Chapter 923

In the dust-swept desert,

Standing in place, everyone could not help but be wary of Zhang Cheng and Cao Shaoqin.

"Lord Yang Yuxuan merely offered proper suggestions, yet the Eastern Depot framed a loyal official. How can we, as righteous warriors, betray our honor!"

Drawing his sword and pointing it at Zhang Cheng, Zhou Huai'an could not help but rebuke him.

"Yang Yuxuan is a loyal official? Who did you hear that from? The scholars of the world, or the soldiers at the border!"

Looking at Zhou Huai'an with a sneer, Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes: "The imperial court allocated 800,000 taels to Liaodong. Guess how much silver actually reached the soldiers' hands."

"The Ministry of Revenue allocates funds, the Ministry of Revenue has Ministers and Vice Ministers, then it goes to the Ministry of War, which also has Ministers and Vice Ministers..."

Like a tongue-twister, Zhang Cheng crushed the bamboo hat with his backhand: "Of the 800,000 taels of silver, less than 100,000 reached the Liaodong border. Tell me, is this something a human would do? Huh, Zhou Huai'an, you tell me!"

Staring at Zhou Huai'an, Zhang Cheng dropped the bamboo hat and pulled up his robe: "The Eastern Depot does things without asking for reasons, but I just didn't want to see you die without knowing why, so I came to tell you the truth!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in shock, Zhou Huai'an was completely stunned, because this was not at all what he had heard!

"You're lying! Lord Yang Yuxuan was an upright official; how could he do such a thing!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng in astonishment, Qiu Moyan roared.

"He may have been upright in the capital, but in his hometown, he had tens of thousands of acres of fertile land. Land donated, land registered under others' names, land belonging to relatives, land belonging to local gentry—you tell me, as a mere scholar, how could he buy so much land in Jiangnan over twelve years using only his salary!"

Addressing Qiu Moyan, Zhang Cheng could not help but rebuke her.

And hearing Zhang Cheng's words, not only Qiu Moyan but even Jin Xiangyu beside her was dumbfounded: "Tens of thousands of acres of fertile land in Jiangnan? This is what you call upright?"

"Shopkeeper, what is fertile land? Is it worth a lot of money?"

Clutching his chest as he stood up, Diao Buyu asked curiously.

"If you're not dead, shut your mouth and don't speak!"

Speaking with a dizzy head, Jin Xiangyu began to doubt her life.

Because her inn was burned down just to save these two idiots?

You have to know, in ancient times, they didn't believe in one person taking responsibility for their own actions.

Even if you were a beggar, if you assassinated the current Son of Heaven, your nine generations could be found at the vegetable market execution ground.

Don't doubt it; as long as you did it, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Western Depot could dig up everything you ever did from birth until now.

Modern times have "great memory recovery," but the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern Depot, and the Western Depot have much more!

There are no torture devices in the jail that you can't imagine, only ones they haven't used on you yet!

"Hand over those two children, otherwise, you will all die!"

Holding his long sword and roaring, Cao Shaoqin turned serious.

"But they are just children! Even if Yang Yuxuan is guilty, it cannot be blamed on them!"

Hearing Cao Shaoqin's words, Qiu Moyan hurriedly protected the two children.

"Stupid. Being born into the Yang family is their fault; that is the crime. When the vermilion gates reeked of wine and meat, you didn't see them giving alms. When there were frozen corpses on the road, were they not part of the Yang family then?"

Looking at this scene coldly, the blood-stained blade in Zhang Cheng's hand began to emit a cold glint.

"Enough talk. Deal with these rebels; kill them, and everything will be fine!"

Looking at Zhang Cheng beside him, Cao Shaoqin immediately rushed forward.

And looking at Cao Shaoqin, Zhang Cheng also helplessly took action, because he really didn't want to move against his Jin Xiangyu.

Watching Cao Shaoqin and Zhang Cheng move, Qiu Moyan and Zhou Huai'an fought desperately to resist.

But they were soon defeated. Holding her long sword to block, Qiu Moyan gritted her teeth and roared: "Zhou Huai'an, run! Zhou Huai'an!"

"Run? Can he run? I told you not to meddle in other people's business, but you wouldn't listen. Do you really think the Eastern Depot is made of mud?"

