【Under the Great Tomorrow】(69)

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-23

【The Great Ming Dynasty】
Author: hui329
Published: 2018/1/16 First Release
Word Count: 10113
Chapter Sixty-Nine: Sudden Wealth
The moonlight was like water, and the man stood alone.
"The moon is bright and the wind is gentle, a beautiful time. Brother Bai, why are you here if you don't invite the moon to join you in a drink?" Ding Shou stepped forward slowly and
said softly.
Bai Shaochuan lowered his eyes and smiled lightly: "Times are different now. Brother Ding, every move you make is under scrutiny
. Enjoying a moment of pleasure in a warm tent will only give others something to talk about, which is unwise. Therefore, I am here to give you some pointers."
"Brother Bai's reminder is a bit too sincere." Ding Shou stretched out his folding fan, and a
silver needle was clearly clipped to the tip of the fan, emitting a faint blue light under the moonlight.
Bai Shaochuan, unperturbed, reached for the silver needle and leisurely said, "If Brother Ding is blinded by lust and
fails to guard against even this mere trick, then death is justified and not a pity."
Ding Shou's expression hardened as he stared at Bai Shaochuan, who calmly waved his folding fan.
"Caw—" A lone crow flew up from the treetop, breaking the silence between the two.
Ding Shou turned to leave.
"Where are you going, Brother Ding?"
"Going home to sleep. Tomorrow I have to practice the zither with Second Master Dang. I don't have time to chat with you on the rooftop."
Ding Shou waved his hand and leaped down from the roof of the house.
Bai Shaochuan looked at the silver needle in his hand, a slight smile playing on his lips. With a flick of his wrist, the crow circling in the treetop fell straight
to the ground, instantly lifeless.
**********
...
"Mom, this mansion in the capital is so big, much better than Xuanfu." Rui'er happily presented a plate of pastries
to Meilian. "This is lotus root starch and osmanthus sugar cake made by Miss Changjin herself. Please try it."
Meilian looked at the pastries on the plate and asked expressionlessly, "Is it good?"
Rui'er nodded repeatedly, "It's delicious." "
I'll hit you, you good-for-nothing glutton." Meilian raised her hand and slapped her daughter to the ground.
"Mom—", Rui'er, lying on the ground, covered her swollen cheek and said aggrievedly, "What happened to your daughter?" "
You were bribed with just a plate of pastries. If I give you any more benefits, will you sell your mother out too?
" Meilian said angrily.
"Daughter wouldn't dare," Rui'er quickly straightened her posture and knelt down, sobbing, "Daughter will never take
anything from Miss again."
"Bah, what Miss? A little Korean girl, I don't know what kind of bewitching potion she gave Master, everyone in the manor
treats her like a treasure." Meilian sneered, "It must be those vixens, Yiqing and the others, who advised her
. She doesn't look like she comes from a respectable family."
Rui'er stammered without speaking, but Meilian continued, pointing at her daughter and scolding, "You're also a good-for-nothing. You
gave yourself to Master so early, but there's not a single sign in your belly. You've wasted all of Master's essence.
"
"Daughter didn't know either," Rui'er said, tears welling in her eyes, feeling aggrieved, "But daughter is still young, there
will always be opportunities, Mother, don't worry."
"Aren't you worried? All those women in the capital are completely subdued by that woman surnamed Tan. That Korean
girl secretly calls her 'Mom,' and those two women surnamed Du have maids and servants in their courtyards. It's obvious
they're favored by the master. If you don't have his blood in your belly, how can we, mother and daughter, stand in this mansion? " Meilian said
with a look of utter disappointment and heartache.
Seeing her daughter timidly silent after being scolded, Meilian lost interest and sneered, "Hmph, the master has such a large 　　estate , 　　does he think he can
monopolize it all..." She crossed her arms and slowly said, "We'll see!!
