The New Biography of the Consort

Yes, do you know that I sent people everywhere to look for you?"

"I'm just out for a walk, Dad, I want to ask you something"

"Tell me, what's the matter?"

"Father, is the recent rise in salt prices related to you?"

"How can the rise in salt prices have anything to do with me? Salt prices are set by the government."

"Then are you related to illegal salt smuggling?"

Du Hailiang was very surprised when he heard it, stopped the pen in his hand, and asked Du Zihan, "Where did you hear that?"

"It seems that Dad, you are indeed related to this matter?"

"Don't ask so many questions, a girl, these things have nothing to do with you"

"Father, do you know who that person you saw outside the mansion yesterday?"

"Who is he?"

"He is the imperial envoy sent by the emperor to investigate illegal salt smuggling"

"What? Zihan, is what you said true?"

"He told me himself, and he has already found out that you are related to this matter"

"What? He has already investigated me? It seems that he has to get rid of him."

"Father, don't do these things anymore, you will only sink deeper and deeper, now there is still time to turn around"

"Zihan, don't get involved in this matter, I will take care of it naturally"

"Father, don't you understand why I told you this today? I want you to turn back in time"

"Zihan, this matter is not as simple as you think, and now it's not something I can stop if I say stop."

"Why? Did someone force you to do this?"

"Father, if someone forces you to do this, let's go to the imperial envoy together. He is a good man. If he knows that you are being persecuted, he will definitely help you."

"Zihan, you don't understand. Once the court finds out about things like smuggling salt, it is a serious crime and will implicate you."

"Father, I'm not afraid, as long as you are willing to plead guilty and testify against those who threatened you, I am willing to bear the consequences with you."

"Zihan, how can I let you be implicated because of me? I have always been guilty of your mother's death. I swear that I will let you live a life of luxury in the future, no matter what the cost."

"Father, I once hated you because of my mother's death, but now I only have you as a relative. I don't want you to go further and further away from me. I don't envy others. I only want you to be by my side now." just fine"

"Zihan, this matter can't be left without father saying quit. Many people are involved in this matter, including high-ranking officials of the court. In fact, father thought about quitting before, but... oh... it's only my father's fault. After taking a wrong step, I made a wrong step, and now I know that I made a mistake, but I can’t turn back.”

"Father, do you really want to turn back?"

"Yeah, at first I just wanted to make a little more money so that I could give you a better living environment, but later, when I saw that the price of salt in the town was getting higher and more people were begging, I felt that I Wrong, but those corrupt officials in the imperial court refused to stop, and threatened me that if I quit or report them, they will definitely find a crime to impose on me, and you will be implicated, so I can only... "

"Father, I have had some contact with that imperial envoy Mr. Zhang. I think he is a reasonable and good man. As long as you promise to show the corruption evidence of those corrupt officials, I believe he will help us. I will ask him."

"Zihan, it is an indisputable fact that officials protect each other in the officialdom. What if he tells those corrupt officials what I want to prove? Then we will not end well."

"Father, I believe that Mr. Zhang is different from those corrupt officials. What's more, if Mr. Zhang is such a person, why would the emperor send him to investigate this matter?"

"This……"

"Father, don't hesitate anymore, even if you don't come forward to give evidence now, once they feel that you are no longer helpful to them, they will still find a crime to deal with you."

"Then... just do as you say"

"Okay, Dad, I'll go to see Mr. Zhang tomorrow."

Chapter 73

On the second day, Zhang Shaomin was still observing every move of Du's mansion outside Du's mansion. At this time, Du Zihan came out of Du's mansion and walked straight to Zhang Shaomin's direction. Others came over, so they looked around, but there was no one else around except him. At this time, Du Zihan had already walked in front of Zhang Shaomin,

Zhang Shaomin asked suspiciously, "Did Miss Du come here specifically to find me?"

"Well, I know that Mr. Zhang has been observing the movements in the mansion outside the mansion for the past few days. I came here today to find Mr. Zhang."

"Miss Du, what can I do next?"

"Master Zhang, remember last time I said that I would help you find evidence of smuggling salt?"

"Of course I remember, what evidence did Miss Du find?"

"Yes, I'm looking for Mr. Zhang today for this purpose"

"Miss Du, it's not appropriate to discuss this matter in this place, let's discuss it in a safe place"

"it is good"

Zhang Shaomin brought Du Zihan to Yuanjian Inn, came to Feng Shaomin's room and knocked on the door, "Brother Feng, open the door, it's me."

Feng Shaomin opened the door, saw Du Zihan and asked in surprise, "Brother Zhang, who is this girl?"

