Of course, Xu Changyue also gave him a generous reward.
He was practically a member of his wife's family, and the two had business dealings, so he tacitly accepted that his beloved second son always addressed a businessman as his uncle.
Xu Changyue was not only his moneybag, but also his friend, because he was a businessman who had a wide network of contacts and sometimes helped him with dirty work.
The two were too deeply entangled in interests. Now that the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review said that Xu Changyue was a spy for Beili, Zhou Fushan was terrified and could not find a reasonable reason to sever ties with the two.
Emperor Mingxi remained unmoved, ignoring Zhou Fushan's cries of injustice, and instead asked Wei Ping, "Lord Wei, do you have any concrete evidence?"
Wei Ping said, "Your Majesty, I have ordered my men to capture the personal maid and nanny of Lady Xu, the wife of Marquis Changqing. They have confessed that they are from the Northern Li."
Both men were ordered by Xu Changyue to remain by Xu's side incognito, firstly to monitor him, and secondly to gather intelligence on our dynasty's military.
Although Zhou Fushan has not been given important positions in recent years, he is still a garrison commander in the Beijing Garrison and has access to some military secrets.
He looked at Zhou Fushan, whose face was as pale as paper, with pity and said, "According to their statements, Zhou Ping'an, the second young master of the Zhou family, and Zhou Xiu'an, the third young lady, are both Xu Changyue's biological children."
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Lord Wei, you must be mistaken. Hui Niang wouldn't lie to me. How could Ping An and Xiu An not be my children?"
If Zhou Fushan hadn't been mindful that this was the imperial court, he probably would have already yelled, "You're telling me now that the mother and her two children I've treated with such genuine affection aren't my biological offspring?"
Zhou Fushan didn't faint from anger on the spot because he had to stay awake and figure everything out; otherwise, he wouldn't feel at ease if he fainted.
It must be said that compared to his eldest son Zhou Qi'an's indifference and allowing his second wife to bully him, he was truly a loving father to his second son Zhou Ping'an and third daughter Zhou Xiu'an.
Ignoring Zhou Fushan's pitiful state, like a candle flickering in the wind, Wei Ping continued to plunge the knife into his chest.
"Furthermore, the two also confessed that the concubine Hua, whom Marquis Changqing had taken in more than a year ago, was Xu Changyue's illegitimate daughter, and the father and daughter had already recognized each other."
He once again showed a pitying expression to Zhou Fushan, "Madam Hu, Aunt Hua and Zhou Ping'an met with Xu Changyue more than two months ago."
The family of four conspired to eliminate Zhou Qi'an, and through Zhou Ping'an, completely control the Changqing Marquis's mansion. Once Zhou Ping'an inherited the title, they planned to turn the mansion into a stronghold for Beili in Dayan.
You asked how the two servants knew so much. One reason is that they always had these two of their own men guarding the door during their private conversations, so naturally they were able to overhear some of it.
Another reason is that these two people have other identities. They are not loyal to Xu Changyue, the illegitimate son of the Grand Tutor's mansion. Their true masters are Grand Tutor Ji and the Emperor of Beili.
Grand Tutor Ji sent over the head maid who had served Xu Changyue since childhood. She is now Granny Huang, who serves the Lady of the Marquis. She has already married and had children in Dayan. Her husband is a steward in the Marquis's mansion, and her son is a junior steward.
For the sake of this family's lives, she dared not refuse.
As for the head maid Xi Rui, she was sent by the Emperor of Bei Li to seduce and monitor Xu Changyue.
Xu Changyue was also a shrewd man. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he placed all the people his father and the emperor had sent to monitor him around Lady Hu.
Their mission was also to monitor and gather intelligence.
Although Xi Rui had been trained in Bei Li for several years, she had become accustomed to a stable and wealthy life in Dayan and neither wanted to die nor wanted to go back to her previous bitter days.
After Wei Ping promised her great benefits, she vomited even faster than Granny Huang.
Hearing these words, especially the phrase "a family of four," Zhou Fushan was so shocked that he clutched his chest and staggered back two steps.
Large beads of cold sweat rolled down his deathly pale face. His lips trembled as he tried to say something, but he didn't know where to begin.
She murmured softly, "Impossible, I don't believe it. How could Aunt Hua be Xu Changyue's daughter? My Ping An, my Xiu An..."
His colleagues standing behind him quickly took three steps back, and not one of them made a move to help him up.
It's not that these people don't want to project a positive image of being friendly to their colleagues; it's just that the Changqing Marquis's affair has become too complicated.
It's uncertain whether Zhou Fushan can even keep his life, let alone his title; it'll probably be stripped away.
This is what those who cannot hear their own voices are thinking.
Those who heard his inner thoughts knew that Zhou Fushan was actually colluding with foreign tribes. He indirectly delivered the powerful weapon developed by his son to outsiders, who then used it to attack their Dayan.
This person deserves to die!
Even if he has betrayed his cause now, it is a fact that he has close ties with the Northern Li spies, that he has Northern Li spies in his home, and that he is raising Northern Li wolf cubs.
He may be spared the death penalty, but he will not escape punishment.
Emperor Mingxi nodded and said, "Minister Wei, please continue."
Wei Ping said, "Yes, Your Majesty. A few days ago, Zhou Qi'an, the eldest son of the Zhou family, developed a new type of crossbow called the Water-Repeating Crossbow. He said he has given the sample to his father, Marquis Changqing, and asked him to report it to Your Majesty..."
Wei Ping stopped talking at the right moment, only looking at Emperor Mingxi. The emperor and his minister both knew what the other meant, and the shrewd ministers around them also understood his meaning.
Emperor Mingxi said calmly, "I have not received any items from Marquis Changqing these days."
Then he looked at Zhou Fushan, his face expressionless, but his voice was chillingly cold. He said, "Marquis Changqing, what is your explanation for this matter?"
Zhou Fushan knelt down with a thud, banging his head on the ground as he struggled to say, "Reporting...Reporting to Your Majesty, this humble subject...this humble subject gave the things, the things to the second son, Zhou Ping'an..."
"Why did you give the item to Zhou Ping'an? Zhou Qi'an told you to report it to me, but you gave it to Zhou Ping'an instead. Zhou Fushan, have you been harboring rebellious intentions all along?"
How could Zhou Fushan dare to accept such hurtful words? He crawled forward two steps, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Your Majesty, I dare not! I have no such intentions, Your Majesty!"
He kowtowed several more times until blood began to seep from his forehead before saying, "Your Majesty, please understand. I was blinded by greed and wanted to claim credit for this achievement on my second son."
That's why... that's why I gave him the item, in case he didn't know its structure and the Emperor asked him about it.
Zhou Ping'an recently said that he had broken the item, so I haven't had time to have Qi'an make a new one and send it to him yet.
Wei Ping, the master of finishing blows, is back online. He says, "Your Majesty, Granny Huang said that the water-repeating crossbow has actually been given to Xu Changyue by Zhou Ping'an."
Zhou Fushan was stunned when he heard this. His vision went black and he was about to faint. In the nick of time, he pinched his thigh with all his might and desperately told himself that he couldn't faint yet.
He fainted, so no one was there to defend him... no, no one was there to defend him. He was all alone now!
His colleagues in the court kept their distance from him, treating him like a plague, afraid of catching even a little bit of him.
In the mansion... his wife, sons, daughters, and even his most beloved concubine all belong to other men. He is truly all alone now!
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