Shipin Dalizheng

On the way, Butler Tao told Rong Tang a lot of terrible things that happened in the Minister's Mansion.

"Minister Jin took several days off and was forced by the old lady to redress the grievances of the Second Master of the Yang Family. However, there was no grievance to redress. More than a hundred witnesses testified that they had drowned themselves. There was also circumstantial evidence from the son of the Zheng Family and the Third Master of the Du Family, making it basically impossible to investigate. Minister Jin went to the palace to request a thorough investigation, but the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture said that Minister Jin insulted his professionalism and quit the job. The body was dragged to the gate of the Dali Temple. The Dali Temple had received benefits from Minister Jin before, so he had to investigate the people around the Second Master of the Yang Family. He found that most of them were dead and none of them were alive. It was also said that they had stolen the jewelry of the ladies of the Yang Family and the Jingzhao Prefecture had searched the village. The Minister of the Dali Temple went to When asked about the whereabouts of the valuables retrieved from the water, the Jingzhao prefect said they had been compensated to the families of several servants who had dived into the water to save their master and sacrificed themselves. Those families expressed satisfaction with the compensation and decided not to pursue the matter. The Dali Temple Minister couldn't find a way around it, so the matter was dropped, hastily closed as a family feud. In truth, Minister Jin hadn't wanted to have the body lain at the Minister's residence for the funeral, but it was the old lady who forced him to agree after crying, making a scene, and even threatening to hang herself. Now the entire capital is laughing at him for using his own residence to hold the funeral for his concubine's brother-in-law; he's truly thrown all the etiquette out of the water. But I heard from someone near the wall that the old lady wanted to collect the funeral fee at the Minister's residence, but I don't know if it's true or not."

Rong Tang listened to it like a joke. Was there really no clue to the deaths of Yang Liangui's family? Impossible. There were simply too many flaws. But there was no evidence. And anyone with a discerning eye could see that both the Zheng and Du families were determined to maintain their prosperity in Xinzhuang. Who would want to compete with these two families?

After all, you still have to remember favors.

Soon he arrived at the door of the Bo Mansion. Someone was looking in from inside. When he saw him, he immediately rushed out and shouted, "Master, I'm here."

It's a copper coin. A few days ago, a few people joked that they wanted him to come and mourn Rong Tang. It seems that this kid is self-aware and came here early in the morning.

"Have you prepared the funeral?"

Tongqian said, "Chuncao gave twenty taels, but the great aunt said no, and asked for two hundred taels, saying that people would point fingers at us."

"After sucking the Rong family's blood for so many years, they've earned ten to two hundred taels. Why should I give them money?"

As Rong Tang spoke, he instructed Steward Tao, "Don't give any cash either. Go buy gold and silver paper money. Buy twenty taels of silver each and pile them up in front of the Minister's residence and burn them. Since this is money for the dead, the living won't get a penny of it."

While Butler Tao said yes, he secretly sighed in his heart that the prince was really cruel to his father!

Rong Xiu heard that Rong Tang had returned, and brought Mother Yao to see him. "Where did you go so early in the morning? You didn't even tell the servants, and you made us all so anxious."

What can Rong Tang say?

He changed his clothes and made up a lie to get by.

Rong Xiu spoke again, with a frown on her face.

"Xiaotang, don't be too strict with the Jin family. People tend to favor the weak. Before, when your mother died, you were alone in mourning and seriously injured, and the people sympathized with you. But now you are the prince, and five people have died there, and the old lady has been stripped of her imperial title. It's a time of misery and misfortune, so people naturally lean towards them. Just because they are the elders, you can't do anything about it."

If this had been said half a month ago, Rong Tang might have been a little more cautious, but he had just discussed the issue of personality with Rong Zhan and the others a few days ago. Reputation was no longer something that could be had or not.

"I understand. I won't be bad at etiquette."

After waiting for an hour, the servants who had gone out to buy paper money came back one after another, followed by the shop assistants who were delivering paper money, some pushing or using their carts and horses. There were several large carts in total.