" [attach]3017070[/attach]
**********
... 　　Ding Shou inquired about Lei Changyin's residence from the monks who had finished their morning prayers. He then bypassed the magnificent Mahavira Hall and arrived 　　at a secluded courtyard. Before he even got close, he heard a soft and melodious zither tune emanating from within. He let out a 　　soft "hmm," somewhat puzzled. Thanks to the elite education of later generations, he had even attended a few days of zither 　　training classes, though now he had forgotten most of the pieces except for a few. He certainly didn't have the skill of playing the zither even if it was upside down, as some young masters 　　could do. Yet, he could still discern that the music in the courtyard was clearly a duet. 　　The music stopped abruptly, and Lei Changyin's voice rang out, "The piece isn't finished yet, Mr. Zhulou, why don't you enjoy it to the fullest?" 　　A hoarse voice replied, "Our distinguished guests have arrived; how can we keep them waiting?" 　　"I, a mere mortal, have only been listening in and did not intend to disturb your refined enjoyment. What is my fault?" Ding Shou turned around the courtyard wall and bowed deeply 　　. 　　Looking closely into the courtyard, beneath the verdant cypress trees, two men sat facing each other, each with a zither before them 　　. One, a scholar in a blue robe, was none other than Lei Changyin, the Second-in-Command; the other, in a loose robe and flowing belt, with a fair face and no beard, was unrecognizable. 　　"The music is unrefined and laughable; I apologize for the rudeness, Vice-Minister Ding," the scholar in the bamboo pavilion said, rising to return the greeting. 　　"You recognize me?" Ding 　　Shou asked curiously. "Vice-Minister Ding is a frequent guest in the palace; how could I not recognize you?" the man replied with a smile. "My master is Dai Yi from the Directorate of Ceremonial; he 　　greets you." 　　Ding Shou glanced at Lei Changyin with suspicion, wondering why he was mingling with someone from the Directorate of Ceremonial. 　　"Indeed, a dragon among men, with a dignified appearance. No wonder you are so trusted by the two palaces." Dai Yi carefully examined Ding Shou and 　　smiled, "I see your face is radiant and glowing; you are sure to rise rapidly in your career and enjoy great success in your officialdom." 　　"Thank you for your kind words, sir. If that day comes, I will certainly hold a banquet to express my gratitude." Ding Shou replied casually, not taking it seriously 　　. 　　Dai Yi readily agreed and turned to Lei Changyin, saying, "Brother Lei, the zither has been delivered. I will take my leave. 　　" Lei Changyin bowed and said, "Thank you, Mr. Zhulou, for lending me the zither. " "There 　　is no need for thanks between us." Dai Yi laughed and left. 　　"Brother Lei, this is..." Ding Shou began to ask. 　　"I never lend my zither to others, so I asked Mr. Zhulou to kindly lend it to me temporarily." Lei Changyin pointed to 　　an ancient zither on the side table and said, "Brother Ding, are you satisfied?"

Ding Shou stepped forward and saw a Zhongni guqin on the table. Its body was covered in small, snake-belly-like crackles, exuding an ancient charm
. He plucked the strings, and the sound was delicate and clear, with the resonance of metal and stone.
"A fine guqin," Ding Shou exclaimed, looking up at Lei Changyin. "Is this a Song dynasty guqin?"
Lei Changyin shook his head, gesturing for him to turn it over.
Ding Shou turned the guqin over and saw three lines of small regular script inscribed on the dragon pool at the bottom: "In the eleventh year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty, the year of Wuwu,
by imperial decree, Wan Jingzhong, the Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, and the guqin maker Huixiang, crafted this guqin in the Wuying Hall. The eunuchs Dai Yi,
Liu Xiao, and Pan De of the Imperial Household Department were ordered to supervise its production."
"This guqin was supervised by Dai Yi?" Ding Shou asked in surprise, surprised that such a refined scholar existed among the eunuchs.
"Emperor Xianmiao was a man of many talents, fond of playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting. During the Chenghua era, there were many courtiers who were skilled in poetry and painting," Lei
Changyin said, stroking
his beard with a smile. "Not only did he make zithers, but these few lines of regular script were also inscribed by Mr. Zhulou." "Oh?" Ding Shou examined the three lines of regular script closely
. The characters were neat, elegant, and flowing. "What a fine piece of court script
!" Ding Shou praised. "Indeed, Zhulou's calligraphy is comparable to that of Shen Zile of our dynasty," Lei Changyin nodded.
"Does the Grand Eunuch know of your friendship?" Ding Shou was concerned about another matter. The Eastern Depot and the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs had clashed many times
; how did these two manage to
maintain their relationship? "We are friends through the zither, and we don't discuss anything else. The Grand Eunuch understands our situation and will not interfere," Lei Changyin
said frankly.
"Aspirations soar to the mountains, aspirations flow like the waters. One guest carries firewood, another plays the zither." Since Liu Jin knew the truth,
what could Ding Shou say? "The two of you have quite a story to tell."
"Brother Ding, you flatter me. How could a junior like me dare to compare myself to the sages?" Lei Changyin said modestly, gesturing for
Ding Shou to sit down.
