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In an inconspicuous teahouse somewhere in the south of the capital, Niu Fude, Zhao Junchen's aide, was sitting quietly drinking tea in the corner.

While drinking tea, Niu Fude's brows furrowed slightly, and his expression was a little impatient.

He was waiting for someone, but a quarter of an hour or so had passed, and the person with whom he had made an appointment still hadn't appeared.

When Zhao Junchen is doing things, he has always been punctual and efficient, and Niu Fude has now become Zhao Junchen's confidant, and he has gradually adapted to this style, and he is more and more unable to bear the tardiness and unpunctuality of others.

"The dragon gave birth to nine sons, and they are really different...... But this is also too far away, it is simply the difference between cloud and mud. ”

Niu Fude shook his head and muttered.

At this time, a middle-aged man walked into the teahouse, and after looking around, he hurriedly walked to Niu Fude and sat down, his face was full of flattering smiles, and said softly: "Let Mr. Niu wait for a long time, because of my brother's affairs, the family has become a mess, I have to stay aside to take care of it, and it is not good to leave at will, so I have delayed some time, and I hope Mr. Niu will forgive me." ”

Niu Fude held back this person's glance, and there was no concealment in his expression, and he said slowly: "Oh? I thought you took advantage of some spare money in your hands and went to gambling and drinking with your fox friends and dogs, it turned out that you were busy taking care of your brother, and it was really a brotherhood. ”

Hearing Niu Fude's ridicule, the middle-aged man couldn't help but look embarrassed, and said, "Where...... How could it be ......"

In fact, he did just leave the casino.

This middle-aged man's name is Song Lingcheng, and he is Song Huancheng's younger brother.

It's hard to imagine that Song Huancheng, who has a noble character, would have such a diametrically opposed brother, but the reality is so bizarre.

This time, the reason why Song Huancheng fainted from hunger in the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites was because of Song Lingcheng's secret work - repeatedly reaching out to Song Huancheng for money for "legitimate reasons", which made Song Huancheng more and more shy in his pocket and did not dare to spend at will; will grab food and eat more for two meals every morning and evening, so that Song Huancheng is always in a state of hunger; and "kindly" gave Song Huancheng some almonds and lotus leaf tea to satisfy hunger, these two foods can provide people with a false "feeling of satiety......

So, just three days later, Song Huancheng fainted from hunger.

And the reason why Song Lingcheng made such a "pit brother" behavior was all due to Zhao Junchen's behind-the-scenes instructions.

Song Lingcheng owed a gambling debt of more than 180 taels of silver, and Zhao Junchen expressed his willingness to fill this hole for him, and would give him an additional 100 taels of silver, so Song Ling became this less than 300 taels of silver, so he betrayed his brother without hesitation.

At this time, looking at Song Lingcheng's performance, he was not ashamed, and seemed to feel that he had made a lot of money.

For people like Song Lingcheng, even Niu Fude was naturally reluctant to have too much contact, and he didn't bother to expose his lies, so he just asked, "How is your brother's situation?" ”

Song Lingcheng was also disdainful, but his disdain was aimed at his brother Song Huancheng, and replied: "My body has improved, I ate a bowl of porridge this morning, and I can sit up by myself, it shouldn't be a big problem!"

Hey, it's just that the heart is still as stupid as before, after the colleagues of the Ministry of Rites and Yamen learned about his situation, they made up a hundred taels of silver and sent it home, but the first thing he did after waking up was to ask me to return the silver, saying that it was the most difficult to repay the debt of favors! Alas! The money that has already fallen into his hand has to be sent back, do you think he is stupid? He can't eat enough, and he has to push the silver out, he himself is high, but he doesn't want to think about our family!

Besides, what's the use of this kind of fake Qinggao? If you don't talk about it to yourself and your family, and the court doesn't want to see him, he's still just a five-grade idle job, with no hope of promotion, and I don't know how many people will secretly laugh at him for being stupid......"

Speaking of this, Song Lingcheng's expression became more and more dissatisfied, and said: "My brother, I have been born proud since I was a child, whether it is the township examination or the general examination, I can be on the list for the first time, everyone says that I am not as good as him, so I can't hold my head up, my family was poor at the beginning, and he can only study alone, I can only sell coolies when he reads, I don't complain about him at that time, just work hard and supplement the family, just hoping that he can shine on the lintel after he comes out, and he can also carry me one or two, but he is stupid to read, Just asked him to introduce me to a quiet and oily errand, but he said that he couldn't fake public affairs for personal gain, how could anyone be like him? Hey, this time for Zhao Ge Lao, it's the first time in my life that I've gotten a ...... from him."

Obviously, Song Lingcheng's grievances against Song Huancheng have not been a day or two, and at this time, he is also venting his bitterness at Niu Fude, looking for a justification for his "pit brother" behavior, as if he himself is the victim.

Hearing Song Lingcheng's complaint, Niu Fude couldn't refute it for a while.

Of course, it is easy to refute Song Lingcheng, for example, Song Lingcheng said that he has never been stained by Song Huancheng in his life, but in fact, if Song Lingcheng did not have the support of his brother, it would be impossible to live in the capital, and now he is just a mud leg in the countryside, and Song Lingcheng has been idle and unengaged all these years, if it weren't for Song Huancheng's funding and support, he would have been unable to live a long time ago, if it weren't for the funding and support of Song Lingcheng, Song Huancheng would be an official of the imperial court. Most of the taxes can be exempted from the land under your name, and you will not live in poverty like this.

