The lame man trembled all over. What kind of people were the Brocade-Clad Guards? Even if they were fake, they could twist them into something real. Going in would mean losing a layer of skin even if they survived. His face changed drastically.
"Old Patriarch, I won't exchange these silver notes, alright? They're fake!" The lame man tried to escape in a hurry. "Please let me go!"
Old Patriarch Zhou could issue notes in an instant without any obstruction, so there must be someone behind him. As for who it was, everyone could guess with a little thought.
Who else could be managing Liangzhou City and allowing Old Patriarch Zhou such freedom?
To go and debate with that person would be to court death without knowing how.
"I, I don't want them anymore, alright!" The lame man retreated, waving his hands repeatedly.
Seeing this, the common people instinctively began to back away, their faces turning cold. "Old Patriarch, we'll deposit money, we'll deposit money!"
Old Patriarch Zhou raised his hand, and someone immediately placed a chair behind him, also bringing him a cup of tea. "Regarding today's matter, everyone here is a victim. But my Zhou family promises that the conditions we agreed upon will not change."
Of course, Old Patriarch Zhou did not forget to seize this opportunity to leverage his power. He spoke with great enthusiasm, "Since the King has entrusted this matter to the Zhou family, he must trust us. If anyone dares to cause trouble behind our backs, do not blame me for showing no mercy. As for today..."
Old Patriarch Zhou slightly gestured, and someone placed the silver notes into his hand. He weighed the silver notes and scanned the crowd. Everyone trembled.
"You all know in your hearts how these came to be. I have no intention of pursuing the matter. Let bygones be bygones!"
Old Patriarch Zhou casually tossed the fake silver notes into the brazier. Watching the flames slowly consume them, he finally felt a bit of relief.
He could lead people to reason with Ye Feng, but there was a consequence: Ye Feng might deem him incompetent and replace him. That would be a net loss.
Moreover, given the large number of people involved, Old Patriarch Zhou knew the principle that the law does not punish the masses clearly.
Seeing the silver notes completely consumed by the flames, everyone felt a wave of relief, as if their shackles had been completely removed.
"Old Patriarch Zhou is benevolent. We should take Old Patriarch Zhou as an example!" The lame man offered a timely flattery, making Old Patriarch Zhou beam with joy.
"I dare not, I dare not. We do business here, and all of you are our benefactors. We ask for your continued patronage!" Old Patriarch Zhou said hastily.
"That is only natural, that is only natural."
In an instant, a storm disappeared without a trace. The crowd dispersed, leaving only the lame man, held tightly by two men on either side, unable to leave or stay.
The lame man heard Old Patriarch Zhou cough heavily. He scrambled to his knees and begged for mercy, soon bleeding from his head. He only dared to look up slightly at Old Patriarch Zhou.
"Your old servant hated you terribly and should not have spared you!" Old Patriarch Zhou said meaningfully, holding his tea. "But I thought about it, what was your fault? This old servant does not wish to be one who shouts and kills!"
"Thank you, Old Patriarch, thank you, Old Patriarch!" the lame man said hurriedly, kowtowing. "This humble one will forever remember your great kindness. May Old Patriarch live as long as the South Mountain and remain as evergreen as the pine!"
"Enough with the pleasantries. This old servant only wants to ask you one thing: who exactly wants to deal with my Zhou family? Do they think my Zhou family is made of dough?" Old Patriarch Zhou spoke fiercely. "If they want to deal with my Zhou family, they must see if they have the ability!"
"He does, he really does!" the lame man thought to himself. "If it really comes to a fight, you are no match for him!"
To put it bluntly, who else could it be but the machinations of Old Patriarch Ma and Old Patriarch Shi? If they were to act, they could truly bring down Old Patriarch Zhou.
However, he had won this round. Old Patriarch Zhou spoke excitedly, "You don't say it, but I already know who it is. Go back and tell those two that this old servant is unwilling to bother with them now. If they continue to make trouble, do not blame me for showing no mercy. This old servant keeps his word."
"Yes, yes, yes, this humble one will definitely deliver the message!" the lame man hastily kowtowed, agreeing. He was already grateful to have saved his life and didn't care about arguing. He hurried out. As for whether he actually delivered the message, who could say for sure?
The lame man hurriedly left the note issuer. Someone immediately blindfolded him and bound his hands behind his back, escorting him to Old Patriarch Ma's mansion. At this moment, Old Patriarch Shi was also seated, drinking tea and constantly persuading.
"Don't worry, even if Old Patriarch Zhou wants to make a move against us, he cannot threaten us two," Old Patriarch Shi said slowly. "Brother Ma, why are you so anxious? Why not just wait quietly!"
"I followed your advice and ended up in this mess. Now you tell me this? Are you waiting until our families are destroyed before you shed your confidence!" Old Patriarch Ma said sarcastically.
Old Patriarch Shi knew that Old Patriarch Ma was angry and did not argue. He sighed heavily and was about to leave. "Brother, I cannot persuade you. In that case, I shall take my leave!"
