Chapter 307: A heroic act of self-sacrifice
For a reckless young man like Sun Chonglou, beating or killing people is not a big deal. They only do things for pleasure and at will.
The women were stunned for a moment.
"stop!"
Huang Jin rode over, and the middle-aged woman who looked like a legitimate wife had a fierce look in her eyes. She shouted, "Scratch his face!"
After Zhang Tong was sent home, his family conducted repeated tests for a long time and came to a conclusion: the Marquis was really beaten stupid.
Ma, the legitimate wife, pondered for a long time and said to the concubines, "Now that the Marquis has become like this, and has offended His Majesty, one can imagine the future of the Marquis's mansion. Moreover, this time he has offended Jiang Qingzhi... Do you want to die?"
The concubines trembled and said they wanted to live.
"If we keep biting the prince, His Majesty will hate us. The only way is to keep an eye on Jiang Qingzhi. The Marquis' Mansion still owes Jiang Qingzhi a huge gambling debt. If the Marquis doesn't care about it anymore, when Jiang Qingzhi comes to collect the debt, who among us can stop him?"
It must be said that Ma's brain is really good, even better than Zhang Tong's. She said: "This mansion has no fame or wealth, and I am incorruptible. I am the legitimate wife, and the house is mine. What about you? You have nothing.
Now I have thought of a way for you, which is... to insist that this matter was instigated by Jiang Qingzhi. This way, His Majesty will surely be happy, and the Marquis' Mansion will escape the disaster.
Jiang Qingzhi has too many opponents, and most of the scholars in the capital want to eat his flesh. If we bite him, how can those scholars sit idly by? They will definitely lend a hand..."
This analysis and planning amazed the concubines. They all bowed down and praised the lady for her wisdom.
More than a dozen concubines flocked to him for their own future.
"Go away!"
Sun Chonglou roared, kicked one of them away, and then rushed over. He saw those women falling to the sides like withered flowers and willows in the autumn wind.
With a scream, Sun Chonglou rushed to Ma.
Ma was not angry but happy when she saw this. To her, those concubines were just cannon fodder and tools. Today's battle was a token of her loyalty to those people.
She glanced at the concubines with regret in her eyes...not a single one of them was dead.
If Sun Chonglou killed someone in public, Ma would dare to bang her head against the doorpost. Then public opinion in the capital would be in an uproar, and the Jincheng Marquisate would become the victim.
Zhang Tong became a fool, and from then on, Ma was in charge of the mansion. If the concubines were disobedient, she would ask the traffickers to sell them... The managers in the mansion should also be replaced.
In this way, this marquisate would be hers.
Thinking of this, Ma saw a few men watching the excitement not far away, and she knew they were those people's spies.
The opportunity is coming!
Ma said sternly, "I am the Marquis' wife, do you dare to try?"
Beating a concubine can only be considered a civil dispute.
And beating a marquis' wife...
That's a big deal, the legitimate wives of the powerful and wealthy will unite against the enemy.
Do you dare?
Ma held his head high.
Bah!
Sun Chonglou turned around, and Ma behind him rolled her eyes and then fell down.
Huang Jin was stunned.
Everyone thought that Jiang Qingzhi would scold or even punish Sun Chonglou.
"Well done!" said Jiang Qingzhi.
What the hell!
You actually said you played well?
As everyone was stunned, Jiang Qing got on his horse and said, "I'm back."
Blasted!
Before Jiang Qingzhi even got home, the news spread like wildfire.
"Ma wants to bite Jiang Qingzhi to death. Your Majesty must stand on her side in order to protect Prince Yu. And those people in the capital will then attack Jiang Qingzhi... Who came up with this idea?"
Several old people gathered together to drink tea, and they couldn't help but be overjoyed when they heard the news.
The man who reported the incident said, “No one has given any advice.”
"Could it be that Ma?" An old man stroked his beard in surprise, "Can a woman also have such a plan?"
"Go and ask."
The news came quickly...
"The Marquis's Mansion was a bit short of expenses at the beginning. After Ma got married, she came up with a few ideas and soon made a lot of money. From then on, Zhang Tong regarded her as a think tank..."
"She's actually a heroine!"
"Everyone." An old man coughed dryly, "I think Ma's idea..."
Another old man said: "Zhang Tong was beaten and disabled because of Jiang Qingzhi's instigation!"
"That's right!"
Several old men said in unison, and then laughed.
An old man walked out, looked at the gloomy sky with his hands behind his back, and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what will you choose now?"
……
After Prince Yu was beaten with a stick, the atmosphere in the palace became somewhat serious.
The Taoist covered his forehead and said, "Why won't you just stop?"
He had just prepared some measures, but now that public opinion has shifted, those measures are no longer useful.
Huang Jin said: "People outside are now saying that it was Long Wei Bo's instigation."
Put the blame on Jiang Qingzhi?
Taoist said coldly: "There are always demons disturbing my mind!"
"Yes."
Huang Jin left. Rui Jingxian was waiting outside. When he saw him come out, he asked, "How is it?"
Huang Jin shook his head, "Your Majesty means that Zhang Tong's disability has nothing to do with Chang Wei Bo."
Rui Jingxian stamped his feet, "Your Majesty, what's wrong... Let's go and persuade him."
Huang Jin looked at him coldly: "Why not go?"
Rui Jingxian smiled awkwardly, "What about Prince Yu..."
"Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask." "I know!"
Rui Jingxian slowly backed away, and when he turned around, the sneer on his face turned into a vicious one, "What are you so proud of? One day I will make you kneel in front of me and call me grandpa!"
……
“Public opinion is not good.”
Xu Wei hurried back, "People outside are saying that it was Lord Bo who instigated Prince Yu to do it."
