How could I possibly be confined in a cage?

Jiang Shen led his men to the warehouse, where Chief Zhang and others were packing opium into boxes with their mouths and noses covered.

"Wow, good heavens, that's quite a lot!" Jiang Shen exclaimed in amazement. This Zheng comprador was really bold; so much opium must be worth at least a million. What's more, all that opium was supplied to the sons of powerful and wealthy families, so his profits were even greater.

However… Jiang Shen pondered, where are the weapons? The Zheng family's biggest asset is weapons, so why haven't I seen them? And where is the Zheng family's batch of weapons hidden?

He searched the entire manor, inside and out, and even inspected the goods transported by Zheng the comprador. Apart from a small amount for personal use, there wasn't a single trace left.

If the opium was hidden so well, where did the weapons go?

Jiang Shen stroked his chin, pondering to himself.

"Commander Jiang, it's time to call it a day."

"Hmm, didn't you find anything else?"

"What do you mean?" Sergeant Zhang didn't react for a moment.

"We haven't seen any of the Zheng family's goods or weapons."

Chief Inspector Zhang frowned and said, "The Zheng family has more than one warehouse. We'll find out once they're all listed."

"That's true, let's go then."

Jiang Shen was also very much looking forward to the Zheng family's arms! In those days, arms were the real currency. Whether it went to the Marshal's side or the other side, it was better than it falling into the hands of Zheng's compradors.

I really underestimated this person before.

Chief Zhang packed up the opium, left the lid open, and, escorted by a regiment of soldiers under Jiang Shen's command, made a grand departure from the dock, circling around Sifang City.

This caused a great uproar and sparked much discussion among the crowd.

Commander Guo had already received the news and immediately sent men to take Zheng's family into custody.

Because of arms dealing, Zheng, the comprador, had always maintained a good relationship with Commander Guo. But this time, the opium was blatantly insulting Commander Guo; how could he tolerate it?

Moreover, opium is harmful to the country and its people, and this has incurred public wrath.

As Zheng, the comprador, passed through the city, the people "kindly" threw eggs and vegetable leaves at him, and some even cursed, "What's the point of this scoundrel living in this world? He should just die already, so he can stop harming the people!"

"Yes! Let him die! Let him die!"

"They must be severely punished; opium is ruining the country."

“I used to buy goods from his shop, ugh, I’ll go back and smash them.”

Along the way, various sounds rose and fell.

Jiang Shen looked at Zheng, the comprador, who was being escorted away, and said with a smile, "Mr. Zheng, do you regret it?"

Zheng, the comprador, glared at him fiercely, snorted coldly, and said nothing.

Zheng Peilan hid behind Zheng the comprador, not daring to cry loudly.

She didn't know what had happened, how things had changed overnight.

First the manor was attacked, then she lost her virginity, and before she could have a moment of peace, a bunch of people came and said that her father was selling opium and had been arrested and paraded through the streets.

Why is she so unlucky! Why did all these bad things happen to her overnight?

Zheng Peilan covered her mouth and buried her head low. Just yesterday she was a highly sought-after young lady, and today she was a prisoner. The contrast was too much for her to bear.

“Dad…” Zheng Peilan couldn’t take it anymore. Even Zheng’s body couldn’t withstand the attack of those rotten fish, shrimp and vegetable leaves.

The pain was secondary; the humiliation was truly unbearable, and Zheng Peilan felt like she was going crazy.

"Don't cry!" Zheng, the comprador, knew their current situation better than anyone else.

He kept comforting his daughter, but his eyes were fixed on the indignant crowd rushing forward, his heart filled with nothing but sneers and mockery.

Hmph, a guest of honor in the morning, a prisoner by evening. He's even become a beggar; is he worse off than a beggar now?

"Don't worry, we'll be fine."

Zheng Peilan looked up in surprise, and seeing Zheng's confident gaze, she felt a little more at ease.

