But Zheng Yuanshao's attendant left the study and came to the outer lobby.

When the weather turns cold, wealthy families will build a temporary square hut outside their door to block the wind and keep out the cold. This is called a mendou.

Lin Run's attendant was also waiting in the hallway, ready to serve at any time. He glanced at the muscular attendant and asked casually:

"My friend looks a little unfamiliar. Where's Zheng Gui? Why didn't he come?"

"In reply to Third Brother, I am Zheng Dian." Zheng Yuanshao's new attendant hurriedly and respectfully replied, "Zheng Gui is my uncle. He has a stomachache, so I am here to take over and observe him."

"Is that so?" Lin Run's attendant was called Lin San. Seeing that the other party called out his name, he did not doubt it. He asked him how old he was, what he did before, etc. They were easily bored in this line of work, and they all had the habit of chattering.

While Zheng Dian was replying, he took out two things from his arms, one was a bulging water bag and the other was a bulging oil paper bag.

"The two adults have just started drinking, why don't we have a drink to drive away the cold?"

"I'm on duty, I don't know the rules." Lin San took the water bag, unscrewed the cork and smelled it, and his eyes lit up immediately: "Fuck, it's Luzhou Daqu."

"I am honoring my elder brother. I don't know anything. Please give me your guidance in the future." Zheng Qi opened the oil paper package again, and inside was a fat roast chicken.

"Just two sips to get rid of the cold." Lin San was tempted to drink, and immediately smiled, and sat on the stool with Zheng Dian. They drank the wine with the fat chicken.

~~

In the study.

Lin Run's face had turned red from drinking, and her eyes were blurry.

He held his chin with his hand and asked Zheng Yuanshao with a big tongue: "Shanfu, who do you think leaked the news this morning in Xujiagang?"

"It's hard to say..." Zheng Yuanshao's heart trembled, he lowered his head and pressed the lid of the pot to pour wine for Lin Run, saying: "With so many eyes staring at us, it's too difficult to keep it secret."

"No, no." Lin Run shook his head and said, "They clearly knew that our court would go to survey the land today. Otherwise, they wouldn't have gathered so many villagers in such an organized manner in the blink of an eye."

"What the Minister said is true..." Zheng Yuanshao forced a smile and said, "I'll have to investigate it carefully later."

"We must investigate." Lin Run sighed and said, "Hey, this court also knows that the Xu family is not easy to mess with. Many officials are backing off. It's not surprising that some people are playing both sides."

"Yes..." Zheng Yuanshao lowered his head.

"I know that many people blame me behind my back for provoking the Xu family, and call me ungrateful and seeking fame." Lin Run said with a self-deprecating smile: "In fact, I really don't want to target the Xu family. This will ruin my reputation in the scholars and end my career."

"Then why does Zhongcheng still want to..." Zheng Yuanshao mustered up the courage to look up and ask.

"The reason is very simple. The imperial court is too poor, the people are suffering too much, and the Ming Dynasty will no longer be a country." Lin Run raised his eyebrows and said excitedly: "Where did the land and wealth of the Ming Dynasty go? They are all concentrated in the hands of the powerful families. These people don't hear the cries of the hungry people, the desperate cries of the soldiers on the border..."

Lin Run seemed to be very drunk. He was no longer as calm as usual and became extremely excited. He said:

"Can't they hear? No, their consciences have been devoured by their inflated selfish desires! They only know how to use the power in their hands to wantonly embezzle the country's property and squeeze the people's bones. They are so full of greed that they are numb and don't care about the life and death of the Ming Dynasty at all!"

"What the Minister said is correct." Zheng Yuanshao nodded in agreement and said, "The greatest danger for the country is the annexation of the powerful families."

"That's right! How should we solve it?" Lin Run looked at him drunkenly.

"Suppress annexation, reduce the surplus and make up for the deficiency." Zheng Yuanshao whispered: "In Jiangnan, it is to equalize land and grain, and officials and civilians."

"Well said. Attacking the Xu family is to kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Only when the Xu family accepts the land survey and grain distribution, will the wealthy families in Jiangnan make concessions and give the court and the people a chance to breathe."

"This court gave them enough opportunities, but unfortunately they refused to accept our offer." Lin Run sighed and said, "A life-and-death battle between this court and the Xu family is inevitable. I hope those officials who have gone astray can stop before it is too late, otherwise they will really be the enemy of this court."

Zheng Yuanshao picked up a pig ear and was about to put it in his mouth, but when he heard the words, his hands trembled and the chopsticks fell on the table.

"Zhong, Zhong Cheng, I..." Zheng Yuanshao hurriedly picked up the chopsticks and looked up to explain, but saw Lin Run fell headfirst into the Luohan bed and began snoring.

It seems that the medicine is working.

"Zhongcheng, Zhongcheng."

Zheng Yuanshao calmed himself down, plucked up the courage to stand up and look at Lin Run, only to find that he was indeed drunk.

Zheng Guancha walked to Luohan's bed, called Zhongcheng, and gently pushed Lin Run a few times.

Seeing that Lin Run still had no reaction, he finally felt relieved and secretly thought that the medicine was working well.

Zheng Yuanshao then breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, walked to the desk, opened the drawer and started searching.

But after searching everywhere, I couldn't find the account book.

"That's strange." Zheng Yuanshao scratched his head. He clearly saw Zhongcheng open the drawer and put it in.

"What are you looking for?" A low and soft voice suddenly sounded behind him.

The sound was not loud, but it was like a thunderclap that scared Zheng Yuanshao to death.

He turned his head slowly, trembling all over, and saw Lin Zhongcheng, who should have been drunk, sitting on the Luohan bed with a smile on his face.

"Zhongcheng, are you still awake?" Zheng Yuanshao was almost scared out of his wits and asked a nonsense question stutteringly.

Lin Run took out a cotton handkerchief from his sleeve, squeezed it with his hands, and immediately squeezed out a lot of water.

It turned out that he had secretly spit out all the wine he had drunk before into his handkerchief.

"This, this, it turns out that the Minister of Justice had already discovered it..." Zheng Yuanshao lowered his head dejectedly, like a deflated ball.

"If our hospital had discovered this earlier, why would we let you know the secrets?" Lin Run blushed, supported by the head of the bed, and slowly stood up and said:

"It was you who was distracted tonight that made me suspicious."

"You are the one who is giving me a headache, not me. Why do you keep pouring cup after cup into our hospital? Every time you stare at me as I drink." He sneered and said:

"I just want to see why you want to get me drunk."

"So that's what you're looking for!" He pulled out the drawer and took out the thin account book from the gap.

“I…” Zheng Yuanshao was sweating profusely, and finally he could no longer hold on and knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face, “I’m sorry for Zhongcheng’s cultivation. I’ve made mistakes again and again, and I can’t bear to be punished.”

"You are wrong. You have not let me down. You have let down the court that selected you and the people who support you! You have read the books of sages in vain!" Lin Run said as he waved his hand and slapped Zheng Yuanshao hard in the face.

Zheng Yuanshao didn't dare to dodge, but straightened his back and took the blow.

ps. I am still considering the next chapter. It is so painful. I don't know if I won't post it. Don't wait. Read it tomorrow morning.