plumnovel Chapter 57 Wang Xifeng Abuses Power
Chapter 57 Wang Xifeng Abuses Power
Wang Xifeng was shrewd and knew how to get closer to Liu Feng. She could say nice things on her own and promised that once Lin Daiyu arrived in the capital, she would take good care of her and treat her like her own younger sister.
Liu Feng ate half a bowl of cold noodles. He was a little hungry, so he ate some snacks and nodded in response from time to time.
Although I was mentally prepared, I still couldn't help but feel a little sad when I actually received the news of my death from Jinling.
Liu Feng immediately wrote a letter to Lin Ruhai and sent Liu Quan on horseback to Jinling to offer incense and kowtow to Jia Min on his behalf, and to ask Lin Ruhai if there was anything he could do to help.
Seeing Liu Feng eating without saying a word, Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes slightly and thought to herself: What a glutton, and a lecher too!
She glanced at Ping'er subconsciously.
Ping'er's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately panicked.
Liu Feng swallowed the pastry in his mouth, patted the crumbs off his hands, and said, "It's getting late. If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
We haven't even gotten to the important business yet, how can I let you leave!
Wang Xifeng quickly gave Jia Zhen a wink.
Jia Zhen stroked his beard and smiled: "I have already instructed the kitchen to prepare wine and dishes. We will invite the master of the West Mansion over later, and the three of us will have a good drink together."
After saying that, he turned to Madam You and instructed her, "Go to the kitchen and urge them to hurry up."
Madam You smiled and agreed, then invited Liu Feng to sit down before turning and walking towards the back hall.
As she passed Ping'er, she paused, noticing Ping'er's hands trembling slightly with panic. Ultimately, she couldn't bear it and pulled her away.
Liu Feng glanced at Ping'er's back and thought to himself: I'm not a tiger, what are you trembling for?
This happened to fall into Wang Xifeng's eyes, and she felt even more disdain.
Jia Zhen spoke up: "My younger sister has something she'd like to ask Brother Liu for a helping hand with."
Big? Where is it big?
Liu Feng subconsciously glanced at Wang Xifeng.
Wang Xifeng hurriedly picked up the teacup and held it in front of her chest, cursing the scoundrel in her heart, but forcing a smile on her face as she recounted in detail how Jia Yun had asked her to plead for him.
Liu Feng's eyes flashed; "Quite quick, huh? And this Jia Yun, with just a few guesses and deductions, she was able to determine that it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who did it. She does have some skill."
Seeing that Liu Feng didn't respond, Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes and said, "The Ni family already knows that I came to the East Mansion to ask Brother Liu for help. Brother Liu doesn't care about this matter. The Ni family not only said that they don't have time to care and don't care about his reward, but it's as if Brother Liu doesn't even have this much ability."
Liu Feng almost laughed in anger. "I've watched TV dramas. You might fall for Jingxu the old nun's provocation, but I'm not buying it!"
As soon as she said it, Wang Xifeng regretted it immediately, but since the words had already been spoken, she could only grit her teeth and continue, secretly giving Jia Zhen a pleading look.
Jia Zhen chuckled inwardly, thinking to himself that these were just women in the inner quarters, and all they could come up with were these low-class methods.
However, he couldn't just sit idly by. He cleared his throat and said, "Brother Liu isn't the kind of person who's greedy for benefits or tries to make money through connections. No matter how much money there is, he might not care about it."
There was a hidden meaning in his words, and Wang Xifeng understood it immediately, realizing the implication in his words.
If it were any ordinary maid, Wang Xifeng would have agreed immediately. But Ping'er was different. She was her childhood playmate, her closest confidante, and Jia Lian's concubine. This was something she absolutely could not easily give in to.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Liu Feng was anxious and wished he could just say, "Add more money! Add a little more and I'll agree immediately!"
Wang Xifeng remained silent for a while before finally speaking: "The Ni family also has another five hundred taels of tribute, making a total of seven hundred taels. As long as Brother Liu agrees, I will give it all to you without keeping a single coin for myself."
Only seven hundred taels?
Liu Feng shook his head in disappointment, but he also knew that this was all the resources the Ni family could offer.
Seeing Liu Feng shake his head, Jia Zhen quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Younger sister, you've come at the right time. I was just discussing with Brother Liu about opening a pawnshop together. Why don't you invest as well?"
Upon hearing about opening a pawnshop, Wang Xifeng's eyes lit up instantly. This business was far more profitable than opening an antique shop!
Jia Zhen smiled to himself, just when he was worried that there wasn't a sucker to help him share the losses.
