Window outside was a blur, with the glow of lanterns burning, the sound spreading from afar. Search: \(Perfect Book Station) to read high-quality literature for free. Not knowing what time of night it was, Ning Yi turned over in bed and rubbed his throbbing forehead.

Right Prime Minister's residence, the funeral procedures continued, the late-night vigil was not deserted. March 4th, the seventh day after death.

Qin Shaohe was dead.

On February 25th, Taiyuan City was finally breached by Zong Han, and the defending army was forced into street fighting. Although the defending army had made extensive preparations for street fighting before this, after defending the isolated city for months, reinforcements had not arrived. At this time, the city walls were broken and could not be retaken. The will of a large number of remaining soldiers to fight in the streets was finally annihilated, and they played no further role in resistance.

The city was then subjected to a massacre.

At this time, the defending army, having gathered its last strength, still made a breakthrough. Taking advantage of the army's breakthrough, a large number of civilians with remaining strength also began to flee. However, this was only the final struggle. The Jurchens had besieged the city on all sides for a long time. Even in such great chaos, no more than one in ten could escape, and after a gap of at most one or two hours, no one else could come out.

Qin Shaohe was among the last group of people to evacuate. After leaving the city, he raised a large flag in his capacity as the chief officer, attracting the attention of a large number of Jurchen pursuers. Finally, on the evening of that day, he was surrounded and killed by pursuers on the banks of the Fen River. His head was taken back by Jurchen soldiers and hung on the head of Taiyuan City, which had become a scene of hell.

As a member of the Secret Intelligence Division, Ning Yi naturally knew more details.

On February 25th, after the fall of Taiyuan City, the city was already in chaos. Qin Shaohe led his guards in resistance, fighting street battles, and he was determined to die. He charged ahead and had suffered multiple knife wounds and was covered in blood when he left the city. On the way to the Fen River, he ordered the people around him to drag the flag, aiming to hold back the Jurchen pursuers, and let those who might escape scatter as much as possible.

Qin Shaohe eventually jumped into the Fen River, but the Jurchens had prepared boats nearby and went downstream, using harpoons and fishing nets to drag Qin Shaohe onto the boat, trying to capture him alive. Qin Shaohe's leg was pierced by a long harpoon, but he still resisted desperately. In the chaos of his sudden resistance, he was killed by a Jurchen soldier wielding a knife. The Jurchen soldier cut off his head and threw his body into the river in several pieces.

Qin Shaohe had a concubine named Zhan Mei in Taiyuan, who was pregnant with his child when the city was broken. During the breakthrough, he entrusted her to another breakout team, but the team was ambushed and scattered. The concubine was also missing, and it was not known whether she was dead or captured by the Jurchens.

Li Pin was temporarily missing, and Cheng Zhouhai was on his way back to the capital.

These miscellaneous pieces of information were a headache, and the atmosphere in the Qin residence was even more heartbreaking. Qin Shaoqian wanted to go to the north several times to bring back his elder brother's head, or at least his flesh and blood, but he was severely reprimanded by Qin Siyuan, who was suppressing his grief. In the afternoon, Ning Yi drank with him, and when he woke up, it was already late at night. He pushed open the door and crossed the courtyard wall. On the Qin residence side of the night sky, there was a glow, and some people were still spontaneously mourning.

Under the promotion of the Bamboo Paper Shop these past two days, Qin Shaohe had become a hero to some extent. Ning Yi rubbed his forehead and looked at the glow. He knew in his heart that at the same moment, in Taiyuan City, thousands of miles to the north, the ten-day massacre was still continuing, and Qin Shaohe's head was still hanging on the city wall, exposed to wind and rain.

The seventh day after death, I wonder if he will be back...

****************

With a "clang", the copper coin accurately fell into the mouth of the wine glass, splashing water. Above the Fan Tower, the man named Long laughed.

"Young Master Long is so good at this game, if it goes on like this, people won't dare to come anymore." The woman next to him gave him a resentful look and acted coquettishly, but then, in the other party's laughter, she drank the wine in the glass.

At this time, a burst of voices vaguely came from downstairs.

"...naturally, we must drink the blood of these Jurchen dogs!"

Then someone echoed.

The man named Long's face darkened, he picked up the wine glass, and finally sighed. The courtesan next to him said, "Young Master Long is also saddened by the Taiyuan affair, right?"

"...The country is like this, what crime have the people committed." He said, then drank the wine in his hand, "Naturally... I have some feelings."

"This concubine has also listened carefully to the Taiyuan affair. Just now, Young Master Long was downstairs, and he also heard about Master Qin's affairs, really... those Jurchen dogs are not human!"

