"Somebody come!"
Liu Yijin shouted loudly, and Erzhu and several young strong men immediately stepped forward and tied Yuan Kong up directly.
"This lewd monk actually broke into the Zhou Mansion at night and acted recklessly. I think it's better to just light the sky lantern as a warning to others."
Zhou Bao hurriedly stepped forward and advised: "Brother Yijin, even if this guy commits a crime, you can't light a sky lantern on him. He must be handed over to the government."
Liu Yijin's face showed misery: "Mr. Mayor, this is related to the face of my Zhou family. The eldest lady of the family has just won the title of 'Charity House' in the county. In the blink of an eye, she is taken care of by this kind of thief. Well, if we don’t kill him as a warning to others, won’t our Zhou Mansion be at the mercy of others from now on?”
"But if you hand him over to the government, you can punish him. Besides, lynching is illegal."
Although Zhou Bao accepted Liu Yijin's money, that didn't mean that Liu Yijin could do whatever he wanted.
Besides, this Yuan Kong is from Piaomiao Temple, and the master of Piaomiao Temple is someone who has taught the Dharma to His Majesty.
Zhou Bao hesitated: "This matter involves Miao Miao Temple. Do you know that this Yuan Kong is also a disciple who presides over Huiji. He is already an enlightened monk at a young age. Besides, the so-called catching an adulterer and catching a couple..."
Liu Yijin said: "Sir, how about I send you a thousand taels from my house later?"
Zhou Bao's face trembled and he coughed lightly: "Since it concerns the reputation of the Zhou family, I naturally have nothing to say, but it's better to try not to kill anyone. Of course, the so-called fists and feet have no eyes... "
Liu Yijin is not stupid. Innocent murder was not allowed even in ancient times, but since Zhou Bao has something to say here, it will be easier to handle.
Yuan Kong looked at Zhou Bao and shouted anxiously: "Zhou Bao, I am an eminent monk of Mianmiao Temple. If you don't stop this news, I will definitely report it to the master when I return to the mountain gate. Your Qinghe Town will be simply lawless!"
Zhou Bao sneered: "As a monk, you broke into a house at night and sneaked into the third lady's courtyard. There is a lot of mystery in this matter. It would be better if you told the truth. If you are stubborn, even if Master Huiji comes, he can't save you! When can Buddhists interfere with the local government’s handling of cases?”
Zhou Bao turned around and looked at everyone: "Today, all of us here can testify for Liu Yijin and the Zhou family! It was you, the lewd monk, who stole people first, and then aroused public anger!"
Zhou Bao turned around and looked around. The landowners and squires nodded hurriedly: "That's right, that's right."
"Come here!" Zhou Bao's face was as gloomy as water: "Detain Yuan Kong and Li Ping'er first!"
Li Ping'er on the side suddenly shouted: "Mr. Mayor, I was wronged!"
"Whether it's unfair or not, you know for yourself, Li Ping'er, now that the matter has come to this, if you tell the truth honestly, you can still gain a reputation!"
Liu Yijin rubbed his shoulders and grimaced in pain: "Third Madam, don't be anxious. I think you should listen to the mayor first. After investigation into this matter, if it really has nothing to do with you, you will naturally be released."
Li Ping'er looked at Liu Yijin with vicious eyes: "Liu Yijin, you are behind this whole thing. You are trying to swallow up the Zhou family's property, and you are colluding with the lady in the house just to get rid of me!"
Liu Yijin sneered in his heart. He had been secretly planning for this day for a long time. Such a good opportunity was right in front of him today. If he didn't take advantage of it, wouldn't he be really sorry for himself?
"Third Madam, although you are the master's concubine, you are also the wife of the house. How dare we servants do such a thing innocently?"
Wang Ying came out from the side: "Li Ping'er, how could Yijin frame you for no reason? Besides, if Yuan Kong didn't know you, why did he jump into your yard and in front of so many people? Let me tell you that I know you in person?"
Li Ping'er was speechless.
The eldest lady Song Lian looked at it with burning eyes. She knew that everything today was led by Liu Yijin.
While she was shocked by Liu Yijin's little thoughts, she was also thinking about her own affairs.
Li Ping'er has always been at odds with him, and he used to take advantage of his favor. If he could take this opportunity to get rid of her, no one in the Zhou family would be disobedient in the future.
"One pound!" Song Lian called Liu Yijin to her side: "It's about the reputation of the Zhou family, you can take care of it."
