In the household department, Guo Huan was panicking inside as he listened to the commotion outside.
Are the Jinyiwei coming to arrest someone?
Although he had cut off the relationship and promised Wang Wenlu and others that as long as they followed his instructions, they and their families would be safe and have nothing to worry about for the rest of their lives, but he still felt unsure.
He was holding on to the chair, his calves were shaking, his palms were even more sweaty, and he was even ready for the Jin Yiwei to come in and arrest him.
For a long time, the noise outside the yamen became smaller and smaller, and finally disappeared. He sat down on the chair, and his heart that had been holding him relaxed, breathing heavily.
After being calm for a while, Guo Huan gradually recovered and cleared his throat:
"Someone is coming!"
The officer outside the door followed the sound and came in, cupping his fists and saying, "What are your orders, sir?"
"Go and see Jin outside... who was making a noise outside just now."
The yamen officer took the order and left. After a while, he rushed back to report: "Sir, the royal guards came just now, but now they have left again."
"I understand, please step back." Guo Huan waved his hand and let out a long sigh of relief.
He comforted himself and said, "Jinyiwei has the power to supervise all officials. Daily inspections are reasonable. It's not a big deal. I don't need to be nervous."
Although he said this, the hand holding the tea cup could not stop shaking. He wanted to calm down, but he couldn't do it at all.
He knew very well what kind of character the emperor had. As long as those things about him were revealed, there would be no chance of survival.
He deeply understood that even if the emperor did not dare to take the risk of destabilizing the country and execute all the officials, he, the Minister of Household Affairs, would not be able to survive no matter what.
We can no longer sit back and wait for death. That boy Li Qing is not afraid of anything. He even dares to attack the prince-in-law. He will definitely not take me as a minister seriously... Guo Huan stood up again before his buttocks got hot.
I thought to myself: "Why don't I bribe him?"
As soon as the idea came up, he killed it, "It won't work!
Li Qing will definitely have a bright future in the future. The Emperor has made it clear that he wants to be reused, so how could he accept my bribe? Giving him a bribe would be a self-inflicted crime.
Threatening him to take bribes and take the henchman and courtesan home under the guise of confiscation of his house?
No, not to mention whether it is useful or not. Once threatened, I will be exposed.
Damn, what should I do?"
Guo Huan was in a state of confusion. As happy as he was when he was greedy for money, he felt just as uncomfortable now, even more uncomfortable than when he was greedy for money.
Once something happens, not only money but also life will be involved.
At this time, Liu Hua, a doctor from the Ministry of Revenue, came in in a hurry, with a panic-stricken look on his face. He didn't even bother to salute, "Mr. Guo, something bad has happened..."
"Keep your voice down." Guo Huan glared at him sharply, "Go to the inner study and talk."
"Hey, yes, yes."
The two of them came to the study. Guo Huan ordered the yamen to leave, closed the door, turned around and yelled, "What went wrong?"
"Someone reported on you!"
"What?"
Guo Huan's face turned pale, he almost rolled his eyes and fainted.
"Sir, please don't panic. The man didn't succeed. I found out in advance and ordered his close associates to arrest him." Liu Hua quickly explained and stepped forward to support him, fearing that he would be whipped over.
"You damn... can't you finish what you said in one breath?" Guo Huan was so angry that he wanted to hit someone, so he gritted his teeth and said, "Who is that person?"
"Zhang Qian, a member of the Ministry of Rites."
"Is it him?" Guo Huan became even more angry when he heard this, "This bitch, he was given a large sum of money just two months ago, and yet he dares to report me. I will have to kill him."
Liu Hua said anxiously, "Sir, now is not the time to vent your hatred. The Jin Yiwei are wandering around in the Sixth Department, the Metropolitan Procuratorate and other departments, and everyone is already a soldier.
If Zhang Qian doesn't report today, Li Qian will report tomorrow, so we have to think of a way quickly!"
Guo Huan forced himself to calm down and asked, "Do you have any good ideas?"
Liu Hua pondered for a moment and said viciously: "Why don't we do one thing and two things?"
As he spoke, he made a downward motion on his neck.
"Kill him?"
Guo Huan's eyes lit up, "What a good idea. As long as Li Qing dies and someone else investigates the case, he won't be lawless, but...
If we are found out, we will have another crime on our heads."
"Oh, my lord!" Liu Hua smiled bitterly, "With or without this addition, with the amount of money we are greedy for, we will confiscate the family and exterminate the clan. Why can't you understand?"
Guo Huan was startled, then nodded: "You are right, but the question is... is anyone willing to do it?
Murdering a court official is a major crime against the nine clans, even if we are willing to pay, no one is willing to do it!"
"Don't worry, sir, I have a solution!"
