Zhong Niangzi Wanfu

Chapter 38 Seal
一
After the accident at Yuzhou Buhang, the shopkeeper died in prison, the second manager disappeared after presenting the problematic account books, and all the other unsuspecting clerks were dismissed.

Zhong Lan found the original clerk according to the Wenfu roster, and found clues about the steward and Xi Liang. He compiled the confession and sent it back to Yongan Wenshu, and Yongan's letter also arrived.

After reading Wen Shujuan's beautiful handwriting, Zhong Lan finally let go of the heart that had been tugging at her.

According to Wen Shu's letter, Zhong Lan found Zheng Xi, the magistrate of Yuzhou who had just retired before Bu Xing's accident, and asked about Bu Xing's case.

Seeing the Wenfu family seal in Zhong Lan's hand, Zheng Xi was silent for a long time, and finally sighed: "I don't know whether the clerk in the cloth shop colluded with Xi Liang, but I have heard about it."

"Wen's Clothing Company's profits have been vague in the past few years, but the tax amount has only increased but not decreased. When I was in office, I thought it was Mrs. Zheng of the Wen family's intention, so I intentionally or unintentionally helped to cover it up."

"However, this year's cloth sales tax also began to become unclear. I sent someone to inquire about the news. I only found out that Mrs. Zheng had increased the price of sales to Xiliang, but the cost was much lower than the fixed amount. At that time, the documents for my official appointment were approved. I didn’t delve into it further.”

"May I ask your lord, how can the price and cost be proved to be Madam Zheng's intention?" Zhong Lan asked hurriedly.

"I have seen the approval document handed over by the cloth shop. It has the seal of the Wen family and Mrs. Zheng's personal stamp." Zheng Xi took a sip of tea.

"This is impossible." Zhong Lan said anxiously, "The pricing and principal on the document stamped by Mrs. Zheng were different from what was written on the account book."

"If Mrs. Zheng didn't do it intentionally, then..." Zheng Xi gradually stopped talking, not sure about it.

"Then it's the document that someone forged." Zhong Lan's eyes turned cold and he continued what Zheng Xi said.

"Even if the handwriting on the document may be forged, making a private stamp is not a small crime."

"Those who do this either have a deep hatred for the Wen family and are willing to put the Wen family to death even if they are beheaded; or they have someone with high authority to block them." Zhong Lan slowly clenched his hands. .

"I want to see who it is." Zhong Yan murmured, got up and saluted Zheng Xi, "Master Zheng, where is that document now?"

Zheng Xi put down the tea cup: "Of course it is in the state government treasury, but there are many secret documents in the treasury, and Yuzhou is not Qinlin. Even if Mrs. Zhong is entrusted by Miss Wen, it may be difficult to check the government documents."

"Is there no other way?" Zhong Lan asked with a frown.

Zheng Xi shook his head: "Even if the old man is in power, he cannot enter the clerical treasury at will without an order from the royal cabinet."

"I understand, but the Wen family is kind to me. Now apart from Wen Yi, only Wen Shu is left in the Wen family. That document is the key to the case. I can't just watch the Wen family be isolated and helpless. , even if we dig a tunnel, we still have to see that document to confirm the authenticity of Mrs. Zheng’s private stamp." Seeing that Zheng Xi had no intention of helping, Zhong Lan stood up and saluted to leave.

A person with no relatives or friends is still willing to try his best. Zheng Xi, who is related to the Wen family, was speechless for a moment and raised his hand to call Zhong Lan: "I can write a letter of recommendation for Madam Zhong to the new magistrate Jiang as the former magistrate. My lord, it's just that the old man and Mr. Jiang are no more than acquaintances, whether or not he can see the documents depends on Mrs. Zhong's luck."

Zhong Lan was delighted when he heard this: "I am deeply grateful for your great kindness."

Zheng Xi sat in front of the case, finished writing the letter smoothly, and handed it to Zhong Lan: "I have heard about what Madam Zhong and Lord Shen did in Qin Lin. But not everything in this world can be redressed. The place."

"Mrs. Zhong is helping the Wen family to verify that there is nothing wrong with this case. However, if the result exceeds the range that Mrs. Zhong can bear, you must know how to stop it in moderation to avoid getting burned."

Zhong Lan thought about Zheng Xi's words carefully and nodded slightly: "I understand."

After going out and getting in the car, Zhong Lan hurried to the state government office and sent money to someone to deliver the letter.

After reading Zheng Xi's letter, Jiang Hua sold Zheng Xi's face and met Zhong Lan, but did not agree to her request.

He pushed the gold and silver box Zhong Lan placed on the table and said, "Ms. Zhong's intention is already clear to me. However, the Wen family's cloth case has been handed over to Danzhou Prefectural Government because it involves Yong'an Wenfu. Except for Danzhou The state government or the capital will come to order the investigation, and the rest, including me, have no right to interrogate."

Zhonglan was in a dilemma and begged: "Sir, I would like to have twice as much gold and silver, so why can't I be accommodating?"

