The New Biography of the Consort

The proceeds from crossing the smuggled salt should be divided into three equally, each of the three of us has one share, but because once I clearly gave them two-thirds of the proceeds, but they refused to admit it, in order to avoid such things in the future If it happens again, I will make this account book, which records the amount of income I give them each time, and there is also a signature of their receipt of the income.”

Zhang Shaomin and Feng Shaomin were very happy after reading this account book. Zhang Shaomin said, "That's great, Master Du. As long as you have this account book, you can punish the county magistrate Tan and the supervisory censor. In addition, you can come out and testify. Then they can’t get away with it.”

Du Hailiang said, "I also ask the two adults to bring the corrupt officials to justice. This matter was caused by Du's greed for a while, and Du is also to blame. Du is willing to bear all the consequences, but... is it possible?" Don't get involved with the little girl Han?"

Zhang Shaomin said, "This matter can only be settled with the help of Master Du, and I will definitely report it to the emperor for discretion."

"Thank you Mr. Zhang",

So Zhang Shaomin and Feng Shaomin returned to the inn with the account books.

Chapter 74

Back at the inn, Zhang Shaomin, Feng Shaomin, Tianxiang and Shangguan Yun discussed how to deal with the matter.

Feng Shaomin said, "Now the county magistrate and the supervisory censor are all suspects of smuggling salt. We can only go to the magistrate for help. Brother Zhang, it's time for you to reveal your identity as the imperial envoy."

Zhang Shaomin said, "Okay, let's go to the magistrate right now."

So the four of them went to the magistrate's yamen here together, and when they came outside the magistrate's yamen,

The guard guarding the gate stood in front of them and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing in the magistrate's yamen?"

Zhang Shaomin took out the gold medal and said, "Go back and report to your magistrate that the imperial envoy came to see the magistrate."

The guard guarding the gate saw the word "imperial envoy" written on the gold medal, and hurriedly said respectfully, "Damn the little one. I don't know if it is the imperial envoy. Please come inside. The little one will report to the mansion."

The four of them were taken to the main hall to wait, and not long after, a man in official uniform came in and saluted and said, "I don't know that the imperial envoy is coming, so I forgive you for not being able to go to greet me."

Zhang Shaomin said, "Your Majesty, there is no need to be too polite. This time, I am here to ask you to do us a favor."

"No matter what the imperial envoy says, the next official will definitely help you with all your strength"

Zhang Shaomin said, "This matter is a bit complicated, Mr. Zhifu, let's sit down and talk about it slowly."

"Yes, everyone, please sit down, come here, serve some tea",

Only then did the magistrate notice the other three people who came with Zhang Shaomin. When the magistrate saw Tianxiang, he had a surprised expression. Tianxiang saw that the magistrate was staring at him and said, "Hey, why are you staring at me?"

The magistrate hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I'm being rude, I wonder if this is Princess Tianxiang?"

"Yes, I am Tianxiang, have you seen me?"

"Tianxiang, I'm Situ Mu"

"Situ Mu? Are you that cousin Situ Mu from your aunt's house, wood?"

"Yes, Tianxiang, I didn't expect to see you here"

"Wu Mu, how come you are the magistrate here?"

"It's a long story, I'll tell you later,"

Zhang Shaomin, Feng Shaomin and Shangguan Yun were confused by their conversation, Feng Shaomin asked, "Tianxiang, do you know the magistrate?"

"Ah, he is my aunt's cousin. We used to play together when we were young, but we haven't seen each other for a long time. Hey, Wood, I didn't expect you to recognize me."

Situ Mu said, "Of course I can recognize you, you are still the same as when you were a child, Tianxiang, who are these two next to you?"

Tianxiang said, "The one on my right is my son-in-law Feng Shaomin, and the one on the left is Princess Xueyun Kingdom"

Situ Mu stood up and saluted and said, "I have seen the son-in-law and the princess of Xueyun Kingdom."

Feng Shaomin and Shangguan Yun hurriedly said, "Your Majesty Situ, you don't need to be too polite."

Tianxiang said, "Mu Mu, you don't have to be so polite with them, hey, I didn't expect you to be like Mu Mu when you were a child, but now you are a prefect."

"I remember that after I moved here with my parents from the capital city more than ten years ago, I have been studying poetry and books, hoping that one day I can return to the capital city to be an official and meet you again, but I am only blamed for my incompetence. Take the imperial examination and become the local magistrate"

"Wu Mu, you are already very good at this, I don't know how your aunt and uncle are doing now?"

"They died of illness one after another a few years ago"

"How could this happen, Mu Mu, you have to be sorry"

"Well, Tianxiang, I'm really glad to see you here today. Hearing you call me Wood again feels like going back to my childhood",

At this time, Zhang Shaomin said, "Tianxiang, Master Situ, please excuse me for reminiscing about the old days. We have urgent matters to be resolved. Please, Master Situ, help us to settle this matter first."

Tianxiang said, "Yes, yes, Mu Mu, you can help us solve this matter first, and we will talk about it in detail some other day",

Situ Mu said, "Master Zhang, please tell me, I will definitely help you with all my strength."

