....
Zhao Wujiang was shocked, what secret?
[The incident happened four years ago. It was the year of Wuwu and the beginning of the Great Xia Dynasty, when the new emperor ascended the throne. 】
"Master Zhao! Master Zhao!"
The shouts of the clerks came from outside. The sound was a little faint because it was separated by a door and an underground secret room, but Zhao Wujiang still heard it because of his sharp ears and eyes.
He quickly folded the envelope, put it back into the brocade bag, and then stuffed the brocade bag into his arms.
He glanced back at the wooden boxes stacked on the wooden shelves in the secret room. Instead of taking them out together, he stepped on the steps and walked towards the top of the study.
Some things are temporarily placed here and will be picked up by Long Yinwei when the time comes.
In his arms there was only a token engraved with Qianlong Zaiyuan and a letter from Chen Anbang.
After he walked out of the secret room and returned to the study, he re-paved the floor and then opened the door.
"Sir Zhao, the inventory outside has been completed. Please take a look." The visitor was Liu Wanshan, a member of the Ministry of Household Affairs, and he respectfully replied to Zhao Wujiang.
Zhao Wujiang nodded and followed Liu Wanshan out.
"The items in Chen Anbang's mansion, Minister of War, have been counted. The total amount of silver is 172,1700..." Liu Wanshan led the way and reported to Zhao Wujiang:
"Thirty-six thousand five hundred and thirteen taels of gold, fifty-three paintings and calligraphy, one hundred and thirty-three huks of pearls, three thousand two hundred brocades..."
The two of them came to the front yard, where things were piled up into hills. Liu Wanshan's eyes flashed, but he quickly calmed down and asked:
"Mr. Zhao, should these things be brought to the treasury first, or..."
"All of it will be confiscated to the national treasury." Zhao Wujiang said in a deep voice.
"Yes." Liu Wanshan sighed in his heart. It's a pity. With so many things, it's better to keep some for himself.
But at the same time, he quietly admired Zhao Wujiang in his heart. The gold and silver mountains were right in front of him, but Zhao Wujiang announced the confiscation without even blinking. What kind of courage was this?
Liu Wanshan directed the officials and guards to start moving the gold mountain.
Zhao Wujiang's eyes glanced to the side. Beside it, the Chen family's servants, concubines, concubines, and their heirs were kneeling densely.
The servants and servants had panic on their faces, and they kept looking at Zhao Wujiang with fear in their eyes, waiting for Zhao Wujiang's punishment.
Concubine Ji cried and washed her face with tears.
Only Chen Anbang's heir kept comforting his mother with an expressionless face.
Zhao Wujiang walked towards them slowly, and the servants of the Chen Mansion kept shouting respectfully:
"See Mr. Zhao!"
Zhao Wujiang saw desire in their eyes, eager for Zhao Wujiang to issue an order to forgive them.
Chen Anbang only had two concubines, one wife and one concubine, which was rare among officials.
Chen Anbang also has only one heir, the young man named Chen Zhiguo whom Zhao Wujiang met at the engagement party of Princess Moon Worshiper that day.
When Chen Zhiguo saw Zhao Wujiang approaching, his heart was in turmoil. He did not expect that the little eunuch he had ridiculed at the beginning would suddenly turn into a sixth-grade secretary. He did not expect that now that the Chen family was in decline, it would be Zhao Wujiang who came to ransack the house.
He slowly clasped his fists and restrained his unnecessary emotions. He glanced at his mother and second mother, who were still covering their faces and crying, and said solemnly:
"Chen Zhiguo pays homage to Mr. Zhao!
I am willing to repay Mr. Zhao as a slave from now on. I only ask Mr. Zhao to forgive Zhiguo’s two mothers! "
"Guo'er..." Chen Zhiguo's mother and second mother heard this and cried even harder, sobbing continuously.
Zhao Wujiang rubbed his fingers:
"I want you to die!"
Chen Zhiguo was stunned for a moment, his eyes flickering, but he still bowed to Zhao Wujiang:
"Zhiguo offended Mr. Zhao, and he deserves it!
But my mother is innocent. My mother has endured a lot of suffering from my father's beatings for Zhiguo these years. I just hope that Mr. Zhao can let them go...
Zhiguo is willing to kill himself on the spot! "
"You are not qualified to bargain with me." Zhao Wujiang said lightly, his eyes dark.
"Master Zhao, please let Guo'er go. What Chen Anbang did has nothing to do with Guo'er. If you want to kill me, just kill me." Chen Zhiguo's mother knelt and moved her body, stepped forward and hugged Zhao Wujiang's thigh. , kept pleading.
The servants who were kneeling aside also mustered up the courage to intercede for the two ladies and the young master. Over the years, the lady and the young master had treated them well.
Zhao Wujiang rubbed his fingers, and finally a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth:
"I want you all to leave here!
Chen Anbang has made mistakes and merits over the years, but the merits and demerits are not equal to each other. When dealing with those involved, confiscation of Chen's house is the punishment.
And you are neither rebellious officials nor traitors, nor are you complicit in the evil. The Holy One is benevolent and has great grace. I will spare you the death penalty! "
When Chen Zhiguo heard this, the depression in his heart finally dissipated. He buried his head heavily on the ground and kowtowed to Zhao Wujiang to thank him.
The two ladies began to sob again, feeling lucky to have survived the disaster, but lamenting that their fate had changed so quickly.
The servants cheered, bowed their heads, and praised Zhao Wujiang and the empress.
"Learn from history!" Zhao Wujiang said calmly and gave a final warning.
He is not a murderous person, nor is he a hypocritical and kind-hearted person. Whether to let these people go is just a matter of his thoughts.
If he hadn't seen the affection between mother and son and the pleas recognized by everyone in the house, even if he demoted Chen Zhiguo and others as slaves, no one would have any objections.
