What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 346 Bloodshed, Su Mo Becomes Famous in One Battle!
In the study, Su Mo stared at Nangong Sheyue in shock, his eyes wide: "What?"

"His Majesty has ordered the officials to watch over me and forbid me from leaving Lonely Peak Mountain?"

Nangong Sheyue nodded expressionlessly: "Not bad!"

"His Majesty instructed me to bring the Nine Spirits Returning to One Soup to my husband, and at the same time, I must watch him soak in the medicine and not leave his side for even a moment, just in case."

"in addition."

Nangong Sheyue gave Su Mo a deep look: "His Majesty also said that for the next two days, you must remain in your fiefdom and are not allowed to set foot in the capital!"

As she spoke, her expression suddenly turned strange, and she looked at Su Mo with resentment: "If my lord leaves Lonely Peak Mountain, then I will be the only one to blame, and you will cut off... my head!"

Su Mo was speechless.

Leng Liuxi had anticipated her own prediction and knew that she would run back to the capital, so she specifically asked Nangong Sheyue to keep an eye on her.

Moreover, in order to prevent herself from disobeying her, she even used Nangong Sheyue's head to manipulate her!
This is hitting their own weak spot!
He looked at Nangong Sheyue with frustration: "Can't you be a little more accommodating, sir?"

"I'm afraid that if things get too out of hand, Zhang Xuzu and the others won't be able to suppress it."

Nangong Sheyue replied curtly, "No way!"

"I wish to live a few more years!"

Su Mo was speechless.

After a pause, he asked, "Where's the Nine Spirits Return to One Soup?"

Seeing that Su Mo had given up the idea of ​​returning to the capital, Nangong Sheyue's expression softened considerably. She snorted and said, "I have it with me. I can dissolve it in hot water and soak in it."

Su Mo said helplessly, "Thank you for your trouble, sir."

Now all we can do is hope that Zhang Xuzu and Cao Feng are brave enough to keep those merchants in check.

Su Mo felt a little strange that her own tasks were being done by others.

I opened the task panel, but there were no prompts.

Soaking in medicine is naturally more convenient in the bathroom.

After closing the door, he wasn't afraid of being disturbed while absorbing the medicine and refining the Yellow Spring Pill.

At that moment, Su Mo led Nangong Sheyue to the bathroom in the second bedroom—the master bedroom had been occupied by someone, and Su Mo dared not say anything in anger.

Of course, Su Mo is not short of money, and the villa is big enough. The second bedroom is not much smaller than the master bedroom, and it is fully equipped.

Prepare the hot spring water and fill the bathtub.

Nangong Sheyue took out a jade bottle and poured the medicinal powder inside into the bathtub.

Instantly, a unique fragrance filled the air, exactly the same as the medicinal soup I had soaked in last time.

Just as Su Mo was about to take off his robes to cultivate with the help of the medicine, he saw Nangong Sheyue standing upright by the bathtub, staring intently at him, showing no sign of leaving.

"My lord... what is this?" Su Mo frowned as he looked at Nangong Sheyue.

Nangong Sheyue coldly replied, "His Majesty ordered me to watch over my husband while he prepares his medicine, fearing that something might happen to him."

Su Mo thought for a moment and said, "Actually, you can go to the outside of the glass gate. If you need anything, I will call for you."

Nangong Sheyue frowned and said, "No!"

She emphasized, "Your Majesty meant that you personally watched your husband prepare the medicine!"

Su Mo was both amused and exasperated: "So, this humble servant really took it off?"

Nangong Sheyue nodded: "Mm!"

Su Mo's forehead creased with annoyance.

Nangong Sheyue suddenly chuckled, her stiff, pretty face relaxing as she couldn't help but giggle, "Could it be that Marquis Su is afraid of me?"

Su Mo glared at Nangong Sheyue and snorted heavily, "If you're not afraid, why should I be?"

"At worst, we can show it to you, and we'll be even. But you're not allowed to say again that I took advantage of you!"

Nangong Sheyue's pretty face instantly turned frosty, and she gritted her teeth: "When did I ever say you took advantage of me..."

"Humph!"

"If you dare to speak nonsense again, my lord, don't blame me for being impolite!"

She paused, then added, both embarrassed and angry, "If His Majesty hadn't ordered me to... personally watch you prepare the medicine, I wouldn't have bothered watching you at all!"

Su Mo gave Nangong Sheyue a smug, provocative look, then stopped talking, took off his outer robe, and turned to look at Nangong Sheyue.

Lord Nangong stared intently at him with a solemn expression.

Clearly, the sacred command must be carried out to the end!

