Chapter 1189 Poisonous
The emperor took out a map with many places marked on it, basically every state has one. Some places have been marked with an X, but there are still many places left. He handed the map to the Prince of Qi and said, "Take this and go to Xuzhou to find Rongchuan."
King Qi looked at the blood-red mark on the map and inexplicably felt the smell of blood. He rolled up the map and asked, "Son, are you leaving now?"
The emperor nodded, "Yes, he will take you back to the palace. You change your clothes, put on your mask and leave. Someone is waiting for you outside the city."
King Qi's expression was serious. "Yes."
In Xuzhou, Chang Lian had a day off today and was accompanying his wife to choose cloth for their unborn child. When he came out of the shop after buying the cloth, he saw the officials from Xuzhou city patrolling.
Dong was puzzled. "Recently, the number of patrols by the police seems to have increased a lot."
Chang Lian also noticed it, "Indeed, do you want to buy anything else?"
Dong shook her head, "We've already bought everything, let's go back. I feel uneasy seeing the patrol officers."
"Okay, let's go home."
The two of them got on the carriage, and another group of officers passed by. Dong took a look, then looked at them carefully with confusion, and did not look away until the officers and soldiers left.
Chang Lian saw his wife still holding the carriage curtain, "What's wrong?"
Dong lowered his head and said, "I just saw a person whose figure looked very similar to Rong Chuan."
"You're wrong, Rongchuan is in the capital!"
Dong smiled and said, "Maybe I didn't get enough rest yesterday, so my eyes are blurry."
In the evening, the Zhou family had dinner. Rong Enqing came. Zhou Shuren went to the front yard, his tone full of impatience, "Why are you here again?"
Rong Enqing, ".......I came with sincerity this time."
Zhou Shuren, "Hmm?"
Rong Enqing opened the box and said, "My Lord, please take a look at it again this time."
Zhou Shuren scanned it, stretched out his hand and shook the banknote, and knew the amount was 150,000. "Is this sincerity?"
Rong Enqing said, "There will be more after the matter is completed."
Zhou Shuren sneered and said, "Take it back."
Rong Enqing was naturally not in a hurry, "Sir, the Gu family can also find other people to help."
Zhou Shuren, "You can go back and tell him that I am waiting for him to find someone to help."
Rong Enqing smiled, took the banknote and left. He was in a good mood after leaving Zhou's house. He liked to see Gu Ren anxious, and was also happy that Gu Ren was cheated of money by Lord Zhou.
Zhou Shuren walked towards the main courtyard with his hands behind his back. He couldn't delay any longer and the emperor wouldn't allow it. It was up to him to figure out how much he could cheat within the available time.
The next day, there was still no morning court. Zhou Shuren and his two sons left home and saw Rong Enqing's carriage. Rong Enqing got off the carriage and said, "Today I will take you to the Ministry of Revenue."
Zhou Shuren hummed and got on the carriage. Gu Ren was inside the carriage, and Zhou Shuren's face turned a little colder.
Gu Ren saw Zhou Shuren sitting still and cursed him in his heart. Zhou Shuren had a big appetite, otherwise he wouldn't have come in person. He smiled and flattered, "I've met Mr. Zhou."
Zhou Shuren hummed, then closed his eyes and rested.
Gu Ren took a look, took a deep breath, and continued to smile, "Here is two hundred thousand taels, please help me, Lord Zhou."
Zhou Shuren didn't even raise his eyelids and continued to keep his eyes closed.
Gu Ren really wanted to kill Zhou Shuren right now, but he couldn't. He could only endure it. "I'll get another 100,000 after I finish the job."
Gu Ren looked at Rong Enqing, who spread his hands to indicate that he had no other choice. Gu Ren narrowed his eyes. Anyway, he didn't need to cash it out after the matter was completed, so he said, "Two hundred thousand taels after the matter is completed. This can't be more."
He had a total of 300,000 taels of silver in his hands, no more. He earned a lot of silver every year, but spent more. This was already the largest sum of silver he could spare.
Zhou Shuren thought about it and finally opened his eyes, "It's not impossible for me to make an exception."
Gu Ren sneered in his heart, what kind of honest official is this? He only cares about how much money he has. He has seen many such honest officials. What happened in the end? They were bribed. However, he did not show it on his face. He smiled and said, "Please tell me, sir."
Zhou Shuren said, "I am only helping, but the reward is 300,000 taels, and 100,000 taels after the matter is completed."
Zhou Shuren saw Gu Ren's expression change, and he knew what was going on. Three hundred thousand taels was the most money Gu Ren could offer. "You and I are in a deal of one hammer. I don't trust you. Three hundred thousand taels, give it to me now, and I'll send someone to deliver the letter right away."
Gu Ren clenched his fist. Three hundred thousand taels. In order to transport more ointment in this time, basically all the money that could be mobilized had been used.
Zhou Shuren closed his eyes again. He was not in a hurry anyway. He was wondering in his heart where all the money of the Gu family went. Tsk tsk, rebellion really wastes money. It is really difficult to get so much money without doing some shameful transactions.
Zhou Shuren thought of the Rong family's treasury. There must have been many noble families who wanted to rebel at the end of the previous dynasty. The Rong family was known to be rich enough to rival a country, so who else could they target if not the Rong family!
It's a pity that after all the calculations by the noble families, they didn't get much as all was taken away by the emperor. Zhou Shuren stroked his beard and thought that the Rong family was just a tool to deliver money to the emperor!
Rong Enqing coughed, indicating that the Ministry of Revenue was about to arrive.
Gu Ren then spoke, "Okay, Lord Zhou, please keep your promise."
Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes, "I am not a treacherous, ungrateful, mean person."
Gu Ren first handed the box to Zhou Shuren, "The remaining 100,000 taels will be delivered later."
Zhou Shuren looked at the box but didn't touch it. He didn't forget the last time he tried to poison him. He glanced at Rong Enqing, who understood and reached out to take it.
The carriage stopped, Zhou Shuren got off, Jianyan stepped forward and took the box from Rong Enqing's hand, and the carriage left quickly.
Zhou Shuren looked at the box and was excited. He said to Jianyan, "Check if there is any poison in it."
You only have one life, so it's better to be careful.
Upon hearing this, Jianyan took out a handkerchief and placed it on the box, "I will go right away."
"Um."
Less than half an hour later, Jianyan came back first and said, "I checked it carefully and there is no problem."
Zhou Shuren was relieved. A quarter of an hour later, the remaining 100,000 yuan was delivered. This time the box was a little too bright, and Zhou Shuren had reason to believe that Gu Ren would not be able to swallow this.
Zhou Shuren looked at the boy holding the box and pointed at the table, "Just put it down."
The boy froze, "Sir, don't you want to open it and take a look?"
Zhou Shuren, ".......No need, I trust you."
The servant refused to give up, but he had no choice but to let it go and be taken away.
As soon as the servant left, Zhou Shuren stepped back several steps. When Jianyan came back, he pointed at the box and said, "Be careful. I think something is wrong."
A strong poison is unlikely, and it is probably a chronic condition.
Jianyan carefully wrapped the box with cloth and took it away. Zhou Shuren then sat back in his chair, thinking to himself, this silver is not easy to handle!
Inside the palace, the emperor had already received the news. He knew it faster than Zhou Shuren. The box was not poisonous, but the silver bills were.
The prince asked, "Then should we exchange this 100,000 taels of silver for Lord Zhou?"