Chapter 112: Preparing for a Rainy Day

  "Mr. Shen was imprisoned because he was implicated in the case of corruption involving the magistrate of Linshan County and the governor of Yuyao Prefecture. If it is said that His Majesty has evidence proving Mr. Shen's guilt in this matter, then it should be handed over to the Supreme Court for trial by the Ministry of Justice and the Censorate, rather than detaining him in prison without a clear charge."

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment.

  "What's wrong?"

  "Nothing!" Shen Muqing gazed at Xiao Sa and smiled slightly, "You and I are on the same page."

  Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow.

  "I thought so too." Shen Muqing was somewhat despondent: "Since he's been imprisoned, that means there are some problems, although they involve the old master, but not enough to convict him. But now the problem is that Liu Jun has committed suicide - if he were still alive, he could have explained things clearly, but since he's dead, it's even more difficult to handle."

  "On this matter, my view is exactly the opposite of yours!" Xiao Sa said with a faint smile, his eyes fixed firmly, exuding strong self-confidence from every corner of his face, making people involuntarily listen to him quietly.

  "Do you know why Linshan County Magistrate reported Yu Yao Prefecture's case of corruption?"

  "It's the fire expense silver." At first, Shen Muqing was very worried and had carefully asked Liang Jimin about the beginning and end of this matter. "Before Liu Jun became the governor of Jiangnan, Zhejiang's fire expense silver was one-third, but after Liu Jun became the governor of Zhejiang, it changed to four parts."

  Linzhou County suffered from flooding last year, and the fire caused by silver expenditure led to a civil unrest. Therefore, the magistrate of Linzhou County reported to his superiors that causing civil unrest is fatal, but making things worse might reach the imperial court and possibly bring about a turning point.

  "Not bad." Xiao Sa nodded, "But have you thought about it, Liu Jun has been in Zhejiang for two terms, so much silver, even if he embezzled it, he would need a place to put it and hide it?"

  "I hadn't thought of that," Shen Muqing's eyes lit up as she listened. "If it were in Jiangnan, it would have been handled already and wouldn't have dragged a Ministry of Revenue official into this. Since the silver has entered the capital... with so much silver, or..." As she spoke, she hesitated for a moment before pointing to the magnificent building.

  Xiao Xiao looked at her with a hint of approval in his eyes.

  Stillness calms the mind and brings great stability.

  It can finally be proven that those bold ideas hidden deep in one's heart are not just one's own delusions.

  "She couldn't help but sigh: 'So the high-ranking officials of the Great Zhou Dynasty, who were supposed to be loyal and honest, ended up taking their own lives - because they couldn't, or didn't dare, say where the money had gone; so Wang Wei would 'kindly' tell me through his daughter - because only we ignorant women knew that Liu Jun was dead. They would frantically search for a way out. This way, either too many officials spoke up for Master and aroused the Emperor's suspicion, or this matter got bigger and bigger, until the palace couldn't explain it to the people, and could only let Master take the blame. No matter which result, Wang Wei achieved his goal of getting rid of his opponent.' Shen Muqing said, her face gradually turning pale, 'But I don't know if Master is really working for the Empress Dowager or for the Emperor...'"

  "It should be for the Emperor's plan!" Xiao Sa's eyes were bright and sharp, "If it was for the Empress Dowager's plan, the Emperor wouldn't have done this - unable to protect Lord Shen. It's better to die than live, let's see how the Emperor deals with the Liu family."

  "What should we do now?" Although Shen Muqing had confirmed her own thoughts and guessed some inside information, she didn't have a good solution. Her eyes were filled with anxiety, "If the people from the Imperial Censorate are keeping a close watch, I'm afraid the Emperor will push Grandfather out to take the blame!"

  Her small face, the size of a palm, was as pale as paper, and her dark eyes shone with helpless light - this Shen Muqing made Xiao Sa think of that little girl who followed him step by step.

  His gaze at Shen Muqing's eyes became obscure.

  "Suppose this was all done by Liu Jun?"

  Shen Mu Qing was taken aback for a moment.

  Xiao Xiao slowly opened his mouth: "If all the people in the Censorate impeach Shen Daren and demand to confiscate his property?"

  Shen Mu Qing's face was filled with shock, and his eyes gradually revealed a hint of understanding, then his whole body began to tremble uncontrollably.

  "What if, what if we've gone too far and something happens? Moreover, relying on just the two of us, we can't change this trend"

  Xiao Xiao stood quietly in front of the bamboo curtain, her cold and stern expression revealing a resolute fearlessness between her eyebrows.

  "So this matter should be discussed with Mr. Ouyang!" His voice was calm to the point of being cold, "Moreover, your family can't find someone to plead for Lord Shen's case again. The more noise you make, the harder it is for the Emperor to save face - even you and I can see the problem, how could several cabinet ministers not see it?"

  That's right! That's why Mr. Ouyang couldn't get a clear answer out of him.

  Know but can't say; don't know, can't say clearly

  "Shua shua," Shen Muqing's heart was a little flustered, she raised her hand to pull his sleeve, but it hit the Xiangfei screen instead, making a rustling sound.

