Chapter 728: Wang Wang Chonggu, the Immortal of Balancing Accounts

"Assistant Grand Secretary Wang is indeed formidable." Zhu Zhu Yijun affirmed Wang Wang Chonggu's foundation as the Minister of Justice. He was truly formidable, grasping the core of the problem in one go and providing the Emperor with a reliable solution in the fastest time possible.

De facto marriage was a judicial practice in the Great Ming.

The vast majority of the Great Ming's common people might never file a lawsuit in the Southern Yamen in their entire lives. For them, legal awareness was extremely thin. Going to the Southern Yamen to receive a marriage certificate was a very unfamiliar thing for most common people.

Moreover, many places in the Great Ming had the phenomenon of child brides. Often, the children's ages didn't meet the minimum age of sixteen for marriage, but in fact, the couple had already lived together for many years.

A Great Ming marriage certificate needed to clearly write down the orders of parents and the words of matchmakers. Both parents had to sign and press their fingerprints, and red stickers had to be attached, on which were the birth dates and times, the auspicious day for the wedding, and the six betrothal gifts. The husband had to sign and leave a footprint. Some wealthy families would even carve the marriage certificate and hammer it into shape on a copper plate to preserve it forever.

This was very troublesome and not something an ordinary family could afford to go through. Therefore, when local officials in the Great Ming handled similar cases, they used facts as the standard for judgment, not the marriage certificate.

In this case, Wang Wang Chonggu immediately grasped the core issue of the case: who was the lover?

Zhu Zhu Yijun frowned and said: "However, according to the law, Liu and Tang Tang Zhihan did indeed divorce. In the sixth year of Emperor Wanli, Tang Tang Zhihan succeeded Li Li Ruiqi as the merchant leader of the Yuegang Ocean Trading Firm and had the status of a ninth-rank official. When he obtained his official status, he was recorded as having a wife, Lady Liu. At the beginning of last year, the two divorced. From the perspective of the Great Ming Law, Liu and Tang Tang Zhihan are not husband and wife."

Wang Wang Chonggu said immediately: "Your Majesty, the fact of fraud exists. The divorce should not be recognized as valid. Liu, in order to seize Tang Tang Zhihan's family property, used tax reduction as bait and utilized trust to defraud property. The fact is established. Even without considering Tang Tang Zhihan's men, the divorce should be regarded as invalid. Therefore, first audit the taxes, then handle the case."

"Fact of fraud—this is very critical. Good, handle it according to Assistant Grand Secretary Wang's opinion," Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded and said: "Assistant Grand Secretary Wang is indeed a minister who manages the country. I am very comforted. Wang, how old is Wang Qian's youngest son this year? Should he be in school?"

Wang Wang Chonggu hurriedly said: "I am terrified. My young child is seven years old and is currently studying at home."

"Then grant him the status of a student at the Imperial Academy," Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile.

The status of a student at the Imperial Academy was the degree of a scholar. A seven-year-old scholar was the Emperor's holy grace. This was not strange. In the Imperial Academy, there were three-year-old students because one could donate grain to enter. Wang Wang Chonggu's little grandson's scholar degree belonged to the "Yin" category, meaning the children of officials of the third rank or higher and the descendants of meritorious officials could enter the academy without taking the exam.

Wang Wang Chonggu hesitated for a moment and asked: "Your Majesty, I have an uninvited request. Can it be changed to a student at the Royal Institute of Technology?"

"That's true. A bunch of old antiques at the Imperial Academy don't know anything except teaching a bit of 'Zhi Hu Zhe Ye'," Zhu Zhu Yijun smiled and agreed.

Wang Wang Chonggu wasn't pushing his luck. At his age, having appropriate requests meant he wouldn't be considered as wanting to become a Tan Sima Yi. As a minister, if he were without desires, that would be what made the Emperor wary.

"I kowtow to thank the Emperor for his grace." Wang Wang Chonggu bowed again to thank him.

