Qingyu Case: Female Minister of Dali Temple

Ding Lisheng said straightforwardly, "After chopping off the heads of Luo Zhengxin and Wu Dong, Young Master Chen wrote two memorials. One was addressed to the Crown Prince, stating the various evil deeds committed by Luo Zhengxin, Wu Dong and others. The other was addressed to the Governor of Wu County, ordering him to immediately escort the relatives of Luo Zhengxin and Wu Dong within five generations of mourning to Hongyuan County."

Fan Zhirong was shocked and angry. "For such a big thing, why did you..."

"Why didn't I tell you right away?" Ding Lisheng stood up, threw his wine glass hard, and laughed angrily, "When it came to you, you knew you were in a hurry? When it came to my future, did any of you care?"

He pointed at Master Qi and said, "Have you ever cared?"

Then he pointed at Master Zhu and Master Gu and said, "Have you ever cared?"

Finally, he pointed to Fan Zhirong and said, "And you, have you ever cared?"

"Ever since Young Master Chen Liu came to Hongyuan County, I have been keeping a low profile, just to leave a good impression on her! She asked me to follow her to investigate Shi Xing's case, and I climbed mountains and crossed rivers, slept in the open air, and never dared to complain. Finally, my hard work paid off, and she intends to promote me to be the governor. I am very excited to tell you this news, but what do you say?" Ding Lisheng laughed twice, and then pointed at them one by one, "You said that she wanted to use me to eliminate you, but it was just empty talk. Well, after so many years of friendship, I believe you, I will reject her, I will not help her find a coffin, what is the result?"

"She is so disappointed in me!"

"She also gave the opportunity for promotion to Lei Dehou!"

“This is you!”

After yelling the last sentence, Ding Lisheng flicked his sleeves and left.

Master Gu quickly winked at Master Zhu, then ran up to him and held him, patting his chest to calm him down while apologizing with a smile, "Brother Ding, calm down. Brother Gu was just too anxious at the moment, so his tone was not very pleasant. He actually did not mean to blame Brother Ding. Brother Zhu and Brother Qi can both testify that Brother Fan often told us that the rapid growth of our families in recent years was all due to Brother Ding's care. As for Master Chen Liu's plan to promote you to the position of prefect, it was indeed our fault, and we apologize to you."

Master Gu stepped back and bowed to him together with Master Zhu, Master Qi, and Fan Zhirong who had calmed down. Fan Zhirong bowed again with an apologetic look on his face, "I was confused for a moment, I hope Brother Ding can forgive me for the sake of our past friendship. If Brother Ding is really unwilling to forgive, please let me make amends before we break off our friendship, please, Brother Ding."

"You're talking nonsense again, Brother Ding. Come on, let's continue drinking. If you have anything to say, just sit down and talk it out. Why get angry?" Master Zhu came forward, followed Master Gu to pull Ding Lisheng back into the house, and asked Master Qi to pour him another glass of wine.

For so many years, he had always been the one to pour tea and wine for them, and today it was finally their turn to pour wine for him! While Ding Lisheng was taking advantage of the situation, he became even more determined to take the position of prefect no matter what!

After taking two sips of the wine handed over by Mr. Qi Sanye, Ding Lisheng cooperated with Fan Zhirong to exchange a few words of self-examination, saying "You are wrong, I am also wrong", and then took the initiative to get back to the point and said: "Luo Zhengxin, Luo Jian, Luo Zhong, and Mrs. Luo, they all confessed to Luoyanju. Although the Ren family and the Wen family pushed Luoyanju onto Ren Yujie and Wen Gui, Mr. Chen Liu believed that there were villas of the Ren family and the Wen family near Luoyanju, and they could not have known nothing. So the one who really wants to deal with the Ren family and the Wen family is Mr. Chen Liu, not me. If you want to deal with the Zhou family first, I have no objection, but you have to come up with a reason that can convince Mr. Chen Liu."

"Whether we deal with the Ren and Wen families first, or the Zhou family first, the goal is to get rid of Lei Dehou." Second Master Gu continued, "Based on the current situation and human nature, we misjudged Mr. Chen Liu's intention to promote you to the position of prefect. We were wrong. Since Mr. Chen Liu wants to deal with the Ren and Wen families, we will ignore everything else and deal with the Ren and Wen families first, and let you take back the position of prefect first."

Master Zhu said, "It's ok to deal with the Ren family and the Wen family first, but comparing the two, it's easier to deal with the Zhou family."

Master Qi San said, "If you ask me, killing Lei Dehou directly is the quickest and easiest way."

Ding Lisheng snorted coldly: "There are only two of us who want to compete for the position of prefect. If he dies, who will be the murderer?"

Master Qi San said disapprovingly: "Just don't do it. Without evidence, she can't do anything to you!"

"She can't do anything to me, but as long as she suspects me, she can stop promoting me!" Ding Lisheng sneered, "Ask Mr. Fan why he and the third son had to testify in court that it was Luo Zhengxin who bought the golden silkworm?"