"She is Miss Du, she has evidence about smuggling salt"

Feng Shaomin said, "Then go into the room and talk."

So Zhang Shaomin and Du Zihan walked into the room, Feng Shaomin closed the door when he saw no one was outside the room,

Feng Shaomin asked, "I wonder what evidence Ms. Du has?"

Du Zihan looked at Feng Shaomin, then looked at Zhang Shaomin and said, "Master Zhang, who is this?"

Zhang Shaomin said, "Miss Du, don't worry, this is also my friend who investigated the smuggling of illegal salt with me."

Du Zihan said, "My father has the account books of the court officials who smuggled salt with him, and the detailed account books of those officials' bribery, and my father is willing to testify against those relevant court officials."

Zhang Shaomin said, "What? Is Mr. Du willing to hand over the account books to us? And also willing to testify?"

Du Zihan said "Well, yes"

Feng Shaomin said, "Since Mr. Du is also related to smuggling salt, why is he willing to show his account books and testify against him?"

Du Zihan said, "My father had already planned to stop the smuggling of salt, but those court officials refused to let go because they had enjoyed the sweetness, and threatened my father that if he dared to stop or speak out about them, I will find a crime to get rid of my father, including me. My father continued to do this because he was worried that I would be implicated."

Feng Shaomin asked again, "Then why does Master Du dare to say these things now?"

Du Zihan said, "I persuaded my father to speak out, because when I saw Mr. Zhang, I felt that he must be a good person. I believe Mr. Zhang will help my father get rid of the threat of those officials."

Feng Shaomin said, "Ms. Du knows that smuggling salt is a serious crime, and once found out, she will be dispatched to a wild place."

"I know"

"Aren't Miss Du afraid?"

"I'm not afraid, as long as I can be with my dearest relatives freely without any threat, it doesn't matter where I am"

After hearing Du Zihan's answer, Feng Shaomin immediately felt that this woman was not simple, he was full of admiration for Du Zihan in his heart, and after listening to Du Zihan's words, Feng Shaomin thought of his father, wondering where his father is now?

Zhang Shaomin said, "I really admire Ms. Du's mind."

Du Zihan said, "Master Zhang, can you help us?"

Zhang Shaomin said, "Of course, as for those court officials, I will definitely report to the emperor, and the emperor will deal with it strictly."

"Alright then, I invite you two to visit the Du Mansion, my father has something to tell you."

Zhang Shaomin said, "Okay, please ask Ms. Du to take us there"

"Um"

Du Zihan took Zhang Shaomin and Feng Shaomin back to the Du Mansion, and brought them to Du Hailiang's study,

"Father, I brought Mr. Zhang and the others."

Zhang Shaomin and Feng Shaomin said "I have seen Master Du"

Du Hailiang hurriedly said, "Please take a seat, both of you. I didn't expect that you would help Du and come to see Du in Du's mansion."

Zhang Shaomin said, "I don't know what Master Du wants us to talk to us today?"

Du Hailiang said, "Zihan, please avoid it for a while, I want to speak to the two adults alone"

"Okay, Dad, call me if you need anything." After saying that, Du Zihan left the study room,

Du Hailiang said, "I wanted to bring evidence to meet the two of you, but now my every move is being watched by the government's eyeliner. As long as I go out to see you, the government will definitely have doubts, so I I had to ask Zihan to invite the two of you, and invite the two of you to go to the same place as me."

After speaking, Du Hailiang turned the pen holder on the desk, and at the same time, a door suddenly appeared on the other wall, which led to a secret room.

Du Hailiang said, "You two please follow me"

Zhang Shaomin and Feng Shaomin followed Du Hailiang into the secret room. Du Hailiang took out an account book from a hidden compartment in the secret room and said

"My lords, this account book is the details of Du and the government smuggling private salt together. Please have a look at it."

Zhang Shaomin took the account book and looked at it, then handed it to Feng Shaomin. After reading the account book, Feng Shaomin said, "Master Du, this account book only shows the amount and income of smuggled salt, but it doesn't show which officials are related to it."

Du Hailiang said, "This lord is really powerful. You can see the key points at a glance. This account book really only reflects the quantity and income. The two lords will look at these again." This account book

, Zhang Shaomin asked, "Master Du, what is this account book?"

"Because every time smuggled salt leaves Hong Kong, there must be a government approval document, and the approval document must be stamped with the seals of the county magistrate and the supervisory censor, so the county magistrate Tan and the supervisory censor demanded that every time the salt is stolen