He sat up straight, stroked his beard, and said, "If it's just small-scale business, 1000 taels of capital is enough. But if you want to do serious business, collecting valuable items like antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and rare artifacts, you'll need at least 3000 taels of silver."
"3000 taels?" Wang Xifeng's voice changed.
Jia Zhen sneered inwardly; after all, she was a woman's nature. Even though she was usually shrewd and strong-willed and had seen many situations, she ultimately couldn't keep her composure and calm her mind.
He continued, "For this shop, our two families will each contribute half the capital, each taking 30%, and the remaining 40% will go to Brother Liu..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wang Xifeng objected: "Why should I?"
Jia Zhen felt utterly exhausted. How could the women of the Wang family lose their sense of propriety and their vision the moment they got involved with money?
The only explanation is that "all the items confiscated from the homes of the two commanders under Brother Liu will be sent to our pawnshop to be cashed out."
Wang Xifeng wasn't stupid; she understood that in the long run, they would be the ones to benefit the most. Her face instantly brightened, and she smiled as she replied, "Let's do as Brother Zhen says."
Jia Zhen turned to look at Liu Feng.
Liu Feng tapped the table with his finger: "I want 60%."
Just as Wang Xifeng was about to explode, Jia Zhen clapped his hands and said, "Alright, it's settled then!"
Liu Feng slapped his thigh, realizing he had been too timid; he should have ordered 70% of it.
Wang Xifeng wanted to say something, but Jia Zhen stopped her with a look.
Liu Feng gained 700 taels of silver for nothing, and now he has a stable way to make money.
On Jia Zhen's side, he not only got closer to Liu Feng, but also gained a sucker to help him share the losses.
Wang Xifeng also took the opportunity to climb up the social ladder by associating with Liu Feng, and now all three parties benefited and were satisfied.
Only Ping'er smiled bitterly.
This business deal wasn't something Jia Zhen could just decide to join on with a word; it involved using the favors Jia Lian had painstakingly earned. The favors he scraped together for two hundred taels of silver ultimately benefited Wang Xifeng. Who knows how furious Jia Lian will be when he returns!
Liu Feng left in a daze, drunk. The food and wine were good, but the only downside was that the person drinking with him wasn't Wang Xifeng herself, but her father-in-law, Jia She.
Jia She, that old fox, was incredibly good at drinking. He never forced you to drink; instead, he would slowly drink with you, wearing you down little by little, until he finally managed to get you drunk.
Liu Feng gave him a nickname, "Aobai" (meaning "defeat").
Before leaving, Liu Feng asked Jia Zhen to tell Wang Xifeng to have Jia Yun go to the Thousand Household Office to find him the next day.
He wants Ni Er, and he wants Jia Yun too!
......................
Just as Liu Feng returned home and fell into a deep sleep, chaos erupted in the study.
With a sharp "crack," Emperor Yankang's most beloved blue-and-white porcelain brush holder was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces.
Dai Quan, who was standing next to him, trembled with fear.
"A bunch of useless trash! All of them are useless!" Emperor Yankang's eyes were bloodshot, and his face was frightening.
Dai Quan sighed silently.
Last time, Liu Feng found a letter in the Tartar hideout. The scribbles on it were in Tartar script: the Tartars colluded with Shanxi merchants to transport a batch of grain, salt and iron from the Mongolian grasslands to Liaodong.
The emperor wanted to follow the clues and arrest everyone at once, so he didn't directly take action to arrest people.
Unexpectedly, word got out, and the Shanxi merchants not only fled ahead of time, but also absconded with a large sum of money. They also colluded with officials at the Great Wall passes to take away a considerable amount of military equipment and supplies.
The deputy general of Datong has now led his troops in pursuit.
In the height of summer, the lush vegetation makes it easy for soldiers to hide in ambush. Datong Guard must be careful not to fall into an ambush.
"Tell me, where exactly did things go wrong?" Emperor Yankang suddenly looked at Dai Quan.
Dai Quan inwardly groaned. With so many people involved from the capital to Datong, how could he possibly know where the news had leaked?
"Who else can I trust!" Emperor Yankang slammed his hand heavily on the imperial desk.
Dai Quan kept his head down, not daring to breathe.
Emperor Yankang paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, then suddenly stopped: "Send someone to Datong; there's definitely something wrong with the Thousand-Household Office there."
Dai Quan tentatively asked, "Liu Feng...?"
Emperor Yankang was silent for a moment: "Right now, he's the only one who's free."
Dai Quan's lips twitched. "You can trust others?"
Emperor Yankang walked to the window and looked at the distant sky: "After nightfall, you will go there yourself. Tell Liu Feng that if necessary, the entire Thousand Household Garrison can be purged."