Chapter 275 Chess Pieces
Feng Zhigao was startled, and the panic in his eyes became even worse. Then he seemed to have made up his mind and kowtowed to Lu Jing:
"Third Master is kindhearted and righteous. I ask you to take care of my family. I was greedy for money and used your name to do something that deserves death. I am willing to plead guilty and accept the punishment!"
"You lowly slave, you took advantage of my compassion for the servants and actually did something dirty to ruin my innocence. If my mother knew about this, she would definitely punish you. Why don't you confess your crime now!"
Lu Jing pointed at Feng Zhigao and shouted angrily.
"Feng Zhigao, you are just a close follower of Doctor Lu. How did you use Doctor Lu's name to facilitate the sale of official positions?" Lord Zhuang asked with a sneer.
"Sir, I often followed Lord Lu to the Ministry of Personnel, so I naturally got to know the officials of the Ministry, and occasionally I would deliver files to various government offices for you.
As long as we ask them to stamp their seal in the name of Lord Lu on the files sent to the various government offices, they will naturally not doubt it.
However, if I had someone imitate Lord Lu's handwriting and have signed and approved the files for the promotion to an official position in advance, then I would be able to create an extra way to make money out of thin air. ”
Feng Zhigao licked his lips and spoke each word carefully.
"What nonsense! The Ministry of Personnel is not a place where a personal follower like you can walk around freely! Lord Lu, is what Feng Zhigao said true? Lord Lu would not be so lax in governing his subordinates."
Lord Zhuang scolded loudly and turned to ask Lu Jing.
Lu Jing pursed his lips. He knew Zhuang Shizhao was teasing him, but he could only bite the bullet and answer:
"It is indeed my fault for being careless. The clerks were busy with their duties, so I sent my personal attendants to run errands for some things. I didn't expect that this lowly servant would take advantage of the opportunity."
"Oh, I see. Feng Zhigao, go on."
"Yes, sir, ever since I discovered this loophole, I have been thinking about using it to make money.
After meeting Wu Wencai, he traveled a lot as a broker, so he naturally knew people who were willing to pay money to get an official position, and they conspired with each other to do the business of buying and selling official positions.
Sir, I dare not lie anymore. I can't remember how much I have done, but it was all done by me alone. It has nothing to do with Sir Lu. I am willing to plead guilty and accept the punishment. ”
After Feng Zhigao finished speaking, he lay down in the hall, and at this time he was calm.
Wu Wencai looked at Feng Zhigao for a long time, and the light in his eyes gradually dimmed. Everything was planned carefully, so how could he be caught so easily? The only ones who would be caught would be them, the vanguards.
Lord Zhuang glanced at Su Qianqian, who was concentrating on studying her brush and drawing something on paper.
"Feng Zhigao, who imitated Lord Lu's handwriting for you? Where did the money you traded with Wu Wencai go?"
At this time, the bailiff brought back the evidence they had seized from Wu Wencai, a wooden box containing account books and silver bills. Lord Zhuang took out the account book and looked at it, then asked Feng Zhigao.
"The one who imitated Lord Lu's handwriting is Lord Lu's servant who knows how to read. Please summon him to try and we'll know." Feng Zhigao replied frankly.
"Letter of recognition." Lord Zhuang threw down the order again.
Soon Shishu was taken to the lobby. He was just a boy of eleven or twelve years old. Even though he had seen the world at the Lu family, he was still very nervous and uneasy under the majesty of the Dali Temple lobby.
"Can you imitate Lord Lu's handwriting and write a few words?" Lord Zhuang asked in a gentle voice.
Shishu's eyes lit up, he raised his head and nodded quickly like a chicken pecking at rice: "Yes, I have learned it very well."
Everyone in the hall looked at the young boy in silence, and a trace of compassion flashed in Wu Wencai's eyes.
After bringing paper and pen, Shishu wrote a few words on the ground. The chief clerk then asked Lu Jing to write the same words and took it to the hall for the officials to circulate. Those officials were obviously relieved.
After reading it, Lord Zhuang showed no expression and asked the chief clerk to send the calligraphy to Su Qianqian's desk.
[As expected of Lu Jing, he is meticulous and ruthless. He has planned every step carefully and even arranged his scapegoat. The handwriting of these two people is exactly the same without any flaws. 】
Su Qianqian watched and admired.
[This book boy was very good at imitating. When he couldn't write, he would draw characters. Lu Jing discovered him by accident and took him in as his book boy. He carefully taught him to imitate his own handwriting and writing habits. Whenever he wrote well, he would be rewarded. This book boy was very grateful and loyal to Lu Jing. 】
The baby sound of the system is a bit heavy.
[If we don’t find the difference between them, the case can be closed with just the three of them. As for the silver…]
"Sir, you can check the slave's residence. Although it is a little inconvenient to do so in the princess's mansion, I can have someone search it. This will neither cause criticism of the princess's mansion nor delay your trial."
Lu Jing cooperated actively.
"This doesn't seem appropriate. It would be fair if the yamen runners and the people from the princess's mansion jointly searched." Lord Zhuang replied with a smile, and ordered the yamen runners and Lu Jing's entourage to search together.
"Master Zhuang, now the truth of the case has been revealed. It was my fault for not keeping a strict control over my subordinates, which allowed them to take advantage of the situation. I will go to His Majesty to apologize. As for these two slaves, please punish them severely and do not show favoritism. The reputation of our Duke's and Princess's Mansions is not important. Endangering the people and disrupting the government is a major issue."
Lu Jing once again demonstrated his excellent qualities of being broad-minded and impartial.
"Don't worry, don't worry. I want to ask you if you have ever written any documents for Feng Zhigao. If you have, what were they about? Tell me in detail." Lord Zhuang smiled and waved his hand, then turned to ask about the knowledge of calligraphy.
"Sir, I have only written letters for Feng Zhigao, but I have never written any documents. I don't understand what you mean."
Shishu realized something was wrong at this time, his voice trembled a little, and he looked at Lu Jing and then at Lord Zhuang in confusion and panic.
"Learn how to read? What you wrote for me is just a document, how can it be a family letter? I am not illiterate, why would I need you to write a family letter?"
Feng Zhigao sneered, an almost cruel sneer that suggested going to hell together.
"Brother Feng, why do you say that? What document? I have never written any document, sir. Please, please speak for me. I don't know what document is!"
Shishu knelt on the ground and shook like a sieve. He kowtowed to Lord Zhuang and Lu Jing continuously, even until blood flowed from his forehead. When the danger of death approached, he instinctively wanted to pray to the gods and Buddhas, hoping for a glimmer of hope.
[This child who knows how to read is pitiful. Please help him. He really doesn't know anything about writing. He tries his best to imitate Lu Jing's handwriting just to please his master and gain face in front of the servants, so that he can take it home as a reward and his parents will look at him with admiration. 】
[This was a move that Lu Jing had planned from the beginning. How could it be broken? He is just a chess piece, destined to be eaten once he lands on the chessboard. 】
Su Qianqian kept drawing with a pen in hand, as if she was staying out of the matter and communicating silently with the system.
[If anything is not true, there must be a flaw. The flaw of this document is that it has never been written by an actual author for fear that it might be leaked. Therefore, all the handwriting on the files is true. 】
The system said proudly.
[What you mean is...] Su Qianqian looked at Lu Jing.
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