So Zhang Shaomin told Situ Mu all the smuggling and smuggling of salt that he had investigated in the past few days, and said, "Now we have solid evidence to prove the crimes of County Magistrate Tan and the supervisory censor. Please also ask Sir Situ to send troops to arrest the two. They are locked in prison awaiting trial, after I report this matter to the emperor, I will obey how the emperor will deal with them."

"Okay, Mr. Zhang, I will send someone to arrest the county magistrate Tan and the supervisory censor, but what should I do with that salt merchant Du Hailiang?"

Zhang Shaomin said, "Because Du Hailiang voluntarily pleaded guilty and provided us with strong evidence, I will report to the emperor to deal with it as appropriate, and temporarily put Du Hailiang in prison pending trial."

"Okay, everyone, please rest here for a while, and the next official will deal with this matter now",

After Situ Mu finished speaking, he left the main hall. At this time, Feng Shaomin asked Tianxiang, "Tianxiang, why have I never heard you mention that you have a cousin?"

Tianxiang said, "Because I haven't seen him for a long time, why should I mention him?"

"Oh, I see"

"Then what else?"

"No, nothing"

After waiting for a while, Situ Mu returned to the main hall and said, "Master Zhang, the subordinate officials have already sent people to arrest County Magistrate Tan, Supervisory Censor and Du Hailiang back to the prison. I wonder if there is any other order?"

Zhang Shaomin said, "Master Situ is really quick to do things. Now I will go back to the inn and write a memorial to the emperor. After that, we will just wait for the emperor's order."

"My lord Zhang, why don't you guys live in the lower official's mansion these few days while you are waiting for the emperor's order, so that it will be more convenient if you want to interrogate the suspects."

"Well... that's true, Brother Feng, Tianxiang, and Princess Yun, what do you think?"

Shangguan Yun said, "I have no objection, as long as Shaomin agrees."

Tianxiang said "Okay"

Feng Shaomin said "I have no objection",

Zhang Shaomin said, "Okay then, we will bother Mr. Situ in the next few days."

"Where, Mr. Zhang, you are being polite. I will go and ask someone to prepare a few rooms. Please wait a moment."

Just as Situ Mu was about to walk out of the main hall, he suddenly stopped and said, "I don't know how to arrange the rooms of the son-in-law and the two princesses?"

Feng Shaomin said, "Master Situ please prepare three rooms for us",

After hearing Feng Shaomin's answer, both Tianxiang and Shangguanyun showed a sense of disappointment on their faces, and Situ Mu said, "Okay, please wait a moment, everyone."

So Feng Shaomin and others lived in the government office of the prefect. Zhang Shaomin had already written the memorial, and ordered people to send it to the palace to hand it over to the emperor. In the evening, Situ Mu hosted a banquet for Zhang Shaomin, Tianxiang and others. At the banquet table, Situ Mu Talking about childhood with Tianxiang, the two talked and laughed, and Feng Shaomin himself didn't know why he couldn't be happy,

Seeing Feng Shaomin frowning and not speaking, Shangguan Yun asked, "Shaomin, what's wrong with you? Is there something wrong?"

"Yun, I'm fine." Feng Shaomin simply replied and returned to his original state.

On the second day, Situ Mu, Tian Xiang, Feng Shaomin, Shangguan Yun and Zhang Shaomin drank tea and chatted together in the garden.

At this time, someone came to report, "There is a Miss Du outside who wants to see the imperial envoy."

Zhang Shaomin knew it would be Du Zihan in his first reaction, so he said, "Keep going, I'll come as soon as I go",

Zhang Shaomin walked to the door and saw that it was Du Zihan who came to look for him. He stepped forward and said, "Miss Du, are you looking for me?"

"Well, Mr. Zhang, yesterday my father was imprisoned in the magistrate prison. I wonder how Mr. Zhang will deal with my father?"

"Miss Du, don't worry. Master Du pleaded guilty on his own initiative, and he also helped us provide clues. I have written all these in the memorial and presented it to the emperor. The emperor will definitely handle it according to his discretion. Now we just need to wait for the emperor's will. up"

"Master Zhang, when will the emperor's will be conveyed?"

“I expect it will be here tomorrow”

"Thank you, Mr. Zhang, the little girl will take her leave first." After speaking, Du Zihan turned around and wanted to leave.

Zhang Shaomin said "Miss Du, please stop"

"What else is there for Mr. Zhang?"

"Well... I haven't thanked Miss Du for persuading Master Du to help us."

"Master Zhang, you don't have to thank me. In fact, I did it for myself. Is there anything else Mr. Zhang can do?"

"No...no more"

"The little girl is leaving"

Looking at Du Zihan's leaving back, Zhang Shaomin felt very uncomfortable, but when he saw Du Zihan's face, he didn't know what to say.

Chapter 75

Another day later, the emperor's imperial decree was sent to Zhang Shaomin, so Zhang Shaomin publicly pronounced the case of smuggling salt. Many people in the town came here to wait for the verdict, Du Zihan also came to the scene,

Zhang Shaomin pronounced in the court that "because the county magistrate and supervisory censor smuggled private salt and knew the law, committed corruption and accepted bribes, they are now removed from their official positions and sent to wild lands, and all their property is confiscated and turned over to the state treasury. Du Hailiang, a salt merchant, also smuggled private salt.