"Although Bo Ya had Zi Qi as his confidant, he lacked the joy of exchanging elegant music. Brother Lei, you are too modest." Ding Shou sat upright at the table and said
, since he had been invited to teach him, the second master was not stingy with a few kind words.
Lei Changyin shook his head and said no more. "I heard that Brother Ding's internal injuries have not yet healed. I have the 'Pu'an Mantra,'
which can calm the mind, nourish the spirit, cure illnesses, and strengthen the body. I will try to play it now. Would you please be my audience, Brother Ding?"
"I am humbled and eager to learn. Please, Brother Lei." Ding Shou bowed before the table.
Lei Changyin's ten fingers gently caressed the zither, delicately pressing the notes
of the five notes, and a soft, soothing melody arose. Ding Shou, upon hearing it, felt a breeze under his arms, as if floating in a fairyland, as if on clouds, his limbs and bones indescribably comfortable and soothed...
************
"Ah," Ding Shou covered his mouth and yawned, his stomach full of bitterness. The morning court of the Ming Dynasty was too inhumane
. Getting up in the middle of the night to rush to the capital, who could stand it?
Once the yawn started, it couldn't be stopped. Ding Shou opened his mouth to yawn again, but was coldly
swept over by Liu Jin's eyes and forced to hold it back.
"It's fortunate that we're here. If it were in front of the Jinshui Bridge, you would definitely be impeached by the censor for a breach of etiquette.
" Liu Jin said with a frown.
"Please forgive me, Your Excellency. It's not even Mao Shi (5-7 AM) yet, and I'm a little out of breath." Ding Shou said with a bitter face.
"Say these words to the civil and military officials who have been waiting at the Meridian Gate since before dawn," Liu Jin said, glancing at the Qianqing
Palace gate. "Serving His Majesty at the morning court is a privilege reserved only for high-ranking officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. His Majesty has specially ordered
you to accompany him; you should be grateful." "
Yes," Ding Shou nodded, unable to resist rubbing his eyes with the sleeve of his bright red silk robe.
This pathetic display infuriated Liu Jin, who turned his head away, preferring to ignore him.
Ding Shou waited and waited, finally seeing Zhu Houzhao emerge from the Qianqing Palace. Looking at his sleepy eyes
, Ding Shou knew he was also a sleepyhead.
With the help of eunuchs, Zhu Houzhao boarded the palanquin. Just as they began to move, Wang Yue from the Directorate of Ceremonial hurried over
.
"This servant greets Your Majesty," Wang Yue said respectfully.
"Wang Yue, what is the matter?" Zhu Houzhao asked, tilting his head, half-asleep.
"His Majesty's wedding is imminent, and the gifts used for the auspicious date selection and betrothal have not yet been inventoried. This servant would like to request that Eunuch Liu move to the Imperial Treasury to conduct
a joint inventory, so as to avoid any oversights that
could delay the important matter," Wang Yue said. "It is my turn to attend the morning court today. Could Eunuch Wang please wait a moment?" Liu Jin glanced at the sky and said.
"Old Liu, you can go with Wang Yue. Anyway, this morning court is just a formality." Today is not a major court session,
and officials below the fourth rank have to line up outside Fengtian Gate.
They can report if they have something to say, and otherwise return to their respective offices to carry out their duties. Zhu Houzhao deeply resented this kind of ostentatious display of power, but there was nothing he could do. Civil officials always liked to use
attending court on time and holding lectures as a standard to judge whether a monarch was wise or not.
Liu Jin bowed and agreed, and went with Wang Yue. Ding Shou was still fast asleep and did not notice the smug look in Wang Yue's eyes as he turned around
.
**********
...

"Although Che Ting has been imprisoned and questioned, those who investigated and apprehended him have not yet been rewarded." Xu Jin, without looking up, stared
intently at the ivory tablet in his hand and said, "Ding Shou, the Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is capable and talented, worthy of great use. I recommend
him for promotion to Commander, in charge of the Northern Imperial Prison. I beseech Your Majesty's wise decision."
"Hmm..." Ding Shou found it somewhat unbelievable. He had risked his life to travel all the way from Korea, and these scoundrels
were eager to punish him. Now that he had removed one of their governors, they wanted to reward him. When did these officials
become so magnanimous?
Zhengde, however, became excited. "It should have been done long ago! I said back then that Minister Ding had the talent to pacify the region, but you all
made excuses..." The young emperor was about to bring up old grievances.
"Your Majesty has discerning eyes; we are too old to do so." Liu Jian and the other Grand Secretaries were unusually agreeable today, readily
admitting their mistakes.
