"Mom, tell me, what illegal activities have my uncle done in managing the account for dad?"
When Deng Xiuer saw Mrs. Liu, she immediately said this. Mrs. Liu was startled and said angrily: "You kid, you also listen to outsiders' nonsense? Who can't believe their own relatives? How can your uncle take care of your father's accounts?" How can you possibly do something detrimental to your father when you think about your father wholeheartedly?"
"Did Mom say you can't? Dad was detained just now, and you still say you can't?"
"What?" When Liu E heard this, she was so shocked that she almost fainted and said in a trembling voice: "What are you talking about? Your father was also detained? Didn't your father say... didn't he say that the case involved his family members, so he had to follow the law? Why are you being detained and charged with recuperating in the back house for a few days?"
Deng Xiuer said angrily: "How do you know what happened to my daughter? I only know that this matter has a lot to do with the Sizhou treasury, and my father was detained because of this matter. Mom, my uncle is the best to you, and nothing will happen to you. I'm hiding it from you, please tell your daughter what my uncle has done. Otherwise, not only will my uncle and the others not be able to be saved, but even my father will be implicated and sent to jail."
Mrs. Liu was so shocked that her face turned pale and her lips turned blue. Although she had read poems and books for a few days, she was still a country woman, so she had no knowledge. Her husband had only been famous for a few years, Deng Zuyang had nothing, but this official wife was. She learned how to be bossy, but she didn't have much experience in her heart. When faced with a sudden disaster, she just cried to her husband. Now even her husband, who she relied on as a pillar of support in her heart, was taken away. Mrs. Liu was so frightened that she completely lost her mind. After coming up with his idea, he was scolded by his daughter and even forgot to get angry.
She murmured to herself: "This... this..., how could Shuchen do anything detrimental to your father? The treasury... Shuchen just used the tax money in the treasury to do some business with Liu Zhong I heard that the price of food had increased, so I used it to buy a batch of food, hoping to make a profit from it..."
After hearing this, Deng Xiuer said in disbelief: "That is the tax money paid by the local government, which is to be sent to the imperial court. The reserved part is used to cope with floods and droughts to provide local life-saving money. My uncle...he took the money from the treasury." Have you moved all the money to release it?"
Mrs. Liu was annoyed: "You girl knows how to complain. Where did you get such fine clothing, food and clothing, a big house, and a cloud of servants? You only earned it with your father's official salary in the past two years." Coming?"
"That's not my second uncle..."
"What second uncle? Is it easy for your second uncle? Your father and I were helpless at first, thanks to your second uncle's help. Now that your father is rich, it is natural for him to reciprocate. How can I ask your second uncle to take money every year? Support our family, and besides, your father is a high-ranking official, and now he still has to rely on relatives for help? Isn’t it embarrassing?”
Deng Xiuer said angrily: "So you let my uncle go to bank money? Especially to save and buy grain. Father strictly prohibits speculation and raising prices. It is strange that my uncle is the big accountant of the government and the brother of the prefect's wife. He also went there." Gathering grain?”
Mrs. Liu became angry and said: "Uncle Zhou Wang, a big profiteer, has accumulated mountains of grain and grass. How much profit has he made from it? How much money can your uncle earn from just doing small things? These benefits are so cheap that he can't stand against your father." The big traitor has made money, and I don’t see how the court can do anything to win over him. Why can’t we even make a few pennies? It’s true that your brother-in-law embezzled the money from the treasury, but it’s not like he won’t pay back the money.”
Deng Xiuer was so angry that she was shaking all over: "Mom, if you embezzle money from the treasury without authorization, even if you pay it back, it will be a serious crime for you to be dismissed from office and demoted to a common people. Do you know?"
Mrs. Liu only said that it was no big deal if you paid her back, but she didn’t know that there were so many stinky rules in the government, and they were so unreasonable. She said timidly: "Back then...when your father first arrived in Sizhou, Uncle Zhou Wang manipulated In the Sizhou Grain Market, when you joined forces with the Sizhou officials and gentry to make things difficult for your father, your father had no choice but to secretly use the money from the treasury to let your cousin make money for profit. Only then did he have the capital to make your second uncle a Sizhou grain market. Gentleman, do you want to check Uncle Zhou Wang's arrogance? How do you know that I can't do it even if he makes me do it..."
At this point, she finally panicked: "Is this really a serious crime? My daughter, what should I do now? What should I do now?"
Deng Xiuer stared at her for a long time, then stamped her feet and said, "You stupid mother!"
Mrs. Liu panicked: "Daughter, where are you going?"
Deng Xiuer paused and said coldly: "My mother and my brother-in-law secretly repaired the accounts and secretly embezzled money from the treasury. My father trusted my uncle too much and kept him in the dark. If King Wei asked about it, my father would definitely deny it. Wei Wei The prince already has evidence in hand, and if the father denies it, he will definitely offend the King of Wei even more. My daughter should rush there now, explain the truth to the King of Wei and her father, and beg the King of Wei...please ask him to be noble and let her father go..."
