An Empire as a Betrothal Gift

The next day, the imperial convoy entered Jiangzhou and went straight to Zhizhou Prefecture.The guard stood in front of the door and asked, "Who dares to trespass on Zhizhou's capital?"

Although he is a small guard, his arrogance cannot be concealed between the lines.

Zhou Mingli's complexion turned dark.It is said that the dog is relying on the power of others, even a watchdog dares to be so arrogant, it is not difficult to see that Zhizhou is in Jiangzhou with one hand covering the sky.

Look at the majestic and magnificent exterior of Zhizhou Mansion, with every copper ring inlaid with gold.There are two town house stone lions standing in front of the usual mansion, but there are two golden lions squatting in front of this Zhizhou mansion, which is even more magnificent than the royal palace.

Zhou Mingli's low opinion of the prefect of Jiangzhou fell to the bottom.He is honest and fair, and hates corrupt officials the most, so His Majesty promoted him to the post of court lieutenant and entrusted him with the task of imperial envoy.

During the 12 years of Ji Yue's reign, he purged his relatives, developed the military, encouraged trade, recruited wise men, and governed Qin into prosperity.However, when the water is clear, there will be no fish, and the king's hand will not be too long.The whole of Yongping was under the control of Ji Yue, and under the feet of the Son of Heaven, the truly high-ranking officials were getting poorer and poorer.On the contrary, these local officials who rely on the sky and the emperor's distance will always have a few moths.

The amount of government money for disaster relief is huge. If it is exploited and embezzled layer by layer through the hands of others, there may be only a layer of skin left in the hands of the victims, and the meat inside will be eaten up by moths.Zhou Mingli personally escorted them all the way to ensure that all the supplies were delivered to the people.

This shows how much Zhou Mingli hates corrupt officials.

"Imperial envoy of the imperial court came here to do business under the orders of the king." Zhou Mingli showed his token and said in a cold voice, "Quickly send Liu Rengui out!"

Liu Rengui is the taboo name of the magistrate of Jiangzhou.

Although the gate guard has never seen the nobleman from Yongping before, he is not clear about the authenticity of the badge, but he is terrified when he sees the token with black background and silver stripes.Black color is supreme in the Qin Kingdom, who would dare to use tokens of this background color except the king?

There are two kinds of tokens given by King Qin.The black background with silver patterns means that it is acting for the king.The gold pattern on the black background represents the presence of a king.

The guard had never seen such a battle before, and he trembled in fear: "Young one, go and report!"

……

After a while, a middle-aged official with a big belly hurriedly put on his high-quality clothes and black gauze hat, and came out to greet him.As soon as he saw the battle with all the chariots and horses outside, cold sweat broke out on his back.

He glanced left and right, and probably saw that Zhou Mingli had the highest status, so he accepted him and bowed: "Your Majesty, the Imperial Envoy is welcome."

Zhou Mingli turned sideways to avoid the ceremony: "Young master is still standing here for a thing that doesn't have eyes."

Although he didn't think that Young Master Lian would be useful, he was loyal to His Majesty.Young Master Lian is holding a gold order, so he should have a lot of dignity.

But one yard is one yard, if Young Master Lian gives orders indiscriminately on the epidemic, he will definitely not obey, at worst, he will ask His Majesty for forgiveness after returning to Yongping.

Liu Rengui choked.In fact, Wei Lian was the first thing he noticed when he came out.This young man wearing a hat is really out of the world, and the crowd is extremely eye-catching, but he is dressed in white clothes rather plainly.He thought it was an ordinary doorman, but he never thought that this was the real leader.

He was sophisticated and tactful, and immediately turned around: "Meet the young master."

But in my heart, I was wondering which son it was, does His Majesty have such a big son today?

He was his local emperor in Jiangzhou, and the news of Yongping really didn't reach here.In fact, Liu Rengui is almost scared to death now.He has a ghost in his heart, he knows that he has been hiding something lately, and his superiors suddenly conduct a surprise inspection at this time, and they don't even say hello in advance. Could it be that they have discovered something?

Wei Lian said lightly: "Let's go in and talk about it."

Liu Rengui sweated a little: "No."

Liu Rengui brought a group of people into the mansion to entertain them.This is a nobleman from Yongping, he has the spirit of 12 points, and he does not dare to neglect at all.

He walked up and down, and asked attentively: "The imperial envoy must have been exhausted after a long journey. I will order someone to hold a banquet to clean up the dust for the two adults."

Wei Lian didn't speak, his eyes under the bamboo hat lightly swept across the small and exquisite rockery in the mansion.