Liu Hua sneered: "Half a month ago, the tea tax from Jiangsu and Zhejiang came to Beijing. Among the tax collectors responsible for escorting them, there were fellow villagers who were secretly promoted by lower officials. They haven't left yet. Let them do it."
"How many people are there?"
"Fifteen people." Liu Hua said, "They are not from the capital. As long as you give them a large sum of money, they will definitely do it."
Guo Huan nodded, "I will pay for it. Is one thousand taels per person enough?"
"Absolutely enough." Liu Hua said with a smile, "This much money is enough for ordinary people to spend a lifetime. They must be able to do it."
"Okay, go and tell them that you will give them two hundred taels first, and then eight hundred taels when the matter is completed." Guo Huan patted his shoulder and said in a deep voice, "Old Liu, we have no way out."
"Don't worry, sir. They all know kung fu and there will never be any accidents." Liu Hua said, "However, since the emperor has decided to investigate, he will definitely not stop just because Li Qing died. What will happen next?"
Guo Huan smiled and said, "With Li Qing dead, the backbone of the Jin Yiwei is gone.
Next, the emperor will definitely track down the murderer first!
When he came back to his senses and wanted to continue the investigation, Mao Xiang and the others also arrived in Bashu. The time wasted between the time the imperial edict was sent and the time they rushed back was enough for me to make arrangements calmly."
"Best regards, my lord."
Liu Hua felt relieved and said, "By the way, do you want to bring Master Shangshu in?"
"Of course he is indispensable."
Guo Huan sneered, "He is also greedy, but he is too timid, and all he does is 'small business' that cannot be brought to the table. I have evidence of his crime in my hand. As long as we give him some sweeteners, he will stand with us."
"
"By the way, don't be idle. Contact the ministers and ministers in our camp, as well as the officials from various places who go to the central government to pay taxes, and tell them,
Shut your mouth tightly, we are all grasshoppers on the same rope, no one can be alone."
"Okay." Liu Hua nodded heavily, "Sir, where is your honor..."
"After the news of Li Qing's death comes out, I will think of a way to see if I can bring them in." Guo Huan sighed, "Li Qing's actions are too lawless, and the nobles are also afraid of him."
Liu Hua said in disbelief, "This...isn't it?"
"What do you know?"
Guo Huan said angrily, "Li Jinglong went to prostitutes some time ago, and he was imprisoned directly in Zhao Prison for robbing women with Li Qing. Cao Guogong sent his soldiers to Zhao Prison to negotiate, and he also imprisoned his soldiers."
"Ah? This..." Liu Hua said in surprise, "Can Duke Cao Guo swallow this?"
"I don't know the specific details, but the result is that Cao Guogong pleads guilty, but Li Qing is fine."
Guo Huan scolded: "This guy cannot be judged by common sense at all. I even suspect... that he is the emperor's illegitimate son."
Liu Hua was shocked, "In other words, the prince we want to kill?"
"All the nine clans are fucking hooked up, and you still care whether he is a prince or not?"
Guo Huan returned what Liu Hua had just said to persuade him, "Hurry up and make arrangements and let him see the King of Hell tonight."
"Yes, I will resign."
Guo Huan slowly sat back on the chair, his nervousness gradually calmed down, and after a while, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"Li Qing, Li Qing, I don't want to kill you, but if you don't die, I will die. You can't blame me."
He thought about it secretly for a while, and felt more and more that he could get through the difficulty calmly.
The gentleman's demeanor returned again, and he walked out of the study with a relaxed expression.
…
evening.
Li Qing pushed his rice bowl, got up and went back to his room. He had served Lao Zhu and his family for a whole day, but he was very tired.
"The three of them, Wan Ling, serve me alone, but I have to serve a large group of people by myself. I'm not even as good as a maid."
He lay on the bed depressed for a while, sighed, picked up the medical book and started reading.
Queen Ma's health is declining day by day, and the signs of her end are becoming more and more obvious. He must make emergency preparations.
It was already late autumn, and the daylight hours were getting shorter and shorter. Soon it was getting dark. Li Qing got up, lit a candle, and continued flipping through medical books.
After reading for more than two hours, the book was almost torn, and he still couldn't find a way to give King Ma another life. He couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.
Is that all?
He didn't ask for much, he just hoped that Queen Ma could survive this new year, but now... I'm afraid it won't be possible.
Li Qing was a little irritable, got up, put on his robe and left the room.
There was no moon tonight, the night sky was as dark as ink, and even the few stars were missing, which made him even more depressed as he wanted to see a night view to soothe his mood.
After a while, the wind started blowing in the small courtyard, and the cool autumn breeze felt very comfortable on his body. Li Qing enjoyed this feeling very much, and his restless mood gradually calmed down.
…
"Shashasha..."
Outside the courtyard wall, rustling sounds sounded quietly...