Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

Back at the Governor's Mansion, Zheng Bisheng felt increasingly uneasy.

"Do you really think Shen Lang won't find any clues?"

Zheng Xiaoru: "Dad, didn't Huang Daorong make it very clear? What tricks could he possibly find out?"

Zheng Bisheng shook his head: "No, why would Shen Lang go to the salt warehouse for no reason? He must have found out something."

"Father, why are you so suspicious?"

Zheng Xiaoru was very dissatisfied with his father's behavior.

"Even Liu Wu couldn't do anything to us when he came. What kind of trouble can a young punk under twenty cause?"

"You don't know, but last year Shen Lang dealt a heavy blow to the powerful families in Jinling City, confiscating the property of twenty-six families."

The clansmen were either killed or exiled; their tragic fates were truly heartbreaking.

We, father and son, have done so much in Suzhou; if the Empress really takes action, we'll only meet an even more tragic end.

To be honest, ever since I saw Shen Lang today, my eyelids have been twitching nonstop.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaoru immediately scoffed: "Suzhou is different from the capital. That Shen Lang only dares to act recklessly because the powerful families in the capital don't have any troops."

If this were in my Suzhou territory, hmph, do you think he'd even have the chance to lay a finger on us?

Upon hearing this, Zheng Bisheng seemed to have thought of something and hurriedly said, "You should quickly send someone to the Chang residence to have Chang Benchu ​​transfer two battalions of troops from the Suzhou camp into the city as soon as possible."

Zheng Xiaoru looked displeased: "Dad, what time is it? Can't we go tomorrow morning?"

Zheng Bisheng slapped him hard on the head: "Just go when I tell you to! As long as there are soldiers guarding you..."

"Now I feel at ease. This matter concerns the very foundation of the Zheng family. Would you die if you missed a day of sleep?"

Zheng Xiaoru scratched his head and muttered, "I'm getting more and more timid as I get older. In that case, why not bring in the troops from the Mingzhou camp as well?"

Zheng Bisheng's eyes lit up: "You're right. Just in case, we must notify the Mingzhou camp."

I will write a letter to Governor Yang and ask him to send two battalions to Suzhou as well.

Zheng Xiaoru was completely numb. He really couldn't understand why Shen Lang, a mere nobody, would make his own father so terrified.

He wanted to retort, but seeing the uncertain look in Zheng Bisheng's eyes, he could only swallow his words.

"Alright then, Father, I'll head over to the Chang residence now."

"Hurry up, what are you dawdling for!"

After Zheng Xiaoru left, Zheng Bisheng immediately returned to his study to grind ink and wrote a letter to Yang Maocai, the governor of Mingzhou, and Ma Zhiyuan, the governor of Ningzhou.

He then quickly handed the letters to two martial artists at the Qi Refining Realm, instructing them: "Deliver these two letters immediately to the Governor's Offices of Mingzhou and Ningzhou respectively."

Remember, you must personally hand it over to the two of them; never entrust it to anyone else.

Without further ado, the two martial artists took the letter and left the mansion, disappearing into the darkness in the blink of an eye.

……

Inside the Chang residence, Chang Benchu, dressed in a Taoist robe, sat on the Bagua altar with an air of otherworldly elegance.

Around the altar, eight Taoist priests sat in eight different directions, meditating with their eyes closed and chanting incantations.

Beside Chang Benchu, a Taoist priest with disheveled hair, dressed in a black robe, was circling around Chang Benchu, holding talismans and a long sword.

"Boundless Heavenly Venerable, hasten as the law commands! The Purple Star Heavenly Venerable manifests his divine power! All evil and falsehood, quickly flee and retreat!"

Suddenly, the Taoist priest picked up a cup of wine, poured it into his mouth, and then spat it all over his longsword.

With a flash of light, flames suddenly erupted from the cold sword.

Their movements were very conspicuous in the darkness.

Just then, the steward, Old Sun, tiptoed to Chang Benchu's side and whispered, "General, Young Master Zheng is requesting an audience outside the mansion gate."

