Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 53: Zhilan in the Road Must Be Weeded Out
Wu Chengjian didn't know how long he had been walking in the corridors, garden paths, and gravel roads that were sometimes bright and sometimes dark. In short, he passed through seven or eight doors before arriving at a courtyard.
"Wait." The servant ordered and went in. After a while, he came out: "Go in." After entering, he saw a hall inside. When he looked up, he saw the three characters "Anshantang" written on the plaque. Liu Quan stood under the plaque and said softly: "Haoguan, long time no see. You are really loyal. For a master, you are willing to give up such a huge family business and dare to come here."
Wu Chengjian smiled slightly: "Even if I didn't come for Yi Jin, when Master Zhongtang asked me to come, could I still hide away?"
Liu Quan smiled and said, "You definitely can't dodge it, but it will take me a lot of effort."
"So I came directly." Wu Chengjian said, "This way I can see Yi Jin earlier, and the people in Guangzhou will think I am loyal, and Quan Gong will have to spend less effort. It's a win-win situation, so why not do it?"
Liu Quan laughed loudly, but didn't dare to laugh loudly, for fear that it would be heard inside. He called Wu Chengjian and said, "Let's go. Remember, keep it short and don't talk nonsense - Master Zhongtang doesn't have time to waste."
Wu Chengjian said: "I understand."
Liu Quan opened the curtain, and Wu Chengjian followed him in. As soon as they entered the room, they saw that the lights were bright as day. A tall, handsome middle-aged man stood there. In front of him was a large desk. On the right side were a pile of unprocessed documents, and on the left side were a pile of processed documents. A servant was grinding ink on the side. Two maids stood on the right, one to take documents for Heshen, and the other to take documents and sort them out on the left. Except for a few mechanical movements, the three of them looked straight ahead, and seemed to deaf and dumb.
After Wu Chengjian came in, Liu Quan pointed to one side of the case, so he had to stand over there. Liu Quan glared at him, so Wu Chengjian had to kneel down.
He Shen seemed not to have seen him come in. He dealt with four or five more things before he raised his eyes, glanced at Wu Chengjian, and said, "Look up."
Wu Chengjian raised his head. This was the first time he looked Heshen in the eye. He looked closer and thought, "This is Heshen! He is really good-looking. This is what he looks like. He seems very tired."
He Shen laughed: "You are Wu Chengjian? You are really good-looking. But this look is a bit deliberate."
Wu Chengjian said: "Thank you for the compliment, Master Zhongtang."
He Shen said, "You are kneeling here and talking to me without being humble or overbearing. I haven't seen a young man like you for a long time." Without waiting for Wu Chengjian to respond, he said, "Tell me, what do you want to see me for?"
As he spoke, he took another document to read.
Wu Chengjian asked, "Why did the Lord Zhongtang ask me to come to Beijing?"
He Shen stopped taking the document and his face darkened. He didn't say anything, but his meaning was obvious: Smart people should stop talking nonsense! You are not qualified to play wit with me.
Liu Quan, who was standing nearby, was also a little anxious, and cleared his throat lightly as a warning.
Wu Chengjian got a glimpse of the other party's temperament and said, "I beg you, Lord Zhongtang, to show some mercy and let him off the hook."
He Shen did not say anything, but just stood there and continued to review the documents. There were chairs in the room, but if he sat comfortably, he would not be able to get rid of his sleepiness. So he stood there, writing and working, but he showed some military majesty.
Wu Chengjian hesitated for a moment, then said, "I dare not ask for anything else, I just hope that Master Zhongtang can give my family peace."
Heshen still did not respond.
Wu Chengjian took a deep breath and said, "The Wu family is willing to donate all of our wealth, just to make sure that our family can live in peace and work hard to make a living."
Heshen still did not respond.
Wu Chengjian took a deep breath and said, "If you are still not satisfied, just kill me. I don't want the money or my life. I just ask you to let my family go."
He Shen finally stopped writing, raised his head, stared at Wu Chengjian and said, "Why do I need your money? Don't I have it myself? What good would it do me if I took your life?"
After hearing this, Wu Chengjian knew that today's matter would not be resolved peacefully - all the Wu family had was money, and all he, Wu Chengjian, could give up was his life. Heshen didn't care about either of these, so he had nothing to beg for.
Without anything to exchange, all that is left is to rely on the other party's favor - and if you rely on favor, then life and death depends on others, not on yourself.
He Shen drew two more strokes on the document, concluding an important matter. The maid on the left took the document. He Shen put down his pen and said, "You have been working for me in Guangdong for two or three years. It is not easy for both parties to be guests. I will give you a way out."
After hearing this, Wu Chengjian prostrated himself on the ground.
He Shen said: "There are rumors outside every day, saying that I, He Shen, am extremely corrupt, that I, He Shen, have a fortune, that my house is piled with gold and silver, and my storehouse is full of jewels. Haha, but no one knows that the most valuable things in my hands are not these."
Wu Chengjian's heart sank. These... were not the words he wanted to hear.
He Shen changed the subject and said, "You have checked my property, right?"
Even though he had developed extraordinary cunning over the years, Wu Chengjian couldn't help but tremble slightly.
He Shen laughed and said, "Although what you touched was only my outermost layer of skin, but being able to touch this layer of skin is a testament to your ability, and being brave enough to touch this layer of skin is a testament to your courage!"
His tone was calm, and he even had a smile on his face, but the three maids and servants who pretended to be deaf and dumb could not help but chatter their teeth, and even Liu Quan was secretly frightened.
When the regent kills someone, he doesn't even need to say a word, let alone use his hands. As long as he has murderous intent in his heart, the person kneeling on the ground will die.
