Shipin Dalizheng

Jin Shizhao brought Xing Zhangshi to Duke Du's mansion, where they happened to run into Master Du San, who had just returned on a fast horse. Master Du San knew what was going on when he saw them, and shouted, "Master Jin, we are such rare guests. Please come in."

Jin Shizhao looked unhappy, and he wanted to discuss this matter with Duke Du in person.

But Chief Clerk Xing knew that Third Master Du was in charge of the household affairs, and this matter was the same as what he said, so he took the lead and followed into the Duke's Mansion.

Third Master Du led the two of them on a long detour through the mansion, finally bringing them to the South Garden, where the third wife lived, and then to his main hall. He kindly had the servants serve tea, then said, "I'm drenched in sweat, and it would be rude of me to entertain guests. You two should take a break. I'll wash up and come right back. Right away."

Xing Zhangshi wanted to say that there was no need to be so polite, so he just asked two questions and left. Mr. Du Sanye didn't even give him a chance to speak before he disappeared.

After waiting for a long time, the beautiful maid came to change the hot tea three times. It was probably time for him to take a bath and his skin was peeling. Then Mr. Du San came slowly.

"Sorry, sorry, it's really too dirty. I need to wash it a little longer. Someone, bring more tea..."

"Master Du," Jin Shizhao said, unable to bear it any longer, "You're stalling for time!"

Mr. Du Sanye paused, then slowly sat down and crossed his legs.

"Master Jin, I don't think there's anything wrong with this mansion that requires you to come here in person. What about you, Chief Clerk Xing? I haven't asked you why you're here yet."

Chief Clerk Xing was stunned for a moment. Judging from the tone of voice, it seemed unnecessary for him to come.

He knew the prince's thoughts very well. He had wanted to get rid of Minister Jin for a long time, but he didn't want to give people a chance to talk and disappoint his supporters. However, even if the Duke Du's Mansion had not expressed support for him, it was definitely not someone he could be hostile to.

He smiled and said, "Oh, Minister Jin came to ask my prince to act as a middleman, saying that there was a misunderstanding between the two families. The prince asked me to ask what the misunderstanding was and whether it could be mediated."

Xing Zhangshi is a retainer of Prince Rui and has a rank, but he does not act like a big shot in Duke Du's mansion and speaks quite politely.

Mr. Du was also very polite to him. "No, there is no misunderstanding. The mansion wanted to buy more land, and Prince Rong happened to be short of money, so he sold a piece of land to my family. Here is the deed, and Chief Historian Xing has reviewed it."

Chief Clerk Xing knew the deeds were complete and legal, so he didn't even need to look at them. Instead, he was interested in what Third Master Du had said. "Is Prince Rong short of money?"

"Of course!" Mr. Du San gestured exaggeratedly, "He has nothing to eat, nothing to wear, and he wears rags. He can't even pay his servants monthly wages, and he has to rely on relatives for help. You haven't seen it, when someone gave him a chicken leg, he was so moved that he burst into tears..."

Chief Surgeon Xing felt that the chairs in the Du family also had thorns, and their buttocks hurt.

"Master Jin, now that the matter is clear, I will take my leave and return the message to the prince."

Jin Shizhao couldn't stop Xing Zhangshi and could only watch him leave.

"Master Jin."

Master Du San put down his legs and said sincerely, "If you really want to do that, it's not impossible. However, I can't make the decision on such a big matter by myself. I have to ask my master, the Duke of Guo."

Jin Shizhao's spirits lifted, and thinking there was still room for maneuver, he asked, "Where is the Duke? Take me to see him."

Master Du San respectfully led Jin Shizhao around twice and then to Beiyuan. However, the Beiyuan manager Du Qi said, "The Duke has gone to the Jingjiwei camp and has not returned yet."

"Did you say when you'd be back?"

"No, the Duke takes several days to go, and I don't know when he will be back."

Third Master Du looked embarrassed. "Master Jin, why don't you go back first and come back tomorrow. If tomorrow doesn't work, then the day after tomorrow. My eldest brother has to come back anyway."

Jin Shizhao couldn't wait any longer. He couldn't keep asking for leave. This matter had to be resolved today.

"I will go to the Jingjiwei camp to look for the Duke."

