"Meixian Cheng, you..." Tongpao Chen walked over, but when he caught a cold glance at the Lu family steward, he suddenly stopped talking.
The steward was silent and didn't know how to answer, so he had to turn away and took out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat.
"Who is that?" Chen Tongpao asked softly.
The steward was so frightened that he didn't dare to take a deep breath, and his lips turned purple from holding in his breath.
The Prime Minister of Mei County was afraid that the stiffness would last for a long time, which made Chen Tongpao even more suspicious, so he gently poked him with his index finger and asked him to turn around and answer.
When the steward saw someone helping him, he felt much calmer. He turned around, smiled at Tongpao Chen and said, "Master Chen, I am the steward of the Lu family. You have been out for so many days. I am worried, so you called me."
Asking about your safety. Didn’t you go back to the office just after I came here? What a coincidence, what a coincidence..."
"The reason why Shicai is avoiding things is because he is afraid that County Magistrate Chen will open his mouth to explain official matters to me, which will be inconvenient for outsiders, so that's why." Meixian County Prime Minister panic explained.
"Oh, let me tell you," Tongpao Chen walked up to the steward, "Why else are you avoiding me?"
The steward stared into his eyes without moving for a moment.
"Are the masters and young masters of the Lu family still healthy?"
"My face looks worry-free all day, and I am very healthy. Lord Magistrate, just don't worry." The steward replied with a smile.
"Now, if you bring over another great thing, wouldn't they be even happier?" Chen Tongpao said.
"What a good thing..." The steward was still worried. He didn't show joy on his face, but became nervous again.
Chen Tongpao stretched out his hand and tugged on his clothes: "Don't you feel happy?"
The steward was so frightened that he took a step back: "I hope the commander will speak clearly."
Prime Minister Meixian tilted his head and peered into Tongpao Chen's stern expression. His hands were shaking and he was holding his breath.
"I paid off Jiangdu's credit account on behalf of the Lu family."
After hearing this, the steward laughed heartily, and the Prime Minister of Mei County also let out a big sigh of relief.
"So that's what happened! To be honest, our master has already known about it. I am extremely grateful to you. I am so grateful!" The steward spoke loudly again.
"It's just a trivial matter, it's nothing! It's just a small favor that I tried my best to do." Tongpao Chen said calmly.
"In this case, I still need to go back to my house and explain to the master. If Mr. Chen has nothing else to do, just leave it alone." After the steward said this, he bowed, packed his luggage, and strode out of the Yamen.
"Just wait a minute."
After hearing this, the steward suddenly stopped and was stunned for a moment before slowly turning around.
"I wonder, what's going on...?" His cheeks twitched restlessly.
Chen Tongpao pretended to be anxious and hurried over. He turned around and glanced at Mei County Prime Minister. Then he took out two or three taels of broken silver from his sleeve and handed it to the steward.
"This is……"
Chen Tongpao covered his mouth and whispered: "I hope the steward will accept the money and don't tell the young master that you saw me here. Just report it to Mr. Lu alone."
Seeing Tongpao Chen being so careful, the steward became suspicious, so he hesitated and refused to accept the money.
"Please think twice." Chen Tongpao urged from the side.
Without further ado, the governor took the money with one hand and said to him, "Don't worry, sir. I'll be resigning now."
The steward hurriedly stuffed the silver into the sack and tied it tightly, but did not forget to turn around and say goodbye to the Prime Minister of Mei County. Then he looked around, pretended that nothing happened, and left.
"Meixian Cheng." Chen Tongpao coughed twice and walked up to Meixian Cheng.
Meixian Cheng nodded timidly: "Your Excellency, please call me by your name. Is there any chance..."
"I've been on a long trip from this county recently, so I'd like to ask you to handle the Yamen affairs. Mr. Mei can handle things impartially and selflessly. It's really reliable." Tongpao Chen stroked his beard and only sipped the bowl of tea the steward drank on the table.
.
The Prime Minister of Meixian County didn't know what Magistrate Chen was up to. He was so flustered in his heart that he was afraid that he would not be careful and would not cause trouble, so he gently handed over the dagger.
"I have always kept this knife of yours carefully, and I have never dared to use it to act arbitrarily or do anything wrong. Now that you have returned to the Yamen, I am willing to return this thing." He knelt on the ground and said.
Chen Tongpao grabbed the handle of the knife and took off the scabbard. He saw that the dagger was still as bright as rotten silver and had not been stained with a trace of dust, let alone any blood.
"Although you told me to use this blade to kill those who don't agree with me, I really haven't done anything with it..." Mei Xian Cheng looked at him sincerely. He asked himself, indeed he didn't.
But Chen Tongpao didn't even raise his eyebrows, put away the sheath, and threw it into Mei Xian Cheng's hand again: "Just take the thing."
Prime Minister Meixian was surprised and scratched the base of his ear in disbelief.
"Zhi...Mr. Magistrate?"
Tongpao Chen smiled and said: "You heard it right, just take it and handle official business in the future, so you don't have to ask for instructions this or that. How tiring it is."
The magistrate was stunned. Immediately, his eyes seemed to glow with golden light, and he knocked his head with a bang and said loudly: "Thank you, sir, for the promotion!"
In less than half a day, the steward rushed to the mansion. After entering the hall, he first reported to Lu Zhengfu and told everything about his meeting with Chen Tongpao. He did not hide a word, but he did not say that he had been bribed.
After he got down from the hall, he went to the young master's bedroom to talk to Jishou. When they met in person, before closing the door, Lu Jishou asked anxiously: "Has Tongpao Chen gone back?"
The steward nodded solemnly, closed the door behind his back, and then slowly said: "Master, don't panic, think twice before you act, and plan your move slowly."
After hearing this, Lu Jishou paced back and forth a few times, but finally lost his temper, threw the tea bowl on the bedside, pointed at the steward and yelled, "You son of a bitch, you slave! I tried every possible means to get you to persuade the Prime Minister of Mei County, but in the end
After working hard for several days, there is still no result, and finally Comrade Chen went back easily! You are shameless, and you still have the nerve to make me think twice before you act?"
"After all, this matter was done without the knowledge of the master. Now there is nothing we can do. The young master should rest his anger for a while," the steward said tremblingly.
Lu Jishou gasped, sat down on the edge of the bed, and kicked the corner of the table several times.
"But... there is still a chance to arrest Zhuo Lengping."
Lu Jishou shook his head: "It doesn't matter if that girl can't come back now. The main thing is to give our family a good reputation and show Tongpao Chen's character."
"Master, if you think about it, if you catch Zhuo Lengping, you can accuse Chen Tongpao of hiding a fugitive. Then his black hat..." The steward suddenly stopped talking and pointed to his head.
Lu Jishou frowned, nodded and said, "It makes sense, it makes sense. But it's really not the right way to do it."
The steward smiled confidently: "I have discovered a flaw that I can exploit."
Lu Jishou suddenly became excited and his eyes widened: "Say it quickly!"
The steward said: "I bumped into Mr. Chen in the Yamen today, and he gave me three taels of silver before leaving -"
He took out the money from the bag and gave it to Jishou to look at.
Ji Shou fiddled with the money and listened to the steward continue: "Tell me not to tell you. He has returned to the Yamen."
Ji Shou grabbed the silver and smacked his lips and said, "He must be afraid of me. But it's strange. He is in Taizhou at the moment, so I can't transfer him. It would be more advantageous..."
"Master, don't you know how smart Tongpao Chen is? He must have calculated something that we didn't," said the steward.
"In this case, I will go to Taizhou myself!" Without anyone's advice, Lu Jishou had already made up his mind, so he opened the door and went to find his father.