With the blood-stained blade pressing on Zhou Huai'an's shoulder, Zhang Cheng slashed with all his might.

"Whoosh!"

As the arm fell, Zhou Huai'an immediately clutched his severed limb, his eyes full of pain.

And just at this moment, Diao Buyu, who was about to step forward, was grabbed.

"Are you, a sheep-slaughterer, crazy? Do you want to rebel now too?"

Looking at Diao Buyu, Jin Xiangyu scolded him.

Looking at Jin Xiangyu awkwardly, Diao Buyu rubbed his head and stood frozen in place.

"Be more careful in your next life. Sometimes, what your eyes see and your ears hear is not the truth!"

Piercing Zhou Huai'an's chest with his curved blade, Zhang Cheng slashed violently, and Zhou Huai'an fell directly into the desert, his blood soaking the earth.

"Zhou Huai'an!"

Seeing Zhou Huai'an fall, Qiu Moyan cried bitterly.

But in the next second, a long sword slashed her throat, and she fell with lifeless eyes.

Turning to look at Jin Xiangyu and Diao Buyu, Cao Shaoqin still intended to strike, but Zhang Cheng stopped him: "What are you doing? She's just an innkeeper, still charming and beautiful, it's not worth it. Besides, we already burned her inn!"

"That's right, my lord, you even burned my inn! Why don't we just call it a day!"

Looking at Cao Shaoqin with a grievance, Jin Xiangyu bit her lip and spoke, revealing a seductive appearance.

And looking at Jin Xiangyu before him, Cao Shaoqin roared: "Hmph, a seductive woman, bad luck!"

Waving his robe as he left, Cao Shaoqin took the two children away.

Watching this scene, Zhang Cheng could not help but narrow his eyes.

Because Yang Yuxuan's children were destined to enter the Imperial Music Bureau or become slaves in the future; after all, his crimes had to be borne by someone, whether blood relatives or distant kin!

"You owe me a life!"

Looking at Jin Xiangyu and Diao Buyu, Zhang Cheng put away his blood-stained blade and turned to leave.

And watching Zhang Cheng's back, Jin Xiangyu sighed with regret: "What a pity, two brainless people!"

"Shopkeeper, who are you talking about!"

Looking at Jin Xiangyu, Diao Buyu asked curiously.

"The fool lying over there! Could it be me?"

Scolding Diao Buyu, Jin Xiangyu never expected that their so-called loyal official would be this kind of person!

With a self-deprecating smile, Jin Xiangyu said: "Looks like I have to go back inside the pass again, what a nuisance!"

"Shopkeeper, are we going back inside the pass? That's great, I haven't seen a big city yet!"

Looking at Jin Xiangyu with surprise, Diao Buyu became happy.

Looking at Diao Buyu beside her, Jin Xiangyu could not help but cover her forehead.

Returning to the capital after a long absence, Zhang Cheng suddenly learned one thing: Tang Bohu had actually "cheated" in the exams.

Arriving at the Embroidered Uniform Guard's prison,

Seeing the man who was usually so graceful now looking exceptionally dejected, Zhang Cheng teased: "Young Master Tang, what has happened to you?"

"I didn't cheat, do you believe me?"

Turning his head to look at Zhang Cheng, Tang Bohu hurriedly explained, his eyes full of sincerity.

"I believe you, but His Majesty doesn't, and those who didn't pass believe it even less!"

Speaking to Tang Bohu, Zhang Cheng narrowed his eyes: "You have no choice now, because once Xu Jing cannot withstand the torture, even if you didn't cheat, you will be treated as if you did!"

"But I didn't even pass!"

Explaining to Zhang Cheng, Tang Bohu was on the verge of a breakdown.

Because he hadn't even been selected as a scholar, how could he have participated in cheating?

And Xu Jing—it was fine if you were arrogant in Jiangnan, but after coming to the capital, you were still so rampant, visiting this person and that person; wasn't it obvious that there was a problem?

Now it was a disaster, and everyone was unlucky.

Looking at Tang Bohu, Zhang Cheng said: "Alright, there will be a result on your matter soon, but in this life, you are destined not to be an official."