The woman's scolding seemed delicate, but the emotions in it were real. The Young Master Long next to her was holding the wine glass, but at this time, he was turning it slightly in his hand, noncommittal.

At this time, this Young Master Long, who had come to the Fan Tower several times, was naturally Zhou Zhe.

The rescue of the Wusheng Army was defeated, Chen Yanshu died, and Taiyuan fell. All of these events made him feel as if his heart was being cut. For several days, the court and the people were discussing this matter, especially among the people, under the instigation of Chen Dong and others, large-scale petitions had been launched several times. When Zhou Zhe came out incognito, the streets were also circulating various things about Taiyuan. At the same time, some storytellers

were using the tragic death of Qin Shaohe to create a heroic image.

But for this matter, others were being instigated, but he could see it clearly.

That Bamboo Paper Shop is a good calculator, using these small tricks to agitate the people skillfully!

However, Ning Liheng's unorthodox methods are endless. To him, it is not surprising.

Anyway, in times of crisis, clowns always have the use of clowns!

Turning the wine glass in his hand, he thought of something and asked casually, "By the way, when I came over, I asked casually, and I heard that Miss Shishi was not here again. Where did she go?"

"Young Master Long wanted to find Sister Shishi..."

"Not really." Zhou Zhe smiled, "It's just that the most talented and beautiful ladies in the Fan Tower are here, but she ran out, just a little curious."

"Sister Shishi went to the Prime Minister's residence." The woman next to him was not annoyed and poured him more wine, "Today is Master Qin's seventh day after death. Many people went to the Prime Minister's residence to keep vigil for him. In the afternoon, Mama said, let Sister Shishi go on our behalf. We are women of the world, and this is the only way we can express our feelings. When the Jurchens attacked the city, Sister Shishi also went to the city wall to help. We all admire her very much. Has Young Master Long met Sister Shishi before?"

"Although she is in the world of pleasure, she can still worry about national affairs. Miss Ji doesn't need to belittle herself." Zhou Zhe's eyes flowed, he thought slightly. He didn't know whether the glimpse under the city wall that day could be counted as seeing Li Shishi. In the end, he shook his head, "I came here several times, and I wanted to see her, but I never saw her. It seems that Long has more缘分with Miss Ji." In fact, the woman next to him was named Ji Yanluo, and she was the most popular courtesan in the Fan Tower, even more sweet and lovely than the slightly outdated Li Shishi. In that sense, not seeing Li Shishi was not a regretful thing.

Ji Yanluo smiled sweetly and said a few more words to him, and Zhou Zhe frowned slightly, "However, Qin Shaohe is a high-ranking official, and the mourning hall is in the Prime Minister's residence. Miss Li, though famous, can she get in today?"

"Uh, this... Yanluo is not sure, oh, I heard before that Sister Shishi still has some relationship with the Prime Minister's residence." She said like this, and then smiled again, "Actually, Yanluo thinks that for such a great hero, we should keep vigil wholeheartedly. Once we have been there, our hearts will be fulfilled. It doesn't really matter whether we get in or not."

"That's right..."

Zhou Zhe replied, but in his heart, he snorted slightly. On the one hand, he thought that the people of Taiyuan were still being slaughtered at this time, and Qin Siyuan was playing small tricks to create Qin Shaohe as a great hero, which was really hateful. On the other hand, he remembered that Li Shishi had a good relationship with Ning Yi, and Ning Yi was an advisor to the Prime Minister's residence, so he could naturally bring her in. Saying it was keeping vigil, it was actually a meeting, perhaps.

These two thoughts flashed through his mind, but in his heart, he didn't know which was lighter and which was heavier.

****************

It's just that Zhou Zhe's thoughts were wrong at this time.

Although she went to the Qin residence to keep vigil, Li Shishi did not request to enter the mourning hall through Ning Yi. That night, she, like some other people keeping vigil, burned some incense candles on the Qin residence side and silently prayed for blessings for the dead. And Ning Yi in the Prime Minister's residence did not know that Shishi had been here that night.

Walking through the corridor in the backyard of the Qin residence, Ning Yi went to the courtyard where the Qin residence advisors usually gathered.

This night was the vigil for Qin Shaohe. There were many Qin family relatives and descendants participating. As for some of Qin Shaohe's elders, they naturally did not have to keep vigil. Although Ning Yi was not considered an elder, he did not have to stay in the front all the time. The guests and advisors who were truly close to the Qin family mostly rested and stayed in the backyard.

Since it was not past midnight, Yao Zunian, Jueming, and others who had been here during the day had not yet returned, and Wenren Bu'er was also here talking to them. Qin Shaohe was the eldest son of the Qin family and Qin Siyuan's successor. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Yao Zunian, Jueming, and others watched him grow up. When the news of his death came, everyone was sad, but by this time, the first wave of emotions had gradually begun to settle.