Wang Wang Chonggu was a worshipper of authority from beginning to end. He didn't even believe in the Great Ming Law. How could he believe in the Great Ming Law when the Emperor was an existence that transcended the law? Therefore, he never thought that the struggle scrolls were anything terrible.

From a procedural point of view, Tang Tang Zhihan did indeed divorce, and appearing in Liu's home, he deserved to be beaten to death by the "husband." But the Emperor believed Tang Tang Zhihan was not wrong, so the specific definition of the law had to be modified, and judicial practice had to be written into the law. This was the effect of authority.

And Liu, with her own strength, powerfully promoted the construction of the Great Ming's financial system, and with her own strength, promoted the perfection of the Great Ming Law, making the definition of de facto marriage clearer.

Zhu Zhu Yijun attached great importance to this matter, and he had a very obvious inclination—an inclination toward Tang Tang Zhihan. On one hand, it was based on sympathy for his encounter, and on the other hand, it was mainly a stance—the stance of the Great Ming's emerging bourgeoisie.

The four pillars of the country are scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. The scholars are the ruling class and don't need Zhu Zhu Yijun's inclination, while Tang Tang Zhihan is a merchant with low social status and needs certain policy support and inclination.

Zhu Zhu Yijun stated clearly again: "Even without considering Tang Tang Zhihan's brothers, I would still have an obvious inclination because this involves the most basic operating principle of the country: fairness. The struggle scrolls explain it very clearly: political power is the result and goal of struggle. If one sits idly by while class contradictions expand and the scale of struggle generalizes, society will gradually take back the political power that has already been attributed through struggle. Achieving fairness and justice can effectively alleviate the intensification of contradictions."

The struggle scrolls talk about struggle. It describes the regime as: political power is the result and goal of struggle. If one sits idly by while class contradictions expand and the scale of struggle generalizes, society will gradually take back the political power that has already been attributed through struggle. Achieving fairness and justice can effectively alleviate the intensification of contradictions.

The Great Ming was established in ruins, which conforms to this description, and the Great Ming perished in decay, which also conforms to this description.

In summary: The monarch is desolate and the ministers are monopolistic, authority shifts downward, hearts are scattered and the world is in chaos, heroes rise in swarms. The founding Emperor had heavenly talent, rising from the fields to achieve great deeds. The ancestors entrusted the country and the people to the monarch; if the monarch cannot guard them, the world will wither, enemy invaders will be rampant, and chaos will arise. The rise and fall of all are like this; there is no change greater than this.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng discovered that the struggle scrolls talk about struggle, not so much about how to struggle, but about how to prevent the generalization and expansion of the scale of struggle in practice. This is roughly the contradiction and unity of the struggle scrolls, and it is also the positive significance of the struggle scrolls for the Great Ming. There is no need to avoid them like snakes and scorpions; they are just classics in themselves.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's mentality was changing. Some things, the more you fear them, the more they will come. It is better to face them bravely and then solve these problems. This is also a kind of perseverance—having the courage to face any difficulty and stand up again after failure until it is solved.

Setbacks are inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.

"Besides the case, I have one more thing." Zhang Zhang Juzheng looked solemn. He and the Assistant Grand Secretary came together, so naturally, there was a major matter to discuss.

"Last year, the Bao-Yuan Bureau minted a total of 7.5 million silver coins, which was 1 million more than the expected 6.5 million. This year, it is expected to exceed 10 million silver for the first time. Yunnan and Huguang minted 12 million strings of Emperor Wanli Zhiyuan Tongbao light-backed coins, and by the end of this year, it is expected to mint 20 million strings. The Treasury Bureau issued 1.5 million strings of Japanese circulation treasure notes last year, and none will be issued this year."

"Last year, 2 million strings of overseas circulation treasure notes were issued and sent to Lu Song. This year, it is expected to issue 5 million strings."

