Chapter 20

The stars hung high, the clear water flowed gently,

A small boat slowly reached the shore.

Stepping off with a cigar held in his hand, Chai Wenyi roared with a face full of rage: "Chai Wu, Chai Wu, where the hell did you die off to?"

"Young Master, I'm right here!"

With a loud shout, Chai Wu hurriedly ran up.

Looking at Chai Wu, Chai Wenyi couldn't help but bark angrily: "If you lose this Young Master again next time, I'll demote you to the farm!"

"I won't dare to again, Young Master!"

Looking at Chai Wenyi with a grievance, Chai Wu hurriedly began to explain.

And just after Chai Wenyi boarded the sedan, he looked at Zhang Cheng with a meaningful gaze.

Although the Chai family was "favored by imperial grace" in the Great Song, they didn't actually have any "power."

Because the court officials treated the Chai family entirely as a "jinx."

How could the Little Merchant Prince and Chai Wenyi not know the Zhao family's intentions?

But in order to keep the Chai family alive, Chai Wenyi had to do those "outrageous" things.

Meeting Zhang Cheng, who had taken the initiative to "approach" him today, Chai Wenyi had originally intended to pretend to be a playboy, but he discovered that the other party was just like him—a troublesome piece of work!

"How was the chat, cousin?"

Looking at Zhang Cheng with curiosity, Situ Yaozu asked.

"That Young Master is no simple character!"

Speaking with a face full of smiles, Zhang Cheng threw the cigar in his hand onto the ground and crushed it.

"The Chai family is a tall tree that catches the wind; even though we aren't afraid of Magistrate Bao by cooperating with them, some things are still too dangerous!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Situ Yaozu hurriedly turned serious.

"What's there to fear? If the sky falls, doesn't the Chai family still have to hold it up? Besides, the profits from human trafficking aren't as simple as they appear on the surface!"

Looking at Situ Yaozu, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

How much is a person worth? This is a question worth pondering.

During the Great Song period, a slave with a free contract was not easy to find; after all, that was something only big families could afford to play with!

But Zhang Cheng was different; what he played was small profits but quick turnover.

Ten taels of silver is too expensive? How about five? If five is still too much, two taels of silver—take two and leave them at your door!

With the help of the Chai family's maritime trade routes, he could completely plunder the population from the Wa islands, South Asia, and other places, fully liberating the lack of labor in the private sector and laying out plans for what was to come.

But rebelling is not a simple matter, even if the target of his rebellion is his cheap father-in-law!

Anyone who can be won over will be placed on the chessboard!

If one were to ask who is the most unhappy in this Zhao Song world, then without a doubt, it is the Chai family!

Expecting the Chai family to be loyal to the Zhao Song is like expecting the Liao Kingdom to return the Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun!

Three days later, the Imperial Academy and the Court of State Ceremonial discovered something wrong: more than a dozen tribute students from the Wa Kingdom had gone missing.

Encountering such a matter, they immediately chose to report the case to the Kaifeng Prefecture.

Facing this kind of matter, Zhan Zhao, as the Imperial Cat, naturally appeared.

However, after a careful investigation, Zhan Zhao discovered one thing: the investigation was leading right back to him.

Because he was the only one who had taken the yamen runners out that day!

Thinking that there was no record of it within the Kaifeng Prefecture, cold sweat gradually began to bead on Zhan Zhao's forehead.

And just at this moment, a yamen runner came to Zhan Zhao's side and said: "Guard Zhan, I have something I'd like to say!"

"Speak!"

Looking at the yamen runner earnestly, Zhan Zhao couldn't help but turn serious.

"It is said that in the past few days, the Chai family's firm has shipped out quite a few people."

Giving Zhan Zhao a hint, the yamen runner couldn't help but turn serious.

And upon hearing the name of the Chai family's firm, Zhan Zhao was completely stunned.

Because compared to the investigation leading to himself, investigating the Chai family was even more dangerous!

Because they had a death-exemption medallion!

Thinking of this, Zhan Zhao hurriedly reported the results to Bao Zheng.

Upon learning that those missing Wa tribute students actually had a connection to the Chai family, Bao Zheng's face turned black.

"My lord, once this matter involves the Chai family, it will be hard to clean up!"

Looking at Bao Zheng, Gongsun Ce at his side hurriedly turned serious.

Being an official in the Great Song dynasty, you must know one thing.

That is, you can criticize the Emperor, but you absolutely cannot criticize the Chai family!