"Alright, stop arguing." Fan Zhirong made the final decision, "Let's deal with the Ren and Wen families first. It's troublesome, but let's help Brother Ding regain the position of prefect first."

"Whether you deal with the Ren and Wen families first, or the Zhou family first, it makes no difference to me." Looking at Mr. Zhu Er who didn't agree and Mr. Qi San who had a sullen face, Ding Lisheng stood up, patted his sleeves and said, "I still say that if you want to deal with the Zhou family, then come up with a reason that can convince Mr. Chen Liu. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. You guys can discuss it slowly."

"Brother Ding..."

Ding Lisheng avoided Mr. Gu's pull, bowed to him, and walked away quickly.

Master Gu stood at the door, watching him walk away until he disappeared. The smile on his face slowly faded. "After being a dog for Master Chen Liu for a few days, you dare to bark at your old master. What a shameless thing!"

"Let me tell you, don't deal with any of the Ren family, the Wen family, or the Zhou family. Doesn't he want to be a governor?" Third Master Qi said, "Then let's see if he can become one without our help!"

"We have to help," Master Zhu stood up and said, "This Mr. Chen Liu has no rules and regulations in his actions, and his methods are cruel and ruthless. Without someone to tip him off, it's inevitable that people will feel uneasy."

Master Qi San said indignantly: "Will we have to listen to his barking all the time in the future?"

Master Zhu paused as he was walking out, turned around and smiled at him, saying, "Didn't he beat two people to death at his farm in Longmen Town last year? Master Chen Liu loves his people like his own children, so the families of the two people who were beaten to death at his farm should come and complain."

"Good idea!" said Master Qi San. "I'll take care of this!"

Master Zhu reminded him not to leave any evidence behind and then left. Master Gu saw him leave and followed him. Master Qi was anxious to teach Ding Lisheng a lesson, so he turned around and said hello to Fan Zhirong and left too.

In an instant, only Fan Zhirong was left in Zhengxin Hall. He slowly stood up, stepped over the wine glass that Ding Lisheng had smashed, and after leaving Zhengxin Hall, he immediately turned and went to Songyun Courtyard.

His elder brother Fan Ling lived in Songyunyuan.

Fan Ling hasn't slept yet.

Seeing Fan Zhirong coming in, he held the boy's arm, drank the wine in the boy's hand, and then let go and said, "Go down."

After the young man retreated respectfully, Fan Ling pulled up his open shirt and asked, "Why are you so sad?"

Fan Zhirong sat down beside him. "Master Chen Liu wrote a letter to the governor of Wu County, asking him to escort Luo Zhengxin and Wu Dong's relatives within the fifth degree of mourning to Hongyuan County."

Fan Ling was stunned for a moment, "She wants to kill everyone?"

Fan Zhirong nodded: "Yes."

"Isn't this too cruel?" Fan Ling asked subconsciously, "How many families are there?"

Fan Zhirong took a deep breath: "No."

"What do you mean by 'no'?" Fan Ling's voice involuntarily rose by two degrees. "There are only Luo Zhengxin and Wu Dong's relatives within the fifth degree of mourning, but no one from their families?"

Fan Zhirong nodded: "Yes, only Luo Zhengxin and Wu Dong."

Fan Ling was dissatisfied and asked, "Why?"

Fan Zhirong replied: "With just a few of them, no one has committed any crime."

Fan Ling sneered, "If they hadn't committed any crime, how did those people in the garden die? The idea of ​​killing these people was proposed by Gu Er and Zhu Er. Now that we have suffered such a huge loss, they are fine. This is unacceptable. You should quickly think of a way to make them suffer some losses as well. And that official pharmacy, no matter what method you use, our Fan family must get it!"

Fan Zhirong nodded: "I understand."

After leaving Fan's house and getting on the carriage back to the prefect's mansion, Ding Lisheng couldn't help but laugh a few times. He should have put his affairs first, just like tonight. The Gu family, Zhu family, Fan family, and Qi family are just a few side branches. Without his cover, they are nothing! Forget it, I won't bother with them for now. After I use them to sit in the position of prefect, I will slowly settle accounts with them. And that matter, if he can't give him more benefits, then he will expose them!

While he was calculating all this, Master Gu and Master Zhu were also chattering away.

It is really a place of complexity and leisure.

The moon sets, the sun rises, and a new day begins.

Fu Jiu, who had rushed back from Juxian Building, lowered her voice and said to Chan Yi who came out of the east wing, "Liu Deming's father is here."

"Did you bring anyone with you?" Chan Yi asked.

Fu Jiu nodded.

Chan Yi glanced at the entrance of Cheng Feng Courtyard and asked, "Where is it?"

"I asked them to wait in the lobby. Go tell the master that I'm going to Changning Village to pick up the Seventh Master." Fu Jiu whipped her horse whip and said as she walked out. "By the way, tell the master that Luo Shurong and Wang Zhouli are willing to take over the two shops, but they don't want a 30-70 split. They want a 50-50 split."

Chan Yi said, "Didn't you tell them that it was Young Master Three and they were Seven?"