"The Ministry of Revenue has decided to increase the issuance of overseas circulation treasure notes by 3 million strings this year. I, along with the Cabinet ministers and officials of the Ministry of Revenue, have drafted a 'Memorial on the Method of Issuing Emperor Wanli Treasure Notes,' and I ask Your Majesty to review it."

Increasing the issuance of treasure notes was a decision of the Ministry of Revenue, and such a large-scale increase required the Emperor's approval. More importantly, it required the formulation of strict note-issuing policies so that the treasure notes would not follow in the footsteps of the Emperor Hongwu treasure notes.

"This memorial, ever since the minting of silver coins began, the Ministry of Revenue has been preparing it." Zhu Zhu Yijun picked up the memorial and read it. The content of the memorial mainly focused on three aspects: private printing, excessive issuance, and redemption.

"I don't like this 'Private Money' section. The first article: those who privately print treasure notes or cast coins shall be treated as rebellion; the principal offender shall be executed, and the three clans shall be implicated. Beheading the principal offender and exiling the three clans is appropriate, but restrictions should be added: imperial clans, imperial relatives, meritorious officials, high-ranking officials, and eunuchs shall not be exempt." Zhu Zhu Yijun stated his opinion.

"The Eight Exemptions are the ancestral laws of the founding Emperor. Isn't this too harsh, Your Majesty? If Li Wei, the Earl of Wuqing, privately prints treasure notes, what should be done?" Wang Wang Chonggu asked in surprise and uncertainty.

Executing the imperial clan? This is nonsense!

Implicating the three clans—at present, the Emperor indeed didn't have this problem, as the Daoist Emperor's only son was the late Emperor's line. However, in the future, there would definitely be cases where the three clans would implicate the Emperor. By then, the law would have to be changed.

Moreover, imperial relatives, such as Empress Dowager Li's father Li Wei, or her brothers, if they privately printed treasure notes, it would definitely implicate the Emperor.

And these eunuchs couldn't privately print them either, which meant the Emperor couldn't privately print them either. Could the Great Ming Law manage the Emperor? Isn't this turning the world upside down?

"If such a thing really happens, I will pardon the relatives of the first degree by the righteousness of non-punishment," Zhu Zhu Yijun said very clearly: "Look at the corruption of the Emperor Hongwu treasure notes. In the 26th year of Emperor Hongwu, 5 million strings were exchanged in six months, and nearly 10 million strings of new notes were exchanged in just one month. Where did those excessively issued Emperor Hongwu treasure notes come from? Why did the founding Emperor investigate and finally give up the investigation and abandon the treasure notes?"

"Naturally, it was discovered that it involved people who couldn't be investigated. Assistant Grand Secretary Wang, those who dared to privately print treasure notes were all imperial clans, imperial relatives, meritorious officials, high-ranking officials, and eunuchs—no one else. Without restricting these people, the note-issuing law will inevitably be corrupted."

The first degree includes direct relatives: biological parents and biological children. This first degree includes the Empress's parents and herself, while biological brothers are only the second degree. For example, if Zhu Zhu Yiliu privately printed treasure notes, he would be treated as the principal offender and executed, and could not be pardoned.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng took a deep breath and said: "Your Majesty, I think it is inappropriate to write the imperial clan and imperial relatives in the explicit text of the law, but rather in the 'Regulations of the Inner Court'."

The "Regulations of the Inner Court" were the articles used by the Imperial Clan Court—the family laws of the Zhu family. For example, the ban on feudal princes was currently in the Regulations of the Inner Court.

Zhang Zhang Juzheng's meaning was very clear: you people of the Zhu family should be handled by the family laws of the Zhu family.

The outer court was all ministers. It was really inappropriate for ministers to handle these people. No matter who handled it, they would have to bear the bad name of a rebellious and powerful minister.

For example, Zhang Zhang Juzheng was scolded by the censors, saying that the Liao Prince Mansion case in the second year of Emperor Longqing was deliberately targeted by Zhang Zhang Juzheng. At that time, he wasn't even an Assistant Grand Secretary, so he couldn't make things difficult for the imperial clan.

