There was a huge sound, which must have been heard by the entire Prime Minister's Mansion.
The emperor, who was like Yama, was dressed in black robes. Standing against the light, his face could not be seen clearly, only the murderous intent around him remained.
"Stop being busy, Cao Aiqing and Lin Aiqing."
There was actually a smile in his voice, and he looked at the two ministers who hurriedly hid in Xie Zhiyun's secret room.
Xie Zhiyun stood there and his expression changed drastically.
I just heard the noise outside, although I didn't know what it was about.
But he entertained two ministers, Cao Yin and Lin Xihuan, who were pure ministers.
The Cheng family's affairs were really well done today, and he was in a good mood.
But this matter cannot be exposed, otherwise some of his private operations will be easily caught by Wei Yanzhou.
But by chance, the person who came was Wei Yanzhou!
The two ministers were directly named by Wei Yanzhou, and they were trembling in the secret room door that had not yet been closed.
Xie Zhiyun was indeed used to big scenes, and he regained his composure in an instant: "Why is Your Majesty so free to come?"
At this moment, Wei Yanzhou should be worried about the Cheng family. Why did he come to the Xie Mansion?
"Good question." Wei Yanzhou stepped in, sat down on the main seat in the study, played with the handle of the knife in his hand, and ran his fingertips across the blade.
"It seems that the Prime Minister is sure that I will be dealing with all kinds of things today, and I am exhausted?"
Xie Zhiyun's expression changed and he knelt down quickly: "Your Majesty has misunderstood. It's just that Your Majesty has never been interested in visiting the Marquis' Mansion. Even if he was, let the prince and father-in-law speak first so that I can make arrangements."
Xie Zhiyun is very skilled in the trick of playing both sides.
Anyway, the Cheng family's affairs were done cleanly. Even if Wei Yanzhou could find clues, it would be impossible to pin him down.
The layers upon layers are filled with people, and those who are to blame are all prepared.
How can Wei Yanzhou stand up to him?
Insert the tip of the knife on the priceless-looking table, and it penetrates three-thirds of the wood, like cutting into human flesh.
Wei Yanzhou still smiled lightly: "Really?"
But suddenly his expression changed, and his whole person became cold: "But I didn't come to the prime minister's house to play today. The prime minister walked in to talk."
Xie Zhiyun: "..."
He had no choice but to stand up and walk hunched over to Wei Yanzhou.
Seeing him like this, the two officials thought that he was not here to pursue Xie Zhiyun, but to them.
He hurriedly rushed over and knelt down, kowtowing and begging for mercy: "Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please forgive me. The two of us received a gift from the Prime Minister's Mansion, inviting us to come to the mansion for a chat. We originally refused, but we couldn't resist the Prime Minister's enthusiasm. talent....."
It was Cao Yin who spoke just now.
Lin Xihuan nodded repeatedly after hearing this, wishing he could cut his heart out and show Wei Yanzhou his loyalty: "Yes, Your Majesty!"
"We are just friends with the Prime Minister. We have not accepted the money he gave us, not even a penny! We are all loyal to His Majesty!"
On New Year's Eve, the West Bridge was bombed and burned, causing a lot of damage.
Now that spring has begun, farming has come to an end, and the West Bridge should be rebuilt.
This is the scope of authority of Cao and Lin. They are highly trusted subordinates of the Minister of Industry.
Xie Zhiyun came to them now because he wanted to persuade Cao and Lin to hand over the fortifications and materials of Xizi Bridge to Xie's private industry.
This was definitely not in vain, so he prepared a generous thank you gift for Cao and Lin.
At this moment, the banknote is in the drawer in front of Xie Zhiyun's desk.
In order to save their lives, the two of them betrayed Xie Zhiyun completely.
Everyone knew Wei Yanzhou's temperament and his methods. How could they dare not to explain anything in order to save their lives at this time?
The two of them were trembling, and they explained everything from Xie Zhiyun's initial test to yesterday's post yesterday, saying that he would hold a spring banquet in Xie's house and invite them to taste tea.
Wei Yanzhou had no reaction after hearing this.
He didn't even raise his eyes, as if he already knew everything about this.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have called out their names right after breaking the door.
"Very good." Wei Yanzhou said with unclear meaning: "My ministers have betrayed me, and there are many methods and ideas."
Xie Zhiyun cursed in his heart, but his face was as steady as an old dog.
He said: "Your Majesty also knows that the Xie family has many properties, which are spread all over Kyoto. The people that the humble ministers have to support are no less than your entire palace, not to mention that they have to transport business taxes to the national treasury every year."
He rationalized his behavior: "Isn't Xie's convenience the convenience of the national treasury?"
"Thank you Aiqing for your good mouth." Wei Yanzhou smiled.
He opened the drawer and took out the two banknotes that had been prepared.
Each one was printed with Xie's Bank, and the amount was as high as half a million.
Xie Zhiyun's pupils shrank and the palms under his sleeves tightened.
He understood that Wei Yanzhou came today and seemed determined not to let him go.
There was no evidence for what happened to the Cheng family, so he looked for bribes to start!
"To build the Xizi Bridge, the advance payment given to me by the Ministry of Industry is eight million taels." Wei Yanzhou threw the banknotes on the table: "For these two dear ladies, the total is one million taels."
"There are seven million taels left. Can Aiqing tell me about the materials used for the construction drawings?"
How could Cao and Lin say anything?
This one million taels is just for them.
And how much does the Xie family have to swallow, and how many other key issues need to be taken care of?
After all this, how much money is left to buy materials and pay workers?
The Xizi Bridge is so huge that neither the stone materials nor the carvings should be taken carelessly.
But when the budget is not enough, who cares if it is sloppy?
"That's great." Wei Yanzhou still smiled: "The money spent from my treasury has gone around in a circle and fallen into the bags of all my beloved ladies."
"His Majesty......"
Lin Xihuan was so timid that even though he was middle-aged, he knelt on the ground and was so scared that he peed!
A faint fishy smell lingered in the study.
Wei Yanzhou slapped the banknotes heavily on the table: "Tell me! What kind of bridge do you want to fool me with!?"
Lin Xihuan shook heavily, whimpered, and fainted.
Xie Zhiyun secretly cursed an idiot and forced out a hint of humility: "Your Majesty, you worry too much."
But Wei Yanzhou's patience ran out and he held the knife in his hand. The sharp tip was very close to the fourth finger of Xie Zhiyun's right hand.
"I originally didn't want to bring this matter up, but who asked Xie Aiqing to provoke me?"
His tone was not of discussion, but of solemnity.
The worried soldiers of the Xie Mansion outside the door wanted to come forward but did not dare. They wondered if the emperor really dared to be so cruel.
Xie Zhiyun was also rarely frightened by Wei Yanzhou's expression.
He thought Wei Yanzhou would take his status into consideration, but the Xie family couldn't move in Kyoto without it!
He didn't dare to pull his fingers away, but he dared to say: "Since Your Majesty said Ni Lin, then it must be Linhua Palace - ah!"
Before he blurted out the word Xi Fei, he felt a sharp pain!
The guards only had time to see a severed finger fly out, and their prime minister was already holding his hands and gasping!
