"Didn't the treasury approve the money according to regulations?" Mo Han asked, and the person who answered him was Zheng Yan, "It is according to regulations."
A few short words gave Mo Han the answer - false reports and greed.
A wealthy family could ask for a large sum of money from the court every year on the pretext of supporting their families, generals, and soldiers. As time went by, the tide lifted all boats, and it became a tacit secret among the wealthy families. After all, no one finds money too hot to touch.
He knew Fang Zilan's temperament very well. After all, he had never seen how much money had been approved by the treasury, and he directly handed over full authority to Zheng Yan. Fortunately, Zheng Yan has a good character, otherwise he would have pocketed the extra money, and Fang Zilan would not know about it.
Xiao Xuan'er quickly finished checking the accounts, "Master Fang, everything is correct. There is no problem."
"In that case, let's use the extra money." Fang Zilan said and looked at Zheng Yan, "If there is a shortage of money in the government soldiers, just come and tell me."
"Okay." Zheng Yan agreed and left after seeing nothing happened.
"Miss Xiao, I would like to ask you to help me investigate something." Fang Zilan told Xiao Xuan'er what Cong Rong had just told her. She nodded slightly, "Don't worry, Mr. Fang, I will find out as soon as possible."
"Sorry to bother Miss Xiao." Fang Zilan looked serious, "But I think this matter is not that simple. It's not that I underestimate that lady, it's just that it's really difficult for an ordinary woman to escape from her husband's house on her own. I think there should be a family behind her. Help.”
"Whether it's possible or not, we still have to check it out first." Mo Han expressed relief, and Fang Zilan nodded, "That's all we can do now."
"Master Fang, the Persian delegation will arrive in Beijing the day after tomorrow, and the Di Rong delegation will also arrive in Beijing in five days." Xiao Xuan'er reminded: "At this juncture, we must not make any mistakes in our house."
"I understand." Fang Zilan breathed a long sigh of relief, "Miss Xiao, don't worry about me, just go and check it yourself. It's not a big deal, I can handle it."
After saying that, she didn't stay any longer and returned to the room with a heavy heart. A little later, Awan came to deliver medicine to her. She was very sad when she talked about the bruises and scars on Baixiu Niang's body.
"Sister Bai has suffered a lot at first glance." A Wan said angrily, "With so many injuries on her body, I think she was beaten a lot at home."
Fang Zilan was silent, and Awan tugged on her sleeve, "Fang Zilan, we must rescue Sister Bai!"
"You." Fang Zilan nodded helplessly on her forehead, and finally agreed to reassure her.
However, Fang Zilan slept very uneasily that night, and there was always a bad premonition lingering in her heart.
Sure enough, at dawn the next day, Cao Hong knocked on the door of the Yue Duke's Mansion, looking anxious but as if he had done something wrong.
When Fang Zilan heard the news, she threw on a coat and a cloak and went to the front hall. Before she could sit down, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Boss, I..." Cao Hong lowered his head and said after a while: "I may have done something wrong."
Fang Zilan yawned, took the tea from Xiao Xuan'er, drank half of it, sobered up for a few moments, and then said, "What did you do?"
"I..." Vice General Cao sighed, and then said: "Last night, Mr. Zhu sent someone to Miss Bai's house to ask for someone. Miss Bai's brother couldn't hand over the person, so he got into a dispute with Mr. Zhu's people. Mr. Zhu The person told me that if I don’t see anyone again in three days, I will report it to the police. I went to Mr. Zhu’s house and made some inquiries. Unexpectedly, he told Miss Bai’s family that he didn’t want Miss Bai anymore..."
He finished speaking in one breath and glanced secretly at Fang Zilan, who had no expression on his face. "How did you beat that Mr. Zhu? Did you do it?"
"I didn't have time to take action." Cao Hong quickly waved his hand and said, "I just scared him. Who knows..." He touched the back of his head and did not continue.
"It's better if you don't do anything." Fang Zilan snorted coldly, "It's nothing to scare a person who fears power but not virtue. It just so happens that he doesn't want Miss Bai anymore, so it's easier for us to talk to Miss Bai's family."
"Boss..." Cao Hong said hesitantly: "Miss Bai and her brother are a tough opponent, and their subordinates are also somewhat powerful. They are well known in the army. If Mr. Zhu doesn't want Miss Bai anymore, I'm afraid he won't be kind."
Fang Zilan took a sip of tea and said, "Are you afraid that he won't be kind to me?"
Cao Hong nodded, "If this matter gets serious, Miss Bai..."
"Master Fang!" Zheng Yan came in a hurry, with a rare solemn expression on his face, "Miss Bai's family went to play drums in front of the Jingzhao Yin Mansion and said they would sue our Yue Kingdom."
"So fast?" Xiao Xuan'er's expression changed, and Fang Zilan whispered: "It doesn't leave any room, it's really a tough move."
"Boss, what should we do now?" Cao Hong was a little panicked. He was good at fighting, but he was a layman in litigation.
"Old Cao, go and invite Miss Bai's brother over for me." Fang Zilan said coldly: "If he doesn't want to and has to go to court, just kidnap him over."
Cao Hong was stunned for a moment, then heard Fang Zilan say: "I'm afraid he's too young to act arrogant in front of me. Zheng Yan, take your soldiers and go with Lao Cao."
"Yes." Zheng Yan took the order and left. Cao Hong hurriedly followed, "Brother Zheng, wait for me!"
Fang Zilan looked at the backs of the two of them, breathed a long sigh of relief, and said to Xiao Xuan'er: "I'm going to wash up first, change my clothes, and then come back. If they come back, let them wait in the front hall for a while."
After saying that, she got up and went back to the room. After packing, she walked to the front hall again. She saw Cao Hong and Zheng Yan holding a man in the hall. Needless to say, it was Bai Xiu Niang's brother.
The man looked unkind and said fiercely: "Master Fang's way of inviting people is really unique."
Fang Zilan glanced at him and signaled Cao Hong and Zheng Yan to let him go, "Are you Bai Xiu Niang's brother? What's your name?"
The man spat and said: "That's right, I can't change my name even if I sit down, and I can't change my surname. That's right."
Fang Zilan hummed nonchalantly and said straight to the point: "Please make a price, I want Bai Xiu Niang."
"What?" Bai Chu was obviously stunned, and after a while he said, "It's easy to say. I wonder which family of adults has taken a fancy to my sister?"
"Are you deaf?" Fang Zilan said coldly: "I'll say it one last time, I want Bai Xiu Niang."
"No..." Bai Chu looked incomprehensible and frowned: "Master Fang, you are a woman, what do you want from my sister?"
"Just ask for the price." Fang Zilan was too lazy to argue with Bai Chuduo, but unexpectedly he shook his head and said: "That won't work. My sister is going to be sold to be a concubine, what's the point of selling you a woman?"
Fang Zilan laughed angrily at him, "You just take the money, and you still care whether the other person is a man or a woman?"
"That's natural." Bai Chu said matter-of-factly: "My sister is a widow, so she can only sell it. But even if she sells it, she can only sell it to men. So what if you are the Duke of Yue? A woman, messing around blindly What?"
