Chaos of Ming 1628

Upon hearing this, Sun Qing turned to look at Zhou Ji, who was huddled in the back.

Feeling uneasy under Zhou Ji's gaze, he shrank back, gave an awkward smile, and jogged over to Sun Qing.

With a pitiful look on her face and a sob in her voice, she cried out, "Young master, please don't look at me like that. It's not because you have a powerful backer that I'm like a rootless weed."

"Facing Lady Fengsheng, how could I dare to defy her? Besides, you, young master, have everything prepared, and I have only just revealed the truth."

Zhou Ji glanced cautiously at Sun Qing.

Sun Qing's lips curled slightly into a mocking smile: "Lord Zhou, you truly are a man who knows how to adapt to the times."

"Are you sure that Madam Fengsheng is going to torture me...?" Zhou Ji looked aggrieved, yet with a slightly teasing smile.

"That old codger is a real opportunist," Sun Qing cursed inwardly. "He's trying to please both sides without offending either. He wants the money, and he's also trying his best to curry favor with Madam Ke."

Petty people are everywhere, so Sun Qing merely snorted coldly: "It seems that Lord Zhou doesn't care about that kind of money."

"Oh dear, what are you saying?" Zhou Ji panicked instantly, his face breaking into a forced smile. "This money isn't just mine; aren't you going to use it to help the disaster victims?"

Sun Qing scoffed, "Oh? So, sir, you also want to protect your wealth?"

“Of course,” Zhou Ji’s eyes darted around, “Dad, it’s all for our own good.”

He said that he would have to step forward and pull them apart.

Sun Qing didn't bother to look at him, coldly tossing out, "I don't have a son like you."

Sun Qing turned around, Zhou Ji's face was gloomy, and after the person walked away, he spat on the ground.

Outside the post station, beside the carriage.

Shen Junru leaned against the wall, a blade of grass dangling from her mouth.

Upon seeing Sun Qing arrive, he gave a flippant whistle.

Seeing her like this, Sun Qing felt a sudden urge to tease her: "Oh, isn't this the young master beside Lady Fengsheng?"

"What's wrong? After a night of intense battle, young master, you still have plenty of energy?"

It's unclear whether Shen Junru understood what Sun Qing meant, but she leaned over and put her arm around Sun Qing's shoulder.

Even though Shen Junru was already considered tall for a woman, she still had to stand on tiptoe. The two were very close, with Sun Qing's arm resting between Shen Junru's breasts.

Despite Shen Junru's tomboyish demeanor, she's got the figure she needs.

She spoke, her warm breath brushing against Sun Qing's ear: "Don't you think that old woman is crazy? She just likes me hitting her. She even said that everyone in the palace respects her, but only I make her feel different."

"Seriously, this is the first time I've met someone so deserving of a beating. I didn't hold back either; I first punched her, then I ripped off her clothes and started hitting her. If she tried to hit me, I knocked her unconscious."

"Sigh, she's really addicted."

Shen Junru sighed, completely baffled.

Sun Qing's ears were already burning red.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing." Shen Junru wouldn't let it go. Sensing Sun Qing deliberately keeping his distance, she pulled him closer. "How can I speak when you're so far away?"

She glared at him, then whispered in his ear, "That guy Zhou is no good. The old woman hadn't mentioned money before. But today, he came early and brought it up himself."

"You have no idea how arrogant you sound. In short, he has no control over Jiahe County now; you're the one in charge."

"Anyway, you'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, Shen Junru took a few steps back.

As they distanced themselves, they were startled to see Sun Qing's embarrassed appearance: "What happened to you? Your face is as red as a monkey's bottom, do you have a fever?"

Sun Qing was at a loss. How could he explain the differences between men and women? Would it be awkward to say it?

It's a good thing he's a modern person; if he really wanted to be petty, he'd be even less capable than this ancient woman.

After much hesitation, Sun Qing finally spoke with difficulty: "From now on, you are not allowed to be so close to men."

"Why?" Shen Junru pouted slightly.

Sun Qing's face turned even redder, and after a long pause, he managed to stammer, "This is an insult to scholarship!"

Shen Junru seemed to be thinking about something, then nodded solemnly, her face serious: "Grandpa always says these words too, okay, I'll listen to you."

