Chapter 49 A Rainy Night of Confiscating Property or Confessing: You Choose...
As the sun sets, officials at the Jiangnan Provincial Administration Commissioner's Office gradually leave, and the once bustling office becomes quiet after everyone has gone.
Seeing the overcast sky, Zheng Que finished organizing the last official document and prepared to leave. Unexpectedly, he heard a commotion outside the door. He paused, went to the door, and was quite surprised: "The Crown Prince..."
The newcomer held a riding whip, dressed in a black brocade robe. He walked with a brisk pace, and his eyes flashed with a sharp and stern light. As he strode towards the inner hall, Zheng Que felt an extremely strong sense of oppression from his aura.
Why would the Crown Prince come at this time? Suppressing his surprise, Zheng Que boldly stepped forward to greet him, saying, "This humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. May Your Highness be well."
Jiang Chen's gaze swept over the thin, young official. He vaguely recognized him, but couldn't quite place him. Seeing the official's respectful attitude, Jiang Chen asked, "I wonder what brings Your Highness to the office at this hour? Is there anything I can do to serve Your Highness?"
Where is Zhu Tong?
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's question, Zheng Que's heart skipped a beat, realizing something was amiss. However, he remained respectful on the surface: "Your Highness, Lord Zhu has been unwell recently and returned home around Shenshi (3-5 PM) today."
Where is the Zhu residence?
"Well... Your Highness didn't look too well when you returned today. If there's anything you need, please let me know?"
"I am asking you a question."
The Crown Prince's voice was cold and indifferent, sounding like a casual remark, but somehow, Zheng Que detected an undeniable authority in it. He dared not evade the question any longer and quickly replied, "Your Excellency resides at No. 18 Yuanbao Street. If Your Highness wishes to visit, this humble servant..."
Jiang Chen didn't waste any words with him. After getting the address, he turned around and left the yamen. He mounted his horse and followed the guards leading the way. The group of people quickly left the Jiangnan Provincial Administration Office.
Watching the Crown Prince's departing figure, Zheng Que felt a vague unease. He picked out a fast runner from among the yamen servants who had not yet left and instructed him: "Go quickly and send a message to the magistrate. The Crown Prince is furious and has gone to the Zhu residence. Tell the magistrate to deal with it as soon as possible."
After receiving the order, the constable was about to turn and leave when Zheng Que thought for a moment and then instructed him, "Take the side road, take the shortcut!"
"Yes, sir."
Watching the constable leave, Zheng Que's unease subsided somewhat, but when he thought of the Crown Prince's furious outburst, he couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that Lord Zhu wouldn't be so easy to deal with this time, and he needed to carefully consider how to act and respond in the future.
Jiang Chen rode his horse at full speed. The people in the market streets avoided him as soon as they saw the group on horseback. With no obstacles on the road, the group soon arrived at the Zhu residence. Looking at the magnificent and grand vermilion gate, Jiang Chen sneered coldly, "Truly, the rich feast while the poor feast."
"Open the door, open the door."
The guards of the East Palace stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a short while, a young boy pushed the door open and came out. He looked at a group of tall men and couldn't help but shrink back a little as he walked through the door: "Who are you? Who are you?"
The guard took off the waist tag from his waist, on which were engraved the words "Eastern Palace". He said to the boy, "Our master wants to see Governor Zhu".
"My husband is unwell today and is currently in bed, so I'm afraid... it's inconvenient for him to see you all..."
Stared at by the guard, the boy could barely speak properly. He was terrified: “How about we, everyone, come back another day?”
"I'll ask you one more time, will you open the door or not? If you don't open the door, we'll have no choice but to force our way in."
The boy's gaze slid down to the sword in the guard's hand. He was so terrified that he almost burst into tears. Then he looked at the man standing behind him. Standing in the night, he looked like a ferocious beast, as if these men would pounce on him if he didn't let him in.
Terrified, the boy opened the door wider and timidly took a few steps back: "Sir, please don't say I let you in, or I'll be punished too..."
The guards paid no heed to his presence. With a single glance, two or three guards stepped forward and together opened the vermilion gate completely. Jiang Chen, escorted by the guards, entered the Zhu residence.
Upon entering the Zhu residence, the group wanted to head straight for Zhu Tong's location, but the young boy was only working at the gate and did not know where the main courtyard of the master's house was. Moreover, there were few servants in the house. Jiang Chen's anger intensified upon seeing this; it seemed that they had received advance notice and were all hiding.
"Search!" At the command, a team of guards scattered and quickly began searching the Zhu residence. Jiang Chen, on the other hand, walked along the main road and went deeper into the residence. The deeper he went, the darker his eyes became.
