After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

Fang Tong didn't want to interfere too much.

Perhaps the medicine prescribed by the doctor was effective. After four or five days, Qian Fengping finally regained her spirits.

The dim sum competition is about to officially begin.

In the evening, Mr. Wu came and said that he was going to attend a banquet and get together with the owners of other dim sum shops. He asked them if they wanted to go.

Fang Tong declined politely.

It’s easy to imagine that the dinner tonight won’t be delicious, after all, colleagues are enemies.

His wife only came here to get first place, not to socialize in a hypocritical manner.

When it comes to socializing, Wu Dongjia is the right person to choose.

Wu Dongjia didn't force it, it was fine if he didn't go.

Fang Tong was, after all, a ninth-rank official. Although his rank was low, he was still a scholar. As for those of them who were doing business, they made a lot of money and had connections behind the scenes, but on the surface they were just businessmen.

Among the four classes of people, the businessmen are inferior in the end.

It would be beneficial for Qian Fengping to take a high-profile approach at this time.

The couple went to visit the capital together. Of course, the capital was too big, so they could only stroll around Zhuque Street near the courtyard.

Zhuque Street is already the busiest street in the capital.

The shops on both sides of the street are hung with red lanterns, forming a river, reflecting the various aspects of human life.

Qian Fengping looked at it and was in a daze.

A warm touch came from the palm of my hand, and Fang Tong came close to me without me noticing when.

He said seriously: "There are so many people here, don't get lost."

Qian Fengping smiled and did not take her hand back.

It's a rare occasion when there are no children around, and they can still live the life of a couple.

The two walked hand in hand through the streets, and occasionally passers-by looked at them strangely.

Fang Tong glared back, confidently saying, "What are you looking at? My wife and I are both registered with the same household. Do you have any?"

Passersby let out a long "huh" and asked, "Who doesn't have a wife?"

"Zhajiangmian, authentic Zhajiangmian, only found in the Old Imperial City!"

A hearty shout with a unique accent was heard.

Fang Tong pulled his wife over and ordered a bowl of noodles. It wasn't that he was reluctant to spend money, but he wanted to save space for something else.

A bowl of noodles was served, topped with shredded cucumber, shredded radish, shredded wood ear mushrooms, bean sprouts, and soybeans.

There is also fried sauce in the middle. Use chopsticks to mix it and the aroma will come directly to you.

Qian Fengping took a bite and said: "Hmm, the noodles are very chewy, and the main thing is the sauce. I don't know how they are cooked."

If she knew how to do it, she could make it and cook it for the children when she got home.

The couple enjoys their peaceful days and eats noodles, but someone secretly doesn't have that mood.

"We should have done it on the way to Beijing. Now that we're in Beijing, there's no chance."

"Humph, maybe Lord Lin from Huai'an Prefecture has taken the wrong medicine. He actually intervened in this matter and secretly sent people to escort him. Otherwise, Fang would not be able to reach the capital."

In addition to Lord Lin, there is also an unknown force.

They were ambushed before entering Beijing, and more than a dozen of their brothers died.

Everyone fell silent at the thought of this.

Finally, someone said, "Why rush? We can't assassinate them in the capital. We have many ways to deal with them openly. Just wait for the master's orders."

On the first day of arriving in Beijing, they informed their master behind the scenes.

Assassinating the emperor is no joke.

Moreover, Fang Tong was lucky and became a ninth-rank official, so if they took action, it would be considered as killing an official appointed by the imperial court.

The emperor must investigate thoroughly even if it means maintaining the dignity of the court.

The Jingzhao Yin is not there to do nothing, it is not difficult to find them by following the clues.

Therefore, even if Lord Lin's men retreated after arriving in Beijing and the other force protecting the Fang family disappeared without a trace, they did not dare to take action.

Fang Tong and his wife were completely unaware of the danger. It wasn't that they were not vigilant, but their cognition limited their vision.

They thought that their second brother was going to the battlefield to save people and fight, which was a good thing for the court. They never imagined that some people would not stand for such a good thing for the sake of their own interests.

After finishing the noodles, the couple continued strolling.

The curfew in the capital is even later than that in Huai'an Prefecture. At this time, the streets are bustling with people.

Amidst the noise, the elegant sound of a piano was heard.

Fang Tong looked up and saw a two-story building in front of him.

In the attic, there were three veiled women playing music with their bare hands.

"it is good!"

"Why don't you three girls take off your veils and let us see your beauty!"

"This music is really exquisite, why have I never heard it before?"

A group of people gathered downstairs, cheering and joking.

The owner of the restaurant finally stood up and bowed to everyone with a smile.

"Thanks for your care, today I will be meeting friends at Wangjiang Tower through music."

"Anyone proficient in music can come on stage and give it a try. Anyone who participates can get a 20% discount on dinner at Wangjiang Tower today."

"If anyone can surpass these three girls, today's meal will be free!"