"Therefore, Ding Shou shall be promoted to Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, in charge of the Northern Garrison." Zhengde turned to his side.
Ding Shou, still in a daze, whispered, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and thank the Emperor." 　　"
Oh." Although Ding Shou realized that things weren't so simple, he still obediently knelt down at the foot of the steps to express his gratitude. 　　"Alright, what else do you all want to say?" Zhu Houzhao was wide awake and 　　intrigued by the rare happy event at the morning court. 　　"This old minister begs for forgiveness." Minister of Justice Min Gui stepped forward. "Previously, a commoner named Cao Zu filed a lawsuit against the Marquis of Jianchang and the Marquis of Shouning 　　for illegal acts. This case is complicated and complex. The Ministry of Justice has been investigating for many days with little success. I beg Your Majesty to punish him 　　." " 　　Come on, Minister Min, Cao Zu's complaint is so detailed that it lists all the evidence. ' 　　Complicated' my foot! Get ready to be scolded,' Ding Shou thought to himself with a smirk. 　　As expected, Zhu Houzhao became furious at the mention of his two uncles. "This case has been going on for ten days with no progress whatsoever 　　. The Ministry of Justice is so incompetent; it's outrageous!" 　　"The Ministry of Justice is full of inflexible 　　officials who are rigid in their work, inevitably causing delays. This old minister begs to transfer this case to the Imperial Guard so that the truth can be revealed as soon as possible and Your Majesty's worries can be relieved," said Min Gui. 　　"Give it to the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Who should handle it?" Zhengde asked. 　　Ding Shou suddenly had a bad feeling. 　　"The newly appointed Commander Ding Shou is skilled in both civil and military affairs, and his thinking is clear. He is the best choice," said Minister Min 　　, who didn't look like he was almost eighty years old. He spoke quickly and without hesitation. 　　Emperor Zhengde rarely heard his ministers praise his own people, and nodded repeatedly, "You all have good judgment." 　　"Your Majesty, I am young and inexperienced..." Ding Shou didn't want to take the blame. If he didn't thoroughly investigate the two marquises, the emperor wouldn't be satisfied 　　. But if he really dealt with those two surnamed Zhang, the master of Renshou Palace would devour him alive. 　　"Although Ding Shou is young, he has solved many major cases and is quite talented. The Censorate seconds the motion." Zhang Fuhua stepped forward to add insult to 　　injury. 　　"I have just taken charge of the Northern Division..." 　　"Commander Ding is favored by the Emperor to take charge of the Imperial Prison. He will certainly do his best to repay the Emperor's kindness. The Court of Judicial Review seconds the motion." Yang 　　Shousui added another blow. 　　"Your Majesty, I..." Couldn't he at least be allowed to speak? Ding Shou opened his mouth again. 　　"What?" Zhu Houzhao was somewhat surprised by Ding Shou's expression. 　　"Lord Ding, there's no need to worry. As long as you uphold justice and remain loyal to your duty, no one in the court will 　　hinder you," Grand Secretary Xie stepped forward and said. "To put your mind at ease, this old minister requests Your Majesty to grant Ding Shou full authority." 　　"So that's what you're worried about. I hereby grant you sole authority, and no one may interfere in this case," Zhengde said 　　, slamming his hand on the table. " 　　Court adjourned." "Your Majesty is wise!" the officials shouted in unison. "Respectfully seeing Your Majesty 　　off." Zhu Houzhao stood up happily, patted Ding Shou on the shoulder, and 　　said, "Do a good job." He then glanced around to make sure no one was there and whispered, "You've been promoted. Quickly find the person for me." 　　Watching the young emperor leave and the officials disperse, Ding Shou, feeling utterly humiliated, 　　wanted to cry but had no tears: What is this? Can't the Ming Dynasty have less scheming and more sincerity?! 　　********** 　　...　　　　　　　　　　　　"Whatever," Ding Shou said casually. "For example, drowning in a basin of water while washing your face, choking to death while drinking water, 　　suffocating yourself in the wrong sleeping position, falling off the bed and dying, scaring yourself 　　to death from a nightmare, or suffocating yourself while scratching a boil. I don't care how you die!!!" The Second Master's anger grew stronger as he spoke, and he roared at Qian Ning. 　　