"Yes," Fu Jiu said, "They said they didn't want a 70-30 split."

"Okay." Chan Yi warned, "Be careful on the road."

Fu Jiu said yes and left.

Chan Yi entered the room and saw that Chen Shao had already gotten up. She quickly turned to Li Tianliu and said, "You can have someone bring the meal over."

Li Tianliu sneered, "I'm not Fu Jiu," but he honestly said to the Yulin guards outside Chengfeng Courtyard, "Go tell the people in the kitchen to quickly send breakfast over!"

The Imperial Guard said, "The general said it wasn't Fu Jiu," while rushing towards the kitchen.

"You little bastard, if you have the guts, don't come back!" Li Tianliu cursed angrily.

Chen Shao had already gotten up before the tea, but he didn't get enough sleep and his mind was still a little fuzzy, so he didn't respond to their conversation. He glanced at Li Tianliu through the window, then turned back to ask Chan Yi, "Did Liu Deming's father find someone so quickly?"

"Probably." Chan Yi said uncertainly.

"Take advantage of the free time during dinner to go over and take a look," Chen Shao instructed, "bring all the people here if possible, otherwise after dinner, there will be a lot of things to do and you won't be able to take care of them."

The cicada shell should be ready.

The kitchen staff brought breakfast over, and Chen Shao had just finished half of it when Chan Yi came back with her friends. After quickly finishing the remaining half, Chen Shao quickly walked out to the courtyard, bowed to everyone, exchanged a few small words with Liu Yi, and then got down to business.

"These ten can cook. They are usually asked to help out at weddings or funerals in the surrounding villages. These fifteen can do odd jobs. They are quick and hardworking." Liu Yi tried his best to sell them. "These five are known to have good tempers. Sir, please take a look and see if they can be used."

"The person Uncle Liu found will definitely be useful." Chen Shao flattered with a smile, then turned to everyone and bowed, "I will rely on your care in the future."

Everyone was a little nervous at first, but when they saw how friendly she was, they all started laughing and chatting.

Chen Shao followed for a while before telling them about the job content: "Please ask the brothers and sisters-in-law to come here, mainly to cook for us. There are about 120 of us, and we only need to cook three to five dishes for each meal. As for what dishes to cook, you can arrange them according to your wishes. We are not picky eaters. I don't have any experience, and I don't know if you can handle it. If you can't, be sure to tell me, and I will ask Uncle Liu to invite some more."

After everyone discussed it noisily for a while, they all agreed that they could handle it.

Chen Shao smiled and said, "That's it for now. If you're too busy, you must tell me."

After everyone agreed, Chen Shao told Chan Yi: "Take the elder brothers and sisters-in-law to the small kitchen. Tell the people in the small kitchen that the small kitchen will be handed over to them from now on."

After Chan Yi led the twenty-five people away, Chen Shao asked Liu Yi to wait for a moment, and she took the remaining five people to the east wing. She stopped at the door of the east wing, knocked lightly, and called inside: "Miss Quan, come out for a moment."

Quan Shuyu came out of the house, bowed and said, "Sir, just call me Shuyu."

"Alright." Chen Shao took a step back and gestured to her, "This is the person I asked Uncle Liu to find to take care of you guys. You take him in, and I won't follow you."

"Sir, could you please wait a moment? I have something to say." Quan Shuyu asked.

Chen Shao nodded in agreement. Quan Shuyu immediately led the five women into the room, briefly introduced the other women's situations and daily tasks to them, and then walked out quickly. Chen Shao led her to the study room and said, "Your injury is not healed yet, there is no need to rush."

"It's almost healed." After entering the study, Quan Shuyu didn't look around, but bowed and said earnestly, "Sir, can you find a job for Shuyu?"

"Looking for something to do?" Chen Shao asked with a smile, "What do you want to do?"

Quan Shuyu said seriously: "Anything is fine."

"Anything is fine..." Chen Shao tapped the desk and thought seriously for a while before saying, "There is something that is suitable for you. But I have to wait until Chan Yi comes back to check your injury and make sure it is almost healed."

"Then please tell me what it is, sir. Even if I can't do it in the next two days, I can wait for two more days." Quan Shuyu said happily. Originally, he just wanted to give it a try, but he didn't expect to get an answer so easily.

"It's not a big deal." Chen Shao said, "I also changed the staff in the small kitchen. Together with the ones who served in your room, there are thirty people. I originally planned to choose one of them to manage it. Since you want to do something, I'll leave it to you."

"Then there's no need to wait another two days. I can do it now!" Quan Shuyu said.

"Whether you are qualified or not is not up to you, it's up to..." Before Chen Shao finished speaking, Li Tianliu knocked on the door frame and said, "Ding Lisheng is here, and Tao Ming and the others are here too."

"Sir, please go and do your work first. I will go back and wait for Miss Chanyi." Quan Shuyu bowed deeply and when he retreated to the door, he stopped and bowed deeply to Li Tianliu as well, then went back to the east wing.

Chen Shao followed him out of the study: "Where are they?"