Jiang Qingzhi was drinking tea, tasting it carefully, and felt a lingering fragrance. He couldn't help but praise: "It's really good tea."
Hu Zongxian sighed: "This is forcing Your Majesty to make a choice."
Xu Wei sat down, and a servant brought him iced yogurt. He drank half a cup in one gulp, and then said, "Those people are citing scriptures and saying how domineering the Lord is. I heard that an official from the Ministry of Justice got involved, saying that the Lord should be exiled..."
Damn it!
Hu Zongxian cursed: "Even if he was beaten to disability, he shouldn't be exiled, right?"
"They said that Lord Earl had been planning this for a long time. Old Hu, intentional and unintentional are two different things." Xu Wei took a sip of iced yogurt. "The purpose of those people is to put Your Majesty in a dilemma and make Lord Earl infamous. In addition..."
"Exile!" Jiang Qingzhi put down the teacup.
"Yes." Xu Wei said, "It is said that the Duke has caused unrest in the capital and should be exiled to the countryside."
"Once we get there, the local nobles and officials will join forces... and Lord Earl will be in danger." Hu Zongxian said, "Fortunately, Lord Earl's identity as a leader of the Mohist school has not been exposed, otherwise..."
"He will definitely die!" Xu Wei said calmly, "If those people knew the identity of Lord Earl, Your Majesty would be put aside. They would do their best to deal with Lord Earl, and the fight would not stop until he was dead."
For the weak Confucianists, the tough Mohists are naturally their nemesis.
"Cousin."
King Jing came in hurriedly, "Uncle, Third Brother bit himself to death. He did it on his own accord."
"Fool!" Hu Zongxian sighed, "Prince Yu... ah!"
Xu Wei narrowed his eyes, somewhat disapprovingly. In his opinion, an emperor must have the determination and courage to cut off one's own arm.
Prince Yu's move was out of affection, but considering the overall situation, it seemed a bit too soft-hearted.
"My Lord, Prince Yu is a little indecisive..." Xu Wei felt that he should remind Jiang Qingzhi.
Jiang Qingzhi took out the medicinal cigarette and said, "Old Xu, if this happened to you and me, do you know how I would decide?"
Xu Wei said: "Just abandon me."
Jiang Qingzhi shook his head and lit up the incense. The smoke made his face a little blurry and his features more rigid. "I will also say that I did it!"
Xu Wei was startled, then smiled bitterly and said, "Those who want to achieve great things should be brave enough to cut off their own arms!"
"If something requires drastic measures, then don't do it!" Jiang Qingzhi's voice was soft, but it was as loud as metal and stone.
Hu Zongxian and Xu Wei looked at each other.
"I am a common man. If I can't take revenge, what's the point of living?"
Jiang Qingzhi took a puff of his cigarette and said, "Old Four, go back and tell Old Three that I'm here. Tell him to be patient."
It seems that my uncle is going to take action... King Jing looked at Jiang Qingzhi deeply and then said goodbye.
Xu Wei then said quietly: "It's not that there is no other way."
"What method?" Hu Zongxian asked.
Jiang Qingzhi said calmly: "Why did Prince Yu take action?"
Xu Wei said: "It's because Prince Yu learned about what Zhang Tong did and was filled with indignation!"
Old Xu is indeed worthy of being my chief think tank... Jiang Qingzhi nodded, "Zhang Tong opened a casino, and I think he did a lot of evil things."
Hu Zongxian felt that his IQ seemed to be crushed. He finally understood the two's plan. "The casino is not under the name of the Marquis' Mansion, but..."
Xu Wei said sinisterly: "Just look for evidence. If you can't find any, then make one up for him!"
"Where is the evidence of this heinous crime?" Hu Zongxian asked.
Jiang Qingzhi said: "There are only three possible outcomes for gamblers. The first is to lose everything and become a beggar. The second is to lose everything and owe the casino high-interest loans and get beaten to a disability. The third is to be beaten to death! Find the casino..."
Hu Zongxian closed his eyes and added a step from the overall situation, "You can donate some money to the orphanage."
"After this incident, some people will definitely say that Master Bo hates gambling, but at the same time he makes a lot of money from gambling..." Xu Wei's eyes flashed with a strange light, "Old Hu is not bad!"
The guards were dispatched, and Sun Bu Tong swore that he would find Zhang's casino within two hours.
"Master, I'm going out for a while."
Sun Chonglou asked for leave.
"Go."
Jiang Qingzhi and Xu Wei were discussing the follow-up matters.
"Master!"
Sun Chonglou, who had been out for less than half an hour, came back, sweating profusely, and asked for water.
Jiang Qingzhi handed him the teapot.
Xu Wei noticed a detail. When Jiang Qing poured tea for Hu Zongxian, the spout of the teapot touched the edge of the cup, and he subconsciously wiped it a few times with his hand.
But at this moment, he handed the teapot to Sun Chonglou without any care and drank it.
He looked at Sun Chonglou drinking lavishly and thought to himself, this loyal servant may be called a servant, but in the eyes of the master, he is actually his brother.
Sun Chonglou put down the teapot and wiped the corner of his mouth, "Master, the Zhang family's gambling house is in an alley in the north of the city."
"How did you find it?" Hu Zongxian asked.
"Beggars! They are the Beggars' Gang that Master mentioned." Sun Chonglou said, "They know everything."
Jiang Qingzhi stood up and said, "Call Sun Bu Tong and the others back, and have them go to the gambling house tonight and bring back a live person. First, find evidence that the gambling house belongs to the Marquis' Mansion, and second, find the families of those who were beaten to death."
He grinned and said, "Give me the evidence to prove it!"
(End of this chapter)
