Mr. Haige. The Ministry of Revenue was short of the money, which delayed the imperial army for two months.

Give knot.

We don't have much money, but when the treasury is full, this won't be a problem. Who is willing to offend Young Master Xiao for this little money? But the Ministry of Household Affairs is also in trouble now. On the Empress Dowager's birthday last year, she just organized a banquet and divided the gold and silver rewards.

Nearly one million was spent.

Wang Xian put down his pen and simply said with his neck sideways: "Sir, we can't pay this money right now. Let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart. According to the current accounts, the expenditure at the end of the year will not match the budget, and our salary may not be able to be paid.

Come down. I really have no money. Even if you give me Wang Shoucheng a knife today, there is nothing I can do!"

"The soldiers of the Eighth Battalion are paid as expected. We, the Forbidden Army, have no money to pay for our turn. They are all working for the emperor. I, Xiao Ce'an, deserve to be a bitch and have to wait for you to turn around with this debt." Xiao Chiye

He threw the tea cup on the table with a clang, "The Ministry of Household Affairs complains about poverty every year, but what does this have to do with me? Collect money and contribute efforts, it is written in black and white. When we are done, the money will be collected. Don't talk to me about anything else, then

It's not part of my responsibilities. If you have to rely on others to understand the problems in the household department, what else are you doing? Make room for others as soon as possible."

Wang Xian made him look livid as he spoke, and stood up and said: "Since they are all working for the emperor, why do you press so hard! Who wouldn't be willing to get married if you have money? The Imperial Army is really capable. No matter what coolie they do, they are also in the Eighth Battalion!

Then who dares not to pay!"

Seeing that the atmosphere between the two parties was not good, a man was lifting his robe and stepping in outside.

"Master Wang, why should you be angry? The second young master is also quick to talk to others." He took off his sun hat[1], wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and said, "Xue Xiuzhuo came here for this account during the Hukedu incident."

The position assigned to Shizhong by the Household Supervisor is only the seventh rank. Logically speaking, it is not even considered an official in Qandu. But it is special. It can not only supervise the progress of various ministries and yamen, but can also supervise the progress of various ministries and yamen.

Tsari participated in the evaluation and review of the moral performance of all officials, and was even able to write directly to the emperor, ignoring the six departments.

Wang Xian couldn't afford to offend him, so he rolled down the slope and said, "How dare you get angry? The Imperial Army has worked hard, and I don't want Mr. Xiao to do it in vain. But Yanqing, come and take a look at this account, the Ministry of Accounts can't allocate it.

"

Xue Xiuzhuo, whose name is Yanqing, looks particularly elegant. He did not check the accounts and said to the two of them: "I know the difficulties in the household department. Second Young Master, look at this, Quancheng provided a batch of silk a few days ago.

Let's exchange the silver and tie the knot for you with all the silk, okay?"

As soon as Xiao Chiye left, Wang Xian turned cold and said to Xue Xiuzhuo: "How could he ask for money for the Forbidden Army? Most of it was squandered by himself. Since these two young masters took up the post of governor of the Forbidden Army, they have been doing it all day long.

He spends a lot of time and alcohol, forcing people to the point of being helpless every time, and shows no sympathy at all!"

Xue Xiuzhuo smiled and said nothing and did not answer any questions.

* * *

Xiao Chiye left the household office and got on his horse to go to Donglong Street. He looked taller than five years ago, and his previous enthusiasm seemed to have faded.

King Li Jianheng of Chu had been waiting for him all morning. When he saw the man, he quickly said, "Why are you going? I'm so anxious!"

"It's a wave." Xiao Chiye sat down and drank the cold drink. Seeing an ice basin in the room, he stretched out his limbs, lay on the Arhat bed, and said, "It's comfortable here, but it's so hot outside that I feel dizzy. I'll take a nap."

Son."

"That won't work!" Li Jianheng shook his bamboo fan vigorously and sighed with his clothes open, "You have to wait until I finish talking before going to bed!"

Xiao Chiye didn't know what he was doing at night. He was feeling sleepy and said "hmm" carelessly.

Li Jianheng first took a sip of ice wine with his pampered hands, and then said: "Do you still remember the woman I told you about last time? She was the one I raised in the village five years ago and planned to take it in myself, but she was killed by the little girl.

Fuzi, that bastard, took it to honor Pan Rugui, that eunuch!"

Xiao Chiye said "oh".

Li Jianheng became more enthusiastic and said: "I went out for summer vacation a few days ago, and I saw her again at Zhuangzi! The little lady has been raised with fine skin and tender flesh, and she looks more lovely than she did five years ago. It makes me feel distraught and hate her to death.

I'm an eunuch! A thief stole my love and ruined my good marriage. Can this be over? It can't be over!"

Xiao Chiye yawned.

Li Jianheng said angrily: "Are you a brother? I have to find a way to get him once! Pan Rugui can't be touched, and Xiao Fuzi has to be beaten!"

Xiao Chiye was really tired. He said, "What should we do? Drag people out of the palace?"

Li Jianheng pushed away the attendant, closed his fan, and said: "The Dragon Boat Festival is about to happen, and the emperor is going to Xiyuan to watch the dragon boat race. Pan Rugui will definitely follow him by then. If he follows, Xiao Fuzi will also have to follow. When the horse racing supervisor comes to watch the horse race,

, let’s lure him out and beat him to death!”

