Chapter 179 Mother and Son Monarch and Minister (17-1)

Since Zhang Zhidong had many opinions on the outline of the peace treaty, the round-trip consultations were postponed until December 15th for the second meeting. The venue of the meeting was changed to the British Legation, which has a spacious hall, and there is no limit to the number of representatives and entourages from the Chinese side.However, Li Hongzhang did not want to bring more irrelevant people with him. Apart from the translator, his entourage was still Chen Kuilong and Natong.The two plenipotentiaries and the ministers of the eleven countries sat around a long conference table, and the British minister Sa Daoyi stood up to speak as the chairman.

The outline has been "marked" by the Chinese government, and this meeting is to start discussing the details.The first item is to send a special envoy to Germany to apologize. It has been decided to send the emperor's younger brother Xiao Chun Wang Zaifeng as the "first-class special envoy and minister".As for "Establishing a Monument of Inscription" at the place where Klind was murdered, even the inscription on the inscription has been drafted, so the first paragraph is no longer discussed. The second paragraph is to severely punish the culprit.Sa Daoyi picked up a piece of paper in front of him and waved it up: "This is the list of culprits. However, I leave the position of chairman and have an opinion. The culprit who condoned the Boxers is indeed Duan Wang Zaiyi. If Zaiyi can be strictly Dispose of it, and don't ask about the rest. I don't know what the two of you mean by full power?"

Hearing this, Prince Qing Yikuang was not surprised: "Prince Duan is a royal family's pro-in-law, and it is extremely difficult to deal with it. The laws of various countries also have the laws of 'negotiating relatives' and 'discussing nobles', which have to be reduced from the bottom. This matter It's absolutely impossible." He paused for a moment and then said: "Two days ago I invited everyone to a banquet in my private residence, and I told you that there was no objection at that time, so why do you say this now?" Sa Daoyi smiled: "I also know it can't be done. I'm mentioning it now because I want to give the Chinese government a chance. As long as Zaiyi is strictly punished, many people can be exonerated. Now," he looked at the list and said, "I declare According to the findings of the investigation, the names of the culprits that countries believe should be punished."

Of course they read in English, but the name is in pinyin, and the pronunciation is slow, so Li Hongzhang and Yikuang can understand it. The first place is naturally Zai Yi, followed by Dong Fuxiang, Zai Xun, Zai Lan, Ying Nian, Gangyi, Zhao Shuqiao, Yuxian, Li Bingheng, Qixiu, and Xu Chengyu, these eleven people, except for the dead who should be dismissed from office and revoked the stipends, and those who are still alive should be executed to thank all countries in the world. As soon as Yikuang and Li Hongzhang heard the translation, they said in unison: "There is no reason for this!" Then they discussed in a low voice, and decided that Li Hongzhang would speak to refute.

"A few days ago, I heard everyone talking about the culprit, but there was no name of Qi Shangshu and Xu Shilang. Why did you suddenly add these two people today? What does this mean?" Li Hongzhang originally thought that he caught an obvious mistake first, blocked the other party's mouth, and created the momentum to catch the other person first, so the following words would be easy to say.Who knows the translation is not <<Finally, Italian Minister Salvagore has stood up and answered>> "I went to Xianliang Temple the day before yesterday to pay homage. When I talked about Xu Shilang, the Minister of Mongolia and Gui told me frankly that China would not deal with such a person, and other countries would have to do it on his behalf. As for Qi Shangshu's crimes, the Japanese Minister has already conducted an investigation, and there is also evidence."

Li Hongzhang didn't expect to be stupefied, and said angrily: "I just said something casually, how can you be convicted based on it?" Salvager smiled and did not answer, and Komura Kotaro continued to speak: "In the clause, there is a provision that 'point out in the future' and should still be punished. After a thorough investigation, these two people cannot but be identified as the culprits. He is also a prime minister. He once said: "Foreigners can be killed." And there is a fact that he used his power to shelter boxers. As for Xu Chengyu, everything his father Xu Tong said and did was because of his secret instigation. It is incompatible with the foreigners. All the loyal officials killed were supervised by him and premeditated by him. If the two plenipotentiaries don’t believe me, I can list the evidence in writing.”

