In the Yongxing Market near the Imperial City.
In the afternoon, the sun was warm.
Chief Steward Zheng was sitting in the small courtyard of his own residence, leaning sideways on the table, taking a nap with his eyes closed.
Behind him, a little servant girl was kneeling on the edge of the mat, gently rubbing his old shoulders.
It was so comfortable!
He was not originally surnamed Zheng. As he grew up in the Zheng Manor, he was shrewd and loyal to the main family. When he was thirty-five years old, he was given the surname Zheng by the old master.
From that day on, he became the butler in charge of the huge front courtyard of the Zheng Manor and had his own small courtyard.
The little hooligans in this residence, as well as those who used connections outside, also desperately tried to curry favor with him. General Manager Zheng's life in these ten years was very comfortable.
"Manager Zheng, someone outside wants to see you. They say they're from the Ministry of Justice.”
A servant girl outside the courtyard door bowed her head inward and said timidly.
When General Manager Zheng heard that someone from the Ministry of Justice had arrived, he immediately stood up from his seat and scolded,"Little girl, if you keep talking, I'll cut off your tongue! No one from any 'department' came, remember?”
The servant girl rubbing her shoulders and the servant girl outside the courtyard hurriedly nodded.
"Where is he?"
"He's already in the side hall."
……
After a quarter of an hour, General Manager Zheng came out of the side hall, his expression already very anxious.
He hurriedly passed through the five-story flower hall and entered the inner courtyard. Then, he walked through the long corridor by the water and arrived in front of an ancient and elegant bamboo house.
"Thump! Thump!"
Steward Zheng tidied up his clothes and then gently knocked on the door.
"Is it Elder Zheng? Come in."
A middle-aged man's calm voice came from the room.
"Master, it's a small one!"
Steward Zheng carefully pushed open the door and walked in with a bow.
The room was very spacious, and several bookshelves were filled with books.
A thin man with gray hair was facing the door. He was standing at a table by the window in the distance and writing.
Steward Zheng did not dare to go over and disturb him. He stood by the door and said respectfully and nervously,"Master, someone from the Ministry of Justice said that Hu Biao's case was brought to them by the Wuhou Shop in Xi City.”
After a pause, he carefully said," The Ministry of Justice said that Hu Biao has a lot of evidence and implicated many people in Xi City. Ma Renjie's Zhongyi Hall will probably be implicated as well." And, and…"
The middle-aged man kept writing as if he didn't hear Manager Zheng at all.
"In Hu Biao's case, someone reported that Ma Renjie was a member of the Zheng family. Hu Biao and the others exploited him and ended up in the Zheng family's treasury!”
Chief Steward Zheng finished speaking in one breath and then said worriedly," Old Master, the Brigade Commander of Xi City seems to be targeting the Zheng family this time. This lowly one thinks that if we make the first move…"
The middle-aged man didn't comment. He calmly wrote the last word and placed the brush on the brush.
He picked up the snow-white Shu paper with both hands and carefully examined the words he had just written.
"What are you panicking about?" The middle-aged man admired the calligraphy and said calmly," A Rank-8 Marquis Wei is not worthy of going against the Zheng Family?”
"Let Ma Renjie send him some money and see if he can get rid of him!”
From the beginning to the end, the middle-aged man's expression was calm. He did not even turn around.
"I understand." Manager Zheng bowed.”
After saying that, he retreated and gently closed the door.
……
Huaiyuan Square.
After hearing the words of Liu Wencai, the leader of Zhongyi Hall, Ma Renjie, was no longer as calm as the head of the Zheng family.
He was anxious to death!
I heard that the new Brigade Commander of the Wuhou Shop in Xi City is not easy to deal with. He enforces the law forcefully and is impartial! Hu Biao sent two hundred gold taels the night before, but he was caught the next day.
Bribery, the Zheng family's reputation, the mutiny…all of them were useless.
In just three days, the Wuhou Wei had gathered all the evidence and sentenced Hu Biao to be executed!
Now, City Magistrate Liu had rushed over to inform him that this Brigade Commander Si had already obtained conclusive evidence of him and the other "tyrants". He would come to arrest them one by one!
How could Ma Renjie not be anxious?
He had clung to the Zheng family and finally had such a large family business. He did not want to be taken away.
After leaving Liu Wencai in Zhongyi Hall, Ma Renjie sat in a disguised carriage at the back door and rushed to Zheng Manor in Yongxing Lane.
When he saw Chief Ma, Ma Renjie immediately begged him for mercy.
He requested the Zheng Family to save him!
General Manager Zheng had just returned from the bamboo grove house in the inner courtyard. After being influenced by his own master, his state of mind was very calm.
"What are you panicking about?"
He glanced at Ma Renjie and asked indifferently,""Did Travel Marshal Si accept the gold that Hu Biao sent that day?”
Ma Renjie thought for a moment and said,"He didn't say he would accept it, but he didn't seem to retreat either."”
"Then it's settled!"
Manager Zheng laughed coldly." In my opinion, Hu Biao died of stupidity!”
"Elder Zheng, what do you mean?"
"Is there an official in this world who isn't greedy?" Manager Zheng gave Ma Renjie a side glance." If he's not greedy, then there's only one reason. He didn't give enough! Old Master has instructed you to go back and count your assets. Take out half of it and send it to Travel Marshal Si.”
"More than half of the family property?"
Ma Renjie was shocked. He had worked so hard for a few years, and now he was working for someone else!
General Manager Zheng's face turned cold as he frowned and said,""What? You dare to disobey the old master? Don't forget, you still have more than ten lives on your hands! This money would be used to buy his life. If he avoided this calamity, wouldn't he be earning money later?”
Ma Renjie didn't dare to disobey Patriarch Zheng's words and left gloomily.
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。