Raiders of the Duke and Duchess

Chapter 284 38 Taels of Disaster Relief Silver (Part [-])
The entire Imperial Study Room was dull and depressing. Some officials with low official positions even held their breath quietly, shrinking their necks and shortening their stature, wishing to find a larger crack in the bricks and hide themselves in.

As a result, Prime Minister Zuo's laughter was particularly abrupt and piercing, like sarcasm, and... gloating.In the entire imperial study room, only he seemed to have nothing to do with him.

The hostility between Prime Minister Zuo and Duke Ning's Mansion has never been bothered to hide it, and he would like to tell the world by writing "I don't like the Duke of Ning's Mansion" on his face, let alone at this time?There was no firecrackers, it was because of his magnanimity...

After finishing speaking, he seemed not satisfied, and laughed again with a loud voice.

The emperor's face was gloomy, but he didn't speak. He only tapped the armrest lightly with his fingertips, resting his chin with one hand, waiting for the subordinates to "play freely".The more you play, the easier it is to find clues.

Bai Qiyun was still kneeling.

But someone sneered harshly, "If I remember correctly, although Guo Wen'an is the minister of the Ministry of Industry, he is under the jurisdiction and leadership of Mr. Bai. But... Guo Wen'an is also the favorite student of Prime Minister Zuo. From this point of view, It remains to be verified who Master Guo was ordered to commit crimes, commit crimes, corrupt the law, and push my third brother into the water..."

The tall and tall man had passed his forties, he was a military commander, but his face was elegant like a scholar.Compared with Zuo Xiang's leisure and complacency, he looks mild and aggressive.Only this one came to Ningguo's mansion, Ning Xiuxian and General Ning.

"General Ning must have evidence for what he says." Prime Minister Zuo was almost complacent, "Although it is well known that Third Master Ning and I have some disagreements in court, but because of these differences in political opinions, I let someone assassinate him? The truth is not so... Small belly, General Ning, don't treat a gentleman with a villain's heart. Besides, compared to Third Master Ning, General Ning and I have more disagreements..."

"It's just different political views?" Ning Xiuxian sneered coldly, "Your Majesty, here are some files that the third younger brother investigated before, and... the governor of Yingzhou has accumulated over the past few years. A few hundred thousand taels of disaster relief money!"

After finishing speaking, he took out the evidence that Ji Wuyan gave him from his bosom—it was discussed early in the morning, and the source of all these things was pushed to the "missing person" Ning Xiuyuan, so it can kill two birds with one stone.

Eunuch Zhang came down quickly with his head bowed in small steps, and delivered the thick stack of files and several envelopes to the emperor.

The emperor looked through it quickly with a sullen face, and in the imperial study, the ants on the hot pot finally couldn't hold back, stretched out their shrinking necks tentatively, and whispered to each other, "Hundreds of thousands? So many... just look at it on weekdays It doesn't look like a rich man..."

"This, this is... General Ning came prepared?"

"Otherwise, can it be said that the Ning family is difficult to deal with? The third master Ning has disappeared, and he has saved a hand in advance...Maybe, he just thinks that he might be..." At this point, the other party scratched his neck, His voice was kept low, but his expression was winking with all his strength, "...So, that's why I sent the dossier back in advance."

"He, Guo Wen'an, can really be greedy so much under Lord Bai's nose?" He said, shaking his head, tsk-tsk-tsk in amazement, obviously unbelieving... the pork has been handed over from top to bottom, it doesn't make sense that the oil is all on him In the hands of the minister of the Ministry of Industry.

As soon as the words fell, someone quietly put a fingertip between his lips, lifted his eyelids, and turned to the left.

Just now Zuo Xiang had a face full of self-satisfaction with the behavior of a villain, but now his posture has not changed, but his whole body is tense, his expression is also pale, his eyes are fixed on the dossier in the emperor's hand, as if two holes are about to be scorched.

Looking at the emperor's expression again, he was as calm as ink, and the speed of flipping through the files was getting faster and faster. After a while, he finished flipping through the thick stack of files, and directly raised his hand to type out—towards Bai Qiyun, "Look at this!" Your good man! 38 taels! In just a few years, 38 taels have been stolen! Do you want to tell me now that you don’t know anything about it, you just overlooked it?!”

"Bai Qiyun, I think it's because life is too good to let you eat too much every day, which makes you fatter!"

The tense posture of Zuo Xiang relaxed slightly, and he let out a breath slowly.

But before the anger dissipated, the emperor turned his head and looked, "Bian Dongchuan, you really brought out a good student! I didn't learn other skills, but I learned the ability to corrupt the law first! If it wasn't for Ning Xiuyuan's trip Find something wrong from it, are you still planning to covet the next 38, and the next 38 taels! I am so stupid that I believed you!"

Prime Minister Zuo saluted slowly, and bowed in a calm manner, "Your Majesty. Although Mr. Guo is indeed a student of the veteran minister, he only has the name of a master and apprentice, and has no real master and apprentice. Especially after he took the post of minister of the Ministry of Industry , in order to avoid suspicion, the old minister has had no contact with him... Your Majesty, please learn from me."

"Avoid suspicion?" Ning Xiuxian snorted coldly, "Master Zuo also knows how to avoid suspicion. It's really... a big joke in the world. Do you believe it when you say it?"

"When did General Ning learn to behave like an unreasonable shrew swearing at the street? A military general should maintain his demeanor and compete with us civil servants for the advantage of three inches of tongue...don't be ashamed."

"Demeanor should also be used on the right person...Maintaining demeanor to Mr. Left Prime Minister is really a waste."

"You!" Prime Minister Zuo's face was blackened by Ning Xiuxian's tight confrontation, "Ning Xiuxian! My junior, you really don't know how to be polite! Your father has never talked to this old man like this before!"

"My father is maintaining his own demeanor. It's really not worthwhile to lose his strength for the sake of the left. Besides, since he is an official in the same dynasty, how can we judge affection by seniority?" As he said, he raised his head at the emperor on the throne. He raised his eyebrows, "Your Majesty, do you think so?"

The emperor nodded silently, "That's true. Besides, let's talk about the matter now, if you say that Guo Wen'an has the brains and courage to go this far, I don't believe it. Ning Qing, I will entrust you with the full power to handle this matter, Xiu Yuan The whereabouts of the 38 taels of disaster relief money, I want to see the results!"

Ning Xiuxian cupped his hands and said yes, "Yes."

The emperor continued to order, "As for Bai Qiyun and Prime Minister Zuo... Although there is no actual evidence, but the suspicion has not been eliminated, coupled with the crime of negligence of the royal servants and the lax punishment of the believers, these days... just reflect on yourself in your own house. Let's go. As for Guo Wen'an...immediately escort him to Beijing and put him in prison in Dali Temple, and wait for the case to finally come to light before he can be punished!"

"Yes."

"Your Majesty is wise..." All the officials knelt down in unison, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief in a corner that could not be seen from above... Tonight is considered to be over.

(End of this chapter)