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Chapter 134: Presenting a Book 2/4
Each and every one of these incidents ignited anger in the Emperor’s heart.
However, Magistrate Zhang did indeed go beyond his jurisdiction.
The Emperor covered his head, feeling even more uncomfortable. He began coughing violently, and as he coughed, he fainted.
“Your Majesty, Your Majesty…” Lu Qingxi was startled, his voice filled with panic.
In fact, although the Jin faction had jumped high and many people indeed believed the nonsense they spewed, there were sober-minded officials in the court.
They felt that Magistrate Zhang was in the right and sympathized greatly with him.
These people privately lamented, “Zhang Zhiru… he’s just too straightforward.”
“What a pity!”
“When the Emperor recovers, I will still petition to let him off!”
“Aren’t you afraid of the King of Jin?”
“A man must know when to act and when not to act!”
…
Some scholars who had not yet entered the officialdom also realized something was amiss: “The Lou family keeps saying that Magistrate Zhang is seeking personal revenge, but even if he wanted revenge, he should have targeted the King of Jin. Why bother killing the Lou family, who had little to do with the King of Jin? And why risk his future and life to kill a county magistrate?”
“The King of Jin is powerful and influential, so Magistrate Zhang must have feared that these people would escape punishment if he didn’t take action!”
“The King of Jin is distorting right and wrong!”
…
As for the common people in the capital, most of them didn’t know the specifics of the situation and basically believed whichever side they heard.
It was at this time that the fleet from the Shen family arrived in the capital.
Many people were anxious for Magistrate Zhang, but for most of the people in the capital, life went on as usual.
Even the innkeeper, although her business was the same as before these days, she herself seemed a bit listless.
It wasn’t until someone told her that the Shen family’s caravan had arrived that she perked up and said, “I’ll go take a look!”
At this point, there was no way to do anything to the King of Jin.
The Lou family had only caused a bit of trouble in Linhu County. Regardless of what Magistrate Zhang did, the King of Jin wouldn’t be greatly affected.
At most, he would be punished with a reduction in salary for his uncle’s misconduct and then spend a few days in self-reflection.
After this ordeal passes, he’ll just do whatever he wants. It’s just some common people who died… those people don’t care at all!
Just like back in Yu County, many people starved to death because the relief funds were embezzled. But now… who still remembers what happened back then?
She knew that no matter what she did, she probably wouldn’t be able to harm the lofty King Jin. After all, he’s from the royal family!
He was born “noble” compared to them!
Slowly but surely, one must proceed slowly but surely…
The shopkeeper smiled as she got up. “The goods I’ve been waiting for have arrived… let’s go take a look.”
Meanwhile, on Wu Baichuan’s ship, people were unloading various goods.
During this period, Wu Baichuan hadn’t seen much of the two men that Li Qingzhi had sent to his ship. It wasn’t until now that he could clearly see their faces.
He watched as they personally carried the goods off the ship.
Feng Da had been at the quarry for a long time and wasn’t feeling well, so he couldn’t lift anything. Therefore, it was Chang Duan who carried the goods, while Feng Da stayed at the dock to guard the goods that were being unloaded.
“What are you carrying? Why are you so secretive about it?” Wu Baichuan couldn’t help but ask.
These two had been moving all the goods into their room these past few days, guarding them closely!
“These things are quite precious,” Chang Duan smiled.
Seeing that Chang Duan didn’t want to say more, Wu Baichuan didn’t ask further. Instead, Chang Duan asked Wu Baichuan, “Shopkeeper Wu, I heard you have dealings with Master Qiantose?”
“Yes, our goods are picked by Master Qiantose’s people first,” Wu Baichuan said.
Li Qingzhi had already told Chang Duan about this, but getting a definite answer made Chang Duan very happy. “Shopkeeper Wu, can I go with you? My goods might be liked by Master Qiantose.”
“Sure, you can come with me when the time comes,” Wu Baichuan said.
Chang Duan looked very frail, not like a bad person at all, and the people he had met with were just some of Lu Qingxi’s shopkeepers, so nothing should go wrong… It should be fine to bring Chang Duan along.