Deng Xiuer walked away. Mrs. Liu stood there for a long time, sat down on the chair, and could no longer stand up.
Deng Zuyang met Zhao Dezhao, the king of Wei, on the ship. When he asked about the affairs of the treasury, he naturally refused to admit it. Although the treasury was controlled by his brother-in-law, who was absolutely reliable, he still kept the accounts of the treasury according to the rules. Even the physical objects were inspected regularly. It can be said that the treasury accounts were always consistent with the actual objects. When faced with the accusations made by King Wei, he was shocked and angry. Now, even he had doubts in his heart, doubting King Wei. Whether it was a deliberate frame-up, the real purpose was the dispute between kings and ministers in the court.
Seeing that he was stubborn, Zhao Dezhao was not in a hurry to interrogate him. He now had countless cases in his hands, and all the key figures were suddenly arrested and locked up in rice warehouses, one person at a time. It was so tight that everyone could see each other. Unable to communicate with each other, Sizhou was leaderless and in chaos. He had countless breaches to pry in, so how could he waste any effort on Deng Zuyang.
Deng Zuyang was inexplicably put under house arrest in a cabin, and he was still confused about the whole thing. At this time, the cabin door knocked softly, and a scribe slowly walked in.
Deng Zuyang sat up from the couch and recognized this person as Murong Qiuzui, the staff member who accompanied the king's southward journey, so he raised his hand in confusion: "Mr. Murong?"
Murong Qiuzui smiled slightly: "You're welcome in Dengfutai."
Deng Zuyang asked: "What does the prince have to say?"
Murong Qiuzui said: "Your Majesty is very busy. You can live here for the time being. It's very safe. I won't make any further decisions about you for a while. Haha... In any case, you are still appointed by the imperial court and serve as the guardian of the imperial court." As a senior official, if the imperial decree remains unchanged, you will still be an official, and the prince will not dare to make things too difficult for you."
Deng Zuyang smiled slightly: "Deng has a clear conscience. He just wants the truth to be revealed immediately, but he is not afraid of any embarrassment."
Murong Qiuzui's eyes lit up and he said with a smile: "That's good. Hmm...I am accompanying King Wei Qiansui to go south. I was appointed by Mr. Zhao. Isn't Deng Futai not aware of this?"
"Xianggong Zhao?" Deng Zuyang couldn't help but be stunned.
"Yes, it is Mr. Zhao. Haha, Deng Futai was promoted from the county magistrate of the first and third-level counties to the prefect of Sizhou. It was the result of Mr. Zhao's repeated recommendation in front of the officials. Mr. Zhao admired the prefect Deng very much. , Magistrate Deng is young and promising, and he is capable in his work. As for his personal morality, there is no problem. Now some young people are doing random things without telling Deng Futai, and Deng Futai insists that he has no knowledge, which is good..."
Deng Zuyang said angrily: "What are you saying, Mr. Murong? It can't be true if it's false, and it can't be true if it's true. Deng really doesn't know anything about it."
An intriguing smile appeared on Murong Qiuzui's face, and he said with profound meaning: "It's okay not to know, it's okay not to know. Deng Futai had better bite this sentence and not let go, and don't say too much about anything else. , Nowadays, there are too many people with ulterior motives. Once something goes wrong in their words, they will make a fuss out of a molehill and make use of it if they fall into the ears of interested people. If Zhao Xianggong is also in an embarrassing situation by then, how can Governor Deng be worthy of his Bole? ?As long as you handle it carefully, Mr. Zhao will naturally take care of you."
Deng Zuyang suddenly realized it. After enduring for a long time, he took a breath and said in a deep voice: "Deng understands!"
"As long as you understand." Murong Qiu Zui cupped his hands and said, "I shouldn't stay here for too long. I'll take my leave."
Listening to the reports one after another, Wei Wang Zhao Dezhao couldn't help but let out a long sigh. He had been worried about Yang Hao, fearing that Yang Hao would use such stormy methods, but he still couldn't get any evidence. At that time, not only Yang Hao was unlucky. , he, the newly crowned King of Wei, would probably have to be demoted to appease the anger of the officials and gentry. Fortunately, the seemingly impenetrable defense was actually connected by illegal gains. Once the leader was caught , the network is paralyzed, people are everywhere surrendering, and a lot of evidence has been collected. It will not be possible for the bureaucrats to sort out the existing evidence clearly.
Now, every time he sorted out a part, he flew a flying horse to report it to the capital. This time, Wei Wang Zhao Dezhao clearly noticed everything, and his shrewd and capable evaluation could no longer escape. Even his teacher Zong Jiezhou, who was as honest and steady as he was Everyone was smiling, so what else could he be unhappy about? But he didn't know why, but he just couldn't be happy. A hazy shadow always lingered in his heart, but the sound of the piano still flowed like spring water in his heart. After this For one thing, could he ever see that woman as slim as the moon and as bookish as the ink and fragrance again?
