A flash of light in the sky, thousands of feet of brightness in the world.

The watchman walking through the streets of Yingtian Mansion played his clapper for the last time, and smoke was already rising from the city.

Zhou Ji, the eldest son of Jiang Xiahou, yawned and came out of the side door of Baihua Building and got on the Zhou family's carriage.

He was originally a warrior who had been wielding swords and guns since he was a child, and he was still in the prime of life. However, his body was drained by long-term drinking and debauchery, and beneath his handsome appearance, his steps were shaky.

"Master, do you want to go to the palace or go back to the palace?" The coachman said respectfully outside the carriage.

Zhou Ji, who was leaning on the soft cushions in the carriage, frowned and thought about it, and said angrily, "I'm on duty for the rest of the day, so I'd better go to the palace!" After saying that, he yawned and began to close his eyes and fall asleep. .

The person who hosted him last night was the commander of the two guard stations on Luzhou Road in Huaixi. The two people had been living in that poor place for several years and wanted to go to a rich and good place for some activities. It would be best to go to a canal town like Huai'an, or Xuzhou would be the best option.

In the Ming Dynasty, warriors now had a high status, and guarding the canal could earn an income of 18,000 yuan a year. Moreover, the old prince did not stare at military officials as much as he did civil servants. As long as he did not go too far, he would turn a blind eye.

"How should I tell the old man when I get back?" Zhou Ji touched the warm gold notes in his arms and pondered in his mind.

In his arms are the resounding gold bills commonly used by Hangzhou cloth merchants. They can be redeemed on sight at major banks in the south of the Yangtze River. One thousand taels per piece, five in total. The other party promised to thank you again after everything was done.

The Marquis of Jiang Xia's family was not short of money. The old Marquis followed the emperor in his young expeditions, and the family got a lot of good things. Coupled with the manors, fields, and mines given by the emperor, generations of people will have enough to eat.

But what Zhou Ji wants is the respect of outsiders, the feeling of others begging him.

Thinking of this, the smile on Zhou Ji's face became a little complicated.

His father, Zhou Dexing, was a playmate from the same village as the old emperor, and their relationship could not be more cordial. But after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, everyone else was both a prince and a posthumous king, and I was a Marquis of Jiangxia.

Moreover, in the past few years, except for being the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army of the Fifth Army Governor's Mansion, he has never held any position. It's expensive, but the authority is far from that of the Xu family, the Chang family, and the Fu family. Even people like Lan Yu who are a generation younger than me are now climbing on top of the Zhou family.

"The old prince is unfair!" Zhou Ji snorted in his heart.

Are they all brothers who conquer the world together, or are they buddies from the same village? When you become the emperor, you will be given a title of marquis? When the old man of the family attacked Sichuan, he obviously made more contributions than Tang He, but he was overshadowed by the rewards.

(Tang He was another fellow countryman of Zhu Yuanzhang. He believed in the Duke of the country. He resigned from office in his later years to restrain his children and died well.)

Moreover, other families of meritorious officials are all princes-in-law, and their children hold real power and perform duties. Several brothers from the Zhou family can only serve as bodyguards in the palace.

The commander of the army in front of the palace? To put it nicely, you are not here to watch the emperor’s gate!

Maybe it was because the wine was still in his head, Zhou Ji just felt hot all over. Since the old emperor refused to promote them, they could only wait for the new emperor to ascend the throne.

His daughter-in-law is the cousin of the Crown Princess, and now everyone is saying that the Emperor wants to establish a grandson, so Huai Wang Zhu Yunwen also has a chance. As long as the King of Huai ascends to the throne, he is both a hero in the founding of the country and a serious relative, and the title of the Marquis of the Zhou family should be promoted.

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Thinking of this, Zhou Ji's face was full of smiles, and he leaned leisurely in the carriage, humming the ditty sung by the singer last night.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped suddenly.

"Why don't you leave?" Zhou Ji asked with his eyes closed.

"Master!" the coachman said cautiously outside, "Someone is stopping our carriage!"

"Who?" Zhou Ji opened his eyes and asked.

"Jinyiwei!"

Zhou Ji in the carriage was stunned for a moment. The Jin Yiwei were the emperor's personal soldiers and had the power to arrest officials without going through a trial by the three divisions. In recent years, the cases of Li Shanchang, Hu Weiyong and others have made these executioners steal the spotlight.

Zhou Ji opened the door curtain of the carriage suspiciously. Standing on the road were a row of Jin Yiwei wearing flying fish uniforms and embroidered spring knives. The leader was an acquaintance of his, the deputy commander of the Jin Yiwei and the commander, He Guangyi.

