The three of them prepared regular clothes in the government office. After they got off the government office, they changed into regular clothes and headed to the Xmax Tower.

Pan Bin, Wei Yu and Tang Fan were both officials who were promoted to the imperial examination. Pan Bin was Tang Fan's senior brother, and Wei Yu was a Jinshi in the eighth year of Chenghua. After careful discussion, everyone had many common topics. Although Pan Bin likes to show off his airs on weekdays and is a bit stingy and calculating, he is not only the Shangguan of Wei Yu and Tang Fan, but also as a senior in the officialdom, he has a lot of experience than the two of them. He is more than enough to give instructions and teaching. Therefore, for this meal, everyone laughs and the guests and the host and the guests are all happy.

When they came out of the restaurant, it was still early, but it was half past You and it was not yet banned at night.

Pan Bin and Wei Yu had a family waiting outside the private room to escort the two back. Tang Fan lived alone, without a servant, and there was no need for a servant. Seeing that it was not too late, after sending them out of the restaurant, he walked home by himself.

In ancient times, housing prices were not cheap, especially in the capital. Every inch of land was valuable, and the emperor was stingy. Since the Tai and the Ancestral Emperor, they could not pay a few salary every year. Many officials who came to the capital from other places could not afford to buy houses, and their ranks had not reached the level of the court's house. They could only become a migrant tribe like Tang Fan - renting a house to live in. Some officials were even worse, and they could even live in their colleagues' homes. It was a tear of bitterness.

The place where Tang Fan rented was conveniently transported and not far from the official office. If it weren't for the courtyard being a small place separated by the Li family for fear of haunting, it wouldn't be the turn of a bachelor like Tang Fan.

In the evening, the capital city is full of sunsets, and people selling snacks and pastries, and those who call their children to go home for dinner. People who are familiar with each other say hello and chat with each other. It is bustling and noisy, with a unique sense of lifelike urban atmosphere.

When Tang Fan walked into Liuye Hutong, he happened to see the Li family maid Axia walking out of the Li family's door and preparing to knock on his door.

Tang Fan: "Axia?"

Axia turned around and said in surprise: "Mr. Tang, have you just come back?"

Tang Fan smiled and said, "Yes, I just came back from outside. Are you?"

Axia: "Today is the Great Heat. My wife ordered people to make some pastries and asked me to send them to Lord Tang."

Tang Fan: "Why should I be so polite? I just finished my meal, but Miss Axia would send it back. Thank you for your mistress on my behalf."

Axia was anxious: "If Lord Tang refused to accept it, how could I explain it when I went back? If Lord Tang wanted to refuse, I would just tell my mistress in person!"

Every time she used this trick, Tang Fan was really not easy to refuse. He was a big man, even if he had some friendship with the Li family, he would not be able to see his mistress at any time. After all, the male master was not here. At present, except for a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, the Li family was all elderly, weak, women and children, and they tried to avoid suspicion. Axia was a servant, so there was no taboo.

Tang Fan opened the door and invited her in. When she saw that she was depressed between her eyebrows and eyes, she asked, "Miss Axia, are you okay?"

When the wife of Li’s family had something to deliver, she basically sent Axia to her. After a few times, she became familiar with each other. Axia was in a bad mood and was in need of remission. When she saw him asking, she lowered her voice and said, “In the past few days, the wife received a letter from the master who was sending a room outside when she was doing business outside. The woman was pregnant. The wife was very unhappy about this matter. We people today must be careful, just hope that the wife can think about it herself!”

Tang Fan was not very interested in such private affairs in the inner house, but he still comforted Axia: "You are very good at speaking in front of your mistress. It would be fine to comfort a few more words, but life would still be the same."

Axia's expression improved a little. She looked at the basket she brought, and suddenly a hint of shame appeared on her cheeks: "The weather is hot, and it's not good to keep the pastry for a long time. Please ask Lord Tang to eat it earlier. Axia will say goodbye first."

"Miss Axia!" Tang Fan called her.

Axia turned around and said, "What else does Lord Tang have to do?"

Tang Fan: "Isn't this basket of pastries sent by your mistress?"

Axia: "Why did you say this? If my wife hadn't asked me to send it, how could I dare to make a decision without authorization?"

Tang Fan: "I appreciate the kindness of the girl, but I just want to take this basket of pastries back!"

Axia was about to cry in a hurry and had to reveal the truth: "Don't get me wrong, Mr. Tang, the pastry was really something my wife asked me to give it to me. I just, I just put an extra purse in it!"

Tang Fan reached out to search in the basket for a while, and found a pink purse under the pastry with peony embroidered on it. It was obvious that the embroidery was good, and he couldn't help but feel a little amused.

