Shipin Dalizheng

Everyone was furious when they heard the rumor, except Doctor Zhang, who laughed strangely.

Rong Tang waved his hand and refused Rong Quan and Chang Chun's support.

"Uncle Quan, Chang Chun, both of you go out and listen to what's being said outside and who's spreading it. Also, find out which family the Jin family has been in frequent contact with since yesterday."

The two men took their orders and left. Cailan came to her senses a little and walked over to him and whispered, "Master, is this also the reason you asked these people to come here? Then why not let them go too?"

Rong Tang whispered, "It's not the right time yet. I just arrived in the capital, and the Jin family can't do much to attack me. Let's see what tricks they can come up with. Tell them what I gave you so they know what's going on."

In the early afternoon, Rong San and his companions returned one after another. Rong San brought back a detailed account of the Jin family's dealings with various mansions in the capital, Rong Si brought testimonies from several shopkeepers and clerks, and Rong Wu was the most impressive, having discovered the birthmark on Yang Yi Niang's body and also secured an eyewitness to her affair with Jin Shizhao.

Didn’t Jin Shizhao want to make Concubine Yang his legal wife? Let’s see how he does it.

Rong Qi and Chun Cao returned within the same hour, bringing back two thousand taels of silver. He, too, was having a toothache. He had originally brought ten thousand taels from the Southern Dynasty, thinking it would be enough, but when he arrived, he found nothing and had to keep spending his savings.

He gave Cailan one hundred taels for daily expenses of the villa, and Cailan almost cried.

He also gave Chuncao one hundred taels of silver and asked her to take a few women to buy clothes, and told them not to talk too much outside, but only to listen and watch, and not to express their opinions.

Not long after, they came back with Rong Quan and Chang Chun, and each of them told the rumors they heard outside.

Chuncao was furious. "Master, the Jin family has gone too far. They've spread rumors about you being cruel and brutal, beating the servants half to death and leaving them covered in wounds. Many clinics have come forward to testify that dozens of servants and guards came to see the injured yesterday. One clinic couldn't accommodate them all, so they split up into several. These servants spread bad words about you wherever they go. You're truly evil."

Rong Quan said, "I've asked many people, and they all said that the Jin family visited the Liu, Song, Gu, and Hu families. The young ladies from these families are all good friends with the young lady from the Jin family, and they all went to the Tang family yesterday to attend their coming-of-age banquet."

Chang Chun also said, "I followed Minister Jin. He went to Prince Rui's Mansion and Prime Minister Zheng's Mansion. I also heard that the head of the Liang family entered Minister Jin's Mansion through the back door last night."

Rong Tang compared the relationship tree of the Jin family and determined that some families were on the same side as him. They were all people of King Rui, especially the Liang family, which was King Rui's mother's family.

He waved away the servants and only allowed Rong San and a few others to stay for questioning.

"Things are still a bit strange. Prince Rui isn't the only one who wants to seize the throne. What about the other princes and uncrowned princes? The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Even if they despise me and don't want to win me over, they should at least want to get rid of Minister Jin and eliminate one of Prince Rui's followers. Why don't they come to me?"

Rong San lowered his eyebrows and said in a submissive manner, "Master, the other two princes are Prince Huai and Prince Yong. These two are hiding quite well. I am not sure who they have won over."

"How do you say that? They don't interact with anyone?"

"Prince Huai was obsessed with the zither. He only played with talented people in the capital. He ignored those without any special skills in zither, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Prince Yong loved food. He often held grand banquets in his palace. Officials of all ranks from the capital attended banquets there, and he also often attended banquets at other people's palaces. In short, he was either eating or on his way to eat. Therefore, it is difficult to make any inferences."

"profound……"

I can't borrow any help, I can only rely on myself. Fortunately, Rong Tang never puts his hopes on others.

The women in the village were all delighted when they changed into new clothes. Although they were not made of expensive materials, they were new and they were something they had not been able to afford for several years.

What does wages mean? These two sets of clothes are enough to last me two months.

They all came together to thank Rong Tang for his generosity. Rong Tang said to them, "Aunts, have you remembered everything Aunt Cailan told you?"

"Remember, remember."

Several people nodded hurriedly.

"Well, from now on, it's up to you to use your special talents."

Under Rong Tang's instruction, Chuncao altered the women's appearances, pasting a large mole here, a fake mole there, painting one face black, another ginger yellow. Even the Third Master, standing before them, was at a loss to recognize him.

"Go ahead, go out the back door."

After Chuncao took them away, Rong Tang instructed Rong San, "You go with the fourth and fifth brothers to protect them. If anyone notices them and wants to arrest them, remember to take them away safely immediately."

Rong San and the others looked a bit puzzled. They were so good at this technique, it was basically extremely damaging, but what was the point of it being so enjoyable? Could it be that these grown men were actually gossipy people?

After everyone left, Rong Tang wanted to ask Rong Xiu how the education was doing. Before he had taken a few steps, he saw Doctor Zhang chasing Rong Qi with his two legs.

Rong Qi ran very fast with the help of a crutch, using all his lightness skills.

"Stop right there, it doesn't make sense. You can run so fast without even one leg touching the ground. Show me your crutch. Is it caused by Mo Huai'en?"

He couldn't catch up with Rong Qi, and saw Rong Tang out of the corner of his eye and stopped.

Rong Tang shuddered and turned around to escape, but he did not have Rong Qi's lightness skills, and his movements were as slow as a turtle. He was caught by Doctor Zhang after just a few steps.

"Let's go get an acupuncture."

Rong Tang's face turned pale, "Don't want it anymore?"

"This is His Majesty's order. Do you dare to disobey it?"

Rong Tang thought for half a second and decided to betray Rong Qi. "Doctor Zhang, I see you are more interested in Rong Qi. Let me go and I will call him over."

Who knew that Doctor Zhang could be anyone? Since Rong Tang was easier to catch, there would be no need for any trouble.

but……

"Unless you tell me what's going on with Rong Qi's crutch. How come that stick is as flexible as a leg? Other lame people have a hard time using it."

Rong Tang breathed a sigh of relief. "You mean the crutch? No problem, no problem. I'll draw a diagram for you and you can make it according to the diagram. Then you'll know how it feels when you hold it under your armpit."

Rong Qi was not far away. When he heard that Doctor Zhang had taken a fancy to his crutch, he reluctantly threw it to him, "Doctor Zhang, please don't embarrass my master. I'll give you this crutch to study."

Without his crutch, it was like losing a leg, and he escaped by hopping on one foot.

Doctor Zhang took the crutch and, imitating Rong Qi's way, placed it under his armpit. He bent one leg to try it out and suddenly understood the difference between a stick and a crutch.

One is to use the hands to exert force, and the other is to support under the armpits. With the help of these crutches, half of the body can be balanced. After practicing for a long time, you can walk as steadily as if you didn't lose any legs.

His expression changed, “Did Mo Huaien do this too?”

Rong Tang admitted without hesitation, "Yes, it's Dr. Mo. He is an amazing doctor who has pioneered new fields and disciplines in medicine."

"Boy, let me ask you, if a person with two disabled legs uses two crutches, can he walk?"