So Li Hongzhang went back to argue in principle. He said: "The article originally said 'differentiate the severity and punish severely according to the law', but now they all require execution, which is contradictory." "Death is the lightest of all punishments." Komura Koshitaro's words seem to be irrational, but after careful consideration, there is no way to refute them.Because if the execution is defined as "beheading and judging", there are more severe punishments than the Dabi, such as Ling Chi, ransacking the house outside of the execution, or executing the person himself, and the family members will also be sentenced together.

In this way, we had to negotiate individually, "Prince Duan is a relative of Yi, so it is difficult to increase the punishment." Li Hongzhang said: "Now the imperial court plans to send him to Xinjiang for imprisonment and never release him. This is tantamount to a capital crime." So the ministers of various countries discussed briefly, and Sa Daoyi replied: "In this case, why not impose a fake death penalty?" "What is a fake death crime?" "'Behead the jailer'." Sa Daoyi said: "After one or two years of imprisonment, he will be sent to Xinjiang."

"This can be considered." "King Zhuang and Dong Fuxiang are extremely vicious, they must be killed!" Li Hongzhang had a secret decree and knew the intention of the court, so he might as well sacrifice Zaixun if necessary.As for the difficulty of Dong Fuxiang's inability to deal with it strictly for a while, the ministers of various countries have long understood.Therefore, Li Hongzhang said that Zhuang Wang Zaixun will issue an order from Xi'an to order him to commit suicide, and this serious public case will be settled. There are still eight people. The ministers of various countries insisted on the original proposal that they should be punished by beheading regardless of life or death.Li Hongzhang argued one by one, except for Yuxian, the rest should die on loan, but the ministers of various countries only agreed that Zai Lan could follow the example of Zai Yi, and there was no other concession.The conclusion is that the ministers of various countries will discuss on their own, and submit another note.

Before the meeting was adjourned, German Minister Mummer stood up solemnly and said: "In such a major dispute, the culprit only kills two people, and all countries must not accept it. According to the current situation, peace is impossible, and the Eight-Power Allied Forces will also decide." There is no retreat. I cannot fail to warn the Chinese government." This warning was played in Xi'an on the same day, and the call back came quickly: "Punish the culprit and debate for several months. In the second paragraph of the peace treaty outline, there is a saying of "differentiation of severity". It is not enough to make a treaty, it is really self-contradictory! As for the word "future", it is difficult to draw a clear line according to the electronic performance, but it must be based on the evidence before it can be punished. Now it is pointed out that Qixiu and Xu Chengyu , are all empty words and have no real basis. It seems that this is deliberately making things difficult, what is your opinion?"