"That's fine. Then remove the imperial clan and imperial relatives from the Great Ming Law and move them to the Regulations of the Inner Court." Zhu Zhu Yijun accepted Zhang Zhang Juzheng's suggestion. The Regulations of the Inner Court were still very effective; after all, the ban on feudal princes was implemented very well.

Only by restricting the abuse of power by the ruling class can the most basic fairness and justice be maintained. As long as basic fairness and justice still exist, the struggle will not generalize. This is the reverse inference of the struggle scrolls.

The struggle scrolls have guiding significance for the Great Ming. This was Zhu Zhu Yijun's main purpose in insisting on issuing the third volume despite the strong opposition of the Chief Grand Secretary and Imperial Tutor Zhang Zhang Juzheng. As for the fourth volume, it would require the productive forces to develop to a certain stage to have an effect. Zhu Zhu Yijun hoped that before he died, he could see the day when the fourth volume could be published.

"The second article of the note-issuing law, I am also dissatisfied." Zhu Zhu Yijun spoke about the second article. He shook his head and said: "This article stipulates that the Governor's Office and the tributary regions are not allowed to issue note-issuing laws. I think the Governor's Office can issue note-issuing laws because the Nagasaki Governor's Office is already issuing Japanese circulation treasure notes. It is appropriate that the tributary development regions are not allowed to issue treasure notes."

The second article was about specific functions. In the note-issuing law, it was stipulated that only the Bao-Yuan Bureau directly under the Ministry of Revenue could issue notes, and the Governor's Office and tributary development regions—these were not heartland colonies—could not issue notes.

"Your Majesty, this can be achieved by establishing a Treasure Note Bureau in the Governor's Office," Wang Wang Chonggu said very affirmatively: "Specifically, this article should be interpreted as the Governor's Office is not allowed to print notes, not that it is not allowed to issue notes."

Zhu Zhu Yijun understood this article and understood Wang Wang Chonggu's intention when formulating the law. The Great Ming system was the "strips" directly under the imperial court and the "blocks" under the local authorities. The Emperor used these strips and blocks to rule, which was the foundation of the prefecture and county system.

Zhu Zhu Yijun said with great certainty: "Then it should be written clearly. On such issues of right and wrong, which may even involve major problems of rebellion, one should be pedantic. If the legal meaning is unclear, it is easy to cause greater disasters. The Governor's Office is not allowed to print notes, but it can fulfill the function of issuing notes through the Bao-Yuan Bureau."

Zhang Zhang Juzheng explained in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the reason for such a vague definition is to make the imperial court more flexible."

Wang Wang Chonggu was an experienced official. This vague definition was intentional. It wasn't that he didn't understand the importance of being pedantic; it was for the sake of the centralization of power for the Emperor, so he wrote it so vaguely on purpose. All interpretation rights belong to the Emperor.

"That would instead accelerate alienation." Zhu Zhu Yijun shook his head: "The Governor's Office is a feudal system."

"In name, it is still a prefecture and county system." Zhang Zhang Juzheng shook his head, disagreeing with the Emperor's definition. Whether it was the Qian State Duke Mansion or the Lu Song Governor's Office, there was no clear division of land and feudalism. Even if it was actually a feudal system, in name, it was still a prefecture and county system. This involved the basic construction of the country and the narrative of the country.

"I understand. Then follow the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Revenue's joint discussion." Zhu Zhu Yijun pondered for a moment, understood Wang Wang Chonggu's painstaking efforts in the vague definition, and chose to approve it.

Zhu Zhu Yijun carefully inquired about every one of the forty articles of the note-issuing law, conducted comprehensive judgments with Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Wang Wang Chonggu, and exchanged opinions deeply. This was the Emperor's duty—to judge the basic direction of the law. Zhu Zhu Yijun's opinion was very important, but he wouldn't demand modifications without regard. The entire decision-making process was a collective resolution.