He Guangyi is also a hero. His father is the adopted son of the old emperor and died in the Northern Expedition. He Guangyi's eldest brother died in the battle with Lan Yu when he left seclusion in 20 years, and he was the only one left in the family. The old emperor specially ordered him to enter Jinyiwei and gave him a fourth-grade commanding officer.

"So early?" Zhou Ji cupped his hands and said with a smile.

He Guangyi smiled softly, "Zhou Dusi, it's getting late, it's already dawn."

Zhou Ji was choked and continued in a sullen voice, "Are you guys on official business?"

"Looking for you!" He Guangyi held the handle of Xiuchun Dao and said with a smile.

"Looking for me?" Zhou Ji was startled, and then he pretended to laugh, "What are you looking for?" He said with a smile, "Commander He, I am the eldest son of Jiang Xiahou, the military commander in front of the palace."

"The Prince Consort has already been arrested by me!" He Guangyi sneered, "If you want to be dignified, just follow us!"

"Where to go?" Zhou Ji asked in a trembling voice.

He Guangyi spat out two frightening words, "Prison!"

Three hours later, the sun was already rising in the capital.

There is a scorching sun in the sky and lively fireworks in the world. Just when it was time to eat, the street was filled with pedestrians one after another, and it was very lively.

But there was sudden chaos at the end of the long street, and all the pedestrians on the street hid under the eaves in an instant. A group of knights in red flying fish uniforms, riding tall horses, passed through the streets as if no one else was around.

"This is another high-ranking official who is going to be unlucky!"

Jin Yiwei passed by, and the crowd immediately started talking about it.

The people at the emperor's feet are naturally well-informed. In recent years, as long as the royal guards of the brigade are dispatched, there will inevitably be unattainable dignitaries.

"Yeah, even if I kill those moths, I won't be relieved!"

"Our old prince is really rude to these corrupt officials!"

"Why are you so polite? Corrupt officials should die!"

The street became more lively because of this episode. The team of royal guards walked away amidst the discussion of the people, crossed two streets, and stopped in a quiet place. There were two stone lions standing on the gatehouse, with horse tethering posts and meritorious deeds. Archway in front of the mansion.

Jiangxia Houfu.

In the backyard of the mansion, Jiangxia Hou Zhou Dexing was sitting in the garden, eating lunch on a hollow red sandalwood table with twisted branches.

He is also an old man with a gray beard, but the martial artist is physically strong and seems to be relatively healthy mentally. The dinner table was filled with his favorite food, and several pretty maids stood beside it holding handkerchiefs and wine bottles. Under the table, there was a little poodle lying on his stomach.

The dog was pure white, with not a single stray hair on it. Its black eyes rolled around and it looked at Zhou Dexing as if it could talk.

"Here, I'll reward you with a piece of beef!" Zhou Dexing smiled and picked up a large piece of beef and threw it at his feet.

The poodle quickly bit it, lowered its head and started eating.

The imperial court prohibited the private sale of beef, and even prohibited the private slaughter of cattle. Even Zhu Yuanzhang did not eat beef several times a year. But for these heroic nobles, they can eat whatever they want at home, no one dares to care.

"Another piece?" Zhou Dexing continued to laugh and tease the dog.

At this time, the housekeeper of the Zhou Mansion came over quickly and said in a low voice, "Sir, the commander of the Jinyi Guards is here!"

Zhou Dexing was stunned and asked doubtfully, "Has someone committed a crime in the family?"

"No!" the housekeeper said with a smile, "Besides, you are the Marquis of the Ming Dynasty. Even if someone in your family commits trouble, who would dare to come to your door? I see, those royal guards are quite polite."

Zhou Dexing shook his head slightly, "It's not a good thing if a night owl comes into the house!" Then he threw another piece of beef to the poodle, "Let them in!"

A moment later, several Jinyi guards followed He Guangyi into the backyard of the Zhou family.

"I know He Guangyi, the commander of the Jinyi Guards, and I have met the Marquis!"

Zhou Dexing took a sip of wine, looked at the other person, and said with a smile, "You really look like your dad, sit down!" After that, he asked again, "Where are you coming from?"

"Official business!" He Guangyi did not sit down. He turned around and took out a file from his entourage's leather pocket and placed it directly on Zhou Dexing's table.

Instantly, Zhou Dexing's eyes became sharp.

He could clearly see that there was unwashed blood in the gaps between He Guangyi's fingernails and the lines on his palms.

"We are a wealthy and idle man now, what business do you have for us!" Zhou Dexing snorted coldly, but picked up the file and opened it.

Suddenly, it was like being struck by lightning.

"The prisoner Zhou Ji confessed, and under the instruction of the Crown Princess Lu, he had an affair with a female official of the Huanyi Bureau and spread rumors in the palace..."