Chapter 32 Descendant of an Old Friend
County office. The department.
Manager Sun and Zhou Yi were talking about buying and selling prisoners in front of the scholars. Clearly, this was an open secret in Barren City.
They depended on whatever there was to eat.
The government office in Barren City relied on selling criminals for a living.
1,200 taels of silver would be used to fake the death of the exiled prisoners at the mine. They would change their surnames and enter Barren City. After a few years, they would be able to use some connections to move to another state capital and completely become a good citizen.
“Mr. Zhou, don’t think it’s expensive. This silver didn’t fall on us.” Manager Sun pointed upward. “Master has been a scholar for twelve years. Do you understand?”
“So you’re Prime Minister Zhang’s student!” Zhou Yi looked respectful and said in a low voice, “That year’s Palace Examination was not too peaceful. Everyone was looking at the rankings. Prime Minister Zhang took the opportunity to…” As he spoke, he made a grabbing gesture. His gaze swept across the people in the county government office and said, “Do you know why?”
Manager Sun cupped his hands and said, “Please enlighten me, sir!”
The scholars in the household pricked up their ears and noted down the secrets of the country. When they returned to drink with their colleagues, it would be the top topic of discussion. It was as enjoyable as discussing international politics at a barbecue stall.
“That year, the Duke won a great victory in the northern border and took the opportunity to attack Great Yong. His reputation was flourishing!”
Zhou Yi said slowly, “At that time, the Minister of War was a general in the army. He had once worked with the Duke to destroy the traitors in Jiangnan. The two of them, one inside and one outside, were invincible in the imperial court.”
“Prime Minister Zhang took this opportunity to take it down, break the customs of the country, and become the Minister of War as a civil official…”
“Hiss!”
Manager Sun no longer suspected that Mr. Zhou must be from the Divine Capital. He said respectfully, “Sir, please take a seat. I’ll go and urge those lazy fellows to do their work!”
“Please, Manager.”
Zhou Yi’s actions were polite. He was elegant and imposing, but not superior to others. He made people feel like they were bathing in a spring breeze.
Within moments, he was chatting happily with the officials.
He casually mentioned some secrets of the Divine Capital, such as a certain high official who returned to his hometown and actually went to Spring Breeze GTower without settling the bill. He owed tens of thousands of taels of silver, but in the end, the lady told the Censor through pillow talk. After more than ten complaints, a certain official lost all his reputation and could only retire.
Such rumors could not be taken seriously. How could ordinary people know the real reason for his retirement? However, people preferred to hear such gossip.
Manager Sun said in surprise, “What kind of place is Spring Breeze Tower? It can actually persuade the Censor to submit a memorial?”
“When ordinary people go to the Divine Capital, they only know that the Musical House Division is a good place, but it’s actually not. Only minor officials go to the Musical House Division. The real money squandering den in the Divine Capital is the Spring Breeze Tower…”
As soon as Zhou Yi said this, everyone perked up.
Initially, he was just chatting with the scholars in the office. In the end, Zhou Yi pointed out three to five courtesans and the other students from the other offices came over.
There were three realms in the Divine Capital, and Zhou Yi was the most familiar with them. Home, Sky Prison, Spring Breeze Tower.
Zhou Yi, who had visited the Spring Breeze Tower for twenty years, had a deep relationship with the 20-odd Flower Queens selected during this period. His comments were clear and logical. Among a group of men, sex was the best way to get closer. It has been like this since ancient times!
Zhou Yi sighed and said, “The Flower Queen Su Xiaoxiao who was chosen two years ago could be considered the best in the past ten years. Unfortunately, Duke Wei took a fancy to her before she could be groomed. He spent money to buy her into the Duke’s Mansion and let her become his concubine.”
“Even a prostitute can enter the Duke’s Mansion?”
“Duke Wei is a big shot!”
“He’s really lucky!”
IIII
Everyone discussed among themselves. The Flower Queens in front did not have a good ending. Those who retired quickly married merchants and became concubines. Most of them became ordinary prostitutes after they aged.