Qian Ning was stunned, stammering, "M-Sir, killing a few people in the Imperial Prison is a trivial matter 　　. I know more than ten methods, such as 'rain-drenched plum blossoms,' and I can just report it as a death in prison. The coroner won't find any 　　clues. But you...you're doing this...it's too...unbelievable. If word gets out, we'll either think the world is 　　stupid, or we'll be the ones being stupid. The Embroidered Uniform Guard's century-old reputation will be ruined..." 　　"As long as you can kill someone, who cares what methods you use?" Ding Shou, a glimmer of hope, grabbed 　　Qian Ning's collar and asked, "What about the people in the Ministry of Justice's prison? Can you handle it?" 　　"This...the Ministry of Justice's prison and the Imperial Prison are not under each other's jurisdiction, I'm afraid..." Qian Ning hesitated, but seeing 　　the murderous look in Ding Shou's eyes, he quickly changed his words, "I'll do my best." 　　Releasing Qian Ning, Ding Shou said hatefully, "The Three Judicial Offices, Second Master will remember you." 　　********** 　　... 　　The hall was packed with guests, but unfortunately, they weren't there to escort goods; they were there to collect debts. 　　Guo Xu, Cheng Tieyi, Weng Xizhu, and others sat in order, facing the owners of various businesses in the capital 　　. 　　"Madam Deng, it's not that we're taking advantage of your misfortune. We're all in business, and all we want is 　　money. When Master Deng first went to prison, did we ever try to squeeze him out? We were only concerned about the Deng family's reputation. Considering our 　　years of friendship, please be lenient and give us a way out," a 　　tall, thin man in a gray silk robe said eloquently. 　　Weng Xizhu sat upright in her chair, her face ashen, and remained silent. 　　"Please listen to me, everyone. Since we are all friends of Deng Ren, we should know the Deng family's business principles: integrity is fundamental 　　. We would never owe anything. The Deng family's money exchange is experiencing temporary cash flow problems. Please grant Madam Deng a few days to allow her some 　　leeway," Guo Xu said earnestly, bowing deeply. 　　Several people present rose to return the greeting. "Young Master Guo, you flatter us. If it were just our business, considering Master Deng's past 　　assistance, what's wrong with it? But we are now in a difficult situation, so please understand our predicament, Young Master Guo." 　　Guo Xu was about to speak again when Weng Xizhu interrupted, "No need to beg. The backers behind these people think my father 　　and husband have no hope of getting out of prison, so they've completely broken ties. 　　They're just trying to take advantage of our misfortune and swallow up the Deng family's business. Hmph, the Deng family is truly blind to have made the mistake of associating with such ungrateful people." 　　Weng Xizhu's words were harsh, and the men looked embarrassed, glancing at a short, stout man behind them.

He hadn't spoken since entering, but now he chuckled, "What time is it? Miss Weng, you're still so
arrogant. Call us opportunistic or blatant leech, but debts must be repaid, it's only right.
"
"Coming to bully us? Do you really think my Changfeng Escort Agency is helpless?" Cheng Tieyi, his temper flaring,
slammed his fist on the table, knocking over cups and bowls.
"How dare we? The Changfeng Escort Agency is renowned, and our two leaders are highly skilled in martial arts. We've long heard of them." The man,
unfazed by Cheng Tieyi's imposing manner, continued slowly, "I also know that Young Master Cheng is of a strong character, not an
unreasonable person. I'm sure he'll give us justice."
"You—" Cheng Tieyi was furious, but had no outlet for his anger. In terms of martial arts, he could easily
throw everyone in front of him out of the agency with one hand, but this wasn't a江湖 (jianghu) feud, and the other party was in the right. He felt utterly powerless.
"What kind of justice do you gentlemen seek?" Cheng Caiyu, dressed in a long lilac dress, emerged from the back room carrying a wooden box.
"Miss Cheng?" the man asked.
Caiyu nodded in acknowledgment.
"We have long heard of Miss Cheng's exceptional intelligence, a female Zhuge Liang among women. Please grant us justice. We all
have silver deposited in the Deng family's bank account, which we are retrieving today with bank drafts. Please point out any errors or omissions." Although the short, stout man
spoke politely, his words were sharp and incisive.
Weng Xizhu stepped forward, angrily saying, "If it were truly for business purposes, why would they come together? And the deadline for collecting the silver
is so tight, clearly not giving the Deng family any chance to raise funds."
"Raise funds?" The man's smile was full of disdain. "Miss Weng, don't deceive yourself. The Deng family's shops in various places
are short of funds. Even if they wait another year or two, it might not be better than now."