Su Mo took off his undershirt and trousers, and continued to look at Commander Zuo of Fengming Division provocatively!

Nangong Sheyue remained unfazed and retorted with her gaze!

Su Mo's eyes darted around, and he grabbed the boxer shorts, pretending to pull them down!
Nangong Sheyue finally broke down, her pretty face instantly turning red. She quickly turned her head to the side and spat out a curse.

Su Mo laughed heartily and stepped into the bathtub.

He then stopped arguing with Nangong Sheyue and focused his mind to practice the Yellow Springs Secret Technique...

Once she came to her senses, Nangong Sheyue glared at Su Mo through gritted teeth!

But soon, Nangong Sheyue was shocked.

Surprisingly, the medicinal power was extremely concentrated, almost equivalent to the Great Heaven-Mending Pill, enough to make the Nine Spirits Returning to One Soup, which was used to advance a late-stage Soul-Stabilizing Realm sorcerer to the Divine Realm, disappear at an astonishing speed!

Nangong Sheyue was utterly speechless.

No wonder the Empress made her watch over Su Mo as he absorbed the medicinal power.

Such a potent medicinal soup, even for a late-stage Guiqiao realm sorcerer like myself, would probably take several days to fully absorb.

Su Mo absorbed more than half of it in just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn!

It's absolutely unbelievable!
Such a bizarre and terrifying speed of cultivation must have made the Empress fear that there might be some hidden dangers, and she was worried that Su Mo might suddenly suffer from a cultivation deviation!

No wonder Su Mo advanced to the Divine Realm Grand Sorcerer after only half a year of cultivation!

Bai Yujing's cultivation techniques are truly terrifying!

Like the Empress, Nangong Sheyue also attributed this inexplicable phenomenon to the secret techniques of Baiyujing!
Nangong Sheyue dared not even imagine how terrifying his current level would be if he had started cultivating from a young age.

Golden Core Realm? Infant Realm? Or even Divine Travel Realm?

……

Qinghefang.

The people were terrified.

Although countless people grew up listening to terrifying legends of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

But for ordinary people, these are just legends.

Even at their most ruthless, the Embroidered Uniform Guard mostly arrested government officials.

While it was common to see ordinary people being bullied by the Imperial Guards and other elite guards, it rarely escalated to the point of family ruin and widespread public resentment.

But now, the people of Qinghefang have finally witnessed the brutality and terror of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!
Zhang Xuzu personally led the men of the Qinghefang Hundred Household Office, his face dark with anger, to a cloth shop that looked extremely large.

There were quite a few people watching and even knocking on the door in front of the shop.

Seeing the Imperial Guards approaching, they quickly moved far away, only daring to watch from a distance!
Many timid people also ran away!
Zhang Xuzu's lips twitched twice. Too lazy to send anyone to push the door open, he snorted coldly, "Break down the door! Ransom the shop!"

Several strong men, formerly Zhang Xuzu's personal guards.

Without hesitation, they drew their knives and stepped forward.

One of the one-eyed captains, exuding murderous aura, was actually a half-step Martial Grandmaster. He suddenly kicked out, and the cloth shop's door collapsed with a crash!

Several people dressed as shopkeepers and waiters inside stared in shock at the Imperial Guards who burst through the door.

The shopkeeper, filled with shock and anger, shouted, "This is the business of the Zheng family of Xingyang! How dare you..."

Before he could finish speaking, a flash of light appeared, and a fine head rolled to the ground!
The remaining men were pale and silent with fear!
The onlookers and those trying to gather information were also dumbfounded.

Zhang Xuzu sheathed his straight sword and coldly ordered the guards, "Take down everyone inside and bring them back to the garrison!"

Then he waved his hand.

Then the shopkeeper and his assistant entered the shop.

These shopkeepers and employees were all from the Zhang family's shop!

All the men were captured and tied up.

Finally, a person emerged from the shop, dressed in official robes with a white pheasant insignia, revealing him to be a fifth-rank civil official of the imperial court!
He glared at Zhang Xuzu with a dark expression and coldly said, "What a lawless lackey of the imperial court!"

"Have you lost your mind? How dare you kill someone from the Zheng family of Xingyang!"

He took a deep breath and said coldly, "The business of the Zheng family of Xingyang can be opened and closed whenever we want. When did it become your place, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to decide?"

"Hmph, I will certainly submit a report..."

Blood splattered, and another head rolled to the ground!
"So much nonsense!"

Zhang Xuzu sneered at the head on the ground, its eyes wide with shock, and spat on the ground disdainfully: "So what if it's the Zheng family of Xingyang?"