  "Are you okay?!" Xiao Sa's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her tone very tense.

  "It's nothing!" Shen Muqing's mind was all on the content of their previous conversation, and she didn't notice these things. She lowered her voice! "If we're being searched, is my dowry within this scope?"

  Xiao Xiao was slightly stunned and had somewhat understood. She spoke softly: "Unless it's something that was copied, implicating the nine clans."

  "Family matters, I don't quite understand. Moreover, there are many specific things to do when operating, so this matter needs to be discussed with my wife and Mr. Ouyang first."

  "Even if Mr. Ouyang himself comes forward, I'm afraid it won't be easy to handle!" Xiao Xiao hesitated for a moment, "After all, Mr. Ouyang's identity is at stake. If there are difficulties, why not try to find a way to get through the Wang family instead? It might even be a good thing?"

  He said that, Shen Muqing suddenly remembered something.

  "Xiao Xiao, I heard from my second uncle that Old Man Wang wants to adopt you as his son."

  She hadn't finished speaking when Xiao Xiao's eyebrows rose and her eyes showed impatience: "Your Second Uncle? Liang Shu Xin?"

  Shen Mu nodded slightly.

  "Didn't expect him to tell you all this?" The tone was disdainful. Shen Muqing was taken aback.

  Judging from Liang Shu's tone, it seems that he and Xiao Sa get along quite well. So why does Xiao Sa have two completely different attitudes towards him? Is there some kind of misunderstanding between them?

  Xiao Xiao saw her not speaking, didn't know why, and suddenly felt very uncomfortable in her heart. She thought again that Shen Muqing had asked Liang Shu to help find a way through the King's road, and the sarcastic words came out unintentionally: "What? Liang Shu going to help you find a way through the King's road is like sending charcoal in snow, but I going to find a way through the King's road is like following the trend?"

  As soon as he finished speaking, he was also shocked.

  What's wrong with me?

  Shen Muqing didn't say anything else.

  "Shua!" Shen Mu Qing looked at him with a puzzled gaze, "How did you become so sharp-tongued!"

  Sharp-tongued? She actually said he's sharp-tongued? For that good-for-nothing Bao Er, she actually said he's sharp-tongued?

  The self-blame just turned into a raging fire, burning fiercely in his heart.

  His expression on his face became stiff and hard, even he himself didn't realize it: "I've always been like this, you just know now?"

  The voice suddenly rose and unexpectedly attracted the attention of the mothers-in-law.

  What's going on?

  Shen Muqing felt that the person in front of her was so strange, and the tacit understanding they had just shared had vanished into thin air.

  She was very disappointed, and her bright eyes gradually dimmed.

  It's always like this, Xiao Sa is always so moody in front of her!

  She lowered her face: "Xiao Xiao, you're so clever, actually, I don't need to say more. I just hope you won't really become Wang Gong's adopted son. Politics is such a subtle and ever-changing thing. Once you're labeled as 'so-and-so party', you'll share the same fate with him. Wang Gong is also a person who has been favored by the emperor, if one day he loses favor, your position will become very difficult. I don't have any other meaning. Don't misunderstand!"

  "Is it because of this that you don't want me to have anything to do with Wang Gong?" Xiao Sa's voice floated lightly in the air, unable to find a place to land.

  He held his breath, his eyes wide with anticipation, waiting for Shen Muqing's response.

  "I don't know what's going on between us either. It seems like there's always something unclear, and we end up arguing after just a few words."

  "No, no, I won't quarrel with you!" Xiao Sa's tone was urgent and argumentative. "Rest assured, I know what's important and unimportant. I can clearly distinguish between those who are just drinking buddies and those who are true friends for life."

  Seeing Xiao Sa's eager expression, Shen Muqing couldn't help but laugh.

  After all, he is still just a seventeen-year-old boy, no matter how much conspiracy and tactics he has, there is still a time when he does not lose his nature.

  "So I say you're very clever!" Shen Muqing laughed, "It's just that your personality is a bit nagging, and when you meet someone, you can't help but lecture them a bit."

  Xiao Xiao saw her smile and for some reason, his heart relaxed, he let out a long sigh of relief, and a bright smile also appeared on his face.

  "Don't worry!" he reassured Shen Muqing once again, "I'm also preparing to die in the Tai Temple, and become a loyal minister whose name will be remembered for ages to come!"

  "With you being like this, it's enough to be a loyal minister." Xiao Sa's confident and carefree words warmed Shen Muqing's heart, and he jokingly retorted, "You'd better not become a treacherous minister!"

  "You just don't understand!" Xiao Sa said with a haughty expression, "True great loyal ministers are all powerful ministers. Look at Wei Zheng, look at Bao Zheng, which one of them doesn't have thoughts that are complex and multifaceted? And those who don't know how to adapt, most of them are nameless foolish ministers. I'll tell you, after I passed the imperial examination and became a jinshi, I spent half a month drinking with Liu Xue-shi and discussing the experiences of all the grand councilors of the Great Zhou dynasty. Guess what I discovered?"

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  Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: Preparing for the Unexpected Rain