The Ming Dynasty took an unconventional approach

Chapter 410 Bribery
Pan Yun stuck his head out from beside him and said, "It's not a birthday gift, nor a wedding or funeral gift. He's accepting a bribe."

Zhu Qizhen's eyes widened instantly.

Pan Jun smiled and said cheerfully, "You also find it incredible, right? I had the same expression when I first saw it, but there weren't so many people at that time. I don't know why so many people came today."

Xue Shao also poked his head out to look, and after a moment of thought, he said, "Because the Spring Examination is approaching."

Zhu Qizhen's expression became even uglier. "Why? Is there anyone who dares to buy and sell exam papers?"

He had already gone over all the examiners in his mind, but he was not familiar with the streets of the capital, nor with the home addresses of the officials under his command, so he could not remember whose home this was.

Pan Yun whispered in his ear like a demon, "This is the home of Mr. Wang Zhen, the father-in-law of the imperial court."

Zhu Qizhen was stunned, and he subconsciously turned his head to look at Pan Yun.

Pan Jun smiled at him and said gently and softly, "Don't worry, he is not buying or selling test papers."

Zhu Qizhen did not feel good. He pushed Pan Yun away and strode forward.

"Brother..." Zhu Qiyu hurriedly chased after him.

Xue Shao also turned his head to look at Pan Yun, and the two exchanged glances without saying a word. Xue Shao also chased after him.

Pan Yun raised his eyebrows and immediately stopped Cao Jixiang and the Jinyiwei who were about to chase after him. He whispered to Cao Jixiang, "Don't let these Jinyiwei follow us."

Even if they were not wearing Feiyu uniforms, the Jinyiwei had a certain aura, especially the Jinyiwei around the emperor. Their physique and temperament made it clear that they were from an official family.

Many things flashed through Cao Jixiang's mind in an instant. Finally, he turned back to stop the guards and whispered, "Wait here."

The leading Jinyiwei glanced at Pan Yun and nodded to Cao Jixiang.

Cao Jixiang walked quickly and lightly, and caught up with the emperor and his two companions in just two or three steps.

Pan Jun stood behind and saw this and raised her eyebrows. She had taken it for granted that this eunuch must be quite skilled in martial arts.

Pan Yun turned around, nodded to the Jinyiwei, and followed them.

Zhu Qizhen and his companions were surrounded.

"Who are you? Everyone is queuing up honestly. Why are you cutting in line?"

Zhu Qizhen: "I have already done such a thing as bribing officials, but you want me to do such a trivial thing as standing in line?"

"What do you mean by bribing officials? Your words are too harsh. I am a relative of Mr. Wang, and it is common for relatives to exchange favors with each other."

"That's right, we are just interacting with each other normally. What about you? What are you doing? Are you here to cause trouble?"

Zhu Qizhen frowned, glanced at the long line of people, and asked, "Are you all relatives too?"

"What's it got to do with you? If you want to give a gift, go to the back and line up. If you don't want to give a gift, get out of here."

Zhu Qiyu couldn't help but ask, "You are so blatant, aren't you afraid of being impeached by the censor?"

Someone sneered: "Impeachment? Who dares to impeach Mr. Wang?"

"Mr. Wang is in the emperor's heart. Will the emperor trust the gentleman who accompanies him day and night, or will he trust you, the outsiders?"

"Get lost, you guys are here to cause trouble, right?"

Xue Shao said quickly: "You all misunderstood, we are also here to give gifts."

"You're kidding me, coming with empty hands to give a gift?"

Xue Shao: "We are here to deliver the silver..."

But everyone had already determined that the few people were here to cause trouble, and they waved their sleeves to drive them away, "Hurry up and leave, or the Wang family will come out with sticks."

Before he could finish his words, someone rushed out with a stick.

When they saw Zhu Qizhen and his four companions, they didn't say a word and just swung their sticks and started attacking them.

Cao Jixiang's eyes became fierce, and he was about to kick him. Xue Shao also moved sideways to block the Zhu Qizhen brothers. Just as they were about to attack, Pan Yun rushed out from the side, raised his hand to grab the falling stick, took out a handful of banknotes from his arms and said, "Wait, wait, we are really here to give gifts to Mr. Wang, but this is our first visit and we don't know the rules. Please forgive us, please forgive us."

Several people stared at Pan Yun and the banknotes in her hand fiercely, and did not relax. "What do you want?"

"Certificate of Ordination!" Pan Yun said, "I'm here to ask for a certificate of ordination."

The leading servant raised his chin and pointed at Zhu Qizhen and the other three and asked, "Where are they?"

He sneered, "Are they here to ask for a certificate of ordination as well?"

"No, they came with me," Pan Yun quickly arranged their identities, "This is my eldest brother, this is my second brother, this is my third brother, and this is the steward of my family. I have nine brothers, but only these three came with me to buy the certificate of ordination, so I was a little anxious. Brothers, please forgive me, please forgive me."

The servants' expressions finally softened and they put away their sticks.

Zhu Qizhen and Zhu Qiyu: ...

Xue Shao silently withdrew his hand, and Cao Jixiang also silently put down his legs.

The servants looked them up and down, still mostly suspicious, "You want to become a monk? Where are you from?" Pan Yun said, "I'm from Jiangxi, I'm staying at Mount Longhu. I've had a bad health since I was a child, I'm biased towards the yin, so I want to leave the world. My family is rich, and I have nine older brothers, so my parents are willing to spend some money to buy me a certificate of ordination."