"Hurry up and get out," Old Patriarch Ma cursed. "Do you really think this old man can't do anything without you!"
"Fine, in that case, we part ways!" Old Patriarch Shi did not linger, leaving directly. "Don't regret it!"
Only then did Old Patriarch Ma turn to stare at the lame man coldly and say, "Do you know what you did wrong?"
Before the lame man could speak, Old Patriarch Ma grabbed his chin and cursed, "Even if you went to King Chu, so what? Do you think this old man would abandon you? Does Ye Feng really intend to punish so many people?"
"You have completely disgraced this old man!" Old Patriarch Ma cursed. "You figure it out yourself. How to deal with him? If all else fails, this old man will have to kill you and frame him!"
A human life, when all is said and done, is not much. But with the instigation of a faction, the situation would surely change. The lame man trembled all over and was about to kowtow. The next moment, he burst into tears. "Patriarch, spare my life! Patriarch, spare my life! This humble one is still of great use!"
"Tell me how?" Old Patriarch Ma picked up his tea and said coldly. "Otherwise, I will have to kill you and let you serve one last purpose!"
The lame man's eyes rolled. He hurriedly said, "I, I have killed people before, and I can definitely help you. I will go and kill him!"
To save his life, the lame man would say any nonsensical thing, but Old Patriarch Ma actually believed him. He stared at the lame man and said, "Tell me, who did you kill and by what means!"
"I, I..." The lame man babbled on, amusing Old Patriarch Ma. He slapped his thigh and said, "Good skills! In that case, as long as you help this old man kill someone, this matter will be forgotten!"
"May I ask, Patriarch, who is to be assassinated?" The lame man, as if convincing himself with his lies, his eyes turned sinister, and he slowly looked up.
"The target is Liu Dai, the Inspector of Yanzhou. You will pin the real culprit on that person later," Old Patriarch Ma's eyes narrowed, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly. "I don't believe anyone can help him."
"Alright." The lame man readily agreed and cupped his fists. "Please arrange other matters, Patriarch. As for my family, please take care of them as well!"
The steward stopped the lame man, who was about to leave, and said coldly, "Patriarch is still here, where do you think you are going?"
"Let him go!" Old Patriarch Ma recalled the lame man's vivid story and said coldly, clapping his hand. "Naturally, he cannot be judged by conventional standards!"
"Sir, the Inspector of Yanzhou, Liu Dai, might be difficult to deal with. Perhaps we should..." The steward was apprehensive. They could not afford to offend a regional official.
Old Patriarch Ma was already enraged and couldn't bother with many things. He slapped the table and said coldly, "Opportunities are sought. Tell him, this old man will naturally invite Liu Dai, the Inspector of Yanzhou, to a banquet. At that time, he will have an opportunity to make a move, and can even injure this old man!"
"This subordinate will handle it meticulously!" The steward bowed low and slowly retreated.
Old Patriarch Ma's face was grim. He said coldly, "Old man, you should not have opposed me. This time, even King Chu cannot save you, I say it!"
The lame man returned home and pondered for a long time, realizing that in Liangzhou, he had no way out. He hurriedly wrote a letter and asked his wife to give it to Ye Feng, while he sharpened his knife.
"Shopkeeper, if you don't come back this time, what will I do with this family? How will I raise them!" The woman covered her face and wept. "Then, then how will the children live."
The lame man hugged his wife and tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, after I'm gone, someone will naturally help look after you. But you must be vigilant then, don't just listen to everything like I did."
"My dear, don't worry, no matter what, I will take good care of our child and raise him to be an adult!" the woman said hurriedly.
"I believe you, and you protect yourself!" The lame man gently patted his wife's shoulder. After a hasty night's rest, he went out. Seeing Liu Dai, whose yellow earth road and well-watered streets were orderly, he pointed and said faintly, "A true man should be like this!"
As Old Patriarch Ma went out to greet him, an entourage of sixteen people cleared a path. Liu Dai dismounted and entered slowly, head held high.
"Younger brother, it has been many years, and your style is still the same. This old brother misses you dearly!" Old Patriarch Ma hurried over and clasped his fists. "After parting ways in Luoyang, this old brother has missed you terribly. Seeing you today fulfills my wish!"
Liu Dai snorted coldly and, without a word, strode into the Ma residence. He said coldly, "You are the master of this house. Interesting!"
Old Patriarch Ma eagerly tried to say a few more words but saw Liu Dai wave his hand slightly. Two boys, about sixteen years old, blocked Old Patriarch Ma. They held a small jade cong and placed it gently before Old Patriarch Ma, simultaneously placing a small silver coin in Old Patriarch Ma's hand.
"I am an Inspector appointed by His Majesty. I have shown you enough respect today. Hand over that item, and I will leave immediately!" Liu Dai said coldly.
The harm was not great, but the insult was extreme!