Li Shanchang once again raised his hands towards Zhang Rengong and said: "My grandson is young and ignorant. He must have offended the Lord outside. Please forgive him this time when he first came to Jinling. I will be strict with him from now on." If you discipline me more, I will give you an explanation for what happened today."
Li Shanchang didn't know the whole story. He just thought that Li Ying offended Zhang Ren by blindly opening his eyes. Therefore, in Li Shanchang's eyes, this matter was not a big deal, but if it was not handled well, it could easily cost his life. After all, so many Jin Yiwei were dispatched today.
Zhang Ren said rather indifferently: "I don't care about Duke Xuan's family affairs, but today, Li Mao must give me an explanation."
Li Shanchang thought it was just Li Ying who offended Zhang Ren, but he didn't expect that Li Mao also offended Zhang Ren. It was really unfortunate for his family.
Li Shanchang stepped forward and asked, "Sir, Mao'er works in the City Patrol Department and has never gotten into trouble. Is there any misunderstanding?"
Zhang Ren had a cold look on his face, "Misunderstanding? I came to him just because he works in the City Patrol Department. He was supposed to be on patrol by the Qinhuai River today. Ask him why he didn't go?"
Li Shanchang looked at Li Mao and hurriedly asked: "Is Maoer concerned about this?"
Li Mao didn't want to admit it, but he was afraid of the Jin Yiwei. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and said, "It's just that someone gave me ten taels of silver and told me not to take anyone on patrol."
Li Shanchang stepped forward and gave Li Mao a slap in the face. He pointed at Li Mao and said: "You really dare to accept any money. You work for the court and don't want to fulfill your duties. You actually learned to collect money privately! You don't have to be an official. Go directly to the City Patrol Department tomorrow to ask for your resignation!"
Although he didn't want to give up his official position, facing his grandfather and Zhang Ren, how could Li Mao dare to refuse?
Li Shanchang turned around, bowed to Zhang Ren and said, "My grandson has lost his way in the government. It is indeed dereliction of duty. Tomorrow he will go to the City Patrol Department to resign. From then on, I asked him to shut up and think about his mistakes." , He is not allowed to leave the house even half a step."
Zhang Ren smiled coldly and said, "Is this the end?"
Li Shanchang sighed and said: "Xuanguo Duke's mansion is no longer what it used to be, but I still have some wealth. If you are willing to let my two grandchildren go, I will be very grateful."
Li Shanchang has been an official for many years, and he has always been a being who is inferior to one person and superior to ten thousand people. When has he ever begged someone so humbly? But the situation was stronger than the person, so he had no choice but to show off his old face.
Zhang Ren, however, was full of momentum and walked slowly towards Li Shanchang.
"Li Mao acted as a shield for the Slaughter Clan, which allowed the Slaughter Clan to live freely for many years. Go and ask those people whose lives were compromised by the Slaughter Clan if they would forgive Li Mao?"
"Tonight, due to Li Mao's dereliction of duty, no one was patrolling the Qinhuai River. Dozens of people died in the Songzhu Pavilion. Go and ask the souls of those innocent and unjust dead people to see if they are willing to forgive Li Mao?"
"It was also because of Li Mao's dereliction of duty that my wife died unexpectedly. How do you want me to let Li Mao go?"
Every time Zhang Ren spoke, he took a step in the direction of Li Shanchang. Li Shanchang, who had been in a high position for a long time, was frightened by Zhang Ren's momentum and took a few steps back.
Li Shanchang did not expect that his grandson would actually do so many "big" things. Dozens of people died in Songzhu Pavilion. Jinling City has never had such a big trouble since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Although it was not Li Mao who killed, Li Mao The charge of dereliction of duty cannot be escaped, and since he also accepted money, he may be regarded as an accomplice of the thieves. If Lao Zhu becomes angry, the entire Xuanguo Duke's palace may not be able to bear it.
Li Shanchang looked at Li Mao and asked, "Is everything this gentleman said true?"
Li Mao nodded, but still quibbled: "The butchers give me a lot of money every month, and they always do things secretly, and the people who lose their legs and feet are civilians, and now the butchers have been leveled, so this matter only needs to be done If you hide it, there won't be any big trouble, and I won't be implicated. As for the death of the Shochiku Pavilion, it has nothing to do with me. Today, a man in black gave me ten taels of silver and told me not to lead a patrol. , ten taels of silver is almost two months of my salary, how could I refuse?"
Of course, Li Mao couldn't help but curse in his heart. If your wife is dead, it has nothing to do with me. The Qinhuai River is a place where men have fun. Why would your wife go there if she has nothing to do?
Li Shanchang stepped forward, slapped Li Mao again, and said, "You made a big mistake. You don't regret it and still shirk responsibility. How can I, Li Shanchang, have a grandson like you?"
Zhang Ren spoke from the side: "Li Mao, let me ask you, do you know who the secret master is?"
Li Mao shook his head in fear and said, "I don't know."
Li Shanchang next to him couldn't help but take a breath when he heard the word "dark master".
Zhang Ren looked at Li Shanchang and asked, "What? Duke Xuan Guo knows about the secret master?"
Li Shanchang nodded and said: "I did hear about the dark master when I was still an official in the court. This person did evil in Yingtian Mansion and did many shocking crimes. However, his identity is extremely mysterious and there are many people around him. There were many dead men in the Jianghu, but the court failed to capture this person several times, and the court suffered heavy losses. Later, when the Hu Weiyong case happened, the arrest of the secret master was stalled, and later I did not Have you heard anything about the Dark Lord?"
Zhang Ren smiled coldly and said disdainfully: "There should be many people in the imperial court who provide convenience to the dark master like your grandson. It would be strange if the imperial court catches them."
Li Shanchang turned to look at Li Mao again and asked, "You actually colluded with the dark master?"
Li Mao said with a sad face, "No, my grandson has never even heard of that secret master."
Zhang Ren said from the side: "If I guess correctly, Tumen is a subordinate of the dark master."
Then Zhang Ren said with a sullen face: "Li Mao, I won't kill you today, I will spare your life for now."
Li Mao was granted amnesty and quickly knelt down on the ground and said: "Li Mao, thank you so much for not killing me, thank you so much for not killing me!"
Zhang Ren then said: "You'd better think clearly about whether you know the secret master. If you know or think of any information, have someone come to Jinyiwei to bring me a message. Remember, don't do any tricks when you go there, otherwise …”
Li Mao almost cried. He really didn't know who the secret master was. If he knew that he would cause such a big disaster, he would never dare to accept the money from the Tumen and the men in black.
Zhang Ren then came to the Thousand-faced Man again and said, "Senior Brother, please take care of me here in Duke Xuan's Mansion. I don't want to see Li Mao being assassinated or commit suicide, so please take care of me."
Today, Zhang Ren seems to be a loner. Anyone who is an official in the court may collude with the secret master. Zhang Ren also cannot trust the man with a thousand faces, but now he has no other choice, so he simply takes this opportunity. Let’s see if there are any secret masters among the Jinyi Guards.
The Thousand-faced Man nodded and said, "It's easy to say, just leave it to me."
Zhang Ren nodded and left the Xuanguo Duke's Mansion, disappearing into the darkness again.