This girl!!!

Even Sun Qing himself didn't realize the smile on his lips.

Botou.

Su Jiuda and Meng Zhaoxiang were already waiting there.

Upon seeing Sun Qing arrive, the two quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"No need for formalities, you two." Sun Qing went straight to the point: "What's the situation now?"

Despite being much younger than Su, Sun Qing treated the young man with the utmost respect, as if he were a mentor: "Young Master Sun, the money has been collected as you instructed."

"However, I discovered that there is someone in the Ma household who used to be Zhou Ji's confidant. It seems that he is still wary of you."

Meng Zhaoxiang flicked his sleeves and snorted coldly, "She's just a wet nurse. This money is the hard-earned money of the people. How dare she ask for it?"

"According to the laws of our Great Ming Dynasty, someone like her should have been beaten to death long ago."

"Mr. Meng," Su said in a loud voice, full of helplessness, and gave a bitter laugh, "Knowing that this person is troublesome and not someone you or I can afford to offend, why did you say such hurtful things?"

If they had a way to deal with the eunuch faction and this woman, they wouldn't just be filled with pent-up passion with nowhere to vent their frustrations, forced to huddle in taverns to express their discontent.

Meng Zhaoxiang was a little downcast.

"That Ms. Ke told me to hand over the money tonight," Sun Qing said, avoiding the complaints and getting to the important matter.

"No," Meng Zhaoxiang said angrily, "I took the things away. If she has the guts, she should kill me."

"Mr. Meng," Su said, somewhat anxiously.

Meng Zhaoxiang served as an official in the capital for many years, consistently opposing the eunuch faction. He was particularly concerned about the late emperor's wet nurse remaining in the palace, submitting numerous impeachment memorials, all of which went unanswered.

Now that Madam Ke has come to our hometown to cause trouble, how can we not be angry?

Su hesitated, then sighed in front of Sun Qing, "Young Master Sun, please don't take offense. Old Master Meng also hates evil spirits in power."

Sun Qing could understand this. They had finally managed to drive the eunuch party's spies out of Jiahe County, and now this Lady Fengsheng had arrived.

This would be hard for anyone to accept.

"I understand," Sun Qing said gravely, then delivered a sharp rebuke: "Do you want Madam Ke to receive what she deserves, preferably by dying as an atonement?"

The two of them looked up abruptly, staring at Sun Qing in shock.

They all shook their heads: "No, no, that's too risky. This is completely different from divine punishment."

"Although Madam Ke holds no real power, even Wei Zhongxian has to listen to her. If anything were to happen to her, Young Master Sun, what would you do?"

Meng Zhaoxiang also sighed: "Grand Secretary Sun is the Imperial Tutor, but that is him, not you."

Sun Qing smiled frankly: "If I say it, I will do it."

"Some people are simply destined to die young; I'm merely guiding them on their way."

The two were still in shock and looked at Sun Qing, swallowing hard.

After a long silence, the two men gritted their teeth and bowed deeply to Sun Qing: "We two will follow your lead, young master."

"Just tell me what you want to do, young master."

The two men had resolute eyes, as if they were ready to risk their lives.

Sun Qing smiled easily, pointing to the workers busily working in the shallows of Botou: "Were these people hired by the government?"

"No," Su said, his eyes filled with pity. "Young Master has just settled the refugees under the city wall, and they truly have nowhere to go."

There was one more thing he didn't say: after all, he was also responsible for the existence of these refugees; it was he who had allowed the refugees to escape!

"Mr. Su, to be honest, I admire you very much." Sun Qing sighed, "How could you possibly save the world by yourself?"

"Then what should we do, young master?" Su asked, his face full of curiosity.

Sun Qing said slowly, "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken."

"Of course we must break down the concept of private ownership and establish a new trend of communal ownership. Aren't they greedy? Then let them be greedy."

The two were even more puzzled, but they still had a feeling that it was very high-class and sophisticated.

Time is of the essence, and it's not convenient to go into details right now. Besides, now is not the right time to implement these measures.

Seeing the eager looks in their eyes, Sun Qing had no choice but to change the subject: "By the way, where are the people from Shallow Beach now?"