"That's interesting. What scholar doesn't learn the Six Arts of a Gentleman? I'm afraid there will be a lot of people coming to dine today, and the shopkeeper will have to spend a lot of money!"

A young man was holding a folding fan and trying to join in the fun.

The shopkeeper bowed to him and said politely, "Loss or profit is fine. Today we are meeting friends through music, in order to make friends with talented people from all over the world."

"Well said! I am not very talented, but I have learned to play the flute for ten years. I would like to learn from you."

With more people coming to support it, the area around Wangjiang Tower became more lively.

Fang Tong watched with great interest for a while, then pulled his wife to squeeze somewhere else.

If my daughter and son were here, I could let them go on stage and try it out.

What a pity, let’s wait for next time.

Before she had taken two steps, Qian Fengping felt something was wrong and someone stuffed a note into her hand.

She looked around but couldn't find the person who slipped the note.

She pulled Fang Tong's sleeve.

"What's wrong, wife? Did someone step on your foot?"

"No." Qian Fengping handed him the note calmly.

The copper box was opened and there were only a few words on it.

"Let's chat in the private room of Wangjiang Tower."

There is only one character "Mong" in the signature.

Why are the people from General Meng’s Mansion acting so secretly?

As early as the day he arrived in the capital, Fang Tong found out where General Meng's mansion was and sent a letter inside.

But the General's Mansion did not respond at all, and since Qian Fengping was ill, he did not take care of these things for a while.

After reading it, Fang Tong subconsciously crumpled the paper into a ball and put it into his sleeve.

"going or not?"

Qian Fengping asked in a low voice.

They had decided early in the morning to visit the general's residence.

Now that the people from the General's Mansion have shown up on their own initiative, they are acting in a sneaky and strange manner.

Could it be that someone is impersonating them? Is he trying to trick them?

But Fang Tong is only a ninth-rank official. What is there worth scheming against him?

There is no shortage of dignitaries in the capital.

"Go." Fang Tong frowned.

Just because his second brother has a close relationship with General Meng's Mansion, he has to contact people from the General's Mansion.

The couple squeezed into the crowd.

Wangjiang Tower was surrounded by three layers of defense inside and outside, and those who were secretly following also wanted to follow in.

But there were too many people, and if you looked away you couldn't see Fang Tong and his wife.

"What about people?"

"It seems they've gone in. Don't worry, we have people at the back door too. We can catch up with them when they come out."

The two secret guards whispered to each other.

Fang Tongcai went in, ordered a pot of wine, and was about to ask which box the Meng family was in when he was led directly to the second floor.

The private room on the second floor was the attic where the three women played the piano.

There was just a curtain outside, and a large screen behind the curtain.

No matter how people outside the window look, they cannot see what is behind the screen.

Behind the screen sat a young girl, about twenty years old, dressed in a red military uniform, looking neat and tidy, but there was an unconcealable sadness in her eyes.

The door of the box opened and Fang Tong and his wife were led in.

Meng Lan stood up subconsciously.

She waited until the waiter left and closed the door before she knelt and saluted.

"Meet Brother Fang and Sister-in-law!"

Fang Tong waved his hands repeatedly: "You're welcome. Who are you?"

"My daughter, Meng Lan, is the daughter of General Meng and Fang Yin's junior apprentice. I am here to meet you, brother and sister-in-law, with no other choice but to do so. I apologize for the poor hospitality."

Meng Lan had a guilty look on her face.

Fang Tong and his wife looked at each other, not quite understanding why the general's daughter was so polite to them?

They are just ordinary people.

Uh, that’s not right. Fang Tong is a ninth-rank official.

"Miss Meng, you are so kind. It is our honor that you can take the time to meet us."

Fang Tong quickly apologized with a smile.

"Brother Fang, you don't have to be too distant with me. My senior brother and I have a close relationship. He even went to the battlefield to save my father. It's not an exaggeration to say that our two families are old friends. You can be more at ease."

Meng Lan extended her hand and invited them to take a seat.

Although she said that, it was their first meeting after all, and given their status, Fang Tong and his wife were still very careful.

The two sides exchanged greetings for a while.

Fang Tong couldn't help but ask about General Meng's situation and his second brother.

Meng Lan was silent for a while and shook his head.

"There was no correspondence."

"Twenty days ago, a memorial was submitted to the capital stating that my father had been rescued, but had been poisoned and was in a coma, and had never woken up."

"My mother fell ill after hearing the news. The family was left without a leader, and my daughter was barely able to support them."

"Someone has set their sights on the General's Mansion. I sensed they had ill intentions, but I couldn't find the source, so I had to act even more cautiously. I didn't dare meet you at the General's Mansion, and only found an opportunity today through Wangjiang Tower."

Meng Lan sighed, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

Wangjiang Tower is her secret property, otherwise, she would not have chosen this place.

Fang Tong was completely bewildered: "No, General Meng was poisoned. Shouldn't he be sent back to the capital for treatment?"

