238. All Members of Dihua (Part 1) (Page 1/2)
Zheng Qizhen and his brother, along with a group of advisors, were trembling in the study.
When they mistakenly thought their family was about to go bankrupt—
Gao Qi, Zhuang Jin, and Xu Yizhi, who entered the Zheng residence with Cui Xian, were also trembling.
It's not that the three brothers are useless.
It's really—
That was so exciting!
First, he beat up Zheng Qixian in public, and then he forcibly moved into Zheng's house.
Although they already knew that Cui Xian had come down the mountain to settle accounts, what he did tonight was far too reckless!
That's like slapping the Zheng family in the face!
If we rashly move into the Zheng family's house, won't we be like "sheep entering the tiger's den" and get killed on the spot?
However.
Gao Qi and his two companions discovered that their worries were completely unnecessary.
From the moment Cui Xian stepped into the Zheng residence.
Hundreds of lamps were lit throughout the mansion for the abbot of Yuelu Mountain who was staying there.
The darkness receded.
After seeing the entire interior of the house, Zhuang Jin and the other two gasped in astonishment, as if they had never seen anything like it before.
The view is filled with winding corridors, vermilion railings and jade steps, and exotic flowers in full bloom, making one feel as if they are in a painting.
The artificial mountains are piled up, rugged and craggy, resembling towering peaks.
At the foot of the peak, a clear spring meanders around the rocks, its babbling water like the tinkling of jade pendants, the splashing water sparkling like stars under the lamplight.
It fully demonstrates the wealth and heritage of a thousand-year-old family!
"Welcome, Headmaster!"
An old man who looked like a steward humbly led the way with dozens of servants and beautiful maids.
Their posture was so humble that they almost crawled into the dust.
After leading Cui Xian and the others to the elegant side room,
Dozens of maids, carrying glass platters, fluttered in like colorful butterflies.
Each glass plate held a variety of delicacies: roast suckling pig, steamed shad, braised deer tendon, eight-treasure stuffed duck... a dazzling array that filled the entire table.
The steward, however, was filled with trepidation and apologized profusely: "Due to the rush, we were unable to make thorough preparations. If there has been any negligence, we hope the headmaster will not take offense."
Hitting someone is hard work.
Cui Xian was also tired, so he sat down to eat and casually waved his hand, saying, "Everyone, leave."
The steward and dozens of servants quietly withdrew.
Gao Qi, Zhuang Jin, and Xu Yizhi were left standing there dumbfounded.
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
This must be a conspiracy by the Zheng family!
Did they poison the food?
Cui Xian picked up a piece of Eight Treasure Duck and ate it with great relish.
...Could there be an assassin lying in ambush? Or perhaps a spy monitoring them?
The next cup of tea's time.
Cui Xian enjoyed the delicious food with great pleasure.
Gao Qi and his two companions thoroughly inspected the entire elegant hall, the side rooms, and even the courtyard outside.
There was no hidden killer, and no one was listening in.
Is this reasonable?
The Zheng family, have they really just knelt down like that?!
The three, exhausted and panting, all looked at Cui Xian, who was sitting comfortably in his chair after eating and drinking his fill, and admired him immensely.
Awesome!
So handsome it's unbelievable!
Gao Qi suppressed his excitement and looked at Xu Yizhi beside him.
Xu Yizhi paused for a moment, then said very sensibly, "I suppose my two senior brothers have important matters to discuss with the headmaster. I will go outside and keep watch."
Zhuang Jin nodded in satisfaction: "Not bad, Xiao Xu, I have high hopes for you."
Xu Yizhi was so flattered that he was dizzy and his face turned red.
They firmly believed that the headmaster and others must have important matters to discuss, and that their conversations should not be overheard.
He will definitely guard the goal diligently!
However.
After Xu Yizhi left.
Gao Qi and Zhuang Jin looked at each other, then sat down on either side of Cui Xian in a very obsequious manner, letting out strange chuckles.
Cui Xian blinked in confusion: "What's wrong?"
Zhuang Jin lowered his voice and said excitedly, "Brother Xian! We're all family, don't pretend!"
Gao Qi grinned foolishly and chimed in, "Yes, yes, hurry up and tell us!"
No, what are you saying?
Zhuang Jin was a little anxious: "Oh dear, didn't Ye Huaifeng pass your test earlier today, Brother Xian?"
"You didn't even bring Pei Jian with you this time when you went down the mountain to settle accounts. You only brought me and Gao Qi."
"What does that mean? It means that we two are the most capable among our brothers!"
"You think the best of us is the two of us, right?"
Gao Qi nodded hurriedly: "Tell me quickly, what is our test?"
"Just the thought of being able to fight alongside you, Brother Xian, before those two noobs Pei Jian and Li Heyu makes me tremble with excitement!"
Finally, the two looked on expectantly and said:
Brother Xian, we really want to improve!
Come and test us!
Clearly, from day to night, Cui Xian's series of smooth and stylish moves had made the two brothers envious and fascinated.
I desperately want to be 'cool' like Choi Hyeon!
Cui Xian leisurely picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "I do have two things to do here."
"But it may be a bit difficult for the two elder brothers."
(This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading) 238. All People in Dihua (Part 1) (Page 2/2)
"I'm afraid you two won't dare."