"All ready, gather at the next door. Steward Tao, have all the male servants go and weep for the dead. Tongqian, you'll lead the way. Cry for the young master with passion and emotion, and he'll give you a reward."

Tongqian said "Yes," and started rubbing his eyes before he even stepped out of the door, until his eyes turned red. The other parents and servants in the Bo's mansion also thought this was a great opportunity to show off, and they all looked like they had lost their parents.

"My cousin who's getting farther and farther away the more I call him..."

When Tongqian came, he consulted several experienced grandmothers and learned the true meaning of mourning. That is to sing while crying, with ups and downs and rich emotions. Although it sounds funny, it is the etiquette of funerals.

Rong Tang was stunned and amazed. He soon reached the door of the Minister's Mansion and had someone pour several carts of paper money on the ground and start burning them.

The gatekeeper of the Minister's Mansion was already nervous. The last conflict with this gentleman resulted in the loss of dozens of able-bodied men in the mansion, which had not been replenished yet. He did not dare to step forward and say much, so he quickly went in to report.

Today, Yang Liangui's family held a funeral. Apart from the pallbearers, there were no mourners at all. It was a very shabby occasion. Jin Shizhao was sulking when he heard the doorman's trembling voice report, "Master, the Crown Prince has brought his condolences. They're right at the gate..."

Jin Shizhao gnashed his teeth, "How dare that evil creature come here!"

If his second cousin's death had nothing to do with him, he would have written the golden word upside down.

In reality, he had wronged Rong Tang. Rong Tang hadn't intended to kill the Yang brothers immediately; it was the remnants of the Fuxin Village soldiers who had acted on impulse. But once a person was dead, they were dead. Whether they were killed by the Fuxin Village remnants or Rong Tang himself, there was no difference in essence. Outsiders would blame Rong Tang.

Rong Tang said it didn't matter.

A big fire was lit at the door. The weather in July was particularly hot. Those who were close to it were sweating profusely and moved away. Rong Tang was so hot that he picked up a folding fan to fan himself. He also picked it up when he changed his clothes.

A dozen servants and guards stood outside the fire, howling. Seeing that it was almost finished, they hurried to add more. Twenty taels of silver was not a lot of money for a rich man, but converted into gold, silver, and paper, it was still a huge sum of money. It seemed that it would take too long to burn out.

Jin Shizhao came over and saw this. His mouth was twisted with anger, and he cursed with shaking hands, "Evil creature, how dare you burn paper money in front of the Minister's residence?"

Rong Tang was calm and composed. "Why not? Isn't he dead? What else can we burn if not paper money for the dead? The Yang brothers love money like their lives, and they dare to take anything that belongs to them or not. This time, I will give him a generous gift, and let the whole family buy a rich new village underground and continue to be masters and mistresses. Everyone, tell me, do I do things with any respect?"

The servants and guards at the Bo's Mansion all expressed their opinions, praising the prince for being so filial and respectful. After praising him, they continued to wail, "My cousin..., how could they all die..."

Yang Lianye, who came a step behind, was so angry that he fell backwards.

It was the first time for Rong Tang to face the Yang brothers. He had never seen Yang Liangui until his death. Yang Lianye had just been released from Jingzhao Prefecture, and the dejection on his face had not yet faded, but he had a ruthless look of "what can you do to me" again.

Yang Lianye looks very similar to Old Madam Jin, both with mean faces and triangular eyes. He exudes the vulgarity of a nouveau riche, which is the look that Rong Tang hates the most.

"This is Master Yang!"

He doesn't even bother to call me cousin.

Yang Lianye's triangular eyes flashed with ferocity, but his tone of voice was extremely humble and timid, "Tang, my aunt is your biological grandmother after all. We are blood relatives, so please don't force your eldest cousin to death as well!"

There were still many passersby outside the Minister's Mansion watching the excitement. His words clearly meant that his second cousin's family was forced to death by him. Everything was fine before, but as soon as he sold Fuxinzhuang, his second cousin's family died immediately. No one would believe him if he said it was nothing.

Rong Tang did not answer immediately, but picked up two large strings of paper money and threw them into the fire.