After much hesitation, Zhang Qi finally opened the booklet. He knew a few words, though not many, but he was able to piece together the contents of the tattered booklet.
After just a few pages, Zhang Qi's hands were shaking with fear. The evidence was filled with evidence of how the Zhong family bribed the previous prefect to seize the Gu family's land. Even the amount of the bribe was clearly stated. "Sir, if the Zhong family knew about this..."
"So what if I know?" Fang Zhiyi smiled. "The Zhong family is relying on Fang Hongyuan now. If I pull Fang Hongyuan down, they will be like grasshoppers after autumn. If the Gu family wants to turn things around, they must cooperate with me."
Zhang Qi suddenly closed the old book, his heart beating non-stop. Is the adult playing such a big game?
The Gu family accepted the old book and sent a young man to follow Zhang Qi back. Afterwards, the young man and Fang Zhiyi had a secret conversation in the study, and Zhang Qi didn't know what they talked about.
But now he understood a little bit. It was too crazy. Not only was the Zhong family well-established, but they also had a good relationship with Old Master Fang. This...
The next day, a major event occurred. The Gu family sued the Zhong family under their real names for occupying fertile land and tampering with taxes.
Everything happened so quickly that Fang Hongyuan didn't even have time to react before Captain Zhao brought people to seal up the land. The Zhong family responded immediately, first sending someone to find the prefect's father, and then going to court to respond.
This trial was the first time Fang Zhiyi personally presided over a case. The people of the Zhong family did not take him seriously, but gradually they found that something was not right. Fang Zhiyi did not behave like a prefect who knew nothing.
As witnesses came to court one by one, the clerk took out the old book that had been prepared long ago. The heart of the head of the Zhong family sank to the bottom. Was this harmless prefect in front of him going to kill them directly?
Fang Hongyuan, who rushed over after hearing the news, was also very depressed. He was actually blocked outside by several soldiers. Even if he brought up his father's title as prefect, it was of no avail.
Fang Hongyuan vaguely sensed that the weather in Qingzhou was about to change.
But how is that possible?
"There's so much tax evasion going on. Even if you have someone above you in the Zhong family, I'm afraid they can't escape blame."
Just when the Zhong family made up their minds to send someone to the capital to find connections, Fang Zhiyi suddenly ordered everyone else in the room to leave, with a calculating glint in his eyes.
The Zhong family's patriarch was stunned: "Sir?"
Fang Zhiyi smiled and said, "Don't think I'm just a bookworm, but I've read quite a few ancient and modern books. In the Great Zhou, even if the Zhong family can escape disaster, they still need a scapegoat. If the Duke is right, is this scapegoat you, or your son?"
The Zhong family's head was sweating profusely. This was indeed the case. Even if they found the person above, they would have to hand over someone to take the blame. You know, there are still constant struggles within the Zhong family, and suddenly this happened...
"Actually, this matter is not that troublesome." Fang Zhiyi leaned back in his chair and said meaningfully.
The patriarch of the Zhong family was no fool, and he immediately understood what Fang Zhiyi meant: "Sir! Our Zhong family is willing to pay the full tax! I hope you will be so kind..." He still hasn't figured out what the Fang family meant. Could it be that Fang Zhiyi's actions were all instructed by Fang Hongyuan?
Fang Zhiyi sighed and said, "As for the tax, well, that has to be paid, but as for the land issue, you know, the victim is still there..."
The Zhong family's Patriarch had a complicated expression on his face: "We are willing to pay it back!"
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