The time goes back two months. Shortly after Wang Yuan led the triumphant army back to Chengdu from the land of Jianghuai. Cui Daoyuan, who reached an agreement with Wang Yuan, also returned to his hometown in Hangzhou with his family. Cui Daoyuan's two sons, Cui Yuanping, Cui Yuanrong, and Cui Yaozu, the young master of the Cui family, who committed crimes in Yangzhou, were also brought back to Hangzhou together. Cui Daoyuan's punishment for them was to punish the three of them to guard the family ancestral hall for ten years, and they were not allowed to take half a step out of the ancestral hall for ten years. This is actually a sentence of 10 years in prison for three people.

The three of them were confined to the ancestral hall all day long, and they were bored with tea and light food every day. At first it was bearable, but soon all three of them became unbearable. These three weekdays are the temperament of the sons and brothers who enjoy the wanton pleasure in the willow lanes of the flower street, where can they endure such a lonely time, in less than ten days, these three people will smash the east and west in the ancestral hall sighing, thinking about how to get out every day.

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong are both married and have children, and these two are confined here, and their wives and concubines and children inevitably come to visit often. Cui Yaozu's mother, Zhang, also often came to visit her precious son. Cui Daoyuan had no intention of letting the two of them not even see their wives and children at home, and allowed them to meet.

Several people couldn't bear this lonely time, so they let their wives, daughters, mothers and others take turns to see Cui Daoyuan to intercede. But every time their plea was ruthlessly rejected by Cui Daoyuan, which made Cui Daoyuan annoyed, and personally summoned everyone of the Cui family to the ancestral hall to lecture the two brothers in front of them, clearly telling them that the sins of the three are unforgivable, and they must honestly be grounded in the ancestral hall for ten years, and if anyone dares to intercede again, they will be severely punished.

In this way, the two brothers of the Cui family and Cui Yaozu knew that the old man was determined to let the three of them be the living dead here for ten years. Originally, I thought that the old man was just putting on a show and symbolizing the punishment, but I didn't expect the old man to take it seriously. The plea failed, and he was grounded here, and he was already extremely angry in his heart, and at this moment, new hatred and old hatred were piled up together, and in addition to secretly scolding the old immortal for being too ruthless, he also resented Cui Daoyuan in his heart until he hated it.

Half a month has passed, and although this half month is short, it seems to be as difficult as a year in the eyes of the three uncles and nephews. The three of them talked about it almost as well, and there was nothing to say when they met. Every time they met and sat opposite each other, they were silent and didn't know what to say. It's just a matter of daytime, and it's even harder at night. After all, there are flowers and trees in the courtyard of the ancestral hall during the day to enjoy, and at night, everything is silent, tossing and turning in the empty fur alone. In the remote area, the night market in Hangzhou City is brightly lit, and the laughter and laughter come, and I think of the free time before, and the happy days in and out of the bright lights, which are even more desolate and miserable, and the teeth of hatred in my heart are itching.

On the night of the full moon on April 15, the three of them sat down in the courtyard after eating the dinner brought in by the family. When the full moon was in the sky and he was lonely and bored, Cui Yaozu finally couldn't help complaining about the two uncles. blame them for taking advantage of themselves and harming themselves to the point where they are today. Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong naturally refused to bear their self-blame, and the two ridiculed each other. The three of them quarreled endlessly in the yard.

When Cui Yaozu was angry, he couldn't help but speak too aggressively, and threatened: "If you are grounded here for ten years, it is better to die." If you decide to commit suicide by hanging a beam one day, you must first kill the second uncle and the third uncle, and you will be buried with you. ”

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong were furious, but when they saw the fierceness of what Cui Yaozu said, they knew that with Cui Yaozu's stunned temperament, they might not be able to do such a thing, but they didn't dare to be angry and didn't want to anger this impulsive nephew. After the second watch, the three of them were also tired of arguing and went back to their rooms to rest. Cui Yuanrong secretly came to Cui Yuanping's room to discuss.