"You..." Weng Xizhu couldn't help but feel bitter. Although the Deng family's treasure had been stolen, their shops in various places still had circulating
silver. If they had just sold some of their goods, they might have been able to recover. However, she was arrogant
and unwilling to lose her "Little God of Wealth" title, and she didn't have Deng Ren's business acumen. For several months, her business had been declining
, and now these people had come to bully her. If her shops were used to pay off debts, she feared they would be sucked dry, leaving
nothing behind.
"Gentlemen, you are all prominent figures in the capital's business circles. I am honored to meet you today, and I have a few words to say.
I wonder if you would do me the honor of listening?" Caiyu bowed to the crowd.
The crowd responded, "Miss Cheng, you flatter us." "Please speak, Miss."
"Zengzi said: 'A state does not consider profit as its own, but righteousness as its own.' I am not well-versed in economics, but I believe
this saying of the sage applies to both the state and the individual." Cheng Caiyu moved gracefully and spoke slowly.
The crowd exchanged glances, then said in unison, "We would like to hear more."
"The benevolent use righteousness as their own benefit and wealth to advance their cause; the unbenevolent use their cause to advance their wealth, and disaster will follow." Caiyu gazed at
the plaque inscribed "Righteousness Reaching the Heavens" hanging in the main hall, her graceful figure turning gracefully, and declared loudly, "Do you all know that our escort agency has
the 'Four No-Guarantees' rule?"
"Four No-Guarantees?" the crowd asked in confusion.
Cheng Tieyi stood up proudly and said, "Corrupt officials who plunder the people's wealth are not protected; murderers and thieves who steal blood and
filth are not protected."
"Silver darts of dubious origin are not protected; unfilial sons, thieves and bandits are not protected," Guo
Xu added.
"The four 'no-protections' can be summed up in one sentence: 'Ill-gotten gains' are not protected." Caiyu gazed at the crowd and said, "
Since its founding, Changfeng Escort Agency has suffered from a decline in talent and a dismal business, yet it remains respected in the martial world and loved by
its peers, becoming one of the top escort agencies in the land. This is all thanks to the 'four no-protections' rule that the agency adheres to."
Caiyu glanced at Weng Xizhu and continued, "You are all wealthy merchants in the capital. Your business dealings are
fair and just, and you uphold morality and propriety in your households. Now that the Deng family is in trouble, you do not ask for financial assistance, but only for an extension of time, and not for
excessive pressure. Bearing the name of merchants, yet practicing the Confucian principles of benevolence and righteousness, your actions are no less than those of the sages of the past."
"This…" Caiyu's words, combining reason and emotion, moved the crowd, who all turned
to the short, stout man, "Master Zhu, what do you think…"
"Miss Cheng is eloquent, but righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and
trustworthiness can't put food on the table. To expect us to leave empty-handed based solely on words is asking too much," the man surnamed Zhu said calmly, dusting off his sleeves.
Opening the wooden box on the table, Caiyu held it up, saying, "These are the deeds to the Changfeng Escort Agency's premises and land. With these as collateral,
are you all satisfied?"
"Caiyu, you…" Weng Xizhu wasn't close to the people of the Changfeng Escort Agency, but seeing Caiyu willing to use the agency's foundation
as collateral, she was deeply moved.
The man surnamed Zhu chuckled, pretending to survey the agency's
surroundings, "Forgive my bluntness, but your agency isn't worth more than ten thousand taels of silver. Which of you here hasn't dealt with the Deng family's money exchange for vast sums? These alone
are hardly enough to convince us."
"What else do you want?!" Cheng Tieyi was about to step forward when Guo Xu beside him raised his arm to stop him.
"Master Zhu, let's just let it go today, consider it giving Young Master Guo some face."
"Yes, killing someone is just a matter of a head falling to the ground, why push things too far?"
Faced with everyone's persuasion, the man surnamed Zhu remained unmoved, rolled his eyes, and said, "Let it go? Do you think that gentleman would
let it go with us?"
"This..." Everyone looked troubled and was speechless.
"Two bureau chiefs, Miss Cheng, today's matter has nothing to do with you. As long as Madam Deng can provide silver
or something of equivalent value as collateral, we will turn around and leave, how about it?" The man surnamed Zhu issued his final ultimatum.
"I, the Prince, vouch for you, can you trust me?" A majestic voice rang out, and Zhu Youxu, dressed in a crimson dragon robe, stepped
in. "
This humble subject greets Your Highness." Everyone in the hall bowed.
Ignoring everyone else, Zhu Youshu addressed the kneeling man surnamed Zhu, saying, "Zhu Ying, can you trust me?"
