After solving the small problem, it was already time for a break.
The convoy followed the official road and headed straight for the Xunyang city gate.
Not long after they walked, the carriage slowed down until it stopped.
Hongli lifted the curtain of the car window and asked, "What's the matter?"
Furong, who was blocking the road, had already slowed down the convoy's progress.
Jiang Yuzhu calculated that by strolling around the city, it would be time for dinner.
The driver stared at the green package on the open space ahead, hesitated for a moment, and said, "Madam, I just saw something green from a distance, but I don't know who dropped it."
The package was lying in the middle of the road, and the wrapping was so conspicuous that the driver couldn't ignore it. He was thinking of going forward to see what it was.
Hong Jin jumped off the carriage and stopped it, saying, "Wait a minute, be careful, there's a trap!"
When you go out, you must be careful.
What if poison comes out when you open the package? Wouldn't that mean you've fallen into a trap?
After discussing with Hong Jin and Hong Xiu, they decided to use a tree branch to pry open the green package to prevent hidden weapons from being hidden inside.
The material of the bundle looks very good, it must have been dropped from a wealthy family.
Hong Jin used a branch to open the package and was immediately dazzled by the golden color.
There was no poison or hidden weapon in the package, but it was actually a bag full of gold and silver, which was very valuable.
Jiang Yuzhu folded her arms and looked around, a hint of doubt in her eyes: "Who on earth was so careless as to lose something valuable? I think they must be going crazy with worry."
However, there are still a few doubts.
If you want to travel with valuables, you should ride a horse or put them in a carriage.
If that’s the case, how could it be lost?
There were people coming and going on the official road, but they happened to be noticed by a group of people.
"Yuanhe, this isn't a trick, is it?"
There are all kinds of people these days. After seeing Furong's methods, Jiang Yuzhu became more cautious.
If the other party deliberately leaves something behind and falsely accuses them of greed for money, they will inevitably be sued.
But if I just throw the item where it is and pretend not to see it, what if there’s someone who owns it?
"Ma'am, there will be no owner."
Xie Zhao stroked his chin, twitched the corners of his mouth, and said with great certainty.
"Did someone leave that thing there on purpose?"
Jiang Yuzhu understood, but she didn't understand the other party's purpose.
Chen got off the carriage and followed the excitement. After seeing the package, she said with a vague but absolutely certain look, "The things in this package are treasures? That's right."
"Yuzhu, someone gave Yuanhe a gift."
Chen took a quick look and estimated that it was worth at least five thousand taels of silver.
Jiang Yuzhu was stunned for a moment, and it took her a long time to react. She asked, "Mom, how did you know?"
"this……"
Chen was embarrassed for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "Mother has seen your father a few times."
Jiang Yuzhu: “…”
She never knew that her father Jiang Fulu had so many twists and turns when accepting gifts.
Seeing that her daughter didn't understand, Chen explained it more clearly: "In the capital, there are so many eyes watching. If someone sends a gift to your house and it is discovered, the censor will report it to you at the next morning court."
For Jiang Fulu, being honest was impossible, and he was obsessed with finding ways to make money.
I picked up a package on the road and found a small note in the package, and I couldn't stop from then on.
Obviously, this was not the first time Xie Zhao had encountered this. When he found the small note inside, his expression paused.
"Madam, wait for your husband to come into the city and return the package to its original owner."
Xie Zhao had no obsession with money and had no intention of accepting it.
Jiang Yuzhu agreed, saying, "Officialdom is complicated. If Yuanhe accepts money from others, it will be difficult for him to ask for help in the future."
It's not worth it to spend several thousand taels of silver and still owe someone a favor.
Jiang Yuzhu's business was booming and she had no shortage of money. Besides, if she really needed money, she could get rich quicker by robbing bandits. There was no need to do something that would give people something to talk about.
"Mother, when we return to Beijing, please persuade Father. Otherwise, we won't accept gifts anymore."
Jiang Yuzhu was ready to return every penny of the 200,000 taels that her father Jiang Fulu had given her before leaving Beijing.
Chen shook her head and said helplessly, "Did your mother ever tell your father?"
Chen had advised Jiang Fulu many times, but he refused to change.
Fortunately, Jiang Fulu did not do anything after accepting the gifts and was good at deceiving people with words, so he has been safe and sound for so many years.
In private, Jiang Fulu once brought up this topic, his eyes sparkling: "Madam, you don't understand, this is the way to be an official."
Anyone who can get Jiang Fulu's official position must be a favorite in the eyes of the emperor.
"If someone doesn't have any hobbies, and the Emperor can't find any evidence to control him, how can the Emperor feel at ease?"
Jiang Fulu was not a romantic man and could think of nothing else except corruption.
"Your father was corrupt and upright, and the emperor turned a blind eye."
In Chen's eyes, Jiang Fulu was smart, smooth and worldly-wise, and he was the one who made the decisions on all the important matters in the mansion.
Jiang Yuzhu was embarrassed. Wasn't it inappropriate to use the words "aboveboard" to describe corruption?
Assuming it is as Daddy said, every official must leave something to hold against the Emperor, then what is Xie Zhao's handle?
Xie Zhao was not greedy or interested in women. He was respectful to the emperor, diligent, resourceful, and seemed to have no weaknesses.
As the carriage continued to move forward, Jiang Yuzhu took out a small bronze mirror to look in the mirror and was suddenly stunned.
Could it be that the pigtail left by Xie Zhao was her?
Jiang Yuzhu covered her face. She had caused all that mess...
Well, Jiang Yuzhu originally planned to turn over a new leaf when she returned to Beijing, but now she has decided to continue to abuse her power. Otherwise, wouldn't Xie Zhao have nothing to hold against her?
The caravan took a fork in the road and merged with a caravan coming from another official road, queuing up to pass through the city gate.
After entering the city, there are restaurants, inns and various shops on both sides of the street. People come and go, and there is constant noise. It is extremely prosperous.
In order to facilitate their journey, the group chose to stay at the nearest large inn.
While his wife was resting, Hongli took advantage of the opportunity and ran to the yamen to inquire about the news.
Before dinner, Hongli came back with a few packets of snacks.
"Madam, I have found out that those vicious servants, the old man and Furong are in the same group."
"Furong's father was once a sixth-rank official. He was convicted and imprisoned."
Hongli drank three bowls of water in a row before confessing everything he had learned. "The old man is the head of the family. I don't know who prompted him to come up with such a bad idea."
When the old man learned that Xie Zhao was going to Beijing from Suzhou, he had made plans long ago.
If Furong were sent to Xie Zhao's bed, even as a maid, there would be a chance to get her father out of prison by just whispering in his ear.
To this end, the old man and Furong planned and staged a play.
Unexpectedly, Xie Zhao saw the loophole early on and did not fall for it.
"Furong was taken away by the police, and her whole family was imprisoned."
After inquiring, Hongli sneered, "Thinking you're good-looking, you're thinking of offering yourself to someone else. How foolish!"
"Since you heard that the master passed through Xunyang, how come you didn't hear that he didn't care for women and was devoted to his wife?"
Hongxiu also made a few sarcastic remarks. After all, the evildoer still had intentions.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