The girl gave her purse, and her connotation was self-evident, but Axia didn't think about it. Who is Tang Fan? The Shuntian Mansion's promotion officer has a sharper eye than others. Her eyesight that she just dodged was definitely not hidden from Tang Fan.

Axia lowered her head and said, "I put this purse in without authorization. If the lord does not abandon it, I would like to be a maid who can serve the snow and tea for you, and serve you every day."

She finally mustered up the courage to express her feelings. At the end of her speech, her cheeks were already red, her head was about to hang to her chest, and she didn't dare to look at Tang Fan.

Tang Fan was silent for a moment: "Thank you for your kindness in Miss Axia. I accepted the pastry, but I asked the girl to take back the purse, and I would like to ask the girl to come again in the future."

Axia raised her head and her eyes turned red: "Do you think I'm too shameless? She recommends myself to the pillow and mat, and looks down on my humble body?"

Tang Fan shook his head: "I am just a poor official, with no wealth and no constant property, and my salary is just to support myself. It is really worth Miss Axia being so sincere to me. Miss Axia is so handsome, and she will definitely find a better home in the future."

Axia: "Mr. Tang doesn't need to coax me. With my background, what good home can I find? If you are willing to take me in, Axia is willing to be a maid under the stove! I, my admiration for the master can be seen by the sun and the moon!"

Logically speaking, Axia's appearance is not bad, so she will come to her door automatically. Ordinary men have no reason to turn it off. What's more, as long as Tang Fan is willing to speak with the mistress of the Li family, with his identity and friendship with the Li family, the mistress of the Li family will not be able to hold a maid to leave. Although the Li family's ancestors were officials, they had been ordinary families for several generations of merchants. If they could get in touch with Tang Fan, the mistress of the Li family would definitely be happy to be a man of beauty.

But Tang Fan was really not interested in taking beautiful maids in concubines. Since he was no longer interested, he might as well just refuse them. Why bother to hold others to their hearts and cause countless troubles?

So in the face of A Xia's pleading and tactful confession, Tang Fan still said: "Miss A Xia, I will not tell anyone about what happened today, please take back your wallet, I'm going to rest."

Seeing that he was unmoved and had never even come to help him, Axia knew that it would be useless to stay. She wiped her tears and stood up: "It's all Axia who is unscrupulous and has hit her. Please forgive me."

Tang Fan: "It's okay, Miss Axia doesn't have to be too polite."

Asa gave a salute, holding the purse in her hand, feeling disappointed and embarrassed, and she didn't bother to say a few more polite words, so she lowered her head and turned around and left.

Since Emperor Yingzong, the status of the Imperial College has gradually declined, and the court has formed the unspoken rule of "not entering the cabinet unless it is a Hanlin". Tang Fan was born in a handsome and Hanlin family and had a noble status. Although he is still a small official in Beijing, no one can guarantee whether he will be the best minister in the future and become the prime minister. Such talents are not only Axia who is in love with him, but they are simply a hot commodity for matchmakers to break through the threshold.

Axia also understood this very well. She knew that she was definitely not worthy of Tang Fan as a slave, but she could not be a wife, and she could always be a servant. She didn't ask Tang Fan to take her as a serious concubine. As long as she could be gentle, Axia would be satisfied.

But even if the requirements are so low, Tang Fan doesn't want it.

She felt sad and felt that there was no face left. She opened the door and hurried out, but she didn't know that someone was standing in front of her. If she hadn't dodged quickly, she would have almost fallen head-on.

Axia raised her head in panic and looked closely. She found that this man looked quite familiar. It was the Jinyiwei who had come to Tang Fan last time.

She didn't react for a while and just stared at the other person blankly.

But the other party didn't look at her, and raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Axia suspected that the man had heard what he said to Tang Fan in the yard just now. She couldn't help but feel ashamed and annoyed. She speeded up and fled back to the next Li family with a few points.

Tang Fan sent the person away and went to see the basket again.

Ah Xia was there just now, and he wanted to maintain his demeanor. Now that people have left, they naturally have no scruples.

Tang Fan had also tasted the skill of the chef of the Li family. Now he saw the poria cake and sour plum juice cold yam inside, so he took out the plate of cold yam, picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

The yam is cut into strips and then iced, then drizzled with sour plum juice. It is sweet and crisp, which is both digestive and refreshing.

After eating one piece, one couldn't help but take another piece.

Lord Tang happily lifted the basket and prepared to take it to the room to enjoy.

There was a knock on the door outside.

Tang Fan thought it was Axia who had gone back and frowned. He really didn't want to give the girl any reverie that might cause misunderstandings, so he had to put down the basket, walked over, and prepared to bolt the door directly.

As a result, at this moment, the people outside seemed a little impatient to wait and pushed the door open.

Tang Fan, who was still holding a cold yam in his mouth: "..."

Suizhou stood outside.