The servants glanced at the banknotes in her hand and said sideways, "Okay, come in."

When Zhu Qizhen saw this, he pushed Zhu Qiyu aside and wanted to follow in.

A wooden stick was pointed at his chest to stop him, "You are not allowed to come in!"

Pan Yun immediately turned around and pressed down the stick, then pulled Zhu Qizhen over and said with a smile, "This is my elder brother. He should have done this, but I was naughty and took out the banknotes. My parents told me not to do it alone, so they must keep an eye on me. Brothers, please be kind and let my elder brother go in and take a look."

The little girl was acting coquettishly and softly. Although the elder brother holding the stick frowned and glanced at Zhu Qizhen unhappily, he still raised the stick and said coldly: "Okay, but only he can accompany you in."

Pan Yun agreed and pulled Zhu Qizhen in.

Cao Jixiang couldn't help but take a step forward, and when he was stopped, he looked at Zhu Qizhen with worry in his eyes.

Fortunately, the gift-giving table was just inside the door, and they could see it clearly from outside the door. If anything happened, he would be able to react quickly.

Only then did Cao Jixiang barely suppress his anxiety and just stare at Zhu Qizhen.

Seeing that Zhu Qizhen and Pan Yun had actually entered like this, the people waiting in line were dissatisfied and started to make a fuss, "Why should they go in first? We have been here for a long time..."

"What are you arguing about?" The servant turned around and shouted at them, "If you don't want to line up, get out. We, the King, don't need your courtesy."

Everyone was silent for a moment, lowered their heads and lined up obediently.

Zhu Qiyu looked unhappy, and couldn't help but whispered: "Wang Banban is so arrogant outside the palace..."

Cao Jixiang remained silent.

Wang Zhen’s tyranny has been going on for a long time.

However, the King of Qing was a master just like the Emperor, so she had never felt his dominance.

Pan Yun put all the banknotes in his hand on the table, leaned forward, and said softly: "Sir, please say a few good words for me in front of Mr. Wang."

The steward sitting at the table counted the banknotes, put them in an open box beside him, and asked lazily, "Tell me, what are you saying?"

Pan Yun said: "I am not old enough, and I have parents and relatives at home, so I want to ask for a certificate of ordination."

The steward glanced at her and picked up the pen and asked, "Where are you from? Is there a Taoist temple or a temple that you can hang up a sign for?"

"No, I practiced in seclusion at home, but I studied Taoism for a few days in Longhu Mountain."

Steward: "Household registration."

Pan Yun just made up a report and submitted it.

Zhu Qizhen's face was originally gloomy and he was very unhappy, but Pan Yun's lie was so smooth that he couldn't help but turn his head to look at her, and his anger dissipated a lot.

After the steward finished writing, he waved his hand and sent the two away. "My master is not here. I will report it when he comes back. I am not sure whether it can be done. Please come back in a few days to ask about the situation."

Zhu Qizhen: "Is that it? You gave me so much money and you just said a word without even giving me a receipt?"

"Proof?" The steward raised his head and looked at him, frowning and said, "How dare you ask our master for a proof? Humph, this little money is the price you pay for knocking on our Wang family's door. I think it's not enough for a stepping stone, and you still want a proof..."

He sneered, "Get out and come back in seven days. The monk and Taoist certificate is a rule set by Emperor Taizu. The Ministry of Rites has always been strict. Among all the civil and military officials in the court, only our master dares to ask about this matter. Go ask around in other mansions. Who dares to ask you about this matter?"

Pan Yun nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, yes, who can compare to Mr. Wang, the most popular person around His Majesty?"

As soon as these words came out, Zhu Qizhen's face turned dark. He was about to say something, but Pan Yun had already reached out and pulled him out, "Brother, let's go back first and ask our parents for some money. We'll come back in seven days."

The steward nodded with satisfaction, "Yes, the young lady is indeed a cultivator, very insightful, much better than your brother who has only grown in age but not in brains."

Pan Jun nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I will tell my parents when I go back and ask them to teach him well."

Pan Yun pulled Zhu Qizhen out and said to Zhu Qiyu and Xue Shao who were waiting outside: "Brothers, go ahead. The gifts have been sent out and the matter has been settled."

Pan Yun grabbed Zhu Qizhen's hand tightly and pulled him back behind the corner.

As soon as they came back, the Jinyiwei who were scattered on the roofs also quietly came back.

Pan Yun pretended not to see it and kept the person away for a long time before letting go.

Zhu Qizhen also swung his sleeves fiercely and asked, "You brought me here just to sow discord between the Emperor and Wang Zhen? Why don't you let me lose my temper right there and catch them in the act?"

"No, no," Pan Yun shook his head and said, "I'm not trying to sow discord. I just want Master Zhu to know that everyone in this world has selfish desires. Those who obey you and are loyal to you may not necessarily be beneficial to you."

"You say that your family business is your priority, but in places you can't see, someone is eating away at your family business bit by bit and destroying it. This person may be someone you are very close to and love very much. As the head of the family, will you choose to put your family business first, or choose to protect the person you love?"

Zhu Qizhen was silent.

Pan Yun looked at him steadily, and seeing that he could not give an answer, he said, "This is just the beginning. I still have several people and things that I would like to ask you to look at. Please."

Zhu Qizhen looked at her for a moment, then followed her.

(End of this chapter)