Song Lian glanced at Li Ping'er and turned to leave.
"Song Lian!" Li Ping'er said eagerly: "Liu Yijin and Wang Ying worked together to swallow up the 300,000 taels of silver that the master had hidden in the house!"
Song Lian's steps slowed down and she looked at Li Ping'er in disbelief: "What did you say?"
Everyone's expressions also changed drastically, and they looked at Liu Yijin and Wang Ying in shock.
Li Ping'er knew that if he was taken away today, everything in the house would not be monitored. Instead of using 300,000 taels of silver to make Liu Yijin and Wang Ying cheaper, it would be better to expose them directly.
Li Ping'er snorted coldly: "Song Lian, you are so kind to Liu Yijin, he is not of the same mind as you."
Li Ping'er walked up to the crowd with cold eyes: "When the master was alive, he told me that he had a sum of 300,000 taels of personal silver in his house, and he placed it in the second lady's courtyard."
"And today Liu Yijin found so many tenants and got so many tools, saying he was building a pavilion for the second wife. Who knows what he was doing?"
Three hundred thousand taels of silver?
Everyone couldn't help but take a breath of cold air, and Zhou Bao looked at Liu Yijin with burning eyes.
"Wang Ying, is what Li Ping'er said true?" Song Lian glared.
Wang Ying walked forward calmly and said: "Yes, Li Ping'er is right. There are indeed 300,000 taels of silver stored in this small courtyard."
"Where!"
Song Lian's breathing was rapid.
Wang Ying shook her head: "I don't know."
"I don't know?" Song Lian snorted, "Wang Ying, you just said you saw three hundred thousand taels, and now you say you haven't? Are you lying?"
Wang Ying sighed: "Sister, believe it or not, I really didn't see the three hundred thousand taels of silver."
Just as Liu Yijin was about to speak, Song Lian glared at him: "And you, a rip-off guy, am I not treating you well?"
"Sister, Liu Yijin doesn't know about this."
Wang Ying said calmly: "But the three hundred thousand taels of silver are not private silver, but official silver."
"Official silver?!"
As soon as she said this, Song Lian was stunned: "Three hundred thousand official silver?"
"That's right." Wang Ying pointed to the back of the small courtyard: "The three hundred thousand taels of official silver were once buried there, but in the end I felt it was not safe, so I smuggled it out. As for where it was transported, I will tell you I no longer know."
"After all, the master has not been to my courtyard for half a year at that time. Sister, you also know this."
Liu Yijin on the side said: "Madam, I have already asked. During that time, the master stayed in the third lady's yard."
Song Lian's eyes suddenly turned cold: "Li Ping'er, at that time, the master was in your courtyard day and night. Tell me, where are the three hundred thousand taels of silver?"
Li Ping'er was stunned: "How do I know?"
"I don't dare to ask about the master's affairs. Besides, even if I want to know, the master won't tell me!"
Li Ping'er snorted: "I have been here for so long, let alone three hundred thousand taels, even if it is three hundred taels, I don't know where he can hide!"
Liu Yijin and Wang Ying looked at each other, and the latter looked toward the backyard.
Liu Yijin hurriedly said: "Madam, there is definitely something wrong with this matter. If the silver is really hidden in the courtyard, the most likely place is the backyard. As long as you send someone to dig, you will definitely find clues."
Zhou Bao nodded: "Yes, if it is official bank, it will be of great importance. I will report this matter to the county government!"
Zhou Bao signaled, and a group of servants hurried to the back of the courtyard, and finally dug out dozens of large, damp jars and somewhat worn wooden boxes near a flower bed.
Zhou Bao and others walked over: "According to this quantity, it is more than enough to hold 300,000 taels of silver. It can be seen that what Wang Ying said is true."
"But where are the three hundred thousand taels of silver?"
Zhou Bao looked at Liu Yijin with burning eyes: "Brother Yijin, do you want to give me an explanation for this matter?"
Liu Yijin smiled bitterly: "Sir, I was just a long-term worker. Even if my family has money, it's not my turn to know."
"It's about official silver. I don't dare to claim it randomly."
Zhou Bao speculated secretly and said calmly: "Detain Li Ping'er and Yuan Kong first. It involves a heavy responsibility for the government and bank. I will report this matter to the county government. There are people waiting in the Zhou Mansion. They are not allowed to go out without orders!"