Yang Hao was reporting the matter to him: "Chitose, according to Liu Shuchen's confession, I have led people to accompany Guo Observer to carefully inspect the treasury. Among the boxes of official silver in the treasury, only one is placed on the top." The first floor is the real thing. What’s underneath is just lead ingots. What’s more, going deeper and higher, there are many sealed boxes, but they don’t even have any silver in them. Bricks and tiles..."
When Zhao Dezhao heard this, he couldn't help but slapped the desk and said angrily: "It's really audacious. Deng Zuyang also said that he had no knowledge. If he really had no knowledge, such a confused official should read his book again, otherwise Sizhou I really don’t know how corrupt the place will be under his rule. What’s going on in the official warehouse? Many very important witnesses are detained there, and our manpower is limited. Except for those who guard the official ships, the manpower we can mobilize is limited. Relying on local police officers, it is still unknown how many of them are colluding with those profiteers. If there is a mistake, they will be passive."
"Yes, don't worry, Your Majesty. Your subordinates also know that there must be some of their people among those officers. However, when arresting people, investigating cases, collecting evidence, interrogating, etc., we need people everywhere, and these local government officials cannot be used. That's why they were imprisoned in official warehouses, one granary after another, with guards standing outside at five paces. In this way, they were monitoring each other. Even if some of them were their accomplices, there was nothing they could do to let them go. After a while, the lower officials will go to the official warehouse and mobilize prisoners based on the existing evidence. They will focus on one person at a time and attack them one by one so that they can no longer attack and defend the alliance."
"Well, what Yang Yuan did seems to be reckless, but in fact it makes sense. I am very relieved, with you..."
Just as he said this, a vague song came from nowhere: "The phoenix comes back to its hometown, and travels around the world to seek for its phoenix. I haven't met you at that time and I have no generals. How can I be promoted to the hall now! There is a beautiful lady in the boudoir, in the room The stranger poisoned my intestines..."
The singing was vague and subtle, and if ordinary people heard it, they would never care. When Zhao Dezhao heard it, he jumped up as if he was electrocuted, and lost his voice: "Phoenix asking for phoenix?"
"Huh?" Yang Hao is like a duck listening to thunder. He doesn't understand. He doesn't understand. When he saw him jumping up and down, he couldn't help but cast a surprised look.
Zhao Dezhao walked quickly to the side of the cabin, opened the window and looked towards the shore. On the long embankment, there were green willows and green grass. The curling song became much clearer: "Why are we like mandarin ducks with their necks crossed, soaring together?" ! The phoenix comes to live with me, and she has been entrusted with the breeding tail to be a concubine forever. Friendship is harmonious, and the heart is harmonious. Who knows how to follow each other in the middle of the night? Both wings fly high, and I have no sense of my thoughts, which makes me sad..."
Zhao Dezhao clenched his fists and his face turned red: "It's her, it's her...she wants to see me?"
Zhao Dezhao turned around and was about to fly towards the cabin door. Yang Hao coughed and bowed: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty has a distinguished status. At this critical moment, in case someone jumps over the wall in a hurry, it is safer to stay on this official ship. Please give me your permission." The imperial court and the common people are the most important thing, don’t let the officials and others panic and worry about you.”
Zhao Dezhao looked back and glared at him. Yang Hao stood calmly and looked calm. Zhao Dezhao finally got discouraged and lowered his head and said: "That's all, please ask Yang Yuan to go away and invite the singer on the boat for me... for me." "
"Your Majesty, I obey." Yang Hao responded and walked out. The dock under the official ship was heavily guarded. No one was allowed to enter except the officials on the ship. Yang Hao went down the gangway to the shore and followed the singing to the green grass. Walk in.
Deng Xiuer couldn't get on the boat, so she wanted to lure King Wei down with her singing. She and King Wei had a secret love. Although they didn't express it clearly, there was a tacit understanding in their hearts. She believed that King Wei would meet her, but it was the one who didn't want to come. Yang Hao bit Yang Hao when he saw anyone in Sizhou. Deng Xiuer didn't know that he was here on the order of the King of Wei and didn't want to see him, so she played hide and seek with him in the grass, sang a few words in a different place, and then quickly changed again. She only wanted to call King Wei down, but when she thought about it, whether she could save her father was not what King Wei had said?
Yang Hao couldn't catch him, and he couldn't help but feel angry and funny. He suddenly shortened his body, quickly disappeared, and quietly sneaked in one direction. Deng Xiuer never left the official ship when she sang, but that's all. In the grass, I saw Deng Xiu'er sneaking in quietly. When she saw no one around, she stood still, looked at the official ship and opened her mouth to sing the song "Feng Xi Feng Xi" again.
As soon as the word "phoenix" came out of her mouth, a strange Yang Hao version of "Flying in the Dream" suddenly started singing behind her: "Who is singing, it warms the loneliness. The white clouds are still blue and the sky is still, and the tears are drifting. In that vast vastness
One of them was hiding and saw the noble prince on the boat in the distance, yo, yo, yo, come, oh, yeah! Miss Deng?"