Chapter 73: Beating a Dog in the Water

At the intersection of the Shen and You hours, the sky had not yet turned completely dark.

Inside Zhang Jing's mansion, however, the bright lamps had long since been lit; in the central hall, a space spanning seven bays wide, the reflection of over twenty Eight-Corner Exquisite Palace Lanterns made it as bright as day.

Zhang Jing was seen wearing a light cyan, round-collared straight robe for home, leaning against a Grand Tutor chair with his legs crossed, his eyes slightly closed, his fair cheeks revealing a look of smug satisfaction.

Beside him sat a young girl of about sixteen or seventeen, wearing a moon-white short-sleeved dress.

Her eyes were vivid and moving, charming and touching, possessing both a young girl's purity and a hint of allure.

She sat nearby, gently massaging Zhang Jing's arm; under her jade hands, the relief made Zhang Jing unable to help but let out a low moan.

After a moment of silence, Zhang Jing suddenly asked, "Xiuniang, do you regret following me?"

"Ah?" Xiuniang's movements stalled; she hurriedly rolled off the chair, bent her knees, and knelt on the ground, saying from the heart, "Xiuniang, ever since Xiuniang followed you, I have lived in luxury every day, I do not regret it at all."

Zhang Jing slowly opened his eyes, reached out a fair palm, and gently lifted Xiuniang's fair chin.

Xiuniang blinked her sparkling apricot eyes, staring straight at Zhang Jing, her eyes full of fawning intent.

"Sigh, even if I treat you well, I am not a man after all." Zhang Jing withdrew his palm and sighed heavily while stroking his forehead.

At this, Xiuniang dared not respond.

After a moment of eerie, silent atmosphere, Zhang Jing suddenly thought of Zheng Defei's indifference toward him and could not help but feel annoyed.

He glanced at Xiuniang and asked, "Xiuniang, if I were to send you into the palace, would you be willing?"

"Xiuniang... Xiuniang is not willing, Xiuniang is not willing." Xiuniang's eyes turned red, she shook her head repeatedly, and said with a sob, "Xiuniang has long been your person; if you do not want Xiuniang, Xiuniang can only die!"

Two consecutive professions of loyalty coaxed Zhang Jing into a whirl.

Zhang Jing abandoned the thought of sending Xiuniang into the palace; he walked up, took Xiuniang's hand, and led her straight to the bedroom.

Once on the large bed, Xiuniang shed her clothes and lay on it, revealing her fair, jade-like, graceful figure.

Zhang Jing's eyes turned blood-red; he panted twice and then took a toolbox from the head of the bed.

Before long, seductive sounds rang out in the room.

Just as the two were becoming passionate, a commotion suddenly came from outside; Xiuniang wrapped herself up and said with worry, "Master, why is it so noisy outside? Could something have happened?"

"I will go take a look, you wait here." Zhang Jing put on his clothes and was about to get off the bed.

Only a "slap" was heard as the main door was kicked open. Over ten Imperial Guards and agents from the Eastern Depot rushed in together, led by none other than Xu Jue and Han San.

Xiuniang let out a sharp "Ah" and buried her head into the silk quilt.

Zhang Jing was so angry his face turned red and his features distorted; he pointed at Xu Jue and cursed, "Xu Jue, you have such dog guts! Even your master wouldn't dare trespass into my mansion, who gave you the nerve? Huh?!"

Looking at the crazed Zhang Jing, Xu Jue and Han San exchanged a glance, then one stepped forward and slapped Zhang Jing heavily across the face.

A crisp sound rang out, and five bright red finger marks instantly appeared on Zhang Jing's face.

Silence. A deathly silence spread through the bedroom.

The candlelight seemed to sense the chill, and the flames flickered along with it.

Zhang Jing was stunned for a moment; he could hardly believe that he had actually been slapped by Xu Jue.

But the burning pain on his face told him that all of this was real; he stood up abruptly, trembling as he pointed at Xu Jue, and cursed, "You... you have rebelled, very well, rebelled! Feng Bao's dog dares to run to my mansion to bite people. I will see the Emperor and settle the score with that Feng Bao!" "Hehe... you won't be seeing the Emperor, but the Eastern Depot's prison certainly has a spot for you." Xu Jue chuckled, then suddenly stopped smiling, slapped him again, and shouted, "Come, tie Zhang Jing up and send him to the Eastern Depot prison."

As soon as the words fell, three or four Eastern Depot bailiffs stepped forward, dragged Zhang Jing off the bed, and pinned him to the ground.

"Feng Bao, I f*** your mother and ancestors, you b****, you dare to frame me, dare to frame me..." Zhang Jing's face turned purple, and he continued to twist his body, struggling frantically.

"What are you all standing there for? Why don't you gag his mouth?" Xu Jue urged impatiently.

"Ah, yes." An agent took out a pair of socks that had stiffened into grease-clots and stuffed them into Zhang Jing's mouth.

Now Zhang Jing was even more agitated; he twisted his body frantically, wanting to speak but unable to utter a sound. Before long, the Eastern Depot agents brought out a hood, put it on him, and dragged him away.

Han San, who had been silent on the side, stepped forward and smiled, "Steward Xu, I've let you take the man; as for the rest, my brothers won't be polite."

"Leave some for others, don't go too far." Xu Jue gave a wink and said in a low voice, "Many people above are watching this matter; if our two houses take too much, it's easy to incur resentment."

"Look at what Steward Xu is saying, we understand this bit of etiquette!"

Han San patted his chest and smiled, then turned his head to look at the followers who had come, shouting, "What are you still standing there for? Why don't you hurry up and raid the house, even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, you must dig out every single cent!"

"Yes."

Several Imperial Guard Small Flag officers acknowledged and stepped out of the room.

They were more than familiar with the business of raiding houses.

Zhang Jing had been climbing the ranks in the palace for so long; his family assets were certainly not meager, and the spoils of this trip would definitely not be lacking for them.

The house raid proceeded in full swing; on the other side, Zhang Siwei was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

He wore a white undergarment and paced back and forth in the hall, his usual calm and breezy demeanor completely gone.

Suddenly, a man looking like a steward stepped in.

"How is it?!" Zhang Siwei hurriedly grabbed his arm and asked.

"It's over, he is completely finished this time." The steward shook his head and smiled bitterly, "The Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards have already brought men to raid the house; I'm afraid Zhang Jing won't escape this disaster."

"Just because of the 'palace marriage' relationship?" Zhang Siwei was full of disbelief.

"Not just that, there is also the embezzlement of palace supplies and causing chaos in the inner palace." The steward leaned to the side, leaned close to his master, and whispered, "If these charges weren't pursued, it would be fine, but if they are, it's enough for Zhang Jing to lose his head!"

"How could it turn out like this, how could it turn out like this? Wasn't everything fine just a few days ago?"

Zhang Siwei muttered twice, retreated to his chair, and collapsed into it.

The steward was about to offer comfort when someone came to report that a relative of Zhang Siwei wanted to request an audience.

Zhang Siwei was stunned; if his relatives in the capital wanted to request an audience, they should have sent a calling card in advance.

He assumed it was just someone looking for a handout, so he hardened his face and waved his hand, saying, "No, no, go out and send that person away."

"Master, that person is very urgent; perhaps you should see them." The servant did not move and probed in a low voice again.

"Fine, take him to the side hall."

(End of chapter)