After reading the telegram, the two plenipotentiaries looked gloomy and remained silent.After a long time, Yikuang finally said: "It's an official accent, I don't know if it's the handwriting of that big military plane?" At this time, the military ministers in Xi'an were led by Rong Lu, followed by Wang Wenshao, and Lu Chuanlin, who was a disciple of Rong Lu's father-in-law Linggui. When he was the governor of Shaanxi, Rong Lu was transferred to be the general of Xi'an. Jie Na, with this dual origin, is a sponsor for Rong Lu, and has just joined the military plane.As for Zhao Shuqiao, since she is one of the culprits, and her hometown is in Xi'an, she waited on her mother behind closed doors and no longer "walked" on the military plane.Therefore, Rong Lu is not only in charge of the family in the government, he is actually caught, and he will never use such an official style. "Hmph!" Li Hongzhang sneered and said, "I guess it's time for me to speak bureaucratically!" Yikuang silently expressed his meaning, afraid of causing trouble, he dared not answer the question.I only told Li Hongzhang to discuss with his friends as soon as possible, how to restore Tian Ting?Hope to have results within the year. ※ ※ ※ "There are still ten days left before Chinese New Year! Foreigners don't care, their New Year has already passed!" Li Hongzhang shook the telegram vigorously, "It's chilling to think about it! The old lady is fine, so she should be ruthless Already!" This refers to Empress Dowager Cixi.She has always been afraid of causing trouble to her upper body, but now she can be sure that the investigation of responsibility will stop at Yiqin, and will not affect the deep palace.Once you stay out of it, your attitude is different.Li Hongzhang could conclude that the "official tone" in the telegram was exactly what she meant, so he complained. "Let's not even think about Chinese New Year. However, it's not the case. Before the Lantern Festival, there will be no death penalty. Will foreigners agree to it?" Li Hongzhang looked at his friend and said, "Anyway, we have to think about it. There is a way to have a definite conclusion within the year." Li Hongzhang had many acquaintances, but at this time there were only three people sitting with him. One was Yang Shixiang, and the other was also surnamed Yang.Last year, it was released to Hanzhong Prefecture in Shaanxi Province. This is a "overwhelming, complicated, tired, and difficult" shortage. immediate boss.When Duanfang was an official in Beijing, he dealt with celebrities a lot, while Yang Chongyi was exclusively against celebrities, and Wen Tingshi fell miserably in his hands.He is not generous in his measures, but he is good at using power and tactics, and he likes to be powerful. He often makes troubles for Yang Chongyi because of old friends, and he has become unable to settle down.It just so happened that Li Hongzhang was transferred to the direct governor and went to Beijing to negotiate a peace. His friendship was with his close relatives, so he asked the "old in-law" to call him in, and got rid of Duanfang's boycott. There is another one named Xu Gengbi, named Cizhou, from Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. He has been a magistrate in Guangdong for a long time. Entering Beijing is quite dependent. Xu Gengbi is good at breaking prisons, and there are many rumors in Guangdong. He often has unexpected tricks when he asks the case and convicts him.At this moment, seeing the two Yangs looking at each other without saying a word, they said slowly: "The situation has become like this, you really should take part in the book!" As soon as this remark came out, Er Yang's face changed, and Li Hongzhang's face was a little unnatural, "Cizhou," he said, "what responsibility should I take for the situation to become like this, please ask! You know, I have been very tired these years Be humble, as long as I am right, I will definitely admit my mistake!" "Don't be serious in Zhongtang!" Xu Gengbi laughed and said, "Talking is amazing, it's just boring." "The same boat!" Yang Chongyi complained to him, "I'm still joking at this time!" "It's not a joke." Xu Gengbi said sternly: "If you want to settle this important case within this year, you have to use a bitter plan. If someone ginseng Zhongtang wrongly follows the country, and as soon as the seal reaches the imperial court, the old queen can't bear to let Zhongtang Have you replaced her?" "Okay!" Li Hongzhang immediately understood that referring to him for "destroying the country by following the rules" was really blaming the Empress Dowager Cixi. Yang Shixiang also understood, "I see it this way, send Duan Taozhai a secret message and ask him to entrust a master of Duan to fire a cannon." Li Hongzhang nodded, "Yes!" He said, "One guest doesn't bother the two hosts, so I'll just ask the second boat to draft a manuscript." Xu Gengbi's writing is very good. Hearing the words, he picks up his pen and writes it with one stroke. The content is to ask Duanfang to ask someone to impeach Li Hongzhang on his behalf. Li Hongzhang was obsessed with the news, he didn't play out the truth, he followed the perfunctory, and he didn't know when the peace agreement would become.The imperial capital is dusty and the ancestral temple is uneasy, which is really a crime of harming the country. Of course the Empress Dowager Cixi understood who these words were scolding, especially if she brought out the big hat