Suddenly, his eyes froze slightly, and he heard faint shouts in his ears, which soon disappeared without a trace.

Wei Lian curled his lips half mockingly, turned his head and whispered a few words into the ear of a guard beside him.

Zhou Mingli didn't answer either.He also saw the layout of the mansion, a fifth-rank magistrate lived like a fairyland, and he didn't know how much people's fat and people's anointing he had plundered.

The two ignored him, Liu Rengui was a little embarrassed, winked at the servant, and ordered someone to prepare the banquet.

In the past, it wasn't that people from the imperial court were sent to monitor, but they would be notified in advance.At that time, he only needs to collect the valuables in the mansion, serve a few dishes of porridge and side dishes when entertaining, order those people who have complained against him not to go out and lock them at home, and then buy a few people to boast when they ask about people's livelihood Master Qingtian of Zhizhou, his political achievements in the past year will be clean and hardworking.

As for the people sent by the superiors, they were as smooth as Liu Rengui, so they naturally knew how to read words and deeds.If the other party seems to be a clean official, he will pretend to be poor for a period of time, and then return to the original state after sending the person away.If the other party is also a greedy person, it will be easier to handle, offering delicious food and drink, and giving a few gold bars, there is nothing impossible.

It's just a formality.

This time, I don't know what's going on... I didn't even notify in advance.In the past, he might not have thought much about it, but at this juncture, he kept the news of the plague from him...

Don't do bad things and don't be afraid of ghosts knocking on the door. Liu Rengui seems to have seen a ghost now.

The imperial envoy came suddenly, there was no time to prepare anything, and there was no time to put away the ornaments and pretend to be poor.Liu Rengui carefully observed the expressions of the two, and found that one had facial paralysis, and the other couldn't see his expression clearly while wearing a bamboo hat, and couldn't see anything.

It doesn't look easy to fool.

His heart was pounding.

Wei Lian suddenly chuckled and said, "Master Liu's mansion is very beautiful, I like it very much. The painting I saw on the corridor just now is not bad, can you give it to me?"

Liu Rengui's heart moved and his eyes rolled.

The tone didn't sound like he cared...or ironic.The other party is also greedy?

After all, those upright officials don't take people's needles and threads, they are simply stupid.

People of the same mind, this is easy to handle.

Liu Rengui immediately relaxed, and was a little bit disgusted.What kind of son, he looks like a fairy, and he thinks he is so noble. Didn't he imply that he wants to give a gift!

"If you like it, my son, ten or hundreds of paintings will not be a problem!" Liu Rengui said boldly, and ordered someone to take down the painting.

Zhou Mingli looked at Wei Lian in surprise, but said nothing.

Until everyone was led into the hall for dinner.The furnishings in the hall are exquisite and costly. The best tea is brewed and the most delicious delicacies are served.

Zhou Mingli couldn't swallow, didn't move a mouthful, and almost wanted to flip the table.What has become of Jiangzhou? Liu Rengui is still throwing a big banquet here!

Zhou Mingli ran out of patience, and was about to get to the point when Wei Lian said, "This fish is well cooked."

He is enjoying the food very calmly.

Zhou Mingli: "..."

The moment Wei Lian took off his bamboo hat really amazed everyone in the room.Including the act of eating at this moment, it also reveals the elegance of the royal family from the bottom of its heart, which is really pleasing to the eye and one cannot bear to interrupt.

...but they're not here to eat!

Wei Lian didn't seem to feel Zhou Mingli's anger at all, and continued: "That vase on the shelf is white porcelain made in Baiyun Town, right? The color is transparent, can I touch it?"

Liu Rengui didn't care: "Take it if you want it!"

"And this incense burner..."

The corner of Liu Rengui's mouth twitched, he entrusted someone to buy the incense burner from Liang Guo merchants, and it was very valuable.

"If you like it... I will send it to you."

"Hey, this one is also good."

Liu Rengui's heart was bleeding: "Here...you."

"and this--"

Liu Rengui's eyes were about to burst: "...Okay."

What kind of glutton is here!More greedy than him!

This is to evacuate his entire house!

Zhou Mingli: "..."

Those who can do the job of Tingwei will naturally not be single-minded.He probably knew that Young Master Lian had intentions, but he didn't know what the intention was.

When the entire hall was almost empty, Wei Lianfang smiled and said, "Master Liu is really a good official."

Liu Rengui: "..."

Wei Lian also said: "Let's go to Mr. Liu's study later to have a look."

Liu Rengui: "..." Get lost!