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“You’re wrong. Su Xiaoxiao is the unlucky one!” Zhou Yi’s tone changed, making everyone’s hearts itch. He slowly took a sip of tea. “That Duke is also afraid of his wife. Su Xiaoxiao died not long after she entered the residence.”
“Ah…”
“What a pity!”
“The best in the past ten years. Not fated to meet!”
“Heaven is jealous of her!”
“I knew it. How could a mere whore have such a good life?”
No one condemned the Duke’s wife for killing her, and they even despised Su Xiaoxiao for it. It was her own fault for trying to climb up the ranks of the Duke’s Mansion. The lecherous Duke Wei, on the other hand, made everyone like him because he was afraid of his wife. If even a grand duke was afraid of his wife, and I was afraid of my wife, wouldn’t I be equivalent to a duke?
That was the way of the world. No one could change it.
They were still talking when they heard footsteps. The bailiff came through the door with seven prisoners.
The mine was more than ten kilometers away from Barren City, and they had to search and verify their identification. After at least ten hours, when the sky was about to turn dark, the bailiff finally returned.
There were more than a hundred people exiled in the Wei family. After more than twenty years, only seven remained.
Zhou Yi swept his gaze across the prisoners and asked the oldest-looking man, “Are you the descendant of Sir Wei?”
“Sir, I am Wei Jun, the third son of my father, Wei Chang.”
On the way, Wei Jun had already heard from the guard that this gentleman was an old friend of the Wei family. He had come to Barren City to spend money to save his life.
After Zhou Yi saved Li Hong, he changed his appearance. He was 45 years old and a little old.
If he deliberately used this appearance to do things and exposed that he had received Wei Chang’s kindness back then, it could explain the origin of his internal energy. He would not be in much trouble even if others knew about this. Instead, they would admire Zhou Yi for being grateful.
Zhou Yi asked, “I owe Sir Wei a favor back then. Today, it’s to pay back for that. Think about it carefully. Do you want to return to your hometown or stay on the northern border?”
“Benefactor, we’ve already discussed it on the way, so we won’t return to Yuzhou. We’ll stay on the northern border to earn a living.” Wei Jun replied, “After a few decades, we’ll go back and offer incense to our ancestors.”
It had only been more than 20 years since the Wei Chang case. There were many enemies of the Wei family in Yuzhou. Even if they changed their names, once they were recognized and reported, the Imperial Court would send someone to investigate.
“Okay.” Zhou Yi agreed and took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve. “I’ll have to trouble Manager Sun. I see that there are many empty houses in Barren City. Can you buy one for the Wei family to stay in?”
“Sir, you must be joking. There’s no need to buy a dilapidated house. You can just choose a place to transfer the deed over.”
Manager Sun took the banknotes. There were at least fifteen or sixteen of them. He said with a smile, “If the Wei family is willing to stay in the city, I can arrange for them to work in the houses. They can guard the granary on a daily basis. There will definitely be food and drink.”
When Wei Jun saw Zhou Yi looking over, he hurriedly agreed. “Thank you, Benefactor. Thank you, Manager Sun!”
The Wei family was extremely grateful to Zhou Yi. After their family was destroyed did they know the true connections. Back then, the Wei family was quite famous in Yuzhou. The Flying Rainbow Swordsman had many friends, but in the end, no one helped them.
Most of the people in the martial world were good friends. Occasionally, one or two heroes would become popular stories. It was not wise to think that all of them were the same.
“Old Sun, the Sturdy Team is short of people. Why don’t they come on duty here? The mine patrol is more carefree.”
“The armory is also short-staffed. There’s a lot of benefits on duty at the city gate.”
“It’s not as easy as my ceremonial department. There’s no need for a roll call every day. After all, there’s not even a scholar in the city!”
The stewards of the different departments spoke up one after another. Firstly, they saw that Zhou Yi had an extraordinary background, and secondly, it was for the sake of those silver.
Zhou Yi cupped his hands and smiled.
“Thank you, everyone. Please take care of the Wei family in the future. When you go to the Divine Capital, I might not be able to help with the matters of the Spring Breeze Tower’s courtesans, but I can arrange anything else!”
There was a sudden roar of laughter.