of the ancestral temple, she could be overwhelmed.So when this telegram was sent, half of Li Hongzhang's worries were resolved. On the third day, there was no telegram in Xi'an, but the note from the joint title of the ministers of the eleven countries had been sent. In addition to punishing the culprit according to the verbal method, he also asked to send personnel to monitor the execution.Immediately afterwards, there was a second note, requesting that five ministers, including Xu Yongyi, Xu Jingcheng, Yuan Chang, Lianyuan, and Lishan, should be rehabilitated as officials to show the snow. Of course, these two notes were also played in Xi'an by telegram immediately, and the reply telegrams were not allowed except for the five ministers who appointed the restoration officer, who could follow the song.I don't know if Xu Gengbi's bitter trick works but doesn't work, or is it not yet time to be effective?But time waits for no one, the Stove Lord has already gone to "go to heaven" to perform good deeds, but "lower realm" still can't "keep safe", so Li Hongzhang had to wait patiently for a day or two before making sense. That bitter scheming seems to be working.On December 25th, there was an edict in Xi'an to punish the culprit for the third time. Zai Xun was given death, Zai Yi and Zai Lan were sent to Xinjiang, imprisoned forever, and sent to guard first; Officer; Dong Fuxiang was dismissed and demoted; Yingnian and Zhao Shuqiao were cut off as supervisors;In addition, there is another edict: "Qixiu and Xu Chengyu will be dismissed immediately, and the crimes committed will be announced by Yikuang and Li Hongzhang immediately, and they will be severely punished." The Empress Dowager Cixi made concessions, not much. She intended to bargain, and there was still room for negotiation.Unexpectedly, the perceptions of various countries are extremely bad. They think that No. 1, Zaiyi, and Zailan have clearly given the "fake death penalty", and even refuse to admit this nominal crime, which shows that they have no intention of regretting the disaster. Second, Yingnian issued a notice offering a reward for the killing of foreigners. It is a well-known fact that Zhao Shuqiao helped the fortitude and indulged the boxers. However, the conviction of "beheading the prisoner" clearly meant that he would die. cheat. Therefore, the British Minister Sa Daoyi sent a counselor to tell Li Hongzhang: "Dai Yi and Zai Lan have been given a lenient punishment for the false death penalty. If the Chinese government still protects them, disasters will come to them." In addition to the serious warning, there was also an astonishing move. On the morning of New Year's Eve, German Minister Mummert visited Li Hongzhang and said as soon as he met: "Just now I came from General Waldsee. On the fifth day, personally lead the team out of Beijing." Li Hongzhang turned pale with shock, and asked anxiously, "Where did Wa Shuai lead the team?" "I know. But I can't disclose military secrets." Mu Mo said again: "Tomorrow, the ministers of various countries will meet to draft your third note on punishing the culprit. However, the meeting is a formality, and there is no change in essence. The previous note The request has been approved by the governments of various countries and cannot be changed." "Why is this so?" Li Hongzhang said in a low voice: "Since all countries are willing to repair it, why not be a little more accommodating?" Mu Mo smiled and didn't answer, paused for a moment before saying, "I'm here today to pay a visit because of friendship; business matters are too inconvenient to talk about it." Seeing this situation, Li Hongzhang had only one request to make: "Minister Mu, I will telegraph Xi'an immediately. Please persuade Wa Shuai no matter what, and don't take any action for the time being. Wait for the reply from Xi'an to arrive. If he is dissatisfied, we will decide where to go. Is it possible?" As soon as Mu Mo left, France and Japan successively sent messages to confirm that Vadsey had indeed made the decision to send troops out of Beijing. Added a few more words temporarily, marked it with the words "transfer as soon as you arrive, no delay is allowed", and sent it out. "Today is the last day of the Gengzi Year. It has been two hundred and sixty years since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, and nothing has been worse than this year. This year has never been worse than today! I was a young Kejia, a middle-aged soldier, and a Westernization in my later years. To end up begging for help like today, thinking about it, I really feel disheartened and have no interest in life!" Li Hongzhang's voice became lower and lower, and finally weeping sadly, he walked back to the bedroom step by step, and closed the room. "Sorrow can hurt people!" Yang Chongyi said quietly: "Zhongtang's relationship is very important, we have to find a way to make him feel at ease." "Be at ease, only Xi'an will call back, and it will be as requested." Yang Shixiang looked worried, "I think there is still work to be done." "No!" Xu Gengbi said with great confidence, "It will definitely be." "What if it's not allowed?" Yang Shixiang asked. "If you are not allowed, you have to be allowed!" Xu Gengbi said: "Today's New Year's Eve, I will have fun in the midst of hardships, get drunk and seek joy for the Zhongtang." "Slow down, slow down! Cizhou, you have to be sure if you are not sure, how do you explain this?" "Not today, but one