The two of them were discussing back and forth.
"I don’t think so!"
"The current Emperor is wise, and those officials in the court don’t dare to embezzle!"
"Each of them has a family and a career, and naturally, they all need to make a living!"
"So it’s impossible not to be short on silver!"
Old Master Rong was in complete agreent; he doubted again.
"So it must be that we didn’t deliver the silver properly!"
Old Master Song frowned.
"Too little? Triple the amount of silver, nearly ten thousand taels, isn’t that enough?"
Old Master Rong was a bit exasperated.
"Didn’t you see there were three of them?"
"Three thousand taels per person, what’s that enough for?!"
Old Master Song widened his eyes.
"Could it be that one person wants ten thousand taels? That’s really an outrageous demand!"
Old Master Lian snapped.
"What ti is it, and you’re still worried about the silver!"
"Better to worry about ourselves!"
He said while troubled and in turmoil.
"Right now, the most important thing is to find a way to send out the ssage!"
"Quickly bribe enough silver so that we can get out!"
Old Master Song and Old Master Rong quickly nodded.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Old Lian is right!"
...
That night, the three quietly bribed the officials and jailers.
Yu Qingbo dared not confront Lord Imperial Envoy.
But the underlings like Xiao Luo had seen such things many tis, as long as you give money, they’ll treat you like a master.
The governnt officials, after receiving the silver, ran errands to relay ssages for them.
People from outside the three families were also inquiring everywhere.
After all, the head of the family being imprisoned was a major issue, and they were almost frantic.
While they were searching the city, soone ca to relay a ssage.
Saying it was the master’s intention to send silver to Lord Imperial Envoy, and send a lot of it!
The family mbers understood at once.
It was because the bribes weren’t well taken care of, no wonder the master was locked up.
They quickly started to prepare the silver.
Three families, three rounds, rushed off non-stop to the Magistrate’s Governnt Office with silver.
Unfortunately...
How could Zhao Junyao and his team accept it?
The key point was, they weren’t even at the governnt office.
The people with the silver didn’t even get to see Lord Imperial Envoy, and returned in despair.
In the following days.
They never received any ssages from the master again.
It was heard... even the jailers in the governnt office’s prison had been replaced.
Initially, they thought the imperial envoys were just trying to scare them, planning to swindle so silver.
Originally, they only took it seriously to an extent, thinking that if the silver was given, it would calm matters down.
But now everyone realized that things seed not to be the sa as before.
And it was significantly different!
The three families imdiately realized the seriousness of the situation.
They dared not act rashly and only sent people to keep watch everywhere.
First, to see if there was any news, and second, to secretly find out who these imperial envoys were.
To see what their purpose was in coming, whether there were old grudges?
After all, coming and causing trouble, and not asking for silver must have a reason.
...
However, Zhao Junyao had no ti to play any gas with them.
He was busy secretly interrogating those three old foxes.
The jailers had also been replaced with his own people.
Yu Magistrate was completely shut out, getting no information at all.
That morning, Zhao Junyao and the disguised-as-a-man Xia Ruqing went to the prison together.
The low and dark cell was foul, humid, and stifling.
Upon entering, there was an offensive sll mixed with rust, blood, sweat, and an inexplicable stench.
Xia Ruqing frowned slightly, secretly covering her nose.
But Zhao Junyao remained indifferent, as if nothing had happened.
Xia Ruqing secretly praised his composure: So composed, impressive!
The two went to a relatively spacious cell and sat on the chairs prepared by the servants.
Looking at the three old foxes, who had been stripped of their luxurious garnts and were bound in prisoner’s clothes on the tiger bench.
Zhao Junyao didn’t say a word and just sneered coldly.
"Co, apply the torture! Start with fifty strokes!"
Xia Ruqing nodded again to express admiration; this fellow was simply too scheming, starting with no words, just with blows!
The three below were terrified, pleading for rcy.
"Spare us, Lord Imperial Envoy!"
"We beg you to show rcy, Lord Imperial Envoy!"
"What cri exactly have we committed? Please enlighten us, Lord Imperial Envoy!"
Xia Ruqing laughed mockingly.
"I don’t know whether you’ve committed a cri, but... why are the prices in Jinling City so exorbitant is what I want to know?"
"If you don’t want to be beaten, you better confess honestly!"
Zhao Junyao was playing the harsh role, so she could only play the more tender one; being an imperial envoy isn’t easy!
At these words, the three looked at each other, continuing to feign innocence.
Each one claid ignorance, their deanor even more innocent than Little White rabbits.
Zhao Junyao raised his eyebrow.
"Don’t know? Then get beaten!"
With a wave of his hand, the servants below understood, lifted their sticks, and started beating.
The people Zhao Junyao brought were top-tier experts from the Imperial Palace, far stronger than ordinary jailers.
On the first blow.
The three old foxes felt as if their behinds were about to burst.
"Ah!"
"Ouch!!"
"Ooh ooh..."
They scread, causing chaos.
As the second and third blows landed, not just their behinds felt fractured, but it seed their internal organs were shattered as well.
The agony was so extre it bordered on ecstasy.
The old foxes, who had lived a life of luxury, couldn’t bear such humiliation, and imdiately begged for rcy.
"Spare us!"
"Oh dear...Lord Imperial Envoy, what is it exactly that you want?"
"If you want silver, just say the word, there’s no need for this much fuss!"
"It doesn’t matter if we’re hard, but you degrade yourself to co here, laboring you to take action and anger, not worth it!"
Zhao Junyao raised an eyebrow.
"I don’t want silver; I have just these questions. Answer them honestly, and I guarantee your lives."
The old foxes were nearly in tears.
"My lord!"
"The questions you’re asking, we don’t know!"
"Even if you beat us to death, it won’t do any good!"
Old Master Lian’s eyes darted around.
"My lord, perhaps it’s because..."
"People in Jiangnan are wealthy, hence the higher prices!"
"Even though prices in Jinling City are high, the common folks earn a lot too, so they manage to get by!"
They tried to persuade Zhao Junyao.
The reasoning they used almost made sense.
If it were so imperial envoy not familiar with comrce, they might have been fooled.
But for Zhao Junyao...
No one born has yet managed to deceive him.
He pondered a mont, then wordlessly waved his hand, calmly instructing.
"Go get the iron rack, and after the beating, apply the branding iron!"
The three old foxes: "..."
Xia Ruqing: "..."
That’s too ruthless.
She imdiately imagined a scene of ’skin glistening with thick subcutaneous fat was sizzled by branding iron.’
Too disgusting, it made goosebumps rise.
She quickly shook her head and urged.
"I advise you to speak!"
"Money is external, but the pain is sothing no one can suffer for you!"
"If your life is gone, what use is anything else?"
"Hurry up and speak!"
The three were wavering.
But... they were still hesitating, unable to make up their minds!
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