Wu Chengjian even held his breath. He couldn't respond and didn't know how to respond.
Unexpectedly, there was no murderous intent in He Shen's eyes. Instead, he asked in an unfathomable tone, "Which department are you from now?"
Wu Chengjian said: "The Ministry of Revenue."
He Shen didn't know whether he heard his reply or not, and continued to speak: "I will have someone promote you two levels later. You can come to Beijing and I will give you a job. When you do it well, not only the safety and life of your family, but also wealth and honor will be at your fingertips."
Liu Quan was greatly surprised. He thought he knew Heshen's mind best, but this time it was beyond his expectation! Heshen actually did not intend to punish Wu Chengjian, and even wanted to praise him? Even the servant next to him could not help but glance at Wu Chengjian slightly, his eyes full of envy.
The room suddenly fell silent. He Shen stopped working on the document and waited quietly for Wu Chengjian's answer.
Wu Chengjian held his breath for a long time, then suddenly raised his head and looked at Heshen. This was the second time the two looked at each other.
Liu Quan was shocked. He never expected that Wu Chengjian would dare to raise his head on his own initiative, and even look at the Lord Zhongtang without being told to do so! He had seen many dignitaries, even Beizi and Beile, but no one dared to do this - especially in the past year.
Wu Chengjian looked at Heshen calmly and deeply. After about seven or eight breaths, Heshen finally asked, "How is it?"
Wu Chengjian's eyelids drooped, as if he had made up his mind.
He said, "Please allow me to meet Yi Jin so that I can discuss the matter with him." He paused and continued, "Yi Jin is the advisor who was arrested by Shuntian Prefecture as a remnant of the rebellion."
A trace of disappointment flashed across Heshen's eyes, but he did not lose his temper. He lowered his head and continued to review official documents, ignoring Wu Chengjian.
Wu Chengjian let out a long breath and said, "I'm leaving!" He crawled back three steps and walked out of the door without Heshen letting him go or trying to stop him.
Liu Quan was furious. He took two steps forward and shouted, "Master!" It was just a shout, but the meaning was very clear: if Heshen gave him an idea, he would punish Wu Chengjian.
Unexpectedly, He Shen just stopped writing, sighed softly, and said: "Talents are hard to come by, it's a pity to kill them!" Before Liu Quan could react, he heard He Shen say: "Zhilan is in the way, we have to weed it out."
Shuntian Prefecture Prison.
The old man weighed the silver in his hand, pointed and said, "Go ahead."
The cell was cold, damp and dimly lit.
Wu Xiaojiu carried the food box and Wu Qi held a lantern to light the way for Wu Chengjian. Led by a jailer, they found a solitary cell. The cell was covered with hay and a man was lying there motionless. He turned around when he saw the lantern.
The jailer opened the cell door, and Wu Qi stuffed another ingot of silver into the cell. The jailer weighed it and said, "Hurry up."
Wu Qi said, "Brother, please help me again." He stuffed another ingot into his pocket.
The jailer smiled and said, "Let's talk slowly."
Wu Xiaojiu had already ducked down and crawled in, and Wu Qi also came in and put the lantern away. The light shone on Zhou Yijin's face, and he saw that he had lost a lot of weight compared to when he was in Guangzhou, and his chin was even pointed.
Wu Xiaojiu knelt beside Zhou Yijin's legs, sobbing. His legs were broken, and then broken again for treatment. And he was treated in such an environment. After these two tortures, it was impossible for Zhou Yijin to recover.
Seeing Wu Xiaojiu crying uncontrollably, Zhou Yijin managed a smile, touched his head and said, "Why are you crying? Your master is fine."
Wu Chengjian walked closer and squatted beside Zhou Yijin. He wanted to call out to him, but when he looked at his legs, he found himself unable to make a sound and his throat felt lump.
Zhou Yijin looked over, and the two of them stared at each other in silence.
Wu Qi pulled Wu Xiaojiu, and Wu Xiaojiu wiped his tears and followed Wu Qi to guard outside the prison door.
"Hao Guan." Zhou Yijin opened his bloodless lips and forced a smile on his face again: "I'm sorry for dragging you down."
Wu Chengjian was originally sad, but after hearing this, he became angry. He sat beside him resentfully, too angry to speak.
Zhou Yijin laughed and said, "Are you throwing a tantrum at me again?"
Wu Chengjian shouted angrily: "Get lost!"
Zhou Yijin said: "I am in this state now, I can't leave even if I want to."
Wu Chengjian choked up and vented his anger. He gently touched Zhou Yijin's feet and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Well, maybe it can be saved." Zhou Yijin said: "Master Ma gave me two choices at the beginning. One is to be a cripple for the rest of my life, and the other is that I might be completely healed, or I might lose both legs, or even die - I chose the second one. Oh, it would be better if I could die."
If he died like that, Wu Chengjian wouldn't have to come, at least not for him. This master who looked gentle and elegant on the outside was as hard as iron on the inside.
Wu Chengjian angrily said: "If you die, what should I do?!"
This is a prison cell, this is the capital.
After all, Wu Chengjian didn't dare to let go like he did in Guangzhou. After coming in, no matter what emotion he was feeling, he kept his voice very low, but the veins on his neck were bulging, and it was obvious that he was extremely angry.
Zhou Yijin lowered his head, and Wu Chengjian said, "Look up and look at me!"
In the dim light of the lantern, the two looked at each other again.
Wu Chengjian said: "Zhou Yijin, I want you to understand that I need you! You have to stay alive, understand?"
Zhou Yijin let out a long breath, and said in a low, submissive voice: "Okay, okay."
