Prodigal Son of the Ming Dynasty

  Chapter 1576 It's time to settle accounts

  Zhu Xiurong sat in the carriage with a haggard face full of grief and exhaustion.

  The next one... is not far away.

  In this carriage, there is a pile of thick books for her to check the general situation of each household of the people who need to visit at any time.

  For example, the next family is engaged in the trading of grain. People who buy and sell this kind of food need a lot of money. Once the money is turned over, the flow of funds will be huge.

  In the book, there are some information about this rice merchant, roughly how many warehouses there are, and how many shops there are, which are very detailed.

  Zhu Xiurong put down the notebook in his hand, and he probably knew it in his heart.

It's just that she can't understand it even if she wants to break her head. Obviously, these books can't be the latest investigations. So many materials have been rushed, and so many businesses have been involved. How could it be so detailed? After all, even a few people, When a newcomer was added to the family, it was clearly written. Presumably... this was something her husband had investigated long before he was alive.

  But it seemed that there was another question, lingering in Zhu Xiurong's mind.

  My husband, what was he doing to investigate these things before he was alive? These businessmen are involved in various industries, but logically speaking, they have nothing to do with Xishan.

   It's just that at this time, it's too late to think about it.

  She felt that her mind was a little numb and confused due to the pain of losing her husband, so she had to bite her lip and force herself to cheer up.

  Now... only she can support the family.

  …

  It was noon that day.

   Banks and semicolons everywhere, just when countless people are still running...

  But I found that there was a long queue at the empty banknote exchange business window.

  These people came by driving horses and horses, and when they got outside, they began to unload boxes of goods, and then carried boxes one by one into the bank.

   Once the box was opened, it was enough to make everyone's eyes straight.

  It turned out to be boxes of real gold and silver, dazzling people a little.

  Afterwards, the bank immediately allocated staff to start weighing the gold and silver.

  They...acted in the opposite direction, exchanging real gold and silver for Daming banknotes.

People from each business house came, and they brought more or less real money. They were all led by the housekeeper, who brought the guys with them, and were guarded by special guards. They didn't say anything. The people from Ren Qianzhuang weighed them and got the same amount of Daming treasures, then turned around and left without saying a word.

  So, there is a long queue here to take out silver, but there is a long queue over there to deposit silver.

  It was a slightly chaotic bank before, but now the business volume has increased, but the shopkeeper who is in charge of the bank has straightened up all of a sudden, directing the staff to speed up the business with vigor.

  The bank is in an orderly manner, and even put up a sign, deciding that in order to make it easier for the common people to withdraw money, the time to close the door at night will be postponed by one or two hours.

  This means, don’t be in a hurry, everyone, line up carefully, take the banknotes, keep the silver, and there is absolutely no possibility of running out of silver.

   As a result, fewer people came to withdraw and exchange, but there are still some people who are still worried, and they always feel that the money will be safe in their pockets.

  …

   "His Royal Highness, His Royal Highness..."

  In front of the Hanlin Academy, Zhu Houzhao had his hands behind his back and was stopped by the people in front of the door.

  But Zhu Houzhao continued to move forward with a cold face. When his shoulder collided with the opponent, the opponent staggered and fell directly to the ground.

  Behind Zhu Houzhao, a group of people swarmed in, all scholars from Xishan Academy.

  In order to distinguish them, although they also wear Rushan Lun scarves, they all wear white belts around their waists in honor of the master.

  The Hanlins in the Hanlin Academy heard the movement, some came out of the public house, and some stood there dumbfounded.

  A Hanlin came forward, hurriedly bowed and saluted: "Your Highness condescends to come, I don't know..."

  Zhu Houzhao held a horsewhip in his hand, and without blinking, he threw it at the Hanlin's face.

   Pa... There was a glaring bloodstain on the Hanlin's face.

   This Hanlin hastily covered his face with his hands and howled.

  Zhu Houzhao had no expression on his face, he pursed his lips tightly, and took a few steps forward.

  The other Hanlin and civil officials immediately exploded.

  Swinging a whip at the slightest disagreement, this...this...how gentle is it.

  You must know...Hanlin represents the nobility, and is a symbol of scholars.

   Now even if the imperial examinations are abolished, Hanlin is still Hanlin.

  What they represent is integrity, the strength of character of this Ming Dynasty.

  Therefore...neither the emperor nor the crown prince ever beat Hanlin personally, no matter how serious the crime was, it was nothing more than a court rod.

   Someone quickly helped Hanlin who was writhing in pain on the ground, and then backed away.

   Zhu Houzhao didn't care about this.

  In the past, although Zhu Houzhao was stubborn, but even if he was scolded by the Hanlin people, he was just an attitude of letting you scold him, and I didn't hear it at all.

But today, Zhu Houzhao wore a military uniform with a white belt around his waist, the toes of his boots crushed the blood flowing on the ground, spit on the ground, raised his head, his face was cold, his eyes were stern, and finally he said: "I heard that many people in the Imperial Academy secretly applauded, saying that Duke Qi deserves to die. God has eyes, isn't it?"