He didn’t want to offend Li Qingzhi.
Chang Duan kept thanking him profusely.
Their books had been moved, and he hailed a carriage for Feng Da, telling him to find a place to settle down. Then, he took two sets of books with him and followed behind Wu Baichuan, planning to stay behind and meet with Lu Qingxi’s people.
Before they set off, they already knew that the Shen family had connections with Lu Qingxi, which greatly facilitated their plans.
Perhaps they could use this opportunity to deliver the books to Lu Qingxi.
But just doing this wouldn’t be enough, and Lu Qingxi might not care about the books at all or be willing to help Magistrate Zhang.
So he and Feng Da planned to split up.
He would deliver the books, while Feng Da would hide with the remaining books and try to distribute them.
Chang Duan knew some officials who were close to Magistrate Zhang and could also send some books!
Feng Da, being a former resident of a brothel, knew a bit about everything and could speak a little bureaucratic language… He would distribute the books and then go to the Register to lodge a complaint against King Jin.
In a way, these books could also serve as official complaints!
And Feng Da himself was a victim!
“Where are you taking the goods?” Wu Baichuan asked Chang Duan in confusion.
Chang Duan said, “We have acquaintances in the capital.”
Li Qingzhi’s people had acquaintances in the capital? Wu Baichuan became even more puzzled and a bit cautious. He started chatting with Chang Duan and asked where Chang Duan was from.
Chang Duan smiled and replied, “My family is from the prefectural capital. I met Mr. Li when he went to take the prefectural examination…”
Chang Duan was actually quite articulate. He used to run a tavern and knew quite a bit about things… With just a few words, he dispelled Wu Baichuan’s suspicions.
But Wu Baichuan was still curious. “Why haven’t you been going out before? Li Qingzhi even said you don’t like to talk…”
Chang Duan reached out his hand to show Wu Baichuan. “Shopkeeper Wu, have you seen my hand? It’s full of needle marks! The goods we brought to the capital this time are semi-finished products, and we’ve been processing them in the cabin.”
“What are you processing? And why did you mess up your hand like that?” Wu Baichuan gasped when he saw the marks on Chang Duan’s hand.
“It’s some jewelry and ornaments. We haven’t stopped all the way here,” Chang Duan said.
Chang Duan and Feng Da placed the books in wooden boxes. The books were quite heavy, and they looked like they treasured them… Wu Baichuan believed their words.
Their goods hadn’t been unloaded yet when someone came to find Wu Baichuan. “Shopkeeper Wu, Shopkeeper Wu is here.”
The shopkeeper under Lu Qingxi’s command wouldn’t come to pick the goods until tomorrow, but Shopkeeper Wu was anxious and wanted to do something else to relax, so she came early.
Hearing this, Wu Baichuan immediately instructed Chang Duan, “Shopkeeper Wu has a good reputation in front of Master Qiantose, so you must be polite later…”
Just as Wu Baichuan finished instructing, he saw a woman in a colorful dress, adorned with pearls and jade, in her twenties, leading a group of people coming quickly.
Without thinking, he smiled and greeted her, chatting with Shopkeeper Wu.
On the other side, Chang Duan saw Shopkeeper Wu and inexplicably felt that she looked familiar.
It was strange because he had never seen Shopkeeper Wu before.
Moreover, when he recalled, he couldn’t remember anyone resembling Shopkeeper Wu in his memory.
Chang Duan snapped out of it and followed behind Wu Baichuan, showing a pleasing smile to Shopkeeper Wu.
“Shopkeeper Wu, have my goods arrived?” Shopkeeper Wu didn’t like flattery from Wu Baichuan and directly asked.
“They have, they have. Shopkeeper Wu, please come and have a look.” Wu Baichuan led Shopkeeper Wu to see the items made by Jin Xiaoye Embroidery Workshop. Most of the goods had been unloaded, and the samples had already been opened… Shopkeeper Wu was very satisfied when she saw the samples.
The goods brought by Wu Baichuan this time were still novel in style.
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