day anyway, when the time comes, regardless of whether Xi'an has responded to the call, whether the request is allowed or not, reply to the countries and say that it has been approved by the call back." "Then, what about after that?" "Hey, Uncle Xin!" Xu Gengbi said impatiently: "What is 'full power'? At this time, there is no 'right' to ask for 'full power'. Could it be that when Waldsi leads the team out of Beijing, he will die?" Before his horse?" "Through, thorough!" Er Yang said in unison. Things are as if a decision has been made.In order not to be threatened by Vardesi, it is not wrong to dispose of it with authority.In fact, Xu Gengbi's prediction was very accurate, and Xi'an called back, and it was accurate. There are two telegrams in total, the first is to reply to the opinion conveyed by the counselor sent by the British Minister, saying that "Yingnian and Zhao Shuqiao's crime of love is relatively minor, and it was formulated by Jia En. Today's call says that the envoy's meaning is decisive, for For the overall situation, we have to die." The second telegram said: "The imperial court has tried its best to punish the culprit, but the countries are still dissatisfied, and the threat is very strong. The existing people will be handled according to the previous note. The people's livelihood is the most important thing, and we should stop the army so as not to regenerate branches. It is hereby ordered to issue an order on the third day of the first day, and to punish on the sixth day. However, Ying and Zhao have no physiology, or they will die in a flexible manner. Qi and Xu will also ask for their own justice. The prince Wait for the quick and intensive planning, or ask the United States, Japan and other countries and Hart to make a change, whether it can be done, and discuss that everyone who has died will not be held accountable, and I will reply immediately." "It's a foregone conclusion!" Yang Shixiang said with a sigh of relief: "I'll go back to the middle hall right away." After Li Hongzhang finished reading the telegram, the staff suggested that Tohed should contact him immediately, and change Yingnian and Zhao Shuqiao from beheading to death, and that Qixiu and Xu Chengyu wanted to come back from the Japanese army. Afterwards, the call came back immediately, and a major event was completed. "No need!" Li Hongzhang said: "It's not too late for Qi and Xu to ask for someone when the Fa-rectification edict arrives. For Ying and Zhao, the foreigners just want them to die. It doesn't matter how they die. There is no need to ask for consent." .” "But do a note to inform the ministers of various countries?" Yang Shixiang asked. "No need! Let me give a verbal notice first, and then I will make a note in two days." Li Hongzhang said, "Whether Zhao Zhanru will be able to die is a big question. If you want to draft a telegram to Rong Zhonghua, you can't relax!" ※ ※ ※ Li Hongzhang's predictions were accurate, and it was not easy for Zhao Shuqiao to die. First of all, the Empress Dowager Cixi did not think that he was guilty of death. When she changed the punishment for the culprit for the third time on December 25th, she said: "Actually, Zhao Shuqiao did not agree with the boxers, but he was with Gangyi from Zhuozhou. When you come back to return to your command, you shouldn't have used the three words 'it doesn't matter' to prevaricate me." When this word reached Zhao Shuqiao's ears, he was very relieved that he would surely avoid death.When the order of the court was issued, he was charged with beheading the prisoner and handed over to the supervisor first, but he still spoke and laughed freely, without taking it seriously.His family is also very relieved, because there is a great Olympic aid! This Austrian aid is Zhao Shuqiao's uncle Xue Yunsheng.This person was Weng Tongxuan in the same year. He was born as an officer in the Ministry of Criminal Justice. It took him twenty-two years to become a doctor.Probably since the founding of the Qing Dynasty, Xue Yunsheng was the only one who not only dared not bully the judges, but also sincerely convinced the secretary of the Ministry of Punishment. In the twelfth year of Tongzhi, Xue Yunsheng was released as the capital of Raozhou, Jiangxi. Since then, it has been smooth sailing. In the 19th year of Guangxu, he was finally promoted to Shangshu of the Ministry of punishment.Later, because his nephew Xue Ji colluded with the officials of the Ministry of Punishment, he negotiated a lawsuit, implicated Naishu, and was demoted to a third level. As soon as Zhao Shuqiao's accident happened, the Minister of Criminal Affairs opened a vacancy and took materials from the local area. It was logical that Xue Yunsheng was called back to make up for his nephew's vacancy, and at the same time he had to punish his nephew.He once said: "It would be unreasonable for Zhao to be executed!" Therefore, the relatives and friends of the Zhao family all believed that Xue Yunsheng would definitely save Zhao Shuqiao's life, and besides, there was no way for Yilu to die. Helpless, the words of foreigners are more important than the imperial decree. Li Hongzhang sent an urgent telegram to Xi'an based on the opinions conveyed by the British counselor. After the news spread from the Military Aircraft Department, the gentry in Xi'an city rushed up and made a "public report", more than 300 people signed it.At dawn on New Year's Eve, it was sent to the military plane, but the