Jiang Hua shook his head as if it was nothing to do with himself: "I have made it clear to Madam Zhong what I should say. Madam, please do as you please."

Zhong Lan was ordered to be expelled and walked out of the government office. He took a deep breath and said, "Chang Huan, let Feng Shuang and Zhao Lu bring the horses over. Let's go to the royal capital."

"Girl, I haven't slept for several days. The road is bumpy. Why don't you find an inn to rest first?" Chang Huan asked worriedly.

"If we delay for a moment longer, Wen Mansion will be in more danger. We can't..." Zhong Lan's vision went dark, and he fell down unsteadily.

"Girl!" Chang Huan cried and supported Zhong Lan.

"I'm fine." Zhong Lan stabilized his body and helped Chang Huan get up, "Let's go."

"Ms. Zhong?" A familiar and beautiful female voice sounded from behind Zhong Lan.

Zhong Lan turned around and saw a graceful lady wearing a curtain hat and a female envoy standing not far away. For a moment, she could not recognize the person.

The lady chuckled lightly and walked forward, opening her curtain and hat to reveal her peerless face: "We haven't seen you for two years, Madam Zhong is so forgetful."

Zhong Lan recognized that the lady in front of him was Xu Songqing, Princess Li, whom he had met once before on the day of their wedding. He quickly saluted and said hello: "I have met Li..."

"No courtesy, no courtesy." Xu Songqing stepped forward to stop Zhong Lan who was about to salute, "Your Highness has not returned from his mission to Dongchang. I don't want to make public my return to Yuzhou this time, so Madam Zhong doesn't need to be more polite."

Seeing Zhong Yan's pale face, Xu Songqing frowned slightly: "Why is Mrs. Zhong's complexion so bad?"

Zhong Lan smiled and explained the whole story in a few sentences.

"There is such a thing." Xu Songqing's eyes darkened, and she supported Zhong Lan. "My second uncle is now the general magistrate of Yuzhou. I am here to help you with this matter."

Zhonglan thought silently: Xu Songqing is the emperor's daughter-in-law, and Zhang Yushang did not entrust the Xu family with matters, probably to avoid suspicion, so why would he entrust him to her?

Thinking about the interests, she bowed her head and politely declined: "Thank you for your highness's kindness. However, this matter may be very involved, so your highness should not get involved."

"I understand your concerns." Xu Songqing held Zhong Lan's hand and consoled her, "The problem now lies in that document. I just need to let you see the document. The Xu family will not come forward in person, it is just for your convenience. .”

two

Xu Songqing placed Zhong Lan into the Xu Mansion.

Xu's family is a century-old family in Yuzhou. Xu Songqing's second uncle, Xu Shiqing, was the general judge of Yuzhou at that time. After hearing Xu Songqing's explanation, he agreed to entrust Tian Fengmin, the governor of Yuzhou, to take Zhong Yan into the state by taking the opportunity of submitting Yuzhou's grain tax at the beginning of the year. Yafu treasury.

Zhong Lan and Xu Songqing darkened their faces and pretended to be two young men. They carefully lowered their heads and followed Tian Fengmin to the state government office and into the treasury.

"I need to quietly verify last year's grain tax. You go out and guard the door. The treasury is an important place of the state government. No one is allowed to approach unless there is nothing wrong." Tian Fengmin ordered the guards outside the treasury. "Yes." The two guards closed the door and guarded the door dutifully.

Seeing this, Tian Fengmin bowed to Xu Songqing, and said softly: "Your Highness, I will go to check the grain and tax. Your Highness, be careful in everything."

"Thank you, Mr. Tian." Xu Songqing took Zhong Lan and returned the greeting, all the way to the litigation pavilion on the second floor.

"I asked someone about the Wen family's documents and contracts. After the incident in Buhang, they were all sent here for easy searching. Come with me, we have to hurry up." Xu Songqing looked at the grid in front of him, "Dong Er , Dongsan... found it!"

Zhong Lan quickly recovered and caught up.

Xu Songqing pulled down a black drawer, and took out a stack of paperwork: "Wen's Longyu was seven years old, and Longyu was eight years old..."

Seeing that Zhong Lan was dazed, Xu Songqing freed up her hand and shook her arm: "Mrs. Zhong, come and help. Have you forgotten what we came in to do?"

Zhong Lan came back to his senses, took the document from Xu Songqing's hand, and confessed again and again: "Your Highness, please forgive me. Your Highness is so kind and enthusiastic. I burst into tears of gratitude and was distracted for a moment."

Xu Songqing chuckled: "You don't understand why I help you because I only have a relationship with you?"

Zhong Lan's thoughts were seen through, and he was worried that Xu Songqing would blame him, so he was about to explain: "Your Highness..."

"Time is urgent now. I have time to tell you the reason." Xu Songqing stopped Zhong Lan and handed her another stack of documents.

