Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 59 This is a serious case, it’s against the will of heaven!

The Jinyiwei liked to do the work of confiscating property.

Although they are not confiscating property nowadays, they are still extremely efficient.

A group of people spread out and investigated the most expensive restaurants in Guangzhou, such as the Qionghua Guild Hall.

A group of people separated all the servants at the management level in the Fang Mansion, especially Lai Fu, who handled money, and interrogated him repeatedly.

So, the monthly expenses of the Fang family came out.

Appalling.

Before, when Haiyue found Yan Xiu and paid five taels of silver, she felt a little painful because that was an ordinary person's income for half a year, and even a farmer's family might not use it in a year.

According to rough inferences made by later generations, a county magistrate in the Ming Dynasty could embezzle 250 taels of silver every month if he wanted to be corrupt. Of course, the amount varied greatly depending on the level of wealth in different places, and the income of middle and senior officials would increase sharply to several thousand taels.

In contrast, the gap between the rich and the poor is huge.

So how much does Fang Mansion spend?

The highest is five thousand taels per month!

Not to mention Haiyue, when this figure was presented to Lu Bing, even the emperor's foster brother was shocked, his eyes widening: "Damn, it's even higher than the expenses of the royal palace?"

This palace refers to the Xingwang Palace in Anlu, Huguang, where Zhu Houcong originally lived. Since Xingwang died early, Zhu Houcong, who was only twelve years old, took over the palace as the prince of Xingwang with the assistance of the chief secretary. He also had some understanding of the expenses of the palace. The average monthly expenses of Xingwang Palace ranged from three thousand to five thousand taels.

Historically, during the Wanli period, the Shu Palace, which was famous for its extravagance, had a monthly expenditure of 8,000 taels. As a result, the annual salary was definitely not enough, and the local people had to be exploited.

Looking at Fang Wei's life again, even if he didn't spend five thousand taels every month, he was still completely extravagant and dissolute, and lived a life of luxury to the extreme.

Haiyue immediately asked another question: "This kind of spending won't always be the same, right? Let's check if he has ever suddenly become wealthy."

soon.

The answer comes out.

"Since last June? So, the extravagant spending lasted a year?"

"But in just this year, Fang Wei has taken in seven concubines. He's not afraid of being exhausted!"

When Lu Bing said this, his tone was a little sour.

Haiyue didn't care about the other person's kidneys, but was concerned about what happened in June last year, so she walked towards the backyard.

When they arrived at the courtyard entrance, they happened to see a young doctor carrying a medicine box on his back. He was instructing another maid, "Her injuries have just improved a little, but you still can't slack off on the external application of the medicine. It needs to be changed every three hours. The internal medicine should be taken twice a day..."

"Mr. Lu, please go ahead. I have something to ask this doctor."

Haiyue whispered something to Lu Bing, and after the doctor finished his instructions, she stepped forward and asked, "Doctor, are you from the He's Pharmacy? May I know your name?"

"I don't deserve it! I don't deserve it! I am He Zhongfang..."

"How do you address the famous doctor He Gongyuanhui?"

"It's my father."

Hai Yue immediately asked, "Two months ago, did Zong Chengxue, the magistrate of Qiongzhou Prefecture, invite your father to come and treat you?"

The young doctor recalled: "Yes, that night someone hurriedly knocked on the door of the pharmacy and asked my father to come and treat him. It was Zong Tongpan from Qiongzhou. My father hurried away and when he came back, he just shook his head..."

This part was consistent with the previous intelligence, but the doctor's next words made his face change: "Zong Tongpan's injuries are too severe, and they have been delayed for too long. It has become a stubborn disease that cannot be cured!"

Hai Yue said in a deep voice, "You mean, Zong Tongpan wasn't sick, but injured? Was he beaten? Where was he injured?"

The young doctor said, "From what my father said, it is indeed an old injury from being beaten. As for the specific location of the injury, I don't know..."

"Thank you!"

After bidding farewell to the doctor, Hai Yue thoughtfully walked into the room filled with the strong smell of medicine. She saw the maid Caiyun lying on the bed, and Lu Bing anxiously asked, "Where did Fang Wei get his money from? Farmland? Salt permits? Commercial taxes?"

"what?"

"It's just... Oops! Don't you understand?"

Seeing the little maid's face full of fear and confusion, Lu Bing frowned and looked over angrily: "Ask!"

Haiyue continued, her tone gentle: "Where are you from?"

Caiyun breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "I am from Hepu County, Lianzhou Prefecture..."

"How long have you been here?"

"I entered the mansion at the age of thirteen, and it has been five years now."

"Have you been serving in Fang Wei's room?"

"I was originally in the Third Madam's room, but later the Young Master asked me to stay there."

……

As the questions and answers progressed, Caiyun gradually relaxed and spoke fluently, revealing no details about the inner workings of the Fang Mansion. She described Fang Wei's violent temper, for example, how he would often beat and scold even his wives and concubines, and how he treated his servants with extreme harshness. She described this in great detail, unable to conceal her deep dislike and hatred for her master.