Tell him that an exorcism is being performed in the mansion and that no guests will be received for the next seven days.

Chang Benchu ​​refused without even thinking.

Even if the King of Heaven himself came, nothing would be more important than curing his own son's illness.

Old Sun was in a dilemma: "General, Young Master Zheng's visit late at night suggests he has important matters to discuss on behalf of the Minister."

If I don't see him, and the Minister asks about it another day, how should I reply, General?

Upon hearing this, Chang Benchu ​​suddenly opened his eyes and stared coldly at Old Sun.

Old Sun's heart skipped a beat. He quickly took two steps back and continued to persuade, "General, you should still see him."

"If I see him now, what if my son becomes seriously ill? What will I do then?"

"Now is the most crucial time for praying for blessings. How can I let worldly matters harm my child!"

"If anything were to happen to my son, I would die too!"

Old Sun completely backed down. Seeing that Chang Benchu's expression was unusually agitated, he had no choice but to bow and leave.

At this moment, Chen Anning accompanied Zheng Xiaoru outside the mansion gate, waiting for Chang Benchu ​​to receive them.

Zheng Xiaoru looked Chen Anning up and down for a moment, and couldn't help but let out a disdainful snort.

He despised those from poor families the most, who liked to put on airs just because they had some education. He really wanted to slap them.

Although Chen Anning's expression wasn't as obviously disgusted as Zheng Xiaoru's, he still looked down on this rich kid who abused his family background.

The two of them remained silent, neither striking up a conversation, and quietly waited for Chang Benchu ​​to summon them.

Before long, the gates of the Chang residence opened.

Old Sun said to Zheng Xiaoru with a helpless expression, "Young Master Zheng, I'm truly sorry, but my general's youngest son is suffering from a serious illness and is currently performing an exorcism ritual, so I really can't leave."

"You should go back now. Once the general's young son has recovered, the general will personally go to the governor's mansion."

"Hmph, what a load of nonsense, what bad luck!"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaoru cursed and turned to get into the carriage.

"Go back and tell Chang Benchu ​​that if it weren't for the Zheng family, he wouldn't have been able to hold onto his position as the commander of the Suzhou camp."

Don't think that just because you have a little bit of military power you can actually climb over the Zheng family. He's a hundred years too early to be arrogant!

Having said that, he went straight into the carriage and shouted, "Back to the mansion!"

After watching Zheng Xiaoru's carriage leave, Old Sun said to Chen Anning, "Mr. Chen, you should go back too. The general won't see you."

Chen Anning: "Steward Sun, the Suzhou camp has been without a leader for many days. If something changes, who will take responsibility?"

"Alas, right now the general's mind is entirely on his son. You know how much the general dotes on the boy, and he won't leave the mansion until he recovers."

Chen Anning said urgently, "When a child falls ill, a doctor will treat him. General, you are not knowledgeable in traditional Chinese medicine, so why bother to accompany him?"

The army cannot be without a leader even for a day, especially at this critical time. Today, with the imperial envoy visiting, everyone in Suzhou is trembling with fear; as the saying goes, "a single hair can move the whole body."

If the salt tax embezzlement case is confirmed, the Suzhou military camp will be the last resort. If the Suzhou military camp falls out of control, the entire Suzhou officialdom might be thrown into chaos by Emperor Shen!

"What's the use of telling me all this? The general won't listen to anyone's advice these days. You shouldn't provoke him further."

Seven days later, after the ritual is completed, the general will leave the mansion to reorganize military affairs. You may return now, Mr. Chen.

"Ah~"

Chen Anning sighed heavily and left with a worried expression.

"No, I must prepare for both possibilities. First, I'll go to the Suzhou camp to find out what's going on. If there's been a change in the camp, it means the Emperor intends to take action against the Suzhou officialdom."

I must strike first and eliminate him before he makes a move!

Chen Anning's eyes turned icy cold instantly, and he strode quickly toward the main camp outside Suzhou Prefecture.