Although Zhu Tong was a high-ranking official of the second rank, it was understandable that his residence was luxurious. However, the Zhu family's situation was clearly more than just the splendor of a second-rank official's residence. He couldn't imagine that every mountain, stone, flower, and blade of grass in the courtyard might have come from the lives of ordinary people, and that the price of these things might even have been the lives of some commoners.
"Your Highness, I captured a maid and found out where Zhu Tong is in his courtyard."
Jiang Chen opened his tightly closed eyes and followed the guard inside. He had already felt that the mansion was exceptionally luxurious from the outside, but as he followed the maid toward the main courtyard, the sights he saw along the way made Jiang Chen feel that he could hardly suppress the anger in his heart.
As expected, Jiang Chen had received advance notice. When he entered the dormitory and saw Zhu Tong, who looked ashen-faced, he found it quite laughable.
Zhu Tong seemed to only wake up at this moment. His eyes focused on Jiang Chen, and it took him a while to realize that this was His Highness the Crown Prince. So, with the help of two servants, he struggled to get off the bed and gave the Crown Prince a bow.
"Your Majesty, I am unwell today and was unaware of Your Highness's visit. Please forgive me."
Jiang Chen chuckled, turned around and sat down in the chair, refusing to tell him to get up, and only asked, "How is your health, sir?"
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. My health is indeed not very good right now, and I am afraid that I might pass on my illness to Your Highness."
He supported himself on the ground with both hands, trembling slightly. Jiang Chen observed him for a while and thought that he might have taken some kind of medicine to put on an act in front of him. However, he was not so kind as to be considerate of his subjects and still said unhurriedly, "It's good that he is not terminally ill yet. I don't want to come to Jiangnan and have to give gifts."
"I have come today to ask you for something."
Hearing the implied meaning in the Crown Prince's words, Zhu Tong cursed inwardly, but maintained a weak demeanor on the surface: "Your Highness, please speak."
Jiang Chen leaned down, narrowed his eyes, a sinister glint flashing in them, and asked in a low voice, "Where are the account books that started in April this year?"
"The ledgers...the ledgers...didn't Your Highness take all the ledgers with you?"
Because the Crown Prince had not told him to get up, Zhu Tong felt that he was about to lose his strength. The medicine he had just taken was quite toxic. If he hadn't heard that the Crown Prince had come to his door in a fit of rage, he would never have taken it. But if the Crown Prince refused to let him go, he was afraid he would really fall ill.
"Zhu Tong, Zhu Tong, I've come all this way to ask you for the account books, yet you still won't tell the truth. I'll ask you one last time, where are the real account books!"
The Crown Prince slowly rose, his tall and imposing figure casting a shadow in front of Zhu Tong. Zhu Tong, who was bowing, could not see the Crown Prince's expression, but he already sensed danger. He steeled his heart and said, "Your Highness, I really do not know what you mean. These account books have always been managed by Councilor Lu. If there are any problems, I think only Councilor Lu would know."
Jiang Chen felt his patience was about to run out after being dealt with like this. He didn't want to waste any more words with Zhu Tong: "If Lord Zhu doesn't know where the account book is, then I will order someone to search for it."
"Your Highness!" Zhu Tong suddenly looked up, "This humble subject has not committed any serious crime, how can you... confiscate my property!"
"If you don't want to be searched, then take it out yourself!" Jiang Chen reprimanded him in a low voice.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Tong slowly closed his eyes, as if he had suffered some great humiliation: "Your Majesty, I do not know."
“Alright,” Jiang Chen walked a few steps to the door, pushed it open, and said to the guards in the main courtyard, “Search!”
The already gloomy sky was suddenly pierced by a bolt of lightning, followed by a deep rumble of thunder and a torrential downpour. Jiang Chen's voice came through the rain: "Even if we have to turn the Zhu mansion upside down today, you must find the account books for me!"
Another bolt of lightning ripped across the sky. Zhu Tong looked at the figure reflected in the window frame, and slowly clenched his fists with his hands on the ground. The Crown Prince treated him like this, not treating him as a pillar of the court at all. He was a second-rank official, not a eunuch in the palace!
Zhu Tong will avenge today's humiliation one day!
The guards searched the Zhu residence for two hours. Jiang Chen changed his teacup seven or eight times, but still couldn't find any trace of account books. Looking at Zhu Tong, who had collapsed to the ground, Jiang Chen knew that there must be secret rooms and passages in such a grand mansion, but he probably wouldn't be able to find them today.
He slowly rose and knelt down in front of Zhu Tong, his voice low and hoarse as if laced with poison: "Lord Zhu, if I can't find anything today, I'll come again tomorrow. I'll give you one night to consider whether you'll hand over the account book yourself or embarrass yourself once more."