"Is the Zheng family of Xingyang more powerful than His Majesty, and more powerful than the laws of the court?"

Zhang Xuzu knew very well that since he had done this, he shouldn't expect those powerful families to still speak to him amicably!

That would mean offending them completely!
As Lord Su said, as long as he enjoys the emperor's favor, what can these powerful families do to him?
After beheading the unknown fifth-rank civil official, Zhang Xuzu surveyed the terrified crowd nearby and said in a deep voice, "The imperial court has decreed that merchants are strictly prohibited from hoarding and speculating, and from closing their shops and causing harm to the people!"

"Anyone who dares to suspend business or obstruct my investigation will be executed without mercy!"

After saying that, Zhang Xuzu turned to look at Cao Feng beside him: "Cao Shi, who's next?"

Cao Feng pulled out a list and said coldly, "It's Baofeng Grain Store!"

"This grain store has three shops in Qinghefang, all of which have violated the imperial decree and illegally ceased operations!"

Zhang Xuzu waved his hand: "Let's go! To Baofeng Grain Store!"

The onlookers outside fell silent instantly.

Many of the timid ones have already sneaked away!

This is too much to watch!

Killing a shopkeeper is considered normal.

But even a fifth-rank civil official in the imperial court could be killed without hesitation; that was no joke!
They hadn't seen the Embroidered Uniform Guard kill a court official on the spot for a long time, let alone a civil official who claimed to be from the Zheng family of Xingyang, one of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families!

Of course, the Baofeng Grain Store, which the Embroidered Uniform Guard was about to raid, was no ordinary store either.

The four prominent families behind them—Zhao, Du, Wang, and Qian—are considered major families.

Although the combined strength of these four families cannot compare to that of the five clans and seven powerful families, they still have two fourth-rank officials in the imperial court, and are secretly protected by other important ministers, giving them considerable influence in the grain trade association.

……

Above the Xiaolanting Boat House.

Ling Yanyao was also stunned when she heard the news her subordinates reported.

I was even more scared!
Although she could guess that Su Mo would definitely use extremely harsh methods in order to collect commercial taxes and provide disaster relief to Tiannan Road.

But no one could have imagined that the methods would be so ruthless!
Even if we collect the commercial tax and fines, what then?
Does he no longer want to stay in the Great Wu Dynasty?

He was completely unafraid of retaliation from those powerful families, or even the high-ranking officials, dukes, and nobles behind the merchants.

They are not afraid of strong oppression from both the government and the public.

Would the Empress of the Great Wu Dynasty not hesitate to throw him out as a scapegoat to quell the anger of the court officials and noble families?!
Ling Yanyao really couldn't understand it!
However, this is irrelevant.

The important thing is that I honestly operate the boat and also honestly go to the Qinghefang Hundred Household Office to pay a total of 7,300 taels of silver in commercial tax and fines!

Otherwise, the Imperial Guards of Qinghefang would have already killed Xiaolanting's warship.

This money really pained Lingyan Yao.

That's almost two months' worth of profit for Xiaolanting Tower Ship.

Xiaolanting was the most prestigious of the multi-ship ships, and its income was indeed astonishing. The normal commercial tax paid would be more than 1,800 taels a month!

Because Ling Yanyao voluntarily paid the commercial tax, Su Mo instructed Zhang Xuzu to give her preferential treatment.

They only paid the outstanding commercial tax and were fined three times the amount.

From now on, any merchants who pay taxes will be subject to a minimum fine of five times the amount owed.

……

Inside a certain compound, it was bustling with activity.

In the garden, which covers several acres, a high platform was erected in the freezing cold, and a theatrical troupe dressed in costumes performed on the stage.

The onlookers below the stage were all dressed in fine clothes, and their demeanor was either dignified or composed. It was clear at a glance that they were people who held power and were wealthy.

The crowd watched the show while chatting and laughing.

"The market in Qinghefang is closed today. You all must not compromise easily. We must make that man surnamed Su lose his head!"

"that is!"

"This scoundrel dares to collect commercial taxes; he probably doesn't know he only has one head on his neck!"

"We'll have people incite those ignorant people. They'll panic when they see they can't buy rice, oil, or salt. I want to see how that guy surnamed Su will handle this!"

"Hmph! If the court refuses to stop this absurd act, then we'll order a city-wide market strike, so that those people in the court will know that we merchants are not to be trifled with!"

"What a pity! It's a day of imperial holiday, otherwise we could have asked those high-ranking officials to impeach that scoundrel surnamed Su together, and we would have been absolutely certain of success!"

