Golden Branch

Zhou Jiming was slightly stunned.

He had known Wang Mian for more than ten years, but he had never seen her so strong.

The woman in front of me has a beautiful face, noble temperament, and gorgeous clothes. How can she look like a humble peasant girl at all?

She was no different from the most respectable and dazzling ladies in the capital. Oh, not only that, she was even more elegant and calm than some of them.

It seemed that her dignity was not just a simple identity, but something that came from her soul and her bones.

"Don't be upset, Madam. As I just said, we'll know if your place is a den once we investigate!"

Zhou Jiming spoke respectfully but his attitude was firm.

He has only one goal today - to search the Zhaixing Tower!

No matter if it was someone like Wang Fu or a real backer like Wang Mian, he was determined to search the Zhaixing Tower.

Unless Wang Mian brings out her real backer.

With Xiao Wuji away on a military expedition, Wang Mian could only rely on Princess Langya and Duke Qi.

As long as the Duke of Qi showed up, Zhou Jiming would find ways to provoke him into gambling with him.

The reason why Zhaixing Tower is in trouble is because it is involved in a case.

Zhou Jiming is good at investigating cases, and Lou Yu and Lou Shaoqing are even more experts in solving cases. Now there is a serious case in front of them.

Both publicly and privately, they can compete with each other and even set up prizes.

Zhou Jiming and Lou Yu, whoever solves the missing case first will be the real master of solving cases and will be promoted to the position of Dali Temple Minister.

Just today, Zhou Jiming learned from his spies in the market that the newly married Lou Yu had come to Mount Li with his new wife.

Coincidentally, the day before Lou Yu and his wife set off, Mrs. Wang Shao from the Changle Marquisate also arrived at Mount Li.

What’s even more coincidental is that there is a newly opened Zhaixing Tower in Mount Li.

After receiving this news, Zhou Jiming was so excited that he almost laughed out loud:

"Good! Haha! Great!"

"Yeah, I was just wondering where to start, and now this great opportunity has arrived!"

No need to say, just one word - do it!

Zhou Jiming did not hesitate at all, and took his men and rode fast horses straight to Mount Li.

After arriving at Mount Li, Zhou Jiming asked someone to verify and confirmed that all the targets he wanted to plot against were there. He did not delay and went straight to the Zhaixing Tower.

The first half of the plan went smoothly.

The only surprise was that Zhou Jiming did not expect that Wang Mian would stand up so forcefully before Lou Yu showed up.

"Strong? So what?"

A flash of astonishment passed through Zhou Jiming's eyes, and after a moment he returned to his usual arrogance.

Wang Mian was a woman, and although she had the title of a princess, she had no real power.

Zhou Jiming was no longer the unknown official who could only sit at the door when he attended the palace banquet.

He is now an imperial censor and has also joined the Hundred Cavalry Division.

He has the privilege of investigating cases granted by the saints!

Let alone a princess, even if Princess Langya came, Zhou Jiming could step on this fake princess and further establish his image as an upright official who is not afraid of power and is impartial.

Unless the person coming is Xiao Wuji or Lou Yu!

They have enough power and means to confront Zhou Jiming!

And as long as Lou Yu comes——

A hint of excitement flashed in Zhou Jiming's eyes. The second half of his plan was about to succeed.

"Censor Zhou, do you want to search my Zhaixing Tower?"

Wang Mian smiled coldly.

Does Zhou Jiming really think he is a Jinyiwei?

Yes, the Hundred Cavalry Division was indeed a secret force controlled by the royal family, and its duties and nature were similar to those of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, a sage is not a tyrant. He governs the court and wins over the officials by relying on open and aboveboard strategies, rather than spying on the privacy of officials, setting up prisons, and abusing torture.

The existence of the Hundred Cavalry Division is just to provide the saint with an extra set of eyes and ears, not the main support.

As for Zhou Jiming, he will not become a tyrannical and unscrupulous boss.

Oh, just because people in the street call him "Jade Yama", do they really think they can become the King of Hell who decides life and death, independent of power?!

"...Madam Wang, all of this is for the sake of investigating the case. Please forgive me for any offense!"

Seeing Wang Mian's "furious" and "cowardly" look, Zhou Jiming's eyes flashed with relief.

As long as his Hundred Cavalry Division's men persisted in the search, the dignified Prince Wang would have no choice but to ask for outside help, except to feel helpless and furious.

He was just waiting for Lou Hanzhang——

"To investigate a case? Yes, indeed, this is official business. As a fourth-rank lady of the imperial court, it is difficult for me to interfere."

"But, Censor Zhou, you probably don't know that I also have 'official business' here at Zhaixing Tower!"

As he spoke, Wang Mian took out a small talisman from his sleeve pocket.

Zhou Jiming looked carefully, and then his pupils suddenly contracted.

"This is..." the token of the Eastern Palace!

Zhou Jiming was shocked. How could Wang Mian, a lady from an outer clan, have the token of the Eastern Palace?

This, this is the symbol of the prince's status.

Could it be that Xiao Wuji doted on his wife excessively and even went so far as to give the token awarded to him by the prince to Wang?

"It seems that Censor Zhou has recognized it! Yes, this is the token awarded by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

"This princess is not talented, but I am grateful to Your Highness for your appreciation and for sharing your worries!"

Wang Mian was holding the light token, but he was sighing in his heart:

Noble, right? I paid for it with mountains of gold and silver!

When Wang Mian was still in Yizhou, he secretly raised food and money for Yang Rui.