Cui Yuanrong said: "Second brother, it's better for us to live here than to die, Yaozu, this little beast may really do something, he can't bear it, and sooner or later he will go crazy." I'm afraid that it will really kill us when the time comes, and this is not the way to go. ”

Cui Yuanping agreed, but there was nothing to be done. "Third brother, I don't know what you said, but the old man is determined to trap us here. Ten years of sleep, we can't survive this ten years. Yaozu is his own grandson, and the eldest brother will always find a way to get him out. Yesterday, Yaozu said that when the eldest brother came to see him, he asked him to be patient for the time being, and he would find a way to persuade the old man to let him out. ”

"Speaking of which, the old man is both ruthless and partial, Yaozu is the eldest son and eldest grandson, even if he can't get out, he will still be the head of the family after ten years. We're afraid we'll be old bones in two or ten years. Second brother, we have to find a way. Cui Yuanrong said.

"What can be done?" Cui Yuanping sighed.

"Unless...... The old immortal is dead, otherwise we will not be able to get ahead. Cui Yuanrong gritted his teeth and said.

Cui Yuanping was startled, swallowed and foamed: "Third brother, are you crazy?" How can this be said? ”

Cui Yuanrong gritted his teeth and said: "It's just talking, the old man's body is so tough, he doesn't know if he lives for another ten years, and how he died so easily." Even if the old man dies, there is still a big brother. The eldest brother will save Yaozu, but he may not let us out. Even if the old man dies, he will make a will to keep us in prison. In short, the two of us are afraid that there is no way to live. ”

The two whispered and complained and cursed, both resentful and desperate in their hearts. It wasn't until more than half of the third watch that Cui Yuanrong said goodbye and went back to his room to rest. However, when Cui Yuanrong opened the door and returned to the room, he suddenly saw several black shadows standing under the porch, which was not trivial, and he screamed in fright.

Cui Yuanping was shocked and asked what was going on, but saw several masked people forcing Cui Yuanrong to retreat into the room, Cui Yuanping asked in a panic, but the masked people unmasked their faces and revealed their true faces. The two brothers were stunned when they saw the face of one of them.

Among the masked people, one of them was very familiar with the two brothers, and it was Zheng Qiushan, a frequent visitor to the Cui family and the head of the Zheng family, one of the wealthy families in Jiangnan. The Zheng family is the largest family among the five surnames and seven clans, and the Zheng family in Xingyang is also a wealthy family with far-reaching family roots. When the Tang Dynasty was founded, it was also very prosperous. During the time of Emperor Wu, the five wealthy families were forced to move south, and the Zheng family settled in Fuzhou, occupying the benefits of shipping by sea in the south of the Yangtze River, relying on the grain and tea merchants in the hands of the Cui family, and also became the wealthy family second only to the Cui family.

It is precisely because the Cui family is the head of the five wealthy families and has a lot of resources that the rest of the families also look to the Cui family. Zheng had to do the same. Although in this area, Zheng Qiushan, the head of the Zheng family, has clashed with the head of the Cui family several times because of some wealth matters, and he has been quite tough. However, the rebels of the Cui family occupied a large amount of food resources in Suzhou, Hangzhou, Yangzhou and other places, and the Zheng family had to bow their heads and submit to softness if they wanted to get a piece of the pie.

As the home of the five wealthy families, the relationship is naturally very close. Zheng Qiushan has also haunted the land of Yuhang countless times, in and out of the Cui family's mansion, and naturally everyone in the Cui family is no longer familiar with him.

Seeing that it was Zheng Qiushan, the two brothers breathed a sigh of relief. However, the two brothers were very puzzled by his appearance in their ancestral hall in the middle of the night.

"It turned out to be Zheng Shibo, why did your old man appear in my Cui family ancestral hall in the middle of the night? The family at the door didn't report it. Cui Yuanping asked in surprise.

Zheng Qiusheng was thin and tall, and his whole person was wrapped in a black robe like a black hanged ghost. But seeing him smile and say in a dumb voice, "What? Don't the nephews let us sit down and talk? Won't you wait for me to make a cup of tea? ”

Cui Yuanping hurriedly said: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Shibo, it's our rudeness." Ladies and gentlemen, please take a seat, and I will make tea for Shibo. However, Shibo, you also know that the conditions in this ancestral hall are simple, and there is no good tea, so please ask Shibo to settle down. Yuan Rong, don't you want to make tea for Shibo? ”

Cui Yuanrong looked at Zheng Qiushan and the others suspiciously, his heart was full of questions, but he still turned around and went to get the teacup and prepare to make tea.

