After the whole family was swept away, I lay down flat

Chapter 1121 New Backer

The Zhang family has been prosperous for so many years. Although it is on the decline now, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. It should be no problem for them to deal with the imperial merchant Luo family.

The Luo family relied on the Zhang family to own such a large business and caravan industry in the capital's business world and remain standing. Once their backers refused to let them rely on them anymore, they immediately ran into trouble.

The shop owners refused to rent to them anymore and demanded that they move out within a certain period of time; cargo ships that arrived at the dock were seized by the government, who claimed that their goods were of unknown origin or contained contraband; officials from Shuntian Prefecture were tracking down a bandit and discovered that the criminal had jumped into the backyard of their shop and had disappeared. In order to catch the criminal, the government sealed off their shop, making it impossible for them to open for business, and even the shopkeeper and his clerks were arrested for identification... Even the head of the Luo family and his eldest son were summoned for questioning by the government every few days because they were suspected of being involved in a case. If any of them spoke carelessly, they could be thrown into prison at any time.

These troubles were originally minor matters. When the Zhang family supported them, the Luo family didn't have to worry about them at all. They just sent a steward to the government to report it, and it would be over. But now the Zhang family is unwilling to support them, and even intends to embarrass them. The minor matters have become major matters, and nothing has become a problem.

The Luo family was in a panic and spent money everywhere, but Shuntian Prefecture and various government offices in the capital knew that they had offended the Zhang family. Without sufficient backing and benefits, who would offend the Zhang family for the Luo family?
The Luo family ran into obstacles everywhere and went to ask for help from the Ping Palace. However, the Princess of Ping said that although she sympathized with their family, she could not interfere too much. The Zhang family was punishing the Luo family as "slaves" as the "master" because the latter betrayed the master's family. Such a matter would not be interfered by any noble family, princes and dignitaries. If the Ping Palace interfered easily, it would seem that they were deliberately trying to steal the Zhang family's wall. Although they were not afraid of the Zhang family, such a thing was taboo after all. Once they broke the rules, if other families wanted to take over the Ping Palace's property in the future, they would not be able to stand on the moral high ground to accuse the other party.

Princess Ping had warned the Zhang family, but they didn't take it seriously. Although she was very angry, she was thinking about giving them a warning after the daughter of the Zhang family married into the Prince Ping's mansion. But she would not do more for the Zhang family at the moment. They were all members of the royal family, so they should leave some room for each other.

However, Princess Ping did nothing, but her second son went to his eldest brother to plead for mercy after hearing the concubine's cry. As long as Prince Ping came forward, the Zhang family would still give some face to Prince Ping's mansion for the sake of their daughter's future happiness. However, Prince Ping was a little unhappy when he remembered that his scandal was exposed because of his brother's concubine. He refused to go out under the pretext of taking care of his wife's illness. The second prince soon saw it and couldn't help but get angry.

The second son of Prince Ping was unable to persuade his elder brother to come forward. He was full of resentment and felt ashamed to face his concubine, so he ran out of the house to find someone to drink with. He found a cousin from the royal family that he was familiar with, and after drinking, he became careless. Within two days, all the gossip about the brothers' disputes within Prince Ping's mansion, the open and secret struggles between the Zhang and Luo families, and the dissatisfaction of Prince Ping's mansion with the Zhang family spread throughout the royal family circle in the capital, and then spread to the official noble circle.

Prince Ping and his wife were quite annoyed. Although they felt that Luo was meddling, it was natural for them to worry about the safety of their parents and brothers. However, the second son went to ask his elder brother for help, but the Crown Prince pretended to be stupid. For the sake of a concubine who had not yet entered the house, he actually lost face for his own brother. This was too much. The daughter of the Zhang family's legitimate branch had not yet entered the house, but she had already caused discord between the two legitimate sons of the Prince Ping's Mansion. What would happen when she entered the house? ! The Zhang family did not educate their daughter well, and let their daughter hook up with a married man. The family tradition was not right. Now the Prince Ping's Mansion has repeatedly warned them to restrain themselves, but they did not take it seriously and even retaliated against the Luo family. Do they really think the Prince Ping's Mansion is a sick cat? !

This time, even Prince Ping himself agreed with Princess Ping's decision, believing that the Crown Prince's concubine must not give birth to children after entering the palace, otherwise there would never be peace in the palace!

The choice of the successor chosen by Prince Ping's wife is still very reliable. Regardless of whether Luo gave birth to a boy or a girl, the choice of the grandson still depends on the successor's next life!

The head of the Zhang family didn't know that his revenge on the Luo family had dug a big hole for his daughter's married life. He heard the rumors from the outside world, especially after knowing the views of Prince Ping's Mansion, he knew that he couldn't go too far. He restrained himself a little and didn't let the Luo family father and son really get involved in the lawsuit and be thrown into prison, but other troubles still entangled the Luo family, making it impossible for them to operate normally and repeatedly hitting a wall. If he can't get the Zhang family's forgiveness and really let the head of the Zhang family calm down, I'm afraid that the huge family business that the Luo family has built over the past few decades will be ruined in the hands of this generation of the head!

The head of the Luo family could only humbly test the attitude of the head of the Zhang family, but the other party made a huge request. Not only did he demand that the tribute be doubled, but the daughter of the Luo family who married into the Prince Ping's mansion could not continue to be pregnant with the child. The Luo family also had to prepare a generous dowry for the daughter of the Zhang family, and the amount required by the Zhang family was enough to make the Luo family spend half of their wealth. The Luo family even sent the eldest grandson to the Zhang family to be a servant to the son of the head of the Zhang family. From then on, he would obey the orders of the Zhang family for the rest of his life. Although he was not a slave in name, he was a slave in reality. The Zhang family wanted to ensure that the heir of the Luo family would continue to be obedient, and not rebel like the current head of the family.

How is this possible?!

The son of the Luo family master has been married for several years and has only this one son. He has always treated him as a treasure. How could he bear to let him become a slave? Moreover, the son of the Zhang family master has always been known for being naughty. The servants and bookboys around him have all been tortured. There are also rumors that someone has died. How could the Luo family master let his precious eldest grandson suffer such a torture? !
The Luo family was reluctant to part with the grandson of the royal family of Prince Ping, half of the family property, and even more reluctant to part with their precious eldest grandson. But if they rejected the Zhang family, they would only face more revenge and coercion. Unless they could find a new backer who could make the Zhang family stop and let the Luo family's backer go!

No one knew how the Luo family found the way. Less than three days after the head of the Luo family left the Zhang family, news came out that the Luo family, with all their assets under their name, had joined the Kang Wang Mansion and became vassals of the Kang Wang.

Prince Kang is not just an ordinary royal relative. He is the only elder brother of the new emperor. Although he is in poor health and rarely goes out, he has an extraordinary status in the palace. No matter who wrongs him, the Empress Dowager, the Queen Mother, the new emperor, the Zhou family, the Wu family, and the old students of the Wu family in the court will never let it go! If the Luo family joins the Prince Kang's Mansion, the Zhang family will really be helpless against them!
The head of the Zhang family was dumbfounded when he heard the news. He went to ask his daughter-in-law, the eldest princess, and then went to see Prince An, but both the princess and Prince An advised him to give up. Who could force him to hand over the fat meat that fell into Prince Kang's hands? If he angered the palace, would the Zhang family never send their daughters to the palace again, or marry their daughters to the royal family or clan? !
The head of the Zhang family returned home in a daze. Thinking about all the effort and benefits the Zhang family had received from the Luo family over the years... he felt so distressed that he vomited blood.