At that time, the purpose was to repair the canal and recruit and train navy.

After arriving in Beijing, the Prince of Qi became the Crown Prince, and Wang Mian continued to work hard to get money and food.

During the three years since the Saint ascended the throne, Wang Mian had managed to collect half of the food and wages spent on several foreign wars.

Unfortunately, she is a woman and is engaged in business, so it is not easy to reward her lavishly.

However, the saint and the prince saw her contributions and kept them in mind.

It is impossible to be crowned a king, appointed as a prime minister, or to be promoted to a higher position, but it is possible to reward him with a token and give him some privileges.

After more than ten years of operation, Wang Mian has earned real money and has the confidence to compete with people like Zhou Jiming.

"Zhou Jiming, are you sure you want to search my Zhaixing Tower?"

Wang Mian showed a trump card and then carefully put the token away.

As she spoke, twenty or thirty strong men squeezed in from the crowd at the door.

These people, in their twenties, wore the same color Hu clothing and had swords hanging from their waists.

These people are Wang Mian's personal guards, all of whom have been trained strictly in accordance with the special forces training methods.

He also followed Lou Yu to suppress bandits and went to the northwest with Xiao Wuzhi.

They are highly skilled in martial arts and have rich combat experience.

The individual strength of a single soldier is also very strong. I dare not say that he can defeat a hundred people alone, but he can definitely defeat ten people at once.

The dozen or so officers brought by Zhou Jiming were no match for the personal guards.

Zhou Jiming's men were more intimidated by the reputation of the Hundred Cavalry Division rather than their strong fighting capabilities.

Even Zhou Jiming himself knew that if a fight really broke out, his men would definitely not be able to defeat the other side.

When Zhou Jiming saw this, his face turned very ugly.

Wang Mian has the East Palace token, which allows him to suppress Zhou Jiming in terms of seniority.

She also has powerful private soldiers who can crush others in terms of fighting power.

Double insurance, Zhou Jiming was completely defeated!

"…Excuse me! Goodbye!"

With a cold face, Zhou Jiming gritted his teeth, bowed, and prepared to leave.

"Is Censor Zhou leaving now? Won't you stay for a drink?"

Zhou Jiming conceded defeat quickly, but Wang Mian didn't want to let him off easily. "The Thousand Days Drunk I sell in Zhaixing Tower has a rich, lingering flavor and is the most popular."

"Since Censor Zhou is here, why not have a drink?"

"Don't worry, everyone here is a guest. Censor Zhou is a virtuous and upright official who is dedicated to serving the public. This princess has great respect for him."

"We have the good fortune to meet today, so I would like to invite Censor Zhou to have a drink. I believe Censor Zhou will not refuse my kindness, right?"

Wang Mian opened his mouth, and before the shopkeeper could move, Wang Fu had already cleverly run to the wine cabinet nearby and picked out a small jar from the large and small jars.

Wang Fu "diligently" brought the papaya-sized wine jar to Zhou Jiming, and he also very considerately helped Zhou Jiming open the mud seal of the wine jar.

Zhou Jiming's expression grew increasingly gloomy, and a sinister aura emanated from all around him.

What does this bitch mean?

Are you going to punish me by making me drink?

As a powerful official in the capital, Zhou Jiming had heard of the name of Thousand Days Drunk a long time ago.

I heard that this is a wine unique to Zhaixinglou. It has a clear texture, spicy taste, mellow flavor and strong aftertaste.

Not to mention ordinary men with average alcohol tolerance, even warriors and rough men with good alcohol tolerance can get drunk after a few drinks.

If you drink too much, it is normal to be drunk for a day or two.

The so-called "a thousand days of drunkenness" is an exaggeration, but it can also prove the strength of the alcohol.

Although Zhou Jiming became a cruel official, he was still a noble and elegant civil official at heart.

He doesn't like drinking, so his alcohol tolerance is just average.

Zhou Jiming's sinister eyes swept across the wine jar. It looked small, but it could hold three or four bowls. If he drank it all—

"Why? Censor Zhou refuses to accept my kindness?"

Wang Mian's voice was cold and contained a hint of "grievance".

Her personal guards were indeed trained by her.

Seeing Wang Mian like this, they all surrounded him without Wang Mian saying anything.

Clang, clang, clang!

Twenty or thirty strong men not only surrounded Zhou Jiming and his group, but also put their hands on the hilts of their swords, pulling out one-third of the extremely sharp swords.

Zhou Jiming: ...This is a threat! A naked threat!

Wang Mian didn't say anything harsh, but he used his actions to slam Zhou Jiming's words of "toast and penalty" back in his face.

Mr. Zhou, don't refuse a toast and drink the penalty wine!

You must drink this “Thousand Days Drunk” today!

Or, drink it yourself!

Or, help you drink!

It was the Eastern Palace token that Wang Mian showed that made Zhou Jiming realize that this bitch not only relied on her husband, sisters, and old friends, but she herself also had the emperor's favor!

"Thank you, my Lord, for the wine!"

Zhou Jiming squeezed out these words from between his teeth, raised his hand to take the jar of wine, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and began to drink it up in big gulps.

"Ahem! Ahem!"

The highly distilled liquor stimulates all of Zhou Jiming's senses to the greatest extent.

He was choked and coughed continuously, with tears and snot flowing out, looking very miserable.

Zhou Jiming knew without looking in the mirror that he must look very ridiculous at the moment.

What's even more ridiculous is that before his true opponent even appeared, he was defeated by a woman he never looked down upon...