Servants are also human beings. They have seven emotions and six desires. They will not always accept things submissively without any resistance.

It was obvious that Caiyun had resentment towards Fang Wei. When he was alive, she might not have dared to express it. But now that he had become so stinky and she had been beaten half to death, she naturally had no concerns.

Haiyue finished laying the groundwork and began to move on to the key questions: "How did you let Zheng Yishu go? You two clearly know each other, so why did the mansion let you guard it?"

Caiyun said, "I didn't ask my maid to guard the place. I entered the courtyard early in the morning and saw Master Zheng running out in a hurry. I took him through the small path to the back door. He wouldn't kill the young master. He shouldn't have wronged a good man!"

"Humph!"

Lu Bing curled his lips in disdain, clearly disagreeing. However, Hai Yue did not argue, fearing she would lose the maid's trust. She continued, "What major event occurred in the Fang Mansion last year?"

Caiyun said: "It's nothing serious...it's just that the young master is often not at home..."

Hai Yue and Lu Bing exchanged a glance and immediately asked, "Do you know where Fang Wei went? Has anyone else in the mansion mentioned it?"

Caiyun thought for a moment and shook her head, "It's not in the capital anyway..."

Hai Yue continued to guide patiently: "What did Fang Wei do after he came back?"

"The young master was in a very good mood after he came back. He stopped beating and scolding us. There were opera troupes coming to perform every day, and more and more people were coming to the mansion..."

"Just because you have money?"

"Yes."

"Where did all this money come from? There must be people in the mansion discussing it, right?"

"Everyone is guessing, saying whatever they want..."

Hai Yue paused and changed her tone of questioning: "Then, think carefully, does Fang Wei usually hide anything in the house, such as account books, letters, or anything that he would hate for you to see?"

"I don't know about the account books or letters. Only the steward can enter the young master's study..."

Caiyun rolled her eyes and said, "There is one taboo place that the young master won't let anyone approach!"

Haiyue was cheered up.

This maidservant is no ordinary one. Not only does she harbor resentment and hatred towards the young master, but she also dares to let the suspected suspect Zheng Yishu escape. She may not be afraid to approach places that others dare not approach.

As expected, when Haiyue asked, Caiyun hesitated for a moment and whispered, "I did secretly take a look once..."

"What do you see?"

Haiyue and Lu Bing were both full of curiosity.

What kind of huge profits could support Fang Wei to enjoy a life comparable to or even better than that of a royal palace throughout the year?

The aforementioned income from farmlands? The salt permit privileges? The interception of commercial taxes?
It seems that it is not the case...

The answer is revealed.

"I saw the young master open a box, and inside it seemed to be pearls from my hometown. I have never seen so many pearls..."

"Pearls from your hometown... Hepu... Hepu pearls?"

The two of them were shocked. "Last year's pearl diving in Guangdong?"

Hepu pearls were tributes to the royal family and were the most beloved by the powerful and wealthy. Given Fang Wei's status, it was not surprising for him to have a few strings of pearls, but if he had a whole box, that would definitely be wrong.

Besides, the one box was just what Caiyun saw secretly, the real number is more than that!
The key point is that in the eighth year of Jiajing, Guangdong carried out a general mobilization, using 600 ships and 10,000 people, which took more than three months. The official did not record how many people died, but the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, Lin Fu, submitted a petition requesting an end to pearl fishing because this practice was really harmful to the people, and there was a saying among the people that "people were exchanged for pearls."

But now, this precious and cruel tribute seems to have been embezzled.

And the amount of embezzlement is definitely not small!

"How brave! How brave!"

Lu Bing was furious.

For example, the income from farms, salt permit privileges, and commercial taxes were intercepted and manipulated by various parties. Everyone knew about it, but there was nothing they could do about it.

The pearls that can be collected are different.

The last time pearls were collected in Guangdong was in 1499, the th year of the Hongzhi reign. Empress Zhang wanted to make a pearl robe for Emperor Xiaozong, so she appointed eunuch Wang Li to go to Guangdong to collect pearls.

Today, the former Empress Zhang has become the Empress Dowager Zhang, and is known as the Two Palaces together with Empress Dowager Jiang, the biological mother of Jiajing.

Lu Bing knew very well that His Majesty ordered the pearl hunt to show filial piety to Empress Dowager Jiang. As for Empress Dowager Zhang... he was just annoyed that she would never die, but on the surface it was to show filial piety to the two Empress Dowagers.

To dare to meddle in this matter truly shows a disregard for the imperial majesty. Lu Bing's face darkened, his previous relaxed expression vanishing, replaced by the murderous aura of the Imperial Guards: "Come here! Search the Fang Mansion thoroughly, and immediately imprison and interrogate Steward Lai Fu! These traitorous thieves..."

"This is bullying!"

……

(It will be on the shelves tomorrow at noon, there will be a big explosion)
(End of this chapter)