Ming Dynasty: I, Yan Maoqing, am truly radiating auspicious energy!

Chapter 89 Madam?!
Upon hearing this, Lu Bing, Yan Changping, and the others were immediately filled with respect, and the way they looked at Yan Maoqing changed drastically.

"?!"

Shen Lian's expression also stiffened, and his pupils contracted.

Even if he were incredibly dull-witted, he couldn't possibly not understand what it meant to have "connections with the heavens above."

In the Ming Dynasty, there was only one Heaven, and that was the current Emperor!

Yan Maoqing had just come out of the palace unharmed, and upon seeing him, he was still so arrogant, even personally carrying the emperor's edict on behalf of Eunuch Huang.

It is self-evident what Yan Maoqing meant by "heaven".

So, that 400,000 taels of embezzled money...

at the same time.

Lu Bing had already exchanged a glance with Huang Jin and received Huang Jin's official acquiescence.

Therefore, no matter how many questions he still had in his mind, he dared not question the authenticity of the edict at this moment. He immediately put on a smile and came to Yan Maoqing to ask:

“Since it is the Emperor’s decree, I shall obey it.”

"I just don't know where Yan Jishi's residence is located. I will personally escort Yan Jishi back to his residence."

In fact, Lu Bing knew where Yan Maoqing lived, since he had previously been ordered to have Shen Lian monitor Yan Maoqing for some time. He only needed to instruct Shen Lian to lead the way.

However, he didn't want Yan Maoqing to know about the surveillance yet, so he deliberately went to the trouble of doing so.

He is also thinking about this issue.

As far as he knew, Yan Maoqing's residence was just a small courtyard house.

Is it really possible for such a small courtyard to store a full 400,000 taels of silver? Does that mean Yan Maoqing will just sleep on silver and walk on silver from now on?
Upon hearing this, Yan Maoqing laughed and gave the address he had obtained from Zhang Xian beforehand:

"Thank you for your help, Commander Lu. I wonder if you know where Rope Craftsman Alley is? Just go straight to Rope Craftsman Alley and find a house with a new sign that says 'Yan Residence'."

"What alley?"

Lu Bing looked surprised again and couldn't help but confirm it once more.

Yan Maoqing is obviously unaware of this at the moment.

Rope Craftsman Alley actually has another name among the locals: "Prime Minister Alley".

Rope Craftsman Alley is not a place for ordinary people to live; the houses there are at least three or four courtyards.

To live there, one not only needs to be extremely wealthy, but also possess a certain status to qualify for the purchase. At the very least, one must be an official of the fourth rank or above in the imperial court; otherwise, even if someone dares to buy, no one dares to sell.

The former Grand Secretary Yang Tinghe, the current Grand Secretary Zhai Luan, and the Minister of Rites Yan Song all lived in Shengjiang Hutong.

Oh, his adoptive father is the Duke of Yi, and he has connections to the highest levels of government?
That's okay...

"Ropesmith Alley, where is Commander Lu?"

Yan Maoqing thought Lu Bing was just hard of hearing because of his young age, so he repeated it without a second thought.

"..."

Lu Bing paused for a moment, then finally waved his hand:

"Send a few men to scout ahead... to Rope Craftsman Alley and find a house with a sign that says 'Yan Residence'. The rest of you, come with me and escort Yan Jishi carefully!"

……

Not long after, Yan Maoqing got back into the oxcart.

The creaking of the oxcart might be an ear-piercing noise to others, but to him at that moment, it was the most beautiful melody in the world.

As for Zhu Houcong's warning to "be diligent and frugal, and not be extravagant," he didn't take it to heart at all.

Since Zhu Houcong did not deposit this money into the imperial treasury or the imperial granary, it could only be a piece of money of unknown origin.

Since it was unclaimed money, if Yan Maoqing did not hand it over voluntarily, it could only be his private property. Zhu Houcong could never publicly issue an edict ordering him to take the money. If he wanted it, he could only accuse him of a crime and order his property to be confiscated.

