"This, this..."
The Zhen family retainers, who had already rushed close, were suddenly stunned.
"The authorities?"
"Where did the authorities come from?"
"No way?"
"You lot, a group of fully armed soldiers, coming to bully us poor folks, is that amusing?"
"Clang clang clang..."
Before Niu Gao could even speak, these Zhen family retainers hurriedly dropped their weapons and, with practiced ease, clasped their hands over their heads and squatted on the ground.
They weren't fools!
To confront the authorities?
Let alone whether they could win, even if they did win, what then?
Once labeled as rebels, you'd spend the rest of your life wandering.
Let alone them,
Even the second master Zhen, who had been so arrogant moments ago, now felt his legs weakening.
"O-officer..."
With a face full of forced smiles, the second master Zhen cautiously approached the pale-faced youth, Heshen.
"You see, is there perhaps some misunderstanding here?"
"Misunderstanding?"
Heshen cast a sympathetic glance at the man, but spoke without mercy,
"Second Master Zhen, there can be no misunderstanding. We are looking for your Zhen family."
"As for the reason?"
At this, Heshen paused and gestured towards the inner courtyard of the Zhen family.
"Let's just say you've gone too far, to the point where a widow and her child had to beg for help from our master."
"Our master is a great philanthropist!"
"He cannot stand seeing people like you bully widows and orphans."
"So he sent us to back them up!"
"Do you understand now?"
"Y-yes, I understand..."
The forced smile vanished from the second master Zhen's face, and he became dejected.
With things said this far,
Could he not understand?
Wasn't it just that that slut had found a new backer, and now wanted to deal with them all at once?
Damn it!
Were beautiful women so popular these days?
Even though she already had a child, she could still find a new backer?
Why wasn't he a woman!
If he were a woman, how could the Zhen family be taken over by an outsider?
Alas,
Although the Zhen family had five brothers, they didn't even have a sister.
"Hmm?"
"Woman?"
Thinking of the daughters his elder brother had left behind, a glint appeared in the second master Zhen's eyes.
...
Under Heshen and the others' intentional guidance, the changes in the Zhen family quickly spread.
Their intention was simple.
To declare their ownership!
Don't covet this piece of fat from the Zhen family, or you might break your teeth.
But they hadn't expected,
Once the news broke,
The entire Kingdom of Zhongshan was shaken.
The Zhen family was no ordinary family!
Or rather,
Qin Feng's impression of the Zhen family was limited to their status as a commercial family.
But he had forgotten,
No matter when, no matter what dynasty, no matter what you did.
Those who could become the top few could not possibly have no background.
The importance of official positions was not just a saying!
The Zhen family was no different.
Although their ancestors were merely officials of two thousand piculs, Grand Guardians of Han.
That still belonged to the aristocratic class!
What's more,
Qin Feng was not the only one eyeing this piece of fat. Many people in Jizhou were watching.
Now that he had intercepted it, how could those aristocratic families be willing?
Especially Zhang Chun, the Chancellor of Zhongshan, who was now grinding his teeth in hatred.
"Damn it!"
"Who did it?"
Upon hearing the news from his servant, Zhang Chun roared with laughter and smashed the wine cup in his hand to the ground.
"Someone actually dared to stir up trouble on my grand domain! Do they really think my Zhang family fears him!"
"Your Excellency~!"
The middle-aged man drinking with Zhang Chun next to him quickly advised,
"The situation is unknown. We cannot be the first to step forward!"
"Then what should we do?"
Zhang Chun, who had calmed down slightly, his face still darkened, said,
"I had finally managed to contact a foreign tribe, and had them kill Madam Zhen."
"And now?"
"Before I could even make a move, someone has already come to snatch the spoils?"
"This is outrageous!"
"Heh heh..."
Hearing Zhang Chun's complaints, the middle-aged man lightly smiled and shook his head.
"Your Excellency, this may not be a bad thing!"
"A good thing?"
Zhang Chun looked up and glared at the middle-aged man with dissatisfaction.
"The duck that was about to enter my mouth is flying away. How can this be a good thing?"
"Your Excellency, please calm down!"
A flash of dissatisfaction flickered in the middle-aged man's eyes, but after some thought, he still smiled and explained,
"The matter of you having the Madam Zhen killed will eventually get out."
"This is perfect timing!"
"Since this bird has come to snatch the food, let's pin the blame on them!"
"Then you can raise an army under the guise of suppressing rebels, and no one will dare to say anything, and you can take down the Zhen family at the same time."
"Oh~!"
Listening to the middle-aged man's explanation, all the dissatisfaction in Zhang Chun's eyes vanished, replaced by an uncontrollable smile.
"You scholars really know how to use your brains!"
"Indeed!"
"Let's do as you said. Find someone to spread the news!"
"Yes~!"
The middle-aged man, no longer caring about drinking, agreed and hurried off to make arrangements.
The next day,
A rumor from who knows where, spread through the streets and alleys of Wuji County.
"Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Didn't the head of the Zhen family die? Someone colluded with the barbarians and killed Madam Zhen as well, and now they've taken over the entire Zhen family."
"No way?"
"That powerful?"
"Quick, tell us what happened?!"
Hearing the discussions around him, the man smiled, about to tell the fabricated story, when he saw a troop of cavalry approaching rapidly.
"Spreading seditious rumors, punishable by death!"
Before the petty rogue, who had been paid, could argue, the cavalryman's saber swung down.
"Swish!"
Accompanied by a splash of crimson blood, a large head soared into the sky.
"Ah~!!"
"Murder, murder!"
"Run!"
After everyone had fled in panic, a sneer flashed across the cavalryman's lips.
"Giddy-up~!"
He flicked his whip, and led his men out of Wuji, disappearing without a trace.
When Heshen and the others arrived after receiving the news, only a red stain remained on the ground, and even the corpse had been taken away by the county yamen.
"What's going on?"
Heshen frowned, looking at Niu Gao beside him, and asked with some confusion,
"Did you really order someone to kill him?"
"How is that possible?!"
Upon hearing this, Niu Gao quickly shook his head, his face darkening as he said,
"Even if I were brainless, I wouldn't do something as foolish as killing someone in the street!"
"Interesting~!"
Heshen also felt that Niu Gao wouldn't do such a thing. He licked his lips and chuckled,
"It seems the local ruffians of Wuji County want to show us some color!"