Zheng Qiushan waved his hand and smiled: "That's it, just laugh with the two nephews, I just came out of Mingfeng Tower and drank a few pots of poinsettia tea, and now I am not thirsty." ”

Mingfeng Lou is the best restaurant in Hangzhou, and its reputation is spread in the south of the Yangtze River. It is not famous for the delicacies and delicacies, but for the special and good tea in the Mingfeng Building. Like now in April, new teas from all over the world gather in Mingfeng Building, all of which are the best and most precious teas, and ordinary people can't afford to consume them at all. The Cui brothers also often haunt Mingfeng Tower when they are outside, but now when they hear this name, they feel like they are in a different world.

"Shibo, is this coming to Hangzhou to see my old man? How did you get here? Cui Yuanping asked with a smile.

Zheng Qiushan smiled and said, "Virtuous nephew, Shibo came to see you two nephews. After hearing about your two nephews, Shibo has long wanted to come and see you. Your old man doesn't let people come to see you, no, I can only come secretly at night. The family at your door didn't know each other and didn't let them in, but Shibo made them sleep like dead pigs now, and they didn't know that we were with you. Not...... Yaozu is also asleep at the moment, and he is afraid that he will not wake up even if he beats the gong and drum. ”

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong were both surprised, listening to Zheng Qiushan's tone, it seemed that this trip was coming without permission, which was unusual. How can outsiders arbitrarily break into other people's ancestral halls, this is extremely offensive.

"The two virtuous nephews have been really miserable these days, tsk, look at this place, damp and mildew, where is the place where people live? Those ancestral tablets that accompany your Cui family all day long, isn't this waiting for death? Your old man is too ruthless. How can you treat your own flesh and blood like this? Hey, Cui Weng is so stubborn. Zheng Qiushan looked around at the dilapidated appearance of the room and sighed.

Cui Yuanping frowned and said, "Shibo, what are you doing here?" It's not just coming to see us. If Shibo really pitied our two juniors, he should intercede for us in front of my old man. ”

Zheng Qiushan turned his head and smiled: "Two virtuous nephews, didn't you say good things for you?" But your old man is not close to people, and he reprimanded the old man a few words, blaming me for being nosy. He said, "You two have broken the family law and must stay here for ten years." Amitabha, ten years, isn't this a life? ”

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong were silent with dead faces.

Zheng Qiushan looked at the appearance of these two people, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he said in a deep voice: "Don't worry about the two virtuous nephews, Shibo came here today to rescue you." ”

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong raised their heads in surprise and said in unison: "Really? ”

Zheng Qiushan stroked his beard and smiled: "When did Shibo deceive you? When he watched you grow up, he treated you like his own nephews, how could he watch you spend ten years here? ”

Cui Yuanping was overjoyed and said, "Can Shibo really convince the old man to let us out?" Then Yuan Rong and I will be grateful. From now on, he will treat his uncle like a father. ”

"Don't you dare." Zheng Qiushan waved his hand and said, "Your old man will not let his son recognize others as his father. His own son can do whatever he wants, but he doesn't give it to others. ”

"Hmph, the old man just doesn't want us to be good, even if we die here, he won't frown." Cui Yuanrong said coldly.

Zheng Qiushan smiled and said, "Yuan Rong's nephew, you have said this, but you can't talk like this." But then again, what did you do this time to provoke Cui Weng to be determined to do you? ”

"It's not because of that Wang ......," Cui Yuanrong blurted out.

Cui Yuanping said in a deep voice: "Third brother, shut up." ”

Cui Yuanrong was shocked and lost his words, and hurriedly shut up.

Zheng Qiushan blinked and smiled: "Is it still a secret?" It seems that the two nephews don't trust Shibo. ”

"Shibo, our brother did break the family law, as for what he committed, there is no need to mention it." Cui Yuanping smacked his lips.

Zheng Qiushan laughed and said, "If you don't say it, I know it." Isn't it because you want to kill that Wang Yuan? Also, do you want to be the head of the house and accept the secret decree of the imperial court? ”

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong opened their mouths in astonishment and looked at Zheng Qiushan in surprise.

"These things...... How do you know? Cui Yuanping said.

