Chapter 561: Gift
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The plan was to use Li Fengqi’s identity to implicate the Lin and Zhou families and spread the news that Scholar Lin had been implicated in a cheating incident.
They would let the two cheating scholars appear and point out that Li Fengqi had sold the exam questions to them, causing dissatisfaction of the failed scholars, who would then take the opportunity to gather people to cause trouble.
The personal servants of the two examiners were also their people. There were also their people among the servants of many officials in the capital.
The person who met the old woman at the restaurant was Constable Leng. Two scribes from the Imperial Province Office were also their people. The two junior stewards of the Imperial Plantation also interacted with them.
When Chu Sihai heard this news from the two of them, he immediately reported it and began to interrogate Li Fengqi, Big Stone, and Manor Head Chi.
After Li Fengqi was drugged, he confessed what he had done and what he was thinking.
He despised Laidi for being vulgar and complained that the Li siblings did not help him. He planned to send Laidi to the manor and lock her up when he climbed to a high position. He also wanted to teach the Zhou and Li families a lesson.
Chu Sihai shook his head non-stop when he heard that. Such a person wanted to be a high-ranking official. Did he really think that the heavens were blind?
From Big Stone, he learned that the bandits had been taken away and had gone to other places to train. The rest matched what he had confessed to Li Yu.
It took some effort to interrogate Manor Head Chi. The information he received was much different from his confession to Li Yu.
From him, they learned that the Tongfu Inn and the northern city wall of Shanyang County were indeed the places where they sent the news. After the news of the Liang Family Village being wiped out spread, the two places where the news was sent would be abandoned.
There was also the county magistrate, county lieutenant, and registrar of Shanyang County. It was precisely because of their help that the matter of Liang Village had not been leaked for so many years.
About six to seven days away from Liang Village, there was a group of bandits hiding in a valley called Sharp Mountain. There were about close to 300 people.
There were also two other places. There were nearly a thousand people, and they were all managed by a person called Cheng He. He had never seen the Second Prince, and he did not know where he was hiding.
Cheng He. Chu Sihai remembered this person. He was the son of the head steward of the Cheng family. In the past, he often ran around with the Second Prince. That year, he suddenly said that he had contracted a serious illness on the way back to Yuezhou to visit his relatives and died. He was just the son of a steward. Who would care about his life?
At that time, the neutral Eldest Prince was the most popular as the Crown Prince. The Second Prince also looked like he was following the First Prince’s lead. It turned out that the Second Prince had his own plans at that time.
Later on, for some reason, the late emperor never appointed the Eldest Prince as the heir apparent. Then, there was news that the Third Prince was almost killed by the Imperial Consort’s men. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager had long received the news and sent the Third Prince away overnight. She got a substitute to pretend to be the Third Prince in the Imperial Residence. The one who was injured was the Third Prince’s substitute.
Seeing that Chu Sihai did not move for a long time, the guard looked at Manor
Head Chi, who had fainted on the straw pile, and said to Chu Sihai, “Head
Shopkeeper, do you still want to ask?”
Chu Sihai came back to his senses and waved his hand. “Alright, watch carefully. Don’t let anything happen.” With that, he left.
The matter was urgent. Chu Sihao hurriedly entered the palace overnight to report to Chu Yuhao.
When Chu Yuhao heard this, he said to Shen Zhong, “Shen Zhong, immediately bring people to capture and interrogate all the spies hiding in the capital.” “Yes, Your Majesty!” Shen Zhong accepted the order and retreated.
Chu Yuhao looked at Chu Sihai. “Get Chu Qing to lead the secret guards of the Dark Team to those places immediately and annihilate all the bandits. It’s best if you capture Cheng He alive.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” Chu Sihai hesitated for a moment and asked, ‘Your Majesty, will those secret guards who are idle in the Imperial Manor be given to Madam Li?”
Chu Yuhao nodded and said, “Give them to her! Those who pay lip service about their loyalty are afraid that I’ll plant people in their residences, only the Zhou family dares to ask me to give people to them. Let them work well in the Li family and not embarrass the Dark Guards Team.”
Chu Sihai bowed and said, “Yes, I’ll tell them what you said.”
Chu Yuhao waved at him and lowered his head to read the memorial.
Chu Sihai returned to the bank and conveyed Chu Yuhao’s decree to Chu Qing. Chu Qing left the city the next morning and rushed towards Sharp Mountain.
The two junior stewards in the Imperial Plantation were also arrested by Shen Zhong. The people who had been exposed by Ah Ying and the old woman were all arrested.
Liang Cheng, Hu Zhong, Ding Yi, and Ding Kui were called to the bank.
Chu Sihai said to Liang Cheng and the others, “Madam Li’s younger brother, Lord Li Qing, is going to Le County to take up his post. She asked me to recommend a few people. I recommended you to Madam Li, and the higher-ups also agreed. Pack up and follow me to the Zhou residence.”
Liang Cheng glanced at Chu Sihai. The long scar on his face made him look a little ferocious. “Head Shopkeeper, does Boss Li know our situation?”
Hu Zhong pointed at his empty sleeve and smiled. “That’s right, Head Shopkeeper. Those officials are even timider than rats. We’re all people with incomplete limbs. Don’t scare them.”
Chu Sihai smiled and glared at them. “Don’t worry. I’ve explained your situation to Madam Li. She doesn’t mind. Go! The higher-ups have also agreed to let you go. Besides, you can’t just stay in the manor for the rest of your lives! Go to the Li family and serve them well for a few years. Set up a family thereafter and have a few fat boys. That’s how you live!”
Hu Cheng rolled up his empty sleeve. “Head Shopkeeper, you make it sound quite beautiful. Which woman would like someone like us?”
Liang Cheng smiled and said, “Let’s find someone who likes us. What do the three of you think?”
Ding Yi said, “Head Shopkeeper is right. We can’t stay in the manor for the rest of our lives. As long as they don’t mind, we’ll go.”
“Okay.” They all nodded in agreement.
Chu Sihai brought a few people to the Zhou family. Uncle Liu smiled and welcomed Chu Sihai in.
Liang Cheng and the others saw that the Zhou family’s gatekeeper was also a crippled old man and believed Chu Sihai’s words in their hearts.
Li Qing happened to be at Li Yu’s house. When he heard Ruyi report that Chu
Sihai had brought a few disabled people over, he smiled and said to Li Yu,
“Sister, I’ll go with you to see the people the shopkeeper brought.”
Li Yu smiled and nodded. “You’re the one using their services. Of course, you have to go together!”
The three of them arrived at the front courtyard together and saw Chu Sihai and four disabled strong men standing in the courtyard. They smiled and cupped their hands. “Head Shopkeeper, long time no see.”
“That’s right! Long time no see.” Chu Sihai cupped his hands and smiled. “Thank you, Head Shopkeeper.” Li Yu smiled and thanked him.
Chu Sihai smiled and said, “Madam Li, you’re too polite.”
After everyone greeted them politely, Li Qing turned to look at Liang Cheng and the others and cupped his fists. “Head Shopkeeper, are these strong men Liang Cheng, Hu Zhong, Ding Yi, and Ding Kui?”
Chu Sihai was very satisfied when he saw Li Qing smiling. He smiled and said, “That’s right!”
Li Qing cupped his fists at them and said, “Brother Liang, Brother Hu… we’re family from now on..”
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