The Emperor is benevolent and righteous and might not necessarily deal with you, but the Chai family really will!

"No, this matter involves the Imperial Academy; I must personally report it to His Majesty!"

Looking at Gongsun Ce earnestly, Bao Zheng's temper flared, and he immediately went into the palace.

In the back garden, Zhao Zhen was enjoying a quiet moment with Imperial Consort Pang, but just then, a eunuch at his side spoke up: "Your Majesty, Magistrate Bao requests an audience!"

"Bao Zheng? What is he here for again? Has any major event happened in the capital today?"

Asking the eunuch, Zhao Zhen also hurriedly spoke.

"More than ten tribute students from the Imperial Academy have gone missing, and they are Wa people..."

Hearing Zhao Zhen's inquiry, the eunuch stated the recent events.

"Who is involved?"

Turning his head to look at the eunuch beside him, Zhao Zhen knew that if the other party didn't have a background, Bao Zheng certainly wouldn't have come to find him.

"The... the Chai family!"

Looking at Zhao Zhen with a twitching mouth, the eunuch was also speechless.

"Tell Magistrate Bao that I have caught a cold and will not be seeing anyone!"

Saying this, Zhao Zhen grabbed Imperial Consort Pang's small hand and chose to run away directly.

Because the words of the ancestors are there: the Chai family cannot be touched!

But Bao Zheng is a hot-tempered person; his life as an Emperor is truly aggrieved!

However, it's just a dozen Wa people; could he really issue an imperial decree to make the Chai family bring them back?

Inside the palace, after waiting for a long time, Bao Zheng gradually sensed that something was wrong.

Just at this moment, the eunuch walked out and smiled: "My apologies, Magistrate Bao, His Majesty has caught a cold and is not fit to see anyone!"

"Caught a cold?"

After hearing the eunuch's words, Bao Zheng was dumbfounded.

Because on this day, with the sun shining brightly, what kind of cold could you have caught?

Thinking that Zhao Zhen was avoiding him, Bao Zheng also cupped his hands and said: "This official understands!"

Just after Bao Zheng left, Zhao Zhen had people go to the Imperial Academy and the Court of State Ceremonial to tell them to keep their mouths shut.

After all, for a matter like the disappearance of Wa people, it's better to let them handle it internally!

Just after Zhao Zhen played a game of "out of sight, out of mind," Bao Zheng was also dumbfounded back at the Kaifeng Prefecture, because there wasn't even a reporter of the crime left!

The next day, learning of this matter from the yamen runner, Zhang Cheng couldn't help but sigh.

Because the Chai family is truly hated by both men and ghosts; even Zhao Zhen is afraid of them!

Chai Wenyi: Isn't this something you caused?

Zhang Cheng: Ah, was it me?

After the last investigation led to himself, Zhan Zhao felt that there must be a problem.

So he planned to investigate privately.

After several visits, he discovered that this group of Wa tribute students had actually had dealings with someone.

In Bianliang, inside a certain teahouse.

Zhang Cheng looked at Zhan Zhao before him, a look of confusion appearing in his eyes: "No, why are you looking for me? I've already finished my advanced studies!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng, Zhan Zhao said with a serious face: "Those Wa tribute students disappeared after meeting with you!"

"So what? If you aren't going to find the Chai family, why are you looking for me?"

Looking at Zhan Zhao with a face full of smiles, Zhang Cheng smiled.

"I feel that this matter definitely has something to do with you!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng earnestly, Zhan Zhao couldn't help but turn serious.

"But you have no evidence, Guard Zhan! Besides, my father is Zhang Erhe!"

Standing up, Zhang Cheng left with a loud laugh, completely ignoring Zhan Zhao's sharp gaze.

Just as he said, Zhan Zhao had no evidence, and those Wa people had long been sent to the Northwest to serve as slaves for the Zhong family army.

Humming a little tune, Zhang Cheng walked forward with his hands behind his back.

Because the days ahead would certainly be very interesting.

Darkness under the lamp is not scary; what is scary is that you clearly know it is darkness under the lamp, but you cannot find a way to break it!

The number one conspiracy of the Northern Song: the Chai family takes the blame!

Last year when I was harvesting the Golden Core, I already had kidney stones, but I didn't expect bladder stones to come first. For the past few days, I've been guaranteeing three updates; I will have surgery as soon as possible. Please trust in the ability of the Executive Director!

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