The other merchants all nodded in agreement.

But someone immediately laughed and said, "There's no rush."

"Let those adults know the severity of a market strike, and the people will panic. Then, impeaching that Su fellow will be much more effective!"

Just as everyone was discussing this, someone suddenly frowned and said, "What if that guy surnamed Su tries to force us?"

Upon hearing this, a merchant immediately burst into laughter: "How can he force his way in?"

"Whether we open for business or not is up to us!"

"Could he possibly force us to open the door? There's no such logic in the world!"

"Hundreds of shops in Qinghefang have closed down. Rice, grain, salt, cloth, iron and other essential items are the lifeblood of the common people. If they can't buy them for even a day, there will be chaos!"

"The major merchants in the capital, though not closing down, are hoarding their goods and refusing to sell, not allowing even a grain of rice, salt, or a piece of cloth to enter Qinghefang! No matter how powerful they are, what can they do?"

Everyone was smug and suddenly felt like they had the world under their control.

It feels like once the merchants unite, even the imperial court will tremble!
Someone sneered, "Don't let your guard down, everyone."

"After all, that Su fellow is ruthless and vicious; we can't let our guard down!"

"Also, that woman surnamed Ling from Xiaolanting, after being frightened by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, actually refused to close down her business. She's truly despicable!"

"Once this matter is settled, she must be made to pay with her life for that man surnamed Su. Otherwise, if other merchants follow suit, we will surely face internal strife!"

"And the Wang family is also hateful..."

"Ahem... Let's leave the Wang family's shop aside..."

"Hmm... I've heard that Little Orchid Pavilion seems to have connections with immortal sects? Isn't that a bit scary...?"

Someone scoffed, "So what if they're immortal sects?"

"Don't immortal sects also need to eat rice and salt, and wear clothes and makeup?"

"Besides, who among us doesn't have someone backing us? Why should we be afraid of a mere immortal sect!"

Just as a group of wealthy merchants from Qinghefang were discussing this with great pride...

Suddenly, someone rushed in in a panic.

"Oh no!"

"The Imperial Guards from Qinghefang stormed into the Sifang Salt Shop and beheaded the shopkeeper!"

"All seventeen guards and shop assistants at the salt shop who tried to stop the Imperial Guards have been killed!"

"The salt shops have been taken over by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and they are selling salt at half price. The people are scrambling to buy it!"

Upon hearing this, the merchants' expressions changed drastically.

Several people jumped to their feet, shouting in shock and anger, "How dare he?"

The one who shouted the loudest, with a face full of exasperation, was none other than the Dong family's head butler!
He never imagined that the Imperial Guards of Qinghefang would be so audacious!
The other merchants were also dumbfounded.

Has that centurion of Qinghefang gone mad?
Dong Bao of the Dong family was one of the two commanders of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and his position in the Commandery was second only to Lu Su!
The Imperial Guards of Qinghefang actually dared to raid the Dong family's Sifang Salt Shop?

Although the salt shop is not registered under the Dong family's name, everyone in Qinghefang knows that the Dong family is the real owner of the salt shop!

This is like a county magistrate leading his constables to arrest the prefect of the upper prefecture!
Just as everyone was in shock.

More people came in fear.

"Something terrible has happened! The Zheng family's cloth shop has also been raided by the Imperial Guards!"

"The commander of Qinghefang chopped Zheng Wen's head off right there in the street! The shopkeeper was killed too, and everyone else was arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Everyone's face changed suddenly!

The Sifang Salt Shop was not under the Dong family's name.

However, Zheng Family Cloth Shop is a legitimate property of the Zheng family of Xingyang!

That Baihu of Qinghefang not only confiscated the Zheng family's shops, but also killed the Zheng family's fifth-rank official, Yuanwailang? Is there no law anymore?
damned!
This is the Zheng family of Xingyang, one of the most prestigious families in the world, with five prominent surnames and seven prominent clans!
They dare to kill even members of the Zheng family?

Don't you dare kill yourself?

Before they could recover from their shock, the messenger urgently reported, "That centurion is on his way to raid Baofeng Grain Store!"

The words fell.

Among the crowd of merchants, a fat merchant dressed in silk turned pale and ran away!
Everyone looked closely.

Who else could this be but the head manager of Baofeng Grain Store?
The others looked at each other.

Then, several people left in silence, walking faster and faster!

The other merchants also turned pale.

They're only realizing it now.

The knife is in someone else's hand!
What do they have to rely on?
money?
But when someone pulls out a knife, doesn't the money end up in their hands?

(End of this chapter)