Yes, it's alright, Dad will definitely find a way. He's Zheng's comprador, after all. So what if they're selling opium? Do you think Mr. Jonas would just watch them fall on hard times?

Yes, Mr. Jonas. They still have something to rely on; they haven't lost yet!

Zheng Peilan felt much more at ease and stopped trembling as she leaned against Zheng Comprador's back.

Inside the council hall of the Marshal's Mansion, Marshal Guo sat high in the main hall, flanked by his subordinate officials.

This was the first time such a major incident had occurred since the smoking ban was implemented, and the hall was abuzz with discussion.

Normally, Qingru wouldn't be allowed to enter such an occasion, but since she had contributed to the Zheng family's affairs, she was allowed to stand outside the circle and listen in as an exception.

The opium affair was a major matter, and it involved many people, so it was only a private trial and there was no mention of a public trial in court.

Zheng Peilan knelt in the middle, enduring their scrutiny. She recognized all the officials present; she remembered how they had addressed her back then: "Young lady, refined lady, virtuous niece..."

The undisguised scrutiny made her extremely uncomfortable, as if she had been stripped naked, feeling utterly humiliated.

Zheng, the comprador, was clearly in good spirits. Even though he was tied up, he still stood tall and accepted all the stares with composure.

Commander Guo rubbed his temples wearily, waiting for the murmurs to subside before speaking, "You... have something to say?"

"I have nothing to say." This answer was surprisingly forceful.

General Guo was also exhausted.

"Since that's the case, then confess your guilt!"

This statement caused an uproar.

Zheng Peilan was even more anxious, and she was speechless. Didn't you say everything was fine?

Zheng, the comprador, watched the approaching soldiers and declared emphatically, "Wait! Convict before even interrogating them?"

Commander Guo frowned. "What do you mean?"

"General, I don't know what crime I have committed. How can I explain myself?"

Upon hearing this, Commander Guo revealed an expression of realization.

"Colluding with foreign powers to traffic opium is a capital offense."

Zheng, the comprador, said: "Colluding with foreign countries? General, I am the German comprador, as you have always known. Every single shipment of goods and weapons is on record. I have absolutely no intention of harming the people."

Secondly, I, Zheng, swear to Heaven that I have never sold opium.

Commander Guo said, "Oh? Those hundred or so chests of opium were all transported out of your warehouse."

Zheng, the comprador, suddenly realized what had happened. His straight back collapsed to the ground, and he cried out in tears, "General, I'm innocent! It wasn't me!"

Just moments ago, Zheng, the comprador, appeared completely composed, leaving everyone puzzled. Now, however, he has abandoned all pretense of composure and burst into tears, which ironically brings a sense of relief to everyone.

How can things remain stable when faced with sudden and dramatic changes?

Comprador Zheng wept uncontrollably, "General, I have truly been wronged."

"How have I wronged you?"

“I have more than thirty warehouses, and each one is registered. Every shipment is inspected, and every single item has a receipt. I’m not afraid of being checked. I don’t know which warehouse you’re referring to that’s hiding opium?”

"Water and land port".

“A land and water port?” Zheng, the comprador, shouted, his eyes wide with disbelief. “This…this…is definitely not my Zheng family’s warehouse.”

Commander Guo frowned in confusion. "No? When the water conservancy project was being carried out and the dock was rebuilt, you were among the first people to go and build the reservoir. How could it not be your responsibility?"

Zheng, the comprador, cried and said, "If it were any other warehouse, I would have no way to deny it and would accept it. But this land and water dock is definitely not a place to store warehouses for my Zheng family village."

He spoke with such certainty that some people actually started to wonder if he had been wronged.

Zheng, the comprador, continued to weep, "General, I'm telling the truth. I only found out today that I was framed by a villain. I suspect that the attack on my Zheng family is related to this incident. I rented that warehouse to the Japanese a long time ago, and I haven't used it myself since. I don't know what they put in there. If anyone is to be punished, it's my fault for negligence. General, I really didn't have the guts to smuggle opium."