"Wei Zhishu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works stationed in the Forbidden City, was kidnapped by robbers on the way back to the capital. He asked for 100,000 snowflake silver or he would kill the hostage.”The little eunuch said to Qianlong and Murong Wanhua with trepidation.
"How did you know?"
"The kidnapper wanted Wei Zhishu to write a letter to his parents. His parents couldn't afford that much money, so they asked someone to come to the capital to find the imperial kitchen and laundry room to supervise the interrogation.”
"You want me to give a hundred thousand silver to the kidnappers?" Murong Wanhua asked in shock.”
"Yes."
"Call the messenger in." Qianlong said.
"Prick."
Qianlong watched the little eunuch leave and whispered to Murong Wanhua,"When that person comes in, don't call me emperor. Call me wangye and listen to my questions.”
"Alright."
While the two of them were talking, the person who sent Wei Zhishu a message came in.
"This servant greets the emperor."
Qianlong was stunned. Murong Wanhua was also stunned.
"Lu Houhuang? Why is it you?"
"Wei Zhishu, the assistant minister of the Ministry of Works stationed in the Forbidden City, was kidnapped by Shandong kidnappers. This servant did not dare to neglect him. I was worried about others sending letters, so I had to enter the capital personally. I did not expect to be able to see the face of heaven.”Lu Houhuang was trembling in fear. He was both happy and sad, and his emotions were complicated.
"As a local official, why didn't you do your best to serve the people and report to someone who was kidnapped in Shandong? Why did you come to Beijing to ask for money?”
"This servant replies to the emperor. The people there live and work in peace and contentment. The doors are not closed at night, and the security is very good. The kidnappers are fearless and want so much money. They even set a date for the payment. Wei Zhishu is an official appointed by the emperor, so this servant does not dare to neglect.”
"You came here to ask Murong Wanhua for money?”
"No, I don't dare. I'm just passing on information. Wei Zhishu's parents begged me, and I was too embarrassed to refuse.”
"Would you personally enter the capital when someone else encountered this? The public security in Shandong is really bad. You've completed your mission. Go back. Remember, whoever can carry a boat can also capsize it. If an official doesn't make decisions for the people, it's better to go home and plant sweet potatoes.”
"Thank you for your advice, emperor. Long live my emperor.”
"Let's go."
"Prick."
Qianlong looked at Murong Wanhua and said," What an exorbitant demand. A hundred thousand snowflake silver is very eye-catching. Take the silver and go. I will go personally. I want to meet this kidnapper."”
Murong Wanhua said with determination and concern,"You can't go."
"Why?"
"It's dangerous."
"I am very happy that you care about me, and I want to go even more. This is the Qing Dynasty, my territory. I am the current emperor. A few flies also wanted to become something? At most, he could bring some people along, or inform the Shandong governor, Lu Daneng. He was the Tanhua of my court examinations back then. At first, I valued his love for his job and allowed him to dominate a region. He was innovative and developed, developed the economy, and guaranteed supplies. Why was the public security environment in Shandong so bad? He was duty-bound. I wanted to shock the tiger and kill the chicken to show the monkey. If I couldn't maintain long-term stability and didn't have the ability to live alone, I would take him down without hesitation and give others a chance to display their talents.”Qianlong vowed and spoke passionately.
Murong Wanhua said," You can go incognito and visit privately to understand the people's feelings. However, you can't go to Shandong because of this matter. You can't go, and I won't go either. Besides, I don't have money. I don't have that much money. I can't let you give the money to the kidnappers, and I can't condone the kidnappers 'arrogance. If I don't give him money, I'll see what he does. Do they really dare to kill the hostage?”
Qianlong exclaimed happily,"You're knowledgeable. Not bad." You are indeed different."
"You can't go, and neither will I."
Qianlong said," You have to think about it. His parents are farmers, so their abilities are limited. You are husband and wife, so he asked you for help. You can't just stand by and do nothing, right?" A day as husband and wife, a hundred days of gratitude, you don't care about old feelings? This is not your personality. Moreover, the child in your stomach will not have a father if it is not born.”
"You're so nice." Murong Wanhua was speechless.
"If you love someone, you have to think for her and put yourself in her shoes. I think I'll solve this problem. I'm like a caged bird in this high wall and deep courtyard. I want to go out and take a look. The world is big. You're pregnant and can't move. You stay here. I'll be back soon.”Qianlong said with concern.
Murong Wanhua's carriage arrived at the location designated by the kidnappers.
Murong Wanhua only had one servant girl and one imperial guard, and a real coachman.
The leader of the kidnappers did not appear. Only a small leader came out to talk to Murong Wanhua,""Who are you?"
"You kidnapped Wei Zhishu's wife.”
"Did you bring the Snowflake Silver?" The person looked into the car.