After saying that, Jiang Chen turned and walked into the rain. The lightning and thunder continued. Zhu Tong lay on the ground without moving. The Crown Prince's words were like venomous snakes that climbed up his ankles and enveloped his entire body. He couldn't help but tremble and shake, but he couldn't move at all.
The two servants waiting outside exchanged a glance after the Crown Prince left, then quickly went into the inner room. Upon seeing their master in this state, the two men wished they could gouge their own eyes out immediately. After hesitating for a long time, the two men still stepped forward to help Zhu Tong up.
"Call...call Zhang Chen."
Zhu Tong was already speaking with a weak and feeble voice. The two men dared not delay and immediately turned around to call over Zhu Tong's most trusted confidant. Zhang Chen came in the rain, carrying a brocade box in his arms.
After he entered the room, he quickly walked up to Zhu Tong, opened the box, put a pill inside into Zhu Tong's mouth, then turned around, poured a glass of water, and handed it to Zhu Tong's lips, practically gulping the water down his throat.
After taking the antidote, Zhu Tong gradually recovered. His eyes focused, and Zhang Chen saw a sinister look in them.
"What did Prince Huan say?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Huan... rebuked you for your carelessness and failure to prepare in advance, which led to you being caught off guard by the Crown Prince... Prince Huan means that he can no longer help you."
His fists clenched so tightly they cracked, Zhu Tong held his breath and squeezed his eyes shut, then asked again, "What about Master's side?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen took out a letter tube from his sleeve and handed it to Zhu Tong: "His Highness had someone send this back."
After removing the wax seal and opening the letter tube, Zhu Tong slowly unfolded the letter inside. On the small piece of paper were only two words: Shen Family.
In a short while, Zhang Chen saw that the adult who had just been gloomy now had a strange light shining in his eyes. He glanced at the two words without leaving a trace and was immediately terrified.
"Since the Crown Prince wants the account book, then I will give him a generous gift."
Thunder roared outside the window, and the heavy rain washed away all traces, as if the previous disarray had never existed.
Jiang Chen returned to the villa in the rain and stood under the corridor for a long time. He had made a big fuss when he went out in the afternoon, but returned empty-handed in the evening. He was a little afraid to see Shen Yujiao at this moment.
After an unknown amount of time, the door creaked open from the inside. Shen Yujiao was surprised to see Jiang Chen, who was soaking wet, and asked, "You're back? Why didn't you come in?"
"I... I couldn't find the ledger."
"Oh dear," Shen Yujiao was both angry and heartbroken. She reached out and pulled Jiang Chen inside from outside. "What's the big deal if you can't find it? Is it worth getting soaked like this!"
The jade crown that held his hair back was removed, and his long hair fell loose. A huge handkerchief covered his head, and Jiang Chen was being rubbed on the top of his head by Shen Yujiao like a drowned rat. He listened to her scolding him while she was drying his hair: "You knew there was a high probability that you wouldn't find it, so why did you have to make yourself look like this?"
Her incessant chatter reached his ears, and Jiang Chen's eyes reddened beneath his handkerchief. He remained silent for a long time, then opened his arms and wrapped them around Shen Yujiao's waist. Leaning against her, he felt as if he had found a sense of belonging.
"Jiaojiao, I'm anxious. I hate Zhu Tong, and I hate myself too."
Hearing Jiang Chen's low, hoarse voice, Shen Yujiao felt a surge of heartache. She understood what Jiang Chen meant; he wanted to seek justice for the people as soon as possible and to get the corrupt officials in Jiangnan investigated thoroughly. However, they faced too many obstacles and could only watch helplessly as the murderer went unpunished.
She wrapped her arms around Jiang Chen's head, gently comforting him, "I understand, I understand everything. It's not your fault. I'm here, I'll help you, we'll solve this together, Jiang Chen, don't blame yourself."
The orange candlelight flickered inside, filling the room with tranquility. Outside, the rain continued to pour, the fine raindrops pattering against the window, seemingly telling tales of sorrow and anger. Jiang Chen tightened his arms around Chen Yu's waist, drawing warmth from her.
After a while, a faint sound suddenly came to mind. Jiang Chen, whose ear was pressed against Shen Yujiao's stomach, immediately picked up the signal. He looked up and saw Shen Yujiao's face was flushed. Only then did a smile appear on his face: "Hungry?"
Shen Yujiao pushed him away somewhat embarrassedly: "Who told you to take so long to come back..."
"Okay, let's go eat!"
Hearing Jiang Chen's now brightened tone, Shen Yujiao breathed a sigh of relief. While he was taking a bath and changing, she suddenly remembered something. When Jiang Chen returned to the main hall after changing his clothes, he saw Shen Yujiao sitting at the round table with a serious expression.
“You were not at the villa in the evening, and the Shen family sent someone to come.”
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