And in coordination with the current situation of the Qin residence, this settling would only make people feel more sad.

Qin Shaohe's biological mother, Qin Siyuan's original wife, was already old. When the news of her eldest son's death came, she fell ill with grief. Qin Siyuan occasionally accompanied her when he had nothing to do. Ning Yi spoke with Yao Zunian and others for a while before Qin Siyuan came over. The changes in recent days, as well as the death of his eldest son, did not seem to make him more haggard and old. His eyes were still bright, but they had lost their enthusiasm, and seemed calm and profound.

"Thanks to Liheng and Bu'er for Shaoqian's affairs. With you here, he feels better. I heard that Liheng drank too much. I asked the maid to prepare ginseng tea. Liheng should drink some later..."

After a brief greeting, everyone took a seat in the room, listening to the faint sounds coming from outside. For the people who took the initiative to come to mourn Qin Shaohe on the streets outside, Qin Siyuan also expressed his gratitude to Ning Yi. In the past two or three days, Bamboo Paper Shop spared no effort to promote this matter before organizing such a thing.

Ning Yi shook his head: "The deceased is gone. Qin brother must not care too much about this matter. It's just that the outside world is full of rumors. I'm just... finding something to say. To balance it, it's all selfish, and it's hard to claim credit."

Qin Siyuan also shook his head: "In any case, those who come to see him are always sincere. Since he is gone, receiving this sincerity may also be a little comfort... Also, finding the whereabouts of Zhan Mei in Taiyuan, it was Liheng's people who reacted quickly. If she can be found... that would be good."

The old man's words were short, and Ning Yi nodded. In fact, although the people Ning Yi sent were looking for her, they had not found her. What was there to comfort him? Everyone was silent for a moment, and Jueming said, "I hope that after this incident, the palace can have some scruples."

Yao Zunian also nodded.

Although the news of moving the Qin family came from the palace, and Cai Jing and others seemed to have prepared their positions, at this time, the Qin family produced a hero who died for the country. Perhaps they would have to slow down. When acting against Qin Siyuan, they would have to consider many things. This was also one of the purposes of Ning Yi's promotion.

Everyone then said a few words of idle talk to liven up the atmosphere. Jueming laughed, "I heard that Wang Fu sent someone to find Liheng again yesterday?"

Ning Yi's expression was calm, and a trace of mockery appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Attending the banquet in a few days."

"Playing both sides." Yao Zunian smiled slightly, "When I was young, I also had such a time." Then he said, "Old Qin, you too, right?"

Although there was sorrow in his eyes, Qin Siyuan smiled at this time: "Yes, when I was proud in my youth, decades ago. The prime minister at that time was Lord Hou Qinggao, and he promoted me a lot..."

They were all outstanding people of the world, and they had shown their talents when they were young. They had experienced and were used to this kind of thing, but as their status and position gradually increased, this kind of thing finally became less. Wenren Bu'er on the side said, "I really want to know what Grand Tutor Cai said to Liheng."

"Sitting and talking about Taoism, privately drawing him in." Ning Yi did not avoid it, and he looked at Qin Siyuan. In fact, when Ning Yi had just received the news of the fall of Taiyuan and went to the Grand Tutor's residence, Cai Jing had also just received it. The events collided together, and the atmosphere was subtle. Cai Jing said some words, and Ning Yi had also relayed them to Qin Siyuan: "Grand Tutor Cai said that Prime Minister Qin wrote books and essays, with brilliant and high theories, but firstly, that the argumentation and definition of rules and principles were for scholars to seize power, and secondly, now that the Wu Dynasty is in the autumn of storms, he wants to rectify the name of warriors. If both scholars and warriors want to stand out, where does the power come from... something like that."

Ning Yi's words were calm, Qin Siyuan's eyes did not move, the others were slightly silent, and then Wenren Bu'er snorted lightly. After a moment, Ning Yi also shook his head.

"To be honest, after this matter is over, if the Prime Minister's residence is no longer there, I want to withdraw."

Everyone raised their eyebrows. Jueming sat up straight: "Withdraw to where? Not staying in the capital?"

Yao Zunian also frowned greatly: "Liheng has great potential, and he is already disheartened?"

In the Wu Dynasty's officialdom, ups and downs often occurred. Although this time the matter was serious, and painful to many, even if Old Qin was dismissed or even convicted, Ning Yi, who was strong and clearly favored by many parties, could still do many things in the face of national crisis. Therefore, when he said he wanted to leave, Yao Zunian and Jueming felt sorry for him.