But in a way, Song Lingcheng's complaint is also true, after Song Huancheng became an official in the imperial examination, he naturally had the "privilege" of making his family live a prosperous life, and he only needed to give up some perseverance and be in harmony with his colleagues, but he insisted on his principles and took the initiative to give up this "privilege", which made his family live in poverty with him, in this regard, he may be a good official, but he is by no means a good family.

Family, country, and the world will always be confused by the world, but in fact, these three are contradictory to each other most of the time - many times, if people want to be worthy of the country, they must be ashamed of their family, and if they want to be worthy of their home, they must be ashamed of the country, which is an unsolvable proposition.

The world is not perfect, and people's power and poverty are reflected in this.

Therefore, Niu Fude didn't know how he should respond to Song Lingcheng's complaints for a while, let alone how he should evaluate Song Lingcheng's brother Song Huancheng.

Is he a decent gentleman? Or is it a stupid person?

Or are they a kind of person in their own right?

When he was silent, Niu Fude remembered Zhao Junchen's evaluation of Song Huancheng - "I'm sure I can't become a person like Song Huancheng anyway, so Song Huancheng is worthy of admiration." ”

Yes, Zhao Junchen admires Song Huancheng very much, which is not contradictory to Zhao Junchen's own design to trap Song Huancheng.

In fact, Zhao Junchen also thought that he was helping Song Huancheng, and Niu Fude's private meeting with Song Lingcheng this time was also instructed by Zhao Junchen, on the one hand, to find out about Song Huancheng's recent situation, and on the other hand, to secretly give Song Huancheng some care and compensation.

So, after being silent for a while, Niu Fude didn't make an evaluation, but just took out a silver bag from his arms and threw it to Song Lingcheng, saying: "This is one hundred and fifty taels of silver, of which one hundred taels of silver is your task reward, and the other fifty taels of silver are used for you to subsidize your family, but don't tell your brother that it was given by Zhao Gelao...... There is a carriage outside, which is loaded with a batch of rice, noodles, meat and vegetables, daily necessities, as well as a few packets of medicine to nourish the body, and you can also take them all back......

Also, don't go out to eat, drink, prostitute and gamble during this time, and treat your brother better...... If nothing else, your brother's good days will soon come! ”

Hearing Niu Fude's meaningful words, Song Lingcheng couldn't help but be stunned.

He originally thought that Zhao Junchen arranged for him to calculate his brother Song Huancheng this time out of revenge.

After all, Zhao Junchen personally came forward to recruit Song Huancheng half a year ago, but Song Huancheng directly swept his face mercilessly, and anyone will hold a grudge against this kind of thing.

But now I see that after Zhao Junchen designed to starve Song Huancheng, he gave silver and sent things again, but it didn't seem like revenge.

Thinking of Niu Fude's last sentence, Song Lingcheng suddenly became excited, and hurriedly asked, "Do you say it...... Zhao Ge Lao doesn't care about his past suspicions, and plans to bring my brother with him? That's great! However, I am worried that my brother is a dead brain, and he will still refuse Zhao Gelao's kindness...... But please rest assured Mr. Niu, during this time, I will definitely try my best to convince him that Zhao Ge Lao can value him, this is a blessing that can not be cultivated in eight lifetimes, once he enters Zhao Ge Lao's door, the bright future is in front of him, and he will never let him refuse again. ”

Niu Fude shook his head again and again, and said, "If you advise your brother to change his mind, I'm afraid it will backfire!" All in all, you just need to treat him better, and leave the rest alone, my Zhao Ge Lao has his own arrangements, but it is certain...... Song Huancheng fainted in public this time from hunger in the Yamen of the Ministry of Rites, which is a good thing for his future! ”

After speaking, Niu Fude no longer paid attention to Song Lingcheng, got up and left directly, leaving Song Lingcheng to sit in place alone, his expression was both excited and confused.

*

However, he said that after Niu Fude met Song Lingcheng, he soon returned to Zhao's mansion, met Zhao Junchen, and reported Song Huancheng's recent situation.

In fact, when Niu Fude met Zhao Junchen, Zhao Junchen had already put on his court clothes and was about to enter the palace to meet Emperor Deqing.

After learning that Song Huancheng's physical condition had gradually recovered, Zhao Junchen breathed a sigh of relief.

In Zhao Junchen's plan, Song Huancheng's starvation and fainting was just a fuse, but Zhao Junchen didn't want his plan to bring down Song Huancheng's body.

"Song Huancheng's body is fine, which also makes my conscience a little calmer, otherwise, I would have to ask Zhang Decheng and Wen Caining, two miracle doctors, to come forward to treat him...... In that case, my intentions would be too obvious! ”

After saying this, Zhao Junchen no longer talked about Song Huancheng, but instructed Niu Fude again: "You came back just in time, I just received a decree from the palace, Your Majesty, after these days of being closed to no one, today finally made a statement, summoning all the auxiliary ministers of the cabinet and the six Shangshu to go to the imperial study to do business, it should be for the lawsuit between the prince and the vassal kings, I don't know what he has considered these days, he must explore the limelight...... But take advantage of this opportunity to start the next plan, and it is up to you to arrange it yourself, so be sure to be ready at any time! ”

Hearing Zhao Junchen's order, Niu Fude's eyes flashed slightly, and he nodded: "The student understands that everything has been prepared, and he can cooperate with Zhao Gechen at any time!" ”

Zhao Junchen said with a smile: "So, it depends on my contingency measures." ”

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