Hearing this, Chen Zhizhou's smile deepened, his eyes full of mockery: "I, Chen Zhizhou, have always been clear about the gratitude and resentment between superiors and subordinates. Only polite people are worthy of the word etiquette."
"You!" Wu Zhixian was furious, his beard, streaked with white hair, trembling slightly. He pointed at Chen Zhizhou and said, "You are such a vulgar person!"
"Alright, Master Wu."
Chen Zhizhou stood up and threw the account book in front of Wu Zhixian. He stood with his hands behind his back and said, "This is a list of officials in the court who have given you generous gifts over the years."
"The Censor's family has earned tens of thousands of gold. Guess what His Majesty would think if he knew about it?" Chen Zhizhou's lips curled slightly, his eyes like an eagle, cold and sharp.
The anger in Wu Zhixian's eyes gradually turned into horror and fear. He carefully picked up the booklet and flipped through it, but he was so scared that he lost his grip and it dropped heavily to the ground.
Chen Zhizhou was very satisfied with his reaction and continued, "Your Excellency the Censor is now over fifty years old. You have worked hard for half your life to build the Wu family's glory, and it will only take a moment for it to fall."
"You! What nonsense are you writing! Do you think you can frame me with a book without any basis?!" Wu Zhixian calmed himself down. He didn't believe that a small Sima, a right guard, could be so connected.
How could he know these things?!
The officials listed in the booklet were either killed or exiled in the struggle between the third prince and the fifth prince over the years, and no one could find any evidence against him.
Chen Zhizhou's eyes were cold as he sat back down, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the edge of the table. "Back then, the Imperial Censor went south to Jiangnan to relieve the disaster and embezzled tens of thousands of taels of silver. My Ministry of War's prison never keeps idle people, and it just so happens that these corrupt officials are all imprisoned under my command."
Wu Zhixian's face trembled slightly, and he couldn't grasp Chen Zhizhou's thoughts for a moment. Fortunately, he had been in the court for many years, which made him shrewd enough to keep his mind steady.
"Chen Zhizhou, are you trying to defraud me?"
There were only names on the list but no signatures written on it. Wu Zhixian felt a little relieved when he thought about it.
"Lord Wu is now old and confused. How could I have given you a book with written words on it? But Li Min, who once served under you, asked me to bring you a message."
Wu Zhixian was so uncomfortable when he heard this that he stood up tremblingly, "You...you shut up!"
"Is Lord Wu afraid?" Chen Zhizhou paused, anger surging in his eyes. "Tomorrow, if Wu Xian'er doesn't come to apologize, this booklet must be delivered to the Imperial Palace at noon, before His Highness's desk."
"Chen Zhizhou, don't go too far! You ruined the marriage between my daughter and the Zhao family, and you still dare to ask my Wu family to come and apologize?!" Wu Zhixian chased after Chen Zhizhou.
Le Feng blocked his way with his sword: "Stop! If you go any further, the sword will show no mercy!"
"How outrageous! How outrageous! Chen Zhizhou, you will definitely be punished!" Wu Zhixian shouted angrily, his old face flushed red.
That night, Wu Zhixian tossed and turned.
Zhao Fang was furious when he heard what Chen Zhizhou had said. "No way! My Xian'er will never apologize to Gu Qing!"
Wu Zhixian frowned and ignored him, thinking about Chen Zhizhou's words. He was always decisive in doing things, which was why he was valued by the emperor. He was afraid that Li Min was really in his hands.
"Master, are you listening to me?" Zhao Fang said, pulling Wu Zhixian.
Wu Zhixian looked impatient. No matter how much he doted on Xian'er, he had to protect his official position first, so that the Wu family could have a good life.
"Tomorrow, take Xian'er to the Chen family to apologize." Wu Zhixian hardened his heart and gave the order.
Zhao Fang immediately became unhappy and pointed at him, "Wu Zhixian, what do you mean by this?! Xian'er can't even get out of bed now, and you let her go to the Chen family!"