If that's how you put it, then anyone who doesn't dare is a coward!
Zhuang Jin and Gao Qi glared at each other: Do we look like cowards?
We men from Nanyang have a sense of shame!
Cui Xian looked at Zhuang Jin and said, "Brother Zhuang Jin, as you know, I am the grand-disciple of the Grand Secretary. Although I have not entered the imperial court, I have already stepped into the vortex of factional struggles."
"Originally, there was absolutely no possibility of him taking over the position of headmaster."
"The reason His Majesty agreed to let me become the headmaster is because I signed an IOU for one million taels of silver for His Majesty."
Zhuang Jin gasped, stammering, "Brother Xian... Brother Xian! Although I have some business acumen and am skilled in arithmetic and accounting, but—"
"But you can't expect me to earn a million taels of silver!"
This is indeed a bit of a dilemma.
Let alone Zhuang Jin, even Cui Xian's sugar innovation would hardly make this much money in a short period of time.
But the one on the dragon throne won't have to wait long.
Next spring, Cui Xian will take the imperial examination.
He must get this money into the emperor's private treasury as soon as possible in order to "rebuild his path to fame and fortune".
Cui Xian looked at the magnificent mansion in front of him and chuckled, "I'm not asking you to make money."
"A mere million taels of silver is enough to satisfy our demands after confiscating the Zheng family's property."
hiss!
Gao Qi gasped in shock.
So it turns out that Brother Xian chose to stay at the Zheng family's house today with this in mind!
Zhuang Jin's head was buzzing.
But then I remembered how thoroughly the Zheng family knelt down just now, and it all made sense!
"So, Brother Xian, you plan to offer the Zheng family to His Majesty! You've already made all the arrangements, haven't you? The higher-ups have their eyes on the Zheng family."
Zhuang Jin lowered his voice and said excitedly, "Zheng Qizhen slid to his knees so thoroughly today because he sensed the impending danger. This man is indeed cunning!"
"He was afraid that you would find something wrong with the Zheng family and take the opportunity to seize the Zheng family, so he endured everything. He may have panicked by now and started to clear up evidence and hide his tracks."
"Brother Xian, so this was your test for me!"
Speaking of which...
Zhuang Jin thumped his chest loudly: "I'm the expert when it comes to investigating embezzlement and bad debts!"
"Let the officials above and His Majesty rest assured and entrust the arduous task of finding evidence of the Zheng family's crimes to me, Zhuang Jin."
ah?
Upon hearing this, Cui Xian nearly dropped his teacup.
No, bro, calm down.
listen to me!
I dared to enter the Zheng family alone because the imperial edict would arrive in seven days.
For the next seven days, no one will dare to hurt me; I will temporarily be blessed with the buff of 'invincibility for seven days'.
We have no one above us, including His Majesty, and no one expected that I was preparing to take action against the Zheng family.
But I haven't completely won His Majesty over yet. First, I confiscated the Zheng family's offer of a million taels of silver, then I offered another million taels of silver through the sugar business, and overpaid the IOUs.
Then he can once again become the most 'pure' 'loyal minister' in His Majesty's eyes!
The people of Kaifeng, including the Zheng family, are wary of me, but in reality, they are all intimidated by the jade ruyi in my hand!
They mistakenly thought I was truly 'the person His Majesty cherishes most'.
Seven days later, the imperial edict arrived.
Along with the imperial edict appointing the headmaster, there should also have been an oral decree to "cut off the path to officialdom through the imperial examinations."
When the Zheng family and Inspector Zhou Xiang realize they have been deceived, they will surely retaliate in kind.
You should investigate the Zheng family's crimes at this time—
It's equivalent to single-handedly confronting a powerful, thousand-year-old aristocratic family.
Brother, there's no one behind you, brother!
However, Zhuang Jin was full of fighting spirit at this moment.
Choi Hyeon's impressive performance throughout the day not only successfully fooled his opponents.
It also intimidated his own brothers.
"No, I'm too excited! I need to go outside and calm down so I can plan things out properly!"
As Zhuang Jin spoke, she pushed open the door and walked out.
Just in time.
After finishing his meeting with his advisors, Zheng Qizhen came to Cui Xian with a worried expression, hoping to gather more information.
I spotted Zheng Qizhen.
Zhuang Jin, no longer flustered, looked at the other person with a meaningful gaze and said, "Don't say that no one sees the cause and effect; there is a clear sky three feet above your head."
Previously, the head of the Zheng family claimed that the Zheng family was a family that accumulated good deeds.
"This sentence comes from the Kun hexagram in the Book of Changes, and I think the head of the Zheng family knows perfectly well what the next sentence is."
A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings.
The next line is: A family that accumulates evil deeds will surely suffer lingering misfortune.
Zheng Qizhen's face instantly turned extremely ugly.
Without uttering a word, he turned and returned to his study, saying to a group of advisors, "That Cui Xian is indeed terrifying; he's going to make a move against my Zheng family!"
He saw that he had intimidated Zheng Qizhen with just three sentences.
Zhuang Jin was so excited that she kept pinching her thigh—
Brother Xian is indeed terrifying; he has the Zheng family completely under his control!
If that's the case, what's there to be afraid of?
"I, Zhuang Jin, will surely take down the Zheng family of Xingyang!"
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