Fan Dajian contacted Qian Gong in Tongzhou. He heard that the other party needed a message trusted by Hu Guiyang. He immediately recommended Xiaocao, "Know the roots and bottom of the story, no relatives or friends, the little girl in the mountains, simple and innocent, no one is more suitable than her."

However, Qian Gong didn't reveal much news, and only said that Shaobao admired Hu Guiyang and wanted to help him, and promised Fan Dajian various benefits to keep him by his side and would repay him if he had anything to do.

Fan Dajian could not disagree. He longed for a higher-level and more stable backer. Although Shang Lu retired, his connections in the court were not lost and he could still exert a significant influence on the court. He was definitely more worthy of relying on than a Jinyi Captain.

As a result, this secret mission lasted only a few days before it was exposed.

It was three days after Hu Guiyang met Shang Lu again. The fleet was waiting for the gate, and the goods were all about to leave the ship. Everyone was happy to rest on the ground for a day. The official post had already emptied more than half of the rooms, specifically for the reception of the retired chief minister. Many local officials came to visit. Shang Lu ignored him on the grounds of recuperation, which was also a form of avoiding suspicion.

Hu Guiyang brought the Xichang official documents and was also qualified to stay in the official office. After dinner that evening, Fan Dajian took him to see Lord Shaobao.

"Hu Guiyang, even if I beg you, I will calm down a little when I see Lord Shaobao." Fan Dajian advised.

"Did I have acted rudely?" Hu Guiyang remembered that when he first met Shang Lu, he did not kneel down and acted respectfully from beginning to end.

"This... Master Shaobao originally wanted to reveal the truth to you after he arrived in Hangzhou, but you were fine. He just started to leak it. He was too impatient and made Master Shaobao look bad on his face."

"Haha, it doesn't matter. Then I will say that you deliberately showed off your flaws and let me see the flaws."

"Grandpa Hu, please spare me." Fan Dajian begged.

"Let me spare you. You should first think about which side you want to stand on. I have no requirements for others. Only you and Yuan Mao must think about it."

Just as Fan Dajian was about to speak out, Hu Guiyang raised his hand to stop him, "Don't rush to answer, think about it before talking."

This is an ordinary inn room, not big, with tables placed under the window, dilapidated chairs on both sides, beds next to them, and no famous calligraphy and paintings on the wall, but casual graffiti left by guests.

Qian Gong brought the two into the room and asked Hu Guiyang to sit down with a smile. He and Fan Dajian stood at the door. This time the waiting time was very short. Shang Lu arrived quickly, nodded to Hu Guiyang, sat opposite him, "Look at the tea."

Qian Gong immediately stepped forward, poured the tea that had been prepared into two cups, and then returned it to its original place.

The tea was hot and cold, much better than the tea prepared by Xiaocao. Hu Guiyang took a sip and thought it was good. He smiled at Shang Lu: "Sir Shaobao won't stay for a while and leave, so let others talk to me again, right?"

Perhaps Shang Lu had been in the cabinet for a long time and had long been used to being serious about laughing. At this time, he squeezed out a smile, as if a small piece of debris fell from an iceberg and fell silently, "No."

Qian Gong immediately signaled Fan Dajian to retreat together. The old Taoist looked at Hu Guiyang with a little confidence and bowed to leave the room.

Shang Lu picked up the teacup and made a request.

The two of them drank tea silently. Seeing that the tea cup was bottomed, Hu Gui raised her and filled the cup with tea.

After drinking three cups, Shang Lu reached out to block the mouth of the teacup and said that he didn't want to drink anymore, "Some things are difficult to explain."

"Young Master Shaobao once won three consecutive years. In terms of knowledge, he can be said to be the best in the world. I believe that there is nothing that you can't explain clearly by Youth."

Shang Lu squeezed out a smile again, "If you think of it, just say it. If you have any questions, just ask it at any time."

"Look at me with your ears."

"The former chief assistant, Li Xian, introduced me to Zhao Ying. Lord Li was very foresighted and realized very early that although Zhao Ying had a low position, he had heavy responsibilities. Every case he solved was a subtle influence on the palace."

"I have questions now."

"Please say it."

"As a household in the Nansi, the adoptive father was responsible for investigating the case, and he was subtly influenced by the palace. Why did he pay attention to the chief minister of the labor cabinet?"

The cabinet has nothing to do. Just watch and occasionally secretly support Zhao Ying can keep investigating the case normally, and it seems that there is no need for the Prime Minister to come forward to give encouragement in person.

"Because... Zhao Ying had hesitated." Shang Lu frowned inexplicably, as if he was saying the wrong thing. "It was probably in the second year of Chenghua that Zhao Ying returned to Beijing from Duan Tengxia, and brought a large group of boys and girls to settle the place, and submitted his resignation to Lord Yuan Bin and Yuan Yuan."

Hu Guiyang didn't remember this incident. He was still young at that time. He had just arrived at the Zhao family in the capital and was curious about everything. He remembered that he had stepped on the tiles and scrambled with many brothers for food. He had no impression of his adoptive father. It was not until three or four years later that Zhao Ying gradually became an important memory of him.

"Yeah." Hu Guiyang was full of doubts, but none of them could be used to speak. He understood what Shang Lu said, and some things were really hard to explain.

"Zhao Ying had just offended the powerful official in the palace at that time, and Yuan Bin also intended to let go. Lord Li learned the news and summoned Zhao Ying for the first time and advised him to stay in office."

"Why?" Hu Guiyang was finally able to ask questions, "I mean why did the adoptive father withdraw from Nansi?"