"Hehe, two virtuous nephews, I, Zheng Qiushan, am also the head of the Zheng family, and I am also a ** person in Jiangnan. Even if you don't have the power of your Cui family, you're not a fool or a deaf person. How could I not know such things? There's so much more I know. For example, your Cui family has accepted the will of the imperial court, and now Your Majesty wants to accept your niece Ruo Ying as a concubine. I want your Cui family to gather the strength of my five wealthy families in the south of the Yangtze River to raise soldiers and horses to go north to help Your Majesty pacify the world. Am I right? Zheng Qiushan sneered.

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong looked at Zheng Qiushan blankly, not knowing how to answer.

"Also, you don't necessarily know what I know. Cui Weng changed his hexagram after the first battle in Yangzhou, and he reached an agreement with Wang Yuan, who was about to rebel, to marry Ruoyu, the granddaughter of your Cui family, to Wang Yuan as a concubine. agreed to go against His Majesty's will and not pay money, food, soldiers and horses to help His Majesty, and to rebel with Wang Yuan. Zheng Qiushan said lightly.

"What?" Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong exclaimed. "Shibo, you can't talk nonsense about these words, this is a major matter related to the life and death of my Cui family, how can Shibo be credible nonsense?"

"Nonsense? How can the old man talk nonsense in front of you? What the old man said was well-founded, and there was no nonsense. Do you know that the matter of your Cui family has been exposed, and the court will punish your Cui family, and your Cui family will soon fall apart and be destroyed. Even if you two can get out of this door, you won't live long. Zheng Qiushan said coldly.

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong were stunned and speechless. Cui Yuanrong said angrily: "Shibo, please pay attention to your speech, you like to laugh, don't laugh at such things." ”

"Jokes? That's not a joke. Introduce a distinguished guest to the two virtuous nephews. The two virtuous nephews, this one is from the capital, the general of the left guard of the Dragon and Tiger Army, the general of the left guard, and the confidant and favorite general that His Majesty and Li Pingzhang rely on very much. Draw close and close. Zheng Qiushan said coldly.

Zheng Qiushan's voice fell, and among the masked people standing behind Zheng Qiushan, one of them slowly stepped forward under the light next to the morning table. These masked men had been standing quietly in the dark since they entered the room, and the two brothers of the Cui family didn't care about them, thinking that they were Zheng Qiusheng's entourage. Only then did I know that there were people from the imperial court among them.

In the surprised gaze of the Cui brothers, the lean masked man reached out and slowly untied the mask on his face, revealing an indifferent face full of pitted pits. This person's face is ugly and fierce, and what is even more frightening is the eyes that are as cold as ice, and the eyes are fierce and fierce, like a vicious wolf who chooses people to devour.

"The two sons are good, I am polite." The pock-faced man arched his hand slightly and said in a deep voice.

Cui Yuanping and Cui Yuanrong hurriedly returned the salute, and their hearts were pounding. The person in front of him turned out to be the Qincha sent by the imperial court to Jiangnan, and he was also the general of the left guard of the Dragon and Tiger Army of the Forbidden Army, which is really not small. What made the two even more uneasy was that the imperial court sent a messenger to announce the decree again, and it was with Zheng Qiushan, which is probably really not a good thing.

"What the two of you said about the Zheng family master just now was a joke, right? Then the two of you are wrong. The head of the Zheng family is not joking. I came to Jiangnan this time because I was ordered by His Majesty and Li Pingzhang to settle accounts with your Cui family. Your Cui family has committed a mortal crime, don't you two know it? The degree said in a deep voice.

Cui Yuanping was stunned, and hurriedly smiled and said, "General Cheng, what the hell is going on?" My two brothers were confined to the family ancestral hall after returning from Yangzhou, and I really don't know what happened. ”

Zheng Qiusheng smiled at the degree and said: "General Cheng, there is no need to go around the bend with them, the two of them really don't know the seriousness of the matter, so they will make His Majesty's will clear to the two of them." ”

The degree nodded and said, "Okay." ”

The two brothers of the Cui family glanced at the two brothers with sharp eyes, and said in a solemn voice: "Two, I have come to Jiangnan to announce the decree to your Cui family at the behest of His Majesty." Originally, this holy decree should have been directed to Cui Daoyuan