After Zhang Zhang Juzheng and Wang Wang Chonggu left, Zhu Zhu Yijun stretched and said: "Prepare the carriage for the Northern Secret Service. I'm going to see Tang Tang Zhihan."

"I obey the decree." Feng Bao hurriedly went to prepare.

In the misty rain, on the railway tracks winding out from the Tonghe Palace, four small trains sounded their whistles, and then a very rhythmic mechanical sound rang out. This was a three-horsepower small steam engine specially designed for the Emperor by Zhu Zhu Zaiyu. It was a circle larger than a desk, and its horsepower was not great, but it was enough. It was mainly used for the Emperor to travel between the Northern Camp, Tonghe Palace, and the Imperial Palace. This was the Emperor's special train.

Leading the way was the Commander Zhao Zhao Mengyou, the second car was the Emperor, the third car was the eunuchs, and the fourth car was the secret guards.

The small train could drive to the position of the Meridian Gate. Zhu Zhu Yijun held an umbrella and walked toward the Northern Secret Service Southern Yamen.

"Good rain knows the season, it happens in spring. Although it's the end of April, the wheat is just heading. Good rain, good rain." Zhu Zhu Yijun stood at the exit of the Meridian Gate, looking at the fine rain outside. He didn't know if the prayers at the Qinian Hall had had an effect, but the rain was coming at just the right time.

Zhu Zhu Yijun arrived at the bright and clean Northern Secret Service. The atmosphere here, which should have been gloomy, had become much more upright because the Emperor always came. The Northern Secret Service had been renovated once, and most of the prison cells had been repaired. Most of them had windows added, and overall, it was more livable than before.

The Great Ming Emperor walked with a dragon-like gait past a prison cell, then stopped and slowly backed up, smiling and saying: "Why was this Li Yashi arrested again?"

The reason he attracted the Emperor's attention was that only this prison cell had Li Yashi written on it, and his Latin name written below.

"Published inappropriate remarks." Zhao Zhao Mengyou hurriedly bowed his head and said.

"What did he say again?" Zhu Zhu Yijun asked curiously.

"He said that Your Majesty is humble on the surface but actually arrogant, just like most Great Ming people." Zhao Zhao Mengyou said with certainty: "What he said is wrong, so when I heard it, I took him."

"You took him right. Someone who talks nonsense like this should be arrested. Open it." Zhu Zhu Yijun affirmed Zhao Zhao Mengyou's action but chose to forgive him.

"I pay respects to Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be safe." Li Yashi hadn't suffered much. Although the prison cell was small, there were beds, tables, chairs, and lamps.

Zhu Zhu Yijun walked to the desk. Li Yashi was performing his duties, translating the astronomy books from the West, Michael Maestlin's "The Mystery of the Universe and Calculation" from the Duchy of Württemberg and the University of Tübingen.

Astronomy was the realm of God. Because of religious reasons, Michael's works could not be published. The Great Ming managed to get this book entirely because Antonio and his Minister of State Xu Zhen had racked their brains to collect it.

Michael had a very famous student, the mathematician and astronomer Kepler.

"No need for formalities." Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "What you said is wrong. I am not using surface humility to cover up the arrogance in my bones. This kind of understanding is too superficial. In Great Ming words, a person cannot have arrogance, but cannot be without a backbone."

"Arrogance is looking very arrogant on the surface, with prominent momentum, but in fact, most of the time they are good-for-nothings. Backbone is a person's connotation, including the morality naturally cultivated by growing up on this land. It is a principle; it is not being proud in victory and not discouraged in defeat."

Li Yashi, who had been in the Great Ming for a long time, immediately understood the Emperor's explanation and said with some annoyance: "I don't know how to use precise words to describe this feeling. My learning is still not refined. In fact, when I said this, I was discussing the differences between the Great Ming and the West. The Spaniards have too much arrogance and lack backbone, while the Great Ming has too much backbone and not much arrogance."