Xiao Chiye seemed to be asleep. When Li Jianheng saw that he was silent, he said, "Ce'an, are you listening?"

"You can't beat him to death." Xiao Chiye said with his eyes closed, "If Pan Rugui hates you because of this, there will be a lot of trouble in the future."

Li Jianheng said angrily, "How about a beating? If I don't get angry like this, I won't even be able to eat. What's wrong with you recently? You always look like you're in low spirits. What did you do at night? I didn't know what to do last time."

Why did you get rid of the chicks I picked for you?"

Xiao Chiye was completely silent and waved his hand to indicate that he understood. There was no bone finger on his thumb, but the teeth marks from the tiger's mouth left traces. Li Jianheng said something else later, but he ignored them.

* * *

A few days later, during the Dragon Boat Festival, Emperor Xiande, who had not been in court for a long time, carried his sick body and moved to Xiyuan. The accompanying palace family members were all wearing gauze clothes. Ji Lei and Xi Gu'an, commander of the Eighth Battalion, escorted him. The imperial army was free, and it was also said that

Xiao Chiye went.

When Xiao Chiye arrived, the crowd was already full. Emperor Xiande had finished planting the willows and was waiting for the horse racing to begin. The accompanying Guanglu Temple served millet and pastries on the seat next to him, while Li Jianheng stayed at the prince's seat and rushed to Xiao Chiye.

wave.

Xiao Chiye threw the riding whip to Chen Yang behind him, untied his arms and entered the table.

Li Jianheng was still holding the bamboo fan today and said, "Why did you come here? I'm so anxious!"

Xiao Chiye said: "I've been anxious all day long, are you okay?"

Li Jianheng fanned the wind and said, "Aren't I used to saying this? Well, did you see? Xiao Fuzi is waiting there."

Xiao Chiye took a look and saw Xiao Fuzi smiling happily and talking in Pan Rugui's ear. He said, "Don't rush up later, just ask someone to give him a beating."

Half an hour later, Xiao Fuzi stepped on the edge of the latrine and was about to drain the water. Suddenly, his vision went dark and someone covered him completely with a sack.

"G!" Xiao Fuzi screamed, but was punched and knocked unconscious.

When Li Jianheng saw the sack, without saying a word, he first lifted up his robe and then kicked him. Xiao Fuzi was covered with the sack and his mouth was gagged, and he rolled on the ground moaning and groaning in pain.

The race ahead was at a critical moment, and no one was listening.

Xiao Fuzi was beaten for half an hour. Before Li Jianheng could feel his anger, he was stopped by Chen Yang. Chen Yang winked at the palace guards behind him, and the guards quickly picked up the sack and ran away.

"Your Highness," Chen Yang said, "If you beat me again, you will die. Let's do it next time."

Li Jianheng straightened his robe, looked at him and said, "Where are you throwing this person?"

"The governor has ordered them to be thrown into the woods by the lake. The banquet will be held later and all the eunuchs in attendance will pass by, so he can untie them."

Li Jianheng took another sip at the place where Xiao Fuzi rolled just now and returned to the table.

* * *

When the banquet started, Li Jianheng had already forgotten about the person. Xiao Chiye looked at Pan Rugui's side carefully, but did not see Xiao Fuzi's figure.

Li Jianheng picked the dishes with chopsticks and said, "I probably felt embarrassed and ran back to change my clothes. The eunuchs they serve in front of the emperor are most afraid of being unclean and making the masters dislike it. Are you going to play in my village in a few days? Yes.

Let you meet that little lady."

Xiao Chiye drank cold tea and said, "I'm busy."

Li Jianheng chuckled and said, "Pretend for me too? You are busy. The Forbidden Army is about to be disbanded. What is there to do with this idle position?"

"I'm busy eating wine." Xiao Chiye also smiled, staring at the tea in his hand, his profile looking a bit ungrateful, "As soon as autumn comes, I will be a police inspector. I have to invite people to drink wine in order to keep my idle position.

"

"Being a human being," Li Jianheng said, lighting his chopsticks, "is that you have to live in fine clothes and good food, and you have to eat and die. They talk about gang members and relatives, fighting to the death, are you tired? What's the point of that?"

"Yeah." Xiao Chiye laughed more and more, "Isn't that just adding to the trouble for myself? Playing is the most enjoyable thing."

Li Jianheng looked at his look and smiled and said, "What's going on? Who dares to wipe out my brother's official position? You are personally appointed by the emperor, and we are just following the order to get around. Let's do this, before the autumn."

, I will hold a flower viewing party at my house, please invite everyone."

"Don't be in a hurry." Xiao Chiye said, looking at Xiyuan, and saw the treasure hall of Zhaosu Temple from the undulating eaves. He frowned and said, "This is right next to Zhaosu Temple."

"I'm still thinking about it." Li Jianheng said, "The ring has been missing for so long."

Xiao Chiye rubbed his thumb habitually.

"The remnant of the Shen family has also been imprisoned for five years, and there has never been any movement. The emperor has never asked whether the person is dead or crazy." Li Jianheng said, "If it was me who was imprisoned inside, let alone the five years ago.
To be continued...