Rong Di finally rembered the main issue and respectfully said, "I have found the Daoist monk the General asked for."
"His Daoist na is Bao Pu."
"The Daoist temple he belongs to is Xuanzhen Temple, located atop a mountain in the distant outskirts, with difficult roads. Twenty-odd years ago, it had a little fa. After the Goddess Temple beca prosperous, Xuanzhen Temple declined."
"I suggested recruiting him, but he didn’t agree."
He was quite stubborn.
Rong Di didn’t reveal the identity of the Wei Family Army.
After all, he wasn’t one of us yet.
He only ntioned that his master had a free fortune telling done a few days ago.
Daoist Bao Pu was very dismissive.
Then...
Rong Di: "I threw money at him. Then he agreed."
His attitude changed instantly.
Bao Pu never thought he would be so valuable one day.
Afraid that Rong Di might go back on his word, he hurriedly stuffed the silver notes into his arms and agreed.
The Daoist temple was really too poor!
He still had younger brothers and sisters to support.
He even asked Rong Di what he needed him to do. As long as it wasn’t against the laws of heaven and humanity.
Rong Di just said two words.
Stand by.
Wei Zhao glanced at the sky, "That’s it, I get it. Is there anything else?"
Rong Di, not realizing the General was already thinking of dismissing him, continued his report, "All the valuables in the Zhu Family’s secret room have been cleared out."
"Seeing there was ample ti, I took the liberty to also raid the rooms of Zhu Family’s son and Old Mrs. Zhu."
His kind of raiding left nothing behind.
Even the Huanghuali bed of Zhu Family’s son was carried off by him.
He spread out a little booklet he took from his chest.
"Everything has been registered, and we’ve had the pawnshop estimate their values."
Wei Zhao: ...
He took it and flipped directly to the last page.
It was the total amount of wealth amassed.
Wei Zhao casually closed it, "It’s a bit less than expected."
Rong Di agreed, "Compared to the mansions we looted before, the Zhu Family is indeed poor."
Rong Di continued, "Inside Wuyang City, we have our people, making things easier to investigate. That wizard was brought in from the Western Regions by the Zhu Family. Over the years, he’s been secretly working for them."
"Apart from exchanging Zhu Family’s son’s life, he’s also perford many unethical and evil acts."
"The Zhu Family has been in tea business for generations, and their dealings are not entirely clean."
Staying steady and having a foothold in business isn’t simple, especially with a rchant background.
At least when Old Master Zhu’s father was alive, the Zhu Family was involved in many unsavory dealings.
"After Old Master Zhu took over the business, he gradually smoothed out those dirty dealings. He’s skilled in networking, and the Zhu Family’s business prospered more than ever."
Year after year, along with the issue of the Goddess Temple, they beca ’truly’ great philanthropists.
"He did indeed frequently interact with the previous County Officials."
Other rchants would bribe the County Officials with various benefits carefully.
But the Zhu Family was different.
"They always gave money. However, they were exceptionally cautious in their actions, so much so that nothing slipped through the cracks."
Rong Di: "Hosting a temple fair is no small matter, lifting the curfew requires the approval of the Governnt Office."
"Besides the lion dance and opera performances, the booth fees for these two days and the toll fees for entering and exiting the city gates weren’t entirely exempted; they were actually covered by the Zhu Family."
Is this charity?
Yes.
It enlivened and prospered Wuyang City.
At the sa ti, it encouraged poor folks, like the old lady with the ring-toss ga, to earn a little extra money to improve their livelihood. It didn’t cost much.
This is great charity.
While hosting the temple fair, it’s inevitable that so would be tempted to steal without labor.
That’s why the Governnt Office needed to send patrols.
Rong Di: "The Zhu Family would buy liquor to reward them, and they’d also hire many people from the Escort Agency to protect the public’s safety."
They covered all bases.
Even when the weather was a bit chilly, every street had Zhu Family servants offering free hot water to tourists.
"The money used here ca from the Zhu Family, handed over to the Governnt Office."
"The public is aware, and the Zhu Family’s bookkeeping is docunted like this."
"Hence, Old Master Zhu always personally delivered it generously to the Governnt Office. Never declaring it as filial piety to avoid leaving evidence. The County Magistrate, however, understood and appropriated the excess money for himself.
Yet every ti the Zhu Family sent money, the Governnt Office’s accounts would always record a lesser amount.
For instance, what’s pocketed is not included.
Only those used on the public are logged.
"The Governnt Office’s ledger matches with the Zhu Family’s bookkeeping entry."
When the County Magistrate got into trouble and was to be executed, those who bribed him had no good ending, except the Zhu Family.
The County Magistrate did expose him.
Facing the inquiry from the officials from the Capital, Old Master Zhu feigned innocence.
Yet who had the evidence?
The evidence was clearly written in the ledger.
The County Magistrate accusing him was nothing but slander.
Moreover, the Zhu Family had such a good reputation.
So good that everyone in the Zhu Family often forgot what kind of scum they were.
Rong Di: "When I ca here, the prison at the Governnt Office looked like they were preparing for an overnight interrogation."
"That County Magistrate seed young. Need to send so clues over?"
Wei Zhao: "No need."
"This ti the newly assigned officials from the Capital were all picked by He Xuran. They’re not idiots. Sooner or later, they’ll figure it out. If they can’t, they shouldn’t be officials."
Moreover, this matter involved witchcraft.
It’s no small issue.
Wei Zhao rubbed the rim of the cup with his thumb, feeling its texture.
The girl’s hand was still better, soft as if without bones.
——
A light was on in the bedroom.
When Wei Zhao finally got over, the girl had already lain down.
He tidied himself up and walked to the bed. His gaze fell on the girl’s fair face.
The girl was nestled under the bright red quilt, her pitch-black hair spread out, her eyes closed.
Wei Zhao noticed her breathing was a little quicker than before. He raised an eyebrow, lowered the curtain, and pulled her into his arms.
Hmm, her body was a bit stiff.
Yu Tingwan, who was pretending to sleep, didn’t react.
Wei Zhao wasn’t in a rush.
His hand slipped under her clothes, probing further in.
"What should I do now?"
He seed troubled, "Waking you would be improper."
Yu Tingwan: ...
Yet your hand says otherwise.
In the next mont.
"Oh." It was a drawn-out lazy tone.
Wei Zhao said slowly, "I’m no gentleman."
Whoever wants to be one can go ahead.
Unable to endure it any longer, Yu Tingwan stopped his hand from disturbing her chest like kneading dough.
She looked at Wei Zhao pleadingly, "It hurts."
"Awake?"
Yu Tingwan: ...
You knew without asking.
Wei Zhao looked at Yu Tingwan.
Yu Tingwan gazed back at him earnestly.
He chuckled in annoyance.
"I haven’t even entered1."
"/Go on, you’re still fully dressed, what’s hurting you?"
Yu Tingwan was muffled.
Her resistance was evident.
Wei Zhao sucked on her lips, "The first few tis are always hard to endure, but it’ll get better after a while."
Yu Tingwan pursed her lips.
"Can’t get used to it."
She whimpered and muttered sothing.
Wei Zhao: "Hmm?"
Yu Tingwan whispered softly, "It’s long, it makes uncomfortable."
Wei Zhao’s face turned black instantly.
He thought Yu Tingwan should really wash her eyes.
He was even quite frustrated.
Appearance is sothing he couldn’t change.
Seeing him remaining silent, Yu Tingwan realized he misunderstood.
Her eyes trembled slightly.
Blushing, she murmured softly.
"I wasn’t talking about your face."
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