The devil is coming

431 Threshold
it's late at night
eat supper.
The kitchen of Fan Mansion is always open all day long, with two complete teams taking turns to ensure that the nobles in the house can eat whatever they want whenever they want.
But Zheng Fan's supper tonight was not sent by the Fan family.
It was He Chun who made it. This man who knew how to make candied haws was really good at making candied haws.
It is indeed a random stew, and the ingredients are all freshly picked.
Eight green-backed turtles, a tri-color sweet-scented osmanthus chicken, and handfuls of small koi fish were placed in a temporary earthen stove pit to smolder into a large pot.
These things are all "pets" in Fan's garden, and each one is very valuable, but at this time, they have become "gifts from nature."
After it was done, Zheng Fan was invited to sit in the pavilion, overlooking the lake and mountains;
The lake is a small pond, the mountain is a rockery, and lanterns are hung everywhere, just like daytime, the light and color are indeed moving.
Uncle Zheng pointed to the big pot in front of him and said:
"Is this dish called Farewell My Concubine?"
He Chunlai and Chen Daole looked at each other. Obviously, they did not understand this allusion.
A Ming, who was sitting there drinking alone, smiled "haha", just to cheer and not make the atmosphere too embarrassing.
Zheng Fan picked up his wine glass, opened this silent embarrassment, and said:
"Come on, take one."
"Uncle Xie."
"Uncle Xie."
After a glass of wine, everyone starts eating.
The meat is stewed until it is crispy and very tasty, and it is very enjoyable to eat.
However, not long after eating, Fan Zhengwen appeared at the door of Qingfangzhai.
Although this is Fan Zhengwen's home, Fan Zhengwen goes to the Three Treasures Palace for everything.
The last time he came here was to explain about his grandma.
Fan Zhengwen, who knows how to behave in the world, naturally knows what Zheng Fan likes and dislikes, so he will not make fun of it.
Zheng Fan stood up and walked towards Fan Zhengwen.
"Uncle."
Fan Zhengwen saluted Zheng Fan.
Zheng Fan noticed a rare fluctuation in the other person's expression.
What happened to make the head of a big family with a treacherous heart lose his composure like this?
You know, expression control is one of the compulsory subjects for superiors.
Fan Zhengwen opened his mouth but stopped talking.
If this was at Snow Customs, Uncle Zheng would have said: If you have anything to say, speak quickly.
But eating other people's food, living in other people's homes, looking at other people's girls,
By the way, the pet turtles, pet chickens and a group of small goldfish that were returned to others were stewed.
No matter what you do, you have to save some face for others.
Fan Zhengwen pursed his lips, as if he was trying to organize his words, because from the moment he received the news to now, he felt that the world had suddenly become... so ridiculous?
"Uncle, your subordinate who came back and left today sent me a message through my Fan family contact person in the store in the city."
Si Niang?
The only one who came back and left today was Siniang.
"What's the news?" Zheng Fan asked immediately.
"The news is, she said, she seems to have captured the princess."
"..." Zheng Fan.
...
carriage,
regular carriage,
Driving out of Fan Mansion.
Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen were sitting opposite each other. Now, Zheng Fan's expression was very similar to Fan Zhengwen's.
It’s not the New Year yet,
It’s still early for the Lantern Festival,
There are various plans, various deductions, and various preparations on my side.
Just to kidnap the Chu princess in one fell swoop during the Lantern Festival,
As a result, preparations are being made in an orderly manner here.
The fourth lady over there just came back to visit her relatives.
You turned around and caught the princess?
"Uncle, there is a nun in my mansion who once lived in the palace. Because she was old, after she left the palace, she was invited by the Fan Mansion to teach the girls in the mansion how to behave.
She should have recognized the princess and had already brought her along. "
"Where?" Zheng Fan asked.
Fan Zhengwen pointed at his feet and said:
"There's a mezzanine underneath the carriage."
"Your carriage is really cleverly designed."
Fan Zhengwen nodded.
"She's tied up?"
"Yes." Fan Zhengwen nodded again and said, "Being tied to the mezzanine under the carriage sealed his senses.
Regardless of whether the person she wants to recognize later is a princess or not, this nanny will die of old age tonight. "
Hearing this, Zheng Fan sighed and said:
"It can be considered a happy funeral."
"Yes, uncle."
The carriage arrived at the backyard of a wine shop in the Fan family. The Fan family has many shops in Xiayong City, and the wine shop needs a cellar, so it is more suitable for Tibetans.
Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen got off the carriage one after another, surrounded by many guards from the Fan Mansion.
"If it's a fake princess, it doesn't matter. If it's true, there should be many princess guards in Xiayong City searching for the princess now. Uncle, our time is very tight."
Zheng Fan licked his lips.
Immediately, he and Fan Zhengwen retreated and disappeared behind a high pile of wine jars.
Immediately afterwards, two guards in black stepped forward, opened the mezzanine of the carriage, and lifted out an old woman.