"Mr. Li asked the same question at that time. Now both of them are no longer there. I can only relay the general content. According to Master Li, Zhao Ying was worried that if he continued to investigate, he would really find ghosts and gods. This violated his always-off principles and exceeded his ability. It would be better to withdraw and not be upset if he didn't see him."

"Have you seen the Heavenly Secret Art?" In Hu Guiyang's opinion, the Heavenly Secret Art is more incomprehensible than the Fire God Art, and is closer to the Immortal Art.

"Well, Zhao Ying has seen it, and he is in Duan Tengxia. Lord Li advised him that the difficulty in solving the secrets of heaven may not mean that this is a magical skill. If this is true, why would the rebels in Duan Tengxia be wiped out? If the power of ghosts and gods is only here, then the power of mortals can still defeat him."

"Has the adoptive father been persuaded?"

"Yes, he took back his resignation and continued to serve in Nanshi, and trained you into reliable helpers. He also participated in the court when the court quelled the Jingxiang Rebellion and stayed there for three years."

Hu Guiyang had some impression of this matter. At that time, he was still naughty and began to learn literacy and learn skills. However, his elder brother and others had already followed his adoptive father to investigate the case. He could not stay at home for a few days every time he came back.

But the adoptive father is not so easily convinced. If he really wants to resign for the people, he is afraid that the emperor may not be able to persuade him if he comes forward in person.

Hu Guiyang did not ask, "The adoptive father rarely mentioned the quelling of Jingxiang's rebellion."

"You were all young at that time. Zhao Ying didn't want to confuse you. He cared about whether the forty adopted sons believed in ghosts and gods. When he met me, he said in person: Nanshi's investigation of cases is not about the number of soldiers and generals, not about intelligence, not about outstanding skills, not about secret searches, but about firm confidence. If you shake things when you see strange things, the greater your ability, the more likely you are to be tempted by ghosts and gods."

Hu Guiyang smiled and suddenly felt sad. He hadn't heard similar words for a long time. These must be words that only the adoptive father could say. "We disappointed the adoptive father."

"You didn't. When I heard that Zhao Ying mentioned your name alone before her death, I knew that you were different from others and were Zhao Ying's most optimistic adopted son."

Hu Guiyang laughed and immediately said, "Sorry, I shouldn't laugh, but I really don't want to talk about this anymore."

"I have nothing to say, after all, when you are at your most dangerous time, I didn't lend a helping hand."

"You once allowed me to hide in the garden for a while."

"That's because He Baiwan, this person... is really convincing. He is not just relying on his mouth, but can come up with practical things. After seeing the magic of heaven, I realized why Zhao Ying was shaken after Duan Tengxia. Seeing the small receiver doing incredible things, even I was wondering whether there is really a power of ghosts and gods in the world?"

"Didn't Lord Li say that? If ghosts and gods only have this little power, then there is nothing scary, and they will still be defeated by mortals."

Shang Lu smiled, and this time it was naturally more. "That's because he didn't see the magic of heaven with his own eyes. The magic power of the receiver comes from the jade pendant, and the effect of the jade pendant is more than that. Haven't you ever thought that maybe you can do more miracles with the jade pendant?"

"For example, immortality?"

"If this possibility is not necessarily the immortality. Some people have taken the jade pendant as a golden elixir and become a martial arts master in a short period of time. Perhaps there is a way to control this power and let mortals live longer, even one or two years, it is enough."

"According to what I see now, the jade pendant will not prolong its lifespan, and it may also shorten its lifespan."

"So I need more jade pendants to verify. If the jade pendants are really harmful and useless, I should advise Your Majesty to stay away from this object. If the jade pendants can only be used for equipment, it is still a powerful tool."

"You have a way to verify?"

"Well." Shang Lu was obviously unwilling to reveal this secret and immediately said: "This matter is very important. All signs indicate that the secret of the jade pendant is about to be revealed to the world. The only question is who will uncover the last layer of cover. Among the four teams, the other three are controlled by eunuchs, and you are the only exception."

"I am the captain of the Xichang school, and I am in my arms and I have my pass documents issued by the factory myself." Hu Guiyang reminded.

"I don't ask you to betray the West Factory, I just ask you to come to Hangzhou after you are done and bring me a hundred jade pendants, the quality is the same as the one I gave you."

"Will there be so many jade pendants?"

"meeting."

"Can I get help in Yunyang Mansion?"

"Qian Gong will accompany you to Yunyang Mansion. Please believe that the help I can bring you is far beyond Wang Zhi's official document."

Hu Guiyang believed that Wang Zhi valued Shi Guida more and only gave Hu Guiyang the most basic support. That official document could keep him unimpeded, and perhaps he could mobilize several tolerances. It would be impossible to mobilize troops in Yunyang Prefecture.

Yu Weiyou, the chief minister who retired, was definitely more useful than ordinary official documents from Xichang.

"This is also Zhao Ying's career that he is a master of Tianji Technology. He has also learned the Fire God Art. He has taken at least five golden elixirs. He wants to understand the mystery, but unfortunately he has not realized it until his death. Only you can fulfill his last wish."

Hu Guiyang was in a heavy mood. He admired his adopted father much more than was close to him. Now he was becoming more and more confused. How much did he know about his adopted father?

Hu Guiyang stood up and did not want to be entangled by the deceased. "Okay, as long as I break through Wenjiazhuang, as long as there are really a large number of jade pendants in the village, I will send 100 to Hangzhou. There is only one problem that must be solved now."

“But it’s okay.”

"You have to prove that you are the minor insurance provider."

The person opposite was stunned.
Chapter completed!