Li Yashi had now become a Great Ming person, but he still loved his homeland deeply. Zhu Zhu Yijun allowed this deep affection and even encouraged it. Li Yashi was comparing the two huge empires of the Great Ming and Spain, and he was still worrying about the predicament Spain had fallen into.

"Yes, Spain's problems are always so terrible." Zhu Zhu Yijun said to Zhao Zhao Mengyou: "Release him."

"I respectfully send off Your Majesty." Li Yashi bowed again and sent off the Emperor. Even if he hadn't met him today, he wouldn't have been locked up for too long, and even his main job of translation hadn't stopped. Receiving the Emperor's salary without working was something the Emperor couldn't tolerate, but it also meant Li Yashi hadn't been deprived of his official status.

Zhu Zhu Yijun finally saw Tang Tang Zhihan, a middle-aged man who looked particularly strong and powerful, with muscles all over his body. It was just that the four-month prison disaster made his spirit look a bit listless.

"The criminal Tang Tang Zhihan pays respects to Your Majesty. Long live, long live, long live Your Majesty." Tang Tang Zhihan knelt on the ground and kowtowed five times and bowed three times, much more respectfully than Li Yashi.

"No need for formalities. Sit down and talk." Zhu Zhu Yijun signaled Tang Tang Zhihan to get up and sit on the edge of the bed.

Zhu Zhu Yijun looked at him carefully, sat on the other side of the table, and looked at Tang Tang Zhihan for a while before asking: "Tang Tang Zhihan, after you ran out of your home, why did you find the prefecture Southern Yamen instead of your life-and-death brothers? Don't you trust them?"

Tang Tang Zhihan deliberated for a moment before saying solemnly: "Even the person sleeping beside me betrayed me. The criminal was afraid that if I found them, they would have already been bought off, so running to the prefecture Southern Yamen was the only chance for survival."

"You can't even trust brothers of life-and-death, yet you trust the imperial court's justice? Tang Tang Zhihan, I don't believe these words." Zhu Zhu Yijun said with a smile: "Don't be too nervous. I have already considered your matter. What was the reason that made you beaten until your head was broken and bleeding, yet you found the prefecture Southern Yamen?"

Only then did Tang Tang Zhihan say: "To leave a way out for my brothers. If they knew about my situation, I'm afraid they would have directly fought back. By then, the imperial court would inevitably punish them severely. I have already lived to be a joke, so there's no need to let my brothers die with me."

Zhu Zhu Yijun showed an even brighter smile and said: "You treat them as brothers, and they treat you as a big brother. Prefect Lu Cheng of Zhangzhou reported that your brothers are also waiting for the imperial court's judgment, and several people have already arrived in the capital overnight. If there is anything wrong, I'm afraid they will do something out of line."

"The families of Liu and the lover have already been watched by your brothers. If the imperial court handles it unfairly, I'm afraid a massacre will happen immediately."

"Confused." Tang Tang Zhihan's face immediately became extremely ugly.

"If I really judged you as the lover, then I would be the confused one. Since I brought all the criminals to the capital for trial, it means I think you were wronged. The things you worry about won't happen." Zhu Zhu Yijun asked with a puzzled face: "For so many years, did you really not know anything about the affair between Liu and that lover?"

Zhu Zhu Yijun came to solve this doubt. A person sleeping beside him could do this, yet the shrewd Tang Tang Zhihan didn't notice it at all—it was a bit hard to explain.

Tang Tang Zhihan said painfully: "I knew. In the fourth year of Emperor Longqing, the former leader Li Li Ruiqi gave me a ship to transport goods, but the ship was intercepted and the goods were gone. I didn't bring back any silver. At that time, the criminal had two sons. Liu asked the small landlord Xu Xu Zhenyi to borrow money. This Xu Xu Zhenyi took the opportunity to humiliate her. I thought she was unwilling. Later, when I became successful, I thought they had broken it off."