Mr. Du said reluctantly, "Alright, I'll go with Master Jin. Otherwise, don't take the sedan chair, take my carriage instead."

So he took the Du Mansion's carriage and headed straight for the East City Gate.

However, at this time, the servants of the Minister's Mansion were looking for him everywhere because Old Madam Jin was worried about her nephew, so she sent people to Fuxinzhuang to check on him. They were shocked to hear the bad news that her second nephew's family was wiped out.

At this time, the body had not yet been transported to the capital. Old Lady Jin sent people to look for her son while frequently traveling to Jingzhao Prefecture, holding on to the last bit of hope in her heart.

The Du family's carriage was not driving slowly, but it was in a hurry and arrived at the city center Jingjiwei before dark.

Duke Du was a very easy person to talk to, and readily agreed to return Fuxinzhuang, but...

"Master Jin, I've already invested real money, so you can't let me lose money, right? How about this: you give me 20,000 taels of silver, and I'll return Fuxinzhuang to you. Master Jin, you won't lose anything. After this, your name can be clearly written on the new deed of Fuxinzhuang. Even if you die tomorrow, the manor will be inherited by your son. Uh... I'm just giving you an analogy, aha!"

Jin Shizhao had no intention of getting angry with him; he simply felt a chill in his heart! How could he possibly have 20,000 taels of silver? If he had, would he still come to Duke Du?

He held back his anger and said, "Duke, what I mean is that you return the farm you bought and get the money back."

Duke Du was embarrassed. "That child looks pitiful. He must need the money to save his life. How can I have the nerve to ask for it back? It's so unkind. It's so unkind. The girl and boy at home are still looking for marriage. Lord Jin, I can't do such a stupid thing."

It’s up to you! Duke Du added in his heart.

Jin Shizhao knew that if he continued speaking he would only be humiliated, and he had no choice but to leave with hatred.

The Du Mansion's carriage returned to the city at high speed. The city gate had already been closed. It was only Mr. Du San who used the token of the Duke's Mansion to open the city gate and let them in.

Naturally, he returned to the Duke's Mansion. Jin Shizhao got off the carriage, thinking the sedan chair bearers were still waiting for him. After calling for a long time, he found no sign of them. He asked the gatekeeper, who said that in the evening, Madam Jin needed a sedan chair, so he sent all the sedan chair bearers back.

Looking back, the door of the Duke's Mansion was closed.

Jin Shizhao could only trudge home. It was nearly midnight, the strictest curfew time, and unsurprisingly, he was caught by the patrol camp.

In the past, when officials were caught wandering at night, the patrol battalion would simply turn a blind eye and quickly release them. However, tonight, Jin Shizhao was furious and spoke harshly, offending the leading officer.

You have to know that those who can enter the iron rice bowl system of the patrol camp are either from wealthy or noble families. After two years of military service, they can be gilded with a layer of gold. If they enter the officialdom in the future, they are not just commoners without merit. The person on duty tonight is Gu Zhongxun, the son of the Zhongqin Earl and the mother of the Third Prince Nangong Huai.

How could such a person really be afraid of a Minister of Rites? He didn't care about face, but the Duke of Zhongqin still cared about face, and the Prince of Huai also cared about face. So, Jin Shizhao was arrested and taken back to the patrol camp and locked up in a dark room.

Rongjia Village.

When Rong Tang heard that the Yang family was wiped out, he was so happy. What should he do? He really wanted to laugh out loud three times, hahahahaha...

"Ahem! That's too tragic! He's my cousin!"

He beat his chest to express his sadness. "You said that on the day of the funeral, should I pay for the funeral rites? Who knows how much copper coins it would cost? Even if I have to borrow it, I will get it."

Rong Zhan said, "I'm afraid copper coins won't work. Silver might be necessary. Given the master's current status, two hundred taels is no less."

Rong Tang felt heartbroken. "Twenty taels, no more. I'll have to work so hard to earn it back. Besides, I'm still in mourning, so it wouldn't be too much to send a servant on that day, right?"

The four guards all pointed at the copper coin and said, "He'll go."

Tongqian was confused, "Me?"

I soon discovered with great pain that this matter had already been confirmed because they were already talking about other things.