Yu Ailian didn't pay attention to the affairs in the house, nor did she care about the contract, or even the content. She didn't think much about the money and left with a group of people.
The two Fu brothers waited for a while before carrying the box and leaving. Then they went straight to Zhou Ji's shop and filled in the stone contract.
Even when leaving, Yu Ailian didn't pay attention to what the Fu brothers said about whom they wanted to send gifts to. She only roughly understood that a wealthy family south of Weijiang was called Chang Yi or something like Chang.
The farce ended like this, and the last piece finally fell on the messy chessboard written by Chu Qing himself.
Zhang Songling's death is approaching.
After the Zhang family got the money, they quickly returned the deposit, and Zhang Songling thought that outsiders had no basis to criticize him.
Three days later, Zhang Songling sent fifty-two thousand strings to the palace as usual.
Sun An personally collected the money, and Zhang Songling breathed a sigh of relief.
Since Chu Qing's visit to Zhaoyang Palace, Zhang Songling mistakenly thought that Chu Qing had been beaten by the Supreme Emperor, but knowing that the Supreme Emperor was supporting him, he was not in a hurry to attack Chu Qing.
He is waiting for the money to be sent to the palace. If the palace accepts the money, he can sit back and relax.
Whether you charge money or not means many things.
Failure to accept it meant that the emperor was dissatisfied with him, and Zhang Songling would not dare to target Chu Qing anymore.
If the money is still collected, it means that the emperor turns a blind eye and even acquiesces to him to deal with Chu Qing.
At least, that's what Zhang Songling thought.
After receiving the money that day, Zhang Songling showed his fangs and spread the news. He immediately contacted officials and prepared to kill Chu Qing in one fell swoop. The reason was that he was a merchant. Those shops in the North City had been closed, and there were widespread complaints among the people, pointing the finger at Qianqiying. With Jingzhao Mansion.
Outside the political hall, Zhang Songling stood among the ministers, feeling very excited.
Chu Qing, because of the public grievances caused by the merchants, you will bear the blame. Even if Jesus comes, he will not be able to save you. I, Zhang Songling, said so!
A subordinate officer whispered softly, Zhang Songling turned his head, and then he saw a person walking in the distance, it was Chu Qing who was wearing Feiyu uniform.
Zhang Songling's expression changed slightly.
Chu Qing was actually alive and kicking. Didn't the housekeeper say that the father-in-law in the palace saw with his own eyes that Chu Qing was unconscious when he left Zhaoyang Palace that day? Could it be that the emperor's hand was too light and the injury healed in just a few days?
As before, Chu Qing stood at the back of the general, noticed Zhang Songling's gaze, then raised his hand, raised his palm, and scratched his neck. After that, he stuck out his tongue and rolled his eyes.
Zhang Songling's face was full of confusion. This kid wanted to hang himself?
Zhang Songling, who was still confident at first, suddenly felt weak for no reason.
Chu Qing, who had been hiding in the Qianqiying Yamen office recently, smiled so sweetly, like a weasel who had stolen a hundred kun.
After the whip was blown, hundreds of officials entered the palace.
Zhang Songling couldn't care less about his random thoughts and quickly entered the palace.
Standing in the class, Zhang Songling would always look in Chu Qing's direction subconsciously.
It's a pity that the officials of the Ministry of Rites have different perspectives. The Ministry of Husbandry can see Chu Qing, but the position of the Ministry of Rites cannot.
Precisely because he couldn't see it, Zhang Songling's heart became even weaker.
Logically speaking, Chu Qing had been "taught" by the Supreme Emperor, and he did not dare to cause trouble again. He should stay away when he saw him, but why did this kid laugh, and why did he smile at himself?
Time passed by, and the ministers had already reported what should be reported. Today, the Emperor's dragon body was not well again, and Sun An sent a message.
Everyone was wondering what kind of disease this fourth child had. One day he was good and the next he was bad.
Not seeing Chu Qing, and not knowing what this kid was doing here, Zhang Songling gritted his teeth and left the class.
"Your Majesty, I have something to report."
Zhang Songling held the wat board and said: "There are already complaints among the people. Because shops related to people's livelihood are closed in Beichen, people are agitated. The scholars are also very dissatisfied. They say that there is a traitor in the capital, and the old minister has found some friends. After asking around, the merchants said that they were forced here by the Qianqi Camp, and many merchants were even desperate and even had their families destroyed because of the Qianqi Camp’s persecution.”
An official from the Ministry of Household Affairs stood up, it was Gongsuntang.
The white-bearded Gongsuntang snorted coldly: "Sir Zhang, I have one or two friends who are also among the scholars. Why haven't I heard of any scholar blaming the Qianqiying Yamen Office?"
After all, Gongsun Tang is not a minister, so naturally someone from the Ministry of Rites will come out to help.
"Master Gongsun, not to mention Shilin, just talking about the North City, many shops have indeed been closed down. None of these merchants are angry at Qianqiying. If they are just merchants, that's it. But the things these merchants sell are related to the people and people's livelihood. .”
"That's right." Another official from the Ministry of Rites stood up: "Qianqiying closed down shops on the pretext of inspecting merchants' taxes and money. How can merchants dare to operate shops?"
Zhong Yu from the Ministry of Household Affairs came out: "The tax money issue is clearly recorded. The merchant has failed to pay the tax money. Shouldn't Jingzhao Mansion and Qianqiying investigate? What's more, it was the merchant who took the initiative to close the shop and cooperated with Qianqiying. What's the point of riding in camp?"
Officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs stood up one after another, as did the Ministry of Rites, and the two sides started to quarrel.
Zhang Songling was very surprised.
He had already let people know that Chu Qing was punished by the Supreme Emperor. In addition, he also let many people know that he sent money to the palace as before, and the emperor also accepted it. In this case, Why did the officials from the Ministry of Revenue dare to come out to support Chu Qing? Aren't they afraid of offending the Supreme Emperor and the Emperor?
Seeing the quarrel between the two parties, Chu Qing stood up.
"Your Majesty, the deputy commander of Qianqiying, a man from Si'an County, Chu Qing has something to report."
Sun An said loudly: "Say."
Chu Qing said that he had something to report, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he looked at the officials of the Ministry of Rites.
"My lords, before you impeach me, could you please go to Bei City first?"
"What do you mean?"
The officials of the Ministry of Rites were puzzled.
"Master Zhang, those bastards under your command... no, no, no, they are those merchants in Bei City who have indeed closed their shops. This is true. Those who sell rice and noodles, those who sell chicken, duck, fish and meat, those who sell swords just to show off their appearance, are It was closed, but what I can’t figure out is why people started complaining after they closed it?”
"Vice Commander Chu, are you pretending to be confused? The shops are closed, and the prices of goods that are closely related to the people will naturally increase."
"When did you hear that?"
"After going to court yesterday."
Chu Qing shrugged: "That's strange. Their shop was closed, but yesterday afternoon, more than thirty new shops were opened. Coincidentally or not, they sell whatever the closed shop sells. Moreover, the price is more than 20% lower than before. The people have clearly benefited, so why are there so many complaints?"
Zhang Songling's expression changed slightly: "You ordered someone to open a new store again?!"
In front of the emperor and his ministers, Chu Qing smiled slightly: "Is there any reason to impeach me? If not, it's my turn."