They walked in front, Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen walked behind.
For insurance reasons, they do not want their identities revealed.
The guard in front carried the old woman into the cellar and outside a room. The room looked no different from an ordinary wine room, but there was a latch on the door. When opened, it looked a bit like a small window used for prison visits in later generations. .
One of the guards reached out and took out a snuff bottle from his arms, opened it, and put it under the old woman's nose.
After a while, the old nanny woke up leisurely. After discovering her situation, she was shocked at first, but then she was held down by two secret guards of Fan Mansion beside her and asked to look at the small window.
There are many lights burning in the small window,
There was a woman sitting inside, and the woman was unconscious.
On the side of the wall opposite the woman, Si Niang, dressed in red, was sitting there playing with embroidery needles.
Yes, Siniang not only successfully entered the teahouse box, but also transformed herself into the eldest lady of the Mi family by changing clothes, and took the princess with her, who was pressed against her with many needles. Under the noses of a group of internal experts, he walked out of the teahouse in a grand manner.
Then he pretended to continue visiting the night market, and found an opportunity to take advantage of the surrounding guards to set up defenses and change their formations. He directly knocked out the princess and took the princess out of the guard's sight in an instant.
Therefore, this kind of defense that requires both freedom and security has big loopholes.
The safest way is to have your own bodyguards at close range. Uncle Zheng likes this because it gives him a sense of security.
But there are too many noble people who like to play with the "white dragon fish suit" and experience the feeling of being an ordinary person, so they force these guards not to get too close to them and spoil their mood, so they are abducted by Siniang. Opportunity for people!
Next, things became clear. Si Niang took the princess who was stunned by her to find the liaison office given by Fan Mansion and asked the people inside to inform Fan Zhengwen.
The liaison office was announced to Siniang by Mr. Weng Zanghai himself, because the two parties were currently cooperating and needed to exchange information.
The old grandma saw the unconscious woman inside.
Immediately his eyes opened wide,
Because she discovered something that was even more shocking than her inexplicable abduction:
"Princess...Princess...how is it possible..."
"Crack!"
The old grandma's neck was broken by a Fan Mansion guard next to her.
This is enough.
There is no need to pull back and ask repeatedly: Are you sure you read it correctly?Are you sure you still remember what the princess looks like?Do you want to take another look?
There is no need.
The heritage of a century-old luxurious family is not only reflected in the luxury of life, but also reflected here.
At that time, there were many such powerful families in the Yan Kingdom, such as the Beifeng Liu family that Zheng Fan had encountered, but unfortunately, they were bulldozed by the Zhenbei Marquis and the Zhenbei Army.
The old grandma's body was taken away by a Fan Mansion guard for disposal. Another guard walked down the aisle in front of Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen and reported:
"Master, she said princess."
Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time.
Neither of them is afraid of trouble. They were feeling uneasy before. Firstly, they felt that the matter was not yet certain. Secondly, this uncertainty would trigger a series of changes in the future, which required them to make decisive emergency responses. However, We have to wait until the final result here is determined before we can be targeted.
right now,
Be sure.
Fan Zhengwen sighed:
"Uncle, there are really crouching tigers, hidden dragons around you."
Zheng Fan coughed lightly and said, "It's just good luck."
Fan Zhengwen said to the guard in front of him: "Notify Mr. Weng immediately and tell him about this."
"Yes, master."
Fan Zhengwen believed in Weng Zanghai's ability. When he knew about this incident, he would quickly take the Fan family's response on his behalf.
"Uncle, let's take the princess back to Fan Mansion as soon as possible."
"Where to hide?" Zheng Fan asked.
"Qing Fang Zhai."
"So casual?"
"If the Chu army doesn't come to search Fan's Mansion, then it doesn't matter where the princess is hiding in Fan's Mansion; if the Chu army comes to search Fan's Mansion, then it doesn't matter where the princess is hiding, haha."
Zheng Fan nodded and agreed.
However, neither Zheng Fan nor Fan Zhengwen showed up. Instead, a guard came forward and helped Zheng Fan give Siniang a few words.
The careful interpretation of the Ten Thousand Years Ship was perfectly interpreted here. Si Niang first checked the princess's breathing, and then felt that it was not safe, so she covered the princess's face with two layers of black cloth, and finally covered her whole body with a sack. People are wrapped in it.
After everything is done,
Siniang walked out holding the sack.
The mezzanine of the carriage that had previously transported the old ladies in the palace was used to transport the princess. At the same time, Siniang herself lay down in the mezzanine after looking at Zheng Fan.
In short, block any factors that may appear in any film or television drama that may allow the hostage to escape or leave a mark when kidnapping a hostage.
Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen got into the carriage.
The carriage was shaking, but both Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen were sitting with their backs straight.
The wine shop was not far from Fan Mansion, and they needed to make a decision during this short trip.
"Uncle, do you think the troops in Zhouxian County City and other gardens should be evacuated?"