"My father was poisoned by the Nanman, a strange poison that only they can cure. The Nanman used this opportunity to propose a truce, offering to marry me in exchange for my father's cure."

Meng Lan smiled bitterly.

The other party set up a trap, one that was linked to another, targeting the Meng family.

"Oh, Miss Meng, you can't go. They are so insidious, how can you trust what they say?" Qian Fengping couldn't help but remind her.

Meng Lan nodded.

In fact, as the only daughter of the general's family, she knew more.

Regardless of whether she agreed to the marriage or not, it would be a disaster for her father.

If she didn't agree, her father wouldn't be able to detoxify and his life might be in danger.

She agreed. If the daughter of an important general in the imperial court had a relationship with the little southern barbarian, would the emperor still dare to use her father?

My father, as a general, is almost useless.

Besides, she has no say in this matter. The final decision will be made by the emperor.

"Who is targeting the Meng family? Is it someone General Meng offended in the military?" Fang Tong frowned.

Meng Lan nodded, then shook her head.

"Perhaps there are. There are also those who simply think it's profitable. To pull my father down will allow them to move up. There are also those who support the marriage, believing that war is a waste of money and manpower and not worth the cost."

The ministers in the court each had their own thoughts and plans.

The general's mansion is now like being put on the fire.

Some people hope that the fire will grow bigger and bigger, and they desperately add fuel to the fire; some people fan the flames; some people try to find ways to put out the fire; and some people are afraid of being affected by the sparks.

Even Meng Lan wasn't sure whether they were friends or foes.

Fang Tong felt a tingling sensation on his back when he heard this.

A rookie who had just entered the officialdom, no, had just become an official and had not had time to experience the grind of officialdom, could only feel how deep the water was.

It was so deep that he could easily drown if he wasn't careful.

"Ms. Meng, is there anything we can do to help you?" Fang Tong asked.

General Meng's mansion is in such a state. Considering that his second brother is not doing well at the border either, they are all in the same boat, so he has to find a way.

"Nothing is needed." Meng Lan turned his head and looked at the looming figure of the Qin girl outside the screen.

"At this moment, it's better to stay still than to move. We just need to protect ourselves and not let anyone get hold of us."

"As for the rest, I trust my brother and my father."

Fang Tong opened his mouth and wanted to say that he didn't believe his second brother.

My second brother can fight ten people at once, but his brain wasn’t working well before.

Now that I'm cured, I'm still not as smart as him! What can I do?

But then he thought, what help could a lowly official like him offer? He had no idea what was going on and was just afraid he'd be used as a pawn.

Fang Tong clenched his fists. The excitement he had felt recently about being an official disappeared in the face of his current helplessness.

"Brother Fang, I'm telling you this because someone is watching the Meng family, and someone is watching you."

Meng Lan spoke frankly.

"You better be careful."

In fact, long before Fang Yin left Beijing, she had mentioned that she would bring Fang Tong's family to Beijing and live in her house.

The general's personal guards were there to protect him, but for some reason, Fang Yin refused.

He seemed very confident that nothing would happen to his third brother's family and that nothing would be affected.

And now, Fang Tong and the others came to Beijing without knowing anything.

It makes the water even more muddy.

Fang Tong is not stupid. He guessed it after listening to Meng Lan’s previous analysis.

Those scheming people behind the scenes plotted against the Meng family. General Meng was poisoned and fell ill. Now the first one to take action is my second brother.

If they stare at the second brother, they will notice themselves.

Meng Lan was hesitant and didn't want to stay in Wangjiang Tower for too long, so he wanted to leave some gold and silver for Fang Tong.

She knew that her senior brother's family was average.

But Fang Tong refused, saying he was not that poor yet.

Before leaving, Fang Tong said, "Ms. Meng, I don't have any special abilities, but our two families are so close. If anything really needs me, I'll definitely help. If you need me, just come find me."

What if this girl is forced to run away from the marriage?

"Thank you, Brother Fang." Meng Lan smiled and nodded to Qian Fengping before leaving.

Not long after she left, Fang Tong and his wife also left.

As soon as he left Wangjiang Tower, Fang Tong felt uncomfortable all over, as if the streets were full of bad people.

Who knows which one of them wants to harm him.

But he still resisted the urge to look around, held his wife's hand tightly, and walked around for another half an hour before returning to the courtyard.

When they got home, the couple closed the front door and propped up the door of their room.

He wanted to say something, but Fang Tong felt something was wrong. He had heard his daughter read a storybook in which people could climb walls and climb rooftops and eavesdrop.

He has to be careful.

"Ahem, wife, I haven't practiced calligraphy for a long time. Can you take a look at how I write?"

Qian Fengping was also nervous and she leaned over.

The paper read: The capital is not safe, and Huai'an Prefecture is probably not safe either. Mr. Zhou let Zhizhi live in the Zhou residence, probably just to protect her.