Tang Fan breathed a sigh of relief: "It's the General Banner of Sui, please come in!"

He glanced behind Suizhou, and it was very good, there was no one anymore.

"Have you used supper for General Sui? Do you want to have some?" Lord Tang was very generous and generous.

It was cool at night and you could still smell the fragrance of yam. Suizhou glanced at him and picked up a piece of yam for the venue.

After taking a bite, he nodded: "Not bad."

Tang Fan laughed: "The chef next door's dim sum is a bit better than the chef in the Xmax Tower. General Sui also invites you to enter, and this dim sum must be served with tea!"

Suizhou also came to look for Tang Fan last time, but he did not enter the house and just sat in the yard. When he saw that there was no one inside and outside, he asked, "Lord Tang lives alone?"

Tang Fan boiled water to make tea and joked: "Yes, I'm just eating, and the whole family is not hungry. Here is a bit simple and there is no good tea set. I drink it alone on weekdays. I also ask Mr. Sui to not dislike it. However, the tea leaves are OK. Although they are unknown, they are picked from wild tea trees on the mountain. Come and try it!"

Suizhou picked up a cup of hot tea, smelled the fragrance of the tea first, then tasted it lightly, and nodded slightly: "It's a good tea without being astringent."

Tang Fan smiled and said, "This time, thanks to your memorial, the cabinet has gently put down its responsibility for Shuntian Mansion. I have not yet thanked General Sui. I have time to do it another day, so I will give you a reward and let me invite you to dinner!"

Suizhou: "Guangchuan."

Tang Fan was stunned: "Hmm?"

Suizhou: "My name is Guangchuan."

Tang Fan understood: "Since that's the case, you don't have to call me Lord Tang, just call me Runqing."

Suizhou nodded.

Tang Fan: "Although I am half a rank better than you now, I can do your ability. It will only be a matter of time before I can get ahead. Shuntian Mansion will be exempted from liability this time. I have to rely on your efforts to do it. Lord Pan also asks me to express my gratitude to you."

Suizhou did not comment: "If it weren't for you, Pan Bin would have been just a mediocre official, who should have been demoted."

Tang Fan smiled: "Mr. Pan is actually not bad at abilities. But after staying in the officialdom for a long time, he will inevitably have more concerns when considering things. Maybe in a few years, I will be like him."

He changed his subject: "But then again, I always feel that the case has not been settled."

Suizhou: "Baihui acupoint."

Talking to smart people is worry-free. Tang Fan nodded: "Yes, although Zheng Zhi and Hui Niang plead guilty, there is still a suspicion in this case. There is still no reasonable explanation for the depression on Zheng Cheng Baihui acupoint."

Suizhou: "I interrogated Hui Niang, but she didn't know that Zheng Cheng had this wound on her body. According to her confession, Zheng Cheng had not entered her room for a long time. Others in the Marquis' Mansion can also testify about this."

Tang Fan: "We have discussed before that it is impossible for a person to be knocked on Baihui acupoint when he is awake without knowing it. Therefore, the relationship between this person and Zheng Cheng must be close. At least it has to be shared with him for a period of time. According to this condition, Hui Niang does not meet it, so it is even more impossible for Zheng Zhi."

Suizhou: "Is there anyone in your mind that chooses?"

Tang Fan: "There are not many people who meet this condition, but there are also many. In the Wu'an Marquis Mansion, Zheng Cheng's concubine Yu Niang is one of them. Zheng Fu said that Zheng Cheng also has an outdoor room outside. He has often gone to brothels recently, so these are all suspicious candidates."

Sui Zhou frowned: "But those people have no suitable motives. After all, it is the most suspicious thing about Yu Niang. Unfortunately, the Jinyiwei's staff has been withdrawn from the Wu'an Marquis Mansion. If it is necessary, I will ask someone to follow him."

Tang Fan smiled and said, "No need for the time being. Although Shuntian Prefecture is not as much as your Beizhen Fushi, it can be used sometimes. As early as the case was re-invested, I had already arranged people to go on, and I would wait for a while, and maybe there would be news soon."

Seeing that he was confident, Suizhou stopped asking more questions and just ate tea and used snacks.

Although Suizhou was taciturn, he was not completely silent. He spent much longer in the Beizhen Fushishi than Tang Fan was a prosecutor, and he had participated in many cases. In this regard, some of his experiences are worth learning from by Tang Fan. Therefore, he answered questions and time was fast.

While chatting, a plate of Poria cake and a plate of cold yam were overwhelmed.

The two of them reached towards the last piece of Poria cake at the same time.

As the owner, it is hard to compete with the guests. Tang Fanyi reluctantly retracted her hand and glanced at the cute piece of Poria cake.

The eyes were as lingering as Miss Axia just looked at him.
Chapter completed!