He kept taking deep breaths, telling himself it was no big deal.Isn't it just spending some money?This also shows that these people just search casually and don't know about the plague at all, and he won't lose his life...

After digging out Liu Rengui's family property, Wei Lian casually asked, "How is Jiangzhou developing recently? How are the people doing well? As the parent official of Jiangzhou, Mr. Liu must be deeply loved by the people, isn't it?"

It was a routine questioning without distraction, and it almost didn't say "make it up quickly, so I can leave early".

Liu Rengui immediately flaunted himself: "Don't worry, son, Jiangzhou is developing day by day, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. These are the results of the investigation by the officials themselves!"

Wei Lian nodded, expressing his understanding.

He swept the last piece of fish on the table, and then slowly wiped the corners of his lips: "The fish is good."

Just as Liu Rengui was about to grin, Wei Lian said indifferently: "It's a pity, the taste of the common people is not very good."

Liu Rengui froze.

Wei Lian raised his chin slightly: "Master Liu, please explain, what's the matter with this person?"

Liu Rengui turned his head stiffly, and when he saw the person brought up by the guards, his soul was almost frightened.

Wasn't this fellow imprisoned in the woodshed by his order?

Liu Rengui immediately said: "My lord, this must be a thief who robbed the mansion, the officials don't even know him..."

"Shut up." He only said one sentence to Wei Lian and didn't want to listen to his explanation, "You tell me."

The man in ragged clothes immediately kowtowed as if he had seen a savior: "Master Imperial Envoy! Don't believe the nonsense of this dog official! Our Jiangzhou has already had a plague! Grassman, Caomin Zhou Yushan, a native of Qingping County, my mother Banyue He contracted a strange disease before, and many people in the county contracted this disease, and died suddenly within seven days. Cao Min wanted to go to the city to find a doctor behind his mother's back, but he was stopped at the gate of the city, saying he was a doctor. Do not spread this matter to cause panic. The grassroots went to the yamen to beat the drums to complain, but the county magistrate said that the matter was not his business. I wanted to report it to Zhizhou, but the magistrate closed the door and disappeared! I kept procrastinating and procrastinating until my mother died of illness Now that the younger sister is also suffering from a strange disease, Cao Min can no longer lose her younger sister! Cao Min is desperate, sitting outside Zhizhou Mansion every day, trying to wait for the dog official to stop the sedan chair to seek justice... Today, I heard that the imperial envoy came to visit, I just wanted to boldly sue, and sneaked into the magistrate's mansion with the imperial envoy's team...but this dog official ordered people to arrest the grassroots and put them in the woodshed!"

He was emotional, but his order was clear enough for anyone to understand.

Zhou Mingli's fists creaked, and his seven orifices smoked with anger.At the same time, he couldn't help wondering, how did Young Master Lian know that such a person was imprisoned in the firewood room?

Of course Wei Lian wouldn't say much.

Ting Wei is a civil servant, Zhou Mingli doesn't know martial arts, so his hearing is naturally not as good as Wei Lian's.In the corridor just now, Wei Lian faintly heard cries of grievances passing by, so he ordered someone to investigate clearly.

Liu Rengui's face turned ashen: "One, it's a bunch of nonsense! Your Excellency, please don't believe his nonsense!"

He wanted to say that he didn't know anything, and that even if something happened, the people below kept it from him.When he was on the verge of speaking, he suddenly stopped, remembering that he had just said that he personally went to investigate and visit in order to claim credit...

Suddenly the confession was turned over, and it was all crimes anyway.

First, he pretended to be a profit-minded person to lure him to relax his vigilance, and then lured him into the game inadvertently.Every seemingly random word of the young man... turned out to be trying to lure him into a trap.

"You want evidence?" Wei Lian raised his eyes, "Show him."

The guard immediately presented all the evidence about concealing the epidemic that had been found in the study.There is also the official document on the epidemic that was submitted a month ago. This emergency report was sent to Yongping, but it was backlogged by Liu Rengui.

Liu Rengui: "..."

He suddenly remembered what Wei Lian said just now—"Let's go to Master Liu's study later."

Damn it, while he is here to stabilize him, on the other hand, he has already sent people to the study to search for the evidence that was too late to destroy!

Liu Rengui opened his mouth, unable to argue, and there was no way to argue.

"There's no need to explain." Wei Lian got up and threw the edict to him.

"Being an official is not benevolent, why is it so valuable?" Wei Lian said calmly, "You have been dismissed."

He walked out of the hall, his voice soft.

"The family should be stolen as well."