Zheng Fan pondered for three breaths and finally said:
"Not urgent."
Fan Zhengwen didn't seem to be surprised.
"Then let them hide?" Fan Zhengwen asked.
Zheng Fan nodded, "Hiding near Zhou County."
After a few exchanges, the two reached a consensus.
But Fan Zhengwen still said: "Would it be safer if we just accept it when it's good?"
After all, the princess is already in hand.
"No, if the princess is kidnapped in this way, even if she is real, she can't be real anymore."
If Uncle Zheng happily took the princess back to Jin and asked Jingnan Hou for credit, Jingnan Hou would probably believe that she was a real princess.
If Marquis Jingnan then writes to Emperor Yan, Emperor Yan will probably believe what Marquis Jingnan says.
The civil and military officials of the Yan Dynasty were also willing to believe that the princess of Chu had been abducted by their own Ping Ye Bo, because it was a great face.
But Chu State can definitely let out the news and say that the princess has not been kidnapped.
You can find another woman of the same age from the clan, or even directly choose a princess and send her there to marry Qu Peiluo, the eldest son of the Qu family.
Moreover, the Qu family would cooperate and claim that the real princess was fine and that the one the Yan people had kidnapped was a fake one.
By the time,
What is true becomes false.
What was false could not be more true.
Because the princess is a symbol, she was used by the regent to marry the Qu family. To be honest, apart from the aura of being a princess, what use can she have?
Zheng Fan believed that if he took the princess back like this, the wedding would definitely continue successfully.
By that time, the credit for his entry into Chu would become a point of contention between the two countries.
What was originally a famous achievement may end up being just a pat on the shoulder:
Well, we believe that the person you kidnapped is the real princess. You did a good job, young man, keep up the good work.
Anyway,
If you take the princess back secretly, your political achievements and military benefits will be infinitely reduced.
From a heroic act that attracted the attention of several countries, it lowered its tone and became a topic of conversation in teahouses on the streets:
"Hey, I heard that our Uncle Hirano seems to have snatched back a girl from the Chu Kingdom?"
"So, it's the same as usual?" Fan Zhengwen asked.
"The difficulty should be reduced. The wedding should be held as scheduled. Whether it is the Chu royal family or the Qu family, their energy should be focused on the peripheral search for the princess.
On the wedding day, I will lead a cavalry charge, and then leave, leaving my name behind. This matter is settled like this. "
form,
Gotta go,
And it must go.
Fan Zhengwen shook his head and said, "Uncle, have you ever thought about whether the Qu family and the regent would have thought of your approach in advance?
In fact, the difficulty has not decreased, but has become higher, especially after today, all Chu armies, Qu's private soldiers, and various border families will be mobilized.
If my uncle doesn't leave today, it will be even harder for him to leave tomorrow.
Even the original plan to abduct the princess from the imperial palace outside Zhou County and then leave Qishan may not be implemented. "
Zheng Fan reached out and rubbed his face,
smiled,
Road:
"Obviously the person we want to arrest has been caught in advance, but things have become more difficult."
But I can't blame anyone.
Is it possible to blame Si Niang?
No matter how strange it is, it can’t be blamed on Siniang!
Finally, Zheng Fan made a decision and said:
"Business as usual for now."
Fan Zhengwen didn't say anything else, but just agreed. His mission was to help this uncle, not to make any decisions for him.
At this time,
In the small courtyard of Fan Mansion, which is as warm as spring in winter,
The old grandmother of the Fan family sat on the dirt floor late at night with her legs crossed.
On her knees were three copper coins.
The old woman's expression was somewhat uncertain.
She just made another divination,
The hexagrams are complex, like a sudden surge of waves.
The future of Fan Mansion is like a small boat in the big waves, it may capsize at any time.
"Let's build it, let's build it. It's easiest to make the whole family dead!"
……
Qingfangzhai,
A Ming continued to drink.
He has a hard time getting drunk because he can control the alcohol content in his blood.
He Chunlai and Chen Daole were sitting on the edge, looking a little embarrassed.
When Zheng Fan and Fan Zhengwen left together,
Only one sentence remains:
Si Niang seems to have caught the princess.
Compared,
It is too obvious.
After all, Chen Daole is a child of a big family. At this time, he felt a little hurt and said with emotion:
"It seems that the three of us are really useless."
He Chunlai felt sad and echoed:
"Yes."
Their experience this time was that those who could do things were working hard and doing things very efficiently, while they seemed to be eating and drinking.
A Ming shook his head,
smiled,
Road:
"It's not like we are the only three eating and drinking here."
This was somewhat taboo, and Chen Daole and He Chunlai did not dare to answer it.
Chen Daole changed the subject and said:
"If we really capture the princess directly this time, can we return directly?"
A Ming shook his head again,
Taking a sip of red wine,
Road:
"Hey, the threshold hasn't been reached yet."
(End of this chapter)