So no matter what Zhu Houcong was really thinking, it was still Yan Maoqing's money in the end!
Do you want him to become Heshen?
impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
People have status, and there is a rule that newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) are not allowed to leave the capital.

Silver has no identity; there are countless ways to transport such inanimate objects out of the capital and send them back to one's hometown to be buried.

This matter has long formed a complete industrial chain in both official and private circles. Otherwise, how would those corrupt officials in the capital handle the silver? Why is it so difficult to find the full amount when their homes are searched? As for Zhu Houcong saying that "I will order people to keep an eye on things," Yan Maoqing paid even less attention to it.

This money can't even be recorded in the books, so what pretext will Zhu Houcong use to order people to keep an eye on it?

Furthermore, even if we were to keep an eye on them, there are no cameras now, only human surveillance. And it's impossible for a human to keep an eye on them 24/7, 365 days a year without interruption. It's impossible for there to be no oversights.

Moreover, since Zhu Houcong couldn't clearly state what he was watching, even if his superiors knew what he meant, his subordinates might misunderstand, giving him an opportunity to exploit the situation.

Just now, Yan Maoqing was taking advantage of this loophole.

His deceptive statement, "I have connections all the way to the top," was enough to mislead Lu Bing, Yan Changping, Shen Lian, and other Jinyiwei officials.

He believed that with just that statement, he could, while not exactly be able to do whatever he wanted, in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But he could also certainly be persuaded by the Imperial Guards to open doors of convenience for him when needed...

At least there won't be any more incidents of someone lifting the canopy of their own carriage in the future!

As for this silver...

What's the point of confiscating property? When Zhu Houcong suddenly discovers that the money is almost gone, is it still necessary to risk causing controversy in the court and among the people?

Moreover, he has now found Zhu Houcong another inexhaustible source of wealth: coal tariffs.

This path to wealth is a new one that is not yet crawling with schistosomiasis.

In addition, the sheer number of account books was enough to ensure that Zhu Houcong had complete control over this new path.

If he had already paved the way so smoothly, yet Zhu Houcong still couldn't even handle this small matter properly, and ultimately could only focus on the little silver in his hands, then it would be enough to prove that some people in later generations still praised Zhu Houcong as a good-for-nothing, and that the Ming Dynasty was truly beyond saving.

This also proves how wise Yan Maoqing's idea of ​​retiring and returning to his hometown was, and we must continue to work towards this goal...

While I was thinking about these things.

"Yan Jishi, this should be the place, right?"

The convoy stopped, and Lu Bing came up to Yan Maoqing, pointing to the gate behind him with the brand-new "Yan Residence" plaque and asking.

"This……"

Looking at the extravagant and inhumane gate of the mansion, Yan Maoqing felt somewhat insecure.

"Squeak-"

Hearing the commotion outside, a servant inside the gate opened the gate a crack and peeked out.

Seeing the procession at the gate, especially the flying fish robes worn by Lu Bing and his men, the servant turned pale and tremblingly stepped forward to bow and ask:
"Gentlemen, esteemed officials, may I not...may I not know why we have come here today?"

"Is this the residence of Yan Maoqing, Yan Jishi?"

A commander of the Imperial Guard stepped forward and asked.

"Yes, yes, esteemed officials, this is..."

"You insolent servant! Your master is right at the door, and you don't even recognize him?"

The commander of the Imperial Guard couldn't help but sneer.

"Shangguan means..."

The servant was startled again, then looked around the crowd, his gaze finally settling on Yan Maoqing's face... He suddenly turned around and ran joyfully towards the door.
"Madam! Madam! Good news! Our master is back! Our master is back!!!"

"this?"

The group of Imperial Guards were all surprised to see this, and their eyes all turned to Yan Maoqing.

"???"

"!!!"

Yan Maoqing was also dumbfounded, like a monk who was completely baffled.

What lady?
Where did this lady come from?

wrong!

Where did this servant come from? Why does he look so familiar?
(End of this chapter)