The soldiers guarding the prefectural government office saw the menacing-looking people approaching, and it seemed they were escorting someone. Just as they were about to speak, the man at the front of the procession flashed a bright yellow token and said in a stern tone, "His Majesty has arrived! Get out of the way!"
Both soldiers were stunned for a moment. Before they could react, their instincts kicked in and they quickly moved aside.
With no one blocking their way, the group entered the prefectural government office without any problems. Only then did the two guards realize that the person following behind was none other than the usually lawless second young master!
They exchanged a glance, and a wave of grief washed over them, their minds filled with the thought that everything was over.
...
Zhong Ruliang had just taken a sip of fine wine, and before he could even swallow it, he heard a commotion outside. He asked in surprise, "What's going on?"
Just as the servants were about to go out to investigate, the door was kicked open from the outside, and several people who were tightly bound were thrown in with a thud, scaring the pipa-playing singer into scattering and fleeing.
Zhong Ruliang was also startled. Upon closer inspection, he realized that one of the men was his second son. His eyes widened in fury: "Who dares to trespass into the prefectural government office?!"
Having been dragged and tied up like this all the way, Young Master Zhong had lost all face and dignity. But because of the pain, he finally came to his senses and heard his father speak like that. He was so frightened that his soul almost left his body, and he sobbed and tried to wink at him.
Unfortunately, the father and son weren't on the same wavelength. Zhong Ruliang couldn't decipher his son's hints, only thinking he was complaining about being bullied. He was instantly enraged and about to speak when he heard a cold voice—
"It is I, Lord Zhong. Is there anything you wish to say to me?"
"朕" (Zhen)? What the heck?
After all, they are still father and son, and Zhong Ruliang's first thought was similar to that of the Second Young Master Zhong.
Immediately, a chilling coldness rose from his spine, dense and pervasive, soon engulfing his entire body, slowing his thoughts slightly. His hand holding the wine glass lost its footing and fell to the ground with a clatter, his eyes almost overflowing with terror.
The Emperor! Wasn't the Emperor in the capital? When did he come to Mingzhou? Why didn't anyone inform him?
The singers had already shrunk to the side, trembling and crouching against the wall. Zhou Ting stepped forward to clear a path, and his guards had no intention of making things difficult for the women; they simply stopped them from leaving temporarily.
Xie Lang entered at this moment. His gaze swept around, his eyes cold, and he sneered at Zhong Ruliang with an ambiguous expression: "It seems that Lord Zhong is doing quite well."
Zhong Ruliang's face twitched, and he couldn't say a word for a moment.
He was dispatched from the capital by Ning Hechu. Before leaving, he had met the young emperor who had not yet grown up, as well as the young top scholar. Now, several years later, although they were standing in front of him in simple clothes, no one would mistake them for each other.
These are indeed the two from the capital.
"No wonder he raised such a reckless son who even dared to disrespect my teacher."
The young emperor's voice was indifferent, his emotions icy.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Zhong Ruliang's forehead, his gaze darting about: "Your Majesty, please forgive me! My son... my son was simply unaware of the situation. He did not intend to offend you. You may punish him as you see fit, but he deserves it! I will not protect him!"
“He certainly deserved it,” Wen Hemian interjected, her voice equally cold. “However, there is one point that Lord Zhong is wrong about.”
"Just because he was unaware, can all the blame be attributed to unintentionality? Today it is me, but who knows which good family I will be in tomorrow? Just because I am not as powerful as you, should I be subjected to humiliation for no reason?"
Wen Hemian's words hit the nail on the head, her forceful question carrying an air of authority without anger, yet she showed no sign of weakness even beside the young emperor.
Judging from the way Zhong Ershao looked, it was probably the same thing his whole family thought. But who would dare to say it out loud in front of the emperor? Zhong Ruliang's lips trembled: "No, no."
Zhong Ruliang only dared to act like a local tyrant because the emperor was far away. When Xie Lang actually came, he still didn't dare to be presumptuous. He immediately fell off his chair, his bloated belly jiggling twice, which looked somewhat comical. In the end, he could only say, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
"Don't even think about delaying the time."
Xie Lang interrupted his reverie: "Since I'm here, I've made thorough preparations. Today, let's have a proper discussion on how to handle this."
Mobilizing Zhou Ting was a legitimate reason, but it was only for guards, and there weren't many people available. Xie Lang had been secretly training his men for several years, and this time the opportunity was perfect. He drew a group from the Fei Hong Camp, and as soon as they arrived in Mingzhou, these men quietly infiltrated the city, keeping watch in case anyone reported them.
It wasn't easy for Xie Lang to get out, and he had the idea of cutting off Ning Hechu's path. He couldn't possibly make a mistake in this matter, so he should give up on the idea of sending a message out.
Knowing that disaster was imminent, Zhong Ruliang finally gave up the idea of struggling and was tied up by Zhou Ting like a dead dog. As for the group of singing girls, they were dismissed, and the entire prefectural government was taken over by the people they brought in the shortest possible time.
Here was a prison where people were being held. Xie Lang gave Zhou Ting a few instructions, and Zhou Ting's gaze towards the Second Young Master Zhong immediately changed.
You know, this guy is really unlucky. Of all people to mess with, why did he have to mess with Lord Wen?
Offending Lord Wen is like biting a hornet's nest; she may not hold it against him, but someone else will.
Their arrival was sudden, catching everyone off guard, and naturally, no one had time to tamper with anything. They sent people to search the place, and sure enough, they found many ledgers with different accounts than those sent to the capital.
"This is outrageous!"
Xie Lang's face darkened. He was furious as he thought about how he had been fooled all these years and how much money had flowed into the pockets of Zhong Ruliang and Ning Hechu.
Wen Hemian glanced at it and was also shocked. He sighed that their trip was really worthwhile. There was a reason why so many officials were implicated in the original book.
Having lived two lives, she was much more composed than Xie Lang. Seeing this, she didn't react much and said, "Right now, we can take advantage of Ning Hechu's ignorance and intercept him. By the time he realizes what's happening, it will be too late."
In ancient times, communication was inconvenient, which had both advantages and disadvantages. At least, Ning Hechu would not have known what was happening here so quickly.
Xie Lang pondered: "Eliminating the enemy?"
Wen Heming declared righteously and sternly: "This is what we call legitimate gain."
Ultimately, what they embezzled was money that was going to flow into the national treasury. Isn't it only natural for them to do this? How can they compare themselves to bad people?
Xie Lang said with shame, "It was my mistake."
Forgot, if anyone is to be tainted, it's only himself; the Grand Tutor could never be tainted.
You must be careful what you say in front of the Grand Tutor in the future, and you must not reveal your true nature.
Xie Lang made the decision happily.
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