The two of them picked up the document and rummaged through it, and finally found a document with the words "Wen's Cloth Trader, Xiliang Merchant, please approve the document" on the cover page.

"Ms. Zhong, you better come and see it." Xu Songqing put the document in Zhong Lan's hand.

Zhong Lan's hands trembled slightly as he opened the seal that had been sealed for a year.

The handwriting of the document is simple, and the fixed principal amount held is the same as that of the account book in question.

"Is this really written by Mrs. Zheng, the writer?" Xu Songqing read every word carefully and couldn't find anything strange between the lines.

As Zheng Xi said, this document alone plus the account book can convict the Wen family.

Zhong Lan didn't answer and glanced at it to the end.Suddenly, the final stamp on the document caught her attention: a small corner was innocuously missing.

"This stamp..." Zhong Lan muttered, staring at the bright red stamp.

"It's common for seal stones to bump and bump. I'm afraid it doesn't mean anything." Xu Songqing frowned slightly.

"No." Zhong Lan rubbed the bright red color, "This is impossible, the Wen family's seal..."

She suddenly understood and quickly took out Wen Shu's letter from her sleeve. She compared the stamp on the letter with the stamp on the document and finally had an epiphany.

"Wen Shu told me before that the seal of the Wen family's headquarters is made of Nan'an steel; the cabinet seals of Wen's shops in various states are made of black iron or refined copper produced in Beizhao."

Zhong Lan placed the two seals in front of Xu Songqing: "Your Highness, please take a look. Not only is a corner of the seal on this document missing, but if you look closely, the seal is uneven. It must not be a solid stone seal, but refined copper that cannot be smelted." Or black iron.”

Xu Songqing's expression suddenly changed.

"As mentioned in Wen Shu's letter, in order to prevent counterfeiting, Mrs. Zheng usually uses a special material to make a watermark at the lower corner of the seal. Wen Shu still uses it today." Zhong Lan picked up Wen Shu's letter and faced it with the application document. The light coming in from the window shone.

There was a small word "文" on the letter, but there was nothing on the approval document.

Zhong Lan was extremely happy: "We have found the justice that the Wen family wanted. I will return to Yong'an now!"

Xu Songqing grabbed Zhong Lan and whispered: "We can't continue the investigation."

Zhong Lan became confused: "Why did His Highness say that?"

Xu Songqing clutched the approval document tightly and said uneasily: "At the beginning of last year, a large amount of scrap iron came out of the Yuzhou official mine. It was sold to the Nan'an and Xiliang official offices by the Beizhaoye Iron Company. The deposit has been paid, but when the time comes, Beizhao cannot deliver the goods, and the Three Kingdoms are at war with each other."

"The head of the supervising officials at that time was His Highness the Crown Prince. His Majesty Long Yan was furious. The Crown Prince was punished to kneel down in the East Palace and was fined three years' salary. A dozen state officials were dismissed because of this."

"Later, His Majesty handed over the matter to His Royal Highness King Li. As soon as His Highness signed a contract with Xiliang Nan'an to postpone the delivery, a fire broke out in the warehouse where the scrap iron was stored. After it was extinguished by the Anti-Japanese Army, the batch of scrap iron He was nowhere to be found."

"Some people say that the prince used the fire as a cover to transport the scrap iron, while others say that the deposed Yuzhou salt transport envoy was waiting for an opportunity to retaliate."

Xu Songqing paused, his eyes full of worry: "I'm afraid that this matter will involve that batch of scrap metal."

"But you can't just rely on a strange stamp to determine where the scrap metal went." Zhong Lan was unwilling to give up this clue.

"Ms. Zhong, if this matter is really related to that batch of scrap iron, once it is involved and the matter of the past is brought up again, I am afraid the consequences are not what you and I can predict." Xu Songqing put her hand on Zhong Lan's.

"This matter is not something you can investigate, or it is not a good time to investigate it. I am protecting you, and you have to know the pros and cons."

Zhong Yan understood Xu Songqing's meaning, he hesitated to speak for a while: "Ke Wenshu..."

"I will ask my second uncle to write a letter to Governor Zhang and the governor of Danzhou to clarify the relationship between Wenfu and Wenfu. I will make a decision after His Highness returns from his mission. I will make a decision after discussing it in detail with His Highness. You should not interfere anymore. Yes." Xu Songqing softened her expression.

The two followed Tian Fengmin out of the treasury.

"As long as it proves that the inscription was not stamped by Mrs. Zheng's private seal, the grievances of the Wen family can be cleared." Xu Songqing persuaded Zhong Yan softly when he saw the change in Zhong Yan's expression.

Zhong Lan smiled: "I understand."

"You were wondering why I wanted to help you before." Xu Songqing patted Zhong Lan on the shoulder, "Because I heard about what happened between you and Shen Feng in Danzhou, and I hope to use my pure heart to serve the officials and the people. There can be more people.”

"But make a decision and then act. You and I must know how to lie dormant and wait for the opportunity to act."

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)