"What are your intentions? Have you ever considered your daughter?"
Wu Zhixian was annoyed by Zhao Fang's scolding and shouted in a low voice, "If it weren't for Xian'er's mischief, how could I be threatened by Chen Zhizhou?!"
"If you lose this official hat, your and Xian'er's good days will be over!"
Zhao Fang was incredulous. After calming down a bit, he asked tentatively, "You...you said Chen Zhizhou threatened our family?"
"Did he really get hold of something?"
Wu Zhixian's face was gloomy and cold. "Chen Zhizhou is a ruthless man. If he didn't have sufficient evidence, how could he come to my house so quickly?!"
"If Xian'er makes trouble again tomorrow, I'll tie her up!"
The next day, there was chaos in the Wu family villa early in the morning.
"I won't go! I won't go! Daddy, do you think you don't love me anymore?" Wu Xian'er choked with tears, "Even if I die, I will never apologize to Gu Qing!"
Zhao Fang felt sorry for her daughter, but was helpless as the Wu family's official position was in jeopardy. She tried to comfort her for a long time: "Xian'er, just this once, let's make amends to her. I will definitely avenge you in the future, okay?"
"Why? It was Chen Zhizhou and Gu Qing who ruined my marriage, and now I have to apologize to them?!" Wu Xian'er was so angry that she pounded the bed with both hands.
Zhao Fang grabbed her and lowered his voice, saying, "Chen Zhizhou has something on your father. If you don't apologize, our Wu family will be doomed!"
"What about the Zhao family?! The Zhao family won't help us?!"
Zhao Fang's face was filled with anxiety. "Now that the Wu and Zhao families are in such a difficult situation, how can the Zhao family help?"
Wu Xian'er's face showed despair. No matter how arrogant she was, she knew that it was the glory and status of the Censor's family that had supported her arrogance for several years.
After a while, she suddenly laughed out loud, her eyes malicious: "Good! Very good!"
"Then I will go and apologize to Gu Qing! In the future, I will make her wish she could neither live nor die!" Wu Xian'er cursed at the top of her lungs.
Seeing her like this, Zhao Fang felt distressed and burst into tears: "Mother will definitely help you, Xian'er, let's just endure it this time."
Chen Mansion.
Gu Qing didn't know that Chen Zhizhou went to Wu's house last night. Mu Xin came to visit her early in the morning.
Just as the three of them finished their breakfast, the servant came with a message: "Master and Madam, the Wu family is here, and they said they are here to apologize to Madam."
Mu Xin's expression turned extremely ugly. "It's really disgusting. She actually has the nerve to come here."
Seeing this, Gu Qing turned back and looked at Chen Zhizhou calmly. The two looked at each other, understanding each other tacitly.
"Husband, go out and take a look?"
Chen Zhizhou reached out and held her hand: "Okay."
Mu Xin looked at the two of them being so affectionate and curled her lips. "Since you're all going, I'll go see what Wu Xian'er can come up with."
"With the princess here, Wu Xian'er will definitely not dare to act recklessly anymore and will definitely behave herself." Gu Qing said with a smile.
Mu Xin felt relieved. "That's better. Otherwise, I think she wants to be whipped twice more."
In the front hall, the Wu family had been waiting for a long time. Wu Xian'er was supported by Zhao Fang, her face pale.
When the Wu family saw that the princess was also at the Chen family, they immediately felt complicated.
Wu Xian'er was still holding on to a glimmer of hope at this moment, but she had to lower her head, and her resentment towards Gu Qing became even deeper.
This bitch actually brought the princess here!
After the three of them were seated, Zhao Fang and Wu Zhixian sat down.
Wu Xian'er stood respectfully in the hall, bowed slightly to Gu Qing, and said word by word through gritted teeth, "I'm sorry, Madam Chen Sanshao."
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