Having already offended him, he couldn't care less. Zhu Ying gritted his teeth and forced a dry laugh, "With Prince Rong as guarantor
, this humble subject has nothing to say. However…" He then changed the subject, adding, "Prince Rong hasn't yet taken up his fief. If the
Deng family breaks their promise, a mere three thousand shi of annual salary seems insufficient…"
The others kneeling behind him felt their bodies weaken. Even if Zhu Youshu was a prince in name only, he was still the
Emperor's uncle; this Zhu fellow was truly going all out.
Zhu Youshu, instead of being angry, laughed, "That's true. I never intended to rely on empty words." He gestured to those behind him…
A man presented a sandalwood box and whispered in Zhu Ying's ear, "This is five hundred hectares of prime
farmland in Fengrun County, bestowed by the late Emperor. Is that enough?"
"The imperial farmland is already recorded in the Golden Register and cannot be bought or sold. How could this humble commoner dare accept it!" Zhu Ying replied.
"You dare not," Zhu Youshu straightened up, glancing at Zhu Ying, "but the Duke of Baoguo behind you is capable
."
"Your Highness knows…" Zhu Ying stammered in alarm, immediately stopping himself.
"Take the land deeds and get out of here." Zhu Youshu flicked his sleeve, and the crowd scrambled out of the Changfeng Escort Agency in a flurry
.
"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness," Guo Xu said with a smile.
"Hey," Zhu Youshu teased, "too much polite talk makes our friendship seem distant. It's
better to keep quiet."
The two smiled knowingly, and Weng Xizhu bowed, saying, "Xizhu thanks Your Highness for your help."
"No need to be polite. Deng Ren is also a friend of mine. How could I ignore his family's misfortune?" Zhu Youshu
sighed, "Who would have thought that the once incredibly wealthy young man would be bullied 　　by 　　such 　　a villain?" Weng Xizhu
said bitterly, "It's all that wicked person's fault..."
**********
... 　　"And Zhang Gongshi of the Censorate, supposedly one of the Four Gentlemen of the Southern Capital? Bah, what a despicable man, isn't he?" 　　"Whoosh...whoosh..." Qianniang nodded even faster, her cherry lips moving rapidly, licking Ding Shou's penis 　　until it gleamed. 　　"Yang Weizhen of the Dali Temple is no better than him. Damn, none of the three judicial departments are any good." Ding Shou reached 　　into Qianniang's hair, trying to get as close to his crotch as possible. 　　Poor Qianniang had no idea what Ding Shou was talking about. She only felt that thick penis suddenly thrust into her throat 　　, choking her and making it hard to breathe. Her cries were all blocked, and she could only look at Ding Shou with pleading eyes. 　　This sorrowful expression only fueled Ding Shou's lust. He buried Qianniang's face between his legs, her sweaty 　　nose pressed coolly against his lower abdomen. His large hands slipped inside her loosened clothes, grasping her snow-white breasts and 　　kneading them incessantly until the beauty beneath him could no longer support herself, her small fists pounding against him. Only then did he release his hands, freeing her. 　　Her small mouth was wet, her fragrant lips slightly swollen. After a few soft gasps, Qianniang caught her breath, gently wiping 　　the corners of her lips, and said in a seductive voice, "Master, this servant will go cook." 　　"What cooking? My lust is running high." Ding Shou pushed Qianniang to the ground, lifted her skirt, and said, "Come, 　　take off your pants, let me vent." 　　Qianniang bit her lower lip, shyly pulling down her cloth pants, lifting her skirt to her waist, kneeling on the ground, her upper body 　　prone, only her full, white buttocks presented to her master. 　　Looking at the snow-white, plump, and high-perched buttocks before him, Ding Shou didn't hesitate. He unzipped his pants, aimed at his 　　target, and thrust forward forcefully. 　　"Plop! 　　" "Ah..." Qian Niang's snow-white neck suddenly straightened. She and Ding Shou had been rubbing together for a long time, her legs already wet 　　and slippery. With the lubrication of her vaginal fluids, his penis plunged all the way in. She felt a surge of heat rush to her head, and then her head and 　　waist twisted wildly, welcoming each thrust. 　　"Slap... slap..." The sounds of flesh colliding continued, mixed with the "sizzling" sounds of genital fluids 　　rubbing together, filling the study with an atmosphere of debauchery. 　　The door opened slightly. 　　"What is it?" Ding Shou's hands slipped under Qian Niang's armpits, grasping her firm, pink breasts, and his lower body 　　continued to thrust forcefully. Qian Niang moaned and cried out from the impact. 　　