"You asked for 100,000. That's a lot. We have a long way to go and it's not easy to get it.”Murong Wanhua asked.
"What is it? What do you mean by asking for 100,000 yuan? Is your husband's life not worth 100,000 snowflake silver? Besides, the magistrate was purged in three years, and the common people knew that he was an official of the imperial court. What was the use of using 100,000 to buy the life of a corrupt official? It's a drop in the ocean. Let me see the silver notes. If they're real, it'll be troublesome to exchange so many notes. We need cash to trade.”
The servant girl handed a banknote to the one-eyed man.
Murong Wanhua said,"The silver notes are real. Let me see my husband, and the rest will be yours."”
"Give me all the silver notes. Otherwise, you can't see your husband. Besides, we keep our word, and the people in the martial world keep their word. Otherwise, how can we walk in the martial world? You've exceeded our time limit, we should have killed the hostage. Hand over the silver notes, or else you won't be able to see anyone, and we'll kill the hostage.”
Murong Wanhua handed all the silver bills to the big guy with one eye and said,"I want to see my husband."
The big guy, One-Eyed Dragon, looked at the banknote carefully. 100,000, there was no mistake.
"Brothers, bring him here."
Very quickly, Wei Zhishu rode his horse over and walked in front of Murong Wanhua. He gave Murong Wanhua a big slap before falling off the horse.
Everyone was shocked.
Wei Zhishu cursed on the ground,"Why are you so late?" Is 100,000 snowflake silver still a problem for you? You slut, you bitch, my legs were chopped off by them because you stood me up. It's already past the agreed date. They said that you're delaying the time and that you're not sincere.”
Everyone lowered their heads to look at Wei Zhishu on the ground. His legs were really gone. His legs were still bleeding from the base of his thighs, and blood was seeping through his clothes.
The big one-eyed man led a few people to ride into the mountains.
Murong Wanhua's face had a bloody scar, and her nose was bleeding as well. Blood flowed down her lips.
Wei Zhishu cursed,"You bitch, why did you come so late?"”
At this moment, Qianlong rode over quickly. He said loudly to Wei Zhishu in dissatisfaction,"Why did you slap her face? I don't want to see a man slap a woman in the face.”
Wei Zhishu said indignantly,"Emperor, I'm still her husband. She doesn't even have me in her heart.”
"If she didn't have you in her heart, she wouldn't have come here in a hurry with her big belly and your child. It must have been hard on her.”
"I don't care whose child she is carrying. I lost both my legs, and this group of bandits dared to kidnap the emperor's official.”
Murong Wanhua's eyes were filled with tears as she said," Wei Zhishu, don't spout nonsense. The child in my stomach is yours."”
Qianlong corrected him,"You are not my official."”
"Help him up and bandage his wounds."”
Qianlong asked Lu Daneng beside him," Lu Daneng, Magistrate, when your parents gave you a name, they must have hoped that you would have great ability and capability. As the Emperor of the Qing Dynasty, I also hoped that my subordinates would have the ability to fulfill their duties, perform their duties, and serve the country faithfully. As an official, they would benefit the people. Have you done that?"”
Lu Da Neng got off his horse and knelt down,""Emperor, this servant is incompetent. I am not a mighty person. I am incompetent. I did not defend my territory properly, causing the kidnappers to run amok and harm the villagers.”
"Almighty Lu, I want to discuss with you why they want to occupy the mountain and become kings. Why did they abandon their family and business? Taking the risk to rob? Have you considered the deeper reason?”
Lu Da Neng replied,"They like to occupy the mountains and be kings. They are willing to be officials. They are free and undisciplined. They reap without sowing."”
Qianlong asked,"Is there a problem with the selection and employment system of our Great Qing Dynasty?" They want to be officials, but we won't let them be officials? Was it a problem of the system or a problem of human corruption?”
"Emperor, there are few official positions, but there are many people who want to be officials. It has always been like this since ancient times. There is no problem with the system. The emperor is clean and honest, and loves the people like his own children. The selection system and the imperial examination system can give the poor a chance to be promoted. It is just that some officials are corrupt and fill their own pockets. They are insatiable and do not put the interests of the country first. Now, Your Majesty, this lowly servant, no, this servant is incompetent, that's why there's this kidnapping.”
"There were so many heroes of Liangshan in Water Margins. Each of them had their own unique skills and rebelled. In the end, they still submitted to the emperor and were all recruited by the emperor. The imperial court has a lot of appeal and cohesion.”
"Song Jiang's rebellion in the Song Dynasty is different from this thief from Yimeng Mountain.”
"So, what do you want to do now?”
"Search the mountain, exterminate the bandits, kill them all.”
"No, don't kill them. I only want the person who chopped off his legs to die.”
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]