"I didn't expect..."

Tang Tang Zhihan felt apologetic toward Liu. He was incompetent and let his wife suffer humiliation. It was precisely because of this apology that he was so indulgent. As a result, he never expected that it wasn't humiliation at all, but ended up in such a situation.

The Great Ming regarded islands as mountain peaks in the sea, so these big shipowners were called "Peak Masters." Li Li Ruiqi was the previous merchant leader of the Zhangzhou Ocean Trading Firm and had the grace of knowing Tang Tang Zhihan.

Zhu Zhu Yijun nodded. Tang Tang Zhihan was not a joke. If he died, someone would really risk their lives for him.

It was just that his sincerity was misplaced. Not every sincerity had a reward.

The Great Ming Emperor didn't leave. Zhao Zhao Mengyou was going to hold a hearing to interrogate Liu and the lover Xu Xu Zhenyi. Zhu Zhu Yijun listened in from a secret room behind the main hall.

The interrogation process didn't go very smoothly. Zhao Zhao Mengyou had never seen anyone so arrogant after entering the Northern Secret Service in his life.

Liu didn't even pay respects and shouted loudly: "Xu and I are husband and wife. We have a marriage certificate. This is a marriage certificate given by the public Southern Yamen. Does the public Southern Yamen not recognize it now!"

"Bang! Silence in the public hall!" Zhao Zhao Mengyou slammed the gavel in his hand and scolded sternly. He hadn't even started asking, and this Liu had already started making a scene.

This slam of the gavel made Liu sober up a bit.

Xu Xu Zhenyi was trembling with fear, his body a bit soft, and he couldn't even kneel properly on the ground. This Liu, on the contrary, refused to pay respects. Tang Tang Zhihan was a ninth-rank official, and Liu was his wife, so in the Zhangzhou Prefecture area, she didn't have to kneel to the official.

Fortunately, there were the secret guards' killing sticks on the side of the Northern Secret Service's public hall, otherwise, if she were allowed to roar like this, it would only make the Emperor see more of a joke.

"This Xu Xu Zhenyi is your husband, then who is Tang Tang Zhihan?" Zhao Zhao Mengyou asked with a frown.

Liu said loudly: "Xu and I are deeply in love. This Tang Tang Zhihan is just a prostitute who pays silver!"

"If he really treated me as his first wife, why couldn't he see what I wanted? Every time he came back in a hurry, threw down a pile of silver, and went back to his business the next day in a hurry!"

"He doesn't understand me at all!"

In the public hall, everyone widened their eyes, looking at each other in disbelief. Even the Great Ming Emperor sitting in the back hall looked at Feng Bao with shock, his face full of astonishment.

True feelings revealed are always a height that a "stringer" can never reach in a lifetime!

"You mean, for twenty years, he brought home more than 1.6 million taels of silver, and that was his prostitution fee?" Zhao Zhao Mengyou's interrogation train of thought was directly interrupted. 1.6 million silver—three former emperors' mausoleums would have money left over. This silver was no small amount.

"Otherwise? Other husbands take their wives to parks, attend poetry gatherings, and bring back surprises from time to time. If Tang Tang Zhihan had me in his heart, how could he come back empty-handed every time!" Liu said as a matter of course.

"Bai Yin, is silver also empty-handed? More than 1.6 million taels of silver!" Zhao Zhao Mengyou's interrogation train of thought was directly interrupted.

"I also gave birth to two sons for him." Liu said very dissatisfied: "Commander, I divorced Tang Tang Zhihan! We divorced at the beginning of last year. There is a divorce paper, and I have a marriage certificate with Xu. We are husband and wife! Tang Tang Zhihan is the lover! Does the imperial court not recognize it?"

Zhao Zhao Mengyou nodded and said: "Yes, the imperial court does not recognize it. The fact of fraud exists."

"Ah?" Liu was dumbfounded. ===== CHAPTER 729 =====