"Master, Cheng Li has returned home." It was Tan Shuzhen's voice from outside the study. 　　"Let him wait a moment." Ding Shou suddenly accelerated, his lower abdomen slamming against her pink buttocks more frequently, almost 　　indistinguishable from each other. 　　Qian Niang was overwhelmed by this sudden onslaught, her body going limp. "Master... I can't... take it... please... 　　please... slow down..." 　　Outside the door, Tan Shuzhen, hearing the two making love, was also burning with desire, but she managed to restrain herself, panting slightly as she said, 　　"He also brought back forty large boxes, which have already been moved into the storeroom in the east courtyard." 　　Ding Shou thrust hard into the delicate body beneath him, and Qian Niang cried out, "Ah—," her whole body trembling as 　　she climaxed. 　　"Come in." Ding Shou withdrew, leaving the limp Qian Niang lying helplessly on the ground. 　　Upon entering, the first thing that caught her eye was Ding Shou's enormous, throbbing penis. Tan Shuzhen 　　quickly composed herself, came over to straighten Ding Shou's robes, grasped his penis, wiped it clean, and put it back into his trousers. 　　After tidying up, Ding Shou said, "I'll go over first and help Qianniang get ready." 　　He helped the limp and powerless Qianniang up, and Tan Shuzhen covered her with her clothes, concealing her fair skin. 　　While helping her put on her trousers, she was surprised to find some bruises on her fair knees. 　　"Qianniang, you know how much the master has for food. How dare you indulge him alone? Aren't you afraid of harming your health? 　　" Tan Shuzhen couldn't help but complain. Qianniang felt 　　a little wronged, "I was just asking the master what to have for dinner, who knew he was 　　in such a mood, and I got 　　this scolding." 　　Tan Shuzhen chuckled, "You, get up quickly. Don't bother with dinner, let Wang Liu's wife cook . 　　" 　　********** ... 　　"Please forgive me, sir. This batch of goods from Mount Tai should have returned to the capital as soon as possible after it was unearthed. However, the Yellow River changed its course 　　last year, and the floods have not yet subsided. The roads are treacherous, which is why we have been delayed for some time," Cheng Li explained as he walked. " 　　They can't even manage the floods. The Ministry of Works is full of useless incompetent officials who make excuses all day long 　　. They are incapable of getting anything done," Ding Shou sneered. Cheng 　　Li was unsure whether his master was referring to the Ministry of Works or himself, and felt a little uneasy. He continued 　　, "In recent years, bandits have been rampant in Beizhili. I dare not act rashly. I always gather a large force before setting off. 　　Fortunately, Lord Ma of the Zhen Ding Prefecture Criminal Division is an old friend of yours. He dispatched local militia to escort us. We have been safe all the way, thanks to your 　　kindness, sir."

Ding Shou chuckled and said, "Oh, right, there's also Xu Dongya from the Ministry of War. Instead of eliminating the bandits in the capital region, he
deliberately set a trap for Second Master. I'll remember this debt."
As they spoke, the two arrived at the door of the Ding family's storeroom. Cheng Li pointed at the door and said, "These forty boxes
are untouched by the sealing wax. Please inspect them, sir."
"Understood." Ding Shou entered and slammed the door shut, leaving Cheng Li, who was about to follow,
stranded.
Cheng Li, who had almost been shoved in the face, didn't know whether to go or stay. Just then, the door suddenly opened, and Ding Shou
said with a strange expression, "Old Cheng..."
"Yes, sir." Cheng Li hurriedly came to greet him.
"You must be tired from your journey. Go and rest. I'm not in a good mood today, so please don't take my words to heart." 　　Cheng Li said fearfully, "Master, what are you saying? I'm honored by your trust in entrusting me with managing the household business. I would gladly give my life for you..." 　　With
a 　　bang 　　, 　　the 　　door slammed shut again, shutting out Cheng Li and his 　　heartfelt 　　words 　　. 　　********** ... 　　Chu Chu smiled, rolled up a few pastries in her handkerchief, and handed them to Jang Geum. "Eat up. If Master is angry, I'll take the blame 　　." 　　"Thank you, Sister Chu Chu." Jang Geum happily jumped aside and began to eat heartily. 　　" 　　Aunt 　　Tan, should we urge Master again..." Chu Chu said to Tan Shuzhen. 　　"We've already urged him three times, but he just won't 　　open the door," Tan Shuzhen sighed helplessly. 　　********** 　　...

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