military plane Zhang Jing dared not accept it. The stalemate lasted until noon. There was no imperial edict. Nothing happened on the first day of the new year, and the military aircraft was summoned on the second day of the new year, in order to discuss the announcement of the fourth punishment of the culprit on the third day of the third day. From six o'clock in the morning to eleven o'clock in the morning, there was still no conclusion. At that time, near the Drum Tower, the busiest place in Xi'an, there were already huge crowds of people, and the crowd was raging. Some wanted to strike the market, some threatened to rob the court, and some threatened that if the Empress Dowager Cixi killed Zhao Shuqiao, she would be invited back to the capital. However, the Empress Dowager Cixi, who used the governor's yamen as her residence, made a decision with the minister of military affairs after all. Zhao Shuqiao could not escape death and ordered her to commit suicide.Yingnian was in the same class, but he didn't bother Ruiyou. From the day he was taken into custody on December 25th, he cried day and night, and said one sentence repeatedly: "King Qing should not defend me!" Late at night on the first day of the new year, the crying stopped suddenly, and the family was still busy celebrating the new year, so they had no time to pay attention to him.In the early morning of the next day, when the crime was pending in the palace, it was found that he had passed away. The method of self-suicide is unheard of. It is to stop with mud and gas. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, the decree that the death penalty for all 11 culprits, both dead and not dead, was finally released. On this day, Shi Ge Baohua, the acting servant of the household department who had long been ordered to monitor Zhuang Wang Zaixun's suicide, arrived in Puzhou early in the morning.Because he was an imperial envoy, when he arrived at the "Xingtai" where Zaixun lived, the post officer fired cannons to pay tribute as usual. Zai Xun was still lying down, woke up and cursed: "What kind of cannon did you fire for no reason?" "The imperial envoy Mr. Ge has arrived!" the servant told him. "Could it be that you came here for my business?" Zai Xun suddenly got up. The servant lied to him, saying that the imperial envoy was passing through the border and came to visit him.When we met, according to the rules, first invite Sheng'an, and then talk.Zai Xun asked earnestly about the situation, Ge Baohua said a few perfunctory words, then got up to leave, and went to the Yamen of Puzhou Prefecture. Huige, the prefect of Puzhou, and Xiang Zeling, the magistrate of Yongji County, the first county, have long been on standby.Ge Baohua has already taken a fancy to a place, behind the platform there is an ancient temple that has not been incensed for a long time, and he ordered it to be the place where Zai Xun died. So Xiang Zeling personally took people to the ancient temple to decorate, and Huige led his own soldiers to guard and suppress around the platform.When everything was ready, Ge Baohua arrived at the ancient temple and sent Xiang Zeling to Chuan Zaixun to listen to the imperial edict. Zai Xun was also very imposing, he changed into a full set of prince's official uniform, and strode forward, when he saw Ge Baohua, he touched the back of his neck and asked, "You want my head?" Ge Baohua didn't answer, but shouted loudly: "There is a purpose!" Hearing this sound, Zaixun and the officials and servants present all knelt down and listened quietly to the imperial envoy reading the imperial edict. The last edict was issued on December 25th of the previous year: "Zaixun, Prince Zhuang, connived at the boxers to besiege the embassy, ​​issued notices of breach of contract without authorization, and believed in the bandits' words, killing many lives in vain. It is really stupid and stubborn. Ordered to commit suicide. Send left capital censor Shi Ge Baohua to monitor." Giving death is also a grace, as usual one should give thanks.However, Zai Xun couldn't remember this set of ritual notes, stood up, blushed and said, "I knew I was going to die. I'm afraid Lafayette won't live long either! Imperial envoy, you can still meet with my family." Bar?" Before he could finish his sentence, there was a loud cry outside the temple gate. A middle-aged woman in a banner staggered towards him with a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. This was Zai Xun's side Fujin and his only son Pu Gang. The mother and son rushed to the threshold, hugged Zaixun's leg, and cried more and more. Zaixun also burst into tears, pulled Pu Gang up, and said with a sob: "You must serve the country, our country in the Qing Dynasty, Never give it to foreigners!" Pu Gang just mourned and wept bitterly, I don't know if he listened?Her mother was even more out of control, fell to the ground and rolled, then fainted.Of course, this will not affect Zaixun's "big event in life". While someone carried away his side Fujin, someone led him to an empty room behind. The room was locked on purpose. Unlocking the door and looking in, there was only a step stool in the middle, and a new white silk ribbon hanging from the beam above it, which was extremely glaring. "My lord, please!" Ge Baohua lowered his head, waved his hands, and made a solemn gesture. "The imperial envoy is so considerate and straightforward!" Zai Xun cupped his hands and said, "See you in the next life!"