   While speaking, he looked around, looking at every Hanlin, his eyes were like ice tips.

  Hanlin felt a little bit in their hearts, and suddenly someone burst into tears: "Your Highness...you...how can you be so insulting to gentlemen, Your Highness...we will wait..."

  Zhu Houzhao ignored Hanlin who was kneeling on the ground and crying loudly, but continued to ask coldly: "Is it?"

  Hanlin retreated one after another.

   "Duke Qi deserves to die or not. Father can say it, and I can say it. Where is it your turn to say it? In this palace, the people who said these things must have something to do with the murderer who plotted to assassinate Duke Qi. Who is it?"

   Zhu Houzhao was not in a hurry when he spoke. The whip in his hand patted his palm lightly, but it revealed an inexplicable and frightening power.

   "Dare to say it but dare not admit it?" Zhu Houzhao bared his teeth: "Didn't you usually call yourself a clean stream and dare to speak out?"

   "Your Highness..." Finally, someone stood out from the crowd, but it was Zhang Tao, the attendant of the Imperial Academy.

  Zhang Tao said solemnly and righteously: "Your Highness must not be rude here."

Zhang Tao used to work in Zhan Shifu, and also taught Zhu Houzhao, so he is half of Zhu Houzhao's master, so... At this time, he was furious: "Is this how your highness treats his subjects? Today If the news is spread, how will the scholars in the world think of His Highness? How will the soldiers and civilians of the world think of His Highness?"

  Zhu Hou looked at him, but his expression remained indifferent, and he said, "Why, you scolded him too?"

  Zhu Houzhao's attitude made Zhang Tao so angry that he felt cold.

These days are really not the life of people. After Fang Jifan died, the imperial examinations were abolished first, and then a large number of ministers were deposed, and even Hanlin was not allowed to speak. One air, how deep are these accumulated grievances, now... the prince's attitude, does this give the scholars a way to survive?

He said sternly: "Over the years, the laws of the ancestors have been tampered with in a complete mess. Your Majesty has been bewitched by traitors to the point where you can't tell right from wrong. Isn't the instigator of all this the Duke of Qi? It's a pity that Duke Qi died today, but if If you think about it carefully, is it not your own fault? Your Highness and Qi Guogong..."

"What did you say?"

  In fact, Zhang Tao felt that his words were already very euphemistic.

   It’s not enough to point to Fang Jifan’s body and greet Fang Jifan’s ancestors for several generations. He is a clean official and speaks uprightly, which is what he should be. Even the emperor dares to scold him.

   "What I want to say..."

But Zhu Houzhao suddenly went crazy, and rushed forward. Before Zhang Tao could continue to speak, he tore off his official hat and pulled off his hairpin. Zhang Tao's hair was disheveled immediately. His Royal Highness would have such a reaction.

  Zhu Houzhao had already pulled his long hair, and Zhang Tao staggered when he pulled it. Before he could react, he fell down with a slap in the face.

  Patter...

  Zhang Tao suddenly felt that his eyes were starting to glow, and he was completely stunned. His jaw was dark red.

  Zhu Houzhao took the opportunity and kicked him hard in the abdomen. This Zhang Tao was pampered, his skin was tender, and he fell to the ground with a groan.

  He screamed bitterly unwillingly: "Your Majesty Zeng Guan worships Zhan Shifu as a lecturer, Your Highness..."

   Seeing this, the other Hanlin were silent, and some people wanted to go forward to persuade them.

   However, His Highness the Crown Prince's face was a bit colder than before. It was a murderous look, like a leopard that had found its prey, and the sharpness that passed through the depths of his eyes was so cold that it made people bone-chilling.

Zhu Houzhao had already stepped forward, rode on Zhang Tao's body, punched him hard, and said sharply, "Swear again, curse again. What kind of **** are you, come on, curse again, Lao Fang is dead, you It must be going well, it’s very good, then let’s go to the Underworld to be buried together. Haha..."

Snapped…

   Another punch down.

Zhu Houzhao's eyes were red, and he laughed suddenly: "Miaoji, Miaoji, you are in the world, I will kill you slutty slaves, and when I beat you to death, you will be in the underworld in the future. Fang will beat you again, you dog slave."

   This punch was extremely fierce, and Zhang Tao wailed and screamed endlessly. Later, he was on the verge of dying, and could no longer scream. He just punched down, groaned, and twitched like a conditioned reflex.

Zhu Houzhao was beating, but he didn't have much strength. It was obvious that he was beating someone, but tears fell down, along the corners of his eyes, across his cheeks, and into the corners of his mouth. His laughter choked up, and he suddenly lost his strength. , The whole person is like a puddle of meat, lying sideways beside Zhang Tao who is already unconscious, the python robe on his body raises dust, the dust fascinates his eyes, and tears flow.

  He murmured: "There is no room for you here anymore."

  (end of this chapter)