Zhang Dongyang came to the palace, saluted the emperor again, and said at the same time: "Your Majesty! When I took the boat earlier, I did see some thieves on the boat. I can have these hateful portraits painted!"
"When the time comes, as long as someone looks for the person based on the portrait, once they find the person, they will almost be able to understand who is behind the scenes!"
After hearing Zhang Dongyang's words, Zhou Tianfu was so angry that he wanted to vomit blood.
Isn’t this Dongyang a civil official? Why are you colluding with Xiao Chenhang? Are they still considered members of the civil servant faction? Does he still want to be an official in the court?
However, Zhou Tian Fu Qi Gui Qi was still calm and knew that he could never let this matter continue like this.
He immediately took a step forward and came under the high platform.
He bent even lower again, and there was a hint of pain in his tone:
"Your Majesty, I have worked diligently for the Great Chu for decades, and now at this juncture, I have to be slandered like this! The pain in my heart is really unbearable. Your Majesty must make the decision for me!"
"I have never sent anyone to do anything to build a ship!"
They are all playing the emotional card, and it can only be said that Zhou Tianfu is indeed very eager to survive...
Xiao Chen chuckled and said without hesitation: "Prime Minister, you didn't send anyone to dig the ship? But why do I feel that your words are telling us that you were the one responsible for the previous assassination? ?”
Zhou Tianfu was stunned for a moment and didn't know how to explain it.
Xiao Chen chuckled: "Why don't you, Prime Minister, stop talking? You must have nothing to say, right?"
Zhou Tianfu was very angry, but he could only grit his teeth and say: "I advise Governor Xiao not to dwell on this issue! A shipwreck will not do me any good!"
"On the contrary, Governor Xiao can avoid handing over a large sum of money! From this perspective, everyone knows who is responsible for the shipwreck!"
In fact, Zhou Tianfu's words are not completely nonsense, and there is some truth in them.
If the ship sinks recently, Xiao Chen really doesn't have to hand over the money stolen from the major families in Jiangdong.
So not only did the expressions of the ministers in the court change, Chu Yanwu's eyes also narrowed slightly.
You must know that when Chu Yanwu learned about the sinking of the ship before, he felt heartbroken not only for the loss of a talent like Xiao Chen, but also for the money that Jiangdong's aristocratic families had accumulated for hundreds of years!
Faced with Zhou Tianfu's questioning, Xiao Chen was unhurried and unhurried.
He just smiled and took out something like an envelope from his sleeve.
He said with a smile: "Everyone! Although I, Xiao Chen, am not a great talent in the world, I am definitely not the kind of stupid waste! I must be well prepared! The wealth of the major families in Jiangdong has A large part of it is banknotes, and if I have banknotes, I always carry them with me!"
"There are a total of sixty-four silver notes here, totaling 5.7 million cars of silver! Presenting them to Your Majesty now is to let Your Majesty know my loyalty!"
Chu Yanwu's eyes flickered, his brows widened, and he waved his hand: "Bring it in for inspection."
An old eunuch beside him quickly went over to take the envelope from Xiao Chen's hand and hand it over to a designated person for inspection.
Not long after, the man reported: "Your Majesty, these are indeed banknotes from major banks and well-known banks in Jiangdong! The number is correct, it is indeed 6.7 million taels of silver!"
After these words came out, Zhou Tianfu's face turned pale and his body couldn't help but tremble.
This gelding is really prepared!
Not counting that, Xiao Chen also added with a smile: "Of course the treasures of the major families in Jiangdong are not just banknotes! Although those gold, silver, pearls and jade have sunk into the river, as long as His Majesty finds someone to take the time to salvage them carefully, , and there will definitely be no omissions!”
"Wait until then, check again. If there is a missing copper, I will come to see you!"
Zhou Tianfu's face turned red again, but this was not because he was in a good mood, but because he was so angry that his blood surged.
Chu Yanwu sat high on the dragon chair, his eyes slightly deep.
In fact, he already had some ideas in mind.
Xiao Chen most likely did not embezzle money...
However, Chu Yanwu naturally would not just brush the matter off so simply.
He even hoped that something would happen to that old guy Zhou Tianfu!
So Chu Yanwu just said with a majestic expression: "Zhou Aiqing! These 6.7 million taels of silver notes cannot be faked... But whether Xiao Chen has been embezzled or not, the town can make its own decision!"
"Where is the Minister of Dali Temple?"
Another middle-aged man walked out of the audience and said loudly: "Your Majesty, I am here!"
Chu Yanwu held his beard and said: "I ask Dali Temple to supervise the whole process of this shipwreck! The full amount must be verified! And Jiang Rongfeng, who committed many serious crimes in Jiangdong, was also handed over to Dali Temple for custody!"
"As for what's next... I'm tired too, so I'll retreat from the court!"
Faced with Chu Yanwu's statement, everyone present was also unwilling to accept it.
Especially Zhou Tianfu, to him, what just happened was like he wanted to bite off a piece of Xiao Chen's fleshy egg, but instead of succeeding, a tooth broke...
How could he be willing to do so?
But. Chu Yanwu has already asked to withdraw from the court. There is no way he can let Chu Yanwu take back his life!
So Zhou Tianfu could only look at Xiao Chen with unwilling eyes, bent down and bowed, and respectfully sent Chu Yanwu off.
Xiao Chen's attitude was generous, and he even looked completely disapproving.
Before leaving, Zhou Tianfu did not forget to say harsh words to Xiao Chen: "Master Xiao, the green mountains will not change and the green water will flow forever. Let's wait and see!"
Xiao Chen smiled brightly and said cheerfully: "I can also apply these words to you!"
Xiao Chen walked away, but Zhou Tianfu's eyes flashed with anger, and the palms under the sleeves of his official uniform were clenched into balls!
After Chu Yanwu left, he returned to the palace, but did not rest immediately.
Instead, he turned his attention to Chen Jin beside him: "Daban, what do you think of today's events?"
Chen Jin's eyes flashed and he added: "From a slave's point of view, although Xiao Chen is a flamboyant person, he would not dare to have an affair with the concubine even if he had the courage to do so... After all, this is a serious crime of losing one's head. What's more, It’s a big taboo!”
"As for the matter about the Chamber of Commerce, I guess it's just Zhou Tianfu who took the blame. Which minister in the court doesn't have some property in his family?"
Zhou Tianfu also nodded: "This is indeed the truth. It is probably that Zhou Tianfu knew that Xiao Chen was dead and wanted to get rid of the big trouble in Dongchang as soon as possible. He also tried to find a way to take a few blames... but Zhou Tianfu really shouldn't take it. Let’s do something about the harem!”
Chen Jin also quickly echoed: "The Prime Minister indeed made a wrong move."
